Browsing Category

setting up home

bathroom, renovation, setting up home

Which Throne Will We Own? Shopping for a New Toilet

07/29/2014

Which Throne Will We Own? Shopping for a New Toilet | This American House

Starting with baby steps on the bathroom project is starting to pay off. I’ve gotten most of the woodwork stripped and once it’s sanded and I’ve applied a finish it will be time to move on to the big stuff.

We know that we’ll need to replace the toilet and sink and vanity in the bathroom. While I thought that shopping for a new toilet would be an easy task, I’m finding the choices daunting. We know that we want a toilet with a skirted design that hides that trapway. Not only does this skirt makes the toilet easier to clean, but we also prefer the streamlined look of it. Other than that, I’m finding there to be a lot of options out there. After spending a few days researching, I’ve narrowed it down a bit. These are the seven toilets that are the current leading contenders:

Continue Reading…


Warning: Undefined variable $post in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22
cleaning, DIY, Maintenance, setting up home

Schlepping Sloshing Water Buckets is for Chumps!
How to Connect Your Dehumidifier to a Drain

07/10/2014

Schlepping Sloshing Water Buckets is for Chumps! Connect Your Dehumidifier to a Drain | This American House

In some ways, the flooding basement was a blessing in disguise. Not only did it force us to clean up what was quickly becoming a cluttered mess, we were also inspired to buy a dehumidifier to help dry out the basement. I had no idea our basement was so damp until I found myself emptying the water bucket multiple times per day. Hooray for a dry basement! But boo for schlepping a sloshing water bucket to the basement bathroom multiple times per day. Schlepping is for chumps!

Continue Reading…


Warning: Undefined variable $post in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22
cleaning, decorating, garden, setting up home

Welcome to the Carriage House: An Artful Mess

05/29/2014

the original carriage house at the Delbert Meier House

Back in 1917, when Delbert and Grace Meier had their American System Built home constructed, they built what would have then been called a coach house. This is where the couple would have parked their Model T or Monroe Roadster or whatever they were driving at the time. A small boxy structure, the carriage house is covered in the same stucco as the house and topped with the original slate roof. It’s no longer used for housing an automobile but it’s very much a useful part of the house.

Continue Reading…


Warning: Undefined variable $post in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22
garden, setting up home

Get Grilled: 6 Charcoal Grills for Summer Entertaining

05/19/2014

6 charcoal grills

With Memorial Day right around the corner, it’s officially outdoor entertaining time! We’ve been looking forward to grilling at the house all winter. With the garden planted, I’m envisioning wonderful later summer meals with homegrown veggies grilled in the backyard. But, first, we’ll need a grill. Which of these six will it be?

  1. Weber Kettle Grill With 1,104-square-inches of cooking area, this grill is big enough to prep food for a whole herd of folks! Perhaps that’s why it’s called “The Ranch.” ($1,129)
  2. Kamado Kooker Grill and Smoker This egg shaped grill doubles as a smoker. And it’s adorable to boot. I love adorable. ($354.13)
  3. Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #22  With its aluminized steel exterior and beer barrel shape, this grill would be perfect for tailgating. Measuring 22 x 22 x 28 inches, the Old Smokey is small enough to be easily transported but still offers plenty of grilling surface. ($63.95)
  4. Hasty-Bake Legacy 131Grill First of all, this grill wins for best name ever. Plus, the Hasty-Bake grills, smokes and bakes. You may never use your indoor range again. ($999)
  5. Rosle Grill This grill is a great portable option. In addition to the wheeled design for easy transporting, the grill features a hinged lid and rail storage system for grilling tools. ($400)
  6. Stok Tower Grill Perfect for a small space, the Stok includes a storage compartment that’s perfect for stashing a bag of charcoal and grilling tools. ($143)

MORE GRILL POSTS FROM AROUND THE WEB

Images: Linked above


Warning: Undefined variable $post in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22
American made, secondhand stories, setting up home, thrifty

This Vintage Ekco Vegetable Peeler Just Wants to Be Used

05/07/2014

vintage Ekco vegetable peeler

I was having one of those mostly unsuccessful trips to the antique mall so I started digging deeper. You know, crouching down and looking behind things and really searching for a good find. I was NOT going to leave empty handed dammit! And then there it was, a vintage Ekco vegetable peeler still attached to its original packaging. Take me home and use me, it seemed to say to me. Don’t mind if i do!

Continue Reading…


Warning: Undefined variable $post in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/hemlock-core/inc/social_share.php on line 22