This Old House

This Old House gives you the inspiration, information and instruction you need to take on home improvement projects of all sizes and succeed. In every issue, find fresh design ideas for every room, creative DIY solutions, step-by-step projects, and tips from the pros.

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A haven in uncertain times

Folding multitool • Emphasizing one-handed use, this new Leatherman stuffs 21 tools into its 4¼-inch-long, stainless-steel handles.

Pulley-style drying rack • A favored utilitarian piece in the Victorian era, English-style “clothes airers” are rising in popularity again. Order an off-the-shelf model, or do as these homeowners did and build one yourself.

What the Freon ban means

Perk up faded pavers • Introduced in the 1990s, older concrete pavers may be showing their age. Here are some remedies short of replacement.

Problem-solving groundcovers • These low-growing, gregarious plants turn barren ground into a carpet of green, shading the soil, reducing evaporation, halting erosion, and discouraging weeds. If you’re looking for alternatives to the usual fallbacks—English ivy, pachysandra, and periwinkle—TOH’s Jenn Nawada offers these out-of-the-ordinary options.

Which grout when • Choosing a grout for your tile project can be intimidating—the choices only seem to multiply. But all grout formulas fall into just two basic categories: traditional cement-based ones or newer resin-based types. Use this guide to help you decide which type is the best for your project, your budget, and your skills.

A new spin on cleaning

Don’t forget the door! • Portals become all the more transportive in eye-catching color—especially when it’s expertly applied

Sleek and smart • A room-swap and expansion allow for a hardworking island and for rustic-modern cabinetry that provides a place to store every last thing

Home insurance checkup • Are you paying too much or missing out on important coverage? Five ways to know

WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S BEST • Shower some love on your home’s most-frequented spaces with these finds from the annual kitchen and bath industry show. We’ve gathered genius gear guaranteed to improve day-to-day life, whether you fancy a hardworking faucet or crave a cool new fridge

ask This Old House • Tips, tricks, and answers to your home improvement questions

A CAPE WORTH THE WAIT • Determined to get it right, a couple take their time—10-plus years—putting a plan in place to transform their 1970s house into the open, light-filled, character-rich home they always wanted

RENOVATION RECAP

BATH MATH • 100 (SQUARE FEET) ✕ 4 (CASE STUDIES)

Open Invitation • By swapping spaces, a couple gain a bright, welcoming kitchen all set for get-togethers

Redo Your Shower • It’s where we start—and often end—the day. The shower has come a long way since it was hemmed in by tub walls and draped in a clammy curtain. Here’s how to turn the site of your daily drenchings into a destination where style and function happily meet

Two ways to waterproof • In both of these TOH-approved methods, a shower’s walls and floor are covered with waterproof materials before the tile goes down.

Doors: Pick Your Look • Frameless glass is widely available today, but style choices still abound. Just don’t forget to hang a squeegee—clear glass is subject to water spotting.

Going curbless

4 Things About Fittings • While a showerhead can...