Welcoming entry A double door issues a wide welcome at the main entry of the house. Tucked between the barn and the garage, the entry benefits from a sheltering roof. The mixed colors of the stone veneer bridge the divide between the cedar siding of the barn and the painted composite used on the back section of the house. Doors: Marvin*; Entry hardware: Emtek; Siding (board & batten): LP SmartSide; Siding (cedar): Western Red Cedar*; Lighting: Chloe Winston Lighting Design; Flooring: Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods; Paint: Gallery Wall by Curator*; Artwork: Anouk Masson Krantz; Room Styling: Leia T....

Even if you follow the essential advice we’ve been doling out for years—build in a 20 percent cushion to cover the nasty surprises, get contractor references and check them, banish the words “while you’re at it” from your vocabulary—it’s hard not to end up shelling out more than you want to. With some strategic thinking about design, materials, and timing, you can cut costs without cutting corners. Below, we’ll show you the ways, from the big to something as small as choosing a wall sconce over a recessed light....

Crackling wood fires have always been an evening tradition in our family, but trekking out to the woodpile to retrieve an armload of logs has never been anyone’s favorite activity. So I decided to build something that would put a stockpile of dry wood just outside the door. Instead of the typical log rack, I settled on a storage bench with space for firewood that provides a convenient seat for taking off snowy boots....

Be sure to use materials that can withstand the moisture in a bathroom; solid wood, rust-proof fasteners, and a water-resistant finish ensure this unit will last. The stand is not limited to bathroom use only; supplement any space with this extra storage solution. Add paint or stain for your desired finish. Steps for building a three-tiered bath stand: Step 1: Make the shelf frames Glue and screw a cleat to each of six apron pieces, flush along one edge, with the apron centered between the ends of the cleat....

Steps to Build an Outdoor Bench From Dining Chairs Step 1: Find and prep Harp-back chairs are frequent finds at used-furniture stores and flea markets—ripe for a DIY reinvention. This sleigh-style bench takes advantage of the chairs’ graceful contoured backs and gets its new seat frame from home-center 1x3s and plywood. Build It | Cooler Bench A couple of coats of exterior latex paint (we used Goldfinch by Benjamin Moore in semigloss), plus upholstery in a water-resistant, fade-resistant fabric and you have a porch-ready perch....

At Jeffs shop, Jeff and Norm Abram planed the boards and joined them with mortises and tenons. They cut an oval shape from the boards with a jigsaw and route a smooth and rounded edge. The legs are made of two pieces of stock. Jeff dadoes out notches in the legs to accept the two shelves. They use dominoes to attach the legs to stretchers. Homeowner Scott joins in to help with the final glue assembly....

But wait. Why not make it yourself? Because if ever a task offered its own reward, this one does, implying libertine leisure even as it demands intense rigor. Were you crafty enough, you could start from scratch—the dimensions measured twice and cut once, the mortise made just so, the tenon to match, the flathead brass screws micrometrically countersunk, the curve of a seat rail defined by pencil, formed by saw, and completed with drawknife and plane....

How to Build Porch Steps Tools

Caked-on food residue and mineral deposits from “hard” water require some extra attention, but both can be removed easily and quickly with excellent results. Quick Cleaning of Everyday Marks on Stainless Steel Materials: Microfiber or other lint-free, soft cloth Tap water Steps: Simply use tap water and a microfiber cloth to gently wipe away fingerprints and smudges, rubbing in the direction of the grain for optimal luster. Tips and Steps for Cleaning a Stainless-Steel Sink Do not use bleach on your stainless-steel surfaces, and always check product labels to ensure that cleaning agents are safe to use on stainless....

Hardwood Floor Cleaning and Maintenance Steps In most households, wood floors should be cleaned at least four to six times a year. Floor installer Michael Dittmer, who lives outside Chicago, dispatches a robot vac daily to keep an eye on his entire first floor. “Then I clean the kitchen floor weekly and in other rooms twice a month.” Of course, he has a yard, dogs, and teenage boys. For many households, this regimen should do the trick....

Sweeping and Vacuuming The most important aspect of cleaning your laminate flooring is regular care, and the first step is to consult your manufacturer’s instructions. Generally, though, weekly sweeping or vacuuming will not only keep your floors from looking dirty, but will reduce the need for harsher, deeper cleans down the line. One part of laminate flooring to be mindful of is its top (or “wear”) layer. Made of a plastic, it guards against dogs, shoes, furniture, and other potential sources of damage....

Understanding where a home is losing or consuming that majority of its energy is the first step toward lowering energy bills. Using some measurements and calculations, a home energy assessment can turn a home’s energy usage or loss into a computer model. This can help a homeowner make informed decisions about their home’s insulation, appliances, windows, and more. Steps for Conducting a Home Energy Assessment Note: This assessment requires specialized equipment and is probably outside the realm of a DIYer, but the following steps will explain the process....

Roger Cook replies: Dividing perennials every three to six years is a great way to thin clump-forming varieties, like the daylily shown here (Hemerocallis), which blooms from late spring to late summer. This technique can also be used to control plant size, invigorate growth, and multiply the number of specimens in a garden. A good rule of thumb is to split apart spring- and summer-blooming perennials in late summer or before the fall frost....

Steps for Draining Pipes in the Winter What You Need: Materials Propylene glycol: A non-toxic antifreeze used to protect water left in the home’s plumbing system. Tools

Today, many master baths in the U.S. also have this additional fixture, and manufacturers have a number of different models to choose from. Installing a bidet requires basic plumbing tools and some skill in carpentry and plumbing. How Much Space Do You Need for a Bidet? Although looking superficially like a toilet, the installation of a bidet is substantially different than that of the more common bathroom fixture. The first consideration in a remodeling project is whether the bathroom has enough room....

The cable railing system was manufactured by Feeney. Other tools and materials for this project, including wood glue and construction adhesive are available at home centers. Expert assistance with this project was provided by Woodcraft. Tools:

Expert assistance with this project was provided by Pro Fence Company. Tools

How Deep Should a Fence Post Be? For an average fence post, about 6 to 8 feet tall, prepare to dig a post hole about 2 feet deep. To install a fence post, you’ll need a shovel or post digger, a 6-foot level, soil, and gravel or crushed stone. For gateposts, you’ll need concrete too. How to Install a Fence Post in 5 Steps Should Fence Posts Be Set in Concrete?...