Monthly Archives:

January 2011

Think Spring When Looking For Bargains

In the market for new stuff? There’s usually an ideal time to buy larger items like cars, electronics and appliances. During the first part of the year, be on the lookout for deals on outdoor items such as furniture…

What To Ask When Buying Flooring

After attending last week’s SURFACES flooring show in Las Vegas, we’ve got floors on the brain! One of the surprising facts we learned while at the show is despite flooring’s cost (it’s likely one of the most expensive purchases…

How To Build a Candle Holder from Wine Barrel Staves

This inexpensive and easy to do project that can create a dramatic centerpiece to your table or outdoor area. It’s also a great conversation piece as no two will be the same and the oak wine barrel staves will…

Best Car Snow Shovel

Snow shovels should be included in a list of mandatory emergency equipment for your car if you live in an area prone to snow storms. Don’t lug around your home shovel as it’s too big and unwieldy to use…

Remove Snow (Without The Backache) With The Wovel

With winter still in full force across most of the country, many of us are looking for more efficient, less arduous ways to dig ourselves out from the piles of white Mother Nature has gifted us than your traditional…

Moen Rainshower Showerhead

Is it a flying saucer? It certainly could pass for one if elevated and at a distance. The Moen Envi fixed rain showerhead is a beautiful design that instantly becomes the centerpiece of any bath. The showerhead is huge…

This Old House: Sneak Peek Los Angeles House Project

Today we had a unique opportunity to tour the This Old House Los Angeles House Project. It’s the first house project that This Old House has taken on in LA. Hard to believe since they’ve been at it for…

How the Liteblok Can Help You Build Green

We’re always on the lookout for new products. Or old products done better. Or anything, really, that gets the mind spinning with DIY possibilities. The Liteblok from Cresco Concrete is one of those products that offers environmentally friendly building…

Elmer’s Glue for the DIYer in You

Long known for their almost iconic wood/carpenters glue, Elmer’s Glue has re-worked their product lineup as well as their glue bottles and are targeting the DIY crowd. The new lineup consists of four glues all made based on a…

Bosch Oscillating Multi-Tool Attachments

We just reviewed the Dremel Multi-Max oscillating tool and fortunately we also had a full-set of Bosch oscillating multi-tool attachments to test it with as the Dremel was scarce on included attachments. Bosch has their own line of 12V…

Dremel Multi-Max Oscillating Tool Review

We’re super fans of oscillating tools and when we had the opportunity to review the Dremel Multi-Max we jumped at the chance. Hits: Variable speed and power Misses: Not enough attachments included Uses: Cutting, Sanding, Grinding As with the…

Deconstruction vs. Demolition

So you’re ready to start that big renovation project — a new kitchen, an updated bathroom, or maybe even an entire house! Before you install the new, you’ve got to take care of the old. In the past, the…

Streamline Your Safety With Low-Tech Keyless Entry

If you’re looking for a keyless-entry solution for your home or office but are concerned about electrical failures locking you in or out, we have quite the gadget for you. Korean designer Jaeseok Han has masterfully married the basic…

Trim And Decorate Your Walls Without Paint

Paint is an incredibly versatile medium, but you can also change the look (and functionality) of a wall without it. Common household items can do double-duty, so if you’re looking to update a room, consider these ideas. * Adhesive…

Craftsman Lawn Tractor Does Cut Corners

At the Builders Show Craftsman introduced a technology breakthrough in lawn tractors. While this doesn’t sound that exciting, keep reading. One of the most difficult tasks when mowing a lawn on a sit-down tractor is cutting into tight spaces.…

Fire Administration Issues Home Heating Safety Alert

Because cold winter months prompt increased heat usage, it’s no surprise that home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning tend to spike during the season. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and United States Fire Administration have issued a home…

Radiant Heat Flooring

One of the most brilliant modern day conveniences is radiant heat flooring. The demand for this feature is becoming stronger each year and not only are people installing it in kitchens but its becoming more popular in common areas…

How To Maximize A Small Bathroom

Whether it’s a closet-like powder room or a pint-sized full bath, dealing with a small bathroom can be a headache when it comes to design and functionality. If you’ve been suffering from small bathroom-itis, fear not. We’ve got some…

Wallpaper Trends For 2011

If you’re looking for something bold to help you reinvent a room this year, try thinking beyond your basic solutions with paint. For 2011, wallpaper is where it’s at — and not just for accent walls, either. Here are…

iKey To Transform Home Security?

While we’re busy waiting for flying cars and self-cleaning refrigerators, the masterminds at Apple may already be transforming home security. The tech behemoth was granted more than 550 patents in 2010, and although specific products haven’t yet been announced,…

New Sherwin-Williams Paint Colors

At the Builders Show this year, Sherwin Williams debuted some new interior colors but in a more innovative way than just sharing a bunch of swatches and samples. They’ve curated a lookbook that contains four palettes of up to…

Creative Places For Built-In Bookshelves

Here at C&H, we’re big fans of reading. And that means we’re always on the lookout for great bookshelf projects. Adding built-in bookshelves to your home is an ideal way to increase your storage/display capacity. And those one-of-a-kind architectural…

Faux Dog Home Security

We’ve previously talked about what you should consider before getting a guard dog for your home. But were you aware that there’s a camp of thought that uses the illusion of dog ownership as a home burglary deterrent? The…

Make Your Own Antiqued Mirror

As you probably already know, we have an unbridled love affair here at Charles & Hudson with spray paint. So imagine our glee when we found this project at ECABonline.com, in which Elizabeth DIYed a vintage, leaded-glass window pane…

Transform Wood Furniture With Teak Oil

During the colder months, it’s hard to envision lazy summer days spent outside, lounging on outdoor furniture with a book (or your latest DIY to-do list.) We’ll help chase away the winter blues with a suggestion on an outdoor…

Upgrade Your Floor Grates For Better Air Flow

The devil really is in the details. A lot of DIYers (us included) get caught up in the big projects: new tile, a kitchen demo, painting, installing hardwood floors, etc. Yet if your hands are itching for a project…

Kohler Elevance Bathtub Raises the Bar for Universal Design

Universal design continues to influence product design and this years Builders Show was no different. We saw a number of great products but one of our favorites was the Elevance Bathtub from Kohler. Unlike other universal design bathtubs the…

Stanley Black & Decker Sells Delta Machinery

Word on the street is that Stanley Black & Decker is selling Delta Machinery to an undisclosed buyer and for an undisclosed amount. Delta Machinery is still listed on the Black & Decker website so the sale isn’t complete…

House Painters in Seattle

In a climate like Western Washington people are often wondering how to find house painters who can deal with wet wood and surfaces. Seattle is one of the wettest areas in the country you need to make sure your…

Home Security Monitoring Systems

There are many home security systems to consider when laying out your plan for home protection. The advancements in these systems grow by leaps and bounds as technology changes and prices drop. Real-time monitoring systems are now all expected…

C&H Best of 2011 Builders Show

The 2011 Builders Show was held in Orlando Florida this year and although it is still much smaller than it has been in years past it was about the same size as the show in Las Vegas last year…

Battle of the Elevator Pitch from Elevator Pitchmen

At the Builders Show we asked all of the elevator pitchmen to give us their best elevator pitch, some declined but these guys stepped up to the plate and we’ll let you decide who won the Battle of the…

Would You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets Black?

The great thing about a kitchen is, like other rooms in the house, you can make a dramatic new impact with just a couple of changes. Painting or refinishing cabinets is one such project. Heck, even swapping out the…

Habitat For Humanity Builds LEED-, Energy Star-Certified Homes

This post comes to you courtesy of the “warm fuzzies” department. Habitat for Humanity, one of the more recognized philanthropic organizations in the world, has long been known for its ongoing contribution to the homebuilding industry and those in…

Stiletto Tools Trimbone Hammer

Stiletto Tools continues to innovate and the Stiletto Trimbone Hammer is their latest masterpiece. It’s Stiletto Tools first trim hammer and it’s DNA is straight from their iconic titanium Tibone hammer. The Stiletto Trimbone has quite a few new…

Paint Quality Institute Releases 2011 Paint Trends

A new year — it’s a ripe time for trend forecasts as experts look to the coming months to predict what consumers want. And the paint industry is no exception. As posted by the Paint and Coatings Industry, the…

Modern Shower Details Unite Design, Function

The bathroom is, arguably, one of the most important rooms in the home–and certainly the most personal. Whether your bathroom style is modern, classic, minimalist or spa-like, selecting the ideal fixtures, components and decor can go a long way…

How To Whitewash Brick

Brick, like wood trim and other architectural details, is one of those materials that draws strongly opposed crowds when it comes to painting … or preserving. If your brick isn’t in prime condition or you’re eager for a new…

Staying Safe During Urban Revitalization

In sociology, there’s a school of thought that defines urban areas into circular zones. There’s the center-most, financial center of a city, then outwards from the center (much like rings on a tree) the zones are defined by the…

Which Is More Dangerous: Voltage Or Amperage?

When working with electricity, caution is imperative. It’s ideal to turn off the power source at the breaker box, if applicable, so you can ensure that no lingering electricity can harm you during a project. Two factors to consider…

Get Organized With A DIY Tool Wall

As your tool collection grows, you may find yourself with too many tools–and not enough space in which to store them. Sure, a tool box or tool cabinet is a great way to keep your collection organized, but if…

Creating A Budget For Your Home Renovation

We’re still at that point in early January when the new year seems to stretch ahead, a blank canvas waiting to be filled with our enviable endeavors. Maybe you’ve made some DIY resolutions and are planning a major renovation…

Feel The Heat: At-Home Saunas On The Rise

They say that your home is your sanctuary, so it only makes sense that your space reflect your interests, tastes and, in the case of at-home saunas, your leisure preferences. What may sound like a frivolous addition to some…

Chainsaw Sharpening the Easy Way with PowerSharp

Keeping a chainsaw sharp is typically not a top priority when it comes to tool maintenance since most of us only use our chainsaw on the rare occasion that we need to trim large branches or clear fallen debris.…

Innovations from Sears Kenmore at CES

Sears Kenmore will introduce a trio of new products at CES this year. These products are winners of the 2011 Innovations Design and Engineering Awards as well as a Best of Innovations honoree in the Major Home Appliances category.…

GE Introduces Their Smart Home Technologies at CES

CES has expanded their Connected Home area and it seems that Kenmore and GE are leading the way with introducing their latest in home technologies. For a consumer brand as large as GE its surprising that this is their…

Give Your Baseboard Moldings New Height

Baseboard moldings are one of those thoughtful touches that polish a room and add just enough architectural aesthetic to make things interesting. Yet depending on your home, you may find yourself with small baseboard moldings that only protrude an…

Eco-Friendly Ice Melt Options

Ice melt is a terribly useful invention, but the drawback is that many conventional formulas contain a high degree of chemicals that, during a thaw, can run-off into nearby water sources or become absorbed by the groundwater. So what,…

Transparent Concrete Is For Real

No longer a dream, transparent concrete is for real and is now being used as a building material. The Italian firm, Italcementi Group, unveiled their product which was built into the World Expo building in Shanghai. There are approximately…

Track Current Kitchen Usage To Inspire Future Renovation

We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again: every successful renovation starts with a healthy dose of planning. Whether you prefer the structured approach of a workbook or something a little more free, making sketches and taking notes are…

Fixed Price Contracts Can Save Time, Money and Drama

Some words of wisdom about fixed prices from a contractor abroad for work order changes. I was recently asked to quote for and subsequently do a fairly small job – cosmetically tidying up a basement – building a wall…

Most Popular Articles of 2010

These were the most popular articles on Charles & Hudson in 2010. Take a look! Rough Cut Woodworking with Tommy Mac 3D Virtual Room Planning Tools Tips to DIY While Pregnant 5 Ways to Make Shade DIY Concrete Countertops…

Celebrating New Years in Las Vegas and Beyond

We welcomed 2011 with family, friends and a trip to the Nevada desert and a night in Las Vegas. We’re sharing our travel tips and a few photos from the weekend. Las Vegas Travel Tips 1. To avoid the…

Carbon Monoxide Monitors Can Save Your Life

The recent tragic deaths of five Florida teenagers is a stark reminder of how dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning can be and how important the need for carbon monoxide monitors is. The colorless, odorless gas can be emitted from a…

Build A DIY Snow Ramp

Who says all of your DIY fun has to be confined inside during the winter months? If you’re lucky enough to live in a locale that receives snow (or are on the East Coast and have more snow than…