Ever look at a dated furniture piece and wonder how to give it new life? This piece was a handmade sideboard and needed a bit of a transformation. (I only tackled the bottom piece.) I took lots of inspiration from several intragramers and furniture manufacturers and cobbled together great features into a single piece! Reduce the Height I thought this piece would work well as a TV console. The height was reduced 8 inches to 28 inches. I also removed the panels in the small doors. Shelf I used wood from my scrap wood pile to add a bottom shelf....
DIY Stationary Bike Computer Stand
I have really enjoyed the Peloton workout since they offered the app on a 90 day trial during Covid. I have a spin bike and set my iPad on the handlebars to watch/do the workout. Unfortunately, with the iPad on the handlebars, it is difficult to stand and pedal during the workouts. This DIY stationary bike computer stand is working great! I didn’t grab photos all along the way but the feature photo offers a good idea of the PVC plumbing pieces that were used. (1) 1 inch PVC pipe (2) 1 inch flange to attach stand to platform (4)...
Anthropologie Tassle Curtain DIY
In my latest flip, I brought together disparate decor items to create a cohesive and cozy look in master bedroom. In this case, I got inspiration from these adorable tassle curtains below from Anthro. These tassles made all the difference in bringing together the various colors (blue, yellow, cream and grey) from the staging pieces I collected along with texture! I found these curtain panels on Facebook Marketplace (originally from World Market) that work well with the light gray wall color. The blue from the adjoining master bath vanity and storage cabinet needed to be carried into the master bedroom...
Cozy DIY Kitchen Ledge
For a recent kitchen renovation, I was looking for a feature that would add some warmth and interest without breaking the bank. The simple route would have been to install the quartz used for the countertop for the ledge as well. But, this would have added to the “white” in the countertop, backsplash and walls. Big box stores and the local lumber yard were either too costly or did not have 2 x 15 piece of wood. I improvised by joining 3 pieces of 2 x 6 together – similar to how one would assemble a table top. I selected...
Favorite Projects of 2020
As I look back at the projects from 2020, it was hard to pick my favorites – but, my picks were centered around things I made for family and/or things I learned along the way. Here’s a quick recap! PROJECTS FOR FAMILY Little Cooper made his debut this year and was definitely a highlight for 2020. This quilt weaves the old with the new. The bins directly below are for little Cooper’s nursery. These tired pieces were given new life and a new home for family. Or, this side table was just built from scratch for my daughter. Loved working...
Making Lighting Cohesive & Affordable
Lighting can be pricey, but it doesn’t have to be to make a statement. There are several ways to find deals. In a blogpost earlier this year, I shared some tips on sourcing lights. Check it out here. For each of my rehabs, I work within a tight budget and have to be creative in making the fixtures look cohesive. I found color and shape tie the fixtures together in many instances. In this area, there is the entry light, kitchen counter pendants and a chandelier. (This is midway through the renovation.) I linked the lights together with the cylinder...
Make Your Pantry Custom
The pantry is a key feature in a kitchen so why not make it look custom? This newly built pantry was a blank slate and needed some interest with pattern, color and dimension. The wall paint is Sherwin Williams Alabaster – one of my “go to’s” for ceilings, mouldings and walls. I had a stencil made in the same pattern as the backsplash tile and used three colors I had on hand, in an attempt to replicate the tile. (Sherwin Williams Alpaca, Alabaster, Pewter Cast) Taking a queue from the wooden ledge in the kitchen, these faux floating shelves are...
Vintage Vanity & Storage Made Classic & Current
Sometimes it takes some vision to repurpose vintage pieces while preserving the charm and making them work in newer spaces. These two pieces were gifted to me by a good friend and are about 100 years old. I really deliberated over what to do with these. After some research, I found that while these are old, they were only worth about $150 each. This is what they looked like when I got them. I held onto these for several months and coincidentally, the china cabinet was the perfect size to fit in a nook in the master bath and the...
MCM Pieces get new life with Some Embellishments
These mid-century modern tables have sleek lines were good project pieces with a lot of lessons. Another way to say this is — I almost threw these out because it was challenging all along the way. Ever have a project that you think is a good idea in the beginning and just lose steam? I was feeling that with these two tables. If I started with the “finish” photo in mind, it would have been much easier. I love “before” pictures”. This is what these tables looked like before I started. I was overly optimistic that I would be able...
Key Tips for Painting Cabinets
Newly painted cabinets can totally transform a kitchen and worth the effort. I researched YouTube and Pinterest and found what worked for me within my skillset! Below is what I found to be the key success factors in getting the job done. Paint & Primer Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane works so well on cabinets, doors and trim. It is SW’s top of the line paint, so a bit pricey. Purchase this paint during their paint sales (30% or 40%). I just love it! I apply the paint and primer with a paint sprayer, so I add about 20% water to...