Laundry room floor tile reveal....

 One of the first rooms I shared in our home is the laundry room….I absolutely love it.

I love the storage…I love the window…I love the coffee bar. I just love this space.

I’m sure when I had a house full of kids and piles of laundry I wouldn’t have loved it as much but with just the two of us it is relatively easy to keep it in order.

I love it so much that I really haven’t minded the outdated floor tile!

Much.

Truth is, the stuff kind of gives me the willies. I know this tile is the original tile from 1998 because it is identical to the tile I personally installed in the apartments I built in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. Yes, personally…THOUSANDS of square feet of this stuff. And then for over 20 years I had to scrub it and repair it and look at it covered in nastiness…auuuuggghhhh!

So yes, while I love the space, the floor tile did kinda make me growl occasionally. I knew I eventually wanted to replace it. I think the last time I shared this room I showed you the flooring issue that would need to be dealt with after removing a portion of a wall.

Let’s be honest…it’s just plain ugly.

But oh the work. Tearing out old tile is NOT for the faint of heart or weak in the back.

When we demoed the master bath in my last house we busted up the old floor tile. I have never been one to paint over wallpaper or tile over tile. Take it out and start fresh.

I have only “tiled over tile” one time and it was on a backsplash in a kitchen. Never a floor.

Busting out the old floor tile just didn’t seem like something I wanted to tackle. Tasha at Kaleidoscope Living recently updated one of her girl’s bathrooms and actually tiled over existing tile in a shower.

Hum….dare I?

Yes, I dared. After a TON of additional research. I googled “tiling over existing tile” and read every article and watched every video I could find on the subject. The general consensus was that it is certainly doable as long as the tile you are tiling over is solid.

Mine was.

One thing I could not get a firm consensus on is whether to prime the existing tile. Some articles and videos said prime, others didn’t even mention it.

I decided it couldn’t hurt and might even help…so I primed. I used this product…

… and after a whole three weeks of walking on the new tile I can attest that it works (three weeks people…this is not an endorsement for longevity!!!)

I will say it went on VERY easily…just rolled it on with a paint roller. It also dries quickly and has a low odor. It has kind of a “gritty” feel to it and I felt confident it would give a good base to the new thin set and tile.

Choosing the tile….I did what I always do. I went on Pinterest and looked for “inspiration.” (This is important because sometimes I THINK I want one thing but when I see it in other's spaces I realize I really don’t like it.)

Then I went to the tile store, picked up 4-5 samples, brought them home, laid them on the floor and easily made my decision. This is important when choosing ANY element in a room…tile, paint, curtains…because the lighting in your room may alter what you see in the store.

Here you can see I first moved out the washer and drier, removed the base trim, tiled, grouted, reset and painted the trim, them moved the washer and dryer back and proceeded with the rest of the floor. Much easier than trying to wrangle two big appliances into another room!

I love the new tile!!! Now I don’t growl at the floor anymore!

I did small grout lines (I think that is the “in” thing now and so much more practical) and dark grout. It will make it easier to keep the floor “clean looking.” Except dark floors show fuzzies which is common in a laundry room…but oh well.

Tiling, whether it be a floor or a backsplash, is not a terribly difficult DIY project. A wet saw is a must so if you don’t have one, borrow one or rent one. Watch TONS of how-to videos and make sure you follow EVERY manufacturer’s instructions, even if it doesn’t make sense.

Personally I would leave wet areas like tubs and showers to the professionals. There are special “water proofing” products and techniques that will prevent future leaks…and trust me you don’t want water issues around a tub or shower. If you feel like you want to tackle a tub or shower area, make sure you do a TON of research!

TIPS!!! Pay attention to transitions between the new tile and other flooring and the bottom of the doors. Will adding an additional 3/8” make you have to cut down a door or add a transition piece?

Neither is difficult but you need to plan! I was fortunate in this space. Adding the additional tile did not affect those things. The existing tile actually sat a good 1” below the wood floors in the breakfast room and the new tile butted up to the existing transition piece nicely.

I always carefully remove the existing base trim, repair if necessary, prime and then reinstall it on top of the new tile after I have grouted. Some people add base shoe. If that is the plan make sure it will work with the existing trim BEFORE you install the tile.

I use an oscillating saw (or you can use a special trim saw like THIS one) to cut the casing around the doors at the floor. I lay the new tile down on the floor and use it as a guide to cut the trim. Do this BEFORE you start tiling because it will make a mess and you will want to vacuum or sweep well after cutting the trim. Then when you are installing the new tile you can just slip it under the casing and not have to worry about making tedious cuts!

Which reminds me…always do all your prep work (removing trim, cutting casings, etc) and then vacuum and clean the floors well before starting. I also keep a little hand broom handy just incase I need to sweep a bit while installing. DON’T TILE OVER CRUD!!!!

Remove any doors that swing into the space you are tiling…makes it sooooo much easier to move around!

Prime…I know I could not find a consensus on whether to prime, but I am going to say one should error on the side of caution. I don’t think it is necessary if you are tiling over concrete, but definitely over existing tile.

And again, ALWAYS make sure the floor you are laying it on is sound and solid. If it is not, fix it! DO NOT lay ceramic tile on a wonky floor.

If you are laying on a wood subfloor, I personally would lay down durrock, tape and mud the joints (with a mesh tape and thin set) and add the water proofing products (something like THIS). Again, maybe overkill but better safe than sorry!

Research what size trowel to use with the tile you are installing. It matters!

Research whether to use thin set or mastic with your new tile. My personal rule of thumb is regardless of the size of the tile, I always use thin set on the floor. I only use mastic on wall tiles (like backsplashes) and only if they are small tiles. If you are tiling around a fireplace, make sure the thin set or mastic you are using will withstand heat!

These are just a few of my personal tips. Before you tackle a DIY tile job, or ANY DIY project, do a TON of research online. Read articles, watch videos. Don’t rely on the kid at Lowes manning the flooring desk to give you advice.

So, another little project in the books. The old tile is still in my pantry and in the spare bathroom…maybe someday I will tackle those areas.

But for now, I am just going to enjoy my laundry room floor. It is pretty and makes me happy!

This week I begin tackling my home office. Stay tuned, it’s gonna be fun!

It's time to get organized!

So it is a New Year (Happy New Year BTW) and I spent the early morning hours on Sunday organizing a few spaces and purging expired foods in the pantry. Fortunately I am a fairly organized person so this isn’t a huge task for me. I keep most closets, drawers and cabinets purged and organized.

Just last year I reorganized and purged my pantry so it really wasn’t too bad….

But if you are one who has that closet/drawer/room/pantry that is unorganized and full of unused or out dated things, this is the year to get it organized and purged.

HERE I share how I organize and purge (I reread it and I must say it is a MUST read)…and a few thoughts on the Marie Kondo method. Truth be told, purging and getting organized is more about “letting go” than anything….and of course finding the time.

Time…pick your spaces and then commit to doing one space a month. Don’t try to do your entire house in one day…you will feel overwhelmed and defeated. But one closet, one drawer, one room a month is doable. And getting that one space done may even motivate you to do the others.

As far as “letting go,” if there is an OUNCE of hesitation on whether you should keep it, put it in a box or bag, put in your car and immediately donate it. I PROMISE I have never said “Darn, I wish I hadn’t given that away.” I never think about it again and couldn’t even tell you all the things I have “purged” over the years.

A few suggestions…get a receipt for any donations, it is a tax deduction.

If you have towels, sheets, blankets or even old rugs, take them to the local animal shelter…they really need that stuff.

When my mom passed away, she had an entire hall pantry stuffed full of old sheets and blankets…stuff she had acquired when HER mother died 20 years ago. We took it all to the animal shelter and they loved it!!!

Most importantly, give yourself a break. Being a mom or working person make it really tough to find time to get organized…but I promise once you do it, your life will be so much easier.

One space a month…it is doable. But like ALL “honey dos” don’t beat yourself up if time slips by and you miss a month. The mess will still be there the next month!

I also posted HERE how I keep my house relatively clean and in order. No huge revelations but keeping a fairly “clean and orderly” house goes hand in hand with getting and staying organized. Another MUST read!

All-season room reveal...again!

Last week I shared the new cabinet I bought for the all-season room and the changes I made to it to turn it into a giant litter box. Brian was a tad miffed that I would buy something only to hack it up for the kitties, but if you have ever had a litter box and all the mess that goes with it, you certainly understand my attempts to corral it.

The litter box is hidden away and the critter food is stored in the drawers!

One week later, it is working perfectly!

The outdoor couch I bought for this space arrived Friday night. I am always amazed that such a large piece can fit into a relatively small box…until I unpack it and start putting it together. Geez!

If I have learned anything in 57 years it is FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. While they may not make sense, they make sense. When they say “hand tighten only,” hand tighten.

It is in place and I love it!

It’s not near as plush and comfy as our living room couch but it is an “outdoor couch” so I didn’t expect it to be.

I was a tad concerned about the fact that it is a “canvas white” and the cushion covers weren’t zippered for easy removal in a house full of critters. Our new puppy (oh yes, we got a new puppy! To tired to share that news just yet!) managed to christen it within the first 10 minutes…muddy paws. Fortunately it cleaned easily!

The coffee table LOOKS like teak wood, but it is actually metal. Kind of chintzy if you ask me so eventually I want to get something a little better quality and much smaller…it is just too big for the space.

I am still debating the height of the kitty cabinet…I THINK I want to cut it down but I am living with it for the time being. One day the bug may hit me and I will drag it outside and hack on it some more!

For now I have a space perfect for watching the leaves and snow fall. In the winter I put out corn and bird seed so this will be the perfect spot for critter watching as well.

A few months ago I put a kitty door in one of the windows between the living room and the all-season room so the cats can could come and go without having to leave the door open.

Since this has turned into the “cat room” they will LOVE watching the critters. And no, the cats never go outside so the critters are safe.

Hopefully we will use the space now that the changes have been made…the cats certainly do!

All-season room revamp...

I seriously love this room….

…it stays cool in the summer and relatively warm in the winter. I honestly thought we would spend a great deal of time here.

But we don’t.

When we want to sit “outside” for dinner or drink our coffee in the morning, we always sit on the screened porch.

The “all-season” room has become a place for the litter box and a dumping ground for all my outdoor critter food and seeds.

The rest of the room was still good, but again, we just never used the space like I thought we would.

So I am making a change….

Last week I ordered an outdoor couch. It should be here this week. I moved the big “bar table” to the screened porch, and I decided to corral the critter mess.

I searched Craigslist, flea markets and Marketplace trying to find a credenza/buffet/cabinet type thing I could convert into a storage/“kitty cabinet”….kind of like the one I made for our master bathroom.

I found this….

I like the “style” well enough in this space, but I am not sure about scale…seems kind of tallish so I may eventually cut it down and eliminate the void space. I think it is meant to be a tv cabinet and that space is for Blueray players or such. Who knows. Again, I kind of like the style for this space, I knew I could convert it for the kitty box and the drawers would give me storage for bird seed and critter food.

I decided to leave the bottom right drawer intact and just set the litter box in it. It fit perfectly after I cut the height down a bit and I can easily pull the drawer out to clean out the box. I trimmed the side of the drawer down just a tad using a jig saw. I used a skill saw and jig saw to cut a hole in the side for access….

To give the kitties “head room” I had to remove the guts of the drawer above this one and then glue the drawer front back onto the cabinet…so it’s not really a drawer, it just looks like one.

TIP: To glue the drawer front back onto the cabinet, I applied wood glue all around the edges and put a blob of hot glue on each corner. The hot glue quickly sets up to hold the drawer front in place while the wood glue dries.

Again, not sure about the scale of the cabinet but all in all I am pretty happy with it. It sure beats the mess that was there.

Hopefully the new couch will be here this week and we can get the room completed. Again.

Sometimes you have to live in a space for a time before you know what you REALLY need.

Until next week…..

Fireplace reveal...,

It is done.

As I mention HERE, I had several goals for this room.

The first was easy…replace the paddle fan. Check.

The second was a tad more difficult. Reface the fireplace.

Difficult only because I couldn’t “see” what I wanted which resulted in a spur of the moment “demolition” of what was there….

As I have said time and again, often what “is there” keeps us from seeing “what can be.” I see stuff on Pinterest and in magazines all the time that I love, but I can’t visualize it in my own space because what is there clutters my vision. I have equated it to trying to paint a landscape on a canvas that already has a portrait painted on it.

That is when I advocate painting the canvas white. Base neutral. Painting the piece of furniture or wall white or taking all the furniture and fixtures out of a room so you can visualize what you want rather than what is there. Even if it is a piece of furniture you plan on keeping, take it out…that way you can “see” it in a different spot or even painted a different color.

Once I did that with this fire place, I could visualize “the plan.” Rock the bottom…big beefy walnut mantel.

I shared the stone HERE.

Last week Matt and I dragged out the table saw and chop saw and went to work on the mantel. Four coats of Waterlox (I LOVE this stuff) and presto-bingo….the vision came to life. Waterlox is my new “go to” finish…a tung oil finish that gives any wood durable protection while allowing the beauty of the wood grain to shine. And it is SERIOUSLY idiot proof! Just sand, clean the entire piece with a tack cloth and wipe it on. Use 0000 steel wool and tack cloth between each coat. I usually apply 3-5 coats. LOVE!!!

I intentionally choose walnut with tons of grain and a few knots…”character.” This house doesn’t lend itself to the “farmhouse look” but I didn’t want formal and fussy either.

The final result was exactly what I envisioned…and I LOVE IT!

Here is the BEFORE (obviously last Christmas)…

And AFTER….

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in getting a project finished as quickly as possible, we fail to live with the results in our minds for a time. Trust me, you will love any DIY project sooooo much more if you will get rid of what is there and take time to live with what you think you want in your mind before you start slathering paint or ripping out walls.

Remember every space is different….just because something looks amazing on Pinterest or in a magazine doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for you. It might, but spend the time to tweek it in your mind before you jump head long into what can be a time consuming and expensive “oops.”

Today I muse...about smiles.

I will never be a triathlete. If I am in the water I am floating. If I am running, you can bet something big and scary is chasing me.

But twice a week my neighbor and I walk our dogs about two miles and three times a week I bike about 8 miles.

I am very fortunate to live in a community that has amazing trails. I am even more fortunate to live about two blocks from a gorgeous trail that surrounds a local lake. Biking and walking is a joy!

This was my view Wednesday morning!!!

I never snicker at the over weight women struggling on the trail…YOU GO GIRL, YOU CAN DO IT! I never shake my head at the 80+ year olds walking or riding the trails…I hope like heck I am still walking and riding in my 80s. The young moms pushing their infant in the stroller and carrying a toddler on their hip…way to go…get those babies outside!!!!!

This week I realized the most rewarding thing about walking and riding the trails right now….SMILES.

People SMILE and say good morning!

For a year and a half most of us have been covering our faces with masks. I still wear a mask out in public and I have had Covid and the vaccine.

Now I am not going to debate pros and cons about masks and the vaccine. Do they work? Who the heck knows…the whole issue has been so politicized I have no idea what to believe and what not to believe.

But here is what I do know. If the only weapon I had to fight off a bear was a stick, I would go down swinging. I doubt I can defeat a bear with a stick but I’m going down with a fight.

Anywho…SMILES! When we get outside for our own health and well being, people smile at us…and it makes us smile!

I know not all of us are fortunate enough to live in an area with great trails…so get out and walk your neighborhood…wave and smile at your neighbors.

If you don’t feel comfortable walking in your own neighborhood, get on a bus or get in your car and drive somewhere where you can get out and walk and smile and wave at people.

You don’t have time?

Don’t give me that. You have time to binge watch Netfiix. You have time to read that trashy novel. Your kid has time to play video games or text for hours on end.

Eat a light lunch then spend at least 30 minutes walking around outside…SMILE at people you pass by. Get up 30 minutes earlier, get a Yeti cup with a lid and spend your “coffee time” walking the neighborhood…wave at your neighbors and SMILE. Instead of sitting and watching your child’s practice, take that time to get up and move! And SMILE!

We all miss SMILES….we all miss that simple human connection. If we need to change our lifestyle just a hair to reconnect, it is worth it! Added bonus…you might even get in a little exercise.

And trust me when I say…most of us not only need the exercise but we could use a few more smiles.

Bathroom makeover on the cheap....

I consider myself “apolitical.” In other words, I have an opinion, a personal “ideology,” but I really try to avoid all the political “fodder.” It’s just too depressing, stressful, overwhelming…

It eats into my personal happiness.

But with all that is going on, I found myself sitting on the couch mesmerized by the news ALL DAY FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK!

I was so overwhelmed.

I HAD to get moving and my little morning walk and ride wasn’t cutting it…just too much time left in my day.

So I tackled a project I could not have cared less about lifting a finger or spending a dime on…the guest bath.

It gets used MAYBE 2-3 times a year when the kids come for overnight visits. I threw down a few comfy rugs, stocked it with “guest necessities” (this stuff is important) and hung a nice curtain. I would clean it when I knew we were going to have over night company…other than that…out of sight, out of mind.

The fact that few used it or saw it on a regular bases was just fine by me.

It wasn’t completely offensive.

It was just “blah.” Beige walls, off-white cabinets, dated, boring lighting and fixtures…just blah.

Again, who cares…

But I needed to get moving and put my body in motion. And this was the perfect project. Inside in the AC but away from the TV.

Inspiration…anything “unblah.”

My plan…”unblah” it.

Budget…as little as it takes to “unblah” it.

Usually I am all for finding an inspiration, making a plan, and working with a sound budget. In my opinion, it is the only way to attack a big project like this.

But I need to move and I didn’t have the time or patience to sit and think about this for weeks. I decided my MAIN objective was to use the materials I have on hand and try to make a few changes that would “unblah” the space without breaking the bank.

First on the list…get rid of all the gold fixtures. The style wasn’t TOTALLY offensive but they are gold…gold towel and hand towel bars and gold TP holder. I decided to “repurpose” the hand towel holders and TP holder by painting them black. A little primer, a little black paint…both in my stash. Cost…zero.

I also replace the faucets…the existing weren’t totally offensive but these were pretty inexpensive on Amazon…less than $50 each.

I removed the towel bar and added a little bit of board and batten with hooks for towels. Similar to my entry….super simple…again look for a tutorial that makes sense to you! Less than $50.

I used some leftover trim paint to paint the board and batten and all the trim. Cost…zero.

I painted all the doors in the main part of the house before we moved in…but again, this space got completely ignored! I even ordered black door knobs but never put them on these doors. I used the left over black paint and the knobs I bought over a year ago. Cost today…zero.

The cabinets….I used the leftover paint from my master bath cabinets. Cost…zero.

I did buy new inexpensive hardware. About $4 each so less than $40. (But I could have painted the existing hardware with black paint I had on hand.)

The ceiling needed to be painted. Big water spot around the HVAC vent. I sprayed the spot with some Kilz I had on hand and dug out the leftover ceiling paint! Cost….zero.

The beige walls needed to be “deblahed.” I painted them white…plain ole’ pure white. I only needed about a gallon and my son had some leftover from their house. Cost…zero.

I would have loved to change out the 23 year old tops…maybe add a pretty tile backsplash…but the tops aren’t terribly offensive (just a bit dated) so for now they stay. Just added the new faucets.

Three new light fixtures…two vanity lights and a pendant light…again, Amazon. All three for less than $250.

I could have repurposed the lights that where there with a little paint but the new were worth the investment.

Again, this space only gets used 2-3 times a years so it’s not like I need something expensive.

The flooring could stand to be changed…but again, this is a room that is rarely used….soooooo…..

The only other thing I would love to do in this room is change out the mirror…or at least frame it. I found THIS tutorial for a wall treatment I absolutely LOVE….

Not necessarily the gold mirrors…I think I would go with round wood framed. But I love the wood slate treatment and I may eventually tackle that project…someday…maybe when we have another national crisis and I need to focus on something constructive.

Sadly at the rate our country is going, that may be next week.

With all the negative looming over our heads…fires, hurricanes, Afghanistan, Covid, inflation….I can not stress enough how important it is to stay focused on the positives in your life. Believe me when I say I GET IT. It is hard to stay positive when people we love are sick and dying, our retirements are swirling the drain, you can’t meet you monthly financial obligations, the very fabric of our great country is being shredded.

Turn off the tv…shut down your computer….turn your radio dial. I’m not advocating bathing yourself in complete ignorance….just turn off and tune out the onslaught of negativity and focus on something that makes you happy.

The laughter of your children as they play.

The sound of the the crickets and birds on your morning walk around the neighborhood. (Get out and breath fresh air…EVERY DAY)

The babble of a brook in a nature park.

Coffee on the porch early in the morning before the heat and humidity sets in.

A tiny bit of “quiet time.” (Whether you do yoga, meditate, read your bible, just sit and stare…ALWAYS carve out a little bit of quiet, alone time EVERY DAY.)

A stroll down the aisles of Hobby Lobby…fall and Christmas are just around the corner!!!

I’ll admit it…my life isn’t all roses and peach fuzz. Somedays I really struggle to find something positive to focus on. But as I said HERE, you choose your “hard.”

Choose wisely.

Today I muse...about confidence!

Occasionally I will get a comment on an old post and have to go back and read the post to see what I even said.

Man I am the smartest person I know…..hahahahahahahaha!

Seriously, not even close.

But on occasion I feel I have something important to share that may resonate with others!

This week I received a comment on a post from two years ago…”This is awesome.”

Seriously? What in the world could I have said that was “awesome.”

When I reread the post I realized that it was indeed “awesome”….and timeless. Just this past week I took a self-defense class and when we shared, I shared this same exact “personal resolve” as it applied to self-defense.

With respect to defending one’s self, it is all about CONFIDENCE.

The same can be said for DIY projects.

So here is the original post from two years ago with a ittlle editorializing.

“MY YOUNGEST SON IS GETTING MARRIED NEXT WEEK!

Precious bride-to-be…they met in college and have known each other for nine years. They want a small wedding…family only…then they will have a “reception” at their house the next day. (She has been my daughter in law for two years now and yes she is still precious….and they have given me a grand puppy!)

Being the mother of the groom is pretty smooth sailing…UNTIL they ask you to make THE cake. I experimented with fondant TEN YEARS AGO and now they think I am a professional baker!

They want three layer cakes… a chocolate cake they can decorate with flowers, my strawberry cake with a fruit topping, and a funfetti cake with sprinkles…all covered in buttercream icing.

I have spent the last two weeks baking and icing “test cakes”…yes, I pretty much walk around in a “sugar coma” most of the time! (I stopped eating sugar 1 1/2 years ago….I think the weeks of experimenting and feeling like crud convinced me I should NOT be eating sugar!)

Since all the cakes need to have a “smooth” finish (and fondant is evidently so yesterday), I decided I couldn’t use the strawberry buttercream icing on the outside of the strawberry cake so I tried just using it between the layers. I watched a ton of youtube videos on how to ice a cake smooth with butter cream icing and the strawberry cake turned out AMAZING! UNTIL… it sat out and warmed up and the strawberry buttercream between the layers couldn’t handle the weight of the layers and “bulged” my perfectly smooth exterior! CURSES! But this is why you “test!”

Back to youtube to find out how to keep a buttercream iced cake from “bulging” when it warms to room temperature.

Problem solved…I hope…I tested the new process today…so far so good.

If all else fails, I know a few REAL professional bakers I can call on at the last minute! Fingers crossed!

No problem, I rocked it!

This whole process got me to thinking about DIY anything…whether it be stripping and refinishing furniture, tiling, painting, baking…whatever!

My dad learned from his father how to build a house back when the builder poured the footings and installed the door knobs…and everything in between.

He grew up in construction and he learned how to “do it all.”

I was the only girl…but I was the oldest and probably the most like my dad…and both my brothers were typical “middle” and “youngest” children. So while Dad would start a project with one of my brothers, because, well, they were boys, his “Type-A” personality just couldn’t handle their “inattention.” Usually he would get frustrated with them and call on me to help.

Which is how I learned to do the “construction” and woodworking thing. I jokingly say I cut my teeth on a block of wood and learned to walk in a cabinet shop…but honestly, I’m not exaggerating.

Sadly, he didn’t have time to teach me everything.

But he did teach me several important life lessons.

First, if you want something done and don’t have a lot of money to hire someone to do it for you, you do it yourself. In today’s world it is super easy to turn to the internet and find a tutorial for just about anything…if we really want to learn how to do something, we have a huge resource at our finger tips…something my dad didn’t have!

Second, confidence. My dad didn’t actually teach me to lay tile or strip furniture or build a swing pergola…but working with him I gained the confidence to roll up my sleeves and do the work.

I often joke with my kids…just think of all the cool things we wouldn’t know how to do if we had tons of money to hire everything done.

It is tough to have “nice things” when you are on a tight budget.

But if you want beautiful throw pillows, learn to sew! Where? Most hobby shops, county extensions, a friend.

If you want a beautiful tile backsplash, learn to install tile! Where? On the internet, apprentice for a tile setter, take a class at your local home improvement store!

If you want a swing pergola, learn to build one! If you want a painted wall, learn to paint! If you want to change the look of a ho-hum piece of furniture, learn to strip or paint furniture!

If you want a beautiful wedding cake, well….do what I am doing…youtube and trial and error!!! (Just don’t do it the week of the wedding!)

DIY is a lot like “personal change.” If you want or don’t like, you have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and do the work…want to lose weight, do the work…want to refinish a dresser, do the work.

(I heard an interesting “thought” the other day….it’s hard being overweight, it’s hard loosing weight. It’s hard working two jobs, it’s hard being broke. It’s hard building a strong marriage, it’s hard being in a crappy marriage…etc. CHOOSE YOUR HARD!")

Where do you get the confidence….sorry, no one will give it to you and there is no specific place you can go to get it. There are a ton of self-help sites and books that tell you “how to get confidence.” But in a nut shell…. confidence comes from making a CHOICE to do something and putting in the time and effort to accomplish it.

Do you “get confidence” if you try something and fail?

Well, in my opinion, kinda-sorta…it really depends on how you CHOOSE to look at that “failure.” If you look at it and say “well, I guess I can’t do that,” then no, you didn’t gain any confidence.

If you look at the “failure” and say “well, I guess I shouldn’t do it THAT way, but I’ll try it another,” then yes, you have gained a little knowledge and a little confidence.

Failure doesn’t destroy “self-confidence.” The way you THINK about it, the way you PROCESS that failure in your brain, does.

I’ve probably over simplified it. But I have learned in my 55 years that MOST things are pretty simple.

This morning get up and look in the mirror and say “Today I am CONFIDENT that I will________.” (keep it super simple and positive) Tonight, if you did not fulfill that statement, look in the mirror and say “Today I did not _________, but I am confident I will TRY again tomorrow!” Congratulate yourself for something you DID accomplish…even if it seems silly and simple! Then smile at yourself!!!!

Looky there…you just gained a tiny smidge of confidence.

Coffee Bar...

When I looked to Pinterest for inspiration for a coffee bar I realized that there are some super serious coffee connoisseurs out there. I just wanted a nice organized place for a few coffee necessities.

My stove top area in the kitchen is a bit tight for a “coffee station”…

…but we managed because I have TONS of prep space on my island. Regardless, I wasn’t happy with having my coffee maker in this area….and I didn’t want to have a full sized coffee pot taking up even more space so we would have to remake coffee all morning in our little 4 cup maker.

I decided to utilize a corner of the counter top in the laundry room for a “coffee station.”

Even though we make coffee every morning, the distance from the kitchen trash can and water source was almost equal so it really was no biggy to put it in there vs. on the kitchen counter.

Right now I am on a quest to use up some of the wood and materials I have accumulated over the years. It would have been real easy to go out and buy new materials to make shelves but I decided to get resourceful.

When I remodeled Katie’s room eons ago I removed the black floating shelves she used as her makeup station….

(Man my photo skills sucked!!!!)

I’ve kicked those things around for YEARS thinking I would eventually use them.

They weren’t the size I wanted for my “coffee station” and not even the style. But I decided I would try to make them work.

The first thing I did was cut them down. Not difficult since they are constructed out of fake wood and cardboard. I did have to take a metal grinder to one of the metal support brackets to make it shorter, but that was seriously no biggy.

I did add some wood support inside the corners of the cut down shelves because my next step was to clad them in wood.

I had some leftover “bead board planks” from another project…similar to this…

…so I used that to clad the tops and bottoms of the shelves (just glue and a few nails). Then I used some 1”x3” pine boards I had for the fronts and sides. A little stain…a little polycrylic to seal.

Repurposed floating shelves…they didn’t cost me a dime because I used scrap materials I had on hand.

My goal was “rustic” shelving…I think I accomplished that.

I did purchase a few new canisters…one for coffee, decaf, and cocoa.

The old silver tureen has held my filters for years…love it.

I found this cute little office supply thingy…originally labeled for paperclips, rubberbands, erasers, stamps etc.

I decided it would be perfect for all the different sweeteners my family insists on…God forbid they use the one I use. I relabeled each space for my purposes.

A fake plant. (BTW I keep reading fake plants are a decor faux pas…ask me if I care!)

We did purchase a larger coffee pot.

Again, this space is right off the kitchen so it really isn’t a bother. I like that it freed up a little bit of kitchen counter space.

I would like to add that 1) I now have a HUGE laundry room and 2) it is just Brian and me so rarely are there piles of laundry demanding my attention. I can see where some may not have the room or desire to use the laundry room for this purpose! But for us, it worked out perfectly.

I am a HUGE proponent of looking to Pinterest for inspiration…but sometimes we get a little intimidated by what we see online and forget we don’t NEED all that froo-froo or even have the space for it….

Don’t get me wrong…I think these spaces are amazing…but for YOU are they realistic? Hopefully my tiny little corner will inspire you to “think outside the box” if you need to create a space. Know that you don’t need a huge space for a basic coffee bar if you just need a place for a few basics.

Making a table or bench top...

One tool I wanted for years was a “biscuit joiner.”

One of the many things I love about my kids….when I ask for a specific tool for Chirstmas/birthday/Mom’s Day, they listen. So several years ago I got a biscuit joiner for Christmas!

This little tool has allowed me to make a few things I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make. It allows me to join together several boards to make a larger board. A necessity if you want to make benches or table tops.

Let me give you a few examples….

The first was this bench….

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I was able to join together the three 1”x6” boards and the ends to make a strong top.

Brandon and Taylor wanted a plain pine table and bench for their new house. I guess they could have spent a fortune like we did for a custom made table but that isn’t really an option for a young couple.

So we went to Lowes, picked out some straight, nice boards with good grain and used the biscuit joiner, glue and clamps to create a table top and bench top.

After some serious construction, a LOT of sanding, a polycrylic clear coat, and some nifty bases, they have an AMAZING table and bench!

Last year I went looking for some shelving…I found one I absolutely LOVE. It was from the same company that built our dining table so I knew the quality would be amazing….but the price tag was just a tad too steep!

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I love everything about this shelving unit….the look, the style, the quality.

So I went looking for a less expensive option. I found one I thought was okay on Overstock.

Waaaay less expensive…and for obvious reasons. The frame is metal vs welded steel and the shelving material is MDF vs. beefy solid wood.

The look and style is very similar…almost identical sizing…but the MDF shelving HAD to go. I knew immediately I wanted to replace them with solid walnut.

It has only taken five months to get around to this project.

The biscuit joiner was a life saver.

Walnut is a pretty expensive wood…and finding pieces wide enough for the needed 12” shelving was pretty much impossible (without a serious outlay of cash.) What I did find were 7”ish board we ran through my son’s table saw and joined together….

Using a biscuit joiner is NOT difficult…just take your time and follow the directions.

One little trick I did learn was how to mark the joints so they lined up perfectly. Just put your two boards together then run a mark across the joint….

Then just line the joiner up with the mark and plunge away…the joints will line up perfectly!

Always dry fit everything to make sure it all lines up perfectly before you apply glue….

Apply glue and clamp….

Joiners are NOT difficult to use. Just follow the directions and watch lots of YouTube tutorials.

I sanded each piece with 220 grit sand paper, tack cloth and sealer.

I used Waterlox as a sealer…no stain…same stuff I used on my kitchen cabinets and I have been extremely pleased with it!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

I was able to take a shelving unit fit for a dorm room and turn it into a beautiful accent piece!

LOVE!