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March 6, 2015 in Home Improvements, Idea Corner

The Best Cabinet Space Saver Of All Time

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Pots and pans are the largest, clunkiest and often most essential cookware of any kitchen. They can take up valuable cabinet space and leave renters and homeowners wondering where to store them without leaving them lazily on top of the stove top. Well, fear no more! This pegboard wall organizer from Decorology solves all future pots and pans storage nightmares in a stylish and functional way.

With just these materials, this project can be completed quickly and cheaply for a great look:

  • Pegboard
  • Framing wood
  • Pegboard hooks
  • Tool racks
  • Anchors
  • Screws
  • Paint (in desired color)

Begin by cutting wood boards to the proper framing size. This provides space between the wall and pegboard so later the hooks can be inserted.

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Before attaching the pegboard to any surface, paint it the desired color.how-to-a-kitchen-pegboard-wall-organizer-L-aWLyou

Then mount the framing board to kitchen wall and then attach the pegboard to the frame. Measure where to put the anchor screws and line up the screws in the frame. Finally, tighten the screws into the anchors.

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Finally it is time to design the pots and pans arrangement. For an interesting layout, use a variety of hook sizes and types. This will bring visual interest to any kitchen.

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So for an edgy, sophisticated kitchen, look no further than a pegboard wall organizer for all pots and pans storage.

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For even more kitchen design, call Chicago Handyman for a quote today!

March 5, 2015 in Home Automation, Tech Toybox

Ditch The Switches: Get The Alba Smart LED Lighting

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“Can you get the light?”

These are the words all homeowners say to visitors or partners at one point in their life. Wouldn’t it be nice if instead of getting up to adjust the lighting, the home could just know? This is now possible, with Stack’s Alba LED Lighting System.

This lighting system is not only energy efficient, but has the following features:

  • Perfect lighting level decided by integrated sensors to fit a room’s natural light
  • Color temperature that adjusts from white to yellow light dependent on the situation
  • Motion sensors know where a homeowner is, when they’re gone, the lights go off and when they’re there the lights go on
  • Sets its lighting to the homeowner’s schedule, including light synced to an alarm to wake them up with gentle light and dim lighting for dinner parties

These features not only save time and hassle, but most importantly, money. Depending on the size of a home, users of the Alba system can save anywhere between $600 and $5,000 annually.

For $150.00 per bulb, the price may sound steep, but considering the benefits, these light bulbs are definitely worth trying out in any home.

March 4, 2015 in Home Improvements, Idea Corner

Need To Step It Up? Check out this Vanity Step Upgrade!

Whether a household is full of kids, people of shorter stature or abnormally tall vanities, Ana White’s vanity step drawer is a simple way to make any bathroom more accessible. With a few tools from around the home and some inexpensive materials, any vanity can be upgraded to suit any house.

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Here’s the required supplies:

  • 1 set of heavy duty 16″ door slides
  • 1 1X3″ @ 8 feet long board
  • 1 3/4″ plywood 16″ and the width of the board
  • 2-inch finish nails
  • 1 1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
  • Wood Glue
  • 120 grit sandpaper
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Hammer
  • Kreg Jig
  • Drill
  • Circular Saw
  • Brad Nailer
  • Countersink Drill Bit

vanity-drawer-step-stool-7Begin by removing any doors from the vanity as well as the toe kick. Before beginning the rest of the project, make sure to fill any holes with wood filler and sand with the 120 grit sandpaper in the direction of the woodgrain. Following this preparation, take measurements of the height and width of the drawer and toe kick areas to assure all the wood board pre-cut sizes will work.

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Once all the measuring precautions are taken, attach plywood on top of the drawer and secure it with 2″ nails and wood glue. Using the directions on the wood slide box, attach the slides to the step drawer and the opening for the drawer. Reattach the toe kick to the front of the drawer for aesthetic consistency using a Kreg Jig and finished nails.

vanity-drawer-step-stool-9After this step, any bathroom will be an asset to homeowners and overnight visitors alike.

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Ready for even more bathroom renovations? Call Chicago Handyman today!

 

 

March 3, 2015 in Home Automation, Tech Toybox

A Solution For All Plug-Ins: Pop-Out Outlets

Sure, outlets are flush with the wall. But honestly, they’re not much to look at. The solution? Pop-Out Outlets!

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This user-friendly device can easily be pushed into the wall, looking like a chic, silver square. When needed for hair dryers, razors or any other random bathroom supplies, simply push the square again and out pops not 2 but 3 outlets.

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Not only is it user-friendly, but can be user-installed, as long as there is 22 cubic inches available for the hardware. This standard feature in the majority of new homes can now be installed in any old build.

For just over $50, change the style and function of a bathroom in just a few quick steps.

December 26, 2014 in Uncategorized

Add Some Mystery To Your Home With This Secret Bookcase Door

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Final product by OhSkizz

I don’t know about you all, but I’m always looking for clever storage solutions. I think everyone has a little pack rat in them and for those of us who have a little more of it than others, we need simple, cool ways to clean up our space. And this bookcase door from Reddit user, OhSkizz, managed to do just that. Not only does the bookcase add visual interest but makes the most of the square footage in any room.

The supplies for this awesome project won’t cost you much either! All you’ll need is two 2″x4″x8’s, one 2″x6″x8’s, three 1″x6″x8’s, wood paneling, wood trim, screws, gorilla wood glue, hinges, a gate latch and a staple gun. These can all be picked up from your local hardware store and cut to size for your door’s measurements.

Your first step is to build the doorframe. You will use two 2″X6″X8′ for the sides of the frame and two 2″x6″x8’s for the top and bottom of the frame. Attach these pieces with your screws and gorilla wood glue.

Next you will start working on the shelving. Cut your three 1″x6″x8’s to create the top, bottom and sides of the frame of the shelving insert. The remaining wood will be cut to size and used as the shelves. Secure the pieces of woods to each other with more screws and gorilla wood glue.

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Initial Cuts by OhSkizz

When you have created both the door frame and shelving insert, it is now time to fasten them to each other. This will again be done with screws and gorilla wood glue. Warning: if you don’t like glue, this project might not be for you.

Before you continue to the final steps of the project, test fit the frame to the door. If it fits, awesome. If not, you will have to do some adjusting to make it flush with the doorway.

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Staining frame and shelving by OhSkizz

The next steps involved are staining and connecting the wood panelling. Apply as much staining as you deem necessary. Once the stain dries, you can screw the paneling into place. With all badocams the pieces fit together, you will now begin to fit it into the doorway.

After screwing in the two hinges to the door, it is time to cover them up with the trim. The trim should be stapled down and make it flush with the doorway and outer trim. Then you will stain the trim to match the bookshelf.

The final step is to create the secret book latch. This is done by choosing your book and cutting a wedge to insert a piece of wood into it, secured with glue and a screw connected to the back of the bookshelf. By mounting the latch on a 2X4 block of wood, the latch sits close enough to the door to  catch the metal catch pin and make the door open simply by pulling a book.

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Secret Book Lock by OhSkizz

All that’s left to do is add the rest of your books and accessories. Once you’re done, this door not only gives extra storage but a magical touch to your house.

For all your other door needs, call Chicago Handyman for a free estimate on door installations!