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Maybe granite can be a home's best friend
By ROSEMARY SADEZ FRIEDMANN
Next to diamonds, granite is the hardest stone in existence. And it is this little fact that makes granite a prime choice for many interior design applications.
Besides being tough stuff, granite also is beautiful, adding a touch of luxury to a home even as it adds utilitarian touches.
Throw a faulous fall fete
By MARY CAROL GARRITY
Q: When the new school year starts, I'm thrilled to see friends I've lost touch with over the summer. I want to get everyone together for a fall dinner party and would like some creative ideas for how to decorate for the event.
Steps that promise a moisture-free basement room
By DWIGHT BARNETT
Q: I am in the process of finishing my basement. I live 35 miles southwest of Chicago. I have the basement completely framed out. I used standard 2-by-4 framing, with the exterior walls (those next to the poured concrete foundation) spaced about one inch from the concrete.
During the three years I have lived here my basement has been bone dry.
A shower stall in pieces ... banging noises in the bathroom
By ED DEL GRANDE
Q: Ed, you are the go-to guy for plumbing questions and I finally have one for you! Recently my wife and I were looking for bathroom fixtures to lay out our bathroom for a new house we want to build in the not so distant future.
Embellished journals make wonderful gifts
By DENA FISHBEIN
Whenever I see blank books on sale at my local discount store I scoop them up, knowing I'll put them to good use. Whether used to record private thoughts or just for grocery lists, a pretty, embellished journal makes picking up a pen that much more fun.
And, of course, they make fabulous gifts.
Often, my favorite designs are simply layered elements I happen to think are nice.
Rewards of paying your bills on time and efficiently
By ALICIA ROCKMORE and SARAH WELCH
Here's a scenario: you come home from work to find a "past due" cable bill in the mailbox. You could have sworn that you had paid it two weeks ago, but your checkbook says otherwise.
Still hoping you just forgot to enter the payment in your checkbook register, you rummage around your kitchen, home office, purse...and everywhere else you have little piles of mail stashed.
Wainscoting adds charm to a new house
By MATT FOX
Wouldn't it be great to own a brand new home? Those of us who live in older homes often find ourselves envious of homeowners who don't have to worry about old roofs, leaky windows or dripping faucets.
There's a way to fix a carpet burn if the area is small
Q: Can a cigarette burn in my carpet be repaired?
A: Actually, there is a fairly simple way to repair a small burned area in a carpet.
Begin by using a razor-knife to cut away and remove the burned fibers, cutting them down to the base.
Once you've removed as much of the burned area as possible, the next step is to conceal the bare spot.
101 pretty good ideas from Home & Garden Television
A continuing compendium of tips and tricks from Home & Garden Television:
Kitchen safety:
_ Inadequate heating when preparing food allows germs to remain in the cooked food that you serve.
Dishes that will make your tabletop sparkle
By MARY CAROL GARRITY
Q: I'd like to get a new set of dishes, but I'm completely overwhelmed by all the styles available. What type of dishware do you suggest?
A: When you were a kid, do you remember begging your parents to keep the skinny stray cat that followed you home from school? That was our daughter Kelly.
