ArcaMax

If you have an indoor cat (or cats) who can’t use a tree to relieve their anxiety with a good scratch, consider making or buying a scratching post to prevent them from ruining your upholstered furniture, draperies or carpeting. It’s more than a good investment, plus it’s fun to watch a cat release their inner turmoil by scratching and ...Read more

No matter what the temperature is outside, a garden window creates a year-round growing season. It’s especially handy and attractive for growing fresh herbs or special flowering plants. A basic garden window is a bump-out unit with a shelf and features insulated glass on top and on the sides, and allows light, air and sunshine inside. The unit...Read more

Painting is one of the biggest bangs for your buck, but preparing and painting cabinets is a time-consuming job. It can be a dramatic facelift, especially when you give a fresh new look to cabinets with a dark finish. After the cabinet and drawer fronts and hardware are removed, the real work begins with sanding, deglossing and priming the ...Read more

If your home has inadequate heating or a poor heat distribution system, consider installing a built-in, vent-free natural gas space heater. That will give a room a constant source of heat providing a warm, safe environment.

Connected to a permanent gas line, these mini-units work just like a home's full-size gas furnace. They are energy-...Read more

To call attention to a collection of colorful ceramics or pottery, consider installing glass shelves that appear to float on a wall. The clear surface of tempered glass makes it an attractive display to showcase what it’s holding without being a distraction. And for a more utilitarian use, glass shelves provide storage that’s clearly visible...Read more

A metal railing provides a sturdy barrier and firm gripping surface that assures safe footing on the exterior entry stairs to a home. Over time the effects of weather can chip and corrode the railing, especially in high-use areas, so a fresh coat of primer and paint is needed to restore its appearance. A thorough scraping, priming and fresh ...Read more

A fireplace adds character and ambiance to any room, making it an undeniable improvement. And on a cold night the appeal of a crackling fire goes a long way as an upgrade that can add value to the home. A prefabricated metal zero-clearance fireplace is a popular choice, because it takes a minimum amount of space and can be safely placed near ...Read more

The ceiling, which some designers say is the fifth wall of a room, can be the center of attention. When the ceiling is made of laminate wood planks, also called panels, it can be a striking addition and transform an ordinary room to extraordinary. A wood plank ceiling can add a charming contrast in a stark contemporary setting, or complete the ...Read more

To give a neat and manicured look to your lawn use an edge trimmer to outline flower beds, trees, clusters of shrubs and walkways. It’s a finishing touch that defines the landscape with a tidy and manicured appearance. Every time the lawn is mowed the edging emphasizes the perimeter and line separating grass and the other elements of the ...Read more

A door insert is an ideal way to bring light into an entryway or brighten a dark hallway and at the same time improve an ordinary door. The insert gives an existing door a new lease on life while opening up the interior with daylight. These door inserts come in kits for both interior and exterior doors, some with internal blinds, in a variety of...Read more

A casement window is a good choice when a room needs ventilation, because it opens on its side at the turn of a crank so it’s easier to operate than lifting a traditional double-hung window. We’ve used a casement in small bathroom makeovers, because their narrow shape takes up so little wall space but allows opening and closing with ...Read more

An ugly pock-marked cement garage floor can be transformed with a new epoxy finish. The new surface does double duty to upgrade an otherwise ordinary garage while creating a durable, long lasting surface. The dreaded job of removing everything in the garage is no small feat for most of us which can resurrect new found treasures if your garage is...Read more

With so many “excessive heat days” this past summer, attic air circulation has become important because the movement of air prevents the space from overheating. When the thermometer drops, proper air flow reduces attic humidity and improves insulation performance, so good air circulation in an attic is crucial, no matter what the weather.

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