Cold weather is on the horizon, threatening to leak into your home and send a chill up your spine. With skyrocketing energy costs and a global movement to "go green," now's the time to help keep precious energy from going right out the window.

Do you ever find yourself wishing you could use your deck or patio more often but find it to be useless because of the weather? Imagine turning your deck or patio into a usable outdoor living space where you can spend more time enjoying life no matter what the weather. An awning could be the answer.

As the weather turns cooler, mice begin to seek cozier surroundings -- including our homes. Here's how to get rid of them without having to use poison.

When spring rains rinse and refresh the outdoors, decks, patios and everything on them get a bath, too. But, once it's dry you see the remaining film that stays: dirt, bird droppings, sticky tree sap and buds, and whatever other debris that gets carried in the wind to land on your patio.

Incorporating current trends into your kitchen design not only helps you create a stylish and updated room, but also increases functionality. From the latest colors to the newest materials, good design can ensure you enjoy your new kitchen.

As today's kitchens continue to increase in size, staples such as appliances, countertops and faucets have transformed from once "ho-hum" objects to technologically advanced and highly stylized "must haves." Additionally, groundbreaking advancements have added new options for the kitchen. There are many ways you can create a chic and savvy kitchen that will be light years ahead of your neighbors.

Here are a few simple tricks that can help create a more appealing space and a more attractive listing in today's increasingly competitive housing market.