This sun room remodel that we found on CasaSugar is awesome. No major changes but an update to the paint, flooring and walls created a much more inviting space to spend lazy afternoons. Some different window treatments and the room would be finished.
Fall is always a great time to bring out the candles. The warm flicker softens any room or outdoor area. ShelterPop highlights some make your own candle projects and our favorite are these diy hanging lanterns from Craftynest.
Tags: bulbs, candle cover, candle sleeve, candles, kaarskoker, lantern, lighting
Breaking from @HomeDepot and @MarthaStewart Twitter accounts, their is a partnership brewing that will have Martha Stewart Living sell branded home improvement products in all Home Depot stores.
Products in the outdoor-living category will launch in January in the U.S. and February in Canada, followed by products in the home-organization categories in February. The outdoor living line will include patio dining and conversation sets priced from $399 to $1,999. The home organization category will feature a closet organization system and a nine-cube organizational unit. Additional products will be available next year.
Tags: decor, furniture, home depot, martha stewart, organizing, outdoor furniture, patio sets, tools
iPhone apps for the remodeling and diy enthusiast are plentiful. There's an app to pick a paint color and an app to level a shelf but we recently got a handy new app that is more educational than gimmick. This app from Double Dog Studios is a reference guide for wood and contains full screen samples and detailed information for over 50 different varieties. It's a standalone application that doesn't require an internet connection so you can access it at the lumber yard or design store.
We've had a chance to check it out and we really dig the educational reference pages that explain the types of cuts (quarter sawn, rift sawn) as well as the very helpful "wood" glossary for those not in the industry. But one of the most helpful features we found was their listing of sustainability of wood types from secure to moderate and threatened. A must for any green builder or customer who is conscious about the materials they are going to buy.
Would you go with your same decking materials again? Synthetic or wood or something else?
There is a great debate going on over at FineHomeBuilding where builders are letting their opinions be known and it isn't as one sided as you might think. Synthetic deck materials aren't without issues and are also not entirely maintenance free as some manufacturers would have you believe.
No matter what material you choose to build your deck or shore up a current deck make sure it passes this inspection and you are working with a licensed contractor.
Tags: deck, deck material, fine homebuilding, ipe, synthetic, wood
There is nothing more refreshing than taking a cool shower outdoors. Unfortunately the only chance we get to do this is at a public shower near a beach which is great but wouldn't it be nice to just cool off quickly in your own backyard without investing in a pool.
You can build your own outdoor shower or check out this list from Maxwell of Apartment Therapy as he's done a roundup of the coolest (literally and figuratively) outdoor showers around.
Make sure you subscribe to his newsletter as he shares great product reviews and house tours on a daily basis.
Safety is a top concern when building stairs and it all starts with solid footing and a stable hand rail. We want to expand on our previous article for installing wood stair railing by providing some great resources for building solid stairs and repairing broken railings and wobbly newel posts.
Install Stair Treads and Railings
Build Kid-proof Stair Railing
Install a Stair Handrail [video]
Reclaimed Wood Staircase
Tighten a Loose Stair Rail
How to Fix a Stair Banister
Stair Safety Tips
Secure a Deck Railing Post
Anchor a Stair Railing
Tags: stair railing, stairs, tread, wood railing
Summer is in full-swing and hopefully your backyard is ready for the first holiday event this weekend as we all celebrate our country's independence on the 4th of July.
We've gathered some helpful articles to help you prep your home and yard for friends, family, guests, and cooking for all of them.
Chris from Apartment Therapy turned us onto a great new blog Our Brooklyn Roof Garden. The images found here make us long for New York again but we are still enjoying our outdoor space much more here in LA.
Our downstairs neighbors kept a nice courtyard full of fresh flowers and across the street the Jennifer Bartlett residence had a garden that any New Yorker would covet.
This photo slideshow from Dwell shows some of the sharpest outdoor showers and baths we've ever seen. The settings certainly help (the mountain one) but they all are minimalist and tend to flow with the design of the home. Here is a simple outdoor shower you can build yourself.
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