The Home Design Blog

Welcome to the Blog page, a "mini-blog" of sorts that provides you with updates to this site as well as information about what's new and interesting in the world of home products and design.

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If you'd like an easy way to stay tuned-in to the ever-changing world of home products and ideas (maybe for that upcoming remodel?) sign up for the newsletter, Everything For The Home. It offers even more practical ideas and insight into the products and choices available to outfit your home. It's free and you can unsubscribe at any time. You can read some sample back-issues here.

Exotic Laminate Flooring In Long Planks

The choices for exotic wood laminate flooring just expanded a bit with the introduction of Sapele Long Plank by Bruce Laminate. Sapele (pronounced "suh-pee-lee") is a wood similar to mahogany and native to Africa. The real wood is sought after for flooring because of its durability and distinct color and graining.

The new introduction by Bruce Laminate captures this wood in a laminate floor but with the added distinction of a hand-scraped effect. You can see it and read about it in the "What's New, What's Interesting" feature of the laminate flooring page.

Cabinet Knobs That Crunch Your Fingers

I spent last weekend up at a friend's lake home. It's a beautiful place with a lawn that slopes down to the water's edge. It's also the place with the cabinet knobs that eat my fingertips for lunch.

The house is older, as are the cabinets and cabinet hardware. It's not like the cabinet knobs are that out-of-the-ordinary. They look benign enough. But behind the rather innocent looking round knobs lurk these evil decorative rings that await unsuspecting fingertips like ravenous piranha anticipating the hapless cow that wanders into the river.

In other words, if you don't watch out your fingers get pinched between the knob and the decorative backing ring as you open the cabinet door. For me, it's a classic case of buying cabinet knobs based purely on looks with no regard for how they feel.

If you think "feel" isn't important when it comes to cabinet hardware you haven't experienced knobs like those at my friend's lake home. Think about how many times you open and close your cabinets every day. Even though it's a brief touch it should feel comfortable, with no risk of pinching or prickly points.

In the article on kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls there's a picture of a whimsical cabinet knob shaped like a turtle. The style of knob is interesting but it's too small and the turtle's feet poke your fingertips.

Maybe my fingers are just wimpy. But there are just some cabinet knobs that feel good and others that don't, even though they might look cool. So next time you're in the market for new knobs, go beyond the looks. Experience how they feel in your fingers. Hold them up to a cabinet door and see if there's enough room for your fingers. You'll be glad you did.

A Vinyl Siding Primer

Have you ever considered installing vinyl siding on your house? Maybe you already have it. And then again maybe you don't and you never will.

Vinyl siding seems to be one of those things that people have a definite opinion about. They either love it or hate it. The 'hate it' crowd has probably seen cheap vinyl and/or bad siding jobs and their viewpoint is justified.

But there are some things to like about vinyl, not the least of which is its low-maintenance qualities. Vinyl has come a long way too, with much better color retention qualities and detailed injection-molded features like split shakes and architectural moldings.

If you're looking for information about how to assess the merits of vinyl siding you can check out the new article about its highs, lows and how-to's.

Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring With A Story To Tell

I'll be honest. I'm a history buff and a nut for anything old -- old tools, old cars and just about anything that precedes my birth date. Reclaimed wood is also something I have a penchant for though I don't have any in my home (yet).

In most cases reclaimed wood is old but beyond that, it usually has a story behind it. Maybe it's from the beams that held the roof over the heads of thousands of past guests at a grand old hotel in the Canadian Rockies, now dismantled after years in existence (hey, I can dream can't I?).

Or maybe it's wood from old barns that have been turned into unique solid wood floors. That's what Homerwood has added to their hardwood flooring lineup. From the old oaks of 200 years ago comes flooring that you can start a conversation about.

You can see it in the "What's New / What's Interesting" section on the reclaimed wood flooring page.

House Siding Choices

House siding is sort of like insurance. You have to have it but it quickly fades into the background and if all goes well you don't have to think about it that much. At least that's the preferred scenario.

Like insurance, your siding provides protection, sheltering your home's bones and your family from bad things that Mother Nature throws your way. And also like your insurance, you want to set it and forget it. All of us want our home's siding to look nice and perform well so that we don't have to mess with it too often.

If you own your home for a while or decide to build new or remodel, you'll probably be faced with siding decisions. A number of different factors come into play with that kind of decision too. You'll need to consider things like how you want your house to look, whether to upgrade your siding, how it will blend with the neighborhood, what kind of maintenance you're willing to put in, etc., etc.

If you're in that boat or simply curious about what's available (tree bark anyone??) stop by and check out the article on house siding types. There are plenty of choices. The question is, which one is right for your home?

Remodeling Tip #6 - Don't Do Stainless If You Don't Like Fingerprints

This tip isn't intended to offer some earth shattering insight but rather to affirm what people have known about stainless steel appliances for some time. And that is, if you don't like seeing fingerprints, you might want to think about something other than stainless steel. I've lived with 4 new stainless appliances since our kitchen upgrade and I can attest to this oft-cited characteristic.

That being said however, would I choose something different if I were to do it all over again? The answer is no. That's because we're talking about a style choice, a personal preference. For my kitchen the stainless appliances work beautifully with the colors of our cabinets and countertops. My wife and I knew the reputation of stainless steel and we were prepared to take on any extra maintenance needed if we wanted fingerprint-free appliances all the time.

As it turns out, we aren't constantly cleaning. With 3 kids our kitchen gets lived in. Life goes on and we get fingerprints but it's not our style to wig out about them. We've fallen into a pattern of wiping off the smears and smudges about once a week.

Cleaning them has been easier than I imagined too. I've tried a couple of products including glass surface cleaner and a stainless polish sample provided by one of the appliance manufacturers. Both work pretty well though the glass cleaner take a bit of "technique" to avoid streaks.

So what's the real message behind this tip? Becoming knowledgeable about the products you choose and grounding yourself in realistic expectations should be guiding principles in any remodeling project. Knowing what you're in for will afford you a lot more satisfaction on the other side of the remodel because there will be fewer bad surprises.

Help With Home Design

Ask a few people what their definition of "home design" is and you'll probably get answers relating to the creation of a new home. While that might be accurate I'll argue that it's not the only definition.

Home design really entails all aspects of creating new homes as well as changing existing ones. When you think about new ideas to remodel your existing home, you're actually engaging in the design process.

"But I'm not a designer" you say. That's true for a lot of us. And that's why many of us need some help once in a while designing our homes the way we want them to be.

Depending on the scope of the project there are things that we can do. If you're technically savvy you might be able to design your new home or addition using some of the software packages available on the market. Or maybe you know what it is you want in your home's design but need help fleshing out the details.

Regardless of where you sit there's a way to ultimately get the design you want and ways to get help if you need it. You can learn more at the new article on home design help.

Remodeling Tip #5 - Don't Make Decisions Harder Than They Have To Be

How decisive are you? It's no secret that any remodeling project involves lots of decisions. The bigger the job, the more decisions you'll have to make. To some, that might seem overwhelming. But I submit that they're only as hard as you make them.

After several remodeling projects on my own house I've concluded that some of those decisions ultimately involve inconsequential issues that "blend into the background" in a short time. A lot of the choices we have to make, particularly ones about product choices, are ultimately about stuff that won't (or shouldn't) matter that much after the remodel is done.

At the time making some of those decisions seem like monumental tasks, as if the "wrong" decision is going to doom you to a life of utter disappointment and despair. But that's usually not the case. The consequence of many (not all but many) of the decisions you need to make will fade into the background in your 'life after the remodel'.

In other words, don't sweat the small stuff, like agonizing over whether to choose this cabinet knob or that one. Either one will look just fine and will certainly function no differently than the other. Choose one you like and that feels good and go with it.

Getting hung up over which color and pattern of granite to choose for the countertop? If pricing isn't an issue, narrow your choices to two that you prefer then make a decision and move on. Six months down the road you won't know the difference because regular life takes over. It's only when we're making all these remodeling decisions that we tend to hyper-focus and put an inordinate amount of significance on them.

No one has ever walked in my home and commented to me why we didn't choose Tan Brown over Tropic Brown granite. They just say "hey, nice countertops" or say nothing at all and move on to normal conversation. When I get up in the morning I don't lament the fact that we didn't choose glazed cabinet finishes. Our cabinets hide my dishes and groceries, look nice and we don't think about them beyond that.

If you tend toward analysis-paralysis when it comes to making these decisions, front-load them into the planning process ahead of time before the project begins. It's not uncommon to actually spec out all of your product and design choices before the project starts. That avoids having to make time-pressed decisions on the fly, when you're much less apt to make stress-free, clear-headed choices.

Save the more contemplative effort for the bigger decisions, like whether to pay the higher initial price for the upgraded furnace that can reduce your long term operating costs.

In the end if you aren't disciplined about being decisive you'll end up frustrated and make the whole remodeling process much more stressful than it needs to be. Don't second-guess yourself after you make a decision and you'll be a much happier remodeler.

A Closer Look At Delta Dryden Bath Faucets

If you think about it most bath faucets, or faucets in general for that matter, tend to have smooth lines and curved features. They're essentially an extension of the pipes that carry water to our sinks and being like pipes, their cross-section is typically round.

But that's where Delta's Dryden Collection differs from other faucets. The Dryden line is characterized by a more "square" design theme that in Delta's words, echoes the Art-Deco style.

Of course there are other features that go along with the Dryden Collection and you can learn more about them as well as shop for Dryden faucets in the new article about the Delta Dryden faucet collection.

Maytag Dishwasher Recall Due To Fire Hazard

On June 3rd both the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Electrical Safety Authority of Canada issued a recall against approximately 1.7 million dishwashers made by the Maytag Corporation (approximately 160,000 in Canada). The reason for the recall is a risk of fire due to failure of the electrical heating element.

The products affected by the recall include the brands Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag and Crosley. Twelve fires due to this problem have been reported to the CPSC which recommends immediately discontinuing use of the washer until you can rectify the situation.

You can see a list of the affected product serial numbers along with more information about this situation including remedies at the Consumer Products Safety Commission website. Canadian consumers can see similar information in this PDF document available from the ESA website.

This is something to pay attention to due to the potential implications of a failure of one of these units.

Remodeling Tip #4 - Be Prepared To Handle Mistakes

Mistakes in a remodeling project can happen at any stage and can take virtually any form. They might involve a mistake in interpreting the plans or the installation of the wrong product. The key to minimizing any impact is avoiding the blame game and taking a proactive problem-solving approach with your builder.

If you've done a good job choosing your builder (see Tip #2) it's likely you've established a good working relationship with that person. If that's the case then it shouldn't be too difficult to work out a solution to whatever problem arises. On the other hand, if your contractor isn't one to own up to the mistake (assuming it is their responsibility) then you have another problem on your hands.

Being cognizant of any errors is really a mutual responsibility which means that you should be familiar with the details of your project. That's not to say that you need to be on top of every nuance but the more you're aware of what it entails, the better off you'll be at assessing whether it's being built to plan or not.

Being that extra set of eyes can sometimes help keep a small problem from becoming a bigger one if it's noticed soon enough. This was the case in my own remodel when I noticed that one of the window openings wasn't located in the right spot. After verifying it with our contractor it was easily fixed because we were still at the framing stage. It would have been a bigger problem if it hadn't been noticed until later on after drywall, sheathing and siding had been installed.

Making sure you have a well-crafted remodeling contract is another piece of insurance against problems arising from mistakes. A contract with conflict resolution language offers a good roadmap for resolving problems, particularly if you can't easily work them out with your contractor.

The best way to handle mistakes is actually before they begin. During your interview process ask prospective builders how they handle problems and mistakes that might happen. How they respond and the process they employ in these situations will give you a good indication whether you want to work with them or not. Talking to their references and asking them how mistakes (if any occurred) were handled will give you a good indication too. Knowing ahead of time how you'll work through any errors that occur will help make their resolution quicker and easier to manage.

Remodeling Tip #3 - Prep For Spending More Than You Anticipated

Establishing a remodeling budget and sticking to it should be an obvious goal. But I'm here to say that it's a lofty one and it's more easily said than done.

Exceeding your budget can happen for two reasons: unforeseen circumstances (like the termites that have turned your floor structure to dust) and the stuff that you add to the project above and beyond it's original scope. It's the last one that I didn't anticipate and caused us to spend a little more on our own project.

To start with you should have an agreed-upon price for your remodeling project that's covered by a contract. The scope of the job should be well documented and all costs understood. Any changes are typically handled through change orders that document the impact to the project including their associated costs.

In our case we had a minor issue that ended up costing us several hundred dollars to take care of. Thankfully, that was the only surprise. What pushed us further beyond our initial contracted price however was several changes we made to the project along the way.

This is where balance is needed. That's because there are likely to be things that you see as the project progresses that you didn't consider during the planning stages. For us it was the addition of two small windows and the replacement of several old windows. The balancing act is making sure you take advantage of the circumstances while avoiding changes that add excessive labor and/or product cost.

For example, the window changes we added took advantage of the fact that the affected areas were already exposed and being worked on as part of the original project scope. We paid an additional amount for the cost of the windows and some additional labor, but less than what it would have cost several years down the road. Doing it later would have required more labor to cut and patch drywall and exterior siding, all of which were already being "touched" in our original plan.

Sometimes it's also just easier to "do it now" than go through the process of doing it later. We added a couple of bathroom ventilation fans which obviously cost us in both material and labor. However, we had become familiar with the electrical and HVAC subcontractors and it was easier to add this while they were on the project.

The point is this: whether it's your call or something you don't anticipate ahead of time, don't be surprised if you spend a little more than what you originally planned. The familiar suggestion of keeping a 10%-15% budget contingency is a wise one. Just be sure to discuss any anticipated changes with your contractor as soon as possible. Adding things when the time is right is much easier than when the job is just about complete.

New Home Windows With An iPhone App

I'm one of those curmudgeons who thinks that most iPhone apps are just flash-in-the-pan gimmicks that would probably end up in the "unused icons" folder if they were on a PC. Then again, I once resisted email when it made its debut so what do I know.

Anyway, there's a new app for you iPhone lovers that even I could warm up to and it's from Marvin Windows. You could say it helps you shop for new windows by helping you visualize what those new windows would look like in your home.

Simply take a photo of the space in your house where you'd like to place new windows or upgrade them. It can be a shot of the interior or exterior. Then, using the new app, choose from among a variety of Marvin window styles to overlay onto your photo. The app lets you move and re-size the windows to fit the proper scale of your photo. You can save the resulting image for viewing later on or send it to whomever you wish. Save shots of several window styles and poll your friends on which to choose. You may not have any friends after that exercise but at least you'd have some cool windows.

You can see more about the new app at the Marvin website which includes a short video on how it works. There's a link at the site to the iTunes store where you can dowload the app.

I don't have an iPhone so I can't comment specifically on how practical it is. What do others think? Well at this writing, user reviews at the iTunes store are essentially split with a little more than half giving it a thumbs-down (Pella Windows fans??) and the rest thinking it's great (must be those app lovers again).

Remodeling Tip #2 - Your Relationship With Your Contractor Is Everything

Whether you hire a general contractor, a design-build firm or your handy Uncle Hank, your project and your sanity will be better served if you hire someone you can work effectively with. Another way of saying that is to find someone you can get along with.

The reason this is so important is because you'll need to (or should) communicate with this person on a daily basis, discussing the plans for the day, dealing with questions and working through any hiccups that occur. You'll be around this person a lot too if you're home during the day when the work happens.

On our own remodel my wife and I interviewed a number of candidates and requested bids from three of them. We obviously wanted someone who could do the job effectively but we also wanted to be sure we could work with that person too. The interview process is the first step in learning more about prospective candidates. The next step is getting feedback from their references.

One of the contractors we met seemed very capable and informative. However he just couldn't stop talking. It only took one meeting for my wife to know that he would drive her crazy. Needless to say, he didn't get the job.

The person we awarded the contract to was someone who was personable, genuine and ended up being an advocate for us with the subcontractors. He was on the job site every day and offered insightful and helpful recommendations along the way. Yes, our project did have some minor bumps but they were easily worked out.

So how do you find these people? My best advice is to start with the recommendation of a friend or relative who's been happy with the person involved with their project. Just about anyone who's had work done will have an opinion of their contractor. Ask them specific questions about their experience. Even if they give a glowing report probe a little deeper and ask them about the "cons" that go along with all the "pros". Nobody is absolutely perfect. But some are a lot better than others.

Ultimately you want a contractor that's dependable and comes with a good performance record. But you also don't want to go through a 3 month project dreading the arrival of that person every day.

Everything is a balance. Just remember that this person will be your primary contact throughout the duration of the project. You don't need to find someone you'll be pals with; just someone you can team with to achieve the goals for your home.

Remodeling Tip #1 - Planning Is Key

Now that our home remodel is done I thought I'd pass on those things that I found to be significant to the overall remodeling process. Some are "lessons-learned" and others simply stand out from the clarity afforded by hindsight. I'll start with this post and follow up with subsequent posts in the coming few weeks.

In my view the most important aspect of any remodel, be it large or small, is planning. Yes, it takes time and effort but in the long run, good planning will pay you dividends. Those dividends will be in the form of ensuring the job is completed on time, the space meets your expectations and you don't have to make hasty decisions which avoids costly changes. I break this concept down into three elements.

Planning for Design - The design is the focal point of the plan. It's what you want to come into reality. Whether you do this yourself or seek professional help, a good plan incorporates all of what your remodel will encompass.

You should clearly define your "wants and rants", those things that you want out of the remodel as well as what you hate right now and need to change (like insufficient light or a bad traffic pattern). Knowing what products you want and can afford like surfacing, cabinets and fixtures will help narrow the design and allow for more consistent and realistic bids for your project.

Planning for Logistics - Establishing a plan for how (and where) you're going to live during your remodel is important too. If you lose your kitchen or a bathroom during the project, you'll need to figure out how you're going to accommodate that temporary loss.

Will you need to set up a temporary kitchen? Where will you store the things that are currently housed in that lost space? Can you live amidst these changes or do you need to consider moving out until the remodel is complete?

Planning for Time - This was one that surprised me the most. If want to start the project at a certain date (assuming you're using a contractor and not doing this yourself) start your planning at least 6 months ahead of that. It took us 11 months between the time we first started planning for design and the first hammer blow.

You'd be surprised how long it takes (or should I say, how quickly the time flies by) to get your head around a design, what you'll put in that design, finding the right professionals (builders, designers, architects, etc.), figuring out how you'll pay for it and prepping your home and family.

Let's face it: life happens and it's not like you'll be focused on this planning process 24/7. Give yourself enough time and don't stress yourself out.

Good planning, knowing what's to come and preparing accordingly can make your remodel smoother and less stressful. It certainly helped on our remodel.

A House Or A Museum

With our home remodel complete and the weather finally turning tolerable (Minnesota winters seem to last for 10 months) my youngest son took the opportunity to kick the soccer ball around in our moonscape of a back yard. (If there's no grass, can I call it a back "yard")??

Anyway, grouchy old Dad comes out to admonish him not to kick the ball against the house. Who knows what dastardly things might occur like broken windows or cracked siding.

Feeling an apparent surge of confidence combined with self-defiance my son screamed "Lewis was right, this is a museum!" This of course was in reference to his brother's description of our new addition, when he was prevented from turning it into a WWE WrestleMania slamfest with his two other brothers earlier.

Despite our sons' displeasure with their so-called "restrictions" (which never changed before or after the remodel) my wife and I disagree. It's not a museum. But it does cause one to stop and think.

Do we furnish our spaces, remodel our kitchens and add on to our homes to make them "museums", to be seen only and not touched? I'd like to think that we don't. When we remodel I'd like to believe that we make choices to make our home better, more 'user-friendly' and in some cases, simply easier to live in. But I suppose there are those that create splendid spaces, all the while expecting them to look like magazine layouts from now until eternity. To each her or his own.

As my wife likes to say, our family has "oozed" into the new digs without a hitch. The changes are wonderful and all of us, the boys included, benefit. Yes, our choices on surfacing, appliances and furniture are a step up from where we were. But that doesn't mean we won't be ourselves.

We designed with some upgrades here and there but we're still going to live in our new space. And by live, well, maybe that does mean a wrestling match will have to occur now and then. We expect the new floors to get scuffed over time and the new wood trim to get nicked. It's a home more that it's a house.

So when you design your space and choose your products, what will be your ultimate expectations? A great place to be, or a museum?

Kohler Smart Divide Sink Review

Kohler's Smart Divide kitchen sinks are part of their cast iron product line. They include a unique design feature aimed at making the typical double-bowl kitchen sink more versatile.

You can read more about this innovative sink idea and what it's all about in my review of Kohler's Smart Divide.

The Completed Remodel - Before And After

Yes, it's finished (well, except for the exterior painting). Our remodel is done and we've eased right into the new space.

I've included more photos than I usually do, taken from the same positions and perspectives so you get a good idea of the transformation between the 'before' and 'after' configurations. I also touch on how the design fixed the problems we had in space layout and functionality.

Come and take a peek at the final chapter, Part 16 of Our Real Life Remodeling Adventure.

A Copper Kitchen Sink...At A More Affordable Price

You've no doubt seen countless photos of them in home and design magazines and books. I'm talking about those fabulous new kitchens replete with beautiful cabinetry and complementary countertops, surrounding an eye-catching sink. In a lot of those photos the sink is usually a material that's not found in every kitchen and copper is one of those materials. What makes a copper kitchen sink look even more fetching is an apron front style since it shows off more of the copper as it patinas with age.

Copper is a unique style choice because if it's left bare it develops its own unique character over time with subtle changes in color as the copper tones morph into brown and caramel hues. Copper also offers flexibility in the kind of surface finish you can have, with choices ranging from a smooth to a hammered finish. The beauty of copper is more than just skin deep however. Copper has natural antimicrobial properties that make it bad for germs which is good for you and me.

The downside of these kinds of sinks can sometimes be the price. Larger apron front copper sinks can get pricey depending on the maker and where you buy. However there are times when these sinks are offered on sale, like these sinks in the Whitehaus Copperhaus collection at 55% off.

Whitehaus makes unique kitchen and bath fixtures including sinks in materials like copper, fireclay and stainless steel. They're also designed in styles that aren't found in the big box stores. If you've ever tossed around the idea of updating your kitchen with a copper sink but were maybe deterred by the cost, now might be a good opportunity to take a second look.

Stuff Happens (To Any Product We Choose..Even Wood Floors)

If you've followed my newsletters or this blog for any length of time you'll notice a theme I come back to periodically that I call "stuff happens". It has to do with the fact that regardless of the type of products we choose for our home, sooner or later they're going to experience some sort of mishap. Understanding that these mishaps occur should play a role in how we choose them and what our long term expectations for them are.

I was reminded of this not too long ago when our new wood floor had it's first close encounter with the wet kind -- standing water. One of my kids came in the front door with snow-covered boots (wait...didn't we just add a new mudroom on the side of the house??). Being the dutiful son he took his boots off near the door rather than traipse through the rest of the house. Unfortunately there was no floor mat. The snow quickly turned to water which pooled up on the floor and then sat there.

How long it sat there is anybody's guess but suffice to say it was long enough. I found it some time later and after wiping it up I noticed that the grain at the edges of some of the boards had raised slightly. It was sufficient enough that you could see it from several feet away. A few days rolled into a few more days and it looked like the condition was there to stay.

Thankfully after a bit more time the wood dried out and returned to its old self. But it was a clear reminder that wood floors don't like standing water, even when they're finished with professional top coats designed to protect them.

So where am I going with all this you ask? I like to preach that regardless of how we think we're going to take care of something, inevitably 'stuff happens' that's out of our control and that the reality of this should play a part in how we choose products for our homes. Giving hard thought to how we really live helps to narrow down the thousands of options available to us when it comes time to choose these products, be they flooring, countertops or whatever else.

Would I choose wood floors again? Sure. But would I put them in a room where I expect to have snowy boots, perhaps unattended for some time? Nope. That's why we have a tile floor in the mudroom.

A Better Downspout Extension

Yesterday I had gutters installed on the new addition to our home. After conferring with the installer on where the downspouts would be located I was reminded of a nifty product I came across not long ago. I like to call it the better downspout extension.

One of the problems that typically arises with gutter downspouts is when they're located in an inconvenient spot -- for instance, right by a sidewalk or too close to the basement window well. You can put a rigid extension on the end of the downspout to direct the water further away but sometimes those extensions end up getting in the way.

Enter the Rainguard downspout extension. It's a retractable extension that automatically rolls out when it's raining and then rolls back up close to the downspout and out of the way when the rain stops.

It's made from a polyethylene material that incorporates "memory" characteristics that allow it to roll back up once the water stops flowing through it. It's sort of like a wide flat hose with a spool on the end of it similar to those sprinkler hoses. Holes along the length of the tube and at the end distribute the water away from the house.

I personally haven't tried them yet but I plan on it. The thought of not having to always move the rigid downspout extension when I mow the grass is appealing. They're inexpensive enough at $10 to $17 depending on the length to give them a shot.

If the rainy season's heading your way and you want a convenient way to make sure the water stays away from your house this gutter extension might be worth a look-see. You can read more about them at the Rainguard website.

Is It Time For A New Garage Door?

It's not that often that you need to buy a new garage door. I've been in my own home now for 18 years and we still have the same door as the day we moved in. It doesn't look like it did 18 years ago but that was before the weather, age and countless tennis balls took their toll. It's looking a little forlorn so it probably won't be too long before a new door is in the cards (although I wonder if I should wait until my oldest son is finished with driver training first....).

What's there to know about a garage door you might ask? Well actually, there's a fair amount. They're not overly complicated but they are fairly large and there are a number of considerations to take into account when choosing a new one. Learn more in the article about choosing a garage door.

Doors That Save Space

One of the hurdles that comes along with adding or remodeling a space involves the doors that join these spaces. Traditional swing doors eat up a lot of real estate which is one reason I'm such a fan of pocket doors. They slide into an adjacent wall without taking up any swing space.

But pocket doors aren't always feasible, particularly if there are obstructions in the wall that the door would slide into. Hanging doors that slide along the outside surface of the wall are an alternative but they also have drawbacks too since you can't put anything on the wall that the door slides against.

I recently came across an interesting design concept that takes a unique approach to solve the problem of using doors in tight spaces. The actual product is called the Ergon door made by Italian firm Celegon S.A.S.

The key concept behind the Ergon door system is that it has a double-swing motion that pivots from the top of the door frame. When it's opened, the swing pivot point slides along the top of the door frame toward the edge, essentially cutting in half the amount of space that would be used by a conventional swing door.

Rather than do this product any more of a disservice through confusing descriptions, take a look at it in this Vimeo video.

It's probably not for every home but it's something to keep in the idea toolbox should you ever be faced with a door quandary of your own.

Choosing The Right Backsplash (..Or The Right Anything)

Choosing the right kind of kitchen backsplash might seem to some to be an overwhelming decision (what is it about home remodeling that makes it so synonymous with the word "overwhelm"). I know the feeling because with our recent home remodel we had to make this very decision.

What this blog post is really all about is more than just choosing a backsplash; it's about making decisions about the products and styles that you incorporate into your home. Sure, they're important decisions and you want to make the "right" choice. But what exactly does "right" mean?

Understanding what's available is the first step in any informed decision but from that point, you need to be somewhat ruthless. Narrow down your field of choices in order to make your decision easier and less excruciating. How do you do that? Limit your short list to a few options or features that you must have and that fit your budget. Don't get mesmerized by all the possible options that are available.

And don't be afraid that you'll make the "wrong" decision. A product for your home isn't life or death. It's not like you're choosing your life partner here.

To use our tile backsplash as an example, I took about a half hour to search the internet for various pictures. I opened a Microsoft Word document and quickly copied and pasted the pictures there to show my wife later on. What I was mainly looking for was themes and suggestions, not necessarily one that we'd copy exactly (though that would have been OK too if I had found it).

We eliminated some of the pictures immediately and culled the list down to a few styles we liked. We then threw a few of our own ideas into the mix. We ultimately ended up with a design that we're happy with and one that we think looks great in our kitchen. We didn't over-think the process.

Are there probably designs out there that we might ultimately like better? Perhaps. But we don't know if they exist and we're not going to spend any time thinking about them either. Because in the end, the backsplash will just blend into the background of our day-to-day existence, forming the backdrop to a busy life raising 3 boys. The significance of making these kinds of decisions diminishes quickly once they're made and time passes on.

Be informed about 'what's out there' when it comes to your remodeling decisions. By all means, do the due diligence. But don't waste too much time trying to making the "right" decision and don't fall into analysis-paralysis. Making the decision is the major hurdle anyway.

The Stone Fireplace - Use Real Or Faux Stone?

With our remodeling adventure winding down there wasn't much "big stuff" remaining except for the installation of the stone fireplace. The only real question on that front was whether to use faux or real stone.

We originally planned on using faux stone but yours truly started getting wishy-washy on that decision as we got closer to the installation date. You can find out what we ultimately chose and how it all came out in Part 15 of the remodeling saga.

Bathroom Fans - You Can't (Or Shouldn't) Live Without Them

Do you have teenagers? If you do, I'd be willing to bet you also have a steam room.

I'm not talking about the the kind of steam room you see in spas and health clubs. I'm talking about your bathroom after they've taken a shower.

For a long time my house didn't have any bathroom ventilation. We lived with the fogged mirrors and wet walls. Getting around to installing some fans just never got on the agenda, particularly when our kids were small (and weren't taking showers).

Fast-forward to today and we now have a couple of teenagers who'd easily win Olympic gold if showering was an endurance sport. In effect our two bathrooms became steam rooms and it was time to invest in some good bathroom fans.

How about your home? Does your bathroom have adequate ventilation? The new article on choosing bathroom fans might help you find the one that best meets your needs.

The Light At The End Of The Remodeling Tunnel

No, not Elvis or MacArthur. Our cabinets and countertops. And that means we have a kitchen again.

It also means we're nearing the end of this remodeling journey and while there are still a few things remaining, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I have to say that watching our new cabinets go into place was an interesting exercise. Up until now I'd ridden the highs and lows of this remodel like Laird Hamilton doing the Pipeline. But there was a moment as the cabinets were being hauled in that I finally started to lose my 'chill'. Surfing metaphors aside, I wasn't sure if this was going to turn out to be a positive experience.

What was it that started to push me past my usual mild-mannered demeanor? You can find out in part 14 of our remodeling adventure, when the cabinets and countertops came back home.

Getting Familiar With Lighting Pendants

Look through any home-related periodical these days and you'll most likely see pictures of lighting pendants hanging above a kitchen island. They're a cool light fixture when you consider that they're available in just about any style, color and material you can imagine.

What might not be so noticeable however is that pendant lights aren't just limited to the single fixture dangling from a chord. There's also more to pendant lighting than you might think, given the choices between line voltage and low voltage fixtures among other options.

If there's a pendant light in your future, check out the new article that's all about what there is to know so that your choice ends up being a good one.

Are There Hiccups In Every Remodel?

Common sense leads me to answer "yes" to the title question but it really depends on your definition of 'hiccup'.

For the most part the remodel of our kitchen and family room had gone without a hitch. That is, until we encountered our "hiccup". In our case it was the installation of the wood floor and the on-site finish job. It meant we had to be out of the house longer than expected and endure some additional inconvenience.

You can read all the fun details in Part 13 of our remodeling adventure, Installing The Wood Flooring.

Remodeling Equals Dust, Dust & More Dust

I was once told by a friend who had just been through a remodel that the ubiquitousness of dust was unbelievable. So when we embarked on our own kitchen and family room upgrade, I braced myself for a similar experience.

Well, he was right. As we pushed through the "dirty" phases of the project, the one constant that was always there was the dust. Now you may say, "so what?". But let me tell you, there's a lot of it, and it gets just about everywhere in the house.

There are several things you can do to cut down on how far it spreads but it's not likely you'll be 100% successful.

You can read more about our experience with the Great Dustbowl days in Part 12 of our remodeling adventure.