Say it isn’t so! One of our favorite retailers, Lowe’s, is closing 20 of its U.S. locations and cutting about 2,000 jobs. This is a move to improve profitability and we hope it doesn’t get any worse for them.…
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Timothy Dahl
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks around here, but we’re finally ready to pull the cover off our new project, Built by Kids! We launched the site on Labor Day and the next day my wife Laura went…
Here are a few of our favorite projects that would be great to tackle this labor day weekend. Choose an indoor or outdoor project and go for it! 1. Paint Your Own Wall Mural 2. Build a Flower Window…
One of our favorite animated movies of all-time is “UP”, and central to the movie is the house that the old man decided to move with him as he went exploring. You can now see a real life version…
Have you ever wished there was a book to view the best homes of This Old House after the remodel? Well your prayers have been answered. Kevin O’Connor, the host of This Old House, takes us on a personal…
With the help of some great contributors we’ve covered some elements of nursery design and preparing for a baby as well as recycling a crib and tips for doing-it-yourself while pregnant. We’ve put a lot of these tips into…
We got tipped to a new product from DuPont that promises to eliminate the problem of weeds in our garden. Their WeedFree Premium landscape fabric supposedly provides a strong defense against weeds and helps promote healthy plants and shrubs.…
We’ve been using over the counter window spray cleaners for years. Some work better than others but many of them leave a lot to be desired. From running to streaks, cleaning windows isn’t always as easy as you’d think.…
I’ve often shared my love for my Ford F150 and apparently I’m not alone. I took a quick survey of fellow tool bloggers who were more than eager to share their trucks with me and how they felt about…
We are the proud owners of a new Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer from Lowe’s. We had them delivered and stacked, but the problem is, once stacked they become even heavier and more difficult to move. Fortunately the delivery…
For tool geeks it was cool to see the ubiquitous Milwaukee Sawzall make an appearance in the latest video from Jay-Z and Kanye West, Otis. The opener is ominous with both rappers walking towards a new Maybach, Kanye with…
Maybe dogs wouldn’t be so aggressive or bark so much if they could see what was beyond their fence? Well the pet peek could be the perfect solution. It looks easy to install and if you’ve got a curious…
Our friend Nick has a passion for music and wanted to incorporate this into the design of his new home. You can take his same concept and create your own wall mural using a design of your choice and…
“The rug really pulled the room together…man”, and with that the adventure began. One of our favorite films of all time, The Big Lebowski, begins in the Dude’s house, his bathroom to be exact and ends with his rug…
We’re big time coffee fans and need at least one cup (usually two) to help us get going in the morning. Nothing beats coffee from a French press of just grounded fresh roasted beans but sometimes we just don’t…
This has been an amazing summer for us. We’ve been putting in the miles with media trips across the country and mixing in a jaunt to Paris…for a babymoon. Yes, Laura and I are expecting a boy in September!…
Yesterday we had the pleasure of joining Milwaukee Tool at their media day in Milwaukee, WI. We joined a group of trade writers and tool bloggers that represented all of North America and Latin America. Milwaukee Tool definitely recognizes…
We’ve got a Poulan Pro chainsaw that works great and we’ve only used it for the occasional de-limbing job, so when I got my hands on the biggest and baddest chainsaw from Husqvarna last week I was stoked! This…
Husqvarna has been on my radar since grade school. Not the outdoor power equipment, but the motorcross bikes. Growing up in the Southwest, we all rode bikes or three-wheelers in the desert and the bike of choice was typically…
We’re wrapping up our Window Wisdom series with a short video presented by Steve Donovan from Taylor Brothers Architectural Products here in Los Angeles. They carry a wide selection of windows and doors, but it’s obvious that Steve really…
It’s here! The weekend that Angelenos have been dreading for months. CARMAGEDDON!!! Simply put, the 405 freeway will be closed for two days at 10-mile stretch between I-10 and the 101 to repair a damaged bridge. The run up…
This week we’re covering two great events that we didn’t want to miss this week. I’m spending two days at the Husqvarna Research and Development facility in Charlotte, NC, learning about their latest products and testing chainsaws, trimmers, blowers…
Coming home with a large bag of groceries and fumbling with keys to open a back door can be a frustrating experience, so can having your kids forget the keys but need to be let inside. These small frustrations…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
This week we’re introducing a 3-part series called Window Wisdom, sponsored by Marvin Windows and Doors, where we will take an in depth look at the world of windows. In our modern day, windows are often taken for granted…
Kwikset has taken notice of our home security blog and have asked us to join their Kwikset SmartSquad to help educate homeowners about effective and proactive steps to help maintain the safety of their home and family. We thought…
Last week we attended an amazing event by Lowes and Valspar Paint in New York City. They invited a small group of media to participate in a painting and design demonstration all hosted by celebrity designer and TV personality…
Container or pod storage has become a popular choice for temporary storage. You no longer have to rent a moving van and make multiple stops to a storage unit. You can now contact a service such as United Mayflower…
We’d like to give a big shout-out to Hometalk! They’ve been a great partner of Charles & Hudson this year and we wanted to share with you a bit more about what they offer . Hometalk is a place…
If you can’t afford a kitchen remodel but want to change the look of it, you have a few options in updating your space. The best part about these projects? Not only are they affordable, but they’re quick, so…
One our favorite events on the home design and remodeling tradeshow circuit is the National Hardware Show. Next week it kicks off in Vegas and organizers say this should be one of the biggest shows to date. They describe…
If you’re a true Matthew Gray Gubler fan you’ll know one of his favorite movies is Home Alone. Do you think he should buy this house and create his own house of horrors? We’re sure he could top what…
As a Housing major and a Design Studies minor, I was intimidated by the job market. I knew that Interior Design majors would have more to offer than I would. My job search started in November and I realized…
Porter-Cable is now offering a small angle metal grinder that also functions as a metal cutter. Other applications include cleaning and finishing surfaces and tuckpointing. Features The grinder has a powerful 6 amp motor that specs at 11,000 RPM.…
If you’re a fan of the DeWALT brand of power tools, we’ve got big news for you. DeWALT hand tools are now available and they haven’t just released a tape measure and wrench but they’ve identified more than 100…
As the popularity of impact drivers grows, so does the demand for products that fit a need and help solve a problem. Welcome the DeWALT Impact Clutch accessory holder. This DeWALT exclusive product is the first of its kind…
The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was great this year! Beyond seeing some unique products from the top manufacturers in the country, we spoke to a lot of designers and bloggers who provided us with some real insight…
The biggest three days in the kitchen and bath universe have started at the convention center in Las Vegas with the kickoff of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show which is known as KBIS. All the big brands are…
We’re headed to Las Vegas for the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (K/BIS) which is the largest kitchen and bath trade show in the country. There are enough sinks, cabinets and appliances to make your head spin. You can…
This year our intern, Lauren Chorpening of Iowa State University, had a unique opportunity to visit the Meredith office of ReadyMade in Des Moines, Iowa which isn’t far from her campus in Ames. She received a guide behind-the-scenes tour…
The seated mowers you see at your home center with two handles facing each other are zero-turn lawn mowers. The popularity of zero-turn mowers continues to rise as homeowners become more educated to how they function and how to…
The FBI has cataloged the areas of entry that burglars will target into a home. Take these statistics and protect your home accordingly. 81 percent of residential intrusions occur through the first floor. 34 percent of burglars entered through…
It’s the season to start thinking about your lawn and getting it back into shape for summer. It’s possible that weeds have taken root and infiltrated much of your yard. If you’re not high on chemicals and toxic weed…
It’s great to see new ventures in shelter publishing and when established print publisher Meredith announced they were joining up with digital magazine Lonny to create Trad Home, the design world took notice. After two splashy launch parties in…
We recently had the pleasure of attending a wedding party at Sandy Valley Ranch located 45 minutes from Las Vegas. You can play cowboy for a day like City Slickers but we really enjoy visiting all the animals. They’ve…
We ordered our MACE pepper spray gun last month and finally got around to testing it. Included in the package is the gun, one canister of pepper spray, and one canister of water loaded for testing. The gun feels…
The spring season brings on a transition for many people. More families move in the spring than any other season and in May, many college students move from their school time residences to back home. Packing up everything you…
Our intern this year, Lauren, is a design student at Iowa State University and she’s done a tremendous job working with us to improve and grow all facets of Charles & Hudson. Lauren lives in student housing (dorms) like…
We received a request last week to take a look at a new product in work safety and we’re glad we did. We feel these Combo Glasses that combine sight and hearing protection in one product will hopefully become…
Home security camera systems don’t have to be outside your budget. For $300 you can pick up this system from Logitech that is easy to setup and provides many of the features you’d find on a security system many…
Wood butcher block countertops have become a popular choice in kitchen countertops. They give any kitchen a rustic farmhouse look but can also be gussied up with the right hardware to be modern and hip. The problem with any…
Spring has officially arrived and it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll care for your lawn. Should you stick with your loud and dirty gas-powered mower or would you considered a cleaner alternative? This weeks Giveaway is a…
Stud sensors are a bit of modern day magic that don’t cost much and make a world of difference in time and accuracy. Gone are the days of counting inches from studs on center or tapping against walls to…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The non-lethal personal protection industry continues to grow and Mace remains at the forefront of delivering interesting and effective products. Recently Mace has taken gun form factor and turned it into a simple delivery method for pepper spray in…
Cabinets are a large part of any kitchen renovation and make up a good portion of the budget. That means when you’re opting for a green reno, getting eco friendly cabinets scores big in the environmental department. What Is…
A lawn tractor can be a handy tool to keep your yard looking great. As with any tool, you must respect its power and use caution during operation. For lawn tractors, these precautions are especially critical if children are…
As the saying goes “you need the right tool for the job” and that not only includes the actual tools you use, but also applies to your clothing. This week we’re teaming up with Toughweld Workwear who are offering…
Milwaukee Tools is well known for their line of ubiquitous power tools including the SAWZALL, drills and fasteners, but they are quickly making a name for themselves in the hand tool market. Hits: Feels great in your hand and…
This easy to apply kitchen cabinet refinishing solution from Rust-Oleum will save you time and money and give you fresh looking cabinets to last for years.…
A broken heater or bad insulation can lead to the uncomfortable situation of living in a cold house. If you’re fairly certain your windows and doors are completely shut and air-tight you’ll then need to inspect your home heating…
Our tour of the John Deere manufacturing facility in Augusta, GA was amazing and testing the latest tractors and riding mowers was definitely the highlight. Our photos and videos from the event have been getting a lot of attention…