Question: I want to add ceiling lighting and a ceiling fan to my living room, but no wiring is up there. I would like to add decorative box beams and run the wiring through them. How can I do this?

The fear of being zapped into next week—or beyond—keeps even some intrepid do-it-yourselfers away from electrical work. Generally speaking, that's wise, because messing with electricity can be lethal.

When you think of drop ceilings, you probably think of office buildings, school classrooms, or shopping centers, but there are some situations where you might want a drop ceiling in your home and, ...