I is for Idea..... sliding barn doors.

So, we have made absolutely NO progress on any home projects.  But, the ideas still keep coming.  I have mentioned that we are hoping to soon finish the playroom/guest room in our basement.  Once we do,  I have plans to put up a wall to divide our basement in half so that it is a nicer entry into the guest room.

I have always loved these sliding doors and think it would be perfect for our space!

(All images from Pinterest)

Some day.....until next time....xoxo

K is for Kitchen Makeover. Part Two...

The reveal is here!  I know you are excited! 

As a reminder here is a Before Photo! 

Our "new" kitchen did not cost us a lot. We paid a professional to paint the cabinets a crisp and clean white. We purchased black cambrian granite countertops complete with new faucet and undermount sink. Before I reveal the after, let me say there is still a lot to do!  So, consider this "after" photo a work in progress!!! 

My to do list includes:
1. Get rid of ceiling fan and put a small chandelier over breakfast nook (when complete).
2. Paint the walls a lighter color and repaint white trim around windows to match cabinets.
3. Tile backsplash (white subway tiles)
4. Make a window treatments.
5. Paint breakfast nook benches and make a table (currently searching for pedestal table base).
6. Find pillows for benches in nook.
7. Get a new dishwasher.
8.  Accessorize accessorize, accessorize!

So, when it is "perfect", I will share again! But, alas... here is the reveal! :)  I am super happy with it!

We are still working on breakfast nook area, I will share that work in progress tomorrow!!

Until next time......xoxo

K is for Kitchen Makeover. Part One!

Okay, are you excited?  I am excited.  I have freshly painted kitchen cabinets and new countertops! 

Since we moved into our house, I have been troubled by our kitchen.  It was not horrible, it was just not my taste and was too dark!  We had cherry cabinets, black/gray marble look LAMINATE countertops and matching tile floor.  When we bought the house the walls were orange with a darker orange spouged on top!  YIKES!  The paint was the first thing to go... along with the old knobs (white and blue).  I painted it a grey, figuring that was a good neutral and bought stainless steel knobs.  But, try as I may I could not grow to like the kitchen.  I was so committed to a new kitchen that I was willing to forgo a vacation to get what I wanted!   I LOVE to travel, so that says a lot. 

The question was... what to do?  The cabinets were too nice to rip out.  At first I though I would change the floor to hardwood and do a white countertop and leave the cabinets.  But, the more I thought of it the more I realized I should go for the look I wanted which was white cabinets and black countertops.  I have never really loved wood tones, so I knew the cabinets would never make me happy!   I read a design blog that said never sacrifice... and it made me realize that I needed to do what I needed to do!   I always hated the wavy thing above the sink too.  What is that all about?  So, we ripped that out ourselves!   

Here is the before...

This dining area is another issue.  I knew from the moment we bought this house that this space was SCREAMING for a breakfast nook with built in benches.  I will talk more about that on Wednesday.   

   

 

Tomorow, I will reveal the after!  Let's just say... I am a happy woman!  LOVE IT!  Thanks husband for going along with me on this one.

Until next time...xoxo 

 

B & B: Board and Batten... PART TWO!

Okay... the moment is here. The unveiling of our "Board and Batten" bedroom project. This project literally took a weekend.... start to finish! Totally do-able. We won the lottery at Home Depot! It was quiet so the guy cut all or MDF into two and three inch strips for us. So nice (totally worth the $20 tip we slipped him). Saved my husband a few fingers and a TON of time!This project was easy and it did not break the bank either!

MDF (Boards and Batten)…...$40
Tip to Home Depot Guy…......$20
Paint and Primer…………….....$60
Caulking…………………………....$10
Liquid Nails Adhesive…….......$15
TOTAL COSTS…………………..$145

I picked my friend Shannon's (aka Project Shannon) brain about how to do this (they did a more detailed/complicated version). We simplified, but she gave me the "what I would do next time" spiel. Very helpful! I found instructions online at Apartment Therapy. I basically followed these instructions (although did changed some dimensions). We did 1/2 inch mdf for the board and the battens. The Battens were 3 inches wide and the boards 2 inches wide. The width between each board was around 14 inches. We did some math based on the dimensions of the room!

BEFORE

Did not take photos until we started this project so don't mind the unmade bed and crap everywhere! :)

In progress.... disaster zone!

AFTER

I freaking love it! I love it more than I even thought I would. It makes the room "masterful" and really brightens it up with all the white!

We still might add a small piece of molding to top of batten, but want to live with this a while to see how I want to finish it. Needs a few paint touch-ups too...my OCD needs to step away though! I think I might need new bedding now too, but don't tell my husband! I am rethinking what was up on the wall too... so have not rehung anything. So, in short, when the room is fully accessorized... I will share photos again. But, for now... this is it!

Oh, home projects! Rest up honey, I have more for you to do. Next up.... breakfast nook! Stay tuned dear readers!

Until next time.......xoxo

B & B: Board and Batten... PART ONE!

What did I do all last weekend you ask? The husband and I put up Board and Batten in our bedroom. Earlier this fall we went to the house of my friend Shannon (Project Shannon). They recently bought a new house and put up "Board and Batten" in their living room. It looks fabulous!

We decided we too wanted some "Board and Batten" and though instantly of our master bedroom which need something extra special! We live in a Royal Barry Wills house which is not molding shy and is why we love our house. But, the master bedroom was not living up to the rest of the house. We put up crown molding in there a year ago, but it needed more. I think "Board and Batten" was just what it needed. Shannon is coming over next weekend... so this helped kick our butts into gear. I want her and her husband to see... after all... they were our inspiration!

When I have told people about our project (including the man at Home Depot)... most have replied, "What is "Board and Batten"?"

Here is how about.com defines "Board and Batten". Board and batten, or board-and-batten, describes a type of exterior siding or interior paneling that has alternating wide boards and narrow wooden strips, called battens. The boards are usually (but not always) one foot wide. The boards may be placed horizontally or vertically. The battens are usually (but not always) about 1/2 inch wide. These battens are placed over the seams between the boards.

Having a hard time picturing it? Here are some photos!

I will do the big unveiling tomorrow... with before and after photos of our master bedroom. I know the suspense must be killing you!

Until next time...xoxo