Tub and Tile Paint. WHAT IT IS: A water-resistant specialty paint that can adhere to porcelain and tile.

Home Front: Refinishing Furniture, Front Door Colors, and Furniture Delivery Fees. Post Home staff editors Annie Groer and Jura Koncius are here to answer your decorating-related questions.

Down by the Bay. THE TRADITIONAL EASTERN SHORE LANDSCAPE SETTING IS ONE OF HISTORIC GRANDEUR -- the colonial house at the end of the shady drive, terraces dotted with pungent old boxwood. It's all very rooted. But, to my mind, the more interesting gardens in eastern Maryland are the ones that rely on that other g..

In Every Garden, Fertile Ground for Fitness. Physical fitness might not be the main reason avid gardeners till, plant and weed, but regular gardening can help keep you fit.

For Tile Matchmakers, Patience Is the Most Important Tool. Q: DEAR TIM: I have ceramic floor tile in my kitchen. We removed a wall to open up the floor plan, and now I must replace the cut tiles with full ones to make the ceramic tile floor look perfect. My builder left behind a box of the original tile, so I have the pieces I need.

The Art and the Science of the Trench Drain. Q: DEAR TIM: Do you think a trench drain will solve my soggy yard and the chronic leak in my basement? Many of my neighbors suffered from a recent heavy rainfall, and we all are tired of dealing with water in and around our homes. Will a trench drain really work?.

Even After Heavy Rain, Trees May Need Help Surviving Drought. The drought is officially over, but its effects might continue for our area's trees.

Making the Connection Between Your Home and Your Planet. Even though two-thirds of Americans now accept that global warming is a serious issue, the cause hasn't yet hit home for many.

Much to Learn and Admire in the Dog Days. Take advantage of some interesting exhibits, lectures, workshops, tours and other educational programs in August. Events are free unless otherwise noted. Many require registration, so call ahead.

Home Front: Getting Started on Nursery Decor, Midcentury Lighting and Allergy-Free Couches. Post Home Section staffers Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza take questions on your decorating dilemmas. This week, they find out how museums pick colors for their gallery walls, and why people paint their porch ceilings blue.

Welcoming Wildlife to Your Garden. A young bunny munching on grass is barely aware of the audience he attracts while he eats lunch.

Training the Climbers: A Guide to Vines. Vines can be trained onto almost any structure -- deck, porch, shed, pergola, wall, fence, pole or arbor. The type of climber being trained determines how it should be attached.

The Hurdles on the Way to a Better Insurance. In my last several columns, I have discussed a proposal for a new type of mortgage insurance that I think would help solve many of the problems with the current mortgage system.

Looser Credit on the Way In 'Declining' Markets? Could the mortgage industry scrap its controversial practice of listing hundreds of local real estate markets as "declining" -- and restricting lending there through higher down payments or credit scores?.

For First-Time Buyers, Tempting Prices but Tougher Rules. If you're a first-time home buyer, you'll find it a little harder to qualify for a mortgage than your counterpart did two years ago.

Don't Overlook the Kitchen Exhaust. Q: DEAR TIM: The plans for my new kitchen call for a range hood exhaust fan. Is one fan more effective than another? Years ago, the downdraft exhaust fans were popular. What kind of fan is in your kitchen? How do I make sure the one I select will adequately ventilate my kitchen?.

In the U.K., a Different Standard For Broker Transparency. For perspective on institutional practices, nothing beats seeing how those practices differ elsewhere. Recently, I looked at how mortgage brokers and the lenders they deal with operate in the United Kingdom.

Understanding Your Credit History Is the First Step Toward a Higher Score. I have heard from numerous readers who were confused by a recent column on how to clean up your credit history and credit score.

Keeping Closer Tabs On Brokers. Should your mortgage loan officer's fingerprints be on file in a national electronic database, even if he or she has never been convicted of a crime?.

New Tax Credit Amounts To a Free Loan for $7,500. Anyone who has been hesitant about jumping into real estate until conditions settle down should keep in mind these dates: April 9, 2008, through June 30, 2009.