Homes

Experts offer tips for perennials as summer turns to fall

METRO DETROIT — After the long, cold winter, maybe you gasped out loud when your perennials cracked through the soggy ground in the spring. You then probably enjoyed them all summer, as the brilliant colors changed on the landscape canvas of your yard.

With fall again in the air, experts say there are things gardeners can do to keep the show rolling a little longer, and to make sure it begins again with beauty when the snow and cold recede.

Published September 14, 2016

Macomb Township Chronicle

Homearama coming to Macomb Township

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The latest and greatest in home design and technology are set to be showcased in Macomb Township.

This year’s Homearama event, put on by the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan, will take place starting Sept. 21 at Christenbury Creek, a new condominium development located near Card Road and 23 Mile Road.

Published September 14, 2016

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Take steps to protect vacation homes during winter

METRO DETROIT — With Labor Day the “unofficial” end of summer and students heading back to school, many vacation home and cottage owners begin thinking about what to do with their place over the long Michigan winter.

Debra Dodd, a spokeswoman for Consumers Energy, said there are a lot of safety issues that come up when leaving a building unattended for the winter.

Published August 31, 2016

Find old-world elegance on Detroit home tour

DETROIT — When Kelda London and her husband were first married, they hoped that someday they would live in one of the gracious and grand homes found in the city’s University District.

“It was the beauty and the history of it all,” London said. Four years ago, the couple finally moved into their dream home in the neighborhood located west of Palmer Park, bounded by McNichols Road, Seven Mile Road, Livernois Avenue and the Detroit Golf Club.

Published August 24, 2016

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Baby boomers ready to downsize may find few options available

METRO DETROIT — According to www.realtor.com, millennials — buyers 35 years and younger — for a third consecutive year make up the largest group of homebuyers in the United States, at 35 percent.

Published August 17, 2016

Detroit readies for new residents

DETROIT — Next year, and for the first time in more than 60 years, city officials are expecting Detroit’s residential population to increase.

“Demand for living in Detroit is growing every day,” said Detroit Mayor Michael Duggan in a prepared statement. “Census numbers show the city’s decades of population decline is reversing.”

Published August 10, 2016

West Bloomfield Beacon

Opt for an olfactory-pleasing painting experience

METRO DETROIT — A splash of color can give a room a fresh look.

But before you rush to the checkout line with your bucket of paint, experts suggest reviewing the labels for volatile organic compounds, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma.

Published August 3, 2016

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Backsplashes take a turn toward the tame

METRO DETROIT — When a customer comes to Borchert Kitchen & Bath in Washington Township, there are lots of things to choose from that could give their kitchen’s style a boost.

But really, there are two factors that make the most impact: the countertop and backsplash.

Published July 27, 2016

Get a glimpse of new downtown housing developments

METRO DETROIT — The best views in the city will be center stage during the first Downtown Living Tour, which will showcase six new housing and apartment developments.

“It is a great time to show the growth of downtown Detroit,” said Lauren Mohon, marketing and events director for tour organizer Hour Media.

Published July 20, 2016

Experts discuss good water stewardship, money-saving tips

Water bills can add up quickly, especially with residents trying to keep their lawns verdant in the midst of drought-like weather conditions.

A local department of public works director and the chief operating officer of the Great Lakes Water Authority weighed in on what residents can do to save water costs and be good stewards of a finite natural resource.

Published July 13, 2016

Farmington Press

Keep your bedroom cool with these tips

METRO DETROIT — From sleeping solo to dunking your feet in frigid water before hitting the hay, keeping your bedroom — and yourself — cool during the summer calls for unique solutions from the internet and beyond.

If you ask the locals like Corie Conroy, a professional home stager and interior decorator in Bloomfield Hills, she would tell you that you don’t always have to crank up the air to stay cool, because the answer lies where you lie.

Published July 6, 2016

Fencing, natural products combine to keep critters away from garden plants

METRO DETROIT — This year’s dry, early summer is having an unwanted side effect for gardeners: an influx of thirsty mammals.

“Squirrels are a big problem this year. They’re looking for moisture,” said Cindy Roback, whose family owns and operates Young’s Garden Mart & Christmas Fantasy on Ryan Road, north of 11 Mile Road, in Warren. “People are watering their gardens, so the plants have moisture.”

Published June 29, 2016

Proudly remembered, never forgotten

METRO DETROIT — During World War II, John Rossio crammed into a ball turret on a B-17 as his squadron from the 388th Bomb Group flew harrowing missions over Europe that turned targets to dust and left the crew members shaken.

Published June 22, 2016

Housing market remains tilted in favor of sellers

METRO DETROIT — With historically low interest rates, local real estate agents are encouraging those on the fence to list their homes, especially since a shortage of homes for sale is tipping the scale in the sellers’ direction.

Published June 15, 2016

Grosse Pointe Times

Home renovation ideas put safety first while aging in place

METRO DETROIT — Renovating your home to make it more accessible for an older loved one or yourself might sound daunting, but experts say there are more products and services than ever to make this doable.

Published June 8, 2016

Create the perfect patio for Michigan’s summer season

METRO DETROIT — With the weather warming up, now is an ideal time to focus on the outdoor extension of your home.

Whether you’re on a budget or have some cash to spare, local experts weighed in on the hottest trends and ways to spruce up patios.

Published June 1, 2016

For music lovers, decorating is instrumental

METRO DETROIT — If the walls inside Dana Forrester’s home could talk, well, they probably wouldn’t.

Instead, they would break out into a guitar solo, entertain a melody or display some rockin’ riffs.

Forrester, who resides in Whitmore Lake with husband James Trunko, has set aside a number of her guitars — including a red Fender Telecaster — to use as decorative pieces throughout the house.

Published May 25, 2016

Don’t trim oak trees to avoid deadly fungus

METRO DETROIT — Once the oak wilt fungus enters an oak tree’s system, an infected tree can be dead within a month.

“Even the biggest trees,” said David Roberts, senior academic specialist at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Roberts has been studying the oak wilt fungus for the past 30 years.

Published May 18, 2016