This week, hear our advice for preventing slips on ice and space heater safety tips. (victorass88/-aniaostudio-, Getty Images)
Hour 1
Listen to hear our space heater safety tips, advice for preventing slips on ice, how to fill in a gravel pothole, and more.
Space Heater Safety Tips
Never leave a space heater running unattended or while you’re asleep. (-aniaostudio-, Getty Images)
As the cold weather starts to intensify, many homeowners are looking for ways to supplement their heating systems. A space heater may be a good way to do that, but you have to make safety a priority anytime you use one of these things.
First of all, a space heater should be set up on a flat, level surface that isn’t within three feet of bedding, drapes, or other flammable materials. Also, never plug a space heater into an extension cord.
It should have a thermostat, so you don’t run the risk of overheating a room, and a “tip switch” to turn the unit off if it accidentally gets turned over.
Finally, don’t let children or pets play around the heater. And never leave it running when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Preventing Slippery Ice
Slippery ice on wooden steps poses a real hazard to homeowners. (victorass88, Getty Images)
Ice that forms on walkways, driveways, and decks following a winter storm poses a real hazard to homeowners and passersby, causing slips and falls.
Before the next big freeze comes, do this to prevent slippery ice outside your home.
Apply an ice pretreatment to surfaces up to 48 hours before it snows. Sodium chloride (salt), magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate and potassium acetate are the chemicals used to prevent and remove snow and ice. Once applied to the surface, these chemicals prevent the ice and snow from sticking, so you can easily wipe it off.
Lay down abrasive tape on steps. This adds an extra layer of grip once the snow is melted. Simply dry the surface well and stick the tape to the edges of the steps to create more traction.
Reinforce handrails. Not only do you need to have handrails along steps, but you also need to make sure they are sturdy enough to hold the weight of a person in case of a slip.
Filling Potholes in a Gravel Driveway
You don’t have to buy extra gravel to fill potholes. (Sandra Sapp, Getty Images)
Joyce in Alabama has a gravel driveway with several potholes.
She asks, “Is there a product that I can use to fill in those holes?”
As far as potholes on a gravel driveway, you can rake the gravel back to fill in the holes, but over time it will compact down and create a new indention.
You can mix up some concrete and fill in the holes, so there’s a hard surface for the gravel to rest upon. However, this could create the opposite problem in the future. Erosion could lead to the concrete spot protruding from the gravel driveway.
A third option is to use Pavestone Paver Base. This will build up the foundation under the gravel driveway and also match the surrounding dirt texture. Simply tamp down the crushed stone and concrete mixture, then cover with gravel.
Hour 2
Listen to hear some fall front porch decorating tips, what’s causing dust to be blown through a furnace, and more.
Fall Front Porch Decor
This festive sunflower and pinecone wreath adds interest to your fall porch décor and extends an inviting welcome to your guests. (The Home Depot)
With the change of the seasons upon us, it is officially time for sweaters, pumpkin-flavored everything and, of course, updating your fall decorating ideas for both the inside and outside of your home.
Your front porch is the first spot your guests will see, so make sure it’s ready for fall with these easy fall DIY ideas from The Home Depot.
Create a warm, inviting space by incorporating browns and shades of green, yellow and red to bring together your harvest-inspired fall look.
Door decorations are statement accessories. They add interest to your fall porch décor and extend an inviting welcome to your guests. This festive sunflower and pinecone wreath that is set on a rich brown twig base is a great stylish accent for a wall, window or front door. If you’d prefer to create your own wreath that lasts throughout the seasons, purchase one with a neutral base. Burlap, moss, vine and plain fabric wreaths are all good choices. Then, all you have to do is add decorative accents to reflect each season. Dried or faux flowers and leaves look nice in the fall. You can also add decorative wood monogram letters for a personal touch.
Welcome fall into your home with a visually appealing doormat that not only keeps dirt from being traipsed into your home but also can function as a nice welcome to your home for all your guests. This pumpkin-inspired one is perfect for welcoming the new autumn season!
Outdoor lighting takes fall porch decor to a whole new dimension and is an important consideration you don’t want to miss. If you have the space, string porch lights around the perimeter of your porch or zigzag them between columns. These LED Hampton Bay Edison-style bulbs are the perfect accent to any patio deck, or pergola, as well.
Furnace Blowing Dust
If dust is blowing from your furnace vents even after you’ve changed the air filter, call an HVAC technician ASAP. (BanksPhotos, Getty Images Signature)
Martin in Missouri has an ongoing problem with his furnace blowing dust throughout the house.
“I have changed the filter and put plastic down in the crawl space. But dust is still being sucked into the furnace and then blown through the vents and in the home. What do you suggest I do next?” he asks.
This sounds like there’s a breach in the return air that’s pulling dust into the return air plenum before it passes through the filter.
Call an HVAC technician immediately, because the furnace unit will not last long operating like that.
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Simple Solutions
Sanding the caulk tube tip inside the wood joint alters the angle to fit perfectly in the joint. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
How to Apply Caulk Like a Pro — Applying caulk to a 90-degree joint can be challenging because it’s easy to squeeze out too much caulk, which is wasteful and creates a mess to clean up. Here’s how to produce perfect caulk beads:
Snip off the tip of the caulking tube to a 45-degree angle, as you normally would.
Fold a piece of 120-grit sandpaper in half and crease it very tightly. Then, place it into the corner of the 90-degree joint that you’re about to caulk; be sure the abrasive surface is facing out.
Rub the tip of the caulking tube back and forth right against the sandpaper. Sanding the tip alters the angle, so that it’s not just cut at 45 degrees, but it’s also beveled back at 90 degrees to fit perfectly into the joint.
Now, just draw the caulk with steady, even pressure all the way across the joint and you’ll get a nice neat bead with no wasted caulk.
Add a touch of texture and rustic flair to any area with a DIY wood wreath.
This one is a unique take on a traditional wreath using wood cross sections from a small tree (or wood rounds).
Wood rounds are sold at most craft stores, but you can also cut your own if you’ve just trimmed some large tree branches or chopped down a small tree.
This versatile wood wreath can be changed throughout the seasons. Add some holly and red and green ribbon for Christmas. Wrap a pastel-colored ribbon and faux Easter eggs when spring rolls around.
The possibilities for customization are as endless as your imagination!
This wreath isn’t just a door decoration. It’s an eye-catching piece for above a fireplace as well. You can even create multiples for a DIY wedding or baby shower decor.
Assembly takes just a few minutes, and it’s a great way to accent a rustic or farmhouse style. Plus, you can show off your crafty skills to the neighbors too.
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Feel free to get creative and glue another row of rounds to make the wreath thicker. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
1. Glue Wood Rounds to Floral Wreath
Begin by gluing the wood rounds edge-to-edge around the perimeter of a pre-made wood floral wreath frame using Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue. Feel free to get creative and glue another row of rounds to make the wreath thicker.
Paint trends come and go, but some shades are timeless for any accent wall.
Chelsea Lipford Wolf has tackled countless home projects as co-host of “Today’s Homeowner.” She also renovated herfirst home and is quickly updating her mid-century ranch-style house.
She’s spanned the paint-color spectrum over the years, but she keeps coming back to these three tried-and-true hues.
1. Not Quite Black
Cracked Pepper is a go-to neutral that pairs perfectly with almost any color. This dark option from Behr is just a shade off from black.
“I’ve used Cracked Pepper from Behr on several projects. It looks good in natural light and artificial (fluorescent) light too!” Chelsea says.
It’s perfect for when you need a dark color for an accent wall but don’t want a harsh black.
For instance, Cracked Pepper makes a wall bookshelf and TV center (pictured above) stand out in a bright sunroom we transformed for homeowners Chuck and Margy.
Cracked Pepper also works well outside. In this backyard makeover episode, we gave the shed a major update with just a coat of the versatile peppery color.
2. Finding Your Zen
Zen, also from Behr, is a neutral bluish-green color reminiscent of seafoam. This natural hue creates a calming atmosphere in any room.
Zen looks great in work and home environments. Chelsea uses this shade in her office at Today’s Homeowner and as an accent on the wall trim and ceiling grid in her living room.
In fact, she likes this color family so much, she used Zen’s “Irish sister” Recycled Glass on her bathroom vanity. It’s slightly more green and one shade lighter on the color swatch.
3. Forest Feels
Seeking something in sage? Chelsea likes to use Eucalyptus Wreath from Behr. This shade is just green enough to give you a forest feel without being too intense.
Chelsea used Eucalyptus Wreath for an accent wall in her first home’s master bedroom. A bathroom addition left the room with only one window, so painting one wall gave the room a pop of color and complemented the natural lighting.
When we gave homeowner Barbara a cozy den makeover, we used Eucaplytus Wreath for an accent wall in the dining area. It enhanced the room’s design and complemented natural lighting streaming in from a large window.
MOBILE, Ala., Jan. 17, 2022 — In 2017, legendary actress and comedian Betty White gave a tour of her beloved house in Carmel, California.
The 3,600-square-foot property — which White briefly shared with her husband, game show host Allen Ludden — had two bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, according to Realtor.com.
The couple purchased the home in 1978 for $170,000, but now it’s now reportedly worth $2 million, according to the real estate authority’s website.
Watch KineticTV’s house tour above, and read along for how to live large on an average homeowner’s budget. (The following photos aren’t from White’s home; they’re examples of how average homes can enjoy high-end style.)
During the house tour, Betty White opens her door to reveal her “crib” and we see an open layout bathed in sunlight streaming inside from large windows.
Those windows make a spacious home feel even larger when the curtains are open, revealing a patio view. So do hardwood floors that reflect the sunlight, along with a space-saving built-in oven in the kitchen.
You don’t need to be a celebrity to achieve such a warm, inviting look. Just open the curtains during the day and regularly maintain your wood floors to keep them clean and shiny.
And if a built-in oven’s not in your budget, just tidy up the kitchen and declutter to keep spaces clean and clear, and ensure the décor is intentional.
Fill rooms with houseplants to help enhance a room’s design and clean the air. (DepositPhotos)
2. House Plants Soften a Room’s Hard Features
During Betty White’s house tour, the camera passes through a sitting room and we see various house plants on end tables, in corners, and on the mantel.
Growing houseplants adds living décor to any room — green leaves soften the room’s appearance and contrast well with hard features like drywall and wood trim.
Placing houseplants throughout your home is also the easiest way to start gardening, even if you don’t think you have a green thumb.
And there’s a bonus benefit for adding some green: certain tropical houseplants can remove and process harmful chemicals from your home’s indoor air.
While White passes through her kitchen, we see oversized rooster figurines flanking a bowl of flowers and an oversized yellow pitcher on the countertops.
These strategically placed items look great for a reason: they add height, dimension and texture, not to mention a pop of color amid mostly earth tones.
Oversized pendant lights have been trending for years, and you can add oversized décor for instant impact.
In the case of the roosters and flowers, note that if you have two identical or similar items, you can balance them out with a third object.
Design your kitchen with simplicity and strategy in mind so it looks intentional.
These are our favorite takeaways from Betty White’s house tour. What are yours? Let us know in the comments!
Adding an arch gives your fireplace character and enhances its visual interest.
Are you looking to finish a fireplace arch with glass, pottery shards or other materials, and need some tips to do the job right?
Or are you building a small patio and don’t know the best materials to use? How about making a birdhouse? It’s a popular project, but do you know the next steps to take?
Listen to the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show where we cover these topics and many more such as:
The best way to clean an old concrete birdbath
Which adhesive to use when installing tile on the sides of kitchen countertops
What to do when dealing with an unresponsive contractor
How to fix visible cut-ins from a botched paint job
