I’m not certain, but I am pretty sure that IKEA is Swedish for ‘You’re about to spend a whole lot of money!’ Even when I think my wife is going to slip out of there with just one or two little items I find myself making 12 trips out to the truck to bring the ‘last’ of it in. Our latest trip to IKEA proved to be no different. It really is my mom and dad’s fault. For Christmas, they bought us a dishwasher. Our dishwasher had been on the fritz for awhile and we were going to replace it when we redid the kitchen. You see, besides the faulty dishwasher; the sink leaked, the cabinet bases were falling in and the old particle board countertop was flaking pretty bad. Despite the checkout shock that accompanies most IKEA trips, we were able to score a major bargain on a new countertop using an inexpensive Ikea butcher block top. [Read more...]
Cheap but Stylish Butcher Block Countertops From IKEA
Which Caulk Should I Grab? 10 Types of Caulk and Their Uses
Caulk may sound like a dirty word (I’ve got a million inappropriate jokes), but it’s one of the most essential and versatile building materials in the world. It’s used in nearly every facet of the building industry from showers to roofing to fireproofing, and that’s just a few of its many uses. With so many different types of caulking available on the market — which one should you use? The answer is probably bigger than the question. In fact, it’s at least 800 words worth of answer. So settle into your favorite easy chair, get comfy, pull out your caulk and find out which type works best for your next building project. We’ll cover ten of the more common (and a couple not as common) varieties here. [Read more...]
Tile Flooring Basics
I love flooring tile. It’s easy to install, most of its affordable and it looks good in just about any room. So why don’t I marry it already? Because my lawyers can’t quite figure out the prenuptial yet. Although I’m no tile contractor, I’ve installed my share of this fantastic flooring material and I love to show everyone how easy it is to install themselves. Whether you’re thinking about installing a bit of tile in your entryway, or you’re filling your whole house with the stuff, use this overview on tile installation to pick up a few basics to get you started, and see for yourself how easy it is to start becoming a tile master. [Read more...]
Hanging out with Prefinished Cabinets – 10 Tips for Hanging Cabinets
Feeling lonely? Don’t worry about it! You can always hang out with your kitchen cabinets. Or at least hang your kitchen cabinets. But hanging your own kitchen cabinets can be a complex, back-breaking job that has been well-known to drive sane people mad with rage, cause teetotalers to drink and even cause premature aging—just like Benjamin Button. If you’re an optimist, you might know that the bright side of hanging cabinets is that it can cause your significant other to get frisky. DIY kitchen cabinets might finally enable a hot date with your mate other than on Valentines, Christmas or your birthday. Or maybe not. Either way, you’ll have a place to hang out—with your prefinished cabinets. [Read more...]
Installing Under Cabinet Lighting – A Flash of Brilliance For Your Kitchen
Hearing scary scrabbling noises coming from your kitchen at night? Need some task lighting while slicing and dicing your empty beer cans and rusty nails with your Ginsu knives? Often, the light from overhead kitchen fixtures leaves a lot to be desired. It may be coming from flickering fluorescent fixtures, or recessed lights that don’t quite hit the G-spot (that’s G for Ginsu…). You may even have a sad, underpowered little unit like the one at left, begging to be replaced. Fortunately, if you have upper cabinets, it’s pretty easy to get lit up; the recessed area under most upper cabinets provides the perfect platform from which to light up your world. [Read more...]
Bamboo Countertops: Keepin’ it Green for Your Greens and More
Bamboo, known for its hardness and durability, is also one of the greenest options around. Rapidly growing and highly sustainable, bamboo is an ideal material for countertops and other food preparation surfaces. Teragren is the manufacturer of these bamboo countertops, as well as other work surfaces, flooring and panels. All their products are made of Moso bamboo, which is harvested at maturity every 5-6 years. (They don’t do it any earlier because immature bamboo is still too pliable, or “green” if you will, and can warp.) [Read more...]
Peel and Stick Metal Tiles: If You Can Manage a Band-Aid, You Can Install These Tiles
I came across these peel and stick metal tiles while browsing through This Old House’s website. From Aspect Ideas, this tile series can be used for either practical or decorative applications. You can use them as a back splash in the kitchen or bath, or dress up a wall area for a more artistic look. The metal tiles come in four different color finishes; stainless, champagne, brushed bronze, and copper with the option of long or short grain. [Read more...]
Engineered Counter Tops Make a Splash
Ever heard of engineered flooring and panels? This is the practice of using a thin layer of wood, typically around 1/8” thick, laminated to a substrate. It’s like using really thick veneer. Think about it. You want your flooring or paneling to look real and feel real and maybe you want to use a distressed finish. Thin veneer, like what’s on the plywood we buy from the lumber yard, isn’t durable enough for floors, and of course distressing is not an option. Engineering your product is the key. [Read more...]
William Shatner on How To Fry a Turkey and Avoid Lighting Yourself on Fire
Thanksgiving week is here already and many of us are gearing up to cook up some large birds. I can almost feel that tryptophan coma setting in right now. Most of us are cooking in an oven. But this is the United States! So, of course, a large number of people intend to fry their turkeys. It’s part of the US diet and culture: when in doubt fry it! Frying a turkey involves filling a huge pot with oil, heating it with a high-power propane burner – often during festivities that involve copious amounts of alcohol. What could possibly go wrong? [Read more...]
Fishing for Outdoor Barbeque Cabinets – Part 3
Finishing this article this month seemed like the smart thing to do as it goes hand in hand with finishing your project as well. Plus we get a little continuity going here which makes my wife very happy. Making my wife happy means I am happy. ‘Nuff said. [Read more...]
