Molding, trim and paneling used to be standard finishing touches featured in any home, but these days it's often eschewed for clean lines and minimal detailing. When designed well this style can be successful, but the flip-side can be bland and lacking in character. Fortunately, adding detail is always possible and there's a bevy of options.

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Recent college graduates, Clayton & Chaz, were tight on money, but large on outdoor space. By using 95% recycled materials and a lot of sweat equity, they were able to transform their backyard from ho-hum, to shabby chic — with a budget of only $210! More

Shopping at architectural salvage stores will not only save you money on a renovation, it also helps keep perfectly good household items out of landfills. If you're not interested in rebuilding with secondhand goods, you can also donate yours.  More

Today's My Favorite Thing comes from Jeff Katzman. More

We're seeing the reclaimed look all over the place these days - not only in furniture design but also interiors. Using recycled materials is an easy way to go green when renovating and the they can also lend warmth and character to a space. Reclaimed Designworks offers an impressive selection of reclaimed materials, which can be shipping all across the country. More

We love the look of reclaimed wood, but we often don't love the price, the lead paint, or the process of de-nailing or fumigating a piece of old lumber. That's where Timeline comes in: a modern alternative to reclaimed wood. More

Laminated veneer lumber and glued laminated timber are two materials used for structural beams in place of solid wood. LVLs (for short) and glulam are more dimensionally stable than solid wood, and their spanning capabilities are a bit higher, too. Plus, they're cheaper and more eco-friendly than traditional heavy timber (or steel, for that matter!). What's really cool is when you spot LVLs or glulam beams exposed on the interior of a home. Here, we've collected a few examples to share: More

I am writing this post not because I love the way this crib looks, although I think it is a very handsome piece of work. Nor am I writing this post as a standard nod to a DIY tutorial, because it is a pretty advanced piece of carpentry not particularly well-suited for amateurs. I am writing this post to talk about the process that went into this crib's construction, because a look at how this came together can teach us all a thing or two about how we approach challenging projects, and offer a little insight into new ways to meet them. More

Of the many Before and Afters we have featured, this one may take the prize for the biggest blindside, meaning when you click through, you will in no way have figured out what was coming and the 'After' photo just may knock you flat. While you can sometimes predict how a thrift store dresser or end table will be saved and transformed, just try it with this box spring. You'll be wrong. Trust us. Just go look. More

Quick, name the first three playground structures that pop into your head--a slide, swings, and a see-saw, right? Well, slides and swings can still be found everywhere but see-saws are teetering on the edge of extinction. Safety issues and liability concerns have made them pretty rare. But for those of us who grew up with see-saws it is hard to imagine a childhood without them. If you want one these days you'll have to build it yourself. Luckily, that prospect just got a bit easier. More