Q: I recently moved to Camarillo, Calif., and bought a condo. We have recess lighting in the kitchen and bathrooms. In the attic, the insulation around the recessed lighting has been removed. Why? Can I insulate safely?

Q: My wife and I are updating our bathroom with a complete remodel. Not only do we want to bring our bathroom up to date, we want to bring it into the future with the latest technology. Music is very important to us, so what are some new plumbing fixtures we can look at that have built-in sound systems? -- Bill, California

Before you give your heart to a piece of upholstered furniture, make sure it's the real deal by asking yourself these four key questions.

When selecting a countertop for the kitchen, it seems there are countless choices available. Let's see what some of those choices are.

When it seems so hot that you could probably fry an egg on the sidewalk, you can almost believe that you could fry another one on exposed garden soil, too. At any rate, that soil can get hot. And then we ask young, tender plants to grow in such soil -- material that heats up under the super-dry surface. These conditions are brutal and can be traced to many vegetable-garden failures.

Anybody out there having a baby? A grandbaby? A new niece or nephew? Adopting a baby? Then it is time to get that nursery ready, and in a safe manner. This is a subject I've addressed before, and it's worth revisiting.

I say it often: It's all right to make mistakes as long as you learn from them -- especially in the garden. Well, I made a doozy recently and have I ever learned from it.

Q: My husband and I have been saving for years to build our dream home. We plan on spending the rest of our lives in this home and want to make some good material choices. Aside from the toilets, we're thinking of installing cast-iron plumbing fixtures for the sinks, tubs and shower base. What are your thoughts on cast-iron plumbing fixtures? -- Jean, Massachusetts

Q: Recently I noticed a stain on the ceiling in the hall on the first floor of my home. Because the home is a two-story design, I had no idea a leak could be in the middle of the hall, but there is no leak on the ceilings of the second-floor rooms. The stain is not under or near a bathroom, but there is a chimney to the furnace in a closet on the second floor. I checked the chimney and could not locate a leak. Is this something you might have information on or a solution to my query?

To embrace the blissful, mellow season of summer, I sweep through my home, gathering up winter's rich, intricate layers and replacing them with light and breezy accents that let my rooms breathe. Giving your home a summer makeover can be as simple as weaving in a few key pieces of seasonal decor. Here are some ideas: