Custom Stair Bookshelves Make a Great Display
Some homeowners use the area under the stairs as a gallery space. Others recognize that it can provide display opportunities and additional storage. If the under-the-stairs area also serves as the entryway, the ideas for items that can call it home are endless. The area closest to the door can contain bins for shoes and other items that come on and off at the door, such as purses, briefcases, and dog leashes. Putting these types of items in attractive bins that tuck neatly into built-in bookshelves allows for a clutter-free entryway. A professional handyman can help homeowners decide on shelf sizing to make the most of the built-in’s location.

Kitchen Bookshelves Provide Storage
Even a kitchen with serious amounts of cabinet storage can benefit from the installation of a built-in bookshelf. Homeowners who do not use a breakfast bar area can turn the wall below into additional storage. The open design allows for the display of cookbooks, collectable plates, crockery, and even children’s art projects. Mr. Handyman’s experienced technicians are happy to provide carpentry services and can suggest built-in bookshelves customized to the room and budget, or the homeowner can present a sketch of exactly what is wanted.

Bedroom Bookshelves
Perhaps the area in the home that benefits most from built-in bookshelves is the bedroom. Many homeowners like to start the day by watching a morning show while they get ready for work. Or they may get in a little exercise via a workout DVD right after rolling out of bed. A TV in the bedroom proves convenient in both of these instances. At the end of the day, though, the bedroom should offer no distractions, allowing for full relaxation before sleep. A built-in bookshelf with doors allows for such storage. Doors open in the morning to reveal a flat-screen TV and other electronics, and they close to remove them from sight after a long day at work. Mr. Handyman’s experienced technicians excel at helping homeowners choose built-in bookshelves that complement existing décor in a bedroom.

Once bookshelves have been built into an area, there are a few organization tips to keep in mind:

• Vary heights of items to create visual interest and allow for more items on a shelf, as the different heights leave space open.
• Alternate between stacking books horizontally and shelving them vertically. Rows of books shelved vertically can make a bookshelf look packed.
• Scatter framed photos and artwork throughout a built-in bookshelf and place smaller items in front. This works exceptionally well with trip photos and mementos, as they can be grouped by region and tell travel tales all by themselves.

Related Posts

Home Painting Ideas | Crown Molding, Doors and Accent Walls

Master Bedroom Makeovers | Ideas for Bedroom Color, Drapes, and Closets

Mr. Handyman can maintain your home to save you money. One call really does take care of everything on your to-do list. All Mr. Handyman franchises are Fully Insured with General Liability and Workers Compensation. Some services are subject to state and local licensing and may not be available in all locations. Make sure to stay on top of all your household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and request service in your area.

Then it’s time to strategize and organize that basement of yours. But where do you start? Worry not! We’ve got a handful of handyman tips to get on your way to make your basement a usable space in your home.

• KEEP. DONATE. TRASH. Probably the most difficult part of getting any space organized is sorting through your belongings. We recommend you have three bins and clearly mark them with KEEP, DONATE or TRASH. They don’t necessariliy have to be bins, maybe just get a pile going for each category and have it clearly marked so you know which one is which. You should set clear rules about what it is that you keep, donate or throw out in the trash. For example, have you used it in the last year? Is it in good AND working condition? Why is it in the basement in the first place? Setting clear rules will make it easier for you to decide which category your items belong.

• Organizing the KEEP. Now that you’ve gone through all your sorting, it’s time to sort some more and categorize what you kept. Some category ideas include Christmas Decorations, Sports Equipment, Pet Supplies, Toys, Photographs, Vinyl Records, etc. and put them in labeled clear plastic bins.

• Storing the KEEP. Once “Organizing the KEEP” is completed, you may want to consider a custom storage system or custom shelving to organize your new bins. That way you can keep the bins dry, and off the ground and walls in case moisture and minor flooding issues occur.

What do you think? Are you ready to tackle your basement this weekend? Tell us your basement woes in the comments section below.

Paint Your Crown Molding

It sounds small but this can really add a nice touch. Painting crown molding is something most people don’t often think of when “painting” comes to mind but it can really add to your home’s style. Even adding a fresh coat of the same paint can make a big difference.

Photo Credit - Crown Molding on Flickr

Paint an Accent Wall

Add a little pop or pizzaz with an accent wall. You can add accent walls to every room in your house if you choose. Again, this can be as subtle or as dramatic as you want! Benjamin Moore has great tools and iPhone apps to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Below is an example from their website. Is this something up your alley?

Paint Your Doors

Painting the interior and/or exterior doors of your home can add a nice pop or sheen to your home. Painting doors can be a messy and time consuming job. It’s certainly something you can spend time doing yourself or hire a professional to do it for you.

Want a bright red front door? No problem. Want something a little less bright? You got it! Try something with a touch more brown to bring down the loudness of the red. Maybe something like this…

Photo Credit - Bossco on Flickr

No matter what you choose, interior home painting of any kind will certainly give  your home a new look and feel. What do you think  of these painting ideas? Do you have some ideas of your own? Please share them in the comments section below.

The master suite proves the easiest room in a house to makeover. Simple changes can give the area a new look, while rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom require more involved—and more expensive—renovations. New paint, window treatments and bedding, plus a more organized closet, can turn a master suite into so much more than simply the room you sleep in.

Choose a Color Palette for Your Bedroom Suite

Different colors create different atmospheres. For example, reds will set a passionate tone in the bedroom, while blues will result in a more serene environment. Greens will bring nature inside, as will browns. When choosing the color palette for a room, start by picking up paint samples. A neutral color, such as a shade of green or brown, will make an excellent wall color and provide more freedom in the future when changing out window treatments and/or bedding.

Apply the samples to a wall near a window and look at the colors at different times throughout the day to see how the light changes their appearance. After picking the wall paint, take a sample along when shopping for window treatments and bedding. Pick fabrics that complement the paint color. For example, if a shade of light green will cover the walls in the master suite, look at draperies or curtains and bedding in light blues for a soft, calming color palette. The lighter the drapery color, though, the more light will shine into the room; look for fabrics with backing if sleeping late requires a dark bedroom. Hardware for the window treatments represents another way to tie the look of the master suite together. Find a rod that complements furniture or hardware, such as doorknobs and hinges, already in the room.

Getting the Closet Organized and Staying That Way

Before opening a single paint can, organize the master suite closet to ensure the newly made-over bedroom area remains clutter free. Start by going through every item in the closet and pulling out anything not worn or used in the past year. Either take the items to a resale shop if in good condition or donate to charity. Assess what remains and decide on an organizational system. Such systems are available at home organization stores and from custom closet builders. They offer everything from racks for your hanging items and shoes, to cubbies for shirts, to drawers for underwear and jewelry. Choose the organizational system that best fits all of the items requiring storage, so that the bedroom area stays streamlined and clean. Mr. Handyman can professionally install the system so that all pieces in the system fit just right. As a closet organization system will be an expensive purchase during a master suite makeover, proper installment proves important.

Makeover the Master Bedroom

To start the makeover process, pick a weekend with no activities, as it will take two full days from the first brush stroke to putting on the new bedding. If the walls in the master suite have seen better days, a handyman would prove helpful for drywall service like patching and sanding, as well. Hire out the painting job completely for the most professional work possible. A handyman also can hang window treatment hardware correctly the first time to keep freshly patched and painted walls free of unnecessary holes. Once the paint dries completely, dress the windows with the new treatments and the bed with the new bedding. Put fresh flowers in the room to complete the look and put the finishing touch on your master suite makeover, then sit back and enjoy the new space.

Mr. Handyman can maintain your home to save you money. One call really does take care of everything on your to-do list. All Mr. Handyman franchises are Fully Insured – General Liability and Workers Compensation. Some services are subject to state and local licensing and may not be available in all locations. Make sure to stay on top of all your household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and request service in your area.

Well we’re not afraid to admit it – we like window treatments! We have no favorite kind. Blinds, curtains, shutters - we love them all the same. But one thing we do love more is actually installing window treatments as part of our odd jobs residential handyman services. We’re also not afraid to admit that we’re good at it either.

Photo Credit - woodleywonderworks on Flickr

When shopping for window treatments there are so many choices. So we wanted to take a poll to see what type of window treatments our readers like best. If we don’t have your favorite window treatment listed, go ahead and add your own! Tell us what you think.

Photo Credit: James Bowe on Flickr

You read correctly. The incandescent light bulb will soon be phased out in several countries, including the United States.

The 100-Watt bulb is the first to get “lights-out,” which went into effect on January 1st. Buy why?

Energy efficiency.

“Where we can save in every little aspect, the greater it’ll be for ourselves and our environment,” Fred Lamason of Yale Electric told CBS 21.

He further described the various types of light bulbs. According to Lamason, a regular fluorescent bulb is less than a dollar and lasts for 750 hours. A CFL is about $3 and lasts for 10,000 hours. An LED bulb is about $50 but will last for about 25,000 hours.

25,000 hours equates to roughly 1042 days! That’s almost three years! And only if you leave the LED light on the entire time.

What do you think of the 100W incandescent light bulb phase-out? Do you think it’s a little silly or something that’s necessary? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Why are we so happy about it? It’s because this award is only granted to about five percent of all companies rated on Angie’s List, which is the leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies like Mr. Handyman.

Award requirements include: accumulating a minimum number of reports, earning an excellent rating from their customers and abiding by the website’s operational guidelines.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by our customers for all our hard work and commitment,” said Alex Roberts, President of Mr. Handyman International. “We’re dedicated to delivering the best handyman service and overall experience to each customer on every visit.”

So, who made the grade? Here’s the list of our 32 Angie’s List Super Service Awardees.

Mr. Handyman of Anne Arundel & NE Prince George’s, MD: Kevin Crysler & Diana McKinney

Mr. Handyman of Beverly Hills Hollywood & the Valley, CA: Teddy Tenenbaum & Minsun Park

Mr. Handyman of Fairfax & Eastern Loudoun Counties, VA: Kush Batra

Mr. Handyman of Farmington Valley/West Hartford, CT: Ron & Sharon Locandro

Mr. Handyman of Gilbert, AZ: Doug Wertenberger

Mr. Handyman of Madison County, IL: Bette Jo Meyers

Mr. Handyman of McMurray, PA: Barb and Greg DeVore

Mr. Handyman of SW Minneapolis and SW Suburbs, MN: Mark and Sylvia Matijasevic

Mr. Handyman of Moorestown-Haddonfield-Voorhees, NJ: Ray Wiese

Mr. Handyman of N St Joseph & Elkhart Counties, IN: David and Janet Sipp

Mr. Handyman of Nashville, TN: Hadley and Peggy Hurford

Mr. Handyman of NE Baltimore City & Greater Bel Air, MD: Alan Deitch

Mr. Handyman of NE Monmouth County, NJ: Stephen and Donna Boehler

Mr. Handyman of NE Queens, NY: Lawrence Monte

Mr. Handyman of Norfolk County and the South Shore, MA: James Prendergast and David Palmieri

Mr. Handyman of Northern Baltimore County, MD: Ken Dunn

Mr. Handyman of Rancho Cucamonga, CA: Michael Wirtes

Mr. Handyman of S Orange/Westfield/Scotch Plains, NJ: David Ambinder

Mr. Handyman of Sandy and Draper, UT: Vicky Davison and Mike Pembroke

Mr. Handyman of SE Bellevue, WA: Bob and Maggie Schmidt

Mr. Handyman of SE Tarrant County, TX: Tom and Suzi Ware

Mr. Handyman of North Seattle, WA: Glen Berkwitt

Mr. Handyman of South Montgomery County, MD: Dan Hastings

Mr. Handyman of the Fredericksburg Region, VA: Al Starck

Mr. Handyman of the Gold Coast, NY: Phil Sattler and John Mullady

Mr. Handyman of Upper Fairfield County, CT: Skip and Lorenzo Wyatt

Mr. Handyman of Waukesha and North Milwaukee County, WI: Marty and Leslie Putz

Mr. Handyman of West Knoxville, TN: Allen and Penny Ellison

Mr. Handyman of West Los Angeles, CA: David Silverman

Mr. Handyman of Leesburg, FL: Dennis McGee

Mr. Handyman Serving Greater Jacksonville, FL: Mike and Libby McCalley

Mr. Handyman Tri-County, NJ: Bob and Susan Palmarozza

Football Field Table

Sometimes the food is more exciting than the game, so you need a great place to put it. Who wants plastic Super Bowl tablecloths when you can have your very own field? Cut a piece of plywood to fit your table and attach green outdoor carpet to it. Add a few lines with white artist tape, stick on vinyl numbers and you have a field in your dining room or kitchen. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip the plywood, but the field will be a little bumpier.

Step-by-Step Instructions to create a Football Field Buffet Table

Field Chalkboard Coffee Table

While you are watching the game, some of you might feel that you could do a better job calling the plays. Give your guests a place to show off what they have in mind by turning your coffee table into a field chalkboard! Cut a piece of plywood to fit your coffee table and paint it with chalkboard paint. Add lines and numbers and now you and your friends are ready to call your own plays.

Step-by-Step Instructions to create a Football Field Chalkboard

Football Themed Bar

With all the salty snacks and hollering, you are all bound to be thirsty. Here’s where you can really do something fun – make a football themed bar! Get a nice piece of finished plywood and cut out a football shape using your jigsaw. Paint it with brown and white paint to create a football for the front of the bar. Use a black marker to add some dimension. Using the remaining plywood and 2 x 4s, create a box. Attach the football to the front, add some green outdoor carpet to the top and you are ready to wow your guests.

Step-by-Step Instructions to create a Football themed Bar

Football Throw Game

With the plywood left over from your coffee table chalkboard, you can make a football throw game. Cut a circle in the center of the board to toss the ball through. If your handwriting isn’t the best, you can use vinyl stickers for the lettering.

Step-by-Step Instructions to create a Football Throw Game

PVC Goal Posts

If you still have a little extra time and want to go all out, you can make your own goal posts in less than 30 minutes and play a little football of your own before the game!

Step-by-Step Instructions to create Outdoor Football Goal Posts

Mr. Handyman can maintain your home to save you money. One call really does take care of everything on your to-do list. All Mr. Handyman franchises are Fully Insured – General Liability and Workers Compensation. Some services are subject to state and local licensing and may not be available in all locations. Make sure to stay on top of all your household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and request service in your area.

To help quell your high energy bills and make your house more green, we handcrafted this “Top 5″ list of the most energy efficient tips for your home.

1. Install a programmable thermostat. This handy-dandy tool will automatically turn down the temperature of your home when you leave, and automatically turn up the heat when you get back. According to the United States Department of Energy, you could save about $180 a year using a programmable thermostat.
2. Maintain your attic. We often forget about the attic since we aren’t in there every day. However, it’s one of the most crucial areas of your home for energy efficiency. For attic maintenance, check to see if the insulation is falling apart or if it’s leaking. If so, we highly recommend that you add insulation to your attic. Also, check the access to your attic. If it’s not properly insulated you could run into ice dam issues.
3. Invest in a whole house humidifier. Oftentimes, people turn up the heat in their homes because they feel cold. Whole house humidifiers allow you to feel warmer with cooler temperatures. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you can save up to 4% on your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat. Whole house humidifiers can also reduce the amount of allergens in your home (good for those with indoor or outdoor allergies) and prolong the life of your roof, which is always a good thing.
4. Check your doors and windows. Are they drafty? Can you easily hear the cold wind howling outside? If so, you should consider installing energy efficient ones. Energy Star reports that energy efficient window installation and door installation can lower your household energy bill by 7-15% (For additional tips: read about weatherstripping doors and shrinking wrapping windows.)
5. Insulate your hot water heater. Doing so helps cut your home’s CO2 emissions and you can save 4%-9% in water heating costs.

Do you have your own energy efficient ideas? Leave your green tips in the comments section below.

Alex Roberts, CFE, is president of Mr. Handyman International, part of Service Brands International (SBI) which also operates Mr. Handyman, Molly Maid and 1-800-DRY-CLEAN. Before becoming president of Mr. Handyman, Roberts was president of ProTect Painters and previously spent three years as vice president of franchise development at SBI.

Alex offered up these tips to save on bills on eLocalBlog on December 6, 2011:

1. Seal cooling and heating ducts with duct wrap or mastic sealant.
2. Fix plumbing leaks.
3. Insulate your hot water heater.
4. Replace shower heads with low-flow heads.
5. Install low flow toilets.
6. Install ceiling fans.
7. Plug overlooked energy leaks around the house.
8. Insulate.
9. Install a hot water heater timer.
10. Replace your light bulbs.
11. Replace old windows with new high performance dual pane windows.
12. Insulate your hot water pipes.
13. Install outdoor solar lighting.
14. Install shades, drapes, awnings or sunscreens to block light.
15. Add lighting controls and timers.
16. Reuse and Recycle.

Tom Raar is owner of Mr. Handyman of Greater Grand Rapids providing Handyman Services to Grand Rapids, MI. 3850 29th Street SE, Suite C, Grand Rapids, MI 49512. Phone: 616-384-4592.

Tom appeared on Take 5 and Company on WZMM 13 (ABC) of Grand Rapids, MI on December 15, 2011. He discussed ten ways to improve your home to speed up its sale:

1. Patch nail holes.
2. Paint the walls a warm or neutral color.
3. Restore baseboards.
4. Consider hardwood flooring.
5. Emphasize lighting.
6. Update kitchens and bathrooms.
7. Install a closet system.
8. Put in double-pane windows.
9. Improve the curb appeal.
10. De-clutter.

Hanukkah Miracle: Your Appliances Last Longer with Faith (and Maintenance)

Rob Carpenter is owner of Mr. Handyman of North & West Central MD, providing Handyman Services to Frederick, MD. 12 Davis Avenue, Frederick, MD 21701. Phone: 301-695-3636.

Rob was interviewed on December 20, 2011, by  Lisa Kaplan Gordon for houselogic.com, a national website focusing on home improvements. He shared insider tips to help extend the life of your home appliances and systems way beyond their warranties:

Mr. Handyman in the News – November 2011

Mr. Handyman in the News – October 2011

Mr. Handyman can help. Repair. Improve. Maintain. One call does it all!

Mr. Handyman can maintain your home to save you money. One call really does take care of everything on your to-do list. All Mr. Handyman franchises are Fully Insured – General Liability and Workers Compensation. Some services are subject to state and local licensing and may not be available in all locations. Make sure to stay on top of all your household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and request service in your area.