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Sure, you can dial down the thermostat and get used to wearing bulky sweaters indoors to cut costs. But if you’ve got an unfinished attic, giving it proper insulation is one of the simplest ways to keep a lid on your heating bill this season. “It’s a DIY project you can tackle in a weekend, and the savings you’ll get add up every year,” says TOH general contractor Tom Silva....

In this episode: Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada takes us on a house call to solve a homeowner’s front yard problem. Despite living in a wooded neighborhood, their street is noisy, and they’d prefer to create some separation for the front yard for their children. Jenn surveys the surrounding plants and setting and comes up with a plan to create a woodland garden. Jenn and the homeowner discuss their options and settle on some native viburnum, hydrangea, and dogwood species....

In this episode: Host Kevin O’Connor finds Paint Expert Mauro Henrique working with our new apprentices to fix the plaster damage created by the fire and its aftermath. Plumbing and Heating Expert Richard Trethewey finds fellow plumber Ronnette Taylor installing a sprinkler system to help prevent another disaster. Shortly before the fire, Carol selected new tile for each bathroom in the house. Now, she’s back at the home center selecting tiles again with the help of designer Amy Lynn Allard....

About This House Originally built in the Greek Revival style in the 1840s, and attributed to noted local carpenter Jacob Holt, this spacious house was remodeled as a Colonial Revival in the 1920s, when it gained its fine brick cladding and a front porch, now long gone. At that time it became home to Eugene Allen, the prominent owner of a building supply company, and his wife, Florence. It eventually passed to the Allens’ socially active, civic-minded daughter, Louise, who lived there until 2006, when the house was sold....

At the time, the town was a bustling hub for the Illinois Central Railroad. Historians surmise that the house may have undergone some Craftsman-style updates in the years that followed, the better to fit in with the popular aesthetic. A porte cochere and brick archway lend storybook charm. The driveway’s gravel paving is still in evidence. Why Save It? Filled with vintage details, the house retains original fireplace mantels, heart-pine and oak floors, divided-light windows, French doors, and transoms....

Top 4 Pool Lights Best Permanent Light: Roleadro Pool Light Best Speaker: Blufree Bluetooth Speaker With Colorful Lights Best Bulb: Life-Bulb LED Color Pool Light Bulb Best Suction Light: VIDOME Rechargeable Pool Lights Best Permanent Light: Roleadro Pool Light Key Features Comes with one light and a remote Has a screw-in design Offers seven static and five dynamic modes What Customers Are Saying Customers thought that this light was fairly easy to set up given its permanent installation process....

Best Flip Top: Ello Syndicate Glass Water Bottle Whether you’re exercising or driving, this water bottle is equipped with a one-touch flip lid for easy access to your water. The lid locks into place when you’re done drinking and features a loop for carrying it. The bottle also has a silicone sleeve that keeps the glass protected if it drops. Key Features 20-ounce capacity Flip-top lid Silicone sleeve Carrying loop Multiple color options...

Top 5 Mosquito Repellents Most User-Friendly: OFF! Deep Woods Mosquito and Insect Repellent Wipes Best Spray Repellent: OFF! Deep Woods Insect & Mosquito Repellent Best For Standing Water: Summit Responsible Solutions Mosquito Dunks Best Heat-Activated: Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repeller Best Design: Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Most User-Friendly: OFF! Deep Woods Mosquito and Insect Repellent Wipes These lemon-scented repellent wipes are easy to apply and provide long-lasting protection from mosquitoes, gnats, and other pests....

Best Foam Brush: Bates Foam Paintbrushes Best for Large Areas: perdura Deck Stain Brush Applicator Easiest To Store: Purdy Sprig Paintbrush Best for Artists: Benicci Professional Artist Paintbrush Set Best for Angles: Richard Goose-Neck Angular Paintbrush Best for Trim: Wooster 5224 Sash Paint Brush Best for Corners: Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush Best Foam Brush: Bates Foam Paintbrushes Pros and Cons ✔ Has absorbent foam cells✔ Measures two inches wide to paint small areas✔ Has a sturdy wooden handle ✘ Not efficient for large paint jobs✘ Can become floppy after excessive use...

Luring fireflies to your yard can take time and, depending on where you live, might even be impossible. Read on to learn about the different types of fireflies, to figure out if your yard can support them, and to find tips from Pfeiffer and Salvatore about how to attract fireflies to your yard. Where Can I Find Fireflies? There are over 150 species of firefly in the U.S., each with its own environment, Salvatore says....

Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Portable Slow Cooker Nothing says “I love you” quite like a slow-cooker beef stew. This 6-quart model is perfect for potlucks, tailgating, or romantic picnics in front of a cozy fireplace. KitchenAid Electric Kettle Flipwich Non-Stick Sandwich Maker Prepare the perfect brunch with help from this hot-sandwich maker. The stovetop Flipwich features a non-stick and scratch-resistant copper-infused ceramic cooking surface. Highwin French Press The double-wall construction of this handsome French press keeps coffee or tea warm longer than glass models, while outside stays cool to the touch....

Watch the Tour Download the Cottage on the Cape Resource Guide Designed by award-winning Union Studio Architecture & Community Design, built by the region’s leading custom home builders at Cape Associates, and featuring the design savvy of Denise Enright Interior Design, this home brims with innovative touches including a sleeping loft for four; a finished basement; a generous outdoor entertaining spaces; a maker’s workshop; and an in-law apartment. Don’t miss it!...

So the question is: Should you reach for the wood filler or the wood putty to fix that crack in the baseboard? And what about the trim around the basement door? Learn when to use the right one to repair and preserve the beautiful wood in your home. What is wood filler? Usually, a wood filler is a mixture of wood fibers, such as sawdust, and a binder that hardens....

Buyer’s Guide Scary decor isn’t just for Halloween. Pumpkins, vampires, ghosts, spiders, and more can add a little fright to your home all year round. This buying guide will give you everything you need to know to decide on the best spooky decorating ideas to buy this season. Type There are many different types of popular spooky decorations. These can include: Candles Doormats Fake cobwebs Fake tombstones Fog machines Inflatable arches Inflatable characters Outdoor animatronics Outdoor lights Pumpkins Spooky throw pillows Witch hats...

Here are 10 tips—most costing less than $25—that will keep you comfortable and cut the typical $1,000 cooling bill by as much as half. What’s needed to get the temperature to drop? Only a little time and a few changes in your routine. How to Set Your Thermostat to the Right Setting Typical air-conditioning settings for a programmable thermostat at different times of day: Smart Tips to Keep Cool Indoors This Summer 6 a....

These 15 low maintenance shrubs for landscaping are all attractive, reliable, trouble-free plants. None have serious pest problems, and they don’t require constant pruning or cleanup. 15 Best Low Maintenance Shrubs 1. Oakleaf Hydrangea Native to Georgia, Florida and Mississippi Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a shrub for all seasons, with large, showy cone-shaped flower clusters in early summer, outstanding fall color and handsome cinnamon-colored, flaking bark in winter. This widely adapted plant grows upright from 4 to 6 feet high with an equal or greater spread....

You’ll get to explore the newly-remodeled house, meet cast and crew members from This Old House, and join in the revelry as we celebrate another completed renovation of Season 43. It’s all going down on Thursday, June 9th, in Saratoga Springs, New York. For a chance to win, enter below! You may enter once per day until the contest closes at 11:59 PM EDT on Tuesday, May 23, 2022. We’ll start contacting potential winners with valid email addresses and phone numbers on Tuesday, May 24....