Win $500 for your best D.I.Y. project

The Virginian-Pilot's Home is holding its annual DIY contest, and it's time to enter for a chance to win cash prizes!

Have you renovated your kitchen or backyard? Created a kid-friendly space in your home? Or perhaps you've taken a room that used to be a mess and turned into an organized haven. We want to know about it - and share your work readers.

THE CATEGORIES

Best Kitchen Makeover

Best Outdoor Project

Best Organizational Project

Best Low-Budget Room or Project (total cost: $500 or less)

Best Kids' Space

THE PRIZES

$500 will be awarded to the winner in each of the five categories.

An additional $500 goes to the grand-prize winner, chosen from the five category winners.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS

Your entry Submit the following:

* A one-page description (about 350 words) of the project. Include the category you're entering, along with details about your goal, challenges (please note the most difficult part), cost, time involved and your best advice.

* As many as six photos, including at least one "before" shot. High-resolution jpegs are best. No PowerPoint Presentations.

* A photo of yourself.

THE DEADLINE

5 p.m. Sept. 10

THE ADDRESS

by e-mail:

doityourself@pilotonline.com

by mail

Do-It-Yourself Contest

c/o Victoria Hecht

The Virginian-Pilot

150 W. Brambleton Ave.

Norfolk VA 23510

QUESTIONS?

Victoria Hecht, (757) 446-2614, victoria.hecht@pilotonline.com