Here’s one of the awesome things about design: it reinvents things. It takes the common and makes it uncommon. I’ve seen a lot of this from Theresa who has done incredible things on both a large and small scale. I’ve also seen it on the 5 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition builds I’ve been on where [...]
Formica for the Floor–BAM!
February 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“Formica” is one of those words like “Popsicle,” “Xerox,” or “Band-Aid,” words that are so popular that they’ve come to stand for an entire category of products. Band-Aid for example, refers to “plastic adhesive bandage.” And each of these brands, for a variety of reasons, has earned the top spot—generally because they were the first [...]
Small Projects: BIG Change
February 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
As much as I love whole house remodels, bathroom blowouts, and full-tilt-boogie decks, docks, and pergola building, some of my favorite projects ever are the small ones: small projects that make a giant difference in the way we see, feel, and interact with our homes. Exterior window shades, for example—especially those on a Western wall—are [...]
Do You Dream in Color?
February 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Sometimes the hardest part about taking care of our homes and the people inside them is getting started. You know you need a new roof, and you know you want a new roof but you don’t yet feel the roof that fits your house and moves you to take action. It’s kind of like of [...]
Formica: Rounding Over the Cutting Edge
February 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Formica‘s 180fx laminate is already an awesome product for kitchen and bath counters, plus way-out wall applications that I love. A laminate product that features a real stone depth, color variation and “movement” (as its called by experts) is an authentic way to bring a unique look to anything from a powder room upgrade to [...]
Lumber Liquidators’ Bellawood: Go simple. Go big.
February 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Sometimes the best way to describe something complicated—like the science and technology that goes into creating a dependable pre-finished hardwood floor—is to go simple. And in so doing, go big. Lumber Liquidators has done just that with their giant move to increase the 50 year warranty on their Bellawood finish to a century—and it is [...]
Therma-Tru Doors: Classic-Craft Craftsman Sidelites
February 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I love doors. Well, I love awesome doors. The reason is—and I mean this—that coming home can be more than the exercise of turning the knob and passing through the opening. It can be an event. I’m not talking about big time fireworks or a stadium tour. What I mean is that opening a door [...]
SunRise Solar Attic Fans: A Class Act
January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
One way to know a company that believes in their product, understands how their product performs, and that they are being honest when they tout its benefits is when you call them and they suggest than ANOTHER product might be the best solution for what ails you. I’ve been working on solving a moisture problem [...]
Hyde Multi-Tool at Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
So here’s one from the “Couldn’t make it up if I tried” Department—and yet another reason why a tool pouch without a Hyde multi-tool in it is an invitation to work harder than necessary. While on set at Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s Knoxville, TN project working with the show’s project management team I had to [...]
Tool Review: Stanley PowerLock 25 Foot Tape Measure
December 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
You’re going to love this. Here is a tool review of a brand new tool that I’ve had in my pouch for XX years…I mean xx years…since high school, how’s that? I bought my first tape along with my first tool apron and hammer at Town Paint and Supply—a place that was old then. (And [...]
