Home Improvement Blog Articles
Home Improvement
Home Security & Safe Rooms
By Chris Petry Look, I know streaming is super convenient and all but I’m absolutely horrified by the thought of brilliant art being lost in the ether that is the cloud. That’s why I still buy Blu-Rays for my home video library. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of revisiting David Fincher’s appropriately-claustrophobic home invasion thriller Panic Room, starring Jodie Fos
Spring Maintenance & Cleaning 2025
By Chris Petry No one can say we didn’t have a winter this year. While temperatures were warmer than normal leading into the holiday season, the early days of January saw a complete turnaround in the forecast. For some, it was something of an overcorrection. While I love the snow and have thoroughly enjoyed the lazy evenings buried under a mountain of blankets with a book and cup of tea,
What's the Deal with Modern Lighting?
By Chris Petry Can we all agree that modern lighting fixtures have gotten a little out of hand? My primary vocation sees me visiting a lot of sales offices to shoot corporate video. Usually, I end up in a conference or board room, where there’s ample space to setup studio lighting and get distance between the camera and subject for depth of field. After you slide the conference room table
Is Open Concept Living on the Way Out?
By Chris Petry Walls. Door. Outside walls are, of course, crucial. Their weight provides much needed stability to your house’s frame and, in concert with the roof and doors, they exist to insure the outside stays outside. Inside walls too have a dual purpose. First, they hide load bearing supports and second, you can hang your signed sports jersey or family photo collage on them. Yep, tha
Making Snow Shoveling Easier
By Chris Petry Show of hands, who here likes shoveling snow? No one? Fine. Living in the Northeast, there’s just not an option most years. Fortunately, we live in a time where there more tools than ever to expedite the job. Better yet, there are people who know or have tested out alternative methods of snow removal who can attest to the effectiveness online. Better yet-yet, there are a nu
Important Home Safety Tips
Introduction by Chris Petry & Featured Article by Nancy Mitchell Last year, we ran this article for the first blog of 2024. Since it's Christmas this week and I know you're not racing over here to see what's going on, we figured we'd run it again. After all, it's still very relevant. This piece is from guest writer Nancy Mitchell, an RN and Contributing Writer for Ass
Winterize
by Chris Petry After next Thursday, the ghouls and goblins of Fall will have retreated to the darkness, their space filled by turkeys and cornucopias. Of course, that means Old Man Winter will be making his frightful appearance, blowing chilly air throughout the land. So, what can you do to prepare your home for the arrival of what is objectively the best season. Okay, I know 90% of yo
Is Wallpaper Making a Comeback?
One trend people are continually asking about is wallpaper. Of course, for the last 20 or so years, that question has been, “Is wallpaper coming back?” It’s not a nonsensical question to ask. After all, the answer has been pretty fleeting. In new construction, the answer seems to be a “no.” Yet, if you visit an ordinary home in the burbs, it’s likely you’l
Should I Renovate or Buy a New Home?
It seems we’re always discussing the benefits of buying versus renting and vice versa. Yet, we rarely discuss the conundrum that faces millions of homeowners every day: should you renovate your existing home to suit your needs or find a new one where the needs will already be met? There’s certainly a lot to consider. Are market conditions optimal for a move? The answer to
Heat Proofing Your Home
By Chris Petry Well, despite heavy rain providing a temporary respite, it looks like we’re in for another scorcher of a summer. According to predictions from AccuWeather, average daytime temperatures are tracking at 2-4 degrees higher than average. Which doesn’t seem like a lot except the average has been creeping upward for the last several years. So, what can you do to beat the im
