Handyman Chicago - Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel Blogs & More

March 10, 2015 in Tech Toybox

Want Protection For All Of Your Devices? Get 1Password Today!

With all the recent news of hacking attacks and password vulnerability, it’s important now more than ever to keep all your devices safe. But who can remember a unique password for their every digital need?

1Password can!

This app from Agilebits is made for convenience and focused on productivity. To use, just enter in the passwords for as little or as many devices that you use. After that initial tapping, 1password allows you to create a master password that can then be used to access all your sites.

Available for web browsers, tablets and smart phones, 1Passwords saves you time typing and gets you back to important business… or the best cat video of the day.

Completely free to download on Mac, Windows or Android platforms, this app is definitely worth checking out. If only so you never have to press that “Forgot Your Password?” ever again.

March 9, 2015 in Idea Corner

Don’t Buy A New Sink, Paint The Old!

Chicago Handyman has shared a fair share of bathroom remodeling ideas, but none as quite as simple as this one! With some simple paint and a few days of work, an 70’s sink nightmare can be brought into the 21st century.

Here’s the required materials:

Brush-on Epoxy Paint Kit
Top quality brush

To start this project, the sink will need more than a quick clean, it’ll require a full-on scrub down. In the paint kit, steel wool and a cleaner are usually provided. After making sure the sink is sparkling, it’s time to paint.

Apply the first coat of epoxy paint. Use any brush strokes desired, just don’t leave drips! Wait 3 hours between coats, allowing the epoxy to set.

Follow the first coat with a second, again allowing another 3 hours for the epoxy to set.

If a third coat is necessary, another 72 hours has to elapse before it’s applied.

Once the coat dries, feel free to splash around in the sink! With no plumbing to refigure or vanity to install, an old fixture can revitalize a bathroom. No sweat equity necessary!

For a step-by-step guide, check this out. And for a more extensive bathroom remodel, call Chicago Handyman today!

March 6, 2015 in Home Improvements, Idea Corner

The Best Cabinet Space Saver Of All Time

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.

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.

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.

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

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

“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.

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-7 Begin 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.

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.

After this step, any bathroom will be an asset to homeowners and overnight visitors alike.