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Lawn Care Basics: Two Myths That Can Hurt Your Grass

August 22, 2011 By 1 Comment
Lawn

The suburban lawn is a key element to a great first impression, and a source of pride to many a homeowner. But, are there some things we take as fact that might actually be a myth as far as lawn care goes? Recurring, and very welcome, guest poster Jessica Ackerman chimes in on two such assumptions, myths that actually are contrary to your goal of a beautiful lawn ... *** If you are like me, you pamper your lawn.  After all, it is the “carpeting” for your home’s exterior. Your lawn … [Read more...]

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Curb Appeal: More Ways To Secure A Great First Impression

August 11, 2011 By 1 Comment
Curb appeal

Curb appeal is becoming less a term used by Realtors, and more a concept embraced by homeowners who don't plan to sell their home at all. The significance of attractive frontage in the form of landscaping, exterior elements like roofing and siding, and even details like up-to-date window treatments, can make all the difference to the overall effect created for the objective observer.   Curb appeal is an ongoing process. It is an expression of your relationship with your home. Writer Jessica … [Read more...]

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Flooring Options for Busy Families

July 25, 2011 By 3 Comments
Bamboo Flooring Hallway

When it comes to transforming an interior, it's always a good idea to circle back to the basics to think about visual effects, long-term durability, and short-term performance. You've heard from us here at BuildDirect on the subject of flooring quite a bit. But, in today's guest post, recurring poster, designer, and writer Jessica Ackerman outlines the subject of flooring from a designer's point of view, always keeping the practical needs of homeowners with busy families like you in mind ... *** Although … [Read more...]

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Create Your Own Compost For a Greener Garden

April 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image courtesy of SuperFantastic

Are you looking to make better use of your yard waste, and even your kitchen waste? Well, composting is a practical and easy way to do just that. But, what are your options? Home and garden expert Jessica Ackerman provides a basic overview here. ***   If you'd like your garden to be just a bit "greener" than it normally is, why not try making your own organic compost? Composting is a great way to deal with yard waste, allowing you to put it to good use instead of paying to have … [Read more...]

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Pressure Wash Your Deck For Spring

April 19, 2011 By 2 Comments
Pressure washing a deck

Your decks and patios have endured a lot over the winter, from UV rays, to moisture from melting snow, to tree sap. So, now that spring is here, its time to apply some tender, or maybe not so tender, love and care to their surfaces. One go-to method is the pressure washer, particularly when you've got composite decking, hardwood decking, or natural stone patio (best avoid it if you've got a softwood deck - pressure washers can cause gouging). So, what do you need to know before you get started? … [Read more...]

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Eco-friendly Spare Room Remodeling

February 22, 2011 By 3 Comments
Couple painting home.

To continue our exploration in creating serenity in your home by making your spaces eco-friendly, writer and interior design enthusiast Jessica Ackerman talks ab0ut that room in your house that's just crying out for a transformation; your spare room  ... *** When it is time to remodel that spare bedroom, forget about spending a lot of money and use green, eco-friendly techniques to furnish the spare room on a budget. Great designs do not have to cost a lot, especially when you can pull in … [Read more...]

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Creating an Eco-friendly Reading Nook in the Bedroom

February 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Woman Reading

Creating spaces of solitude, quiet, and peacefulness  is a great strategy in transforming your home into a refuge. Curling up with your favourite book is a great activity to go along with planning this kind of location in your home. And what better way to do that than thinking about making that space an eco-friendly one? Here's interior design enthusiast and writer Jessica Ackerman to tell you more about ways to do just that ... *** Nothing induces relaxation quite like a quiet and cozy … [Read more...]

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Lower Your Heating Bill The Green Way

December 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Window to Winter

This month, we've featured a few posts on the extremely timely issue of lowering your heating bill.  At a time of year when warmth and light should be treated as particularly  precious, you'll notice that this post by home expert Jessica Ackerman has a decidedly green tinge to it.  Take a look ... *** Once the temperatures start to drop, most families start thinking about ways that they can stay warm while still saving on their winter heating costs. In our household, we are constantly on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Homeownership Tagged With: , , , ,

Hazardous Household Materials: Carbon Monoxide

November 4, 2010 By 3 Comments
Carbon Monoxide Detector

To continue our series on hazardous household materials, this time around guest poster Jessica Ackerman, a home decor specialist and expert on all things related to homeowning too, weighs in. Today, Jessica talks about a possibly lesser known, but important, safety consideration in the home; the awareness and prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning ... *** With the changing of the seasons (and with Daylight Savings Time close at hand), I always like to take an opportunity to change the batteries … [Read more...]

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Non-Toxic Strategies for the Pest-Free Home

October 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Buglight

Are pests a problem in your property? Do you want to deal with them without using potentially harmful chemicals? Designer and homeowner advice expert Jessica Ackerman weighs in on some tips to do just that.  Take a look! *** Spiders, and ants, and rodents, oh my! There is never a shortage of pests for homeowners to worry about, and if you’re like me, the idea of sharing your home with pests is certainly disconcerting. When the home is set upon by these crawling critters, a first instinct … [Read more...]

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