ArcaMax

Dear James: I have a beautiful cedar closet, but the scent has waned over the years. How can I refresh the scent? And do you have tips for building a new cedar closet? -- Bridget M.

Dear Bridget: A cedar closet not only smells wonderful, but it is also very effective as an insect repellant. The oils from the wood, even when you no longer think ...Read more

Dear James: We have a six-panel wood front door. To get more natural light and to jazz it up, we want to add a stained glass pane. Do you have tips for this project? -- Matt C.

Dear Matt: Installing a stained glass panel in your front door will allow some natural light through, but not as much as clear decorative glass. Stained glass definitely...Read more

Dear James: We had some water leakage wall damage. I need to repaint it, but I don't have the original paint can. What is the best way to get a good color match on the repair? -- Emma G.

Dear Emma: Getting a perfect match with an old painted wall is a tedious job that takes patience, so make sure you are not in a big hurry. Go into this job ...Read more

Dear James: I'm older now, and I find it difficult to hear the doorbell ring over other family sounds. Is it easy to add another chime at the other end of the house? -- David R.

Dear David: Installing a second doorbell chime is an easy project you should be able handle yourself. Even with a loud standard doorbell, it can still be difficult to ...Read more

Dear James: It's been just two years and the wallpaper I installed is separating and bubbling in many spots. When I remove it and install new wallpaper, how can I make sure this does not happen again? -- Randy P.

Dear Randy: Wallpapering is not as simple as many think, and there is a learning curve to doing it properly. Hopefully your second ...Read more

Dear James: I want to spruce up my house with an impressive new floor for the front door foyer. With three children, it needs to be durable. What is a good type of flooring to consider? -- Nancy F.

Dear Nancy: Durable, stain-resistant slate is an excellent choice for an impressive appearance. It is an excellent flooring material for any foyer ...Read more

Dear James: We have a moderate-size kitchen, but it still seems crowded at times. When we remodel it, how can we use the "kitchen triangle" conception to improve convenience? -- Missy T.

Dear Missy: The family's epicenter in most homes is the kitchen. Even with a large kitchen, there can be many times when you find your kitchen to be too ...Read more

Dear James: My kitchen cabinets are original and solid, but I want something different, hopefully on a budget. Is it possible to just paint old cabinets instead of replacing the fronts? -- Ryan M.

Dear Ryan: Any older kitchen could probably use a little updating and a new, modern color is an excellent, budget-minded way to start. Painting the ...Read more

Dear James: I have to replace my old, tarnished brass kitchen faucet. What are the basic steps to installing one, and are there any new types of brass faucets that won't tarnish? -- Karen F.

Dear Karen: There is a brass fixture finishing technology that protects the brass so it will not tarnish. The brass body of the fixture is coated with a ...Read more

Dear James: My parents' older house had plaster walls, but most builders now use drywall. I'm making a room addition. Which interior wall material is best to use? -- Melanie N.

Dear Melanie: From the standpoint of function and appearance, plaster is clearly the better interior wall surface material. Lucky for you, real plaster walls are making ...Read more

Dear James: I want to try building a backyard deck myself, but I have no idea what the best materials are or even where to start. Do you have any general design and construction tips? -- Susan R.

Dear Susan: In addition to being enjoyable to use, a new deck will likely add more value to your house than the cost of the materials. This also is a ...Read more

Dear James: I want to reduce the noise from my children's playroom. I'm thinking of installing acoustical tiles. Are there attractive ones and can I install them myself? -- Lance A.

Dear Lance: Most people are familiar with acoustical tiles from school classrooms and commercial applications. There are some attractive ones available for homes. ...Read more

Dear James: The grout in our master bathroom shower stall is looking pretty bad and some pieces are crumbling. Do I have to remove some tiles, or can I just fix the bad spots and regrout? -- Angie M.

Dear Angie: In most cases, you probably won't have to remove any tiles. As long as they are still in good condition and only the grout is falling ...Read more