By Herbert Norton Looking for a way to reduce your energy costs? If you consult your local energy company, you will likely receive a brochure explaining how to wrap your pipes, put a blanket around your hot water heater, plugging cracks and holes through which drafts can flow, and adding...

Filed under: Living Spaces Home security system feeling a little stale? A Japanese company’s been trying to use plastic dinosaurs to stand guard. Can you imagine? Check out this piece from our friends at Charles & Hudson ! We stumbled upon this little interesting little tidbit stemming...

Insulating Cathedral Ceilings Insulating Cathedral Ceilings can be quite challenging. I’m in the early stages of building an amazing workshop to showcase tools over at Tool Box Buzz and shop projects here at HCI. The new workshop will be located over my garage in an area that was framed using...

Spring Is Here – Get Your Yard Ready For Summer Here in New England we are coming off one of the worst winters I can remember in a VERY long time. Now that Spring has finally arrived I’ve been busy planning spring landscaping projects that will ensure our yard is looking it’s best...

Filed under: Patios, Porches & Decks , Essential Skills , Know-How , Outdoors Before you renovate your patio, make sure you know all the flooring options. From stone to brick, these five materials are sturdy and great looking — but only you know which one is the perfect fit for your yard....

HVAC is such a gift. If you’ve ever doubted what an amazing invention it is, just visit relatives that don’t have central air in the middle of summer. You’ll vow to never neglect yours again. To keep your home nice and comfortable as it should be, here’s how to lower your energy bill with...

Spring is here, and I know you’re excited that your home has begun to defrost. But don’t let that distract you from checking on maintenance issues before April rain wreaks havoc on your property. Here’s a checklist to get you started. 1. Check for Water Leaks This is a big one. Check...

Spring is the perfect time to spruce up your home and renew it out of its cold winter slump. From bright spring colors on interior walls to updating old and worn out parts of your home, spring is the perfect ‘excuse’ for renewal. The area of your home that greets people first is your front entry....

Filed under: money , Essential Skills , Know-How , Living Spaces You know your house comes with a whole hosts of costs. But do you know exactly how much? Here’s how to reign in those hidden expenses. ptkphoto Repairs, utilities, even cleaning supplies — there are obvious costs to maintaining...

Having a dream weekend house is an exceptional way to relax.  After a lot of research and planning, the house you always dreamed of can be yours, just like the Dixon House in Martinborough, New Zealand became the perfect weekend living place for the inhabitant’s family. Constructed by Stapleton...