If our grandparents heard about carbon footprints, they probably would have been looking down at the carpet for tracks. Today we are looking at airplane tickets to the Midwest, and wondering how many trees need to be planted in order to give back what we are taking. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

The recipe: 1. Mix wood flour, pine rosin, linseed oil, limestone, and pigment. 2. Heat and calendar to jute backing. 3. Allow to cool. 4. Fold in history, color, and creativity. The result? Linoleum. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Homeowners have countless choices when it comes to fixing their floors. One option is to re-sand and re-stain an existing wood floor. If that won’t do, it’s possible to tear out the old floor and start anew, using new or reclaimed wood products or environmentally friendly materials like cork or linoleum. In some cases, setting a new floor over an old is the best option, especially if the existing floor — for example, vintage linoleum — contains asbestos. A licensed contractor can help you... more

Wouldn’t it be nice to have your hardwood floors re-sanded — with no dust left behind? Matt Sellens, owner of Portland, OR-based Perpetua Wood Floors, offers customers just that. Using specially designed equipment, Sellens and his crew can sand a new or existing wood floor without leaving a whiff of dust behind. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Several companies manufacture rubber roofs from recycled tires. These products are durable (many come with 50-year warranties), as well as fire and wind resistant. Metal Roofing With a long life, metal roofs keep composite material out of our landfills. Also 100% of the material used is recyclable. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read 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. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

It all started with a stray comment. Tobey Parsons was taking Kathleen, his wife of 33 years, out of town for her birthday. “I mentioned to my kids (four, all grown) that we might remodel the kitchen when we got back,” he recalls. The Parsons came home to a surprise: No more kitchen. Their children had demolished the dilapidated room down to the studs. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

First in a two-part series. Part Two: Kitchens Aging-in-place bath designs promote self-sufficiency and safety for seniors. Planning a Bathroom Remodel? Aging-in-place bath designs promote safety for entire family. Nearly 200,000 people are injured annually in their bathroom according to the National Safety Council. The most common mishaps are slips, falls, and hot water burns, the same kinds of risks that plague the aging population. This... more