Most people assume a professional-looking yard means expensive plants and a big landscaping bill. It does not. Here is the secret that landscape designers know and rarely say out loud: what makes a yard look “designed” is not the plants. ...

Adding a window means cutting into a wall, permits, and real expense. Most of the time it is not an option anyway, like an interior room, a basement, or a rental. The good news: you can make a dark room ...