Bob Vila meets with Carlos Leuchtmann from Blue Ridge Plumbing, who shows Bob the shower pan and layout of the new fixtures. Leuchtmann explains that the drain is off center due to structural supports in the floor that cannot be moved. Leuchtmann also points out the anti-scald restrictor and the dual-flow Moen shower fixture, which allows for either an overhead rain-type shower or a body spa with four wall sprayers. Leuchtmann shows Bob a tool for plumbers and electricians called the �stud popper�. The device makes a perfect hole in steel framing for running pipes or electrical wire. Once punched, the stud is fitted with a �pipe tight� that provides a feed for the pipes or wires and keeps them from touching the metal studs. Carlos also explains how sanding the pipe and adding flux creates a bonding surface for the solder to adhere to when sweating pipe.

AJ Paron-Wildes from Bellacor.com joins Bob to talk about selecting lighting fixtures for the remodeled Victorian. She starts with the exterior flood lights and cap lights for the deck in a brushed copper finish. Under-deck lighting will light pathways at night. A seaside outdoor lantern uses dark-sky technology to focus the light onto surfaces and reduce stray light that spills out and contaminates dark hours. The open-plan kitchen and dining area requires a lighting mix. The island needs focused light for tasks but must match the decor. According to Paron-Wildes, overhead fixtures should be 2 1/2 to 3 feet from the surface and eliminate glare. The bathroom has a wall-mounted adjustable-arm lamp while ceiling-mounted fixtures light the hallway and mud room. A rubbed-bronze antique-look chandelier will provide ambience in the dining area and hang three feet above the table. If used in a hallway, the chandelier would hang eight to nine feet above the floor.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Commonly used as the family dumping ground, the garage is undergoing a revival as a functional workspace. Installing a garage storage system that frees up some of this space can have the same effect as adding a room and it s a good way to increase your home s value. First, group the bins and bulky items you need to store by their use and measure them so you know how much space you need for each group. Tall cabinets with double doors are great, but be sure they come with enough adjustable shelves to optimize the space inside. Include at least one lockable cabinet to keep dangerous chemicals out of reach of children and pets. Add some low cabinets on casters, creating a work surface on top. With some pegboard or a vinyl slat wall system for tools, you ve got the beginning of a home workshop. For easier cleaning and less clutter, keep things off the floor: store sports gear and yard tools on heavy-duty, wall-mounted hooks and racks. If you ve got a lot of ceiling height in your garage, use it. Try an overhead storage rack for seasonal items or as a bike lift. There are lots of garage storage options, but organization hinges on consistency: choose cabinets and racks of the same color and type. Look for systems made of metal, plastic or wood specifically treated for garage use. And remember that bigger is not always better. You need a system that will allow you to find your stuff and still leave room for the car. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Bob meets with Mark Van Sickle from Merillat who is installing hardware on the new semi-custom kitchen cabinets. The Merillat cabinet doors and face frames are solid cherry in a cider finish. The cabinet end panels can be specified by the homeowner or architect to either match the cabinet fronts or to be made of plywood. Mark has set up a drilling jig for drilling holes for hardware to keep all holes on the same 5-inch center. He shows us the contemporary profile stainless steel pulls that will be attached to the doors. This set of cabinets has an unusual setup; it consists of 3 wall cabinets stacked on top of each other and built up on a platform for a toekick. This is an unusual installation creating a whole wall of cabinets like a butler's pantry while saving money buy using standard overhead cabinets. Solid end panels will be added to cover the seams of the stacked cabinets. Bob and Mark move over to the other wall where they notice the orgonomics - the extra organizational features that can be added to cabinetry - including a built-in wastebasket, a pull-out for cooking oils, a sink tray for scouring pads and sponges, an under sink tote for cleaning supplies, and a dishtowel holder. The pantry unit also incorporates orgonomics with slide-out wire baskets that are easy to install and adjustable to different heights - perfect for dry goods, cans, and cereal.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. It may seem like a bit of a stretch to think of housework as a money-saving endeavor but, believe it or not, dirt can cost you money. For instance, did you know that if enough dust builds up on your refrigerator coils it can burn out the cooling fan and overheat and destroy the motor? That s a very expensive repair or replacement you can avoid. Run a vent brush under the fridge to clean the coils and vacuum them thoroughly with the brush attachment each season. Be sure you unplug the fridge first, though! Vacuum baseboard heating units often to help them radiate more efficiently. Clean out your dryer vent every couple of months to help it dry your clothes faster. Dirt can hide where you least expect it. Unscrew the aerator from the end of your kitchen faucet and check for sediment that could be reducing your water flow. Make sure you get the benefit of the light you re paying for: dirty glass on porch and overhead light fixtures, sconces and even windows can actually block a lot of light. Dirty furnace filters make your heating system work harder and cost you more. Next time you re at the hardware store, buy a few extra filters and date them so you ll remember to change them regularly. If you have an electronic air filter, don t wait until the cleaning light is blinking red; frequent cleaning lowers costs. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

If you're looking for ways to add some character to your house, try designing some mood lighting. A single overhead fixture can make a room seem flat. To really brighten up a room, try using wall washers and uplighting for ambient light. Hiding lights inside casework or with sconces is great for accenting certain areas. For a more romantic scheme. bring down the ambient levels and try uplighting plants or other objects.

Lighting design is an important part of any kitchen. A single overhead fixture can make a room seem flat. You want to try and highlight those areas you use the most. One way is to install task lighting under the cabinets or use it to uplight objects. For ambient light, use track lighting to open up the room. You can adjust the levels by using a dimmer switch. This allows you to accent certain areas to complement any occasion.

Bob works with the homeowners who are stripping old paint off an antique cabinet. They discuss the chemicals used to loosen the existing paint and note the several safety precautions they have taken to ensure proper ventilation.

Markus Early from Earlylight Consulting explains to Bob the lighting design in the apartment. Starting with the kitchen overhead light, which has new T-5 ultra low profile florescent tube lighting that aims up to create a reflected light for food preparation. In the living and dining areas Early washes the room in track lighting from LSI, Lighting Services Incorporated. Early has selected AR 70 Sylvania bulbs, which eliminate glare.

Richard Wagner of Wagner Cabinetry is in Punta Gorda for the installation of Cardell Maple cabinets. He starts with an overhead box that is marked for placement using a laser level. Since the exterior walls are concrete and the wall studs are steel, Bob asks how they handle installation. Wagner explains that as with wood, it's a matter of finding a stud and tacking with a finish nail before screwing the cabinets in place. Once tacked, the cabinets are checked again for level and screwed together with 2 1/2-inch flathead, square drive, zinc-coated screws with wood master tips that are serrated and cut through wood like a drill bit. With these screws, Wagner can avoid pre-drilling. After the doors are reattached and adjusted for swing, the crew moves to the base cabinet, which is nearly level and needs only be shimmed in the back. It is checked with a laser line at the wall and two feet out before being drilled in and finished with a toe kick. Bob shows the crown molding that is glued and tacked in place at the top of the cabinets for a finished look.