No matter how modern or enlightened we might consider ourselves—and our society—to be, superstition lingers. Just check out some buildings with floors that go into the teens or higher—is there a 13^th floor? An estimated 85% of U.S. buildings with more than 13 floors actually skip that number.

Those of us who knock on wood, throw salt over our left shoulder, and avoid walking under ladders likely do so because of tradition—and hey, most of us need all the good luck we can get, right? If you’re...

Did you just move into a house that came equipped with a beautiful back yard, but with little to no privacy? Looking to do something about it? Look no further! Here are some great tips for boosting your yard privacy:

  Fence  

These come in many styles, colors, and are easy to update and change whenever you want. You can get them in wood or plastic, in a variety of heights, and paint or repaint them to your heart’s desire.

A more modern approach to fence privacy is to install a metal f...

No matter the season, every homeowner is always looking for ways to save energy. Saving energy means saving money. Knowing some simple facts about how much we spend on certain things within the home can make a big difference in reducing those costs.

Space heating and water heating take up the most money on our utility bills, so read on for some tips that will help to control those costs and keep some extra money in your bank account.

Heating and Air

Credit: StarsApart

Keep lights and te...

You might think that spring is king when it comes to buying and selling real estate—after all, most families prefer to move when children are out of school and the weather is, well, more pleasant. However, selling your house in winter isn’t an impossible feat; in fact, there are perks to selling in the winter. Notably, buyers who are looking for homes during the winter often have a greater sense of urgency.

Ideally, it’s best to wait and put your home on the market at a time when supply and d...

Are you tackling a home painting project this weekend? Worried about splattering paint all over your favorite couch or it dripping onto your moldings? Fear not! Here are some painting hacks that will help make the job easier and cleaner for everyone involved:

Clean and Prep Cleaning walls or the ceiling you are going to paint will ensure the paint sticks rather than peel or chip off later. Use a degreaser to clean the wall, following the directions on a bottle, or dust and wipe down walls th...

When it comes to home interior renovations, the ceiling often gets overlooked. Understandably so, since our eyes don’t always automatically gravitate upwards. But if you’re looking for unique ways to upgrade your space, a ceiling makeover is a great place to start.

Here are 5 different ways to renovate your ceiling without breaking the bank:

 

1. Paint

Paint a design on the ceiling in a child's room (source: The secret History of GRSG Flickr)

A fresh coat of paint does wonders to revi...

Commonly called “Victorian Style” homes, these houses were built in the Victorian Era between 1837 and 1901 when Queen Victoria reigned over the United Kingdom.

Victorian homes are key to the character of many neighborhoods in the United Kingdom, but are very common in the United States as well, encompassing several architectural styles. Identifying them is easy if you know some of the key characteristics: an asymmetrical porch, roof, and exterior.

Here, we cover five architectural styles th...