I Built A Farmhouse Table

June 20, 2016 By Linda 25 Comments

DIY Farmhouse Table – Built with a Drill.

Did you see the headline up there? The one that says I built a table. I built a table. I BUILT a table. I. Built. A. Table.

Pardon my French (and screaming), but I BUILT A FRIGGIN TABLE!!!!

And can I say the more times I type the word ‘built’ the more it looks wrong. I seriously stopped mid-post and Google’d it to make sure it was a real word. 😉

But back to me. And my incredible, awe-inspiring TABLE BUILDING skills. If I was the kind of person who jumped up and down when excited, I would be jumping up and down. And if I was the kind of person who danced around the house when excited, I would be doing the Watusi. And Merengue.

Instead, I celebrated with a high five from Mike. And refrained from doing a post-high-five end zone dance.

Oh, and I spent the rest of the day walking around saying, I built a friggin table! 🙂

This was no small feat for me. Never in a million bazillion years would I ever think that sometime in my early 50’s I would be building a DIY farmhouse table. BUILDING A FARMHOUSE TABLE, PEOPLE! ME! ALL BY MY LONESOME.

And this is where I should be sharing a tutorial on how to build a farmhouse table with only a drill. That’s right. One tool. A drill! But I won’t. It’s not my project to share. Instead I will point you to the DIY farmhouse table tutorial I followed from Miss Mustard Seed (click here).

But what I will do is share some tips and lessons learned along the way. You know, when you can BUILD YOUR OWN FRIGGIN TABLE!

How to Build a DIY Farmhouse Table … With a Drill

Tips & Tricks

The road to building a farmhouse table was definitely fraught with some challenges. Like when I attached the pre-turned leg the wrong way. And had to back out eight 2″ self-drilling screws. Fun times! So I thought I’d share some key hard-earned tips and tricks with you …

Tip #1: Customize It!

This is my favorite part of the whole diy farmhouse table project. Because I had a very specific space where this table would live (the screen porch) and I had very specific dimensions for length and width for the table. Just keep in mind that you’ll want about 3″ overhang of the table top from the apron pieces. For the table top, you have a choice for planks from 1 x 6, 1 x 8, 1 x 10 and 1 x 12 boards.

And once you have all your dimensions figured out, take them to The Home Depot and have them make all the cuts for you! My table measures 40″ x 60.” For the table top, I use four 1 x 10’s to create the table top.

Tip #2: Get a Good Drill

The key to the whole project is the drill. And self-drilling screws. So a cordless, powerful drill will make the project so much easier. I used my Ryobi drill (which I won through a blogger’s contest) and it’s my new favorite tool!

Oh, and I’m not getting paid by the folks at Ryobi to say that.

Tip #3: Get Some Good Clamps

Again, no one is paying me to endorse these clamps. But when the guy at The Home Depot was cutting my lumber and I spotted the clamps he was using, I immediately asked, “what aisle?”

I couldn’t have done this project on my own without them!

Tip #4: Drill Holes First

The self-drilling screws are great and all … right up until they aren’t so great. I found them tricky when trying to attach the pre-turned legs (found at The Home Depot) to the apron. So pre-drilling the holes first made the world of difference.

Tip #5: Removing Stripped Screws

I have a very bad habit of stripping screws and was ready to resign myself to living with a bunch of protruding screws on the apron of the table (with a warning to everyone to watch their knees when sitting) when my husband reminded me of a trick he learned from our contractor friend Ed (of Clover Building & Development).

Simply clamp a vice grip onto the screw head and just left loosy it out. There’s no pulling or tugging or strength needed. Just turn that vice grip over-and-over and the screw will back out. So simple!

Tip #6: Sand, Sand … and Sand Some More

Unless you want to serve up a side of splinters with dinner, give that puppy a good sanding. Sand the top nice and smooth, focusing on any loose pieces.

And make sure you sand along the edges really well too.

Tip #7: Test Your Stain

I was all ready to dive in and give the table a coat of stain based on the color sample from the store display … and then I thought better of that idea and tested the stain on a scrap piece of lumber. Boy and I glad I tested it first. It was toooooo dark. So back to the store went I to pick up Minwax in Special Walnut. Which I also tested on a scrap piece of lumber. Much better.

Once the stain was applied (using a rag) to the top and the legs, I decided to lighten it up with paint. I used Annie Sloan in Pure White on the apron and legs.

And then I gave it a quick distress with 150 grit sandpaper. The final step was a coat of triple thick Polyurethane* in satin finish.

I’m so emboldened, empowered, enamored, en … en … enspired 🙂 …. by my table building skills that I’m thinking I might just build a farmhouse bench to go with my table! That’s right. I’M GOING TO BUILD A FRIGGIN BENCH!

🙂

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

Vintage-Look Crate DIY

How To Paint A Sink

You can find even more of my DIY projects by clicking here …

*A special thanks to Rust-Oleum for providing me with the Varathane Triple Thick Polyurethane.

Photography Tips for Real Estate Listings

June 15, 2016 By Linda 4 Comments

Photography tips for real estate listings – Interior Photography Tips and Tricks.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then in real estate a picture is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars … or more.

Clever, right? Sometimes I do surprise myself.

I said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m counting down the days, weeks, and years until we can put our home on the market. And when we do put it up for sale, it will be for sale by owner. Especially considering how many amazing tools and resources are available for the independent seller on sites like Owners.com. Not to mention the savings opportunities …

In fact, HGTV’s Scott McGillivray recently joined forces with Owners.com to offer his expert advice on how to save big when selling your home (you can access the article by clicking here). Tip #4 really struck a chord with me — creating a great listing. So I thought I could expand on that idea with some photography tips for your real estate listing. Because, let’s face it, in real estate books really are judged by their cover.

Clever again, am I right?

I want to be clear that these are photography tips for amateurs … from an amateur. Well, an amateur who has spent an inordinate amount of time taking pictures of the interior spaces in her home. And an amateur who has learned — and continues to learn — along the way.

Photography Tips for Real Estate Listings

Tip #1: Camera Equipment & Accessories

Unless you have some serious iPhone picture-taking game (and trust me, I’ve seen some amazing iPhone shots on Instagram), I recommend getting a digital camera. A point-and-shoot with a zoom function is the cheapest and easiest to use. A DSLR camera would be ideal, offering better quality and more control over photo editing. The DSLR kit bundles typically come with a 18-55mm zoom lens, which is all you’ll need. Either way, a tripod is a must. Not ifs, ands or buts about it. It will give you the sharpest shots. You can find an affordable one for around $20.

As an aside, I use a Nikon D7100. My preferred lens is the Nikon 35 mm fixed lens, but it has limitations when shooting interiors. Since it’s a fixed lens, it can’t capture the wider full room shots. For those, I use a zoom lens — either the kit lens that came with my camera (Nikon 18-55mm) or my Tamron 18-200mm lens. (Some affiliate links included).

Tip #2: Stage Your Home

Just like an open house, you should stage your home for it’s photo shoot.

Fresh baked cookies are optional. 🙂

Take down personal pictures and memorabilia and mix in some color and warmth with flowers and fabrics and textures. Fluff the pillows and add a throw (always a great idea to cover up a stain on the couch). Remove any extra stuff that can been seen as clutter. Dust surfaces and run the vacuum right before you start taking pictures of the room.

On the plus side, unlike a real open house you can always just throw all the “junk” and clutter behind you when you take pictures of a room. Not that I’ve ever done that. 😉

Tip #3: Turn Off the Lights

Turn off the lights. And turn off the flash. Both will give you a yellow/orange glow that no amount of post production editing will get rid of. This is why a tripod is a must, because your camera can take a photo in a low light situation, but you could never hold that camera steady long enough while that picture is being taken. The tripod does the work for you!

The ideal light is on a slightly overcast day. Or, wait for the sun to move out of the room before photographing (unlike my lights off picture above that has sun glare).

Tip #4: Watch Your Angles & Verticals

When lining up the shot — or in the editing phase — be sure to line up the verticals in the frame. Like so …

If you line up the horizontals, things will look tipsy.

Also, play with camera heights. Eye level doesn’t always work best. As you can see in the picture below it creates a shot that’s looking down on the scene.

But then again, don’t go too low for your real estate listing shot. It doesn’t really show off the room as much as it shows off the furniture and fixture.

The ideal height is somewhere in-between. Lower than your natural eye level — and, most likely, lower than you would instinctually think — but not the lowest level on your tripod.

Be sure to include a mix of angles and perspectives. Shoot into all four corners to find a shot (and/or shots) that best show off a room. But also include a mix of head-on shots (see tip #7 for example).

Tip #5: Accentuate Key Selling Features & Upgrades with Close-Ups

While most of your real estate listing photographs will be from a full room perspective, it’s okay to include a few close-ups to highlight key selling features and upgrades that might otherwise get lost. Especially in kitchens and bathrooms.

Tip #6: Edit Your Pictures

Your photographs will be greatly enhanced with a little editing. As an example, here’s the photo above straight out of the camera …

I shoot in RAW format – which, in simplest of terms, means the camera doesn’t add any edits when I export the picture to my Adobe Lightroom photo editing software. But even if you’re shooting in JPEG, your photos can always be improved with editing. And you don’t even have to pay for software. There are a number of free options out there. My go-to is PicMonkey.

You can lighten and brighten. You can crop and rotate. You can boost color — or cool down a picture. You can resize. And you can sharpen and add clarity.

Tip #7: Tell A Story

Organize your photos like someone is walking through your home. You can start at the front door and entry, and then move on into living spaces. Also, whenever possible, try to show how rooms relate to one another through doorways (or, in my case, arches).

Tip #8: Include Pictures of the Neighborhood

Remember: Buyers aren’t just purchasing a home, they’re buying into the neighborhood. So grab your camera and take some pictures outside to give them a feel of your lifestyle.

Tip #10: Take a Million Pictures

You’ve invested the time in staging your home and cleaning your spaces, so you should take advantage of that effort to take as many pictures as you can. Vary the angles. Vary the height of the camera. Shoot from all four corners. Shoot head on.

Trust me, you won’t want to set everything up again after you break it down.

And one last tip for the road: Don’t try to photograph your entire house in a single day. I recommend one or two (at the most) rooms a day. Otherwise, you’ll get frustrated. And sloppy. And start to cut corners. Just saying …

😉

Pin it!

You might also like:

Home Selling Tips: Repairs To Make Before Listing (click here)

This post was written by me on behalf of Owners.com. I receive compensation for this post, but all opinions about home selling, photography, Scott McGillivray, and Owners.com are 100% my own. For more, see my disclosure policy here.

Summer Home Tour … with Lilacs

June 10, 2016 By Linda 20 Comments

Well, hello there lilacs.

It’s so nice of you to bloom just in time for the summer home tour event organized by Marty of A Stroll Thru Life.

And it’s so nice of you to bloom just in time to greet the visitors who have found their way here from the oh so fabulous VEL at Life & Home at 2012 blog (and can I just say I covet VEL’s kitchen!).

The very minute I saw your beautiful blooms, I ran out with sheers and mason jars filled with water. I snipped and trimmed and very un-artfully arranged you. And then I spread you around the house. Starting in the dining room …

And then I grabbed a few stems, stuck them in a wreath and hung it from a ribbon from my window mirror.

Lilacs, you and your magnificent scent also adorn the living room …

Can’t you just smell them?

Funny story, lilacs.

And yes, I realize saying the story is funny in advance could be the kiss of death for this story …

The day I snipped and trimmed and un-artfully arranged you in mason jars and generously spread you around the house, my husband commented on your delicious smell after arriving home from work. And then he proceeded to walk right past you …

right past the antique-look toolbox filled with your blooms on the dining room table …

right past the wreath on the mirror with your blooms tucked here and there …

right past not one, not two, but three mason jars generously filled with your blooms in the living room …

… and made his way to the front door. Where he turned to me and said, The lilac bush is really strong this year. I can smell it right through the cracks in the door.

To which I replied, Um, yeah honey. Or perhaps it could be all the mason jars filled with lilacs like, um, everywhere inside the house!

🙂

Before you go, make sure you visit Anita at Far Above Rubies (click here). She’s the very last spot on this fabulous week-long Summer Home Tour!

And here’s the full line-up for today (Friday, June 10)

Refresh Restyle | Splendor Styling | Monica Wants It | Life and Home @ 2102 | Far Above Rubies

And …. for even more summer decorating inspiration, here’s the line-up for the full week of Summer Home Tours …

Monday – June 6

Tuesday – June 7

Wednesday – June 8

Thursday – June 9

Friday – June 10

Pin It!

Screen Porch Decorating Inspiration

June 2, 2016 By Linda 11 Comments

I was watching GMA while composing this post and was stopped in my tracks. On screen was a mommy blogger who quit her blog. Saying what she posts is a false version of her life. How she’s fabricating content. Oh, and she earns $1,500 for a sponsor post (which, by the way, is not what I earn for sponsored content).

Cut to George and Robin and Michael and Laura and Amy sitting on couches discussing the need to be authentic.

Always be authentic.

And it got me thinking, am I misrepresenting myself here on the blog? I hope not. But perhaps … unknowingly?

Do I share a homogenized version of my life and my home? Yes, guilty. But do you really want to see the power cords and dust bunnies and dog hair? Should I share how my living room really looks with pillows tossed on the floor and flowers dying in vases and tea cups and textbooks on ottomans and a couch that always looks like an unmade bed? Should I share the dining room with the printer parked in the corner and three days worth of mail piled on the dining room table? The kitchen with the dishes in the sink and crumbs on the counter top and the stove that needs a serious scrubbing?

And it had me kicking myself for not taking a ‘before’ picture of the screen porch before we cleaned it up this weekend. You’ll have to trust me on this, but it was a mess. Filled with a winter’s worth of junk that was literally tossed out the back door ….

and onto the screen porch.

And while the ‘after’ is a huge improvement to the junk pile, it certainly has it’s share of flaws. And issues. So in the name of full disclosure … and authenticity … I thought I’d get real about the screen porch.

Let’s start with the rug. It’s seen better days – especially since it lives year-round on the porch. Admittedly, I should roll it up and store it somewhere during the winter. Only, not sure where that somewhere could be. 😉

The drop cloth tablecloth has suffered a similar fate as the rug. What you can’t see is the giant ripped seam that I’ve covered up with the white table cloth.

The benches with pillows look like a smart seating solution for the porch. But, admittedly, no one sits there. Ever. It’s just not comfortable.

The lighting could use some help as well. The string lights are just too bright. And the drum shade is for show. An LED clipped inside the shade doesn’t offer much in the way of lighting.

So I’m ready to admit screen porch defeat and introduce a new, more functional design.

A couch for some back porch lounging and reading. A mix of wicker and metal chairs around the table just because I like a mix of wicker and metal chairs around a table. And speaking of the table, we need a much better solution. The current one is too small and too plasticy and too wobbly …

And the best (or perhaps worst) part? I’m making the table. By myself. Using just a drill. And some clamps. Oh, and screws of course. So wish me luck. Because as you read this, I’m drilling and clamping away …

🙂

Pin it!

Summer Wreath Idea: Geraniums in Vase

May 18, 2016 By Linda 4 Comments

Summer Wreath Idea with Geraniums.

I had this whole blog post planned. I was going to wax poetically about how, as much as I truly adore summer, I’ve stopped wishing seasons away …

How I want to enjoy the moment in the moment. How time is speeding up with each passing year. How I still can’t believe my babies aren’t babies any more. But then … then … I spot the price tag/bar code reflection in glass on the bottom of the vase in the picture above.

My Minnie Pearl moment.

It’s all I can see. And now that I see it I can’t unsee it. I know it’s crazy. Irrational. Makes no sense. But I did share about how I have photo dysmorphia syndrome.

And here I was thinking I was being all art-y and photographer-y and clever-y with my from the bottom up picture angle perspective.

Then the whole price tag/bar code reflection in the glass thing reminded me of this Buzzfeed post about getting caught with reflections in mirrors and glass. Which then reminded me of how very, very happy I am that I didn’t grow up with smart phones and social media to publicly and forever document my most embarrassing lapses-in-judgment moments. 🙂

So now in this world of camera phones and social media, my biggest shame is not removing price tags before taking pictures.

Oh how my sorority sisters and summer beach house roommates would heartily laugh at that turn of events!

But back to my summer wreath idea. If we can even call it that.

It’s some geraniums in a bucket I bought at Michaels. With a coupon. And hung on the front door.

And while it seems silly to share a tutorial, I will anyway ….

Summer Wreath Idea – Geraniums in a Vase How To

Are words even needed? I added picture frame wire to the the basket handles and then hung it from a screw in the front door. I then added three faux geranium stems. Oh, and not pictured here, I added a command strip to the back of the vase to affix it to the door. Turns out some members of our family slam the door so hard that the bucket swings and the flowers tip out.

Maybe on my next post I’ll wax poetically about how quickly the seasons and years are flying by …

🙂

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

Hydrangea Spring Wreath

Hydrangea Fall Wreath

Clothespin Wreath

Picture Frame Wreath

DIY Bath Caddy

May 16, 2016 By Linda 2 Comments

DIY Bath Caddy Tutorial – Easy, Affordable Wood Tray with Handles.

I’m not a bath person.

And yes, I’m fully aware of the irony – or is it disconnect? – between my first sentence and this post’s title/subject matter.

But I’ve never found the act of lying in a tub of warm water with bubbles relaxing. It always felt forced. “Am I having fun yet? Am I relaxed yet?

I even tried adding the obligatory candles, glass of wine, and book. And yet, still no comfort.

In fact, it was the opposite of comfort. It was sheer discomfort. I’d be anxious about dropping the book in the tub. And warping the pages as I held the book – and turned the pages – with wet hands and fingers.

And don’t even get me started on the whole pruning of the fingers thing.

Then there’s the wine. Where do I rest it after taking a sip? I can’t hold it and the book at the same time. Do I put it on one of the slippery corner ledges? Or on top of the toilet seat? Which, by the way, ew.

And as the water temperature cools and bubbles disperse my anxiety about the whole experience only heightens.

So why, you may be asking at this point in my bath rant, have I created a diy bath caddy?

Two reasons. First, my daughter is a bath enthusiast. She’ll disappear for hours on end. I even make her lavender bath salts (here). Now she can rest them on the bath caddy in case she wants to add more mid-bath. Oh, and I thought we could avoid any future i-phone submerged in the bath mishaps with a tray to rest her phone upon … 😉

The second reason is because of a little mini bathroom upgrade I gave the space, thanks to Angie’s List. I thought a diy bath caddy would help make the reveal look a little more interesting …

and spa-ish.

I’ll share the full reveal soon, but in the meanwhile here’s a quick tutorial on how to make your own diy bath caddy. It’s super easy and super affordable!

How To Make A DIY Bath Caddy

I started with a piece of 1 x 12 pine that I had the nice folks at The Home Depot cut down to size to fit the span of my tub. I then used some 80 grit sandpaper to smooth down the rough edges and remove any potential splinters (because, let’s face it, getting a splinter while taking a tub would not be relaxing at all).

I then stained the board using “Puritan Pine” (who came up with that name?!?). Using a cheap paint brush (you could use a foam brush too) I applied a generous coat …

Which I then immediately wiped off with a clean rag. You could also apply the stain using a rag, following up with a clean rag to wipe away any excess.

I let it dry overnight before adding hardware. I found these handles at Ace Hardware and they’re called “Utility Handles.” I liked that I could screw them in from the top of the board. I simply used a pencil to mark where holes needed to be drilled.

Quick drilling tip: I used a piece of tape to mark off the depth of the screw to prevent me from drilling a hole all the way through the board. Like that ever happened before. 😉

All that was left was screwing in the screws with a screwdriver.

Oh, and I added handles on both ends of the board. With is self-explanatory, but thought I’d explain anyway! 🙂

And now just a few more shots for good measure …

In fact, I like my new bath caddy so much I’m tempted to try the whole taking a bath thing again …

🙂

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

Vintage Look Crate DIY (click here)

How to Age Locker Baskets (click here)

Vintage Look Grocery Sign DIY

You can find even more of my before & after projects by clicking here …

Sharing:

| Between Naps on the Porch |

Teen Girl Bedroom

May 11, 2016 By Linda 10 Comments

Where have I been?

Good question.

I’d love to say I’ve been traveling the world. Climbing summits. Sunning myself on exotic beaches. Swimming with the dolphins.

But lo and behold, I’ve been here. In Chicago.

Though, in all honesty, I have taken a trip to the land of hard-knock-life-lessons-learned. With a few day trips into the towns of “what was I thinking” and “why did I wait so long to do this” where I commiserated with fellow procrastinators.

You see, it was time to move my daughter into her new room (which was my son’s old room). And when I say time, I mean racing against the clock before he returned home from college for the summer.

And where he wanted orange for his room, she wants a teen girl room that is white. All white.

Floor to ceiling white ….

And that’s when I learned the down side of being so free with splashing colors on my walls. “It’s just paint” turned into three-to-four coats of primer and white to cover all that teen boy room orange and black and gray.

Sigh.

The room is still a project. But we have paint. We have a chandelier. We have a new bed frame that needs assembly. Side tables that need a few coats of paint. Lamps with the sweetest blush pink shades. Gray and white striped curtains that have been hung.

I’m hoping to share a reveal soon.

But the good news is the rooms are switched. The heavy lifting is done …

and all my chickens are home to roost for the summer! 🙂

DIY Tile Coasters

April 17, 2016 By Linda 18 Comments

DIY Tile Coasters with Mod Podge & Scrapbook Paper.

We are not fancy here at casa It All Started With Paint. In fact, we are the polar opposite of fancy.

Which, according to Thesaurus.com would make us plain, poor, simple, ugly, unadorned and/or unornamented.

Hmmm …

Thesaurus.com was not very kind to us unfancy folks. I mean, I get the plain, simple, unadorned and unornamented. But poor and ugly were low blows.

And, unlike Thesaurus.com, I was thinking more along the lines of we eat and drink on the couch in front of the tv or our screens unfancy. I’m definitely not one of those people running around placing coasters under everyone’s drinks. In fact, up until last week I didn’t even own any coasters …

But my unfancy ways changed after I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into my drum table makeover. It’s the table where I typically rest my unfancy eat-and-drink-in-the-living-room food and drinks. However, I was so enamored of the liming wax finish I created on said table top that I was worried about ruining the finish. Which meant I had to get my fancy on. With some diy tile coasters.

DIY Tile Coasters: How To Make

Supplies

Mod Podge Hard Coat (found at craft store)

White Tiles (available to purchase individually for about 30 cents each at home improvement stores)

Scrapbook Paper

Scissors or Paper Cutter

Foam Brush

Step 1:

Cut paper to allow for 1/4″ boarder on all sides.

Step 2:

Apply generous layer of Mod Podge to tile.

Step 3:

Affix paper square on tile. Add Mod Podge to corners and sides as needed. Smooth out any bubbles with fingers.

Step 4:

Apply five coats of Mod Podge on top of paper. Let dry between coats.

Step 5:

Glue some felt and/or glue to the bottom corners so your new, fancy diy tile coasters don’t scratch your furniture.

So now I have a tiny little corner of fancy in my home that is neither poor nor ugly. 🙂

P.S. These DIY tile coasters could also make a cute housewarming gift. For your fancy friends. 😉

PIN IT!

You Might Also Like:

Drum Table Makeover (click here)

Liming Wax Table Top Tutorial (click here)

How To Age Locker Baskets (click here)

You can find my complete DIY & Crafts project gallery by clicking here …

Sharing:

Spring Decor Ideas in Navy and Yellow

March 25, 2016 By Linda 36 Comments

Spring Decor Ideas in Navy & Yellow.

Welcome to my Spring home tour. Turns out I’m the last stop on the last day of a week long, 30 home Spring home tour organized by the amazing Marty at A Stroll Through Life. Thanks Marty!

If you’re here from Tidbits & Twine, isn’t Kim’s home amazing? Her style, Her photography. Her design. Sigh. A tough act to follow. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit nervous. Especially for those of you who’ve stuck it out from the beginning. That’s a lot of tough acts to follow. Twenty-nine to be exact. But here goes …

So these tours are more about the looking and less about the reading, but I thought I’d buck the trend. And share an embarrassing story about Spring …

Well, an embarrassing story about the first day of Spring. As told by me, interspersed among photos. You know, to make you work for it. 😉

With a red face and a head held in shame, I’m going to share with you my ongoing confusion about the first day of Spring. You see, I can never seem to get it right. Is it the 20th of March? Is it the 21st of March? Each year when I think I’ve finally …. finally … uncovered the secret of the 20th versus the 21st, I find myself foiled. Once again. Leaving me to feel like a dummy.

So the other night … on the 20th of March … we’re sitting down for dinner. As a family. Around the dining room table I am not sharing with you here today, and the topic of the first day of Spring comes up.

Not exactly unexpected with it being the 20th of March and all.

So I admitted my ongoing confusion about mixing up the dates. Vacillating between the 20th and the 21st …

a truth I’ve never admitted before.

And you know what? I’m not a dummy after all. According to my husband — who is clearly much smarter than I — the first day of Spring actually changes year-to-year. Vacillating between the 20th and 21st.

Head blown.

Oh, and it’s the same for the first day of Summer. And Fall. And Winter. Vacillating between the 20th and 21st ….

I need to go lie down now. 🙂

I’ll leave you with even more Spring decor ideas with links to all the homes decorated for Spring (which, by the way, started on the 19th but extended through the 20th making the 20th the official first full day of Spring):

Spring Decor Ideas: 2016 Home Tour Links

Fri – Mar 25

Dimples & Tangles -Jennifer

Refresh Restyle – Debbie

Far Above Rubies -Anita

Talk Of The House – Kelly

Tidbits & Twine -Kim

Monday – March 21

A Stroll Thru Life – Marty

Cuckoo4Design – Julia

Life on Virginia Street – Sarah

Thrifty and Chic – Alicia

Snazzy Little Things -Jeanette

Rain On A Tin Roof – Jenna

Tuesday – March 22

Making Home Base -Chelsea

Claire Brody Designs -Claire

Driven By Decor – Kris

Eleven Gables – Emily

Bliss @ Home – Kristin

Hymns & Verses – Doreen

Wednesday – March 23

Style Your Senses -Mallory

Our Southern Home – Christy

Simple Details – Pam

Decor To Adore – Laura

Monica Wants It – Monica

21 Rosemary Lane -Barbara

Thursday – March 24

Decorating Delirium – Jennifer

Simple Stylings – Summer

Remodelando La Casa – Cristina

Life Love Larson – Andrea

Our Fifth House -Carmel

No Minimalist Here – Sherry

PIN IT!

You Might Also Like:

Fall Home Tour (click here)

Spring Home 2014 (click here)

Our Home Tour (click here)

P.S. The navy & white striped rug was a purchase from RugsUSA.com about 5 years ago. The rug has since been discontinued. But here are some navy & white striped options at Amazon.com (click here) and RugsUSA.com (click here)

Green Eyed Monster

March 17, 2016 By Linda 11 Comments

I envy my daughter.

And not for the reasons you might think …

Not her youth.

Not her peaches and cream complexion.

Not her wide-eyed curiosity for the world around her … and for finding herself as an emerging young adult in that world.

And definitely not her freshman year in high school. 😉

No, I envy her because she is still two seasons behind on Downton Abbey.

Sigh.

And while she knows our beloved series has come to its end, she is still blissfully removed from those feelings of mourning …

She knows not what an empty place Sundays evenings have become. Void of anticipation. Void of that magical musical score. Void of the wondrous shot of a dog’s behind. The tinkling of the bell. The bustling of the downstairs staff as Downton springs to life …

Double sigh.

So I find solace in talks of a potential Downton movie. And that Game of Thrones is just a few short weeks away …

and adding some touches of Spring around the house.

I’ll be sharing more next week as part of a Spring home tour event. So be sure to check back. And I’ll give you a hint about what you can expect to see …

yellow.

Some might say the color was inspired by a certain yellow lab. 🙂

Faucet Installation

March 9, 2016 By Linda 8 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kohler for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Kitchen Faucet Installation – Single Handle Pull Down Sprayer

I’m going to come clean with you here …

Ha! Clean. Get it?

I was worried about tackling this kitchen faucet installation project. My husband’s skepticism didn’t help, reminding me of the times (yes, times plural) in the past when this DIY did not go off as planned.

In our defense, our house is old. And our pipes are old. Which can present some challenges.

So with great trepidation … and a much-needed boost from my fabulous sponsor Kohler … I soldiered on. Starting with the fun part: shopping at Home Depot.

Kitchen Faucet Installation

Step 1: Shopping at Home Depot

I narrowed my choices down to three. The Kohler Sous Kitchen Faucet. Which, as the description says, will speak to my inner chef.

Why yes, yes it does.

It also spoke to my inner hopes and dreams. Seriously. The Kohler Sous is my dream faucet. If only I had my dream kitchen. I feared it would look out of place in my current space-challenged and very modestly DIY’d space with it’s painted builder grade cabinets. This faucet needs shiny new cabinets and a stunning back-splash.

So I’ve filed it away in my dream kitchen files …

Then there’s the Kohler Worth Kitchen Faucet.

I liked the vintage vibe. I also like that back-splash tile.

But in the end, went with the Kohler Trielle Kitchen Faucet.

I liked the clean lines. “A touch of glamour with a contemporary design.” That’s what the description says. And I have to agree. It also has a two-function spray head with stream and sweep and features DockNetik technology that secures the spray head in place using Kohler’s signature magnetic docking system.

And just a final few notes about my three Kohler kitchen faucet selections:

*All three feature scratch shield technology that helps the faucet withstand the tough use — key for me since my kitchen sink is also my slop sink and my craft sink.

*All are exclusively available at The Home Depot.

*They include a 3-hole sink adapter plate

*They are designed with ceramic disc valves that exceed industry standards by 2x for a lifetime of durable performance.

*And the very best part? They’re all DIYer friendly so you can tackle the install yourself …

even if you’re like me with trepidations and a skeptical husband whispering in your ear. 😉

Step 2: Prepping for Installation

The faucet comes with everything you need for the installation, including a 3-hold sink adapter plate and a matching soap dispenser. All you need to provide are the tools.

That’s a Phillips head screwdriver, and adjustable wrench and that other thingy I’m not sure what it’s called. 😉

Step 3: Kitchen Faucet Installation

This is where I should be sharing photos of how I installed the faucet. Only problem? It was impossible to get any pictures under the sink. So instead, I’ll direct you to this amazing installation video on The Home Depot (just click here).

Step 4: Step Back and Admire Your Handiwork

And make sure you to meet your skeptical husband at the door when he arrives home from work so you can show off your successful kitchen faucet installation … 🙂

P.S. How did I survive 15+ years in a kitchen without this pull down faucet feature?

Seriously? How did I fill a pasta pot? How did I wash pots and pans? 🙂

PIN IT!

More DIY On A Budget Kitchen Renovation Posts:

How To Add Height to Kitchen Cabinets (click here)

How To Paint Builder Grade Oak Cabinets (click here)

Kitchen Bling – Crystal Hardware (click here)

White Kitchen Before & After Reveal (click here)

Sharing:

| Between Naps on the Porch | Inspiration Monday | Moonlight & Mason Jars |

Vintage Look Grocery Sign

February 26, 2016 By Linda Leave a Comment

How to make a vintage look grocery sign tutorial.

There are bits and pieces of Christmas still lingering about the house.

An ornament here. A Santa mug there. Candy canes hither. A Christmas village thither …

What?!?!

That’s not exactly a bit. Or a piece. It’s a whole lotta bits and pieces!

At first, I justified it as a winter scene. Winter decor that transcends Christmas. That’s what kept it up through January. But when February rolled around, those excuses fell flat. And, quite honestly, it’s become overlooked. I’ve turned a blind eye to those row houses and ceramic people and the Hi De Ho Nightclub that needs a new bulb …

until …

until I was editing pictures for this vintage look grocery sign project.

There, front and center, was the elephant in the room: the Department 56 Christmas in the City village. A full two months-and-a-day past its 2015 holiday season expiration date.

Sigh.

Maybe I’ll get it down this weekend. Surely the forecasted 50+ degree temperatures will melt all that faux snow. 😉

In the meanwhile, here’s a detailed tutorial on how I made that vintage look grocery sign.

Vintage Look Grocery Sign DIY Tutorial

Materials

Stencil (I purchased mine here)

Lumber (I used a 1″ x 10″ pine board and had Home Depot cut it down to 34″ for me)

Primer (I used Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3)

White Latex Paint – Flat Finish

Black Latex Paint – Flat Finish

Painter’s Tape

Sanding Block (fine grit) and/or Sand Paper (120 grit)

Tack Cloth

Spray Adhesive (I used Loctite brand) – Optional

Light & Dark Waxes (I used Amy Howard Light Antique and Dark Antique waxes, purchased at Ace Hardware)

Paint Brushes, Rollers

Stencil Brush

Cloth Rags

I started by priming my board (one coat) followed by one coat of latex paint. My board is 2-sided so I painted one side white and the other black.

1.Tape

I taped off a one-inch board around the board. I used a credit card to seal the edges.

2. Affix Stencil

I tried my best to center the stencil on the board and then carefully lifted it from each end (while in place) to spray with adhesive. I used my finger to press down along the edges to prevent paint bleeding.

3. Paint & Stencil

Using a brush, I painted black along the boarder.

For the stencil, load up your stencil brush with paint, and then offload on a piece of cardboard. Use an up and down motion to stamp the paint over the stencil. Don’t swirl or go back and forth with the brush.

Remove stencil and tape once finished painting & stenciling.

4. Sand

I just lightly sanded over the whole piece, and then added a bit more along the edges and letters. I went for a light distressed look. Use a tack cloth to clean off sanding dust.

5. Wax

I started with the Amy Howard Dark Antique wax first. Load up your brush and then unload most on a piece of cardboard. I focused along the edges and the letters, followed by a clean cloth rag to remove excess.

I followed with the Amy Howard Light Antique Wax. I loaded up my brush and then unloaded most on a piece of cardboard. I applied in a circular motion on the entire piece to tone down the bright white. After letting dry for 10 minutes or so, I used a clean rag to buff.

6. Rinse & Repeat