The dazzling patterns and colors of old-fashioned Formica grabs attention. And in a world run amok with granite countertops, this has never been truer. Formica (laminate) used in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Gorden house at the Oregon Gardens in Silverton, OR. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Are you tired of repeatedly having to paint your home? If you want to break the re-painting cycle but don’t like the idea of vinyl or metal siding, then you owe it to yourself to take a close look at a protective ceramic coating that gives the look of a freshly painted home year after year. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

The new EPA lead paint removal rules starting this April 22 will probably have a big impact on how contractors deal with lead-based paints. Contractors will be responsible for containing and cleaning lead dust during remodels and renovations. Certification for contractors will be required and done by the EPA. Although these rules do not apply to homeowners unless they use paid help for the removal, the health risk is there for them too. Homeowners should take the same precautions when disturbing... more

Being a colorful woman, I have often wondered why people would paint interior and exterior surfaces gray, particularly when they choose gray during hard economic times. Being the thrifty sort myself, I always reach for the brightest color and highest sheen I can get for the price. Not so with the general population. They buy gallons and gallons of gray paint. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Wanting to remodel your kitchen or considering it in the near future? With the realization that your home may not be worth what it was three or four years ago, it still may make sense to go ahead and improve your space. Whether you want to remodel for resale or you have come to the conclusion that you will be staying put for a while, you will need to make many decisions. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Inspiration strikes homeowners in many forms: for the owner of one Queen Anne Victorian, it was improving the flow and feeling of the home while at the same time embracing the original design and elegance of a great example of the “Painted Lady” style … and to make sure that the “new” design featured her red velvet couch. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

If you are considering a remodeling project that requires design work, such as an addition, kitchen, or major bathroom remodel, one of the best ways to approach the work is to use a design/build company. By “design/build,” I mean a company that does both the design work and the construction. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

The ending of World War II brought profound changes to this nation culturally, economically, and architecturally. The ensuing baby boom, rising car culture, and new technologies all thrust America into a new era. The mid-20th  century in America would be a time of exceptional growth and expansion. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →