Posts

Want a little more room while you sleep? It’s time to start looking for the best king mattress to add to your bedroom. While the 16-inch difference between a queen and a king mattress may seem insignificant, that space can make a huge difference in your quality of sleep each night, especially if you share the bed with a partner, pets, or kids. Before choosing a king mattress, it’s important to check that your bedroom can comfortably fit a king-size bed, which measures 76” wide and 80” long....

Deluxe Cat Playplace This set is available in a range of colors and you can customize to suit your decor, but this beautiful all-black installation almost looks like art. 3-pack Climbing Shelves These Oxford cloth shelves can be installed in just 4 easy steps. Wall-mounted Cat Shelves This set includes a “cat condo” and hammock. Sisal-covered surfaces are perfect for scratching. Cat Mod Lift Hammock A sturdy wood-and-canvas installation that’s sleek-looking, to boot!...

Casual Entrance A mudroom with an adjacent powder room provides a casual entry on the side of the house. Wall paint: Williamsburg Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore; Entry door: Sierra Pacific; Ceiling fixture: Progress Lighting; Floor tile: AKDO; Rug: Annie Selke Bright blue walls in the mudroom guarantee visitors a cheery arrival. Wall paint: Williamsburg Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore A poplar two-panel door leads from the mudroom to the workshop beyond....

HVAC system manufacturer: The Unico System

As a quick disclaimer, know that every dust collection setup will look different depending on your needs and budget. Before you get started, you should note that retailers carry different versions of the same type of hose and fittings, and not all are compatible even though they all say 2½-inch, so attempt to purchase items from the same brand or plan on some trial and error. For the cut list, tools, and materials needed for this project, scroll down to the bottom of this page....

How to Bend Wood: The Need-to-Knows Regardless of which of the following methods you choose, there are a few facts to understand about bending wood. For one, wood fibers are tough and rigid, so wood doesn’t want to bend. For that reason, it’s very easy to break wood while attempting to bend it, so adjust your expectations and don’t get discouraged. 3 Ways to Finish Plywood Edges Also, for bending wood with steam or hot water, as described below, you only have about 30 seconds before the board cools or dries enough to stop being pliable....

Steps for Building a Storm Shelter Considerations for Building a Storm Shelter Whether you live in a coastal region, prone to tropical storms and hurricanes, or in the Midwest, always on the alert for a tornado to strike, you want a safe place in your house to retreat to during extreme wind events. Many run to an interior room, hoping a space constructed of 2x4s and drywall will protect them from winds that exceed 100 miles per hour....

Build a Wall-Mounted Organizer Cut List Quantities listed are sufficient to make an organizer that’s 26 inches wide by 34 inches high. Download plan here Beadboard – 1 @ 21 by 33 inches 1x6 fascia board – 1 @ 22½ inches 1x6 fascia board (returns) – 2 @ 1¼ inch 1x5 shelf – 1 @ 26 inches ¼-inch square dowel (front stop rail) – 1 @ 24 inches ¼-inch square dowel (side stop rails) – 2 @ 4 inches Crown molding – 1 @ cut to size Crown molding (returns) – 2 @ cut to size Corner guard – 3 @ cut to size 1x6 for back of bag dispenser – 1 @ 13 inches ⅝-inch square dowels for frame of bag dispenser – 2 @ 6½ inches ⅝-inch square dowels for posts for bag dispenser – 4 @ 1½ inches ¾-inch shelf edging for bag dispenser – 6 @ cut to size Cut the Beadboard and Fascia Board Using a circular saw, cut the beadboard to size....

To help with that, I built a cedar box with a reel inside that will let me deploy the hose when it’s needed and neatly wind it up—and hide it away—when it’s not. Plastic furniture feet raise the wood off the ground; stakes will keep the box from tipping or sliding. Now, thanks to our new reel, watering plants will be much less of a chore, and I won’t have to worry about my kids tripping on the hose while playing in our new backyard....

Best of all, the entire thing can be easily taken apart and stored flat—or, better yet, stashed in your trunk for tailgate parties this fall. What better project to celebrate the beginning of grilling season? This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers shows how to put it together using cedar and outdoor-grade materials. Overview for Building an Outdoor Bar Cart Project timeline Friday: Cut and prep the lumber for the trays, crosspieces, and handle....

Are you considering adding a smart doorbell to your home? Watch This Old House Home Technology Expert Ross Trethewey talk about what you should consider before purchasing a new smart doorbell. Smart Home Doorbell Features There are a lot of smart home doorbells available today, but most of them offer the same features: Video or photo recording Smartphone alerts Motion detection Two-way audio Nightvision 1080p resolution Some of the most advanced models feature facial recognition that learns to recognize faces over time....

Steps for choosing and maintaining a garbage disposer Tools How to Install a Garbage Disposal

The best lighting for your bathroom helps create a place to relax and recharge. And when it’s done right, the payoff is great. After all, this is the room where you start and end your day. What Type of Lighting is Best for the Bathroom? A good lighting plan is a series of layers — placing ample light where it is needed for showers, shaving, or putting on makeup, for instance, while other light sources enhance the overall mood of the room....

Steps for clearing a clogged bathtub drain Tools

Like with any tool or technique, you need to pick the right one for the right application. There are still places where Richard recommends opting for soldering, but these new connections are great solutions that are going to withstand the test of time. Alternative Pipe Fitting Methods Soldered Connections In most settings, soldered connections are still the plumber’s preferred method of fitting copper pipes. By applying pipe flux and heating the joint, solder flows between the fitting and the pipe to create a watertight seal....

Buffet Lamp Proving that task lighting’s not just for your desk, this polished-brass fixture offers extra illumination for kitchen counters. About $204; bellacor.com Cabinet and Trim Paint Cool tones pop against white walls. Natura Semi-Gloss in Nantucket Fog (AC-22) on cabinets and Harrisburg Green (HC-132) on trim. About $51 per gallon; benjaminmoore.com Round Stool This simple seat ensures there’s always room for one more at the table. Give it an aged look by sanding the wood, then coating it with a dark paste wax....