Turquoise, avocado green, brick red and gold are expected to be big colors in home decor this year. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Colors are a very personal matter. So much so that even expert home designers can’t agree on which colors are hot and which aren’t. 

The Pantone Color Institute has announced that a particular shade of turquoise is the color of the year for 2010. The Institute also has put out eight palettes, or groups of coordinated colors, and a ninth palette of neutrals, for home design. Each of the palettes contains eight or nine specific shades. Expect to see these colors in everything from throw pillow to curtains this year …Full Story

Recently announced FHA changes won't block the road to homeownership for most borrowers. (Photo: iStockphoto)

The Federal Housing Authority finally announced changes in its program, which insures lenders against defaults on loans that meet the government agency’s borrowing criteria.

Unfortunately, the FHA response to the supposed lessons of the housing crisis doesn’t hold water and will still guarantee loans to individuals with low credit scores and a down payment that automatically puts every loan underwater …Full Story

The Builder Concept Home 2010 is billed as the most innovative house ever built.

Greetings from the 2010 International Builders’ Show  in Las Vegas. A lot of walking is necessary at the show and I have the calluses to prove it. As of today, I have either finally broken in my shoes or I can no longer feel my feet …Full Story

There are no doubt plenty of moose sightings in Sarah Palin's neighborhood. (Photo: iStockphoto)

We all may not be able to live the life of the rich and famous, but it is possible to live in the same neighborhood.

Of course, rubbing elbows at the neighborhood block party or sharing parenting tips at the playground with the notable comes with a price. Although not always as much as one would think.  …Full Story

If the color of your walls is too '2009,' try updating your look with new pillows and other accessories. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Last year’s hot color was mimosa. This year’s is turquoise. Both colors may stick around for a while, but how can you tell when a color is not just a little past its prime, but truly passé?  …Full Story

I plan to replace my property's grass with an outdoor room. (Photo: iStockphoto)

1,130. 6,650. 1,120. 1,900. 

Those figures are the size of my house, lot, front yard and backyard lawn, respectively. 

I knew that my house had 1,130 square feet of living space, plus the two-car garage, and that my lot was approximately 6,650 square feet. 

But I hadn’t truly realized just how large 6,650 square feet really is until I decided to redo all of the landscaping. It’s turned out to be a much bigger and more expensive job than I’d anticipated simply because my yards really are that big. The front yard, minus the plants and wide driveway, is nearly as big as the house. In the backyard, the grass alone is a whopping 1,900 square feet, which is 770 square feet larger than the house.  …Full Story

This Chicago house for sale (right) sits next to President Obama's home.

We all may not be able to live the life of the rich and famous, but it is possible to live in the same neighborhood.

Of course, rubbing elbows at the neighborhood block party or sharing parenting tips at the playground with the notable comes with a price. Although not always as much as one would think …Full Story

Blogger Pat Curry will be reporting from the International Builder's Show all week. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Greetings from Las Vegas, site of the 2010 International Builders’ Show. Presented by the National Association of Home Builders, the builders’ show is the biggest event of the year for the industry. It’s a time when manufacturers debut new products, both for consumers and the builder trade, and various groups announce results from surveys and studies.  …Full Story

Loan applications are up as it reaches the 12th hour for low interest rates. (Photo: iStockphoto)

It appears that homeowners are realizing that interest rates will indeed increase over the coming months, creating a spike in refinance applications.

Loan applications increased a seasonally adjusted 14.3 percent for the week ending January 8, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinance applications accounted for 71.5 percent of the market …Full Story

Is a white picket fence pretty and traditional, or just a big 'keep out' message? (Photo: iStockphoto)

My across-the-street neighbors recently installed a new white picket fence in their front yard. I have to assume the fence is meant to keep the kids in and the rest of us out as this particular family has one small child in residence and another on the way.  …Full Story