Kitchen Remodel on a Dime

Photos: Michael J. Lee

I saw this really cute and cheap kitchen remodel over on Shelterpop. The author claims she did it for $600 (although the new stainless appliances were gotten in some kind of "trade".) In any case, I thought it was really smart and well done, though it's not my style. Bead-board wallpaper, cabinet painting and removal of popcorn ceilings went a long way to update the space.

On a side note, the commenters preferred the drab "before". Who knew?

The point of this post is that I am motivated to remove the popcorn ceiling in our kitchen as a baby step towards a remodel. We're going to need to DIY as much as we can and the ceiling can be done now, even if we can't do a total demo for awhile.

Off to scrape a sample into a plastic bag and pray it's not filled with asbestos.

Brown (Wall) has got me Down

I think I figured out my problem with the guest room. The brown wall. It's too much. I was thinking it would be bold and pop-y but instead it's just a blah void of nothingness. Let's face it, I'm a light-paint kinda gal.

So I'm thinking of going over the brown with a pale pink instead:

BM Peony Pink

I have a sampler of Benjamin Moore's Peony Pink that might work. I do love Martha Stewart's Milk Glass from the old Lowes line. I hear it's hard to get now that it's discontinued - it's such a light pink that it's hard to match using computers.

I used Milk Glass in the master BR:

Thoughts?

Drapery Hooks, or, I am an Idiot

I had not a clue what these were for:

Until the other night. Backstory: I had ordered some PB drapes for the living room. Because I'm not familiar with "nicer" drapes, I had no clue what the metal hooks that came with them were for. I knew they had something to do with attaching the drapes to the rod but beyond that I was stumped. So I hung my drapes with the ring clips I'd purchased and went on my merry way. it looked ok, but lacked the professional look of fancy-schmancy houses with big old fluffy decorator-hung drapes.

Here's what they looked right after I hastily hung them back in February:
See how the top looks all sloppy and just, well, sad? Not the result you want for such a lovely print.

I was lying on the sofa looking at the tops of the drapes as I am wont to do and it hit me like a ton of bricks: the hooks attach to the rings, which then attach to the rod. DUH! (And to think I am college grad.)

(Beware, here be bad nighttime with flash pics)

This is how you do it!! I guess if i were a perfectionist I would remove the clips but they don't show at all so why bother?

See, isn't that better? I hope someone learns from my idiocy!

Entry Wallpaper

I've been a little more than obsessed about wallpaper lately. My old posts covered a few patterns and types of paper I investigated. Initially, I considered removable wallpaper from Tempaper and then moved onto ogling "regular" paper but DIY-ing installation. Thankfully, I snapped into reality and realized that this is way beyond my skill level. Folks who hang their own with great success must have a special level of craftiness that I don't possess.

Then I ordered about a billion samples from Graham & Brown. They have lovely patterns in all styles and semi-reasonable prices. I actually found my pattern (Elinor) somewhere else ever slightly cheaper.
It comes in several other colorways.


So, I saved my pennies and called in an installer to put it in my split level entry.




In love. I know what designers and decorators mean when they say splurge on one high-drama piece for a room. It does make a difference.

Sweet

This is about the cutest engagement story I've seen in a long time.

Smart Places to Spend Your Scrilla

The super-cute Raleigh home decor store, Furbish, is now online!

Here are some of my fave picks:

Pelmet Helmet

All the design/DIY/home blogland was a-flitter lately about the pelmet box tutorial over on LGN. I was stoked to see a DIY project that began with cardboard! I love me some cardboard, staple guns and batting!

My results are OK, nothing special. I went wrong with using a patterned fabric - getting it straight and even was a challenge. (BTW, I used a 100% cotton shower curtain!) The final result is flimsy so I wouldn't recommend this for a room where the drapes or blinds underneath will be used all the time. Not the fault of anyone's tutorial, more like my crappy DIY skills!



Aesthetic Oiseau has a great tutorial for making one of plywood, which will certainly last longer and likely yield more professional results than cardboard! Looks easy enough if you are of the woodworking sort. I might re-do this one eventually in wood if I decide I love the look.

List Update

A *tiny* update. Nothing too exciting but it feels good to cross things off the list.

Stuff to be done:

• Get delivery of mulch

• Finish side yard project (landscaping fabric, spread mulch)
• Get wallpaper hung (will be done 8/19)
  
• Guest room duvet
  
• Frame for parrot
• Repaint campaign dresser (might leave it green/white for now)
  
• Drapes, guest room?
• Cowhide for DR
• Get stair fixed
• Quote for entryway tiling?

A wee bit of change

The finishing of the guest BR marches on. I can't imagine paying any more than $50 for a lamp. I'm always floored by the prices of designer lamps in the shelter mags. RIP-OFF. So off to the thrift I went. I uncovered this ginger jar gem that was a shade of blah brown and covered in a thick layer of dust. A coat or two of Krylon Ivy Leaf brought it back to glorious green life.


Its partner in crime had an interesting shape and just needed another few coats of the same paint to make it look like a new piece. The shades are from Ollie's, a bargain store. They are originally basic shades from Target. I think they were $5/ea.


So here's where I am. Not sure about the bedding/duvet situation. It's OK but I'm not in love. I'm thinking maybe a print might be more enticing? I have so many unused duvets, so I feel like I shouldn't buy another. Maybe a monogram would be cool?

Prettiest Stove Ever

Hello, love. Oh, it's only nearly 40k, too! Just a drop in the bucket!

One Outdoor Project 50% Done

Finished my rock walkway a few weeks ago. Now, the mulching and weed-management begins.


It's gonna take a lot of mulch; 7 bags of stuff from Lowe's barely makes a dent!