Stacked Baseboards

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As I try to waste time this morning to avoid going in the garage to build the bookcase for the half bath, I'd thought I'd answer one of the emails I received from a reader.

I've lived in this house for over ten years.  According to my master plan when I moved in, I should have completely been finished with all my remodel projects by now....finished the basement and possibly have an in-ground pool.  However, when I tend to remodel over and over until I think I've got it right things take a bit longer than I plan.  The only thing I have going for me is my overwhelming need to keep the structure as classic as I can.

By classic, I'm referring to the oak wood floors, trims & molding, windows, doors, etc.  The "structure" things you shouldn't really need to change when you remodel a room around a new comforter you purchase.  Classic white trim and oak wood floors (in my eyes and heart) will always be in style.

A reader spotted these baseboards in a photo of an end table I did last year.

Hallway to family room from front door

When I started installing the 2000+/- square feet of wood floors about three or four years into living here, I was sitting on the couch with a Pottery Barn catalog on my lap.  I don't have it anymore or I'd show you the picture of the inspiration.  While flipping through it I saw one of their beautiful pieces of furniture, but that isn't what caught my eye.  It was the stacked baseboard behind it.  I had to have sat there for an hour trying to figure out how to recreate those same baseboards.  But the thing that kept halting me was the fact their baseboards looked like a 1x12 board routed with beautiful grooves to create a piece of art.

Then, I set down the catalog and headed to my hardware store for therapy (Yes, I like to hang out in the lumber section to clear my head.  Some girls shoe shop, I buy lumber.  Don't judge).  I started picking up pieces of trim molding and inspecting them.  I brought home about five different pieces and began to create.

Hallway

But, when the dust settled, this is what I ended up doing.

1 - Top piece 1 1/4" Picture molding

2 - Middle piece 1" framed rope molding

3 - 5" baseboard (which I'm certain you could create with two separate pieces)

Unfortunately, it was BB (before blog) so I don't remember item numbers, prices, etc.  But, if you have read this blog before you know I'm all about creating something special on a very thrifty budget.  I wouldn't have bought the high end $5 a linear foot stuff.  When I win the lottery (because I will someday, I just know it) I will probably still have the same need to recreate things on a budget I will just have way more time to do it.

I measured 11.5" up from the floor (same as a 1x12" piece of lumber) marked around the room with my tape measure and level and installed the picture molding.  Then I marked 8" up and repeated the process with the framed rope pieces.  Then I installed the baseboards.  I don't think it matters if you start at the top or the bottom.

Then, caulk, prime and paint.  I do remember the day I painted mine I had the Cardinal v Brewer game on in the background.  It was hard to pay attention to cutting in with the distraction.

Front Living Room

I still have some requests to see the kitchen (which was also a total gut before the blog).  I haven't forgotten.

Have a great day!!!

Karen

Linked to:

DIY Showoff, Home Stories A to Z, Not just a housewife, Tip Junkie

Thrifty Decor Chick, The 36th Avenue, The Shabby Creek Cottage

I Can See the Finish Line

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Does anyone else get so involved with a project in your house you ignore the laundry and start naming your dust bunnies and passing them off as pets?  Well, I do!

My house is in complete chaos right now because the kids brought home all their school projects, papers, supplies and just threw them where they found room.

Instead of doing something about the mess, I decided to work in the half bath tonight after work.

Now, all of the painting is complete!!!!  Yippeeeee!!!!

This weekend I painted the white paneling (which I had primed last weekend).

And tonight I painted the walls.  As much as I truly loathe painting, I do love the finished product.  Plus, my arms and legs get a bit of a workout so I can't complain.

Also, over the weekend I started the vanity project.  Here is a sneak peek at what I'm making. 

I stained it, but I'm thinking it is a bit darker than I wanted.  I'll see what it looks like in the room before I decide if I need to make any changes.

If anyone will be interested, I'll post some plans of the vanity.

Lucky for me, I had plenty of paint left over from the laundry room remodel to use in the half bath.

I need to finish the sink this week since I'm having guests for a BBQ this weekend. 

Wish me luck.

Karen :)

Upstairs Hallway - Work in Progress

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Over the Thanksgiving break, I started on the upstairs hallway before I begin work on the second phase of the kiddos bedrooms.  I know, waaaay behind on my schedule. 

Yes, I loathe popcorn texture.  You probably already knew that if you have read the blog at any point in the last month.  Now there are only two rooms left upstairs (both bathrooms) left to do.  Don't worry, I'm not going to skip around and start on those right now.  I'm saving the bathrooms until next year.  I think.  hahaha

The top two pictures are of the ceiling before I scraped.  The bottom right is after and the bottom left is with a wet coat of primer.

Then, I installed these lights that match the energy saving ones I installed in the downstairs hallway in the spring.  The light is a bit brighter than normal fixtures because of the bulbs, but it is a hallway.  I don't need mood lighting in my hallway.  Do I?

I started to paint the walls yellow, but soon decided I didn't like it.  I usually LOVE yellow when I see it in anyone else's home, but when I try it I always end up hating it.  PS The khaki color was the starting point but it needed an update.

So, I started to repaint the walls white just like the square molding wall on the stairs.

I think this is the first time I have ever painted a wall white.  And not just any fancy color, oh no!  This is Bright White (semi-gloss).  I've been using it on all the trim and for some reason thought - Why Not?  These walls are hard to keep clean with the little guys handprints, scuff marks and bumps.  I figured I'd always have this bright white on hand to touch up if I couldn't wash the dirt from the semi-gloss paint.

As you can see, I started to replace the trim around the doors to a thicker, plain board with a large board overtop (see the left door next to the double doors).  I did this on all the doors on the first floor and liked the way it looked.  I still need to add the 1x2 top plate, but I'll do that next week when I change out the rest of the trim on the bedrooms and the closet and the window. 

But, I need your feedback.  I've always been a fan of white trim, white doors and white handrails, but now I think I want to change it. 

Reason #1 - Since I have to repaint the doors to update them from the off-white builder whiter anyway, I am thinking I may change them.

Reason #2 - A dark color handrail and door will help mask any dirt, scuffs, etc. (notice a trend)

Reason #3 - I think the dark contrast with the white would look dramatic, but in a classic way.

I thought of maybe doing an espresso handrail (maybe spindles) with matching painted doors.  Of course, I'll change out the brass fixtures to either a brushed silver or a bronze.

What do you think?  Keep it white or try espresso?  Have you painted your doors/handrails a different color than standard white or stain?  I'd love to hear your thoughts and any blog links with before and after pictures if you have seen any.

Here are a couple of pictures I found on Pinterest.  I do apologize I can't give photo credit.  I couldn't find the original source for the pictures.

Photo via Pinterest - Source not found yet

Photo via Pinterest - Source not found yet

Thanks for stopping by my friends,

Karen

Master Bedroom - Mini Make Over

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It all started with the need for lighting...

Isn't that how all projects get started?  I just need new lights for my bedroom...  Have you ever read the book "If you give a pig a pancake"?  Yep, this is so that book.

Do you have that one room in your house where you have no idea on how you want it to look?  For me it is the master bedroom.  The room where I have no vision, no inspiration and no money to spend.  But, the room where I spend much of my time.

WARNING:  The photo you are about to see will shock you.  (And embarrass me)

I'm sharing this photo for two reasons - 1)  It can only get better from this starting point.  2)  As much as I like to think this room is my special place to retreat from the world, that little stuffed animal on the chair and the blanket on the floor proves children have been playing in here.  According to the messy blanket on the bed, jumping could have been involved.

This room needs to change.
List of things that needed to be changed/added:
- Lighting.  My lighting for the bedroom was seriously lacking.  I love to read in bed at night, but the only lighting we had (left) was my small lamp on my end table.  It is not adequate for some reason.  The lamp on my hubby's nightstand broke.  We have four kids and this is not a new thing to happen in our house.  :)
- End tables.  The end tables we have were purchased several years back at Crate and Barrel.  They were cute, but designed very poorly.  The cam system that held the panels together always came apart.  So then anytime I would go to adjust the position of the table...it fell apart.
- Must have seating or a low bench at the end of the bed.  Not really for seating, but for the little dog to make his way up onto the bed.  If he doesn't have access, I don't get sleep. 
- Laptop table.  I know it sounds weird, but I have never met a laptop that I can place on my lap.  They overheat when the fan is blocked with your leg or a couch or bedspread under them.  I don't ask for much, but I want to be able to write or surf the web from my bed when I have free time.
- New comforter and shams.
- Make a pillow sham for a large body pillow as the bed center piece.
- Possibly a rug at the end of the bed to add a cozy look to the room.  I had already installed hardwood flooring in the room a few years ago, but I love having area rugs on top of the hardwood.

Then I stumbled upon a blog called House of Turquoise.  I fell in love with this bedroom instantly.  It has a similar layout to my bedroom and it has a classic look that I love.  However, the furniture is all white and mine is dark.  :(

See the photos below.



Same vaulted ceiling with ceiling fan, door on the side wall (mine is a closet), bay window, wood floors... and this one had a footstool at the end of the bed.  I could totally see my room being just like this - in my head.  I'm pretty sure my hubby won't mind if I paint the walls (again).  I just don't see him letting me paint the new furniture from the espresso color to white.  I could make a white slipcover to pull over the dark "leather" headboard and footboard....what do I do?  I can just imagine how utterly cheerful and crisp my room can be like this beautiful picture.

As of today, one end table is finished & painted.  I decided to make mine a bit different from hubbys side.  On mine I will create a mini-bookcase to house some books and the laptop.  Boards and paint were finished on the lower half of the wall.  Lighting finished. 

Here is where the room is today...

It is slow progress....but it is progress.  Right?  Hopefully, next weekend the other end table will be finished.

Update on the Stairway Wall Molding

Pin It I finished filling the nail holes, sanding and painting the grid wall on the stairway.  Here is the finished photo with the paint.

New Molding for the Stairway

Pin It I've been wanting to add square molding to the staircase for some time now.  And today, I did!

I spent several hours removing some old molding, patching, painting the upstairs wall (Behr Cottonseed - the yellow color at the top of the wall) and then installed primed MDF 1x3" boards in a grid pattern.

Here is a preview picture.