PITTSBURGH | Andy Banas, a retired ironworker, says he's pretty handy with tools. But he's often catching up with his wife, Laurel, when it comes to home renovation. "She designs everything and does ...

While searching for a new home a few years ago, my wife and I toured a log cabin for rent in the mountains of western North Carolina. It was built with historic reclaimed wood, and the long, stacked ...