We use a staple gun more often than we realize and we have a vintage steel stapler that still works to this day. But it’s limited in what size staples it can use and doesn’t quite have the punch…
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Design
Last year after a lengthy search we acquired a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300D turbo diesel. We found the color combination we wanted with low miles and great interior. Even though the car is a bold red, Laura felt it needed…
We are always looking for ways to bump up the curb appeal of our home and when Clopay approached us about sharing some interesting new products that do just that, we had to take a look. But first we…
Today DeWALT tools has introduced an expanded lineup of tools including a revolutionary new technology for power tools, brushless motors. The brushless motor will be introduced with DeWALT’s new cordless impact driver and will ship in April. There are…
We were all puzzled when Domino magazine closed three years ago. They kept the online archives available through Brides.com but that was just awkward and we were stuck with the loss of another beloved shelter title. We just got…
We’re starting February with an awesome giveaway from The Hectic Gourmet which is an epicurean cooking supply store that carries your favorite brands such as Le Creuset, Calphalon, Cuisinart, Wusthof and more. This week The Hectic Gourmet is offering…
Smart home security systems are awesome but they usually cost a ton of money for the equipment as well as the labor to install them. VueZone has created a system that you can monitor from your smart phone and…
With a new baby in the house and a need to have our home thoroughly clean, we started from the ground up. We’ve got hardwood floors and use carpets throughout our home. We’ve rented the Rug-Doctor cleaners which worked…
A couple months ago we shared the news on a new contest sponsored by IKEA called Rescue Remodel. You can nominate your favorite fire house and the winner gets a $25,000 kitchen remodel from IKEA. Well the nominations are…
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock you have heard the news that this is the year that the government has mandated we begin changing over to the new energy efficient lightbulbs such as CFL’s and LED’s. The cost…
Here’s an innovation in kitchen appliances we haven’t seen before. The new Kenmore Grab-N-Go fridge has a door within a door feature that lets you open a smaller area of the refrigerator to access items used more often such…
For basic woodworking projects around the home a jigsaw is indispensable. It takes up little space and is fairly safe and easy to work with. We’ve been using a Black & Decker model for years and it’s held up…
…anything we want it to be! Seriously. It’s just after midnight and I’ve been reflecting on how incredible 2011 was for me and my family. I really have so much to be grateful for. I want to give thanks…
One of our highlights this year was attending a media event sponsored by Lowe’s and Valspar and hosted by Nate Berkus. It was a very intimate setting and only about fifteen of us were invited and Nate spent the…
If you are still dreading sending out Christmas cards because you hate doing labels, then check out the LabelWriter 450 Turbo from Dymo. It’s super easy to use and it will even print out postage which will save you…
You’ve heard the term “casing the joint” which is slang for checking out a building, bank, home before robbing it. Criminals and petty thieves will do this to mitigate their risk, junkies and kids who are up to no…
Creating a perfectly functional workspace can take some time. It all starts with the desk, which provides the surface and space you need to be productive and/or creative. If you’re like me, you might keep a notepad nearby to…
Earlier this year we visited Husqvarna and they were working on some top secret battery powered chainsaws. Well it looks like Stihl has beat them to the punch and launched the first real entry into the battery powered chainsaw…
We recently received this reader question and hope some of our readers can help. Any direction you can send me to make heads or tails of quotes for new natural gas boiler installation? Munchkin or Buderus? 95% efficiency vs.…
Rockwell is offering some Black Friday deals on some of their most popular products and you can shop them from the comfort of your home with these online discounts. Black Friday deals include: Rockwell BladeRunner, $159.00, plus free shipping…
Home Depot hasn’t released all of their Black Friday deals yet but through Nov. 28 they will have deals available on select appliances. We will update this page with all of the Home Depot Black Friday sales once they…
Lowe’s motto is “never stop improving”, which we think is a great choice of words as it doesn’t necessarily mention the home or remodeling. We’ve found that what Lowe’s really wants to do is help you improve your quality…
It happens to the best of us — we go to hang our holiday lights only to find that they no longer work. Trying to find the burned-out bulb or shorted fuse is time consuming and frustrating, and often…
Last year I spoke on the design blog panel at the Kitchen and Bath Show in Las Vegas. I joined a couple of my good friends including Chris Phillips of Apartment Therapy, Susan Serra and Megan Arquette. KBIS is…
Turkey Day is almost upon us (hurray!) And with so much activity in the kitchen, now is a great time to review some safety tips to make sure you have an injury- and crisis-free holiday. After all, you have…
We’ve been asked by IKEA and The Family Handyman to help spread the word on a great contest that will benefit the hardworking men and women of your local firehouse. This summer we had the pleasure of visiting our…
So you’ve moved into a new home. It’s pristine, it’s perfect — it’s the home of your dreams, right? Not exactly–at least, not for the six homeowners featured in a “6 Creepiest Things Discovered By New Homeowners” round-up published…
Your eyes do not deceive you — in fact, they should be wide and sparkly right about now. Pantone, infamous for their color swatches and identification, has come out with their own line of paints matchable to any Pantone…
There is a new bad-ass line of power tools on the way from Milwaukee Tool. The M18 FUEL line is an extreme-performance cordless power tool line that we had a chance to test this summer at the Milwaukee symposium.…
If you’re seeking artisan cabinet hardware you need look no further than The Home Depot where Liberty Hardware will be debuting their special line created by a glass artist from Michigan and a blacksmith from North Carolina. Tomorrow November…
You’ve assembled your tools and materials and are ready to get started on your latest DIY project. Here’s the catch — do you need a permit? Having one not only ensures you’ve gone through the proper channels–it also provides…
Restaurants are great places in which to get bursts of inspiration for your own kitchen. You may not necessarily replicate the inventive idea, but maybe it sparks another project that adds a similar functionality or aesthetic to your own…
When we moved into our first house a month before the holidays, we were overjoyed to later receive gracious amounts of basic (and not-so-basic) tools and accessories from our famliy to help with our renovation plans. And while those…
This weekend we turn our clocks back an hour in observance of daylight saving time (unless you live in Arizona). It’s also a great reminder to check your smoke detector battery. Every smoke detector has a test button. Simply…
Anyone who’s caught the first season of The Walking Dead on AMC knows that the CDC played a vital role in handling the zombie pandemic of which the heroes of the story are trying to survive. The show is…
It’s finally happened. The green building movement now has a retailer to call its own, Treehouse. Treehouse opened last week in Austin, TX and is the country’s first home improvement center that will sell only sustainable and healthy-living products.…
We’re always on the lookout for new products — and when they’re eco-friendly, we consider that a bonus. So when we stumbled across Green Planet Paints, we were intrigued by the claim on their website. Green Planet Paints are…
Protective gloves are one of the best investments for a do-it-yourselfer. They not only protect you from cuts and scrapes but also from damage due to chemicals as well as simply keep your hands clean so at the end…
If you haven’t already stored your lawnmower for the season, you’re likely preparing to say farewell to this weekly chore until warmer temperatures return. Before you stash your mower, there are several things you can do to help keep…
As we head into the weekend for Halloween, now’s the time to make sure your house is fully decked out for any spooky festivities. And for those of you on the East Coast, you’ll likely want to find some…
Colder months typically bring increased concerns about energy costs, which can vary widely depending on your heating source. The good news? There are two small things you can do to help prevent energy leaks, meaning you’ll rack up noticeable…
Built by Kids is running a pumpkin decorating contest and the top prize is a $100 gift card to Lowe’s and a $25 gift card to the runner-up. All you have to do is post your decorated pumpkin to…
During colder months, and especially throughout the holidays, your kitchen will likely see much more traffic and activity as you prepare meals and host guests. If your kitchen is in need of a little pre-holiday update, don’t worry —…
When we say a $6,500 toilet, we’re talking specifically about Kohler’s Numi toilet. And you’re probably shaking your head in disbelief as you read the title of this post, right? But stay with us. We’re not necessarily advocating a…
While enjoying the sojourn into Amish country, we were introduced to the completely redesigned line of Genie products, and to be completely honest, I could not be more impressed with the attention to detail paid to these new garage…
October is Fire Prevention Month, and organizations like the American Red Cross are distributing information to help people lessen the fire risks within their homes. As the temperatures start to drop, many turn to space heaters to provide additional…
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.…
Believe it or not, the holidays ARE right around the corner, which means so are many a gathering of friends, family, food, and events that call for gifting. Whether you’re hosting a major fete in the upcoming months or…
You’re probably scowling at me because I mentioned the holidays, but the truth is that they’ll be here before we know it. And if you’re expecting family and friends to drop by, now is the time to tackle DIY…
Today I’ll be heading out to Berlin, Ohio to The Genie Company headquarters for their Genie Blogger Summit, and there are hashtags and Twitter handles galore for you to follow along on this adventure into Amish country. If you’ve…
If you live in an older home, it’s likely that you have wood trim in at least one (or all) rooms of your house. We’ve talked before about the pros and cons of painting wood. For purists, painting older…
We here at Charles & Hudson are always looking for ways to be as green as possible in our everyday choices, as well as be as economical as possible too. So when it was time to replace our old…
It’s confession time, C&H readers. When I was younger, I used to unabashedly decorate my bedroom walls using posters pulled from magazines and Scotch tape. Lots and lots of tape. I may or may not have drawn a few…
Due to the housing market of recent years, many people are finding themselves in a pickle when trying to move — either they can’t sell their house, owe more on it than it’s worth, have out-priced themselves with renovations,…
Since shelter magazines took quite a blow courtesy of a rocky economy, we love that a number of digital home magazines continue to launch. Sure, we miss the tactile experience of reading a magazine like Domino or Blueprint, but…
Last week, I had the great fortune of traveling to New York City for the debut of Lowe’s expanded Kobalt Tools line. Although the home improvement giant has offered Kobalt tools for years (Kobalt started in 1998 as a…
Now that it’s officially autumn and fall projects are finishing up as the cooler weather sits in, it’s time for a reality check. Before you know it, winter and the holiday season will be upon us once again, and…
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…
I’m sure we all have similar memories growing up of standing with our backs straight against a wall while our parents marked our height with our names and the date, creating a timeline of childhood growth. While these places…
Alright, Charles and Hudson readers, I need your sage advice. I have an issue with my two upstairs bedroom light junction boxes and I’m hoping you can help me out. See it? See how the junction boxes literally hang…
In addition to installing smoke alarms throughout your home, you may opt to keep a couple of fire extinguishers on hand in case of an emergency. Yet fire extinguishers, like most other things in your home, need to be…
Litehouse Living is a completely green venture hoping to bring eco-friendly living to a rejuvenated industrial setting. …
File this one under “simply amazing.” Artist Jonathan Brechignac has undertaken an incredibly ambitious project. He’s spent more than a year creating carpet for his home using a Biro pencil. That’s right — a pencil! I learned about the…
Last month while enjoying the exploits of the Tool Race we also had a chance to tour through the Columbus Idea Foundry, the host of not only the race, but the birthplace of many of the modified tools that…
While perusing our local Home Depot for some fall project items, we found ourselves eyeballing the countertop selection. We’re not really in the market for a new countertop, but we like to keep tabs on what’s available through the…
One of our favorite Swedish retailers, IKEA, has reccently launched a new program called IKEA Family, a free membership loyalty program with a good deal of benefits for cardholders. During our family’s end-of-summer sojourn to the great big blue…
When it comes to winterizing and weatherproofing, some simple materials can make a big difference in your home’s interior temperature — and help you conserve energy, too. Maybe you have drafty windows and can’t afford to replace them. Or,…
2011 is slowly winding down (eeeekkk!!), so that means we’ll start to see more trend forecasts emerge for 2012. If you’re considering a flooring purchase within the next several months, we’ve got a sneak peek at next year’s flooring…
As rising energy costs continue to put strain on homeowner budgets (especially as we head into cooler months), saving energy is not only a great idea for the planet — it will help you save money, too. Luckily, saving…
Here at Charles & Hudson, we’re always looking out for the best ways to maximize the space you have in creative and inventive ways. So imagine our delight when we stumbled upon this little marvel — it’s a dishwasher…
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…
In July, I received the chance of a lifetime and joined fellow DIY/shelter bloggers for a design challenge sponsored by Shaw Floors. Our task was simple: Build a room from the floor up. And because we were hosted by…
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 fall quickly approaching, you may have the urge to change something in your home. Personally, I find myself spending more time on decorating, de-cluttering and organizing my abode in the weeks before winter, almost as if I’m preparing…
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…
This past weekend we had the absolute joy of attending the Third Annual Ohio Tool Racing Championships in Columbus, Ohio, and we could not have been more impressed. Run out of the Columbus Idea Foundry, the concept is that…
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.…
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…