Collecting the rain that rolls off your roof to use in the garden preserves natural resources and saves money on your water bill. One affordable way to capture hundreds of gallons of rainwater every year is to make and install rain barrels from simple plumbing fixtures and recycled food grade containers. Instructions Depending on the type of barrel and location of your downspout, determine how you will route water from the downspout... more

Futons are here to stay. People have been sleeping on cotton-filled mattress for thousands of years. The ancient Babylonians, Mesopotamian, and Egyptians used cotton as a bedding material because it is comfortable — it has good loft or springiness to support the body; it breathes, which helps control temperature and it’s easy to produce. The word “futon” comes from Japan and means bedding. Japanese futons are quite a bit different than what we now use in America. During the 1970s a furniture... more

The ceiling can be a real pain in the neck. You have the physical strain of painting over your head, the mess of drips, and just when you think you have a good view of what you are doing your shadow blots out the light. Not to mention most people are painting their already white ceiling white. But missed spots and streaks on the ceiling can be avoided. The Right Paint You can use any interior paint on a ceiling, but paints... more

It’s not difficult to become interested in gardening in the Pacific Northwest, where the seasons continually offer treats for the eye as well the gastronomy. Autumn is no exception, giving us not only the vibrant colors of deciduous trees and late blooming plants, but also the opportunity to prepare the garden for a quieter time. Instead of mourning the loss of summer bounty and sunny warm evenings, consider planting... more

A Tankless Water Heater Provides Continuous Hot Water and Saves Energy Too Imagine large buckets of water on your stove with the flame turned to low, heating water until you need it. Sounds ridiculous, but in America that is not far from reality. We’ve progressed a little farther than that now — we use one large bucket and we call it a water heater, heating water 24 hours a day 365 days a year whether we use ... more

The Four-Square style house (sometimes referred to as the American Four-Square House) was popular from just after 1900 to well into the 1930s. Thousands of these Four-Square houses were built in Portland and its older suburbs. Virtually every older neighborhood in Portland has many, many examples. This local popularity mirrored the national trend. They were built in large numbers in every part of the country, in big cities... more

One of the first places that many people look to make eco-conscious changes to their homes is right under foot. “Green” flooring has been widely known, until now, as bamboo or cork because of their renewable harvesting properties. But while they are beautiful materials, there is an ever-expanding assortment of different products hitting the market, giving rise to new looks and trends. Linoleum — Old Is... more

Whether painted crimson or stained dark, secured by a screen door or embraced by glass tiles, a dramatic front door can add flair to the plainest exterior. By concentrating on door size, style, and applied finishes the front door can reflect both your personality and the era of the home. Updating an old look? Repaint those original wooden doors. Be bold — when you choose contrasting colors instead of complementary,... more