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Before you start shopping for new kitchen cabinets, it pays to take the time to learn more about RTA cabinets. Our comprehensive guide will take you through what to look for when buying RTA cabinets, approximate costs, assembling, and more. What Are RTA Cabinets? The ready-to-assemble name explains these products in a nutshell. When you order RTA cabinets, all of the parts have been cut to size, holes have been drilled where needed, and any finishes you requested have been applied....

Dishwasher prices are mainly affected by capacity and special features, choice of finish, and if it is made mainly of stainless steel instead of plastic. Performance is influenced by the number of washing levels and how and where water jets are distributed during the dishwashing cycle. Dishwasher models have energy-saving options, steam capabilities, and many features. To help you decide what features you need, read on for tips and considerations you should review when buying a dishwasher....

If you are adding a sofa to an already decorated room or if you’d prefer the sofa play a supporting role, then choosing color becomes important. Choosing a new sofa for an existing color palette means that you’ll have to decide if the sofa will be neutral, or if it will take on an accent role. There are designers that favor a sofa that matches the wall color to unify the room and make the room look larger....

Cleaning Stainless Steel Countertops To clean stainless steel, wash using water and a microfiber cleaning cloth. For tougher messes, add a few drops of dish soap. To clean and shine, you can use a glass cleaner on stainless steel surfaces. Manufacturers also make dedicated stainless steel cleaners. Be sure to rinse any cleaners completely from the surface and buff dry to prevent any water spots from forming on the surface....

Why You Need to Clean Under Feeders While it is true that seed hulls, spilled seed, and feces will eventually decompose and can be useful compost, that process can take weeks or months. This is too long just to let debris naturally decompose and keep the area underneath a feeder safe and clean. Messes underneath feeders can lead to a variety of problems, such as: Wasted seed is less likely to be eaten and will spoil more quickly on the ground Damage to landscaping under bird feeders, including sod, flowers, and bushes Disrupting the soil’s chemical balance and pH levels Growing mold or mildew and spreading diseases to birds that feed on the ground Strong odors of rancid, rotting seeds, spilled suet, spoiled nectar, or other debris Sprouting into unwanted weeds and excess plants in your yard Attracting mice, rats, raccoons, bears, and other unwanted wildlife or pests Attracting large flocks of the least desirable backyard birds, including bullies such as rock pigeons, common grackles, or European starlings...

“Metallics have been in now for several years and there are no signs of it going away anytime soon!” says Amy Youngblood, owner and principal designer of Amy Youngblood Interiors. “From wallpaper, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, metallics are a great way to incorporate some glam and sophistication into your space.” Read on for expert tips for incorporating metallic finishes into your own home—without veering into the Space Age. Use Metals to Add Warmth, Fun, and Intrigue As HomeGoods Style Expert Beth Diana Smith tells us, “A metallic can be anything that has the sheen or shine of a polished metal....

Learn laundry tips that will help reduce allergens and are good practices for everyone. We spend a huge part of our day in the bedroom so keeping bed linens clean and dust free is particularly important for those with allergies. Learn how to care for everything from mattress pads to pillows to quilts. Of course, it’s nearly impossible to wash a mattress and box springs or soft upholstered furniture. For those pieces, try a fabric allergen sanitizer vacuum (Raycop is a brand name)....

Like beloved native ladybugs, the Asian lady beetle or multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a predator of a number of pest insects, especially aphids, but it has become a problem because it has overtaken native species. Asian lady beetles do not cause much damage to homes or home landscapes, but they often enter homes to seek warmth in cold weather. Once inside, the insects can crawl or fly around rooms and land on windows, walls, and furniture....

Webbing clothes moth adults are about 1/4 inch long with a wingspan of about 1/2 inch. They are gold to yellowish-gray in color and have reddish-gold to coppery hairs on their heads. Webbing clothes moth larvae are creamy-white with dark-colored heads and are about 1/3 to 1/2 inch long. Casemaking clothes moth adults also are about 1/4 inch long with a wingspan of about 1/2 inch. They are gold in color and have light gold hairs on their heads and brownish wings with spots....

Wood pilesRock pilesOvergrown shrubsOvergrown grass or weedsFallen treesScrap pilesLeavesIvyCompost pilesGarden sheds and outbuildings that are in poor repair (making them easy to access) Some things to consider: Wrap the entire cage in hardware cloth (including the floor).Cover any vents in the wall or roof with hardware cloth.Keep the door closed at all times, so they don’t have an easy point of entry.Repair/replace damaged boards, roofing material, and hardware cloth swiftly, so there aren’t any vulnerabilities....

Mature plants about four or five years old will send up large flower stalks from the center of the foliage in late spring or summer. These stalks can be as tall as 8 feet, and are topped with numerous bell-shaped, creamy white flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Adam’s needle can be planted almost any time, though it is most commonly available at nurseries in the spring. Humans can eat the fruits and flowers of this plant; however, it is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses....

This easy-to-grow plant has pinnately compound leaves with five to nine diamond-shaped leaflets. From fall to spring, it produces clusters of trumpet-shaped yellow, apricot, red, or orange flowers. Cape honeysuckle is a fast-grower that can grow anywhere from 13- to 25-inches tall in its first year after a successful spring planting. As a shrub, it matures at ten feet tall, but it can also ramble as a climbing vine as much as 30 feet or more....

The vine also needs proper support to be displayed to full effect. It can grow up to 12 feet high if given such support upon which to climb. This makes for an impressive display, so be sure to locate Dr. Ruppel clematis where you can fully appreciate it, such as near a patio area that you use often. Follow these maintenance tips to keep your vine happy: Plant Dr. Ruppel deep enough to help keep its roots cool....

Most hostas take a few years to reach their full size. Place them outdoors in the ground between one and four feet apart because it’s important to give plants enough elbow room to breathe and mature. If they are too close, it’s easy to transplant them to a better location. Light Select a spot with partial shade for your Fire Island hosta. Some of the golden-leafed types want more sun (to achieve optimal color) than other varieties of hostas....

Native to Western North America, this semi-deciduous rhizomatous evergreen is winter hardy in Zones 8 through 10 where it thrives in open woods, meadows and coastal prairies. It ranges from the central coast of California to Oregon and Washington at elevations from sea level to 4,000 feet. Narrow grass-like moderately green leaves are 18 inches long and one-eighth inch wide. Green-brown or cream blooms come in April and May atop the stems that rise one to two feet tall upon arching clumps that spread two to three feet wide....

In addition to its lacey leaves, its foliage color furnishes landscaping interest for three seasons of the year: It begins dark purple in spring, turns purplish-red in summer, and morphs to a bright red in fall. Rounding out its claim to providing four-season interest, its weeping habit will attract attention even in winter. Inaba Shidare Japanese maple is best planted in the late fall or the early spring. Learn how to grow and care for this valued specimen....