Home Improvement
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Designer helps couple turn house into warm, welcoming homeJun 17, 2012 8:00 am - The Palatine house Kirsten and Heinz Titze found had a lot going for it, starting with the open floor plan they craved for entertaining. Their three children could stay...
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How to repair doors in a 1970s-era houseJun 16, 2012 5:00 am - Q. I have a home from the 1970s and it’s starting to show its age. I can fix most small problems, but I’m having trouble with a couple of doors. One door is split on the...
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What to doo when builder ignores your complaintsJun 15, 2012 5:38 am - Q. We bought our home six years ago when it was new. Since then, it has settled and is cracked in many places. We notified the builders. They filed an insurance claim an...
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Prospect Heights family wins backyard makeover contestJun 10, 2012 6:00 am - It's been a tough year for Sharon Zeeck's family since an electrical fire all but destroyed their Prospect Heights home, but things are finally looking up. The family re...
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A cluttered house can be daunting, but start the editing processJun 10, 2012 5:00 am - It’s easy to procrastinate on decluttering. Sorting and organizing may ease the mess, but a color-coordinated bookshelf of junk is still a bookshelf of junk. The declutt...
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Ask the plumber: Insider information for an outdoor showerJun 10, 2012 5:00 am - Q. Ed, I love your column and would like a little inside information from a plumbing expert. We recently bought a house with an outdoor shower stall. The problem is the ...
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More homeowners create entertainment areas outdoorsJun 09, 2012 5:30 am - Even in an area like Chicago that experiences cold winters, the outdoor living movement, as Jason Newsom calls it, “is the hottest thing.” “The amount of square footage ...
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Home inspector: Fire damage in attic was not disclosedJun 08, 2012 5:49 am - Q. When we bought our home, the inspection report said nothing about damage in the attic. This week, I was in the attic, and one entire wall is scorched wood. What can I...
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Illuminated backyards allow for time to enjoy outdoorsJun 04, 2012 6:00 am - Today's backyard is the place to be, to relax, to entertain, to enjoy yourself spring through fall. That means even after dark and when the big game is on. In the Chicag...
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Ask the plumber: Looking for a new old-style tubJun 03, 2012 5:00 am - Q. I’m looking to remodel my bathroom the way I want it, not how everyone is telling me I should do it. I want an old-style, claw-foot bathtub. Everyone is telling me th...