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Ask a Designer: Closet organization that lasts

By Melissa Rayworth Associated Press Most people don’t start out with a messy closet. Even when a closet is carefully organized at the beginning, however, it might not take long for order to turn to chaos. “It’s common for clients to struggle with keeping the momentum going,” says interior designer Caitlin Murray. But there are planning and design strategies to help closets stay as organized as they were on day one. We’ve asked Murray, founder of the Los Angeles-based Black Lacquer Design, and two other experts — Delaware-based home designer and builder Marnie ...

How to plan an eco-friendly remodel without overspending

By Annie Millerbernd of NerdWallet When Cliff and Karen Tyllick set out to install solar panels on their Austin, Texas , home in 2012, their goal was to reduce their carbon footprint. The fact that they also saved thousands of dollars upfront and lowered their bills was a nice bonus. Solar panel installation can cost $15,000 to $25,000 or more . For the Tyllicks, federal and local incentives significantly cut their costs — they now frequently don’t pay for electricity, and when they do, it costs between $30 and $50 per month. Whether you’re incorporating sustainability into ...

Wanderlust woes? Decor ideas for the housebound traveler

By Kim Cook Associated Press If your actual travel plans are on hold, you can soothe your wanderlust with a few home décor change-ups or additions. Whether you’re wishing you were at a wilderness cabin, the beach or an exotic passport destination, designers and retailers are offering clever ways to bring the world into your quarantined home space. Can’t stroll the real streets of Italy? You can clad floors or walls in a kitchen, bath or family room with a surfacing that evokes that feel. Italy’s ABK offers the Nuovi Mondi capsule collection of large-format ceramic tiles ...

Want a new kitchen? Tips for starting the process

By Katherine Roth Associated Press So you want a new kitchen? Whether you’re considering designing a kitchen using your own architect, a kitchen planner hired through a store like IKEA or Home Depot, or an online planning service, professionals suggest keeping a few things in mind. PLAN AHEAD, PLAN WAY AHEAD “Many people start planning their kitchen a year ahead of time, and that’s about right,” says John Allen, a services planner at IKEA in the United States. “The more you’ve worked out what you want ahead of time, the more smoothly things will go once you start ...

Add beauty, function with a path

By Lee Reich Associated Press A path is a feature too often overlooked in a garden or landscape. Maybe it lacks functionality, or beauty, or it’s needed — but just not there. A well-designed path can do more than keep your feet dry. It can tell you where to walk, and also guide your eyes and imagination. What’s at the end of the path? WHERE TO? When planning a path, consider both its aesthetic and functional purposes. Wide paths and paths with jogs or curves are for slow strolling — just what’s needed to encourage a prolonged look at a choice planting. A straight shot ...

3D printing’s new challenge: Solving the US housing shortage

By Terence Chea Associated Pres A new generation of startups wants to disrupt the way houses are built by automating production with industrial 3D printers. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, uses machines to deposit thin layers of plastic, metal, concrete and other materials atop one another, eventually producing three-dimensional objects from the bottom up. In recent years, 3D printers have mostly been used to create small quantities of specialized items such as car parts or prosthetic limbs, allowing consumers or businesses to produce just what they need using ...