Christmas tree sap can damage carpet. Here's how to clean it.…
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Katy Schamberger
Live trees do present more of a fire risk than artificial trees, which can usually be attributed to a dry tree that lacks adequate water. …
Nothing beats a real Christmas Tree but it takes special care to make sure the tree lasts as long as possible.…
The idea of building a bridge between two homes is more popular than you think. This architectural feature used to be commonplace in cities around the world and is now becoming more popular for residential builds. Some people are…
To paint over it, you will need some special equipment, but nothing too crazy.…
Summer is a prime time for traveling. And while you're packing and preparing, we suggest taking some time to make sure your home is protected while you're away.…
As Hurricane Irma barrels towards Florida, there's no better time to think about hurricane safety. …
Building a picnic table is the best way to enjoy the great outdoors in the summer. Eating outside seems to take even the most ordinary of meals to something special, and your backyard is a great place for entertaining,…
Now that winter weather is here, you may find yourself in the midst of an ice storm. Besides creating incredibly hazardous driving conditions, ice storms are also dangerous because it doesn’t take much ice accumulation to bring down tree…
When the temperature drops you can still reap the benefits of healthy vegetables and prepare your garden to survive winter…
If you're concerned with the chemicals in over the counter laundry detergent then consider making your own.…
Creating a perfectly functional workspace can take some time. It all starts with the desk, which provides the surface and space you need to be productive and/or creative. If you’re like me, you might keep a notepad nearby to…
Turkey Day is almost upon us (hurray!) And with so much activity in the kitchen, now is a great time to review some safety tips to make sure you have an injury- and crisis-free holiday. After all, you have…
So you’ve moved into a new home. It’s pristine, it’s perfect — it’s the home of your dreams, right? Not exactly–at least, not for the six homeowners featured in a “6 Creepiest Things Discovered By New Homeowners” round-up published…
You’ve assembled your tools and materials and are ready to get started on your latest DIY project. Here’s the catch — do you need a permit? Having one not only ensures you’ve gone through the proper channels–it also provides…
Restaurants are great places in which to get bursts of inspiration for your own kitchen. You may not necessarily replicate the inventive idea, but maybe it sparks another project that adds a similar functionality or aesthetic to your own…
Falling trees are frightening — and worse, they pose a safety risk not only to your property, but to you and your family, too. Although you can’t predict storm damage, you can examine the trees on your property and…
We’re always on the lookout for new products — and when they’re eco-friendly, we consider that a bonus. So when we stumbled across Green Planet Paints, we were intrigued by the claim on their website. Green Planet Paints are…
If you haven’t already stored your lawnmower for the season, you’re likely preparing to say farewell to this weekly chore until warmer temperatures return. Before you stash your mower, there are several things you can do to help keep…
As we head into the weekend for Halloween, now’s the time to make sure your house is fully decked out for any spooky festivities. And for those of you on the East Coast, you’ll likely want to find some…
Colder months typically bring increased concerns about energy costs, which can vary widely depending on your heating source. The good news? There are two small things you can do to help prevent energy leaks, meaning you’ll rack up noticeable…
During colder months, and especially throughout the holidays, your kitchen will likely see much more traffic and activity as you prepare meals and host guests. If your kitchen is in need of a little pre-holiday update, don’t worry —…
WD-40 – it really is a magical substance, isn’t it? Sure, you probably reach for the familiar blue and yellow can when you need to quiet a squeaky hinge or add a little extra grease to a sticky situation.…
When we say a $6,500 toilet, we’re talking specifically about Kohler’s Numi toilet. And you’re probably shaking your head in disbelief as you read the title of this post, right? But stay with us. We’re not necessarily advocating a…
October is Fire Prevention Month, and organizations like the American Red Cross are distributing information to help people lessen the fire risks within their homes. As the temperatures start to drop, many turn to space heaters to provide additional…
You’re probably scowling at me because I mentioned the holidays, but the truth is that they’ll be here before we know it. And if you’re expecting family and friends to drop by, now is the time to tackle DIY…
If you live in an older home, it’s likely that you have wood trim in at least one (or all) rooms of your house. We’ve talked before about the pros and cons of painting wood. For purists, painting older…
It’s confession time, C&H readers. When I was younger, I used to unabashedly decorate my bedroom walls using posters pulled from magazines and Scotch tape. Lots and lots of tape. I may or may not have drawn a few…
It’s sad, but true — the days are quickly growing shorter. In mere weeks, we’ll fall back during Daylight Saving Time and lose a few hours of evening light. Now is a great time to make your home cozier…
Since shelter magazines took quite a blow courtesy of a rocky economy, we love that a number of digital home magazines continue to launch. Sure, we miss the tactile experience of reading a magazine like Domino or Blueprint, but…
Last week, I had the great fortune of traveling to New York City for the debut of Lowe’s expanded Kobalt Tools line. Although the home improvement giant has offered Kobalt tools for years (Kobalt started in 1998 as a…
In addition to installing smoke alarms throughout your home, you may opt to keep a couple of fire extinguishers on hand in case of an emergency. Yet fire extinguishers, like most other things in your home, need to be…
During a rainy Saturday morning last weekend, my husband and I found ourselves at the hardware store to stock up on picture- and art-hanging supplies, as well as a masonry bit and, the motherlode of all finds – a…
I don’t know how the weather is where you live, but here in Kansas City, we’re in for a chilly and rainy weekend – the perfect time to knock out a few DIY projects! The newest one I’ve added…
File this one under “simply amazing.” Artist Jonathan Brechignac has undertaken an incredibly ambitious project. He’s spent more than a year creating carpet for his home using a Biro pencil. That’s right — a pencil! I learned about the…
Before the temperatures start to dip too low, you may want to consider sealing your driveway. Periodically applying a sealant will help protect your driveway’s condition, and is an especially good idea if you live somewhere with hot summers…
When it comes to winterizing and weatherproofing, some simple materials can make a big difference in your home’s interior temperature — and help you conserve energy, too. Maybe you have drafty windows and can’t afford to replace them. Or,…
2011 is slowly winding down (eeeekkk!!), so that means we’ll start to see more trend forecasts emerge for 2012. If you’re considering a flooring purchase within the next several months, we’ve got a sneak peek at next year’s flooring…
As rising energy costs continue to put strain on homeowner budgets (especially as we head into cooler months), saving energy is not only a great idea for the planet — it will help you save money, too. Luckily, saving…
In July, I received the chance of a lifetime and joined fellow DIY/shelter bloggers for a design challenge sponsored by Shaw Floors. Our task was simple: Build a room from the floor up. And because we were hosted by…
With fall quickly approaching, you may have the urge to change something in your home. Personally, I find myself spending more time on decorating, de-cluttering and organizing my abode in the weeks before winter, almost as if I’m preparing…
It’s been awhile since we checked in with our good friend, the fabulous DIY Diva. And when we did, she gave us a brilliant idea: the DIYcation. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? If you have a lot of things…
What could be better than whipping up a first-class meal on a state-of-the-art gas range? How about if the proceeds from the appliance’s auction benefit breast cancer research? Chef Marcus Samuelsson (the winner of Top Chef Masters season 2…
Last Tuesday marked a monumental day around our humble abode — the long-awaited arrival of our new bed. The glorious piece of furniture (including mattress and box springs) was a wedding gift from my dad and stepmom, and it…
File this one under the “What will they think of next?” category. And yes, you read the post title right: today we’re talking about edible spray paint. Thanks to the team at Shelterrific for alerting us to this fascinating…
Building something or finishing a project is all about creating a solution. So when we stumbled across Down East Doormats, which use the basic design of a doormat to solve an ongoing problem, we didn’t hesitate to share this…
Whether you’re considering selling your house or simply want to freshen up your home’s exterior, you can’t go wrong with installing a new garage door. In fact, this project consistently ranks high on Remodeling magazine’s Cost v. Value report.…
The Barbie dream house — such a splendid creation, isn’t it? I know I confessed my extreme tomboy tendencies yesterday, but I also had a Barbie dream house. Mansion is a more accurate description, and I spent hours concocting…
Growing up, I was quite the tomboy. And looking back at my preferred toys, it’s no surprise that I now write about home improvement and DIY. Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, blocks and a pint-sized tool kit topped my list…
During the sweltering days of summer, painting your roof white seems like a fantastic idea. The idea is to make your roof more reflective so that it doesn’t absorb as much heat, which will keep your house cooler–and likely…
I’m about to make a strong statement: I hate summer. Don’t get me wrong – I love spending time outside, swimming, dining al fresco, going to the lake. But Kansas City (and much of the country) is in the…
When it comes to home security, you can easily invest a lot of money in a high-budget alarm and monitoring system. Yet there are also several budget-friendly things you can do to boost your home’s protection. One of your…
We love finding creative uses for common household items. Take coffee, for example. It’s delicious, and for many of us, it’s the fuel that keeps us going throughout a hectic day. And better yet? You can use it to…
One of the reasons that paint is so great is because it can instantly change the look of anything. And you don’t need to go crazy on your entire house to make a big visual impact. Take your front…
As soon as I saw the title of Garden Rant’s post, “Cool Stuff To Do With Weeds,” I was hooked. Because, after all, there aren’t a lot of productive things you can do with weeds–well, besides kill them, that…
If you want to lower your energy costs and make your home more energy-efficient, there are a lot of little steps you can take: switching to CFLs, installing a programmable thermostat and switching to low-flow faucets, for example. Yet…
We’ve talked before about pressure washers on C&H — they can help tackle a variety of jobs and can breathe new life into a variety of products. Take decks, for example. It’s likely that your deck takes quite a…
The pinnacle for any DIYer? Building a house! If you’re intimidated by the process, we’ve got a simpler version for you to try. The Tata Group has created a $720 flatpack home that can be built in a week…
The refrigerator is truly a modern wonder, isn’t it? It keeps our food and drinks cold, and also serves as an artwork and message display center. We came across a great Kitchens.com post on refrigeration trends and it made…
If you’re eager to make your home more energy-efficient, one of the best things you can do is install a programmable thermostat, which will help keep the temperature in your home more consistent, and is more reliable than an…
Just so you know? I love my job. I had the honor of representing Charles & Hudson at Shaw Floor’s media event to unveil the company’s new flooring partnership with HGTV. We learned about the new products (and they’re…
There’s nothing we love more than a quick DIY project that serves a practical purpose. Summer is a prime time to gather fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden or area farmers markets, but the downside is that the…
We often talk about small spaces here at C&H: how to make a small space feel larger, how to maximize limited square footage and other similar topics. But how small is too small? We stumbled across pictures of the…
The kitchen is often the center of a home. It’s where we prepare food, eat, gather and relax. It comes as no surprise, then, that kitchen remodels top the list of most popular home projects. And they’re typically where…
There are so many things I love about blogging for C&H, and one of them includes browsing shelter magazines and websites for the latest and greatest products. Some of them are definitely splurge-worthy, but we can dream, can’t we?…
I have rather strong feelings about wood paneling. As in, I hate it. I don’t mean to offend you if you’re a wood paneling fan, but I think it darkens and dates a room. So what can you do…
One of the disadvantages to living in a loft, apartment or condo is the lack of outdoor space. As a Kansas City loft dweller, I find myself lamenting my lack of balcony or patio on a daily basis, especially…
A confession? I love seeing where people live and work. As I stroll my downtown neighborhood’s streets at dusk, I peek upward to get a glimpse into the surrounding lofts, hoping for a burst of inspiration (sometimes, I get…
Sharpies are such a versatile item. Sure, they’re an ideal office supply (and a must-have when it comes to preparing for a garage sale.) But Sharpies also have nearly unlimited DIY potential. Just ask my husband who, after becoming…
I have a secret dream of buying a house with a great yard, and then getting one of those one-room home kits to build my very own home office. It sounds like a great scenario, right? The office, while…
For the last several years, I’ve been keeping a list of features I want in my dream house. They include a library with floor-to-ceiling shelves, a giant kitchen and maybe even a secret passageway. Another thing to add to…
Who doesn’t love a good top 10 list? David Letterman, I’m looking at you! Product lists are especially helpful if you’re looking to branch out from your usual favorites. You probably have your eco-friendly mainstays like programmable thermostats, CFLs,…
After enduring five stifling, A/C-free days earlier this month, I have a newfound respect for those who choose to brave the summer months without A/C. It can certainly be done, however, especially if you have a few fans, some…
I don’t remember how old I was when I first found out that the bright, sunny dandelions I loved so much were weeds. How could something so cheerful be classified in such a pesky, frustrating group of plants? But…
Harsh weather conditions, wear and tear — it’s likely that your deck will need to be refinished every few years to keep it in prime condition. This is generally a project you can tackle over the weekend, provided you’ve…
With summer in full swing, your home’s outdoor areas are likely getting a lot of use. We’ve already talked about how to create a year-round outdoor living space, complete with furniture and seasonal elements. When you’re creating such an…
Sometimes in life, a good thing comes with an unfortunate side effect. Such is the case with compact fluorescent lightbulbs. When it comes to choosing a more energy-efficient source of light, CFLs are at the top of their game.…
With the prevalence of touchscreen, app-based products continuing to dominate the market, it was only a matter of time before an enterprising mind applied this technology to appliances. Samsung has introduced a refrigerator complete with an 8-inch WiFi-supported LCD…
What’s not to love about a sidewalk? You can draw on them with chalk, and they’re a safe haven on which to walk, bike, jog, jump rope, play hopscotch–you get the idea. Yet over time, sidewalks can crack and…
Tomorrow marks the official arrival of summer, although if it’s been as hot where you are as it’s been in Kansas City, your air conditioner has already received quite the workout! With air conditioners, fans and appliances working overtime…