Apartment Therapy's Green Home

Apartment Therapy, the authority in organizing and decorating your small home, has just launched their Green Home. There's some good stuff here that doesn't require a small home or apartment to implement. Saving water, storing bicycles, and green cleaning products, are just a few of the interesting posts we've read so far. We're looking forward to many more.

  July 19, 2007 | Comments ()

Are You as Handy as Your Dad?

Toolmonger turned us onto a great blog entry from the Wall Street Journal asking the question, "Are Dads Less Handy Around the House?"

I'm not a Dad and even if I were I'm certainly not as handy around the house as my Pop is. I was raised by a very handy Dad who had a tool shed to be proud of. His specialty is in electrical work and he enjoyed the puzzle of determining what's "hot" as much as the challenge of installing the light fixture or appliance. My Dad set the bar high which motivates me to keep on learning.

  July 18, 2007 | Comments (1)

National Association of the Remodeling Industry

A new addition to our blogroll is the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). They have a long-standing history and their core purpose is "to advance and promote the remodeling industry’s professionalism, product and vital public purpose."

As a homeowner you can use their site to search for remodelers in your area and they give you tips for what questions to ask and what warning signs to be wary of when choosing your contractor.

Professionals are also encouraged to join NARI which they feel will give you more exposure and help in networking. You'll also be eligible to be considered as for the Contractor of the Year (COTY) award.

  July 10, 2007 | Comments ()

Architectural Record

We are honored to have been selected as an Editor's Bookmark for June 2007 by the Architectural Record. The publication has been a leader in the industry for over 100 years and their new website is as content rich as you'll find anywhere.

  July 9, 2007 | Comments ()

The Top 10 Home Improvement Movies

After watching the Money Pit for the first time in about 10 years time we decided to compile our "Top 10 Home Improvement Movies". Remodeling may not be the central theme but the home definitely plays a role in these films (kinda). Here we go...

10. Made ~ This film is a reach for this list - in fact it shouldn't really be on this list but we were having a hard time coming up with 10. But the movie starts with one of our all-time favorite scenes as Favre and Vaughn work as part of a construction crew and negotiate taking "breaks" and take lip from an snooty interior designer. If you like these two you'll love this scene.

9. Poltergeist ~ I only moved once as a child and after watching this film I never wanted to move again.

8. House of Sand and Fog ~ By far the most dramatic film on this list. The passion portrayed by two parties fighting for a home they believe is rightfully theirs is gut-wrenching.

7. Under the Tuscan Sun/A Good Year ~ Who wouldn't' want to take time out from their life to enjoy renovating a villa in the South of France or Italy???

6. Home Alone ~ Mac turns his house into a pranksters dream and we still don't know how Daniel Stern survived the paint bucket to the face.

  July 6, 2007 | Comments ()

Home Equity Stripping

Please be aware of an increasingly common type of fraud called "equity stripping". With foreclosures nearing record levels there are many homeowners willing to do anything to keep their homes. Under no circumstances should you transfer your deed to anyone or any organization especially if they promise to help solve your financial troubles.

  July 4, 2007 | Comments ()

The Anti-DIY Duo

The backlash to the home decoration/renovation tv shows has begun and is being led by one of the leaders in this show category, HGTV. This network will launch two Canadian shows hosted by Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan called, How Not to Decorate and Home Heist. If these shows prove popular to our Northern neighbors we're sure you'll see them here soon.

How Not to Decorate seems like the home version of What Not to Wear and although these shows only scratch the surface of the home remodeling process, they've touched a nerve with folks who prefer the DIFY (Do-It-For-You) approach.

Of course homeowner renovations can go horribly wrong and it's very easy to get in over your head, but that doesn't mean you should not attempt a project, especially if you've armed yourself with the proper knowledge of how to execute and complete a project. It also helps to communicate with other homeowners who may have faced similar projects, and the venerable Houseblogs.net remains the best forum for this.

  July 3, 2007 | Comments (1)