The response to our contest announcement was overwhelming, but we've narrowed all those entries down to the three worst, most makeover-needy rooms... and now we want to know what you think!

     

Take a look at our Contest Photo Gallery to see the finalists, and give us your feedback on which room you'd most like to see renovated.

This past weekend we were at historic Simcoe Manor in uptown Toronto.  The stately property had fallen into disrepair, and we undertook the restoration of some of the Manor's more challenging features.

  

You can see the results in our Before & After Gallery.

Do you have a "problem" room in your home?  A space in dire need of a renovation?  XYZ Home Improvements is looking for the room most desperately requiring the XYZ touch!

Mail us a picture of your candidate for conversion, and the winner will have their room renovated free of charge courtesy of XYZ.  Entries must be received no later than midnight (EST), 30 April 2004.  So get those photos in today!

Better Homes and Gardens' Cottage Style volume is a good elementary volume on the various flavours of cottage-themed design.  It offers sound advice on mixing colors, fabric patterns, and arranging collections and furnishings.  The book is lavishly illustrated and contains numerous examples, at the expense of solid practical how-to info.

Overall an enjoyable, inspiring read for the professional and amateur designer alike.

Summary: A solid entry in the 18-volt cordless drill market, and excellent value for money.

Type: 18V cordless drill/driver
Price: $129.99
Rating: 8/10

The 18V entry in Black & Decker's "Firestorm" line has got power to spare, is easy and fast to charge and a dream to use and change bits. Overall the drill has plenty of power and feels good in your hand when in use. If you use your drill for repetitive tasks and lengthy work sessions, you’ll be pleased to discover a new feature on the Firestorm line of power tools. Dubbed Gelmax, this cushiony polyurethane gel appliqué is strategically positioned on the grip to provide more user comfort and make it easier to hold the drill securely. This is especially nice on this powerful cordless, which has a bit of kick to it. The CD180GRK also boasts a 24-position clutch so you can dial to the torque appropriate for your task. For tasks that require both drilling and driving, the drill has a time-saving quick-bit change system: simply snap off the chuck, drill bit and all, to reveal a ready-to-go driver bit beneath it. This is a good idea, but unfortunately it somewhat detracts from the quality of the drill as the chuck has a tendency to slip, and I also noticed a slight wobble.

Overall, the CD180GRK is a good drill for home projects and has plenty of power. You can't go wrong with this drill if you are in the market for an 18V, particularly in the value-for-money category. It's not a perfect power tool but it does the job handily, and you won't find a comparable 18V drill for the price.

Our most recent project was the renovation of a summer vacation property up in the Muskoka region of Ontario, north of Toronto.  The original building was a (very!) rustic, almost barn-like structure with a great view of the lake but not a lot in the way of amenities or creature comforts.  The project called for a conversion of the interior space into a modern, full-featured residence.

  

You can see the results in our Before & After Gallery.

Installing tiles is one of those jobs that is easy if planned well, and frustratingly difficult if planned haphazardly.  Make sure you select the correct type of tile for the job.

You should treat each surface, or section of a surface, as a separate layout. This way you can choose the best layout for visibility.  The basic principle of any tile installation is to layout full tiles in the open areas of a wall or floor, and hide cut tiles in less visible areas.  Use chalk lines to create visual references to keep you layout parallel and level.

Start by doing a dry-fit layout of the tiles, before beginning installation.  You can judge the overall affect, make changes, measure tiles to be cut to fit and identify missing materials before you have cemented the tiles in place.  If you are working on a floor, place your first tile in the center of the middle of the most open area of the floor. Next, layout the rest of the tiles on the floor. 

If you are working on a backsplash or bathtub enclosure, put your first tile in the center of each wall section along the top edge of the countertop or bathtub.  The tiles will then be centered on the wall and cut tiles will be hidden in the corners.

Tools you will need: a level, chalk line, ruler, tile spacers, tile, cement trowel, grout trowel, tile cement, tile grout, a sponge and a bucket.

Kitchen renovations or upgrades are among the best ways to increase the value of your house.  Whether you intend a minor or major remodelling project, good planning is the key to success.  This article will help you formulate a sound plan and avoid some of the more common pitfalls of kitchen remodelling.

Your first task is to create a list of objectives for your renovation.  Ask yourself some questions.  Are the cupboards broken?  Is there enough storage room?  Does the layout make it easy to prepare meals?  What about the appliances?  Are they the correct size, in the correct location?  Are you looking to add an appliance, such as a dishwasher?  Do you want to add eating space in your kitchen?

Your objectives list tells you how extensive your project will be.  Replacing cupboards and making big changes to layout are major projects.  Updating the color, the handles, the flooring and the backsplash can each be done in a weekend.

Budget may play a part in your final choices.  You may want a major renovation, but only have the budget for a facelift.  A great deal can be done to improve a kitchen without a major renovation.  Upgrading the countertop, adding a backsplash, replacing dated hardware and changing the color of the walls can go a long way to adding new life to a tired kitchen.
Kitchen renovations or upgrades are among the best ways to increase the value of your house.  Whether you intend a minor or major remodelling project, good planning is the key to success.  This article will help you formulate a sound plan and avoid some of the more common pitfalls of kitchen remodelling.

With a sound plan, good preparation and a little imagination, your kitchen project can be a success.

XYZ Home Improvements specializes in assisting with consumer home repairs and renovations. Established in 1997, we have worked on everything from landscaping, painting, and kitchen facelifts to managing new construction and major additions to homes.