Interior shutters complement many different decorating styles, so they are the go-to window treatment in many homes. Shutters with sharp, defined lines make them a natural choice in contemporary interiors, and their classic good looks make them ideal for traditional furnishings as well. The width of the louver varies from as narrow as one inch…
Install a Bathtub Door
Looking for an easy upgrade to a bathtub? Replace a shower curtain with a sliding tub door with panels of tempered safety glass or mirror. You’ll find several styles with sleek tracks and frames made of polished brass, nickel, silver and white finishes, and you can coordinate the new door with fixtures and accessories. Many…
Painted Floors Are Having a Moment
Not just for pretty porches and coastal cottages, painted floors are taking over home interiors. Images of quaint, rustic country homes or sprawling Southern porches may come to mind when you think of painted floors, and for fans of classic design, the trend is nothing new. But the latest looks prove painted floors are for…
Reduce Noise From Outdoors and Indoors
Dear James: We are in the planning stage of our new house and want it to be quieter than our current one. What design features should we consider to make it more soundproof? — Eddie F. Dear Eddie: Noise generated from indoors, especially if you have children, can often be louder and more annoying than…
Save Big Money on Exterior House Projects by Doing Them Yourself
The volume of incoming requests I receive from DIYers at the Ask Tim page of AsktheBuilder.com is rising faster than the Fed can hike interest rates to tame the raging inflation. With the prices of necessities such as fuel and food taking larger bites out of family budgets, there’s often scant money left over to…
Hang a Chandelier
The focal point in a room is often a chandelier, especially in a dining room, and today it’s often used by designers as a dramatic statement of a lighting scheme in a room. The chandelier is an element that illuminates and enhances a room scaled to the size of the space. It can be a…
Manufactured Stone Is Attractive and Durable
Dear James: My house now has siding, but some of it is deteriorating. I would like to replace those spots with manufactured stone accents. Is this a reasonable project? — Tim D. Dear Tim: This definitely can be done by an experienced do-it-yourselfer. Plan to use the stone for just accents, so you may still…
Add Wooden Brackets as Decor
To add personality to a plain vanilla room consider installing two corbels, or wooden brackets to frame a doorway or opening to add interest and appeal. In an older home the bracket may be ornate as part of an architectural feature of the room, and usually painted or finished like the woodwork. They’re often sold…
Do It Yourself: Lay Vinyl Sheet Flooring
A seamless vinyl floor in a room can create a stunning backdrop for furnishings, whether installed a kitchen, bathroom or any living space. And the choices of colors, patterns and designs has never been greater, many mimicking materials like stone, quartz and planks of embossed wood in small to large formats. The new designs are…
Select the Proper Circular Saw Blade for the Job
Dear James: Last time I used my circular saw, the blade was dull, and the cuts were rough. When I get new ones, what type of blade works best and how many teeth should there be? — Megan R. Dear Megan: If you have already shopped for a circular saw blade, you probably noticed a…
-
Recent Posts
-
Archives
- May 2025
- April 2025
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- September 2013
- July 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- December 1
-
Meta