Are you used to driving into your garage and seeing a mess? Can of paint stacked in a haphazard fashion on open shelves. Extension cords, gloves and potting soil in a jumbled mess. Shovels with caked on mud and rakes with a errant leaves still holding on propped against the garage sidewalls (just waiting for someone to trip on them). Your concrete garage floor a mixed-up brew of dirt, leaves, oil stains with a few good cracks thrown in for…

My wife Rose HATES clutter and with 3 kids this can be a major challenge if you know what I mean! When I think about open shelving or closed cabinetry for our closets, laundry room and garage storage it’s a slam dunk for me to know what Rose would want (OK – I’m going a bit out on a limb here thinking I know what my wife wants – ha! ha!). She wants stuff behind closed doors and clean countertops (but that’s another conversation).

Although that…

Have you been racking your brain for the perfect Father’s Day gift for the Dad who has EVERYTHING! Last year you, your sister Jessica and brother Michael struck gold when you bought him a $740 TaylorMade driver he’s been eyeing (Mom thought you guys were nuts for spending that much on one single golf club!). The year before you did well when you got him the top rated Dewalt DWE 575 circular saw even Tim “The Toolman” Taylor would be…

I was delusional when my wife Rose and I built our suburban 4-bedroom home on a lake 23 years ago. I created a den off the kitchen with traditional glass doors and a stately mahogany desk to be my private sanctuary – a place just for me. A place to read (one of my hobbies). A place to write (I was able to finish a book project and eventually morph into blogging). A place to pay bills (those doggone things come every day whether I like it or…

Isn’t driving into your garage on a wintery day depressing? An un-glorious (not sure that’s a word) mixture of slush, dirt and leaves make a crunching sound under your tires (and feet when you get out of the car). You have the “beautiful” (sarcasm intended) view of too many unorganized cans, gloves and yard equipment staring you in the face – almost speaking to you saying “clean us up. Organize us – PLEASE!”

As winter breathes its final gasps…

Maybe your garage isn’t a complete nightmare on Elm Street – but’s it’s also not the inspired “man-cave-like” or “super gear-head” industrial space with sleek metal or laminate covered wood cabinetry you’ve dreamed of either. The options to transform your garage into a fun, cool and highly functional space are daunting.

If you want to go cheap, it’s simple. Go to Home Depot, Lowes or Menards and grab some easy to assemble (but flimsy) plastic…