Paint your front door numbers...the right way!

Here I shared with you how to properly paint your front door. People may never see your pretty bathroom or awesome master closet, but anyone who comes to your home will probably see your front door! I have a small, simple front porch but I try to keep it "pretty" and clean!

My neighbor, Mary Ann, painted their address on their front door.

SUPER cute!

I decided I wanted my numbers on my door (imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery!) Since I am more into the "mid century/modern" look right now I asked for contemporary numbers.

Mary Ann knew exactly what I was talking about. She went online and found the font I wanted, resized the numbers and printed them out!

I use sewing trace paper when tracing anything onto walls and fabric and it worked perfectly on my door! I taped a piece of trace paper on the back of the paper template, measured, centered, taped it to the door, and then traced the numbers with a pen. Perfect....

Then I used tiny little craft brushes to paint the numbers with latex paint.

Such a simple little project that takes hardly any time at all...but gives the door a little "character!" And this is the perfect time of the year to get these little projects done!

As you can see, I have started planting my containers. As I mentioned in this post, I plant almost exclusively in pots now. So much simpler than crawling around on the ground, but still gives me those "pops" of color around the yard!

I am so grateful for the beautiful spring weather!!!

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Antique china hutch before and after....

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!

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The den makeover reveal...

Honestly, on the surface it doesn't look like much of a reveal.

I had plans...BIG plans. New couch and rug, paint, new flooring, fireplace makeover...teal, greys, whites.

I found my inspiration, made a plan and started the plan.

When it was all said and done, it really doesn't look like I have changed much. My back and checking account say otherwise!!!!

Two huge projects did get completed. I painted and refaced the fireplace with travertine tile...

....and installed new wood flooring!

A little TIP for wood or laminate flooring. This is an "engineered wood flooring" you glue down. The transition pieces for this flooring were about $50 for a 6' stick, and I need three pieces! I went to Lowes and found unfinished transition pieces for around $15 a stick and stained them to match the flooring. Much cheaper! When I did my master bedroom floors in laminate, I did the same with the existing transition pieces...just gel stained them to match the new flooring!

Those two projects alone made a world of difference!

I did what I always do when looking for the perfect paint color ...I painted two samples on the wall and looked at it...for weeks.

But when it came right down to it, even with the new flooring, I really love the original color. This is my "fall room." Fall is my favorite time of the year and I just love the colors associated with the season...burnt reds, oranges, yellows, etc!

So off to Sherwin Williams I went to see if they could mix a 15 year old color. God bless 'em...they mixed it right up. I painted over the "test patches" and gave the entire wall a fresh coat of the same exact original color.

I did infuse a few splashes of "teal" here and there. It all started with these little birdies I picked up at Midtown several months ago...

I THOUGHT I would like this table in teal...

Boy was I wrong....I really disliked it so when I cleared out the furniture to install the flooring, it went straight to the garage for another makeover...

I originally painted these candle sticks teal...nope, not happening. So again, back to the garage for a second makeover.

I did paint this lamp a soft "teal."

It's not really "my style" but it is different and I like that. And the shade is actually brass with a black exterior. I got a great deal on it at a design studio auction. It had the original $450 price tag on it. A little pricey even for a heavy brass lamp...but for my $15 bid it was worth it! Believe it or not, you can paint brass!! A little metal primer and a little spray paint!

After dinner with my super awesome girlfriends, we made our usual TJMaxx run! I found these awesome pillows and decided they will look perfect on the grey couch I want to eventually get for this room...eventually...someday.

Not sure they are "all that" on the old yellow couch, but they will inspire me to eventually "transition" this room into the vision I had in the beginning...greys, teal, whites. For now, I will leave the original pillows...they have a little bit of teal in them...just for the sake of the ratty old couch!

Not all "makeovers" happen over night. Sometimes, you have to take your time and do what your back and budget allow.

So yes, I still want to buy a new couch...and a new rug...a few new club chairs.

In time. For now, I will just enjoy the new floors and the "new" fireplace!

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Best laid plans....

The den...my nemesis.

If you have been following along, you know I am in the middle of a full blown "makeover" of my den!

I did all the right things...I gathered my inspiration, I drew up a plan and made a detailed list and then I started working that plan!

The fireplace makeover went well. I painted the wood mantel and surround and finished the tile work. I have my flooring picked out so I decided it was time to get down to business and pick a paint color.

My plan was to transition to "lighter-brighter" colors...greys, teals, and my favorite "white" trim color, Swiss Coffee.

When picking a paint color, I always try to narrow it down to 2 or 3 colors....

I picked out two pretty "teal" colors and set off to the paint store to pick up a few samples.

I always paint large swatches of the colors I MIGHT want on the wall and let them sit for a few days! This is the best way to pick a wall color...it allows you to see the color in all different lights, at different times of the day.

(I know they may look the same but one has a little more "green")

This is where I am stuck. Literally. The wall has looked like this for over a week.

Why?

Because after I removed the black marble and installed the lighter travertine tile around the fireplace, I kind of like the burnt red wall color again.

Truth is, I never disliked it. As I said before, I love this room. It gets a TON of natural light from all the windows so it can handle the darker wall color and black accents. I just have a bad case of "Pinterest Envy."

So I am stuck.

What to do. What to do.

Wait...that is what I will do. I am going to wait until I get the darker floors down and see how I feel about the wall color. I am replacing the Butterscotch Oak flooring with a darker "walnut" colored hardwood. Maybe after the flooring is down I will get a better feel for what wall color I really want.

I THOUGHT I wanted to paint this table teal because the stain color is too close to the color of the new flooring and I was afraid it would "disappear!"

I was wrong....

After looking at it for a week, I had no doubt it was NOT what I wanted! I think it is hideous. So when I began clearing out the room to prep for new flooring, it was the first piece to hit the garage and get ANOTHER makeover. I will reveal the RIGHT color when I finally get the room done!

My point? Sometimes all the planning and picking and stressing turns out to be exactly what you DON'T want...and that is okay. No, it is not fun to have to repaint a piece ...but the good news is the prep work is already done. No it is not fun to repaint a wall...but it is better than living with a color you don't like.

What do I know I definitely want? The fireplace tile...I love it! The darker wood flooring...I have seen it in several homes and I know I will love it.

So once the floors are down I will step back and re-evaluate "the plan."

That is one good thing about getting older...20 years ago I would have wanted all this done in a weekend and I would have worked night and day to get it done. Now, not so much. I am perfectly content to sit here and look at a tri-colored wall and patched flooring.

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Spring is ALMOST here....

I say "almost" because our zone freeze date is April 11th...and I know from past experience that we can get some pretty cool temperatures even past that date. So I force myself to sit on my hands and NOT plant any tender annuals until well past that date.

But this week the hostas began popping their little heads up...and that is my sign to kick it into gear and at the very least start mulching beds.

My yard in the spring reminds me of why I don't want to sell my house...but after several days of raking and mulching, I am reminded of why I probably should sell it....man oh man!

Regardless, I love it. The daffodils have come and all but gone! But the Bradford pear trees are in full bloom and the vinca minor is showing off it's beautiful blue flowers!

Just beautiful!

I am still waiting on my tile to finish the fireplace. In the mean time I have been working on a few little knick knack projects for that room. With the weather warming up, I can also get out and start painting a few "projects" that have been languishing in the garage during the cold weather.

So much to do.

And I love it!!!

This past weekend Brian and I went to an auction at a home decor store that is going out of business. I have never been a big Easter decorator, but I did find some darling bunnies....

I like the little touches of "spring" in the house.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful Easter weekend!

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The fireplace...putting the plan in motion!

If you have been following along you know I am in the middle of a major overhaul in my den. Here I shared "Finding Inspiration," "Making a Plan" and "Putting It All Together."

My plan is pretty extensive....the fireplace, flooring, and paint....

One of the things you have to do when putting a plan in motion is know what you can afford to do immediately and what will have to wait. I know I can afford to reface my fireplace, replace my flooring and paint.

Knowing what you CAN do will determine the ORDER in which you do it.

I need to do my fireplace and paint before I do my floors! So.....

The first thing I did was remove the old black marble and paint the wood mantel and surround.

I know I originally painted the surround with oil-based paint. I always paint trim with oil based but if you aren't sure, you can easily test paint with alcohol and a cotton ball. Just rub the paint with a cotton ball with alcohol on it. If the paint comes off it is latex...if not, oil based. This is important because if you are changing the type of paint, you need to prime with a good primer!

Fortunately I didn't need to prime. I sanded the entire surround just enough to knock off the shine. I added a little Penetrol to my oil based paint and used a really good quality brush! Not a huge change but the paint lightened and freshened the surround up a bit!

When I removed the black marble, the sheetrock was intact. But honestly, I know the tile I am putting up is super heavy so I decided to replace the sheetrock with durrock. Durrock is a "concrete board" that is often used in wet areas. My sheetrock is 1/2" and durrock comes in 1/2"...perfect!!!

Durrock is super easy to install...measure, mark and score the board with a utility knife and "snap" it just like you would cut sheetrock!

I cut out the sheetrock above and below the fireplace, making sure the vertical cuts were on studs. This allowed me to fit the durrock without having "scab" in any brace blocking! (I did add a little insulation below the fireplace!)

I put a little construction mastic (Liquid Nail) on the framing boards and then screwed the durrock to the studs with screws. Again, I am looking for the "strength" factor of the durrock because the tile I am installing is HEAVY!

Even though the walls behind the fireplace are insulated, I used silicone caulk to fill and seal all the "gaps" between the durrock and sheetrock and around the fireplace!

Now the fun part...installing the new tile!

I ordered a random travertine cut face tile from Wayfare.com.

It is BEAUTIFUL but there was a little problem. When the tile arrived there were several broken pieces. Since it was a little pricey, I didn't order a lot of "waste" and I knew I might not have enough if I couldn't use several pieces!

I honestly don't think it was the fault of the packing or shipping. Travertine is a "soft" tile and has a lot of "character" in it...so I think it is more susceptible to cracking than solid porcelain or ceramic tiles.

Regardless, I immediately emailed Wayfare.com and explained the problem. In less than 2 hours they had responded and set up a replacement shipment. Now THAT is amazing customer service!!!!!

Most wall tiles are installed with a premixed "mastic" but travertine wall tile is installed on walls with a special "no sag" thin set mortar you have to mix. You can buy it at any tile store. Travertine, like porcelain, glass or ceramic tile, also cuts beautifully with a wet saw. I have one but if you don't and you want to DIY tile, you can rent a wet saw!

My travertine is a "random cubic mosaic." The individual pieces of tile are fused together into sheets with a web backing and the sheets of tile fit together like a little puzzle! It is a "dry stack" tile which means there are no gaps between the pieces and no grout.

I made a "layout plan" and worked that plan!

I started at the top. I knew I might have to cut the entire horizontal edge of the tile and I didn't want to do that at the top because it is a "focal" point. And I don't have my floor tile yet so being the impatient person I am...well, I had to start at the top.

This tile is heavy so when I installed the top section I "braced" it with little boards, leveled and secured into the studs with sheetrock screws. I let the top section dry overnight before installing the side tile.

To install, I spread the "no sag" mortar onto the wall with a 1/4" x 1/4" notched trowel....

...and then just pressed the tile in place! (By the way, I would recommend cutting and "dry fitting" your tile BEFORE applying the thin set. That way you know if the tile is going to "fit" before you get the adhesive all over it!!!)

The process is the same for porcelain, ceramic or glass tile...only you will probably use a premixed "wall mastic" and a smaller notched trowel (always use the mastic and trowel recommended by the manufacturer!) And again, since this is a "dry stack" tile and there are no grout joints, you don't have to use spacers to space the tile. If you are installing a tile that has "grout joints" you will want to get little rubber spacers so all your grout joints are equal!

I learned real quick that these sections of tile are indeed VERY heavy, so it is best to only do a few sections at a time, brace them and let the thinset set up before removing the bracing and applying the next few sections.

I want the wall tile to sit snug on the floor tile so I will install the floor tile before I install the bottom wall pieces! As you can see, I ran out of tile...again, because some of the pieces broke.

So when my floor tile comes in next week I will get that down and then I will finish the face.

I could have installed the floor tile first and then worked from bottom to top. But again, I was afraid I might have to cut the vertical width of the wall tile, and I didn't want to do that at the top. I THINK I have it measured out where I won't have to cut the bottom tiles...I should have 1" between the wall tile and floor tile...perfect for the 1" wide tiles.

Installing decorative tile (whether travertine, porcelain, ceramic or glass) is NOT hard. It is just a "puzzle" you have to put together...slow and steady! Using the proper tools to cut tile is important as well as using the proper mastic!

There are a million video tutorials for installing tile so don't be afraid to DIY tile installation. And as I have said before, a little decorative tile, whether on a back splash or around a fireplace can make a huge impact for very little money!

My original plan was to paint the fireplace wall a pretty soft teal and add teal accents here and there. Truthfully, I love this wall color and now that the fireplace is "brightened" I am rethinking my plan.

What is the old saying..."The best laid plans..." Yeah, well, now I am rethinking some of my decisions (like the candlesticks I painted teal, only to repaint black! And I am not even going to show you the side table I painted teal...ick!)....and that is okay.

I know I still want new flooring and I am seriously thinking about getting those down before I make any decisions about paint colors. The flooring I picked out is a lot darker than what is there, so I may change my mind again!

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Putting it all together on paper! Your DIY plan-Part 2!

By now you should have gathered a file full of "inspiration" and measured and drawn your project/room!

Again, I am working on my den, so my "plan" is reworking an entire room...but the "rules" apply to any DIY project, large or small!

When designing a room, I wish I could tell you to pick a couch first...or use a rug to pull your colors from...or pick your wall color first, then pick everything else.

I can't. Again, I think you need to do what YOU love and honestly, what you can afford. Maybe you are stuck with your couch at this moment. That is okay...pillows, throws and slip covers can mask a color or style that might not fit into the over all plan right at the moment. Maybe you have a treasured rug you want to use...great...you can always pull colors from the rug and work from there. Everyone's needs and budget are different and sometimes the best thing you can do is work with what you have to keep.

That being said, I would like to point out that for 12 years I tried unsuccessfully to decorate WITH the ugly brass colored shower doors I had installed when I bought this house. That was a mistake. Sometimes you have to work "around" a decor ick rather than "with" it...in other words, do what you LOVE...not what you think you have to do just because you can't change one element.

Let's be brutally honest....few of us can afford to do a whole room project ALL at once, so sometimes we have to keep and work around a few elements that we just can't afford to change right now (maybe a piece of furniture or flooring.) Still doable.

For example, let's say you have a brown couch...and you want light, bright and blue. Trust me, you can "mask" (and even enhance) the color of a couch with throws and pillows. An undesirable floor? Try a colorful rug or even a neutral outdoor rug (yes, you can put a rug over carpet!) Do a search on Pinterest and I would bet you will find your "undesirable" camouflaged by someone else's "craftiness."

Remember too, if budgets are tight, you have to be willing to shop resale, garage sales, thrift stores and consignment shops....even your own home or the home of friends and family! You have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and paint a table or reupholster a chair. Maybe sew a few throw pillows.

One important cardinal rule ...DO NOT put any element in a room you do not love just to "fill space." Empty space is better than having something that causes you to grit your teeth every time you look at it! Trust me...someday you will find the perfect piece....and you might miss it entirely if something is already cluttering up the space.

So....let's put together the entire plan.

Again, you should have a file of inspiration and a drawing of your space with all your measurements and a detailed list of things you WANT to do! (Again, doesn't matter if it is a dresser or an entire room!)

Now we can actually start looking at style and colors.

Look at all your inspiration pictures...what are the common elements. What do you love about each picture? The color? The style? The hardware? The lighting?

Now is the time to take a hard look at each photo and draw out what you love. Ignore what you DON'T like and focus only on what you DO like.

Can you incorporate that element or color in "your plan?" No, I can not turn my little 16x16 den into a gymnasium sized lounging room. But I can find the common elements in each of my inspiration pictures and incorporate those elements into my plan.

Maybe you have three pictures that all have different styles of furniture...but the COLOR scheme is similar in all of them. Maybe you have three entirely different dressers...but all have similar hardware. Maybe you have three rooms, all different, but they all have a furniture style you love. (mid century, classic, transitional) See a pattern emerging?

This is where a "design board" may come in handy for some people. I know REAL designers use them because it helps customers visualize the space and all the elements. If you are one who desperately needs a visual, by all means, go for it.

Don't feel like you can't do this just because you don't know how to use Photoshop. Putting together a "design board" can be as simple as cutting out the elements you love in your "inspiration" photos and glueing them onto a piece of plan paper. It really is THAT simple.

One thing I found helpful when I did my master bedroom was using Design Seeds to find color combos.

The site doesn't give you sources for the color, but it gives you combinations that will work together. If you have trouble coordinating colors, it is a great resource for just that. Let's say you love blue, but don't know what other colors you can pull in with the blue....awesome site for just that! Or again, you have a brown couch, love "blue" and need other colors that will pull those colors together...they have it!

The Dreaded COST!!!!

Back to MY plan.

First thing on my list is the fireplace. I know it needs to be repainted the trim color I am now using and I want to get rid of the black marble surround. After looking at my "inspirations" I knew I wanted a "cut face" travertine. But I liked the "smooth" finish travertine vs. the "rough" cut.

So I found what I wanted online and ordered it....

Honestly, I didn't just order it from a picture online...I actually shopped around locally. The only thing I can't find online is a travertine I can use on the floor. I know what I want so when this tile comes in I will just have to take a piece to the local tile shops and find it (yes, that is harder than it sounds!)

Since I am removing the old marble in order to put up tile, I need to strengthen the wall backing by replacing the sheetrock with durrock (cement board). While I have the sheetrock off, I want to add a little insulation around the fireplace. Note, all these changes are on my list...so I know exactly what I want to do and what materials I will need (fortunately I had both durrock and insulation so I didn't have to buy any!)

I pretty much know what all the elements will cost me because I can figure, in my head, what I need and how much I need and what I can do myself. And I know what the materials and labor will cost....on average.

If you don't have a clue, take your "paper plan" to a home improvement store and shop around. Let them figure out how much you need of all your "wants." Look at different elements and get an idea of what each element of our plan will cost!

Shop your local stores and look online. Read reviews.

And next to every project on your list, write down what it is going to cost! ALL the materials and labor costs. Installing tile...don't forget the mastic. Painting...don't forget the rollers, brushes and pans. New flooring...can you DIY? No...how much is the labor? And if you are installing new flooring, how much will it cost to remove and dispose of the existing floor. Do you have to replace trim...don't forget the cost of paint, caulk, and even simple things like nails and putty!

Sadly, this is where we start trimming! Don't take the things you can't afford off the list right now, but highlight the things you CAN afford to do right now, and mentally set the other items aside for a later date.

My plan? The fireplace "update." New flooring...a must, and the reason I started all this. Paint the walls. Changes to some of the decor elements and additional seating.

And yes, I am going to have to wait on a few things, even though I am able to do all the labor myself. I know the fireplace tile is going to cost me around $300. And the new flooring around $900. Paint...around $100. So the new furniture will have to wait for now. As much as I would love a new couch and a couple of side chairs, it is just not in the budget at the moment.

And that is okay...kinda. Well, not really, but I am doing what I need to do and the changes will be enough to tide me over for the time being.

Part of my plan for my master bedroom was to reupholster the two club chairs. That project will be time consuming and costly...and it is not on my "priority" list right now. So it can wait...someday I will do them, but not today...and that is okay. It is still in my "plan!"

AGAIN, A TIP! Sometimes what is there clouds our mind. If you can, take EVERYTHING out of the room. Set aside the things you intend to keep and GET RID OF THE THINGS YOU DO NOT NEED OR NO LONGER WANT! Seriously, put them on Craigslist or drop them at your local Salvation Army (And don't forget to get a receipt...it is worth money on your taxes!)

"Empty" the canvas. If you aren't going to use the pillows, rugs, furniture, etc...get it out of the space! Same with furniture makeovers...if you don't like the hardware that is on it, take it off! If you are going to paint a piece, but you don't know what color because you can't see past the orange stain, prime it white.

It is always easier to visualize new hardware and a different color if you start at "base neutral."

If you have dark walls and you can't imagine them "lighter and brighter" go ahead and prime the walls...take them back to "base neutral" and start from there.

Soooo...what is the secret to making a good plan?

Know what you love...and want....and need! And of course, what you can afford!

Find your inspiration.

Know what you have to work with by drawing a plan and making a detailed list.

Shop around, pick your materials and assign a cost for every project!

Decide what you can do NOW and what will have to wait!

And roll up your sleeves and get busy! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Over the next few weeks I will share a few of the DIY projects in this room...tile, flooring, painting. So stay tuned!

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Making your plan for your DIY project....part 1!

Here I talked about "Finding Your Inspiration" for your DIY project! Hopefully you have a "mental image" of WHAT you THINK you want your space or piece to be in the end! And a "file" full of inspirational pictures! DO NOT move forward until you have collected your "inspirations." And again, they don't have to be pictures of EXACTLY what your space IS or want it to be...just contain "elements" that you love!

Making a "plan" is a two part process.

First you have to know exactly what "space" you are dealing with.

Then you will figure out what elements you can pull from your inspirations.

First, take measurements. If it is a piece of furniture, measure it and draw it out...make notes on the side about what you want to do with the piece.

If it is a room, measure it...length, width, and the height of the walls....and draw it out. Measure the windows and doors and draw those on your plan.

You don't have to use a high tech "CAD" program to draw your room. I have tried to use the free online programs that let you design a room...I found the "learning curve" to be frustrating! And honestly, not worth my time!

Simple graph paper (they have it at office supply stores), a ruler and a pencil will do. Try to draw your space to scale if possible! For example, if you are using graph paper, make 1 square equal 3-4."

Measure every single thing you can think of. Having too many measurements is more helpful than not having enough. I usually "rough" draw it on plain paper, then transfer it on graph paper, to scale.

I am not adding curtains or window dressings so I did not measure or draw the windows...and I am not changing out my lighting or paddle fan...but if you are, you need to make sure that is in your plan.

Note my little orange tabs...that is furniture! If you draw the plan to scale, you can cut furniture to scale out of sticky notes (Post-Its) and arrange and rearrange without breaking your back! I measured the pieces I have that will be going back into the space and included a few "generic" chairs I want to add...maybe not right this minute, but eventually. You can find the "generic" sizes for chairs, tables, couches, etc. online. For example, I already have a side table that I intend to use...so I measured it and placed it on my plan. However, if I needed a new table, I would have the exact size of the "space" available for a new table.

This little "paper plan" will help you in several respects. First, if you don't know how to figure square footage for flooring or paint quantity, the salesman at your home improvement store will help you figure out how much you will need of any product...flooring, tile, paint, trim, etc.

Second, it gives you a true picture of how much space you have to deal with when arranging furniture!

On this little plan make a detailed list of EVERYTHING you want to do in the space....including repairs that need to be made (fix windows, replace trim, repair holes in the wall, etc!) Even if you think or know you can't afford to do it right now, write it on the plan! Someday....

In my case, I want to paint the fireplace mantel, install a new tile surround, lay new flooring and new base trim and paint. I want to change up the accessories a bit and eventually add additional seating.

If you know how to figure "square footage" or paint quantity, go ahead and put that figure next to each of the things you want to change.

This list needs to be super detailed. Until you know EXACTLY what you need and want to do, you can't make a list of materials and assign a material and labor cost!

Right now, don't worry about colors or curtains or knick-knacks...we are just dealing with the "space."

Trust me, if you start throwing colors on the wall or buying furniture before these two steps, you will NOT be happy!

HINT: Sometimes it is hard to "visualize" changes to your space when there is stuff already there! If that is the case, empty out the room...take out the furniture, window dressings, rugs, knick-knacks, etc. Think of it this way...it is hard to paint a picture on a canvas that already has a picture on it! Also, if you know you do not want that element in your new plan, GET RID OF IT!!! Sometimes we have a tendency to throw things back in a room just because we have it...so donate it, sell it or trash it!

The actual "design" and making a budget comes next...so get your tape measure out and stay tuned!

Once you have "made your plan" go here to see how we put it all together!

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Finding inspiration for your DIY project....

One of my favorite blogs is Remodeloholic.com. It is a great "one stop shop" for anyone wanting to do a DIY project, whether it be decorate a room or paint a piece of furniture!

It is one of the few sites I have on my Facebook feed. Don't ask me how it got there...somehow I "follow" it so all the post and questions show up on my Facebook feed.

Time and again, people ask "What color do I paint it, how do I lighten this room, how should I redecorate my room?" And I could answer almost every question with a simple answer...find your "inspiration" and "make a plan."

But that is easier said than done and that is exactly why people are asking complete strangers for help! Unfortunately, we all have different tastes and we all have different ideas of how we want a room to function or how we want a piece of furniture to look...so everyone has a different opinion. And if you ask me, that just makes it that much harder to decided what to do!

Deciding what color to paint a piece of furniture or a wall or what fabric to use to reupholster a chair or how to arrange a room are ALL things I struggle with. It took my 13 years to figure out what to do with my master bath and 15 years to do my master bedroom.

Now, I absolutely love those rooms! Love them! There are a few little things I still want to do...and I will in time. But I found my inspiration, made a plan and worked the plan.

And THAT is the key....find your inspiration, make a plan and work that plan. It doesn't matter if you are painting an old dresser or reupholstering a chair or remodeling an entire room! If you start making changes without knowing what you want the end result to be and a start to finish plan, you WILL be disappointed.

Think of it this way...when you build a house, you start by finding a plan....well, first you have to figure out WHERE you want to build and how much you can spend, but after that, you have to find a plan. Before you pick colors, cabinets, flooring...anything...you have a "plan."

It makes no difference if it is a big project or a little project...you have to have a clear "vision" (the plan) and you have to work that plan. Yes, you may make a few changes along the way, but you still have to work the basic plan!

I am currently "itching" to change my den. I need new flooring and after 15 years it's time to do a few little updates. Truth be told, I still love this room...it is my "fall" room. Burnt oranges, black and golds....

I absolutely love this room, especially during the holidays.

But lately I have really found myself drawn to the lighter spaces..teals, whites, creams...and I have decided it is time for a change!

So, here is the process....and keep in mind, it doesn't matter whether you are making over an entire room or painting a dresser. Smaller scale, but same process!

1) Find your inspiration. By that, I mean find what you REALLY love. I do this by looking at pictures on the internet...blogs, Pinterest, magazine sites. I look at TONS of pictures...if ANYTHING in a picture "trips my trigger" I immediately put it in a "file."

For me, it is a computer file...but if you aren't real computer "savvy" you can always keep a real "paper" file with magazine clippings and pictures printed from the internet. (I just started this process...when I get done, there will probably be over one hundred photos in this file!)

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I may not like EVERYTHING about the space, but if there is one element I really like...the color, the style, the arrangement, the hardware.... I file it away.

I don't "dwell" on the picture...I don't nit-pick it. If I think "Oooh, that's kind of pretty" or "I really like that color/style/accent/whatever"...I file it. I ignore the "negatives" and see the "positives." If I like ONE little element in the photo, I file it!

Here you can see some photos I used as inspiration for my master bath! No, I don't have a million dollar space...but I was able to go back and look at all the pictures that I liked and find common elements that I was able to incorporate into my design.

For example, I want to "lighten" my fireplace by replacing the black marble surround with light tile. Here are some of my inspirations (I am SO sorry but I don't have "links" to the sources...these are pictures I have been "plucking" off Pinterest and putting in my inspiration file!)

My fireplace has a completely different trim surround. I don't have a hearth and I know I want the wall to be an accent color. I like the color of the herringbone tile on the left, but I prefer the subway tile on the right. Both give me an idea of what my fireplace would look like with a lighter tile surround! They help me visualize the change...now it is just a matter of going to the tile store and picking out the tile I want to use.

What about a simple piece of furniture? You see a picture of a dresser and you LOVE the hardware...not the color, not the style...just the hardware. File it! You see a dresser that is a completely different "style" than what you have, but you LOVE the color...file it!

If I see a picture of a room and I like the couch, but NOTHING else in the room, I file it.

Here are a few pictures that are currently in my "inspiration file" for my den....

The couch....

A club chair I LOVE.....

Note I don't have a "geo" mirror and my mantel is too high for a mirror. But I have a wood finish round mirror on one wall and this gives me an idea of how it will look painted. This picture also has a light fireplace surround. The chairs are not "my style" and I don't want white wainscoting...but I "plucked" the photo because of the tile surround and the mirror!

There are a few pieces in my den I will keep. I will take pictures of those items and put them in file.

So...how do you actually identify your "inspiration." Easy...after weeks or months or even years of "plucking", look at ALL your pictures and identify what element in each you love. Maybe you find yourself drawn to the same wall color...or the same style couch...or a specific cabinet hardware. There was something about each picture you loved. Find it....

Once you have found your "inspiration"...what you REALLY love in a space,... it is time to make a plan.

So the next post will be about "making a plan." Some people are able to "make a plan" on a fancy computer program or a "design board." And if you need that "visualization" that is great.

But first you need to create your space on paper by taking measurements and drawing it out.

So here is how you design a room...

1) Inspiration...covered that here so get busy "plucking" pictures. Again, don't dwell on EVERYTHING in the photo...if something in the photo grabs your attention, file it.

2) Measure and draw your space. You don't have to be an architect to do this...trust me!

3) Make a detailed list of EVERYTHING you want to do in the space.

4) Assign a budget to EVERYTHING you want to do in the space...every dime!

5) Start eating this elephant, one bite at a time (basically, working the plan!)

So stay tuned...I am going to cover each step of this process, one post at a time. While you are waiting, start "finding your inspiration" for the space or piece you want to change. Because until you know what you love, you can not move on to the next step!!!

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"Guest" room makeover...

Okay, so it's not really a "guest" room. It is Mitchell's room....but he hasn't actually lived here for 9 years. And it hasn't gotten a full makeover since he went off to college.

So many people can't wait for their babies to leave the nest so they can turn their rooms into hobby rooms or sewing rooms or perfectly styled guest rooms. Or maybe you want a "naked room." (You had to see the movie...Terry Bradshaw...one of my favorites!)

But I know the "babies" sometimes come home. My baby boys haven't yet established their "own" homes. So mama keeps all their "stuff" at her house and they still have a room to call their own.

It all started with this dresser!

Truth be told, it is a tad larger than I really wanted...but I couldn't resist. Mid century, walnut, gorgeous! (You have to check out the "before and after" to really appreciate it!)

The wall color. Bought the paint without ever looking at a paint chip. Revere Pewter. THE color everyone raves about on Pinterest. I didn't have time to look at thousands of paint chips to find the "perfect" color so this time I took the advice of total strangers, called the paint store and ordered 2 gallons sight unseen. I love it! It really is the "perfect" greige.

I took down and boxed up most of the plaques, certificates, jerseys and pictures. Puttied the holes. Painted the walls. Swept up all the dust bunnies. The trim was in pretty good shape...it was painted when I put down the laminate 8 years ago and hasn't gotten much wear since.

I got it all done and photographed and then Matt reminded me he wanted the comfy queen size bed. (See they DO come home!)

Geez....so I moved Mitchell's bed into Matt's room and Matt's full sized bed into Mitchell's room.

Simple right? Nope. That meant I had to move the furniture around in Matt's room to accommodate the larger bed. And the bedding for the full size bed wasn't "right" in Mitchell's room so I had to go buy new bedding....sheets, pillow cases, bed skirt. Fortunately I stick with plain white down comforters, using throws for color, so that was good!

The only thing I want to add is a full size head board. Matt never wanted one...but I think it needs it! Do you know how many full sized head boards I have bought and sold over the years? This is where patience is important...I KNOW I will find the perfect bed...I just have to be patient!