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HouseHacker is sort of dedicated to bringing you the goods on home improvement, household gadgetry, DIY, cool furniture, yada, yada...




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Funny home cut out stickers.

Those salt and pepper shakers you've had your eye on are on sale. They've knocked $800 off!

iTable. These guys have made a touch-screen table that attaches to an iPhone (basically, the table becomes a giant iPhone).

Hungry, but not sure what to make? Check out photograzing! Browse a boatload of quality food pics to find the perfect meal.

Sandwich coasters that you can set your Brass knuckles coffee mug on.

Cold + Pillow = Chillow. Chillow is fun to say. Chillow.

A lightbulb storage solution to a problem we didn't know we had!

Nice magnetic doorstops Via KK's Cool Tools

Do I really need this thing? Ask yourself these questions while attempting to de-clutter the house.

NY Times articles on the tools you really need to maintain your home.

Pumpkin launchers should enjoy this collection of trebuchet/catapult designs.

NOTICE: Large moosehead wall lights have finally been invented.

360 Modern is a real estate firm in the Pacific Northwest U.S. that specializes in modern homes. Beautiful stuff.

Handy way to skip all the intro crap on DVDs that is usually forced on you when you throw a disc in your player. Apparently the chapters on DVDs that you can't skip (FBI warnings, copyright stuff, etc.) are flagged, on the disc, as UOP, or User Operation Prohibited. This site lists some of the techniques you can try to skip the ennui.

This colour coordinated bookshelf looks cool, but you might have a hard time finding a particular title.

For chewie edge lovers or corner brownie fans - it's the Edge Brownie Pan. All edges, all the time. Via BoingBoing

Puzzle carpet.

This to That is a handy site that will tell you what adhesive to use when attempting to glue various objects together.

Super creative bathroom tiles.

Skinny house in Brazil.

Apparently there are many LED lightbulbs available already. Via TreeHugger

WiiRoomba. YouTube of a guy controlling his Roomba with a Wii remote.

Hardcore Lost fans have a party and repackage the snacks and beer as Dharma Initiative rations. Make your own with the PDFs that they've so generously shared.

Here's a nice set of home improvement videos with the energetic and snappy Eric Stromer.

Faucet Fountain turns your regular faucet into a drinking fountain.

Kids and the Home Office. Here's a list of tips for the parent that works from home.

Save the Internet.

Great Pac-Man bathroom tile work.

Crazy toaster from the future TODAY!

Here is a nice napkin folding howto site with clean pictures and straightforward instructions. I think the shirt's my favourite.

DIY T-Shirt Rack via Instructables.

Stainless steel paint.

Onion goggles.

Batman-esque underground garage with hydraulic lift.

Microsoft to unveil a home server at CES this week in Vegas? This article at Arstechnica discusses the possibility of a machine focused on home automation and entertainment centralization.

Here's a blog full of interesting gifts for under 10 bucks.

WikiHow has a DriCore installation howto available for your edification.

Here is an energy saving tips post from last winter.

The USB humping dog you asked for is in.

Unique DIY photo ornaments.

A table that walks. Finally!

Twist and grow table. Amazing.

Roller toaster.

Make a nice 3D paper snowflake.

Tiny houses from the Tumbleweed Tiny House company.

Post-it note wallpaper made up of four different grey tones which, over time, reveals a usage driven design.

Sweet mug that comes with convenient built-in cookie chamber. Here's a great review of the mug in use.

Great unique gift idea and store thread on Ask Metafilter.

This is one massive bed that measures 12 feet by 10 feet.

Build your very own bottomless pit with this howto (heads up: there is some embedded audio on the site).

Laundry chute turned Cat chute.

PacMan arcade cabinet Halloween costume.

Crazy awesome self assembling robotic chair. Amazing.

DIY Bean bag sofa and/or bed from Instructables.

Another site on transforming household items into other useful (??) household items. Thanks for the tip Paul!

Environmentally friendly home cleaning service. I hadn't realized that there were companies that will clean your home using only animal and environmentally friendly products. This particular company is in the UK, but a quick googling pulls up similar companies in North America as well.

Here are some very unique hand made leaded glass doors, produced using the lead came method, a method in use since the middle ages.

Pumpkin carving. This site has some seriously impressive pumpkin carvings as well as a tutorial, which, although informative, still looks like it requires a lot of artistic ability. Worth a shot though - it's just pumpkin.

Another declutter your home tip page. This one's by FlyLady.net.

USB twister hub with Rubik's cube-like rotating ports.

An outdoor pizza oven party would be a cool alternative to summer barbeques.

Skeeter Bag is a bag that attaches to box fans to catch mosquitos by the thousands.

Lego ice cube tray.

Turn maple leaves into roses with the help of this photo tutorial. Very autumn/thanksgiving.

Interesting Alton Brown video on knife sharpening and maintenance. Instructables also has a step-by-step sharpening howto.

CNN Money article: Middle-class families in worse shape than ever.

Nice and clean magnetic tool rack from Instructables. The nice thing about this organizer is that the actual tool holders can be positioned and rearranged (on the fly) on the metallic backboard.

Designer wood computers handmade in Canada.

Humanoid shaped shelves. Kind of looks like James the doorstop.

How to find a good neighbourhood. MSN article, via Lifehacker.

How to make clear ice cubes.

Use your PC and webcam as a motion activated security camera.

This Old House has made available a very large fall home inspection checklist for your downloading pleasure.

Mike Jagger of Provident security has been on the scene of thousands of residential burglaries and has put together this interesting walkthrough of a typical break-in.

Concrete countertops on Flickr.

This is pretty damn clever. Sizeasy is an online tool that helps you visualize the size of something you're reading about or considering buying online. Punch in your dimensions and see your widget along side things like a deck of cards or a piece of paper.

Here's the skinny on upgrading your home network to Gigabit ethernet. It's probably worth doing simply because "gigabit ethernet" just sounds cool and not at all nerdly.

Greenpeace is getting on Apple's case about their use of certain hazardous chemicals in iPods, iBooks and the like. Greenpeace claims that other manufacturers have discontinued the use of some of the chemicals that are still found in Apple products.

De-Clutter your home to sell it faster. Here's a page with a lot of ways to do just that.

Consumer Reports: 20 Free Ways to Save Energy is a nice list of things you can do, mostly around the house, to save energy and of course, as the two go hand in hand, cash.







Househacker/tags/kit

Interesting Video Detailing the Installation of a Doorway Arch Kit

Here's a really informative 2-part video of handyman Ron Hazelton installing a doorway arch kit. The video details the entire project from start to finish. In the video, you see Hazelton run into a the type of problem that the average home owner might encounter when doing such an upgrade, namely, discovering that the electrical box is too close to the frame of the door. Hazelton, of course, handles it with ease. Although he does make the installation of the kit look quite easy, he is obviously a seasoned pro, so take that with a grain of salt if you are thinking of embarking on your own doorway arch conversion project.

Link

Pop Up Kitchen Spice Rack

Someone over at Instructables has posted a nice little automated elevating kitchen spice rack project that, depending on your viewpoint, is either spice rack overkill or complete kitchen sweetness.

For the project, a Firgelli Automation FA-400-12-18" stroke linear actuator was used. Now if that doesn't sound like something that belongs in a kitchen, what does?

From the site:

Of course the top would typically be the granite square that was cut out originally, and the spice rack could be a coffee machine, microwave, TV, wine rack or anything else you wish to hide in your kitchen.

Link: Automated Pop-Up Spice Rack
       



Making Concrete Countertops Flickr Set

Here's a very interesting photo set that nicely documents the process of making concrete countertops (previously) for the kitchen. There are 64 pics in the set so you get a pretty good idea of what's involved in the project, including the mixing, pouring, grinding and subsequent application of a finishing sealer/enhancer. It at least looks to be a doable project for the brave novice, but the authors seem to know a lot of the tricks and techniques that usually come from experience (or maybe just a lot of pre-work research).

See also:
  • More slick examples of what people have done via the concrete countertop tag on Flickr.

  • This couple is making a countertop that will have an embedded 'stream' of glass in the shape of the Mississippi River which will be lit via fibre optic cables running below!

  • Keeping an Organized Kitchen

    RealSimple.com shares some kitchen efficiency tips for daily use as well as for entertainers. Getting more organized and strategically locating frequently used items saves time during meal preparation and clean up. The article gives some ideas on how to do just that.

    From the site:

    Keep necessities within easy reach. You don't want to waste precious time during dinner prep looking for things. Make a place in the hot zone (around the stove and the sink) for the essentials: oil, vinegar, knives, cutting board. Move special-occasion cookware, like a fondue pot, out of cabinets in the zone so what's left can be neatly organized and easily spotted.

    And also:

    Make recycling efficient, too. Having a bin for bottles and cans right next to the one for regular trash, instead of out in the garage or in the mudroom, streamlines end-of-meal cleanup.

    Link: RealSimple.com

    Gorgeous Concrete Countertops

    Concrete countertops seem to be becoming more and more popular, and with example galleries like this one (and previously this one) it's easy to see why. Concrete combines solid, chunky beauty with a lot of flexibility-through-moldability, enabling designers to create some stunning countertops in both kitchen and bathrooms.

    The site does a nice job of describing a concrete countertop's personal value to its owner:

    But remember, don't fall too deeply in love with anyone else's piece. You can have the exact same design and color as they have, but yours will be yours alone. Because as the mixture of sand, stone, water and cement cures, it captures a moment in time that's unique. The pattern of stone will always be different. The color will always vary slightly. And that's what makes it uniquely yours.

    See also: Concrete Countertop HowTos

    Tile Over Laminate Countertops with Tavy Thin Skin Underlay System

    Generally speaking, installing ceramic tiles on an existing laminate countertop isn't possible as mortar doesn't adhere well to laminate surfaces. To get around this problem, installers remove the countertop and replace it with mortar-friendly plywood before any tile work is done. A product called "Tavy Thin Skin" promises to simplify and accelerate this process by eliminating the need to remove the countertop altogether. Tavy Thin Skin is a two part process. The first step involves applying a special glue that, unlike mortar, bonds strongly to the laminate countertop surface. This is followed by adhering a thin underlayment paper to the glue, readying the surface for mortar and tiling.

    View the complete process with pics and video here.

    Beautiful Soapstone Countertops

    Here's a nice gallery of soapstone countertop installations. It's a little surprising that soapstone can be used as a countertop, as one might have assumed that because of its use by the Inuit and others as sculpting material, it would be too soft to stand up to the wear and tear of a kitchen countertop. Perhaps it's the fact that, according to the Soapstone West FAQ, countertop scratches can be repaired easily by sanding it with

    ...120 grit sandpaper to remove the blemish then mineral oil can be reapplied to achieve a good as new look.

    The company clarifies the material's properties here:

    What is Soapstone?
    Soapstone or Steatite is a metamorphic rock that comes in degrees of hardness. It is composed of talc, magnesium silicate and chlorite. The softer is known as "talc" and is used to carve or crush to a powder for a variety of purposes. Soapstone West uses the harder version of steatite, which makes it appropriate for countertops and other similar uses that require durability and other unique properties. It is a quarried stone that comes in shades such as green/gray, blue/gray and charcoal gray in its natural state but turns quite dark to almost black with the application of mineral oil.


    The material seems to have real drama and weight, even if it doesn't appear to be the most flexible or versatile stuff available for countertop installations.

    Here's their soapstone sink gallery.

    DIY Kitchen Countertop

    Extremehowto.com walks you through constructing and mounting a kitchen countertop. The project appears quite intensive, which, come to think of it, is totally consistent with their site name. The amount of work involved seems to be more than what's involved in the DIY concrete countertop project, although that might not be the case once one becomes more acquainted with both jobs, but it does explain why kitchen work can be so costly.

    Top 10 Strangest Kitchen Gadgets

    TechEBlog.com has a great roundup of some of the weirdest (and coolest, no?) kitchen gadgets out there, including the Toasterkettle, which, although looks quite strange, probably actually toasts bread, unlike the transparent toaster.

    Ultra Low Profile Food Processing System by TCC

    This is one of the more clever space saving kitchen appliances in recent memory. The TCC Kitchen Center food processing unit lays innocuously flat on the countertop, unlike the clunky food processing space-hogs most of us are familiar with. The genius of the TCC system lies in the fact that the unit is nothing but a control panel and motor - at least until the processor is activated when different attachments (mixer, chopper, blender, etc...) are coupled with the base.

    Not only is the unit slim to begin with, but is also installable in a pull out drawer (like the Sharp Microwave) which would obviously save even more space.

    Via Mocoloco.com.

    Cool Glass Toaster

    Until now, we've had to rely on smoke detectors to let us know when out toast was burning. Barbaric. Now, with the invention of this clever see-through toaster, we'll be able to actually see the bread toasting away, preventing any unfortunate toasting mishaps. Some info, from the site:

    This idea is based on the transparent heating glass featured in this issue. Although the glass does not currently get hot enough to toast bread, some day this application may be possible.

    Ok, so this toaster doesn't actually toast bread. It's more of a luke-warmer than a toaster. Still, it's a cool idea and interesting technology nonetheless.

    Via Digg.

    Microwave in a Drawer

    Sharp now offers this unique, space saving microwave that installs below countertop and is accessible through a drawer style pull out.

    From the site:

    Ideal for open-plan kitchens, islands and tight spaces, the Microwave Drawer elegantly addresses the question of microwave placement by offering a wealth of installation options, such as beneath a countertop. It features the neat look of traditional under-the-counter installations with the added ease and accessibility that these designs lack, and it frees space above the range for a powerful and stylish ventilation hood.

    Via House in Progress.

    Another Doorway Arch Kit

    Of the instant doorway arch kits we've seen, this one by Creative Corners looks like it may be the easiest to install, at least judging by the quick four step process outlined on their site. The company lists four arch sets, three of which come in two corner pieces, and the forth being a full, one piece arch.

    Finally a Stove with Voice Navigation

    If you crave the personal satisfaction that can only be achieved through human-inanimate object interaction, then Sanyo's got you covered. Sanyo has developed an intelligent oven with voice navigation capabilities. Although it's difficult to discern from the translated page if the oven is internet aware (as this oven is), the oven does come complete with voice feedback/cooking instructions as well as melodies that play at certain times during the cooking process (i.e. when water has boiled, or cooking is complete). The songs can be downloaded to your mobile phone and IR'ed over to the oven.

    via PopGadget

    Doorway Arch Kit by Insta Arch

    As we've said before, doorway arch kits seem like an easy way to make a doorway look a lot less cookie cutter while adding some extra character to your home. Although, as easy as the Insta Arch kit may be to install, the 15 minutes that the company is claiming it takes to do the job seems like a bit of a stretch, especially if you've seen their pictorial step-by-step instructions. That's not to imply that the installation would be difficult, but for a first time installer, 15 minutes seems a little optimistic, to say the least.

    GE Monogram Collection Mean Looking Walk in Wine Vault

    GE, through their Monogram Collection, offer this monster of a wine cooler that comes complete with a wine inventory system familiar with 20,000 wines (which will come in handy as the vault stores over a thousand bottles), optional internet action that allows you to browse your wines from work (maybe while you preheat your oven over the net as well), as well as a handy touchscreen and bar code scanner.

    Price tag: $35,000.

    A few features, from the site:

  • Provides storage for more than one thousand bottles on premium-quality, moisture-resistant redwood racks.
  • Racks are arranged for single-, double- and triple-bottle storage, while also accommodating magnum bottles and crates.
  • Liquid-based, digital thermostat system offers precise control over temperature, allowing adjustment between 50°F and 70°F, while maintaining ideal humidity conditions.
  • Stainless steel walls and door have a high-density foam (R-33 value) that helps ensure precise temperature and energy-efficient performance.


    via Kitchen Contraptions

  • Sink with Built in Cooking Basin

    Kohler has released the "Pro CookCenter" sink, which includes a built in cooking basin for poaching, boiling or steaming. The unit features a convenient drain knob that allows the cooking basin to drain without having to be lifted and/or poured.

    Kudos to the Kohler people for having the DXF (CAD) files available on their site for anyone needing them.

    via thecoolhunter.net

    Zero Gravity Magnetic Spice Rack

    Having a wide selection of spices at your disposal in the kitchen is great, but shoving them deep into a cabinet usually means only the most common, frequently used spices remain accessible - much to the detriment of your culinary creations. So, most people have a spice rack to keep things in order and available. What most people don't have, is a sweet, space saving "Zero Gravity, Magnetic Spice Rack" like this one. From the site:
  • Only design available where you can store spices on both top and bottom of spice rack, which maximizes space and reduces clutter
  • Windows on spice canisters indicate when spices are getting low

  • Cute and Depressing Melting Snowman Canisters by Marcel Dzama

    Would these melting snowmen be used during the winter or would it be more appropriate to wait until the spring thaw? Either way, they're definitely a unique way to store cookies and disturb young children at the same time. Also, Marcel Dzama sure doesn't seem very happy.

    Toastabags Turn your Toaster into a Sandwich Maker

    Only more so!
    Now you can make sandwiches with your toaster, like you always have, but differently! The Toastabag is a fire retarding black plastic bag that enables you to place whole sandwiches in your toaster, relegating the cumbersome sandwich maker to it's lonely under-counter home. If you're feeling melancholy, you might want to check out the Toastabag video, which wins the award for strangest choice of music for a kitchen gadget commercial. It's like it was made by a kid out of film school treating the commercial as his Godfather, the Toastabag his Brando.

    iCEBOX Countertop Kitchen PC

    The iCEBOX Countertop PC "kitchen entertainment" unit offers you Internet connectivity, TV, DVD/CD, radio and home video monitoring to distract you from the maze on the back of the Froot Loops box. The device also boasts a touchscreen and a washable wireless remote and keyboard. If, after installing the iCEBOX, you find there's still not enough technology in your kitchen, you would probably want to go ahead and add the compatible breadmaker sidekick, which comes complete with a database of hundreds of UPC codes preprogrammed in (UPC code updates come from the iCEBOX) linking the scanned item to it's appropriate cooking instructions.

    Clever Foam Eavestrough Filler

    Now here's a great idea. Gutter Stuff is a clever product that is so simple that it will leave many wondering how it was that they didn't think it up themselves. The product is a non-absorbent foam filler that fits in your roof's gutter, allowing water to drain out as normal while preventing leaves or unwanted debris from settling in. Check out the Gutter Stuff movie (direct link) for a demo.

    Internet and Telephone Controlled Oven with Refrigeration

    According to the TMIO (Tonight's Menu Internet Ovens) website, the Connect Io Intelligent Oven allows you to begin cooking your food remotely, via either a telephone or internet connection. The idea is that you prepare your food ahead of time and place it in the oven, which keeps the food refrigerated until the cooking process is initiated remotely. Throughout the process, the display on your web browser exactly matches the display on the oven itself, in real time.

    Program, command, and control your Connect Io oven remotely through your cell phone from anywhere in the world. No matter where you are, send commands over the Internet from your computer through a standard web browser.

    Anywhere in the world? Sure, this might be handy to use from work or even to monitor your food from the pc in the other room, but who are they marketing to with 'from anywhere in the world'?

    Great List of Kitchen Tips and Tricks

    The Cooking Blog has an excellent list of tips and tricks for making life easier in the kitchen. Pros may know a lot of these already, but clever tips like: "Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips" are sure to be new to many, if not most, of the kitchen novices among us.

    Cool Doorway Arch Kit

    CurveMakers.com offers these clever doorway arch kits. Modern homes are rarely built with doorway arches, which were much more common in the past. Arches offer so much character but usually require some significant renovation dollars. These kits, which are reasonably priced, allow any standard doorway to be made to look more elegant and unique. Very nice.

    Concrete Countertop HowTos

    Here is a nice howto on making your own concrete countertop from the diynetwork that covers template construction, mold making, pouring, and finishing up.

    Here's another very detailed tutorial from NaturalHandyman.com. Both are good, but the diynetwork breaks down the materials needed in a nicer format.

    For some inspiration, take a look at Cheng Design to see some amazing examples of what's possible to accomplish with concrete.

    Tough Guy Fridge

    Ten50 Design has a line of chromed-out biker fridges with features that include handlebar grip styled door pulls and, as you can see, flames. Prices range from $5935 for the 30" model to $6480 for the 36".

    How to Best Make Use of a Small Kitchen

    If you're having trouble making do with a small kitchen, then perhaps these nice retro "Big Chill Fridges" should wait until after you've maximized your kitchen's usable space with this article from SignOnSanDiego.com. The article is full of tips for uncramping your kitchen, even if you're working with very little square footage and/or counter space.

    Regarding clutter: see Frugal Homemaker's "Taking Control of Your Clutter" for ideas.

    If the kitchen re-org puts you in clean sweep mode, then the plethora of tips over at HowToCleanAnything.com should save some serious elbow grease.

    Big Home Depot Plumbing HowTo List

    Fix a leak, remove a toilet, install a toilet, unclog this, repair that - it's all here in this nice chunk of illustrated how-tos on the Home Depot site. You will recognize the style if you've ever used one of their big orange DIY books.

    From the Depot's useful Know-How page.

    Instant Boiling Tap Water

    Quooker sells a nice looking product that produces instant boiling water, straight from the tap. The faucet draws the boiling water from an insulated tank mounted underneath the counter, where water is heated to 110°C. As the water flows from the faucet, it cools to 100°C. Quooker says that the unit's energy consumption is "next to nothing" in standby mode. I wonder if it would melt one of these.

    Caution! The boiling water you are about to enjoy is hot...

    Fish and Banana Restraining Systems

    Scientists have finally begun dedicating themselves to the food restraining problem that has left an embarrassingly large gap in mankind's scientific achievement for longer than science would like to admit. Times are changing; witness the fruit of the modern age: Banana Guard and Fish Noose Food Loop.
    The Food Loop site claims the non-stick kitchen helper can withstand temperatures of up to 675° F / 357° C and is dishwasher and microwave chummy. The site also illustrates the gadget being used on a variety of items, including a seemingly communicative fish. The Banana Guard, on the other hand, is for people who treat their lunch bags the way gorillas treat luggage in the wild.

    Naturemill Indoor Food Composter

    Naturemill has introduced an indoor, odour free, kitchen composter, for those of us not happy with only having food decay inside the fridge. It remains to be seen just how many people will shell out the $399US for the luxury of rotting food odourlessly indoors, mind you. Russ Cohn, the unit's inventor and MIT grad, has high hopes for the device, according to this article at PR News Now where Cohn talks about eliminating 50% of the world's waste.

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