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Upgrading the front part of your house can drastically improve its overall curb appeal–not to mention its value. Check out these six home renovations that are sure to inspire you to transform your own. Balancing Act An oddly-shaped dormer suspended above disproportionately small windows—coupled with a delicately filigreed portico pitted against a massive limestone chimney—gave this 1947 house, in Edina, Minnesota, a pieced-together look. Related Secrets to Great Curb Appeal After Courtesy Andrea Rugg/Collinstock/Sicora Design-Build Before Courtesy Andrea Rugg/Collinstock/Sicora Design-Build Building designer Kieran J....

Staycation-Worthy “The idea was to not just create one huge rectangle,” says landscape designer Jon Zeyl of the area between the back of the house and a garage sidewall. “We wanted welcoming spaces, logically broken up by geometry, that people would want to to use.” Uniting all the areas are concrete pavers set in a variety of sizes and patterns. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Landscape Creations of Rhode Island PAVERS: Unilock COMPOSITE ROOF TILES: DaVinci Roofscapes...

Planting in containers allows you to garden where there’s no ground to till, brightening up the patios, porches, decks, and stoops where we linger on long summer days. What Plants Can Grow In Pots? Pairing up pots and plants in pleasing compositions, you can even grow perennials, grasses, and dwarf evergreen shrubs in pots to provide year-round interest. Containers also let you skip the major digging and weed-pulling of backyard gardening and fast-forward to the fun: designing, planting, and enjoying....

You can turn landscaping for water drainage solutions into features that enhance your yard—and protect natural waterways. Ditches can be landscaped as swales that look like creek beds or small meadows. Gutter water can flow into rain gardens that provide a habitat for butterflies and birds. And driveways, patios, and walkways can be constructed of pervious paving that never puddles because water seeps through. How Landscape Drainage Works Since these yard drainage ideas allow storm water to sink into the soil gradually, they help reduce flooding....

Whether you envision your house’s top floor as an away-from-it-all master suite, a quiet home office, or a hangout spot for the kids, read these 14 tips to help you finish your attic remodel: 1. Account for Codes and Safety Every attic is different, but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation. Follow the “rule of 7s”: Enforcement varies, but codes typically say that at least half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high, and that this area must be a minimum of 7 feet wide and 70 square feet....

Previous episode: S20 E6 | Next episode: S20 E8 In this episode: Landscaping contractor Jenn Nawada shows host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about preparing your garden for winter. Jenn explains that protecting all the hard work performed in the spring, summer, and fall should be the concern before the cold weather arrives. By focusing on water, clean-up, and protection, Jenn dishes on the best ways to protect your plants....

Landscape designer, Jenn Nawada takes an overgrown flower bed and transforms it into a beautiful garden. Jenn demonstrates how to clean up a garden by pruning, dividing, and defining the edges. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Without spending too much extra money, Jenn shows you how to expand your garden while blending it in with an already established landscape. Related How to Maintain Overgrown Perennials Steps for Expanding a Garden: Plan out the space....

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission. The 9 Best Firm Mattresses If you’ve ever slept on a firm mattress, then you know the feeling of sleeping “on” the bed rather than “in” it. There are a lot of benefits to this––the best firm mattress keeps your lower back from sinking out of alignment, allows for better air circulation, and keeps pressure points uplifted....

Old-fashioned beadboard went up stick by stick, yielding a tough surface with a lot of character. But humidity is hard on wood, causing boards to pop and paint to crack. Quick-install plywood panels solved that problem but can’t take a deep bead. What is beadboard paneling made of? This brings us to panels made of medium-density fiberboard, or MDF—wood fiber and resin, in various proportions, melded under pressure. These sturdy, ready-to-paint sheets, typically 4 feet high and 8 feet wide, can be milled to look like the real thing....

It all starts with a workbench Kids that are into building and fixing need a place to work and store their tools. A workbench with a shelf underneath should meet the majority of their needs. Workbenches that stand roughly 34 inches to the work surface are best for kids, and a depth of approximately 30 inches keeps everything within reach. Pegboard adds organization Pegboard makes an excellent solution for organizing tools....

Once upon a time, selecting a decking material was a simple process because wood was the only choice available. Today, other options range from composite to plastic and even aluminum. Traditionalists will always see wood as the one true decking material, but the new alternatives offer many alluring benefits, including longevity and low maintenance. Take your time while researching your choices. Exploring all the possibilities may open your mind to a material you’ve never considered before or even known about....

Previous episode: Idea House Build: All Dried in on the Cape | Cottage on the Cape (E3) | Next episode: Prepping for a Warm Cottage Floor | Cottage on the Cape (E5) In This Episode: There’s been a lot of progress at the house since Chris’s last visit. He meets Russ, a Cape Associates contractor who is installing a compass rose design above the garage door. The installation process is more like a puzzle, and Chris helps him complete the process....

Top 5 Patio Umbrellas Most Customizable Umbrella: Abba Patio Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella Best Lightweight Umbrella: Sunnyglade 7.5-Foot Patio Umbrella Best Lighted Umbrella: Sunnyglade Nine-Foot LED-Lighted Patio Umbrella Best Coverage: Grand Patio Deluxe Curvy Aluminum Offset Umbrella Best Color Options: EliteShade Sunbrella Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella Most Customizable Umbrella: Abba Patio Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella This patio umbrella has an easy-to-assemble design that consists of two screw-in pole pieces with a power-coated finish for added rust and wear resistance....

Hardworking and multifunctional as they surely are, countertops also go a long way in defining a kitchen’s aesthetic. After all, these stylish surfaces take up major real estate: Industry guidelines recommend 150 linear inches of counter space, while some designers ascribe to the 3x4 rule that dictates three separate counters, at least four feet each. 15 Stunning Ideas for Your Kitchen Countertop If you’re considering a renovation, you may have already researched popular materials, from affordable laminate to posh granite and marble, as well as more unusual options, such as concrete....

Miter saws—a.k.a. “chop saws”—are indispensable power tools for a wide variety of woodworking and trim-carpentry tasks, like trimming out windows and doors, installing baseboards, and crown molding, hanging siding, and building decks and stairs. But their fixed heads limit the width of the stock they can cut. What is a Sliding Compound-Miter Saw? Sliding compound-miter saws will work just like chop saws, but because their blades move back and forth on horizontal rails, they also can slice stock up to 15 inches wide in one stroke....

Tossing a load of laundry in the dryer can be a trepidatious chore, considering it’s quite possible your favorite shirt or pair of shorts might shrink or get damaged from the heat. But some of the newer, high-tech clothes dryers — along with their space-age touchpads — offer some pretty impressive tricks that’ll make your cleaning habits a whole lot easier. High-Tech Dryers: What They Can Do 1. Handle Wet Sneakers Without Waking up the Neighbors, and Delicates Without Making Them Shrink Look for a drum rack that slides inside so you can stabilize clunky items or block a sweater so it dries while lying flat and retains its shape....

When it comes to commercial cleaning supplies, a myriad of options can be found in the aisles of your supermarket, drugstore, or home improvement center. But just because these products are readily available doesn’t mean that they’re optimal for your home—or you. Some of them contain harsh, toxic chemicals that are less than ideal for your health, and their packaging generates unnecessary waste. If you’re looking for ways to avoid these products and still keep a clean, sanitary home, DIY natural cleaning supplies may be the answer....

Drilling into brick is tough work. Whether it’s a decorative brick veneer inside a house, modular bricks on the outside of a suburban home, or concrete blocks in a foundation, these materials are meant to last. But what if you need to hang a picture, attach a downspout, or install a light fixture? This guide will help. Can You Drill into Brick? Compared to wood, drywall, and vinyl siding, drilling through brick might seem impossible....

Steps for Painting a Mold-Resistant Bathroom: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Use painters tape to protect any tile that’s against the surface being painted. Lightly sand the walls with 220 grit sandpaper. Wear a mask while sanding. Suck up the dust from sanding with a vacuum and then wipe the walls down lightly with a damp rag to remove the remaining dust. Pour the antimicrobial paint into a bucket. Use a paintbrush to cut around the edges of the wall with the new paint....

Steps: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Tools & Materials Hammer Start by identifying the hinge(s) that are squeaking. Use a hammer and a nail to remove each hinge pin one at a time, and continue to open and close the door. When the door opens and closes silently, the pin(s) that are removed are the ones that are squeaking. Apply some lubricating oil to the squeaky hinge pins and put them back into place....