House
The Raised Ranch: Living at the Top of the Stairs
If you haven’t already, please familiarize yourself with the history that gave rise to the split level as an important American vernacular. Much of this primer assumes a knowledge of the background of split levels, how they became popular, and how they work with graded terrain to create a visually pleasing appearance. This page addresses the exterior... Read More
November 2, 2018
A Fresh Approach to Home Ownership
Step One: Recognize that Less is usually More The goal of most Americans is to own a home. Once they do, the goal becomes a larger home, and ultimately, the “dream house.” For many families, however, a larger home will often do more harm than good. Consider these two statistics: The number of people living... Read More
November 2, 2018
Interior Design for Split-Level Homes
Step One: Consider Your Style Imagine if you pulled up to a dude ranch for a weekend of horseback riding, canoeing and hiking. The ranch has a rustic wood exterior, like something from a John Wayne epic. When you walk in, however, you find the decor and furnishings identical to a trendy Malibu beach house.... Read More
November 2, 2018
Wrought Iron Railings: Pros & Cons, Installation, Repair & More
Handrails at home need not be boring. You’re probably used to seeing handrails that look like just solid blocks of wood and other materials and their designs are made up of just straight lines. Some homes that are bigger and spacious may also use glass or transparent materials for a clean and minimalist look. If... Read More
October 26, 2018
36 Gardening Tips to Get You Started in Your Backyard
There’s a bunch of gardening tips you should know about, and by learning about even when you start out as a beginner will ensure that you embark on a beautiful adventure with a lot of interesting colors, odors and ambiance in your backyard. These are all the things that we wish we knew when we... Read More
August 31, 2018
Raku Pottery
This is a typical Japanese way of making pottery. Chawan tea bowls is the most common type, and given the way that it’s shaped, it’s less consistent with greater variation than is the case with thrown pottery. Thrown pottery is the most common alternative way to make customized pottery, but Raku is rather hand-shaped. Contrary... Read More
August 23, 2018
Different Types of Ceramics
Most of you have probably heard of ceramic floor tile, and then some may even know that porcelain tile is also in fact a type of ceramic, but what are the different types? And why are there different types also? Since we have helped many homeowners get connected with ceramic tile companies, we thought it... Read More
August 22, 2018
2018 Ceramic and Porcelain Tile that Looks Like Wood: Pros & Cons, Reviews
Did you consider installing hardwood floors in your home because you like the way that it looks? Before you choose to do so, you should know that there could be very good reason for you to not actually go with that option but rather go with tile instead. To better understand what type of flooring... Read More
August 21, 2018
Porcelain vs Ceramic Tile: What is the Difference?
So you were just at the hardware store, and you saw different types of tile. When you walked out of there, you stopped for a moment and you suddenly realized that you in fact don’t know what the difference is between ceramic tile and porcelain. That’s fine – you’re not the only one! You probably... Read More
August 17, 2018
Ceramic Wall Tile
In this article, we’ll talk about ceramic wall tile, and everything that you need to be focusing on during the installation to make sure that you get absolutely the wall that you wish. If you’re lucky, we might even give you an idea or two that you hadn’t already thought of. We’ll help you find... Read More
August 16, 2018