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Month: March 2014

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?

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves

Within the past two months, I’ve purchased 4 leaning shelves (a.k.a. ladder shelves).

Obsessed? No.

Great for storage? Affordable? Open + Airy?  Yes.

For the same reason, I’ve been loving leaning shelves as of late, I’ve got my clients hooked too and I’d like to share with you why leaning shelves work so well for any room in the home.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

Any style shelf gives height to the room. Most pieces of furniture (tables, sofa, chair, bed, etc) aren’t higher than 30/36″ off the floor, which often leaves pictures / artwork to be the only source of height in a room.  As much as it’s important to have “things” on the wall, it’s also important to break up the monotony and a bookcase / shelves can be that element.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the look of a closed bookcase, but I also really prefer the style of a leaning shelf.

Why?

> Height: Art + pictures are a must on the walls, but without anything else to grab the eye and break up the plane, a space can become boring and lack depth.  By adding shelving, specifically leaning shelves, a wall can have the needed to break and 3-dimensional look needed to add visual interest.  With the addition of books, accessories, baskets, and more, the shelves can become the star of a room.

> Storage: The aesthetic part of shelves is that it brings height + interest to a room, but the storage element of shelving brings in the functional aspect.  Who doesn’t desire more storage in their house?  I certainly do {raising hand in the air}…  Adding in a tall element, like a shelf, allows you to use the vertical plane of the wall instead of the horizontal, floor area, of a room.  Save on floor area, use height instead!

> Affordability: Leaning Shelves are very affordable, probably because there really isn’t much too them.  The most recent style I chose, I purchased at Target for a few dollars over $100. I’ve also been wanting to make my own version – I think it would be fairly easy – but I’m still gathering the guts + time to do it.  Anyway, there are versions that are less than $100, like this one and styles that are a lot more (but are pretty fabulous) like this one at $1600.  Add height to a room for around $100? Perfect!

> Open + Airy: I specifically like the look of leaning shelves because they provide the height and the storage needed in a room, but they aren’t closed in as a typical bookshelf with a back + sides are.  The leaning shelf is minimal allowing for any size space (even small spaces like bathrooms & laundry rooms/nooks) to handle the horizontal attention-grabber.  Plus I’ve seen leaning shelves in a variety of widths, as well.

I must be on the right design track with my recent purchases because I opened two design magazines this month and they both featured spaces with leaning bookshelves.

After reading the first feature in the March issue of HGTV magazine, it ‘s what inspired me to write this post. I know you all would love and feel confident to use leaning shelves after seeing these inspirational spaces!

1.  A leaning shelf in the kitchen

Perfect for holding dishes, cookbooks, bowls, coffee supplies, and so much more.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

2. A leaning shelf in the living room

Ideal for books, pictures, accessories, and I adore the idea of a adding a reading light.  No more need for a side table.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

See how this ladder shelf gives so much height to the space, yet there is no real break of wall color or ‘closed-in’ feeling.

3. A leaning shelf in the entry

Essential for all the winter-wares, shoes, and bags!  The shelves allow space for the must-haves, along with some surface to display some pretty like a plant and cool fan.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

4. A leaning shelf in the entry

Big or small, most bathrooms could use more storage.  Am I right?? And if you have a pedestal-style sink, you really are in need of more surface space.  A ladder shelf is the perfect solution for all your products + towels.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

5. A leaning shelf in the laundry

Another spot that most everyone can use more space.  Depending on the layout of the laundry room or nook, a leaning shelf can provide the extra storage needed to keep the space tidy + organized.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!The above images of 5 ways to use a leaning shelf is from HGTV magazine

The other publication that I was flipping through and came across an interesting display of leaning shelves was Better Homes and Gardens April issue.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

For these shelves, I am pretty sure they painted them the popping turquoise hue, but what a great space, right?!  I love the color palette of the vivacious yellow, gray, and turquoise.  If you can, get your hands on this issue – they’re are lots of great + affordable ideas for bathroom upgrades.

After seeing all these ideas, I am sure you want to get your hands on some new shelving.  Am I right?  I put together a collection of a few favorites with resource links.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

Resources:
1. Cherry-finish Leaning Shelf
2. White Leaning Shelf
3. Iron frame / Wood Shelves Leaning Shelf
4: Black Leaning Shelf
5: Lucite (clear) Leaning Shelf
6: Gray Leaning Shelf with Bins
7: Leaning Shelves with Desk

Here’s a peak at the recent leaning shelves I purchased…

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

Recognize the room?  It’s my boys room that I am currently giving an overhaul.  work is still in progress…

I’m sharing this because it’s amazing how much these shelves have brought to the room!  The amount of storage / surface space is incredible.  From books, to ‘special things’ to ALL THE LEGOS, these shelves hold it all + have there is room for more.

My daughter’s room also got a leaning shelf.

We moved the pictures that were there into the master and added the shelf in it’s place to hold books, and of course ALL THE LEGOS!

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

Seen enough?  No?  Okay, I’ve got more inspiration for you…

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Awesome coastal living room with a leaning white shelf/desk. via: Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Seriously, how great is this space with the leaning shelves used for wine storage?  Doesn’t get much better than this! via: Cynthia Lynn Photography

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Work space with white leaning shelves. Shelves by The Container Store

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!How amazing is this lucite leaning shelf?  It’s incredibly expensive, but is a show-stopper!  Leaning Shelf by Wisteria.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Such a bright + vibrant space.  Ideal for a playroom or girly room.  Leaning Shelves by The Container Store

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Metal + Wood combo shelves by Pottery Barn

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Such a bright, airy space with the perfect element to bring in some height…  a leaning shelf!  Unknown Source

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!What a great office space with a non-traditional leaning shelf and I adore the pops of turquoise + the amazing wallpaper. via: Matilda Rose Interiors

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!How fun is this?  I love chalkboard walls and layering it with a leaning bookcase still allows for the wall to be seen through it.  Same style as shown above in my favorite finds, this leaning shelf is by Land of Nod.

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Leaning shelves with a desk make a great combination for storage + work. via: CM Glover

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Leaning shelves come in all sizes.  This narrow style in a colorful deep red hue is adorable in this nursery. Unknown Source

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Leaning shelves are great for an office space! via: Asbury Remodeling & Construction

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!Shelf / Desk combo by The Container Store

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!A more modern style shelf/desk combo at Crate and Barrel

Decorating with Leaning + Ladder Shelves - Leaning Shelves are affordable, open + airy, and bring great height to a space. So much inspiration + ideas in THIS POST!The shelves on this white ladder shelf are thicker which gives it more weight and style.  How great for a kitchen or casual dining space.

Leaning shelves for everyone.  Are you now ready to purchase one (or 2, or maybe 3) for your home?!

Creating Colorful Easter Eggs with Melted Crayons

Create colorful EASTER EGGS using Melted Crayons. It's easy to do + KIDS will LOVE it. Read the tutorial now or Pin for Later!

In just about a month, another Easter will be upon us.  Along with focusing on the importance of Easter, creating colorful eggs is often a tradition that many kids enjoy as the holiday approaches, mine included!  A basket filled with eggs of varying hues can make a gorgeous centerpiece and is the ideal reminder that Spring is on it’s way – I hope.

A new and unique alternative idea that you may want to try this year is to use crayons instead of the traditional food coloring or store-bought dye kits.  I have to tell you, the result will be unexpectedly awesome!  Have you ever felt that the traditional food coloring or dyes don’t create an intense enough color?  Yes, you can leave the eggs in the dye filled cup for hours, but what child wants to wait that long? Mine certainly don’t…  With the technique of using melted crayons, the color can be as bright (or subtle) as you’d like and the result is instant…

Here are the steps I took with my kids to create Colorful Easter Eggs Using Melted Crayons…

Supplies Needed:

  • Eggs (steps to hard boil the eggs are below)
  • A colorful collection of crayons

Create colorful EASTER EGGS using Melted Crayons. It's easy to do + KIDS will LOVE it. Read the tutorial now or Pin for Later!To start off…

1.Put the eggs in a pot and fill the pot with cold water so it covers the eggs about 1-2″.

2.Once the eggs come to a full boil, remove the pot from the stove and cover for 12 minutes (so they create a hard-boiled egg).

3.Carefully remove the eggs from the pot and let them stand for about 1-2 minutes (the eggs will be very hot, so be sure to use tongs when removing them from the pot).

Create colorful EASTER EGGS using Melted Crayons. It's easy to do + KIDS will LOVE it. Read the tutorial now or Pin for Later!

Here comes the fun part…

4. Using crayons, start drawing on your egg.  Be creative. Get the kids involved.  It’s a lot of fun to try different patterns and to mix the colors. For our eggs, I used one color as the base, then added another color on top.  I smudged in the background hue which gave a fun, swirly look.

Create colorful EASTER EGGS using Melted Crayons. It's easy to do + KIDS will LOVE it. Read the tutorial now or Pin for Later!

Because of the hot exterior of the egg, the crayon will melt on the egg’s surface.  Once your masterpiece is finished, gently place the egg into the original egg holder and place it into the refrigerator.  After a few minutes they will be cool and the decorated eggs can be handled and displayed as you’d like.

Create colorful EASTER EGGS using Melted Crayons. It's easy to do + KIDS will LOVE it. Read the tutorial now or Pin for Later!

They’ll make a beautiful addition to any centerpiece – paired with other Easter decorations or simply on their own.

Create colorful EASTER EGGS using Melted Crayons. It's easy to do + KIDS will LOVE it. Read the tutorial now or Pin for Later!

Create colorful EASTER EGGS using Melted Crayons. It's easy to do + KIDS will LOVE it. Read the tutorial now or Pin for Later!

Want to save it and/or pin it for later use?  Here’s a quick graphic to remember the steps…

Create colorful EASTER EGGS using Melted Crayons. It's easy to do + KIDS will LOVE it. Read the tutorial now or Pin for Later!

Enjoy and Happy Easter Egg Decorating!

How-To Hang Wallpaper Like a Pro!

If you follow me on Instagrammy favorite place on the web to share snippets throughout my day – then you know I had a busy weekend wallpapering. The kids room took a design turn after we found out a few weeks ago that baby #3 is going to be a girl.  In the end, as a family, we decided the kids will stay in the rooms they are currently in and the girls will eventually share a room once the baby is ready to move in.  So what does that mean??  Design changes!  The room that was going to be a shared boy / girl room was no longer needed.  Since we had already started on the transformation for my little guy, it meant we had to continue chugging along.  And let me tell ya, he’s a happy camper!

After choosing a new paint color (Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies) that I was very unsure of, because it was way lighter of a color than I’m used to, I am now thrilled with the decision.  Why?  Because I’ve been adding in colors in other ways.  Layers, my friends!  Layers are huge and in a kids room, books and toys add an amazing pop!  BUT, I was in need of more.  Yes more!  And that more resulted in a fun + unique wallpaper for the focal window wall that instantly turned the entire 12′ width into a photo gallery wall

Turn any wall into a Photo Gallery Wall with wallpaper! It adds dimension and endless possibilities for any space.

How fun is that?!  And before we go any further, I want to give you a peak at the before and after…

Turn any wall into a Photo Gallery Wall with wallpaper! It adds dimension and endless possibilities for any space.

I want to show you more of the room because it’s turning out pretty fantastic, but I can’t.  That’s to come – pinky swear!

Turn any wall into a Photo Gallery Wall with wallpaper! It adds dimension and endless possibilities for any space.

This incredible wallpaper is made by Taylor & Wood through Graham & Brown and it truly brings a wall to life.  I knew I wanted to do something fun on this focal wall.  Originally I was thinking a stencil, but this is way better.  So let’s jump right into how I installed it…

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

How-To Hang Wallpaper…  LIKE A PRO!

Similar to the last time I hung wallpaper in the powder room, this paper was also NOT pre-pasted (wallpaper that has paste and is activated with only water).  After wallpapering a few areas in my home, I have found that higher-quality wallpapers typically are not pre-pasted, so instead a paste has to be added.  I actually think the paste is easier to use than putting the paper through water.  I wrote a tutorial a long time ago on How-To Hang Prepasted Wallpaper, if you want to check that out.

Supplies:

  • Wallpaper
  • Wallpaper Paste
  • Smoothing Took
  • Sharp Razor or blade
  • Other handy tools for wallpapering are: a tape measure, a laser level, a pencil

Supplies for wallpapering like a PRO!

The Steps:

1. To start off, I found it best to measure the wall and cut a piece of wallpaper the length of the wall + an additional 6-8″ for extra at the top (ceiling) and bottom (floor).

a little helper is always fun + keeps you entertained!Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

2. I wasn’t worried about centering the paper on the wall for this project (in the powder room I did) and started at the left most edge of the wall. When hanging wallpaper, I find it best to add the best directly to the wall, THEN add the paper.  I used a cheap $1 brush to add enough paste to cover the width of the wallpaper (not the entire wall).

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

3. Once the paste is in place, then I started at the ceiling (adding about 2-3″ extra paper to trim), I hung the paper making sure to match the seam of the adjacent paper.  NEVER overlap the paper.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

4. When the paper initially adheres to the wall, there are always bumps and wrinkles.  No worries.  Simply smooth them out with the plastic smoothing tool.  It’s best to start at the top and move down the wall, as well as from the center of the paper and smooth out towards the edges.  You want to press firmly, but not too hard so all the glue seeps out.  Alittle glue seepage is okay and expected.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

5. Cutting around windows, doors, and outlets.  Thought to be tricky, but really not.  For the large window, I added the paste to the wall.  Then I hung the paper temporarily (very lightly) and trimmed the paper around the window using a scissor, leaving about 2 extra inches for trimming.  Once I cut the paper, THEN I went back and adhered the wallpaper to the wall properly.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

Here is a picture of me trimming the wallpaper around an outlet.  I used a sharp razor, cutting a small hole at the outlet and trimmed so the entire outlet was exposed.  The paper was wrinkled, but I smoothed it out after the hole was cut.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

CONFESSION: totally my opinion... Wallpaper is kind of like giving birth (that’s all I thought about throughout the process).  Going into it, your excited and ready to do “the work”.  You’re in the midst of it cheering yourself on.  Then there are some snags along the way and you start to get frustrated and defeated.  The end is almost near. You’re exhausted and your patience is done.  AND it’s over.  All is beautiful and you can sit back and relax.  After a few days, the memories start to fade and within no time, you think back that it wasn’t so bad after all.  Until the next time…

Anyway, let’s move on.  Obviously you  know where this prego girls head is.

Here are some pictures mid-project (the moments when exhaustion started to set in).

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

And the result once finished.  The part of enjoyment…

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

I started to jazz up the wall by hanging a few real picture frames over the “frames”.  It started to bring in some color and dimension!  I used a few pieces of command strips to keep the frames in place instead of nailing them to the wall.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

We (meaning my son + I) have a lot more ideas for making this wall even better.  In the meantime though (after hours of joyous wallpaper hanging) a few pictures and frames did the trick for fun.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

I even added some hooks for hanging a few hats and metals.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

Tutorial + Tips + Tricks for hanging wallpaper. Do It Yourself but get the results of a PRO! Splurge on the paper / Save money on the install.

So there you have it.  A 2 in 1.  A tutorial on how-to hang wallpaper + a fun & unique way to create an instant photo gallery wall.  A LOT more is happening in this room to make it suit the style of my little guy.  More to come soon…

Kitchen Revamp: Before + After

Oh My, where are the days going?  I swear, I wake up and 5 minutes later it is night time.  I can not keep ahead, but thankfully all is good – NO complaints, except for the bitter cold temps.  Some fun news to share…  I was in NYC for a quick trip late last week and met up with some blogger pals – Diane, Kelly, and Denise – for a Better Homes and Gardens event.  BHG, along with BrandSpark, invited some local bloggers to the Best New Product Awards, where we got to mingle with representatives of some big brands.  It was so fun to “get out” and meet others who are just as passionate as I.  I’ll have more to come soon on the products and a chance for you to win some cool stuff.

While I should have my feet up resting (at 5 months prego, my body is definitely feeling aches + pains), I’ve been busy busy with a few client kitchens – all at different phases of construction.  One I just started and have a design meeting for later today, another is mid-install, and another I just finished.  I shared a peak of it the recently completed kitchen the other day, but now it’s time to show more + it’s evolution…

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

This kitchen was really wonderful to work on, but a definite challenge. For privacy sake, I can’t show the floor plan, but there was a large area of the “kitchen area”, which I would say technically was the eating area, that was unused.  Then the space for the “kitchen” with the cabinets was very small + tight.  When the client brought me in, she really expressed the want + desire to reuse much of the existing cabinetry.  The challenge?  They were faux wood/stained cabinets from Ikea and to match them exactly isn’t the easiest objective!  My carpenter/cabinet fabricator was up for a challenge…  Could he do it??

Here are a few before pictures…

before pictures of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Once we discussed the scope of work + the clients needs + style, this was the Creative Vision Board that I created…

Creative Vision Board for Kitchen Remodel

The “known” of the space was the cabinetry.  The client wanted to match the new with the existing.  I spiced it up with the layers + details

>Lighting

>Fabric

>Tile

>Open shelving

These 4 elements brought the kitchen to the next level!

Lighting: The lighting before was very contemporary and did not fit the style of the house, which is old-world eclectic.  Yes, it has modern features, but certainly is not contemporary.  I wanted to bring in a sense of the handcrafted look and chose new fixtures for the space.

New Lighting for the Kitchen Remodel

Fabric: It’s often a challenge in a kitchen to bring in color, but fabric on a window can be the needed element to soften and liven a space.  The client and I looked at several options for window fabric and chose a modern pattern with colors of teal, mustard, and taupe.

Unfortunately, the window treatment is the only area of the space that is still incomplete.  We are awaiting the roman shade for the window.  Here are a few options we looked at before choosing #1…

Fabric Options for the Kitchen Remodel

Tile: Along with the cabinets, the countertop which is soapstone, was also staying.  To balance the darker hues of the cabinets and counter, I knew a lighter natural stone would be the perfect compliment.  The client and I visited a local tile shop and found this beautiful natural tile with light gray veining – the size: 2″ x 8″ – which was ideal.

 Natural TileTile for the Kitchen Remodel

Open Shelving: To break up the monotony of the stained cabinets, I wanted to bring in an opportunity of open shelving to give the space more openness.  We chose for the shelves to be minimal and painted them to match the crown moulding that was added around the room.  The backsplash tile was also continued behind the open shelves to give a cohesive look.

Open Shelving for the Kitchen Remodel

With a few more tweaks + tricks throughout the space, it came together amazingly.  My carpenter is incredible and not only did he match the new with the old, he also used a few of the existing doors and reworked them to fit in new spots.  For example, using one of the old doors, he used part of it to create a pull-out spice rack which now sits next to the new dishwasher.

New spice rack for the kicthen remodel

I love when clients want to work with what they have!  The outcome of this kitchen made me so happy.  Here are some more after pictures…

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Lastly some Before + Afters – sorry for them not being at the same angle…

Before & After of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Before & After of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

There you have it.  A few more details and the kitchen will be complete!  In the meantime, want some more ideas for upgrading a kitchen?  Check out this post of mine on 5 Upgrades for a Killer Kitchen

5 Upgrades for a Killer Kitchen

more client kitchens coming soon…