When I first had a home of my own, I was an avid “Trading Spaces” watcher. I’d observe the drab “before” shots, devour the home repair and decorating tips, and marvel at the outcome of only two days’ work and $1,000. I loved every minute of it. But one “Trading Spaces” trend I could not embrace. The show’s 10 designers universally loathed ceiling fans. Time after time, fans were removed from ...

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Stress. It's hard to avoid it when owning a house and remodeling. Will the roof leak? Is the furnace on its last legs? Will the new paint color clash with the rug? Even those who aren't worried about foreclosure have to deal with housing related stress. (Not as bad as dealing with foreclosures, of course, but you get the picture.) Remodeling a house, particularly kitchen remodeling, is a worthwhile adventure, ...

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I'll confess. Our driveway's a mess and we're worried about making it through the winter without major remodeling problems. The old asphalt driveway is starting to flake off and is in need of a total overhaul. It's tough to just call a contractor and add it to the home improvement list, however. The problem is the cost, of course. It's a little pricey and not nearly as much fun as ...

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I’m not sure when this happened, but apparently decorating with wallpaper has become cool again. When I was growing up in the (cough) 1970s (cough), I proudly chose a delicate brown and blue floral wallpaper for my room. By the time I bought my own home about 10 years ago, I couldn’t imagine choosing to adhere paper to the walls. Entire home improvement shows devoted to the dreaded task of removing ...

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