Home & Garden

By Katie Laughridge, Tribune News Service Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Is there any better feeling than pulling up a swath of old carpet to find beautiful hidden wooden floors? Besides being a gorgeous flooring choice, hardwood floors give us a wonderful, warm blank canvas to play with a wonderful New Traditional staple: rugs. It is my firm belief that a home isn’t complete without floor coverings. A rug can take a space from barren and chilly to warm and inviting.   Rugs complete a room by anchoring furniture to a specific area. With open floor plans being commonplace, it is…

By Katie Laughridge, Tribune News Service Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden I never thought I would be referencing this artist in a blog, but as ZZ Top has told us, “Every girl crazy ‘bout a sharp-dressed man!” Who knew those words would carry over into a sharp-dressed room? I for one am crazy about menswear-inspired decor (as well as garments for myself – hello tweed blazers)! As fall and winter approach, it is the perfect time to add traditionally masculine touches to your spaces for increased comfort and warmth.   As a lover of textiles, when I think menswear I immediately…

By Alicia Chilton | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden The addition of seasonal colors and some simple accessory swaps will give your bathroom cozy fall vibes in no time.  Fall decor usually finds a home on front doors, dining tables, and above fireplace mantels, but bathrooms are also apt candidates for a seasonal makeover. Whether you’re looking to bring some fall warmth to a powder room, master bathroom, or your guest bath, these bathroom decorating ideas for fall will help you display seasonal style in this otherwise hardworking space. A few seasonal accessories, a swath or two of orange or yellow, and some simple…

By Samantha Hunter | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Tower fans work overtime to keep us cool during warmer months. Keep the small appliance running smoothly by breaking out the cleaning supplies and giving your trusty tower fan a well-deserved wipe-down. Being practically brand-new, my tower fan still performs at its peak. However, soon I'll need to figure out how to get into the tower fan to clean out the accumulated dust, dander, and debris. If you've been dreading cleaning your tower fan, too, the good news is that the process is simple. With the right supplies and a few…

By Mary Caldwell Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Most people aren’t too happy when they encounter a spider, and that’s especially true if the creepy-crawly you come across happens to be venomous. Although it’s understandable to be anxious, it’s important to know the difference between a harmless spider and a dangerous one. Here are some important tips from experts on dealing with venomous spiders and what to do if you think you’ve been bitten.   Even if you think you’ve been bitten by a spider, most are actually harmless, according to the Mayo Clinic. Only a few types have venom strong enough…

By Megan Hughes | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Sharing our homes with family and friends is a delight but when guests of the creepy, crawly nature embrace our hospitality, that delight turns to disgust. And roaches are usually at the top of the list of unwelcome visitors. Hospitality to a cockroach looks like a smattering of crumbs on counters and floors, moderate temperatures (not too hot or too cold), dark recesses for hiding, and a dripping pipe or leaky faucet offering a cool drink. These insects can spread germs as they eat their way through garbage and food scraps, then crawl across…

By C.W. Cameron / For the AJC Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Our kitchens have always been one of the busiest places in the house. We cook in them, we eat in them, and last year we turned some of them into virtual offices and classrooms. With most of us spending a lot more time at home, our kitchens got a real workout. As Lisa McManus, executive editor of equipment testing and ingredient tasting at America’s Test Kitchen, said to me, “With preparing three meals a day plus snacks, we’ve all become a lot more familiar with our kitchens.” And while…

By Kiersten Willis, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Cooler weather doesn’t mean your colorful garden is finished. It just means there are new ways to add brightness to your yard. For people who are hoping to start their first garden in the autumn, there are a few tips you can learn from the Georgia experts who spoke to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Kara Ziegler, horticulturist and regional manager at Duluth-based Pike Nurseries, offers some lessons on florals. While Greg Key, president and CEO of south Georgia gardening supplies and seed company Hoss Tools has some recommendations for vegetables. Get…

By Caitlin Sole | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Update your home's curb appeal with these house number ideas. Try our DIY projects for every skill level and architectural style. House numbers might be a small piece of an exterior facade, but they are important for both function and beauty. Fortunately, you don't have to settle for plain plastic numbers. There are tons of creative ideas for house numbers that can add style and personalization to your exterior. When selecting house numbers, first consider the architectural style of your home. For a contemporary home, consider a streamlined house number design; cottage-style homes, on the…