Tag Archive | "Do It Yourself!"
Do It Yourself: House Names and Numbers
In the English tradition of naming houses, my Mom and Dad decided that "Idyllwood" wold be a fitting moniker for their 1928 Tudor-style home, which is set on the edge of an ancient, wooded ravine. And since you can't have a name without a sign, I set about creating an appropriate plaque with the help of Toronto's iCOPY Express, a local print and sign business. They cut the peel-and-stick letters while I waited for less than $20. Many homeowners use these vinyl cut letters to mark their house number and street name.
Stencils For a New Decorating Era
Thursday, October 1, 2009
When I got the press release from Beauti-Tone I admit my first thought was, 'Stencils? You've got to be kidding . . . so 80s!' But rather than being used as borders as they were two decades ago, today's stencils are being sold as super-inexpensive alternatives to wallpaper. "They're fantastic for an accent wall or a nook," says Beauti-Tone Creative Director Bev Bell, "and without the expense or challenge of hanging paper. There are no seams to match up and no stripping to do when you're ready for a new look."
Wood Refinishing 101: Start Small
Monday, September 21, 2009
What I know about woodworking is enough to fill a single blog post, this one. I'm as rank an amateur and you'll find. But that didn't stop me from trying to rehabilitate this teak bar cart which looks incredible now, thanks to a really good sanding and a rub-down with my new favorite product, polymerized tung oil.
Steel Wool, Sexier Than You Think
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
I've discovered is that steel wool is something of a DIY cure-all: I've been using it to strip and renew metal furnishings but it also works wonders on wood. In Montreal we met Ewa Spoczy distributor of the Briwax line of woodworking finishes and the finest grade of steel wool I've ever come across. Ewa proudly showed me the table she restored without stripping the original finish using this ultra-fine steel wool and Briwax Danish oil.
Where to Find . . . Oilcloth
Thursday, July 16, 2009
While visiting Winkel, Mike and I noticed the shop's fantastic selection of oilcloth on the roll. Now there's a throwback to an earlier age. Oilcloth is a printed canvas, originally treated with linseed oil to make it impermeable and more recently coated with plastic, almost like a vinyl. Because it's so easily cleaned — just wipe and go — oilcloth was used for decades to cover picnic tables and hardworking kitchen tables.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
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