Previous episode: S19 E23 | Next episode: S19 E25 In this episode: Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada tells you everything you need to know about ornamental grasses. They are some of Jenn’s favorite plants to add to a landscape design because they can add a cool visual element to virtually any area. Jenn shows a few examples of the many varieties you can choose from and explains how you could use them in a design....
The very mention of a galley kitchen may cause some folks to send out a distress signal. Yet this style of cook space—typically a compact, narrow rectangle walled on three sides—can be highly efficient. Indeed, many restaurants have close quarters with linear layouts, and professional chefs function just fine. Not uncommon in smaller homes and apartments, galley kitchens generally have the sink and fridge against one wall and a slide-in range on the opposite side....
Billiards, or pool, requires a relaxed pace and calculated movements—and no game room is complete without a pool table. For those of you looking to bring the magic of the pool hall into your home or business, there is no shortage of options. Explore our recommendations, learn about what to look for when buying, and get answers to some common pool table-related questions below. Compare Top Pool Tables Easiest To Store: GoSports Portable Pool Table Best Full-Size: Barrington Billiards Billiard Table Set Most Versatile: Spartan Multigame Table Best Miniature: Hey!...
BEFORE | Crowded and Dated A bath where children start and end each day should set a cheerful tone. That means enough elbow room for a squabble-free cleanup zone—a challenge at Claudia Van Dijk and Chris Ciarallo’s 1912 foursquare in Denver, where the existing bath was too cramped for their three children to share. It was dark, too, with its one window looking into a laundry room that had been tacked on to the house long ago....
The newel post and balusters get all the attention, while the exposed side of most staircases is largely ignored. But with the addition of decorative stair brackets, a bland stringer can become an elegant eye-catcher. Here’s how you too can breathe new life into your staircase with a simple DIY project. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Installing Decorative Stair Brackets Step 1: Choose and prep your brackets Here we used simple-to-install wood brackets that go up with adhesive and nails....
Ever had your shoes tied together and tossed over a power line? Ladder Golf is your shot at sweet revenge. Wrap one of your bolas—a pair of golf balls connected by a length of nylon cord—over a rung, and you score. If it stays put, that is. All you need to build a rack for each side is a few dowels and 2x4s; the bolas require golf balls and cord....
The exterior of your home has a big job. Not only does it have to protect you and your family from the onslaughts of nature, it must continue to look inviting no matter what Mother Nature throws your way. If you’re in the market for improving the facade of your home, and you’re unsure which type of siding to choose, this comparison will help. Before we jump into the different types of siding, it’s important to note that any exterior siding project should also include some consideration of exterior trim–the casing treatment used around window and door openings....
As a smooth move for your kitchen, it’s hard to beat a glass cooktop. These flat cooking surfaces—actually a combination of glass and ceramic—provide more rapid and responsive heat control than conventional coils or burners. The seamless surface prevents errant food from falling into the appliance, and it can pitch in as extra counter space for prep and serving. Plus, although smooth stoves have been around since the early 1970s, their distinctly sleek appearance suits today’s modern décor....
Radiant floor heating is probably the best way to heat up any space. It’s comfortable, quiet, and energy efficient. Although electric radiant heat is a popular choice for small projects—retiling a bathroom, say—hydronic, or water-based, radiant provides the ultimate in efficiency for bigger projects or an extensive remodel. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Hydronic radiant is typically a job for a pro, but there is a way you can DIY part of it....
Top 5 Notebooks Most Versatile: Moleskine Classic Notebook Best Composition Notebook: Mead Composition Notebook Best Notepad: Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Notepad Best Spiral Notebook: Five Star Spiral College-Ruled Notebook Best Color Options: LEUCHTTURM1917 Ruled Hardcover Notebook Most Versatile: Moleskine Classic Notebook This notebook can withstand travel and heavy use with a durable moleskin cover, thick ivory pages, and an elastic closure band. It’s available with dotted, ruled, plain, dual plain and ruled, and squared pages to suit your writing, journaling, or drawing needs....
If you build it, they will come. A fire pit is a destination, drawing families with kids armed for a marshmallow roast and adults wanting to enjoy cocktails and conversation into the cool of the evening—it’s a wonder how any backyard party ever got along without one. What started as a rudimentary steel ring to simply contain the flames has morphed into a category of functional design that can enhance any outdoor setting....
Shoes, boots, and all sorts of messes tend to accumulate in our houses’ rear entries and mudrooms as we transition from the outdoors to the inside. The pileup reaches a peak in winter when gloves, hats, and other outerwear are shed and then mysteriously go missing the next time they’re needed. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Therein lies the value of a mudroom bench, one with cubbies to corral the accoutrements of the season and keep them neatly organized....
When it comes to purchasing a new home or updating an older one, HVAC systems are often an overlooked part of the process—and it’s easy to see why. It all comes down to the ducts. All central air systems use a maze of hidden ducts to deliver conditioned air to various rooms throughout the house. Conventional systems can require bulky buildouts that result in less-than-desirable aesthetics. Smaller HVAC Systems Work for All Homes By contrast, small-duct, high-velocity (SDHV) methods are constructed of flexible tubes that can snake in and out of existing cavities, without having to gut your home for the job....
There are lots of reasons why you don’t want your stairs to squeak. It announces to the entire family, for one, when you’re heading down to the kitchen in the dark for a midnight snack. Not to mention the fact that it can be a bit spooky in the dark. So unless you rely on your stairs to let you know about tardy teenagers coming home past their curfew, you probably find the squeaking a constant irritation....
General contractor Tom Silva takes us along as he helps a homeowner solve an all-too-common issue: coat and shoe storage. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Rather than letting these items collect in the entryway, Tom and the homeowner build a set of built-in closet storage shelves, complete with shoe drawers, cubby holes, and a coat rack. Made from plywood, Tom uses box joints and dados to create strong cabinets and shows the homeowner how to scribe the shelf for a perfect fit....
Starting a vegetable garden is a great activity to share with your kids. It shows them the life cycle of a plant start to finish, it gives them something to care for and attend to every day, and, best of all, it yields produce that they can actually eat and enjoy! Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Any organic garden has to start with the garden itself. Stick to a raised garden bed with untreated cedar to ensure no chemicals can leech into the soil....
Inspired Inventions 1. PERENNIAL ROOF TILE Daltile Porcelain, known for its great durability and resistance to fading and moisture, is now going on roofs. The 9mm- and 12mm-thick tiles, which resemble slate, clay, or wood-shingle roofing, can be used anywhere in the country, have a lifetime warranty, and should last for at least 75 years. From $3 per square foot; Daltile 2. PHYN PLUS SMART WATER ASSISTANT + SHUTOFF Phyn...
The palette of gold, orange, and red that paints the trees during autumn can be something to look forward to all year. It’s what comes after that you greet less eagerly: fallen leaves. Handling a yard full of fallen leaves can feel like quite a chore. While it’s possible to pack leaves from smaller, lightly wooded yards into bags, that might not be practical for a large plot of land. Instead of investing a small fortune on leaf bags and a ton of time bagging, you might consider burning....
A good mattress can do a lot for you: enhance the quality of your sleep, help reduce back pain, make it easier to share a bed with a partner or pet, and even improve your recovery time. This Bear mattress review covers the entire Bear fleet of mattresses, from their most basic model to their high-end luxury mattress offering. All Bear mattresses are designed with active lifestyles in mind; cooling technology, pressure-relieving foams, and excellent spine alignment are found in every mattress they offer....
Steps for Installing a Security System: Plug in the security system hub at a location near the front door. To prevent it from being unplugged, it comes with a outlet cover plate that will hold the plug in place. That is installed using the same screw as the cover plate. Download the app that corresponds with the security system and then scan the hub’s QR code to register it to your phone....
