Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2024 i Family Handyman

You could say that every issue of this magazine is an invitation. We welcome you in and put our hosting skills to work as we guide you through DIY projects, distill indispensable pro advice and tell a few personal stories along the way. Just as if we are throwing a gathering, we put a great degree of prep work and thoughtfulness into each issue. And this time, things are different—dare I say, even more inviting. We’re introducing a cover-to-cover redesign. What you’re looking at is a magazine transformed—a new house full of endless ideas and possibilities. Allow me to give you a quick tour. We’re opening each issue with a Now Trending page, which brings you an up-close look at a DIY or design trend that is on the rise and…

1 PRE-ASSEMBLE THE PLUMBING CONFIGURATION Working with an assembled pipe configuration allows you to determine precise measurements for the base and support wall. This also makes the final assembly a simple position-and-fasten job. 2 CONDITION AND STAIN THE WOOD BEFORE ASSEMBLY Applying stain to separate pieces eliminates the need to cut in—and makes getting an even coat easier. 3 TACK THE WALL TO THE BASE, THEN SCREW TOGETHER Gluing and brad-nailing the parts keeps them secure when installing the final screws. Countersinking guarantees flush screwheads. 4 CUT THE TRIM AS YOU GO Trim gives the plywood a finished look and hides any seams. Cutting the trim pieces as you go ensures accurate measurements and tight joints. 5 SEAL THE WOOD TO FINISH A poly seal helps the clothes rack hold up to everyday use—and plenty of…

1 LAY OUT THE SIDES Lay out the measurements from the template on page 44 on a piece of scrap wood the size of the cedar sides. Once you’ve cut out the side shape using your miter saw and jigsaw, transfer it onto the actual cedar sides to make two identical side pieces. Sand the edges of the sides smooth to remove any kerf marks and fine-tune the shape. 2 CUT THE GLASS CHANNELS Measure and mark the channels where the glass pieces will sit in the side pieces. I used 6 x 8-in. glass pieces, so my measurements required a 6-in.-long channel. The channels are all offset ½ in. in from the edges of the side pieces. With a router, set the depth to ¼ in. With a ⅛-in. straight cut…

From watering your lawn and flower beds to washing your car, rinsing off the patio or refilling a birdbath, the list of maintenance tasks you can conquer with a garden hose is just about endless. So too is the list of available products and styles on the market. Take advantage of that wide variety and choose a hose tailored to your specific needs. Have limited yard space? Consider an expandable model. Passionate about your big, beautiful garden? A soaker hose can save you time and effort. Recognize the potential trade-offs too: Vinyl hoses generally cost and weigh less, for example, but rubber hoses are more durable and less prone to kinking. Here, we share editor picks that strike an impressive balance all around. Add the right reel and nozzle to…

A New Life for Plastic Trays If you need to do a quick painting job and want to minimize cleanup, use a plastic tray from your last takeout order or frozen-food entree. It makes a great disposable paint pan that is easy to move around and carry. When you’re done, the only thing you’ll need to clean is your brush. —Sam Rosenmayer Supersize Your Color Swatches We have recently been updating the bedrooms in our house: tearing out carpeting, painting walls and adding new curtains. To help choose flooring types and colors, I took a roughly 2-ft.-square scrap piece of drywall and, after applying a white primer, painted the wall colors onto it. Taking the swatch to the store and placing it vertically on top of the floor samples was…

Sarah Keenleyside, landscape designer and co-host of Backyard Builds, reveals the making of a luxury retreat E ver think your yard could be a vacation destination? That was the dream of one family of four. With a $250,000 budget and the creative minds of Sarah Keenleyside and Brian McCourt, who co-host Backyard Builds, it came to fruition—no passport required. Here are key takeaways from the making of this “resort at home,” complete with a swimming pool, sunken lounge, outdoor kitchen, fire pit and lanai. See this project come to life in an episode of Backyard Builds on At Home with Family Handyman, and get more inspiration, by streaming the channel on Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel and more.…

Closets are a vital part of our daily routines, but their cluttered contents are often kept out of sight, out of mind. Try these ideas to pare down and spruce up your space. Soon enough, your closet will be an area of the home you look forward to using every day. GET INSPIRED Your New Favorite Room Here’s a demo-free way to expand your bedroom: Embrace your closet as a design opportunity. Incorporating wall colors, light fixtures and finishes that complement your bedroom decor makes the spaces cohesive and intentional.…

Start from Scratch To begin, pull absolutely everything out of your closet. “It’s best to start with a blank slate so you can touch on each and every item,” says Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing. Create piles by clothing type, then wipe down your empty shelves, drawers and garment rails. “You would be horrified to discover what dust can do to clothing over time,” says fashion archivist Julie Ann Clauss. Identify Must-Keep Items Keep only what fits into your current lifestyle, isn’t damaged or soiled beyond repair, and will be worn regularly. “If you truly haven’t missed wearing [a clothing item] in two years, it’s time to let it go,” says Clea O’Hana, CEO of personal styling service Wishi. Making a few exceptions for timeless or sentimental items…

A small golden retriever races out of the den and into the kitchen, leaving a little girl squealing with delight. “We just got a puppy,” says her father, padding barefoot after the dog. “It’s been … exciting.” It’s moments like these that make this dad, Alex Mazhukhin, stop and appreciate the life he has built, literally and figuratively. Alex’s new home in a quiet suburb of Boise, Idaho, is the sixth that he has completely renovated. And he’s invited America to watch along the way. Moving On Up For those uninitiated with Alex’s special brand of relatable DIY savvy, know this: He’s a true self-made success story. Under the name Mr. Build It, Alex creates YouTube videos of him working on projects throughout the home, much to the delight of…

Prime Real Estate Place your hotel on a post or tree about 3 to 6 feet off the ground, preferably facing the south or southeast. This keeps the hotel warm on chilly days, allowing bees and other pollinators to go about their business.…

When Tonda Thompson’s 3-year-old son fell through a coffee table (he’s OK!) during the pandemic, the few stores that were open weren’t exactly filled with sturdy replacements. So she went on YouTube and learned to build a solid wood coffee table herself. Then, when her neighbor’s aggressive dogs began roaming the alley behind her house, she went back to the internet and added building fences to her repertoire. “Everything I do is for my kid,” she says. Thompson posted her woodworking endeavors on social media, and suddenly everyone wanted a new fence or table. Her company, She Slangs Wood, was born in 2020 in her hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And to keep up with demand—and give back to the community—she enlisted girls from her former high school, teaching them how…

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Deeper colors in the bedroom are not only beautiful, but a science-backed lifestyle choice. “We’re constantly inundated with screens—so much so that environmental psychologists have identified the need to adjust the color scheme of our bedrooms to experience quality rest,” says Lauren Svenstrup, principal of Chicago-based Studio Sven. PRO TIP Try color pairing beyond the standard. Consider a mustard with your olive. The latest we’ve heard, seen, tested and tried…

As the Mazuhkins’ home proves, neutral doesn’t mean boring. In fact, earth tones provide a sense of balance and connectivity to the outdoors. Ground your home with these tips. Mix Materials You’ll get texture, which adds depth and dimension. Think beyond the paint can and try earth-toned metals, stone, marble and fabric (who doesn’t love a shearling throw?). Mind Your Lighting Warm lighting may bring out undertones, especially on your walls, making a neutral room appear larger. Use Wood for Warmth Walnut, oak and cedar add cozy character. Plus, it’s a great chance to use your woodworking skills! Explore Color Palettes: There is more than one shade of beige, white or gray. Layer your space with several hues from the same color family. For example, consider chantilly lace baseboards with…

1 CREATE A TEMPLATE AND TRANSFER IT ONTO WOOD Create a template like the one on the next page. Then transfer it onto a wood face piece by tracing over carbon paper, or simply by cutting out the template and outlining it with a marker. PRO TIP: You don’t need a fancy computer illustration application to create a template. You can get this job done with the line and shape tools in Microsoft Word. 2 CUT OUT THE SILHOUETTE OF THE FRONT AND BACK FACES AT THE SAME TIME To cut out the exact same shape for the front and back faces (A), use a small dab of hot glue or double-sided tape to secure the two pieces of wood together. Then cut them as one, using a jigsaw or band saw to…