Indoor plumbing became commonplace in new homes during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. By 1900, most all-new construction of middle class housing contained indoor bathrooms. The American bungalow — popular in the 1900-1930 period — developed along with the modern American bathroom. Bungalows, considered the most modern homes of the time, had bathrooms that reflected the latest trends and highest standards of efficiency that indoor plumbing could provide. Early bungalow bathrooms were... more

Refrigerators Four doors are fabulous. Lash out against the mundane by choosing Samsung’s QuatroCooling Convertible refrigerator. This 24.6 cu. ft. unit has four compartments, each with its own independently adjustable evaporators, ensuring the perfect amount of cooling or freezing for everything from salad fixings to fresh meat. Lunchtime, dinnertime, and primetime, life is good with LG Electronic’s refrigerator-TV. It boasts a remote-controlled, cable-ready, 15” LCD television screen on the... more

Today’s kitchen tools let you grind, pound, and smooth your way to culinary success. Even the family handyman will be impressed because he (or she) will know you did it yourself the next time you serve up a bowl of hot soup fresh from the blender or a tart serving of homemade yogurt. One-Stop Cooking This is no ordinary whirlybird. The Vita-Mix Professional Series blender defines one-stop cooking: It mixes, chops, whips, grinds, and purees — even cooks soups and sauces you can serve steaming... more

When our family decided to move, we looked for a house with charm and character that was close to the city. We found a home with single-pane windows, no insulation, three layers of roofing sitting on top of 2″ x 4″ rafters, and inadequate plumbing and electrical systems. We soon found ourselves in a total down-to-the-studs remodel. Solar panels for heating the indoor lap pool. Radiant heat panels used on the first floor and around the pool. Drilling rig used to... more

The cool temperatures and paltry daylight of winter seem to send our gardens into a slumber that doesn’t break until the first crocus pops up in early spring. Even though amazing things are happening below the soil’s surface, most of us lack a keen interest in soil science, so it’s the above-ground doings that grab our attention. Winter interest is typically achieved by using architectural plants and elements that remain standing all winter to create the “bones” of the landscape, although... more

Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reveal just how hazardous electricity can be to your health and household. Between 1994 and 1998, there were an average of 406,700 residential fires per year, approximately 69,000 (17%) of which were related to electrical distribution or appliances and equipment. Another 42,700 (10.5%) were related to heating and air conditioning systems. These combined to cause an average of 860 deaths, 4,785... more

Happy fall to you! I am finally wearing my sweaters, making soup, and really looking forward to the holidays. As I write this from my living room, I am looking out the window at the brilliant fall colors, and I am thoroughly enjoying this season. Once the fall colors are off the trees, however, things may look a little bleak in the garden over the next few months. Lucky for you there are some fantastic plants out there that bloom in winter to help brighten your days. Two of my favorites are: Yuletide... more

Mounting hardware on your doors, walls, and windows is usually a simple affair. You mark the position of the screws, drill pilot holes in the old wood (always!), and then fasten the part on. If you’ve ever completed this task, only to discover that you marked the pilot holes imprecisely, then you should check out the following “trick” tools. Combination Center Punch and Nail Set First up is the double-ended spring tool commonly referred to as a “Snapper.” It is a center punch on... more