The New House Archives - Page 2 of 7

Before and After: Grandma’s New Vermont Cottage Kitchen

Posted on September 27, 2020October 5, 2020 by admin

Who doesn’t love a good before and after reveal??? We teamed up with Lily Ann Cabinets to do this awesome project for my mother’s forever home and I’m super happy with how it turned out. We used their RTA Cabinets, Lily Ann’s Grey Shaker Elite (and you’re going to love them!).

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

The kitchen turned out beautifully and the carpenter was super impressed by the quality of the RTA cabinets. That helps a LOT when the carpenter happens to be your brother AND he’s a meticulous and dyed-in-the-wool wood snob.

Quick story:

My family has been playing musical houses for almost my whole life (I’m an army brat). So, when my mom finally decided to pick a house and stay in it, my sister reached out to me to help with the kitchen design (they were really busy renovating the whole rest of the house). The place had great bones, but was really ugly. One little problem: I am in North Carolina and they are in Vermont. To any lesser team this would’ve been a problem (working with family and from a different state… what could go wrong???).

I sent my initial design which was nixed by my incredible carpenter brother who wanted to knock down walls and move stairs (who am I to argue with that?). So, I worked up a moodboard and completely new design and sent it to my sister and brother.

Before and After Pictures of Grandma's New Vermont Cottage Kitchen: Sponsored by Lily Ann Cabinets and designed by @callsigndesign on Instagram and @slavetodiy on Pinterest. — Before and After Pictures of Grandma’s New Vermont Cottage Kitchen: Sponsored by Lily Ann Cabinets and designed by @callsigndesign on Instagram and @slavetodiy on Pinterest.

Then there was the issue of finding a cabinet company that wasn’t going to break the bank. I looked and looked, but everything I liked was super expensive! And since I had added a huge island, the cabinet total had about doubled. Then I stumbled across RTA (ready to assemble) cabinets. I found them on sale (even though they were already significantly cheaper than the other cabinets I had found before the sale), and I sent the company my design. My brother said, “that’s fine, but you guys are putting those cabinets together.”

Almost ALL of this was carried out without me physically at the property because suddenly there was a pandemic. Yup. Perfect timing. I corresponded with a Lily Ann kitchen designer in Michigan that was working from home and had the details and 3d renderings in just a few weeks. A skeleton warehouse crew got our order out and it was delivered about a month and a half after we first contacted them.

Back to the house: imagine my delight when my brother (who had said NO WAY was he assembling RTA cabinets) called me to say he had assembled and installed them and the quality was amazing. Oh, and they went together super fast. I was in shock. I will save the rest of that story for another post. This is a simple before and after, remember?

If you love this look, you can find these cabinets from Lily Ann Cabinets. My readers can get a 5% discount by using the offer code: SDIY2018 at checkout!

Grandma got to see her almost finished kitchen on her birthday in July and I think you’ll appreciate the video (it still makes me cry every time):

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYK1UD7tQXY&w=560&h=315]

All that was left (after the first reveal) for install when we arrived in Vermont (two months later and on re-scheduled trip number three) was hardware, the backsplash, the shelves, and crown molding. Still, five full days of install while trying to persuade my six year old to do her virtual school independently was a bit challenging. And, to be perfectly honest, my brother had told me the quality was good, but the cabinets were even better in person. The finish was beautiful and I quickly realized there was nothing “discount” about these cabinets other than the price.

The after photos were all taken by @loganbspring on Instagram, so give him a follow! I think you’ll love his work as much as we do!

Drumroll please!!!!

This is looking through the front door at the door that went down to the basement:

Before and After Pictures of Grandma's New Vermont Cottage Kitchen — Before and After Pictures of Grandma’s New Vermont Cottage Kitchen: Sponsored by Lily Ann Cabinets and designed by @callsigndesign on Instagram and @slavetodiy on Pinterest.

Here is the front door now:

This is looking from the corner of the kitchen back at the front door:

We couldn’t REALLY get this “before” shot because of the wall, but you can see where the new front door is now (the wall started roughly where the island begins):

This is standing by the front door, looking at the kitchen.

And here is the after:

This is a shot of the space after the walls came down, but before the staircase was moved:

And after:

And just for fun, here are some more detailed shots of the kitchen we took during staging:

This was quite the journey, but it was all worth it to see how happy my mom was at the end. What do you think of our design and renovation? What is your favorite part? Please let us know in the comments below!

Once again: If you love this look, and want to pay less for awesome cabinets, you can find these cabinets from Lily Ann Cabinets. My readers can get a 5% discount by using the offer code: SDIY2018 at checkout!

Special thanks to my brother and sister for all of the hard work and making it so easy for us to look good!

Thanks for joining us on our adventures! Cheers!

*Legal stuff:

I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is a paid affiliate for Lily Ann Cabinets and received discounted products to provide this review. As always, our opinions are honest and we promote only quality products that we use ourselves.

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Mashup Monday: Classic Christmas Mantels That Will Be In Style Every Year

Posted on September 23, 2020November 5, 2020 by admin

“Ok, Campers! Rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties cause it’s COLD out there!” Phil Connors from Groundhog Day. So, no it’s not cold yet, but I am so in the mood to completely skip all of the other festivities and head straight to Christmas. It is HANDS DOWN my favorite time of year and I’m always on the lookout for better ways to make my house warm, beautiful, and wonderful for my family.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

For those of you wondering how to decorate your fireplace for Christmas this year: I compiled some of my favorite Christmas Fireplace Mantels from last year that hopefully will give you some inspiration!

I’m going to start with our Christmas mantel this year, which I whipped together the day after Halloween like a crazy person. I didn’t realize how many changes we’ve made in this room since last year (and I’m loving it dressed in Christmas)!

Mashup Monday: Classic Christmas Mantels That Will Be In Style Every Year. From @callsigndesign on Instagram and @slavetodiy on Pinterest.

If you’d like to duplicate our mantel:

We combined a standard lighted fir garland with Willow and Silver Dollar Eucalyptus Garland (we have two strands).

In the black Pottery Barn vase I have these Red Berry, Or Cranberry, Stems.

In the black found pot to the right I have these Olive Branches.

Those super cool Black Iron Candlesticks are from Hobby Lobby, as are the White Club Candles.

And a fun clip of decorating:

But, enough about us! On to classic mantels!

This one (how amazing is this mantel?) is done in beautiful mixed greens, sleigh bells, and woven grass and twig pieces for great texture. How awesome are those crochet stockings and all those white twinkly lights?

Christmas Mantels 2020: Via @the.little.bird on Instagram

This next one is simple and beautiful, in mixed natural fabrics and minimal decoration, it feels like home and I’m definitely in for the Griswold trip to go cut down a Christmas Tree.

This, for my more sophisticated readers that like a little more bling in their Christmas cheer, is amazing in all of its glittering glory. Mercury glass mixed with some playful patterns, greenery, and fresh cut white flowers is as fun as it is elegant.

This next mantel (and gorgeous tree) is done in traditional blue and gold tones, for a truly timeless Christmas display.

I was giggling a little here… I have this SAME mirror over my fireplace but the mantel greenery is FAR superior to anything I’ve tackled myself. How amazing is that fireplace insert?

And for you farmhouse gals, I’ve got you covered, too. Decked out in stark whites, with abundant winter greenery, paired with eucalyptus and a fantastic mixed-metal candlestick collection, this is a fireplace to envy for any real (or faux) farmhouse. If you’re looking for some inexpensive Eucalyptus swag for your own mantel, check out my tutorial on How To Make Your Own Eucalyptus-Fir Mixed Christmas Garland For A Fraction Of The Price.

I love the simple black accents here and elegant greenery draped in a warm, fireplace hug. And, as always, all we need is a little more COWBELL!

Which one of these is your favorite?

Is there an element that you have to have every year on your mantel?

I’ll leave you with this night-time shot of our Christmas mantel that is seriously giving me all the feels:

Thanks for hanging out with us today and be sure to check out more of our DIY and design inspiration on our blog.

Cheers!

*Legal stuff:

I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.

Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less

Posted on July 24, 2020 by admin

Are you planning a kitchen renovation? One of the fears many people have when they’re planning a big renovation is the concern that the kitchen will feel dated soon after they complete the renovation. It can be very daunting to lay out the money for an extensive renovation and then consider that you might be doing it again in just a few years.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

ikea hack (1)

To help you in your planning and design process: Here are the top things that date your kitchen:

A Trendy/Patterned Backsplash: Don’t follow backsplash trends (trust me here… this is THE FASTEST way to date your kitchen). Both material and pattern date the backsplash. Unless you’re flipping a house, skip the trendy stuff. Plain white subway tile is a safe choice, as is brick. Ignore me at your peril: if you do something trendy, you’ll be updating this every couple of years.

Kitchen Backsplash from Hawaiihomemag.com — Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less, Backsplash from Hawaiihomemag.com

2. Arches and Busy Woodwork. If your thick, wood doors have an awful 80s/90s era arch on them, there is simply no fixing that. If there’s an arch/bridge over the kitchen sink, just take the whole thing down. As for the cabinets themselves: If you stick with basic rectangular doors you can always update those, but you can’t undo an arch. Also, if you MUST have fancy woodwork on your cabinets, adding appliques that can be removed later is your best bet (anyone who has those grape inlaid cabinets is giving me a silent high five right now).

Inlaid Grapes — Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less grapes from Kitchen-Design-Ideas.org

3. Trendy/Patterned Floors: You’ve seen it: The vinyl planks, the wood-look-alike tiles, etc. None of them stay in style very long. Instead, think of classic materials: travertine, limestone, brick, wideplank wood floors, terra cotta tiles. Any of these are classic choices that last! Try them in herringbone or antique formations (travertine) that will make them look as if they’ve always been there and are forever chic. As a rule of thumb, I avoid anything that has the word “faux” in front of it (remember the original Corian? It cracks and melts under abuse). If you go with authentic materials and shapes, you’ll be happier in the long run.

Busy Patterned Floors — Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less, Patterned Floors from Tileoutlets

4. Shiplap. Skip it. (Trust me here, there are going to be oodles of ladies cursing Joanna Gaines in a few years when they have to undo all that faux shiplap they put up). Don’t get me wrong, even though we have VERY different design styles, Joanna Gaines is a design superstar, and if she’s anywhere close to as cool as she appears on her media, I’m a big fan of her as a person. I’m a little bummed that she singlehandedly ruined shiplap. Shiplap was a classic element in coastal homes (especially on the East Coast), with a white wash or watery white wash… it was beautiful. Now it is faux farmhouse and COMPLETELY overdone. It is dying a slow death from over-popularity. It’s going to be the 2010s equivalent of seventies porn panelling in a few years. Just trust me!

Shiplap from "This Old House" — Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less from “This Old House”

5. Trendy Appliance Finishes: This can be tricky, because we all remember when white appliances were the ONLY thing, then black came along, then stainless, dark stainless, copper, etc. If you can’t decide on a finish, choose a commercial-kitchen-looking option (stainless, stainless, stainless). Stainless was introduced to the residential arena a LONG time ago and the most expensive brands are still sporting the look. Why? It’s what commercial kitchens use, and when we’re designing kitchens, everyone’s a wannabe chef/foodie. We want what the pros use. (The exception: If you have a retro or mid-century house, the sky’s the limit… you can do colorful or plain, and it all works).

Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less, Copper finish from Kitchensource.com

6. MDF Painted Cabinets. Do you remember when painted cabinets weren’t a thing? Solid wood cabinetry was very popular once (it was sort of the only game in town) and is still around. It’s very versatile… if you don’t like it you can paint it. Want it to be stained again? Strip the paint and stain it again. I know they’re cheaper, but, if you opt for MDF painted cabinets those can’t be stripped and stained. You’re going to have to replace the cabinets, or at least the doors if you tire of painted cabinets.

Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less, MDF Doors from Thefrugalhomemaker.com

7. Any cabinet style that is not inset or full overlay. For all of you that painted your 80s or 90s cabinets, the appraiser can tell that you did a very “mini” flip on your kitchen. How? The cabinet style. If you can see the frame around the outside of the cabinet doors, the cabinets are old. Full overlay is the cheaper of the two timeless choices and you can get away with it… probably forever. For a pricier option: Inset cabinets were found in historic homes and have stayed in style for cottages and period homes for the duration. This is my choice for something that may NEVER be dated. Less expensive that completely replacing your cabinetry? Try a cabinet door company. With careful measurements they can help you build a full overlay look that will look like you’ve done a complete gut on your kitchen.

Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less, Traditional overlay from secondsandsurplus.com

8. The Wall and Cabinet Colors. Seriously. Just paint it! Is your kitchen still stuck in a deep red faux Tuscany phase? It’s time. Go on Pinterest and search for kitchen paint colors. There are some really talented ladies that will tell you which wall colors best complement your cabinetry (if you’re planning on painting your cabinets, skip the paint brush and check out our article on How To Use An Inexpensive Paint Sprayer For Painting Cabinets or Furniture).

Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less, Red walls in the kitchen from pinterest.com

9. Your window treatments. If you’re looking at them right now and pondering, chances are they need to come down. Heavy, dark window treatments, broken blinds, vertical blinds, and valances (unless you live in a multi-million dollar home, take it down) need to come down. You can thank me later. Every one of your windows is better off naked than with outdated window dressings.

Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less, Dark Valance from Prioritywindowvalances.com

10. That weird soffit over the cabinets that serves no purpose whatsoever. First, please check to make sure that it’s not housing plumbing, venting, or electrical. Then, rip it out! For some great ideas of what to do in that newly opened up space, check out our post on The Best Ways To Transform An Outdated Kitchen On A Tiny Budget.

Kitchen Crush: Things That Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Dated in 5 Years Or Less, Soffit over cabinets from Pinterest.com

That doesn’t mean that your new kitchen has to be boring, it’s just that if you keep the bones of your kitchen neutral-ish and classic, you’ll avoid design mistakes that will end up costing you money again.

Trendy things you can purchase for your new kitchen (that are easier and inexpensive to swap out later):

Kitchen faucets and fixtures
Hardware
Pendants/lighting

But, as for the rest of it… keep it classic, keep it in historic home color families, and you’ll never have to do a full renovation again.

What are some kitchen elements that date your kitchen?

Cheers and check out more of our great content over on the blog!

*Legal stuff:

I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.

Kitchen Crush: The Best Ways To Transform An Outdated Kitchen On A Tiny Budget

Posted on May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 by admin

What I remember most about my first condo was how much I hated the kitchen. Actually, hate might not be a strong enough word. It was dark and depressing, with a weird window and aged-orange vertical shades, all illuminated by a florescent fixture with brown burn marks on the plexiglass cover. The condo itself had space and was the right price, but the kitchen was awful. It was tragic. However, my total budget for transforming the space was right around ZERO dollars. Even the grocery budget was tight, at the time, so much that I sometimes worried about being able to buy diapers for my one year old. So, how the kitchen looked wasn’t a priority, regardless of how depressing it was to cook in it.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

I’m betting many of you can relate. Stuck with dated, 80s arched doors or a too-dark 70s finish, or even worse, the orangish-tannish builder grade oak cabinets of the late 80s and 90s… the scalloped arches over the kitchen sink, the brown and orange vinyl flooring. All of this made MUCH worse by the endless taunting from Pinterest and Instagram: the gorgeous, highly edited kitchen photos of IG starlets showing off the latest dishes and gadgets they’re creating and using in their maddeningly perfect kitchens.

I understand. I’ve BEEN THERE. But, I’m going to tell you a secret: You CAN transform a kitchen you hate on a tiny budget. I’ve done it, multiple times.

Now, I’m not going to tell you that I’m still in that place, because I’m not. That was twenty years ago and I’ve been Blessed financially since then, so I’m working on planning my FOREVER kitchen in a MUCH larger home and loving every second (keep the FAITH, you’ll get there!). However, I want to share my secrets with you… I want to share how you can make your kitchen a place you like to cook, even take pictures of, especially if you’ve got a little bit of cash for supplies and energy to do the heavy lifting, I’ll tell you how to make BIG impact transformations for just a little bit of money.

So, here’s the big impact list: add molding, cabinet color, hardware, counter kits, counter stools & kitchen furniture, light fixtures, repurposed furniture island, and, yes, backsplashes.

Add Molding:

You may not realize when you look at those horrid 70s, 80s, and 90s kitchens what in particular makes them so hideous, but I can tell you for sure that one main thing is the soffits! Some of them are for no reason at all other than to close the space in above the cabinets, and others house vents, etc. However, this is fixable! You can add molding over soffits or close in spaces above cabinets to completely update cabinets and bring them into this century! There are some really neat molding stackups I’ve seen done and it can totally change the look of a kitchen for not very much money!

Check out this incredible makeover from Remodelandolacasa.com. A combination of paint and some smaller build projects, including adding molding to the ceiling, created a dramatic transformation in this great kitchen before and after:

remodelandolacase.com

Cabinet Color:

Cabinet Painting is ALL the rage these days, and with good reason. A new color can totally transform the space. On the positive side, if you have a 70s or 80s kitchen, chances are the cabinets are solid wood and will hold up really well to sanding and painting.

Pro tip: beware of the tutorials that tell you to slop on some paint with a brush. It’s going to turn out like poo and you’ll regret it. There’s a cheaper way to do this that has GREAT results. There’s a cute little basic paint spray gun that you can get for about $35 bucks that will take your cabinet paint job from “Yikes, she painted her cabinets” to “wow, how did you afford new cabinets?”

I recommend the paint from Benjamin Moore that makes it look and feel like a hard factory finish. If you’re one of those farmhouse gals that’s dreaming of a white kitchen, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove in CO-INSL-X Cabinet Coat is the BEST option. This is an enamel and will dry to a hard finish. It’s AWESOME. But, that paint is NOT cheap. If you can’t afford it, run down to the local hardware store and the paint guy should be able to tell you which paint to buy.

One of my favorite transformations is from Laura at inspirationformoms.porch.com. She did a heavenly flip on her kitchen:

Collage-before-and-after1 — How’s that for a fantastic before and after on kitchen cabinet paint (and did you notice the molding at the top of the cabinets???). To see this whole transformation go to https://inspirationformoms.porch.com/kitchen-before-and-after-reveal/

Hardware:

New hardware, and swapping out dated hardware, can completely transform a kitchen all by itself. It’s like remembering accessories when you get dressed up: the perfect necklace and jewelry to accent and improve your cute outfit. Think it’s expensive? Think again.

One of the coolest things that has happened because of Amazon in the last few years is that competition has SIGNIFICANTLY reduced the cost of cabinet hardware. The 3″ Stainless Steel Bar Kitchen Cabinet Pulls I purchased for a renovation in 2011/2012 at $25 each you can buy on Amazon today for a quantity of 25 for the same price (try to visualize the steam coming out of my ears). Yes, THEY’RE LITERALLY A DOLLAR APIECE. This is a project you can afford, and you don’t need any specialty tools to install them. If you purchase hardware with the same hole spacing as the old ones, you won’t even need to drill.

Country Living Magazine has a great blog post on easy DIY and inexpensive hardware updates. It’s amazing to me what a difference hardware makes, and how it can COMPLETELY change the style of a kitchen.

diy-kitchen-cabinet-hardware-ideas-1558648318 — From Country Living Magazine https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/decorating-ideas/g27572367/kitchen-cabinet-hardware-ideas/

Countertop Update Kits and Butcher Block:

I know you want solid surface countertops. I get it. I love them, too. But, guess what, you can’t afford them right now. So, you’ve got two GREAT options:

Tiny budget: Vinyl contact paper. There are very convincing vinyl self-adhesive countertop paper kits that can make your laminate countertops look like Carrera Marble. They have great reviews and cost about $29 bucks. But, be careful with these: they won’t stand up to abuse or hot pans.

Small budget: Butcher block! It’s super popular right now and I have a great post on Where To Find The Best Deals On Butcher Block Countertops if you decide that’s the right option for you! To give you a ballpark idea, when I wrote the article, you could purchase 50 inches of butcher block countertop from the Home Depot for $105 plus tax. You’ll need some special oil to treat it and some screws to install it. How awesome is that?

Pro tip: You can find left over granite slabs on Craigslist and letgo for around $50 if you scour the internet and be patient. It’s not an easy project, but if you have any experienced craftsmen in the family, they can help you, so be on the lookout!

One of my favorite countertop updates is from my friend Krystle at Spruceandabide.com. She and her husband did a kitchen flip and I just love how it turned out (and definitely give them a follow on Pinterest and IG, they are the cutest couple ever):

Counter Stools:

Maybe your parents and friends donated some furniture to you when you moved in, and you know what? They were so generous because they didn’t want it anymore. Because it’s ugly. How are your barstools? Kitchen furniture can make your space look dated really fast. You can buy some VERY reasonable new bar stools both on Amazon and, my personal favorite place to find deals, Overstock.

One of my favorite types of stools are tractor seat stools, they’ve been a thing in my native Vermont for several decades but have picked up steam more recently (thanks, Joanna). If you watch for antique tractor seats on Craigslist, you can add them to the top of a basic wooden stool, for about $25 each (plus the cost of the tractor seats and a little spray paint)!

Light Fixtures:

I’m not suggesting that you can get REALLY NICE light fixtures at this point in your life. But, what if they looked just like really nice light fixtures but were a lot cheaper (come to think of it, why are there more expensive fixtures when you can buy cheaper ones)? Once again, thanks to global competition, you can get some really nice looking light fixtures for a lot less than you’d imagine!

But, which ones should you swap out? Well, the giant florescent light fixture I would leave alone. I know it’s a bummer, but changing those out is not a straightforward process and I don’t want you to get mad at me for suggesting it (the replacement fixture isn’t that much, but it leaves an area of the ceiling needing repair and it’s a big mess). If you REALLY hate it, go get a new piece of plexiglass (they have seeded glass and rain pattern plexi panels cheap) for it and paint the wood on the outside to match your cabinets.

However, some light fixtures are very straightforward to swap out: if you have an outdated dome light over your kitchen sink, that’s a great opportunity to swap it for a pretty pendant for about $25 bucks. You can get a Three Pack of Industrial Edison Bulb Pendants to replace island lighting for $35 bucks! These might not be Pottery Barn fixtures, but I’m betting that your friends can’t tell the difference and YOU are going to love them.

Edisonbulbpendant — Edison Bulb Pendants (Pack of 3)Find on Amazon at https://bit.ly/2X53QN8

Repurposed Furniture Island:

One of my favorite kitchen updates is seeing furniture transformed into functional kitchen islands (for a LOT cheaper than a custom build or using store bought cabinets)! If you want to see lots of ideas on this, check out our design inspiration post on Kitchen Islands Out of Repurposed Furniture and Materials! Craigslist finds are my favorite source for these, or dressers you couldn’t find a purpose for, etc. The point is, the island adds counter and storage space for next to nothing in cost if you’re creative!

My favorite idea is fancy antique pianos that are no longer working… how cool is this?

Mashup Monday: Kitchen Islands Out of Repurposed Furniture and Materials: From This Old House “Salvage Projects You’ve Got To See”

Backsplashes:

What’s popular right now? At the Home Depot you can get 3X6 Bright White Subway Tile for 15 cents each (and they generally ship free to your house)! That means that for the entire run, let’s say you have 10 linear feet of counters (and an 18 inch tall backsplash), the tile would cost you $19 plus tax. Now, once you add in the mortar, grout, and basic tools, the total will probably be closer to $100 bucks. But, what a HUGE impact! One of my favorite subway tile transformations is from my friend Krystle @spruceandbide on Instagram. Isn’t it cool???

kitchenremodel-spruceandbide-5 — Kitchen backsplash update from Krystle @spruceandabide on Instagram. Check out the whole kitchen update athttps://spruceandbide.com/our-rustic-kitchen-makeover-a-mini-tour/

The point is, just because you’re broke doesn’t mean you have to live and cook in your depressingly outdated kitchen. There are absolutely ways to update your kitchen without spending a bunch of money!

How have you updated your spaces on a small budget? I’d love to hear about it!

Thanks for stopping by and check out more design inspiration and DIY on our blog. Cheers!

*Legal stuff:

I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is also a Sovrn affiliate advertiser which works similarly.

Mashup Monday 13: Kitchen Islands Out of Repurposed Furniture and Materials

Posted on May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 by admin

I’ve been super focused on kitchens lately because I am perpetually in designing-my- forever-kitchen mode and I just finished designing my mom’s new kitchen. One of my favorite inexpensive, quick updates in kitchens is adding either a permanent or rolling island to the existing kitchen layout. My favorite way to do this? Thrifted finds that you can pick up super cheap on Craigslist!

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

You may not realize it, but some of the most loved images on Pinterest for kitchen islands are repurposed, and relatively inexpensive, thrifted finds. I just did a massive kitchen island out of cabinets for my mother (I’m not co-located so I was unable to do a repurposed island) and even with my blogging discount the cabinets were $1500, and that doesn’t include the top.

Some repurposed islands are great if you’re strictly looking for additional counter/prep space and don’t need more storage, others provide both. This antique sewing machine base is a really cool idea for one with no storage. They’re sturdy and you can find these pretty cheap if you wait for a good deal (stalking Craig’s list is a hobby of mine).

Although I have no idea where it came from, I’ve seen this image about a million times of Pinterest and it’s one of my favorites. It has limited storage plus lots of counter space.

I know a lot of people that don’t love antique dressers that they are handed down from relatives… but they are absolutely LOVELY and functional repurposed as islands! Storage and counter space, win win! And, oh by the way, pretty cost effective, right?

I ADORE these architects cabinets! They are perfect for a wide variety of kitchen storage items and I have saved searches for these in my local area. I wish I knew where to find them!

This is another image I’ve seen a million times but have yet to find a source for. It is the PERFECT island, produce storage bins and I’m pretty sure it is a reclaimed General Store Counter. I’ve seen these for sale online upward of $10k but I’m sure there are some hiding in barns in different places. Keep your eyes open and you might accidentally stumble across one!

This wine barrel island is super cute if you’re looking for a small countertop space. You could cut out a door and put a shelf in if you wanted to include storage (or if you’re really handy put in some wine storage cubes)!

If you’re looking for something a little edgier, this industrial cart is about as cool as it gets and offers lots of styling opportunities.

Here’s another cart that came out very cool!

Here are two more great examples of dresser conversions: Inexpensive, lots of storage, and the opportunity for ample counter space!

This next one is my MOST FAVORITE ISLAND EVER and has me on a perpetual search for antique pianos (under a million dollars). This is on victoriaelizabethbarnes.com: She is my FAVORITE BLOGGER EVER and I recommend checking her out. She shares my passion for all things old and fancy and making her husband repurpose impossible projects: see the incredible piano re-work below!

Below are two additional piano/island conversions that are also awesome (where in the world are they finding these pianos???).

Have you done any cool repurposed island projects? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

Thanks for hanging out with us and check out more of our design inspiration and projects over on the blog.

Cheers!

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I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

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Kitchen Crush: Old World Dine In Kitchens

Posted on May 13, 2020May 13, 2020 by admin

Welcome to the first installment of our kitchen inspiration and design series: Kitchen Crush! I am working on an impossibly difficult and involved task: simplifying kitchen design. I soon realized that although I could probably get the design guide down into a bite-sized checklist that people could use without a designer, I really wanted to provide an explanation for a lot of the recommendations and ideas I offer as kitchen options so there are visual aids for each section.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

Watch for our free printable kitchen design guide/checklist, coming soon!

One of the concerns I hear from every client is being afraid that an investment in a shiny new kitchen will result in a dated kitchen in less than ten years (ten years used to be the guideline for remodeling dated kitchens). That is a legitimate concern! I usually point out that it happens a lot faster than that now, because of platforms like Pinterest and easy visual access to what the pros are currently doing. It’s easy to feel sad when you sink a fortune into a beautiful kitchen and then start seeing that the pros are doing something new, something cooler, and you’re already regretting your design choices just a matter of months into the process.

We have a simple solution for that: don’t chase trends. Period. (Watch for our design post on trend chasing, coming soon!)

Pro tip: if you MUST chase trends (we know, you can’t help it that Pinterest keeps showing you that new cool tile shape for backsplashes), follow trends in areas that are cheaper and easier to replace than the bones of your kitchen, including: cabinet color, hardware, counter stools, light fixtures, and, yes, backsplashes. I promise that if you like your existing layout, cabinet style, flooring, etc, with the mini changes I just listed, you can have a whole brand new kitchen for a relatively miniscule investment if you’re itching for a trend change later.

However, back to my point. I advise against trend following. What does that mean? That means use authentic materials, they never go out of style. Rethink what the cabinet companies are telling you that you need to have a beautiful kitchen, and design a kitchen you’ll love forever.

One of the items I talk to my clients at length about is the concept of how they really live, how they really cook, and how they interact from the kitchen on a day to day basis. Do they entertain a lot? Do their kids do homework at the kitchen island while they cook dinner? Do they have multiple family members cooking together on a regular basis?

One of the biggest laments I have regarding the modern kitchen is that the family kitchen table went away, and the table was moved either to a corner or to a completely different room. So, mom cooks in a space far away from everyone and doesn’t get to join in the fun.

So, to start: rethink your space.

What if you had a long space that was an eat in kitchen, plus kitchen, plus dining room? Get out some graph paper and draw the footprint of your kitchen AND dining spaces. What would it look like if the family table was in the middle of the kitchen and the surrounding space held kitchen furniture and cabinetry that holds the things you need for that area?

Think outside of the box, and I don’t just mean the cabinet box.

The kitchen table is just ONE timeless component of your kitchen design, but check out these inspiration images that feature the dining table as the central hub of the kitchen, and tell me what you think!

Kitchen Crush: Old World Dine In Kitchens: From lameredelamule.canalblog.com

Kitchen Crush: Old World Dine In Kitchens: From Minacciolo Kitchens: Minacciolo Country Kitchens with Italian Style

Black French Range, Mary Evelyn Interiors — Kitchen Crush: Old World Dine In Kitchens: From Mary Evelyn Interiors (Black French Range)

French Industrial Country Kitchen Kathy Kuo Blog — Kitchen Crush: Old World Dine In Kitchens: From Kathy Kuo Blog (French Industrial Country Kitchen)

What do you think? Could you see your family living with an informal, in-kitchen table? Are you casual or formal when dining? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Thanks for hanging out with us in DIY land and check out more great DIY and design inspiration over on our blog.

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I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.

How To Stay Busy When You’re Stuck At Home

Posted on March 27, 2020April 20, 2020 by admin

I don’t know about any of you, but there aren’t too many times when you’re forced to stay at home with nothing to do. Sometimes it’s just a rainy day and it will pass quickly. But, in unprecedented times like a mandatory virus quarantine, for instance, or waiting for the waters to recede after a hurricane, it is fairly important to stay busy in order to keep your sanity.

It would be very easy to get depressed or stir crazy in these situations, especially for very extraverted or social people, so here are a few things that you can do to help yourself emotionally and to be productive while you’re at it.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

HowToStayBusy

First of all, stay connected: If you’re doing therapeutic cleaning, call a friend to talk to on a headset while you clean. If you can’t get a hold of anyone, turn on your music playlist and sing along. If you have your people at home, enlist their help and chat while you work. They’ll feel better and so will you.

Now, I’ll admit: I’m a therapy cleaner. When I’m upset or the world feels out of control, I calm myself by cleaning and organizing. This helps me feel like at least my little corner of the world, my little nest, is a cocoon, safe from the worries of the world. But, you want to break it up into bite sized pieces so you don’t get overwhelmed. Here’s a list of suggestions for keeping yourself busy:

Make a maintenance punch list as though you were going to sell your house. One of my frustrations with our house is that we never seem to completely finish anything until it is going on the market to sell. Make a list (A PAPER LIST SO YOU CAN CHECK THINGS OFF AND SEE YOUR PROGRESS) with bite sized projects that you can chip away at while you’re confined to the house. Walk around the front, sides, and back of the house, note waiting projects/maintenance items, then go to each room and do the same). This is a great time to do things like recaulk showers and bathtubs, etc. Don’t be afraid to let your kids help, I learned too late that they might surprise you if you let them help, my kids actually do a great job. It will make them feel good and accomplished when they help complete something.

pen calendar to do checklist — Photo by Breakingpic on Pexels.com

Get out your picture bin and sort your pictures. During Hurricane Florence we were at a relative’s house for a month. Luckily, I brought our un-sorted picture bin (I thought our house was going to be gone because they initially projected a strong CAT 4, so we brought everything non-replaceable). I also brought our picture organizing bins, thinking ahead so we would have something to do. This is a GREAT project to do with your kids… I was surprised how many pictures they had never seen and I got to share the stories behind each of them and talk about when they were really little, or show them pictures from when I was young (THEY LOVE THESE!!!). When I went through picture bins I kept my favorites out and started ordering canvas prints.

How To Stay Busy When You're Stuck At Home — How To Stay Busy When You’re Stuck At Home: Sort Photos and Order Canvas Prints of Your Favorites

Organize your DVDs and CDs. Yes, we still have an extensive DVD collection. And YES, they are alphabetized by category in the cabinet (kids cartoon movies, kids live action movies and family movies, humor, adult humor, action adventure and drama, series, chick flicks, and marvel- that gets its own section). Now that we have a place to house them, I figured out that years of my husband lugging cd cases back and forth on deployments had resulted in lost cases so we had stacks of CDs with no home (which we were then RE-purchashing on amazon if we wanted to watch). I bought a 100 pack of DVD case covers to complete the process of getting all of the movies into the organized cabinets.

Clean out your medicine bins. I don’t know about you, but with five kids, we have quite the assortment of medicine in the medicine cabinet. Every few years I go through it when it starts to overflow, check the expiration dates (you’ll be surprised how many expired meds you have), reorganize it, and make it wonderful again.

white and red round medication pill on persons hands — Photo by Mari Monpari on Pexels.com

Pull everything out of your pantry, throw away expired food, and reorganize what you have. This is a fantastic time to go through what you have in your pantry. I have awesome can organizers in my pantry that really help, especially with the overflow from stocking up for a hurricane or the odd quarantine here and there. You may find fun things to make like a giant can of yams (your kids will be excited to have sweet potato casserole when it’s not even Thanksgiving). Let them help you cook it.

aroma aromatic assortment bottles — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Go through your tupperware bin. Pull everything out. If it doesn’t have a top, throw it in the recycle bin. Extra tops: go in the recycle bin. (PS: why are you still using tupperware? Pyrex makes amazing glass storage containers and they are all I use for storage. Trust me. You’ll love them).

variety of spices in glass jars on wooden shelves — Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Go through the kids coloring stuff. I know. It sucks. It’s SO tedious. Make them help you. Let them test markers. Let them separate into markers and colored pencils. If you have a bin of crayons, let them pick out the broken ones. Find a fun project to do with them with melting crayons in the sun.

pencils in clear glass container — Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

Go through your kids’ clothes. Bag up donations and watch for online retailer sales for next season and beyond! Chances are, if you’re stuck at home, there’s probably a good sale going on.

Go through your clothes. Bag up donations and check for sales going on! Just don’t let your spending get out of control.

white and black floral cap sleeved shirt — Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Pexels.com

Take out everything under your sinks and re-organize. You’ll be amazed what you’ll find.

photo of a kitchen sink — Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels.com

Make sidewalk or driveway art with your kids. Sidewalk chalk is super cheap and is a great passtime as the weather grows warmer! The one below we used painter’s tape to line it out first and it came out really cool!

Create an indoor herb garden! I’ve always wanted one of these, and the components all come from IKEA. With possible supply chain disruptions coming, I’m trying to keep our kitchen as self-sufficient as possible! You can find potting soil at any of your local hardware stores, or try the local nursery for one stop shopping. You can call ahead for plants and soil and do a transaction without ever getting out of your car! Many local nurseries are open and ready for business!

Most importantly: relax. Dig out some kid’s games and play on the living room floor. Candyland is actually really fun! Watch old movies your kids haven’t seen (Goonies!!!). Bake bread together. Paint together. If you have young children, they won’t remember anything about the current crisis except how you reacted to it, so have fun and don’t stress.

Don’t let your kids disappear and isolate themselves (even though I hate to admit that playing video games online is exactly how my older kids are staying connected to their friends). Stay together.

My father used to say something to me when I was growing up, at the times when I was soaking his shoulder in tears: “This too shall pass.” It’s all going to be okay.

What are you doing to stay busy?

Cheers, friends, and stay safe!

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I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

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Mastering The Scene: An Elegant Faux Eucalyptus and Moss Balls Arrangement

Posted on March 10, 2020 by admin

I put together a super easy and elegant arrangment the other day with three very simple components. I’ve sourced them for you here, all from Amazon, and all very convincing “faux” materials, as you can see. I love how this is warming up my mantel, right now. The cool thing is, eucalyptus works for every season, and the simple addition of a bouquet of flowers will take my mantel right into the spring season with very little effort.

Mastering The Scene: An Elegant Faux Eucalyptus and Moss Balls Arrangement

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

Here is this beauty, with Amazon links below:

These are the eucalyptus sprays I use:

These are the moss balls I used (they carry a smaller size also that I use to fill in):

Amazon no longer carries my Hurricane Lantern, but this one is very similar and cheaper:

Glad you came to hang out with us today! For more inspiration and DIY check out our blog. And, of course, if you see other items in my home you’d like sources for, leave a comment and I will get back to you!

Cheers!

*Legal stuff:

I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.

Mashup Monday 12: Where To Find The Best Deals On Butcher Block Countertops

Posted on February 24, 2020February 27, 2020 by admin

We are in the middle of a super exciting project! My sister purchased a fixer upper for our mother’s forever home and I get to design her kitchen! The thing is, my mom watches way too much HGTV and is a perpetual renovator (I come by it honestly), so I know she will be bummed if it doesn’t look like a designer kitchen. So, no pressure, right?

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

One of the reasons I’m designing it is that I’ve done kitchens before and have done a lot of research on it (read: obsessively planning our current kitchen reno)… plus, I’m generally good at bargain hunting and finding cost efficient ways to do things.

Any kind of high end countertops are a MAJOR expense in the kitchen planning process and I need to find ways to make it cost less. So, the first thing I’m looking at is alternatives to solid surface. Guess what I super, duper love? Butcher block.

Here’s a quick look at some of my favorite blogger kitchens and their awesome butcher block:

Butcher Block Countertops, via Remodelista — Remodelista.com, From: Remodeling 101- All About Butcher Block Countertops

Via sincerelymariedesigns.com our butcher block counter top review - one year later — Sincerelymariedesigns.com: Our Butcher Block Counter Top Review – One Year Later

Via beckiowens.com Best of Pinterest BECKI OWENS — Beckiowens.com, Best of Pinterest : Becki Owens

domesticimperfection.com My Butcher Block Countertops, Two Years Later — Domesticimperfection.com

The first place to ALWAYS look is for places that carry off-the-shelf sizes. Producers offer standard sizes to consumers much more cheaply than semi custom or custom sizes. The best way to save yourself money is to find inexpensive products and sizes that will work and plan the design around that. I found a few places that have reasonable offerings. I looked for four foot lengths for purposes of comparison, but several stores only had longer lengths.

*Please note that prices are current in February 2020 and are subject to change.

Lowes Home Improvement

The Baltic Butcher Block, Natural Straight Butcher Block Birch Kitchen Countertop: 4 feet long (48 inches), About 25 inches deep, and 1.75 inches thick. Baltic burch. Unfinished. $119.98.

Lowe's Butcher Block — Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse: Butcher Block

The Home Depot

Hardwood Reflections Butcher Block Countertop in Unfinished Birch: 4 feet 2 inches long (50 inches), 25 inches deep, 1.5 inches thick. Birch. Unfinished. $109.00.

IKEA

Karlby Countertop, Oak, Veneer: Veneer thickness : 1/8 inch, 6 feet 2 inches long (74 inches), 25 5/8 inches deep, 1.5 inches thick. Oak veneer, foil, and particleboard. $149.

Overstock

Forever Joint Hard Maple Butcher Block Top: 4 feet 2 inches long (50 inches), 26 inches deep, 1.5 inches thick. Maple. $252.89.

Forever Joint Hard Maple 26 x 50 Butcher Block Top 2 — Overstock, Maple Butcher Block

Lumber Liquidators

Williamsburg Butcher Block Company, Maple Butcher Block Countertop: 12 feet long (144 inches), 25 inches deep, 1.5 inches thick. Maple. Unfinished. $399.99.

Obviously, what size the sections are that you are working with are important. I will let you know what we decide and definitely show you the finished product!

Have you used butcher block from any of these stores? Have you found them in precut sizes elsewhere? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Thanks for hanging out with us in DIY land and check out more great DIY and design inspiration over on our blog.

Cheers!

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I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.

Mashup Monday 11: Inspired Stone Walls in Ireland

Posted on February 3, 2020February 5, 2020 by admin

We have a family tradition where Rainman takes each child on a cool trip after high school graduation. I have very fond memories of my graduation trip with my dad, so I feel like it’s important and something special they’ll always remember. So, last summer, he took a trip with our most recent graduate to Ireland. I sent them with strict instructions on taking lots of pictures of them, and of course, stone walls, stone houses, pubs, landscapes, castles, etc. I may have planned this trip so I could live vicariously, but that’s a story for another time.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

I want to share with you the amazing collection of stone walls they brought back. I was really impressed and feel like I need to step up my garden wall game!

Mashup Monday: Inspired Stone Walls in Ireland

I hate to think of the germs here, but still kind of a must to kiss the Blarney Stone.

There’s a story behind this one: They had an afternoon free on the trip and my son said there was another stone formation he’d like to go see. Now, it’s already fairly squirrely on the narrow, winding roads in the country, but apparently, getting to this location was particularly sporty. Upon arrival and after they had parked (and deposited their fees at the booth on the honor system) they walked up the trail to find they were interrupting some kind of ceremony. Not wanting to be rude, they snapped a quick photo and left. As they were mapping out the next destination in the car, my son said, “there they are.”

Then, a minute later, my husband asked, “where’d they go?”

To which my son responded, “they just disappeared.” He didn’t mean they ACTUALLY disappeared (like something out of Outlander), he just meant they had walked behind the building and he couldn’t see them anymore. Nonetheless, Rainman lit out of there on two wheels.

And, by the way, I don’t think I realized how big Irish Wolfhounds are. And yes, they’re called Irish Wolfhounds even in Ireland.

This one I had flashbacks to The Princess Bride:

Can you think of a place in your garden you could incorporate a stone wall?

Check out more great content on our blog!

Cheers!

*Legal stuff:

I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.