Charles Miller

Make two little modifications that help hold workpieces better

A new house builds on the tradition forged by America’s greatest Arts and Crafts architects

Solving the typical problems bathroom remodel problems with stylish, practical solutions that include an in-law apartment bath and spa-like retreat

A dated ranch house gets a new kitchen built around a great place for the whole family to hang out

Knowing what to keep is as important as knowing what to throw overboard

A gracious home from the 1890s gets a new eat-in kitchen and a better connection to the yard and patio

Tearing out the old flat ceiling helps a closed-in kitchen live and breathe easier

Clever lighting strategies and creative cabinetry energize a contemporary kitchen and bath

A commercial griddle anchors a smokin’ hot prep-and-cook island counter

With a perfectly placed mirror, a small kitchen opens up to a bird’s-eye bay view

Three transformed baths show how radically a little room can be changed within the same footprint

Build a jig to draw a perfect ellipse with just two scraps of wood and a few nails

A custom drywall taping knife is cheap, easy to make, and produces excellent results

If you've ever wished you had a third hand to hold a board in place while framing, this tip is for you

Next time you need to fill small holes in synthetic trim, keep your clunky caulk gun in its holster

This zero-clearance circular-saw base ensures the edges of your plywood cuts stay clean

Teamed up with a straightedge, a sharpened putty knife cuts through foam like butter

For quick texture touch-ups, grab a plastic bottle, some joint compound, and an air gun

An ingenious alternative use for paper-face metal drywall tape

Give your brake a break with this improvised custom-flashing device

Instead of PVC glides or stick-on felt choose a combination of the two

A simple square of tape saves time and aggravation

Locate studs easily with a simple magnet and chain device

A tip for when the point is to have a sharp pencil on hand

A single-edge razor tucked into the roll keeps you from tearing your hair out

Know where to put your hands and use this heavy saw's weight to your advantage

Here's a fast way to keep those little levels safe, and found

This long, twisty work light won't leave you burned

An innovative solar-heating system is the foundation of an artist’s small country house, where an equally smart plan accommodates both life and work

Great moments in building history: Some people don't have to leave their houses to go river rafting

A trade-off seemed inevitable, but a clever solution made both possible

Straddling a Sonoma ridge, this contemporary house is an edgy mix of weathered boards, corrugated metal, and a plan that invites outdoor living

Straddling a Sonoma ridge, this contemporary house is an edgy mix of weathered boards, corrugated metal, and a plan that invites outdoor living

A sophisticated mix of simple shapes and familiar materials breathes new life into a venerable house style

Nine years later and still married, a cheapskate editor finally completes his kitchen with a mix of recycled materials

For a perfect combination, mix one part kitchen with spaces for both indoor and outdoor dining

On an exposed site, cedar logs buttress a small vacation house against West Coast elements

A leaf blower modified with off-the-shelf parts makes quick work of a tedious rite of autumn

Know the risks, and if you can't eliminate them, choose the right respirator

Sifting through the wreckage of Hurricane Andrew to learn why some houses survived and some didn't

A dean of American woodworkers has been tinkering with his house for 40 years

How a traditional stonemason quarries and dresses sandstone