Earlier this year, with the help of a contractor, I updated the bathrooms in my condo with new sinks, taps, countertops and (low-flush) toilets. Although I considered changing the towel bars, I decided that I liked the existing ones well enough. What I really wanted was an additional bar for a hand towel mounted on the side of the sink cabinet.

I could have chosen a fashionable towel ring, but that would have hung the towel below comfortable arm's reach.

Although Totem still carries the older style of towel bar in my bathroom, the smallest size (18 inches) was too long for the hand towels I wanted to hang there. In addition, the position of the toilet would have made it very difficult to install without removing the tank. I soon figured out that it would be fairly easy to cut the longer one down to the perfect size.

You need a hacksaw and a file to do this. Here’s how.

1. Determine the perfect length and mark it on the bar.
2. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the bar, centered over top of your mark.
3. Remark the cut line on top of the tape.
4. Notch the bar with a hacksaw on this mark and then saw through the bar. The tape will prevent damage to the bar if the saw slips.
5. When the bar is cut, remove the tape and file off the rough edges. (Be careful; they can be very sharp.) The end supports will cover slight imperfections in the cut.
6. When you mount the bar according to the package instructions, wrap a thin bead of plumber’s putty inside the end supports (see it in the picture above) to keep the bar from rattling.

The library has some terrific books specifically geared to women who want to learn how to use tools and tackle home improvement projects. (Good for the guys, too.)

Marie’s Home Improvement Guide and Chix Can Fix both describe the use of a hacksaw. A mini-model like mine is an inexpensive and easy tool to master – useful for cutting down curtain rods as well.

Google “using a hacksaw” for helpful sites and YouTube demos like this one.

Sometimes you browse a shelter magazine and wonder why they publish it and who’s buying. The rooms might be pretty, but express no more personality than a furniture showroom. There are no clever projects to inspire better ways to live and decorate. The content about design and the arts is thin to the point of anorexic.

One predictably good magazine is The World of Interiors, a British publication that we have at the Central Library. We keep the latest four issues for use in the library, but other back issues can be borrowed.

At a recent staff meeting, I brought the May 2011 issue to talk about how many blogs one good magazine could inspire. There are articles in this issue about Alexander Calder’s legacy, Louis Armstrong’s kitchen and Eileen Gray’s Paris apartment.

The cover story is “Bathtime for Bertie: Where the real ‘King’s Speech’ royal relaxed”. In 1938, the French created fabulous gilded bathrooms for the suite that welcomed GeorgeVI and his wife Elizabeth on a royal visit. These bathrooms are only open to public viewing once a year on Heritage Day.

And, of course, we have books about bathroom renos, books about the Royals as well as The King’s Speech on DVD (and Blu-ray).

Check out Bathrooms: the smart approach to design from Creative Homeowner for sumptuous baths and information on the latest materials, fixtures and technology. Heated floors, ventilation systems, efficient toilets and natural lighting are just some of the topics covered.

And expect me to revisit the stories from this magazine.

Next blog: Alexander Calder's messy studio