June 9, 2009
I don't know a single person who isn't in love with the idea of a good Swiss Army knife or Leatherman multitool. Tucking an insane amount of function into a single supertool that folds out for use is a brilliant design principle. That's why Design Odyssey Ltd applied it to the bathroom. The whole bathroom. Need a shower? Flip out the top module! Storage? 4th from the top! Sink? 2nd from the bottom. And the loo, of course, is the base.
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June 8, 2009
Use code HCBEST to get 25 percent off at Horchow.
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June 8, 2009
What is it? A free app for your iPhone that matches colors in photos you take to paint hues in Sherwin-Williams’s line.
Why it’s so freakin’ handy: Because it eliminates time-consuming guesswork at the paint store. Personally, I’d rather suffer through a root canal than thumb through color decks asking myself, did that accent wall I liked at the restaurant look more like Peacock Blue or Cerulean Blue? If you fall in love with a color you see – the bright green of your neighbor’s car, the blue sky in a movie poster, the russet-red of potatoes at the grocery store – just snap a picture and tap on the item. The app does the research for you.
Added bonuses: ColorSnap sources the color you like plus two secondary hues to give you a full three-color palette that you can save to your phone. It’ll also tell you whether the colors are available for both outdoor and indoor use. And, if you’re moved to buy paint right then and there, just enter your city or Zip code to find the nearest paint store.
Bottom line: If you’re dying to tackle a painting project but hate picking out the colors, this app is FREE and SAVES YOU TIME. What sweeter music to the busy DIY-er’s ears?
Available at the iPhone App Store.
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June 8, 2009
Denverites, please do as I say, and not as I do: Don't procrastinate on starting your DIY projects. You folks have a great opportunity, but only for a very short time. As part of the city's Home Renovation Bonanza, construction permit fees are being waived from now until June 15. Once you get them, the permits are good for 180 days. So start hitting the design books and software, to get those plans in on time!
And to all the rest of you folks out there: have you heard of any similar kinds of offers in your areas? If so, please share.
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June 6, 2009
I recently received a gift certificate to Restoration Hardware, and while I was shopping around their site for some decorative odds and ends, I found myself in the coffee table section where I discovered this fantastic Furniture Factory Cart. Once used to transport fabric, furniture and supplies across 1900s factory floors, this restored vintage piece is made of solid white oak, and comes complete with its original cast-iron wheels, bolts and plates.
Though I’m not really in the market for a new coffee table, and given that my gift certificate wouldn’t even make a dent in the $910 price tag, I fell head over heels in love with this item and set out to find a less expensive version.
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June 6, 2009
Achieve solitude without a 6-foot vinyl privacy fence. My
neighbors are great, but I’m sure everyone on both sides of the property line
could benefit from a little privacy this summer.
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June 6, 2009
Father’s day is right around the corner, and if you’re not sure what to get for dad here’s your answer: The Grillslinger. As a matter of fact, if you’ve already gone out and gotten a gift, return it and buy one of these. The Grillslinger is truly awesome. Great ideas are often simple ones, and the obvious usefulness of a tool belt for your BBQ tools has a forehead-slapping factor of 10. Useful as well as stylish (it’s difficult to not feel all bad-ass when wearing one), the Grillslinger doesn’t skimp on the bells and whistles. Let me show you around.
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June 5, 2009
Sears is offering 20 percent off all Craftsman lawn and garden equipment today and tomorrow.
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June 5, 2009
So I'm still on my organization kick and currently trying to make the most out of every nook and cranny in my home. That's why I love this tip-out storage organizer from Thomasville Cabinetry. Making use of an area that's usually dead space, it keeps extra sponges and soaps at the ready for you.
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June 5, 2009
As a person who’s had to coax many a wilting, neglected houseplant back to life, I dig anything (no pun intended) that makes growing stuff easier. Which is why I’m a little obsessed with these living wall kits from ELT Easy Green. The kit consists of a panel of cells, made of heavy-duty plastic, set inside a cedar frame. You just fill the cells with soil, plant stuff in them, and place the kit outside or inside. You can even water the whole shebang with the included irrigation kit. Judging by the sheer number of user pictures on their website, I can only guess that these kits can help make anyone – even me, the plant-killer – a green thumb. For those of you who like climbing plants and possess gardening skills that are way more advanced than mine, check out our instructions for building this lovely trellis.
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