The ReStoration Corner

There's a reason s'mores and smiles are all common sights around a backyard fire pit. The backyard fire pit is kind of a national symbol of warm weather togetherness: friends, family, and neighbors can all huddle around for warmth and welcoming conversation under clear skies.

Guest blog by Rae Fleming, an independent blogger and DIY-er in Minnesota.

I love to garden, but I hate rummaging around the garage for my supplies. Pots here, soil there, tools everywhere! I wanted to create a station to park my tools and supplies that was easily, but discreetly accessible. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore was the perfect place for inspiration. Enter the secretary desk. Two of my favorite things collide: writing and gardening! My partner in crime, Maria, was more than happy to explore the aisles of the ReStore for embellishments and adventure!

Individuals and families aren’t the only ones who donate to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore. A significant amount of ReStore’s building materials also come from business donors. Shaughnessy Flooring and Schwieters Companies have both been working with Habitat for a long time.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is well known for its mission of bringing people together to create, preserve, and promote affordable homeownership and advancing racial equity in housing. But you might be surprised to learn how shopping and donating to ReStore home improvement outlets help divert 3 million pounds of refuse from being thrown in landfills.

Guest blog by Jill O'Gorman, owner and designer of Ravishing Rooms

Jill O'Gorman realized she had a creative side and unknown talents in decorating and design while in college. Pursuing a Psychology degree, she added a year of design courses and obtained her real estate license. With over a decade of experience as a designer and home staging, we wanted to learn more about what you should do before selling your home to get the best price.

It's almost time for spring cleaning, and that means tough decisions. How do you change your space to welcome the warm weather when your time, space, and budget are all competing?

Guest Blog by Jill Carmody, ReStore Manager at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore

I have always enjoyed the responsible reuse industry. We live on a crowded planet where some have too much and others not enough, and the secondhand market has always been an effective bridge between those two disparate extremes. I like to think of thrift as the original form of recycling, and it is still an incredible way to bring a second, or sometimes third and fourth, life to a product.

Jan Hagerman, ReStore Assistant Manager, shared some great tips about doors and door knobs on a recent DIY Friday segment on WCCO. Take a quick peek, then head on over to ReStore to see what's currently available in our ever-changing selection of inventory.

Cabinets are such a fixture of any kitchen that it's hard to imagine installing them yourself. While it's true that it does take a bit of skill, some time, and a couple pairs of helpful hands, it's totally possible for even first-time homeowners to DIY a kitchen cabinet installation.

What happens to the items you buy once you’re finished with them? More often than not, they end up in a landfill. The pollution caused by manufacturing these items also negatively impacts the environment. Understanding the environmental costs of your purchases is an important part of being a responsible consumer, so let's take a look.