House to Home: Raise the Cabs to the Kitchen Update

Hey there!

Where were we?  Oh yes...waiting for the paint to dry.  For a look back check out Go-Go Gadget Kitchen Update, A Muddy, Dusty Kitchen Update and Rock n' Roll Kitchen Update.

With the paint finally dry and cured, we got busy putting the kitchen back together and mounting the cabinets.  We used the existing builder's grade cabinets and the same layout, so putting them back up was a breeze.  I sanded them down and gave them a coat of Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 Primer.  Then we mounted a ledger (1x2) to the studs to make the mounting process even easier.

No cabinets in here, but it's so clean!

With the cabinets hung and some deep cleaning, this room is finally back to being a kitchen.  And not a moment too soon because the little man is back home!  We're not completely finished yet, but we're so close.  For those of you interested in mounting cabinets in your kitchen, check out The Family Handyman's helpful step-by-step guide.

So, what's left?

• Finish hanging drywall in kitchen
• Mud/sand
• Drywall texture
• Prime walls
• Paint
• Hang cabinets
• Paint cabinets
• Install window trim & crown molding
• Lighting
• Fun stuff (open shelving, nook benches & bookcase)

Until next time,

House to Home: Go-Go Gadget Kitchen Update

Hey there!

(or is it HIGH there?  these paint fumes must be getting to me.)

Here's where we left off last...the walls were primed and ready for paint.  For a look back check out A Muddy, Dusty Kitchen Update and Rock n' Roll Kitchen Update.

Primed and Ready for Paint

Have you ever wished that you had some super-human power?  Me too!  It's usually something standard like flying, but today I wanted two bionic paint roller hands that could bust out the paint in no time and maybe some Go-Go Gadget stretchy arms so that I could do it from the comfort of the couch.  Say what?  Yes, I just dropped a righteous Inspector Gadget reference.  A-thank-you.

Anyways, back to the task at hand (or hands, heh.)  The Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 Primer coat had dried and the walls were finally ready for their color.  I'd love to tell you the color we chose, but I can't.  We scored a great deal on paint a few months back.  A hardware store was selling 5 gallon interior eggshell paint for $35 and they'd tint it, too.  You heard me right, 35 dollars!!  We bought two 5-gallon buckets and had one tinted to a light gray and the other to a taupe.  And you know what I did?  I had color-remorse and took them in to a local hardware store and had the color darkened up.  Well, it didn't quite come out as planned and now I'm stuck with a taupe which was created from the gray (and really is not bad at all), a strange terra-cotta color and the feeling of regret.  5 gallons of terra-cotta....not sure what I'm going to do with that!  At least the taupe works (or greige if you're hip), which is what we went with.  I think it will look nice and warm against the cool white cabinets and trim and the stainless steel appliances.

Two coats of paint went on, and quite easily, I might add.  I'm sure all the credit should go to the primer...but I think I'll take it. We're getting there people.  We might have a late night ahead of us but it'll be worth it!

Two coats of paint dried and ready for the window trim!

So, what's left?

• Finish hanging drywall in kitchen
• Mud/sand
• Drywall texture
• Prime walls
• Paint
• Hang cabinets
• Install window trim & crown molding
• Paint cabinets
• Fun stuff (open shelving, nook benches & bookcase)

Ah, the end is in sight!

Until next time,

House to Home: A Muddy, Dusty Kitchen Update

Hey there!

Here's where we left off in the last update...A nook with new drywall & a coat of mud and a few panels left to put up in the kitchen.  For a look back, check out the Rock n' Roll Kitchen Update.

And where are we now?

The drywall has been hung in both the nook and the kitchen.  We used 1/2" thick in the places where the studs were exposed and used 3/8" to cover up the existing drywall that had wallpaper over the top of it.  Because of the change in depth, we will have to trim out one door frame, but we were removing that door and planning on widening the opening anyways.

After the drywall was hung, we spread three coats of mud and sanded after each coat dried for each of the seams and screw divots.  Hot tip:  Wet your sander a bit to keep the dust down. And check out The Family Handyman's tips for drywall sanding.  After the final coat of mud had dried and was sanded, we vacuumed up all the dust, wiped down the walls and sealed the crack between our counters and the drywall with a clear poly sealer.  Then we primed the walls with drywall primer, sealed up the room with plastic & drop cloths and readied ourselves for spray texture.

Sealed off and ready for texture - Dexter would be proud.

We sprayed one light coat of orange peel texture with a Wagner Power Tex All in One Powered Texture Sprayer, which we purchased from Home Depot for $75.  We considered using the Homax Spray Texture, but thought we'd get more than enough use out of the power sprayer with this house so the purchase was totally justified.  Plus, each can of spray (for the pro size) was $16 and covered 125 sq ft.  It just didn't seem very economical.  Now for the orange peel texture you can purchase a box of Homax Wall Texture, which you just add water to, or you can dilute the joint compound you used to mud the seams.  We chose the latter.  I left the actual spraying to the hubs.  He started in the corner that would be hidden behind the cabinets, to get used to the machine and hide any mistakes.  Good thing!  Because the first section's coat was a bit too heavy.  He thinned out the compound a little more, took a step back and the rest of the texture came out perfect!

Up Close and Personal with the Orange Peel Drywall Texture

With the texture dry, we sealed the wall with a coat of Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 Primer.  This is a good quality all-surface primer that we'll use when we paint our cabinets, too.  I also rolled out the first coat of ceiling paint.  So, that's where we are now...waiting for the paint to dry, so to speak.

Next up?

• Finish hanging drywall in kitchen
• Mud/sand
• Drywall texture
• Prime walls
• Paint
• Hang cabinets
• Install window trim & crown molding
• Paint cabinets
• Fun stuff (open shelving, nook benches & bookcase)

I absolutely love marking off items on the list!  With a day and a half left before our boy comes home we've still got a bunch to do.  Better stop writing and get to work!

Until next time,

House to Home: Rock N' Roll Kitchen Update

Hey there!

Rock n' Roll kitchen indeed...Sheetrock, that is!  There's absolutely nothing more satisfying than completing a large project, especially one that was fighting you every step of the way.  Well, we're not finished quite yet, but we are well on our way.

The kitchen was pretty good to start with.  The cabinets were relatively new and the flooring was okay.  Aside from the FOUR layers of wallpaper, we were pretty much content with it staying how it was after we upgraded the appliances to stainless steel, until we realized that the cabinet was too low above the stove for the over-the-range microwave to fit.  So, the cabinets (or cabinet) would have to be raised and that meant the header-thing (or soffit, if you're technical) would have to be removed.  And then the list of things we wanted to change snowballed from there.

The breakfast nook, on the other hand, needed much more work.  And on top of the stuff we had to do, there was a lot that we wanted to do, like build a bench & bookshelf in the nook.

We planned on starting the home projects during my husband's spring break thinking that a week would be more than enough time (of course it wasn't!) And then one Saturday, we decided to replace the back door.  That one small project turned into so much more.  We found dry rot on a portion of the subfloor, which caused us to investigate further...and found more in the floor joists and then more in a structural beam outside. Awesome.  These discoveries caused the little boy and I to pack up and high-tail it to my parent's house for a week, so that my husband could tear apart our house and not worry about the boy getting hurt.

That one week turned into two after we were blessed with the fixer-upper's curse...more surprises.  While my husband and his brother were taking down the drywall in the kitchen they discovered that the new window the previous owners had installed was leaking.  Then, while they were replacing the windows in the nook and taking down the wood paneling they made another discovery (one that explained a lot about our outrageous heating bills), there was no insulation in the nook's exterior walls.  Plus, there was some work to the electrical that had to be done.  More awesomeness.  Luckily, I have a hardworking husband who got down to business and put two of the three new windows in himself and had both the kitchen & the nook ready to roll when I finally returned home.

I was back on a Sunday, with five days to devote to the project while the little one spent some quality time with the husband's parents. We were quick to get the walls insulated and hang the drywall.  Man, that drywall is heavy, but I love how it instantly transforms a scary "under construction" space into something pretty much liveable.  So, this is where we're at now. 

Next up?

• Finish hanging drywall in kitchen
• Mud/sand
• Drywall texture
• Prime walls
• Paint
• Hang cabinets
• Install window trim & crown molding
• Paint cabinets
• Fun stuff (open shelving, nook benches & bookcase)

Sounds like a lot, but all I can think is...We're so close to having our kitchen back!

Until next time,

Kids Crafts: Foam Animal Masks

Hey there, Vamps!

We're headed to the Oregon Zoo in a couple weeks.  I love experiencing the zoo with kids.  They're just so excited and so in love with every single animal.  I don't love the expensive gift stores, though.  So, to ward off the wallet-busting trip I made these adorable and inexpensive animal masks which could take the place of any of the expensive crap sold at the gift store.  While my boy was a little too young to help out, this would be a perfect craft to share with your kids.

Supplies:

• Foam Sheets (2mm thick)
• Craft Glue
• Scissors
• Yarn

To make the zebra, alligator, pig, elephant, tiger and panda you will need the following color foam sheets; Black, White, Dark Green, Light Green, Gray, Pink, Peach, and Orange.  You could also add yellow and brown to make a lion - my craft store was out.

Create a face template (mine was somewhat similar to a rounded heart shape with ears specific to the animal) onto cardstock and trace onto the foam sheet.  Cut out the face and remember to cut your eye holes. Next cut out your animal features - stripes, nose, hair, ears, etc.  Glue features to the face.  Poke holes in each side of the face (or ears on the elephant) and tie a piece of yarn in each hole.  That's it!  They're ready for your kiddos.

These took me less than an hour and cost less than $5.  They would be perfect for a zoo trip, a birthday party, Halloween or just everyday dress up fun.

Until next time,

Today's Creative

LEED for Homes Made Easy

Hey there, Vamps!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Now let's talk green.

I spent a few years working in the Green Building movement.  I learned an amazing amount about sustainable design and how harmful home products affect a person's health, but the biggest thing I learned is how uninformed the average person is when it comes to all things green.  Going green typically equals lots of greenbacks in many people's minds, but if you choose the right products you could be putting money BACK in your pocket in the long run.

And it looks like Home Depot and the US Green Building Council knows just that.  They've stepped up and made it a whole lot easier for people to implement sustainable design elements into their homes with their new database, which lists affordable LEED eligible products.

{via}

What is LEED for Homes? 

The LEED rating system is the most recognized international standard for green buildings and stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED for Homes measures green building performance across a range of categories, and products play an important role in achieving certification.

Check out the new tool and read more about LEED for Homes.

Until next time,

Pinterest Challenge Winter Edition: Tin Can Man

Hey there, Vamps!

As I mentioned before, I'm at it again ~ it's Pinterest Challenge - Winter Edition time where all us Pinners finally start doing and stop pinning, for a little while at least. Thanks to the ladies over at Bower Power Blog,  Young House Love,  The Great Indoors and Hi Sugarplum for lighting the fire under all of us!

For those of you that aren't following me on Pinterest (and how dare you!) I have pins upon pins of awesome projects I want to complete, but this one beat out all the rest to become my Challenge project. And the reason?  I have been wanting to make one for YEARS.  But with no yard of our own, I just didn't see the point and never got around to it.  Until now!  I'm so happy to have our first piece of yard art.  Drum roll please....

Please allow me to introduce, Mr. Fancy Shoes.
{Anyone that can sport gold shoes is pretty awesome in my book.}

I promised dapper and oh, did I deliver!  For a tutorial on how to create your own, check out Patti's at Worth the Whisk.  As for Mr. Shoes?  He's made out of two regular sized soup cans, four costco sized soup cans, one large spaghetti can, five bottle caps, and one canning ring (plus another can to cut out the mustache & bow tie.)  I used black spray paint and will probably end up spraying the shoes at some point (I started this project, traveled 4 hours away and then finished it - forgetting the spray paint at home.)  I used wire & glue to put this guy together.

And for other amazing Pinterest Challenge Winter Edition projects check out Bower Power, Young House Love, The Great Indoors and Hi Sugarplum.

Until next time,

Today's Creative

I've Always Been a Sucker for the Makeover

Hey there, Vamps!

With the first sign of spring, I'm usually in full-fledged cleaning & organizing mode.  I love busting open the windows for some good ol' fresh air and getting my spring cleaning on.  And why stop at the house?  The blog underwent a design overhaul this past weekend thanks to my awesome friend Kat and I am feeling really good about it.  Like jumping up and down good. There's nothing like a clean home (or blog) to inspire some creativity.

So what do you guys think?  Are you digging it as much as I am?

Until next time,

Pinterest Challenge: Winter Edition

Hey there, Vamps!

Do you guys remember my Mason Jar Soap Dispenser for the Pinterest Challenge Fall Edition?  Well, those hilarious ladies over at Bower Power Blog & Young House Love are at it again and this time they've invited two more ladies along from The Great Indoors and Hi Sugarplum.  It's Pinterest Challenge time again - Winter style.  (Although it is looking a bit more like Spring 'round my parts.)

For those of you that aren't following me on Pinterest (and how dare you!), I've been pinning like crazy and most of the pins are focused around our home renovation, but there's always been some amazing crafts in there, too. Here's a little peek at some of my home DIY inspirations.

{1) Floating Wall Shelves  2)  Stenciled Floor  3) Glass Pendant Lights}

I can't wait to complete each of these, but with the current state of our home reno (replacing a foundation beam has taken precedence over our kitchen remodel), I've had to put each of these off.  So, to my craft section I go and just in time for National Craft Month!

 {4) Magnetic Tea Caddy  5) Hanging Laundry Bag  6) Crochet Rag Rug}

And while these three are all great choices, I'm lazy and don't want to venture outside of the house to acquire the supplies to make either of them.  So, the winner?

A tin can man!  I've been having yard decor envy ever since I first spotted the quirky guy hanging in our friend's yard a few years back and have been saving up my cans in hopes of one day making my own. With the weather looking more like Spring than Winter, I thought this would be the perfect little project to welcome my favorite season of the year. The handsome guy above is courtesy of Patti at Worth the Whisk, who has a great little tutorial on how to create your own.

Tune in next Wednesday, March 14th to see our dapper little man's unveiling.

Until next time,

BLEND Interior Design Studio Deal @ Living Social

As I mentioned yesterday in my interview with Michelle Dirkse of BLEND Interior Design Studio, here's the deal offered by LivingSocial for interior design services by BLEND Interior Design Studio.    What can you get?  Color Consultation for Up to 1,000 Square Feet ($69), Furnishing Renovation Package and Consultation for Up to 500 Square Feet ($99), or Concept Package for Up to 500 Square Feet ($199)

Specifics:

• Hone in on a hue with a color consultation that matches your armoire to an accent wall, plus get tips on furniture and accessories selection
• Or, leave the planning to the pros and spruce up your space with a furnishing rearrangement 
• Or, let the talented team maximize potential with a concept package that includes an in-home consultation, floor plan, and inspiration page of budget-friendly fixes

Hope you score this awesome deal.  And if so, I'd love it if you'd share your before and afters with me!

Until next time,

An Interview with BLEND Interior Design Studio's Michelle Dirkse

Hey there, Vamps!

Have you seen Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year Tangerine Tango everywhere but don't know how to mingle it with your home's palette? Ever wished you had the inside scoop on the design trends BEFORE being bombarded by them on Pinterest? 

Well, I recently had the opportunity to pick Interior Designer, Michelle Dirkse's (phonetically, people) brain and she's dishing on everything from how to use color, design trend predictions for 2012 and how to fix those god-awful mistakes that we tend to make (like that tricky line between good clutter & bad clutter.)  Michelle, like many of us, started out her adult-life in a career path that was lacking creatively, so back to school she went for a degree in interior design.  Fast forward a few years and she's started her own firm, BLEND Interior Design Studio, with partner Felicia Farrar.

BLEND Interior Design Studio, based out of Seattle, offers distinctive interior design both locally and nationwide and provides its clients with a multitude of service options.  While relatively new, this design firm rocks my socks!

Check out just a couple of their recent transformations.  I honestly had a hard time picking only two.

A Soldier's Den - Richardson Seattle Guest Condominium

Eastern Air - Vakharia New York Apartment

RH:  First off, thanks for saving me.  My lack of real design knowledge was soon to be revealed, but at least now, I can hide behind you. For a little while, at least...

So, what about interior design had you ditching your old career?
 
MD:  While I wanted my job to have meaning and to give back to the community, I thought I would regret not having tried design.  Having friends who had changed their own careers to pursue their passions helped me to build up the courage to attempt the same.  I've always loved to build things or find a new way of using or looking at something.  Like psychology, there are a lot of variables and no one right answer in design.  I like the endless possibilities within design and the challenge of finding the best solution through the best overall combination of choices.  Plus, I'm still able to give back to the community.  Last year Felicia and I donated design packages to a few local fundraisers.  We were able to raise money for a local school and for GAPPS, a non-profit organization that stimulates research and raises awareness about prematurity and stillbirth to improve maternal, newborn and child health worldwide.

RH:   Never one to shy away from bold colors, how do we introduce these colors into our homes without it looking like a circus tent?

MD:  Introduce bold colors (ones that you like, of course) through accessories.  A new pillow cover, a vase or a freshly painted chair from the thrift store isn't much of a commitment. If you find that you prefer a subtle monochromatic scheme despite your best attempt at adding a punch of color you'll only have wasted the time and money for this small accessory rather than an entire remodel. 

RH:  For those of us that are working on a limited budget or are DIYers, what are your tips for getting the biggest bang for your buck?

MD:  Paint.  Paint.  Paint.  I have a lot of tips and resources for DIYers on a budget, but painting is by far the most inexpensive way to make a big change.  By painting your walls, or even one wall, you can give your room a fresh new look without changing anything else.  Mismatched chairs can become a unique set once they're all painted the same color and your less than favorite hand-me-down can become your favorite statement piece once you've painted it with a great new accent color.  Typically it's best to stick with one color per piece and no faux finishes of any sort.  Keep an eye out for furniture that has a great shape, but a less than perfect finish, during your next estate sale or thrift store adventure.  

RH:  Let's face it.  We all make mistakes. What are the common decorating mistakes made by homeowners?  How do we fix/avoid them?

MD:  Interior design is the best solution to the bigger picture.  There aren't definitive "wrongs" but, these ideas can serve as general guidelines. 

1. Don't change paint colors in the middle of a wall.  An architectural element like molding or a corner is a good place to stop one color and begin another.  If a wall starts in the living room and continues into the kitchen, paint it all the same color. 
2. Find focus.  While you may have twenty beautiful accessories, if you display them all in the same place they lose impact.  Choose a few of your favorite pieces for your mantle, for example, and use the rest in other areas of your home. 
3. Think in terms of relationships.  Let's use art as an example. . . Hang three framed photos close to one another rather than several inches apart.  The three frames will read as a set rather than posters hung randomly in your college dorm.  Now make sure that the 3 frames are hung in relation to something else, like the center of the back of your sofa. 
4. The top of your art does not need to line up with the top of your door.  A lecture at the Bellevue Art Museum gave a numeric rule to what I'd eyeballed in the past: the center of your art should be 59" from the floor.  Rules can always be broken and if your art is hung above furniture, it will still need to maintain it's relationship with that piece (don't hang it too far from the furniture). 

While there are a lot of simple tips that I can pass on, I think that being mindful of Hierarchy within a room is a great way to check yourself.  Is everything in your room screaming for attention or quietly standing by?  Hopefully, the majority of what's in your room is setting the stage for one focal piece or focal area.
 
RH: Lastly, let's talk design trends.  In 2011, we were hit with chevron print after chevron print, what do you think the design trends will be in 2012?
 
MD:  I don't know that I can pretend to know the coming trends, but I can tell you what I'm excited about lately and what I'm over. 

• Yay! Undermount Sinks - Nay. Surface mount bowl sinks
• Yay! White marble, gray/taupe/blue limestone, solid color synthetic counter tops - Nay. Granite and tile counters.
• Yay! Rectangular tiles set in a horizontal brick pattern - Nay.  12x12 tile grids
• Yay! Steel, American walnut and concrete - Nay. Shiny gold and tumbled travertine
• Yay! High gloss lacquer furnishings - Nay. Blue frosted glass
• Yay! Slightly metallic paints in all colors and chalkboard paint - Nay. sponge painting or faux finishes
• Yay! Flat wall paint - Nay. Glossy textured walls (I'd love a high gloss wall if it was somehow perfectly smooth though- nearly impossible since almost all walls are at least slightly textured)
• Yay! Mixing crisp modern pieces with detailed antiques - Nay. Matching furniture sets

I'm also excited about some combinations that we've used on a few of our most recent projects:

• Soft teal blues with coral, rich taupe leathers and high gloss white lacquer
• Dark blue grays, rich taupe grays and crisp white with mohair, soft leather, distressed wood, steel and oil rubbed bronze finishes
• Tiffany blue, charcoal gray, magenta and white with steel, American walnut, concrete, white lacquer and chrome. 

 
Wish YOU could pick Michelle's brain?  Well, send in your design questions and one will lucky reader will get Michelle's full attention.  Submit your questions to revamphomegoods(at)gmail.com or in the comments section below by March 20th and you might be featured in our first monthly "Dear Michelle" post.

And for those of you needing more in-depth advice, Don't Miss This Amazing Deal via LivingSocial.  BLEND Interior Design Studio will be dropping a few deals for home design services, like Color Consultation for Up to 1,000 Square Feet ($69), Furnishing Renovation Package and Consultation for Up to 500 Square Feet ($99), or Concept Package for Up to 500 Square Feet ($199).  GET YOURS NOW at LivingSocial (available until March 13th.)  Say what?!  A deal for interior design services?  Now that's my kind of coupon!


Until next time,

House to Home: Paint, Paint and More Paint

Hey there, Vamps!

Well, with some "wonderful" setbacks like the coastal weather and our recent uncovering of a rotting structural beam, we've put the house painting on hold.  Which is probably better because it is so hard to pick house colors!  Here's some more inspirational homes with a darker navy hue & orange door (orange is my all-time fave color), which I think I'm leaning more towards...

Source: hermanmiller.com via Meagan on Pinterest

Not the dark exterior, I'm thinking but this color combo totally works. Love that orange door.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Meagan on Pinterest

Source: homemadebymonica.blogspot.com via Meagan on Pinterest

Source: jpgmag.com via Meagan on Pinterest

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Meagan on Pinterest

So, that's the update for now.  What's new with all of you? 

Until next time,