News
News: February 2008 Monthly archive
photo: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Hawaiians have many skills and talents that "mainlanders" will never have such as a taste for poi (and spam), surfing pipeline, and creating Niihau shell leis. You can now add outrunning lava flows to that list. Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcano's, is waking up and recently destroyed a few abandoned homes. The nearby homeowners aren't fazed by this and prefer lava flows to wildfires.
Your workshop is ready to roll and you've got a couple more months before you can start working outside. Use this time to plan your spring and summer home improvement projects. Tom Kraeutler of the AOL's Money Pit radio show has culled the most popular projects his listeners are planning that include:
Flooring: Installing laminate or ceramic or vinyl tile is a doable DIY job, as is refinishing a hardwood floor. For more complicated hardwood, carpet or vinyl installations, go with a pro.
Plumbing: Take minor fixture replacements into your own hands, but work with a plumber for room reconfigurations and installation of larger fixtures.
Some of the latest real estate and home improvement news from across the internets. One thing is for sure the declining home sales shakeout is effecting markets in different ways.
* Rising Inflation and Slumping Home Values [NY Times]
* Housing Crumbles Home Depot [Forbes]
* Existing-Home Sales Slip in January as Some Potential Buyers Wait on Sidelines [Fox News]
* China's Sina Corp, E-house set up largest online real estate portal in China [CNNMoney]
The Los Feliz (LA) home of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
The Oscars came and went with little fanfare. But most of the celebrities were still radiant and as usual the fashion was the highlight of the evening. While America is obsessed with what celebrities look like when they aren't glammed up we here at C&H are more interested in what their homes look like and how much they cost.
For the woodworkers out there we've found another great resource called Lumberjocks. Here you can post photos of your own projects and have other users view and discuss them. Such as this amazing box of drawers, cedar gates, and jewelry case. Site users called "Jocks" can befriend other jocks and also ask questions in forums and post videos. Poke around for inspiration from other woodworkers or take pride in your own projects and share them with the world.
The glossies have such beautiful spreads that sometimes it's hard to imagine how your own home could come close to looking like the magnificent rooms shown in the magazines. If you'd like to see the home environments of everyday people from around the world you can now visit NormalRoom.com and browse kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms of everyday folks. You can also upload your own living spaces to share with everyone else. This site can be a time killer but sometimes looking at other's homes can make you feel that much better about your own instead of worse.
The International Builders Show is hitting it's stride down in Orlando, FL. We aren't sure what the promotion is behind the upside down house (above) but it reminds us of this.
We've scanned the blogosphere for updates on the latest trends, products, and news from the show and here's what we've found.
Frank Gehry's IAC building in New York City
The Architectural Record sat down with six critics from across the country to discuss the current state of American Architecture. From building affordable and sustainable housing to the latest projects from the minds of "starchitects", they cover it all and the overarching theme is that our country is moving in the right direction when it comes to new building design. We found particular insight from the following architecture critics.
Forgo the typical box of chocolates for your DIY inclined loved one this Valentine's day and instead do as they do in Sicily and go for the full on chocolate tool set!
We're proud to be included among the Real Simple Best Blogs in their March 2008 issue. Congratulations to our friends who were also selected and are longtime favorites of ours, Apartment Therapy, You Grow Girl, and Smitten Kitchen. So get your copy and check us out!
A reader sent over a DIY disaster that their handyman/landlord setup for them. Albeit she lives in China there is no excuse or reason to have exposed power outlets in or around the shower area. This outlet isn't just exposed but the handyman left the extension cord that we presume powers her water heater/pump dangling across the shower! Bigger pic after the jump.
February 29, 2008 | Comments (1)
