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Bob Vila Radio: Outdoor Living Adds Value

by Sarah Monzon & Bob Vila, June 30th, 2012

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day. Today, it’s all about Outdoor Living.

Photo: Illico Design

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Posted in Buying & Selling Homes | 0 Comments »

Sizzling Hot Deals on Grills—NOW!

by Larry Bilotti, June 29th, 2012

If you don’t have a grill—or are in need of a replacement or upgrade—this is the week to shop. With July 4th just days away, most stores have kicked off their annual holiday savings events early with some sizzling hot deals. We did some shopping ourselves and here is a sampling of some of the super deals you’re likely to find, all perfectly timed for a Fourth of July cookout!

Home Depot Brinkmann 4-Burner Propane Grill in Copper

Brinkmann 4-Burner Propane Grill in Copper at Home Depot for $99

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Posted in Lawn & Garden | 6 Comments »

9 Designer Tips to Maximize Small Bathroom Design

by Jean Nayar, June 29th, 2012

Photo courtesy: Lawrence Duggan

Small baths can live large when designed with care. Choosing the right materials, fixtures, and fittings is key, as is thoughtful spacing planning and a considered emphasis on scale. For ideas on how to make the most of a compact bathroom, we turned to interior designer Lawrence Duggan, principal of Manhattan-based, full-service residential interior design firm LD Design, which specializes in custom kitchens, bathrooms, and built-in cabinetry. Here’s a roundup of his recommendations:

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Posted in Bathroom | 4 Comments »

Bob Vila Radio: Surviving a Remodel

by Sarah Monzon & Bob Vila, June 29th, 2012

While they’re always inconvenient, major remodeling projects can also become a real strain on your relationship if you let them. But there are ways to make sure you’re just gutting the kitchen, not your marriage.

Photo: Bowles Group

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Posted in Bob Vila Radio, Managing Construction | 0 Comments »

Easy, Breezy Tips on Replacing a Patio Door Screen

by Donna Boyle Schwartz, June 28th, 2012

AllAboutScreenDoors-torn screen-sliding-patio-doors

Photo courtesy: All About Screen Doors

I don’t mind the squirrels taking their turn at the bird feeder, but our dog seems to have developed a personal vendetta against the creatures. She’s so vehemently opposed to squirrels that she managed to rip right through the mesh screen on the patio door, leaving a large gaping hole in the bottom third.

Not only was this hole unsightly, but the warmer weather means that mosquitoes, flies, and gnats are active. Replacing the screen quickly moved to the top of the priority list.

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Posted in Doors & Windows | 2 Comments »

5 Things to Do with… Old Windows

by Chris Gardner, June 28th, 2012

Vintage windows are much easier to come by than you might think. Before the salvage craze became mainstream, windows were often one of the few items saved from building demolition. As a result there are centuries worth of windows floating around antique shops, flea markets, and architectural salvage depots. Or perhaps you’ve done an upgrade on your own home, and your old windows are still around, waiting to be turned into something great.

However you come across them, vintage windows are an inexpensive and unique way to make great additions to your home. Here are five examples:

1. MAKE A TABLE

Old Window DIY Projects - Sunset Magazine

Photo: David Fenton

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Posted in How To's & Quick Tips | 3 Comments »

Bob Vila Radio: Garden Journals

by Sarah Monzon & Bob Vila, June 28th, 2012

You can read all you want about gardening, but a garden journal is the best tool for making sure you remember what works—and what doesn’t—in your garden!

Photo: Rambling Rose

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Posted in Bob Vila Radio, Lawn & Garden | 0 Comments »

The Right Time and Place for Pocket Doors

by Jennifer Noonan, June 27th, 2012

Photo courtesy: A&A Millwork

One of the reasons we chose the house plan we built was because there was a “flex” room off the breakfast nook. We thought it was the perfect location for a playroom during these early years with our kids. For one thing, it’s close to the kitchen, where I spend a good portion of the day. In the future, it will make the perfect guest room or study.

The original house plan called for traditional French doors in this space. But since we plan to use this breakfast nook for all our eating and entertaining (we’re just not formal dining room people), we felt the French doors, which opened out, would really get in the way and impede our use of the space. So instead we decided to have pocket doors installed.

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Posted in Doors & Windows | 3 Comments »

DuPont’s Drive to Zero

by Monica Michael Willis, June 27th, 2012

In a major push to green its global operations, DuPont Building Innovations, the makers of Corian and Tyvek building materials, eliminated 81 million pounds of manufacturing waste a year—and made trips to the landfill obsolete.

DuPont Building Innovations' Drive-to-Zero

Some companies don’t fool around. Back in 2009, DuPont Building Innovations— manufacturer of Corian and Zodiaq solid surfaces and Tyvek building products—decided to alter its eco-footprint in a very big way.

The company announced its Drive to Zero landfill initiative and set as its goal the elimination of all 81 million pounds of waste it sent to landfills each year. No small order, considering that the company’s 15 production facilities span the globe from Buffalo, New York, to South Korea to Guangzhou, China.

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Posted in Green | 1 Comment »