Archives for the month of: July, 2011

3 Tips on Including Children in This Summer’s Home Improvement Projects

Summer’s here, school’s out and the kids need something to do.

As you contemplate your summer to-do list, from re-organizing the garage to finally fixing that hanging cabinet door, consider inviting your kids to help you. Few things are as satisfying as working with your child (or parent) and seeing the fruits of your labor.

Erika Riggs, from Zillow.com Blog, offers a few tips on how to include your children and keep them interested and safe:

  • Ask for their opinion(such as paint color or flower type) and really listen to it
  •  Stock up on kid-sized toolsthat will fit their hands
  • Create side projects— if your child is too young to actually wield a hammer, let them work with a kid hammer and some wood next to you as you tackle your project

Check out local kids’ programs for building and crafts — The Home Depot offers a series of kids’ workshops. This August, participating stores are running a workshop on “Making Pencil Box Holders.” For more information, visit The Home Depot’s Home Improver Club site.

Home Owner Net breaks down, into four steps, how you can involve your child:

  1. Design and planning — take advantage of your child’s unfettered imagination.
  2. Painting — what kid doesn’t love to paint? Put down enough protection so you don’t have to worry about making a mess.
  3. Installing — a great opportunity to show your child the answer to “why does it do that?”
  4. Building — nothing feels better than making something out of nothing. Share the joy with your child.

For more kid-friendly summer projects, visit Squidoo’s Summer Projects To Keep Your Kids From Being Bored.

TV Shows Are A Great Resource for Ideas, Tips, Tricks and How-To’s

 

Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many ideas for improving your home or at a loss for what to do next, there’s a TV show to help you out.

 

From painting techniques to outdoor design, home improvement TV shows have it covered. Korina Rossi, the “Top 10 Guru” for Catalogs.com lists these shows among her Top 10 Home Improvement Shows:

 

Holmes on Homes

What happens when a professional contractor uncovers sloppy, dangerous and even illegal home renovations? Watch Mike Holmes tear it down and Make it Right® in this gritty award-winning television series.

 

The Woodwright’s Shop

Using only vintage, muscle-powered tools, Roy shows how to make wonderful woodcraft while making a healthier planet and a healthier you! It’s historic, it’s green and it’s steampunk too!

 

 

 

Disaster DIY

A show about Do-It-Yourself-ers who have failed at their own home renovations, and are in desperate need of some on the job training. Host and contractor Bryan Baeumler arrives to save them from a reno disaster and teach them how to fix it.

 

For more home improvement show suggestions, see the full list here.

Simple Solutions for Stunning Winter to Summer Transition

 

The décor that makes your home cozy and warm in the winter can make it seem hot and stuffy in the summer. Spending thousands of dollars on new furniture and figuring out something to do with your current furniture is not your only option.

Paint

      the decorator’s favorite, fastest and easiest way to change the mood of a room. Transform your cozy den to an airy retreat by painting your brown walls apple green.

      If painting a whole room seems daunting, try this trick from the experts: paint the room a neutral cream or white and choose one wall – a “feature wall” that will bring spring, summer or any season indoors with color.

 

Slip covers

      if your couches and chairs are covered in a sturdy, comfy dark fabric, tossing a white or bright duck-cloth slip cover on top will instantly lighten and brighten your room. There are many brands of “instant” slip-covers available on shopping sites such as Amazon.com, Target.com and Overstock.com.

      Depending on the piece, sometimes a plain white sheet can be imaginatively tucked and draped to serve as a slip-cover for a few months before being retired to its place in the linen closet.

 

For more seasonal transition decorating tips, check out these resources:

      Real Simple’s Guide to Low-Cost Home Upgrades

      House Beautiful’s Simple Summer Decorating Ideas

      CasaSugar’s Summer Decorating Ideas