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Update: What Should We Call Our House Blog?

Brian Pontolilo, editor

11 users recommend

Maureen Friedman models a Fine Homebuilding baseball cap. We'll send you one if you can help us rename this blog.

Brian Pontolilo

Maureen Friedman models a Fine Homebuilding baseball cap. We'll send you one if you can help us rename this blog.

Photo: Brian Pontolilo

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**What should we call our house blog? You decide. See the update below to vote for your favorite**

The editors of Fine Homebuilding are an unlikely lot. Many of us came to the Taunton Press still dirty from the job site. We consider flannel shirts and work boots "business casual." And though there's an English or journalism degree in most of our backgrounds, we're just as comfortable cutting a rafter as we are writing a headline. I don't mean to give you the wrong impression, at least one of us has an iphone, and some of us have sold our pick-ups for more efficient family cars; we have embraced our new jobs as magazine editors. When it comes to blogging though, we've been admittedly reluctant. We're trying to change that and you will notice some new and renewed blogs now and in the coming weeks.

A couple of years ago, when we launched this blog, we named it "Chalk the Line." I liked the name then, and I like it now. The problem is that it doesn't describe what the blog is about. And that's a problem because we want people to read it. And everything we're told about the web is that people are not going to click on a link if they don't know what they're going to find. So, if "Chalk the Line" is too cryptic and "The Editor's Blog" is too boring (is it?), then we're out of ideas. But we're not out of Fine Homebuilding baseball caps. We thought we were, but Maureen Friedman, our administrative assistant, and the eyes and ears of the crew, just uncovered a missing stash. So, if you name this blog, where the editors of Fine Homebuilding share a behind the scenes look at making what we think is the best building magazine around, I'll send you a hat.

Editor's note: You no longer have to wonder why Editor Brian Ponolilo (middle photo) and Tool Hound Editor Justin Fink (bottom photo) don't mind giving away hats.   --JR

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Comments (39)

Southbay writes: FineHomeBlogging is best.

My tag would be BlogCabin.

But out of the voting choices - Scraps & Pieces.
Posted: 12:02 am on July 1st

jross56922 writes: Wow-that was intense! I have to agree "On the Level" as the my pick of choice. "Constrution Junction" is a bit corny, "Hammerhead" is not discriptive enough, "Editors Punchlist" doesn't say what the post is about, "Scraps and Peices" well it just doesn't draw me into what I want to read, and "Editors Offcuts" is to much like "Scraps & Peices. "On the Level" indicates precise accurate articals. There you have it jross. by jross :)
Posted: 12:34 pm on June 23rd

kiskadee writes: a name for your blog. How about 'coming home'
Posted: 1:28 pm on June 22nd

TCN writes: I think Fine Homeblogging, suggested above, nails it. Construction Junction, though a slant rhyme (you guys aren't the only English majors with tool belts), has a nice ring to it.
Posted: 10:56 pm on June 17th

noelnivel writes: well, i've got nothing original to add but after seeing all entries "on the level" feels the best to me. it references both discussion and woodworking. simple, easy to remember...doesn't need to be cute or fancy. that's my vote.
Posted: 1:25 pm on June 16th

Brentwood writes: All A Board
A Cut Above
Chairman of the Board
Plum Board
A Boarding Blog
Plum Jamb
Plumb preserves
Cut to the chase
The Karpenter's Kerf
Knotty questions
Knotty musings
Hard Wood questions
Measured thoughts
Measured Musings
The plane truth
Blockheads
ReadWood chips
Chips off the old block
Nailed, screwed and glued


Posted: 2:07 pm on June 15th

SteveVA writes: Personally, I like "On the Level", because. It captures the mindset and spirit of Fine Homebuilding - straight talk; no fluff and real world experiences.
Posted: 11:28 am on June 15th

RDA writes: The poll is still open and ready to register your votes!
Posted: 3:37 pm on June 8th

gbressler writes: I realikze the polls have closed but would like to suggest "Fine Homeblogging".
Posted: 1:20 pm on June 8th

demouser writes: Fine Ramblings
The Fine Line
The Hammer
Measuring Up
Measure Twice
Random Hammering
Taunton Topics
Taunton Trammel
Resawn Ramblings
Inside FH
FH Ramblings
FH Toolbox
Editor's Edge


Posted: 7:17 pm on May 29th

luvey7 writes: Theres a few good ones but I like FRAMED TO FANTASTIC
Posted: 11:21 pm on May 26th

Pohnpei writes: I vote for "Builder's Babble"
Posted: 10:07 pm on May 26th

JDSquared writes: Oh sure--I think about it for hours and days then I spell it wrong... try again... "Construction Junction"
Posted: 8:54 pm on May 26th

JDSquared writes: I like a lot of the ones previously mentioned... here is another one for thought..."Construction Junctiont".
Posted: 8:53 pm on May 26th

BA_WOOD writes: How about "Nail It"
Posted: 5:37 pm on May 26th

RJB writes: Offcuts. Those valuable odds and ends or scraps are too good to discard, and can can be reused at a later date.
Posted: 4:22 pm on May 26th

Davo304 writes:
How about "Carpenter's Corner" ?
Posted: 1:51 pm on May 26th

Davo304 writes:
How about "Carpenter's Corner"?
Posted: 1:50 pm on May 26th

ConstantLearner writes: There appears to be much more to Fine Homebuilding's "blog" than simple run-of-the-mill blogging, i.e. textual discussions, occasionally running amok. There are educational videos, Code discussions, equipment reviews, etc. In much earlier days the center of shopping & communication could be found in the town square, where townspeople and fine craftsman would meet, and discuss business & "events". It was a cluster or center of activity (as was the local pub).

"Fine Homebuilding" is central to your market differentiation and a strong description of what one could expect to be addressed here. At the risk of seeming "quaint", this leads me to the less "slick" but maybe more descriptive suggestion for your blog:

"Fine Homebuilding's Square" ...or variation thereof.

For a one word option: "Foundations"

Good luck with the search!



Posted: 12:13 pm on May 25th

smokeymountainsboy writes: Perhaps, "On The Level," would be somewhat descriptive?

3:00 p.m. on May 24th
smokeymountainsboy
Posted: 3:03 pm on May 24th

smokeymountainsboy writes: Considering everything built or constructed requires at least a modicum of precision, how about--"On The Level," as a new title?
Posted: 2:58 pm on May 24th

therightbreed writes: How about Wood Carvings as a blog name?
Posted: 3:57 pm on May 22nd

ShelterNerd writes: "Sharpening the Saw"

We come here to improve our understanding of our craft and become better craftsmen as a result of staying engaged in continued learning and questioning of what we think we know.

We're here to sharpen our minds, and inspire our creativity, and to learn which tools and techniques will make our work stand out.

On the other hand I often tell my crew that with enough nails and coffee we can accomplish almost anything so maybe "Nails and Coffee" would be a good one.
Posted: 11:39 pm on May 21st

W47 writes: Scraps and pieces, simply because what you're doing with a blog is putting scraps and pieces together.
Posted: 11:25 pm on May 21st

Fonzie writes: I got here too late - my idea was same as tek. I think that nails it: FineHomeBlogging (tek)
Posted: 8:48 pm on May 21st

RustyNail13 writes: How about "Hammerhead"?
Posted: 7:38 pm on May 21st

BrianP writes: Offcuts is getting close, Greengiant. I'm not sure it's one word, but this is the web, so who cares.

How about The Editor's Punch List?


Posted: 2:09 pm on May 21st

greengiant writes: How about "Measure Twice, Blog Once"

or "Top Dog Blog"

or "Offcuts"


Posted: 12:23 pm on May 21st

ownernMD writes: How about "Building Homes Right"?
Posted: 11:41 am on May 21st

MrTusat writes: My vote is for: Board Silly.
Posted: 8:52 pm on May 19th

abbadog writes: How about " Post and Bean "
Posted: 9:59 pm on May 18th

abbadog writes: how about Post and Bean?
Posted: 9:58 pm on May 18th

BrianP writes: Sawdust was one of my early ideas, too, Jerry. But I couldn't connect it to anything more descriptive, so I gave up on it. Now that you mention it, I'll revive it on the list of possibilities.
Posted: 9:18 am on May 18th

JerryHill writes: I'm on a roll now.......how about....."Saw Dust On My Keyboard....Rambilings From The Editors Desk."
Posted: 3:50 pm on May 16th

JerryHill writes: How about "Ramblings From A Displaced Carpenter" or "Saw Dust In Our Pockets"
Posted: 3:20 pm on May 16th

Tucker W. writes: Here's one: Straight to the Point. Kinda sounds like someone is trying to cut a rafter...
Posted: 10:36 am on May 15th

ChuckB writes: I like "Hammerhead" - it's a good descriptive noun (uh-oh, my major's showing)and it's better than "Knucklehead" or something less savory. I also like it because I thought of it.
Posted: 9:25 am on May 15th

tek writes: How about FineHomeBlogging?
Posted: 9:23 am on May 15th

jross writes: I'm still thinking that --Hammerhead-- is a good descriptive name. At least for the folks circling around here.
Posted: 9:19 am on May 15th

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