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DIY Hand Painted Wood Sign (using chalk transfer) #LOVEYOURHOMECHALLENGE

Hi there!  Today is a very exciting day.  Not only am I going to share an awesome, easy-peasy DIY project + tutorial, but I also have news about an incredible + talented person you might happen to know.

First to the latter… my sweet + uber-talented friend Melissa of The Inspired Room wrote a book which is being released today called Love the Home You Have (< affiliate link).

Love the Home You Have by Melissa Michaels

It is the first of many that she’s got lined up and it’s less about decorating and more about falling in love with your home & what you have now… today.  Some of the topics include: taking care of your home, finding beautiful in the simple things, finding balance between beauty and mess, using what you have to decorate, arranging furniture, decorating with things that mean something to you, finding contentment, and so much more.

If you recall back to last years Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 2, Melissa started off the series with a bang and shared her poetic + inspirational words.  There is not a person more deserving to share thoughts of such meaning and beauty.

To kick off the launch of her first book, Melissa has put me to a challenge along with a bunch of other Blogger friends and has asked us to showcase a project using the 31-day LOVE YOUR HOME CHALLENGE section in the back of her book.  So fun!

31-Day Love Your Home Challenge from the new book Love the Home Your Have by Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room

Similar to Melissa, I feel that our belongings should honor and reflect who we are, where we are from, and what we love.  A house is the shell, but it’s what we create in the shell that makes it a home.  For my home and the homes that I work on with clients, I always strive to create something that is a reflection of who resides there.

As I am slowly making progress on my living room makeover, I want to adorn the walls with not only prints that I love & have special meaning, but also DIY art that I create.  When this ‘challenge’ came up,  I knew it would be the perfect time + opportunity to share with you a recent creation…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

The previous owners that resided in our home, had a pool table in the basement.  While making some changes to create a basement that works + functions for us, I came across a cue stick holder that was tucked away in a closet.  Aside from a few cobwebs in the corners & screws hanging out, it looked like something I could totally make into something else.  An upcycling project was calling my name!  I left it in it’s place, but never forgot about it.  DIY ideas flurried through my head over the months and then I had an ah-ha moment while creating the new room.  It would be perfect for a big ole’ sign & with the 3″ lip, when hung it would create a ‘ledge’… almost like a knick-knack / chachka shelf to display collectibles from trips… we always grab a little something from places we visit to remember our experience – something cute to continue ‘our story’.

I thought and thought about the perfect quote to create on the cue stick holder-turned-DIY art and then Good Morning SUNSHINE came to mind!

Every morning when the kids wake, I always say “Good Morning Sunshine” in this over-the-top, probably annoying-to-them voice.  But it’s just what I do and it’s become a ritual.  I just feel like it’s a great, cheery way to start the day.

how to make a HAND PAINTED SIGN USING CHALK

1. To start, I used a new Word doc and created the words to a size I desired (about 4.5″ high), then printed them (I used gray scale on a fast printing setting so I didn’t waste too much ink)

These are the fonts I used:

> GOOD – Pottery Barn font

> MORNING – Honey Script font

> SUNSHINE – Century Gothic font

Once printed the words, I cut around the edges…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

2. Before placing the paper on the wood, I flipped it over to the back and rolled on the chalk from edge to edge so the letters on the other side would be covered. A colored chalk, like red, works best!

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

3. Then I positioned the paper on the wood and taped down the edges so it stayed in place.

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

3. Using a pen (I found it was better than a pencil because of the hard tip), I traced over the letters.

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

And voila, when you lift the paper, the outline of the letter (or design) can be seen…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Here’s the overall design embossed on the wood…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

After that, it was time to paint.

Because each word was a different font, I didn’t want to go crazy with different colors as well, but at the same time I didn’t want all one color, so I chose to create an ombre effect with the words starting with a very pale yellow for GOOD, then a light yellow hue for MORNING, followed by a vibrant yellow for SUNSHINE.

I used basic, inexpensive craft paint – wall paint or anything similar would also do just fine – along with a thin brush to be sure to stay within the lines (as much as possible).

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Perfectly in the lines wasn’t important…  Imperfect actually is perfect!

From start to finish, the overall project took about 2 hours to create.  This is who it looks done & hung on the wall…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Keepsakes from our travels sit on the ledge of this once cue stick holder, now hand painted sign.

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.comI love how it came out and it truly makes my day a bit sunnier, right SUNSHINE?!

Along with the cute wood sign on this wall, I also added a few of Melissa’s illustrated quotes from her new book + website, and hung them with colorful washi tape.

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

If you’re interested in seeing what other Bloggers created for the #LOVEYOURHOMEchallenge, here is everyone that is included and if you head over to visit Melissa there will be links to all the projects.

Love the Home Your Have - #LOVEYOURHOMECHALLENGEIf you’re interested in joining in on the fun too, Melissa would love to have you share your own Home Love challenges on her new community site Home Love Stories.  If you’d lik, use the hashtag #LoveYourHomeChallenge to follow along and/or share your story.

The new revamped living room is really coming together – finally – and I can’t wait to share the reveal with you very soon!

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint

Warmer days are upon us – I just saw mid-40s for next week –  and that means the start of spray painting season!

As an avid DIYer, I have spray painted just about everything and anything.  From baskets to fabric, from lamps (like this one) to furniture, nothing in my home is safe from being revamped with a new coat of color.

When it comes to spray painting, there are a few tricks-of-the-trade to achieve a successful result, but with some practice & patience (and a few tips from my blogger friends), you’ll want to revamp every surface in sight!

Not sure what to spray paint? Here are tips for 5 types of surfaces to tackle using spray paint.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramic

Wood Furniture

Whether a dresser, chair, desk, or armoire, most all furniture can be revamped and livened up with a few fresh coats of spray paint.  You’ll be amazed how a new color can completely change the look and feel of something that was old and drear.  After a quick sanding, it’s always best to first apply a primer coat, then you choice of color.

5 Easy DIY Projects Using Spray Paint

Diane of In My Own Style refinished her dining chairs and chose to use a 5 different colors – orange, yellow, blue, pink, and turquoise.  What a fresh, happy update!

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramic

This is a before & after chair I restored after finding it on the side of the road a few years back…

BEFORE & AFTER CHAIR MAKEOVER USING SPRAY PAINT + A GLAZE FINISH

Upholstery

From an ottoman to a wing back chair, another project to tackle using spray paint is upholstery.  Crazy sounding, but it’s true.  Recovering an upholstered piece of furniture can be costly (a typical wing back chair could cost about $600+), but for many who are on a budget, it’s an affordable and fairly easy way to get the result at a fraction of the cost.

If the fabric covered piece is in good condition, well built, and has good lines, then spray painting to change the upholstery color should be a fairly manageable task.  Here is a beautiful side chair makeover using spray paint – the pop of color with the bold blue is an incredible update.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramicCeramics

Because of the slick surface, ceramics can be challenging to spray paint.  To achieve a great result, it’s key to use multiple thin coats and lightly sand the surface between coats using sandpaper or very fine steel wool.  Wipe the surface clean again and spray another coat.  A glossy finish is most durable when spray painting ceramics.

Jennifer of Dimples and Tangle achieved a great result with her spray painting revamp after scooping up an inexpensive garden stool and totally changing the look to a desired white.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramic

Fabric (curtains)

Custom curtains can be expensive, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting the look you want.  DIY curtain panels (all of my window treatments are do it yourself creations) can be achieved on a tight budget and spray paint can often help with getting the desired look for less.

Stripes (any size, horizontal or vertical) are the easiest and most manageable style curtain to make when using spray paint.  Maury of Life on Mars chose to create a wide horizontal striped curtain panel for her bedroom in a vibrant, yellow hue.  The result is gorgeous.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramic

Metal

Despite dirt and rust, if a piece has good bones and is well built, it most likely can be rejuvenated with a few coats of spray paint.  With the array of color choices, you can truly take something from blah to beautiful with a little elbow grease and a few dollars.  When spray painting a metal surface, it’s important to sand down the surface and then use a primer.  The more your sand and smooth, the better the result.  If your style is more rustic / vintage, then sanding less and showing the “chippy” side of a piece is great, but for a modern aethestic, a slick / shiny surface is best.

From a bar cart that most people would steer clear of to a chandelier ready for the curb, these are two amazing metal pieces transformed with spray paint.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramicBar Cart redo by Monica of Living in Vogue featured on Design Sponge

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramicSpray painted brass chandelier by The Little Green Notebook

You can truly spray paint anything! If you’ve never spray painted before, give it a try – here’s a tutorial.  With the arrival of Spring in only a few short weeks, now is the time to get thinking about what you want to revamp first.  From furniture to home decor, using spray painting is an affordable and fairly easy way to update anything!

DIY: Simple Wood Shelf with Decorative Brackets

As I am crazy busy painting and ordering furniture for the living room makeover, I want to rewind a bit and share a few details on the bathroom remodel that I revealed on the blog a few weeks back.  Sometimes, I move from project to project so quickly and forgot to share the little details that truly make a space extraordinary!

One of the many projects that I created + adore in the new bathroom space is the simple wood shelf with decorative brackets that I created for above the toilet.

Here’s a peek…

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

My original plan for the wall space above the toilet was to create a multi-tier shelf using metal piping which would have given the space a more industrial aesthetic.  (Here is the original plan of action + mood board)

As the new space evolved and the wallpaper went up, I wasn’t feeling the look of the shelving unit that I had planned on.  Instead I opted to create a simple painted shelf which allowed for the addition of a few accessories, but truly allowed for the statement of the space – the wallpaper – to shine through.  Where the tiered shelf would have covered much of the wall, the one wood shelf enhances the overall bathroom + it makes the space feel larger especially since there is no window (only a skylight above)

Here’s how I made the simple wood shelf >>>

The area above the toilet looked like this before I did anything…

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

Supplies

> Decorative wood brackets ($3-5 at Lowe’s)

> 1″ x 8″ piece of wood cut to desired length

> screws + anchors

> primer + paint

> general tools

1. Starting off, I measured & determined the middle point of the toilet to center the shelf.

Then using a pencil, I marked on the wall the height placement for the shelf and where I wanted to place the wood brackets.  I first hammered my screw into the wall to make the hole, then input the anchor. Once it was popped through, I installed the screw…

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

Then I repeated the same steps for bracket #2.

2. Once the screws were in place, I attached both brackets, and laid the 1″ x 8″ (which is actually 7-1/4″ wide) across the top.

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.comThankfully it was level  – phew

3. Next up was to cut the board to the right length.

By eye, no measuring tape, I made a mark and cut the board with the miter saw (my recommendation for one here). If you don’t have a miter saw, you can have your local Lowe’s make the cut in their lumber department.

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

4. Once the shelf was cut, hung, & done, it was time to paint it.

I first primed all the wood pieces with Zinsser Primer, then gave all the surfaces 2 coats of plain ole’ white.

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

After a day of drying, it was complete and ready to hang.  Typically the longer the paint dries the better, but I was excited to get it in place.  Paint often takes 2-3 weeks to fully cure.

And this is what the new simple-to-make + inexpensive wood shelf looks like in place…

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

And the overall space…

DIY: Creating a simple WOOD SHELF with decorative brackets.  Perfect for displaying + styling accessories and/or pictures!  Also great for picture gallery walls.  DIY by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

I am very happy with the change of plan from a more detailed shelving system to a simpler white style.

Sometimes… the simpler, the better.  At least when it comes to design.  A simple wood shelf like this is an inexpensive and fairly easy project for anyone to tackle.  And it’s not just for the bathroom either.  Any space in the home can use an extra shelf here or there, right?!  Think the kitchen perfect for those cute teacups or for the living room ideal for accessory styling + books.  Or how about in the hallway to display photos.  Yes, a shelf like this would be perfect for a photo gallery wall!  The ideas + uses are endless.

I have another fun + easy project that I created for the bathroom which I will be sharing later this week.  Stay tuned…

 From start to finish, these are all the posts pertaining to this bathroom remodel
Plan of Action
Demo: Removal + Installation of the Tub & Walls
How-To Tile + Grout the Bathroom Walls
Installing Wallpaper
Adding a Tile Accent Border
Creating a Tiled Niche
DIY: Simple Painted Wood Shelf with Decorative Brackets
Bathroom Makeover Reveal
Resources

Bathroom Makeover: Reveal

The day is finally here… reveal day of the Bathroom MakeoverThe project that I challenged myself to do in 30 days.  Keeping reading (till the end) to see if I accomplished the goal…

The finished space has taken a wee bit longer than planned to share, but with the holiday high, I got a bit sidetracked.  Good news, Good news… the bathroom is done and has been for a few weeks.  I was planning on sharing the reveal sooner, but thought it would be best to wait till after the Christmas craze.

Without further ado, here it is…

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

As always, I love partnering with Lowe’s on projects and this bathroom makeover wasn’t any different.  I have worked with Lowe’s on so many projects over the years and not only am I thrilled to be apart of their Creative Team, but I truly love their product line.  Minus a few elements, this entire space was pretty much created using in-stock items that can be found in most of their stores.  How great is it not to have to order and wait 8 weeks for something to arrive?!  Grab & go today – that’s a bonus in my book. (I wasn’t paid to say any of that and am sharing my true, honest thoughts!)

Before sharing more of the ‘after’, I have to state that bathrooms – in my opinion – are so difficult to photograph because of the limited size of the space.  I’m not a pro photog, so I tried capturing it the best I could.  That being said, let’s get to it.

You can’t appreciate the after, without seeing the before.  This bathroom has had quite the evolution.  It was pretty sad when we moved in…

Before Bathroom

Within a year, it was painted & got a little refresh…

Before Bathroom

Since it’s heavily used by 2 young kiddos it got + gets quite the abuse on a daily basis.  After a while, the exposed walls (sheetrock) + the builder-grade melamine cabinet  just wasn’t fitting the bill anymore.

If you missed following along from the beginning, this was the mood board I created for the new space…

Bathroom Makeover Mood Board / Plan of Direction for space

A few changes had to be made along the way, but the main elements & more so, the main aesthetic / feel of the space, was absolutely achieved.

My goal was to create an updated, modern bathroom with a classic (live-a-long-time) background + lots of eye-popping, unexpected layers.  I am thrilled with the result not only because it’s super functional for the kids (with tile going half way up the walls), but it’s really a dynamic + fun space!

Come on in…

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Many have asked, “why did you choose to do the kids bath instead of the Master?”, and the reason for that is I see this bathroom much more throughout the day (plus it seemed more of a manageable DIY project because it’s a smaller space).

This bathroom is right at the top of the stairs and since I am up & down a lot on a daily basis, I wanted it to look & feel new, updated, and fresh.  I’ll get to the Master bath someday.  Even though it was featured in a national magazine, it does need some fixin’ up!

This is what I see each & every time I walk up the stairs…

snapshot from my phone The hallway entry into the remodeled bathroom space...

Let’s explore the new bath space more…

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

The space is a typical standard 5′ x 8′ bathroom with a sink, toilet, tub layout on one wall & then a straight wall on the other side.

I installed 3×6 subway tile from the tub deck to the ceiling in the tub space and continued the tile about 3′ up the wall in the main part of the bathroom.  Above the tile, I installed a dynamic wallpaper in a beautiful damask pattern with colors of navy, beige, and orange.  It really is the art of the space so I didn’t add much more to the walls.

On the left side, above the towel bar, I hung two framed custom art pieces (created by my 2 older kiddos) which I will be sharing more details on soon.  The frames + matting are white & simple, the perfect contrast to the bold background.

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

tutorial for >>> how to install wallpaper

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

As you continue around the revamped bathroom,  you round the corner to the tub space.  This area is drastically different with new floor to ceiling tile (all installed by me – thank goodness my hands aren’t cracked anymore).

3×6 subway tile was used as the main tile material, which frames an accent tile of natural stone in a small herringbone pattern

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

3 x 6 subway tile with herringbone accent tile in carrera

tutorial for >>> how to install tile + grout

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Where the wall meets the ceiling, I added a small decorative moulding, which really gave the space a finished, tailored look.  I am not very good with moulding (remember my troubles in the powder room), so this time I chose a moulding that had a 90 degree angle and it was much more manageable + easy to install since the cut was a simple 45.

Adding the moulding not only provides a finished look, but it allowed the install of the wallpaper to be easier – the wallpaper didn’t have to be perfect at the top because the moulding covered it.  Additionally, the moulding continues in the tub area where I was left with a 1/2″ gap between the last tile and the ceiling – a space too small to install tile.

Here I am installing it…

Installing Moulding in the Bathroom

On the other side of the bathroom were more big changes…  a new toilet, vanity, lighting + a new shelf and medicine cabinet turned tiled niche.

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

The shelf is a simple DIY project that I will share more about soon.  The original thought / plan was to add an industrial-style shelf above the toilet, but after the wallpaper went up, I just couldn’t bring myself to cover it + with the new vanity there was ample storage.

A simple white shelf along with a few layered accessories and a framed print seemed to be the perfect addition.

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.comTo the vanity…

The vanity is a beauty and I love the openness it brings to the space.  This vanity compared to the previous one is about 6″ longer.  There was enough room at the side of the toilet to go a bit wider and the additional inches really makes a difference.  Even though it’s minimal, there seems to be a lot more countertop space.

Also having drawers with this vanity, the amount of storage has tripled versus having 1 large open cavity with the last cabinet.  There looks to be 5 drawers, but the center drawer under the sink is a faux panel.  The 2 smaller side drawers + the 2 larger drawers provide so much room.  As the kids get older & accumulate more stuff, I am sure the drawers will definitely fill up.  For now, they’re fairly unused.

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Underneath the closed part of the cabinet is an open shelf perfect for towels, baskets, etc.  I chose these cute burlap bins at Lowe’s and revamped them a bit (of course, how could I not…?)

I loved the texture of the burlap, but the rope pull was slightly too nautical, so I swapped them out for a chalkboard label that I found in the dollar bin at Target.  Using jute rope, I attached them through the holes and in 30 seconds gave these pretty bins a whole new look…

I love how easy & simple something like this can change a space & be unique to your personal aesthetic + style.

Make it your own by changing up a store-bought item.  From rope pulls to chalkboard labels, this DIY upgrade was less than a $1.

Back up above, the countertop is adorned with a few simple, but must-need items.  I found these really cute accessories – liquid soap holder, toothbrush holder, and cup – that were super inexpensive at Lowe’s.  They are clear (plastic), but look very modern and $$$.  The look of lucite is hot right now.

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

I chose a minimalist-style, frameless, rectangular tilt mirror and an industrial-style oversized outdoor light that is centered above (because of the longer vanity, the light had to move over a few inches – my contractor did that since it’s above & beyond my skillset).

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

On the wall to the right of the vanity was a medicine cabinet (which I had painted with chalkpaint + added a frame a few years ago) and is now an open tiled niche

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

A niche is really so much easier for the kids and tiling it makes cleanup so simple.  I was originally going to create the niche using wood and that would have been a big mistake. wood + water = disaster.

DIY: A tiled niche in place of a medicine cabinet.

tutorial for >>> creating a tiled niche

DIY: A tiled niche in place of a medicine cabinet.

before &after DIY: A tiled niche in place of a medicine cabinet.

A few more detail shots…

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.com

And of course a look at a few before & afters…

BEFORE & AFTER Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.comBEFORE & AFTER Bathroom Makover with 95% of the space being a DIY project - new tub + tile, vanity, wallpaper, and more!  Lots of details on this multi-post before & after.  Bathroom makeover by Jenna Burger Design www.jennaburger.comI will admit, I am so happy this bathroom is done.  It was a bit tiring, but in all honesty, it was 100% worth the blood + sweat + tears the effort!  This post was chock full of info on the final stages + reveal of the space, but you really might be wanting where I got it all & the actual resources.  No worries… that post will be coming up later this week – pinky promise.

In all, from start to finish, this bathroom makeover took just around 30 days to complete (95% DIY and mostly all by myself – the mister helped when he could).  So I guess I can say, I met my challenge… which I really only set for myself so I would finish it 100% and not slack off.   10 days, 30 days, 60 days, who cares.  It’s done!  This makeover was a big accomplishment for me as tackling the removal & install of a tub + such a HUGE tile project was nothing that I had done before.  The challenge scared me, but I did it! That’s the beauty of DIY!

From start to finish, these are all the posts pertaining to this bathroom remodel
Plan of Action
Demo: Removal + Installation of the Tub & Walls
How-To Tile + Grout the Bathroom Walls
Installing Wallpaper
Adding a Tile Accent Border
Creating a Tiled Niche
Bathroom Makeover Reveal
Resources

Lastly, I want to give a big shout out to Lowe’s for believing in my talents & choicing to partner with me on this project. They never tell me what to do, what to buy, or what to write, but instead they always say do what you do best… create something good & inspire!

Thanks for following along with me on this bathroom makeover journey!  Cheers to another successful (but tiring) before & after makeover!

Resources for all the items in this bathroom makeover coming later this week.

Bathroom Makeover: Tiled Niche {Day 19 + 20}

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind with decking the halls and preparing for the Christmas season, resulting in the bathroom makeover being put on the backburner.  BUT, progress is still being made and it is almost complete – YAY!

I can officially say, the walls are complete.  Last I shared, I had finished the install of the wallpaper & the tile accent border.  It’s Day 19 & 20 of this Bathroom Makeover in 30 Days Challenge and it’s focused on creating a tiled niche near the vanity.  Here is the result…

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

Before this niche was created, there was a medicine cabinet in this space. This is how it looked when we moved into our home about 5 years ago…

before bathroom makeover

Then about 3 years ago when I gave this bathroom a refresh, I painted the glass of the medicine cabinet with chalkboard paint and added a frame…

before bathroom makeover with chalkboard medicine cabinet

While creating the plan of action for this bathroom makeover, I had the idea of removing the medicine cabinet to create a niche – the perfect small storage solution.   Since I already had the natural stone herringbone tile planned for the shower, I thought the niche would be another ideal spot for it.   Unexpected & a great tie-in.

During the demo phase of the bathroom, I removed the medicine cabinet from the wall by unscrewing a few screws.  It was much easier than I thought it’d be.  In the end I was left with a sheetrocked cavity.

Removing the medicine cabinet

I wasn’t expecting “the hole” to be sheetrocked and was originally planning on needing to create a box to fit in the hole.  Upon removing the cabinet and discovering this, I was pleasantly surprised.  I was able to install the tile directly on the sheetrock that was already in place.

To create the tiled storage niche, I used the beautiful 13″ x 13″ natural stone herringbone mosaic and the 3 x 6 white subway tile that I found at Lowe’s.

White subway tile - the most classic, most beautiful (an one of the least expensive) tile you can get!

Lowes Herringbone Carrera Marble

1. To start, I created a template of the back surface of the niche using craft paper.  Then I layed it on the herringbone tile and traced the outline using a marker.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

2. Then using the wet saw, the Mister (gotta give him creditwink, wink) cut along the line.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

3. Then I layed the tile inside the niche to make sure it was the right size (it wasn’t perfect, but I knew the grout would “hide” any imperfections).  It fit – yay – so using adhesive (the same method I used to install the wall tile), I added the herringbone accent tile to the back surface of the niche.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

4. When the back was finished, I cut and added 3 x 6 subway tiles (same tile as shower) on the sides, top, and bottom.

As I was working from bottom to top on the sides, I cut and added (2) shelves (marble slabs typically used for a door threshold) at varying heights.  The Mister cut it to the right length using the wet saw and we made sure it was long enough so it fit between + sits on the subway tiles.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

5. Once the tiles were in place, I grouted all the joints using the same method as the wall tile.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

6. After the joints were filled and the tile was cleaned off, I added trim around the edges using a 3/4″ decorative moulding.  It was basically like creating a picture frame surround. I cut all the pieces using the miter saw and nailed them in place with finishing nails.  To give an extra tap in place I also used a nail punch to drive home the nails – love that tool.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

7. Then I filled in all the holes using wood filler.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

After the last piece was put in place, I gave the moulding a light sanding, and painted it with semi-gloss white.  Here’s the result…

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

A closeup…

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

This new niche is such a fun, unexpected addition to the bathroom.  Pretty + Functional = A great storage solution

Here is the niche filled with a few things…

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

And a glimpse a few steps back…

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

Bathroom Makeover: a tutorial on how to create a tiled niche + many more DIY projects.

A few more details to go and I will be able to call this bathroom makeover DONE!  Adding a tiled niche on Day 19 + 20 is complete!  Up next… adding details – moulding, lighting, and accessories.  More to come soon!

The installation of the tiled niche took 2 days, about 4 hours each day

From start to finish, these are all the posts pertaining to this bathroom remodel
Plan of Action
Demo: Removal + Installation of the Tub & Walls
How-To Tile + Grout the Bathroom Walls
Installing Wallpaper
Adding a Tile Accent Border
Creating a Tiled Niche
Bathroom Makeover Reveal
Resources

{Day 19+20} Tiled Niche – Complete!  10 more days to go…

Lowes Creative Ideas Team Member

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Winter spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on your iphone and/or ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

Christmas Mantel

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

Happy Friday!  Boy, am I glad it is FRIDAY.  It has been a heck of a week, how about for you?

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas Home Tour that I shared yesterday.  Thank you to all those that left the kindest, sweetest comments – I can not tell you how great they make me feel.  I am really loving how festive & warm our home feels right now and I hope I was able to convey that to you throughout the tour!

As I was putting the post of The Tour together, I was left with many more photos of the fireplace mantel.  Instead of making the post miles long, I thought I would create another post on just the mantel.  I am so smitten over how the mantel resulted this year, so let me show you around.

Come join me in the family room…

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

With our tree at one end of the room and the fireplace at the other, this is such a cozy, restful place.  The mantel this year is filled with a little old and a little new.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

My approach for this years mantel was to lean and layerWhat do I mean?   From front to back, I added height with various items that I simply leaned on each other to give a layered (dimensional) look.

I started with the stained wood backdrop and added the pretty, glittery wreath I got from Lowe’s last year.  Leaning on it, I added the JOY pallet sign, which is really the focal point of the mantel.  Then I added a new chalkboard printable & the oversized wood snowflake (a roadside rescue).  It’s all about the layers!

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

The chalkboard printable is something new this year and it is a creation made by my friend KellieHow did I create it?  I saved the printable to a USB key, brought it to Staples and they printed it on blueprint paper for less than $4.  I then brought it home and framed it.  Easy-Peasy and it is a beautiful addition to the mantel.

https://www.jennaburger.com/2014/12/christmas-home-tour-2014/

For a bit of whimsy, the kids and I collected some branches from the backyard, which I used to fill a simple white vase.  It really grounds the fireplace.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

When I initially placed the vase on the mantel, the brown branches got lost against the orange wall.  To make them stand out more, I took some white craft paint and painted them.  A few minutes later, they were finished and dry.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

So pretty, right?

When decorating for this Christmas, I ended up changing the place of a few of our festive favorites.  One specific DIY creation that we all love & admire each year is the Christmas Card Holder.  This season, I chose to hang it to the right of the fireplace and it’s already starting to fill up.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

On the other end of the mantel are a few more layered-in elements that give height & interest to the overall mantel.   For the last few years, my go-to favorites for Christmas are these modern cone-shaped Christmas trees from the Christmas Tree Shop a few years back.  We have them in a few different sizes in white and gold.  I just love how sparkly they are!  And how simple, yet glowing is a bowl filled with ornaments.  A 3-second creation that is beauty to the eye!

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

This years mantel would not be complete without a WOW.  The gorgeous cedar garland truly completed this years mantel montage.  I just adore how full and organic it feels.  My idea of being inspired by nature this holiday season really came to fruition with this garland.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

I am so grateful to my friends at Lynch Creek Farm who sent me the garland, as well as the wreath for the front door.  And the smell…  I can’t even begin to explain how yummy our home smells.  I just wish you could dive through your screen to get a whiff.

Lynch Creek Farm

Here is a peek at the gorgeous wreath on the front door which you can see more of in my Christmas Home Tour.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Back to the mantel…

I hung this beautiful cedar garland at each end of the mantel so it has a gentle swag in the center.  On the one side, I added a pretty red + black bow and on the other side, I hung 3 stockings that I just picked up from Lowe’s.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

A few more views (I told you I couldn’t stop myself from photographing & sharing this mantel)…

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

 

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

From the kitchen to the dining room to the family room, you can see how the fireplace is a focal point in our home and we are truly admiring this years mantel creation…

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

Thanks for stopping by to enjoy my home decorated for Christmas!

Have you decorated your home for the holidays yet?

Chalkboard Wood Garland

Can you believe it’s November?  I’m breaking away from the bathroom for a bit (the remodel has taken over my life) to start thinking about this years seasonal decor.

Every year, we enjoy displaying our Christmas favorites, but at the same time we like to introduce new elements & of course, make some fun festive creations (like last years pallet Christmas Countdown).  Even though we typically start the process of unpacking the holiday boxes before Thanksgiving arrives, we certainly don’t overlook the beautiful Holiday of giving.  For that tricky time when we’re transitioning from one holiday to the next I have created this pretty & nature-inspired Chalkboard Wood Garland.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

As the Holiday prep begins, I wanted to make something that would give our family a little reminder to slow down (especially this time of year) & to truly enjoy the moment when everything around us is hustling & bustling.

For now, I thought the word blessings really sums up how we should be feeling and to be thankful for all we have – this time of year and always!   This is why the best part of the creation was the chalkboard layer – anything can be added and just as easily erased.

How To Make Wood Garland

To make this wood disc garland, I headed straight to my backyard to grab a big ole’ log.  I actually first sent the mister on the hunt and he returned with a fallen branch about 1″ round.  That wasn’t going to do, so I threw on my boots and headed for the woods.  I returned with a log about 3.5 – 4″ round.  He was skeptical we could cut it, but I put our circular saw to the test and it cut like butter.

We created 10 discs about 1″ thick.  More or less discs can be cut depending on the word(s) you want to spell out.  I thought 10 would be ideal and if one or more discs aren’t used for letters, a pretty picture can be added instead.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

Once all the discs were cut, I took my chalkboard paint from Lowe’s (left over from the chalkboard wall)  and freehand painted a circle on each disc.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

After they dried, which took about 2 hours, I drilled 2 holes about 1″ apart on the wood section of the disc.  These holes are for the twine to thread through in the next step.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

Then I threaded the twine through.  Twine seemed like the right material since it’s a natural feeling and looks rugged like the wood.  Though any type of string or ribbon could be used, it just depends on the look you want to achieve.

Since the drilled holes were kind of small, I attached an unfolded paperclip to the end of the twine and wrapped it with duct tape (superman duct tape to be exact, lol.  But any tape will do the trick).

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

I added my letters for the word blessings.  I didn’t use any fancy fonts, just what came to mind…

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

And voila… a beautiful festive garland was created.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

Perfect for the mantel, the door, or any wall in the home, this new wood garland can really be used all year round.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

I also tried it on the front door along with a pretty red wreath…

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

Something unique, right?!

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

This creation has been such a great break away from the bathroom renovation.  Even though I love diving into a big DIY project, sometimes simple + quick is much more gratifying.  Now I feel inspired & ready for the Holidays.

Have you started thinking about your seasonal & holiday decor?

When do you start decorating?

Lowes Creative Ideas Team Member

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Winter spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on your iphone and/or ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

 Also consider following Lowe’s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

Why + How to Prime Wood Furniture

It’s been a busy few days around my neck of the woods.  With revamping the china cabinet + another BIG project coming down the pipeline (which I can’t wait to share details about), I haven’t had 5 minutes to sit.  No worries though, I’ll sit when I’m old, ha.

So my last post was all about the beginning steps of prepping & sanding a piece of wood furniture.  The next step, which is what this post is dedicated to, is priming.  Primer is SO important!  I can not stress enough that primer is a must when painting something. anything.  YOU NEED PRIMER.

China Cabinet Makeover: PRIMING! An entire post on Why & How-To Prime a Wood Surface. Priming any surface before painting is so important & it can save you money. Come see the result of how what prime can do & follow along on this furniture makeover

Why Prime.

Whether a room or a piece of furniture, paint is truly one of the easiest & most affordable ways to update and/or change the look of something.   It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to a wall or a surface.  I read once, “Don’t expect paint to do a primer’s job”.   The purpose of paint is to provide color, but the purpose of primer is to provide the ideal base for the paint to be applied.  Without, the result can fall short.

What does Primer Do?

> Blocks Stain  Primers are made to block the natural pigments (tannin) of the wood and/or original stain from bleeding through the new paint.

> Hides Color  Priming the surface before painting hides / blocks the previous color from showing through.  Using a primer will also sometimes eliminate the need for multiple coats (cost savings!)

> Seals the surface  Priming before painting seals the surface so the paint doesn’t get soaked in.  The prime provides the perfect base for the paint to be applied.  Primer also provides the ideal surface for paint to adhere to.  Typically with a stained piece of furniture, like my china cabinet, the original surface is glossy which paint wouldn’t adhere to.  Adding a primer to a glossy surface will give the provide the ideal underlayment for a beautiful new color.  This same technique can be used for tile, glass, vinyl siding, and aluminum – all slick surfaces that wouldn’t be paintable without primer!

Do you recall when I was painting my laminate bookcase?  I failed to prime a spot and the paint just bubbled and didn’t stick to the surface.  Here’s a picture…

Priming is a must before applying paint!

> Lasting Result  Without primer, paint could easily chip or scrape off very easily + quickly.  Using one (thin) coat of primer + two (typically, maybe more) coats of paint you should have a long lasting, durable result!

The Right Primer.

There are many primers on the market and the decision on the right one for the job can be tricky.  When painting over furniture, you want to choose a primer that indicates on the can that it will block the stain and seal the surface.  The primer that I chose for this china cabinet makeover was Glidden Gripper because it truly grips to the surface and seals the stain from coming through.  It also created the perfect base for the new WILD color I chose.

Glidden Gripper

Applying Primer.

a how-to tutorial on applying primer.  Its so easy…

Note: This is the most important tip I can share about priming (told to me by someone – a pro – in the painting world), primer does not need to be applied like paint. A thin coat of primer is fine and actually better than “globbing” it on.  Primer does not need to fully cover the surface underneath, meaning you can still have wood showing through.  As long as the surface area has a thin coat (one coat), you are set to paint!

When painting a piece of furniture, I always start at one end and make my way across. Why?  Paint dries fairly fast and to avoid drips + brush strokes, it’s important to work in small sections and apply thin coats.
China Cabinet Makeover: PRIMING! An entire post on Why & How-To Prime a Wood Surface. Priming any surface before painting is so important & it can save you money. Come see the result of how what prime can do & follow along on this furniture makeover

Typically I apply the paint to the surface.  Then spread it out.  Then go back over it with my brush, using light stokes and following the wood grain.

China Cabinet Makeover: PRIMING! An entire post on Why & How-To Prime a Wood Surface. Priming any surface before painting is so important & it can save you money. Come see the result of how what prime can do & follow along on this furniture makeover

When painting furniture, the piece is typically vertical, so paint could drip.   Around the detailed edges and ornate areas, the less paint the better to avoid paint from dripping.  And once an area is done, always continue to look back to make sure paint isn’t seeping down.

China Cabinet Makeover: PRIMING! An entire post on Why & How-To Prime a Wood Surface. Priming any surface before painting is so important & it can save you money. Come see the result of how what prime can do & follow along on this furniture makeover

For this china cabinet, there were 3 doors, which I removed and are painting laying down.  It’s much easier to paint + drips don’t occur as much.

China Cabinet Makeover: PRIMING! An entire post on Why & How-To Prime a Wood Surface. Priming any surface before painting is so important & it can save you money. Come see the result of how what prime can do & follow along on this furniture makeover

For this piece, it took me about 40 minutes to prime.  To me, it’s very relaxing. This is the result…

China Cabinet Makeover: PRIMING! An entire post on Why & How-To Prime a Wood Surface. Priming any surface before painting is so important & it can save you money. Come see the result of how what prime can do & follow along on this furniture makeover

That’s a wrap… for now.

She’s ready for paint!

Want a peak?  Here you go…

Sneak Peak at the new color for the China Cabinet

I’m off to paint some more…

Follow along on this makeover with these other posts
Backstory + Choosing a Color
Prepping & Sanding Wood Furniture
Why & How to Prime Wood Furniture
Tips + Tricks to Painting Wood Furniture
Accessories, Details, & Styling {China Cabinet Makeover}

Coming up (still to do)
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

DIY: Wood Honeycomb Shelves

Even though we veered away from the original design for the revamped shared kids space, my son had his heart set on honeycomb shelves after I showed him the Land of Nod style.  And since this mama can’t let her boy down, I had to pull through.

But instead of buying, what did I do?  DIYed them, of course.  After a little research & this post by A Beautiful Mess, I was confident to move forward.

Not only are these honeycomb / hexagon shelves functional, the whole ensemble is like a piece of art.  And instead of painting the shelves a color or staining them a traditional wood finish, I chose an interesting blue hue which is in-trend and spot on with the other tones that I’ve introduced into the room.

Take a look…

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

The entire shelf composition runs the length of the twin bed, which is about 80″ long, and makes the entire wall truly come alive.  This “installation” also parallels with my Lowe’s Creative challenge project for this month which focuses on introducing the submerged color trend of watery, cool blue hues into a project.  With the size + interesting finish, this project is by far one of my favorites!

———————————–

Before we move forward, it has to be said that this project was a big challenge, but the bigger the venture, the better the result.  I don’t often do large-scale woodworking projects and at times I thought it was going to be a big F-A-I-L, but in the end the honeycomb shelves MAKE THE ROOM.  Take Away? Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.  Push through because in the end, it’ll be worth it!

———————————–

Like usual, before starting a larger scale project, I sketched out my idea and figured out the supplies I needed.  This was the first sketch…

Design 1 for honeycomb shelves

And then the shelves ended up evolving into this layout instead so not all of the shelves are actually attached…

Design 2 for honeycomb shelves

Supplies I used:

  • (7) 1″ x 6″ x 6′ long pieces of wood – each shelf took approximately (1) board
  • 1-1/2″ wood screws
  • 1-1/2″ corner brackets
  • Plastic toggle anchors
  • Stain or Paint – depending on how you want to finish the shelf surface
  • Other supplies: miter saw, tape measure, drill, sander, level, pencil

To save on time, I often have my wood cut while at shopping at Lowe’s, but for this project, I cut it at home because of the quantity needed + the angles.

Here are the steps I took:

1. I set the miter saw to 30 degrees and never touched the saw again for the entire project.  This angle is crucial so each of the 6 pieces will make the perfect hexagon shape.  I approximated that I wanted each finished shelf to be an overall dimension of about 14″ x 14″, and chose the length of 7″ for the long side of each piece.

After marking the wood with my tape measure + pencil, I made the first cut using the miter saw. Then I flipped the piece of wood over to make the second angled cut.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

This is what the first piece looked like when cut.

Then I cut about 42 more…

Size of cut for honeycomb shelf

2. Before taking the next steps of attaching each piece to make the shelves, I layed all the pieces out to see how they’d actually go together.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

3. Then we were ready to chug forward and attach these bad boys…

The first hexagon box was created using 6 pieces and all the angles faced each other.  It’s best to stand them up on their sides, so the floor acts like the wall. The Mister (who was a huge part of this project as well) and I actually moved from the carpet to a flat, hard surface so the pieces would lay flat.  The carpet was too cushy.

TIP: You must use wood screws for this project.  We started out with screws, but it wasn’t working right (because we didn’t pre-drill), then changed over to using nails.  BIG MISTAKE.

Once you have the angled wood pieces in position, first pre-drill the holes, then drill in the wood screws.  If you don’t pre-drill the holes, the wood will probably split, which is what happened to us atfirst.  Using a nail won’t work because they’ll pull out and the overall shelf won’t be stable / sturdy.  Believe me, these are all lessons we learned along the way!

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

4. When the first box is complete, you can either be done or add on to it to create a multi-honeycomb shelf like ours.  If you continue adding on to the first hexagon, you’ll use one side of the original hexagon to create the second hexagon. This time though, the cut angles won’t touch each other, but instead overlap.  I’ll be honest, it does get tricky at this point and the shelves become a big jigsaw puzzle.  We ended up with (1) 3 box shelf, (1) 2 box shelf, and (1) stand alone shelf.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

Once all the shelves were screwed together, we were ready for the next steps…  finish the surface + install.

It took me some time to determine how I wanted to finish the shelves.  At first I was going to paint them, but then steered away because I wanted to see the wood grain shine through.  That meant stain.  But, what stain?  In the end, I chose a gray / blue water-based stain by Minwax.  The submerged color seemed perfect with the other hues in the room and was ideal with what’s on-trend right now.

5. First, I gave the edges and all the surfaces a good sanding with my orbital sander.   Then using a rag, I applied the wood stain and almost instantly wiped it away so very little actually soaked into the wood.  Because of this, the drying time was very quick.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

6. About a day later, the shelves were ready to install.  I first attached the metal angle brackets to the shelves. Then I determined the height + positioning of where the shelves would be hung.

Next, the Mister + I marked the holes through the brackets and pre-drilled the holes into the wall.  As with hanging anything, I always love using plastic toggle drywall anchors (I shared a pic recently on Instagram).

Once the anchors were in each hole, we repositioned the shelves in place and screwed them in using a drill + screw.  It’s key to use a level as well so the shelf doesn’t get installed crooked!

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

At this point, the shelves were almost done…

I loved the look of the blue shelves against the lighter gray walls, but I still wanted to make them pop.  To do so, I chose to paint the front edge of the shelves a white color which matches the moulding throughout the room.  Two coats later with a small, flat brush did the trick.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

Lastly, so the metal brackets didn’t stand out so much, I painted those as well using the wall paint color.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

And then they were finally complete!

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

Love the under-the-bed wood rolling carts?  I shared the tutorial on how to make them earlier this week.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

These shelves are perfect to fill with books, toys in containers, and any fun thing(s) to display.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

And here is a pretty pinnable picture if you want to remember this project for a later date…

{DIY Tutorial} How-To Make Wood Honeycomb Shelves. Why spend hundreds, when you can make them yourself! These shelves complete the look of the room. So many great projects in this kids room makeover.

So what do you think?

Do you like the honeycomb / hexagon look?  Have you incorporated this new trend into your home? What has been your most difficult DIY project endeavour?

Lowes Creative Team Member Badge - Spring 2014

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Spring spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on your iphone and/or ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

 Also consider following Lowe’s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

DIY: Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart

I’ve been busy-busy on finishing up the details for my boys room makeover.  This room has taken quite the turn from it originally being a boy/girl, sister/brother shared bedroom, to a full-on boy hangout haven!  Even though my little guy is only 7 (just shy of 8), I feel it’s a space he can grow with (until I get my hands on it for another makeover, hehe).

So my latest and greatest DIY project in the room is something that holds stuff that I often refer to as the ‘bane of my existence’… TOYS.  Specifically, the little, itty bitty toys like Legos and Kinex that somehow always end up under my feet giving me a great big ‘OW’.

Often under my kids’ bed is the ‘stuffing place’ where things are put that don’t have a home.  When I do a big cleaning, I never know what I will find…  Do you have that problem?  Please tell me yes and reassure me that I’m not the only one.  My solution to a neat under-bed space? Make something to take up the space so there is no room to stuff!

Thus the creation of these rolling underbed wood storage carts.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

Pretty + Functional!  I’m in heaven.

Want to know how to make them? Let’s Go!

They are really easy & super inexpensive.  Actually after making them, I did a quick search online (not thinking I’d find anything similar) and saw similar styles for a minimum of $40…  Crazy that mine cost about $10/each to make.

Supplies You’ll Need:

for a 24″ x 24″ box (buy more or less if you want to change the size)

  • (2) 1″ x 6″ x 24″ long piece of wood
  • (2) 1″ x 6″ x 22.5″ long piece of wood
  • (4) 1.5″ rolling wheels
  • (1) 24″ x 24″ piece of 1/4″ plywood
  • 1.5″ long wood nails
  • 3/4″ long wood nails
  • optional: paint, chalkpaint, 1/2″ thick rope

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

Before buying the supplies, I determined that the size of rolling wood carts would be 24″ x 24″ and (2) under the twin bed would fit perfectly leaving some additional space for other awkward toys (like my little guys plastic skateboard ramp).  Here is a sketch I did before heading to the store…

Note:  a 1″ x 6″ is actually 3/4″ x 5-1/2″.  To make a perfect 24″ x 24″ square box, (2) sides were cut to 22.5″ long.

Here are the steps I took:

1. Using the 1.5″ long wood nails, I attached the 24″ piece to the 22.5″ long piece.  I first added a dab of wood glue, then followed it with (3) nails.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

2. I continued attaching the other wood pieces so the box was created…

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!I’m not sure why my little girl in the background is holding a coffee cup, but rest assured she wasn’t drinking it. At least I hope she wasn’t…

3. Once the 4 sides were put together, I attached the 24″ x 24″ plywood using 3/4″ long wood nails. About 4 nails per side should be enough to make it sturdy.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

4. The (4) wheels were next…  Using 3/4″ screws, I attached a wheel to each corner.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

The result of the rolling cart thus far…

The beauty of this wood cart is that it doesn’t have to be only for under the bed.  Change the size – make it taller or less wide – and use them in the living room for toys, blankets, or DVDs.  How about in the garage for tools?  Or in the craft room for supplies?  There are so many ways, so many uses!

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

To jazz up the rolling cart, I thought it would be neat + easy to add a fun + functional rope pull.

But first, I gave the overall cart a good sanding. Kids + Splinters aren’t pretty…

Yes I sometimes DIY with a leopard scarf…

And rest assured after posing for this pic, I put my eye protection on.  Promise!

Now onto the rope.

5. In the center of one side, towards the top, I drilled a hole slightly larger than 1/2″.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

6. I then cut a piece of rope about 12″ long (I think, I actually eyed it and didn’t really measure) and threaded it through the hole and tied it on both sides.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

The rope was a bit expensive – I think this roll was about $8 – but I plan on using it for another project, so it made sense.  You don’t really need rope if you don’t have it on hand.  Instead try a piece of cabinet hardware or something you already have in the home.

7. Once the rope was in, I gave the overall wood surface a quick dry-brush paint application. One quick, imperfect coat and it was almost complete.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

8. To jazz the cart up one more step, I added a chalkboard front using chalkboard paint.  Using my eye, no measuring tape, I created a box with painters tape and painted 3 coats of the chalkboard paint.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

9. Right after the last coat was brushed on, I had a little helper take off the painters tape while the paint was still wet.

Look at that beautiful straight line…

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

And the rolling wood carts were complete!

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

 

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

Check out the honeycomb shelves…  My longest, most difficult project yet, but I’m in love.  More to come on those later this week!

BTW, you can see more of that fabulous wallpaper on the wall to the left in a recent post I shared.

DIY Tutorial for a Rolling Underbed Wood Storage Cart! The perfect solution for holding toys + stuff. Less than $10 to make compared to $40+ to buy!

So what do you think?  Could these wood carts be something you could use in your home?  Each were about $10 to make and both took about a total of an hour (maybe a little more) to make.  Not too bad!

What are your favorite toy storage solutions? What are your favorite under-the-bed storage solutions?