Thermostat Configuration One of the first things you should check if your furnace is blowing cold air instead of hot air is the thermostat, because this little device controls the temperature and fan on the furnace. The fan setting on the thermostat may be set to “on,” which would result in the fan continuously blowing air even when the temperature in the home is not low enough for the furnace to produce heat....

First, give it a leg up. The old legs on the IKEA Karlstad sofa shared on the left were replaced with a new set by Pretty Pegs called the Estelle 170. Next, spring for a colorful upgrade. You can go from drab gray to dusty pink with a slipcover by Cover Couch.

A wing chair (also known as a wingback chair) is a durable seat with a solid back, short wood legs (typically turned wood), and usually upholstered in fabric or leather. Wingback chairs are distinguished by the side panels or “wings” on the high back, which originally served the purpose of shielding the occupant from drafts in a room, or excessive heat from the fireplaces. A traditional wingback chair can measure over 40 inches from the floor to the top of the back, making it a substantial piece of furniture....

Below, learn nine types of under-sink shutoff valves and their purposes to help you identify the valves in your home when replacing or repairing your plumbing fixtures. Iron pipe valves simply screw and unscrew from the end of the pipe. The only tools required are two pliers: one to hold the pipe in place, and the other to tighten the valve. Chrome-plated brass versions are available, which cost significantly less than cast iron stop valves and are more durable over time....

The transitional style is not restricted to just the furniture profiles, shapes, and sizes, but carries through to finishes and materials including fabrics. What Is Transitional Style? As the word “transition” implies, this is the style that transitions or falls between a very traditional style and an ultra-sleek modern style. Individual furniture pieces in a transitional style may lean toward being either more traditional or more modern, but they stay away from either extreme....

In late spring, an abundance of feathery white flowers appears on the tree for a two-week blooming providing a showy display. The flowers can perfume your garden with their sweet, lilac-like smell, particularly in the evening. The flowering trees usually thrive in extremely wet river bottoms or in upland areas that are favorable to longleaf pine trees growth. Where the Tree Grows The U.S. Department of Agriculture established the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location....

Important NEC Bathroom Regulations General lighting/fan circuit required: Each bathroom should have a circuit for lighting and an exhaust fan. According to the Code, this circuit may be a 15-amp circuit if it serves just lighting, but it should be a 20-amp circuit if it is also serving a vent fan. If the vent fan includes a heat lamp, then a separate 20-amp circuit, in addition to the lighting circuit, should power the vent-fan/ heat lamp combination....

Add a Fresh Coat of Paint For the biggest impact with the least expenditure, give your bedroom a fresh coat of paint. It’s easy to stay in your budget thanks to numerous paint brands. The key is choosing the right paint color. Whether your style is clean and white, tranquil and neutral, bold and bright, or contemporary and dark, there’s a paint color to please your decorating sensibilities while barely touching your bank account....

Good Cilantro Companion Plants Companion plantings often are recommended for the way that certain plants keep away pests or predators that might do harm. Aphids are a common garden pest and they love to eat cilantro, especially green peach and coriander aphids. Chervil is an aromatic culinary herb that helps keep pests away. Sweet alyssum in particular attracts lady beetles and green lacewing larvae, both of which will gobble up aphids....

No matter if you own or rent your home, there will come a day when you need a basic home tool kit for making repairs, completing a home project, or assembling new furniture. The Black & Decker 20V Max Drill & Home Tool Kit aims to provide the tool basics, including a 20-volt lithium-ion cordless drill. At the very least, home tool kits should include a tape measure, hammer, pliers, and level....

The next-generation comforter has officially arrived and it’s called the Buffy Cloud. If you haven’t heard of Buffy yet, the family-run company makes innovative bedding designed to feel as good on your skin as it does your conscience. With an outer shell constructed of naturally soft, breathable eucalyptus fiber, Buffy comforters shun both goose down and virgin synthetic materials. Instead, the company recycles BPA-free plastic water bottles slated for the landfill, turning them into plush comforter fill....

It is best to order your bees in the winter for shipment in March through May. Sometimes package bees sell out, so avoid problems by ordering early. Find out more about some of the best online bee suppliers who will ship bees to you; many also have bees available for pickup. There are many more suppliers who have websites, but some of these may not ship the bees, requiring that you pick them up yourself....

The pods typically start out green and ripen over the course of several months to a yellow-orange color. Inside each pod is a white pulp that contains around 20 to 50 seeds, or cocoa beans. The seeds are extracted and processed into myriad products. These trees have a fairly slow growth rate, and it can take around five years before they produce seed pods. The best time to plant is in the spring or fall....

Spring-planted seeds may not bloom the first year, but to get around this frustration, you can plant the seeds in the fall for gorgeous flowers the following summer. Although Chinese foxglove is not as hardy as its lookalike, digitalis, it is more versatile, growing well in shade and is even fairly drought-tolerant. Chinese foxgloves help to light up shade gardens and that is where they grow happiest. They begin blooming as spring woodland flowers fade....

Native to California and Oregon, the cobra lily is often found growing in distinct groupings in boggy areas that are devoid of nutrition. Their hooded leaves secrete an aroma that attracts insects and then allows the plant to gather fuel from trapping and digesting their prey. Once inside, it’s difficult for insects to escape. The plant will secretes digestive enzymes to help break down the animal matter. Unlike many other pitcher plants, because of their hooded shape, cobra lily plants are not able to collect rainwater to trap prey....

Moss loves shade, moisture, and poorly drained or compacted soils. There is truth to the belief that moss grows on the north side of trees since areas that receive little sun are where moss tends to thrive. In lawns, moss tends to fill in areas where grass has weakened and cannot grow. Moss is simply filling a void where other plants cannot grow. Thus, before killing grass, it’s wise to consider the conditions that have fostered the growth of moss....