Hobbies: Let a poster transform a dresser

Give a boring dresser a quick new look by sticking your favorite vintage-style poster right on the front. This design idea can be completed in an afternoon and the results are amazing. One of my favorite things about this project is that you can truly alter a piece of furniture to your personal style and taste.

Yardsmart: Torture-tested plants can still come up roses

They call it a "torture test" when extreme weather descends, as it has this past year in Texas. While many lament such difficulties, one rose grower claims that this anomaly of high temperatures separates the men from the boys in test plots.

Homefix: Putting a decorative gas log into a fireplace

Q: I have a house built in 1969 with a brick fireplace that we put a gas decorative insert in and changed the decorative fireplace door. There are now large gaps between the masonry work, brick and the door. This is not an insert -- just a decorative log. Is it possible to stucco over a brick masonry fireplace and make a smooth surface so the door is flush with the fireplace, or do you have another suggestion?

John Deere heritage runs deep on Missouri farm

Russ Alexander, fourth generation farmer in Ralls County, Mo., collects John Deere tractors like others might collect coins or stamps.

Candice Tells All: Century-old living room gets modern twist

Katarina and Tom love the character and charm of their 100-year-old house, but they admit that adapting the century home to modern-day living was a bit of a challenge. Back when the house was built, one common living room was all anyone ever needed.

101 Ideas: Choosing bathroom countertops

Industry insiders help you select the best surface for your bathroom countertop:

Ask the Plumber: Make a splash in bathroom with these sinks

Q: I'm a loyal reader and could use a little help with my bathroom-remodel planning. Everyone I speak with tells me that the "natural" look is in for bathrooms. I need a little help with my lavatory sink.

Anne Mazar: College students act to bring 'real food' to their campuses

The current “Occupy” generation of students is looking for change, and for some, it is a desire to have access to fresh, organic, local and ethically sourced food at an affordable price, which ironically is often hard to find on a college campus.

Looking Up: Star-filled imagination

With an imagination, the sky is full of surprise. One never knows what you’ll see next. Like imagining shapes in fair weather cumulus clouds, a night sky watcher will see all sorts of things. You may be a grown adult and think finding cloud shapes is something just for kids. A night under the stars will cure you of that.

Yardsmart: Heirlooms protect the genetic diversity of our food supply

We had a cold spring. The modern hybrids languished while the heirlooms took off despite the cool season. This proved that the hybrids did not have the wide range of climatic tolerances as the heirlooms. If I had not planted heirlooms, I would not have had a tomato harvest that year.

Interiors: Create an elegant wintry table

Well, it's winter. But winter doesn't have to be dreary, and often during this no-holiday time of year, people enjoy lifting their spirits by entertaining. In winter, we tend to do things a little more formally, so let's explore how to decorate a dining table in a wintery, formal way.

101 Ideas: Understand the color wheel before choosing a scheme

When decorating, choosing a color scheme can be a perplexing task. It's hard enough whittling down your choice, and when you have to mix and match them into an eye-pleasing scheme, sometimes considering the whole color wheel is just too much to ask.

Treasures: Bronze statue not likely to draw collectors

Could you tell me the value of this solid bronze statue? It is 26 inches tall with a lead crystal bowl that is 9 inches in diameter and a marble base. It has "Italy" stamped on the bottom.

Gardener: Toads will help you get a jump on garden bugs

Toads love slugs, grubs, grasshoppers and cutworms. Toads are the kinds of guests you'll want to invite to stay in your garden, and bring their friends!

Buttoned Up: Nine immutable laws of time management

Wish you had more time in the day? Consider these time-management truths.

Home Style: Personalize your home with collections

It all started in fifth grade, when a friend gave me a decorative box as a gift. That present ignited a love affair with boxes that is still burning bright. Through the years, I've had fun creating a collection of boxes that includes everything from prized porcelains from France to simple wooden boxes I spied at a flea market. As you walk through my home, you'll see boxes threaded throughout my displays, helping make my home a reflection of me and what I hold dear.

Hobbies: Make it a banner Valentine's Day

Why not put those hands to good use and handcraft a heart-y greeting for your valentine this year? You can buy flowers or chocolates, sure, but nothing has the impact of something made by your own two hands.

HomeFix: Steps to follow when shoveling snow off a roof

Q: A recent news story showed people shoveling snow off their roofs. We came from a warmer climate, and I'm not used to a lot of snow. Is this something I should plan on doing this winter?

Bigger TVs are a part of many Super Bowl game plans

As the New York Giants and the New England Patriots prep for Sunday's Super Bowl XLVI, consumers nationwide will gravitate to larger television purchases this week. Adding to that pre-Bowl push: a steady drop in prices.

Designing the perfect TV space

Thinking of a television purchase? Or dreaming of a complete home theater? Either way, take these steps into consideration. This advice comes from Leon Soohoo, owner of Paradyme Sound and Vision in Sacramento and Roseville, Calif.


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