Tropic Vanity by American Standard

The vanity we selected for our bathroom renovation is from the Tropic Collection by American Standard. It’s a beautiful traditional style vanity with “Asian flair”. American Standard has been in the business of making quality bathroom and kitchen products for over 130 years. They set themselves apart from the competition with high performance toilets, LEED certified water efficient... 

Behr Deck Stain & Sealer Review Follow-up @ 7 Months & 2 Years

Two Summers ago, we wrote a review of Behr Premium Weatherproofing Sealer. The general sentiment of our initial review was positive. The color wasn’t exactly what we had hoped for (it was too orange), but if the sealer held up over time, we’d be OK with the results. When we were considering different deck sealers, Behr’s product was advertised as guaranteed for four years on decks,... 

LG Dishwasher Review (Performance, Features, Quality, Reliability…)

Three years ago we purchased the predecessor to this LG Dishwasher from Home Depot. (The marketing picture of the dishwasher we actually purchased is shown on the right). We bought it because the salesman at Home Depot convinced us that this dishwasher was one of the top performers, especially in terms of quiet operation, which is an important feature to us. This Cadillac of dishwashers included an... 

TOSCA 5-Minute Faucet Review

Our last giveaway featured the TOSCA Faucet. We promised you a review, and now we are back with the bottom line. TOSCA’s claim to fame is their 5-Minute Kitchen faucet (official site). Imagine a faucet that only takes a few tools and 5 minutes of your time to install. This faucet comes with stainless steel supply lines already installed and a patented base so that you can work above the sink.... 

Review: Martha Stewart Living vs. Glidden Paint: Price, Quality, More…

We’ve been raving about Ralph Lauren Paint since we first used it to paint our then-tan dining room mocha brown about 3 years ago. It did that job in just one coat, with one gallon of paint, and we were impressed. We’ve since repainted that room (as part of our first floor remodel in December), and again used Ralph Lauren. Jocie also ran a comparo between Ralph Lauren,Valspar, Duron, and... 

Spray Foam Contractor in Maryland Review: Hottel Energy Solutions

Back in October, we told you that we had selected closed cell spray foam to insulate our basement. We chose closed cell spray foam for it’s high R-value, moisture resistance, and ability to completely seal crevices, creating a full vapor barrier. After deciding on spray foam, we set out to find a local foam contractor who would give us a good price on the job and who we could work with to video... 

Dremel Multi-Max Review

The Dremel Multi-Max (official site) is a departure from the typical rotary tools that Dremel is known for. This oscillating tool is designed to tackle a wide variety of projects like cutting wood, metal, and drywall, sanding, scraping and even grout removal. It’s a handy tool for the professional and DIYer. Dremel Multi-Max Oscillating Tool Review The good: This really is a multi-function tool... 

Baby Gate Comparison (Summer Brand)

About 5 months ago, we installed a couple Summer brand baby gates. Jocie purchased them from Babies-R-Us and I thought a comparison would be really useful. Despite both being from the same manufacturer, each gate is very different and both have their pros and cons. Even if you don’t purchase one of these gates, this post will cover a few details you should consider. Sure&Secure Extra Tall... 

Delta Faucet Review | “ToucH2O” Automatic Touch-on Technology

Every now and then a truly innovative technology comes along and makes life better. You know… like the remote control, or the dishwasher, or stain-resistant carpet. Delta Faucet is hoping their latest ToucH20 technology (official site) improves your kitchen faucet experience. But does it really work? Will hand washing be changed forever? Maybe so. Read on to learn more about the technology and... 

Porter Cable 18v Hammer Drill Review

I’ve been very pleased with my 14.4v cordless drill for several years now. But recently, I’ve come across a few jobs where it’s just not up to the task. Enter my new Porter Cable 18v hammer drill! I had no idea what I was missing until I started using this tool. In 1906, Porter Cable began creating quality tools and products for the work of journeymen and professional craftsmen. Delta...