oak-trimmed laminate kitchens that for some inexplicable reason were so popular in the 1980s. When I finally bit the bullet and decided to re-do the kitchen, I wanted to create something that was appropriate to the house and found my inspiration in a 1959 ad for a Hotpoint kitchen. It was both practical (tiled walls) and handsome, with a great punch of color from a tiled accent wall containing the turquoise (!) wall oven. While I ultimately decided a wall oven wouldn't work for me, and I went for the durability of stainless (the salt in the air is tough on things here at the beach), I think I've ended up the with a kitchen that honors the inspiration, and my home's history.

polyurethane. It was easy to do (albeit time consuming) and is very durable. This room is 10 X 12 and cost about $80, but future rooms will cost about $30 since I have plenty of leftover supplies. Click through to read the tutorial....http://www.domesticimperfection.com/2013/03/paper-bag-floors-a-tutorial/

contractor, that no, it really is not. While many people make a choice to simply ignore lead paint warnings, there could always be consequences to that decision. For instance, a friend did a large DIY reno a few years back, knocking walls down in an older home. As a direct result, his children have elevated blood lead levels.

When exposed to lead dust, children can develop behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing problems, and aggressive patterns of behavior. Stopping a child's exposure to lead from leaded paint, house dust, or any other source is the best way to prevent the harmful effects of lead. There are risks to adults as well.

Recently, the EPA put in place a rule that states anyone who is performing painting, renovation, or repairs in homes built pre-1978 must be certified to perform such work in a lead safe manner. If you hire anyone to work in your pre-1978 home, consider asking them for credentials to ensure that they will take the safety of you and your family into account. Likewise, anyone performing DIY projects is advised, but not required to, test for the presence of lead and take appropriate precautions for safety.

For more of this article: http://on.fb.me/X66qiK

EPA "Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home" pamphlet : http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadpdfe.pdf

but doesn't go above it - see photos). The set closest to the refrigerator is tilting about two inches away from the wall at the top. It looks like some particle/composite 2 by 4 is bending (no screws or nails are pulling out of the wall - just looks like the composite wood isn't strong enough - or the cabinet wasn't attached properly to the wall at the end). Without rehanging the cabinets, was wondering if any experts had a DIY/easier fix to secure this set of cabinets.