Blog Posts by This Old House Magazine

Pros Know Best! A bath remodel is no small undertaking. So before you start tearing up the tiles and picking out the tub, get a little advice from the people who make bathroom makeovers their bread and butter. We polled contractors, designers, and other pros for their top tips and insider tricks for getting every detail right.-JOSH GARSKOF, This Old House magazine

See all of our pro tips for renovating your bath at thisoldhouse.com!


1. No-Regret Tile Floors

If you want an easy-care floor: Go for porcelain or glazed tiles, and avoid porous natural stone tiles like limestone. Unless sealed vigilantly, they'll absorb drips and spills and become stained over time.

If you want a nonslip floor: Choose tiles with textured surfaces, matte finishes, or sand-containing glazes. Another option: small tiles with lots of grout lines, which offer better "grip" than large tiles.





MORE: Wake Up to a Warm Floor: Radiant Heat

MORE: What Should Go Under a Tile Floor


2. Get a Top-Tier Toilet

Don't settle

rban living for young families is on the rise, but with it comes a need to think creatively about making the most of limited space. Karen Shen and Kevin Costello loved the extraordinary craftsmanship of their four-story 1904 Renaissance Revival brownstone in Brooklyn, New York, site of the current This Old House TV project. Here are some pointers from their big remodel.

SEE ALL 9 SMALL-SPACE SOLUTIONS FROM THE TOH TV NYC HOUSE









Use Paint to Open Up a Room Paint crown molding to match the ceiling to widen a narrow room. Painting both the crown and ceiling white in this skinny space creates the illusion that the ceiling is wider than it is, minimizing the tunnel-vision effect. Here's another trick: Install flooring, whether it's wood or tile, in a diagonal pattern to help make rooms appear wider than they are.

TOH Tip: Keep compact rooms simple by using small-scale furniture instead of overstuffed pieces.

MORE: Gorgeous Period Details in the TOH TV New York City House


Mirror, Mirror

Ask kids, and they'll tell you the ideal place to sleep is in a tree house or on a sailboat, like Max in Where the Wild Things Are. Architect Darren Helgesen incorporated that spirit in this attic redo at a century-old house in East Hampton, New York, where he used warm finishes and smart details to turn the dark, sloped-ceilinged space into a shipshape two-bedroom suite. The homeowners, Bill and Cory Laverack, had already renovated the rest of the house. "We used a lot of beadboard and liked it," says Cory, an interior designer, so Helgesen continued it here, calling on general contractor Ronald Gray and carpenter Paul Stisi to fit together beaded boards and built-ins as neatly as jigsaw pieces. The team also rejiggered an existing bath and put down a pine floor. "It was always their favorite place," says Cory, recalling how the couple's four kids would hide out upstairs with friends every chance they got. "And now it's the ultimate sleepover space." SEE THE ENTIRE GALLERY FOR THIS

So you've swapped your incandescent lightbulbs for CFLs, turned down the thermostat, and only wash clothes on cold. Then why are your utility bills still so high? Air leaks are likely culprits, but so are "phantom" power suckers, such as flat-screen TVs, which draw energy even when they're off.

To help pinpoint exactly where you are burning through resources-and cash-we polled energy consultants across the country. The simplest route, they agree, is to have a professional auditor detect leaks with sophisticated tools, such as blower doors and infrared cameras. Your local utility may offer this service for free, but if it doesn't, the cost is typically $400. Or you can do some easy tests yourself and put your money toward addressing the problems. "There are many steps homeowners can take before calling a pro," says Jeffrey Gordon, spokesperson for the New York State Energy Research Development Authority. "With a little knowledge and determination, you might be surprised by your next

Since inspectors always seem to find something wrong, it stands to reason that any homeowner who uses their kind of thorough thinking as a model during a once-a-year maintenance review-preferably in the fall, before rough weather sets in, and with a notepad in hand-will catch small problems before they balloon into major expenses. You don't need to hire a pro, though it may be warranted under certain circumstances. But just knowing where and how to look will help you create a didn't-miss-a-thing repair list, from which you can check items off one by one to keep your house in good health. "You won't be able to do everything a pro inspector does," says This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, "but you'll stay one step ahead of the wind and the rain."


MORE: Easy Fall Prep for a Warm and Cozy Home


Here's our full 5-step plan of attack for looking at your house with the careful eye of a pro.


1. JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
The logical place to start any fall maintenance inspection and

We all know the drill: You wake up on a Saturday with every intention of doing some pre­-winter maintenance but ditch your best-laid plans as soon as you feel the late-summer sun on your shoulders. Take a tip from the experts and avoid putting off till next Saturday (or next year) what you can do in a snap today-whether it's replacing old weather-stripping or adjusting the pitch of the gutters. You can always put your feet up later, when it's time to rake the leaves.-SAL VAGLICA, This Old House magazine

See ALL of our Fall Upkeep tips at thisoldhouse.com!




How to Do It:

Seal gaps larger than 1/8 inch around windows and doors to cut your winter heating bill by up to 15 percent. On windows, press adhesive-backed closed-cell foam onto the bottom of the sash. Secure a loose sash by applying a strip of plastic V-channel weather stripping in the groove the sash slides in, securing it with finish nails. Use foam strips on the sides and tops of doors, and install a door sweep on the bottom.

You can do it! TOH general contractor Tom Silva walks beginners through some simple home center projects, including how to build a desk with easy-to-find stock materials, a tool bench with basic lumber, and more.












How to Build a Desk With a Storage Hutch. If you lack a dedicated spot for paying bills and stashing loose papers, a good desk is a must. And you can make one yourself with basic materials. To simplify construction, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva came up with a compact, drawer-free design. It'll take less than a day to build. Here's How to Build a Desk.



MORE: Inspirational Kitchen Office Design Ideas







How to Build a Tool Bench. Amy Paladino is a pro at juggling the demands of her job and family. But as with many of us, when it came to organizing tools for DIY projects, she needed a little assistance. Enter This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, with a plan for a size-it-to-your-space tool-storage bench that doubles as a work surface. Though it may look

By outfitting your kid's study station with the coolest new essentials and gadgets, your little learners just might find themselves enjoying homework time. Here are a few kid-approved picks for smart students everywhere.-TABITHA SUKHAI & KAREN ZIGA, This Old House online


See all our back-to-school shopping essentials at thisoldhouse.com!


1. Posture In Style Ergonomic Chair and Desk
If you're investing in new furniture for your study station, this is as good as it gets. Posture in Style's ergonomically designed desks and chairs promote proper posture to prevent back-pain and fatigue, all while encouraging good penmanship. All of their pieces are adjustable, so they'll grow as your child does. You can create a truly custom space with changeable seat covers and desk system additions. Pricing and how to buy


MORE: How to Outfit Your Home to Help Your Kids' Study Habits


2. Under-the-Bed Storage Organizer
Stash all those extra supplies you scored at back-to-school sales under the bed.