Photo by Andrey Bryzgalov via Shutterstock

We’ve learned to use voice controls in our cars for hands-free calling, but what about in our homes? Alexa, Google Assistant, Echo and Siri are for more than simply using your voice to switch on the lights or control the temperature. Here are more ways to control your home with the sound of your voice.

Vacuum or Mop

With a robotic mop or vacuum controlled by your device or remotely from your smartphone, you can wipe up spills or clean up the pet hair while you’re at work.

Power Usage

Appliances plugged into outlets use a surprising amount of power throughout the day. But if your device connects to a smart power strip, you can turn off individual outlets from a distance. That way, the slow cooker starts right on time but doesn’t waste power all day. Or set outlets on a timer so that your bedroom fan turns on just before bedtime, or the television automatically shuts off when it’s time for the kids to go to sleep.

Activate a Digital Butler

When you’re at home and can get to it, you’ll answer the door. But what if your 9-year-old lost their keys and can’t get in after school. Or you’re in the kitchen kneading bread when your mother-in-law pops over. You can see who’s there or open the door with your smart device and a smart lock on the door. Now, when the package arrives, you can arrange for internal delivery. Let your buddies in without missing the big play. It’s all under your command. You can even lock the door just in case you forgot before you went to bed. Call out and let your voice handle it.

Retrofitting your home to be a smart home can increase its value, so be sure your agent knows all the things your home can do.

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Photo by Lauren Fleischmann on Unsplash

Whether you need to hang bath towels in the bathroom or hand towels in the kitchen, a towel rack is an awesome thing to have around. And it is even better if made custom to suit your tastes and elevate the look of your home. For even more brownie points, you can make the towel rack yourself — and all it takes is some old picture frames and a little bit of elbow grease. Ready to start this fun project? Follow these seven easy steps.

1. Gather Your Tools & Materials

To create your custom towel rack, you will need:

2. Mock Up Your Design

Working on the ground, mock up the design for your picture frame towel rack. Start with the largest frame in the center, as that will be used to secure the completed towel rack to the wall. You should have the frames overlap enough that you can secure each one together using two screws.

3. Screw the Frames Together

After finalizing your custom design, use your drill to create pilot holes for your screws. Then, screw the frames together, one by one, being careful to avoid cracking the wood. Cover the tops of the screws with wood filler, creating a seamless surface.

4. Sand & Paint the Frames

With the frames assembled, sand down the exterior surfaces to scuff up the finish. This will help the paint stick to the surface. Then, put down newspaper and place your frames on top. Use your paintbrushes to apply a new coat of paint in your desired color. Allow the initial coat to dry for four hours, then repeat. Allow the second coat to fully dry overnight, though 24 hours is better.

5. Add a Hanger to the Back

Unless your central picture frame already has a hanger, you will need to add one to the back to create a solid mounting point. If your towel rack is a bit on the large side, consider using two mounting points to give it enough strength when the extra weight of the towels are added.  

6. Mount the Rack on the Wall

Put the towel rack against the wall to find your preferred installation point. Remember to account for the length of the towels when they are folded over the bottom edges of the frames. Then, drill a hole, or two if you have dual hangers, in the wall, big enough for the plastic anchor.

Use the handle of your screwdriver to tap the plastic anchor into the holes you just made. Then, add a screw to each plastic anchor and secure them almost all the way down with your screwdriver. With those in place, you can then hang the towel rack from the screws in the wall.

7. Add Towels & Enjoy

After securing your towel rack to the wall, you just hang your towels to complete this project. You can then go about your business, secure in the knowledge that you always have a towel close at hand when you need one.

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