It’s not quite a gold rush, but step into any nursery, furniture showroom, or home furnishing store and you could be tempted to yell, “There’s bamboo!” Peter Talbot, office manager of Bamboo Craftsman, cites two reasons for bamboo’s burgeoning popularity: The desire to use earth-friendly products in the home and the aura of timelessness bamboo provides. “People are more aware of the need to use sustainably grown, earth-friendly products, and bamboo is certainly that,” Talbot says, adding... more

Siding. Whether it’s wood, stucco, or stone, the cover of your house is akin to a beautifully wrapped gift, looking good on the outside while protecting what’s inside from damage. Although every home has siding, not all siding is created equal. Wood needs to be sealed and painted; low-maintenance vinyl and aluminum need to be power-washed and checked for damage at least twice a year; and stucco, reminiscent of adobe villages and Italian villas, can crack. Wood, with its natural beauty and long-lasting... more

No one knows for sure when the first porch was invented, but it’s safe to say that porches have existed — in one form or another—since humans first built habitable shelters. Porch technology did not evolve in steady stages around the globe, however. Ancient kingdoms in Africa had relatively sophisticated concepts of indoor-outdoor living at the same time that European hovels tried as much as possible to shut out the cruel world beyond. It would take several millennia and much intermingling... more

For many people, one of life’s pleasures is watching birds, such as tiny, acrobatic hummingbirds searching for nectar or flocks of twittering bushtits feasting on minute insects in the trees. Tragically, many bird populations are declining due to the obliteration of the birds’ wintering grounds, the use of pesticides and other chemicals, competition with non-native species, and hunting and habitat fragmentation in North American nesting grounds. A shocking recent study, anticipating vast habitat... more

Every neighborhood has one; some have many. They are usually taller than the adjacent houses, scantily windowed and sprouting from their most conspicuous feature, the garage. In areas where they are numerous, such as outer southeast and Rose City, these “skinny” or “infill” houses are the source of much contention. Neighbors complain that their scale and design do not match existing houses, and building critics are dissatisfied with their materials and craftsmanship. Many question the appropriateness... more

Color, color everywhere: that’s the feeling customers get when they walk into a paint store and are surrounded by sample paint chips and cards. Dan Saunders, Marketing Coordinator for Miller Paint, explains, “A 14-foot wall display at a Miller paint store will offer 1400 colors to take home and study for free.” When it comes to painting, most of us are in love with paint cards. We grab them by the handful from every display we see. Todd Braden, Vice-President of Marketing for Rodda Paint, estimates... more

ProTouch The new ProTouch line of knives shows a surprising number of thoughtful details. The ergonomic rubberized grip feels just right. The blade is canted at an optimized twenty-degree angle which helps reduce fatigue, and a small indent for your pointer finger assures you a safe cut every time. This tool is made in both retractable and fixed versions, and both feature “tool-free” entry, with no parts to lose. The retractable ProTouch retails for $12.99; the fixed version is $9.99. Blue Blades... more

Bradford Derusit offers a biodegradable metal cleaner that does not require a neutralizing agent for disposal, eliminating the water pollution often encountered with other cleaners. B-P Metal Cleaner is harmless to skin, metal, and other materials. It is virtually odorless and gives off no toxic fumes. Northwest Renovation puts it to the test in this how-to. In this how-to we used a rusty hinge (figure 1). Start by using a plastic or glass container deep enough to cover the hardware or tool (figure... more