DIY Home Project: Cooler Table

Today were looking at a great backyard addition, the table with a built in cooler! I have seen these and they are awesome and always wanted to know how to make one. Check it out here!

DIY Home Project: Butterfly Feeder

Today were looking at making a homemade butterfly feeder. I don't know about you but having a back yard full of butterflies is a gorgeous sight! Check it out!

DIY Home Project: Permanently Weed Free Brick Driveway

Today were going to look at keeping your brick driveway weed and grass free! This will work for existing brick driveways or ones you are going to install at a later date, and it looks amazing when done! Check it out!

DIY Home Project: Hardwood Painted Concrete

Today were going to look at painting concrete so that it looks like hardwood! It looks amazing when done and would really class up a backyard entertainment area! Check it out here!

DIY Home Project: 5 Great Home Improvements for $500 or Less

When it comes to upgrading our homes, there is a never-ending list of things to do, from buying new patio furniture to replacing the kitchen cabinets. But the editors of Money Magazine suggest five home remodeling projects that will vastly improve the look of your home without breaking the budget:

• Improve the curb appeal – Whether or not you are planning to sell your home, an inviting first appearance is important. Spend some time in the front yard from the curb in, pulling weeds, planting perennials, and trimming hedges. You can make needed repairs to fences or front steps and change out your old, dull mailbox all for under $500. 

• Paint the front door – A spiffy new fiberglass front door could cost $1,000 or more, but you can upgrade the look for a lot less by adding new hardware and a fresh coat of paint. Add a new light fixture, a fresh doormat and a pot of flowers and you may have money left over from that $500 bill.

• Paint interior walls – Nothing changes the look of a room more than a fresh coat of paint. It can get complicated and expensive if you need to repair drywall, remove mold, or have really tall ceilings, so you may need to hire a professional. But if you can do it yourself, you may even be able to upgrade baseboards or add crown molding and stay within a $500 budget.

• Update the lighting – Lighting fixtures are to a home what jewelry is to an outfit. They can add pizzazz or look dated and dowdy. Switching out a chandelier over the dining room table is a fairly easy, budget-friendly project. Shop big-box stores for inexpensive models or ask about floor sample sales at retail outlets. If you’re on too tight a budget, consider updating lamps you already have with new shades.

• Install new toilets – It may not materially change the look of your bathrooms, but if you have toilets installed before 1995, replacing them with new models will save thousands of gallons of water you won’t have to pay for. You can get new models for well under $200, so you may want to spend some of that $500 budget to upgrade the look with bathroom lighting, mirrors or storage units.

DIY Home Project: 4 Easy Ways to Xeriscape Your Yard

Unless you hire a crew for upkeep, your responsibilities as a homeowner likely include some form of landscape maintenance. Did you know that a large portion of household water usage goes directly to maintaining a landscape?

Enter the xeriscape. Xeriscapes require just a fraction of the water you’d generally use to keep your landscape lush. A University of Georgia study found that homes with xeriscapes saved approximately 9,450 gallons of water, shaving off nearly $23 in water expenses each month.

Proving once again that the Greeks were ahead of the times (and all-around better than all of us), the term “xeriscape” comes from the Greek word “xeros,” meaning dry. They’re best suited to drought-prone areas, particularly in the Southwest, but the basics can apply to any landscape.
To conserve water and save money on landscape maintenance, follow these xeriscaper-approved tips.

1. Get smart about watering. Water your landscape with a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses. Both water plants at the roots, which is crucial for conservation. Be mindful of rainfall, which can lead to overwatering – you can “set it and forget it” with a rain sensor add-on.

2. Supplement the soil. The success of a xeriscape depends heavily on soil. Fortify soil with compost or manure to balance water retention, and cover with a layer of mulch (think leaves or wood chips) for added absorption. Less mulch will be needed as your xeriscape develops.

3. Draw new turf borders. Another key component of a xeriscape is smaller sections of grass, which – you guessed it – need less water to get the job done. To maintain these areas, use a reel mower to trim the blades by just a third. Taller grass acts as natural mulch, which results in decreased water usage.

4. Go native. Aside from grassy areas, most xeriscapes are home to native plants that thrive despite limited water. In drought areas, ideal plants include cacti, agave, juniper and lavender; herbs like thyme and sage and foods like sapodilla fruits or black walnuts also flourish without excessive watering.

DIY Home Project: Staining Concrete To Look Like Tile

Today were looking at staining concrete to look like Tile! By using tape you can even make faux grout lines! Check it out!