If you like gazing out at the lake, ocean or river right from you own front porch, here are 19 towns that should satisfy your water needs. Capitol View, Little Rock, Arkansas Located just outside downtown Little Rock, Capitol View is a classic first-tier suburb, with small houses surrounded by mature oaks and overgrown gardens. The neighborhood started out as a blue-collar hub for machinists, furniture craftsmen, and workers on the St....

Top 5 Over-Toilet Bathroom Organizers Best Hidden Storage: Spirich Home Bathroom Shelf Best Four-Tier Organizer: Honey-Can-Do Four-Tier Space-Saving Shelf Best Floating Shelves: SODUKU Floating Wall-Mounted Shelves Best Ladder Organizer: UTEX Three-Shelf Bathroom Organizer Best Hidden Storage: Spirich Home Bathroom Shelf This storage organizer has two shelves hidden behind cabinet doors as well as an open adjustable shelf, providing ample storage for your bathroom items. This product also comes with detailed instructions, making assembly easy....

Top 5 Small Microwaves Best Retro Microwave: Galanz Retro Microwave Oven Most Powerful Microwave: Toshiba Smart Sensor Microwave Oven Best Preset Functions: COMFEE’ Countertop Microwave Oven Best Size Options: BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Best Medium Capacity: Panasonic Compact Microwave Oven Best Retro Microwave: Galanz Retro Microwave Oven You can combine classic style and modern performance with this small retro microwave. It offers 700 watts of power and six power levels. This retro microwave features an oval viewing window, a dial timer, and cooking and defrosting buttons....

Carts and wheelbarrows help you move heavy loads by distributing the weight over the wheels. A wheelbarrow has a sloped tray and one or two wheels in the front. You have to push it, but it maneuvers easily and can go anywhere (provided you don’t jam it into a hole). A cart, on the other hand, has straight sides and two or more large wheels. It works best when pulled—ideally over a smooth surface, though its big wheels can bridge holes....

Anyone who’s had to chase a muddy dog through the house understands the appeal of a dog wash located near the entryway. “It’s a great way to keep the mess contained,” says New York–based architect Dan Contelmo, who points out that it also comes in handy for rinsing off dirty boots and giving houseplants a good soak. A dog-cleaning station tailored to the task is also easier on your back—no more hunching over the family bathtub....

If you consider yourself someone who enjoys the finer things in life but who also wants to stay within your bedroom remodel budget, the DreamCloud mattress helps you achieve both. This DreamCloud Mattress Review explores why this luxury mattress-in-a-box is a great choice for sleepers of all types, thanks to its superior lumbar support, motion isolation, and responsiveness. A lifetime warranty, generous sleep trial, and free shipping give this bed yet another competitive edge, letting you try it risk-free for an entire year before making your decision....

Don’t worry, This Old House can help you get things done—and have fun while doing it. We’ve assembled more than 30 of our most popular Step-by-Step Projects in one easy-to-follow planner. Each one takes just a weekend to complete, and we have one for every weekend—including great ones for Earth Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, and more. So, scroll through our list and start planning your DIY season....

All household extinguishers are classified A, B, or C (or a combination of these) on the label to indicate which types of fires—ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, or electrical—you can use them on. Many of the ones sold at home stores are classified A:B:C and fight all three types of fires. Here’s a critical guide to knowing the different types and sizes of fire extinguishers as well as how to use them and recharge them....

Tiling or retiling a fireplace surround isn’t a quickie makeover. But as This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers demonstrates, it’s well worth the effort. In a few days, you can upgrade the heart of your home, taking it from date-night cliche to elegant entertainment spot ready to impress. Tile a Fireplace Overview A flawless fireplace surround starts with a well-thought-out design and ends with an eye for even spacing....

How to Choose Houseplants for Your Home 1. Room and Window Layout Come First Before deciding on which plants you’d like for a particular room, it’s important to consider the room and window layout. Different plant species thrive in different light conditions, and the direction the window faces determines the amount of light. In the northern hemisphere, windows on the south side of a home will get full sunlight. Windows on the east or west are considered partial sunlight....

While he wishes everything in his life was as organized as his truck, This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert takes pride in having a clean truck ready to tackle any project at any job site. Keeping the Work Truck Organized Each workday is different for Nathan. He can go from framing to finish work, so it’s essential to have his materials ready the night before so he can head straight to the job site in the morning....

Balancing a Ceiling Fan Follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue and get a fan back on an even keel. 1. Turn off the fan. For safety, ensure that the fan is off and completely stopped before working on the blades. 2. Tighten the screws on the blade brackets. 3. Clean the fan and blades. 4. Mark the blades with tape. Place a numbered piece of masking tape on each blade so you don’t lose track of which blade is which....

Read on to learn how to buy and install an easy-to-assemble Murphy bed or plan your own, DIY style. Murphy Bed Dimensions Murphy beds can save floor space while making the overall area more versatile, but they do take up some room. Expect the cabinet to be about 18 inches deep, and somewhere between 4- and 5-feet-wide, depending on the mattress size. Because the cabinet stands about six-and-a-half-feet-tall and opens in an arc, you’ll need to make sure it can open and close without hitting a ceiling fan or light fixture....

Hardware kits typically include rollers, wheels, and fasteners for the ladder; you’ll buy the track separately and cut it to length. You can, of course, buy the ladder, unassembled, but we built ours from sturdy red oak. Follow along on the next page as This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers walks you through the steps. Hardware: Custom Service Hardware Rolling Hook Ladder Hardware Kit in Black, about $503; 8-Foot Round Rail in Black, about $95; four Vertical Hook Brackets, about $10 each; Stop Kit with round black finials, about $45; Red Oak Top Rung (spindle), about $14; Custom Service Hardware Download and print the cut list....

All you need is some wire fencing, lumber, plastic balls, plant stakes—and perhaps a dose of video instruction from Team Saturday. Once the pieces are assembled, invite your friends and neighbors over to get reacquainted with the heart-pounding fun of yore. Overview to Build the Ball-drop Game of Shishkaball Our giant version of the classic ball-drop game comprises three large pieces: a lid, a cylindrical wire cage, and a base with lumber legs....