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…loving, spreading perennial that comes in red, pink, or white flowers that butterflies love. Hosta 'Great Expectations' Hosta are the ideal shade perennials. The leaves can be green, yellow or variegated and many varieties…

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Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. While they re always inconvenient, major remodeling projects can also become a real strain on your relationship if you let them. But there are ways to make sure you re just gutting the kitchen, not your marriage. First, never assume your spouse knows what the family room will look like or how big the deck should be without discussing it first. Talk about your expectations for the project and your budget thoroughly and often. Even the healthiest relationships are challenged when a contractor comes into the house and a third person enters the couple s territory. Make decisions as a team and convey them clearly to your contractor; no one wants to be the go-between or the one left out of the loop. If you find you can t agree on some things, don t feel you have to compromise on everything: If one of you chooses the paint color and the other chooses the light fixtures, you can avoid a lot of tension and resentment. If you still can t agree or the project is beyond your skill set, don t hesitate to hire a professional. An architect or interior designer can offer solutions you may not have thought of. Remodeling projects seldom go exactly as planned. Expect the unexpected and don t point fingers when chaos strikes. If you can laugh about it, you might wind up improving not just your home but your relationship as well. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Bob Berle shows Bob Vila the bowels of the home and points out the decay that was prevalent but currently under repair. The 35,000 square foot basement was open to the elements prior to the Berles� arrival and during the winter was buried in four feet of snow. Deep in the past a small town atmosphere existed in the basement, with a launderer, a butcher, and a baker to serve the Vanderbilts and their guests. At one point in time, over 120 people were seasonally employed by the house to maintain the grounds and serve the guests. Due to years of neglect and changing expectations, the entire communications and electrical systems in the house needed to be replaced using suspended channels for low voltage and commercial pipes for high voltage wiring. Even with the home�s immense size residential heating systems will be employed using nine boilers, which allow for individual zones for every one of the 109 rooms. To prevent fire, the boiler room is practically airtight and the boiler�s heating elements are vented directly outdoors, with an electronically controlled air induction system