Hamilton Building Services

New year, new you! Leave the stresses of 2018 behind and bring more peace into your life in this new year, and here are some ways to do it.

If you forgot to include a wine cellar in your building plans, don't worry you can still have your dream wine cellar and as an added bonus, you can do it in one weekend. Find out how to make your own wine cellar here .

Spiff up every space in your home. Here are 30 quick do-it-yourself updates to get you started. https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/remodeling/budget-remodels/weekend-home-projects/

With little time and little money, you can add lots of charm all around the house. Here are 19 do-it-yourself projects to consider. https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/remodeling/budget-remodels/easy-ways-to-add-character/

There are tons of different types of dog/cat houses you can build yourself with inexpensive materials. Take a look at this crafty crate idea for a dog or cat house. This DIY pallet project is not only great for your furbabies, but it is also a functional coffee table or entertainment space. Keep in mind that  paint, stencils, and other decorative techniques can spruce up this simplified, rustic version.                             Image via www.pinterest.com                               Sources www.pinterest.com www.1001pallets.com

Like a lot of other DIY home projects, you can utilize old pallets to make your own recycling center. With your own, new-and-improved recycling center you will be more motivated to recycle, and you will be saving the earth! You'll need 4 pallets Table saw Hammer Nails Hinges  Tape measure   First, decide how big the inserts (the actual bin) will be in order to determine how big the entire structure will be. After you either make or buy the inserts that will hold your recyclables, you'll need to make the outside shell. The outer shell is relatively easy to put together, as it's basically a big, rectangular box. The lid is the tricky part. Watch a tutorial on how to install the "door" part of the structure with hinges if you are not confident in this step. Put your inserts inside the box, and line them with a plastic bag. Lastly, check out Pinterest to see some creative ways to decorate your new home recycling center!   Image via www.dumpad...

Save up this summer by making some of these small, easy home improvements. Each project puts a little more change in your pocket to spend on something you deserve! Image via www.thisoldhouse.com Seal up any open crawl spaces where extra air can escape from your home. This will improve your heating and cooling costs year-round, keep unwanted moisture out, and it will also keep out any critters you are not expecting.       There are several different types of insulation you can use depending on what you want to insulate. Some of the types of insulation include: fiberglass (blanket or loose-fill), mineral wool (rock or slag), cellulose (recycled paper product), plastic fiber, natural fiber (cotton, hemp, straw, wool), polystyrene (plastic), polyisocyanurate (plastic), polyurethane (foam), and vermiculite and perlite. Image via energy.gov Insulate! Insulation is not only important for doors and windows. There are several other places to keep in mind when p...

This summer, give your kids the ultimate movie night by making your own DIY outdoor movie theater in your backyard! Keep it up, or take it down, either way you can't go wrong with this awesome idea! https://www.hgtv.com/design

Antiques can be a creative addition to your home, and there several different themes antiques can go with when it comes to choosing your home decor. Use these helpful hints to learn how to incorporate antiques into your home's interior design. Image via www.createinspireme.blogspot.com Blend styles It takes some practice, but antiques tend to look best when they are in company of other antiques. Find pieces that compliment each other's style. The pieces may be very different, and that contrast may be what makes it work so great! Use contrasts Contrasting antiques is a strong home decor technique. Mixing and matching darks with lights, print with solid, and sharp with smooth will make your antiquing a success. Vintage inspired home decor Along with your antiques should come other home decor that is vintage inspired. Vintage inspired means that the decor is not actually vintage, but instead appears to follow trends from years passed. For ins...

Allergies can be a terrible battle to fight, and it's always the worst when you have to continuously fight them right in your own home. If you have seasonal or year-round allergies, consider taking heed of some of these hacks that will wipe those suckers out!  Image via www.pcdblog.com #1 Change Air Filters If you want your air filters to do their job, you must also do yours. Swap out your old filters on your heating and cooling systems with new, clean air filters. This step alone can make a big impact if you don't do this often enough. #2 Deal With Drapes If you're a fan of long, flowy drapes, great. But, keep in mind that they tend to pack on dust and pollen, so either wash them regularly or switch to blinds that can be sprayed and wiped down. #3 Kill Dust Mites Dust mites are disgusting and unfortunately, no matter how clean you are, they absolutely exist. Everyone has them; however, if you make it a habit to kill them off and rid them regularly,...

Many of the household cleaning products that most of us use on a daily basis contain chemicals that are harmful to us, our pets, and even can be too harsh for what you are cleaning. In addition, such products can also be expensive, and after a while they can add up. Consider making some of your own green cleaning products. You'll see awesome results, help your health, and save money. All-purpose cleaner 1/2 c vinegar Image via www.11magnolialane.com 1 1/2 c water 10 drops Tea Tree oil Glass Cleaner 1/4 c vinegar 1/4 c rubbing alcohol 2 c water 1 TBSP corn starch Dusting Spray 1 c water 1/4 c vinegar 2 TBSP olive oil 10 drops essential oil (lemon is common) Scouring Cleanser 1/4 c baking soda 1 TBSP dish soap vinegar to form paste Grout Cleaner 1/2 baking soda 1/3 c lemon juice 1/4 c vinegar 7 c water * let soak for 10 minutes Sources blog.purelivingspace.com www.passionforsavings.com

With warmer weather quickly approaching, a DIY fire pit is a great, affordable addition that you can make to your yard. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to build your own fire pit for $60! Click here to read the full article. All images via www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com Sources www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com www.pinterest.com

If you get a jump on your dirty work first, putting the finishing touches on your landscaping will be a breeze once full-on summer weather arrives. Follow these helpful tips and tricks to prep your landscaping for the new season. Image via www.houzz.com Get rid of all the dead - Before you get to work putting new additions to your lawn, get rid of the "trash" in your yard. This includes, but is not limited to, pinecones, dead leaves or grass, litter, plants that didn't make it through the winter, etc. Prepare your planting beds - If you did your work before winter hit, this job will be much easier on you. Till up and sift through the existing soil in your beds and add in compost to get the soil mineral rich before you plant your summer goodies. Refurbish lawn furniture and ornaments - Dig out your lawn chairs and give them a scrub down as well as a new coat of paint or sealer. Wash the fabric of seat cushions, polish any lighting fixtures, etc. Source...

There's a new look, and it looks like it's here to stay a while - the Industrial look! Whether it's antique or you just made it look antique, the industrial look is on its way in. Check out some modern home decor to liven up your home! Industrial Lead Piping Lead piping is definitely at the top of the "Industrial Home Decor" list. Shelving, towel bars, paper towel holders, tables, you name it, it can probably be made with industrial piping. Image via www.HGTV.com DIY Wood Wall This really is a great DIY project if you've never done one before. It's just like laying a floor, but instead, it's on your wall. The pieces snap together easily, and your finished product gives your home a rustic, industrial look everyone will love. Image via www.feedpuzzle.com Industrial Lighting This is a big one. There's tons of lighting options to choose from, and tons of ways to set the light up to function properly. Often, you...

Mirrors come in all different shapes and sizes, making them a perfect home decor item for nearly any style. They're also a budget-friendly home decor option for those who may be looking for inexpensive ways to improve the overall look of their living space. Take a peek below to see some neat ways you can incorporate the use of mirrors into your home's decor. Image via www.thechrisellefactor.com Image via www.homedit.com Image via www.hhomedecoration.com Sources www.pinterest.com

If you're making efforts to improve your home's appearance, but you're on a tight budget, today's post is for you . This DIY home project is so easy anyone could do it, and all you need is spray paint and some tape! Additionally, this home project makes a BIG difference for such a small cost. Image via www.buzzfeed.com Sources www.pinterest.com www.buzzfeed.com

When things wear out, we tend to throw them out. It's good to get into the practice of reusing and recycling when possible. One common item we tend to throw out is old furniture that just doesn't seem worth reviving. But, if you have an old coffee table, dining table, or dresser, this neat idea may spark you interest, and give you a "new" addition to your home. You'll need: A base coast paint  Paint for your print (spray paint works well) Your cloth pattern of choice (old lace, crocheted fabric, and doilies work nicely) Tape *Materials will differ from project to project, but generally tape, paint, and a pattern are the basic materials     Image via www.topdreamer.com     Image via www.hometalk.com Sources www.pinterest.com

If you've ever noticed the exquisite architecture that older, antique furniture has, you know how beautiful it truly can be. Unfortunately, a lot of antique pieces have a great silhouette, but really lack in color concepts and print. For instance, it's pretty common to see Victorian furniture have tons of detail and craftsmanship, and then the fabric ends up being ugly and just too much. Heavy floral patterns are typical.  Luckily, we've found a way to incorporate the architecture and wash out the heavy, over-bearing prints associated with such furniture. You'll need White latex paint (satin, eggshell) Textile or fabric bottles of paint Bristle paint brush  Small tipped paint brush for details Mixing container and stirrer  Spray bottle of water 100 grit sandpaper Your piece of furniture Image via www.inmyownstyle.com Directions  Mix the two paints together in your container Spray to lightly dampen fabric before working Appl...

A few weeks back, we shared a post with you on how you can use spray paint to revive old, gold, shiny floor vents, or chipped vents. Today, we would like to share with you that we've found that the same method works on door handles, too! Make sure you put a covering of some sort around what you're spray painting, and also ensure that you use the correct spray paint, but otherwise, this is a super easy and cheap home improvement tip! Image via www.recollectionsofadieharddecorator.wordpresss.com Sources www. recollectionsofadieharddecorator.wordpresss.com