Homes

Sterling Heights resident Rhonda Kasper’s father recently passed away, which is why she hosted a garage sale. She was looking to sell items such as a stove, a washer, a dryer, a pingpong table and a Sea-Doo watercraft.

Published May 21, 2019

Buyers and sellers share tips for a successful garage sale

METRO DETROIT — ’Tis the season for garage sales. As the temperature warms up, the number of garage sales around metro Detroit tends to increase.

Published May 15, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Rain barrels, rain gardens prevent stormwater runoff

METRO DETROIT — This year’s wet spring is making it hard to discount the effects of rain on local yards and gardens. For those looking out on a backyard that now includes more ponds than puddles, however, there is hope. Diverting the rain into a rain barrel for future use or establishing a rain garden to attract and filter the stormwater are great ways to eliminate backyard flooding and keep storm sewers from overflowing.

Published May 8, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Experts address how to bolster bees at home

METRO DETROIT — Bees are important. But not everyone knows why, or how we can make a difference. Some local beekeepers and experts weighed in on how relevant bees are to each of our lives, and also how we can foster them to continue to reap the benefits they add to the ecosystem.

Published May 1, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Exercise, toys and training keep pets delightful, not destructive

METRO DETROIT — People love their pets, but that love can get somewhat strained when that fur baby scratches up the couch or mangles a new pair of shoes. Animal experts can offer hope, however, with some tips to keep that dog or cat well-mannered.

Published April 24, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Help your home stand out during the busy spring selling season

METRO DETROIT — If you’re traveling about town, odds are that you have seen numerous “for sale” signs in front yards. That’s not by accident. Experts in home realty say there is a historical significance associated with selling homes once spring is in full gear.

Published April 17, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Native plants can be a good starting point for new gardeners

METRO DETROIT — Looking for a way to improve your garden, help native insects and animals, and reduce water runoff while at the same time having a unique talking point? If these choices sound attractive, then planting a native garden might be the right path.

Published April 10, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Home is where the party is

METRO DETROIT — It’s a warm Saturday as the summer sun begins to set over the lush backyard. The bride and groom have recited their wedding vows, the tiered cake has been cut, and the reception is just getting started.

Published April 3, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Aquariums can add tranquility, beauty to homes

METRO DETROIT — There are many choices facing a homeowner when decorating a home. Something that is not uncommon, but definitely stands out, is an aquarium. Victor Bondi, a Warren resident and president of the Motor City Aquarium Society, said he has at least four fish tanks in his home, and at one point he had as many as 18.

Published March 27, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Get birds to flock to the yard this spring

METRO DETROIT — Bird-watching is entertaining and educational for people of all ages, and people can even enjoy this activity from inside the comfort of their own home if they take a few simple steps.

Published March 20, 2019

Troy Times

Make your dream kitchen a reality

TROY — Kitchen designer Sara Fithault, of EW Kitchens, based at the Michigan Design Center, believes great design is in the details that you don’t notice.

Published March 19, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Protect your home while you travel

METRO DETROIT — Michigan is home to many who take advantage of spring break, enjoy vacations over the summer, or even escape the entire winter season in favor of a warmer climate. While they’re away, their homes are left largely unattended, making them vulnerable to break-ins and other crime. Luckily, law enforcement officials say there are a number of things people can do to protect their homes.

Published March 13, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Raise your gardening game

METRO DETROIT — The garden of your dreams doesn’t have to exist in your mind, or even in the ground in your backyard. Raised-bed gardens, made of wood or other creatively repurposed building materials, offer many advantages to vegetable growers in residential lots and community gardens.

Phragmites grow near the intersection of Tienken and Squirrel roads last September.

Published March 6, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Invasive plants attack home values

Invasive phragmites, water hyacinth, European frogbit and red swamp crayfish — along with the fungus oak wilt and more — can damage landscapes and lower home values.

A privacy fence can help keep a dog from getting lost, and a dog’s collar should have a tag with contact information on it.

Published February 28, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Take steps to protect your furry friend from getting lost

METRO DETROIT — Something pet owners never want to experience is a moment of fear and regret while seeing that their little furry friend has taken an unplanned trip out of the house or yard.

Published February 20, 2019

Southfield Sun

Wanted: Low-income people needing home improvements

METRO DETROIT — Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Oakland County are on the hunt for Southfield and Farmington Hills residents to receive no-cost home improvements.

Published February 20, 2019

Troy Times

Garden guru will share how to get the jump on spring cleanup

Professional gardener and designer Janet Macunovich will share her 30-plus years of experience at the Getting the Garden Ready for Spring event 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Troy Public Library, 510 W. Big Beaver Road.

Published February 20, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Historical homes need a lot of TLC

METRO DETROIT — If you own a home that’s 50 years old or older, you own a historical home. Maintaining a historical home requires some unique tasks on top of the common ones associated with maintaining any modern home.

Published February 14, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Nurture the imagination with fairy gardens

METRO DETROIT — For the young at heart, fairy gardens are a way to bring a sense of wonder to green spaces, evoking mystery with environmental details that make the imagination run wild.

Published February 6, 2019

C&G Newspapers

‘Tidying Up’ is not only easy on the eyes, but on the mind

METRO DETROIT — Does that old T-shirt from high school in the back of your drawer bring you joy? What about the box of receipts from 2015 lurking in your basement? There’s a new method of organization sweeping the nation called KonMari, and it’s all about focusing on keeping what brings you joy and getting rid of what doesn’t. The method was developed by Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo, who has written four books on the subject.

A plaque hangs over the front door of the historical John Warrenner home on Ryan Road in Sterling Heights.

Published February 1, 2019

Sterling Heights Sentry

Homes over 150 years old still stand in Sterling

The history of the John Warrenner home on Ryan Road in Sterling Heights goes back to the 1800s. But to its current owner, Karl Eckert, it’s the place where his dad set up a hobby woodworking workshop and made furniture.