BUILD
PAINT
CLEAN
MAINTAIN
USE
DESIGN
INSTALL
CHOOSE
GROW
Laminate Countertop Renewal
Our laminate countertop looked fine, but the protective coating was pretty much gone. Coffee, tea, wine, juice, sauces, and egg yolk caused stubborn stains that required almost daily scrubbing. So when we decided...
How To: Paint Kitchen Cabinets
Our 20-year-old cabinets were showing their age. The lacquer finish had gummed up around the handles and pulls, and the cabinet rails and drawer fronts were worn and dinged. In addition, my wife and I were tired ...
Free Your Pots & Pans from Cupboard Captivity: Install a Pot Rack
Our kitchen needs more cabinets—and more counter space. Indeed, who has a kitchen with enough of these precious amenities? The only friends I know with sufficient cabinet space are tall people who can actually re...
Backsplash Idea: Faux Stone Re-Finish
My wife, Mary Ann, hated the backsplash tiles in our kitchen, and I agreed they were slightly dated. Unfortunately, the crackled glass that we wanted to replace them with was amazingly expensive: $17 per square f...
Quick Tip: Installing Crown Molding
The Merits of Crown MoldingIf your home doesn’t have the style you wish it had, adding crown molding can help. It can mask any imperfections between the wall and ceiling and add formality, polish, and a sense of ...
How To: Choose the Right Furnace Filter
As far as home improvement gear goes, furnace filters are admittedly among the least, um. . . exciting. There's none of the danger and raw efficacy of power tools, none of the visual impact of perfectly mitered c...
5 Easy Steps to a Successful Paint Makeover
Follow these easy paint makeover tips to transform an old piece of furniture into one that's fresh and new!
Bob Vila's Top 12 Painting Tips
1. One trick to determine whether you have the right primer is to put a coat on and let it dry, then take a razor blade and very lightly mark an X in the paint. Put duct tape over the X and then pull back. If the...
Winter Preparation Checklist
Give your home a once-over and tend to winter preparation tasks and repairs before the year’s first frost. “Getting the exterior of the home ready for the cold winds, snow and ice is critical for keeping Old Man ...
How To: Choose Tile
Evaluate Your NeedsChoosing tile is not as easy as walking into a showroom and picking the right color or pattern. First, you have to consider how it will be used. For wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens, you n...
