Home In Progress

Choosing the wrong dining room table for your space can be a frustrating and expensive mistake! Fortunately, we've got some tips to help you make sure you get it right! We'll also be talking with Interior Designer Lauren Figueroa about a very unique Design-in-a-Day service she offers. Finally, we'll close the show out talking about paint sheens. It's not exciting stuff, but think of it this way: you could pick the right color, the best paint, use the best tools with the greatest skill . . . and still hate the end results because the sheen is wrong. We'll help you avoid that!

Dining room tables are extremely important to our home life and choosing the wrong table can have a big impact. We discuss the rules of thumb everyone needs to know before shopping for a new table.

We are joined by Interior Designer Lauren Figueroa to discuss a design service that has become a huge hit; Design in a Day! Many of us struggle when decorating our homes and yet we don't ask for help because we don’t think we can afford it. That is all changing with the flexible budget friendly option. Find out how it works and how to get the most out of it.

Lauren Figueroa

Lauren's Website

@lfdesigns.co on Instagram

Lauren's Facebook page

You can do all of the right things; find the perfect color, get the best paint and paint tools but if you don't pick the right sheen…it could still mean catastrophe. We walk you through all of the sheens and where/when you should use them.

With Father's Day only a day away, it's crunch time if you're looking for gifts. And so we decided to pool our knowledge and resources and provide you with a list of never-fail Father's Day gifts you'll be able to pick up today!

We'll also be talking about...

DIY Painting 101: Start by estimating how much paint you are going to need! Getting an accurate paint estimate / budgeting for your project can be easy once you know how much paint to buy. Just follow these steps:

1. Measure the LENGTH of each wall AND  the HEIGHT. 
2. Multiple each wall LENGTH by the ceiling HEIGHT. 
3. Add those totals together
4. Subtract square footage from windows and doors

We always recommend 2 coats which means if the room is 408sqft you will be covering 816 sqft

1 gallon will typically cover around 400 sqft. For this example you will need 2 gallons of paint 

Bring in your final number of square feet into your nearest RepcoLite Paints so we can get you the right amount of paint! 

We are surrounded by Lithium Ion Batteries. They are used in everything from phones, watches and  tools to yard equipment, electric scooters and cars. If you have seen any of these devices catch fire it can be frightening and many people wonder if they are safe…In short, yes, they are safe. However, like most things that use electricity,  there are safety precautions everyone needs to know! We are joined by Holland’s Fire Chief to learn all about Lithium Ion Batteries and Fire Safety. 

We know that your days are filled with stress so we thought we’d bring you a story that is sure to make you smile! Bunny the talking dog is an internet sensation and for good reason! Dan and Hailey discuss the possibility of communicating with pets.

• Check out Bunny on Instagram!

It's a project-focused episode this week. Hailey is converting her 100 year-old garage into an art studio and needed to degrease the concrete. She'll talk about what she used and whether or not it's a product she'd recommend.

Dan, on the other hand, took an old, rusty Bistro set that he bought over 20 years ago and restored it to "better-than-its-former-glory." He'll discuss the steps he went through and, more importantly, he'll talk about the temptation to skimp on the prep and how he overcame it!

While both of these projects are ridiculously specific . . . they are loaded with applications and ideas that will apply to many projects around the house.

-->View this segment on YouTube!<--

Hailey's 100 year-old-garage floor was covered with dark oil stains. So many, in fact, that she surmised that the garage had possibly been used for automotive work sometime in its long history.

With all those stains, she decided to go with a heavy-duty, industrial strength cleaner. And then, she read the warnings on the back of that degreaser and decided she wanted something less terrifying.

She settled on ACT Concrete Cleaner. It's pet-friendly, Hailey-friendly, and generally safe. But does it work? She'll let you know in her review!

• ACT Concrete Cleaner

-->View this segment on YouTube!<--

Years back, Dan bought a cute little cast iron bistro set. And then he set it outside and let time have its way with it. Recently, his daughter started using the rusty, spider-infested, ivy-covered set and Dan decided it was time to restore it.

It's a simple project and very specific. Yet, it was surprising how many painting lessons he relearned or remembered along the way. Most surprising is how tempting it really is to skimp on the prep work--even when you KNOW that doing so is a bad idea.

In this segment, we talk about removing rust, prepping surfaces, painting metal, and a lot of other things along the way.

If you're listening to our podcast, we'd LOVE to know! Please email us at [email protected] and let us know what topics you'd like us to cover in future segments.

Also, don't forget to check us out on YouTube! And if you do, please click subscribe!

Today's a bit wide-ranging when it comes to topics. The whole first half of the show is about "summer school"--about continued learning and making the most of the time we have! We start with a summer learning experience Hailey jumped into at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck. From there, Dan talks about turning 50 and some of the recent experiences he's jumped into.

Then we shift gears into an in-depth review of the Ego Zero Turn Riding Lawnmower. We know someone who has one and we get his thoughts.

Finally, we wrap up with a quick look at the new and improved Ben from Benjamin Moore. It's a great, budget-friendly paint and now, with some new technology, it's even better!

Hailey recently took an Art class at Ox-Bow Art School & Artist in Residency in Saugatuck, Michigan. We discuss the history of Ox-Bow the campus and her experience taking a printmaking class there. 

• A Vist to Ox-Bow Video
• Art on the Meadow Workshop

Dan has been joking about his midlife crisis after buying a motorcycle and approching the age of fifty. All jokes aside, though,  he has found navigating this crisis means learning new things and that is something we all need more of no matter what age. 

We have talked about EGO Lawn equipment on the show before but this time we are going big! Hear all about the EGO Zero Turn Riding Lawn Mower and how it compares to a traditional John Deere Tractor. Is it worth the money?

Benjamin Moore has recently improved their entry level paint “Ben” . We discuss those improvements and when we’d recommend choosing this product.

• Check out Ben in our online store

If you're listening to our podcast, we'd LOVE to know! Please email us at [email protected] and let us know what topics you'd like us to cover in future segments.

Also, don't forget to check us out on YouTube! And if you do, please click subscribe!

When gas is pushing $5 a gallon and groceries have become ridiculously expensive, the concept of saving money on home improvement projects is a big deal. On today's show, we talk about how you can cut corners (safely) and save money on your next paint or wallpaper project without compromising the final look!

WATCH ON YOUTUBE (and don't forget to subscribe!)

Working with the best paints money can buy is a great experience. The paint goes on better and lasts longer. Working with the best is always fun. However, we don't always have money to buy the best. And sometimes our particular project doesn't need the absolute best paint. (A spare bedroom maybe doesn't require Aura from Benjamin Moore, for example)

And so, with all that in mind, we talk about some of our favorite "budget-friendly" options and list their pros as well as some of their cons.

BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY PAINTS

• Ben from Benjamin Moore
• Carefree from RepcoLite

BEST PRICED PREMIUM PAINT

• Optima from RepcoLite

WATCH ON YOUTUBE (and don't forget to subscribe!)

When it comes to paint tools, there are certain ones that you can save money on. Sure, they may not be the best tool and there may be some limitations to how well they work, but overall, they'll perform well and at a discount.

However, there are other tools that you should absolutely never skimp on. Let's break them down:

BRUSHES. Believe it or not, brushes are actually a good place to skimp if you're hoping to save some money. Of course, there are caveats. First, I would never go to the cheapest brushes you can find. Avoid dollar store brushes like the plague. They drop bristles left and right and can make any paint project a misery. Instead, if you don't want o spend the money on the best brushes out there, go for middle of the road. Wooster SilverTip brushes are a great option. Wooster Soft Tips will work great as well.

A great brush is still far better--it applies more paint, more evenly, and lasts much longer. But a middle of the road brush can save you some money.

ROLLER COVERS. This is a place you should never skimp. Most of our projects are rolled out. That means that the roller cover is the item most responsible for how good your finished paint looks. A cheap roller cover can make a premium, top-shelf paint, look terrible on your walls. And a great cover can make a cheaper paint look better.

On top of that . . . a good cover, Like Wooster's MicroPlush Cover prices out just over $4. A cheap (garbage) roller cover could maybe price out as low as $1. So a $3 savings per cover. On average, most projects require about 2 covers. Which means you'd be compromising your finished look for a grand total savings of $6. It's absolutely not worth it!

ROLLER FRAMES. There are great roller frames out there (Wooster Sherlock Frames, we're looking at you!). And while they are great to work with, you can certainly get by with a standard $3 roller frame. Definitely a decent place to save money if you're looking to make cuts.

EXTENSION POLES. If you're skimping on the roller frame, there's no reason to splurge on the extension pole. Extension poles make every project easier--even when you're painting standard, 8 foot walls. But while more expensive ones can really feel like gold in your hands . . . you can certainly get by with a cheap wooden extension pole.

DROP CLOTHS. This is a toss-up! If you do a ton of painting, go for a canvas drop cloth. It'll pay for itself quickly. But if you are only doing a few projects, you might want to opt for a 4 x 15 canvas runner. You can pick one up for about $22 and you'll use it until you wear it out. If that's still too steep, consider a paper and plastic drop. These are very inexpensive and they're not too bad to work with.

TAPE. This one's also a toss-up. It's all about you and how you work. If you will take the time to apply a regular painter's tape and then press down the paint edge with a putty knife, then go for the cheaper blue painter's tape from 3M. If you don't think you're going to go through those extra steps, then spring for Frog Tape. It will give you the cleanest, sharpest lines with less effort!

WATCH ON YOUTUBE (and don't forget to subscribe!)

We didn't have time to dig into this topic as much as we had wanted. Suffice to say, Roommates Wallpaper is a great budget-friendly option. It's a peel-n-stick paper and there are some beautiful patterns available.

Also, never forget that reducing the amount of paper in your space is an obvious (but still great) way to save some money! Pick a high-impact wall and see what a difference it can make!

We cover a lot of ground today--or, at least, we cover some very diverse ground! It all starts with a quick look at a cool project: repairing an antique frame (or at least making it better!).

From there, we take a deep dive into the Sous-Vide--a kitchen appliance that promises to save you time and help you produce the best meals you've ever made.

Finally, with all that delicious food you're likely to make with the Sous-Vide, we know the next problem you'll be dealing with are ants and other pests, coming for their piece of the feast. We've got some alternative insecticides to help you eliminate those unwanted guests!

Durham's Water Putty is an inexpensive product that covers a lot of ground. If you don't have some in your DIY arsenal, you need it!

In this segment, we talk about an antique picture frame Dan found at an antique store a couple weeks ago. The frame was relatively intricate and sadly, a bit of that detail work had broken off with age. The missing section was glaring and accounted for the cheap price on the piece.

After looking at it for months, Dan bought it planning on painting the missing section with a metallic gold color, hoping to blend it in. However, when he got home, he remembered that he had a canister of Durham's Water Putty. Durham's, among other things, can be carved and shaped once it hardens.

He went to work and after an hour or so, had puttied in the missing spots and done a fair job of carving in a close-enough representation of the pattern. It's not perfect and there's a different approach that he could have taken with the Durhams that would have worked better. But still, after a beautiful paint match, the damaged corner fades out of sight while hanging on the wall.

• Check out our video of the first segment!

Sous-Vide Chef and RepcoLite employee par excellence joins us in the studio to talk about a kitchen appliance that he's LOVED for the last 4 years: The Sous-Vide. He makes the case that the Sous-Vide helps you prepare the best-flavored food you've ever eaten . . . while at the same time making the whole preparation and cooking process simple. Is the Sous-Vide right for you?

• Here's the Sous Vide Peter was talking about on the show

Ants and other pests in the home can be a real pain in the neck! If you're dealing with that, there are some options other than your standard pesticides.

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of diatoms. While living, they are responsible for producing almost 30% of our oxygen. And once dead and fossilized, they can be ground up into a fine powder that works well for filtration, polishing, and . . . bug killing.

Just sprinkle some diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your home and any bugs with an exo-skeleton who crawl through it will be short for this world. Just wear a mask while applying it and you should be fine. There's a lot more to read about and here's a great place to start!

BORAX ANT KILLER

The internet abounds with recipes using Borax as a main ingredient in ant killers. Basically, you mix 1 part Borax to 3 parts water, sugar, peanut butter, or corn syrup. Then you put that mixture on small pieces of index cards and place them where you see your ants. They will eat the mixture and then take it back to the colony and in about 24 - 48 hours, there should be no problem.

A couple IMPORTANT things to consider:

• Borax is not a pet-safe/child-safe alternative! It CAN be lethal to both pets, children, AND adults in the right doses. So be careful to keep it out of reach!
• Borax is the ACTIVE INGREDIENT in the over-the-shelf ant killer, Terro.

It's the Fourth of July Weekend and so we're looking at a couple things that are uniquely American! We'll be digging into some fun facts about the 4th as well as an architectural element of our homes that is distinctly American--the front porch. Do you have one? Do you use it? Whatever situation you're in, we've got some creative solutions so you can get out there and enjoy your summer.

We'll also be talking with realtors Sue Prins and Ginger Herman about the current state of the real estate market. Do we need to be worried about another housing market crash like 2008? Sue and Ginger have some positive (and calming) news....

There's a lot we know about the Fourth of July. BUT, even more importantly, there's a lot of fun/cool stuff we don't!

For example: did you know that a teenager designed the current American flag in 1958? Yep . . . he made room and added a couple stars . . . and there you go: history was made! His name was Robert G. Heft and you can learn more by clicking here.

Another interesting fact is that 3 Presidents, who had all signed the Declaration of Independence, died on July 4. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams (both on the same day), and James Monroe 5 years later.

Moving on . . . the 4th is all about Flag Etiquette (or should be), so we were surprised to find that snippets of the original Star Spangled Banner have been sold at auctions over the years. It somehow just feels wrong...

Finally, here's a couple last facts that aren't really so surprising . . . Americans spent over 1 billion dollars on fireworks every 4th and . . . also not surprising . . . over 45,000 people visit the emergency room on this same day every year!

We're all hearing some doom and gloom coming from the media about the real estate market. They're throwing around phrases like "bubble bursting" and "housing crash" and the always popular: "just like 2008."

Is that the case? Is that really where we're at or where we're heading? Sue Prins and Ginger Herman from Sue Prins Group Five-Star Real Estate Leaders don't think so. In fact, they believe there's a bit of a silver lining to everything that's going on right now.

Sue Prins

Real Estate Professional

Sue 's Website

Front porches, whether you realize it or not, are distinctly American. They contain elements found in other cultures . . . but we've taken those concepts, melted them all together in our big melting pot, and produced a product as perfect as a fresh apple pie: the front porch.

Unfortunately, while front porches were a big part of life from the mid-1800's to just before World War II, they ended up kind of taking a back seat as indoor plumbing arrived. That moved the outhouse out of the back yard and made that area much less horrible to spend time in--as a result, those spaces became our go-to's for outdoor living. Also, air conditioning and TVs in every house brought people inside for even more time. And so the value and use of the front porch waned.

However, we think it needs to be brought back! Front porches create a vibe of leisure and community--spaces where we can relax and recharge . . . but still remain connected to neighbors and community. It's sad that this has faded from typical American life. And we're not the only ones who think so! Just check out the Professional Porch Sitters Union and consider forming your own chapter!

So, how do you get your front porch up to snuff so you can get out there and start enjoying those lazy summer evenings?

DECLUTTER

It all starts with a little decluttering. Don't let that space be a place for collecting all the things you don't know what to do with! So many front porches are stuffed from floor to ceiling with boxes, exercise bikes, crates and who-knows-what-else. If you don't use the space as a relaxing front porch, it's very likely you're using it as an extra closet. Problem is, this closet has a view to the outside. And it really detracts from the look of your home. So take the time to cut through the mess. It's tough, but donate, toss, and re-organize until you've got a space you can call relaxing.

OPEN THOSE WINDOWS!

If you've got an older home, there's a good chance the windows are painted shut. That makes the space almost impossible to spend time in. The good news is that opening them isn't complicated and you don't need tons of specialty tools. All you need is a box cutter, a putty knife, and a hammer. Check out this video that walks you through the whole thing! In a few hours, you could have your porch airing out with a fresh breeze....

IT'S TIME FOR FURNITURE

Once you've got the windows open and the clutter gone . . . you're starting to see the potential of the space. And at this point, what's clearly missing is furniture! Sure, you could set up some crates and call it good . . . but you want this to be a relaxing place, an inviting place . . . and for that, you need the good stuff: chairs.

Now, there is a lot of oversized outdoor furniture available and if your space (and budget) will allow it, you can kick back in style and comfort. However, not all of us have palatial porches to work with. If space is a limit for you . . . don't worry: you just need to get creative. Look for chairs without arm rests, with smaller foot prints and don't be afraid of going to a simple old standby: the wooden rocking chair.

Yes, comfort is key here, but I've got an old rocking chair in my living room and it's honestly the best seat in the house. So head to the thrift stores and give those old wooden rockers a sit. If they're solid and the right price, snatch them up--they'll be perfect on your porch.

And, if you're finding it difficult to locate two of the same style, don't worry. A little trick is to just paint them both the same color. Even if they're dissimilar, having the same color will unify the look while at the same time, allowing the natural differences to stand out as an interesting, eclectic "texture" on the porch. It's brilliant, simple, and effective! We can help with the right paints--just stop out at any RepcoLite or Port City Paints and we'll walk you through it.

Whew, that's a lot of info. And there's still a lot more to cover. Check out the podcast for all of that as well as a further discussion on painting your porch floors and ceilings as well as some important rules of thumb when it comes to plants and greens!

Groceries (and everything else) are getting extremely expensive. Today, we talk briefly about some of our tried-and-true money-saving tips when it comes to stocking the pantries.

We'll also be taking a deep dive into some color theory and talk about how to choose exterior colors like a pro!

Finally . . . we need to address an elephant in the room: Dan's a hypocrite. But chances are, he's not the only one . . . .

When it comes to saving money at the grocery register, the best thing you can do is plan those meals!

Yes, it's work. No, it's not fun . . . but when you sit down and plan out the meals for the week, working out all the ingredients necessary, and then make your purchases based on that plan . . . you dramatically cut down on the unnecessary purchases. Before doing this, I was always buying one-off items that made sense as I stood in the store trying to imagine what the meals would be. But later, when they sit in my pantry, I realize they're not a meal. And they're not a part of any of the meals I actually made. They're just extra. Maybe I'll use them eventually . . . but I don't want to spend money on food I'm maybe going to use eventually.

Along these same lines, another easy way to save money is to make use of your local grocery store's online order and curbside pick-up system. If your store offers this, it's a crazy simple way to save money. I order online, arrange a time to pick up the items, and then am in and out in 5 minutes. I never set foot in the store and I'm never buying the extra add-ons that I don't really need. Yes, I sometimes miss out on some special prices, but I'll trade that for the savings on ridiculously unnecessary trinkets and gadgets that I'm currently enjoying!

Another idea that's counter to common thought on this regard is to avoid buying in bulk. I'm sure it works for some people. Maybe it works for most people. But for me, when I do it . . . all it means is that my kids eat in bulk.

The most recent example is a box of 38 granola bars. Normally we buy the box that has 10 of them in it. And it lasts a week. But recently, I found the big box. The Bulk Box. The Box of the gods. And so I snagged it, knowing that now we would have granola bars for weeks and weeks. Yes, I knew the kids might tend to want to eat them quickly, but I also knew that with a quick conversation and some reasoning, they would see that by limiting their intake, we would save money as a family.

So I put the box in the cupboard, explained the situation to the kids, and then, amidst much nodding and agreeing, we went our separate ways. Two days later the box was empty. Even I hadn't listened to myself. The lure of 38 granola bars was too enticing. I think I ate 14 of them myself.

Bottom line . . . when we have an abundance of something . . . we treat it like we're rolling in cash. That we'll never run out. And we eat it faster than when we have a smaller amount we need to stretch.

There are tons of other ways to save money. We're not experts. We know what works for us, but if you've got a system that's utterly brilliant and you'd like to share it with the world (or at least with us) please reach out: [email protected]!

Choosing colors for the exterior of your home (or for an outbuilding of any kind) is stressful! You want to get it right because it's a big area to paint and a big investment . . . but also because everyone in your neighborhood is watching to see your results.

Here is a quick look at some of the details we cover in the podcast:

COLORS WILL LOOK LIGHTER OUTSIDE. Lighting and scale dramatically affect the appearance of colors outside. Because the sun is the ultimate light source and because colors outside are usually painted on much larger areas, they end up looking much lighter than we may expect--sometimes as much as three "shades" or more. So, if you're looking at a color chip with 8 different gradations of color and you really want that middle color . . . chances are, once it's on your house, it's going to look more like the top color. So choose accordingly!

NARROW DOWN YOUR CHOICES USING YOUR ROOF. It's important to sample colors for outdoor projects by actually painting them on the surface you're going to paint. However, before you jump into buying 12 sample 1/2 pints . . . you've got to narrow down your choices! Not only will that save you money, it will also help you stay sane in the process. Too many options doesn't help anyone.

Fortunately, you can really narrow down the options by simply looking at the roof. Here are a couple of quick tips to help:

• THE ROOF COLOR SHOULD BE THE DARKEST COLOR. Darker colors recede in our visual field while lighter colors come forward. You don't want the roof to be the thing everyone notices first! So let that be the darker of the colors.
• ROOF TEMPERATURE CAN HELP WITH COLORS. If the roof is a warm color, (brown, beige, some orange), look for warm colors for the house: warm whites, beiges, taupes, yellows, red, pink, etc. If the roof is a cool color like gray, then look for grays, blues, greens and plums. You don't have to follow this rule . . . but it can really simplify the process.

SAMPLE. SAMPLE. SAMPLE. The most important rule of thumb for picking colors for an exterior is to sample! Once you've narrowed your choices down to a few options, pick up some Benjamin Moore color samples and actually apply the paint to the surface of your home. This will get you the most accurate visual. Just remember to wait until the paint is dry before you make a decision.

On the episode, we cover a LOT more information including how to pick colors for specific areas of the house like your front doors, your foundation, your garage door, and your trim. Check out the podcast for all that info and more!

Ahh. It's never fun to admit . . . but I'd rather bring it up than let Hailey do it! Just a couple weeks ago she had a problem with her air conditioner and I dished out all kinds of great advice. I even chastised her (gently, of course) about not replacing her furnace filter regularly and for not making sure that the outdoor condenser unit is free from grass clippings and assorted airborne debris.

Well, after my lecture, she went home, took care of those things, and found her problem was solved!

Then, two days later, I had the same problem. And had done NONE of the things I told her about!

I mean well. But life got the best of me. And then that same weekend, something I told everyone to do on the show--to clean out your gutters--came back to bite me in the bottom as well.

I think I learned my lesson. But I guess time will tell!

With Father's Day only a day away, it's crunch time if you're looking for gifts. And so we decided to pool our knowledge and resources and provide you with a list of never-fail Father's Day gifts you'll be able to pick up today!

We'll also be talking about what it takes to be "handy". A lot of us tell ourselves (and others) that we're all thumbs. That we're not mechanical. All of that. We don't believe you! You're handy. You just don't know it....

Finally, we walk you through a quick curb appeal checklist. These are some key areas of our home that are often overlooked. How does your home measure up? Tune in to find out!

With only 1 shopping day left until Father's Day 2022, we decided to put our brains to work to come up with the best, easily-attainable, Father's Day gifts for any budget! Joining us is RepcoLite's own Ryan Mullen, a new father for the third time!

The Money Bags Category

• Local Craft Beer or Liquor (Ryan's Idea)
• An Experience for Dad -- Batting Cages, A Baseball Game, A Concert, etc. (Hailey's Idea)
• A DEWALT Atomic Series Reciprocating Saw (Dan's BRILLIANT Idea)

The "I've Got No Money But Still Care" Category

• A DIY Plaster Mold of Your Child's Hand (Hailey's idea)
• A DIY Yard Golf Game (Dan's Idea)

The "I've Got SOME Money to Spend . . . But Let's Not Get Crazy" Category

• Movie Tickets for a Dad's Only Movie Event (Ryan's Idea--He's thinking the new Top Gun looks pretty good...)
• A Car Vacuum (Hailey's Idea)
• A French Press Coffee Pot (Dan's Idea)

When everyone had explained all of their recommendations, we let Ryan vote on the best gift idea. I won't tell you who he picked . . . but he couldn't have been more correct in his choice.

Are you handy? When it comes to projects or repairs around the house, do you jump in? Or do you look the other way and hope things somehow just get better?

Not long ago, I was speaking with a friend about a lawnmower repair I had to tackle. When I finished recounting the experience (there were some ups and some really exciting downs), he shook his head and said "well, you can do that because you're handy. I'm just not good at stuff like that."

That statement was remarkably eye-opening to me because I would never have thought of myself as "handy." I know other people who are handy. I'm not them. In fact, I usually think of myself as a hack. Sure, I'm a good "tryer" and a relatively quick learner, but handy? No.

And yet, here was my friend, looking at the work I'm able to accomplish, completely convinced that I'm one of the lucky ones: the few, the proud, the Handy.

Being handy is a great thing. Sure, there's the satisfaction of repairing something and the sense of pride that goes with it. But there's also the huge savings you experience when you DON'T need to bring something to a fix-it shop or hire a professional.

Well, that idea about me being handy turned into a great conversation. Hailey and I dig into what it takes to be handy. And really, we come to the conclusion that we're all probably handy. Some of us just don't realize it.

Where do you fall in the mix? Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think! You can email comments to [email protected]. We'd love to chat about this topic! It's one of our favorite concepts.

Curb appeal is important all the time--NOT just when you're selling your home. In fact, we believe that there's something psychological going on when our homes have good curb appeal and when they don't.

A house that has good curb appeal bounces our mood in a positive direction every single time we pull into our driveway. Is it always a huge bounce? Probably not. But really, any bounce in a positive direction is a good thing as we arrive home after a long day at work.

Conversely, a house with bad curb appeal does exactly the opposite. Again, is it a huge, dramatic bounce in a negative direction this time? Maybe not. But still . . . when we pull in and see messy landscaping, peeling paint, dirty siding, a cluttered yard . . . the negative feelings about our home and space add up and color our mood as we begin our evening....

Often, there are a lot of reasons we don't tackle these jobs. Sometimes we're just too busy. Other times we don't know how to go about the repair. Maybe it's money. But quite often, the reasons we don't jump into these curb appeal projects is even simpler than that: we don't notice them.

Being "house blind" is a real thing! We see something so often that it no longer strikes us as new, interesting, concerning, messy, etc. It's just "normal". In this short segment, our goal is to help all of us wake up a bit and take notice of our homes!

Here are some of the key areas we think you should check out:

• The Front Door and Main Entry
• The Front Porch
• The Landscaping
• Sidewalks and Driveways
• Your House's Siding

If you're interested in being a guest on the RepcoLite Home Improvement Show, please let us know! Hailey and Dan can be reached directly at [email protected]!

SEGMENT 1: The Butter Zone

Two things are accomplished--sort of--in this segment! First, if you had grubs on your yard last fall, NOW's the time to treat for them. Secondly . . . Dan has a new refrigerator and it doesn't seem to be functioning correctly. So . . . he's placed a thermometer inside. This is both a great idea and a terrible idea. We'll tell you why!

SEGMENT 2: Peel-N-Stick Wallpaper Recant

Several weeks ago, we recommended that you DO NOT use Peel-n-Stick wallpaper on a full room installation. We based that conclusion on a personal experience. However, a few weeks later, we had another personal experience and now, we've changed our minds dramatically.

REPCOLITE LOCATIONS THAT CARRY WALLPAPER BOOKS

• 17th Street RepcoLite in Holland
• Lakewood Blvd. RepcoLite in Holland
• Byron Center RepcoLite
• Plainfield Ave RepcoLite in Grand Rapids
• Fulton Street RepcoLite in Grand Rapids
• Kalamazoo RepcoLite

Find ALL of our locations here!

SEGMENT 3: EGO Yard Equipment Revisited

A year ago or so, Hailey and I both jumped into EGO battery-powered lawn equipment. And initially, we LOVED it. However . . . it's been a year. How do we feel about it all now?

Learn more about EGO here!

SEGMENT 4: The Saugatuck Antique Pavilion

We LOVE to highlight area businesses that stand out! The Saugatuck Antique Pavilion is another one. If you love shopping for antiques and haven't been here . . . it's time to plan a day trip.

Learn more about the Saugatuck Antique Pavilion here!