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Wallpaper has adorned American homes since colonial times, but after its heyday in the early 1900s, it had a hard time overcoming its connotation as something only for chintz-loving grandmas or high-end designers. These days, thanks in part to buying opportunities on the Internet, homeowners are discovering an exciting world of sophisticated patterns, improved materials, and easy installation methods. You can choose from beautiful papers made in the 18th-century manner, as well as 21st-century nonwovens, which are sheets of fused fibers that are a breeze to hang—and remove....

After you’ve seen these out-of-this-world projects, you can see all the entries at Your Old House. Hidden Beadboard Bedroom: Before Who: Kendra B. Where: Carterville, IL Dated wallpaper and a tiny closet made our master bedroom seem both tired and dysfunctional. Hidden Beadboard Bedroom: After Who: Kendra B. Where: Carterville, IL While stripping the walls, we discovered tongue and groove boards underneath and an old window that had once looked out onto a porch....

I started with a strong, if somewhat romantic, concept. I’ve always admired the warm, walled areas around English country houses used for sitting and dining outdoors. Inside the walls grow herbs, lettuces, fruit, and flowers for the household. I’d emulate the intimate, sheltered garden closely linked to the house. And I’d create it with modern materials, rather than mossy old brick. Trellis Without plenty of hardscaping, I was afraid I’d end up overplanting....

With some careful choices and some extra resources, you can upgrade your house with long-lasting materials that will take some maintenance chores off your to-do list. Most durable materials/components are typically low maintenance as well (think brick or stone, for instance). But a single material is only part of a larger system. While stone is a definite contender for the longest life, its longevity is undercut by its need for mortar, which doesn’t last forever....

Get Friendly with Red Conventional wisdom says to use red as an accent color because it’s too intense and attention grabbing in large amounts. But choose a softer hue, and it’s great for spaces where the family gathers. This sitting room and library are painted with an ochre shade, Benjamin Moore’s Claret Rose, that’s cheerful without being overwhelming. Trim painted Benjamin Moore’s Guilford Green, the shade opposite red on the color wheel—creates a convivial atmosphere....

Payment options (40 points): Options include purchase, loan, lease, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Companies receive points for each of those four options it provides. Solar services (30 points): Does the company provide in-house installation of solar panels and battery backups? Can the company also monitor energy production and perform energy-efficiency audits to ensure system performance. The more options available, the higher the score. Warranty options (10 points): The success of a residential solar system depends on the workmanship, performance guarantees, and length of product coverage....

And thanks to modern adhesives, a wide variety of species are available as “engineered” boards. Made from a stable sandwich of veneers, rather than solid stock, engineered floors can go places where it wasn’t practical to install wood before: over radiant-floor heating systems and concrete and in basements. Here’s a complete guide in helping you discover the hardwood floor of your dreams. Hardwood Flooring Facts How much do hardwood floors cost?...

How Often Should I Clean My Gas Range? A daily light cleaning can go a long way—it’ll stave off the need for deep cleaning and make the job easier when you choose to do it. How to Clean a Glass Stovetop After a day’s use, give your gas stovetop a quick wipe-down with an all-purpose cleaner, such as Fantastik or Seventh Generation, and remove any stray food or splatters with a damp cloth....

Leess started out by sanding and priming the table, and putting down a base coat. She used a satin finish, which helps the glaze coat go on and come off more smoothly. The herringbone pattern was created with equal parts latex paint and clear acrylic glaze. Glaze slows the drying time, but when choosing a color, keep in mind that glaze will also lighten it, Leess says. To minimize drips, wipe off the comb after each pass....

Whether you’re curious about where your property ends, want to remove a tree between your house and your neighbor’s, or plant a perimeter hedge fence, a below are seven ways you can determine your property lines. How to Find Property Lines for Free Homeowner’s Deed A homeowner’s deed should include a legal description of the plot of land, including its measurements, shape, block and lot number, and other identifiers such as landmarks and geographical features....

There’s usually no preceding or noticeable event. No big show of, “Wow, that’s broken!” Rather, it’s just one of those annoying little surprises of homeownership: One day, all’s fine with your dishwasher; the next, there’s standing water pooling in its basin. The good news is that it may be a simple clog or loose connection that can be quickly remedied. Steps for Fixing a Dishwasher That’s Not Draining “Simple” fixes are made simpler by being prepared....

As you walk across the floor, boards rub against each other or slide against nail shafts to produce a cacophony of squeaks and creaks. How Do You Stop Your Floors from Squeaking? Loose subflooring—both solid-board and plywood types—will also emit high-pitched chirps. Traditional hardwood strip flooring is the most susceptible to developing a case of the squeaks, but all types of flooring can make annoying noises. The good news is that it’s easy to silence nearly any squeak in a matter of minutes—if you know a few tricks....

Charles Peterson of CP Wood Floors replies: What you’re talking about is a floor medallion, a type of ornamental flooring designed to give a room a dramatic decorative focal point. They’re made to order using colorful pieces of precisely cut hardwoods mounted to a plywood backing. In the best ones, these pieces are at least 5/16 inch thick and can be sanded multiple times. Installation requires cutting into your floor with a router and then bedding the medallion in adhesive spread on the subfloor....