The average home spends a whopping $1500 annually on energy costs an energy bottom line that is much bigger than it needs to be, because a significant portion of that energy is wasted and lost. The good news is, changing just a few simple things around your house can make a big difference and save a lot of energy and money.
More than 10% of a home's energy is consumed by light bulbs. By...
Travis Heights is a centrally located neighborhood in one of Austin's most esteemed zip codes, 78704. The neighborhood's proximity to downtown and Lady Bird Lake makes it a desirable place to live, and the new Emma Long Center for the Performing Arts is just a couple of blocks north of the area, right across Barton Springs Road. Auditorium Shores, a lovely outdoor amphitheater which hosts...
Canopy. That's a great word and a comforting thought when shade is what you need on a hot day. When it's canopy provided by trees, the word and the comfort loom refreshingly larger in the mind of any summer sun-smitten shade seeker. No man made shade offers quite the appeal of the dark and dappled shade of a live oak tree on a sun-baked lawn.
Austin has a rich urban canopy and, although...
A fireplace is meant to be the centerpiece of your living space, the heart of your home. Sometimes, however, this focal point is less than impressive and more than lacking in the drama factor. If your fireplace is bland, plain or simply unattractive, a quick color change can do wonders. The secret is using multiple coats to build up depth and create a faux finish, rather than just painting...
Independence Day is quickly approaching, and there are many ways to celebrate the birth of our country in Austin and the surrounding area. There are numerous fireworks displays as well as performances by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and other musical events in different locales in the county area. Until a few years ago, the huge, city-sponsored pyrotechnics display was held downtown over...
Two areas of Austin which are also very historic are the Tarrytown neighborhood and the Deep Eddy neighborhood, and these two areas are adjacent to each other with Tarrytown being slightly farther north than Deep Eddy. These areas are situated in western Travis County, adjacent to Lake Austin, which is what the part of the Colorado River which is just west of Lady Bird Lake is called. These...
One of the most cost effective ways to renovate your home is to "do-it-yourself." From sanding and painting to digging and planting, there are many projects that a determined homeowner can accomplish. There are some jobs, however, that are better left to the professionals. These jobs are too heavy, too labor intensive or require specialized tools and skills.
Case in point: installing...
First off, you should watch some late night infomercials on TV, and possibly order some real estate tapes from Carlton Sheets. This will provide you with a positive upbeat attitude and a sense of false confidence that is essential in order to go bankrupt. You should believe that after listening to some tapes, you can compete with people that have done this 7 days a week for years.
For...
The term "Keep Austin Weird" has become overly used, and some would say Austin "weirdness" is growing increasingly hard to find, with the mass influx of those from other areas bringing their normality to town. Luckily with events like Spamarama, the shrine known as the Cathedral of Junk, and the annual Eeyore's Birthday Party, the city's weirdness shines.
In 1978, David Arnsberger, Dick...
Several homes, especially centrally located homes, have hardwood flooring. A pristine hardwood floor is beautiful, but to restore one back to its original 60 year old elegance, the floor will need to be refinished.
Refinishing hardwood floors can be a challenging job for the do-it-yourselfer, but with some preparation and research, it can be done without the help of a professional.
Many...
