In the media
The Spring weather is here, and some of the most avoidable repairs on our homes are the ones we overlook. So in this segment I go over the most common small problems that turn into disasters if left unseen.
Spring is finally here and in this segment I am showcasing how to make the most of your garage space as we struggle to find room to store all our winter gear.
In this interview Susan Hay put the hypothetical situation of what you can do for $20K when it comes to a home renovation. Check out the top choices we selected and why.
In this segment Chris offers some great tips to repair drywall dents, fix loose hinges, cover up marker or wood knots and how to easily mount anything to your wall.
The long weekend is upon us and in this segment I show you how something small can become a huge problem if overlooked. I share my ultimate home checklist for you to get your home summer ready this long weekend.
What a great makeover! Taking a garage from crammed and cluttered to being a professional working and living space! I teamed up with Michael Penny and brought in help from Mark Rason to handle this big project, as we transformed this space into Mandy's dream garage.
If you're in need of a great way to maximize space in your closet, and add some serious organization, check out this segment as I show you how to create a simple closet system that will do all of this for you. It's easy, budget friendly and can be customized to any closet.
If you ever found yourself wondering when certain home items need replacing, watch this segment. I expose the most overlooked items in your home that require regular maintenance and replacement. I'll be showing you how and when to replace them.
I had the pleasure of teaming up with designer Julia Black, to come in and rescue a mom's dilapidated closet. We used an Ikea closet system and night tables, along with a Structube bed frame. I installed some sweet new closet doors, all the trim and of course we painted out the whole room in a beautiful blue tone.
I'm happy to introduce my new column in the Toronto Sun - Sweat vs. Spend
Be sure to read it monthly as I go over my top tips and helpful DIY instructions to give you more knowledge on how to tackle the projects around your home.
Also, I'll be filling you in on when to hire the pros, and when you should put your best efforts forth to cut costs down on your renovations.
A little fun for Spring! Challenge yourself to build this DIY stacking planter that doubles as a stool, or even a possible night light if you want some ambiance for your patio party.
In this segment I had a great time showing viewers 3 great ways to maximize space and utilize storage in the kitchen. I showcased 2 fun DIY projects and a great corner cabinet organization system from Lee Valley Tools.
Here's a great simple night table you can make on your own with some fun additional hardware pieces you can find in your kids toy chest. I found all my materials at The Home Depot, for under $100.
The best part of this build, is the fun hardware you can make so your kids will really enjoy their new table.
In this segment I share some great cost effective solutions to tidying up your home after the holidays. I show off how functional a simple wood crate can be and how you can customize it or build your own to suit your space.
In this segment you'll get to see a great LED light system I picked up from Lee Valley Tools. It let's virtually anyone install under mount lights in their kitchen, or even to the patio area as they come in a waterproof format.
Metro News interviewed me for my take on the best ways to extend your patio season. Take a read and see if you can use some of these tips to help enjoy our cooler nights.
If you ever wanted to add a little bit of "wow" to your kitchen without breaking the bank, the best way to do this is by simply adding a backsplash.
In this segment I'll get into the basics of what you'll need to add a beautiful backsplash to your kitchen, and without going to multiple locations for supplies.
Toronto Star wrote an article about all the upcycle projects from the Toronto Fall Home Show, that raised money for The Habitat for Humanity. I was very pleased to have my old teacher's desk included in this article. I took an old desk and transformed it into a kitchen island.
Buzz Buzz Videos and I teamed up to share my tips for extending your patio season.
The Fall Home Show is on and in this segment you can see my upcycle project that is raising money for Habitat for Humanity, as well as a small part of my presentation for adding personality to your outdoor spaces.
There's still time to go camping before the summer's over. If you're an avid camper or even a day trip camper, these devices and gadgets are essential for making your trips more enjoyable and can save you time when battling the elements, cooking and even starting the camp fires. You'll find all the items shown at Lee Valley Tools.
Summer is in full swing and we all have been spending time outside on the patio. Question is, will your patio be worthy of the party? If you're in need of a new deck or just need to refinish the surface. This segment will show you all the things you need to have a clean, good looking deck worthy of hosting great summer parties.
In this article you will find the step by step of how I designed and built a woven gate.
I had the pleasure of working alongside Canadian Woodworking Magazine to create this project.
Now, I'm enjoying the gate everytime I walk into my backyard! Hopefully you find the time to try building your own woven gate.
It's getting really hot outside, and I've found the greatest solution to helping you create more shade in your backyard. Some really simple builds, and some really cool finds all from Lee Valley Tools.
It was a special day on set, I was showcasing a sweet DIY cooler stand to build for Dad, and some of the latest releases of tools from Ryobi available at Home Depot this summer. The reason this day was special, was my little apprentice was able to join me on set, watch this segment and see how my little guy did.
If you have a techy, gadget loving dad, then this segment is for you. I've packed some sweet items from Lee Valley Tools and Victorinox, along with another fun small DIY project to complete with your dad this father's day.
I'm showcasing some great new tools from Ryobi that will make a great addition to dad's collection to help him complete that long list of to-do's. I also show off a fun DIY project to add to your patio during the summer season.
I had the pleasure of teaming up with The Toronto Sun to write an article about growing your own vegetable garden. In this day and age, we have to become more self sufficient and I'm a huge fan of being able to grow your own vegetables, fruit and other food sources.
In this segment I've showcased some great BBQ essentials from The Home Depot to help kick start the May 24 long weekend off.
Mother's Day is around the corner, and this segment I show you some fun creative ideas that you can make for your mom this year.
I had the privelege to get an article printed in the "EAST" magazine that is catered to readers east of Toronto, focusing on Durham Region and York Region. If you don't receive that magazine click the link in my page to the pdf.
In this segment I'm showing you just how easy it is to add some personality to your backyard through decking, and small DIY projects.
If you plan on doing a lot of yard work and manual labour this spring, try some of these great finds from Lee Valley Tools. Sure to make any one of your many tasks easier and faster!
In this segment I give a quick summary of tips on how to add value to your home through the simple upgrade of baseboards and how to cut them like the pros.
If you wish you had a simpler solution to hanging shelves, or pictures then watch this segment as I showcase some great specialty hardware I found at Lee Valley Tools.
If you're looking to flip, update or completely renovate your bathroom/ powder room, watch this segment as I hilight some great finds for a fraction of the price you'd expect to pay. If you're wondering where I found these great items, they are all available at the Home Depot.
If you find yourself short on space, or living in a messy home, watch this segment as I show you some great ideas to help organize all areas of your home. From the garage to the kitchen, I've found all these great storage solutions at Home Depot.
If you're in need of a kitchen update, or were thinking of replacing your kitchen, watch this segment as I give you easy step by step instructions to give your kitchen cabinets a face lift. All the hardware used in this segment was purchased from Lee Valley Tools.
If you were having trouble deciding what to buy that handy person in your life, I showcase this years top tool picks for the DIY'er, contractor and trades person.
Having a tough time picking the right gifts this year? Try these one of a kind items I found at Lee Valley Tools. This store has it all, from cabinet hardware, to miniature steam boats. The selection of quality made items is great for all ages!
A fun segment showcasing an easy DIY "countdown to christmas" sign. I'll have this posted under my "How-to's" for more detailed steps.
Holidays are upon us and it's time to get those decorations up! In this segment I share tips you can use to help make your home look good and stay safe over the holidays. All the products in this segment are available for purchase from Home Depot.
In this segment, we have fun carving some pumpkins with "Grampa Bardeen's Pumpkin Carving Set" and I share why we should take part in the "Teal Pumpkin Project".
I sat down with Denise Marek and talked about why Fall is a great time of year to wrap up those summer projects and prepare for Spring. I also had some fun giving Denise the opportunity to build a raisied planter box.
In this segment you'll see some great fire safety tips, how technology has made changing fire alarms in our home easier and how Roxul insulatoin can add minutes to your life in case of a fire.
Great tips for fall clean up, and a fun DIY addition to any raised planter that can take your growing season year round. Watch as I show you some of the best tools to help your fall clean up go smoothly.
A fun and playful segment challenging hosts Liza Fromer and Jeff MacArthur in furniture assembly. The dreaded task that happens to many of us, this time without the instructions.
If you find yourself in a new subdivision or perhaps you're living downtown, chances are you'll have smaller patio space. In this segment I show you how to make that small space feel BIG!
A special segment today as I introduce the my newborn son to the world, and of course I show you some great tips on organizing power cords, removing deck mildew and a great treatment for your outdoor cushions.
In this segment I give you some great DIY tips to up the ROI of your home.
(ROI is an acronym for "Return On Investment")
As you'll see in this video, I share ideas to add curb appeal and simple solutions to make a multifunctional flower box, that can also store your outdoor supplies.
Fast foward to the 36 minute marker.
HOSS Magazine Cottage Issue
June 15, 2015
HOSS Magazine is a great read for anyone looking for anything to do with the home. It will provide the latest tips and tricks, along with trends for what's on the way. In this issue you'll find my article on how to build your own shed, to maximize your storage.
In this episode of Open House Overhaul Sam Pynn brings us into a house that is in need of some HUGE renovations. I'm responsible for the entire basement den, taking on the out of date brick fireplace. You won't believe the transformation.
June 12, 2015
Great gift ideas for your DIY Dad or the professional contractor this Father's Day.
I had a great opportunity to work on Income Property. This episode I was able to help Scott McGillivray and Melissa Davis bring this condo from drab to fab. I provided all the wood work shown, such as the Island, shelves, and cladding on the fireplace.
Spring is in the air, and in this segment I give you a showcase on great finds from the Home Depot to create the Man Cave Backyard.
November 13, 2014
Here's a fun segment to give you some inspiration to revitalize or just refinish some of the furniture around your home. Products used were Minwax paint and varnish remover, Krylon spray paint, Minwax Wood Sheen (rub on stain) and top coated with a Minwax Polyurethane (fast drying).
EAST Magazine Article
September 22, 2014
Here's a great article that slipped through, as I just found it today, and funny enough it was the July-August issue of the magazine. The issue is showcasing a project you'll see in my portfolio, the large fireplace mantel. It discusses how we have taken our once small family rooms and are now transforming them into "great rooms" with the ever trending open concept. Click the link below and read pages 28-29.
HOSS Magazine DIY Birch Tree Coat Rack Article
September 16, 2014
Grab the latest copy of the new edgy home reno magazaine "HOSS" and you'll catch my birch tree coat rack in the DIY 2 page article. Follow the step by step instructions and see how yours turns out. While your at it, check out the other great articles on some of your favourite TV personalities.
Available at most magazine retailers or online with the link below.
In this segment Leigh-Ann and myself show Tracy the basics to refinishing wood, and how to upcyle an old window.
Here's a link to an article published based on my twist of the Muskoka Chair, and how I turn it into the "UrbanMuskoka Chair", giving it new life in the city.
