When smart-home technologies first emerged, their purpose was largely for convenience, and operating the devices was often clunky. Today, smart devices seamlessly integrate into connected home systems to make living more efficient, improve home security and even offer advantages for your health. If you’re considering upgrades to your home, smart technology is a savvy way […]
craftsmanship
Posted inHome
Beauty and the Beach
“Life is Short. Buy the Beach House,” says the sign in the kitchen. It’s a motto this family took to heart. Dan and Shannon* and their three daughters first discovered the joys of life by the water in Indianola, but the beach was rocky and Dan’s commute to the Bainbridge Island ferry was long. So […]
Posted inAt Home
Porcelain Tile vs. Ceramic: How to Choose without Jeopardizing Style
When installing tile, there’s the eternal question: Should you go for porcelain or ceramic tile? The answer will ultimately depend on your budget and what your list of pros and cons looks like. And let’s not forget the important question of style — certain materials and designs look better than others, depending on your choices. […]
Posted inHome
Transform Your Home — Take it From the Top
The roof often goes without notice, greatly underappreciated for its contribution to protecting your house and family. Roofs only account for roughly 5 percent of the building cost of a home but protect the other 95 percent of your investment from the sun, rain, wind and other forces that can damage your home and belongings. […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Brad Stave — Artist in Wood
Brad Stave was perhaps born to be a woodworker. First off, there’s his name, “stave,” which means a vertical wooden plank that’s attached side-by-side to similar planks to make a barrel, bucket or other container. Then there’s the fact that he received his first toolbox when he was just 5 years old. He scrounged wood […]
Posted inHome
A Catwalk Project Fit for a Builder and His Cat
Lynn and Jim McIntyre’s garden is a bird sanctuary. Cedar waxwings visit each year to feed on red elderberry fruit. Nuthatches hop along the trunks of trees looking for insects. Pileated woodpeckers tear apart rotting wood in search of a meal, and sapsuckers riddle the ghostly birch trees with rows of sap-filled holes. Chattery flocks […]
Posted inHome
The Bungalow is Back
Walk into Wayne and Anne Blair’s Poulsbo bungalow and it could be 1918 rather than 2018. True to the aesthetic of the Arts and Crafts era, their home features a river-rock fireplace with a mantel shelf made of old-growth maple; stone countertops and tile backsplashes; wood doors and trim throughout; three-over-one window sashes that frame […]
Posted inAt Home
Seven Projects You Can Do with Leftover Tile
Have you recently renovated your kitchen walls or tiled your shower or your bathroom floor? If you did, then you must have a lot of leftover tiles. Don’t throw them in the trash — you can put them to good use. Here are some great ideas for things you can do with leftover tile. Tile […]
Posted inAround West Sound
Fiber-Arts Show Showcases Local Artists and Craftsmen
If you enjoy fiber arts and locally made crafts, plan to visit the Longbranch Improvement Club on the Key Peninsula on Oct. 6. This The unique, historic clubhouse located about 30 miles south of Gig Harbor will once again host the annual Fiber Arts Show. The popular event is part of the annual Key Peninsula […]