Linoleum vs. Vinyl Flooring: Major Differences Linoleum was the original resilient flooring material. First patented more than 160 years ago, linoleum was discovered when it was noticed that linseed oil being used as a paint thinner developed a solid, tough, but flexible film that floated on the top of the paint. Experimentation showed that this material could be blended with other materials to create a product that made for a very durable and adaptable building material—an ideal material for flooring....

What Are High-Efficiency Clothes Washers? High efficiency or HE washers have been the standard in Europe for many years. While they have been offered in the United States for more than two decades, they have become even more popular as consumers are drawn to their water and energy-saving capabilities. The first thing you’ll notice when you go appliance shopping is that are two types of high-efficiency washers. One has a door on the front, and the other has a lid on top like the old standard washer....

Oils first became popular as a way to control pest problems on fruit trees. Fruit trees posed a unique problem because they were so pest-prone and yet you couldn’t just spray with any insecticide, because it’s an edible product, and you couldn’t kill off all the insects, because you needed the good guys for pollination or there would be no crop. So an oil-based insecticide was developed for use during the dormant-season before the flower buds began to open....

The History of Brutalism The term Brutalism—coined by Swedish architect Hans Asplund as “nybrutalism” and popularized by British architectural critic Reyner Banham in 1955—is not a reference to the arguably brutal nature of its appearance but a play on the French phrase for raw concrete, “béton brut.” Emerging from the modernist movement of the late 19th century to mid 20th century, Brutalist architecture was born in the 1950s. Celebrated modernist architect Le Corbusier’s iconic Cité Radieuse in Marseille, France—a post-war working class housing unit for 1,600 people that is part of his Unité d’Habitation social housing project—is thought to be the building that inspired the Brutalist movement....

History of Hollywood Regency Style Hollywood Regency style was a product of the Hollywood Golden Age of the 1920s-1950s, when film set designers built over-the-top dream interiors for the silver screen that looked great on camera with all of their attention to detail, color, texture, composition, and finishes. Sometimes called Regency Moderne, Hollywood Regency was an updated take on the interiors of the 19th-century Regency Era. Hollywood royalty developed a taste for the polished glamour of the movie sets, employing interior designers like iconic 20th-century interior designer Dorothy Draper, actor-turned-interior designer William Haines, and Paul R....

A lot of Japanese architecture roots itself in religion, finding inspiration in beliefs drawn from Shinto and Buddhism. With both religions based in nature and spiritualism, much of Japanese architecture centers on the outside world and the spiritual realm beyond human existence. What we now identify as Japanese architecture can be traced back all the way to the 7th century, but it’s gone through many evolutions over time. Key Elements of Japanese Architecture Japanese architecture is centered on religion, and because of that, many of the most important Japanese buildings were shrines....

But another class of evergreen shrubs are those in the broadleaf group, which includes: If you want to research the particular shrub that you grow before deciding on the best pruning time for it, find it in the Plants Database. When to Prune Evergreen Shrubs In general, prune needle-bearing evergreen shrubs in early spring, toward the end of dormancy and before the emergence of new growth. Pruning the evergreens at this time allows plenty of time for new growth to emerge, as well as plenty of time for these new shoots to harden off before the following winter....

Knowing what’s safe to throw in your composting bin (and what should stay out) can be confusing. Read on to learn all about what makes up a good compost combination, what you can include from your home, and what you should dispose of as traditional trash. What Is Compost? At its most basic, composting is the natural breaking down of organic materials into valuable fertilizer. In order to be successful, composting experts recommend that all “batches” of compost contain three ingredients: brown matter, green matter, and water....

Identify The Leak Water leaks are often because of pinholes in your plumbing system or small failures in caulking or other exterior materials. Water takes the easiest path down to the ground, so it will often travel along the framing in the walls. If you are not sure, use a moisture meter to find out if the moisture levels in your home are within normal parameters and an infrared camera to look for leaks behind walls and ceilings....

Keep reading to better understand the various noises a water heater may make and what these noises mean. Rumbling Sediment build-up is a regularly occurring issue with hot water tanks, especially if you live in areas that are known to have hard water. These mineral deposits settle inside the tank causing a range of problems. When the hot water in the tank heats and expands, it pushes through the sediment to the top of the tank, which causes the sediment to shift against the sides and bottom of the water tank, resulting in a rumbling sound....

Is your bathroom a big mess? Can’t find what you need when you need it? Then use this list of items as a guide to what you should absolutely store in your bathroom, and what items you should move elsewhere. Store These Items Some items are just made for the bathroom. Maybe you only use them in this room—like toothbrushes or shampoo—or maybe it just makes sense to store them in here....

When your orchid produces flowers is determined by its inherent bloom cycle. For most varieties the annual growth cycle begins as the weather warms up in spring and continues throughout the summer. Flowers may follow in late autumn, early winter or early spring, depending on variety. Adding to the problem of figuring out the bloom cycle is that commercial growers often force the plants into bloom outside of their natural habit....

Whether you already have wood paneling in your house and you’re wondering how to improve it or you are considering adding it to a room, here are some wonderful ideas that take the paneling look to the next level. Photography: elizabethpedinottihaynes

The secret to choosing the right cool colors for your space is identifying the undertones of each color. A cool color isn’t only a color that has gray tones. Cool colors can have a blue or green cast, which makes them more challenging to use. Sampling paint colors is your secret weapon in choosing the right cool colors. Unlike warm colors, the lack of lighting in a room can make you miss the undertone, which might be offputting in full light....

In your plant selection, aim for a balance between beauty and practicality. The prettiest plant you find in a garden catalog will disappoint you if you grow it under the wrong conditions (too much shade or sun) or to serve a function it is not suited to serve. You also have to strike a balance between beauty and vigor, since you may not want to create a landscape-maintenance nightmare by introducing plants to your yard that are going to spread beyond the bounds you intend for them....

A cute tray is the ideal vessel for such morning treats. It keeps things spill-free and easy to carry, from kitchen to bedroom. With a tray that scores on style, it kickstarts your day with some joy and beauty, too. Check out these charming serving trays to crank up the cozy come fall — from tiled stunners to wood-toned classics and more.

John Keeble/Getty Images For your safety, do not buy or use a space heater that is not recognized by a testing laboratory says the U.S. Department of Energy. An excellent way to check is to look for a UL certified label. Also, never leave a portable heater unattended. Models that shut off automatically can help you rest easy. If your home has a programmable thermostat and you have it set to a low nighttime temperature, program it to bring up the home temperature a full 15 to 30 minutes before you get up....

With little effort, succulents can look so good. But they still require attention. Discover how to not only keep them alive but get them to look good and thrive. Wrong. Their watering needs are minimal, but they still need it to survive. If you live in a region that doesn’t get much rain, water succulents regularly during their periods of active growth. This would be spring through fall. Container plants can be watered about once a week....