Home Improvement

HomeDepotGiftCardHey Dads and kids, are you on top of things this year? Or are you scrambling to make the mom(s)-in-your-life’s day amazing?

I’m sure it’s not because you don’t care, but perhaps you’re a little unsure what she really wants. Let me help you out here.

She wants a HOME DEPOT GIFT CARD!

Seriously, you can’t go wrong. Let her use her imagination to create her dream garden or the perfect outdoor living space to read her favorite magazines or just relax with a beverage. Yes, cut flowers are nice, but a spring garden lasts all summer.

And yes, gift cards can be very personal. Either select a unique card design, or order one online and add your own photo or video and your own message. Total score! 

For extra points, present it in a flower pot or watering can.

Win a $100 Home Depot Gift Card!

Let me help you out here. Thanks to Home Depot, I have a $100 gift card to give away to one lucky YHOB reader! Just leave a comment about what you love best about the mom(s) in your life! Winner will be randomly selected this Friday (5/11/12) promptly at noon so you’ll have time to customize your online gift card for that special lady for Mother’s Day. The winner will receive the credit online, so you will have plenty of time to plan your presentation.

So go ahead, be a hero this year! Cape optional.

HomeDepotGiftCard

Ahem, so honey (you know who you are) – now you know how to be my hero this weekend. Let’s plant some memories babe!

 

The Home Depot Disclosure Statement
The Home Depot partnered with bloggers such as me to help promote their gift cards. As part of this promotion, I received a gift card(s) to share with my readers. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products. The Home Depot believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. The winner of this giveaway will be randomly chosen and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party.

{ 8 comments }

A big “thanks” to Bahram from Dulles Glass and Mirrors for this post! I’m all for anyone with suggestions for making spring cleaning fun and interesting! Get out that Windex and look for ways to add sparkle to your home with these great tips that go beyond smoke and mirrors!

Spring is approaching, and with it comes the boring ritual that has become spring cleaning. This year, in addition to the mundane scrubbing, why not liven up some drab areas of your home with a little sleight-of-hand sparkle. Here are five tips using mirrors and glass that will add a touch of brightness to any room, without expensive remodeling. Guaranteed to be a lot more fun than using a mop!

1. Discover Mirrored Tile

When it comes to decorative mirrors, you can’t just throw the average mirror on a wall and call it a day – chances are it won’t be big enough to really make a difference in a dark room. Large designer mirrors are expensive and heavy, and usually require a professional to install.

This is where mirrored tile really shines, pardon the pun. Available in a wide variety of sizes and colors, mirrored tiles are reasonably priced and make a great DIY weekend project. The 12×12 or 18×18 are best for wall projects; the smaller mosaic sizes are great for backsplashes and similarly sized areas. Create a large rectangular shape over your sofa, or get creative with a 4′ by 4′ diamond shape. Transform that tiny dining room by mirroring an entire wall. Create a faux floor mirror complete with frame. Use your imagination – mirror tiles are extremely versatile!

mosaic glass kitchen backsplash (source)

2. Get Framed

[click to continue…]

{ 1 comment }

Today’s guest post hits close to home for me as we’re in the process of refinishing our basement after flood damage from Hurricane Irene.  Little tip here: spring for the battery back up for your sump pump!

If you are looking to add square footage to your home, the easiest and most affordable way to do it is to finish your basement. There are some tips that can help you do it yourself to save the money you would otherwise spend to hire a contractor.

Finished Basement

1. Start with a Plan

[click to continue…]

{ 0 comments }

Thanks to Alex for these great tips on how to improve your home’s curb appeal. While a new garage door can make a huge impact on the curb appeal of a home, many of these are gentle reminders to do what you KNOW you should be doing. A little elbow grease and diligence will go a long way!

If you want to sell your home you can greatly improve your chances of doing so by improving your home’s curb appeal. The better your home looks from the outside, the more enthusiastic any potential buyers will be when they come and take a look at it.

Check out these five ways to increase your home’s curb appeal and boost your chances of an early sale.

1. Replace your garage door

If you have a garage and the door is looking a bit the worse for wear, take the opportunity to get a new one installed. People will want to know they can park their car safely inside the garage, and a new door will look clean and fresh too. If the door works fine but the paint is peeling, give it a new coat.

garage door

2. Give your front door a new coat of paint

[click to continue…]

{ 2 comments }

Thanks to Christa for this very helpful guest post about something we may not always think about.  Deck rails not only make a big difference in the aesthetics of an outdoor space, but goodness – they are doing a very important safety job as well! Form and function are key here!

If you are someone who entertains a lot, then you probably have a deck for added space. It is important that your deck be complete with deck railings as this adds safety for all your guests. I am sure you would want your deck to add to the overall architectural style of your home as well. If you are not sure of how to achieve this, you might need help. This is why I am outlining 9 tips below of how to choose deck railings that are not only safe, but complement your home architectural design.

deck railings

1. Building codes

Before going out and purchasing the materials for your deck railing, it is important to check with your local Town Planning Department on what type of material is legal, as some materials are not legal in some municipalities. They should also be able to give you guidelines on measurements like heights. The average height of a deck railing is normally 36 inches and the space between the rail posts should be no less than 6 inches apart. This takes into consideration access for adults and children.

2. Deck railing types

[click to continue…]

{ 1 comment }

Thinking of an en-suite? Think about bathroom furniture.

Thanks to Helen Davies from across the pond in UK for today’s guest post. She is a bathroom designer and writer with ten years experience. She currently works at Better Bathrooms and has written for interiors magazines such as Real Homes, Homebuilding & Renovations and Period Living.  She just started her own personal blog and can [...]

Read More →

10 Ways to Renovate Your Home for Under $500

If you had $500 to improve your home, what would you spend it on? Projects that improve the appearance or the efficiency of your home? It’s that old form versus function thing! Anyway, thanks To Ryan for this guest post highlighting 10 ways to improve your home for under $500. It’s unfortunate that so many [...]

Read More →

Improving Small Closet Functionality

Ok, this is going to be a relatively boring post. There are no flashy design ideas, splashy colors or totally room makeovers here. Even the title is boring. But if you’d like to see how you can make your small closet work harder for you for just $36, read on. First of all, here is [...]

Read More →

Making a Small Kids Bathroom Work

There are always concessions made when picking your next home. In our case, it was the smaller kids bathroom, which also has to serve as a guest bathroom at times. Not only was it functionally-challenged, it was just darn ugly. There. I said it. The challenges: Small 31” vanity with precious little countertop space and [...]

Read More →

Painting Stairs: DIY FAQs and Tips

When we first looked at this home (before we bought it), I was rather turned off by the staircase. It was carpeted in dirty gray berber carpet which wrapped around the edges, suggesting mere yellow pine underneath. It was almost a deal-breaker. Because the stairs are clearly visible from the foyer and family room, we [...]

Read More →