Oak banisters and railings can really date the look of a home. Replacing or even sanding and refinishing the banister are both costly update options. So, how can you tackle the update on a budget? Gel stain! This is the banister from my daughter’s new townhome – one of many projects we tackled on a...
Paint and hardware can totally transform any piece of furniture. I purchased this buffet at an estate sale for $30. To be honest, it wasn’t a great quality piece of furniture, but it had tons of storage. And, I wanted to experiment with using SW Naval on a piece – so, this was a low...
The fireplace mantel and surround in my investment property needed an update! The original had builder grade materials from the 1990’s and with a few new tiles, a chunky mantel and a can of spray paint, it looks totally new! The original fireplace had 4 x 4 white tile and classic trim and a thin...
A project piece with good bones makes for a great makeover! I found this little mid-century beauty on Facebook Marketplace and loved its clean lines and scale. The piece itself was solid, just in need of a little attention. The top had some damage but shaped up with some sanding, stain and polyurethane. I painted...
Ever find a really good deal and think “I’ll find something to do with it”? Well, that is how this project started — I found a $7 wood panel door at Goodwill and transformed it into this fun hanging outdoor holiday sign. And, once I had a plan, it was really fun to execute in...
It still amazes me the transformation a coat of paint can make. When I was preparing my house for sale, it seemed like I was painting everything (with Sherwin Williams paint, of course) – the main floor and the trim on the exterior as two examples. In addition to that, there was one vanity that...
If you are an avid DIYer, at this time of the year, you are looking for ideas for creative and personal gifts. For those of you with young ones in your life, perhaps some of these ideas might give you some inspiration to get those gifts underway. I wish I could say that these Ideas...
I am a lover of travel and it makes me happy to see memories of my adventures around the house. During my travels, I make it a point to collect small prints, paintings or take some great photos that I can use to dress up the walls in my home. And, I have to say,...
Barn doors can be expensive, but with a little creativity and work to source the materials, I was able to make a barn door for under $200. A couple of years ago when barn doors were gaining popularity and I wanted to try one on for size. My son moved into a new home and needed...
I love the story behind old furniture and frequently think of the original owners while I work on making the piece pretty again. This beautiful find, was sitting in the basement of an estate sale home, under a bunch of pots and pans. The previous owner used this drafting table 50-60 years ago. The top...