Construction is not a nice sound early in the morning -- or at any time. (Photo: iStockphoto)

There’s nothing like waking up to a noise so loud that your house actually shakes. That happened to me this morning, and it has happened, on and off, for the past three months.

My neighbors across the street, you see, are renovating their house. Scratch that: They aren’t just renovating, they’re tearing it down to the studs and starting over …Full Story

Sure, they are pretty, but do you want thousands of them in your home? (Photo: iStockphoto)

With their vibrant red wings and black spots, ladybugs aren’t often thought of as pests in the traditional sense of the word. Children and others who’d usually run screaming from any type of beetle or bug are apt to like them, and farmers and gardeners welcome ladybugs because they are known to goggle up lots of crop-destroying pests …Full Story

A slow economy is making it easier to nail down a contractor for home improvement jobs these days. (Photo: iStockphoto)

If you haven’t done any remodeling yet this year, now may be the time. The Wall Street Journal reports that thanks to the economic downturn and slow housing market, homeowners are paying as much as 20 percent less for home improvement projects, compared to what the same projects would have cost them a few years ago …Full Story

With a simple handshake and an agreement to exchange services, you can improve your home without spending cash. (Photo: iStockphoto)

My fellow blogger, Heather Boerner, recently wrote a story for Cyberhomes about how in today's slow economy, some people are bartering for home services …Full Story

A little garden sun to bring into my dark bedroom. (Photo: by Heather Boerner)

Throughout this week, the Cyberhomes bloggers will turn our attention to some recent home improvement projects we've accomplished. Read on and let us know what you think!

My fall improvement: Liven up my space with art …Full Story

When I drill, I'll drill into a stud -- unlike my home's builder, who installed our closet system into drywall. (Photo: iStockphoto)

I once read that every woman should own her own cordless, 18-volt drill. I've never been much of a do-it-yourselfer, and don't know much about tools, but I am starting to think that the sentiment is right on …Full Story

The rule of thumb in my house seems to be -- the minute you make one improvement to the home, something else will go horribly wrong.

That's just what happened to me yesterday, and being totally inept and frustrated when it comes to do-it-yourself stuff, I just had to blog about it …Full Story

The 2010 Farmers' Alamanc predicts that about three-quarters of the U.S. will experience below-average temperatures this winter. (Photo: farmersalmanac.com)

Fall really seems to have arrived in my neck of the woods, the northeast. Today, it's downright chilly and the skies are already looking bleak and gray. It makes me wonder how high my home's heating bills will be this winter, and whether I should think about getting some weatherizing done on my home or at least stock up on some long johns before those cold winter days hit.  …Full Story

The banal yard makeover on Design Star. (Photo: www.hgtv.com/designstar)

Have you ever set out to improve your home and ended up messing up your relationship?

Sure you have. The snits, the accusations, the cowardly passing off of blame, the cost overruns…

Yep, this week Design Star had it all, as the four remaining designers set out to transform a giant and empty back yard into a Zen modern escape …Full Story

Having window treatments installed by pros can get expensive. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Upgrading a home can be difficult -- and expensive -- if you have absolutely no do-it-yourself skills. I fall into that category.

Recently, while vacuuming, I accidentally caught our window treatments in the vacuum, causing the drapes and the curtain rod to come crashing down. (A testament to my klutziness, I'd say.) So now, I am hoping to put in new window treatments, but am thinking about replacing the long draperies that I had with faux wood blinds, with the hope that they will let in more light. (When the draperies came down, I noticed that the room is now a lot brighter than it once was.) …Full Story