Expert Advice on Home Improvement

The furnishings in this green home are made with eco-friendly materials. Rugs were selected that used vegetable dyes while the furniture has soy based cushions covered by natural fabrics. Watch the video to find out more. Watch this video.

Custom Carved Interior Doors from JELD-WEN Windows and Doors can be ordered with various designs and lettering carved into them, including your child’s name. Constructed from medium density fiberboard (MDF) with a separate core to make them lighter and reduce noise, custom carved doors come primed and ready for painting. Watch this video.

If you’re not able to expand your existing living area, then consider taking out an interior wall to open the area up and make it feel larger than it really is. Watch the video to find out how. Watch this video.

While converting an unused basement, attic, or garage into additional living space is a popular option, careful planning is needed to prevent potential problems. If you take these unique planning and design aspects into consideration, your conversion will be a success. Watch this video.

For this project, we converted an existing carport into an outdoor living space complete with wet bar, mini fridge, and built-in stainless steel grill. The counter of the cooking area was covered in marble tiles while the concrete slab was cleaned, scored, and stained to match the floor inside. Watch this video.

To keep pictures level on your walls, add self-adhesive rubber bumpers (available at hardware stores and home improvement centers) to the bottom corners on the back of the frame. Not only will your pictures stay put, but the bumpers prevent the frame from marking the wall and can keep dust from collecting behind it. Watch this video.

This café style curtain rod from Levolor attaches to metal doors with magnets. This not only simplifies installation by eliminating the need for drilling holes in the door, but it allows you to remove the rod anytime you like in a matter of minutes without leaving unsightly holes. Watch this video.

When adding on to your home, it’s important to try to match the new bricks and trim as closely as possible to the existing house. To help you do this, take a picture of your house, along with several of the original bricks, with you to the brickyard. Watch this video.

One of the key elements of a bathroom renovation is the various fixtures that go in it. A number of new styles and finishes have been introduced in recent years that can give your bathroom a unique touch. Watch this video.

A minor kitchen remodel has one of the highest rates of return of any home renovation project. It often includes replacing the cabinet hardware and countertops as well as refinishing the cabinets themselves. Another more expensive option is to replace the doors and drawers on the existing cabinets. Watch this video.

Adding a two-story addition to your home can cost less per square foot than a single story addition, since only one foundation and one roof are need. When considering adding a two-story addition to your home, consider how the addition will tie into the existing home and be sure you aren’t overbuilding it for the neighborhood. Watch this video.

Converting existing attic space into a bedroom is a popular home improvement project that can return over 93% of the money invested when you sell your house. When deciding whether to convert an attic into living space, there are a number of questions to consider, including access, ceiling height, and natural light. Watch this video.

A major bathroom remodel can return much of the cost in increased value to your home. Hiring a professional bathroom designer or architect to plan the remodel can result in a better layout as well as making the project go smoother. Watch this video.

A kitchen remodel can return over 90% of its cost to the value of your home. It’s important to have a qualified kitchen designer help plan your kitchen to make sure the appliances and sink are conveniently located to promote an efficient flow of traffic. Watch this video.

A window seat not only enhances the look of a room and provides additional seating, but it serves as a great storage space as well. Find out how to make a built-in window seat for your home. Watch this video.

A fireplace mantel often serves as the focal point in a room. While factory made mantels are available, do-it-yourselfers with a well equipped shop can make one themselves from stock molding and medium density fiberboard or solid wood. Watch this video.

Interior decorator Diane Berry of Unique Designs, Inc. discusses how to work with a client to design the perfect master bedroom suite. In addition to a bed with upholstered headboard; the room will include a reading area, desk for writing, and a built-in breakfast bar. Watch this video.

To help you make sense of house plan blueprints, keep in mind that house plans are usually drawn to ¼” scale, which means that a quarter inch on the blueprints represents one foot on the job site. Watch this video.

To reduce wind damage from a hurricane or tornado, joints connecting the framing of a house are tied together from the roof down to the sill using metal straps and hardware. Watch this video.

Finishing a basement can pose unique design challenges, but if done right, a remodeled basement will enhance the value of a home and provide much needed additional space. One of the biggest potential problems that needs to be addressed early on when finishing a basement is the presence of moisture. This is often best handled by removing the soil around the basement. Watch this video.

A decorative ceramic tile backsplash can really serve to dress up the space above the countertops in your kitchen, as well as providing protection from the inevitable splatters and spills. Watch as Danny takes you step-by-step through the process, from preparing the wall surface and installing the tile to sealing the grout from stains. Watch this video.

Whether you’re starting from scratch with an all new kitchen, or simply want to dress up the cabinets you already have, the countertops you choose can make a big difference in the finished look. From plastic laminates to solid surface materials to natural stone, Danny guides you through the maze of choices that are available no matter what your budget. Watch this video.

While most are familiar with architects and interior designers, there’s a new type of designer that’s becoming increasingly popular. Eco-sensitive designers help builders make decisions that increase the eco-friendliness of a home. Watch this video.

From high-tech gadgets to simple changes, Danny takes a look at some new ways to make your home green whether during new construction or a remodel. Automated irrigation systems, solar paneled roofs, and programmable thermostats are just a few of the green additions seen here. Watch this video.

Kitchen renovations add more value to your home than improvements in almost any other areas, but they also can make a drastic difference in how your home is used. Danny has some advice to help make the right decisions during the renovation. Watch this video.

Removing wallpaper is always tedious work, but knowing how to do it properly can save time and elbow grease. No matter how easy it is to remove, your wall is likely to have some dings that will need to be patched up, not to mention the mess of torn wallpaper that will have to be swept off the floor. Watch this video.

Ceramic tile floors can add extra elegance to formal areas like the living room and dining room. In a project like this, Floor preparation is import before the first tiles can be laid. Darker marble insets were used to add pizazz to this flooring. Watch this video.

Creating a kitchen that’s attractive but easy to keep clean is a goal for most homeowners but it’s especially hard for parents of young children. Kids seem to find away to get fingerprints on every appliance you own. Watch this video.

The “Old World” look of natural stone is more popular than ever in kitchens today, but people often ask how they can create this look on a budget. The answer may be in a new generation of laminate countertops that mimic the look of stone surfaces at a much lower price. Watch this video.

One of the first questions people often ask at the start of a kitchen renovation is “can I get granite countertops on my budget?” The answer to that question is yes a lot more often now than it once was because Granite has become more affordable. Watch this video.

I’m often asked why some brands of pre-fabricated cabinets are so expensive when they are made of particle board. Most quality cabinets use a material that does resemble a low-grade particle board but is actually much more durable. Watch this video.