How-To Stain a Wood Deck

For the past few years, we knew something major had to happen with our exterior wood deck, but with SO much work (most of it do-it-yourself projects) to do in other areas of the yard, it kept being put on the back-burner. Well Baby didnt want to be put in the corner no more (I know, that was cheesy), so this year was the year for a makeover. And boy does she look smokin

I think (well, actually I know) one of the hesitations of the deck was the process. Well, so I thought. Honestly, it was so much easier and more manageable than I ever thought possible. One of the major reasons for that was the use of a hand sprayer. WOW, was spraying easier t han hand rolling and/or brushing. We did that last year with the exterior fence and boy did it take ALL SUMMER LONG.

With a sprayer, the stain is applied (slightly) thicker and the coverage is much more even. But best of all, it takes way less time and is much less labor intensive.

Before we get to any more of the process or the after pictures, here is what the deck looked like before.

How could a deck get so bad? I dunno! Living in this house for only 3 years, I have no clue as to when the last time the deck was done. Also come to find out, the deck was previously painted, not stained. Paint on the outside (especially if its not the right paint) does not last nearly as long as st ain. Also if you take a look, the spindles were white and after looking closely, they were only primed. What I suspect happened, is that when the deck was painted last, someone got lazy, and only went as far as painting the deck surface and the handrail around. Geesh.

Learning from that, for this before and after deck makeover project, we decided to use Cabot Solid Stain. Because we were applying it over a painted surface and didnt want to sand down to the raw wood, a solid stain seemed like the best choice. Cabot is known for their quality wood products, so there was no doubt that theyd definitely get the job done (after being a disaster for so long)!

Sup plies for staining a deck:

1. To start off its a must to give the deck a good cleaning. Whether previously coated or bare wood, cleaning the wood deck surface is the MOST IMPORTANT step of the staining process. A few weeks ago, I borrowed our neighbors power washer and went to town on it. It was amazing how much dirt and mildew washed away with a quick sweep of the hose. Plus all the chipped and peeling paint was stripped right off. Because of the power washers strength, it really made a nice clean surface for staining.

A brush like this with firm bristles is great for removing excess dirt and peeling wood chips. This was used right before the staining process started.

2. The house and areas we didnt want touched were covered with clear plastic wrap.

3. With the wood deck clean and completely dry, we started staining using a hand sprayer.

JUST LIKE with spray painting, the key to hand spraying is to:

Most importantly (which has nothing to do with hand spraying, but with staining in general), read the directions. Apply only the recommended number of coats and be sure not to overapply.

I will be honest, we had someone help us with the deck (due to lack of time) and he used a more powerful hand sprayer. Even though its smaller, the one I mentioned above would still work great for a deck or fence. Same ru les applies.

And then it was done.

Let the SUMMER BEGIN!

I can not wait to get this deck filled with my Summer Essentials a spot to eat, a spot to grill, and of course a spot to relax!

The details on the stain< /span>

I wanted a darker color for the deck so it would stand out against the neutral taupe / beige siding. As I mentioned before, I decided on a solid stain because I wanted to skip the process of stripping the deck. I chose Burnt Hickory for the color. Its perfect. I was worried that it would be too dark, but its just the right depth of color that I was looking for.

O, you just wait to see whats coming Its going to be a party deck before you know it!

Huge difference, right?!

And about 24-48 hours, the deck was ready to use and being transformed as we speak. Many more deck details to come. Overall, the process of staining the deck wasnt at all as difficult as I had envisioned. Yes it was time consuming. Yes, it was laborious. But all well worth it to get this finished look!

Have you ever stained a deck or fence before? If so, how was your experience? And how was the result?

Via: How-To Stain a Wood Deck

Smart Suggestions for Lending Modernity to your New Home

Do you know, whats the most important thing to do once you have decided to buy a house? Well, you need to look for some good home designs which will not only make your home look stylish and presentable but provide a permanent shelter to your family members.

Therefore, home designing is extremely essential which should be done with the help of professionals. Moreover, homeowners in todays world prefer to choose modern designs that can make their home look unique and exclusive compared to stereotype properties.

Now, the term modern designing does not mean that one should accomplish a mammoth task in designing ones home. In fact, if you are planning to get modern designs for your home, you need to do a few simple things. Whether you want to give your home a Postmodern, Neo-Classical or a Contemporary look, you need to know the right ways of doing it:

• Chalk out your home structure Every individual who is planning to construct a modern stylish house must have a clear picture of the structure of his/her house. Whether its the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or the living area, each and every section must be neatly structured in advance so that you can make your constructors wo rk accordingly. There are several buildings with typical window panes that look historical. If you are planning to get such designs for your home, you must list your home structures accordingly.

• Choose the right colors For the majority of modern home designs, neutral colors are mostly used with bright bold accents. Dont make the blunder to use pastel colors for modern home decoration. Well, you can choose any color you wish for your rooms. However, you need to ensure that the colors you are using for each structure must be complementary.

• Get stylish lights Get stylish lights for your rooms if you want to make your home look elegant and stylish. There are several stylish light shades like spotlights, wall lamps, pin lights, spotlights and even lights with dimmers. So, lights should be chosen based on the structure of each and every section of your house.

• Choose the right te xtures and patterns Your home will then only look modern and stylish if you get the right texture and pattern for your rooms. Look for those that come with clean lines. In this respect, stripes and geometric patterns will work wonders in making your rooms look good and stylish.

• Look for open spaces If you are aiming to make your home acquire a modern look, you must plan for open spaces and avoid congested layouts. High ceilings also look good provided you have ample space to build it. Avoid using huge-sized furniture in case you have constructed a small area.

• Get stylish furniture Nowadays, you will get to see simple yet stylish furniture that can even make dull rooms look splendid. Modern furniture comes with brushed metal finish that completely enhances the entire look of your room. People who live in a steel building usually go for modern furniture for their rooms.

So, do y ou still think that getting modern designs for a new home is the worlds toughest job? Well, you need to go through the above mentioned suggestions that can surely make your rooms look posh and stylish.

This is a guest post by Merry Jane. If you like to guest post on this site look at our guest posting guidelines and register as a contributor.

Posts related to Smart Suggestions for Lending Modernity to your New Home

Modern Interior Wood Doors For Style and Safety

Stylish and Modern Bedroom Lamps for Unique Ambience

5 Easy Fix to Make Your Kitchen Look More Modern

How to Make Bedroom Unique with Modern Bedroom Furniture

Bedroom Colors and What They Speak About You

How Bedroom Benches can Serve You Specially in Your Room

Via: Smart Suggestions for Lending Modernity to your New Home

A Passion for Turfgrass, and other Matters of Taste

Im not thoroughly anti-lawn, unlike some of myLawn Reform comrades, especially the ones who live in desert climates. My beefs with turfgrass here on the Wet Coast are that it does virtually nothing for wildlife and that when its cared for in a certain way the Scotts ideal of perfection and uniformity it pollutes the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways Im fond of. I also personally find it boring, but admit thats a matter of taste.

So about that matter of taste, I recently got an email from my friend Jan describing her next-door neighbor Lucys love for her Scotts-perfect lawn. Jan expressed amazemen t at the amount of pleasure Lucy gets from her lawn, about which she raves at length: How beautiful it is, how much it costs her to get it that way, how much she loves her lawn service people, how beautiful it is, how she worked with them for years to get the perfect look, how beautiful it is, how she reads over the list of chemicals they apply, and again, how beautiful it is.

Ive never heard such passion for turfgrass expressed before, and would have been as agog at it as Jan was, but if that sheet of mown sod gives someone that much pleasure, I say go for it! I hate to see land be wasted on people who dont appreciate anything thats growing on it, so this passion for turfgrass is better that than never noticing the yard at all, right?

A study in contra sts Lucys lawn, and Jans garden.

Well, maybe not theres all those chemicals she referred to benignly, though the chemicals surely arent. Seems that Lucy is recommending her lawn service company to neighbors, and the neighborhood is becoming quite a chemical hub. And besides the effect on waterways, these homes are pretty close together and Jans veg garden is just inches away from the end of that perfect, chemically treated lawn. Yum!

Jan takes heart in the recent passage of restrictions on products that can be used on lawns, which will go into effect later this year. The law will limit the amount and types of fertilizer that can be dumped on lawn, which should help restore the Bay and its inhabitants to good health. But pesticides are still allowed apparently anything goes. The lawn-care company, whose name Im withholding for good neighborly relations, brags about its environmental stewardship who doesnt these days? and about the owners degree in Phy sical Geography/Environmental Science, and even goes so far as to list all the products it uses. The fertilizers are slow-release, as required by the new law, but look at the pesticides it uses, which come with plenty of warnings, especially about keeping grazing animals off the lawn. But those warnings from the EPA dont mention not using them near veg gardens and shouldnt they? Yikes!

So readers, what would you do or say to your neighbor if you were Jan? Anything?

Really just a matter of Taste
Now heres another example of a difference in taste and this time its my own neighbor. Her yard, a detail of which is shown above, holds spring-blooming bulbs and dozens of azaleas and hostas interspersed with over 100 chotchkas. My own gardening style does not include figurines, especially en masse; I prefer natural products, like plants, wood and stone. But hey, what harm do chotchkas do? Not a whit.

And just as importantly, my neighbor loves her garden possibly more than Lucy loves her lawn. Now in her 80s, shes still adding plants to her garden (recently, another dozen azaleas) and she spends hours a day in her garden just admiring it. When I was taking these photos I complimented her on her garden and she complimented me back, saying Id done nice things to my yard. So I asked, Do you think youd ever have a garden like mine? and she didnt hesitate: Oh, no, shaking her head vigorously. She added that unlike other neighbors, she didnt mind what I was doing to my yard, and the important thing is that I enjoy it. On that point, were in total agreement.

Via: A Passion for Turfgrass, and other Matters of Taste

Make your old floors look like new with these three tricks

When Consumer Reports tests floors, it spends weeks scuffing, scratching, and dropping weights on wood, laminate and vinyl flooring and exposing samples to intense UV light. Not all floors stand up to such abuse. In your own home, some minor damage may enhance the rustic look of distressed or hand-scraped floors. But you'll want to fix other flaws. Here are three tricks.

Mark it. A color-matched felt marker can hide small scratches in any floor. Some hardwood manufacturers offer color-blended filler for chips and grooves.

Sand it. Badly worn or damaged wood floors must be refinished. But you can do spot repairs of wear or damage with light buffing or sanding, followed by staining. Be especially careful with the thin veneers on engineered-wood floors.

Replace only what's damaged. Heavy damage or a cracked stone tile typically requires chiseling out the damaged section and gluing in a new piece. Bu t that's still easier than removing an entire row of tiles or planks if you've floated the floor.

In our tests of solid-wood flooring, strong performance in our foot-traffic and scratch tests helped EcoTimber Woven Honey and Teragren Portfolio Naturals Wheat bamboo earn top scores. Among engineered woods, slightly better stain and UV resistance helped put a Harris Wood Traditions oak floor a notch above the Teragren bamboo.

We found two good bets among the laminate flooring: Hampton Bay Enderbury Hickory, $2.60 per square foot, and Surface Source Winchester Oak, a CR Best Buy at just $1 per square foot. And our top-scoring floor of the batch was the vinyl Congoleum DuraCeramic Sierra Slate.

Via: Make your old floors look like new with these three tricks

Attic Insulation Can Make Better the Home Conditions

Attic insulation is today very essential for the home to keep away too hot or too cold air from entering the home. This place remains unnoticed by home owners most of the times and can have major leaks and crevices.

One can appoint an audit team or expert individuals to come and see the energy specification of the home. Such audit individuals have proper experience to assess the prevailing conditions of the home regarding insulation. The professionals will help detect the drawbacks and suggest good methods to improve the conditions.

People need to spend some money and time at certain intervals of time to make the home energy efficient. Little initiative of putting the sealed windows, replacing the air conditioning and furnace of the home can save lot of energy and money.

Good coating of attic insulation will prevent cold and unpleasant moisture from leaking into the home interiors and spoiling the air conditioning system. Most people normally do not visit the attic frequently as it is out of reach. Very rarely one can inspect the condition of the attic. The conditions, if not good, may affect the comfort factor of the entire home.

During hot weather outside, attic leaks can make the cooling conditioning go in vain. Heated sun rays enter through attic area and make the home feel uncomfortable. Similar conditions happen during severe cold weather conditions outside. The warmth of the home gets leaked out through attic gaps and the cold air rushes in. One must always try to keep the attic space clean and free from unwanted materials stuffed inside.

Reflective insulation system is popular these days and can be incorporated to improve the attic insulation. This uses the science of reflection of heat rays through the usage of shiny coating. This system helps to keep the heat away from the roof and also wards out the heat from entering into the home.

If such attic insulation is installed along with fiber glass, one can get more comfortable environment in the home. Experts should be employed for doing such operation. They are well acquainted with the products available in the market and suggest the best alternative for the home .

Double sided attic insulation works in both summer and winter. It keeps away the heat in summer and keeps the heat reserved in the homes in winter. Also lowering in electricity bills can be made possible after employing this technique in your home. So, if you have not yet taken the decision, just take it now. And make your home a better place to rest and live in with proper selection of attic insulation.

Posts related to Attic Insulation Can Make Better the Home Conditions

Using Roof Insulation to Increase the Comfort Factor of the House

Attic Loft Conversion Ideas and Costs Involved

Outside Wall Insulation Benefits and Getting the Best Services

Multipurpose Podium Steps for Homes

Eco-Friendly Ways to Increase the Value of Your Property

Hardwood Flooring Why and How to Install It In Your Home

Via: Attic Insulation Can Make Better the Home Conditions

Ill Have My Aronia Cocktail Now, Please.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Earlier this year at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, I was hanging out with Jessi Bloom of NW Bloom (and author of Free-Range Chicken Gardens) in her exhibit booth. She had brought a selection of edible landscaping plants reliable, hardworking shrubs, vines, trees and the like that would behave in the landscape and provide some food. The star of the show was Aronia melanocarpa, sometimes known as black chokeberry.

Its a medium-sized shrub that puts out white blooms in sprin g and small dark fruit in fall. Nice enough plant, I thought.

Then she brought me over to the booth next to hers, where somebody had stashed away a bottle of aronia juice, and I got a taste. Wow! Imagine something between cranberries and wild, tart blueberries, and youre close enough. It was rich, tart, and delicious.

And perfect for cocktails. I could see aronia becoming the American cassis. Harvest them when theyre ripe and juicy, put them in a jar with some high-proof vodka or grappa or grape eau-de-vie, and crush them gently. Let them sit foroh, I dont knowa few weeks, maybe? Then strain, and add simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until the sugar melts then allowed to cool) to taste, and let it sit another week or so.

Another approach, and this works with any fruit, really: Heat in a saucepan with just enough water to help it simmer, crush fruit gently as it cooks, and add sugar to taste. Let the sugar melt and the juice come out of th e fruit. Strain, cool, and add vodka/eau-de-vie to taste. (Or not. You could just use it as a fruit syrup, but if you do that, refrigerate & use it quickly or store it in the freezer to preserve it.)

Anyway, the point of all of this is that according to this piece in the New York Times, aronias are about a bazillion times healthier than blueberries. So Im thinking that a splash of aronia liqueur in sparkling wine, dry white wine, or club soda (with gin or vodka, over ice) is the way to go this summer.

Thanks, Jessi. Im on it.

Oh, and last time I checked, Jessi was selling aronia, so if youre in the Seattle area, check with her. Otherwise, Raintree usually has it but may be out for the season. I plan to check back come fall.

Via: Ill Have My Aronia Cocktail Now, Please.

Get an edge on summer lawn care with these five mowing tips

Even a top-performing walk-behind mower, lawn tractor, or rider won't make your lawn the belle of the block if your mowing is too random. Here are some tips for smarter use of your mower or riding machine, along with some finishing touches to help your yard look its best before you fire up the grill this Memorial Day weekend.

Mind the mower. Keep your blade sharp, getting it sharpened monthly or at least twice a year. (Alternating between two blades means no waiting.) Adjust deck height to about 3 inches. Moreover, don't neglect the deck's underside. Cleaning out clippings and debris after mowing helps maintain cutting quality as well as prevent rusting.

Plan your cut. Mow only dry grass. For best results, don't rush cutting either with a walk-behind mower or a riding machine—especially if mulching, which needs extra time to process the grass. Don't try to follow your exact wheel tracks for quicker completion; some overlap in the cutting swaths makes for more evenness. And alternate directions, which helps disperse clippings for a cleaner, healthier lawn.

Cure for the summertime browns. Once summer gets its hottest, change your approach. If you've been cutting shorter than 3 inches to avoid having to mow more often, stop—too short a lawn, and the midday sun will scorch it. (The higher grass shades the lawn, protecting the roots.)

Take care on slopes. Even if you're keeping safe, higher speeds and sudden turns over hills tend to tear up turf. With a walk-behind mower, mow side-to-side. With a tractor or rider, mow straight up and down slopes unless your manual says otherwise. Go especially slow down hills if you own a zero-turn-radius mower.

Fine-tune with a string trimmer. Hold the trimmer so that its cutting head and path are at a slight angle (leaning in the direction you're going) for more precise cut ting. Assuming the head spins clockwise, you move from right to left—check the manual—letting the tip of the line do the work. With growth over about 8 inches, cut in stages to keep the line from wearing prematurely.

Should you need to replace any of your lawn gear, see our buying advice for mowers, lawn tractors, and string trimmers before checking the results of our tests for mowing equipment and string trimmers.

Our list of top string trimmers includes 25 models—gas-powered, electric and battery operated. While gas trimmers, such as our top-Rated Husqvarna 223L, $260, are champs at chomping through tall grass and weeds, many homeowners don't like the muss and fuss of fueling them. Our top-rated electric trimmer, the Green Works 21142, $90, also excelled at this job as well as trimming tasks. The top battery-operated trimmer is the Stihl FSA 65, $510, but for a lot less you can buy one that's almost as good, the Black & Decker LST136, $17 0, which was very good at trimming and edging.

Via: Get an edge on summer lawn care with these five mowing tips

Happenings on the Homestead: Spring

Its Tuesday morning, the long Memorial Day weekend is over, and Im reflecting on all the things weve been up to on the homestead lately. I realized its been a long time since my last Happenings on the Homestead. I like HotH because it gives a little inside peak into whats been happening and what the family has been up to on the homestead, of course.

Weve had some fun over the past few weekends (if youre an instagram fan, you probably already know), but

weve also been hard-at-work.

Since weve come out of winter hibernation, weve been nonstop working on the exterior (aside from having some family fun). Remember the same thing happened last year at this t ime?! As with every April and May, when the warm weather hits, I am anxious to get outdoors to start the many projects that have been brewing in my head all Winter. This Spring certainly hasnt fail.

With all my efforts on the exterior + on the powder room makeover, DIY projects and decorating ideas have been lacking (hence slow mode on DIY creations for the blog). Ive also been busy with setting up each of the contributing posts for the Creating a Meaningful Home blog series, as well as a few design clients. When it rains, it pours. But Im certainly not complaining I love the busyness.

As the blog series has been going strong for about a month, we have a bout 2 more months to go yes, that many of my amazing blogger friends want to open their homes and give a glimpse into their homemade creations. In the meantime, Im finishing up some major DIY goodness and cant wait to show you.

Like the before and after turquoise teak lutchens bench

The staining of my deck What a big project!

My Spring (wishful thinking) Summer porch reveal

The outdoor pallet sofa I built

And much more. See, I told you I have been busy.

Aside from all the projects going on, I have some other news! Like my blogger friends Heather and Beckie, Im going to be in the I Did It section of Better Home and Gardens Magazine. This is huge. Yes, I had 3 of my rooms photographed in early Spring for BHG specialty magazines, but the I Did It section is in the main BHG mag and its the entire last page. Plus, Ill be in the picture (which Im freaking ou t a bit about). Theyll be featuring one of my DIY projects (cant share which one yet) and it will be in the January 2014 issue. Total squeal moment.

Via: Happenings on the Homestead: Spring

Purple leaves me crabby

Please listen to ProfessorRoush: youmust plan your garden carefullyrather than submit to the whims of spontaneous plant purchases and spectacular momentaryblooms! Science suggests that in an infinite number of parallel universes, almost anything can happen.Im sure, therefore, thatsomewhere out in the gardening universe, there exists a gardener who plans everything on paper, circles and borders and hardscapes each perfectly sized, and that mythical gardenerlater proceeds to shop for that clump of Stella de Oro or that purple barberry planned to provide just the right size and color blob for each spot on the plan. Its even conceivable thatin one of those infinite parallel universes, there is a ProfessorRoush who plans his gardens before he plants. In the rest of those infinite gardens, however,there is a crabby ProfessorRoush who planted too many purple-leaved crabapples.

Like many great artists and gardeners, I haveevolved through a number ofcreative periods; my bedding plants phase,my daylily extravagance, the iris collection mania, the weeping evergreen saga, andmy ornamental grasses affair.My most notorious fleeting passion, however, wasa purple-leafedtree period, which resulted in an entire front landscapingdominated bydreary dark-burgundy blobs, all individually beautiful, but collectively presenting adistressing anddepressing display. You allknow how it happens. In early spring, a local nursery seduces you with a Royalty crabapple, whose perfec tly beautiful pinkish-purple blooms are shown above.Those claret, delicately-veinedblooms are gorgeous, arent they? The fact that the plantwill haveburgundy leavesthroughout the summeronly adds to its theoretical interest and gardenusefulness. Price doesnt matter, we must have it!

Unfortunately, those burgundy leavesserve asan uncontrasting backdrop for the burgundy flowers and fromover afew feetaway, the flowers disappear into the foliage. Witness the tree in full bloom (above).Now youve just got adark,dirgeful blob in the lawn, and youre never sure when the plant is in bloom from a distance. Deep in your addiction phase, nowadd in a similarRed Baron crabapple purchased before youve learned your lesson, anda Canada Red Prunus candedensis tree with purple leaves, and a Fr axinus americana Rosehill Ash whose leaves turn burgundy in the fall, and youveaccidentally created adoleful landscape in purples. Thankfully,acopper-red Profusion crabapple died under my care as an infant tree andthe Canada Red has since enlisted the Kansas windin an assisted-suicide pact, both proof that God exists and is attentiveto foolish gardeners.

A little variety, friends, goes a long way in a garden, and so does a little hard-won wisdom. Weve all done it,andthose who missed their purple phaselikely just substituted a white phase centered around Bradford pears orsuffered some other colorfulcatastrophe of their own making.Although I later succumbedto a minor shaggy-bark treeinfatuation thatcaused a smaller area of my landscape to appear as if massive dandruff had afflicted all the trees, I learneda substantiallesson during my burgundy fiasco and have sinceaddedmaples and oaks, magnolias and sycamores, and cottonwoods and elmsto the garden.Given age and actuaria l tables, I may never see the mature outcome of these efforts, but perhaps, someday,my landscapemay look more like a planned garden and less like a watercolorscene created by a two-year-old with a penchant for purple. I still dont have a garden plan, and Im still subject to spontaneous purchases, but I persevere with the knowledge that time and nature will help correct my mistakes.

Via: Purple leaves me crabby

For $20 to $50 you can fix the gas grill you have now

Price isn't the best indicator of a gas grill's performance but cheap and flimsy parts, especially when they come with short warranties, are a tip-off that the grill is not long for this world. On average, Americans pay just over $325 for a gas grill and then haul it to the curb in three years, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. Before you buy a new grill find out if your old one is worth repairing.

Start by inspecting your existing grill, checking the sturdiness of the frame, firebox, and lid and look for rust. Consider how much you spent on the grill, its age, and how long you think it will last based on your experience. "It's not unusual for a more expensive grill to last 10 to 15 years," says Mike Kempster, executive vice president of Weber. "If a grill is five years old or older I wouldn't invest more than 30 percent of its cost on replacement parts." Here's a look at commonly replaced parts and a range of costs. Keep in mind that the mo re expensive the grill, the pricier the replacement parts. And always follow your owner's manual cleaning instructions.

Problem: Uneven flames, uneven heat
Solution: Clean the burner ports, but if that doesn't solve the problem or you discover corrosion or rust, it's time for new burners. Get free replacements from the manufacturer if they're still under warranty.
Cost: $20 to $50 for lower-priced grills; $50 to $100 for higher-priced models.

Problem: Rusted or chipped grates
Solution: Use a brush to remove rust. Porcelain-coated grates are rustproof until they chip. Replace when porcelain coating is flaking or chipping as it can adhere to food.
Cost: $20 to $50 for lower-priced grills; $50 to $200 for higher-priced models.

Problem: Uneven heat from the vaporizer or flavorizer bar
Solution:< /strong> Regularly cleaning the bars helps, but if that isn't enough or they're disfigured from intense heat, replace them.
Cost: $15 to $40 for less expensive grills; $20 to $50 for higher-priced models.

You'll find prices for replacement parts on manufacturers' websites. If you decide to buy a new grill take a look at the results of our gas grill tests. We tested 108 models that range in price and performance. When shopping, gently nudge the grills from several points to test their sturdiness and press down on the side shelf to find out if it can support a heavy pot. If the parts feel flimsy, they probably are.

We found 31 winners in our recent gas grill tests including the small Weber Spirit E-220 4631000, $450, the mid-sized Weber Spirit SP-320 46700401, $600, and the large Jenn-Air 720-0709, $900, sold at Sam's Club.

Via: For $20 to $50 you can fix the gas grill you have now

Creating a Meaningful Home: At the Picket Fence

Todays guest post for the Creating a Meaningful Home Blog Series is Vanessa of At the Picket Fence. Welcome Vanessa

*******************

Hi there! Im Vanessa from the blog At the Picket Fence and I am so honored to be here as part of Jennas Creating a Meaningful Home series! Thats me below with my wonderful husband and our two precious kiddos. I was so thrilled when Jenna asked me to share what I believe it means to create a home with meaning because that is exactly what Ive set out to do in my own home.

Ive always found it interesting when people take offense to the word homemaker. To me, being a maker of a home is one of the greatest joys and privileges! And I believe that title is applicable to anyone who loves the process of creating a warm and welcoming space to call their own.

For me, adding meaning to my home is all about having pieces of the past incorporated into my decor. My sister and parents all live in different states so it feels even more important to have these links to one another and our shared heritage. Im probably never going to have all of the latest design trends on display, but what I hope to have is a home which reflects my love of history and family.

The trick for me has always been blending antiques and vintage items into my traditional style home while still keeping things feeling fresh and updated. In my living room I have pieces which were purchased at least 15 years ago, alongside pieces which were purchased 2 months ago, alongside pieces which belonged to my grandmother.

This china cabinet belonged to my mothers mother and made its way to our home last year. Ive said it before and Ill say it againthis wont ever be painted! But, by filling with with white and off-white dishes it keeps it from having an overwhelmingly antique feel and it seems right at home in the same room as my brand new mirrored cabinets.

< p>

One of the things Ive recently found challenging is how often Im easily swayed by what I see on other blogs or Pinterest. Ive contemplated painting my dining room set over and over again but just cant ever bring myself to do it! Of course, that may be because my hubby would think I was officially off my rocker (Im only currently unofficially off my rocker!) if I did. But, instead of taking a paintbrush to this set which was one of our very first purchases as a married couple, I decided to make drop cloth chair skirts to give it a more casual look.

Sometimes creating a meaningful home is also about changing the things you can change and embracing the things you cant. Or at least the things you cant change for now. In our downstairs bathroom, simple updates like a new faucet and light fixture, along with an inexpensive mirror, help to offset a tiled counter top that isnt exactly my first choice. And a simple no-sew burlap vanity skirt helps to disguise cabinets that were dark and closed in the room.

Creating a meaningful home can take on many different forms. My daughter sleeps on the same oak bed that belonged to my mom as a little girl. Then it belonged to my sister (Auntie Heather) and we spent many a day pretending that bed was a ship navigating the open seas or a wagon bouncing along the prairie. Her room is filled with vintage items which have been passed down through our family. But some, like this vanity, are pieces which are new to us but blend in seamlessly with the rest. It must have been cherished by another little girl at some point and I know my own sweet girl loves to spin on that stool and talk to her reflection in the mirror a la Anne of Green Gables!

More than anything else, creating a meaningful home means keeping in mind the lives of those who live there. It might mean turning a bookcase into an American Girl Dollhouse for a little girl wh o has fallen in love with all things American Girl!

And it might also mean finally coming to terms with the fact that your little boy is getting older and while the play-room no longer has a wooden train table, it does have a cool new Dartboard cabinet made using an old kitchen cupboard.

My goal has always been that our home is a reflection of who we are as a family. You might walk our front door and think that the style isnt quite the same as your own. Y ou might have made different choices or placed the furniture in a different position. But, I hope that anyone who walks through that door finds a home that is warm, welcoming, friendly andwellmeaningful!

Thanks again for allowing me to share from my heart with you today and a BIG thank you to Jenna for having me here!

Thank you so much Vanessa for sharing the amazing ways you incorporate the old with the new in your home to create a meaningful space for you and your family. With Vanessas traditional aesthetic, shes been able to beautifully create a home that reflects her love for history and family. She displays pieces that are decades old alongside others that were purchased last week.

Vanessa, along with her blogging bud & sister, Heather, have a fabulous and inspiring blog filled with DIY projects, party ideas, recipes, and much more. A perfect project for this time of year that Heather and Vanessa created are these faux-aged garden pots. Dont they look fabulous?! Its amazing how easy terra cotta post can go from new to years old in just a few minutes.

Head on over to At the Picket Fence, and give Vanessa (a nd Heather) a BIG HELLO!

Via: Creating a Meaningful Home: At the Picket Fence