Light Pollution Solutions
Sponsored Content: Fogg Lighting
In a monthly column, Sanford Fogg, of Fogg Lighting in Portland, offers his best advice on illuminating your home. This month, Fogg tackles light pollution.
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5 Items to Snap Up at a Vintage Shop
Decorating
Forget theme — the secret to distinctive decor is knowing how to pull off a hodgepodge. These on-trend, timeless pieces will help you get started. We’ve all been awed by them — those talented homeowners who somehow manage to turn a tangle of styles, eras, and shades into a whole greater than the sum of [...] Read More
Lean and Green
Home Building
Architect Harry Hepburn shares eco-friendly design ideas for the budget-conscious homeowner. Photo by Trent Bell As a college student studying in England, Harry Hepburn marveled at the ways in which pioneers of the high-tech architecture movement, such as Norman Foster and Richard Rogers, incorporated energy efficiency into their modern steel-and-glass buildings. Post-graduation, Hepburn was eager […]
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Restoring a Buckled Barn
Partner Post: Maine Preservation
In a monthly column, the experts at Maine Preservation answer your questions about maintaining antique and vintage homes. My 2 ½-story carriage barn, built in the 1890s, has walls that are bulging outward on the upper floor, just below the roof line. I am told that the building is “balloon-framed.” What does that mean and can […]
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Get Off the Hot Seat
Green Living
Six years ago, Ross and Christine Endicott stopped selling furniture containing toxic chemicals; now the state is following their lead. In August, Maine became the first state in the nation to ban the use of flame-retardant chemicals in residential upholstered furniture. By wide margins in both the House and Senate, state legislators rejected chemical-industry lobbyists’ […]
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Is an In-Law Unit Right for Your Property?
Partner Post: Houzz
They can alleviate suburban sprawl, add rental income for homeowners, create affordable housing, and much more. Most urban and suburban lots are governed by zoning ordinances, laws that (among other things) restrict the number of dwellings allowed on a given lot. A dwelling is technically defined as a place for habitation that contains cooking, sleeping, […]
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Leak-Proof Your Chimney
Partner Post: Maine Preservation
In a monthly column, Christopher W. Closs, an expert with Maine Preservation, answers your questions about maintaining antique and vintage homes. Q: How can I prevent water from getting into my house through the chimney? – Peggy Gierhan, Auburn A: Historically, when fireplaces were used on a daily basis for cooking, rain was absorbed into […]
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Rethinking Pink
Sponsored Content: Penelope Daborn Limited
For a room of your own, or a shared space, today’s rosy shades are just right. In 1918, the trade publication Earnshaw’s Infants’ Department published an article stating, “The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls.” The rationale: pink was “a more decided and stronger color,” while “delicate and dainty” blue […]
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Take the Pain Out of Replacing Your Windows
Advertisement: EBS Building Supplies
As the autumn chill arrives, it’s a reminder that there are many reasons to replace your windows and doors, and energy efficiency is often at the top of the list. While the investment can be significant, your family will feel the added warmth and comfort now, plus you’ll reap the financial benefits in years to […]
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Tips (and Task Lights) for Aging Eyes
Sponsored Content: Fogg Lighting
In a regular column, Sanford Fogg, of Fogg Lighting in Portland, offers his best advice on illuminating your home. Q: As I get older, I’m finding it harder to see when I read or do other simple tasks in my home, even with my glasses on. Can you suggest some lighting improvements that might help? […]
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