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Enter the Williamsburg® Paint Color Collection by Benjamin Moore. Together with preservationists at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Benjamin Moore’s chemists and color experts examined 18th-century wallpaper, original paint samples, and historical documents to accurately re-create colors found in early American design, to curate a collection of 144 beautifully nuanced colors—a timeless palette that is both historic and distinctly modern. In the Williamsburg® Paint Color Collection, Enright found the perfect blend of classic, organic colors that she could use in a refreshing, contemporary way....

IAQ has become more top of mind for HVAC engineers because homes are tighter and keep air inside the building for significantly longer than in years past. How to Keep Air Clean To keep clean air in an airtight home, consider installing an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) which can act like lungs for the building, bringing fresh air in without losing any of the heating or cooling attached to it....

Best Practices for Replacing Antique Light Switches A: I’d recommend that you replace the original switches with new ones. Those switches were made with materials that may have become cracked, corroded, or fatigued in the last 100 years, and their design doesn’t meet today’s strict electrical-safety standards. The newer switches do, as indicated by their “UL-Listed” mark. Fortunately, you don’t have to give up on the two-button look, or the satisfying snap that the buttons make when you push them in....

Capturing the light Even though the house is sited in a valley that is shaded for parts of the day, its tall, narrow form makes the interior bright. Expansive windows and skylights usher in the natural light: “The sun just pours in,” says Amy, who positioned the home with the sun’s path in mind, visiting the site often during the planning stages to time the sun and take photos. Snug, Minnesota-worthy building envelope Minnesota’s long, snowy winters also factored into Amy’s decisions....

Before you get started, you’ll need to choose where you want to install your entertaining space. Consider a swath of level ground that doesn’t visually affect the flow of your backyard or impede natural traffic patterns. Once you’ve chosen a location, use the following tips to design your new tropical-inspired entertaining space. Customize the Bar by Building it Yourself If you’re adept at using an air compressor and framing nailer, one way to create an impressive centerpiece that fits perfectly in your outdoor entertaining space is by building the actual tiki bar yourself....

7 Styles of Built In Bookshelves 1. Library Style Bookcases arranged to form a passageway and united with flat trim create a mini library, complete with a rolling ladder that beckons young readers to hunt for a good book on the topmost shelves. Designer Bret Franks came up with the idea as a way to add old-house character to a new farmhouse with a completely open first floor beyond this office space....

What is Wood Ash Good For? We may not burn as much firewood as we used to, but ash is still a great raw resource with a variety of benefits and uses around the home. Here are 8 ways you can use fireplace ashes around your home and garden. 1. Amending Soil and Boosting Your Lawn Wood ash can be used to boost the pH of your lawn’s soil quickly—faster than limestone, since the ash is more water soluble....

Dr. Ted Myatt, ScD, senior scientist with Environmental Health & Engineering and the University of Rhode Island, recommends keeping your home’s humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent. “A lot of the info about furniture, artwork, and stamp collections is based on guidance geared toward museums,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean the antique furniture I have in my home isn’t just as valuable to me as what might be in a museum....

What is the purpose of wainscoting? A combination of decorative boards or panels and moldings that extend partway up a wall’s face, wainscoting is a centuries-old marriage of form and style. Dating to the 1300s, the Dutch used it to shield the bottom half of plaster walls from such hazards as jostled chairs, spurs on riding boots, perhaps even carelessly swung scabbards. Wainscoting still guards our walls, but today it’s from dirt-caked gardening shoes in mudrooms, olive-oil fingerprints in kitchens, and the inevitable scuffs in the close quarters along hallways and stairways....

New Faces and Famous Guests (2003 – 2012) Milestones and More (2014 – 2021) Favorite Moments from the Cast After 20 television seasons and more than 1,000 house calls, what are some of the episodes that really hit home for the Ask This Old House team? We asked, they answered.

Save on Security: Blink and Ring Deals You can help protect your home this holiday season with these doorbells and indoor cameras from Blink and Ring. The outdoor security cameras are great for those who want to keep a better eye on what’s going on on their front porch to monitor package delivery and potential home invaders. The indoor cameras are an excellent choice for those looking to keep an eye on a pet while away from home or for an extra level of security once the baby goes to bed....

Top 5 Handheld Shower Heads Best Combination Head: AquaDance Rainfall and Handheld Combo Best Two-in-One Shower Head: Delta Faucet H2OKinetic Handheld Shower Head Best Water-Saving Head: Hopopro Six-Function Handheld Shower Head Best For Small Showers: AquaDance High-Pressure Handheld Shower Head Best Filter Head: PureAction Luxury Filtered Shower Head Best Combination Head: AquaDance Rainfall and Handheld Combo This combo pack features a large overhead shower head that mimics the feeling of falling rain and a smaller handheld shower head attachment....

If you’re looking for a home warranty in San Antonio, we have some recommendations for you. These companies are all trusted nationwide providers with the resources and experience to back up their residential service contracts. Top 4 Home Warranty Companies in San Antonio The highest-rated home warranty companies in San Antonio include: American Home Shield: Best Overall Choice Home Warranty: Best Basic Plan Liberty Home Guard: Most Responsive First American Home Warranty: Best Appliance Coverage...

Looking for a simple way to make your bedroom more eco-friendly, or want a sleep space that’s allergen-free? It may be time to replace your bed with one of the best latex mattresses available. Bedding products made with organic latex (that is, materials made from a rubber tree) represent some of the safest, cleanest, and most environmentally friendly options available today. Latex is a comfortable and increasingly affordable solution for those who want to avoid beds made with artificial chemicals....