More Homeowners using Wood to Warm Their Homes

By Gary Sullivan

This fall and winter energy costs will continue to rise and more homeowners will turn to burning wood to help heat their homes. Whether you are using a fireplace or a wood stove it is important to know more about wood.

Know Your Wood

Oak, apple and walnut are hard, heavy woods and produce the most heat. Maples and elm are medium hard and will burn more rapidly and produce less heat, and are not a problem to stoves or chimneys.  Soft woods like pine and spruce should not be used in home heating. (more…)

Easy updates create a fresh look

By Eva Grippa

As we leave the steamy days of summer behind for the cooler days of fall, it may be the time to update your home’s look. While major (and expensive) improvements like redoing your kitchen or finishing your basement, might be at the top of the list, sometimes it’s the small changes that can make the difference. Good news: freshening up your home’s look can be done easily and on a budget.

If you got it, flaunt it

It’s often easy to focus on what you don’t have. That gorgeous Pottery Barn sectional sofa  would be just perfect in your living room, but its price might not be so wonderful. Instead, rethink the layout of the pieces that you already own.

According to professional re-arranger Victoria Bernardini of More Than Meets the Eye, “there are all kinds of things that you can do on a shoe string budget. You can be creative and frugal.”

Bernardini said to start by removing the clutter and rethinking traffic patterns and furniture arrangements. Consider pulling furniture away from the walls to make the space more conversation-friendly or move the oversized desk to an upstairs bedroom and replace it with the smaller table from the foyer. Rearranging is a simple and cost-effective way to freshen up your home’s look.

Draped in fabric

New drapery is a great way to create a subtle change in your home, and with formal and fussy window treatments on the outs right now, it’s easier than ever. Purple and gray are great colors for fall and a basic straight panel is both classic and practical.

Karen Berlekamp, manager of Boone Fabrics, said that building a cornice board and covering it with your choice of fabric is one of the most basic and cost-saving ways to spruce up a room.

She also recommends getting creative. “Even some ready-made window treatments are an easy fix. You could hang them using a dowel rod then glue something great on the end to spruce it up. Glue on Hot Wheels cars and you’ve got a great option for a kid’s room. You can be as creative as your mind can handle.”

Keep it simple

Track lighting and halogen bulbs are simple fixes that can create a major difference in a room at a minimum cost. Well-placed lighting can emphasize furniture and design elements, transforming the look of the room.

Of course, there’s nothing like a fresh floral arrangement or a new coat of paint to update your home. There are plenty of simple options that will take your style to a whole new level.

Credit Cards: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

By Patty Scott

Americans continue to spend too much money that we don’t have. The chief culprit? Credit cards.  In part two of our year-long look at Financial Basics for Women, we look at the good and bad of credit card debt.

The Miracle of Plastic

When you were growing up, you heard, “If you can’t pay for it with cash, then you can’t afford to buy it.” Sound advice 20 years ago, today such attitudes seem outdated. Today you need credit. The average cost of a car, house, or college education has skyrocketed compared to the average household income, so typical consumers most likely will need to borrow money. (more…)

What to Do With Your Economic Stimulus Check

By Melissa Haller

How often has someone unexpectedly handed you a wad of cash? Never? It’s about to happen to most of us, in the form of a check from good ‘old Uncle Sam. But if you want to avoid squandering away the bequest, it’s time to get planning.

If you’re perplexed, here’s the deal:  This month Uncle Sam is sending “economic stimulus” payments to taxpayers who have a valid Social Security number, $3,000 of income, and file a 2007 federal tax return. You’ll get up to $600 each ($1,200 for married couples) and $300 more for each eligible child under 17. (more…)

Without Breaking the Bank

By Peg Ashbrock

First impressions matter. Whether you’re trying to sell your home, or a major home improvement project is needed, now is the time to take advantage of the warm summer weather to update your home. With today’s tightened economy, homeowners trying to sell their home find that elusive attractiveness that realtors call ‘curb appeal’ is now more important than ever. All year In Touch will take a look at small changes you can make to your home to create a big impact.

Updated from Top to Bottom

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and take care of a major home improvement such as adding a new roof. When it’s time to replace the roof, most homeowners find they know very little about roofing materials, or even what to ask for when getting a cost estimate. Improve your “roof­ing IQ” by becoming familiar with common roofing terms so that you and your roofing contractor will be talking the same language. As one of the more expensive parts of your home and your primary barrier against the elements you want to do your homework. Adding or repairing your roof though, is a project that is best left to professionals. Be sure to get several estimates from certified installers to ensure that you are getting the best price. (more…)

Making an Old Driveway Look like New

By Gary Sullivan

It has a great curb appeal. The concrete driveway to your home looks big, and seems strong. So maybe it’s one more thing you can check off your mental ‘to do’ list that you just don’t need to worry about in terms of maintenance. Right? Well, unfortunately, you do have maintenance required, even in a concrete driveway.

Deteriorating Surface

If a concrete surface is cracked or spalled (when the surface is popping off) then you need to correct this. If you do not fill the cracks or patch the surface imperfections, then deterioration of the surface will happen more quickly. (more…)

Xeriscaping Your Landscape

By Heidi Botkin

American yards have a drinking problem. Across the U.S., 32 million acres of lawns are drinking nearly seven billion gallons of water every day. That’s a lot of water to keep a lushly landscaped lawn.

In a climate of steep gas prices and rising food costs, it can be rewarding to make your dollar “grow” in the cost of landscaping your yard this summer.  Xeriscaping, or “dry-scaping,” is water-wise gardening that can “cut” down on mowing and watering time, saving you time and money. (more…)

Don’t Move: Improve

by Peg Ashbrock

Spring is the busiest time of the year for homeowners. This year with the tighter economy and worries about a recession, many homeowners aren’t buying a new home, they’re deciding to remodel instead. All year In Touch will take a look at small changes you can make to your home to create a big impact. (more…)

Spring’s Trendiest Do

By Katie Rupert

It’s official. One look at the latest celebrity magazines and you will know that the bob haircut is the trend for spring 2008. If you don’t have a lot of time to devote to your hair, this is a great cut for a busy lifestyle. With a bob hairdo, all you need is a hair blower and you’re good to go.  They’re suited to just about any shape of face, and can be styled in many different ways. Here’s your quick reference guide. (more…)

Earth Day 2008

By Peg Ashbrock 

Green is the new black. It’s not only fashionable to be ‘green’, it’s also the right thing to do for our plant. April 22, 2008, marks the 38th celebration of Earth Day, a time when people around the world hold events to honor our home planet — and to remind everyone about the importance of our ecosystem. (more…)

 Local Earth Day Events 

Make a difference in your community. Get out and help with one of these Earth Day events:

April 19^th

Sawyer Point, Cincinnati Riverfront

(http://www.earthcoalition.net/

12 Noon-7 p.m.

Education and Information

(more…)

Summertime Grilling is Right Around the Corner

By Gary Sullivan

Spring’s warm weather marks the beginning of grilling season. But wait, before you fire it up, stop and take a few minutes to spruce up the gas grill and make your spring cooking a success. (more…)