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My nickname years ago was Handy Hank. As a carpenter, I had tools and skills to be helpful. Here are some tips to help you be handy at home.

• Cordless drills with the right bit let you use 2” screws to hang pictures and mount chargers or shelf units. Buy drywall screws which have sharp points and don’t need pre-drilling for screwing into drywall or wood.
  • Pro Tip: Scrape a bar of soap or a candle across the screw threads before screwing them into wood, to reduce resistance and effort.
• Cordless saws of every style are very convenient. I recommend purchasing tools that can share identical batteries. I like DeWalt, Porter Cable, Ryobi, and I look for light weight rather than heavy duty for handyman projects.
• Cordless lawn care tools are so much better than stinky gas versions. String trimmers, hedge trimmers and mowers, all without the extension cord hassle, are must-haves.
• My EGO (brand) blower and mower use the same battery and charger. No more cord, gas can, oil, or fumes with these.
  • Less Stinky, Less Noisy: The EGO blower is perfect for last minute cleanup before guests arrive…no lingering fumes in the front yard (or on you).

• Get an electric pressure washer. The best option appears to be Sun Joe SPX3000 (Greenworx, under $200) with great reviews, available on Amazon. It does have a cord but has no smell and is quieter than gas models.

I wash lawn furniture, trash cans, deck and driveway stains, kayaks, muddy tools, (not the pets). My tip is to pre-spray appropriate items with bleach + water (50% max for bleach) before pressure washing, rather than filling the various reservoirs with Clorox.

These handy tools help you enjoy home ownership. Email me with your suggestions for future columns and with any questions you may have.

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A clever way to create the illusion of more space is to widen openings between rooms. In this remodel, widening the opening between the dining room/living room and the breakfast room/kitchen resulted in more light, improved the traffic pattern, and enlarged the view. Now, all the rooms feel more generous and accommodate family and friend gatherings more comfortably.

Wood Wise helped these homeowners find a way to create a first floor primary suite without adding on to their home. By combining the dining room and an adjoining small guest suite, plenty of room was found to create a nice size bedroom, generous bathroom, and large closet. A wet area with a soaking tub and large shower is curb-less for easy access.

Quartz and granite are the popular choice of countertop material for most kitchen islands. But an interesting option that some homeowners choose is wood. Along with character and warmth, wood provides contrast and interest.

These two kitchens are good examples of the unique look of a wood countertop. Both islands feature furniture-style detailing, creating an inviting place to eat. One kitchen uses a lower-level island extension for comfortable seating with regular height chairs.

A family typically deals with lots of laundry each week. Much time is spent in the laundry room sorting and putting clothes in the washing machine to transferring to the dryer and folding the finished product. We believe a nice laundry room makes this necessary part of life more enjoyable.

Wood Wise offers homeowners design options that improve this essential space. From moving the downstairs laundry to a more convenient location on the second floor, creating a whole new dedicated laundry space, or updating the existing space with a better arrangement and new cabinets, we address functionality as well as aesthetics. It’s a big win for those responsible for keeping the family looking good.

A bathroom has a lot of things going on in a relatively small space. A smooth remodel requires careful planning.

Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker makes detailed drawings for every inch of the room to clearly communicate with the project manager and subcontractors the desires of the homeowners. In this example, the tile installer counts on the tile drawings for direction to get the job done right.

The results? Good design + top craftsmanship = a beautiful project.

This project is close to the finish line! Significant interior plan changes such as extending the kitchen out into the existing breakfast/sunroom, getting rid of the awkward angled island, increasing more easily accessed storage, and removing the wall to the family room add up to a refreshing and much improved home. Stay tuned for the finished product photos soon!

Things are ramping up here at Wood Wise as we get ready for next weekend’s Spring Kitchen & Bath Tour. Our tour home has a well-designed kitchen that is as convenient as it is spacious. Plenty of countertop workspace and loads of cabinets are just some of the special features. We hope you drop by to meet us and see this beauty.

Here’s a sneak peek at just one of the clever storage spaces:

The existing outdoor living areas of this home were not appealing and mostly unused. While working with the homeowners for a new master suite addition, Wood Wise updated the porch by improving the floor support system, configuring new exterior steps/entry, vaulting the ceiling, adding powder coated metal railings, new posts and doors, better lighting, and more. A new deck area was designed and built, including a more private sitting area that is tucked in between the porch and new master suite addition.

Designing a beautiful and functional kitchen island requires experience and a working knowledge of materials and possibilities. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker, with over 17 years of experience, brings both to her designs. She works closely with our homeowners to determine personal preferences while offering creative solutions. Islands can be a contrasting color to the perimeter cabinets, have bar or table height seating, end panel bookcases or panels, furniture detailing, include a sink – or not, and much more. Here are some examples of the many islands Wood Wise has designed and built.