Author Archives: Dan Hansen

Episode 225: Rotting Lunchbox Story, Fireplace Makeover, Window Treatment Bloopers

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SEGMENT 1: The Rotting Lunchbox

I am sure now is the time we are going through school supplies, backpacks and lunch boxes to sort the chaos that came home the last day of school.  Some of us may be discovering there was a lunch box with a truly disgusting surprise. If you find yourself in that situation…there are some tools that might save the day.

And here’s the video we referenced:

SEGMENTS 2 and 3: Fireplace Makeover

Painting a brick fireplace is a big commitment but it also makes a giant impact on a space. We have talked about projects like this in the past so we decided to tackle it ourselves and LOVE the results. Tune in to hear about what we learned after we started painting and what tools you need to avoid our mistakes.

SEGMENT 4: Window Treatment Bloopers

Judy Cisler from Gotcha Covered custom window treatments joins us in the studio to discuss some famous mistakes people have made when buying window coverings. They are fun to hear about but not so fun to experience. Learn what not to do next time you shop.

Episode 224: Why are Barns Red?, Cramped Bathroom Makeover, Drywall Anchors, and Furniture Shopping 101

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SEGMENT 1: Why Are Barns Red:

The red barn is an icon of rural America. But why red? We’ve got the answers…

SEGMENT 2: Cramped Bathroom Makeover

Interior designer Lauren Figueroa talks about how she took a dated, cramped bathroom and made it feel large and spacious without changing the square footage!

SEGMENT 3: Drywall Anchors

Sure, when hanging objects on our walls, it’s best to anchor them into studs. But, that’s not always possible. In those situations, you may need to use a drywall anchor. However . . . there are a wide variety of them and some far outperform others. We’ve got the scoop!

SEGMENT 4: Furniture Shopping 101

Furniture is a major purchase and it’s important to get it right. Today on the show, we discuss a number of things to consider before you hand over the money for that new couch!

Episode 223: Decluttering, the Mud Nook, Kitchen Cleaner Review, Painting Foundations

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SEGMENT 1: Decluttering

We all have cluttered spaces in our home. And yes, sometimes, we’ve spent a good number of months letting them get that way. But the good news is that decluttering is manageable! In this segment we talk about a few simple steps that will help you get started.

SEGMENT 2: The Mud Nook

Many of us would love to have a huge mudroom . . . . Benches, ample storage for boots and coats . . . . But most of us just don’t have the space. In this segment, we speak with Michaela Noelle from Michaela Noelle Designs about a small mudroom “nook” she and her husband pulled together.

 

SEGMENT 3: Kitchen Cleaner Review

We discuss 4 of the internet’s most recommended kitchen cleaners and see how they perform. Also, we stumble into another cleaner that is basically a weapon of nearly unlimited power. It can do stuff that few other cleaners we’ve ever used can do . . . . But as they say, with great power comes great responsibility . . . .

The Four General Purpose Cleaners We Tested

The Super Powered Cleaner We Tried

And just for good measure, here are some before and after picks of the caps that sit over the burners on the stove. The first picture shows what I had even after I tried the cleaners in my house AND the 4 cleaners above. 

The second picture shows what I ended up with after an application of Carbon-Off. It wasn’t a complete “no-elbow-grease” kind of cleaning . . . but still, I was blown away by the results. 

Just remember, as we said in the segment: this stuff is potent! You can take paint off surfaces, damage counters, damage the teflon in your pans, and so on. It’s a super weapon against carbon in the kitchen . . . but it needs to be used with care!

 

SEGMENT 4: Painting Foundations

Unpainted foundations . . . or foundations that have been patched . . . can give your home a bit of an unfinished look. If you’re looking for an inexpensive curb appeal project with a big payoff, this might be for you!

Episode 222: Color Consultations, Deck Transformations, and the Pictures We Forget to Take

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Listen to the full episode!

SEGMENT 1: Color Consultations

We often mention that we have color consultants in our stores that are ready to help. However, some people may be left wondering what exactly a color consultation is or when they are helpful… so to give us some insight on the process we are joined by our Fulton Street Color Consultant, Myra Maness.

SEGMENTS 2 & 3: Deck Transformation

Coating a deck is probably the most common exterior DIY project. Yet most of us are prone to avoiding the process because the prep work can take days. Luckily there is a way around this! We’ll tell you exactly how we made a deck look brand new in under 5 hours!

SEGMENT 4: The Pictures We Forget to Take

Whether we like it or not most of us are attached to our phones, so why not put them to work? We discuss some of the smart ways to use your phone’s camera as a tool during your next project.

Episode 221: Refrigerator Makeovers, The Ups and Downs of Window Treatments, and Home Foundation Concerns

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SEGMENT 1: Refrigerator Paint Job

We received a question from a listener wondering if it was possible to paint his refrigerator. Actually, it’s a relatively simple project provided you follow a few basic steps!

SEGMENT 2 : The Ins and Outs, Ups and Downs of Window Treatments

Judy Cisler from Gotcha Covered of Grand Rapids joins us in the studio to discuss window treatments. We talk about the terminology and how you can decide which ones are right for your home.

SEGMENT 3 : Foundational Issues

Zack Krieger from Ayers Basement Systems speaks with us about concerns regarding the foundations of our homes. He talks about some common problems and the solutions. And of course, he provides us with a number of things to look for so you can determine if your home’s foundation needs a little expert help.

SEGMENT 4: Refrigerators Revisited

To wrap up the show, we return full circle to refrigerators. In the opening segment we talked about how to paint them. This time we talk about some interesting design ideas and fun “refrigerator makeovers” that are cropping up all over Instagram.

Episode 220: Nagging Laundry Room Projects, 8 Key Design Elements for Kitchens, Budget-Friendly Ways to Update Your Kitchen

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SEGMENT 1: Nagging Laundry Room Projects

We talk about these things often, but that’s because they’re important AND easy to forget about! So today we cover a couple laundry room maintenance tasks that you should be accomplishing.

SEGMENTS 2 & 3: Eight Details to Consider in Your Next Kitchen Update

We chat with Interior Designer, Lauren Figueroa, about eight design details you may want to consider if you’re looking at a kitchen update. Check out her blog post below:

SEGMENT 4: Budget-Friendly Ways to Update Your Kitchen

Not everyone is in a spot right now where a full kitchen update is possible. (I’m not!!) And so, for those of us in that situation, we thought we’d talk about the tremendous difference a simple kitchen cabinet repaint can make in your home!