Home Improvement

It's an ongoing dilemma: What to do with all our stuff?

The Wizard of Oz would be green with envy. That icon of the Emerald City undoubtedly would agree it's the perfect shade. So would the residents of "Downton Abbey."

What you need: Fabric, thread, tape measure or ruler, pencil or chalk, needle, scissors, pins, stuffing or pillow insert; sewing machine and iron optional.

Want to change the look of a room in a day?

Are you gearing up for the fun, hectic, exciting, loving, partying, giving, family gathering season we are entering?

Marosi White is a picky picker. That's her business.

"It's a terrific time," said Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware's home expert. "This time of year, you find fabulous deals at nurseries, trying to clean out stock. In California, it's the perfect time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials."

Fall is the best time to plant many California native perennials. Find them at this huge sale hosted by the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Get free advice on choosing the best natives for your backyard habitat and how to make them thrive.

For a century, the large, white home has lorded over its corner of Poverty Ridge.

With nods to nostalgia, exotic motifs and tailored contemporary looks, the fall season in décor has lots to inspire home decorators.

With a decorative stencil and some paint, you can decorate just about any surface of your home. They change a room's look quickly and inexpensively.

The kitchen in my childhood home has sported the same awful, ducklings-in- togas wallpaper for more than 30 years. (Don't even get me started on the pineapple-theme guest room.)

Most travelers bring home souvenirs.

The Sacramento Bee hosts a network of high-quality news providers and bloggers in the Sacramento region. Here is a sampling of the best of the current Home & Garden blogs. Check out the full postings: sacramentoconnect.com.

When they first bought their 10-acre home in Herald, Fred and Jeanne Hoffman did what seemed like the most logical solution to cover a lot of space in a hurry: They planted lawn.

It used to be just "modern" – furniture and architecture featuring clean lines, strong design and a distinctive mix of natural and man-made materials.

The Sacramento Bee hosts a network of high-quality news providers and bloggers in the Sacramento region. Here is a sampling of the best of the current Home & Garden blogs. Check out the full postings: sacramentoconnect.com.

"A Night In History," commemorating 150 years of Folsom history since June 23, 1862, hosted by the Folsom Historical Society. Includes gold panning, doll making, square dancing and a barbecue dinner.

Home and garden events in the Sacramento region.

It always starts with the grill. Then, add a refrigerator (or at least an ice chest). How about a sink? Some counter and storage space add convenience.

Want to save water? Get a free Water Wise House Call.

Paint, the product also known as hope in a can, continues to be one of the least expensive decorating options out there. Although easy to use, it's not always easy to choose. Consumers and designers struggle to get just the right shade of blue or beige.

Jean Molesworth Kee's architectural color consulting business, the Painted Room, has been around for 10 years

Michael Sestak does more than light up a room.

Home and garden events in the Sacramento region.

Changing seasons means changing wardrobes.

LEDs – light-emitting diodes – are basically computer chips. They make light through the movement of electrons in a simple (and tiny) semiconductor.

Are name-brand cleaning products worth the extra money? Sometimes yes, but often no, according to Cheapism.

Highlights from this weeks events

Once in their dream house, Broc and Arlene Krause immediately started bringing it back to life.