For the lucky ones, summertime means taking a vacation away from home for a week or two for some well-deserved R&R—actually, make mine a G&T. Weeks before a trip, pet owners call up their neighbour for feeding and walking duties; others hire house-sitters to come and water plants. Obvious stuff, really.

But why stop with plants and pets? The fine folks over at Charles & Hudson recently wrote about having your hardwood floors refinished while away on vacation. Instead of living through the messy, five-day refinishing process, why not have it done when you’re not around? Same goes with any type of flooring, whether it’s hardwood or you’re having wall-to-wall carpeting installed, putting down laminate.

Of course, you’d have to trust the contractors working while you’re away, so make sure you hire a reliable company.

Now that I think about it, many home-renovation projects suit this while-we’re-away timetable. Is your driveway looking tired? Have it repaved, resealed or bricked when you’re gone. Same goes with any exterior paths and patios.

What about your deck, does it need refinishing? No use having this done while you’re home barbecuing and entertaining guests. Speaking of backyard parties, who wants up a big whiff of paint fumes? Nobody, so if you’re home’s in need of an exterior paint job, get it done while you’re gone.

Of course, there’s something to be said for DIY projects or even keeping an eye on the contractors at work, but there’s a big difference between being watching and “living through” the job.

Having grown up in a house without air conditioning, I know what it’s like to sweat through hot nights and loud fans. This was a time before the efficient, quiet fans now common; back in the day, we put loud, plane-propeller-size units in the window and on the floor hoping for a bit of air movement, just enough to pass out.

Luckily, I’ve found better way to keep cool. I still don’t have air condition, mind you, but I like it that way; besides, I’ve found a more efficient, less energy-taxing solution: the ceiling fan. Installed the right way, in the right place, these inexpensive and easy-to-install devices will keep you cool and save you cash.

Unlike energy-hogging A/C units, electric ceiling fans don’t actually cool the air; rather, they move it around, which helps evaporate moisture, on your skin and on surfaces in your home, making things feel cooler. Ceiling fans also help draw up warm air, mixing it with cooler air for more moderate room temperatures, so you get gentle warmth without the frigid, synthetic feel of air conditioning. (In winter, switch blade direction and the fan will push down warm air rather than draw it up.)

Installation

Putting up a fan is as easy as installing a ceiling light—right? Not quite. Screwing into the existing junction box might not provide enough stability. After all, some of these fans weigh more than 30 pounds standing still; add in the pressure and vibration created by the spinning blades and you’re left with a dangerous spinning blade—to say nothing of an eyesore.

Instead of affixing directly into the existing junction box, attach the fan to something—a beam—that will securely handle the weight and motion of the fan. Of course, it will need to be hooked up for power, so if you’re at all unsure how to safely connect, especially if your fan is also a light, hire an electrician to come in for a quick, inexpensive inspection.

Right place, right fan

Ceiling fans aren’t one-size-fits-all; there are ceiling fans for every type of decor; ceiling fans operable by remote control; fans designed for sloped ceilings; fans with blades as big as canoe paddles—you name it, it exists. Unless you want to recreate the plane-blade scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first consideration here is ceiling height. If your ceiling is less than eight feet, it’s too low for a ceiling fan. Also, the blade span should be no closer than two feet from the wall to allow for airflow.

The final consideration is noise. Put it this way, you could spend $25, but do you really want to live with a fan worthy of the exhaust system at KFC?

It’s official: I’ve entered my Carlsberg years. it seems like only yesterday conversations with friends revolved around derelict landlords, overdue philosophy papers and who did what at weekend house parties. But these, as it turns out, were minor stresses compared to thirty-something worries over marriage, new homes and—the crux of the matter—home renovations.

Renovating a home is a rite of passage most of us go through, the lucky ones at least, and yet few things in life create such high stress as figuring out what projects to set in motion, how to pay for it, and whether or not to hire a contractor. It can be overwhelming to say the least, especially since most of us have never encountered anything of this sort before, which often results in nothing getting done. Sad but true, this is the new wing-night chat.

Not surprisingly, the web is full of blogs created by newlyweds with renovation on the brain, whether they’re greening their lives or trying to turn an old home new, complete with his and her shopping trips. But for every keen couple there’s a flipside—those who barely made it and those that broke down, thanks, no doubt, to the fantasy world of home renos depicted on TV.

Rather than planting a few platitudes on how to manage stress (count to 10, breathe deeply…as if this ever works), let me leave you with one tidbit of real reno advice: plan ahead. Like everything else in life, remodelling is all about deciding on a plan of attack and executing it.

Project derailment (and that other D-word) is avoidable with preparation, so before saying “I do” to that bathroom fix-up, make sure you’re both in tune.

It used to be, find a weed, douse it with a toxin-laden chemical liquid, and bask in the glory of your pristine, green yard. Just don’t step on the cancer-causing grass.

A few years ago I was weeding a cottage yard—dumb, really; cottages should be rustic-looking—when I noticed the bottle of weed killer had a corrosive symbol. “Don’t touch this stuff!” it seemed to scream, “or your hand will melt away.” Which got me thinking: if it’s this bad, this corrosive, should I really be dousing the yard with it?

Luckily, most of us have climbed out of the Middle Ages when it comes to responsible gardening, helped by a growing number of municipal bylaws banning cosmetic pesticides. For most of us this means not stressing over a few rogue dandelions; for others, it means finding new ways to weed.

Of course, horticulturalists have been weeding for centuries, long before the likes of Roundup and other chemical killers, and they did just fine. Like cooking, the key to organic gardening is understanding your ingredients. For example, lemon juice is an effective killer because of its acidity; same goes for vinegar.

Still on the cooking comparison, organic gardening is as much about method as it is ingredients. Unlike synthetic products, these naturally acidic liquids are non-selective, meaning if you spray wildly, you will likely harm your plants and grass as well as the weeds, so be careful to direct your weeding nozzle at the weeds.

Your mowing method is also important. Forget creating a golfing green; high mowing—cutting off no more than a third of the grass—shades out sun-loving weeds and encourages root development tough enough to withstand summer heat waves. As a general rule, don’t cut any shorter than three inches.

Of course, there are a million green-gardening tips and techniques out there; the key is to find what works for your yard and your region. And really, even if a few weeds pop up here and there, is it so bad? Maybe the key isn’t total lawn domination, but a nice, gentle democracy.

This Sunday is Father’s Day, and while not every dad pines for tools, nothing says “I love you, Mr. Fix-it” quite like a new tool.

But rather than getting him a tool he won’t use or that’s beyond his abilities—hey, let’s not embarrass him on his one day to be king—look for a simple-yet-cool tool. Here are the Top 3 slightly ridiculous, over-the-top tools for Father’s Day:

Titanium Hammer: You’ve heard him mention “titanium” in reference to golf clubs, but this lightweight yet tough-as-nail material is not limited to sports equipment. This 15-ounce hammer feels as light as a squash racquet but packs a punch. Take a close look and you’ll notice a few special features, including a side nail puller and a magnetic nail starter. But the best part of this gift is you can tell him, “Honey, this hammer has 10 times less recoil than steel.” Go ahead, tell him that.

Solar Robotic Lawn Mower: When I was a younger I wanted an Omnibot 2000, a robotic servant that could carry drinks on a tray. While I never got one, I am pretty sure it was pure novelty anyway.

That said, robots have come a long way since ’83. Husqvarna, best known for chainsaws, recently unveiled its Automower, a fully automatic mower that operates itself by following a path set out by an invisible wire. What’s more, this mower runs on a rechargeable, solar-powered battery; when the mower require more power, it simply drives itself to the charger and basks in the sun till it’s time to get back to work.

SawStop Table Saw: There’s nothing funny about losing a finger to a saw blade, and yet finger-cutting accidents are common whether your dad’s a pro or Mr. Butterfingers. Luckily, there is a solution in SawStop, an electronic detection system that detects human flesh in a millisecond, stopping the blade as soon as contact is made. The website features a video showing what happens when a hot dog hits the blade. Now that’s progress.

Taking a breather from building a deck this weekend, I flipped on the TV for some French Open action. Between sets, I happened to catch part of a design show on HGTV. There, onscreen, sat your typical couple talking to your typical design guru about how to trade their dated, mismatched style for something the host termed “casual modern.”

I started to think of my apartment, and what a “design expert” might call my style. Eclectic certainly comes to mind, as does cluttered and obsessed, about books and vinyl records. My pad, at best, resembles something between a flea market junk shop (in a good way) and a defunct school library. Like an entomologist, I derive pleasure in cataloging, so it makes sense that my style should reflect this.

It turns out I’m not alone. Book decorating is hot stuff. There are even books on book decorating. (Note to self: do not display on coffee table; too gaudy.) While most of us actually read the books we collect, some people are more interested in the look of books—the covers we’ve been told not to judge—and how they’re positioned on the shelf. Unlike curtains, books increase in value, don’t go out of style, and, combined on thoughtful shelving, come together to create a unique look not available at Ikea.

A well-designed book room doesn’t need to have an antiquated, dusty, 221-B Baker Street look; books are just as welcome in clean, contemporary rooms, or used in sparse amounts throughout the house. The key is to decide on what look you’re after, not just place things on shelves haphazardly. Books don’t have to be in alphabetical order, or even lead you upstairs. When it comes to design, the more important elements are size, colour and shape.

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to the the Big Three of interior design: design, colour and shape. As with any other aesthetic decision, you need to consider the look you’re going for. If, for example, you own a lot of colourful art books, consider lining them up according to, well, colour; same goes if you own a bunch of large books; don’t place an oversized tomb next to a tiny Ian Fleming paperback. Also, don’t just go from large to small; create variance—another design element—by grouping together books in sections rather than across the entire shelf or case.

Which brings me to another benefit to book-lined design: you can always change things up when you get bored with a certain look, or if, upon reflection, glass of wine in hand, you decide to change the mood. After all, we’re not talking about painting walls.

Have you ever walked into a friend’s home and noticed similar design elements to your own house? You know, the same kitchen layout, or carpeting or even—heaven forbid—the same wallpaper. Sure, we all steal ideas, but some of us are more stealth, taking the idea itself and running with it.

Open house season is upon us, whether it’s someone’s daughter finally graduating high school, BBQ invites, garden tours or public viewings of for-sale homes, June is all about opening doors to friends and strangers. But don’t just hang around the bacon-wrapped scallops and Yellow Tail — there is a certain manner in which to approach open houses. But better yet … take a look around for reno inspiration.

It’s no surprise that a home for sale is typically a house that’s been recently renovated, so even if you’re not in the market (why move when it’s so much fun to renovate?), go in and see what they’ve done to the place. Not only will it give you ideas for new projects, but browsing also gives you a sense of how much your home is worth, and what you can do to raise the resale value.

So the next time you see that “Open House” sign with an arrow, consider it a personal invitation to learn from someone’s else home triumphs … or trials.

This past Saturday was deck teardown day at my parents’ house. They’re replacing their 20-year-old wooden deck with a larger version, and called on me to remove the built-in benches and floorboards while retaining—not smashing—the underneath base. Since the deck was built in 1988, the long, four-inch nails used to secure the floorboards were rusty and impossible to pull out, which meant removing the 12-foot boards without damaging the deck base would require hefty and time-consuming work.

But that’s when I discovered something: building a new deck can be fun work, but tearing down an old, decrepit deck is even more of a joy, especially with brawny, well-designed demolition tools. While I don’t often write tool reviews (leave that to the advertisers), Stanley’s line of multi-functional demolition bars—especially the 30-inch, 8.5-pound version turned gruelling, prisoner-worthy work into something much more manageable, even fun.

Forged from a single piece of high-carbon steel, these four-in-one tools feature an oversized striking face coupled with a serrated extracting claw perfectly sized to grab two-inch-thick lumber. But it was the tool’s pry-bar end that really came in handy; I’d wedge the tool between the joist and floorboards and, using my weight, pop up the board.

The shorter, lighter versions (15 inch and 18 inch) were useful for more finicky work, especially around corners and along the house wall, and for prying nails. While I certainly don’t need all three in my toolkit, the longest version certainly found a permanent place in my demolition line-up.