Home Improvement

But for many folks, who are more self-critical than self-confident, the journey to the ideal wall color or room style is fraught with angst. What if you choose wrong and visitors to your home snicker? What if you spend all that money and don’t get it right?

From airy beach houses filled with light to rustic retreats tucked into the mountains, vacation homes can lead to inspired decorating.

We’re told a well-designed master bedroom should be an oasis of romantic calm. It may also be where you watch television, pay bills and even set up a home office.

Can you keep your home warm and inviting all winter while still conserving energy?

By David Wilkening, Contributing Writer REGION - Typical of many seniors, George Downie has an aging home. Heating and cooling bills―which typically make up the...

Clutter, distractions, poor workflow — sometimes a kitchen’s layout can hinder the cooking process more than it helps. Decorating can create similar pitfalls. “We get too caught up in color palettes and soft fabrics, and we over-think it,” said Genevieve Gorder, co-host and judge of HGTV’s Design Star.

Pastel greens, blues, creams and peaches reigned until the early 1930s, when casual, built-in eating areas were painted Kelly green, red and even black.

The two launched Rail Yard Studios in 2010. Using century-old railroad steel and hardwood timber, they make one-of-a-kind chairs, desks, tables and beds. Some of the rails date back as far as 1898.

For New York color consultant Debra Kling, emerald green’s boldness means it should be used only as an accent. “Emerald might be one of those polarizing colors like purple — you either love it or hate,” she said.

When decorating our homes, we tend to consider things like beauty and comfort, the durability of pieces we might buy or the image they project. But how many of us stop to consider our energy bills?