Looking for another craft that adds a personal touch to your decor? Cover a photo frame with fabric. Eileen Fitzmaurice of Woodbridge, New Jersey, is a sucker for yard sales and crafts. “My husband and I just bought a house, so we’re pretty much tapped out,” Eileen says. “That means I have to be pretty […]
Living
Bees buzzing around your gardens and property are a good thing, and beekeeping has been gaining popularity in the New England states. Sure, it’s a hobby with sweet benefits, but it’s also a way to boost bee pollination, ensuring that the optimum amount of plants are reproducing and bearing fruit — none of which could […]
1. The “Erban” (from $2,200) is a lightweight, comfortable commuter bike made from bamboo, a renewable resource with excellent vibration-dampening qualities. (See “Artisan Profile,” opposite.) Erba Cycles, Boston, MA. 617-466-9893; erbacycles.com 2. Kaleidoscopes by Chesnik Scopes, including small signet ($264), large pedestal ($310), and cadet interchangeable ($196) models, are renowned for their two- and four-wheel […]
Known as Bear Foot Farm, it was built in the year before the Civil War began. During Prohibition, it took part in smuggling booze into the United States out of Canada. Yes, for those of us who aren’t Canadians, it’s a long drive up to North Troy, Vermont, where the rolling countryside is mostly open […]
Lynn filled her house with items from all of these Maine stores. Her best advice: Take your time. “Don’t get everything at once,” she cautions. “With a small place, each new thing changes the whole, so go slowly, live in it, and see what you need.” Avalon Antiques Market 536 Bath Road (U.S. Route 1), […]
Homes
A Fresh Coat
One of Lynn Karlin’s best strategies for decorating on a dime was to use a palette of white, gray, yellow, green, and blue paints to define spaces and pull the cottage together. Here’s how: 1. Karlin began with a base of whites, pale grays, and off-whites on the floors and walls, knowing she’d have plenty […]
A second home doesn’t have to drain your bank account. One intrepid New Englander reveals how she landed her perfect waterfront getaway for less than $200,000.
Learn how to build a compost bin in your own backyard with our expert advice and easy-to-follow steps, then enjoy a supply of rich, nutrient-filled soil.
How To
Prevent Tiled Shower Leaks
Tiled showers are beautiful but prone to grout cracks and leaks. Find out the simple way to prevent tiled shower leaks. A tiled shower can significantly upgrade the look of a bathroom, but hairline cracks in the tile grout can be a troublesome source of water leaks. Learn how to prevent tiled shower leaks by […]
When workers remodeled the kitchen of our town hall several years ago, they tossed out an old unfinished kitchen chair with one missing leg. I brought it home, thinking I might fix it. The chair sat untouched for so long that I finally decided to throw it away. But an auctioneer friend said that he’d […]
Hydroponic gardening is the art and science of growing plants without soil. For hundreds of years mediums other than soil have been used with great success to grow plants. Today hydroponic trends include succulents growing vertically as living walls and room dividers and roof top plantings designed by landscape architects to absorb rainwater run-off and […]
There’s a huge granite millstone paving the way to the front door of Skinner Mill, the house in Wells, Maine, that Tom Joyal, of Old House Parts,built for Elaine Triplett and Bob McLaughlin. A small white dog named Tarragon is jumping up and down on it, barking loudly. The sound of Branch Brook, which runs […]