Bathroom and kitchen floors, by necessity, are usually covered with tile or laminate. This makes them easier to clean, especially after spills, and reduces damage in the event of an overflowing bathtub or leaking refrigerator. While tile might be the most appropriate choice, however, it is also the coldest. This is why many homeowners opt to install heated floors.

Heated or radiant floors are generally installed under tile, stone, or laminate, though there are also a few systems that work underneath carpet. If you plan to install heated floors in your kitchen or bathroom, it is important to first understand the process.

1. Exposing the Floor

Installing heated floors requires you to first expose the subfloor, which might currently be hidden under carpet, tile, stone, or wood. Keep in mind that the concrete subfloor might cause cracks because it expands and contracts based on changes in temperature. For this reason, homeowners often elect to spread a crack-suppression membra

A home recycling center is an effective tool for keeping your recyclables out of the trash. That means it needs to be convenient and easy to use.

Before Getting Started

Before setting up a home recycling center, Iowa State University suggests taking a look at local regulations to find out what your recycling facility will and will not accept. Learn their mandates for sorting, cleaning, and containing the recyclables you turn in.

Choosing Primary Location

Where should you put your home recycling center? That depends.

Adequate space is critical if you don't want recyclables spilling onto the floor or being tossed in the trash once the recycling area is at capacity. In planning the amount of space you'll need, consider the average person recycles 1.5 pounds per day, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

How often the recyclables will go out - whether you have curbside service or drive them to a plant - is another factor relevant to how

If you went shopping for a Toro snow blower last winter, yours was a single-stage model or a significantly larger and more expensive two-stage model with a 28-inch or larger auger. To find a more compact two-stage machine, which adds an impeller to the usual auger, you had to look to other manufacturers. But at the recent Green Industry and Equipment Expo (GIE+Expo), a trade show for outdoor power equipment and related gear, Toro showed us three new models that fill the gap.

Among the many new Toro products on display at GIE+Expo, the company showed three gasoline-powered models in the Power Max series. (The former, higher-end Power Max series has been renamed the Power Max HD.) To keep the price of even the highest-end model at $1,000 or below, the three have one-piece frames that cost less to manufacture but, the company said, offer more strength and better support the auger housing. In place of shear pins, which break to protect the transmission in case the machine is ove

Homeowners in the dozen or so states affected by Superstorm Sandy are starting to get their lives in order. Unfortunately, for many people that means cleaning up a property littered with myriad branches, sticks, and other detritus thrown about by the storm. If you're considering buying a chain saw, you're not alone: Chain-saw sales spiked 16 percent last year following multiple storms such as tornadoes, Hurricane Irene, and the freak Halloween nor'easter. The 11 models in Consumer Reports tests range in price from $80 to $440.

While our chain saw tests aren't brand new, the results are current because this product category turns over less frequently than others—meaning that plenty of the models in our Ratings are still readily available in stores. For example:

Electric models:

• Husqvarna 316, $220.
• Poulan Pro 400E, $110.
• Stihl MSE 180 C-BQ, $440.
• Stihl MSE 140 C-BQ, $330.
• Poulan ES350, $80.

Gas models:

• Stihl MS 180 C-BE, $230.
• Echo CS-370-16, $270.
• Stihl MS 250 C-BE, $330.
• Poulan Pro P

(Photo: Shutterstock)

We've all seen photos and video of the elaborate home theaters in multi-million dollar homes. They're furnished with plush theater-style seating, state-of-the-art projection equipment and high-end sound systems. While you might not have the budget to dump $50,000 to $100,000 into your own home theater, you can still enjoy a movie in style at home with these helpful hints.

First, figure out where you plan to set up your home theater. A finished basement is the ideal place — the less light, the better. A den, unused bedroom or even your formal living room can also easily be converted into your personal movie theater. Keep in mind that if you're using your living room you may need to add a door to keep the sound in the room.

Once you've decided on the room you plan to use, it's time to outfit your entertainment space. In addition to a nice big flat-screen TV (and maybe a wireless surround sound system), every fully functioning home theater needs the following features.

Room-darkening sha

Photo: Karen Evans

To give your personal hideaway some pizazz without a ton of work, dress up your windows with these easy DIY window treatments. Change fabric or designs to match your current décor, showcase a beautiful view (or hide a bad one) and reflect your personality.

With a coat of paint, some new throw pillows and one of these gorgeous window treatments, your bedroom will feel like a spa in no time. Once you've gotten these under your belt, try these DIY draperies in other rooms of your house.

Bring in natural elements. To make your room feel like a woodsy retreat, use natural elements like wood, leaves and grasses in your décor. Instead of using a plain curtain rod to hang your drapery, opt instead to hang panels from an old branch. Head out to your yard to find a medium sized branch, or purchase a decorative one at a home store. Try to find some

Kippie Leland of Leland Interiors used Schumacher's Ming Cherry Blossom wallpaper in aqua in this bath.

But these new designs aren't your grandmother's wallpaper. Gone are the pasty old flower patterns and shiny stripes that more closely resemble wrapping paper than something you'd want to put up on your walls.

"In the last three or four years you've seen a resurgence of wallpaper," said Kippie Leland, designer and owner of Leland Interiors. "People are kind of tired of plain walls and they're ready for more pattern. So you're seeing some of the old traditional patterns being re-interpreted in either a more simple pattern or a more updated color palette that looks fresh."

Today's wallpapers feature crisp, modern trellis patterns, energize a demure damask pattern with bright pinks and oranges, add texture and interest to a scroll pattern through beading and velvet, or offer detailed mosaic tile designs.

Designers have long utilized wallpaper as a way to bring life to a room and create artistic interest where there otherwise would have been a matte,

If you're like a lot families, you rarely use your living room. A few times a year, generally around the holidays, is when you living room might get a work out. But generally it sits empty while you and the kids congregate in the family room or den.

Instead of letting your living room collect dust, turn it into a fun space you and the whole family can enjoy. Or, if you need a place to get away, convert your living room into a relaxing retreat where you can unwind.

Here are some fun design options for taking your living room from stuffy and formal to warm and inviting:

(Photo credit: Shutterstock)

(Photo: Shutterstock)

It's a fact: summer is nearing its end and fall is on the way. Although it's hard to think about prepping your home for winter while it's still 90 degrees, getting your house and yard ready for the cold in the fall can save you lots of money in the spring. Improperly winterizing some of your big hardscape investments like your deck, landscaping and pool could mean big losses long term.

When the leaves start to change colors, it's crunch time. To avoid last-minute scrambling, make a list of all the things you'll need to check on before cold weather hits. Get a handle on all the jobs you'll need to tackle this fall, and decide what you feel comfortable handling yourself — and where you need to call in a professional.

Getting your deck cold-weather ready. This is one job that you can do yourself, provided your deck isn't completely falling apart. It's a lot of work, but it will save you a lot of money and ensure you will be able to use your deck again at the first sign of warm weather.

B

(Photo by Fiora Casey, Yahoo! Homes Flickr group)

What you need in your shed depends on what you plan to use it for. If you're using it as …

… a DIY project area: Make sure you have plenty of space to work. Keep your crafting essentials off the floor and neatly organized by hanging them on a wall. Use a magnetic knife holder — the kind found in kitchens — to hold things like paintbrushes and scissors.

Instead of building shelves, repurpose old milk crates. Hang them on the wall and stash twine, extra tools and other odds-and-ends inside. If you don't have milk or wooden crates handy, you can purchase wire baskets for a minimal cost.

To create the perfect workspace, scour garage sales and Craigslist for used desks or tables. There's no need to buy