Tag: home improvement
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At Home: She wanted a new shower. It came with a new kitchen and bath.
When my daughter and son-in-law bought their first home together two years ago, the young couple had three dreams: a new kitchen, a nicer bathroom and a baby. Last month they got all three. Except for the outdated kitchen and tired main bath, the 15-year-old Craftsman-style house had everything Paige and Adam wanted for what…
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At Home: Bringing home a baby is not like it used to be
He’s barely bigger than a sack of flour, but he effortlessly runs the house. A precious, commanding, endearing, fascinating wonder, this tiny human can cause three adoring adults to spring to action with only a whimper. I am staying in the Colorado home of my new grandson, George. His parents (my daughter and her husband)…
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Clearing out the house: Behind the scenes of the estate sale | At Home
Ten years ago, when clearing out my parents’ home of 50 years, I had no idea what I was getting into, let alone what I was doing. I had never been to an estate sale, and now I was going to have one. I took a week off from my job in Florida, flew to…
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At Home: Rethink the art in your house with these 14 designer tips
In the world of art and design are two schools of thought. On one side are those who create or sell art. Artists and gallery owners, for instance, tend to promote the idea if you love a piece, buy it. You will always find a place for it. Interior designers, on the other hand, look…
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At Home: Can sofas take abuse and still look good?
Over the years, I’ve become a big fan of furniture that is both pretty and practical. I’ve made the mistake of buying furniture that was pretty and got quickly ruined. (Good-bye cream linen chair!) I’ve also been stuck with furniture that is all function and no form, like the oversized, dark brown faux leather sofa…
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At Home: At furniture bank, handed down furniture offers a hand up
A few months ago, Kat Williams was living with her children — ages 1, 5 and 13 — in her car. When I met her last week, she was picking furniture for a three-bedroom apartment that was “way more than I expected,” she said. Williams and I met at a furniture and clothing bank. Now…
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At Home: Dinner party prompts dining room refresh
The prospect of hosting a fancy dinner party at my house filled my heart with panic and my redecorating engine with jet fuel. I had been wanting to update my dining room. Suddenly, I had an incentive and a deadline. “You start seeing everything they don’t even notice,” said my neighbor, trying to calm my…
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At Home: When is an area rug too small and how to fix it
“Your living room rug is too small,” she said. “No, it’s not,” I said. “Yes, it is,” she replied. “So what if it is. I’m not getting rid of it,” I asserted. We fight like sisters, my friend Susan and I. We disagree on about everything, including politics, diet, and religion. We usually agree on…
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At Home: When is an area rug too small and how to fix it
“Your living room rug is too small,” she said. “No, it’s not,” I said. “Yes, it is,” she replied. “So what if it is. I’m not getting rid of it,” I asserted. We fight like sisters, my friend Susan and I. We disagree on about everything, including politics, diet, and religion. We usually agree on…
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Wallpaper comeback — it’s not just flowers and strawberries anymore
“Wallpaper?” “Yes. Wallpaper,” the designer confirmed. “I haven’t put wallpaper in a home in 15 years,” I replied. “Where have you been? Wallpaper is huge,” he said. Then I started noticing. He was right. A couple of months ago, I got the bug to refresh and update my dining room. I was not being rash.…