KnowRemodeling

The archive

Every guide, one shelf.

Interior refinishes, exterior maintenance, and the tips we wish someone had told us first. Browse by where the work happens.

A partially built wooden mudroom bench with shoe cubbies and a beadboard panel with coat hooks
InteriorMudrooms & Laundries10 min read

Build a Mudroom Bench With Hooks and Cubbies

A weekend build for a mudroom drop zone: a sturdy plywood bench with shoe cubbies, a beadboard hook wall, and a shelf — anchored to studs and sized to real coats.
Large paint swatches in warm white, sage, and navy taped to hallway walls with sample pots and a color fan deck
InteriorColor Selection & Palettes8 min read

Build a Whole-Home Paint Palette That Flows Room to Room

A step-by-step guide to choosing a cohesive whole-house palette: the 60-30-10 rule, matching undertones, testing big swatches, and mapping colors by sightline.
A sturdy plywood workbench along a garage wall with pegboard tools, bright shop lights, and lumber storage above
ExteriorGarage Conversions11 min read

Convert a Garage Bay Into a Real Working Workshop

A step-by-step guide to turning one garage bay into a workshop: layout zones, workbench height, lighting, dust control, and honest talk about power.
Six-panel oak door on sawhorses, half transformed to dark walnut with gel stain, gloved hand wiping stain with a rag
InteriorStains, Glazes & Specialty Finishes9 min read

Gel-Stain Honey Oak Doors and Trim Without Stripping

A step-by-step guide to darkening dated doors and trim with gel stain over the existing finish: degreasing, scuff sanding, wipe technique, and topcoat.
A cozy built-in window bench reading nook with a cushion, low bookshelves, and soft daylight
InteriorNurseries & Kids' Rooms10 min read

Build a Built-In Reading Nook Kids Never Outgrow

A step-by-step guide to building a kids' reading nook: a plywood bench box anchored to studs, a cushion top, book rails, and safe lighting.
Wide masonry brush applying cloudy limewash strokes to an interior wall in soft natural light
InteriorStains, Glazes & Specialty Finishes8 min read

Limewash a Wall: Old-World Finish, Modern Method

A step-by-step guide to limewashing interior walls: mineral primer, cross-hatch brush technique, and controlling the cloudy patina before it dries.
A golden retriever inspects an arched plywood pet nook being built into the space under a staircase
InteriorPet Spaces9 min read

Build a Built-In Pet Nook That Retires the Crate

A step-by-step guide to building a built-in dog nook under the stairs or in a cabinet bay, sized for the animal, with ventilation and easy-clean finishes.
A pressure-treated wooden entry ramp under construction leading to a house door, framing and decking visible
InteriorRamps & Stairlifts12 min read

Build a Sturdy Entry Ramp With the Right Slope

A step-by-step guide to building a wheelchair-ready entry ramp: 1:12 slope math, footings and posts, joist framing, grippy decking, and code-height handrails.
A worker in gloves blowing loose-fill insulation across attic joist bays, a wooden depth ruler standing in the fill
ExteriorExterior Insulation11 min read

Top Up Attic Insulation to R-49 the Right Way

A step-by-step guide to topping up attic insulation: air-seal first, install baffles, choose blown-in over batts, and verify depth with rulers every ten feet.
Raised tiled dog-wash station with gray tile walls, curb, handheld sprayer, and tiling tools on a mudroom floor
InteriorPet Spaces12 min read

Build a Mudroom Dog-Wash Station With a Tiled Curb

A step-by-step guide to building a raised, tiled dog-wash station in a mudroom: blocking, curbed pan, waterproofing, drain, tile, and a handheld sprayer.