“A lot more people are focusing on their family, their homes, you know, the stuff in our immediate vicinity. People’s bubbles have shrunk.” He started building a fence but put the project on hold when he found it impossible to source new fence posts. Stacked neatly in his backyard is a minivan-size pile of gray lumber, all stuff Buhr salvaged from dumpsters and a fence demolition project. “Demand for outdoor living products is surging,” says Nancy Musselwhite, a building materials industry analyst for Principia Consulting.
Each one can be completed in just a weekend and increases the function—and style! Passive house designs enable us to build houses that save energy, improve air quality and reduce noise pollution. Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair.
- The right staircase railing design for your home will reflect its architecture and provenance.
- White could become a magnet for stains, but a cool-toned blue, green, or neutral can have the same impact.
- This hit HGTV home makeover show made stars out of Chip and Joanna Gaines—and made shiplap lovers out of us all.
- It needed to be as middle of the road as possible to appear to be the house of a middle class family living in a suburb during that era.
- The river rock she wanted in order to help set an aquatic theme was nowhere to be found this spring, so Camille had to use 53 bags of pea gravel as a substitute.
Earlier, we talked about repairing your own plumbing. Part of the trick in plumbing is to avoid scratching fragile chrome or brushed nickel finishes on faucets or exposed drain parts. Plumbers use smooth-faced pliers and wrenches to achieve perfect results. You can avoid buying special tools for one-time use by wrapping your soft-leather work glove around the fitting and using your standard pliers or pipe wrench over the protective cover. A common DIY home-improvement mistake, especially when finishing a basement, is making access to essential plumbing valves difficult. When you remodel, leave space or an access door to the main water valve, exterior spigot valves, water heater valves and any others your home may have.
“A good, sturdy garden rake can tidy up the borders, and instead of renting a lawn edger, a sharp, heavy-duty putty knife works just as well,” Matke says. Local authority loans are available to owner-occupiers towards the cost of necessary works to improve, repair or extend their existing houses. These loans are only available from some local authorities, so you should contact your local authority to check whether the scheme operates in your area.
Our skilled professionals provide dependable, hassle-free solutions for your home. If the carpet in your living room is looking worn, remove it and install some hardwood flooring. Quality hardwood flooring can cost anywhere from $3 to $8 per square foot and you can save some money by installing it yourself. If the carpet is still good, give it a good DIY carpet cleaning. Redesigning your front yard can completely change the feel of your house. Something as simple as planting flowers in the entryway will draw in party guests, and, when the time comes to sell, curb appeal is attractive to prospective buyers.
You know these two products are powerhouses for cleaning, on their own. Schedule a time for our specialist to start making your project a reality. For a pro look, curtains should puddle slightly or just kiss the floor. Not brave enough to go totally open with your cabinetry? Try this project on just the set of cabinets flanking your stove or the cabinet over the coffee counter.
Take down a wall
You can hang a mirror just about anywhere, but it’ll be most effective facing opposite a window to reflect the outdoors and sunlight. When you’re hanging a heavy mirror, be careful to use anchors, cleats, or picture wires to ensure it’s properly installed in the wall. Laminate flooring comes in a variety of shades, and costs between $3 – $8 per square foot. You can pay, on average, $2,352 for a professional installation, or measure precisely and DIY it on your own. Beautifully highlight a coffered ceiling with colorful paint, and keep the trim white for a bold visual effect.
New Lighting Is Cheap and Effective
Find your crowning glory.Hire a contractor to add crown molding, a chair rail, or wainscoting to a room or two — it’s a one-day job with architectural pow. Contain your kitchen.Under-counter swing-out corner storage helps organize a clutter zone — ideal for heavy, rarely used pots, or the collection of Tupperware we all inevitably amass. Restock your linen closet.If you wouldn’t show your current bath towels and bed linens to your visiting mother-in-law, ditch ’em and start anew. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Install recessed and track lighting
The materials your home is built from can make it safer – or more dangerous. Everything is going well in your kitchen renovation until you get to the tiny cabinet hinge screws. They can be nearly impossible to hold onto while installing them.
Nvesting in a home renovation no matter the size is an important decision that will affect the value of your home as well as your quality of life. In House Home Improvement does not take that decision lightly. Our knowledge and experience will ensure your custom project is completed on time, on budget and as you want it. With IHHI’S attention to detail and commitment to building long term trusting relationships you can rest assured you’ve made the right decision. Similar to cool-toned walls, a lighter-colored floor can make a room feel bigger by better reflecting natural light.
