Yoga helps put my mind and body in tune with my world and balances my life equilibrium. Organized rooms and spaces provide me with a sense of balance, too. What disrupts your equilibrium? Could it be restoring a historic home, remodeling an outdated kitchen, or replacing your carpet with hardwood floors? As a professional organizer, I am tipped out of sync when an abundance of possessions are scattered about my home. A messy desk in my home office interrupts my state of calm, even if the rest of... more

We renovate our homes for many reasons — whether for making better use of existing space, adding space for growing families, general upkeep, or increasing value. Ideally, renovation projects should start from the foundation up. Nobody would just paint over failing siding or shingles. The same applies to renovating a house sitting upon a deteriorating foundation. Today, many older foundations have decayed beyond repair, and the days when bad foundations were superficially repaired with a skim coating... more

By the time most people decide that they need a shed, it can be a real V-8 moment of “we could have had this years ago!” My wife and I felt this way after having our first child. We saw many of our possessions slowly getting relocated to make way for things such as vibrating swings, basinets, and play kitchens. And when the bike with a child seat became a permanent fixture in our foyer, it was time to do something. Below are a few questions you might ask that could help you plan and build the... more

Looking to get more living space out of your home and don’t know whether to go up, down, or out? We asked Anne DeWolf, co-owner and designer of Arciform LLC for her advice on what a homeowner needs to know before you “go below.” If you’re like most people who own older homes, your existing basement is a dark twisting maze of ductwork, low-hanging pipes, and wires, with limited headroom and a jumbled assortment of water heaters, furnaces, and chimneys (maybe even your... more

Shrinking polar ice caps, rising sea levels, ever-riskier oil and gas extraction — how, as responsible home dwellers and builders can we respond to these problems? Certainly we reclaim and recycle materials and strive to meet green building standards like LEED to make careful materials choices for our homes. But what can we do to ensure that our living spaces are embedded in sustainable patterns of community life? And how, as we emerge from recession, can we also sustain ourselves and our local... more

Previously in this column, we discussed Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in our entry titled A Little Place for Mom.  ADUs are often called “mother-in-law” apartments, and a major hurdle for homeowners in constructing one is the $7,500 to $12,000 in city systems fees imposed. The Portland City Council passed an ordinance on March 3 that waived the System Development Charges (SDCs) for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) beginning April 15, 2010 and ending June 30, 2013. So, during this period, the... more

Kohler-Kelston I have been a kitchen and bath designer for 26 years and I just purchased my first low-flow toilet. I have been specifying low-flow toilets since it became the law in 1994, but I never owned one, so I was not aware of the “idiosyncrasies” of actually experiencing one over the long haul. What I learned really changed my perception of toilets. Before I go any further, I must add a disclaimer: “What you are about to hear may be disturbing for some.” I am sorry about this — but... more

Shown is an Art Nouveau settee purchased for $25. A total investment of under $100 for new upholstery and finishing supplies brought new life back to this settee. When purchased, this piece had worn and dirty upholstery, the springs were falling out of the bottom, and the finish was scarred and faded. The renovation consisted of 2 ½ yards of new upholstery applied with a stapler and glue gun (no special tools needed). The springs were retied and new jute strapping was added to the seat. The wood... more