Blog Posts by This Old House Magazine

Prevention is Key

We don't mean to be kill-joys during the most joyous time of the year, but the stats don't lie: According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 12,500 of you have to leave the company of your loved ones to rush to the emergency room due to holiday-related accidental injuries. Here are some common holiday dangers that are overlooked by distracted holiday revelers more often than you might think. Take a look, know the warning signs, and you'll be the first to know if you, your loved ones, or your pets are victims of a toxic Christmas.

If your sniffling and sneezing coincide with the arrival of your freshly cut Christmas tree, you could be reacting to skyrocketing mold spore counts. If you must have a real tree in your home, prevent allergic reactions for guests and loved ones by hosing your tree down, spraying it with a mold-resistant sealant like M-1 Sure Cote, and allowing it to dry before bringing it indoors.

Christmas Lights Gone Wild

The days following Thanksgiving are all about two things: shopping and turkey sandwiches. No wait; the days following Thanksgiving are all about three things: shopping, turkey sandwiches, and holiday decorating.

Tackling that tangle of lights may be intimidating to some, but here are 5 breathtaking and over-the-top holiday displays that are sure to amaze.

Dominic Luberto's home in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, causes quite a stir; especially among neighbors who don't care for this bright holiday display. Luberto's lights aren't without fans, though. Local news stations have covered and photographed the place for special holiday coverage. The yard featured everything from traditional snowmen to Winnie-the-Pooh figurines.

Alek Komarnitsky recreates a version of this display every year. All of the figures and flashers are synced to software that allows you to manipulate the Lafayette, Colorado, display

If you're braving Black Friday-the day of blowout shopping on November 27; not the 1940 movie...although they both stir the same fright within me, and the movie tagline up there could easily apply to some Black Friday shoppers-it couldn't possibly hurt to plan ahead. In fact, a little bit of research can get you deep discounts from the comfort of your own computer desk this season. You may not even have to wait for Black Friday to get Black Friday deals from some vendors this year.

Many Black Friday advertisements are available for your perusal so that you can gauge whether venturing out is even worth it. For example, cnnmoney.com has republished a list of doorbuster deals from both Target and Walmart, which include $3 kitchen Chefmate kitchen appliances, $246 32-inch LCD HDTVs (Target), and $59 Tom Tom GPS systems (Walmart). You can see Black Friday ads and deal lists for those, and many other stores at blackfriday.info

Want Black Friday deals now, and want to order

There's more to preparing a guest room than just making the bed. Welcome visitors with a practical space that's comfortable and anticipates their needs. First tip: While it's tempting to put infrequently used rooms to work as storage areas, clear away clutter and keep decor generic-but-beautiful when you're expecting guests.

In the end, there's only one way to be sure your guest room is grand: Pack an overnight bag and test it for yourself. Is the rarely used mattress comfortable? Are there enough unobstructed outlets available for chargers and laptops? Are there a couple of empty drawers? Space in the closet? Keep reading for clever tips and thoughtful, affordable upgrade ideas to help make your loved ones feel right at home this holiday season.


Sleep Tight

Guest room mattresses are either new and rarely used bargain finds, or old and lumpy remnants from another bedroom's upgrade. A good mattress pad is an affordable way to add comfort and support. Take a page from the best

We asked for a few jack-o'-lanterns and you delivered a harvest of masterpieces. Then, we asked you to pick your favorites, and pumpkin-lovers came out in droves to select these winners. Here's the top 5.

Carlyle House

Alexandria, Virginia

In 1749, British merchant John Carlyle purchased two of the best lots in Alexandria, and put up this beautiful mansion-with its unique stone cornice and ornate woodwork-by the early 1750s. Just in time for General Edward Braddock to use the Georgian-style home to plan the French and Indian War.

The home stayed in the Carlyle family until 1827, and eventually served as a Civil War hospital, a particular point of interest for visiting ghost hunters. A 6-year-long restoration began when the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) acquired the property in 1970.

The NVRPA holds an annual reenactment of Colonel John Carlyle's 1780 funeral and reading of his last will. Call 703-683-3451 for more information.

Cape May, New Jersey

Dr. Emlen Physick's sprawling four-acre estate, a 1879 Victorian mansion, has changed hands only three times in its 130-year history. The home made news in 1878 for its

In my line of work, I often deal with people who have (or claim to have) ghosts in their houses. Inevitably, most of them ask me what they should do about it.

First let me say that over the years I have been involved in ghost research, the vast majority of the cases I've investigated have had perfectly natural explanations. That is not to say that some haven't puzzled me, or left me feeling the house in question was indeed haunted. Even if you're house is not haunted, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that it is, thinking every bump and creak you hear

Thisoldhouse.com users picked the winners, but we have some favorites, too! Get inspired with these amazing carvings from our TOH Pumpkin-Carving Contest last year! And, vote on this year's contenders at youroldhouse.thisoldhouse.com/pumpkincarving/