Trading homes for your vacation? Leave yours in great shape for your guests and help them enjoy a happy break with these 12 tips

Imagine paying nothing for your vacation lodging. With house swapping in more than 150 countries, it's possible

Beadboard-backed open shelves, a hearth-style stove surround and a roomy table are highlights of this Massachusetts kitchen

Tropical plants have taken one coastal community by storm. Come on a walk with us to get ideas for your own porch, patio or garden

Highlight a show-worthy stunner or elevate a pedestrian plant by giving it a solo starring role in the garden

If you're a cat lover, the joys outweigh any other issue. If you haven't lived with one yet, here are a few things to know

Find out the common flaws that shouldn’t be deal-breakers — and a few that should give you pause

Spend less time tending and more time taking in the sights by improving on Victorian and prairie garden designs

Many facing a drought are swapping turf for less thirsty plantings. If you’re one of them, we’d like to hear about it

They stand strong in wind, feed wildlife and are easy to grow. But you may want to add these plants for their looks alone