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 [...]
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 [...]
FixitUp FreshStart: Our New Front Door
January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Old house remodeling is often half challenge, half opportunity–and always a whole lotta work. And when opportunity knocks in an old house renovation, knock often first refers to knocking something down. Unlike modern homes which are built with conventional framing and interior drywall all neatly organized into a 4 foot matrix (FYI, framing with studs, [...]
Trim Tricks for an Old House Front Door
December 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We love our new front door and the energy-upfitted room is keeping us warmer than ever this winter. But without molding, the story is only halfway done. Molding is, in some regards, the bow on the package, the S on Superman’s chest. It’s often the first thing you see. Yet, at the same time, it [...]
Paint Shutters Easily
September 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Painting shutters is probably one of the most dreaded DIY jobs. A million nooks and crannies can be daunting even to the most intrepid painter. Here is a double-barrel solution — all it takes is a little ingenuity to outsmart that shutter. First: get a sawhorse. In this case, we used our Jawhorse, which is [...]
FixitUpFinds: Vented Full-Lite Sidelites
August 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Homeowners can now let light and fresh air into their homes without sacrificing energy efficiency or style with Therma-Tru‘s new vented sidelites for the Fiber-Classic Oak Collection and Smooth-Star product line. The fastest growing category in hinged patio and entry doors, vented sidelites offer the ventilation consumers want without the inconvenience and obstruction of storm [...]
Door dilemna: Avonlea’s leaf pattern
August 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
So we thought we knew which door we loved, until I discovered the Avonlea glass option. We might need to change our minds on our favorite pick for a new front door. Inspired by the simplistic beauty found in nature, the Avonlea glass design features clear baroque glass with fluid lines in a free-flowing leaf [...]
Paintable fiberglass door w/ Low-E glass
August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We have finally agreed that we need to replace our original front door to our 100+ year-old American Foursquare home. Mark has been pushing for this since the first winter he realized the door was leaking like crazy. I’ve been attached to the charm of the original door and the mail slot–that he keeps reminding [...]
The door slam test
August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Mark shares his thoughts about famous door slams–from Kramer to Ed Norton. And interesting to learn about how doors go through a door slam test. Something every homeowner should know about. Read below. Ralph Kramden used to do it all the time to Ed Norton in the old television show, The Honeymooners. Jack Tripper on [...]
FixitUp Find: Trend Door Stand
July 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I saw this tool in the Woodworker’s Supply Catalogue (yes, I still “read” paper catalogues) and it looks like it makes all the sense in the world for installing/hanging doors. Sort of a combination between caulk gun and clamp, this unit enables you to capture the bottom corner of a door you’re hanging and use [...]
