Lock and Key

Completing this project was great in two ways. First, it was nice to check off not one but two TBC items from my list and second, we finally have a door in this house that locks. Praise the lord!

With the change in the kitchen layout our master bedroom door is now right off of the back door. Which doesn't bother me a bit but when company is over it is nice to be able to actually close it. (We actually went about six months without a door at all but I knew that couldn't last.)

Since it was our master bedroom I splurged a bit on a doorknob and went with this brass beauty from Signature Hardware.

It's best feature?

A working lock and key! (My dream goal would be to replace all of our doors with new doors, but for now I've just been patching them up).

It's oh so fancy and a bit extravagant but I think it is the neatest.

So there you have it. Two more items off my list and some well deserved privacy.

Cheers!

DIY Sliding Door

All week long I've been working off of this.

I add things as I see them, and check off the rest as I go. One of the projects I finally got around to completing was the sliding door in my bedroom.

I used this tutorial from Vintage Revivals, but I've seen them all over Pinterest. I followed the directions to the letter and it was about as easy as described. Unfortunately it is a two person project so enlist friends!

I hung the quilt I made behind it and moved the heart art to a different wall. Most of the time the door is open which obscures things a bit but I like the peak-a-boo aspect (and it was the only wall big enough. Ha!).

I did have to take down the original header (which was a bummer) but if your doors have simple trim you should be fine.

As to how I feel about it? Price wise it was perfect- under a 100$. Functionality wise? Well, it is heavy and hard to move and the sound of metal rubbing on metal is really loud. I waxed the pole which helped but even if you get the eye hooks perfectly centered the door wobbles enough to touch them. Also, I don't think the casters it sits on would work over carpet. At some point I will probably try a different tutorial for a sliding door (I want to do a matching one in the library) but since we are the only people who live here, the door is hardly ever closed anyway.

Anyone else attempted the sliding door with pipe? I like the look of it but the sound is just awful. If you've made it work I'd love to hear!

Cheers!
Emily

Linking up to:

 

Furniture Feature Friday

Oh Look

I finished painting (it only took 6+ months)

Well... I finished painting the trim. The doors are waiting for the purchase of a paint sprayer. Still, one more project off my TBC list!

Hopefully your Memorial Day was more exciting than mine. We did manage to grout the shower this weekend but I want to get the floor installed before I show you.

Cheers!

TBC- To Be Completed

I have a problem. I like to start projects and then not finish them. It has gotten so bad that I currently have 14+ projects that are half done. So, in an effort to make myself accountable here they are. I'm laying it all out there. Don't judge people.

Or the trim in the kitchen Complete! 7/19/2013

This sliding door project for the bedroom? Nope, not done. Complete! 7/18/13

Apparently I don't like painting around trim. COMPLETED! 3/27/13 

Ceilings aren't much fun to paint either. 

That hole in the ceiling has been there 2 years.  Complete! 7/10/13

We moved the chandelier. Never patched that hole either.  Complete! 7/10/13

That's supposed to be a light switch (in my defense, this is a Daniel Project) COMPLETE! 6/2/13

I started the built-ins. Got hung up on sanding. 

My new porch gate still needs paint. COMPLETED! 3/21/13 

We never finished fixing the crack in the kitchen ceiling. 

The hood still isn't vented (**cough, cough 8 months later cough**)

I never installed the trim around the cabinets in the kitchen. 

I never actually finished painting the kitchen cabinets. 

Our bedroom door doesn't actually close. We should get on that. Complete! 7/19/13

I have a new light for this room that is gathering dust. 

I need to add more rocks to my newly expanded patio. Complete! 7/17/13 

I never got around to installing that rain barrel I bought last year. COMPLETE! 5/29/13 

Daniel and I have made a pact to not start anything new until everything else is finished. Things are going to get pretty boring around here for a while. On the plus side This is all slated for after the bathroom is finished (since that is number one priority) so you still have a few pretties to see coming up! 

Someone tell me I'm not the only one with a house full of unfinished projects. I swear, there has to be a support group out there for this. One that comes with people willing to paint.

Cheers! 

Bathroom Inspiration Board

So here's what I'm thinking:

1. I love white bathrooms. They seem so clean and crisp and bright (though I'm leaning towards the grout color in picture 2). The floor will be the black and white basket weave (from HD) and the walls white subway (also HD though I'm still on the fence about full 3x6 or slightly smaller).

2. Emerald is Pantone's color of the year and for a reason. I love how bright, yet natural it is. I fully intend to refinish an antique dresser for the space to make it seem more lived in and less "new" and putting in a vessel sink (like this one in #5) and faucet (#6) would keep it feeling like furniture. 

3. I would quite possibly kill for these salvaged shower doors (and that is only slight hyperbole). We'll see what I can come up with.

4. I've wanted a rain shower head since my parent's built their house. It is just so soothing.

I've been working out a budget and all of my choices seem manageable so we are all systems go! I've got a pretty blank slate now right?

So what do you think? The only thing I'm on the fence about is having a painted vanity. But  I guess that will depend on what I find furniture wise. I'm willing to be patient though, I can always re-use the current sink until I find just what I want.

Cheers!

Ikea Billy Closet Hack

My closet has been a work in progress for almost two years. When we first moved in we started out with this very silly classic old house closet problem:

The two feet of space wasn't cutting it (and the closet kept going behind the wall so I was forever losing clothes) so when we moved the wall to expand the kitchen we also opened up the closet.

Eventually everything got trimmed out and painted,

but for the longest time the inside looked like this:

Don't get me wrong, I loved my cork jewelry holder and shelf space, but it really wasn't the best use of the area. I knew I wanted to have less shelving and more hanging space so I went to Ikea and did a little research. I already owned the fully sized Billy bookshelf, and I knew they made a smaller version, but I wasn't about to shell out another $50 for a slightly smaller version of something I already had. Herein lies the hack.

What I love about hacks is that you get to customize. No more money spent and now I have more hanging space and plenty of shelving. It was about as easy as you can get. I took the things apart, hacked the three stabilizing bits (bottom, middle and top) down to 18 1/2 inches (exactly 2 baskets wide) and then put it back together. On the side I cut we just used some nails and glue to re-attach things.

We added one more feature to the closet too:

Interior lights! I gussied the whole thing up with a new paint job (something off of the oops shelf of Home Depot) and some trim to hide the seam between the shelving and the long top shelf.

I also took a little Pinspiration from this California Closet image and hung one dowel width-wise across the back corner.

I don't own many long dresses so it is the perfect solution. Now Daniel's clothes have their own space below and nothing gets in the way. I still need to pick up a few shelves from Ikea to finish add more shelving to the bookcase and the doors need paint but two years in we are getting close. Sometimes you just have to live with something to really know what you need.

How do you keep your closets organized? Clothes are easy, I just sort by color but I'm still looking for a better solution for purses and shoes.

Cheers!

Carpe Carpet

Seize the carpet! Let me just say that I have been dying to start this project since about the day we moved in. All of the carpet in the house was dirty and stained and well, just plain gross. Even though it has been a year and a month (exactly, isn't that weird) since I started my carpet eradication and repainted the stairs I am happy to say we are officially carpet free!

I give you, the office

 And the Guest bed

I'm currently playing with the way things are arranged. I haven't decided what I want to do headboard wise or what the best orientation is but at least it is in one piece again right Mom?

More to come! We are currently having a flooring debate. Since the hardwoods are not likely salvageable we've laid all options on the table. Carpet? Cork? New hardwoods? They all have pros and cons and we are not in a hurry to decide. I'm leaning towards carpet for the warmth but after tearing up that nasty old carpet I wonder how it would look. What do you think about carpet? Love it or hate it?

Cheers!

Worth The Wait

I think the most frustrating thing about buying a house in need of some "work" is just how much there is to still do. Sometimes I envy people who bought move in ready homes or, well, basically any home that had been taken care of. I feel like so much of my time and energy in this house is focused on trying to fix the little things that aren't quite as glamorous. That being said I can't get too far down because I love our house and would choose it again in a heart beat (and well I own my own home which makes me pretty fortunate). You have to love potential right?

Since we've been spending most of our time and money on big projects I don't often get to focus on the fun little details that can really bring a room together. And let's face it, when you are living with open walls and torn up flooring it is kind of hard to imagine what the right chair is for the space.

So, for the last two years we've been bed-less. Ok, so we have a bed, but it consists mainly of a mattress and shin gouging boxpring. Why have we gone this long without a buying a bed? One word people, compromise. I had been dreaming of a gorgeous tufted headboard along these lines.

Spaces design by Toronto Interior Designer Meredith Heron

Beautiful right? I even love the whole color scheme. What did Daniel want? Something metal (preferably salvaged). His reasoning? Our bed is against the window and a solid headboard would block the light. My reasoning? We never open the blinds so who cares if we block the light I just want to be comfortable. Alas, that did not win him over. So I searched and searched but everything was too expensive or just not right (and after the couch debacle I have to be double sure before any big purchase is approved). Luckily I'm a patient girl.

I was cruzing Overstock.com while taking a bath (which is where I do the majority of my shopping and reading-thank you iPad) and happened on this beauty. Not too feminine, not to masculine, still lets light through. Check, check, check.

I practically leaped out of the bath and ran soaking wet to show Daniel. Miracles of miracles he liked it! Still, after waiting so long I was hesitant. After about three weeks I still knew I wanted it and Daniel still said he liked it so I figured, all systems go. Then, up popped a 10% off coupon and I couldn't resist any more. So 10% off, free shipping (which was a huge deal since large items usually have a hefty delivery fee) and no tax brought the price tag to just over $300. Score!

Delivery date is Monday! Can't wait to show it off in it's new home!
Cheers!

Preparing

It is starting to be a trend people. I don't know what it is, but there is just something about January that makes me want to tear something apart- house wise that is. We are finalizing plans and getting contractors lined up but one thing is ready-Me! 

This year we are focusing on getting the down stairs remodeled- including refinishing the hardwoods (hidden under some truly nasty carpeting) and gutting our second bath. 

Sorry future guests, this is the current state of our guest bedroom. 

Notice I haven't even begun to remove the carpet? That's because I had a few other projects I wanted to start and ugly carpet makes a great drop cloth (and sawing station). Hey, it's cold outside and I don't have a garage. 

Those beautiful doors are for a project upstairs so once they are done the real ripping begins. I've got fingers crossed the flooring is in good shape under there, otherwise it will have to be plan B. 

Who else gets the remodel itch during the winter? Maybe it is just being cooped up that makes me want to tear the walls down.

Cheers!

Bedroom Progress

We started this weekend with all sorts of plans to finish up a few projects we have been working on around here but in grand Keller fashion we decided to go to Ikea instead and start a new project that wasn't even on our radar. I know, crazy. Of course, since we decided this Saturday night I'm still putting the finishing touches on things so I thought I'd show you something we did ages ago.

Remember when we were rushing to get things done for our house inspection way back? Well part of that was giving it a paint job. That's right, I've been sitting on a Before and After for months. Bear with me folks.

Here's the bedroom right after we cleaned everything out back in July.

You can see our finished corner that we bumped out in the kitchen processes giving us a nice square room instead of a silly L-shaped one.

 My mustard dresser really clashed with those lavender walls.

Obviously we needed to paint to make it look less half done so we tried something new. Since time was of the essence we decided we would just go to the store, pick paint, and then come home and paint. No swatches, no thinking, just go with our gut instinct.

Here's how it turned out.

We ended up going with Behr's Slate Green. Which is surprisingly not very green.

I also finally splurged and got a full length mirror. Can you believe I've gone a year and half without one? I've been so happy to be able to see my see my shoes and shirt at the same time (silly I know, but it is the little things)

I'm not sure if the light is staying. It actually doesn't clash as much as I thought it would but I am still on the fence (Daniel loves it so it may take an act of God to change it).

Daniel's side of the bed.

My side of the bed. As you can see I get the dog. I've got ideas for how to hide the dog bed though. I'll keep you updated if I ever get around to it.

 You can see we have the trim up but I need to put one more coat of paint on it. I also need to paint those doors.

There you have it, a long over due reveal. Has anyone else just picked random colors and gone with it? So far it is working out for us.