Donna Bosze's Blog

"So what will give me a high return on investment?" The answer is usually "it depends!!" Remember that while some home improvements might improve your quality of life they might not increase the value of your home. There are many factors that affect the return you can get when you upgrade. Where ...

Photo by Marpa Landscape Design Studio   Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy of form and placement that helps to improve the flow of chi (also qi)—the universal life force. In the Western world, we’ve mostly heard of feng shui in home design, but the Chinese use feng shui first and foremo...

  Use Jewelry Boxes Those little boxes are so sturdy and trim that you hate to throw them out. So don’t. Instead, clip them together to create tidy divided storage for pens and pencils, lipsticks, plastic flatware, whatever it is that clutters your drawer (maybe jewelry?).                       ...

For savings and safety, don't neglect ducts                                Your clothes dryer is one of the hardest-working appliances in your home. It's also a fairly basic appliance in how it operates, and if it's properly vented and maintained, it should give you years, even decades, of relia...

              You may have collected your fair share of antler-inspired decor last fall. Or you might be thinking about finding a spot for that bold tangerine color of the year or even adding one of the woodland-themed pieces expected to be popular. Stop thinking and start organizing. Blindly fo...

  Recycling is not all that tricky, but some people waste a lot of time doing stuff they shouldn’t. For example below are some surefire ways to recycle incorrectly… Crush all cans carefully – waste o’ time. Nowadays you don’t need to do this step. Recycling centers take un-crushed cans happily. ...

Open this week     Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens offers docent-led garden tours with the price of admission. Tuesday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and April 15, April 29, May 13 and May 27 at 2:30 pm. Through June 9. 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. 202-686-5807. www.hillwoodmuseum.or...

Enjoy your summer relaxing in your own backyard. When it’s cold outside, many of us dream of endless summer days relaxing by the water, maybe swimming laps in a pool. If you start planning now, you can create your own backyard oasis—complete with a pool and spa—and begin enjoying yourself by spri...

Green remodeling involves "design and construction of projects that reduce the environmental impacts of remodeling, including energy, water, and materials consumption; waste generation; and harmful emissions" (ReGreen Residential Remodeling Guidelines, USGBC and ASID, 2008). One of the more impor...

Seal Sneaky Leaks Seal electrical outlets in the exterior walls of your house. Foam insulating gaskets (less than $1 each) “act as a barrier so conditioned air stays in, rather than leaking out,” says Jonathan Passe of the EPA. Just unscrew the outlet cover, install the gasket, and replace the co...