Serious energy savers and casual cost-cutters can find ideas in "Cut Your Energy Bills Now: 150 Smart Ways to Save Money & Make Your Home More Comfortable & Green."
The author, energy-efficiency expert Bruce Harley, examines the typical home and suggests improvements and methods to use energy more wisely. His recommendations include simple steps such as matching pans to stove burners as well as more complex or costly ideas such as installing a whole-house fan.
He also helps readers find qualified contractors and points them in the direction of financial help for big projects.
"Cut Your Energy Bills Now" is published by the Taunton Press and sells for $12.95 in softcover.
Foam insert keeps leaves out of gutter
This gutter-protection system is designed to be easy for even inexperienced do-it-yourselfers to install.
GutterStuff is a foam insert that fits into your home's gutters, allowing water to flow through but keeping out leaves and other debris. It fits completely inside a 5-inch K-style gutter, the most common style and size on the market.
It's made of a polyether outdoor foam that the manufacturer says won't crumble or dent.
GutterStuff is available at hardware stores, including many Ace and True Value stores.
The suggested retail price is $15.99 per 4-foot section.
Learn to decorate with blue and white
Chances are you've seen blue and white complementing each other.
"Decorating With Blue and White: Classic and Contemporary Interiors, From Mediterranean to Country Blue" (Cico Books, $29.95, hardcover) by Gail Abbott and Mark Scott is all about those cool tones.
Divided into chapters according to shades, the book introduces readers to schemes that blend seamlessly.
Country blues, for example, are best for informal settings, while jewel blues add depth of color. Coastal blues include the shades of the sea, and outdoor blues are found in nature. Complementary shades of white are scattered throughout the book. The last chapter showcases how to best display collections of china, ceramics, glassware, art and textiles.
Fit your television into room's decor
Yes, televisions are going increasingly public, but there are clever ways to keep them hidden.
Atlanta art and frame dealer Evelyn Avery sells custom wall cabinets that hide flat-panel TVs. She mounts framed art or photos on doors that swing out for viewing. Her solution is a favorite among designers. Her cabinets start at $4,000. 800-817-0749 or online .
The Horchow Collection offers wall cabinets in several styles, from an $815 gilded, floral-painted model to a $2,799 mirrored one. 800-456-7000 or www.horchow.com.
Those handy with tools might want to craft their own cabinets.
Or pop a specially treated mirror from FrameMyTV.com directly in front of the set. When the TV is off, the glass looks antique and smoky; when the set is on, the picture shines through. A mirror for a 32-inch screen is $650; a 61-incher is $1,179. 866-612-1895.
-- The Associated Press
Fabric can change any room's look
You can change the look of every room in your home by employing fabric.
"Fabric Inspirations: Hundreds of Fabulous Decorating Ideas for Every Room in Your Home" by Kate French and Katherine Sorrell (Ryland Peters & Small, $29.95, hardcover) has unusual ideas for incorporating fabric in unexpected spaces.
Because of its versatility, fabric can be used to create all kinds of styles, from sophisticated or down-to-earth to classic or contemporary, and everything in between.
The book examines the use of color, texture and pattern, and expands on how to select the appropriate fabric for the intended use.
Additional Information: