Hold your holiday decor horses! Before you purchase gobs of tinsel and piles of twinkle lights, take another look at items you already have - they may be the holiday embellishment you've been looking for. By hunting through your cabinets and closets, you can easily repurpose common household items into yuletide decor for your abode. Need a little inspiration? These design experts share how they style up...

Home buyers today face tough challenges - housing prices have soared, a dollar doesn't go as far as it once did and rent is more expensive than the past. How are people today making such a large purchase despite these hurdles? With more flexibility and a bit of financing creativity, today's buyers are finding ways to achieve homeownership. Know your options (and credit score) The first step to knowing if...

Hosting a holiday gathering can be a lot of fun, but perhaps a bit intimidating, too. You want your house to look its best, but now isn’t the time to undertake any major updates. Chances are, you’re busy enough get ready for the event. So, focus on just the areas of your house where your guests will spend time. Whether you’re a first-time party host with a few jitters or an old pro...

You may have dreams of decorating your home like it’s a display window at a fancy department store, but then reality strikes: You’ve still got gift shopping and wrapping to do, holiday parties to attend and host … not to mention your everyday life to live. Don’t get overwhelmed. Go for intentional minimalism. Some years, less is more. Simple decor can still have a big...

"We spend so much of our lives in boxes," says Alexis Borsboom, owner of this cottage nestled among the trees on Mayne Island, BC. The unique shape is just one reason she and her husband moved in. The rest of the story lies inside its walls - and begins with the walls themselves. That's because they're made from cob: a combination of clay, sand and straw that's mixed with water and then sculpted by hand....