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New life for old outbuildings The rustic red barn is now used for storage and will eventually be restored. The quaint green milk house where the former dairy farmer cooled his milk until it could be taken to market is slated to get a new metal roof and siding to match the main house. In its new life, it will serve as a garden shed. Archetypal barn-shape building The modern Idea House feels at home surrounded by the site’s similarly shaped historic outbuildings....

Privet Hedge Planting Distance To plant a new privet hedge, create a trench two feet wide and two feet deep, space individual shrubs about 12 inches apart, and bring soil up to the branching trunk. Water deeply and frequently the first year, using drip irrigation. Green wall: Planted close and grown tall, privet quickly forms a lush, living wall, especially with full sun exposure. How to Make a Privet Hedge Thicker Achieve a thicker hedge by planting two rows of shrubs, zig-zag fashion, in a double-wide trench....

Does a new addition to your family have you thinking of a new addition for your house? Has your home business outgrown your kitchen table? Or maybe you need to open your home to an elderly relative who can’t navigate the stairs of your center-hall colonial. The fact is, our lives change—but our houses don’t, at least not on their own. If you want to stay in your home as your life progresses, you’ll probably consider remodeling....

What Is Reclaimed Wood? Reclaimed wood is old wood that has been repurposed. For example, it can be old lumber wood from a factory that is transformed into a wine rack, bookshelf, or coffee table. People go to great lengths to find reclaimed wood that makes a stylistic statement about themselves and their homes. As you enter homeowner George Mabry’s front door, your eyes are immediately drawn to the teak staircase crafted from wood reclaimed from a demolition site in Southeast Asia....

In this episode: With the board and plaster going up inside, Kevin O’Connor finds Tom Silva and local technology installer Erich Plummer hiding sound speakers in the living room ceiling. Just in time for cold weather, the heating contractor is ready to fire up the HVAC system. Richard Trethewey meets Mike Gamache and his daughter to show the difference between an old condenser and modern more efficient units. The traditionally powered door opener for a garage is in the center of the door, but now homeowners can have some flexibility....

Landscape design wasn’t always Jenn Nawada’s plan. After getting her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, she began teaching outdoor education at a farm in Vermont. She enjoyed teaching children skills like how to milk cows or what mountain run-off was, and she knew she wanted the natural world to be her office. However, she did feel like she needed more. To help find that missing piece, Jenn went back to college and received her master’s degree....

See more of this Light and Bright Kids’ Bath A Well Divided Living Room Separate areas have been designated and defined for TV and entertaining in this contemporary living room. A console table set off by bright artwork acts as the dividing line. The dining room, glimpsed through a doorway, plays off the same palette. See details of this warm, bright 1920s bungalow Melting-Pot Living Room An artful mix of influences from around the world coexists peacefully in the living room of this Spanish Colonial Revival house in Los Angeles....

Each of the beds in this mattress guide are suited for specific sleepers per tester feedback at the Mattress Advisor sleep lab in Raleigh, N.C. Most importantly, all 10 merit the title of a best value mattress, allowing you to pad the remainder of your bedroom renovation budget. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission....

The Old House, Quincy, Massachusetts John and Abigail Adams Long before there was This Old House, there was The Old House, the private home of the second United States president, John Adams, and wife, Abigail Adams. Well known for their intense love and mutual admiration—preserved in dozens of thoughtful and effusive letters—the couple often lived apart as John served in various political and diplomatic posts. It wasn’t until 1801, when John left the presidency, that the lovebirds were able to reunite permanently....

Most Concentrated: Bissell Carpet Shampoo This solution contains four times more active ingredients than other leading carpet shampoos. Its concentrated formula removes oil, grease, makeup, blood, feces, urine, and more. In addition to receiving an effective cleaner, your purchase supports Bissell’s Pet Foundation. Key Features Comes in a 48-ounce bottle Works on carpets, upholstery, and rugs Has a biodegradable formula What Customers Are Saying Many customers loved this shampoo because it was easy to use and had a fresh scent....

Top 5 Christmas Ornaments Best Yearly Ornament: SWAROVSKI Christmas Ornament Best Handcrafted Ornament: Funoasis Christmas Tree Hanging Gnomes Ornaments Best For Kids: Enesco “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Stone Resin Ornament Best Subtle Ornament: Kurt Adler Clear Glass Icicle Ornament Set Best Ball Ornament: KI Store Christmas Ball Ornaments Best Yearly Ornament: SWAROVSKI Christmas Ornament This collection ornaments from SWAROVSKI is shaped into a snowflake using crystal glass. It comes in a box to keep it safe during the off-season, and it features a metal tag to indicate the year....

Explore our top fence recommendations, comprehensive buyer’s guide, and answers to common questions below. Best For Any Size Dog: PetSafe Wireless Pet Containment System Best Coverage: SportDOG Brand In-Ground Fence System Best Entry-Level Fence: PetSafe In-Ground Pet Fence Best Remote Control: Pet Control HQ Wireless Pet Containment System Best For Multiple Dogs: Extreme Dog Fence Underground Electric Dog Fence Best For Any Size Dog: PetSafe Wireless Pet Containment System Pros and Cons ✔ Doesn’t require burying the wire✔ Has a long collar battery life of up to 2 months✔ Offers five shock levels and one tone-only mode ✘ Comes with a short 1-year warranty✘ Cannot accommodate areas larger than 1⁄2 acre...

Largest Charcoal Smoker: Dyna-Glo Charcoal Smoker This smoker has 1,176 square inches of cooking space if you want to stuff it full with all of the meats and vegetables you need for your meal. You can orient the cooking space to your preference using the six adjustable grates. Its porcelain-enameled steel chamber keeps the charcoal stacked tightly, and its analog thermometer keeps track of the cooking temperature. Key Features 34.52 by 20....

The This Old House Reviews Team believes the best pest control companies that service Philadelphia are Terminix, Orkin, Aptive, and Rentokil’s division J.C. Ehrlich. Each of these companies offer around 100 years of experience and protect against a broad catalogue of common household pests. Additionally, there are a few local Philadelphia pest control providers that may be able to assist with your pest problem. Keep reading for the best pest control companies in Philadelphia....

If you’re looking to relocate to the Cambridge area, or if you’re selling your home in the city, you need to hire a great real estate agent. These professionals can guide you through the process of buying or selling a home while reducing a little bit of stress. Read on to find out who’s on our list of the top real estate agents in Cambridge when it comes to experience, annual sales, customer ratings, and more....

Different Types of Fans Attic Fans Though they’re a popular way to cool down attics in the summer, studies have shown that most attic fans actually cost more in electricity than they save in air conditioning costs. One exception is an attic fan driven by its own solar panel, which of course costs nothing in electricity. One reason that attic fans are inefficient is that they rely on the existing attic vents (at the soffits, ridge, or gables) to make up the air they exhaust....