Homes & Gardens

Home & Garden

July 19, 2016

Birds of North America series available on-line

A wonderful resource for a modest annual price

Home & Garden

July 19, 2016

catbird bathing Jim Williams, special to the Star Tribune

How birds beat the heat

Heat and drought take a toll on birds, but there are ways you can help.

Home & Garden

July 19, 2016

Understanding energy ratings and certifications for houses in Minnesota

Green building ratings and energy efficiency certifications are becoming increasingly popular — for good reason.

Variety

July 18, 2016

Architect Sarah Susanka designed this Mendota Heights contemporary Craftsman, which was featured in her groundbreaking "Not So Big House" book.

Explore a one-of-a-kind Craftsman with 'Zen-like' spirit

The contemporary Craftsman-style home in Mendota Heights was designed by "Not So Big House" author Sarah Susanka.

Variety

July 16, 2016

Gilded Home offered this baby octopus for a bookshelf or table top in a gold finish. (Patricia Sheridan/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS) ORG XMIT: 1186326

A furniture trend with tentacles

Octopi are the motif of the momentf or home decor.

Variety

July 16, 2016

Indoors and Out: Lilies, hostas, pollinators and more

Variety

July 16, 2016

Home plan Cottage-style enhanced by walkout level

Home & Garden

July 16, 2016

Shakopee
Built in 2004, this four-bedroom, four-bath house has 3,268 finished square feet and features four bedrooms on one level, two-story front ent

Home listings: What $450,000 buys in the Twin Cities

Variety

July 15, 2016

My Favorite Room: a shrine to music and memorabilia in Minneapolis

A shrine to a lifetime of musical mementos and memories strikes familiar notes.

Variety

July 15, 2016

Renting and the law: Relative of deceased tenant seeks rent refund

Variety

July 15, 2016

Profusion Zinnias and Gnome Gomphrena. (Norm Winter/MCT)

Spreading the love: Plants that reseed themselves

Plants that reseed themselves are gifts that keep on giving to savvy gardeners.

Variety

July 15, 2016

Attendees at a tiny house conference in the Twin Cities paid a visit to the tiny home of Kim and Ryan Kasl, which is set on a lake in south central Mi

What's it really like to live in a 267-square-foot house? Minn. family tells all

Members of a Minnesota family say living in a tiny house has allowed them to live on one income, home-school their kids and "instill amazing values — valuing experiences and time together over stuff we store in our house."

Variety

July 14, 2016

This wallpapered time-capsule home for sale in Golden Valley can be yours

If you ever wanted a house where the walls, ceiling, floors, curtains and furniture match perfectly, now's your chance.

Home & Garden

July 13, 2016

Movie: The Million Dollar Duck

Release in all formats on Aug. 9

Home & Garden

July 13, 2016

Harriers photographed carrying prey to their nest

The male caught the prey, then passed it to the female

Home & Garden

July 12, 2016

Photo by Sharon Shinomiya, special to the Star Tribune After a parent feeds them, young bluebirds sleep deeply, a luxury that will be hard to come by

Goodnight, birds

At dusk birds begin to disappear from the landscape, so where do they spend the night?

Home & Garden

July 12, 2016

Plumbing update: Water hammer arresters are now required in Minnesota

I blogged about the new Minnesota plumbing code earlier this year, but there was one change I never mentioned: a new requirement for water hammer arresters.

Variety

July 9, 2016