Broadcast creative vision with an entertainment center makeover

How quickly our must-haves can become has-beens.

Not so many years ago, people were shelling out good money to hide their electronics behind the finely crafted doors of entertainment armoires. Now those cabinets are the white elephants of the flat-panel era, hulking reminders that taste [--] like the latest technology [--] can be fleeting.

Here comes the sun: Solar power in reach

2010 just might go down as the year solar energy gained mainstream acceptance.

Stores that sell solar products are seeing major boosts in sales compared with last year, some as much as 40 percent.

The sun-powered momentum is fueled by less expensive products that are made more affordable through federal tax credits and rebates at a time when utility prices are rising.

Growing food in pots: less weeding, less work

Two of the hottest trends in gardening are containers and cultivating fresh food, and many savvy families are beginning to combine the two. They're growing their vegetables in pots.

Get Growing: Native, wild, beautiful: Goldenrod

GOLDEN plumes swaying in the breeze are a sure sign that fall is approaching. Goldenrod (Solidago) is regarded by many as a noxious weed in the United States, but is a popular garden perennial in Britain. There are even hybrids available. We should take a bit more interest in our native wild flower since it provides such beauty at this time of year.

Real Estate Matters: Pay off highest-rate loan first

I got a call from a reader the other day who was trying to decide if she should pay off her investment property or pay off her primary residence.

It's a fair question, but I could tell from our conversation that she didn't really understand all of the tax benefits available to her as an owner of investment property and consequently she couldn't compare her two options fully.

Long view: 20 years later, landscape plans turn into oasis

When you build a house in the middle of a hay field it's bound to be hot in the summer and buffeted by winds in the winter. So Peter and Betsy Cook immediately planted trees around the house Peter built 20 years ago in Hadley. Today the yard is protected from winter winds and summer sun thanks to dozens of trees and shrubs.

Home is where the outdoor kitchen is: Hot new trend

The outdoor kitchen is rapidly becoming the social hub of the home, much as the indoor kitchen is the favorite gathering place for family and friends.