Home & Garden | featured news

One of the least popular homeowner “honey-do” tasks — right up there with toilet scrubbing or cat litter emptying — is (yuck) gutter cleaning. You could install gutter guards as a way to simplify this annoying chore, but are they really worth the cost? Let’s take a look at what gutter guards are, exactly, and what they can do for your home.First, what’s a gutter for? And why does it need cleaning?A gutter is a trough made of metal or vinyl, [...]

Any home renovation is challenging, but a small bathroom remodel has got to be one of the greatest challenges of all. Combining form and function in a scanty space demands extra-careful planning. But don’t worry; the gorgeous results will be worth it. And here’s help — six essential tips to make your bathroom remodel a success.1. Work with what you have. Don’t try to squeeze a full-sized home spa into a teeny amount of space. Remember, it’s not just a [...]

Presenting … four fantastic home upgrades with mucho curb appeal. And that’s not all the good news. Depending on your budget, you can choose the full-scale version of each improvement, or scale it down to cut costs. So what are you waiting for? Go start improving.FRONT DOORFull-Scale Renovation: Front Door ReplacementA brand new front door will create a fantastic first impression on visitors and bump up your home’s curb appeal immensely. Expect to pay about $700- [...]

Why are fence panels important to you as a homeowner? Preassembled fence panels are revolutionizing the fencing world. These handy factory-built panels make putting up fences much faster and easier than conventional stick-building (building from scratch) techniques. In fact, nowadays many home improvement DIYers are proudly adding “NOTE TO SELF: Build a fence this weekend” to their honey-do list.Types of fence panelsPreassembled fence panels are widely available at home [...]

A soil test is a way of finding out more about the nature of your property’s soil, so you can choose appropriate species to plant, as well as the right amendments — remedies to help your yard produce healthy plants, trees, and grass. Soil testing is especially useful if you: 1) would like to revive a droopy, dreary lawn or garden, 2) are about to start planning next spring’s plantings, or 3) have just moved into a home and would like to better understand the soil [...]

Did you know that — just like human beings — trees can feel stress? Newly planted young saplings or any trees growing in an urban setting are especially vulnerable. And a stressed-out tree is not a healthy tree. So keep the trees on your property with a hearty helping of TLC. If you’re the green-thumbed type, you may want to do a lot of tree care yourself, although some of the work is better left to an arborist or professional landscaper. Read on to find out which tree care [...]

Did you know that — just like human beings — trees can feel stress? Newly planted young saplings or any trees growing in an urban setting are especially vulnerable. And a stressed-out tree is not a healthy tree. So keep the trees on your property with a hearty helping of TLC. If you’re the green-thumbed type, you may want to do a lot of tree care yourself, although some of the work is better left to an arborist or professional landscaper. Read on to find out which tree care [...]

The New England Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association recently raised more than $22,000 with its third annual Take A Seat gala and charity auction.Featuring 23 chairs, the collection was first unveiled at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams in Boston, a home furnishings store that also has a branch in Natick, according to a press release. Pictured here are a few of the submissions to the exhibit and auction.Take A Seat featured "up-cycled," one-of-a-kind [...]

MILTON - The legacy of captain Robert Bennet Forbes and his family thrives in the newly renovated Forbes House Museum.On top of Milton Hill and overlooking Boston Harbor, the 1833 Greek Revival mansion contains treasures and souvenirs from the family’s history working in the China trade, and from the captain’s humanitarian efforts.Among the many artifacts is a 19th-Chinese porcelain punch bowl that has “Forbes forever” written around the rim. [...]

Does this homeowner scenario sound familiar? Your bathroom or kitchen is looking awfully drab and in your heart, you’re longing to go ahead with a complete remodel. However, your bank statement tells you otherwise, as in, “Right now, cheap and cheerful is all you can afford.” Don’t worry. Here are seven great ways to achieve a high class, low budget look, with our home improvement hacks for your kitchen and bath.Create a contemporary “Comfort [...]