Real Decorating for Real People
An outdoor trellis will add dimension and beauty to the exterior of your home – build one and see! Do you have fond memories of your first home? Well I certainly do. My first home was a wonderful little cottage that I spent many hours working on, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The garden…
I just finished doing what I like to do most on a warm evening. You have to understand that I do not like to cook, at all! If it can’t fit in a microwave, I ordered it over the phone. Not that I don’t like a home cooked meal, its just finding the time to…
The addition of stone to the exterior of your home will really amp up it’s curb appeal! Many homes today enjoy increased curb appeal and high perceived value because of the addition of stone. As with any type of building material, with stone, you have choices. The main decision to be made is the choice…
Anything that will make a bad job easier is something I’m all for, and this is one of those perfect projects! For those of you with a recycling program in your home town and have been supplied with plastic containers to hold the recyclable material, you know that it can be somewhat of a bother…
That’s right, it’s a Mold, Mildew and Stain Resistant Grout Color and Sealer in One! In the many years that Shari and I have been doing home improvement projects, we have been asked countless times, what can I do about my dull, dirty, stained or discolored grout on my floor tiles. We have tried countless…
It only takes a day to complete but it will add some style to your kitchen as long as you keep it! Looking around my kitchen, I noticed that our backsplash was a little boring; it was just a basic Formica backsplash that matches the countertop. Well, like most folks, I didn’t have it in…
No, it’s not the main living space of your home, but lots of us spend plenty of time in our garages and we want them to look great, well, here’s how! Several years ago on our show room by room, Shari and I did a makeover on a garage. One of the projects that we…
Garage doors, like any other part of our homes require some maintenance to keep them running in tip top shape. Check out these tips to keep yours looking and functioning at it’s best. This garage door was just installed on this home and of course it looks terrific. The homeowner spent a lot of time selecting…
When you consider that the garage door is the largest opening in your home, it just makes sense that you would want to make sure that it is as well insulated as possible. I discovered this myself last winter when the thermostat reached minus 5 degrees outside. I like most folks; I do my do-it-yourself…
When preparing a room for painting, Shari and I always make sure that we have all the tools we need close at hand. We store all of our tools in plastic containers and take care of them as if they are part of the family. The tools we use are listed below along with tips…
Try using rough hewn wood to make certain pieces of your winter garden angel to add texture and interest. The beginning of winter is time of year is my favorite time to get back in the shop. I feel like Santa’s helper putting together great projects that could soon be underneath someone’s Christmas tree. A project like…
Shari and I are always excited when our good friend Chris from Tupperware sends us recipes. This time she has put together a couple of her favorite coffee and tea recipes to share with all of us. So with that in mind-here is what Chris has to say. With the bit of a chill in the air, I’ve been…
This is a great project to dress up the exterior of your home and let the neighbors know they are welcome at your home. It can be modified to say any type of greeting you wish and can certainly be customized for the season. It takes hardly any time since the letters can be purchased at a craft…
I’ll admit that red paint in a room is like a dream come true, but painting with red – well that’s a nightmare! A friend of mine asked if I would paint a wall in her home and of course I gladly accepted the invite. When I asked her what color she wanted to paint…
It can be any type of bird you like I guess, but my mom wanted a flying flamingo – so I made her one! Actually, my mom dropped off a sick bird a while back hoping that I could bring it back to life. I really had a hard time deciding whether to put it…
Looking for some helpful tips and techniques for grilling out? Well, here are 10 that will keep you busy for weeks. Hey folks, these grilling tips are from our favorite Tupperware consultant, Chris! Although Matt is a real grill master, even he was impressed that there were things he didn’t know about grilling. Chris has offered up…
When I look back at growing up with my two older brothers, it amazes me that my mom was able to keep up with the cleaning. The amount of cleaning supplies must have been enormous because those two were down right messy, I however was as neat as a pin (hold on while I slap…
Many years ago I purchased a home that is located on a lake. The purpose of the home was to not only have a place that was serene and tranquil and give me a place to rest my head but it was also a place where my friends and family could come and visit and…
By far the must have tool for any home improvement junkie is the Cordless Drill and both Shari and I agree on that one. This is the tool of the hour when trying to install shelves, drapery rods, valances, almost anything that needs a screw driven or a hole drilled, the cordless drill is the…
Instead of simply hanging that folding calendar on the wall with a tack, how about stepping up your game and building an attractive frame to hold it? Every year as soon as the New Year starts, I love to purchase all the new calendars that I will use around the house. I have a calendar on…
When you get to the point where you are making curve cuts and scrolls, you will want to purchase a jigsaw – Shari’s favorite saw! The Jigsaw, the sewing machine saw! Other than a circular saw, the jig saw is one of the power tools that I keep in close arms reach in my home…
If your home is anything like mine, you have a variety of floor surfaces; carpeting, tile, wood, maybe even bamboo. And more than likely you have area rugs placed throughout the home. My kitchen is tiled as well as my dining room but both rooms have an area rug. One is placed near my sink…
If you are looking for a sweet treat to give as gifts this year for the holidays, how about whipping together some chocolate bark? I must admit, I have a sweet tooth, and this time of year is tough because I can never decide, do I want cake, pie, cookies, or candy? Well, at the holidays,…
It takes only 5 easy steps from the tree to the ornaments to put together a Christmas tree you will be proud to call your own! Are you worn out from your holiday shopping? Stuck on what to get the kids? Why not give your family the experience of an old fashioned Christmas this year? Shari…
It’s the holidays, but keep safety in mind when you are working with your tree, lights, candles, space heaters and more. These tips will help make it a happy, incident free holiday! Trees -If you are using a real tree, make sure it is fresh, because a fresh tree is less of a fire hazard. To…
I’m sitting watching the Cleveland Browns getting thumped by the Pittsburg Steelers. I’m a Cleveland boy so it is quite discouraging to sit and watch. (Ben Roethlisberger is from my home town – so I’m a closet fan) Anyways, I was sitting there thinking about all the things I could be getting done around the…
Walking around my home on October 9th, I would have never thought that winter was around the bend. The temperature had reached 53 degrees and it felt like it was a perfect spring day. If the trees weren’t showing their magnificent colors, I would be considering buying a new swim suit. That is, until October…
Recently Matt and I met a bubbly, energetic realtor, Carol Barnhart, who offered her knowledge and experience to us in the form of this article dealing with real estate issues. In times when home sales, foreclosures, lending and mortgages are topics of constant discussion, it helps to hear it straight from an expert. The following is…
Islands are a great way to get extra counter space, and they can be fashioned from scratch, or you can use something you already have like a buffet or sofa table! In our kitchen we have very little counter space to prepare meals or to serve guests. So I shopped around looking for a kitchen island. …
Don’t be afraid to tackle paitning that flat surfaced door because it’s easier than you think…just follow these steps! Before I start talking about painting doors, I want to pass on that one of the easiest and inexpensive ways to freshen up a room is to paint your walls and trim. Let’s face it; dollar…
You haven’t ever roasted pumpkin seeds? Well with these simple instructions there’s no longer any excuses – get busy and get roasting! When it comes time to carve your pumpkin for Halloween don’t deny yourself one of the best taste treats of the season, roasted pumpkin seeds. After all you are going to be up…
These letter blocks for Halloween or any other holiday are a great first project for kids in the shop becuase it takes a little cutting, sanding and painting – all good practice! This is by far my favorite time of year, not only do I love the fall with all the wonderful colors of the leaves…
Be extra careful when working with ladders if you are inexperienced. Read through these tips before you get started. As someone who has spent many hours of their working life on a ladder, I feel that I can safely say I know my way around ladders. I have cleaned gutters from a ladder, replaced a…
I guess you could say that broccoli slaw is a cousin of the famous cole slaw with the addition of the broccoli which makes it heartier and healthier! Matt’s favorite aunt, Aunt Jo, makes a great summer salad that looks like good ole Cole Slaw, but it was actually Broccoli Cole Slaw! Matt asked her for the recipe and instead…
Ahhhhh! The coming of summer, boating, swimming hiking, cleaning your grill, yes you heard me cleaning your gas grill. I know it doesn’t sound like fun, but if you are anything like me you love to cook out. Well at least you like the results, brats, steaks and burgers, now I’m talking your language. But…
Ok guys, enough with the steak, burgers and hot dogs on the grill, how about some heart healthy tuna steaks to change things up a bit?! I’m one of those unfortunate folks that have to watch my cholesterol, I lost the genetic gamble and have to really watch what I eat and try to keep my…
You know you can do better than a tie this year, so take alittle time to browse through these 30 ideas…one has to be right for your Dad! This Hallmark card says it all, and for most Dads, this is all they need. However, Matt and I were discussing Father’s Day gift ideas and although…
With furniture getting heavier and heavier, it’s not a bad idea to learn how to move it safely before you spend the rest of the weekend flat on your back! Hey guys, Matt here, before moving on to lighting and the rest of the decorative project, I suggest you set up your room in the…
Paint brushes, good ones, are expensive and they are worth it but you have to keep them in good shape! After I graduated from college and started working, one of my first jobs was as a school teacher and like many teachers I needed a summer job to make ends meet, a friend of mine (who…
Peanut butter and banana go together to make all sorts of good treats, and this smoothie recipe has to be at the top of the heap! This is a drink that I fell for several years ago when I felt that I wasn’t getting enough fruit in my diet. And besides that, on a hot…
