Helpful ideas and suggestions for your home

There are some great house makeover projects (inside and out) in the March issue of This Old House. I love those Before and After pix, and it's amazing how adding a front porch improved homes. There are some good articles on Hidden Fire Hazards and using various colors on your front door; the one I liked best was reddish brown. Yellow and light green--not so much. Also an interesting article on fiber cement siding, with a selection of types; it sounds great, but it does need to be painted or stained. While I'd never use marble for a kitchen counter, I loved the Calcutta gold marble counter in one home. (My granite countertops are way too dark.)