Every now and then it’s a good idea to have a professional audit your home energy. Here are some tips on what you can expect from an energy consumption home check: 1) Attic. Most energy consumption problems are usually in the attic and the basement. If you note any insulation in your attic that is turning black, it may not be mold. It could be discoloration from dirt as air passes through. Make sure the soffits and ridge vents are clear. Attic fans are a helpful way to cycle air through it. 2) Basement. Be sure that your hot and cold water pipes are insulated. Check gas lines for leaks. Also, have the ambient CO levels around the HVAC and the gas range analyzed. Read More

A beautifully restored old Victorian house may make your heart dance, but be ready for hidden expenses. For example: 1) Electricity. Electric outlets tend to be oddly placed in old homes. Also, the electrical load may not be enough for vacuum cleaners and laptops. You may also not have a phone jack, which is handy for internet access. Check the wiring. They may be a messy jumble which can pose a safety hazard. Also, upgrade your electric load for all the appliances that are normally used today. 2) Pipes. Expect to pay for pipe repairs and include that in your budget. Old pipes break, or roots grow through them. There may be drainage problems. 3) Foundation problems. Your foundation may be crumbling after a few hundred years. Save money for ...Read More

The white picket fence is a much loved architectural tradition, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play with it. Here are some things you can do with the White Picket Fence. 1) Pallet Fence. Those old, familiar pallets make lovely white picket fences. Of course, they must be white. And that DIY quality may be precisely that, but we love it just the way it is. 2) Add an arbor. A pallet picket fence suddenly has pizzazz with the addition of an elevated arbor. 3) Tall picket fence. For privacy, you can opt for a tall picket fence and for dazzle, add a bold gate in contrasting brown. 4) Upcycled picket fence. It’s still a white picket fence but with some imagination you can make one side of it into a potting bench, perfect for pails and pots...Read More

Maria Theresa chandeliers retain the style of the 18^th century and are, in fact, named after an Austrian empress. They are spectacular and stylish; magnificent and splendorous. They are perfect for traditional homes or even contemporary settings that seek a touch of la vie Boheme. In fact, they are based on the Bohemian chandeliers of that century, which were symbols of wealth, nobility and class. The bigger and more expansive they were, the higher the pedigree of the owner. Today, these chandeliers come in different sizes, perfect for elegant homes as they are intricate in detail, sweeping in their curves, layered with amazing glass rosettes and dripping with crystals. Read More

A small apartment in Wiesbaden was refurbished to achieve a Scandinavian design. The renovation meant removing old flooring to reveal the original wooden floorboards. Wallpaper was removed from the kitchen and the wall was re-plastered. Wooden planks were whitened, Scandinavian style. The kitchen backsplash used tiles with an irregular crackle finish. Old windows were used to build a new kitchen cabinet to display the ceramic collection of the family. To add a feeling of width and space, upper cabinets were removed from the kitchenette and sitting area. In the hallway a ceiling-high closet provides ample storage. A bench was fashioned in another room from an old stool and old boards. The bed is customized to be elevated on a wooden structur...Read More