Sometimes all you need is a new perspective. You may have gotten used to an ugly clump of tangled cords in a desk drawer, but usually the last thing anybody wants to do is put them out on display. This project by Brit Morin goes to show sometimes putting your gear out for easy access can actually look good.

Q: I live in a 1926 brick home dubbed a "Mediterranean Eclectic" by the Tulsa Historical Preservation Commission. At some point a completely non period-appropriate Mid-Century Modern door was used to replace the original front door. We are getting ready to replace this door and could use some help. 

Is there anything more daunting than planning a kitchen renovation? 

We want to help! 

This summer, we are working with a kitchen expert to answer some of your questions about kitchen design. From countertop height to materials to layouts, we can answer whatever nagging question is keeping you up at night — and keeping you from starting your kitchen makeover. 

Tell us your Kitchen Questions and we'll have an expert answer them!

Bargain shopper Erin haggled this chair from an estate sale down to $10. It sat in her home, patiently waiting for a refresh, until she found the perfect fabric. See how she made over this chair for under $50 total:

Best known as the premiere authority on color and provider of color systems for design professionals, in recent years Pantone has branched out to offer their brand of distinctive color on items for the home, most commonly found in museum gift shops or design stores in major cities. Now, in a collaboration with JC Penny, their goods will be available to everyone. 

Among the many booths at the Architectural Digest Home Show, the work of Tucker Robbins stood out for his unique point of view and stylish way of mixing concepts, textures, and time periods in a way that feels very organic and natural. 

Gtech AirRam Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

• $349.95
• Amazon.com

I got one of these last month and have been testing it with pleasure. The first thing you think of when you see this very light, "stick" vacuum is that it doesn't look like it will do much of anything and certainly isn't a reason to replace your bigger, corded vacuum. But when you turn it on, two things become very apparent right away:

1. The lithium-ion battery really kicks butt and the brush and suck power of this thing is surprising and impressive. Chalk this up to the fact that lithium-ion technology has really improved in the past few years (note Tesla) and is not what you remember when it sorta worked for ten minutes before starting to fade. This thing will motor for up to an hour on a charge.
2. Not having a cord really IS nice. While I love my bigger canister vacuum, I am constantly pulling the plug out of the wall as I venture too far and I winding the cord up afterwards always makes me strangely pissy and on edge (Someone please research this. Is is a man thing?). Being able to run all over the house or office with the RAM is very gratifying, and it made me think that cords would soon go the way of the dinosaur across the whole vacuum landscape.

Finally, will the RAM replace your corded, canister or upright vacuum? Probably not. Would the RAM make a very welcome addition to your cleaning arsenal and perfect for a lot of every day and spot cleaning? Yes, definitely. While I'll be keeping my beloved Dyson for bi-weekly vacuuming and handling all the stuff I use if for like deep rugs, walls and furniture, etc (especially pets), the RAM is great in our office to quickly do all the hard floors and is perfect at home to quickly clean up the dining room floor after Ursula has eaten and dropped most of her dinner or run around with her friends and left small debris across the apartment.

Dad's Book of Awesome Projects is Mike Adamick's personal crafty playbook. As a stay-at-home dad with a passion for making things with his daughter, Adamick has amassed a trove of projects across the crafty spectrum: from woodworking to sewing to painting to just plain gluing stuff.