We’re launching a new series profiling the workshops of our friends, families, readers and other home improvement and tool bloggers. We’re hoping these profiles of Winning Workshops inspire some ideas for you to apply to your own workspace as…
Monthly Archives:
March 2011
We’ve talked several times here at C&H about living through a large-scale renovation. Whether you flee to a short-term residence or set up temporary rooms, there’s no doubt that remodeling disrupts your lifestyle throughout the duration of the project.…
There’s no denying it–going green is all the rage these days. But when it comes to making your home an environmentally friendly, energy efficient machine, it can be tough to know where to start. Sure, there’s the little things,…
Whether you’re swapping out older carpet for a newer design or going with a different type of flooring, you’ll have to remove the existing carpet. And even if you’re calling in a professional for the installation, you can save…
In this economy (and don’t even get us started on gas prices!), saving money is becoming increasingly important–and besides, who doesn’t love a bargain? Finding discounted tools can be a great way to expand your collection without breaking the…
Remember the stackable and sturdy sawhorse project we built a few months ago? We painted them gold and entered it into the ReadyMade 100 contest. We just got word a couple days ago that our project was selected as…
You probably know all of the common ways to reduce your energy consumption: regularly check for water leaks, keep lights off when not in use, don’t leave unused appliances plugged in, keep your HVAC filters clean. But what about…
Grabbing a warm, toasty towel right after a shower or bath–it’s one of life’s little luxuries, isn’t it? But instead of relocating your dryer to close proximity of your bathroom, try installing a heated towel rack. Aside from making…
Theresa and Mark Clement of the popular Do-It-Yourself radio show and website, MyFixItUpLife, see a lot of each other. Partners as a married couple and in business they work with each other on many more levels and with many…
Have you guys seen that commercial (for a headache medicine, maybe?) where the husband pressure washes the deck and obliterates all of the outdoor furniture? Too funny! All joking aside, however, pressure washers (also known as power washers) can…
Spray paint can be a wonderful, convenient thing. But the downside? The fumes and residual splatter make it a material better suited for use outdoors. What if you get the urge to spray paint something when it’s windy, or…
A clogged drain–it’s gross, inconvenient and unsightly. Of course, when it comes to unclogging a drain, the process can be even more irritating than the drain itself. So we’ve compiled a few methods you might want to try before…
One of the most effective ways to build green is to use salvaged materials. The great thing about salvage is it can be small (a piece of furniture, perhaps) or, in the case of this house, huge! “An entire…
C&H universe, I’m in desperate need of your help. My dilemma? The gorgeous windows in our loft are without screens. We can’t open them wide enough to get a decent breeze for fear that our two adorable cats will…
A fireplace is the focal point of a living room, so it’s important to have something that doesn’t make you recoil every time it catches your eye. My friends Heather and Neil had this unfortunate reaction when they moved…
Who doesn’t love lists? To-do lists, top 10 lists (especially the David Letterman variety) — they’re informative and entertaining. So we’ve added a new list for your reading pleasure. The U.S. Green Building Council recently released their list of…
Warmer temperatures mean that critters are on the move, both inside your home and outside. Yesterday, one of our Facebook friends posted a plea for mole removal techniques, so after a little research, we have a few options for…
Now that spring is officially here, spring cleaning is definitely in order. You’re probably tackling floors, countertops, bedding and other commonly cleaned areas and items, but what about your home’s water system? It’s a good idea to flush out…
We haven’t used a phone book in years but obviously some people still do as we receive them on our doorstep every six months or so. It’s one of the largest wastes of paper if you don’t recycle them…
Hanging pot racks are a great invention. If you’re short on storage space, racks can free up the shelving or cabinets that are currently home to your pots and pans, which tend to be some of the bulkiest items…
Flooring, walls, backsplashes–ceramic tile is a popular, versatile material that can be incorporated into a variety of projects. Many styles of ceramic tile are quite affordable, too, making it an ideal choice for the DIY-er on a budget. But…
Stainless steel, bright colors–today’s appliances are certainly as eye-catching as they are functional. And in some cases, certain appliances can serve as a trophy of sorts; a state-of-the-art refrigerator, perhaps, or my personal holy grail: the KitchenAid artisan stand…
Milwaukee Tools is known for their line of contractor-grade power tools that have an almost cult-like following. Case in point, these tattooed fans of the power tool brand. They are now a serious player in the hand tool industry…
The National Association of Home Builders recently released a special report that details several home features that will likely become the norm by 2015. Green features such as low-E windows and engineered wood products are expected to become more…
Looking around at all the design and decor mags in the past few years, we couldn’t help but notice a prevalence of stenciled word art pieces adorning people’s homes. From simple colloquialisms to lyrics of entire Bonnie Tyler songs…
The days of halogen flashlights are fleeting. Mag lights have always been our great go-to light for around the house, camping or any other use, but the intensity of those lights has been replaced by the power of LEDs.…
In February we were invited to the Passive House in Yellow Springs, Ohio’s open house. Hosted by both the new owners and the building company, the event was a casual, yet incredibly informative adventure. The people at Green Generation…
It’s been a little over six months since we introduced the littlest renovator to our crew, and we’ve tackled a couple of pretty large projects with more than just our menagerie of animals underfoot. With two kids under two,…
A reader recently contacted us regarding a driveway gate he is planning on installing. His home is of a French Normandy/Storybook style, almost like what you’d find in the Swiss Alps, and he’d like to stay true to this…
File this project under “ingenious.” Have some small valuables or cash that you want to conceal? If you have a hollow core interior door, you can use a few tools to create an inconspicuous hiding spot. Guys (and ladies)–this…
Searching for a way to garden a little greener while creating less waste in the kitchen? Look no further than your trusty coffee maker for one of the best fertilizers, composters, bug repellants and worm cuisine! Here’s a list…
In your search for the perfect home you’ll undoubtedly come across many that are complete junk, from both an aesthetic and construction point of view. Bad home design comes in many different flavors but here are some warning signs…
Our friend Antonella’s up to her old tricks again…making her beautiful house even more beautiful. When we last visited her, she was transforming her office space. Now she has moved onto the dining room and re-covered six dining table…
A few days ago a massive earthquake struck off the Northeast coast of Japan and the ensuing tsunami and major aftershocks have continued to rock the country. It’s amazing to see the rest of the world offer help in…
If you’ve made it through a large-scale renovation, you know that it can be a life-altering experience. The result–a shiny new space that you designed (and probably even built)–usually outweighs the drama, high costs and stress associated with such…
With Daylight Saving time approaching for most of the country this weekend, we thought we’d give you a few tips of things to check around your home while you’re switching your clocks and smoke alarm batteries. *Change the batteries…
We previously mentioned stencils as a great way to add an innovative appearance to your wood stairs. The DIY tools are also a fun, creative way to add embellishments to your walls and furniture. Thanks to an increasing awareness…
Applying a coat of fresh paint, refinishing hardwood floors, installing built-in shelves–these sorts of DIY projects can be completed within the privacy of your own home. But what happens when a project moves outside, whether to your home’s exterior…
We’ve noticed a lot of talk in the DIY blogosphere this week about hallways. Although these long, narrow corridors can often be challenging when it comes to function and decor, hallways are typically neglected when it comes to their…
It’s amazing the places you can pick up DIY tips from. If you pay attention, you can learn all sorts of tricks and hacks from seemingly unrelated places. Take for instance, middle-school art class. We had the fortune of…
What could be more green than applying plant fibers to your wall? If you’re looking for an unconventional and eco-friendly wallcovering, grasscloth might just be the way to go. Now, before we scare you off (you’re thinking of the…
One of the best things about DIY is that by tackling projects yourself, you can typically save a lot of money as opposed to calling in a contractor. Of course, sometimes you need a professional to finish the job,…
Watching home improvement or real estate shows with my boyfriend really irks me. He laughs when couples get excited over crown molding in a house. I finally had to ask him why it annoyed him so much – and…
Stairs kinda get a bad rap, don’t they? So much foot traffic, so little love. But depending on the location of your stairs (and if you have them), a staircase can be a focal point of your home–so why…
Quick poll: Does anyone still use cookbooks? With smartphones and tablets becoming increasingly popular, recipe apps may be the way to go. (Confession? I have numerous cookbooks. And I use them. A lot.) While browsing the blogosphere, we stumbled…
It’s safe to say that impact drivers have hit mainstream and are becoming a coveted power tool for many DIYers. Impact wrenches and drivers have been used by auto mechanics for years and many furniture makes and woodworkers swear…
Bamboo has long been praised for its speedy growth time, ability to thrive without pesticides and its long-lasting, sustainable nature. From flooring to fabric, bamboo has become a go-to eco-friendly material whose versatile nature makes it ideal for a…
You may have noticed that we’ve got a case of spring fever here at C&H. In much of the country, however, warmer temperatures also bring a higher threat of severe weather. Although tornadoes tend to peak during the spring…
We may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves, but it’s time to think spring! Even if you’re not quite out of the winter weather woods, we’ve got a short list of tasks you can tackle to get your…
Closets are magic places. They hold lots (and LOTS) of treasures, make great hiding places and are a necessary part of any shopping-obsessed person’s lifestyle. Because they tend to be overfull, a closet’s appearance is sometimes neglected. If you’ve…
Before our second child was born, we realized that our bathroom, shown above, needed some serious TLC. After three years of time warping every time we needed to tinkle and one genetic byproduct underfoot as it was, we needed…
Most flooring projects can be filed under the DIY category. But what about installing carpet? (And we’re not talking FLOR tiles, although they’re certainly an attractive flooring option–and can be quickly installed.) Over at the Your Fifth Wall blog…
When you have a home security system, often times you’ll be asked to create a “safe word” — the point of it being that if your alarm goes off, you have to give the safe word to the security…