Author Archives: Polly O'Hara

Mondays with Mike…7-11-2022 Edition 22

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Organize for Success

We’ve certainly got a nice closet here to look at today. For starters, I’m a pretty big fan of the gray color scheme. It’s to me, perhaps the most tranquil color to start and end with. I love its passiveness and ability to work with so many other colors. The other standout in the images is how the closet is organized. An organized closet helps you more easily find exactly what you are looking for from a sport coat to your favorite sneakers. Organizing for success saves you time, space and peace of mind knowing you can easily lay your hands on any item you are looking for.

Speaking of organization, look how the combination of both open, hanging and drawer storage works here. The open storage areas allow for the addition of cloth baskets. These make great portable storage or maybe even seasonal storage that could easily be moved elsewhere. And with some side mount slides, you can create custom drawers fit to the exact width of your closet space. And of course, every closet needs closet rods. We have a great selection of styles, lengths and finishes available.

Taking a look at the main center cabinet, I’d be curious if there might be a microwave oven parked behind the two doors? It could perhaps be a convenient addition for the hungry go-getter in a hurry? Think about it, there’s likely a TV and faucet nearby. So it’s not out of the question that this en suite might just be made ‘a bit more complete’ by having a microwave in the mix.

Finally, maybe you want to take the ultimate organizational step and hide the whole closet away! With the additional of barn doors and some large appliance pulls you have created the mac daddy of successful organized closets!

Whether it’s your kitchen, mudroom, garage, or your closet, give www.WoodworkerExpress.com a thought; we can likely help you with whatever it is you need, except for maybe cowboy boots and blue sneakers.

Grey closet with organizers
Photo courtesy of The Closet Factory Los Angeles

Mondays with Mike…June 20th 2022 Edition Twenty One

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Can a library ladder make you a super hero?

I think I’ve mentioned it here before, but I’m not particularly a fan of the recent slew of superhero movies we’ve been presented with as of late. But I can’t help but think of Batman’s alter-ego when I look over this home office/library, however the red ‘Batphone’ appears to be missing. But the library ladder will allow you to “Soar” to the top of the bookcases in super hero fashion! The use of a library ladder system allows you to create high vertical storage that you can reach with ease.

That said, a missing ‘Bat phone’ shouldn’t prevent anyone from enjoying this classy ‘highbrow’ office/den. You’d have to believe that the occupant/owner is well-read…or at least a semi-serious book collector. Were this my place, there’d surely be old records, CDs and operating manuals in place of these ‘proper’ bits of literature and culture. It’s possibly uncommon knowledge that the most intellectual books are generally placed high out of reach….which makes this rolling library ladder a highly sought after item for literary aficionados as well as overall knowledge seekers.

Speaking of which, I’ve read that to become a well-read individual requires…surprisingly, lots of reading. And you can’t be an effective reader without the proper lighting to illuminate it all. And with that, this ceiling’s recessed LED lighting on display here can be carefully selected for your own library (or mad scientist’s lab) based on your lighting needs. You’ll very often hear about folks choosing their lighting color based primarily on how much they want the words to ‘pop’ off of the written page. 

Now, if www.WoodworkerExpress.com only sold rocking chairs…

Library Ladder
Photo courtesy of Houzz and The Closet Factory

Piano Hinges – Good for more than just a piano….

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A piano hinge is a continues hinge of various lengths and widths. It can be brass, zinc, stainless steel and more. Many people also refer to it as a continuous hinge. Although called a piano hinge, it is actually a very versatile hinge that can be used for many purposes.

What is a Piano Hinge?

Also known as a continuous hinge, it consists of two rectangular shaped pieces of metal joined in the middle with what is called a knuckle. A pin is inserted into the knuckle which holds all the pieces together.

Parts of a piano hinge
Piano Hinge Components

Piano hinges are designed to run the whole length of the object they are used on. For example, 12″ objects such as a lid and box would use a 12″ piano hinge to join them.

What Can Piano Hinges Be Used For?

While piano hinges are often used on pianos (makes perfect sense!), they are often found in other applications. Piano hinges can be used in a number of door applications such as sheds. A piano hinge door application will be much stronger as the hinge will run the full length of the door preventing sagging over time.

Shed door installation
Shed door with piano hinge

Piano hinges can also be used in any application needing a fold down door such as a desk or storage box. They can also be used on cabinet doors. Because piano hinges come in many lengths, widths and materials they can also be used in heavy duty applications such as commercial lighting storage cases.

commercial lighting cases with piano hinges
Piano Hinges used on heavy duty commercial lighting cases

What Are The Benefits of Using Piano Hinges?

Piano hinges are easy to install and maintain

Every 6 months or so you can wipe them with mild soap and water to remove any dust that has collected around the bearings. Hinges can also be lubricated as needed with a “dry” lubricant such as graphite, silicon or Teflon.

Hinges can be easily cut to length during installation with a hacksaw. Piano hinges do not require mortising and are easily aligned by inserting enough screws to hold the hinge in position on one side of whatever object you are joining. Then simply align the other object and continue inserting your screws. Piano hinges allow for even weight distribution of the load. Unlike shorter hinges, the weight of the joined objects will not act against the hinge as it runs the entire length.

In short, although piano hinges can be used for pianos, they also have many other uses. The projects are limited only by your imagination. See the entire selection of piano hinges at WoodworkerExpress.com and let us know how we can help you in creating something with these versatile hinges.

Mondays with Mike…June 13th 2022 Edition Twenty

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Add sophistication to a neutral kitchen with mixed finish cabinet hardware.

Today we’ve got a neutral kitchen corner on display with accessories that you can find at: www.WoodworkerExpress.com. This kitchen designer has chosen a great new trend in cabinet hardware, mixed finish knobs and pulls. These contemporary shapes feature a dual finish in this case black nickel. When we’re talking about choosing matching knobs and pulls mixed finish hardware can add that class and sophistication you seek but can’t always easily find. The collection featured here is the Mulino Collection by Amerock.

An already effective blend comes alive even further when you combine this clean looking apron front sink with a “touchless” faucet finished in black nickel. Like any white car owner can tell you, a bright color/aesthetic will leave you no choice but to keep things clean…but that’s not a bad thing, is it? There’s a few things for sale in this photo that you likely can’t even see like finish-specific caulk to seal it all up and keep sloppy faucet users from ruining it for the rest of us. Confession- While doing dishes at home, if I drip/spill/submerge water onto the under sink cabinets, the Mrs. will cringe and ‘remind’ me I’m just about to destroy the cabinets. So…I’m sloppy!

And while we’re at it, notice (or not) the nearly camouflaged floating shelf on the back wall whose function is to support, but not be seen….or whatever that military credo is. Lastly, the cutting board here can’t be overlooked. It’s a great piece to add for decorative charm along with the contrast it provides against the white background…but perhaps even more importantly; the fact that it’s designed to hold cheese.

Apron Front Sinks, Mulino Collection cabinet Hardware, cutting Boards, floating shelves
Photo Courtesy of Amerock Hardware

Mondays with Mike…6-6-2022 Edition Nineteen

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Barn Doors Make an Unexpected Design Element in Your Kitchen.

If ever there was a designer kitchen for me, then this one might be it. But first, a quick upfront reveal for me: My favorite part of this kitchen is easily the pantry’s barn door entry. It’s just not something you see every day and creates a wonderful unexpected design element in any room. Without a doubt, this here is the sweet spot. I don’t know, maybe it’s just the farmer in me, but I love the slide of those barn doors although admittedly I’ve never even been on a farm…except as a youth on an overnight camping trip.

It looks like they took the time to plan this out spectacularly, even down to matching the brands/series of kitchen appliances. Aside from the payment part, picking out new appliances is always a bit of fun. Maybe it’s the fact that if all goes well, you won’t be buying them again for another 20 years or so.

The perfectly aligned knobs from the Amerock Wells Collection here are a real visual treat to take in, especially alongside their complimentarily chosen handles When you live in a world of immense hardware choices, it’s always great to witness the results of a well-thought out pairing.

Additionally, I’m a bit taken here with the nice solid surface island that houses this great Karran sink and faucet combo outfitted with a (unseen) bottom grid to protect against scratches while also helping to ensure a long-lasting luster.

If you (like me) like the things you see here, then know that www.WoodworkerExpress.com is where nearly everything shown here can be found for purchase. We’ve got sinks, faucets, door hardware, knobs, pulls, range hoods, fasteners, accessories, etc. If not just for you, how about a friend, too?

Thanks, and sleep well…

Barn Door Hardware, Wells collection knobs and pulls, stainless steel sinks, pull-down faucets
Photo Courtesy of Amerock Hardware

Mondays with Mike…5-30-2022 Edition Eighteen

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Making the most of a small space with smart design choices.

Let’s direct our attention to this charming tucked-into a cubbyhole powder room. It’s clear to see that the designer has made the most of a small space with smart design choices. Wall bath hardware also helps by using vertical space rather than floor space. I can appreciate this challenge from a design perspective, as the room is small from but by choosing the perfectly shaped sink bowl and faucet into the design they’ve come up with a sure fire winner of a powder room.

To further compliment the work done here, let’s not ignore the fact that they matched the cabinet hardware and bath ware accents so beautifully to the faucet. Believe it or not, that’s a detail that often gets overlooked. Hardware, faucets and sinks are all considered royalty here at www.WoodworkerExpress.com with loads of them currently in-stock and ready for immediate shipment!

So, regarding the aforementioned times and places, as much as I love this powder room, there’s quite a few large revealing windows, and as such, I think the toilet here is perhaps a bit out of place and could(should) be swapped out for a rocking chair. After all, the toilet paper has completely run out and removing the toilet just might make for less awkward interactions with your neighbors and passersby going forward…just please don’t install a glass shower in its place.

Regardless, love your castle, fly your flag and do what it is that you do.

Although small, this powder room is packed with style. The vessel sink and mat
Photo courtesy of Houzz and Homesmith Construction, Inc.

Mondays with Mike…5-23-2022 Edition Seventeen

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A man cave for todays family

This week we’re looking at not a kitchen, but rather a sports-themed party room, ostensibly sometimes referred to as a finished basement or the ULTIMATE man cave. So batten down the hatches, Matey’s while we walk the underground plank during this somehow decidedly pirate-tinged version of ‘Mondays with Mike’.

Really, this is a ‘Family Cave’ if ever there was. Check out the far right ‘table for two’. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this particular table might get ‘waited on’ by staff. It reminds me of one of those cocktail tables where folks (read: couples) who have things they need to get of their chests sit, regardless of the ‘sporting event of the century’ currently being broadcast mere feet away.

If you look closely, you can surely connect the dots to figure out the team-centric theme they chose here. Sports fan or not, this is one rock and roll-ready bar. topped with fabulous red laminate. Just look at those intelligently placed overhead right and left speakers. You might’ve thought you were in a home theater here….look a bit closer towards the TV, you kind of are!

Dimmable LED puck lighting utilized here contributes greatly to setting the mood and is tunable for that subdued or festive lighting hue. Hardware-wise, the 2 varieties of pulls chosen for these cabinets speak of a modern design aesthetic combined with a heavy duty industrial feel, leaving a bit more surface area for those sweet finishes to be seen…and grasped! I’ve said it before, but if you could see behind these cabinet doors and drawers, you’d witness an unbelievable assortment of specialized organizers from Rev-A-Shelf + other top-shelf manufacturers (you see what I did there?). These products are available in endless variations, materials, finishes, etc. at www.WoodworkerExpress.com.

Once again this week, I sincerely appreciate your time and attention, but it’s indeed time to skedaddle…as you well know, those buccaneers give no quarter.

A red themed "Family" man cave designed to appeal to both adults and children
Photo courtesy of Rev-A-Shelf

Mondays with Mike…5-16-2022 Edition Sixteen

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Update your kitchen with farmhouse style.

Another Monday, another fantabulous kitchen to spill stuff on/into/around. Actually I did just that yesterday at a kids birthday party. I filled up my fashionable and pre-chilled ‘all weather’ cup with a bit too much Green River, and during the ice/soda volcanic reaction we’ve all come to know, it runneth o’er onto their nice glass table. They quickly handed me a paper towel to rectify my idiocy, but there was still a massive sugar glaze/haze when I looked down through the table at my socks. ‘Mom’ assured me it was no big deal, she’d just wipe it down with cleaner after we left. I felt like I was six years old again, but I guess, at least I didn’t spill any on the floor. It’s the small victories, right?

I guess I was starting to talk about the awesome kitchen here, so I’ll continue. The white countertops and bright natural light here make me feel like I’m on vacation. I’d expect you could probably read a book here at the counter with no artificial lighting up until probably 9:00pm. Farmhouse style touches include barn door hardware and matching the ceiling support beam wood tones with the floating shelves…AND the stool-like chairs makes this “shrine-esque.” I’ll quickly mention that those floating shelves along with the seemingly unnecessary (at least during the day) LED puck lighting can both be purchased at www.WoodworkerExpress.com. I’ve noticed that the pull-down faucet chosen here comes across as super elegant and bright, and thusly quite decorative in character…but be advised, they are ‘real world’ ready and these are found in our online shop, as well.

Looks like we’ve got a nice double oven on display here, too. My wife always mentions that she’d love to have one, but we don’t really eat/cook enough to justify buying one. It’d certainly qualify as one of those purchases where you use it (maybe) a couple of times a year, but somehow continue to convince yourself you can’t live without it. SMH!

Look…I LOVE this kitchen, but if I’m asking to see inside the horse’s mouth, do the adjacent cabinets perhaps ascend a wee bit higher than the average NBA star’s height? Crikey! That top glass cabinet might require a call to the local fire dept. to bring in a ladder to reach it.

Since your eyes are still looking upward, notice the super discrete range hood. I mentioned in last week’s edition the brilliant range hood being used and here again, we’ve got another fantastic hood, albeit this one blends in so well, we might want to consider it ‘camouflage chic’. Not in the traditional sense, of course, but here it’s just so cleverly discrete. If that term ‘camouflage chic’ somehow takes off in a ‘viral’ kind of way, you heard it here first and I, for sure, want a piece of that action.

OK, I’m off for now, but who reading this thought it odd that I didn’t address the yarn dish they’re serving for lunch? It’s all about the fiber, I suppose.

A modern farmhouse kitchen using wood accents and contemporary hardware
Photo courtesy of Houzz Modern Farmhouse | 2019 Dry Creek Parade

Mondays with Mike…5-9-2022 Edition Fifteen

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Accenting a neutral palette with bronze tones and distressed wood.

So, I’ve been watching quite a few Netflix true crime documentaries as of late and have found it’s a fantastic way to ensure yourself of a worrisome and tense night of sleep. If you’re looking for one of those stiff-neck next mornings, then those series episode are sure to deliver (for additional discomfort, crack bedroom window enough to allow for cold air entry). Speaking of viewable entertainment, who would’ve imagined that we could watch TV whilst also grabbling into the fridge for your lunchtime ale? There’s some pretty cool technology out there…and we love to buy it! So why not accent your technology with oil rubbed bronze hardware and distressed wood.

Fantastic refrigerators with 4K TV’s aside, we’ve got a kitchen for the ages here. There’s no doubt I’m a huge fan of gray tones, but let me be upfront on this: I typically wouldn’t equate oil-rubbed bronze as the finish de rigueur alongside gray paint, but here then I’d be wrong…dead wrong! Besides, these ORB-legged stools are top-shelf and couldn’t look better…Am I right?

I think it was just last week that I was ranting about the amazing distressed wood range hood in the photo. (That image is likely just below this posting) And it appears I’m still up on that range hood cloud, as this design ties the range hood to the floor here like the well matched shoe/belt combo you might find on an experienced crime fighter like Dick Tracy or Superman (when he’s Clark Kent).

This picture is a perfect depiction of perfect kitchen that quite possibly could have been outfitted with the inventory and expertise of www.WoodworkerExpress.com. There you can find various items on display here like this brilliant faucet, sink, wood range hood, recessed lighting and barn door hardware. Plus there’s always the pulls, handles, and vents. There’s also the organizational items within the drawers and behind the cabinet doors, but you’ll just have to use your imagination to picture those…or you could just boogie on over to the Kitchen Solutions section. As always, help is available and offered to you, so please reach out. If I don’t answer immediately (I will), I’m likely just getting closure on one of these new Netflix true crime dramas.

As always: Keep it moving forward and I’ll be here next Monday…will you?

Neutral gray cabinetry is beautifully accented with oil rubbed bronze accents and distressed barn wood.
Photo courtesy of Houzz and Burge Building Consultants

Mondays with Mike…5-2-2022 Edition Fourteen

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Accenting a Neutral Color Scheme with Hardware and Lighting

Did they nail the color tones in this kitchen or what? I just love the neutral tones so expertly integrated here along with the accents of satin nickel. Never in history, has that NOT looked great. Seriously, look it up! If I didn’t know any better, I’d have guessed that this was a kitchen designed by me FOR me.

Reminds me of this: You know how if you watch enough of those HGTV shows, you can kind of predict what the self-anointed ‘celebrity’ flipper/designer will choose before they actually do. That could just be due to hypnosis for watching too much TV, or perhaps the ‘celebrity designer’ really does need to do a bit of self-scouting to avoid typecasting their design tendencies.

Enough about real celebrities and ‘design celebrities’, let’s talk about what we’ve got going on with the decorative touches on display here. As hinted at above, the twisty satin nickel pulls exude a look of royal opulence…which, if in YOUR real world is a bit too much, then a jelly-swathed hand from a young breakfast seeker can quickly bring this back to a reality more attuned to your own.

And if breakfast is indeed the meal being talked about, then these LED strip lighting lit bottles of what the English sometimes refer to as ‘drink’ will likely remain untouched for at least the next 10 hours or so…but who’s really watching the clock?

I’ll top this all off by directing praise towards this beautiful range hood and its matching ventilator. This ventilator will help remove cooking odors and move it magically into the outside air. This kitchen is aesthetically A++ and many of the key components are found at: www.WoodworkerExpress.com. Be good to yourself and others, and I’ll see you next week.

neutral kitchen with pops of satin nickel
Image Courtesy of Houzz