Tag: Home Improvements

Natural-Gas Pipelines Are Old. Will Regulators Let Utilities Invest in Them?
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Natural-Gas Pipelines Are Old. Will Regulators Let Utilities Invest in Them?

Utilities across the country are trying to boost spending to maintain aging natural-gas pipelines. Regulators in some Democratic states seeking to limit gas use are saying not so fast.Companies including PG&E, Consolidated Edison and Public Service Enterprise Group have proposed investing billions of dollars to bolster their pipeline networks, which will remain in use for years even as more customers use electricity to cook and heat their homes. They say such spending is necessary in part to maintain safety and reliability as they work to shrink their gas systems over time. Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Black Friday Deals Started Early, and Shoppers Were Choosy
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Black Friday Deals Started Early, and Shoppers Were Choosy

Updated Nov. 24, 2023 6:16 pm ETMillions of Americans visited stores on Black Friday but retailers are bracing for shoppers who are less willing to splurge this holiday season.Many households have already begun their gift buying in a year when high prices for food and other essentials have sapped demand for apparel, home décor and other items people might want but not need.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
How to Create a Soulful but Up-to-Date Kitchen
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How to Create a Soulful but Up-to-Date Kitchen

DON’T LET the exposed brick fool you. Until recently, this vibrant kitchen in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, was dingy, dull and stripped of original details—the victim of a hit-and-run renovation that removed every bit of character from the circa-1900 row house, says architect-designer Sarah Jacoby. The upshot? In 2022, when the new owners, an education administrator and a New York City ferry captain, enlisted Jacoby to restore some soul to the space, the bland box became the perfect blank slate on which to let their imaginations go wild.Step one? Reintroducing structure and a sense of craftsmanship via a swath of handmade Shaker-style cabinetry from deVOL, a U.K. firm beloved for their traditional benchmade joinery. Hand-painted in vivid Scullery Yellow, the cupboards strike the ideal ba...
The 10 Best Home Decor Holiday Gifts of 2023
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The 10 Best Home Decor Holiday Gifts of 2023

WHO SAYS you can’t buy good taste? Bestowing a few well-chosen domestic luxuries can not only telegraph discerning judgment but also go a long way to brightening the last dark weeks of the year. Think crystal Champagne flutes or freshly pressed stacks of crisp cloth napkins. And they don’t have to come with price tags that make you clench your teeth. Here, we present a passel of gift ideas we’re quite excited about—all likely to impress design aficionados, without breaking the bank.A Vase That’s No Shrinking VioletWith vases sometimes trading for four figures, the fine ceramics market isn’t for the faint of heart—or light of wallet. How to score a deal? Keep an eye out for designs from emerging makers that might stand the test of time, like these stoneware vessels from South African artis...
It Took Three Interior Designers Before She Finally Found the One
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It Took Three Interior Designers Before She Finally Found the One

Be the first to know about the biggest and best luxury home sales and listings by signing up for our Mansion Deals email alert.By the time Tracy Katz’s third interior designer put the finishing touches on her roughly 17,000-square-foot estate in Paradise Valley, Ariz., she had lost faith in her ability to ever love the space.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
5 Little Design Moves That Can Save a Boring Room—For Less Than $150
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5 Little Design Moves That Can Save a Boring Room—For Less Than $150

SOMETIMES a room simply falls flat. Many villainous elements can leave a space feeling snoozy, from blah builder-grade “boob lights” on a rental’s ceiling to a dull blank wall in your forever home. “Not having a clear design direction, lacking color or texture or personal touches”—it can all be a factor, explains Toronto-based interior designer Ashley Montgomery.What to do if you lack the energy, or budget, to jump into a complete design overhaul? “You don’t need to start from scratch,” assures Los Angeles-based interior designer Amber Lewis. Instead, find strategic ways to freshen up discreet parts of your home that have potential.Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8