The Dean of Home Renovation & Repair Advice

Author Archives: Kristina Grosspietsch

About Kristina Grosspietsch

Kristina is a writer living in NYC. Check her out on Google+!

How To: Transplant Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials

Transplant a Plant

Photo: shutterstock.com

With the sun shining, the birds chirping, the temperatures rising, and the days getting longer, this is the season to take stock of your landscape. Will you plant something new? Or will you decide to transplant a tree, shrub, or perennial that already exists in your garden?

The latter may seem daunting, but following a series of simple steps can help you ensure that your transplanted selection not only survives the spring, but thrives for many seasons to come.

Here are ten trusty transplanting tips from the garden tool experts at True Temper:

Enter Bob Vila’s Great Big Garden Give-Away with True Temper, and you could be the next winner of a garden tools set worth $250, plus $250 CASH!

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5 Things to Do with… Maps

Whether you’ve been bitten by the travel bug or merely want to give the impression of being well-traveled, maps lend decor a sense of far-flung sophistication. Be it an ancestral family town or a favorite vacation spot, metropolis or no man’s land, maps do more than show streets and landmarks—they connect us to another part of the world.

So browse these great map DIY projects and ponder where YOU might take the maps-as-decor concept:

 

1. PUT UP WALLPAPER

Map DIY - Wallpaper

Photo: Bob Vila Nation

Whether you work with one large print or a mosaic of different maps, a little glue can help you translate your wanderlust into a room’s stunning focal point as wallpaper.

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How To: Choose a Lawn Mower

How to Choose Lawn Mower

John Deere X300 Select Series. Photo: JohnDeere.com

If your current lawn mower was built to last, it’s probably been a while since you’ve shopped for a new one! When your trusty mower does finally cut its last blade, you may find it challenging to choose a replacement.

Knowledge can mean the difference between owning a machine that lasts and having to make a return trip to the garden supply store, so we sought out John Deere for advice on how to choose a lawn mower.

Slideshow: 10 Top-Rated “Grass Guzzlers”
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5 Things to Do with… Old Silverware

Silverware is so much more than simply the source of your next bite. After all, if you tap a knife on a glass of champagne, people will start kissing, or if you rudely bang a fork on the table, someone will most likely bring over some food.

And now with a little ingenuity, your silverware can even be repurposed for non-culinary purposes! Yes, pay homage to everyone’s favorite plate-to-mouth delivery mechanism by working silverware into your home’s decor—one look and your guests will be shouting, “More, please!”

Fair warning: Only real silver utensils will be malleable enough to work with. Trying to hammer sterling silver will only leave your bones rattling and ears ringing!

 

1. MAKE WALL HOOKS

Silverware DIY - Wall Hooks

Photo: thesundaysparkle.com

Flatten your silver spoons or forks with a ball peen hammer, heat the utensil in boiling water, then bend it around a curved object. So long as the silver is thin enough, you can then drill the silver to a small plank (or use glue instead). The result? A charming set of wall hooks!
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Taylor Swift Sells Her Cape Cod Abode

Taylor Swift Sells Her Cape Cod Abode

Taylor Swift sold her Hyannis Port, MA, Cape Cod-style home for $5.6 million. Photo: Splash News

What do Bob Vila and Taylor Swift have in common, you ask? Apparently, a love for Cape Cod-style architecture! Taylor recently sold her large estate in Hyannis Port, MA, after owning it for less than a year. And while she never actually lived there, Swift did complete enough well-aimed renovations to earn a cool $1 million from the sale.

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ENTER NOW: Bob Vila’s March Mower Give-Away from John Deere!

Despite the still-cold temperatures in most of the country, spring will be here before you know it. That’s why we’ve partnered with John Deere to bring you Bob Vila’s March Mower Give-Away, just in time for the first cut of the season.

ENTER BOB VILA’S MARCH MOWER GIVE-AWAY

Starting today and continuing every day through March (until 11:59 a.m. EST, Monday, April 1, 2013), you can enter to win a new John Deere Select Series X300 Tractor with 42-inch mowing deck, valued at $2,999 (MSRP).

John Deere X300 Tractor Mower

Photo: JohnDeere.com

With the John Deere X300 Select Series Tractor, you’ll never complain about mowing the lawn again!

Boasting a tight, 16-inch turning radius and enhanced steering maneuverability, car-like Twin Touch™ pedals for speed and direction control, and Exact Adjust ports and a deck-leveling gauge on-board, this tractor makes your normal yard maintenance an enjoyable, trouble-free experience. Under the hood, the 18.5 horsepower, V-twin engine is known for its superior air-cooled design and shockingly quiet power, part of the John Deere iTorque™ power system. Add to that a heavy-duty, welded steel construction and you have one high-quality mower that’s easy to use, smooth to operate, and destined to last for a long time. And when it comes to performance, the 42-inch deck will not only cut your lawn cleanly and efficiently, but control clippings too.

ENTER TODAY and every day in March to increase your chances of winning Bob Vila’s “March Mower” Give-Away!

To learn more about the John Deere X300 Select Series Tractor and the company’s full line of quality residential products, and to locate your nearest dealer for a test drive, visit John Deere.

The “Bob Vila’s March Mower Give-Away” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii  are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Contest Period runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, March 1, 2013 through 11:59 a.m. (EST) Monday, April 1, 2013. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.


Last Chance to Win $500 in Our DIY Dollars Give-Away!

DIY Dollars Giveaway - Week 4Today kicks off WEEK 4—the final week of our DIY Dollars Give-Away—your last chance to WIN a $500 Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift card this month. (Entry period for WEEK FOUR is from 12:00 p.m. EST, Friday, February 22, 2013 until 11:59 a.m. EST, Friday, March 1, 2013. See Official Rules below.)

With spring just around the corner, just imagine the major home improvement upgrades you could achieve with an extra $500:

Open the Door. The front door is the first and last thing a visitor sees of your house. With a little extra room in your wallet, you can finally give your entryway the attention it deserves, whether it’s a fresh coat of paint or a brand-new fiberglass door.

Go Green. Put the extra cash toward updating your drafty windows, or replace an older appliance with a high-efficiency model. Remember, going green means saving green on your monthly utilities!

Clean it up. If you’ve been meaning to deep-clean your carpets, now is the perfect time. Rent a carpet cleaner and breath new life into your rooms. You can spend the leftover money towards a top-of-the-line vacuum cleaner.

Update Your Toolbox. Take your toolbox out of 1975 and into the 21st century! Use $500 to get yourself a handy new cordless drill, a laser level, or a magnetic stud finder—or all three.

Jump-start your garden. While it still might be chilly where you live, in a couple of weeks you’ll have your hands finger-deep in the garden. Think of how many plants, bushes, and shrubs you could add to your garden with $500!

Be sure to enter Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Give-Away daily to increase your odds of winning. Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards from InComm are redeemable at thousands of home improvement retailers in the U.S. where Discover cards are accepted, including The Home Depot, True Value, Sears, Sherwin-Williams, Restoration Hardware, Lumber Liquidators and Menard’s.

To learn more about InComm, click here.

The “Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Giveaway from InComm” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Contest Period runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, February 1, 2013 through 11:59 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 28, 2013. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.


Win $500 in This Week’s DIY Dollars Give-Away!

 

DIY Dollars Give-Away - Week 3

Today kicks off WEEK THREE of our DIY Dollars Give-Away—your chance to WIN the third of four $500 Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards this month. (Entry period for WEEK THREE is from 12:00 p.m. EST, Friday, February 15, 2012 until 11:59 a.m. EST, Friday, February 22, 2012. See Official Rules below.)

With spring just around the corner, imagine what you could do with an additional $500 towards an improvement at home:

Paint something. With a gallon of paint starting at around $25 you could certainly afford to freshen up a neglected room—or two or three. Or give your home’s exterior a fresh new coat and color.

Add some curb appeal. With $500 you could easily replace your front door, purchase some new exterior light fixtures, and add a planter or two to dress up the entryway.

Get organized. Use $500 to splurge on closet organizers, bins, shelving units and wall-mounted storage solutions to bring order to messy closets and cluttered attics, basements, and garages.

Jump-start your garden. While it still might be chilly where you live, in a couple of weeks you’ll have your hands finger-deep in the garden. Think of how many plants, bushes, and shrubs you could add to your garden with $500?

Install a patio or deck. While $500 might not be enough to cover the entire cost, it will come in handy as you plan your dream summer patio or deck. Have one already? Then put the money toward a new grill or a comfy, stylish outdoor furniture set!

Be sure to enter Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Give-Away daily to increase your odds of winning. The Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards from InComm are redeemable at thousands of home improvement retailers in the U.S. where Discover cards are accepted, including The Home Depot, True Value, Sears, Sherwin-Williams, Restoration Hardware, Lumber Liquidators and Menard’s.

To learn more about InComm, click here.

The “Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Giveaway from InComm” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Contest Period runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, February 1, 2012 through 11:59 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 28, 2012. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.


45 Ravishing Red Rooms

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’re seeing the color red just about everywhere—in our homes perhaps more than anywhere else. So in honor of Cupid’s day on the calendar, we felt the burning desire to share 45 favorite red-infused interiors to inspire you—and your loved one. How can you incorporate the color of passion, romance, power and assertiveness into your next room remodel? Take a look!

 

1.

Photo: elledecor.com


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What Would You Do with an Extra $500?

diy-dollars

Welcome to week two of our ultimate DIY Dollars Give-Away—your chance to win one of four $500 Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards in February.

InComm Do It Yourself Home Improvement Gift Card
Photo: InComm

ENTER TODAY and every day this week (through 11:59 am EST Friday, February 15th) to be eligible to win the second of four $500 Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards. (Entry period for WEEK 2 is from 12:00 p.m. EST Friday, February 8, 2012 until 11:59 a.m. EST, Friday, February 15, 2012. See Official Rules below.)

The Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards from InComm are redeemable at thousands of home improvement retailers in the U.S. where Discover cards are accepted, including The Home Depot, True Value, Sears, Sherwin-Williams, Restoration Hardware, Lumber Liquidators and Menard’s.

What could you do with an extra $500? Put it toward brand-new vanity lighting, updating an old backsplash, or giving your bedroom a new coat of paint. With a little help from the Do It Yourself Home Improvement gift card, you can finally start checking things off your wish list. The options are limitless; the choice all yours.

Be sure to enter Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Give-Away daily to increase your odds of winning. And remember to check back next week for another shot at the prize!

To learn more about InComm, click here.

The “Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Giveaway from InComm” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Contest Period runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, February 1, 2012 through 11:59 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 28, 2012. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.