Think you have to shell out serious bucks to take your kitchen from blah to great, guess again! For the price of a few tools, some key materials and a little sweat equity, you can rehab the main surfaces of your kitchen and transform your space for next to nothing. Here are four favorite kitchen-upgrade projects from the editors of Fresh Home magazine:

CHICAGO We are a nation of nomads, traveling from house to apartment to condo to townhouse, searching for that comfort we call home.

Ralphie's house is getting the Griswold treatment.

CHICAGO - Regardless of the White Sox's intentions this offseason, Jim Thome plans to make Chicago his home.

It takes just moments for Sam June to decorate his family room for the holidays. He simply swaps the earth-toned throw pillows on the sofa for pillows in shades of red, green and burgundy, adds a few holiday-themed ornaments to the fireplace mantle - and he's done.

Q. Our house is about 60 years old and has the original wood, double-hung windows. Several of the windows are drafty and loose, and rattle when the wind blows. A couple of these won't stay open unless I prop them with a stick. I can't afford new windows now and wonder if there is a less expensive way to fix them. Can you help? -J. Huber

Not everyone is a gifted hostess. (And frankly, not everyone is a good guest either.) So what better time than now to start learning?

Its fiery yellow, orange and red colors make the Chinese pistache one of the prettiest trees this fall. From coast to coast, horticulturists sing the praises of this tree, and if you plant one or an informal cluster, you, too, will join the chorus.

WHAT'S NEW: PRODUCT MAKES IT EASIER TO TILE

Q: I'm hoping you can give a brief explanation of the tankless water heater. I can't seem to make my husband understand. Our water heater is on the opposite side of our house from the bathrooms and laundry room. Consequently, it takes running the water a long time before we get any warm/hot water. Isn't the tankless heater something that allows you to tap into hot water on demand?