How To

Home Projects: Sea-Glass Mirror Surround

PROJECT: Sea-Glass Mirror Surround Beachlovers Holly Rader and Carol Smith-Sloan are longtime friends who share a passion for beach glass. Recently they’ve started transforming their collections of those ocean-tumbled fragments into art. They’ve adorned mirrors, picture frames, and mantels with colorful shards — but these days they’re concentrating on larger installations, such as the mirror […]

How To

Home Project: Outdoor Shower

Project: OUTDOOR SHOWER Guests who get a chance to use the outdoor shower at the Block Island home of Larry Breakstone and his wife, Karen Levey, come away impressed. And for good reason: For starters, it’s got hot water, but the 4×8-foot structure is also spacious, offers a pleasant view of Block Island Sound, and […]

How To

Real Solutions: Spring Cleaning

It’s time for spring cleaning, and I’ve learned that some of my favorite cleaning products can be toxic. What’s a good alternative?– M.R., Dover, VT Common household cleaners that contain chlorine, ammonia, and petroleum-based chemicals may contribute to respiratory problems, release harmful fumes, irritate allergies and chemical sensitivities, and burn skin or eyes on contact. […]

How To

Covered Bridge Driveway

The lone covered bridge in Whitingham, Vermont, is on Ed and Diane Takorian’s hillside property. With gable ends, Douglas fir decking, wrought-iron lanterns, and a too-real-to-believe artificial slate roof made of recycled tires, this 26-foot span is small but stunning. The Takorians could have built any old bridge — but Ed, a retired tool machinist […]

How To

Do-It-Yourself Home Projects

Yankee ingenuity is alive and well. Here are five clever home projects to inspire the do-it-yourselfer in all of us. This rooftop pergola (pictured), for instance. “It divides things up,” says the home owner. “You have a choice: You can either sit with the flowers and vegetables or sit under the shade in the pergola.” […]

How To

Halloween Crafts | Ghosts on Glass

Materials to Make Ghosts on Glass Several pieces (4×5, 5×7, and 8×10 inches) of picture glass from glass store Contact paper Pencil Artist’s knife Stencil paintbrush Etching cream from crafts store Copper tape from stained-glass store Instructions to Make Ghosts on Glass Cut piece of contact paper the same size as the glass. Peel backing […]

How To

Halloween Crafts | Boogeyman in the Window

Materials to Make Boogeyman in the Window Ruler 6 sheets black Canson card stock paper Elmer’s clear glue White gel pen Artist’s knife Instructions to Make Boogeyman in the Window Measure each windowpane and cut paper to fit. Place a small amount of glue on each corner of the windowpanes. Place paper in the windows […]

How To

Halloween Crafts | Beware the Raven Nevermore

Materials for Raven Halloween Craft Stencil of bird from crafts store Pumpkin Black acrylic paint Paintbrush Small sculpting tool Instructions to Make Raven Halloween Craft Using the stencil, paint bird on pumpkin surface. Let dry; repeat. Use small sculpting tool to etch details.

Unlock Your Roots – One Free Account, Endless Discoveries.

Get access to New England templates, research tools, and more.