Sharpies are such a versatile item. Sure, they’re an ideal office supply (and a must-have when it comes to preparing for a garage sale.) But Sharpies also have nearly unlimited DIY potential. Just ask my husband who, after becoming…
Monthly Archives:
June 2011
I have a secret dream of buying a house with a great yard, and then getting one of those one-room home kits to build my very own home office. It sounds like a great scenario, right? The office, while…
For the last several years, I’ve been keeping a list of features I want in my dream house. They include a library with floor-to-ceiling shelves, a giant kitchen and maybe even a secret passageway. Another thing to add to…
Who doesn’t love a good top 10 list? David Letterman, I’m looking at you! Product lists are especially helpful if you’re looking to branch out from your usual favorites. You probably have your eco-friendly mainstays like programmable thermostats, CFLs,…
After enduring five stifling, A/C-free days earlier this month, I have a newfound respect for those who choose to brave the summer months without A/C. It can certainly be done, however, especially if you have a few fans, some…
I don’t remember how old I was when I first found out that the bright, sunny dandelions I loved so much were weeds. How could something so cheerful be classified in such a pesky, frustrating group of plants? But…
This month we’ve taken an in depth look at windows and have covered three main steps that will help you ensure their best function. Evaluating your current windows, shopping for new windows and how to care for your new…
As other trade shows have contracted, Dwell on Design continues to grow. It’s not a large show but the vendors are well curated and you can picture any of them in the pages of Dwell magazine and many of…
Harsh weather conditions, wear and tear — it’s likely that your deck will need to be refinished every few years to keep it in prime condition. This is generally a project you can tackle over the weekend, provided you’ve…
With summer in full swing, your home’s outdoor areas are likely getting a lot of use. We’ve already talked about how to create a year-round outdoor living space, complete with furniture and seasonal elements. When you’re creating such an…
Oh Vegas…We love you. From the Pyramids to Paris you never cease to amaze us so it’s fitting that you’re pushing the boundaries once again on what a theme park can be by serving as the home of Dig…
One of the biggest challenges many small space dwellers face is storage. Whether your abode has a bevy of closets and cabinets or is as bare as a bone, when every square inch counts, you need storage solutions that…
Sometimes in life, a good thing comes with an unfortunate side effect. Such is the case with compact fluorescent lightbulbs. When it comes to choosing a more energy-efficient source of light, CFLs are at the top of their game.…
With the prevalence of touchscreen, app-based products continuing to dominate the market, it was only a matter of time before an enterprising mind applied this technology to appliances. Samsung has introduced a refrigerator complete with an 8-inch WiFi-supported LCD…
What’s not to love about a sidewalk? You can draw on them with chalk, and they’re a safe haven on which to walk, bike, jog, jump rope, play hopscotch–you get the idea. Yet over time, sidewalks can crack and…
We’ve visited the Craftsman Experience last year to check out their Winter Wonderland and help build the Ultimate Sleigh so we were excited to make a return trip this summer and participate in their first ever DIY Blogger Summit.…
A little while back, we read an article detailing a list of things an expert thought should not be bought at Ikea — leaving pretty much decorative accessories as the only “purchasable” items recommended. As we’re sure you know,…
Tomorrow marks the official arrival of summer, although if it’s been as hot where you are as it’s been in Kansas City, your air conditioner has already received quite the workout! With air conditioners, fans and appliances working overtime…
While perusing our new favorite obsession, Pinterest, we’ve come across some pretty awesome ideas to get the most bang for your DIY buck. One of the most genius is a findable time capsule — inside of a lightswitch cover.…
There’s no denying that the turbulent economy has wreaked havoc on publishing, especially for shelter magazines. It’s been hard to see good friends like Domino, Blueprint and Cottage Living close and sadly, we now have another to add to…
Thanks to a record number of people who are turning 65 in the coming years, Universal Design is becoming the hot topic when it comes to home building and renovating. Simply put, Universal Design means enhancing the accessibility and…
Attic fans are one of those brilliant inventions that you don’t really notice until you don’t have one. Growing up, my dad’s house had an attic fan and it made all the difference when it came to keeping the…
We cover a lot of tradeshows and events throughout the year and one product that keeps popping up is the Bagster. We covered this a couple of years back but think it’s worth mentioning again as onsite storage and…
Grilling, dining al fresco, relaxing in a hammock with a good book–it’s no wonder that spending time outdoors is one of the top activities during the summer. And if your home has a leisure-inducing outdoor space, then you know…
The great thing about paint is that it can be applied to almost any surface or object and is one of the easiest ways to launch a full-fledged makeover within your home. When you’re preparing to paint, you probably…
One of our favorite types of project is the weekend project. In just a couple of days, you can feel that rush of productivity and accomplishment after surveying a completed project that improves your home–and maybe even your lifestyle.…
Security doors used to have a pretty bad rap. They’d decrease your property value, make your neighborhood seem sketchy, and worst of all, were ugly. Screen doors, however, were praised far and wide for creating welcoming entryways, adding style…
This week I participated in the Bosch Tools Global Leadership Tour at their US headquarters in Mt. Prospect, IL. Bosch is a global organization and their tool division is number one in Europe and with events like these they’re…
When it comes to painting your home, the walls don’t have to hog all of the attention. Painting a room’s trim can easily make just as big of an impact, especially if you use a dark hue instead of…
There are few things more frustrating than your beautiful, carefully planned and tended landscaping being destroyed by an inquisitive visitor of the animal variety. If you find yourself in this situation, we suggest installing some protective fencing to help…
Last week, I had the pleasure of traveling to Baltimore for DeWALT’s new product launch. I had a basic familiarity of the brand, but it was fascinating to dive more into the company’s history, methodology and what they’re doing…
If you’re looking for a unique way to liven up a boring cement slab, decorate a retaining wall, or just leave your mark without leaving a chemical footprint, then we have the solution for you — moss graffiti! Sounds…
Today we are continuing our Window Wisdom series, sponsored by Marvin Windows and Doors, by sharing our window buying guide. Last week we showed you how to evaluate the current state of your windows by performing a window audit,…
A few days ago, I spent some time touring a model condominium in downtown Kansas City while on assignment. Not only is the building a towering historic landmark (the tallest residential building in the Midwest, outside of Chicago) but…
Out kitchens can easily become cluttered with junk that we don’t really need. Specialty tools and gadgets that might work great for one particular task but take up precious space in your kitchen cabinets and on shelves. Our friend…
Now that the weather finally has begun to cooperate, we're back at our February project of refinishing our cast-iron and porcelain clawfoot tub. …
This post is brought to you from the miserable land of no A/C. Yep — after arriving home last night from the DeWALT tool launch (more on that soon), my husband confronted me with the bad news: our A/C…
Are you THAT type of landscaper? You know … the one who’s not just satisfied with a tidy, mowed yard, but who takes landscaping to the next level? With a new feature on John Deere’s Facebook page, you now…
As temperatures heat up, now is the perfect time to think about your yard’s irrigation. If you don’t already have a sprinkler system, you may want to consider one, especially if you plan on traveling. By having an automatic…
Now that your home’s landscaping is likely receiving adequate doses of sunlight and water, you may soon find yourself with some overgrown plants on your hands. And if you prefer that your yard not resemble a jungle, we’ve compiled…
We’ve been invited again this year to the DeWALT tools media event, and like last year when we were the first to see the DeWALT 12V MAX cordless tool system, we’ve been told they are introducing another new cordless…