Having a good workbench makes your woodworking life so much easier. You want something that's solid, will last a long time and has some great storage. This workbench has all the qualities and is beautiful to boot. I'm terribly jealous.

Sometimes you just can't find the art you want at a price that reconciles with your wallet. What's a home decorator to do? Make it yourself! Blissfully Domestic has instructions:

Are there any options for creating interest on your walls without breaking the bank?

Most definitely!

Not only will you create gorgeous wall hangings by following the instructions below, you have complete control over the final result! Choose gorgeous fabrics that compliment your room. The result? Impressive.

Head on over for the step-by step instructions.

[Image: Oriental Trading Company]

My house needs some work. Nothing major, just things on a honey-do list, really. This summer we plan to stain the deck, completely redo our flower boxes, finish our floor installation (argh. argh. argh. this is something I really wish I could do by myself), and build trellises and make us a honeysuckle paradise under our deck. Too ambitious? It might be, with the speed my husband gets around to working on the honey-do list, heh.

Tell me, Shakhammerers- what will your summer projects be?

Oh, this is too funny. A man tries to buy a hot water heater at Sears to install himself and gets the runaround. This video is long, but so hilarious it's worth the length.

Over at Lifehack.org, they're talking about getting rid of your landline to save money:

While not everyone is in a position to get rid of his or her landlines, I’ve found that — in general — losing the landline can really help simplify life. After all, without a landline, you don’t have to worry about

• the expense of a landline (including long distance!)
• remembering to pay at least one bill
• checking messages
• waiting by the phone

And if you really feel you need an old school phone, here's a retro rotary phone that has cell phone guts. Neat-o!

If you are looking to sell your home or just want to improve your home's future marketability, curb appeal is one of the most important things to consider. The Calfinder blog has a great post on 10 things you can do to improve curb appeal. Here's a taste:

8. 8. Build a fence. Fencing can provide privacy along with definition to a yard.
9. Maintenance is the key. Eliminate all eye-sores, debris, weeds, and leaves.
10. Install attractive window treatments. This may seem like a small detail, but your window treatments do show from the outside, and can either be an asset or a detriment.

Even if you only apply a few of these ideas to your home, you can boost its appeal. Decide which improvements your home can benefit from and request free estimates from certified contractors.

Head over for the first 7 awesome tips! And don't forget, Calfinder's not just a great home improvement blog- you can find a certified, pre-screened contractor through Calfinder. And with the recent economic crisis, now more than ever it is important for any work you do on your home to be done with a certified contractor.

Pleats have always eluded me and that's one reason I haven't sewn my own curtains. But just maybe with this helpful video I can do this.

Shakhammerers, we know you're all avid DIYers, but what are some jobs you won't DIY?

Me, anything electrical that's more serious than rewiring a lamp. And although I enjoy plumbing immensely, there are some plumbing gigs I just can't hang with.

What about you?

Heather at Home Ec 101 writes:

There is more to keeping a house than keeping it clean.  Is your home simply a place to stash or your stuff or is it a place you enjoy spending time?

I will admit to completely slacking in this department.  There are some seasons of life where it seems as though all a person can manage is the bare minimum.  I am just beginning to surface from one such period and have begun looking for ways to make my home more inviting. So Home Eccers, I ask you, what inexpensive or free things do you do to make your home a haven for you or your family?

Great question, Heather. Personally, I find that  lighting can make a big difference when you are  decorating your home. Uplights placed strategically around your home create a sense of warmth without over-lighting. Downlights can highlight a piece of art or another object you love.  Even overhead lighting has a place, when done right.

What other ideas do you have for making your home a haven?

I've been looking for a good photo tutorial for replacing overhead lights for a very long time. They're not always that clear, and I don't want to electrocute myself or burn my house down! This slide show at Casa Sugar is just the ticket!

School is out in just 8 more days. This means my time will be freed up a bit more so I can really do some in depth writing. Awesome. So I must ask you readers, what would you like to see me write about?

Do you have a website that you'd like to see featured? Would you like to do an email or in-person interview? (In person if you live within about 150 miles of Nashville, TN. Unless you want to pay my travel expenses. In that case, have laptop, will travel.) Do you have an issue you'd like to see brought to light? I'm all about it.

Simply leave a comment or email me at badbadivy {at} gmail.com and let me know what you'd like to see!

I noticed yesterday that one of the gutters on my house was leaking. Oh, noes! How should I fix it? YouTube to the rescue:

The article I read doesn't have a picture, so enjoy this lolcat in the meantime.

Now, back to the actual subject at hand- a two billion dollar, 27 story, 4 million square foot home in Mumbai, India. Seriously- what? And I thought McMansions were too big. Check this out:

"At the request of Nita Ambani, say the designers, if a metal, wood or crystal is part of the ninth-floor design, it shouldn't be used on the eleventh floor, for example. The idea is to blend styles and architectural elements so spaces give the feel of consistency, but without repetition," it said. "Atop six stories of parking lots, Antilla's living quarters begin at a lobby with nine elevators, as well as several storage rooms and lounges. Down dual stairways with silver-covered railings is a large ballroom with 80 per cent of its ceiling covered in crystal chandeliers."

The report said that Ambanis plan to use the residence occasionally for corporate entertainment also and they want its interiors to have a "distinctly Indian" look and feel. "The top floors of entertaining space, where Ambani plans to host business guests (or just relax) offer panoramic views of the Arabian Sea... For more temperate days, the family will enjoy a four-story open garden," it noted.

Wow. Just wow. At least they're building up and not out? I've got nothing.

Need seating for two with a fresh style? Look no further. Freshome has the scoop.

I'm doing fun polls all over Shakadoo today- check the other Shaks out and let your voice be heard!

What could be cooler than a wall painted as a homage to Mondrian? Step by step photos on how to do it yourself.

I believe I've mentioned here a few times how badly I need a tiki bar. Now I can make my own, thanks to this post over at The Fun Times Guide To Living Green- 6 easy DIY projects with bamboo. But what if you don't need a tiki bar like I do?

There's also projects for sprucing up your patio, building a water feature, building a bike (!!), making a ladder, and making a trellis. Neat stuff!

My house has settled quite a bit in the nearly 4 years I have lived here. Needless to say, I have a whole lotta nail pops that need to be dealt with. Luckily, I found this video on how to repair nail pops: