#stain Archives - Slave to DIY

The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn’t Know You Needed But You Absolutely Must Have

Posted on December 7, 2021December 15, 2021 by admin

I’ve been getting some questions from concerned readers: “Where have we been???” They’re assuming we’ve been eaten by the half-finished kitchen. Well…. I’ve been sketching kitchen projects and my adorable Rainman has been fishing. It’s my fault that I approved the purchase of a small boat fixer upper (in addition to the larger boat we already have) and that all equates to FISHING and NOT WORKING INSIDE ON MY KITCHEN. But the Dewalt miter saw on the front porch makes it LOOK like we’re working, so that’s cool. “Sips wine.”

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Anyway, that’s not preventing me from forging ahead and obsessively planning every detail, and occasionally threatening to hire a carpenter if he doesn’t get his rumpus back in the house and start throwing some kitchen together. It’s getting to the point where I may ACTUALLY consider a carpenter… or start wielding tools at opportune moments so he will catch me and feel compelled to intervene. So… the current project (that I have ordered materials for and am just WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO INSTALL): A shelf nook for the range surround.

A shelf nook? Yes, it’s absolutely a thing. Think: incredible use of wall space for storing daily use items like olive oils and favorite spices within EASY REACH of your cooking space. We are in the ~~middle~~ beginning of a kitchen renovation and the focal point of the room is a large hood with a surround that encapsulates the entire space (range, hood, and cabinetry). Having looked at ALL of the kitchens on Pinterest and Instagram, I feel well informed and confident that I have planned all of the details well.

Not sure what I’m talking about? Here are two EXCELLENT representations of my idea by professional designers (and let me give a SHOUT OUT to these ladies/gents, because the amount of nit-noid planning that goes into designing these spaces is really next-level):

Gorgeous walnut shelving inside the hood surround by @studiodearborn on Instagram.

Gorgeous wooden shelving inside the hood surround by @christopherpeacock on Instagram.

Are you IN??? Yeah, me too! Imagine wasting all of that space when you could have usable, adorable shelves (and trust me, you need the storage)!

So, here’s my sketch of the front of our range wall:

The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn't Know You Needed But You Absolutely Have To Have — The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn’t Know You Needed But You Absolutely Have To Have

And here is the sketch of the inside of the right-hand wall:

No fancy design software here! It’s so much easier for me to visualize when I sketch.

One of the most important design elements of this space was functionality: an excellent space to cook where all of the cook’s tools are within easy reach. It’s also important that the space be very easy to clean and hardy. Everything near the stove is a solid surface and non-scorch-able (including the metal upper cabinets). I allowed myself a little leniency with the shelf materials because they are 33 inches from the side of the range and the back of the shelves are still tiled. I briefly considered a shelf OVER the stove (it looks so pretty with the copper pots hanging there) but remembered that I don’t want to clean grease spatter off utensils, pots, and spices every time I cook.

Anyhoo, after I actually threatened my husband with bodily harm for the lack of progress on the kitchen (i.e. fishing/casting on the boat instead of doing interior construction), this is the next project we came to in the build. One of the challenges was that walnut is really hard to find (read: expensive) right now, but since it wasn’t a lot square footage wise, I thought it would be fairly affordable. It was not. Not, to say that little detail changed my mind: I still got my walnut shelves. Just know that the species of wood you choose very much impacts the final cost.

I also wanted some pretty gallery rails to prevent oil bottles from being knocked off and smashing into tiny pieces. Those were also not cheap, but they were necessary both from an aesthetic and functional standpoint. I had already purchased the Carrara marble subway tile for the interior range walls, and I have broken out the relative cost below.

Step one was framing the wall with the size I wanted and thinking about all the 3D things that could affect the functionality of the design.

Since we are doing one wall at a time… it is more difficult. I want to have a functional kitchen for as long as possible through the renovation, so there was an old peninsula with electrical and plumbing in the way on one side.

And then, of course, this little design treasure that I was feeling borderline homicidal about. Don’t worry, I fixed the look, but I’m still pretty torqued the HVAC crew couldn’t reroute the intake anywhere else. The worst part is it robbed me of half of my cabinet space on one side of the stove. NOT COOL. (It currently has a really pretty cover on it, and I ordered a false front for the cabinet so it will be invisible to anyone who doesn’t know).

Step one: Install cement board for all tiled areas.

Step 2: Mortar.

Step 3: Tile.

Step 4: Prefinish the walnut shelves prior to installation. I highly recommend lots of lacquer to prevent warping/staining from spills or drips.

Step 5: Install wooden shelf surround (if you’re using gallery rails, I highly recommend attaching them to the shelves prior to installation). I recommend leaving the shelves unattached until you have completed the grouting process (it’s much easier to grout without the shelves in).

Step 6: Install remaining tile surrounding shelves.

The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn't Know You Needed But You Absolutely Need To Have — The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn’t Know You Needed But You Absolutely Need To Have

Step 7: Grout and caulk (don’t skip the caulk, it prevents fluids from getting behind the shelves and warping them).

The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn't Know You Needed But You Absolutely Must Have — The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn’t Know You Needed But You Absolutely Must Have: Carrara Marble backed walnut shelves with antique brass gallery rails in the kitchen

Step 8: Style: Like everything else in the kitchen, this shelf should be both beautiful and functional. Keep your favorite oils, vinegars, Worcestershire sauce, etc. within reach.

The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn't Know You Needed But You Absolutely Must Have: Styled shelfie all ready to go with a small preserved boxwood, oils from High Country Olive Oil, a carrara marble mortar and pestle, a vintage landscape oil painting, oil carafes/dispensers, and a tiny votif of roses from our last bloom of the season — The Oil and Spice Shelf Nook Inside Your Range Hood Surround You Didn’t Know You Needed But You Absolutely Must Have: Styled shelfie all ready to go with a small preserved boxwood, oils from High Country Olive Oil, a Carrara marble mortar and pestle, a vintage landscape oil painting, oil carafes/dispensers, and a tiny votive of roses from our last bloom of the season

I don’t know if I mentioned this… but I LOVE my shelves!

Price breakdown:

Walnut shelves and lining: From Rockler $199.43

Double brass gallery rails: Vintage Hardware: $250.70

Carrara marble subway tiles behind shelves: Stone Center Online: About $100

Supplies for installing tile and shelves (mortar, grout, nails, stain, and lacquer): About $100

Total: $650.13

If you’re planning your dream kitchen, I highly recommend these!

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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.

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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!

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House Porn: An Artist’s Masterpiece in Alabama

Posted on August 5, 2019August 5, 2019 by admin

I have a confession to make: I’m bored to tears with white. There was a time when texture and color were okay, and i desperately miss those days. I recently found a place where every surface: every wall, floor, fixture, and cabinet door has interest. Like a breath of fresh air: hand carved details, custom wall finishes, hand hewn floors… I love it all. Check out the home tour in photos below.

The listing, at 2740 Abingdon Rd, Mountain Brook, AL is 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and a sprawling 4337 sq. ft. The listing photos are the property of the Realtor, Brooke Wahl, at ARC realty and can be reached at 855-822-3469 for anyone interested in purchasing.

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The exterior:

A two acre lot feels big and is beautifully manicured, perfect for outdoor entertaining and family time. Sculptures are placed throughout the landscape, rolling hills, and stone gardens and patios. The pool is a tasteful addition and blends with the rest of the exterior seamlessly.

Birmingham Alabama artist's home with incredible textures and finishes — Exterior stone, chimneys, and descending rooflines

Special spaces:

I felt like Alice in Wonderland exploring this place, and the details are incredible. One of my favorite places? The art studio.

The interior:

Deep autumn hues wrap the entire interior in a warm, homey hug, yet it’s sophisticated and creative. Extensive recessed lighting, and warm wrought iron fixtures and chandeliers, ensure that it’s still bright even with the maximalist style and textured walls, ceilings, and floors.

c2505216b535fd30653e6ae2d622f3b2l-m11xd-w1020_h770_q80 — Living area with real wood paneling, beams, and modern lighting

c2505216b535fd30653e6ae2d622f3b2l-m33xd-w1020_h770_q80 — Guest bathroom with marble and glass shower, iron sconces, textured walls, and wood plank ceiling

What do you think? Are you ready to ditch those boring white walls for texture and layers of color?

Thanks for checking out our post! Get more awesomeness on our blog. Cheers!

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House Porn: Epic Charleston Historic Property on Legare Street

Posted on July 15, 2019July 17, 2019 by admin

I have a confession to make: I’m addicted to beautiful homes. I especially love old homes, updated with modern conveniences, but disguised with original charm. What we’re missing in the United States is the REALLY old world charm you can find in Europe and beyond, but we do have our own type of royalty. We have areas with wonderful historic districts, and when people list their homes, we get a glimpse of the type of artisanship possible even here, and distinctive in it’s Americana.

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One of my favorite places to stalk Real Estate is in Charleston, SC. If we ever had royalty, it would’ve been here. Enter this stunning estate on Legare Street, which, for a cool $15 million dollars (ish), you can live like a baron. Check out the following photos (photo credits to the listing agent).

Iron gate with brick wall — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Start with the ornate, iron gates, massive gas lantern, and amazing brick privacy walls.

Stone courtyard — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Courtyards are an integral part of any palace, and this gorgeous estate is no different.

Brick carriage house with barn doors — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Pathway that leads to the exquisitely redone carriage house.

Traditional home staircase — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Traditional moldings, columns, and a wedding-portrait ready staircase.

Southern wrap around front porch — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Southern front porch style: ready for afternoons with a cold sweet-tea.

Traditional southern living room — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Elegant, nautical-inspired formal spaces.

Southern foyer with nautical ship paintings — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Another great view of the entrance. I wonder if you get to keep their collection of ship paintings?

Southern dining room with hand painted mural — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

I have no idea if the mural is original, but it is amazing and blends seamlessly with the rest of this beautiful home.

A properly scaled, magnificent chandelier in the main living space.

I’m sure it has been nothing less than an art keeping the moldings repaired and authentic. I love the floors, kept in original condition.

I would LOVE to see a repro on this as a cast stone replica. Really nice work and styled professionally.

Historic home with butcher block island — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

The kitchen is usually where these places lose me… but I sort of adore this one. It has all the makings of a place where you can prepare incredible meals, professional grade appliances, and a homey feel with plenty of prep space.

Stove with copper hood in historic home in Charleston — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

I love that the stove and hood experience wasn’t overlooked… Nothing chaps me more than seeing multi-million dollar properties with chincy kitchen appliances.

Curved kitchen cabinets in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

This is SOOO cool. Rainman would kill me if I requested curved cabinets.

Traditional home hallway and staircase — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

It’s so weird that I love this, because I generally despise any kind of wallpaper. But, this is just beautiful.

Study and den with traditional wood panel — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

The ultimate man den with wood panelling. I can almost smell the cigars.

Traditional bedroom with canopy bed and fireplace — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

That bed is SO awesome and the wood burning fireplace seals the deal.

Historic home dressing room — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Off the bathroom, the dressing room is absolutely spectacular.

Historic home bathroom with fireplace — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

And this bathroom is perfect. I keep arguing with Rainman that we need seating in the bathtub so I don’t have to sit on the sink while we chat.

Green bedroom in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

This was common to do color themed rooms. “You’ll be staying in the Green Room while you visit.” Although I don’t do it now (I find abrupt color changes distracting and uncomfortable, and ultimately lacking in cohesion), I love it in this space.

Green wallpaper bathroom — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

With it’s matching green bathroom.

And the pink toile room. LOVE the toile.

Pink wallpaper in bathroom with marble in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

With it’s FANTASTIC matching bathroom. Looks like a Williams Sonoma style vanity with traditional carrera marble.

Back staircase with ancestor wall — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

With pictures of ancestors going down the back staircase.

Attic with exposed beams and wallpaper in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

I love that the attic was formalized and finished, as I’m sure it was NOT in its hayday.

Carriage house bathroom in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

The tub tile is great here and I do adore some Victorian Cameos.

Attic in carriage house in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

This is a great mini apartment in the attic. I love the angled walls.

Carriage house formal room in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Of course, I adore the Chesterfield sofa in linen and the trunk. What a great, cozy space.

Charleston roofline — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Overlooking the Charleston rooftops.

Charleston courtyard in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

The value of outdoor space always baffles me. The incredible, manicured gardens and stone and brick walkways are impossible to put a price tag on.

Outdoor patio with garden wall in Charleston — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

This is another fantastic outdoor space. What a great garden wall.

Builtin courtyard hottub in charleston — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

This is an incredibly disguised hottub. It fits in seamlessly with the rest of the exterior spaces.

Greenhouse in courtyard Charleston — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

What an exquisite greenhouse with amazing brickwork and sculptural boxwood hedges.

Reflecting pool in Charleston courtyard — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

The design of this reflecting pool and the architectural interest is really second to none.

Courtyard in historic Charleston — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Of note here is the copper lean to roof that creates a little bit of protected space close to the wall of the house.

Carriage house with brick walls in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

I love that they kept the brick wall in the cariage house.

Antique stove in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

And the repro antique stove in the carriage house kitchen is a super nice touch.

Carriage house bedroom in historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

Once again, maintaining the rustic brick really adds a nice touch.

I adore the carriage house bathroom with the gilded mirrors, wallpaper, and especially the travertine tile.

Night exterior historic home — House Porn, Legare St, Charleston, SC

The exterior lighting updates were well done and really make the exterior spaces welcoming in the evening.

If you’re ready to drop some serious cha-ching for a historic favorite in Charleston, this estate is listed by Debbie Fisher at Handsome Properties, Inc in Charleston, SC. They’ve dropped the price from an initial listing in 2016 at $19,500,000 so I’d guess this is probably bargain pricing for this type of place.

Grab a glass of wine and join us for more house porn and DIY projects on our blog! Cheers!

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Mashup Monday 3: 17 Inspired Ways To Decorate With Maps In Your Home

Posted on January 7, 2019January 20, 2019 by admin

We are underway on a gorgeous home office remodel. The builtins were one of the first projects we tackled in the new house because Rainman’s desk was surrounded by boxes- literally stacked up to the top of the nine foot ceilings. Sorry if that was misleading. They’re not finished. Just waiting on trim, the cap and crown, and hardware. Like everything else here: we got to 90% finished and moved onto the next project.

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We may be the only people in the world that still maintain a library, but that’s a different story. The cool faux cowhide rug is super cool and we had existing office furniture from the old house that works. We got a fantastic Globe Light Fixture from World Market but I feel like the ceiling needs a special treatment. And, of course, hoping that the finishing touches to the builtins will follow the ceiling treatment, I started looking. We both dig maps and of course, the Compass Rose, so I am sorting through ways of using maps as ceiling and wall treatments. I am in love with this inspiration, so here are the best ideas I found.

Map on the ceiling:

Inside tray ceilings. Perfection.

Segretofinishes.com (Goodchild Builders, Designers Rudy Colby and Nicole Zarr)

If you happen to have an office/library the size of a ballroom with an exquisite arched ceiling, this is an excellent treatment. Bravo!

I love that the crown is incorporated as a frame inside the tray ceiling. Very well done.

So, no, the Compass Rose is not a map, but I was picturing it overlayed on a map. I do love the combination of the map on the wall in the background with the Rose on the ceiling.

I realize this isn’t a true map, but it feels like remnants of the map. I love how antiqued this is.

What an awesome design and commitment to book collection and proper display. I ADORE the ceiling nook with the added depth of the map.

5b0142b4-3952-46dd-b980-a5fddd5f330c — Painted by Hugh Luck

Apparently, this is a painting. Unreal. Stunning.

I adore the texture and colors in this.

What an elegant traditional office. The ceiling map is just the right touch.

Maps on the wall:

I love this little carved out nook and would love to see some wood shelves in there.

This vendor on Ebay (for the two above) has a whole bunch of different styles. I love that they’re only around sixty bucks… cheaper even than wallpaper for a comparable wall and WAY cooler!

This is so great. Rustic finishes and beams. The map really enhances the look.

Essener Mural Wallpaper paired with a gorgeous antique leather Chesterfield couch. Half Restoration Hardware, half steam punk. All love.

Here are some more examples I’d put on a wall OR on a ceiling:

This may be the one for the office ceiling. It’s perfection.

If you’re looking for more of a traditional map, but still with beautiful antiquing, this might be the way to go.

I hope you enjoyed exploring inspiration for decorating with maps with us and I would love to see some of your ideas/projects in the comments! I will share the results as soon as we get that map on the ceiling (here’s to everyone collectively holding their breath)!

Check out other inspiration and DIY posts here!

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16 Ways To Use Brick Veneer Inside Your Home

Posted on November 16, 2018March 14, 2019 by admin

When I’m perusing Pinterest late at night when I’m supposed to be sleeping (don’t tell me you’re not guilty), I find that I’m always attracted to images of older homes. Beautiful, preserved stone or brick walls that have either been re-exposed in a renovation or have been there the whole time. Stone mixed with plaster, crumbling/repaired brick, or even painted brick fireplaces… I love them all. One of the things I have chosen as a challenge for myself in transforming various projects is making them feel like they’ve always been there. Even if they’re new and modern, they should feel homey… like there’s history behind them.

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My new obsession is using accent walls of brick veneer to add some age and depth to different projects. It’s smart and it’s classic. Brick has been around in different forms since the dawn of time, and I LOVE it.

49077a92-a0e3-4d49-aa17-b3ec95960311 — Built in shelves, part of IKEA hack, with Castlegate Old Mill Brick Veneer, dressed with farmhouse candlesticks and preserved boxwood

Our first experiment with brick was a complete and total pain in the tail. I, of course, chose a super narrow space to install it, because I feel like Rainman really needs the additional challenge of working in a tight space on top of doing something he hasn’t done before. I’ll do a project tutorial soon, but I’m just not ready to relive that pain yet, nor do I have enough wine in the house to really delve into it.

Anyway, along the way, as I was researching different looks I found some fantastic applications for brick veneer in the house. I’ll share my favorites with you:

As an accent behind builtins or shelves:

6b89b47e-8f76-468e-af7b-11afbb00f0de — Built in shelves, part of IKEA hack, with Castlegate Old Mill Brick Veneer, dressed with farmhouse candlesticks and preserved boxwood

This is our unfinished builtins project (IKEA hack) with the brick veneer behind the shelves. I love the effect. After researching multiple options, I finally decided on Old Mill, Castle Gate Brick Veneer. I always check a local distributor first, and although he was able to do it for 5 cents cheaper a brick, we had to buy an entire pallet and there was a six-week lead time. In any case, we really love how it turned out, and the Old Mill quality was excellent.

Here are some of the images that inspired me and continue to provide planning inspiration for possible future projects:

As an accent wall in the bathroom:

Image Source Unknown (Instagram Account Deleted)

So, this is a great space. I really like the vanity. But, honestly, without the brick accent wall this room would be pretty vanilla, right? It was a fantastic choice in this room.

In the bathroom with antique fireplace:

1e2609f7-9f2e-4283-8b21-ffcac3f66c41-1 — Image from Signature Hardware

There is a lot going on with this bathroom. I honestly don’t LOVE the shower, because I think the “modern” level is overdone and clashes with the other AMAZING elements. The preserved antique brick fireplace is incredible (minus the hearth in the modern tile). The clawfoot tub is equally fantastic. I also love that they refinished what appear to be original wide plank floors. If you look carefully you can see a chandelier in the shower glass reflection…. reinforcing my deep belief that no bathroom is truly complete without a sparkling chandelier. Bravo.

As a foyer accent wall:

This is such an amazing space. The combination of herringbone wood floors, the brick, the incredibly detailed wood moldings, the classic settee, and of course, the maps. This person might love Restoration Hardware. It’s a rich, warm, classic look and I just adore it.

As a kitchen accent wall:

The antique brick really adds interest to this space. I also dig the bank of apothecary drawers and the banquette seating.

For a more modern take on the kitchen with an antique wall:

The scale of this room is part of what makes it so cool (did you see how thick that table slab is???). Doing this wall in brick veneer would be a pricey undertaking.

Over the stove:

Sigh. Yes, the antique brick surround for the stove wall is happening and in our future kitchen renovation. For real. Don’t you love the beams and the lighting?

On the fireplace:

This is one of the coolest two-sided fireplaces ever. And I love the faux skin rug. I would’ve loved to see a wide plank, hand finished hard wood with this. It would have been epic.

A totally different take on a fireplace:

This fireplace inspires my inner Hobbit. So much movement, and paired with what appears to be heart pine… what more could one want?

As an accent on window walls:

I love brick accents around windows, especially if they are original, or made to appear to be the outer wall of the home. These are uniquely awesome because of their depth- they were able to incorporate a great panelled look on the inside. Really nicely done with superb depth.

The loft pictured here is incredibly well done all around. They really captured a moody ambiance.

As a column wrap:

My favorite part of this column wrap is that it appears to actually be an original home element. Very cool that they kept it.

As an archway wrap:

The difference in materials on the archway does a masterful job of separating living areas. The flow between spaces here is exquisite.

Isn’t this an awesome transition from foyer to living area?

In the dining room:

This is obviously a commercial space, but what a perfect combination of gray velvet tufted seating, antique mirrors, rustic wood floors, iron table bases, classic artwork, and of course, the brick.

On the basement wall:

Once again, realize this would be an expensive undertaking. But, the look is so unique. I love it paired here with medium tones in wood flooring and the bright white baseboards.

As a brick ceiling:

After a fairly frustrating installation of brick on a wall, I’m not totally sure how one would accomplish a ceiling installation. Nor do I think I know anyone with a marriage strong enough to survive a joint brick ceiling installation. But, if it was possible, the results are breathtaking.

Brick floor inlay:

Isn’t this amazing? I love combining the materials of deep wood tones with the whitewashed-look brick. It is really something special. They accomplished something very similar below.

Something interesting to note on the image above is that I believe this is new construction. This is varsity level use of different depths, textures, and finishes to make the house feel homey and not too new. There are three different styles of doors in one hallway and the mixed use of wood floors and brick is cool (though I’ll admit the antique-size brick would have been a visual and authentic improvement). Overall, really well done.

Master bedroom accent wall:

I really like the style of this entire space (it’s new/old), classic/eclectic, well done and homey. The heavy grout is very popular right now.

As a staircase brick accent wall:

If I ever walked into this space, it is truly “gasp” worthy. Unbelievably elegant and warm.

Have you used brick veneer interior applications?

Using brick inside offers an opportunity to completely transform the feel of a space. It creates warmth, texture, and depth. Are there other interior brick applications you love? I would love to see pictures in the comments section!

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Transform Your Front Porch: Take Down the Railings!

Posted on October 5, 2018March 12, 2019 by admin

So, here’s the deal. Sometimes it’s super expensive to create a breathtaking transformation to your house, and sometimes it’s FREE. Sometimes all you need is a little elbow grease (and maybe some basic supplies you already had on hand) to make a huge impact.

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This is the second time I have taken down the railings at a home that we own. The first time the porch was basically at ground level and it was a no-brainer. The impact was immediate- INSTANT curb appeal. I loved it. See the complete “after” transformation on the old house we sold in 2016 here.

Okay, it’s a little hard to see the LACK of railing there because of the out of control hydrangea. Trust me. The railings were removed. Details on that crazy garden you can see here.

When we moved in to our current home it had those same railings, but they were serving an entirely different purpose- safety. The porch is a few feet off the ground. In the middle of our epic and back-breaking front garden project (which you can check out here) I decided to rip them out. I knew that the dirt would end about a foot below the front porch/deck so it would be safe to take them down. I feel the need to say, “I’m not telling you to take your front railings down. I haven’t seen your house. It could pose a safety hazard.” Please consider safety: toddlers, old people, clumsy people, etc. as you make the decision to keep your railings or not. We may eventually put in black, wrought iron railings, but for now I like it just like it is.

Here’s a picture before my project A.D.D. took hold:

So, I seriously stopped mid project, stole one of Rainman’s hammers, and started swinging away. As I suspected, the sellers had covered up rot with white paint (pretty typical) and the railings came down in about 30 minutes. Of course, this made me realize the bicycles and miscellaneous crap all over the front porch would need to find a new home (not exactly HGTV ready).

Tip: Painting and caulking front porch columns and railings is an ANNUAL MAINTENANCE ITEM. It should be on your list. Otherwise they rot. Case in point.

And here’s the front porch immediately after taking the railings down: Sigh. I’m in love.

Above you can see the pile of railings (dry/rotted wood is excellent for starting bonfires) to the left there and the bare wood on the columns where the railings used to be.

While I was having A.D.D. and happened to have a nephew visiting (can I get an AMEN for cheap, available labor???) I decided to get some painting and staining done.

I had him sand the front deck and get any loose deck screws back in. If you don’t have a good sander, I have several of these. I have one I keep for just drywall finishing, then others for miscellaneous sanding projects. They’re cheap enough it doesn’t break my heart to burn them up or buy a new one, but they’re surprisingly hardy.

I also had him sand around where the railings had been on the posts so we could get a fresh FLAT coat of white and the seam would be invisible.

I splurged on some good deck stain and sealant and we did two coats. For stain, I recommend throw away brushes, which you can get pretty cheap at Lowe’s. True story: in seventh grade my son did a science project on which of three deck stains offered the best moisture protection (based upon water absorption and weight). I used that brand. I love the color and it’s amazing the difference it makes. It ended up being a smaller splurge than I expected because that huge front deck took less than a gallon for two coats.

So here we were, working along and I noticed those damn builder grade lights. Project A.D.D. strikes again. Yeah, those definitely had to go. I hadn’t even noticed them delaminating until I fixed all the other stuff.

So, we took the opportunity to change out the porch lights and found a great deal on really nice looking lights.

While we were out there I handed Rainman black spray paint to put a fresh coat on our 10 year old rocking chairs and little black table. He hit the rough spots with sand paper, cleaned and dried them, tightened the hardware, then spray painted. TADA! Good as new.

We will be doing another update soon (cough* cough*) on working shutters for the windows. We are currently doing price comparisons on shutters and hardware. After the hurricane we realized we can’t spend two days putting up plywood every time we evacuate. Also coming soon, the tutorial on how to put up plywood over your windows before you evacuate for a hurricane.

Anyway, drum roll please…

Doesn’t it look AWESOME??? Bear with me. The right side over by the staircase is still in need of rework. Here’s another view from the rocker:

Everything’s all nice and painted, stained, and ready to move on to the next thing! I just love how our mini-flip on the front porch turned out. Big impact for minimal cost!

Check out our other projects and wins and fails here. Thanks for stopping by!

*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.