Renting and Tenant Rights

Issues With Landlords & Bugs

Overview Renting a home or an apartment opens the door to some common issues faced by renters. Insect infestations are one of the most serious problems tenants face. Roaches, ants, bedbugs and other insects can create health difficulties. The issues become even worse when landlords refuse to provide help. Infestations Bug issues become a significant […]

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Coastal Style

A Paean to '60s and the 1950s in Pennsylvania

Call it kismet. Call it a pipe dream come true. Matthew and Bobbie Fisher fell in love with a renovated midcentury modern home designed by architect Irwin Stein. Nevertheless, it was so out of the price range they stayed put and kept home searching. A year after Craig Wakefield, the Realtor who had shown the […]

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Decorating Guides

7 Ways to Play Symmetry for a Dynamic Design

“Symmetry” — derived from the Greek term which means “to quantify together” — has a couple of meanings. The better-known definition of “symmetry” is really a balance attained through ratio and harmony. Another definition has to do with the mathematical idea of mirror symmetry, where items on each side of a centerline are completely identical. […]

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Fireplaces

Chalk It Up

Are you really getting spring fever? I know I am! As anxious as I am to have outdoors and start sprucing up my landscape, Mother Nature appears to have other thoughts. If you’re searching for a simple DIY job to tackle as you wait for spring to officially arrive, chalkboard paint is your solution. Chalkboard […]

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Coastal Style

A Grand Overhaul for a Growing Family

Looking around at their modern townhome, Chris and Richard Cahill realized the harsh modern edges of rock, steel, glass and cable wouldn’t be ideal for a baby on the way. “It might have cost us $30,000 to baby-proof,” Chris says. Besides wanting something kid-friendly, the couple required to have the ability to match up to […]

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Color

Strategies to Produce Color Flow Throughout a House — a Case Study

Originality and creativity are having a minute: eclectic, vibrant spaces are all the rage. But though many are over matchy-matchy furniture and one-size-fits-all paint colours, some consistency throughout the residence is not something. Done right, color coordinating leads to greater circulation and a polished, cohesive interior layout. Model-home interior designer Mary DeWalt creates designs to […]

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Saving Water

Recommended Pipe Insulation R Values

Insulating your water pipes helps reduce heat loss and may raise the water temperature by two to four degrees, and in addition, it can help prevent freezing. Insulation varies in R-value, but there are recommendations that are designed to ensure you’ll find energy savings. Minimum Recommended R-Value The U.S. Department of Energy recommends insulating hot […]

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