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Share ideas and learn about the latest in home improvement and décor from Tom and Leslie.

Money Pit Blogs

It took Americans a little while to get used to those funny-looking, curly light bulbs, but we’re finally realizing that CFLs are actually more cost-effective than traditional light bulbs.  In fact, most Americans support the law that will start phasing out incandescent bulbs next year. 

Sure,...

Do you live in a tornado-prone area?  The safest place to seek shelter from the storm is in a “safe room” right in your own home. 

The average tornado victim has less than 60 seconds’ warning that a tornado is going to strike their home.  Unfortunately, when most people hear that urgent...

The country kitchen: it’s classic and comfy, but it can be practical too.  If you’re thinking of going country in your kitchen, here are some tips for keeping it real, and real convenient.

When choosing the materials for your country kitchen,  keep everything as natural as possible. Hardwood...

Putting a grandparent or other elderly relative into a nursing care facility is never an easy decision.  Most of us would prefer not to do it, and our older loved ones would almost always rather stay in their own homes, too.  It’s an issue that looms for many of us, as 78 million baby boomers...

Have you been wondering why you get such inconsistent results for your oven-baked culinary masterpieces?  If your baked dishes don’t come out right every time, don’t blame the chef – blame the oven!  It’s possible that your oven’s built-in thermostat isn’t working as it should.  Here’s some...

If you want to keep your home’s interior from looking like it’s falling apart, you need to resign yourself to some annual maintenance.  That one neighbor on the block whose rooms always manage to look brand-new understands the importance of routine care.  Believe me, that interior doesn’t stay...

Happy laundry rooms start with good “bones” – basic functional systems that work the way they should and prevent disaster. 

Whether you’re thinking of adding a laundry room, remodeling an existing one, or just want the most trouble-free laundry room possible, check out upgrades and maintenance...

We’re in the thick of tax season, and that means it’s also prime time for identity theft. 

Take a look around your home office, the family computer area, or that corner of the kitchen that attracts paper.  Somewhere, you’ve got a mounting stack, and I’m willing to bet it includes credit card...

One of the worst things about winter is not being able to find your mailbox under the snow plow hump at the end of your driveway.  It’s probably not fun for your postal carrier either.  But there are some cool mailboxes out there that can help you avoid that problem. 

There are actually several...

2010 saw some stubborn insect infestations in the United States, from bedbugs to the dreaded stinkbug.  But will last year’s pests bug us for yet another year?  Look out for the return of these guys, who took the top prizes for unwelcome guests in 2010:

Bedbugs.  Bedbugs popped up all over the...