USDA guarantees $115.2M for timber production advancement

On March 23, 2026 at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Administrator for the Rural Business and Cooperative Service J.R. Claeys announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is guaranteeing $115.2 million across eight states through the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP) to ensure sawmills and other wood processing facilities have the necessary funding to establish, reopen, expand, or improve their operations. The states receiving the advancement include California, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin. “We cannot allow wildfires to devastate and…

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Aging housing signals future remodeling market growth

An analysis from the National Association of Home Builders showed that the U.S. owner-occupied housing stock has aged measurably, particularly since the Great Recession, as residential construction has consistently fallen short of demand, contributing to a persistent housing shortage. According to the latest data from the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS), the median age of owner-occupied homes has reached 42 years old. As a result, the aging housing stock opens the door for a future growing remodeling market. Older homes tend to be less energy-efficient than newly-built, modernized houses and are…

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Bathroom remodel trends highlight luxury and functionality

Homeowners in Paramus, N.J., are increasingly investing in high-end, detail-oriented Bathroom Remodel projects that emphasize both luxury and long-term functionality. Designers and experts at Bergen Bath Studio highlight how bathroom design preferences in Paramus are setting themselves apart in 2026. “Paramus homeowners typically look for a more customized and upscale finish in their bathroom renovations,” said Bob Clark, owner of Bergen Bath Studio. “There’s a strong focus on both design detail and long-term durability.” Another notable trend in Paramus is the growing demand for premium Bathtub Installation options. Clients are increasingly…

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Remodel of the Week: Steve Gray Renovations

Steve Gray Renovations’ clients found a lot that they were absolutely in love with, but the 1950s Sears Home that came with it was not quite what they envisioned. Its original footprint was 1800 square feet, with a small, walk-out basement. The beautiful 3 1/2 acre lot in Zionsville, Ind. offered good schools, a great community and a tranquil, tree-filled setting for a dream home opportunity. The renovation company worked with conceptual designer Gary Nance to re-envision the original home’s foundation and incorporate it into a home renovation plan that would…

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Designers weigh in on renovating vintage homes

Experts shared how to design a new space with an older, vintage feel and the key to making new materials look older than they actually are. The common practice is restoration, not replacement, during vintage renovation design. During restoration, fellow designers insist on sticking to the original source material, as projects should feel like an extension rather than a complete redo. “Every house has a story, and I want to honor that before bringing in anything new,” said interior designer Leanne Ford. She recommended refinishing the floors instead of ripping…

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Senate passes major housing affordability bill

On March 12, 2026, the Senate passed a bill aimed at boosting the supply of housing and bringing down prices. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, written by Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., won 89 votes. The 303-page legislation creates a series of grants and pilot programs for housing construction. Another key section titled “Homes Are For People, Not Corporations,” prohibits large institutional investors from purchasing certain single-family homes, as a way to promote homeownership opportunities for families rather than corporations. “It will mean, for the…

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Remodel of the Week: Sweeten

Sweeten renovated a nearly 100-year-old English house in Bronxville, N.Y., turning an outdated and awkward layout into a modern haven. The classic English Tudor home was transformed with an open-concept kitchen, a custom mudroom and thoughtfully updated bathrooms. Creating an open layout on the first floor involved eliminating the wall between the dining room and kitchen. The new open-concept kitchen included a large center island for entertaining, providing an anchor between the dining space and the cooking area. The quartz marble design for the countertops contrasted with the custom wood…

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Bathroom remodel design prioritizes lasting functionality

Bathroom remodel designs are being selected with a different goal in mind: Performance. While beauty is still an end goal, prioritizing how the bathroom functions as clients move in it throughout the day has become the primary focus during a remodel. Homes are aging and clients are thinking longer term. A bathroom can no longer be treated as a short-term upgrade, but as a space that must support daily routines for years to come. Wider clearances around vanities and toilets, door swings that do not interrupt traffic flow, shower entries…

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Kitchen renovation designs to avoid

Designing a kitchen renovation can feel like a daunting task; trying to find a balance between a beautiful layout while still maintaining the functionality of one of the most frequently used rooms in a home. Interior designers assembled a list of mistakes to avoid while planning a kitchen renovation. Big kitchen islands seem like a good idea at the time, but they pose a risk of disrupting flow. “Some are so big you can’t reach the center of them to make use of the area or even clean it,” said…

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Renovating Homes and Lives

I recently presented a talk about my journey into this industry, and why I founded Hope Renovations, my nonprofit that prepares women and gender-expansive folks for jobs in construction and helps older adults age in place. In my talk I shared that, although the number of women in construction is now at a 20-year high, at this rate it will take about 200 years for us to achieve gender equity.  When I started Hope in 2020, my intent was to help underemployed women access meaningful, living wage-paying work in an…

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