2022 has been a year of incredible makeovers here at Today’s Homeowner. Here are our favorite before-and-after transformations from the past year.
This front porch now invites you to pull up a chair and enjoy the view. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
5. Front Porch Makeover
Mike and Leigh Ann have a beautiful piece of property that they share with their horses. But they felt like the front of their house lacked the visual appeal that the land it sits on deserved.
The walkway to it was incomplete and unattractive, while the front porch was a sea of dingy paint, stuck on the front of a white house. There was nothing to draw you in or make you feel welcome.
But now, the front porch is freshly painted, and even though we only added a little gray to the mix, there’s enough contrast to give the space some personality.
The rotten wood and peeling paint are gone, and so is the poorly poured sidewalk. In its place is a symmetrically arranged walkway of 12 stepping stones — made from Quikrete’s Walkmaker molds — that create a graceful transition to the porch steps.
The porch now invites you to pull up a chair and enjoy the view.
Large-format pavers make the patio seem larger than it actually is and the new fire pit is the ideal spot for entertaining. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
4. Two Patios are Better Than One
Jerry and Shay have a beautiful backyard with great shade trees and a lush lawn. But their old fire pit had seen better days and the existing patio offered few opportunities to enjoy the outdoor space. It was too small for entertaining and the monotone color palette lacked any real interest.
Now, the whole backyard has come alive with the addition of a big new patio that complements the shape of the trees while it enjoys its shade.
Large-format Pavestone pavers make the patio seem larger than it actually is and the new fire pit is the ideal spot for entertaining.
There are two large steps that create a graceful transition to the old patio, which has been revived with a new shade of stain and a bold color on the doors.
That same color on the storage shed plus some simple landscaping has transformed this yard into a spot you just can’t wait to enjoy.
Chelsea and Brandon’s bathroom is 65 years old. At that age, there’s some baggage — like the pink tub and the lack of ventilation.
The vanity was newer than that, but it really didn’t fit the style of the room and it lacked character.
But now, the bathroom is overflowing with character and grandmillennial style. The wraparound wallpaper not only creates the jewelry box feel that Chelsea was after; it also makes the pink tub look intentional.
The vent fan makes the space more functional, and the larger vanity makes it easier to use. Plus, its black finish complements the room style, and the new Fluidmaster bidet toilet seat elevates the whole room to a spa-like experience.
This bedroom has a clear purpose, which is to make guests feel right at home. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
2. Guest Bedroom Update
Corey and Grace’s extra bedroom was just that — it lacked any real identity. The hardware and paint color lifted by the previous homeowners didn’t make the welcoming statement they wanted for their guests.
But now, the guest bedroom has a clear purpose and that’s to make visitors feel right at home. The board and batten accent wall draws you into the space and the custom trim around the windows tells you they were intentional about making this room nice for you.
The floating shelves and nightstand are functional for short-term guests without taking up as much space as larger pieces of furniture. And the warm wood tones complement the cool green accent wall, just as the gold wall sconces do.
This breezeway has taken on the feel of a courtyard in a fancy hotel. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
1. A More Inviting Entrance
Delane’s breezeway is the main entrance to her home, but before, it had a very tired and haphazard feel to it. The random collection of different slabs on the floor left visitors with questions about what the space was supposed to be.
The sad empty planting bed made the house feel a lot older than it actually was. And the chain link fence made it feel more like a cage than a relaxing space.
But now, the whole space has taken on the feel of a courtyard in a fancy hotel. The consistency of the stencil floor ties everything together from the wrought iron gates to the lush green planting beds.
The door adds a pop of color while the fountain adds a cool visual element and a peaceful soundtrack for the space.
The simple curtain rod and the curtains frame the backyard and somehow make it all feel like a resort.
In this special Christmas episode, we’re playing back some of our favorite segments from the past year, as well as sharing some of our holiday traditions and memories.
How to Stack Firewood for Optimal Seasoning — Most people place firewood in one row, all the way across, and they work their way up with the same pattern. Now, there’s nothing particularly wrong with that method.
But if you want to know how to stack firewood so it’s as ready as it’s going to be for burning in your fireplace, then you’ll need to learn some new tricks.
You should stack the wood in alternating courses — that is, in opposite directions, row by row — and you continue that pattern. This way, there’s much more space for the air to circulate.
The spacious 6.3 cubic foot oven can hold whatever you throw at it, from a 20-pound turkey to dozens of holiday cookies.
The air sous vide mode evenly cooks vacuum-sealed meals to tender and juicy perfection using precise, low oven temperatures and airflow — perfect for food delivered through the mail or pre-portioned during meal prep!
Craving a little crunch? Make your favorite crispy snacks — like french fries, hot wings and more — minus the extra calories in air fry mode.
And for the gas cooktop, there’s a cast iron griddle and wok grate included.
Backlit knobs easily tell you when each burner is on or off with just a glance. (The Home Depot)
Functional Design
The LG InstaView Window lets you check on food instantly with two quick knocks.
The tilted controls are easy-to-use, plus the knobs are backlit with white LED lights so you can quickly tell when each burner is on or off with just a glance.
Clean-up is easy too. Just spray the interior with water, press the EasyClean button and let the oven do the work. No need for chemicals or high heat.
Plus, LG’s printproof fingerprint and smudge-resistant finish easily wipes clean with a soft, dry cloth.
LG ThinQ’s Scan-to-Cook feature takes the guesswork out of frozen food meal prep. (The Home Depot)
Smart Features
Use the ThinQ app to start the oven, set timers, or check on dinner from anywhere. Simply speak to control your oven with Alexa and the Google Assistant.
The app also features LG ThinQ Scan-to-Cook Technology. Simply scan the barcode from select frozen foods from the ThinQ app, and the cooking instructions are automatically programmed.
Stay on top of maintenance with smart alerts delivered right to your smartphone. These alerts help you understand your appliance needs, avoid any potential problems, and keep your LG appliances running at their best for years on end.
Tap into these smart oven Wi-Fi features through the LG ThinQ app. You can download it for Android phones from the Google Play Store and for iPhones from the App Store.
Lubricating your garage door and cleaning windows are easy chores to tackle during downtime when you’re home for the holidays. (knowlesgallery, Getty Images/Manuel-F-O, Getty Images)
In this special Ask Danny podcast, Danny talks about some simple home maintenance tasks to do during the downtime of the holidays.
Lubricating your garage door is a great way to help it run smoothly and reduce noise. (knowlesgallery, Getty Images)
Lubricate Door Hinges
An easy chore to tackle while you’re home for the holidays is silencing squeaky doors.
With just a few simple steps, you can easily lubricate your door hinges and keep them running smoothly!
To lubricate door hinges, you’ll need some lubricant like WD-40. Use graphite lubricant on exterior hinges, like fence gates.
Start by opening the door and spraying the lubricant onto the hinges. Next, close the door and use a clean rag to wipe away any excess lubricant. Finally, open and close the door a couple of times to make sure the hinges are properly lubricated.
Don’t forget about your garage door! Lubricating a garage door with lithium grease is a great way to help it run smoothly and reduce noise.
To start, you’ll want to make sure the garage door is completely clean and free of dust and debris.
Once the garage door is clean, you can apply a thin layer of lithium grease to any metal-on-metal contact points on the door.
Make sure to avoid any plastic or rubber parts, as the lithium grease could damage them.
After you’ve applied the grease, you can test the door to make sure it’s working properly.
Gutter downspouts should carry water at least 10 feet away from the home. (ziggy1, Getty Images Pro)
Direct Drainage Away from Your Home
Proper home drainage is incredibly important for keeping your home safe and preventing damage to the structure.
Poorly drained homes can suffer from issues such as foundation damage, cracked walls, and mold or mildew growth. Additionally, poor drainage can lead to flooding, which can be both costly and dangerous.
Depending on your situation, there are a few options you could consider for directing drainage away from your home.
If you have rain gutters installed, simply direct the downspouts away from your home.
Another option is installing a French drain, which is a gravel-filled trench with a pipe that diverts water away from the area.
You could also install a sump pump, which pumps the water away from the area.
If you’re looking for a more natural solution, you could consider planting vegetation that can absorb water and direct it away from your home.
A great way to get started on organizing your garage is to divide the space into sections and designate a purpose for each. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Organize Your Garage
Organizing your garage can save you time and energy in the long run, so it’s worth making the effort to do it when you’re home for the holidays.
It can help you to find items more quickly, as you’ll know exactly where everything is located. It can also free up more space for storage, making it easier to store items that need to be kept out of the way.
Furthermore, it can help to protect valuables from the elements and make your garage look more presentable.
Cleaning windows with microfiber cloths is a great way to get a streak-free shine. (Manuel-F-O, Getty Images)
Clean Windows and Doors
Cleaning house windows is a relatively straightforward task that can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your home. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Start by using a soft cloth to wipe away any dirt and dust that has accumulated on the windows.
Once the windows are free of dust, use a mild cleaning solution (diluted dish soap, a store-bought cleaner or a combination of white vinegar and water) to clean the glass. Don’t forget to clean the tracks too!
Use a squeegee or a soft cloth to wipe the windows clean. Start from the top and work your way down in overlapping strokes.
For extra sparkle, finish by wiping the windows with a cloth dampened with distilled white vinegar.
Draining some of the water out of your hot water heater annually removes sediment that settles in the bottom of the tank. (C5Media, Getty Images Pro)
Drain Water Heater
Draining your water heater can make your water heater more efficient and extend its life by draining the tank and flushing away sediment at least once a year.
A perfect time to do it is after all your guests have left your home for after the holidays.
Here’s all you have to do.
For electric heaters, turn off the power at the breaker box. For gas units, turn the fuel control to the off setting.
Next, turn off the cold water inlet valve, and attach a garden hose to the outlet valve at the bottom of the tank. When you open the outlet valve, be careful; it is hot water, after all.
To get the water flowing, you also have to flip the pressure relief valve near the top of the tank to break the vacuum inside.
Once the hot water drains, open the cold water valve to flush out the tank, and then simply reverse the process to restore normal operation.
The Ryobi Cordless Electric Snow Blower combines the convenience of cordless with a powerful brushless motor to deliver instant power at the push of a button. (Ryobi)
If dealing with snow is part of regular chores this time of year, you know the hassles of shoveling or starting a snow blower on cold mornings. That’s what makes the Ryobi Cordless Electric Snow Blower such a convenient option.
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It features a powerful brushless motor that delivers instant power at the push of a button to clear driveways and sidewalks up to 10 inches deep in an 18-inch-wide path. All this without the hassle or maintenance of gas!
The adjustable 180-degree directional chute lets you control where snow is thrown up to 25 feet away.
And its LED lightbar increases visibility, so you can clear snow at any time of day.
Cordless Convenience
With its cordless design, you can quickly clear snow from large areas without worrying about cords getting in the way.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless tools deliver superior run time and performance to give you provide from gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
Plus, its 40V 6 Ah battery and 40-Volt Charger are compatible with more than 75 other Ryobi 40-Volt products.
Other Features
When the job is done, the folding steel tube handles allow you to store it away in the garage conveniently, for increased durability and storage in tight places.
Plus, it also comes with a 5-year limited tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty for peace of mind.
Winter storms have you worried about power outages? I’m chatting with Rick True, president of Batchelor’s Service in Mobile, Ala., an expert in whole-house generator installation.
A whole-house generator can keep your home comfortable in the event of a power outage. (Lex20, Getty Images Pro)
When did you get introduced to installing whole-house generators?
Rick: Back in the ‘80s, a buddy of mine who had a heating and air conditioning company in Birmingham, Ala., suggested to me selling generators. He said with the hurricanes we have in Mobile, Ala., it will be a great deal.
He started selling generators because of the ice storms they have up there. Their power problems up there happen during the winter, and for us down here it’s during hurricane season.
He sent a Generac salesman to me. At the time, Generac was the only company making home standby generators, and that’s how we got started.
Aging infrastructure is leading to more and more power outages across the United States. (Guillermo Munt, Getty Images)
Infrastructure in the U.S. is aging. So, there’s a lot of opportunity for growth in the whole-house generator industry, right?
Rick: Yeah, there really is. Here’s something I learned from a manufacturer this past year when there was a real shortage of them — there’s a big demand for generators in California because of power phaseouts.
Out there, utility companies are shutting people’s power off for a couple of hours a day, so people are buying them so they can have continuous power.
Make sure your generator can provide power to your home’s essential appliances, like the refrigerator and water heater. (AndreyPapov, Getty Images Pro/JulNichols, Getty Images Signature)
How do you determine what size generator a home needs?
Rick: Now, all the manufacturers have an app or a calculator on their website where a homeowner can enter the square footage of their home, how many air conditioners they have, what type of dryer they have, all those kinds of questions.
The big thing is the number of 240-volt appliances you have in your home. That’s the real driver of the size requirement for a generator. Now with so many houses having LED lights, you can light a big house with not much kw of a generator. But when you start trying to run air conditioners, electric ovens and dryers, that’s when you start running up into bigger sizes.
The key things a homeowner should consider are electrical appliances that power on by themselves, like air conditioners and water heaters. If you don’t have those covered, it could trip the breaker on the generator, and then you’re out of power.
Installing a whole-house generator can bring numerous benefits to your home, such as providing backup power to ensure your home isn’t left without electricity during a power outage. (JodiJacobson, Getty Images Signature)
A lot of people think you can only get a standby generator in a new-construction home. Do you do a lot of retrofits?
Rick: Probably 95 percent of our whole-house generator installation is on existing homes.
Before installing a whole-house generator in a home, our technicians must first assess a home’s electrical situation.
A lot of times, the electrical service needs to be upgraded before we can install the transfer switch. The transfer switch needs to go between the meter and the main panel for the house so it will transfer properly.
Rick: Most of our customers have a maintenance plan we provide for them. We change the oil, check the batteries and stuff like that. Just like you get your car tuned up a couple of times a year, that’s what we kinda do with a generator.
A liquid-cooled standby generator, the big ones that are 25 kw and above, are basically car engines. The air-cooled, the smaller ones, are like a riding lawn mower engine. They all need maintenance.
Some of our customers like to change the oil in their generators, but most people don’t feel comfortable doing that.
What’s some advice you would give to a homeowner whose looking to buy a standby generator?
Rick: The brand you pick matters, but it’s no better than who’s going to be installing it for you.
Research who will install it for you and make sure they have a licensed electrician to do their electrical work, and a licensed plumber to do the gas work. Find out the company has technicians that are certified by whatever manufacturer you choose.
