I always wanted to build a cedar hot tub. The vision of a long soak in a hot tub under the starry skies on a clear, crisp night in Santa Fe is quite compelling. Doing it in a natural tub constructed from cedar made the thought seem even better. As an experienced DIYer, I was taken by the idea that I could design and build a classic, red cedar hot tub myself. And I could save several thousand dollars over the cost of a kit from an established hot tub supplier. After all, how hard could it be? I built my own home in 2014. A cedar hot tub is a far simpler and much smaller project. This is the basic hot tub I envisioned: Research I spent several weeks scouring websites of commercial suppliers and DIY builders for ideas about wooden hot tubs. In my search, I discovered three things: How to Build a Cedar Hot Tub: The Design After my research was finished, I began the design phase. The tub would be circular, five feet in diameter and about 40 inches deep. I would use … [Read more...] about How to Build a Cedar Hot Tub
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Six Affordable Ways to Update Your Home
Whether you’re selling your home or merely looking for a change in your environment, there may come a time when you decide to make some updates to your home. Yes, it is easy to put off the task because of the potential cost and time needed for renovating. But there are many ways to spruce things up without breaking the bank. You’ll also find that you can do these projects little by little so that you don’t have to make major adjustments to your schedule. To help you out, here is a list of affordable ways to update your home. 1. Look at Color Trends Before you make any purchases or updates, examine current color trends. Right now, cool neutrals are popular in homes for both new properties and remodeling existing homes. Using these neutral colors can make a home seem clean and modern. Start your renovation process by repainting your walls, windowsills, and doors. If the walls have any minor dents, you can fill them in with toothpaste before going over them with paint. … [Read more...] about Six Affordable Ways to Update Your Home
How to Reduce Noise in Your Home
It’s frustrating when your home isn’t quiet. If your house isn’t peaceful and quiet, then considering how to reduce noise in your home is probably near the top of your “to do” list. When you first moved in, you might not have minded the barking dogs, blaring car horns, and noisy neighbors. But now this noise pollution diverts your attention and disturbs your sleep. Now you’re thinking, “I’ve had enough. It’s time to come up with a solution.” After all, everybody deserves uninterrupted periods of concentration and a peaceful night’s rest. Unfortunately, many older homes don’t have the sound-dampening construction that newer homes do. With a few small tweaks, however, you can turn your home into a noiseless paradise. Below, we share six effective ways to reduce noise in your home. Hang Heavy Drapes The first tip for how to reduce noise in your home is: consider the drapes. Drapes and curtains not only make a room feel homey, they can complement the other décor in your … [Read more...] about How to Reduce Noise in Your Home
Go Green with These Eco-Friendly Home Renovations
Many people want to be more environmentally conscious these days. Luckily, going green is easier than you may think. These four eco-friendly home renovations prove that you can help save the earth without sacrificing on style and efficiency. 1. Go low-flow to start eco-friendly home renovations Even if you don’t live where droughts are common, water conservation is important. Installing low-flow toilets and shower heads is a great way to conserve water. Today’s low-flow fixtures and appliances make saving water easy and automatic. New models of low-flow shower heads provide plenty of water pressure. The same goes for low-flow faucet aerators and faucets in the kitchen and bathroom. Not only do newer faucets use less water, they are also sleek and stylish. Another great upgrade is a new toilet. New water-conserving toilets get the job done while using far less water than models from previous decades. All of these new fixtures will reduce the amount of water used in … [Read more...] about Go Green with These Eco-Friendly Home Renovations
Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
If you’re like an increasing number of gardeners, you want to attract butterflies to your garden. Butterflies are truly the winged jewels of our landscape. Not only are butterflies beautiful, they serve the greater purpose of helping to pollinate plants and provide food for other important insects in the pollinator food chain. While monarch butterflies are my current focus, they weren’t always. But as most gardeners soon learn, one thing in the garden leads to another. When you plant a seed, you learn about soil. When plants grow in your garden, you learn about weather and the insects those plants attract. With more insects, more songbirds are likely to visit your property, too. See what I mean? One thing in the garden really does lead to another, and another, and … So, if you want to attract more butterflies to your garden, it’s helpful to know what plants and plant attributes butterflies enjoy. Keep the following tips in mind and you’ll be on your way toward having a … [Read more...] about Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
