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Choosing a Kitchen Backsplash?

When it comes to selecting kitchen backsplash materials, the abundance of options is daunting. As with the perfect outfit, a backsplash depends on the other pieces in the ensemble—notably the countertops. Here are five key questions to help you narrow…

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Landscape Paving 101: Some Reasons to Go for Granite

Granite is one tough, resilient paving material. Available in cut stone and irregular shapes, it’s a popular paving material for driveways and walkways because of its strength. It is low maintenance and makes a great durable walkway, patio or terrace in…

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Colored Floors Can Boost Your Design

Walls and trim are most often finished and maintained using paint, so they are the place where homeowners first see potential for personalizing their house with a new palette. But people often overlook their floors, the color of which can…

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Tankless Water Heaters

Long favored in Japan and Europe, where square footage is at a premium, tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand. According to the EPA, residential electric water heaters are the second highest energy users in American households: “The energy…

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8 Tricks with Shower Design

Looking for a fresh style for a statement shower design? Try using smoky gray glass, reflective mirrors or graphic tile for a look that’s low budget but will still wake you up every morning. 1. Vertical stripes. Instead of adding a…

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Get Your Kitchen Island Lighting Right

The kitchen island is often a central gathering spot in the home, in addition to being a functional, much-used workspace. That’s why it’s important to light it right. Houzz is a fan of hanging fixtures, which, if chosen correctly, provide ambient…

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Remodeling: Soapstone Countertops

Look to science labs for the evidence: Soapstone is the material of choice for countertops designed to take a beating. A durable and hardworking natural stone that is virtually maintenance free—is soapstone too good to be true? Houzz has done their research…

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Make Over Your Outdoor Grill Area

When the weather cooperates, there are few meals more pleasant than those you can enjoy in your own backyard. The fresh air and hot grill have a way of conjuring a vacation mood — even if you are only grilling…

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What to Know About Green Building

Environmentally sensitive home designs and construction methods have been valued for generations. My own father considered naming his fledgling construction company Here Comes the Sun in hopes of focusing on solar energy back in 1977. But the degree to which…