Home Improvement

(BPT) – Winter is in full swing. It’s a beautiful season, but as the temperature drops and the snow, ice and cold approach, there’s always the possibility of a power outage. When it’s cold outside and your home is plunged into darkness, it can be more than just an inconvenience. It can mean not being […]

(BPT) – Americans are spending more time in their outdoor spaces — and want to maximize those spaces. Studies show that nearly 90% of homeowners consider their outdoor areas to be important to their health and well-being. Design trends reflect that people are showing more interest in connecting with nature in their own backyard and

(BPT) – The beginning of a new year is a time when many people take stock of their lives, addressing important tasks like getting wellness exams or scheduling home maintenance. To help protect your home and property, these two steps should be at the top of your list: Getting an annual insurance check, and taking

(BPT) – For your friends and loved ones who are all about their personal style, you’ll want to give them holiday gifts that not only celebrate their passion for fashion, but truly enhance their everyday life, making it easy for them to look their best every day. So if you’ve got a fashionista or two

(BPT) – By Craig Fugate, former Administrator of FEMA and a lifelong advocate for all-hazards preparedness When you’ve been in emergency management as long as I have — whether it was leading efforts in Florida or running FEMA — you quickly realize one thing: disasters don’t follow a script. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes or

(BPT) – The world’s oceans are a magical, beautiful ecosystem … and they also need help — urgently. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, by 2050, there will be more plastic by weight than fish in the ocean. Let that sink in. You may have heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — a floating

(BPT) – If you’re currently living in a smaller home, apartment or condo, you may be looking for smart, space-saving laundry solutions that can make your life easier — and actually turn doing your laundry into a pleasure. The good news is, there are new options available that can maximize your small space, improve energy

(BPT) – When Matthew and Michele Jones decided to renovate their disabled son’s basement so their adult grandson could move in to care for him, they didn’t expect a toilet nightmare. To keep costs under control, they opted for a macerating toilet to avoid breaking through the concrete basement floor to install plumbing. The Jones

(BPT) – Is your home drafty? Are your windows sticking or hard to open and close? Do you get fogging between the windowpanes? Energy bills creeping higher and higher? These are all signs your windows may need to be replaced. It’s a major undertaking and can be a confusing one. You’ll find a wide array

(BPT) – Ready to host for the holidays? Whether you’re planning parties and/or welcoming visitors to your home during this festive season, you probably want to make a great impression. Ahead of this busy time of year, you’ll be glad to know there are some easy upgrades you can make to those all-important rooms —