Tagged with: inspiration
The pantry….
HERE I shared how I “organized” my pantry. I’ve even managed to keep it in order this past year.
I still love all the baskets and bins but now it is time to change things up a bit.
This will be a full fledged “gut job” so I need to crack some knuckles, stretch some muscles and dig out the crow bar!
So stay tuned…I’ll share my inspiration, my plan and the reveal!
It is time.
Time to give the fireplace in the living room a little facelift.
Like the fireplace in the den, I have known from day one the living room fireplace would someday get a little makeover.
Its not totally offensive…it’s just…well…I just don’t like it much.
(I didn’t have to tear out what is there to get a good visual like I did in the den).
So the first thing I did was “find my inspiration.”
I did what I usually do…scoured Pinterest and the webisphere and dropped pictures I liked into a computer file….
In it are pictures of fireplaces that have at least one element I like.
I would post all the pictures of individual ones that really struck my fancy but again, I am HORRIBLE at keeping the original source to link back to…but this is my inspiration file.
This is one I like best…
You may notice this is a “stone” fireplace surround…but I think I can make something similar out of trim and paint it.
One thing I know for certain…I want “more formal” than the rock and walnut mantel I put in the den but less that the formal froo-froo in more formal living rooms. Simple but with a little class.
The den, kitchen and living room are all “open space.” The den is our “casual” space and the living room is the more “formal” space…and since you can see both fireplaces from just about any spot in all the rooms, it is important that they be different to reflect their individual purposes but not clash.
Does that make any sense at all?
So, I found my inspiration…or at least 20-30 I can combine to get the look I want.
The next step is to “make a plan.”
To do that, I measured the space (wall width and height, floor to bottom of TV, firebox) and drew it out on graph paper. That way I know exactly what my measurements are.
Again, most of the “inspiration” pieces I like were stone…but those are super expensive and I really think I can achieve a similar look with wood trim.
I haven’t yet decided on what tile I want between the fire box and surround. Or if I even want tile at all…I like the solid look. I think I may have to wait til I get the surround up to get a good visual.
This is definitely one of those “fly by the seat of your pants” deals.
Again, I know I do not want a hearth. This is a gas log firebox enclosed in glass….so no “need.” There isn’t one now so I know we can live without it. Since I went with the stone and natural wood in the den I’m pretty sure I am going to stick with painted.
So…inspirations in hand…check. Measurements taken…check. Set plan…well that is still a work in progress. I ordered the large concave (cove) crown and I will take a piece of that and build around it to find a look I like. I believe this is what they call a “fluid” plan.
This week the ladies in the neighborhood are building a deck. MAJOR chore…but by goshy we are getting it done! It is part of my “give what you have” plan for my life. I get to share a skill set, the ladies are learning something new and the fellowship is wonderful. So far, so good!
Hopefully next week I can get started on the fireplace!
When I updated my Bogey House Tour page I realized I have done nothing in the office. It is truly a very bland and boring room….
We painted the walls and added the hardwood before we moved in and we have changed out the paddle fan and added curtains but other than that…nothing.
Not a HUGE problem since I only do book work once a month and the only soul who uses this room on a regular basis is Cleo…this is her lookout!
But it really is an issue for a room that is right off the entry and can be seen from the main living room….
This room has ZERO design appeal or character.
So I have decided that this room will be my next big project.
The only question is WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO!
So I do what I always do when it is time to plan a makeover. Find my inspiration, make a plan and execute the plan.
First, Pinterest. I know I want some kind of accent wall so I searched “accent wall” and “office wall.”
I found a few things I liked so I dropped them in my “office makeover file.”
I debated whether to do just board and batten or an “accent wall” on the main focal wall…behind the desk.
Hum…I have board and batten in the entry…I like it but not sure if I would like it in this space.
Keep in mind, the one AWESOME thing about this room…the 10’ ceilings…make picking a wall accent very challenging in my opinion. Certain wall treatments just don’t look good in a large room with high ceilings.
My DIL sent me a few that were interesting….this is one….
I love the wood accent as opposed to the all-one-color-treatments like I did in my entry and guest bath….
Now this brings me to the color choice I KNOW I want…I think. I want pink. Not pepto-bismol pink but kind of a pale/blush/coral/whitish color.
Kind of this colorish….
(I can’t for the life of me find the link to this picture…my sincerest apologies!!!!)
One of my blog-friends, Cristina at Remodelando la Casa used it in a bedroom makeover…”Parisian Pink”….I have loved the thought of using pink in a room since.
Somewhere in the room. Maybe paint the board and batten/accent wall white and paint the walls the “pink” color or visa versa. Not sure yet because it will really depend on the wall treatment I choose.
Another choice….
I would paint the entire accent wall the “pinkish” color I choose and then paint the other walls white…just plain ole’ white.
But to date this is my favorite look….
Now, stick with “my vision” here. This is actually a three-dimensional wallpaper. My plan…paint the wall the “pinkish” color then make the vertical stripes out of strips of walnut.
OR paint the wall a darker charcoal greyish color and make the stripes pine with the whitish stain I used on my dining room bench.
If I do decide on this treatment, I know I want a “high contrast”….either light walls and darker stripes or dark walls with lighter stripes. And I really think I would want the stripes to be in wood.
Hum…what to do, what to do.
I am still looking for my inspiration…something that makes me say “YES, THAT’S IT”…not sure when the light bulb will go off but I have learned to live with changes in my mind for a time before I jump head long into a project.
Until that happens the desk, shelving and closet all need to be decluttered, purged and reorganized.
I still like this shelving and it serves a purpose…printer on top, paper and cartridges in the cabinet. But it seriously needs to be decluttered and the pictures on the wall need to be “rethunked.” The long vertical one is of our ski trip 20 years ago…the one with tulips is something that has been hanging around for 20 years…the cute little guy is Brian (that one will go somewhere…just too cute!)
The desk…
The desk will be on the “focal wall” so it needs to be completely clutter free. I thought it would be pretty to put a glass desk in front of the window and move the “reading chair” to this wall…but Cleo likes to lay in the chair and look out the window. Sometime our design decisions have to revolve around kids and pets.
The mirror propped against the wall?
I think I have kicked it around for a good 8-10 years and have never hung it on a wall. I love it but have never found the right place for it. It will be the first thing loaded in the car for donation!
This whatever it is…
The credenza is from our living room in the Lankford House. Between Brian and me, we have 4 computers and a slew of charging cords. The lamp was a Christmas gift from my dad to my mom THEIR FIRST CHRISTMAS…it is literally older than me. The Sonos speaker was in the living room and was moved in here before Christmas. The old mail holder. The wall decor….it’s all just a mess and needs some serious attention!
I have every computer I have owned for the last 20 years and for some stupid reason I think I need to keep the hard drive…you know, just in case I need to find an email I wrote 15 years ago. So I need to dismantle all the computers and pull the hard drives. I also have all the paper work for every car I have owned in the last 20+ years. Why? I don’t know…and I don’t know why I think I need to keep it, but I do. I just need to find a way to organize it all so that it isn’t taking up as much real estate as it is at this moment.
All that is stored in the large closet along with my business supplies, coats and some seasonal decor.
I swear…I am not a hoarder. Ask anyone in my family…they all swear I throw IMPORTANT stuff away all the time. Maybe so, but there have been many times in my life when having documentation for something I bought, or a contact I made, or insurance claim I filed, or bills that I paid, YEARS later, was important.
As a small business owner I also have to keep records for years….especially tax records. Fortunately we have tons of storage space upstairs and I am good about organizing and labeling boxes.
As long as I have the room to keep records on the car I bought in 1999 or the hard drive from the computer I used in 2006, I will keep them. But maybe they can be stored in a box upstairs and not taking up valuable space in a closet downstairs….hum…maybe.
The entire room needs to be purged and reorganized. Since we just moved into this house a little over a year ago, it really isn’t THAT bad.
I always purge and “organize” before I go out and buy storage boxes or organizing systems. And truthfully, I want to get rid of stuff so I am really not interested in adding more stuff…my goal is to try to use what we have!
So my goal this week is to get rid of and reorganize stuff and keep looking for inspiration. Once the clutter is gone and I know exactly what I want, I can make a plan.
Until next week…
I have had this china hutch in my booth at Midtown for several months.
Sadly, I probably paid WAY to much for it...first auction of the season and everything was going for WAY more than what they normally do. I bought it because I think it is beautiful, but truth be told, it really isn't the "style" people look for these days, as is.
I have debated for some time whether I should bring it home and paint it. I just wasn't sure that would be the answer.
Just this weekend I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet but I was still uncertain. Until I saw this....
Marian at MissMustardSeed featured this beautiful piece she painted. You can see the "before and after" on her site!
Sometimes when we see what others do, it is all we need to find our own inspiration and relieve any fears we might have of doing what needs to be done to enhance a piece!
I love the grey against the mahogany, but right now everyone around here seems drawn to the "whites" so that is what I went with!
I used my favorite off-white, Swiss Coffee, for the "plaster paint." I did not sand or prime before painting it with the plaster paint...no need unless the piece you are working on is really rough! I distressed it just a bit (220 grit sand paper) to bring out the detailing and sprayed the exterior with poly to seal it!
I had originally planned to leave the inside stained...but it still seemed a bit dark so I removed the shelves and painted the inside a soft "teal." I taped and papered off the exterior and primed the interior with Kilz, sanded, tacked and then applied two coats of spray paint! I left the shelving the original stain finish.
I absolutely adore the original hardware so I left it!
One thing Marian does is beautifully style her pieces for photos. I rarely have the energy (or back!) to haul a piece inside and "pretty it up" before I take pictures. As I have said before I am more about the process than the pretty. HOPEFULLY someone else can envision the piece in their home and can find their own inspiration for staging it! Someday I may have the energy and space to make a pretty "backdrop" in my shop (okay, so it is really my garage!) Until then, the best you are going to get is a halfway decent "before and after" shot and maybe a little bit of instruction.
The two top shelves are a little "bowed." They are thin enough that I think I can lay them out with some weights on them to flatten them!
The debate raging right now is whether to reinstall the door (I did not paint it!) or leave it open.
Hum....
If this gives you a little inspiration to "makeover" a piece in your own home you have fallen out of love with, I have accomplished my goal!
NOW is the time to do this project...too stinking hot in the summer and you will want to enjoy it during the lazy days of summer!
I have built 5 of these swing pergolas...two at my house, one at my daughter's first home, one at her current home and one for a neighbor. It is not a difficult project to built but one that requires two sets of hands and a little muscle! And with everything, patience!!!
I have posted a tutorial HERE. It is not a terribly difficult project and one I think most DIYers could easily manage.
This is the SUPER sized pergola I built onto my house about 11 years ago...I won't even begin to tell you how it is constructed...but I can promise you, if the house is blown away, it will probably still be standing! And notice the wisteria canopy...seriously, that stuff is CRAZY!
Everyone in my family has an IPhone, IPad AND a laptop...a few of us even have electronic readers. I have this stuff because I get them as gifts or hand-me-downs, NOT because I intentionally go out and buy stuff that requires I learn a new skill! Frustrating but I eventually learn enough to make them useful!
But my biggest frustration was never having a convenient place to charge all these gadgets! And to top it off, my kids were always stealing my charger cords and adapters when they misplaced theirs.
So last year, when I was snooping around the electrical supply store looking for kitchen lighting, I found this AWESOME little outlet/USB port combo! Totally cool and can easily be installed in an existing outlet!!! Not only can you use it to charge your gadgets without the bulky adapters, you still have functioning outlets!
Lowes has one that has one outlet and two USB ports, but I like this one because it has two outlets and two ports! And seriously, YOU CAN DO THIS!!! It really is relatively easy! I installed my daughter's today in less than 20 minutes...and took pictures while I did it!
You will need the new outlet ($20-$25, depending on the type and where you get it), needle nose pliers if you have them and a phillips and flat head screw driver. If you have an outlet tester that is great....if not, you can use a mixer or blow dryer to test the outlet. Also, I keep these little "head lamp" lights handy just in case I need additional light while working. Soooo much handier than a flashlight!!!
After turning off the power at the box, CAREFULLY check the outlet with a tester or something (lamp, mixer, blow dryer) that requires power (I use the tester AND at least 2-3 things that require power). Just make sure there is no power to the outlet. And trust me, don't ask someone else to do this for you!!!
BEFORE YOU START ANY ELECTRICAL PROJECT TURN OFF ALL POWER TO THE AREA YOU ARE WORKING!! Find your circuit box and flip the switches to OFF. If you only turn off the switches labeled for the area you are working, you are ASSUMING it is labeled correctly. Not me! I turn it ALL off (I need to reset all my clocks anyway!) And if you are really paranoid, you can always call the electric company and see if they will turn off your city block. They wouldn't do it for me, but you never know!
Once you are certain there is NO power to the outlet, unscrew the cover and remove it. Then unscrew the two little screws holding the outlet in the box, and pull the outlet out. You will see either 2 black, 2 white and 1 bare wire attached to the outlet, or 1 black, 1 white and 1 bare attached. If there are two black, two white and one bare, that just means there is power "coming in" to the outlet and there is power "going out" to another outlet.
The black will be on one side and the white will be on the other. Remove all the wires from the old outlet! Unscrew the little screws and then carefully "pry" the wires off!
This is where needle nose pliers come in handy! Normally the wires are "looped" around the screw...you may have to pry the loop open a tad to be able to slip it off the screw! Sometimes, the wires may be stuck into the back of the outlet. If that is the case, just loosen the screw and pull the wire out of the back!
My son-in-law Joel taught me an easy way to remember what goes where..."black to brass." So the black wire(s) will be attached to the brass screw(s) on one side and the white wire(s) will be attached to the silver screw(s) on the other. The bare wire (neutral) will always attach to the little green screw! If you have two sets of wires (2 black/2white/1bare) you will use both brass and both silver screws. If you only have one set (1 black/1 white/1 bare) you will attach one black to a brass screw, the white to a silver, the bare to the green, and just tighten down the extra brass and silver screw.
Working with electrical wires is NOT as easy as it looks...they are very stiff and a tad difficult to manipulate. Needle nose pliers are great if you have stiff hands like mine! Once you get the wires "hooked" around the screws, tighten the screws down!
After all your wires are secure, carefully insert the new outlet back into the box, secure with the two screws at the top and bottom of the outlet and put the faceplate back on!
Now you can turn all your power back on...sometimes you have to make sure you flip the switch all the way to OFF and then flip it back to ON.! Test your outlet again, and make sure you have power!!!
Whether you install this in your kitchen, bedroom or entry hall, you really will enjoy the convenience of being able to leave your charger cords in the ports and still have complete use of the outlet for normal stuff like lamps and clocks.
Super easy project!!! JUST MAKE SURE YOU TURN THE POWER OFF FIRST!!!!!
I always envy the organized closets with all the cute little matching boxes. But I know me...if I had cute little matching boxes, I would throw crud in there, and I would have NO idea what was in each box....labels mean very little to me. So for me, the easiest way to organize my hall closet was to use clear storage boxes. I can pretty much see what is in every box. If I need hot glue, I just take out the box with hot glue!
I also found this nifty closet door shelf system on http://ana-white.com/2010/09/closet-storage via Pinterest. It was very easy to build from 1x4 and 1/2x2 boards....prime and spray paint white...anchor to the door with toggle bolts! No biggy.
I use it to store my baking pans and candles and such. When I built it, I measured the things I knew I wanted to store in it and basically set the shelves so those items would fit...as you can see, I made a larger shelf on the bottom to accomodate the bigger serving trays and smaller ones at the top for candles and such.
However, the thing is VERY heavy...so I would not put it on a bifold or sliding doors. And I found it necessary to put an extra long screw in all three hinges on the door just to make sure it was secure. Most hinges on interior doors are only anchored into the 3/4" door jamb. If you hang a heavy object on the door, it is going to cause it to "drag" on the side that closes...that is why you need to put one longer screw in each hinge...so the screw is actually anchoring into the rough frame of the door, not just the door frame. See, they don't tell you these things so you go to all the trouble to make something like this, then your door won't close or it "drags." And you are bummed...but it is a relatively simple fix!
I actually made two and put one in my garage for extra cleaning supplies and such. Nifty little things that are good for storage...would be great behind a utility room door if you have the wall space or in a bedroom closet...since they are made out of 1x4 material, they are less than 4" deep!
But again...I do envy the pretty matching boxes and the closets that make you go "AHHHHHH!" But in a real and practical world, clear boxes that allow me to actually SEE what is in it makes more sense. Not as pretty, but sooooo much easier to find the things I need. I use the same system in my garage...helps me stay organized but allows me to see what I have at a glance!
Time flies... I didn't understand why my 4-5 year old shed looked so pathetic and was already showing signs of rot in places...then I realized that it was actually 9-10 years old and had never really had a makeover other than adding some little window planters!
I didn't want a "typical" storage building in my backyard. So when I bought the "kit" at Meek's originally and contracted them to build it, I had them put a higher pitch on the roof and use architectural shingles. I designed a cute little "cottage" style door for them to build and I also added two inexpensive windows and shutters. Cost a few pennies more, but is much more attractive than your typical storage building!!!
But now it is time to spruce up the little place.
I really just wanted to paint the shutters and door black, but as you can see, the door had a few issues....like a serious case of rot! As did the siding on the side...and I have always wanted to add little "scallops" above the door and paint the hinges black and add cute little lantern style light fixtures...
Even the simplest little projects turn in to complete "rehabs" around here!!!
But that is when you learn that doing this stuff is not THAT difficult! Sometimes the only thing stopping you from making a change is FEAR of it being too big....how do you eat an elephant...one bite at a time ;)
How do you start a project....just be willing to take the first bite!!!!
So we begin...I took down the shutters...marked them on the back so I would know where they go (remember...paint fumes cause memory issues...this has nothing to do with age!) Gave them a good little bath and then used good ole' spray paint! Beautiful!
I also took all the screws from the shutters and the hinges, stuck them in an old styrofoam lid, and sprayed them with black paint!! Easy way to paint screws to match!
I pre-primed and pre-painted all the trim I was going to be using on the building and door. I still have to caulk and do paint touchup after it is installed, but it makes that job a little easier!!!
I took the door off and left the hinges attached to the trim on the building...but I have always wanted the hinges black, so I taped them off and sprayed them with black spray paint as well. The siding on the side of the building had some "rot issues" from years of standing water, so I chipped away the rotted material and put a new piece of trim along the bottom of the building to "hide" the rot. (Before you do this, make sure the area is now VERY dry and there are NO termite issues...look for little ant creatures with wings or their little "tracks" in the wood. If you see ANYTHING that is remotely suspicious, call your termite company!)
On to the fun part....rebuilding the door. Unfortunately, I was so focused I didn't take pictures along the way. But I basically used the old door as a "pattern." Any time you need to replace or rebuild, examine closely what is there....what materials were used...how is it put together. Fortunately, this door was a pretty easy read for me...so I bought the materials, measured, cut, glued and nailed. And presto...I have a new door.
After cutting the door out of the wood siding material, I had enough left over to make the little scallop things I wanted to put above the door. This took a little creativity, but I had made a scallop fascia for a little cabinet I made for my daughter years ago, so I pretty much knew how to make it. I took 6" strips of the leftover wood siding material, used a coffee can to mark the scallops and then cut them out with a jig saw! I then installed them on the little building by overlapping one row on top of the other and painted them! No biggy!
I added some little lantern style fixtures! (they don't REALLY work....there is no electricity in the building...but they are kinda cute! But I think I need bigger ones)
I still need to repaint the little porch railings...and I can't wait to get the planting done in the beds...but all in do time!
For now, the MAJOR work is done! And my little garden shed has new life!
This may seem like a HUGE and daunting task for a novice DIYer. But seriously, if I can do this YOU CAN DO IT! Before you can complete any rehab or makeover, you just have to START IT! Take it slowly and examine what is already there...but conquer your fear and start!
My father did not teach me to rebuild a storage building door. He didn't teach me to make scallop siding...he didn't teach me to tile or sheetrock or install hardwood on my stairs. He taught me to DO....to think...to look at something you want to change and figure out what you have to do to change it! Really if you think about it, DIYing is kind of like life...if you don't like something change it...but you have to be willing to take the first bite! And honestly, if you get stuck, you have to be willing to ask for help when the going gets tough....but never quit or give up!
We are soooo fortunate to have the internet...you can Google just about anything and find a ton of places that will tell you how to do just about anything! They may differ in some respects, but that is where you have decide what you are comfortable doing....and what makes sense for the project you want to complete!
Dad didn't have internet...he just had a lifetime of experience and knowledge...I get very sad when I think of all he took with him. I am grateful for the knowledge he gave me...but more than anything I am grateful for the confidence he gave me to start any project and figure it out!
If I can give you just a "smidge" of that confidence, you will have received a tremendous gift!
I've been working hard the last few days on my little garden shed...want to paint the shutters, but if I paint the shutters, I have to paint the door, but the door is rotten so it needs to be rebuilt, and while I'm doing that I might as well...blah, blah, blah. NEVER ending. But I'm almost done and I will share soon!
In the mean time, I wanted to share a SIMPLE project...
Marble window sills (or any solid surface material for that matter!) Have you ever noticed the nasty black crud (i.e. mildew) on your window sills...or how the paint flakes and chips, especially after they get rained on a time or two.
Easy solution!!! Cultured marble window sills. Such an easy, inexpensive solution. Now honestly, if you had to do them ALL at once, it would be a tad expensive. But start with one or two...maybe the few that get left open the most in the spring (oops!) and over time replace all your sills with marble. I usually pay around $25 per sill.
It really is simple! Take a VERY sharp utility knife and carefully "score" (cut through) all the caulk around the existing sill. Basically between the existing window sill and the window, wall and trim. Then take a flat tool (a chisel, flat screw driver, metal putty knife) and use a hammer to tap it between the sill and the trim under the sill. Your objective is to lift the sill up...so however you can do that carefully....it doesn't matter if you scar up the sill, but you don't want to make too big a mess of the wall or trim. Once you have the sill off take it to a culture marble manufacturer (easy to find in your phone book) and they can use it as a template for your new marble sill. I usually get "white on white"...will match any white trim color.
If you are going to do more than one, make sure you number or somehow label your pieces so you will know what goes where! You may THINK all your windows are 3' wide...trust me, there is a good chance there is a hair difference!
To install your new marble sill, first "dry fit" it to make sure it fits properly! You can make minor adjustments with sandpaper and even a skill/jig/tile saw IF you know what you are doing and feel comfortable doing so (cultured marble is NOT difficult to cut) If you can't make the adjustments yourself, mark where the cuts need to be on the marble with a permanent marker and take it back to the marble shop.
You will probably have a small gap (1/8" +/-) all the way around...that's okay, you will fill that in with caulk. If it fits properly, just put a good thick "squiggly" of silicone caulk on the framing board the sill will sit on, install the sill and press firmly. (If there is a gap between the actual window and "framing sill" you will want to run a nice heavy bead of silicone caulk to prevent air from getting in. If the gap between the window and framing sill is BIG, you might consider stuffing it with insulation before installing your new sill!)
Now, here is the tricky part...you really should use silicone caulk to fill the gaps...and that stuff is NOT for the novice. A 100% silicone will not clean up with water AND most are not paintable. So if you are not a GREAT caulker, I would suggest using a "painter's caulk." Easy clean up and you don't have to worry about it if it gets on the wall or trim...because it will hold paint.
Remember my instructions about caulk...cut the tip small and at a 45 degree angle, with a very sharp razor blade. When you caulk a gap, squeeze the gun trigger gently and keep it moving along the gap. The deeper and wider the gap, the slower you will want to move the gun....the narrower or shallower the gap, the faster. Again, it is a learned art....practice does make perfect. But caulking is a necessity with MOST DIY projects!!!
If you are really afraid you are going to make a big mess, take the time to tape off the area...run masking/paint tape along both sides of the "gap"...caulk...wipe with your finger...immediately pull up tape!!! If you are going to attempt using silicone caulk, I would highly recommend doing this!!! Keep mineral spirits handy for clean up!
After you run a bead of caulk, take your finger and run it along the caulk/gap. You want a nice, smooth "line."
Caulk between the sill and the window/wall/trim...all the way around. If you are using painter's caulk, it will easily clean up with water...silicone caulk cleans up with mineral spirits.
The entire process really isn't that difficult...and in the end you have a beautiful window sill that will never rot or chip, is super easy to clean and is very forgiving when you leave the window open during a thunderstorm!
BTW, if you are having a new solid surface installed in your kitchen or bathrooms I would highly recommend having the installer cut and install a new sill for any windows from the solid surface you are using...I had my granite installer cut a window sill for my kitchen window! Looks beautiful and no more worries when I forget to shut the window before it rains!
I told you earlier in the week this time change thing would be the death of me. I. AM. DYING. It makes me work too late in the day. Today I started rebuilding my storage building door and painting the shutters...a project I will share when I am done. Funny thing is, with all the work I do, I threw my back out this morning WASHING MY TRUCK! Immediately went the chiropractor, came home and started taking down shutters and building a new door...and I wonder why I feel like death tonight!!! Geez.
But on to something fun!!! Since I didn't get today's project ready to share, I'll share an oldie but definitely awesome!
When I first bought my 1800 s.f. 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home it was plenty for my family then. After a year I added a den and a year later I added a "master suite." But I have always known that a big master bathroom was something I could easily live without. I basically shower, primp and do "other" business in there...rarely do I have time to lounge around in my whirlpool tub with candles and a good book. As a matter of fact, I think I have tried out the whirlpool maybe twice in 13 years. When my house was under construction I added a glass block window over the tub before I tiled. (I bought the house while it was being built but did a lot of the finish work myself!) The mistake I made was not adding an operable window at the time.
While they were installing the GOLD shower doors, I was thinking "EWWWWW! What was I thinking when I picked THAT!" I disliked it from day one...but I attempted (unsuccessfully) to decorate around them for 12 years! I also tried to add much needed storage by adding a little white cabinet. But try as I might, I could never get the bathroom to "feel" and work the way I needed it to. The ONLY thing I liked about it were the beautiful maple paprika cabinets I have throughout my house...to this day I still love my kitchen cabinets! But in the bathroom...not so much!
So last year I decided to do a "semi" makeover in my bathroom. I had just bought some beautiful granite at an auction...enough for my kitchen and all three bathrooms (again, I promise to tell you about that ubber sweet deal!) This is what I ended up with....
Okay, where do I start. Very tight budget so I had to spend wisely!
Paint, that is a given in any room makeover...light, clean...gallon at the most! I did paint the ceilings but after 13 years, it was time!
All the tile was fine. Thank goodness because that can be costly! But the shower doors HAD to go...gold...seriously, what was I smoking? Removing old shower doors is seriously the EASIEST and one of the biggest changes you can make in a bathroom. Remove the doors. Just lift up and tilt out. Take a hammer and carefully knock the top bar "up." Be careful that it doesn't hit you in the head (yeah, I really do learn these things the hard way). Now, MOST shower doors have just 3 little screws securing the side brackets to the wall/tile/insert. So take the little screws out and "pop" the side rails off the wall. Usually silicone is used as an adhesive, so you may have to do a little prying on the side rails and the bottom rail, but they will come up. After all the rails are removed, take a razor blade and gently scrap the silicone off the walls/tile/tub. The three little holes...just take a little bit of silicone and "fill" them. Haul the entire insert to the curb and say "bye, bye!" Buy a pretty rod and spa curtain and say good bye to soap scum and that nasty black crud that grows in the rails!
Cabinets. I bought new cabinets. Big expense. But in a bit, I am going to share a way to change the entire look of your cabinets and bathroom without spending a lot of money!!! Seriously...you WANT this!
I was going for "modern" so I decided to go with brush nickel fixtures and hardware. I priced the cabinet hardware at a local home decor store....$28 A PIECE...I only needed 7 but really...$28 for a stupid little handle? That is when I discovered myknobs.com Found the hardware for around $8 a piece....SWEET!
Originally I was going to put in two mirrors...but I bought this one on sale at Hobby Lobby for the hall bath and it didn't work in there so I hung it in the master bath and loved it....so I put in the totally awesome pendant light fixture instead! Well, okay, my totally awesome son in law installed it when he put in the recess lights (not pictures)!
There is only me...and it's a small bathroom...so two sinks was a waste in my opinion. I decided to add much needed storage and just have one sink. I got the sink and faucet on Overstock.com! They have great prices on bathroom fixtures. Always check them before you buy any fixtures or lighting!
Again, great deal on the granite top. Glass tile back splash...yum! A small amount of glass block in a bath back splash can add A LOT of style and class for very little! (That will be a great tutorial...it's super easy!)
The biggest change was the new window. That required some pretty serious construction and vinyl and sheetrock repair but it was doable. And having an operable window in a small bathroom is a must have in my opinion!!! I put in one of those nifty "crank out" kinds and I loooove it!!! It is so nice to be able to air out the bathroom on nice days!
And of course when you do a "remodel" there are always those "little surprises." Like the wad of pine needles and leaves I found in the HVAC vent....no air was getting through those vents....but some critter obviously had during construction. I also discovered that when the plumber installed the wall plumbing behind the cabinets (tech term, rough in) he tore out the sheetrock and insulation, and then the cabinet guys just set the cabinets right over the gaping hole in the wall....you could literally see daylight when I removed the vanity. I always wondered why the floor was soooo cold!! And I never could figure out how water pipes I KNEW were in the floor managed to freeze when it was bitter cold.
So I promised an inexpensive cabinet makeover....a process that will change the entire look of your bathroom and is ubber easy!!! Seriously, it is soooo easy that it totally offended my "craftsman" senses. Keep in mind, I just came to terms with painting wood furniture...so "refinishing" cabinets with this process really offended my senses. But I tried it in my kid's bathroom and my guest bath and I LOVE it! My daughter has refinished her bathroom cabinets, I have used it in the kitchen in my manager's house, and one of my friends just refinished her entire master bath! It is amazing!
I found this process on Pinterest....which linked me to "Monica Wants It." Monica gives a GREAT tutorial on refinishing cabinets...follow it to the T...do not deviate. (Monica used this on oak cabinets...I have maple...worked great on both! I also used it on unfinished oak and it worked just fine!) I have used it three times, and it has never failed me! Nor my daughter nor my friend! Totally awesome. (I wish my photography did it justice...but it doesn't!)
If you need to make an inexpensive change in your bathroom, use this tutorial to refinish the cabinets (don't forget the hardware!), get rid of that nasty shower door, give the walls a fresh coat of paint and update your lighting! You would be surprised what a few little changes will make! And YOU CAN DO IT!
Oh, and one personal tip...over the years I have changed all my towels to WHITE! Why? Because I can bleach them and they always smell fresh...no more musty towels. And they look awesome in my new bathroom! Very "spa" like! And TJMaxx or Marshalls always have great prices on shower curtains and bath rugs!!!
Bathrooms are a great place to learn to DIY. You can go big and do big, or you can start small and do a little at a time! Budget, time and desire dictate!
Have questions on how you can "change" your bathroom...email some pictures and I will give you some suggestions! beckcampbell@cox.net
