Why would anyone want to convert a 100 year old garage into a gardening shed? Because they can? No. They can’t. So says the building department at the City of Portland, OR. When Kathi Wells of Laurelhurst first explained to me her desire to convert their rickety garage into a gardening shed, I thought, “No problem.” Wrong. Foolishly, I drew up the plans to replace the garage with a shed of exactly the same dimensions and overall appearance as the original garage, which was a virtual... more

In most kitchens, it seems that everything behind the first row in the pantry gets lost and falls into a black hole, never to be found again. Are you always looking for those items you know are there but cannot seem to find? If you want to use your mixer, you have to get on your hands and knees to unbury it. There has to be a better way. There is! With pullout shelving you’re able to retrieve items even in deep cabinets. Before left. After, with new drawer boxes and fully extendable... more

By the time most people decide that they need a shed, it can be a real V-8 moment of “we could have had this years ago!” My wife and I felt this way after having our first child. We saw many of our possessions slowly getting relocated to make way for things such as vibrating swings, basinets, and play kitchens. And when the bike with a child seat became a permanent fixture in our foyer, it was time to do something. Below are a few questions you might ask that could help you plan and build the... more

A custom-designed daybed makes room for sewing and crafts by day and rolls out to provide a queen-size bed by night. The above photo shows the bed closed The under-sized entry into the attic space was moved and incorporated as a cabinet door (far left) into the entertainment center, which now commits the room to a new statement and purpose. The pull-out work surface in the sewing room’s bookshelf lends an area for cutting fabrics and other tasks, without imposing on the graciousness... more

Americans love to paint. Each year they buy an average of 2.3 gallons of paint. A 2007 Environmental Protection Agency study estimates that about 10% of the house paint purchased annually ends up as leftover or unused. In Oregon and Washington State about 2.322 million gallons of paint is leftover annually. A study spearheaded by the nonprofit Product Stewardship Institute finds that people will hold their leftover paint for about seven years before they dispose of it through municipal household... more

What’s in your closet? If you’re living in an early- or mid-century bungalow, the answer could well be “Nothing!” because the space is so oddly configured as to be essentially useless. The first family to live in your home probably didn’t have more than two suits of clothing apiece (work and Sunday wear), making the closet a luxury. The space was probably dedicated to creating wider hallways or larger... more