What better reason to throw a soirée than to celebrate the return of summer? Now that the dormant winter months have waned, your backyard is full of life again and presents itself as the picture-perfect backdrop for a party. Prepare for a season worth celebrating by arranging your own outdoor entertaining area. You’ll be ready to party in no time. Positioning and Foundation.  Photo: Houzz Start by assessing your outdoor space, deck, or patio to determine the best location for your setup. Although you can position furniture differently for each event, start with a spot that provides plenty of room...

Kitchen counters serve as more than places to store appliances. You prepare food, wash dishes and perform other duties at the counter and its height makes a big difference in your ergonomic comfort. Standard heights have been adopted for the different countertop surfaces in the kitchen but your personal preferences and needs may make alternative measurements preferable. Some builders will create the bar or island from cabinetry and top it with a countertop. Building a knee wall (some call it a pony wall)-- a short wall made from dimensional lumber -- is more affordable and looks just as good.      ...

Whether she's a master chef or spa connoisseur, build the perfect space for Mom. If you want to remodel a kitchen or bath in the house, chances are that the lady of the house is the go to for decision-making on everything from scheduling the demo to choosing the paint color.  According to Colette Carlson, an expert on gender and selling, women make 89% of major purchasing decisions.  Keep that statistic in your back pocket and take a few minutes now to think about products your women are begging for in their homes. With Mother's Day coming up fast, these new and...

Nearly 83 percent of taxpayers will get money back from Uncle Sam this year, with refunds averaging $3,120. While you can’t go wrong saving the cash or using it to pay down debt, the money may be enough to cover a smaller home improvement project that could add value to your house or, more immediately, improve your quality of life. Now that you’ve finally gotten that tax return filed, it’s time to start planning what you’ll do with your refund. Photo: taxrefunders.com Even if these smaller fixes won’t suddenly make your house much more valuable, they can help maximize the enjoyment you...