By Staci Dennis
Correspondent

NORFOLK
Sue Gaines and Jerry Foley had a dream to live in a small cottage on the beach.
They wanted plenty of windows to see the ocean year-round and enough room to house their brood of animals.
"We weren't looking for one of those mega houses on the water," Gaines said. "We just wanted something simple."

VIRGINIA BEACH
For more than nine years, Tim and Charity Figallo 's 120 square feet of kitchen space served its purpose - albeit tightly - feeding the couple's family, acting as a play area and entertaining countless friends.
"Our kitchen was small, but we made due," said Charity, 38. "We knew one day we would get around to fixing it up."

By Staci Dennis
Correspondent
VIRGINIA BEACH
When preparing for life with his new bride, Brad Boyette wanted to make sure everything was perfect.
The 38-year-old bought a house in Virginia Beach's Wedgewood Estates in November and immediately started renovating. The first item on his list was completely updating the master bathroom.

Learn how to make a Green valentine.

"If you're going to cut up like we do, I'd rather be out there where you can only do so much damage," said Bob Futrell, a retired employee with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

ARA Content Since Oprah announced on her television show that "wallpaper is back" and Time Magazine called wallpaper "hip" and the "latest passion" of interior designers, the plain painted wall seems a bit boring.

By Melissa Kossler Dutton Associated Press Lewis and Rebecca Taylor were confident when they recently bought a fixer-upper, even though they're not particularly handy. They knew they'd have plenty of help updating the kitchen, tearing out carpeting and redecorating the house, which was built in 1965.

Forget parking a car there.
Mike and Carmen Payton would rather park themselves in their new garage than let a vehicle occupy prime party space.
Yet like many homeowners faced with an intimidating drop zone for life's assorted "stuff," they put the renovation project off.
For two decades, to be exact.

 
Four DIYers grade a Black & Decker 18-volt cordless drill driver, Model BD18PS.
1. Deborah Alexander-Marshall, Chesapeake:

What did you use the tool for?  My husband, Alan, and I put in a new carpet runner on our stairs. We also used it to tighten screws in the gazebo on our deck and planter boxes.

CHESAPEAKE
Jean-Marie Eagler begs to differ with Kermit the Frog: It is easy being green.
Since moving into her Tanglewood home in June, the Chesapeake resident has launched a one-woman "eco-renovation" crusade.