I recently stumbled accross this article and thought it was incredibly interestign and relevant for those of us interested in being more environmentally freindly in our homes.

(ARA) - There are many places through most houses where doors that slide rather than swing can provide space saving advantages. But genuine pocket doors that slide inside of walls can't always be installed, due to obstacles such as room configurations. 

I found this article first through Apartment Therapy and then the original at House Beautiful.  

Home Depot made headlines a few weeks back by laying off hundreds of employees around the country.  In stores, many are noticing a dire lack of customer service (this blogger certainly is).  To try and ease some of the pressure off of in store associates the company has opened a Twitter account.

Twitter, for the uninitiated, is an online networking website.  Users can log on, share current statuses and communicate with one another (think mini-blog). 

William Olson, an Urbanologist writing at salon.com offered a number of tips for those homebuilders hoping to keep bu

(ARA) - This year, as people are staying closer to home, why not try a home improvement project that involves little effort, makes your house more beautiful and efficient and can provide benefits for years to come -- replacing your windows. 

Beauty, comfort and energy efficiency are excellent reasons to replace your old windows. Not to mention, when windows are old, leaky and don’t work properly, they can also be frustrating to operate. 

(ARA) – If your bedroom is more like a catastrophe than an oasis, it may be time to wake up and take on the chaos. Designers and sleep experts agree that your bedroom should be a peaceful refuge, a restful retreat that creates an atmosphere conducive to sleep and relaxation. 

Five Tips to Turn Chaos into Bliss 

1. Cut the clutter: The more stuff you have in the room, the smaller and more confining the room will appear. 

A Contract is a legal agreement between two or more people.  A written agreement is one of the most important communication tools for both the contractor and consumer.  It insures there are no misunderstandings about what a job will include.  A thorough contract tells how the work will be done, when it will be done, what materials will be used and how much it will cost.

In California, there must be a written contract for all home improvement projects over $500.  By law, that contract must include specific information about your rights and responsibilities. 

1. Hire only licensed contractors.

2. Check a contractor's license number online at www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752).

3. Get three references, review past work.

4. Get at least three bids.

5. Get a written contract and don't sign anything until you completely understand the terms.

6. Never pay more than 10% down or $1,000. whichever is less.

7. Don't let your payments get ahead of their work.  Keep records of payments.