Homes

Published November 16, 2016

Know these furnace safety tips for winter

METRO DETROIT — As fall transitions to winter, residents should be aware of natural gas safety and know energy-efficient tips to stay warm throughout the season.

In a news release from Consumers Energy Nov. 7, the most important tip the utility shared was how to identify a possible gas leak.

“Signs can include a distinctive ‘rotten egg’ smell, a blowing or hissing sound, bubbling in wet areas, dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area, or flames if a leak has ignited.”

Published November 9, 2016

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Prep your yard now for Old Man Winter

METRO DETROIT — Even with the unseasonably warm weather through late October, Michiganders know what is coming.

Winter.

And the best way to protect your lawn and garden for it, experts say, is to be prepared.

Getting the lawn aerated before the snow comes is a great way to break up the soil so water can get down to the roots, said Mike Ciuciui, owner of Bloomfield Lawn in Farmington Hills.

Published November 2, 2016

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Fire marshals provide tips to plan for fire prevention

METRO DETROIT — How long has it been since you’ve updated your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home? If it’s been longer than 10 years, plan to change your detectors immediately.

Southfield Fire Marshal Jim Dundas said the first and most important thing is to make sure you have working smoke detectors in your home.

“Smoke detectors should be inside and outside of every sleeping area, and there should be at least one detector on every level of the home,” said Dundas.

Published October 26, 2016

Grosse Pointe Times

Halloween houseplants can give you a fright

METRO DETROIT — In the perpetual struggle to evolve and survive, some plants’ defenses and designs have transformed them into truly terrifying forces of nature.

Some plants have evolved to inflict pain, eat meat and appear thoroughly unappetizing and scary. Other plants have Halloween-esque names but appear more tame and beautiful.

Published October 25, 2016

Shelby - Utica News

Know these tricks for Halloween decorating success

METRO DETROIT — Corie Conroy, president of First Impression Home Staging, said she is seeing a resurgence in the popularity of pumpkins and other gourds in seasonal decorating this fall, and she recommended new tricks to keep decorations fresh.

She said one idea is to stack pumpkins and gourds outside, using hay bales for a variety of heights. Homeowners can customize their outdoor pumpkin collection by painting their house numbers on each pumpkin, she said.

Published October 19, 2016

West Bloomfield Beacon

Systems can help keep homes safe and sound

METRO DETROIT — How protected is your home?

October is National Crime Prevention Month, and police and security officials are encouraging homeowners to evaluate their home’s level of security.

In December 2012, the University of North Carolina released a study that evaluated decisions to burglarize from the offender’s perspective. The results indicated that most offenders were deterred by alarms.

Published October 12, 2016

West Bloomfield Beacon

Be in the know about CO

METRO DETROIT — Do you have a carbon monoxide detector in your house?

When was the last time you replaced the batteries or the entire monitor?

Chances are, your monitor or batteries may be expired or, depending on the age of your home, you may not even have a detector.

Published September 28, 2016

Macomb Township Chronicle

Homearama opens in Macomb

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The 2016 Homearama event in the Christenbury Creek development in Macomb Township got underway Sept. 21 to show off the latest in home trends and designs.

The 21st edition of the event, hosted by the Home Builders Association of Southeast Michigan, aims to portray the event’s theme of “Bringing the Dream Home.”

Published September 28, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Touching the future of children’s learning

METRO DETROIT — The moment they’re born, children are learning through the senses of sight, smell, sound, taste and touch.

One of the most basic ways for infants, toddlers and children to learn is through exploration using the senses, said Laureen Krausman, the preschool teacher at St. Germaine Catholic School in St. Clair Shores. By manipulating objects with their hands and touching new textures, children can get a better idea of what something is and what it is used for.

Published September 21, 2016

Warren Weekly

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

Rochester Post

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

Rochester Post

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

Rochester Post

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

Shelby - Utica News

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.