- Remodelista | Tue, Dec 25, 2012 3:30 AM EST | Comments
I've been renting my flat in San Francisco for a few years now, and ever since I moved in, I've been bothered (make that incensed) by the cabinet hardware in the kitchen. The real dilemma? Twenty-four cabinets, combined with an obsessive love for leather pulls priced at $20 each (do the math and that's a $480 investment). The good news is that I figured out a way to get the cabinet pulls of my dreams and still have enough money to eat lunch.
Want to give it a try? See my DIY video for step-by-step instructions (you'll need to source the materials outlined below).
Above: The finished product, inspired by a sophisticated pull spotted on Remodelista.
Here's What You Need:
• Vegetable-tanned Leather Hide, $20 on Etsy (a single hide yields 30 cabinet pulls).
• Matte Behr Interior Paint in white; $11.23 at Home Depot.
• Nuts and Carriage Bolts; $5.44 for a pack of 20 at Home Depot.
• General Tool 818 Scratch Awl; $6.60 at Amazon.
• Paint Brushes; $1.15 each at Home Depot.
N.B. I
...Read More » I've been having a moment with leather laces, using them in all sorts of ways: as Christmas present ties, napkin rings, drawer pulls, and now the latest iteration, shower curtain rings.
I am forever tinkering with my home, making small edits along the way; since my guest bath is almost entirely white (tiles, walls, fixtures), I added texture and a bit of color to the space by replacing the standard chrome curtain rings with leather ties.
Above: You can source leather laces at your local hardware store, or order online (Tandy Rawhide Lace is $19.99 for a 20-yard spool at Amazon). Since the shower is rarely used, I haven't run into any problems with leather dye running onto the shower curtain, but I would probably not use the ties in a heavily used shower. I replaced the standard rings with 16-inch lengths of leather cord, knotted together.
Above: Source a Sturdy Duck Shower Curtain ($36.99) from Amazon.
N.B.: As part of our Remodelista Exclusives week, this post is a rerun and o
...Read More »- Freshome | Mon, Dec 17, 2012 11:21 AM EST | Comments
modern renovation (3)
This project was a full renovation and addition to a lovely older five bedroom home located in Rosedale, one of Toronto’s most prestigious neighborhoods (in Canada). The addition was needed to extend and open up the kitchen and family room at the back of the house and also to allow for a more gracious master suite above. McGill Design Group was put to task transforming the previously dark and splintered layout by putting together an architectural plan that would speak to the home’s stately demeanor.
modern renovation (1)
Once a new configuration was in place, the addition of beautiful full height paneling and plaster crown molding helped layer in the traditional architectural details that had been lost in previous renovations to the home. Plum Furniture and Design Solutions decorated the main floor to give it a fresh and colorful feel to match the new open and light filled space. The owners of the home were empty nesters who, instead of downsizing decided to up-size to their dream home after their kids we
...Read More » Does your kitchen need a little something to pull it together or to make it pop? An updated backsplash can completely change the look of your kitchen, giving the impression of a full remodel without all the work. Thoughtful backsplash selection and careful installation make all the difference. What can you do to guarantee that your new backsplash serves its purpose both functionally and aesthetically?
DO think about cleaning.
While I love my stainless steel appliances, they aren't very easy to keep clean with three young children in the house. The same would be true of a metal backsplash, so I wouldn't consider one. Think about what will look well, as well as what you can maintain, when selecting a new kitchen backsplash.
DO consider your counter tops and kitchen cabinets.
It's easy to find a tile, stone, brick, or stainless steel backsplash you'll love. It's harder to find one that will mesh well with the overall appearance of your kitchen and the existing fixtures.
...Read More »Even if you are not thinking of selling your home next year, it never hurts to pick home improvement projects that add value to the property. With real estate prices still in flux, value-adding projects make more sense than pleasure projects that may actually take away from the home's overall worth. So what are some of the top home improvement projects that also add value to your home?
Interior Paint Upgrade: 250% Return on Investment (ROI)
A can of paint does not cost much more than about $30. Yet Kiplinger reports that a home with freshly painted walls provides home sellers with a hefty ROI. If money is tight, make this your one top project for next year. Of course, take care not to go overboard with outlandish color schemes that are unlikely to net you a sizable return.
Steel Front Door Upgrade: 129% ROI
A steel front door is an upgrade homebuyers look for. It adds not only safety but also a lot of curb appeal to your home's facade. Old-fashioned steel is still th
...Read More »- Inman News | Tue, Dec 18, 2012 7:00 PM EST | Comments
Q: Our 1932 San Francisco home has gorgeous original oak floors. Most are in lovely condition, but the back foyer where a staircase, five doorways and a long hall converge is getting worn.
A section about 1 by 2 feet looks dusty and gray but won't clean up, and it feels rough whereas the rest of the floor feels smooth. This is surprising, as it is in a corner where feet don't go and is not in the light. The floor also has a spot that squeaks loudly.
Should the foyer be waxed to protect the floor from traffic? Can the "dusty" part be repaired with some sort of coating by do-it-yourselfers?
Also, how can we stop the squeaks without using nails, as we are afraid they might split or otherwise deface the beautiful old wood?
By the way, we are the people who had the sticky deck about a year ago. Your advice worked great.
A: Good questions all. The condition of the back foyer floor, compared to the rest of the floors in the house, tells us it's time for refinishing. This is a job
...Read More » After
living in our home for almost 11 years, our chief complaint was that we only had two options when entering our house: the front door and the garage. With three children and many bicycles, ATVs, and sporting equipment, navigating our garage was an "enter at your own risk" undertaking. Likewise, we were sick of our children kicking off shoes and dropping backpacks in our front hallway. On one side of our garage was an unused fifth bedroom , too small for guests, that we decided would provide a perfect side entranceway into our home. With two months off between job changes, it was the ideal project for my husband and I to tackle with the help of some outside professionals. Here's how we did it.
Opening a new entrance
The first task at hand was to cut an opening to the outside. By pulling back the siding from an existing window it was easy to remove the window from the framing. The width of the window matched the width of an external door. By cutting through the studs to the e
...Read More »- No matter which holidays you celebrate this season, it's likely that food is a highlight of the festivities. Family and friends love to gather around the table to chow down on their favorite holiday dishes.
Edible centerpieces suggest a bountiful harvest. (All photos from Shutterstock.)
Make your dining table the center of your celebration with these festive DIY centerpieces. Put them together yourself before your guests arrive, or get them involved and start a new holiday tradition. The combination of a delicious meal and festive décor is a surefire way to make holiday memories around the dinner table.
Use ornaments in new ways. Instead of hanging all those ornaments on your Christmas tree, save a few for the table. Combine ornaments in your favorite holiday colors in a decorative bowl and place in the center of the table. If you don't have decorative dishware, try a wicker basket or even an every-day serving bowl. The shiny ornaments will immediately dress it up.
For a more modern look, choose ornaments in one color to dress up the table. Stack them in a clear bo
...Read More » - Cooking isn't the only way to unleash your creativity in the kitchen: Use the backsplash as your canvas.
These tiles are stainless-steel-wrapped porcelain. Click the photo to go to a slideshow. (Photo credit: Diamond …
You can play it safe with simple, chic, economical white subway tiles, or you can install colorful mosaics that are true works of art. Or experiment with nontraditional materials like pure copper, solid bronze chunks, shimmering goldleaf -- that's right, real gold -- or even petrified wood.
We've put together a slideshow to inspire you, and we made sure to throw in some budget options for the pragmatists out there. But don't forget that you can splurge on even the most fabulously expensive materials if you use them as accents within a larger field of cheaper tile rather than covering a whole wall.
Click the photo above to go to our slideshow of 25 amazing backsplashes. Feeling inspired? Our latest "D-I-Why Not?" episode shows you how simple it is to install your own glass tile backsplash:
See more kitchen ideas in the Project Center and the Design Center:
...Read More » - [Correction: An earlier version of this article carried the wrong byline. It was written by Ilyce R. Glink.]
Remodeling your kitchen is one of the best ways to make your home more beautiful and your life easier, but it's also a great way to drain your wallet. Kitchen remodels are some of the most expensive and disruptive to daily life in your home.
But you can still do a lot with a little if you know how to spend it right. Even if you've got just $500 to spend, there are plenty of options for you to make your kitchen nicer, brighter and better.
Walls
Painting the walls of your kitchen may be the most inexpensive fix you can choose. Kitchen walls are more easily worn and stained thanks to all the food preparation that goes on in the kitchen, so even if your walls aren't dated or bare, a new coat of paint can go a long way in making your kitchen look fresh and revitalized.
Cabinetry
"The first thing to look at is the condition of the cabinetry, which will reflect the overall look and fee
...Read More »
Raised garden beds are an easy way to create interest and add dimension to your garden, no matter what your skill level.
Here's what you need to know about raised beds:
- If you start with clean, fresh soil, you can avoid the problem of dormant weed seeds and pests from infesting the garden.
- They warm more quickly in spring, so you can work the soil and plant earlier.
- With beds planted higher than ground level, a gardener with limited mobility doesn't have to get down on his or her knees.
- Soil compaction can reduce crop yields up to 50 percent. Soil doesn't get compacted in raised beds because it's fresh and more easily worked.
- Raised beds create areas of fertile, well-drained soil in locales with poor soil and inadequate drainage.
When determining the depth of your raised bed, consider your soil's current condition. If it's fairly workable, you can get away with raised beds up to 8 inches high. However, if the soil is completely unworkable—the kind of soil that
...Read More »- A dimmer switch is one of life's little conveniences that, once installed, you wonder how you ever got along without! Any standard single-pole wall switch is a good candidate for replacement with a dimmer switch as long as there's ample room in its electrical box and the light it's controlling is of the incandescent persuasion.
Don't try to install a dimmer in an undersized box or one that's already jam-packed with circuit wires, and never use a dimmer to control a fluorescent light. All types of dimmer switches have wire leads instead of screw terminals, so make sure you have the right size wire connectors on hand.
Tools and MaterialsNeon circuit tester Screwdrivers Combination tool Needle-nose pliers Dimmer switch Wire connectors
...Read More »Step 1. Turn off power to the circuit at the main service panel. Use a neon circuit tester to make sure the power is off. Connect the wire leads of the dimmer switch to the circuit wires using wire connectors.
The switch leads a - The Home Depot | Wed, Jan 16, 2013 3:40 PM EST | CommentsIf you've ever washed your windows, you know the feeling: You wait until the weather is just right, get everything together and spend a few hours outside, working your way methodically around the house to wash every window. When you're done, you breathe a big sigh of relief, clean up and head back inside. As soon as you enter the house and look out a window, you see them -- streaks. Not just one or two, but many.
Put an end to those frustrating days by making sure you have the right tools and the best window cleaner for the job.
Consider the following questions to learn more about what you need to get the streak-free finish you've been searching for:
- What forms do window cleaners come in?
- How can you make your own window-cleaning solution?
- What tools and materials will you need to effectively clean windows?
- What steps can you take to ensure streak-free windows?
- Are there any special cleaner or tool features you'd like to have?
Cleaners, tools and tipsBefore you begi
...Read More » 
Want to improve your home's value and functionality? Start with the master bath. If you remodel this high-traffic area, you'll upgrade your living space while increasing your home's value.
Bathroom vanities. Bath vanities get more use than any other fixture in this high-traffic space. Besides being subjected to plenty of wear and tear, they set the style of a master bath, so it's important to find a high-quality product you love.
Tip: Don't limit your choices to stores' in-stock inventory; your dream vanity might be a special-order item. Hire expert installers or learn how you can install a bath vanity yourself.
Bathroom vanity mirror. One of the most common bathroom-makeover mistakes is not putting enough thought into choosing the bath mirror. A mirror has a huge impact on style and practicality. Consider size and scale relative to bathroom vanities, as well as framing styles, which vary from minimalist to ornate.If you've invested in a special-order vanity, opt for a complement
...Read More »- The fuses or circuit breakers in the service panel form the first line of defense for your home, protecting you and your family from fire and shock. If you find a circuit breaker trips often, even though you don’t seem to be running too many appliances or lights, the problem may be the wiring or the circuit breaker.
Before you begin: If your breaker is tripping for no apparent reason, touch the prongs of a voltage tester to the breaker's terminal screw and a ground. If there’s no power, the breaker is faulty and it needs to be replaced.
Tools and MaterialsScrewdriver Voltage tester Breaker Step 1. Shut off the main breaker. Then loosen the setscrews on the suspected breaker and a nearby breaker of the same amperage.
Step 2. Pull out the breaker by hand, making sure that you only touch plastic and never anything made of metal.Step 3. Buy a new breaker of the same amperage and size, made by the same manufacturer. Slip the wire into the new breaker and tighten the setscrew. Push the br...Read More »
- Give your refrigerator a brand-new look with a specialty appliance touch-up paint.
Tools and MaterialsDetergent Painter's tape Sandpaper Primer spray paint Appliance epoxy gloss spray
Step 1. If possible, do not spray indoors – use outdoors or in a well-ventilated area such as an open garage.
Step 2. Prep. Remove loose paint with wire brush or sandpaper. Lightly sand glossy surfaces. Clean with soap and water and let dry. Repair scratches and chips with specialty appliance touch-up paint.
Step 3. Prime. For best results, apply one coat of primer. Apply top coat 2 hours after applying primer.
Step 4. Paint. Spray in a steady back-and-forth motion, slightly overlapping each stroke. Keep can the same distance from the surface and in motion. Dries to the touch in 2-4 hours, to handle in 5-9 hours, fully dry in 24 hours. May recoat within 30 minutes or after 1 week.Need expert assistance? Visit your local Home Depot store to ask their associates about products or how-to instr
...Read More » Want to save money and get a head start on your veggies? Want to teach your kids about small-scale agriculture and have fun, all while enjoying the satisfaction that comes from producing your own flavorful food? Then starting seeds indoors is for you!
Your indoor planting timeline will depend on two factors: the seeds in question and your growing locale. To find your ideal planting time for starting specific seeds indoors, work back from the average last frost date in your city or town. Once you know your last frost date, check the seed packet to find out if the young plant should be transplanted before the last frost date (broccoli) or well after the danger of frost has passed.
The seed packet will also indicate how many weeks it takes for the seed to grow into a young plant. For most vegetables, that will be 4 to 10 weeks of indoor nurturing.
Step 1. Seed selection. Your choices will be dictated by your personal taste, as well as your backyard space.
Some vegetables are easier to
...Read More »A picnic table is a backyard classic. This simple piece of outdoor furniture is a multi tasker, serving as a dining area, a work surface and even a potting bench. Making your own picnic table is an easy and economical DIY project. Build one for the outdoor entertaining season and it will give you years and years of use.
Construction of this picnic table is straightforward, but you'll need to take the time to make the cuts accurately — especially the angled cuts for the table legs and braces. Remember the old carpenter's rule: measure twice, cut once.
To build this picnic table, cut and assemble the table slats and supports, then screw on the legs. Braces provide lateral support, while supports screwed to the legs hold the bench slats in place.
Step 1. Assembling the top.
Cut the 2x8 table slats to length with a circular saw. Then cut the three table supports. Cut a 60-degree angle on each end of the two end table supports and a 60-degree bevel on the end of the center table support
...Read More »
Installing a drop-in sink is a project you can easily do yourself. This guide includes installation information for cutting a laminate countertop. However, you may prefer to have this done for you by a professional, especially if your countertop is composed of stone or other hard materials that may require special tools and cutting expertise. If this is the case, or if your countertop already has a hole for the sink, you can begin your project at step eight. As you work on your project, be sure to follow any manufacturer’s instructions that come with your sink.
Tools and materials:
Tape measure Scissors Power drill Bits (including 3/4" spade bit) Plastic putty knife Screwdriver Utility knife Caulk gun Jig saw Drop-in sink Masking tape Carpenter's pencil Silicone caulk Rag
Before You Start
Preparation- Install the faucets and most of the trap on the sink before setting it into the countertop.
- If the drain doesn't lin
- Placed along paths, decks, patios or near your front entrance, containers overflowing with blooms are an easy and economical way to spruce up your landscape. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
Tools and MaterialsContainers Plants and flowers
Step 1. Start with a theme
Think like a painter composing a picture. Consider color, shape and style. For instance, you might decide on plants in dark tones, chosen for their variety of textures and leaf shapes, to complement a modern Asian-influenced arrangement. Attractive vegetable plants can be mixed with herbs for a container garden that’s as good smelling and tasting as it is striking. Shrubs and perennials are great for year-round container interest. Other unusual container themes include:- Window boxes with long, draping plants
- Miniature perennials for a bonsai-like effect
- Plants chosen to epitomize the season
- Plants that love extremes: shade-lovers or hot, tropical plants
Choose Plants for Maximum Interest
Build yo...Read More »
