Living & Home

Asheville – October 07, 2026 -- Southeastern Tile Connection has won Gold for Carpet & Flooring Store and Silver for Kitchen & Bath in the 2026 Best of Asheville awards, with the community voting to honor the company's Mills River showroom in both categories.

The company's team collected both trophies at a September 23 ceremony.

Leland Decker, Business Development Manager, accepted the awards on behalf of Southeastern Tile Connection, joining other recognized businesses from across Western North Carolina at the official winners event.

"Being voted Best of Asheville for the second year in a row means the world to our team and validates the passion, hard work, and dedication we put into every client and their project," Decker said, thanking the Asheville and surrounding communities for their continued support.

Findlay, Ohio – October 07, 2026 -- Homeowners dealing with weak faucets or sluggish showers now have a clearer roadmap for diagnosing the problem, according to a new HelloNation article featuring insights from Aaron Basinger, a plumbing expert based in Findlay, Ohio.

Clogged fixtures are often the first suspect

The article identifies mineral deposits and sediment buildup in faucet aerators and showerheads as one of the most common causes of reduced water flow, especially in homes with hard water. Cleaning or replacing the affected fixture frequently resolves the issue.

A partially closed valve can cut pressure throughout the house

Shutoff valves near the water meter, water heater, or under sinks that aren't fully open can drastically reduce flow. The article notes that even a small adjustment to these valves can sometimes restore normal pressure instantly.

Saint Jo, Texas – October 07, 2026 -- NLP of North Texas, an affiliate of National Land Partners, will open The Vistas at Clear Creek on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, releasing a limited number of 10- to 12-acre homesites near Saint Jo in Montague County. Buyers can call 877-333-8830 to schedule a private tour or priority sales appointment ahead of the launch.

Montague County's population jumped 9.8% since 2020

U.S. Census Bureau estimates put Montague County's population at 21,966 as of July 1, 2025, up 9.8% from the April 1, 2020 estimates base. The growth comes as the Texas Real Estate Research Center reported statewide rural land prices rose 3.27% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, with a five-year annualized growth rate of 8.17%.

Los Angeles – October 06, 2026 -- COCOCOZY's 3-Piece Bouclé Comforter Set is back at Costco stores nationwide and on Costco.com starting Fall 2026, following a sold-out 2024 debut that drew viral attention online.

The set includes a comforter and two matching shams

The collection comes in Queen and King sizes, available in Ivory and Charcoal Grey. It pairs a plush bouclé comforter with two coordinating pillow shams, aiming for a layered, textured bedroom look.

Designer Colette Shelton says the goal is accessible luxury

"I'm thrilled to return to Costco to give even more people the opportunity to bring COCOCOZY style into their homes," said Shelton, founder of COCOCOZY and a tech entrepreneur. "With this bouclé set, we wanted to create the ultimate cozy bedding that feels beautiful, stylish and special."

Scottsboro – – October 06, 2026 -- Unclaimed Baggage will host its 45th Annual Ski Sale on Saturday, Nov. 7, offering more than 50,000 square feet of ski gear, winter wear and holiday finds at up to 80% off retail value. The Scottsboro, Alabama-based retailer, which sells unclaimed items from lost airline luggage, has built this year's inventory into the largest stock in the event's 45-year history.

The sale has run annually since 1981

Held every year since 1981, the Ski Sale has grown into one of the largest events of its kind in the country, drawing shoppers from across the nation to a state where snow rarely falls. Unclaimed Baggage owner Bryan Owens said the sale is a chance for skiers and winter enthusiasts of every level to gear up for the season and find deals on equipment.

El Segundo, Calif. – October 06, 2026 -- Outer Spaces has launched a backyard pavilion that generates solar power and stores it in a hidden battery built into the deck, with the first units arriving in 2027 in Southern California and select markets.

The system hides batteries beneath a finished outdoor deck

The product, called OS1, pairs a solar-generating roof structure with a "power deck" that houses ultra-thin battery storage underneath a walkable outdoor floor. The pavilion produces electricity during the day and can supply backup power to the home during an outage, functioning as an outdoor living room, kitchen, office, gym or wellness space.

Canandaigua – October 05, 2026 -- Boat owners shopping for storage should measure more than just the length of their vessel, according to a HelloNation article featuring insights from Patrick McAlpin of McAlpin Self Storage in Canandaigua, New York.

Precise measurements prevent tight squeezes

The article recommends measuring the boat and trailer exactly as they will be stored, including the trailer tongue, motor, swim platform, and tower. Width matters too, since owners need enough clearance to walk around the boat and reach equipment.

Trailer access shapes day-to-day convenience

Gates, narrow turns, posts, curbs, and nearby parked vehicles can complicate maneuvering longer trailers. Wider driving lanes and simple parking layouts matter most for owners who retrieve their boats frequently.

Kiawah Island, S.C. – October 05, 2026 -- A new article from HelloNation breaks down the practical differences between villas, cottages, and single-family homes on Kiawah Island, aiming to help prospective buyers match a property type to how they actually plan to use it.

Villas suit buyers who visit only a few weeks a year

According to the article, villas remain a popular choice for second-home buyers because exterior maintenance, landscaping, and common areas are handled by a homeowners association. Villas typically sit close to pools, tennis courts, and beach access points, which adds convenience for shorter seasonal stays. The tradeoff is shared walls with neighbors and outdoor space limited to a balcony or small patio.

Hamilton Township, N.J. – October 05, 2026 -- Homeowners in Mercer County can expect hardwood floor refinishing to take three to five days for an average-sized space, according to a new HelloNation article detailing the process stage by stage.

Sanding takes a full day for average rooms, longer for larger homes

Sanding is described as the first and most labor-intensive step, with professionals using specialized equipment to strip old finishes and smooth imperfections. An average-sized room typically takes a full day to sand, while larger homes may need several days. Dust can still occur even with containment systems, and furniture must be removed or covered before work begins.

Edges and corners often require additional manual sanding, and nearby rooms may experience some disruption during this phase.

Milton, Fla. – October 05, 2026 -- Homeowners in Santa Rosa County planning a bathroom remodel can expect the timeline to hinge less on construction speed and more on decisions made before demolition even starts. A new HelloNation article, drawing on insights from Steve and Sarah Abbott of CKD Remodeling in Milton, FL, breaks down the full remodeling process and the factors that most often cause delays.

Early material and design choices set the pace