The final post from our guest blogger this week the DIY Maven is a great how-to article about framing a beveled-edge mirror to add detail and character.
When we moved into our present home, one of our bathrooms had a beveled-edge, frameless mirror. It's not necessarily the most attractive look in the world. We decided to make a simple frame with which to frame the mirror. The frame added instant character and made the cheap mirror look quite expensive.
According to this article by CNNMoney, now is a great time to build your dream home. Cost of materials, land, and skilled labor is at it's lowest in years. For example, Framing lumber is now 18% cheaper than it was 18 months ago, while drywall is selling for 40% less. Also new home starts are down 34% so contractors are willing to bid much lower to keep jobs coming in as they ride out the downturn.
It can be so irritating to line dry clothes, but if you've ever had a garment ruined in the dryer, you know it's still quite often a necessity and at the same time an energy saver. Now maybe it's easier to go out and buy a drying rack for yourself, but where's the fun in that?! Here's a great step-by-step process from the HandymanWire for how to build your own.
Today DIY Maven takes on faux stone pavers: If you've ever laid pavers, you know how exhausting it is. And even though you did it yourself, it probably wasn't cheap. Those bricks and stones add up! For smaller jobs, a viable alternative is going the faux route using molds and ready-mix.
Double duty: this article will help you with a few different projects. Number one, you'll find some general tips for fixing a broken window pane in your house should that unfortunate occurrence befall you. But even better, it gives you a great idea for some wall art that you probably don't already have.
Is something missing in your bedroom? Or maybe your current headboard is old but you just haven't gotten around to throwing it out. Here's a DIY headboard project that'll refresh any look, whether you're looking for a standard headboard or one a little on the wild side.
Some progressive homeowners have installed dirt floors but here's an interesting article that takes natural building a step further and is all about about earthen construction and the movement towards building with dirt and non-toxic materials.
Beyond learning the step-by-step to hang an interior door, how did you gain the confidence to handle a drill and learn the skills to choose the proper bit? The fundamentals of do-it-yourself start with the confidence it takes tackle a project and the willingness to learn as you go. Those attributes are necessary throughout your hands-on house career and are also valuable in everyday life.
Now that you've built your own wine rack (or if you haven't check out the "how-to" here) you're going to need a project for all those wine corks that'll be piling up. Here's the perfect solution: a wine cork board! Instead of a regular old cork board for notes and pictures, this provides a bit of one-of-a-kind style while also serving a purpose in your home.
A DIY retaining wall may seem like a large undertaking, but with this how-to guide from Hometime.com it doesn't sound so bad. They outline some tips for installing the foundation, the first row and, of course, subsequent rows. Interlocking concrete blocks are the materials recommended for do-it-yourselfers.
March 23, 2008 | Comments ()
