Wide plank floors are prized for their weathered patina and the sense of history and character that they add to a room. Among the many attributes of wide plank floors is the fact that they can be used with radiant heat.

In-ground backyard pools are a great addition to any home. They not only add a focal point to your yard, and increase your resale value, they also keep the entire family entertained. What better way to spend a leisurely weekend afternoon than lounging by the pool with the kids?

According to news reports, this winter will bring some of the costliest heating bills ever.  These extra high prices won't be because of an unusually cold winter season.  Rather, energy analysts all over the country cite rising fuel and gas prices.  With unending conflict in the Middle East, storms that devastated the Gulf Coast, and a shaky economy, those who heat their homes with natural gas can expect to pay more than 38% of what they paid last year, according to the US Department of Energy.  And homes heated primarily by propane can see increases as high as 18%.

'Tis the season . . . for family visits and festive gatherings.  It's also the time of year for Mother Nature's worst.  Rain, sleet and ice coupled with less sunlight may have you worried about company - or yourself - slipping on sidewalks or driveways.  But did you know there's another area of your home that poses a greater risk for falls and accidents than anywhere else?  And it's the one place you and your visitors can't avoid - the bathroom.

We've been hearing this advice since we were kids.  Before you go outside on a warm, sunny day put on sunscreen to protect your skin, a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes. And while you're outside, drink plenty of fluids and seek out the shade.  If you don't, before you know it, you could be dealing with heat exhaustion and a pretty bad sunburn.

For months, industry experts have kept a close barometer on the fashion world, trade shows and other key indicators to help forecast home decor trends for the coming year.  And the weather report is in.  Within a prevailing climate of personalization, the outlook is both spirited and sassy, serene and stylish.

Jewel-toned glass pendants, suspended by a slender, graceful cable from a sinuous silver track - clearly, this is "not your father's" track lighting. The new generation of track lighting brings design-friendly beauty to what has always been one of the most versatile lighting styles available.

Thanks in part to a lower price point than aluminum frames, vinyl windows now have well over 70% of the residential window market. However, vinyl replacement windows aren't just affordable. They also have great energy and aesthetic qualities to enhance your home.

Adding a solarium (a.k.a. sunroom) to a home is one of the easiest and most practical ways of improving a house's property value.  But there are many other advantages besides generating a larger return on one's investment.  In the years prior to selling the house, solarium owners have ample opportunity to reap the rewards of their indoor garden getaway.  

Unless you built your home in the desert, chances are you need to think about your rain gutters. Ignore them for long, and you'll get a reminder of why water is considered the most powerful element on Earth.

When you go home at the end of the day, your apartment, condo or house should be your sanctuary; but be honest, is it a place that really feels comfortable and welcomes you?  If not, it's time to do something about it.

Realtors know that fireplaces are one of the most popular amenities buyers look for in a home, whether that fireplace is wood-burning or gas powered. They add a homey touch and are a perfect place to display family photos and holiday decorations. But adding a fireplace can be expensive.

Who doesn't love the romantic look of a log home perched on a prairie or lake? But no one probably enjoys the work involved in maintaining a log home; caulking, chinking, sanding, sealing, staining, cleaning and battling bugs are never-ending chores. It makes you wonder how old Abe Lincoln ever found the time to leave his log home and run for president.

If you're looking for the latest trend in home design, take a look around the men's department next time you're at the mall. "Menswear trends are making the transition to home styles this year," says Chris Tennyson, director of visual merchandising for Bombay.

Redecorating your child's room is more than a way to bring their space up to date. It can also be a great way for you to spend some time with your child, to see how their personal tastes have developed and to teach them some valuable lessons about negotiation as well.

Since the first cave dwellers put pigment on the stone walls of their homes, people have used murals to decorate, enhance and make a statement about their living space. Throughout history, muralists have used their talents to tell a story, express religious devotion, beautify their environment and even visualize political protest.

The days are getting longer, temperatures are warming up and soon there will be leaves on the trees again.  You know what that means - time to redecorate.  Every change of season serves as inspiration to make what's old new again.

Another change of season is upon us and as the first daffodil buds signal welcome signs of spring, let them serve as a reminder that it is time to revitalize your living space.

This time of year, angels are everywhere - kids make snow angels when they play outside, you may have angel ornaments on your tree and you might even be baking angel shaped cookies. But angels aren't just a holiday phenomenon.

In the days leading up to your wedding, you can pretty much count on complications.  The caterer calls you up and says he doesn't think he'll be able to find enough lobster tails to fill your order; or all of a sudden your uncle and his family will be coming after all and the priest just got called out of town on a family emergency.