Mike McClintock

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, a 1946 bestselling book and classic movie, made great fun of a truism of construction: It's going to cost more than you thought. Blandings...

Tile floors and counters would be nearly indestructible if it weren't for all the seams filled with grout. Applied on a solid surface, ceramic tile won't fade, stain or crumble,...

Homeowners needing more room are in a tough spot these days. They want to trade up, but sell now in a depressed market and they lose money. One alternative is...

Every home has a few bottlenecks where things could run more smoothly. Some become an annoying or time-wasting hassle; others can cause maintenance and repair problems. We're talking omissions, not...

How big should your electrical service be? That's the amount of power supplied to the main panel lined with circuit breakers that control everything electrical in the house. There's a...

Picking a paint color is probably the most subjective of the hundreds of design and material choices you can make on a home remodeling project. In paint stores and home...

Home design and construction often struggles to combine old and new — detailed Colonial trim and sleek stainless steel, the patina of real wood and the convenience of synthetic laminates....

Once you pay for premium decking like a select grade of redwood or cedar, consider the ultimate finishing touch: hidden fasteners. They're more expensive and take longer to install. But...

Once you pay for premium decking such as a select grade of redwood or cedar, consider the ultimate finishing touch: hidden fasteners. They're more expensive and take longer to install,...