Why You Should Plan Your Spring Remodel Now
CalFinder Blog
“Spring season is the best time to kickoff the planning phase of your remodel. It typically takes a few weeks to find a contractor, sketch out a plan and shop for home improvement products, and then weeks more for installation to wrap up. If you’d like a project completed by summer, it’s best to start this month. Homeowners that delay are often left with lower-quality contractors, as the most sought-after companies get booked up first.”

Pioneers of Small Living: Sarah Susanka
Re-Nest
“It’s been over 10 years since Sarah Susanka wrote her first best-selling book, The Not So Big House. Since then, she’s published eight more books which expand on her small living philosophy, including those dedicated to remodeling, landscaping and even how to live a ‘not so big’ life. … Her mantra of ‘build better, not bigger’ has had wide-spread influence and garnered legions of fans who are embracing this different way of thinking.”

Home Upgrades That Don’t Pay Off
Real Simple
“Five renovation projects that experts say just aren’t worth your time (or money).”

Why You Should Schedule A Home Inspection
Charles and Hudson
” ‘Owning a home remains one of the most significant financial investments most people will make in their lifetime,’ said Kurt Salomon, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors, in an ASHI press release. ‘Periodic inspections conducted by a qualified professional are one of the best ways to protect that investment.’ ”

Six Easy DIY Bathroom Remodeling Ideas
Remodeling Guy
Another example of one of the Remodeling Guy’s favorite tricks: Find a nice photo of a gorgeous home and point out nice little home improvement lessons anyone can learn from that photo.

Crazy Rooms (That We’re Crazy About) From New York Magazine
Shelter Pop
“This week’s issue of New York focuses on extreme design…and we’re extremely excited. Check out our five favorite spaces.”

Do You Dance While You Iron?
DIY Life
“Everybody, at some point, has busted a move while cleaning. These people were kind enough to share their methods on YouTube. ”

America’s Most Decadent Kitchens
MSN Real Estate
“Forbes compiled a list of some of the most luxurious kitchens in homes now for sale, with help from Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Sotheby’s International and Coldwell Banker.”

How Much Can You Save with Green Remodeling Tax Credits?
Calfinder
“Happy Earth Day, folks! In honor of the 41st anniversary of this greenest of holidays, I’d like to share a breakdown on energy-saving home improvements, and the federal tax incentives that make them affordable.”

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Gardeners
The Daily Green
“Gardening for the first time? You can’t go wrong with these time-tested techniques.”

Making tax time a little more bearable
Design*Sponge
Maybe these tips will help you be more efficient next year: “Confession: this year I’ve become a total tax failure. It’s April 12, and I still haven’t filed. I’m only halfway through my receipts and feel like I need to psych myself up. In an attempt to rally, I rounded up just a few things that would make tax time a little more bearable.”

The Worst Paint Colors for a Home Exterior
Charles and Hudson
“We’ve all seen them. Maybe you’re out for a leisurely stroll, or a relaxing drive. You decide to check out some of the nearby neighborhoods. And then, without warning … you encounter one of THOSE houses. You know what we’re talking about–a home painted with a color so garish, so horrible, that you can’t help but admire the homeowner even as you laugh and question his or her mental reasoning skills.”

5 Examples of Bigger Being Better (In Small Spaces)
Apartment Therapy
“Bigger is better for many circumstances in life. Take umbrellas for example or how about bank accounts or a theoretical big heart? When it comes to small spaces it’s easy to scale back on size, but we’re here to reassure you that these 5 things arealways better bigger when it comes to home decor!”

‘Fake Clean’ Your House in a Hurry
DIY Life
Yes, the context for this tips article is Super Bowl, but the advice is timeless. This article from Francesca Clarke encourages homeowners to focus their cleaning time on the parts of their house where they’ll get the most impact for the energy they expel.

Interior design: Nicole Hollis
Dwell
“To call interior designer Nicole Hollis’s portfolio ‘eclectic’ is an understatement. On one page you’ll find a modern man-cave with a colorful LED-lit staircase and on the next, a rustic kitchen outfitted with copper pots and wicker baskets. Each project has its own merits, but Hollis’s greatest strength as a designer lies in her chameleonlike ability to channel her clients’ desires.”

18 ways to make a small space look larger
Houzz.com
“Lots of people live in a small home, a small room, or just a small space. Others want to live in an intimate way versus dealing with the maintenance and cleaning of a large square footage space. Small is beautiful, easy, and practical, too. No matter what your reason for living in a small space, you’ll undoubtedly have to make some compromises in your decorating, get really organized, and make some adjustments to your lifestyle in order to live efficiently. With color, strategic furniture buying, space planning and interesting lighting, your place will feel wonderfully YOU with all the space you need. See if some of our tips will work for you.”

10 Architecturally Wondrous Staircases
Curbly
“A friend forwarded me one of those emails her husband got at work. It was full of photos of amazing staircases plus some strange magic eye type puzzles. Being the visual person that I am, I became completely fixated on the staircases and even went so far as to search for more and more visually indulging photos of creative staircases. I couldn’t get enough. Who thinks of these designs?”

Early Spring Maintenance Checklist
Charles & Hudson
“We may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves, but it’s time to think spring! Even if you’re not quite out of the winter weather woods, we’ve got a short list of tasks you can tackle to get your home–both inside and out–ready for warmer months.”

Ice Castles Grown by a Minnesota Man Using Geothermal Heating System
Inhabitat
“Winters in Minnesota are cold and the best way to get through the bone-chilling season is to have fun with it, just like Roger Hanson does. For the last four years the ice builder has been growing ice castles in his front yard with the help of his geothermal heating system, some fancy sprayers and a computer program he created himself.”

The $200 Microhouse
New York Times
“For ingenuity, thrift and charm, Mr. Diedricksen’s tiny structures are hard to beat. Made of scavenged materials, they cost on average less than $200 to build. They often have transparent roofing, which allows a fine view of the treetops, particularly in the smallest ones, where the most comfortable position is supine. They have loads of imaginative and decorative details: a porthole-like window salvaged from a front-loading washing machine, a flip-down metal counter taken from the same deceased washer.”

How Many Recycled Cans Does It Take to Make an Airplane?
The Daily Green
“The good news is that my yearly office cleaning gives me a chance to sort out the hundreds of press releases and news clippings I’ve saved during the year for my annual Top Ten Shocking Eco-Facts blog post. Remember, being the Green Cheapskate, that’s “eco” as in ecological as well as economical.”

DIY Home Humidifiers: Humidify Your Home for Less
DIY Life
“The cold winter weather outside, coupled by indoor heating systems, easily sucks all the moisture out of your home. Low humidity levels can also lead to a host of problems including dry skin, sore throats, along with cracks in paint and wood furniture. Adding a humidifier is an easy way to replace this lost moisture in your home, but at times humidifiers can require high maintenance and more space and money than you would like to expend. Luckily, even on the tightest of budgets, there are inexpensive tricks to humidify your home.”

Recession Buster: DIY Wall Art
Calfinder
“There are some great things you can do in a weekend to revolutionize your living room—and installing affordable wall art is one of them. Check out how.”

diy project: homemade leprechaun spirits
Design*Sponge
“Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner; it will sneak up on you before you know it, so you might want to prepare! The tradition of drinking on the holiday comes from a legend called Patrick Pot. This project honors that tradition.”

Spring may be on its way, but we’re only in mid-February: plenty of time for winter’s last icy gasp. To help you out, we’ve assembled a few wintry things you can do in your own backyard. These may take some work, but think of the neighborhood bragging rights!

How to Build Your Own Backyard Luge
Popular Mechanics
A detailed guide picturing every step of the luge-building process. You’ll be ready for the Olympics in no time.

How to Make a Backyard Ice Skating Rink
eHow.com
Ready to play some hockey but don’t want to pay for ice time? Play under the stars in your own backyard! This guide covers materials needed as well as the how-to.

How to build an igloo
Boy’s Life
Who needs a treehouse when you have an igloo (Marvin window optional)?

In one of the 30 states hard hit by the monster storm? We hope you are safe, warm and at home! With Punxsutawney Phil failing to see his shadow yesterday on Groundhog Day, we are supposedly due for an early (and much-needed) spring! If you’re going stir crazy, we’ve gathered up some links around the blogosphere to warm you up.

Remove Snow (Without The Backache) With The Wovel
Charles  and Hudson
“The Wovel has been independently tested by the University of Massachusetts and shown to perform at equal or better than your standard snowblower. Also, the Wovel has been shown to need no more force than you would normally exert walking, which is great for those of us unable to chuck that heavy wet stuff about like powdered sugar.”

Hunt, Gather and Host: Winter Picnic
Design*Sponge
If you feel like some ambitious winter entertaining, this beautifully photographed post will give you some ideas!

All About Gas Fireplaces
This Old House
“There’s only one thing better than a roaring fire on a wintry night: a roaring fire that needs no tending, requires minimal cleanup, and doesn’t leave the rest of the house freezing cold. That’s what you get with today’s gas fireplaces.”

10 Things to Do Around the House When You’re Snowed In
Apartment Therapy
Stay busy around the house with these tips from Apartment Therapy.

What do you really need a permit for?
Home Construction and Improvement
A confusing, troubling issue for some homeowners as they start out on a remodeling project. “Though permit requirements vary from city to city (and by the size and scope of your plan) generally you’ll need a permit for major structural or electrical projects. Here are some of the projects you really need a permit for, though you are still encouraged to double-check with your individual city board.”

12 top remodeling trends for 2011
Moneywatch
“The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) conducted an exclusive poll of their top builders and developers for us and found that while most people are not starting major renovation projects due to the economy, now is the time to take care of the smaller jobs around your home. Call it the over-arching remodeling trend for 2011: Tackling small projects while you wait to do the really big remodeling project that’s on your list.”

Recapping the 2011 International Builders’ Show
Marvin Windows Media Room
Yes, we’re linking to ourselves here. This post is our round-up of news and information from the homebuilding industry’s largest convention. It features the new products Marvin unveiled, new products from other leading home product manufacturers, some great interviews, and more.

How to prepare your home and household for a remodel
Charles & Hudson
“Even if you aren’t doing the job yourself, you should take steps to prepare your home and household before a major renovation begins. Once contractors start running around your home and the demo starts, it’s often too late to lay the groundwork for an efficient remodel. Here are some steps you can take to prepare your home & household for a remodel.”

Get the lighting right: 8 mistakes to avoid
Houzz.com
“Interior designers are often called upon to give input about lighting in residential environments. In trying to tackle a lighting dilemma, many fixtures get specified in living areas, kitchens and baths that waste energy and do not get light where it is needed most. These ineffective specifications are often repeated as homeowners are unsure of lighting solutions and tricks of the trade. But sometimes, knowing what not to do can help make you look like a pro. Below I list 8 common lighting mistakes to avoid, and how to do it right, as demonstrated by Houzz designers.”

TopTen Helps You Find the Most Energy-Efficient Products
Re-Nest
“This week TopTen USA, a new non-profit organization, launched its free, web-based rankings of the 10 most energy-efficient household products in a wide range of categories, from televisions to refrigerators and washers.”

15 ways remodeling equals a better life
Remodeling Guy
“Why remodel? I used to think the answer was as much resale value as anything else. I’m older and wiser now and that’s a good thing because resale value is, at least for now, not the best reason to remodel. So why? Of course we both know that there are lots and lots and lots of reasons, but they all boil down to the same thing. A better life. How can remodeling equal a better life?”

Steal This Look: Simple San Francisco kitchen
Remodelista
“First spotted on Desire to Inspire: the simple kitchen of San Francisco-based photographer Heidi Lender. Recreate the streamlined look with a few reasonably priced elements from Ikea and other sources.”

Winterizing your windows with class
Houzz.com
“Winterizing your windows for the cold weather can not only create a season-appropriate beauty for your dwelling, but can, according to the US Department of Energy, also reduce your heating cost as much as 30 percent. … But don’t think that you have to undergo a major renovation project to help winterize your windows and keep out the cold this winter. And don’t think that creating a winter home means laboriously creating an entirely new home. Though structural changes can improve efficiency the most, small changes can also do wonders. From small things you can do to the actual windows, to ways to shielding from the cold, these examples show how to keep out the cold with class.”

L.A. designer Alison Blumenfeld on effortless un-decorating
Cococozy
“Lately I am hearing the same thing from clients, they all want houses that don’t feel “decorated”. This does not mean they don’t want to use a decorator, or that they don’t want to decorate their homes, it’s that they are striving for a new aesthetic. One that feels less mass produced, more personal. Perhaps it’s a reaction to the pillow littered, tassel trimmed, overstuffed houses they grew up in, or since we as a society are more casual they are striving for an environment to mirror that, perhaps it’s nothing more than wanting to define themselves in a new way. With social networks and magazines encouraging us to define ourselves through our acquisitions, associations, and interests it makes sense that the home is responding in kind.”

DIY Project: Handmade Gift Wrap
Design*Sponge
Ever wanted to add an extra personal touch to your gift giving? Try making your own gift wrap. This how-to takes you through the process.

Which is Greener, a Real of Fake Christmas Tree?
The Daily Green
“For many families, the centerpiece of Christmas celebrations is the luminous, awe-inspiring tree set up with care in the living room. But with all the options now available, how do you know which Christmas tree is the greenest choice for the environment?”

Foodie Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids of All Ages
The Epi-Log
Wondering what to get your young gourmand? Here are some ideas from the editors at Epicurious.com.

Design & Decor Books: The Best of 2010
Apartment Therapy
“Even the most die-hard design blog addict will admit there is something special about flipping through the pages of a real, tangible book on home design. Throughout the year we have posted on a host of books about the home — from inspirational (and “aspirational”) glossy tomes to instructional and downright technical guidebooks.”

5 Last-Minute Green Gift Ideas
Re-nest
“‘Twas the weekend before Christmas, and just like this blogger, you’re scrambling to find some good green gift fodder. You forgot someone important (how’d that happen!?) or a few extra folks are coming to celebrate, and you don’t want to resort to some plastic crap that the giftee will end up sending to Goodwill anyway. What to do? We have some ideas.”