Project blog + how-tos
Twin Cities DIY + project knowledge
How-to guides written by our staff. Twin Cities-specific projects (cool-climate gardening, historic home restoration, weatherization for MN winters). New posts roughly weekly. We’ve done these projects.
Most recent
Spring 2026
Spring garden prep for Twin Cities (May 2026)
Soil prep, when to plant what, perennial recommendations for Zone 4. Specific cultivars + varieties that survive MN winters. Janelle Park writing. — May 2026 · 18 min read
Restoring 1920s-1940s historic Twin Cities homes (May 2026)
Period-appropriate paint colors, hardware sourcing, plumbing fixtures, electrical considerations. Specific to Twin Cities historic neighborhoods. — May 2026 · 32 min read
When to call a pro vs. DIY — plumbing edition (April 2026)
Common Twin Cities plumbing issues + decision tree for DIY vs. licensed plumber. Janelle Park writing. — April 2026 · 22 min read
Tool maintenance — make your tools last 30+ years (April 2026)
Sharpening, cleaning, oiling, storage. The Holloway approach to tool care that’s served Twin Cities families for 63 years. — April 2026 · 16 min read
By category
What we write about
Twin Cities home repair
MN-specific repair issues. Frozen pipes, ice dam prevention, cold-weather caulking, roof maintenance for snow load. Practical knowledge for the local climate.
Cool-climate gardening
Zone 4 gardening, cool-climate vegetables, perennials that survive MN winters, fall + spring garden cleanup. Specific to Twin Cities growing conditions.
Historic home restoration
Twin Cities has many 1880s-1940s homes. Specific restoration challenges. Period-appropriate hardware, paint colors, plumbing, electrical considerations.
Tool care + selection
How to choose tools that last 30+ years. Maintenance schedules. When to upgrade. Specific brands we’ve sold for decades + how they’ve held up.
Furniture refinishing
Stripping, sanding, staining, finishing. From mid-century pieces to genuine antiques. Twin Cities has lots of estate-sale furniture; we help refurbish.
Seasonal home prep
Spring opening (after winter), summer maintenance, fall closing (before winter), winter readiness. Twin Cities has 4 distinct seasons; each requires specific home prep.
Hands-on guides
Step-by-step projects
Replace a kitchen faucet — beginner-friendly
Step-by-step replacement guide. Tools needed, common pitfalls, when to call a plumber. Most kitchen faucet replacements take 90 minutes for confident DIYers. — 26 min read
Build a raised garden bed (Twin Cities-specific)
Materials, dimensions, soil mix for cool-climate growing. We use these in our own gardens. Most beds 1 weekend for confident DIYers. — 22 min read
Refinish a wood furniture piece
Strip, sand, stain, finish. Common mistakes + how to avoid them. Most pieces: 4-6 hours over 2-3 weekends. — 28 min read
Install a smart thermostat (Twin Cities homes)
Compatibility check, wiring basics, setup, integration. Most smart thermostat installs: 30-90 minutes. Twin Cities-specific HVAC considerations included. — 20 min read
Weatherize windows + doors for Twin Cities winter
Caulking, weatherstripping, storm windows. Specific products + techniques. Saves significant heating costs in MN climate. — 24 min read
Sharpen a knife (Holloway method)
The technique we’ve been using for 63 years. Steps, equipment recommendations, maintenance schedule. Better than typical online guides. — 18 min read
Restoration deep-dives
For Twin Cities historic homes
Restoring vintage hardware (1920s-1940s)
Sourcing, cleaning, refinishing, replacing. Twin Cities has many 1920s + 1930s homes; their hardware is worth restoring rather than replacing.
Period-appropriate paint colors
Twin Cities historic neighborhoods (Lowry Hill, Crocus Hill, Macalester-Groveland) have specific color palettes. Sherwin-Williams + Benjamin Moore historic collections.
Vintage plumbing — when to restore vs. replace
1920s-1940s plumbing fixtures often outlast modern ones. Restoration vs. replacement economics + considerations. Janelle Park’s expertise.
Electrical in old Twin Cities homes
Pre-1950 wiring (knob-and-tube, BX, early Romex). When safe, when needs replacement, when can be augmented. Always involve licensed electrician for major work.
Restoring wood floors (historic Twin Cities)
Common floor types (oak, maple, fir). Refinishing economics, preserving historic patina, matching repair sections. — 28 min read
Original window restoration vs. replacement
Twin Cities winters tempt window replacement, but original windows often outperform replacements when properly maintained. Restoration approach + costs.
Twin Cities-specific
Local angles + topics
Snow blower selection + maintenance for Twin Cities
Real-world snow blower recommendations for Twin Cities snowfall patterns. Maintenance schedule, off-season storage, when to repair vs. replace.
Twin Cities home heating economics
Forced-air, hot-water radiators, heat pumps, mini-splits. Twin Cities home types + which heating systems work best. MN energy efficiency considerations.
Ice dam prevention for Twin Cities winters
Where ice dams form, preventive measures, repair when they happen. Common Twin Cities winter problem; specific solutions for our climate.
Twin Cities municipal water + filtration
Minneapolis + St. Paul + suburban water systems. Hardness + chlorination + specific contaminants. Filtration recommendations by system type.
Twin Cities lawn + landscape (cool-climate)
Grass varieties for cool climate, fall overseeding, snow mold prevention, spring cleanup. Specific to Twin Cities lawn care.
Mosquito + tick management (Minnesota)
Specific to Minnesota pest patterns. Tick-borne disease awareness, mosquito reduction, kid-safe + pet-safe options. Practical.
Blog questions
What readers ask
- Holloway employees. Tom Jr., Sarah, Tom Sr. (founder’s son), our department specialists. Each post named with author + their expertise. We don’t outsource writing to non-experts.