Window seats are one of my favorite home improvement projects.  They’re a great way to drastically change the look of any room,  and are both attractive and useful additions to a home.  Window seats provide many benefits, with a minimal amount of cost and about a  day’s work.

They can provide extra seating,  they’re a great place to hide the children’s toys and they look great.  They are only limited by your creativity!  The more imaginative the design, the better the finished product will look.

Some window seats have storage,  and some don’t.  Your design should be dictated by what you plan to use it for.  If you are going to store items that you frequently use, I recommend that the storage access be in the front.  If the items you are going to store are not needed every day, then top access would work best.

You can easily store linens or bedding in a window seat with a flip-up top.  Storage for books or toys might be better served with front-opening cabinets, or sliding doors.  If no storage is needed or your budget is tight,  a decorative seat without storage will still add charm to a room, and it would be indistinguishable from one that has storage.

The two most common ways to build a window seat are:  to buy stock cabinets, or make your own box.  I choose which way to build a window seat depending on where the storage will be, if any.  If storage access is going to be at the top, I most always build my own box.  If the window seat is going to have front access.  I use pre-built refrigerator cabinets and build the top seat myself.

For a custom look, make sure the trim and molding  you choose for your window seat match the trim already used in the room.  This way, the integration is seamless and the seat will look like it’s always been there. 

I’ve built quite a few of these over the years, and I’m still amazed at how something so simple can really change the look and feel of a room.

Could any room in your house use a window seat?

Do you have drawers and cabinets that need a new look?   If so, here’s an inexpensive way to change the look with very little effort.

 This method should be used on wood tone cabinets only.  This will not work on cabinets that have been painted.

 I’ve used this method many times, with great results.  All you need is a bottle of Cabinet Magic, new door and drawer hardware, and a microfiber cloth.

First, check to see if the current hardware is attached by one screw or two.

Next,  unscrew the old hardware, remove it and take it to the store with you to make sure the holes line up.  It is very important that you buy hardware with the exact same hole pattern as the ones you are replacing, because you want to avoid patching any holes.

Before you install the new hardware, polish the entire area of the cabinets with the Cabinet Magic and a micro fiber cloth.  Spray one section at a time, and allow it to sit for  5 minutes before you wipe it down. Heavily greased areas will take a little more time. 

I first became aware of Cabinet Magic when I was supervising the building of  high rise condos.  Many times, the cabinets had been scratched quite a bit by the time they were ready to be installed.  After the Cabinet Magic was used,  there was no evidence of the imperfections and the cabinets looked new again.

 Once you’ve picked the new hardware, attach it snugly to the front of the doors and drawers, and tighten from the back.

 Use a soft cloth to buff away any fingerprints on the knobs.

Your cabinets will look  good as new with a small amount of money spent, and about 2 hours  of work.

For many people, this is a major problem.  They have a 2 or 3 car garage, and can’t pull a car into it or find anything.

I receive calls about this all the time.  The call usually starts like this:  “Do you do garage organization?” I ask what kind and they say, “I don’t know.”  I tell them that the first step is for me to  take a look at the garage and help them inventory their items.

I then ask  them to go through their things, and I always suggest getting rid of anything that they haven’t used in six months, except for tools.   This usually does not fly with most people. I suggest that they sell some items on www.craigslist.org.  Earning  a little money for the things you have to let go of makes it a little easier.

Then, we discuss what they want to use the garage for.   To assist with organization, I usually recommend 3 things right away.

• High loft shelves-Hung from the ceiling
• Wall Panels-At least one wall
• Cabinets-At least one wall

Sometimes I do more, but these three accessories can transform your garage.

The high loft shelves can be found at any home improvement store.   There are many places online that sell a wide variety of  shelving.  They are relatively inexpensive, simple to install and they make a big difference.  However, I will be honest and tell you that they do take longer to install than the manufacturers sometimes claim.  I’ve installed quite a few over the years,  and it takes me anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes.  The instructions usually claim 30 min.

If at all possible, I install them above the overhead door.  In my opinion, this is the most wasted space in a garage.   The high loft shelves are really strong  and when installed correctly,  can hold up to 300 lbs. depending on the project. I recommend storing things in boxes on the shelf  that you don’t use very much, since you will need a ladder to access the racks.

The next step is to install wall panels. Wall panels are sheets of vinyl that are fastened to the garage walls.  The panels have tracks, and bracket accessories slide into the tracks, which you can use to hang tools, shoe racks, ladders and even toys.  They are great!  Everything hangs on the wall,  and with the tracks you can move them really easily.

Lastly,  I always propose installing 3 cabinets to put small things in.  You will be amazed at how much these three details can change your garage.

If you really want to trick out your garage, you dont have to stop there!

You can purchase garage decor, custom flooring, custom lighting, and even epoxy the floor.  The possibilities are limitless!

For some great ideas about what you can do to make your garage your favorite part of the house, visit Car Guy Garage 

Troy Tarter

http://tarterhomemaintenance.com