The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity recently announced the national expansion of Partners in Sustainable Building (PSB), a five-year $30 million green building initiative that will help incorporate sustainable building practices in 5,000 green homes nationwide. More…
All Posts By
Timothy Dahl
Paint can last for years if the top of the can has not been opened. Many times paint will outlast the life of a can if it has been rusted. You also need to be careful if you shake…
After seeing the tragic fire in San Bruno, CA this evening we first prayed for the families and people involved but also hope they have updated their fire insurance policies. Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover losses from fire…
Tomorrow is the final race (Richmond) of the regular NASCAR season before the Chase for the Cup begins. We thought we’d have a little fun and lineup some of the big guy sponsors in the home improvement world and…
We recently had the good fortune to spend a few hours with Andrew Wagner the new editor-in-chief of ReadyMade magazine (formerly of Dwell and American Craft). He’s actually been on the job for a few months now and we’ve…
If you’re seeking a top-notch cordless drill for a reduced price, check out the Craftsman C3 19.2V cordless drill (model 11910). It’s been replaced this fall by a newer model but can still be found for a ridiculously lower…
Well, I’ve always wanted an underground lair. Luckily, I’ve found one that looks more pastoral than evil and gloomy. Made of concrete and earth, this Swiss estate is a cluster of grass-blanketed houses encircling a pretty little lake. According…
Whole house water filters have become necessary for some homeowners due to tap water that just isn’t on par with what the utility companies promise. Tap water that is clean, doesn’t smell and is drinkable is what we expect…
The Eames House is one of the hidden gems of Los Angeles and located just off the PCH in Pacific Palisades, California. Completed in 1949, some believe the Eames House has yet to be equaled in modern architecture. The…
Tryouts are over and HGTV has selected 20 finalists to be their new show All American Handyman. 20 Americans from across the country have nailed the chance to be crowned the “handiest of them all” in the new HGTV…
If you’re staying home this holiday weekend and tackling some paint projects you’re in luck. A few retailers and paint manufacturers are offering some Labor Day deals and discounts on paint. Behr is offering $5 off 1 gallon and…
In 2008 author and architect Sarah Susanka published The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live and this year her follow up Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really…
There are bound to be some home improvement projects that won’t fit into your skill set. They may not even fit into your best friend or neighbor’s skill set. And that means you’ll need to hire somebody else. This…
I share about 600 square feet and very little storage with my boyfriend. It’s no wonder that I am on a constant quest for squeezing the most out of our small space. This Old House did a great revamp…
While we were in New Orleans participating in the Fifty for Five event, we took an opportunity to explore the Reuse District in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. Scattered around abandoned shipyards and warehouses you’ll find numerous salvage…
Who knew our President was such a designophile? The Oval Office has undergone an extreme makeover. Some of the updates include new carpeting, wallpaper and sofas. However, the resolute desk and painting of Washington over the fireplace stayed put.…
It’s important to us that we contribute to our time to help homeowners in need. We had a great experience last year volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, so when we received the invitation from Sears to participate in Fifty…
We’re here in New Orleans courtesy of Sears. They’ve invited Charles & Hudson to volunteer and participate in the Fifty for Five event (sponsored by Sears) on the 5th anniversary of hurricane Katrina and it’s been an amazing experience.…
Cork is cool, no doubt about it. This tree is actually planted not to be cut down, but to be kept healthy for decades, providing a harvest of valuable bark for the building industry. Cork tree farms are found…
Folks that live the trailer lifestyle know all about how to maximize a small space, and the manufacturers of these trailers have got small space design engineering down to a science. To be clear we’re not talking about RV’s…
There comes a point where your kitchen will just look tired. Trust me – you’ll know when that is. But the good news is that a full kitchen remodel is not entirely necessary. Look to your kitchen cabinets first.…
This is our biggest Giveaway to date and we’re running it through labor day so you’ve got plenty of time to enter as well as tell all your friends and family (we’ll tell you why later). Crestview Doors is…
VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) are carbon based compounds that readily vaporize into the air and as they enter the air they produce ozone which causes indoor air pollution and can lead to many nasty health issues including nausea, headaches,…
USG’s Ultralight Drywall promises to be a revolutionary product for the remodeling/building industry. At 30% lighter than standard 1/2″ drywall, their Sheetrock Ultralight Drywall panels have overnight lessened the burden for contractors and installers around the world. What’s amazing…
Summer is far from over. But as the sun sets a little earlier each day, bonfires are starting to take center stage on the schedule. You don’t need to head for the beach or campground to host a bonfire.…
If you love searching for coupons, deals and discounts then you’ll love Groupon even more. By signing up you could receive coupons for deals from Ace Hardware and many other home improvement retailers. We recently discovered Groupon which has…
DeWALT tools have built a reputation for being tough on the jobsite but they’ve also become very popular among the DIY and remodeling crowd. Easily available at all major retailers, DeWALT has recently expanded their power tool lineup to…
Blog cabin seems to be one of the most popular shows on the DIY Network and we receive a lot of inquiries from our community looking for more information about the show. Here’s the premise of Blog Cabin according…
Do you have a masonry restoration project and are looking for a unique exterior or interior finish for your home that’s naturally beautiful? Put aside that wood siding or hand-cut stone and opt for the smooth finish of Natural…
Last week we spent a day at Delta Faucet headquarters as they shared their latest designs and the innovative technology behind their products. At the end of the day they presented us with a complimentary Delta Raincan Showerhead and…
We’ve been invited to participate in Fifty for Five in New Orleans this year and we literally can’t wait to tie-on our tool belt and start working. Rebuilding Together made a pledge to rehabilitate 1,000 homes in the Gulf…
When you’re installing new windows, Low-Emissivity (or Low-E for short) styles are almost standard. They will cost you somewhere around 10 to 15% more than traditional windows, but you can count on shaving 30 to 50% off your energy…
Bespoke is a term not generally used in the US but it’s gaining in popularity as Americans are always looking for new ways to infuse a sense of class and exclusiveness into a product.…
Why do people paint over wallpaper? We’d guess they’re just plain lazy because no one in their right mind who cares about the presentation of their wall would ever choose to paint over wallpaper, but we can agree that…
Ipe wood decking came on the scene quickly and it seemed the whole world went wild. Once consumers get a feel for it, the hype didn’t let up and now demand for Ipe wood decking is fierce. A fairly…
Craftsman continues to expand and improve their power tool line-up by offering durable and affordable tools that anyone can use. We’ll continue to update this page with all of our Craftsman power tool reviews so if you’re a Craftsman…
Bed bugs are becoming more of a nuisance in New York City and elsewhere around the country. You can be your own bed bug exterminator if you’ve already confirmed that you have bed bugs (bites, seeing bugs or droppings).…
Your neighbors are the best source of home security possible and organizing them helps everyone out. Neighborhood Watch programs are the best place to start and they’ve got some great ideas for how to build your own neighborhood watch…
Gracious Home was a New York institution long before Home Depot and Bed, Bath and Beyond arrived. In fact they were established in 1963 originally as a hardware store. Last week they filed for bankruptcy and time will tell…
Fans of Mad Men hollywood interiors can now bid on pieces from the set and its all going for a great cause. This charity auction on eBay benefits the City of Hope cancer hospital. Leading the list of auction…
Yes, being around faucets all day can be fun (at least for one day) as the folks at Delta Faucet Co. proved to myself, assistant editor Katy Ryan and roughly 15 other new media outlets covering home improvement and…
Crown molding is totally impressive. The look of a room can be completely transformed with just this one addition. But is crown molding a possibility on rooms boasting a cathedral ceiling? And if so, is it even worth the…
We’ve been invited to attend Delta Faucet’s media event so this week we’re traveling to Indianapolis to check out the latest from the Delta Faucet Company and receive a thorough rundown of new products from Delta Faucet which also…
Is there anything more refreshing than jumping into your own green swimming pool? No, not a pool filled with algae. That would be gross. A green swimming pool is one that has minimal effects on the environment and actually…
It’s hard to turn on the oven when it’s sweltering inside and out. I’ve been eating lots of take-out and sandwiches because I can’t bear to roast in my apartment. As the hottest month of the summer heats up,…
Our Giveaway this week is courtesy of Craftsman and it’s a hot one! You must be on Twitter to be eligible and believe us, this giveaway is worth the two seconds it takes to sign-up. We will also notify…
One of the most impressive tools we saw at the recent DeWALT 12V MAX product launch was their 1/4″ Screwdriver Kit. This cordless powerhouse feels durable enough for the jobsite but would also fit great in the hand of…
If you’re hauling plywood or drywall in the back of your pickup or open trailer, it’s best if the materials stay dry and out of the elements. This can be a problem living in the Pacific Northwest or somewhere…
Isn’t it a pain (sometimes literally) when reaching above for dishes or glasses? You may also find yourself stretching up and working your fingers out just to barely nudge at the cake plate waaaaay up high? What about the…
Sometimes a renovated kitchen doesn’t have to mean breaking down walls and relocating to a different spot in the house. When I spotted this kitchen reno on CasaSugar I thought it was a great example of smart, small changes…
It’s essential. We all need to store our stuff, from books to clothing, kitchen paraphernalia and, of course, our tools. Building a dedicated and organized storage system in each room will help you to de-clutter your life. But before…
Whenever I am visiting my family at home, my mother has the same complaint about her house: the wood floors. She’d love to refinish them but with an elderly dog, other projects to tackle and a limited budget, it’s…
Contemporary design is hot, no doubt about it. And many modern designs are slim, subtle and sustainable. But when I looked at this award-winning design from Kristin Laass and Norman Ebelt, I began to wonder. Does having a sustainable…
The dog days of summer are awesome. Warm weather and sunshine get you out into the yard and tackling those home projects. But there is a certain area of the house that needs your attention now, before the warm…
Do you have strong feelings in regards to your kitchen or bath design but don’t have the budget to work with a professional designer? Or do you just know what you like when you see it but don’t have…
What goes better than plants and green building? Well, nothing, really. So how about building a green roof on that potting shed, creating a miniature garden? Having a green roof does not mean you’ll have additional square footage to…
The worlds strongest redneck turns a mower into an edger.…
We like to say that Etsy is at the center of the handmade universe which was confirmed after getting a behind-the-scenes tour of their office in Brooklyn, NY. They truly celebrate their sellers as nearly 100% of their furniture…
Maybe you have an older home with a crumbling facade. Or it could be that the mason on your newly built dream home was looking forward to the weekend instead of paying attention. There’s a multitude of reasons why…
I’m a big fan of durability. If you take the time to choose a product, fork out the cash for it and then fall in love using it (or in this case walking on it), that product better be…
Oh, the microwave! Since the early 1970s (or 1980s, if you grew up in my home) most homes had a microwave that many parents grew to love. Known for its speedy cooking and zapping ability to quickly reheat within…
Mosaic tiles are found in many different sizes, materials, colors and textures. In this NYC bathroom, the mosaic used here is a beautiful ocean hued matte stone finish. What impressed me was the notion to keep it SIMPLE, people!…
With August around the corner, temperatures are scorching throughout the country. Just this month New York City, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. broke records on the east coast. National heat waves are not only wrecking havoc on power grids and…
That’s right. Paper. They really have figured out a way to recycle everything for kitchen surfaces. PaperStone products are FSC-certified and made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Sound crazy? Here’s how it works: “Made from recycled paper that has…
5 Ways to Help Decide on Paint Color Clean a Paintbrush in 10 Seconds Easy Way to Test for Lead Paint Use Paint to Seal Swollen Doors 5 More House Painting Tips…
Being a designer, I am always so intrigued by kitchens and baths when I am traveling or visiting homes. On my latest Manhattan vacation, I was lucky enough to stay with friends in their beautiful Upper East Side condo,…
I have trouble believing that there is anyone that would actually want to do this, but I digress. Lawn mowing can be an art form. For those of you inclined to challenge yourself the next time you’re looking for…
Milwaukee Tools is on a tear and recently introduced a ton of new products as well as refreshed a few from their current lineup. Yesterday they held a media event to introduce some of these tools as well as…
We’re giddy about the recent announcement by WGBH of a new show called Rough Cut with Tommy Mac that takes you through the process of building wood pieces many of which come from “rough” lumber that hasn’t been pre-cut…
Could you go two weeks without a toilet? That’s what many New Yorkers face when renovating their apartments and I’m sure you can feel their pain when your kitchen is wrapped or your hallways are torn up. We noticed…
There’s a battle brewing over the use of luxurious high-flow shower heads. Some of these high-end showerheads cost upwards of $5,000 or more and emit as much as 12 gallons of water a minute, essentially and bringing a down…
This is one way to solve a housing crisis. Using discarded tires and bottles to create walls of a home. Architect Michael Reynolds has applied this green building construction technique to more than 1,000 homes and thinks it will…
Gone are the days when appliances, such as hot water heaters, are tucked away in deep dark closets. There are a bevy of manufacturers who are responding to better designed products (inspired by European manufacturers who have less room…
Have you ever perused Craigslist or a realtor’s website and immediately got turned off by a poorly snapped photo? My boyfriend is very guilty of this. I tend to pay more attention to words that images (“But honey, it…
This week Milwaukee Tools is announcing some new tools but before we get to that we wanted to share a section of their website we found almost as interesting. We already know that tool tattoos are extremely popular and…
I recently read an article on Treehugger about the successful completion of a passive house in the south. A passive house you say? What the heck is that? Passive homes are built without a furnace. They rely on insulation and…
Over on our green building site we’ve been sharing a great series from our blogger Tabatha on Going Green, Simple and Cheap. This series offers green tips that are easy to do and cost little or nothing for almost…
New York City apartment dwellers are facing a quandary. The city is aggressively going after landlords who allow temporary walls built that aren’t to code (most aren’t). This problem stems from a fatal 2005 fire and the city’s drive…
We just returned from a visit to the handmade center of the universe, Etsy. They recently moved to a fabulous location in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn and built out their own space in a large warehouse loft. In…
Organization is all the rage. From the boardroom to the bathroom, it’s obvious that being organized makes for more productivity. How about taking that same philosophy and applying it to your household recycling? That doesn’t mean you’ll need to…