Category Archives: Repair & Maintenance

Random Skills: Knotting Thread for Hand Sewing

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Stacey

Bart: If you quit, it’d be like an expert knot tier quitting a knot-tying contest right in the middle of tying a knot. Lisa: Why’d you say that? Bart: I dunno, I was just looking at my shoelaces. – The Simpsons … Continue reading →

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Garden Maintenance: Renovating Wood Mulch

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Stacey

 Mmmm…chips… – Homer Simpson Our raised vegetable beds are surrounded by wood chip paths. When we originally put in the beds, we leveled and cleared the whole area and swaddled it lovingly in landscape fabric (a/k/a weed barrier) before adding … Continue reading →

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Carbon By Any Other Name Would Smell As Neutral

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Stacey

Ultrahouse: Say, it’s a bit stuffy in here…and I know a certain someone who really fancies lilac. Marge: Oooh, that really covers the cat crap! – The Simpsons The Kev and I both noticed a bit of online buzz around … Continue reading →

Posted in Decor, Repair & Maintenance | Tagged , | 65 Comments

Before and After: Art Deco Light Fixture

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Stacey

Batting this light bulb is the only thing that cheers me up. – Homer Simpson As part of our bedroom redo, I wanted to restore and install an antique light fixture. I bought one in rough shape online. You’ve seen this puppy before. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Before & After, Decor, Electrical, Repair & Maintenance, Salvage | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Sudden Sanding Sense

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Stacey

Make sure it’s squished flat, and crunchy on the outside. – Homer Simpson You ever have one of those moments of complete clarity about something you never understood before? I had one of those about sanding. Really! If I’m not using … Continue reading →

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Don’t Lick This Spatula: Touching Up Plaster Walls

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Stacey

Marge: Homer! You didn’t do a very good job frosting Maggie’s birthday cake. Homer: What? It’s not Magaggie’s birthday? – The Simpsons One of the great perversities of home improvement is that when paint is applied to woodwork, it tends to obscure details, … Continue reading →

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Marble Countertops: The Post-Acid Test

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Stacey

Ned: How can we sabotage his labor of love? Homer: I dunno. Gasoline, acid, I got some stuff in the trunk. – The Simpsons One of our goals for 2013 is new countertops in the kitchen. We have laminate that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Decor, Food & Drink, Kitchen, Repair & Maintenance | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Mind My Dust: Keeping Renovation Mess to a Minimum

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Stacey

Let’s take a look … inside the containment dome! – Radioactive Man We are formally in “Project Mode,” which means that the house is somewhat less orderly than usual — more general messiness, less resistance to convenience foods, more feline … Continue reading →

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The Lazy Stripper’s Guide to Hinges (Continued)

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Stacey

Remember when I succumbed to laziness and stripped paint off door hinges without removing them? There, I discovered that regular cheapo masking tape didn’t fully protect the door finish from the effects of the stripper. We just took a door off … Continue reading →

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Love in the Time of Radiator Repair

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Stacey

Marge: Homey, do you think the romance has gone out of our lives? Homer: *belches* – The Simpsons In February, This Old House ran a feature on why home improvement is good for relationships. Item 7 made me laugh: “You do more date nights — … Continue reading →

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