Handyman Life

July 23, 2015 in Uncategorized

Old Home? These Quick, Easy Updates Will Blow Your Mind!

Sometimes a vintage touch brings interest to a home. However, if every room in a home is a remnant of the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s, it might be time for a remodel. If there’s time or no money for a full-blown renovation, check out these fixes to revamp a space provided by Kim Anderson!

Painting

A new paint job can revitalize any room. Paint can be costly, but here’s a tip: check out the “Oops!” painting section. These paint cans were returned by customers, not because they didn’t work, but because they didn’t work for them. Pick up a few of these cans for less than $5 and watch the room transform.

Counter Tops

A new paint color on the walls not enough? For kitchens and baths, consider painting the countertops! There are products made for painting countertops & Anderson says her countertop has lasted 3 years with barely any chipping.

Lighting

This last update will be the most expensive, but possibly the most rewarding. For between $40 & $150, new lighting in any room can change the brightness and sight lines of a room. Try a dome light in eating areas, new vanity lighting in bathrooms and updated ceiling fans in bedrooms.

So don’t stress about renovation budgets or hiring a construction crew, try these simple fixes to restyle a home!

Ready for a large scale renovation? Call Chicago Handyman today!

July 20, 2015 in Uncategorized

Feeling The Chicago Freeze? Check Out The Nest Labs Thermostat

Ever wish your home knew when to heat up and cool down depending on the intense weather outside? Well with Nest Labs Thermostat, developers are getting pretty close!

This thermostat uses Wi-Fi and sensors to remember the temperatures you prefer at home. It is compatible with a majority of HVAC systems and turns the temperature down when you're not home.

Want to adjust the temperature remotely? No problem! Access the system with your smart phone, tablet or even your laptop on the go.

So don't suffer through waiting for the heat to turn on coming in from the Chicago cold. Check out Nest Labs Thermostat and keep comfortable.

July 19, 2015 in Uncategorized

Adding Lacquer & Lace To A Tired Desk

A less than stellar desk by Rlcollins3

Everyone has bought that one piece of furniture. At a garage sale or a thrift store, they become convinced that they will be the ones to save a couch, desk or vanity from furniture purgatory. Unfortunately, so often these pieces get shoved into the recesses of a basement or garage after purchase, never to be touched again. Well, Rlcollins3 offers a different path for those impulse desk buyers with just a few coats of paint and a lace application.

Required supplies by Rlcollins3

These are the required supplies to achieve this look:

Kilz primer
Behr Polar Bear White paint
Target Devine Pond paint
Polyacrylic paint
White Satin finish spray paint
Silver spray paint
Martha Stewart Metallic paint
Lace fabric
Trash bag

Apply the Kilz primer to the surface of the desk as well as the front of all the desk drawers. After this dries, paint these same surfaces with two coats of Devine Pond paint.

Priming by Rlcollins3

Painting by Rlcollins3

Following the painting process, place a drawer in a trash bag, only leaving the front exposed. Cover the whole front of the drawer in lace, securing the trash bag tightly around the drawer to keep the lace in place. Spray white spray paint over the lace pattern. Remove the lace and repeat this step for each drawer.

For extra touches of flair, use the Martha Stewart Metallic paint on the trim of both the desk’s surface and the edges of the drawers. Spray paint all the hardware with silver spray paint.

This elaborate desk drawer is awesome by Rlcollins3

With the handles in place and drawers pushed in, this long ignored desk of drabness found its way to furniture salvation.

The spectacular end result by Rlcollins3

July 16, 2015 in Uncategorized

Dreaming Of Summer: A Home Deck Project

trexmoflex‘s gorgeous DIY deck

Chicago’s forecast for the past two weeks has been anywhere between -10 and 10 degrees. Not exactly a reason to smile. But here’s one way to distract from numbing fingers: planning an awesome backyard deck.

Reddit user trexmoflex‘s backyard deck may spark some great inspiration. With enough wood, tools and some helping hands, this deck can be a part of anyone’s backyard in just 3 days for less than $3000.

Assembling the required supplies for a deck may seem daunting, but it actually couldn’t be simpler. Consult a local hardware store or even Home Depot for the best type and amount wood for the type of deck desired. Then gather the wood stains and tools to secure the deck in the ground.

Gathering the supplies by trexmoflex

In process foundation by trexmoflex

Lay the initial two boards horizontally for the vertical slats to sit on. Secure these slats for the foundation with a power drill. Hopefully, multiple people will be working on the deck’s foundation so staining can begin. After staining, secure the deck’s surface also with a power drill. The process of surface application will take less time than the foundation.

Finally, for a more inviting look, try adding a built-in bench. Using a saw, cut the left-over wood from the deck to size and drill the legs of the bench into the deck’s surface. After adding the seat for the bench, finish off the built-in by adding a surround to the edges of the bench.

trexmoflex building a bench

This weekend project will not only add more living space but actual equity to a home. So don’t stress about a Chicago winter, dream of a Chicago summer!

A side-glance at the side deck by trexmoflex

And if you’re more of a planner than a builder, contact Chicago Handyman for a quote on deck services for your home.

July 16, 2015 in Uncategorized

Get The Stainless Look Without The Stainless Budget

Stainless steel is probably one of the most popular kitchen elements today. However, these appliances can be expensive and don’t necessarily clean any better than non-stainless appliances.

And now, there’s no need to pay the price. Blogger Julie Blanner has given homeowners everywhere the greatest gift: a DIY stainless makeover solution for under $10!

Pick up these materials:

Stainless Steel Contact Paper
Scissors
Razor Blade
Credit card (not just to buy the supplies!)

Begin by cutting the contact paper 3 inches longer than the length of the dishwasher. Open the (empty and clean) dishwasher and start at the edge. Line the contact paper up with the top and start peeling the paper an inch at a time. Begin applying the stainless contact paper from top to bottom, smoothing it out with a credit card along the way. Make sure a partner holds the tension on the paper to eliminate the majority of bubbles.

To finish it up, cut any excess paper off and let the paper meet with the bottom edge of the appliance. Following application of the paper, smooth out any bubbles remaining with a credit card.

The same steps can be done with any appliance, just add more stainless contact paper!

So if there’s no budget for stainless, don’t sweat it! Find some change in the couch and get this look for less than a day of work.

Old Home? These Quick, Easy Updates Will Blow Your Mind!

Feeling The Chicago Freeze? Check Out The Nest Labs Thermostat

Adding Lacquer & Lace To A Tired Desk

Dreaming Of Summer: A Home Deck Project

Get The Stainless Look Without The Stainless Budget

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