Blog Description

Remodeling tips, trends, ideas, and a few things thrown in for giggles

December 28, 2010

Upcycling your Christmas Trash


The final Christmas packages have been unwrapped, the last morsels have been emptied from their decorative cookie tins, and the bathroom scales have been safely hidden for at least another month.  Now it’s time to take down the lights, put the living room back together, and give the sanitation department some overtime collecting the vestiges of our holiday gifting frenzy.  But before you stuff all the Christmas "trash" into a sack and toss it by curb, consider “upcycling” some of those post consumer party products (no, we don’t mean the fruitcake). 


Upcycling is the trendy way of saying “re-purpose your old stuff into new stuff.”  In other words, forgo the recycling centers (or <gasp> the landfill) and make use of the items without the middle man.  Since we at The Dusty Hammer are so forward thinking we thought what better way to ring in the New Year than to provide you our friends (yes both of you) this post holiday list of upcycling ideas for those Christmas remnants you've got lying around.   Okay, you're right - we're not THAT "enlightened."  We are however pretty good at taking credit for other people's bright ideas... as such we've tapped into the cerebral cortex of our friends at the E Advisor Blog (or their mainframe anyways) who have compiled an interesting collection of possible projects for your post consumer party products.  Some of our favorites include:  

1.    Wine Bottle Plant Nanny:  Worried about what the neighbors will think when you set two trash cans full of wine bottles out for garbage day?  Instead of just tossing them, turn those empty liquor jugs into plant Nannies… that way you’re not the only thing your neighbors call “lush.” 
2.   3D Paper Snowflakes:  Cuz Christmas doesn’t have a monopoly on winter décor and these are way cooler than the folded snowflakes you made in grade school.
3.   Christmas Card Luminaries:  A beautiful way to enjoy those pretty cards again and again and shed some decorative light on your next year's holiday festivities.
4.   Thank You Card:  You want them to send you gifts next year, don't you?!
5.   3D Card Star:  A great tree-topper project for next year’s Tannenbaum (or just to impress the neighbors with your mad origami skills).
6.    Reuse It:  Okay, gift bags yes, but if you're like us and subscribe to the "rip it open as fast as you can" method… you're probably better off sticking with one of the other options listed above.   
7.   Mail Used Greeting Cards to St. Jude's Ranch for Children:  If crafts aren't your thing you can still make good use of those old cards by donating them to St. Jude's Recycled Card Program. This great program not only turns old cards into new ones but helps benefit the important work St. Jude’s does for terminally ill children. Going green and helping kids, now what could be better?

December 14, 2010

The Holiday Decorating Toolbox


The Dusty Hammer LOVES Christmas!  The smells, the sounds, the sights, we love it all... that is until we have to shimmy up a precariously balanced ladder in order to proclaim our holiday cheer in twinkling incandescent miniature lights.  You know the drill: trudge out to the garage, climb into the attic, rearrange everything stored up there in order to get to the lights (which somehow always wind up all the way in the back), lug the ladder around to the front of the house, climb to the top of said ladder and then… begin cussing like Yosemite Sam as you search in vain for the tool you swear you just had but can’t seem to find anywhere! When you finally finish the traditional decorating and swearing you say to yourself, “there’s got to be a better way.”  Well friends, there is (no it doesn’t require paying the neighbor kid to do it for you – although that may not be a bad option…).  Put together a Holiday decorating toolbox for yourself.  By keeping all the important “tools” close at hand you can speed up the frost bitten lighting ceremony and bring back the holiday cheer to your decorating activities. 


Toolboxes are great!  We use them for just about everything… we’ve got a dedicated toolbox with a load of electrical tools, one to satisfy plumbing needs, there’s a toolbox for tile and drywall work, and even one for miscellaneous demolition tools… But it wasn’t until a few years ago while laying flat on my back staring up at the roof that moments ago I had been searching for my misplaced stapler (which coincidentally was laying next to me - right where I had left it at the bottom of the ladder) that inspiration hit me (or more aptly – I hit it) and I realized how handy a Holiday decorating toolbox would be

First let’s start off with the box itself – there about a bazillion options, but honestly most of these “options” add little value to the toolbox and can even make it less user friendly.  We prefer the ol’ tried and true variety - you know the standard rectangle shape toolbox with latches that open the lid – over the fancier versions with little storage compartments on the outside.  Inside our Holiday decorating toolbox is a small removable compartment for storage of the smaller items, and ample space for the bigger stuff in the bottom.  (All those tiny external see through cubbies look handy on the store shelf, but in practice they typically aren’t worth the cheap plastic they are made from and, far too often, the cubbies are broken after a few uses anyways. 

An important element of any good Holiday decorating toolbox is portability – as cool and indestructible as those metal toolboxes may be remember: we have to haul this bad boy up a ladder, which is why we like the lighter high density plastic versions over the prettier (and heavier) diamond plated ones. 

Now that you’ve got a good toolbox to store your merry decorating kit you can begin outfitting it. 
There are several “specialty items” that will make decorating much faster and more fun:
Monofilament
First toss in a couple spools of monofilament – a fancy word for fishing line.  Get yourself a couple of spools (one in 20 lb and one 50 lb test lines – which means essentially how much weight the line can hold).  This is one of the best specialty “tools” you can have in your holiday decorating toolbox.  Monofilament is great for retying icicle lights that have gone astray or to invisibly stake down various outdoor decorations such as a giant inflatable Frosty the Snowman. 

Cable Ties
Cable Ties rock!  There’s little mess, they go up easy and come down easy.  They allow you to fix broken decorations, hold things together and so much more.  There are literally thousands of uses for these handy little ties and you can rarely have too many.  Consider purchasing a multi-size package, once you’ve used ‘em you’re sure to love ‘em.

Command Kits
Command Kits are a 3M product that allows you to temporarily hang things from interior walls (some of them work the exterior as well) without marring.  These versatile hooks have a special adhesive that holds fast to walls and releases with a gentle tug.  No muss no fuss.   

Must-Have-Tools and Accessories for the Holiday Decorating Toolbox:
·                 Dead Blow/Hammer combo – Because sometimes you need the finesse of a rubber mallet and sometimes you just need to pound the crap outta something!
·                  Screw Drivers - we prefer the convenience of a multi head combo driver which offers two sizes of both Philips and flat head and can be used as a wrench for common size nuts – you could also just throw in a large and small Philips and flat head screw driver if you prefer
·                  Pliers – Needle nose as well as regular
·                  Wire Cutters
·                  A Handful of Misc. Nails and Screws (in a variety of sizes)
·                  Landscape Staples - great for anchoring decorations
·                  Duct Tape - don’t think you have to be stuck with the original color…virtually any color is now available, there’s even clear duct tape available (all the strength of the original none of the unsightly gray).
·                  Electrical Tape - for those moments when you come across a wire shield that has been worn a little thin
·                  Cable Ties -  
·                  Command Kits -
·                  Monofilament
·                  Hanging Wire (or heavy duty floral wire)
·                  Velcro -
·                  Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks – You can take care of a whole slew of things with hot glue
·                  Super Glue – what hot glue can’t - super glue will
·                  Small Can of Touch Up Paint & Brush in your home’s exterior colors - for those oops moments
·                  Extra Light Bulbs (Blinkers, C3, C7, C9 – and any other type you use in your décor ) – I always keep a good stock of replacement bulbs and fuses, you just never know. 
·                  Green Extension Cords – 2 or 3 that are 40ft if you can (we also really like outlet stakes for the outdoor electrical needs)
·                  Outdoor timers – optional
·                  Power Drill – though this isn’t a necessity it sure does make things a lot easier.  Ours doesn’t go in the tool box because we use it so often but it is definitely a good tool to take with you on your next decorating adventure!


Bonus Tips: 
Be sure to remove those extra light bulbs and fuse packs from your string lights and outdoor décor.  Add them to your toolbox so when you have to replace a bulb you can find them easily. 

For hanging decorative items (ie wreaths and such) on vinyl siding without voiding the warranty with a moisture inducing hole, Siding Hooks are a good option.  These specialty hooks are shaped pieces of stainless steel that slide up under the lip of the siding and lock into place using the sidings own channel.  They don't mar, are easy to remove and are available at most hardware stores - especially during the holiday season. 

Happy Decorating

December 10, 2010

Umm... TRON Licensed Designer Chairs?


TRON: Legacy hits theaters next week and the Disney marketing execs have kicked the production of the officially licensed movie tie-ins into high gear.  The latest addition to this arsenal of TRON inspired baubles employs the stylings of NY designer Dror Benshetrit for a high end chair targeted at those of us who still fondly recall the 80s computerized cult sensation and the subsequent TRON arcade games. 


Unfortunately the $15,000 price tag wasn't enough to justify including that awesome digital glow effect.  Still, even without the phosphorescent detailing the TRON Armchair looks considerably more sculptural than functional (and about as tough on the posterior as the virtual world's landscape that inspired the design was on one of those cool computerized light-cycles). I wonder if there's a red leather recliner option.  

December 8, 2010

Would You Like a Booth?

Recently the Dusty Hammer’s team of pariah bloggers were given a rare moment of respite to give our overtaxed minds a break from trying to come up with clever anecdotes for construction projects – plus we had used up all the cereal bowls and were resorting to pots and pans to eat our fruit loops out of.
 
Our brief taste of freedom took us to a local eatery where a pleasant young waitress asked the question that those who frequent restaurants have often pondered, “Would you like to wait for a booth?”  As if the fate of the world hinged upon our decision, we deliberated (already knowing what our answer would be). Our heads lifted from our makeshift huddle as we answered “Of course,” in techie geek unison!

What makes these upholstered nooks so desirable that many of us are, in fact, willing to wait for the coveted booth?  And how is it able to be both a great location for casual meals as well as the perfect setting for intimate dining?  Besides often being much easier on the posterior than the typical bistro chairs, a booth provides privacy (even in a crowded restaurant) and, more importantly, a feeling of closeness that’s hard to beat.  Wanna bring that cozy feeling home - what better way to fill the awkward narrow spot at the end of a room than to install your very own banquette? 

Brief History
The beginnings of banquettes can be traced back to early 17th century French royalty where the well-to-do could park their imperial keisters on the plushly upholstered window seats in their formal sitting rooms.  By the 1900s the derriere friendly benches had made their way to the homes of “the common man” who used them for a comfortable, space saving seating solution for their small dining rooms.  With such a diverse heritage it’s little wonder that we are so enamored by them. 


Select Your Seating Option
For a truly custom look it's hard to beat the quality you can get from a built in.  The beauty of going with a fully custom settee is that you are not limited in your choices of finishes or designs.  Hiring a professional to install your cool new privacy booth will cost you somewhere between $2,000 - $4,000.  But the envious looks you get from all your friends will be well worth the clams you shell out.  Think of how cool it would be to relax with your feet propped up on the bench in your very own booth as you peruse the "www" - perhaps the Dusty Hammer for example ;o). 

Of course the other option is to build it yourself.  Building a booth will require some planning and elbow grease but doing it yourself can save you a significant amount - plus you get to brag about how clever you are.  

Depending on your level of comfort with building projects and the amount of tools you have at your disposal you can choose to either “A” build a booth entirely from scratch or "B" build a booth from stock cabinetry from the hardware supply store.  


Build-it-from-scratch option


There aren't a lot of free plans floating around on the internet for banquettes, primarily because they are fairly easy to build and honestly construction workers don't often think to document their progress.  But with enough digging you can find a few that may help you in your quest for dining booth bliss.  Take, for instance, Dianne's - offering close ups of design elements and material used on her corner banquette or This one from the DIY Network - (we've imbedded the video instructions below to help get you going in the right direction). 




Stock-cabinet-option
You can also build a banquette using cabinetry purchased "off the shelf" at your local hardware store in about a weekend with much less required tooling.  Mark Powers from thisoldhouse.com put together a nice one using 4 standard refrigerator cabinets, a little trim, and few cushions, and on another site Kyle Freeman briefly describes how he built one using IKEA cabinets here.  


***Note*** We've had the opportunity to do several built in banquettes over the years but haven't thus far built one with stock "off the shelf" cabinetry.   Since I can rarely back down from a challenge - especially when goaded by the rest of the office staff (double dog dares get me every time) - I have decided to build one from stuff we can pick up in a single trip to Home Depot.   Give us a couple of weeks and we'll post a walk through.   


Once you've built your seating, all you have to do is add some comfy padding then plan your next get together, cuz you've got yourself an awesome spot for chewing some grub or just "chewing the fat." 

One more option...


We almost forgot to mention the pre-made option.  Here's a list of a few vendor's that offer options that requiring little more than signing for delivery:


affordableseating.net - Competitively priced restaurant quality booths.  Has an interactive portal to help choose design style, fabric and color


dinerbooths.com - Commercial restaurant booths at fair prices.


seatingexpert.com - Yet another company in a similar price point vending their wares







For a more upscale look consider Ballard Design's Hampton 3 piece - you may want to steer clear of the stark white cushions however. 




For additional ideas or questions drop us a line, we'd love to hear your thoughts.  



December 4, 2010

DIY Project: Dress Boy in a Weekend


Ikeahackers.net recently posted this very cool Dress Boy Project.... 


Okay, by a show of hands… who knows what “dress boys” are?  Anyone?


Admittedly no one here knew what they were before either... and it took the office about 15 minutes before we finally stopped sniggering about the images the name conjured up.  Actually a "dress boy" is a pretty ingenious way to reclaim some old furniture and a cool way to de-clutter the bedroom floor. 


The basic concept is: cut the back portion off of a dining room chair, hang it on the wall and presto an artistic place to drape a few items of clothing - a “dress boy.”   After all, who doesn't like draping their coat (or other items of clothing) over the back of a chair, there’s something strangely satisfying about it… like staking claim on your domain, announcing you've returned to the castle, sort of symbolically peeing on the tree – perhaps just a wee bit much (no pun intended), but you get the drift. 

And the best part is, this impressive functional wall art is an inexpensive project that can be finished in a weekend -which means by Monday you could have some really cool clothing racks and no longer have to make excuses about why you left your shirt on the floor.  Here’s how to install this handy hanger in your own bedroom space:


Materials: Two second-hand Ikea Bertil chairs (but most any dining room type chair will do), cleat, glue, screws, drill, circular saw, piece of fine grit sand paper, brad nails (finishing nails), paint(optional).


Step 1:  Using a circular saw, cut the back end of the dining room chair off leaving 3-4” of seat remaining.   You can either draw a straight line to follow or use a fence for the cut.  For simplicity we prefer making a fence from a 2x4 clamped to the seat and resting against the back.   This ensures that even with the bow in the back of the chair the line will be the straight across.  The 2x4 should extend past either side of the seat by about 9” to give the circular saw something to ride against as it starts and finishes the cut.   

Step 2:  Measure the inside of the chair from apron to apron (side to side) and cut the French cleat (a 2x4 that has been cut at a 45 deg angle lengthwise) to length.  Install one half of the French cleat using some glue and nails. Fill the nail holes with spackle or wood filler.  Lightly sand and paint chairs to desired color - these were painted the same color as the wall for some additional contemporary flair - paint your's according to your decor.   


***Note*** The French cleat is a good way to “lock” the chair into place on the wall.  It is capable of holding an impressive bundle of clothes, doesn't take up much room and allows the chair to be removed for easy clean up.  Please DO NOT attempt to make the French cleat with you circular saw – the cleat should be cut on a table saw for safety.  We want you to keep all your fingers and avoid nicknames like stubby.





Step 3:  Hold the chair up to the wall so the back feet are on the ground (unless you want your dress boy to be floating), position the other half of the cleat under the half attached to the chair (should look like a complete 2x4), using a pencil, mark a line under the second half of the cleat on the wall.  Use this line as a guide to screw the second half of the French cleat to the wall (note the direction of the angle), preferably through a stud or two.
  
***Hint***  Cut the cleat on the wall about ½” shorter (in width) than the half that was installed on the chair.  It also helps to shim the cleat off the wallboard a little bit - a few thin strips of cardboard from a cereal box works pretty good.    


Step 4:  Slide the chair over the mounted cleat and walla… you’re done.  Dress it up with a shirt or two and some slacks.  For some added detail you can even label the back like “His” and “Her” (to ensure you get one for your stuff as well). 

***Word of caution***  Be careful who you announce you have a "dress boy" in your bedroom to – and be sure to follow it up with a detailed description. 

Happy Remodeling.



November 30, 2010

Uber-Cool Solutions for Tiny Kitchens

TThe recent economic downturn has not only meant the demise of the McMansion style houses but has also caused many of us to take inventory of our life styles, tighten our belts and seek pocket book friendly alternatives.  If you’ve responded to the changes in the financial environment by downsizing your digs, or have moved to an apartment in the city to conserve gas on the commute, you’ve no doubt found yourself with quite a bit less room than you’re accustomed to.  Fear not, faithful Dusty Hammer followers, we’ve gathered from the far reaches of the internet this list of ultra tiny space saving kitchens designed to pack a lot of functionality into a very little space. 

The chic micro cookery created by German designers Kristin Laass and Norman Ebelt looks like a sophisticated and attractive cabinet.  When collapsed the “kitchen” takes up just over 10 sq/ft of floor space but hidden inside this contemporary dining room furniture is a fully loaded, fully functional kitchen complete with an induction cook-top, refrigerator, convection oven/microwave, and storage for various kitchen tools and dishes – they even threw in a kitchen sink.  Check out the photo montage for this tiny cook space at DigsDigs 


Circle® Kitchen from Compact Concepts is a nifty little kitchen that takes its cues from a revolving department store door.    This “totally tubular” kitchen design (our apologies for the bad pun) comes complete with a cook-top, oven/microwave combo, sink, dishwasher, breakfast bar, range hood, dual waste bins and an arm lengths list of other amenities – it even includes a concealed power-strip for the coffee maker and built-in halogen lights.  All wrapped neatly in a pretty little round package offered in a wide variety of colors and textures sure to suit almost any taste – our favorite is Ferrari Red. 

At just under 20 sq ft of space this all in one unit provides practically everything you’d need to prep your next gourmet meal – and it all fits in about the same space as a small closet.  Oh, and did we mention the whole unit rotates?!  Think of never having to walk around the kitchen again…  go from the sink to the fridge to oven with a spin of the wrist - try doing that with a conventional kitchen!   To get your new Circle® Kitchen brochure visit CompactConcepts.com (I hear they even have leasing options). 


Best known for their
high fashion handbags, the Fendi name has become synonymous with luxury, good taste and style. Now Fendi is putting their stamp of approval on an ultra modern, ultra tiny kitchen under the Fendi Casa brand name.  The fashion forward design company put its creative prowess to the test by designing a fully functional super stylish kitchen that fits into less than 8’ of wall space – total.  The resulting super chic compact cucina (that’s Italian for kitchen) could well be called “culinary couture.” 

Concealed behind the luxurious black, chocolate or ivory doors sporting the signature opposing F logo, is a swanky studio kitchen that has it all – stove, sink, microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator and dishwasher with glass shelves and stainless steel accents in a tastefully done (duh) retro mod design.   The doors and drawers in this stylish kitchen are push/pull assist for easy opening and closing, and for one last bit of wow you can even choose to have the sexy wardrobe doors that hide it all, open whisper quiet with just a touch.  Visit the Fendi site to find out where you can get your hands on one.


If the above options are still too much space for your comfy condo why not give Christopher Meyer and Vicky Muller's kitchen concept a try.  “Kleine kuche,” which translated from german means small kitchen, is an attempt to integrate all the necessary elements of a culinary space into a single piece of furniture. The design, which resembles a nice looking modern dining table with bulging legs, conceals behind skins of silicon all the necessary mechanical components (ie plumbing and electrical) to make the table a fully functioning kitchen and provides a space for items like pots and pans to be stored out of the way.  This cleverly camouflaged kitchen not only seats 4 but cooks and cleans for them as well; incorporating both an induction cook-top and sink. Click here for more information.



When tastes lean toward the graphic novel (ie comic book) motif, Oma’s Rache (Grandma’s Revenge) may be just what you’re looking for.  This smart kitchen concept magically transforms a seemingly solid wall with a 2 dimensional piece of art into a full kitchen and dining area.  The decked out eatery comes complete with built-in sink, dishwasher, cooking surface, storage units, table, and benches - that all slide out with the wave of a hand.  If you’re in need of a space saving option with some futuristic Jetsons-like coolness don’t let the spiteful name fool you, this is one sweet little kitchen design.  For additional details and photos on Grandma's Revenge visit tinyhouse.com

November 24, 2010

Contemporary Style: Modern Sinks



Ah, the bathroom sink – this oft neglected element of the restroom has patiently waited for it's time in the sun as we have gone about our business -  washing our hands after using the lavatory (providing we weren't raised in a barn), using it to freshen up for a evening on the town, and  brushing “the fangs” in preparation for bed.  It is has accepted being the object of scorn as we prepare the loo for house guests and the cause of more than one marital argument over the amount of hair contained therein.   Perhaps it's time to give this hard working household "member" a face lift.  No longer need the washbasin be a boring white porcelain bowl - today these functional fixtures can also be strikingly beautiful works of art.

Bold colors and a striking amoeba shaped sink add a touch of whimsy 
to this otherwise monochromatic bathroom space
Of course bathroom sinks come in more varieties than we could hope to innumerate in a single blog post so, for now, we’re content to focus on some of the modern bathroom sinks designs. You know, the ones with clean lines, compelling shapes, and/or made from interesting materials.  We realize that even within the realm of contemporary sink design the variety is vast but hey, we like looking at photos of contempo sinks and we’re hoping you do, too.



Deep toned mahogany contrast nicely with the bright white
porcelain sink and "mod" counter-top application
Free floating (cantilevered) sinks with a wide drawer bank
below provide storage as well as some flair... though your

sinks will likely need plumbing (unlike these pictured) so 
make sure you have some nice chromed pipes.
Floating vanities provide storage without taking up without 
taking up a lot of visual space.   We humans like to see 
our floors.


What the shell?!  Sorry we couldn't resist.








Our question is… as aesthetically pleasing as modern sink design can be,  we’re a little concerned that some might be too pretty to really get down to business.  What do you think – would you have to think twice before spitting your toothpaste into one of these modern vessels?