ArcaMax

Want to refresh the look of a kitchen without spending a lot of time and money? Install peel-and-stick vinyl tiles as a backsplash to the wall below the cabinets that join the surface of the countertop. This is a quick-fix solution and easy job that protects the wall surface, often prone to splashes of food or sauce during food preparation. ...Read more

A cornice or window topper is a good choice to complete a room’s décor, whether the window is a casual setting with blinds or a shade, or a more traditional style with draperies. Whatever the style, a fabric cornice adds a custom touch to any window. You can make one with a cornice board kit, which you assemble with polystyrene sections, two ...Read more

For a hardworking floor surface, you can’t go wrong with prefinished laminate planks. They’re affordable and easy to install, and they come in many styles and colors. Many lines of the laminate plank flooring provide a built-in underlayment — an installation shortcut that gives the surface the realistic sound of natural wood planks. Some ...Read more

A pull-out faucet in a bathroom sink makes it more useful than a two-handle faucet because it’s designed for many uses. Some of today’s bathroom sinks can be used for bathing a small infant, washing a kid’s hair, and even scrubbing dirty sneakers.

If the bathroom sink in your house gets a workout, consider replacing the existing faucet ...Read more

A bathroom often needs additional heat, especially in the winter months when the room can be colder than the rest of the house. While a small wall or free-standing heating unit is one solution, a ceiling fan and heater is another that takes up no floor or wall space. The heater and fan can be operated separately or combined.

An electrician will...Read more

If you like the traditional look and feel of Old World walls, consider using these embossed wallcovering panels that add textural interest to the walls and lasting character to the room. In many historic homes the rich and distinct look doesn’t cover the entire walls. Instead, the panels were commonly used as a dado covering the lower third of...Read more

Quarry tile is a popular flooring material for a lot of reasons. It’s used in public bathrooms, commercial kitchens and many high traffic areas like an entryway, because it’s a long-lasting, durable surface. It’s non-slippery, it’s easy to clean, and it withstands years of abuse. The unglazed ceramic tiles are usually made from natural ...Read more

You’ll be surprised what a difference it makes to switch from an ordinary recessed can light to a stylish hanging pendant fixture. If you want to add a pendant light, you can use a conversion kit designed for do-it-yourselfers to make the switch. It’s a small change but can change the look in counter lighting, over an island, or in a dining ...Read more

If you want to update a stair railing from the 1950s on a second-floor landing to a more stylish metal or wood railing, you have a lot of choices, and there have never been more options. You can replace an old railing with a fresh new style that will go a long way in a home renovation. The replacement requires some basic carpentry skills and ...Read more

Anyone who renovates an older home is faced with knocking down a plaster wall or two. We’ve had our share of plaster dust filling the air; and when the dust settles and the unwanted wall is removed, the opportunity to redesign the space is worth the effort and mess. If you want to save some money and get physical, we suggest doing some of the ...Read more

Avoid unwanted attention to a nasty stained ceiling in a room by concealing the eyesore with a painting product used by the pros. A stain blocker can conceal just about any kind of stain applied before repainting the ceiling by using an oil base sealer and primer like KILZ. It will block the stain, so it disappears. Apply the blocker and primer ...Read more

An old metal A/C furnace grille in a wall can be an eyesore in an otherwise attractive room, and it looks even worse if, over the years, the fins of the vent have become dented or dinged. You can find metal replacements at most home centers, but you can take it up a notch with a wood grille to give the room a custom finish.

We found the grilles...Read more