BUILD
PAINT
CLEAN
MAINTAIN
USE
DESIGN
INSTALL
CHOOSE
GROW
How To: Turn Wine Bottles into Romantic Lanterns
Whenever I hesitate before throwing out something useless, like an expired coupon or an old magazine, I think to myself, “Kristina… this is how the hoarding begins. ” But even with a determination to be proactive...
How To: Dry Hydrangeas
The end of the summer is just days away but instead of celebrating the season, the last bright blooms are starting to look like a symbol of summer's end. If dried now though, hydrangeas—one of summer’s most decad...
Selecting the Right Front Door
Almost no other part of your home gets as much exposure as the front door. It’s where you greet friends and family, serve (or scare) trick-or-treaters, and enjoy the songs 0f holiday carolers. A front door says a...
How To: Plant an Apple Tree
Since moving to the 'burbs, I’ve been slowly trying to convert on this fantasy I have of backyard sustainability. I planted blueberry bushes and a small veggie garden this summer, and I’m planning for some grape ...
Composting 101: What You Should and Shouldn’t Compost
The best gardeners know that compost is better than fertilizer, when it comes to providing a nutrient-rich growing environment for plants. Composting is easy and inexpensive, and anyone can do it. But for the bes...
So, You Want to... Build a Porch
A porch is simply a deck with a roof on it, right? Not quite. While some porches may be as simple as that, many are more similar to an indoor room that is missing windows and walls. Porches typically have more fi...
How To: Clean Painted Walls
Cleaning painted walls may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple, albeit somewhat time-consuming. The first thing to know is that whether you’re doing yearly cleaning or hoping to say goodbye ...
How To: Refinish Cabinets
Having expensive cabinets hanging on your kitchen walls doesn’t mean much if you don’t like the color. That’s why many homeowners think about refinishing cabinets with a stain color of their own choosing. It is a...
How To: Drill Straight 90° Holes (Without a Drill Press)
Except in special cases—when you intentionally choose a specific angle or bias—it's important to keep all drill holes perpendicular to the surface. This is easy to accomplish with a drill press, but there are ple...
How To: Paint Trim
Looking to learn how to paint trim? It's not so different from painting other surfaces in a home. Your method will vary depending on whether or not the trim is already installed. To apply finishes prior to instal...
