Houzz Call: Show Us Your Nutty Home Fixes

The other day my friend Kathy posted something on Facebook that made laugh. It reminded me of all the things I've tried to rig up around the house that I don't even notice anymore (as some of you know, I am a DIY disaster). It feels good to share and laugh about it, so please tell us, what kinds of nutty solutions have you come up with around the house? Do you walk past them and not even notice them anymore? Please share with us in the Comments section and include a photo if you can.

Kathy, a busy mom, was just trying to bust out dinner for the fam. Her husband is an engineer and very good around the house, which makes this photo even funnier:

"This may be a first," she wrote. "The only way the microwave works right now is if I hold the handle up. I don't have time to stand there doing that for seven minutes, so I used a big stick to prop up the handle. Is this grounds for a new microwave, please?!"

In my tritest design-speak, I told her she should explain it as a rustic kitchen sculpture that connects indoors to out.


Here's mine — it's embarrassing and probably dangerous. So I had read about Ikea hacks and I found myself in Ikea, staring at a pair of darling Scandinavian print lampshades. I talked myself into thinking they would work on the sconces in my hallway, even though I know everything I buy like this never quite works out, especially stuff from the lighting department.

I thought, "Hmmm, I think my sconce setup requires a clippy lampshade, but I bet I can make this European-sized little ring thingee work on my wall sconces." I was seduced by how cute they were, even though I knew the chance of them working out was about 2 percent.


Somehow, in a frenzy to make it work, I came up with the really bad idea to make the ring fit around the sconce base with coffee stirrers I swiped from The San Francisco Coffeehouse and packing tape. Do not try this at home!

After a few days, I came to my senses and picked up some great sconce shades at ReStore that actually fit. I think I finally cleaned up the Ikea ones and gave them to charity. Or they are in my junk closet. I don't know. I'm scared to open that door, so I don't.

So 'fess up, what kinds of unorthodox little solutions do you have going on at your house? Please post a photo and details in the Comments section.

By the way, Kathy says she's always dreamed of having something from her house featured on Houzz, but she never thought it would be this. Thanks for sharing, Kath!

URL: Houzz Call: Show Us Your Nutty Home Fixes http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21609.html