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5 Common Myths About Going Green at Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:00:07 -0700

One of my favorite resources, This Old House, recently updated readers on 10 myths about green living at home. Definitely read all of This Old House's advice on the topic - you may be surprised! Here are the five myths that I thought would most interest Casa readers.

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Guess What Has at Least 10 Uses Around the House?

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:00:23 -0700

The folks over at This Old House recently wrote about one household product that is a Renaissance man of sorts. It has at least 10 uses around the house, including keeping drafts out of old windows, keeping the soil of potted plants moist, applying wall treatments, storing paint overnight, and keeping your lumber stacked while transporting it. Can you guess what product it is?

Before and After: A Bold Kitchen Makeover

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:45:09 -0800

Susan Smart and Art Westerinen bought an over 100-year-old Shingle-style home two years ago. Since the home was compromised by tiny, cramped rooms, the couple decided to gut the entire home, starting with the kitchen, which was tight quarters at 11 feet square.

Here's how it looked before they started their renovation:

To see the impressive transformation, read more.

Susan, who's a kitchen designer by trade, expanded the space by getting rid of an extra bathroom. She also moved the sink and dishwasher, took out upper cabinets and replaced them with open shelving, and mixed styles and surfaces to make this space both modern and eclectic. I love the change!

Find out all of the details, as well as more photos, at This Old House.

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Before and After: A Better Bathroom

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:30:04 -0800

While I'm a fan of the retro look of these bright blue tiles, they don't mesh with the rest of the bathroom (pink floral wallpaper doesn't exactly complement them). The owners of this home, a 1905 Colonial Revival house recently featured on This Old House, also noted that the light switch was actually an electrical liability, since it wasn't grounded and sat above the bathtub.

To see its updated appearance, read more.

The homeowners removed everything from the bathroom save the tub, and installed radiant heating under the new ceramic tile floors. Wainscoting adds a nice detail, and even cooler and greener, the wainscoting was made from beadboard they had stored in the basement! I love the understated, functional look of this bathroom. Do you?

For more details, check out This Old House.
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Before and After: A Basement Goes Big

CasaSugar — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:30:41 -0800

To accommodate visits from their four grown children, an Illinois couple decided to clean up and renovate their basement space. The project, which was recently featured on This Old House, dramatically improved the function of the previously uninhabitable space.

Here's how it looked prior to renovation.

To see how this couple transformed their basement, read more.

The couple hired a contractor to dig out an additional basement space, which added almost 1000 square feet to their home's living area. Now, the basement space boasts game areas, a projection screen television, and nine-foot ceilings.

For more details, check out This Old House.
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Before and After: A Customized Kitchen

CasaSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:00:09 -0700

A Florida Craftsman home suffered from a dated kitchen reno. Its faux wood cabinets, sad linoleum floors, and dropped ceiling seemed more institutional than inviting. This Old House recently showed readers how the home's owner, architect Manny Occhiogrosso, changed it for the better.

Here's how it looked prior to renovation.

To see its updated appearance, read more.

Manny extended the room by 46 square feet, and moved around walls to open the space and make it more functional. The room sparkles with cherry cabinets, a beautiful ceramic tile backsplash, and a new raised ceiling. I love the feel of the new and improved kitchen, which seems to match the style and period of the rest of the home.

For more details, check out This Old House.
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Before and After: A Salvaged Stairway

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:15:27 -0700

Kara, an Atlanta homeowner whose 1911 Arts and Crafts home was recently featured on This Old House, knew that her home's sad, leaning staircase was in need of a renovation, for appearances and for safety's sake.

Here's how it looked prior to renovation.

To see its updated appearance, read more.

To fix the sagging staircase, Kara reinforced it, and then decided to use vintage pine for the wainscoting and handrail. Kara planed, sanded, and shellacked the pine herself. From start to finish, Kara only paid $750 for this renovation. Nicely done!

For more details, check out This Old House.
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Before and After: An Airy Attic Office

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:00:39 -0700

The owner of a Queen Anne home in Florida decided that a home office might be the best choice for her small business. Her 700-square-foot attic space, which was recently featured in This Old House, seemed like the perfect fit, but it would require a lot of renovations. Her husband volunteered his services to realize her vision.

Here's how it looked prior to renovation.

To see how this attic was transformed, read more.
The attic was gutted, and three new windows were added. Heart-pine floors picked up the light, and exposed rafters, which were painted white, gave the space an open, airy feel. The attic was rewired to accommodate seven work stations and high-tech equipment, and AC ducts were also installed - a necessity in steamy Florida. I also love the airplane propeller, which adds visual interest to the space.

For more details, check out This Old House.
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Before and After: A Smart Space For Keeping Clean

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:15:57 -0700

Sometimes our homes are laid out in seemingly inexplicable ways. Take for instance this home, whose laundry room was located on a back porch that was difficult to access. To get around the problem, the homeowners decided to move the washer and dryer into a small passageway between the kitchen and the garage.
Here's how it looked prior to renovation.

To see what this space looked like after renovations, read more.

By extending the walls a bit, this passageway was transformed into an L-shaped room that provides a laundry area as well as a mud room. Laminate floors, windows, and a new cabinet built by the homeowners rounds out the space. This DIY family did everything themselves over two years, and spent around $3,000.

For more details, check out This Old House.
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How-To: Add a Medallion to Your Chandelier

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:15:11 -0700

If you want to class up your chandelier, consider adding a medallion to it. I've already showed you how to turn medallions into wall art, and alerted you to a new medallion light. If neither of these ideas strike your fancy, then maybe a ceiling medallion in its traditional placement is for you.

To find out how to install one, read more.

Locate ceiling framing and mark attachment locations on casting.
Pre-drill and countersink at attachment points.
Apply construction adhesive to the casting. While holding it firmly in place, attach the casting to the structural framing.
Screw attaching casting to structural framing.
Fill the screw holes with plaster. After the plaster has dried, sand it thoroughly until it is smooth.
Fill in any irregularities along ceiling with paintable caulk.
Prime and paint the medallion to match the ceiling.
Enjoy your newly ornate ceiling!

Need some more visual aids? Check out these handy instructions from This Old House.

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