No home is fireproof, but these strategies will make your home fire-resistant. By Scott Rodwin & Ron Flax In the wake of the Fourmile Canyon Fire that destroyed 169 homes in Boulder County, learning how to create a fire-resistant house is on the minds of many residents. Though there’s no such thing as a fireproof […]
Living in proximity to wildlife has its joys—and sorrows. If you have outdoor cats, they’re at risk from predators. Here’s how to keep your cats safe and happy. By Ruthanne Johnson They leap to kill birds, pounce on mice and even wrestle snakes into submission. Yet despite their killer instincts, cats have somehow stolen our […]
Potions and powders claim to reduce wrinkles on aging faces. Nobody likes to grow old, but are there things we can do to slow the aging process? By Kate Schwartz Seamons We’re bombarded with appeals to our vanity every day. Ads tell us to buy this cream, apply this mask, take this or that, and […]
[Companion article to Beyond Beige] In a color quandary? Here’s how to take the leap from boring beige to beauteous color in your home: Pick colors that create a mood or atmosphere. Ask yourself, “How do I want to feel in this space? How could color support this room’s purpose?” Consider the relationship of wall […]
Did you know… Marinating meats in certain herbs and liquids before grilling can reduce cancer-causing compounds by up to 60 percent? When cooking meats at high temperature, the amino acids, sugars and a compound called creatine in the meat convert to heterocyclic amines (HCAs). While HCAs have been shown to increase cancer risk, antioxidants in […]
Break out of the beige rut with this advice from a local color consultant. [Also see companion article, Color Your World, for Tips on adding color] Text and photos by Cathy Rivers We’ve all been there. Overwhelmed by the thousands of paint chips or going for the safe resale bet, we hit the color-default button […]
Secondhand shopping is a great pastime, if you crave thrills, deals and green deeds. By Wendy Underhill When Shirley Jenkins stopped off at Boulder’s new Goodwill store, she thought she’d pick up a few things to decorate her daughter’s dorm room. After two hours of scrutinizing the jam-packed shelves, Jenkins (not her real name) came […]
If your home guzzles energy there’s no better time than now to do green remodeling, because rebates and incentives still exist. Two local green builders explain what your best bets are in terms of payback and the environment. By Scott Rodwin & Ron Flax If your house is more than 15 years old, an energy-efficient […]
By Molly Rettig If deer treat your yard like a buffet—munching roses, gulping from your pond, and nibbling your hard-grown fruits and veggies—you’re probably at your wits’ end. But it is possible to get deer to pass on the potluck. These cute but pesky garden visitors can attract predators like mountain lions into your yard. […]
A fanatical love of gardening is passed from father to daughter. By Mary Lynn Bruny I am a ridiculously ardent gardener. People admire my garden and “ooh” and “aah,” but I’m a little embarrassed about it. It shows that I purchase way too much and spend way too many hours puttering that I should probably […]
Ravaged by disease or old age, a beloved tree can live on in a different incarnation. If your favorite tree’s time is up, here are ideas to keep it around a little longer. By Lisa Truesdale It’s easy to fall in love with a tree. Trees are symbols of permanence and faithfulness, reaching optimistically for […]
This lush landscape is a 40-year work-in-progress for the homeowner, single mom who did most of the work herself. photos by weinrauch photography.com The day Catherine Schweiger closed on her Mapleton Hill home, she walked through the front door with a sledgehammer in one hand, a shovel in the other, and a plan. It was […]
Here are a few things to consider when choosing stonework for your garden, walkways or patio. Ground Preparation Proper ground prep, especially for stone and brick surfaces, is crucial. “Here in Boulder we have clay-based soil,” says Brian Scott, a stonemason and owner of StoneScapes in Boulder. “You want to make sure you have your […]
Here are three delicious desserts guaranteed to please. I don’t believe baking should be complicated. I know some people like the challenge of a baked Alaska, and that’s fine. But I lean toward baking’s more creative than challenging side. That may stem from having to do a TV segment in four minutes that has to […]
Windows frame the outdoors and ventilate our homes, so it makes sense to know the different styles before you shop so you can choose the appropriate windows for your home. We drape them, dress them, shade them and gaze through them, but we often ignore their functional aspects. Windows frame our views and connect us […]
An interior designer dramatically transformed four chairs destined for the dump, showing how easy it is to keep Grandma’s chair out of the landfill. “I’ve always had a chair fetish,” admits Barbee James, owner of Details Design Studio in Boulder. Who better to turn to, then, when I inherited an ugly 1960s wing chair from […]
This home by Haystack Mountain is a crossroads for two cultures, especially in the kitchen, where cuisines from different countries are continually cooked up. Photos by WeinrauchPhotography.com When Thanya LeBlang moved from Thailand to Boulder four years ago to live with her American husband, Steve LeBlang, she thought his country home near Haystack Mountain “was […]
Too many front porches are outfitted with only a chair or two. If that describes your front porch, here are ways to make it a comfy, cozy space in any season. Photos by Weinrauchphotography.com With spring right around the corner, now’s the time to prep the porch and get your outdoor spaces primed and ready […]
It’s easy bein’ green when it comes to cleaning house. Alternatives to chemical cleaners are just as effective, and not hazardous to your health or the environment. Next time you head to the store, add a few items to your shopping list: fresh lemons, baking soda and vinegar. Then scratch off glass cleaner, scouring powder, […]
This Niwot landscape was designed to amplify the earth’s electromagnetic field to keep the home’s occupants healthier and in tune with the earth. Photos courtesy Outdoor Craftsmen When you round the corner into Jeff Lambert’s modest-sized, suburban backyard, a surprising visual feast awaits: Cascading waterfalls, a blue-green sea of plants, a hobbit-esque stone-and-timber sauna, and […]
