Magazine

In This Issue

• November/
  December 2012 Issue No. 164

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  • Editor Spotlight

    
    Scott Omelianuk, Editor of This Old House magazine, began his long relationship with home improvement at age 15, when he started working after school as a carpenter's gopher. After years of jobsite toil and practical jokes—including being s
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    More Editor Bios:

    • Alexandra Bandon
    • Amy Hughes
    • Mark Powers

• Cozy, Colorful Makeovers

  idea file

  before + after: kitchen

  A new layout and period touches bring efficiency and style to a once clunky cook space
  

  • Find 22 of our editors’ favorite kitchens
  

  get this look for less

  Festive farmhouse dining room

  budget redo

  Custom cosmetic touches make a plain bath special

  Photoshop redo

  A front porch and old-house touches boost a Neocolonial’s curb appeal

  fit for a family

  An innovative redo transforms a dark 1830s farmhouse into a modern family’s perfect place

  built-ins that make entertaining easier

  Twelve home-enhancing ideas designed to work hard so that you don’t have to

  read this before you insulate your attic

  Get the know-how you need to stay comfy and save dough
  

  • On fixing air leaks using the old smoke trick
  

  • Fix leaks and save on cooling costs
  

  • Pinpoint the R-value zone you live in
  

  • Do you need a vapor barrier? And which way should it face? Check the map
  

  TOH tv

  TOH tv: upgrades that slash energy costs

  Cash savings and comfort are the goals in the latest project house’s efficiency makeover

  upgrades

  the TOH top 100

  All the coolest new products to make your home smarter and more stylish

  
  

  home solutions

  home solutions

  Make a Christmas tree from salvaged molding; 10 uses for wine bottles; give a plain table a style boost with nailheads; protect outdoor decorations; keep surfaces safe from holiday spills; and more
  

  • Find more smart uses for leftovers
  

  • Learn to make tea lights from wine bottles
  

  how-to projects

  paint ideas

  Six ways a colorful ceiling can transform your rooms

  salvage style

  Dress up your entry with a coat rack you can make from a reclaimed wood column
  

  • Watch a video of this DIY coat-tree project
  

  weekend remodel

  A pro shows how to turn prefinished planks into a classic herringbone parquet floor
  

  • Watch a video of this project
  

  ask this old house

  Q + A

  Get the right recip-saw blade for the job; to prevent rafters from cracking, don’t keep layering new roofing over old; make sure fireplace smoke goes up the chimney, not into your house; and more

  step-by-step

  Patch plaster

  Norm's tricks of the trade

  By joining two cabinets, you can hang them safely as one
  

  in every issue

  letter from This Old House

  A homeowner's work is never done
  

  • Email the Editor
  

  digital

  Easy upgrades for a handsome holiday home
  

  • Spruce up your fireplace
  

  • Paint before guests arrive
  

  • Pick the perfect Christmas tree
  

  • Featured video: How to Install a Dishwasher
  

  reader mail

  • Email This Old House
  

  checklist

  Easy ways to improve your home right now

  save this old house

  An Italianate cottage in Wilson, N.C., for a buck
  

  • Got a house to save? Tell us about it