Philip Schmidt

Philip Schmidt

Philip lives in Colorado with his wife, two daughters, and too many leftover building materials. He has been teaching readers how to do things for almost two decades. A former carpenter, project designer specializing in houses and everything we do with them and longtime writer and editor, he is the author of 24 books, including PlyDesign: 73 Distinctive DIY Projects in Plywood (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007T1PJ36/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds: 12 Miniature Structures You Can Build to Enhance Your Yard or Neighborhood (https://www.amazon.com/Little-Free-Libraries-Tiny-Sheds-ebook/dp/B07QFG3ZBP), Black and Decker the complete guide to treehouses: Design and Build Your Kids a Treehouse (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008D1PIT6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), The Complete Guide to Greenhouses & Garden Projects: Greenhouses, Cold Frames, Compost Bins, Trellises, Planting Beds, Potting Benches & More (https://www.amazon.com/Decker-Complete-Greenhouses-Garden-Projects-ebook/dp/B005CDCX50), The Complete Guide to DIY Greenhouses, Install Your Own Solar Panels: Designing and Installing a Photovoltaic System to Power Your Home, DIY Solar Projects - Updated Edition: Small Projects to Whole-home Systems: Tap Into the Sun, The Complete Guide to a Clutter-Free Home, The Complete Guide to Contemporary Sheds: Complete plans for 12 Sheds, Including Garden Outbuilding, Storage Lean-to, Playhouse, Woodland Cottage, Hobby Studio, Lawn Tractor Barn, Schaum's Outline of Elementary Algebra, Decorating with Architectural Details, Install Your Own Solar Panels: Designing and Installing a Photovoltaic System to Power Your Home, Ultimate Guide: Trimwork, Upgrade Your House: 100 DIY Repairs Improvements For Under $100, The Complete Guide to Attics & Basements, The Complete Guide to a Green Home: The Good Citizen's Guide to Earth-Friendly Remodeling & Home Maintenance, Craftsman Router Techniques; A Comprehensive Guide to Using Routers, Molding & Medallions: Four Easy Weekend Projects (eHow Easy DIY Kindle Book Series), McGraw-Hill's 500 College Algebra and Trigonometry Questions: Ace Your College Exams: 3 Reading Tests + 3 Writing Tests + 3 Mathematics Tests, Black Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Treehouses: Design and Build Treehouses for All Ages, Don't Sweat It... Hire It!, The Complete Guide to the Green Home, Decorating with Architectural Details, and The Complete Guide to Treehouses.

This is the author, with the piano that he is now storing on his back porch.

Why Hiring an Interior Designer is Not a Luxury

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Nov 22, 2011

My wife and I bought our first and current house about four years ago. Not exactly a fixer-upper, the 1951 Ranch needed a cosmetic makeover — paint, new carpet, reclaiming hardwood...

This is turducken. To each his own. Photo: Jules:Stonesoup/Flickr (Creative Commons Attribution license)

10 Weird Ways to Cook a Turkey

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Nov 03, 2011

Benjamin Franklin was a big fan of the turkey, so much so that he nominated the humble bird to be our national symbol. I happen to be a very big fan of Benjamin Franklin, but I can’t...

kundl/Flickr

Kitchen Experiment: DIY Doritos

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 28, 2011

Devotees of classic Nacho Cheese flavor Doritos® know deep in their hearts that this is no ordinary snack food. Networx's former editor Chaya Kurtz accurately describes this sensory...

Plumbers agree that your food scraps should be in one of these, not flushed down the toilet. Photo: Leslie Richards/stock.xchng

A Case for Not Throwing Food in the Toilet

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 26, 2011

Whether you find the practice of throwing away food via the toilet to be perfectly normal or perfectly disgusting, it seems that a lot of people do it. Some do it to minimize trash...

Fleur Suijten/stock.xchng

Best DIY, Earth-friendly Glass Cleaners

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 24, 2011

I don't do windows. Unfortunately, neither does my wife. So we have ample opportunity to test any number of homemade glass cleaners (and you're welcome to come over and try some, anytime)....

Photo: Chaya Kurtz

DIY Floor Cleaners Put to the Test

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 18, 2011

I have two young kids. And I have floors. So you might as well call me King Sisyphus. He’s the guy in Greek mythology who was eternally condemned to rolling a huge boulder up...

Stephen Davies/stock.xchng

How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 17, 2011

More than 9 times out of 10, a leaky faucet is caused by a little rubber seal inside, such as a washer or O-ring, which has worn out from use. If this is the case, DIY faucet repair...

Zsuzsanna Kilian/stock.xchng

We Tested It: DIY Garlic Breath Remedies

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 11, 2011

As a foodie, I’ve long since gotten over the conventional fear of garlic. I know how essential it is to so many types of food and that when fully cooked, it seldom creates a breath...

Michelle Dennis/stock.xchng

10 Halloween Pranks that Don't Damage Property

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 11, 2011

Smashing pumpkins is a cliche, and only serves to make a mess. TP-ing a house isn’t a good Halloween prank because you can do it any time of the year. And vandalism is downright...

Violette79/Flickr

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 05, 2011

With the days of watering, weeding and mowing behind you, getting ready for the colder months ahead is like packing for a long, well-deserved vacation. (At least that's how some of...