Open air living with foldaway glass walls

One of the great benefits of living in California not far from the coast is the wonderful weather. Indoor-outdoor living is a hallmark of the best designed houses in this region.

Patios, decks, outdoor grills and kitchens can all be accessed with sliding glass doors or a pair of French doors. But what if you want [...]

Are there benefits to a prefab house?

photo by Dan Klar

When you daydream about your dream house do you picture it being built in room-size chunks in a factory? Delivered to your property on trucks and hoisted into place by a small crane? If so, you must be convinced there are real benefits to a prefab house.

A house with lots of light—the inside story

photo by Frank McMains

One of the most common desires people have for a dream home is “lots of light.” They are usually thinking of plentiful and broad windows, but there is another dimension to a light-filled home. Night time.

Clean gutters and cool downspouts

photo by Sassy Gardener

Over the years I’ve seen many ads for fantastic devices that promise to keep your gutters clean. If you have lots of leaves and pine needles clogging up your gutters, finding a surefire solution would be a great boon.

Playhouses for fun and fulfillment

photo by Barbara Butler Artist-Builder

Owning a house can feel like a big responsibility, what with plumbing repairs, tax bills, and heavy mortgages. If only life were as carefree as when we were children. But kids don’t get to have their own house, of course. Unless they are so very fortunate as to have one [...]