Thanksgiving is over, the final relative flew out this morning and you can finally relax and enjoy what my friend expressed as the confusing and bewildering silence of a house back to normal.   Just as you flopped on the couch with the last of the turkey and stuffing, you remembered what you have to do today.   That's right, it's time to haul the Christmas stuff out of the ...

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I realize that some people might object to Halloween decorations being regarded as a home renovation topic.  But it's not your parents' Halloween anymore where you carve a pumpkin, hang a cardboard skeleton on the front door and wait for the candy grovelers to show up.   Technology, marketing and plain ol' show biz have made Halloween a neighborhood DIY competition worthy of at least a little notice from the home ...

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Last week, a neighbor stopped me in the street and asked me if I could recommend a carpenter who could build her some custom cabinets for her sun room. I'm always a little nervous when I'm asked a question like this because it's often followed with "... or maybe you would be interested in doing it." But there was no hint of ulterior motive on her face so ...

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