DIY Decor & Crafts

Not Welcoming Welcome

Published on January 14, 2014January 14, 2014 by Our Humble Abode12 Comments

We’ve been busting our butts to get the master bathroom done, but other areas of the house are completely neglected. First impressions are important, and this is that we’ve got:

Not completely untouched. We did remove a small arch that was over the railing, along with a few pieces of crown that were around it.

Our friends wanted the Tiffany style Fleur de Lis light, so we gave it a new home. So really, at this point, it looks worse than it initially did. Hopefully this summer we’ll replace the windows and front door for something more energy-efficient. I’m hoping to cover up the knock down texture with a wall treatment, too. New crown while we’re at it.

The light box is centered on the dividing railing, which kind of makes sense, but also kind of drives me crazy. Moving it over about 6 inches would center the light on the window and door.

Speaking of lights, we ordered the Mobile Chandelier from West Elm mid-December.

When we placed the order, it said the fixture was back ordered until January 20th. Now it says April 1st. Fingers crossed it’s still January, though I haven’t gotten an update. While we have the big ladder out to hang the light, we’ll get this big, bad bottom dude up:

My grandpa got these Longhorns in the late 50’s, then gave them to my mom before he passed away. I told my mom I had the perfect place for them, so she gave them to me.

Perfect sculptural, manly addition to the entry. They’ll fill up the wall without looking busy, and I love the sentimental value.

Our little console is still working well.

Man, I really want to paint over the peachy paint. Sadly it makes the most sense to wait until we’ve replaced the windows. I’d rather not climb a high ladder more than I have to.

& Here’s Some Art

Published on January 10, 2014January 10, 2014 by Our Humble Abode25 Comments

Thank you so, so much for all the support and sweet comments about the curtains and bathroom progress! You are all so wonderful.

Not sure if you have this same problem, but finding bathroom art is tricky. Anything with eyes seems creepy. And I wanted something large for our back wall. As usual, I made something.

A giant, simple ampersand on a white canvas.

I’m having a hard time deciding if I like how simple it is. Or if it’s just boring… Thoughts? A colorful, abstract painting would be really awesome.

However, I know I love the Astrological sign art above the commode. Originally, I made these to live in our bedroom, but they looked puny. After hanging the Carried Away art, the stars stayed in the closet.

When I pulled the set out again, I thought I’d change the frames/mats or both. I think I’ll hold off, because I like the black and white. Especially with the patterned towels.

Above the tub, I took a less traditional approach with vintage arrows. Handy Sammy had them and they’re an interesting addition.

To hang the arrows, Ben drilled two tiny holes in the shaft of each. I marked the center of the space, then set two 2 by 4 boards on the ledge to give my height and keep them lined up.

I started nailing in the bottom of each, then leveled each arrow before nailing in the top, then tapping the bottom nail in the rest of the way.

The fletching has seen better days, but I like the character each arrow has.

There’s the bathroom art. Until I change something. What art do you have in your bathroom? Wishing everyone a happy weekend, too!

Real Deal Teal

Published on January 8, 2014January 8, 2014 by Our Humble Abode26 Comments

When I decided to paint the tub and bathroom walls Wrought Iron, I knew I had to add color with accessories. I’m too much of a color lover to have a completely neutral space. One big addition of color is in curtain form.

Boom, teal curtains. With the World Market curtains off the table, I searched for other teal curtains. With zero luck. So I took to the fabric stores. I’ve used this same linen blend fabric for pillows and loved it, so that’s what I ended up with. Also, because the tub in now in place of part of the vanity, I can hang the curtains wider that I had before.

Sewing the panels was a similar process to our living room curtains. Rather than adding ribbon back tabs, I kept a rod pocket. Other than that, same deal. This bright burst is just what my color craving heart desired.

And looks especially striking against the dark walls, if I do say so myself. (Don’t mind the outlet, we have to change it out for a white one.)

Because the fabric isn’t thick or stiff, the panels hang nicely behind the tub. We can easily close the curtains for privacy, too.

I love how accessories can take a room from basic to you. Which is why I’ve already started hanging art and shopping the house for the perfect pairings. What do you think of the bright curtains? Do you prefer neutral spaces, or color filled rooms?

Minor Tweaks, Big Impact

Published on January 6, 2014January 8, 2014 by Our Humble Abode25 Comments

I know there’s been a lot of bathroom talk and updates. But the good news is, we’re nearing the end. Ben grouted the shower and floors last weekend and they look fantastic! He used unsanded grout and matching caulk because the lines are under 1/8 inch wide.

Update: We received a few emails wondering about the corner in the photo above. This was after grouting, but before we filled the edges with matching caulking. After allowing the grout to dry, we filled the edges, let it dry, and we’re ready for use.

While not a dramatic difference, it makes the shower functional. And that’s huge.

Well, almost usable. Shower curtains are in order. I ordered these 96 inch shower curtain liners and got them on Thursday, but I’ll get to those in a second. Here’s the bare shower after grout with the stainless steel shower pan:

And the grouted floors.

And here’s the shower now:

For the pretty tile to be the star, I wanted a super simple, low profile curtain hanging system. One that didn’t use a tension rod or drilling into the marble tile. I think we accomplished that, and for about 25 bucks! We started with three heavy-duty eye hooks, screwed into the tongue and groove ceiling, as close to the walls and post as possible.

Then we strung a galvanized steel wire rope (30 cents per foot at Home Depot) through, along with a curtain clip (I used two sets, but wished I had gotten two more to bunch the curtain tighter). Clamps hold the wire rope in place. We decided to keep a clip inside the loop, so the curtain would always stay close to the wall.

More curtain clips and a clamp on the other end.

At the corner, we pulled the wire rope tightly through.

I know I’m not the only one looking for an extra long curtain, so here are my opinions on these. After reading product reviews, I worried the curtain wouldn’t be completely waterproof, but they are. Vinyl curtains drive me nuts because they aren’t washable, but this fabric is. Which is a big plus. Decent looking material, too. The description said it has a weighted bottom, but it’s just a rope sewn along the bottom. Regardless, I had to hem the curtain a few inches to allow it to hang without pooling and bunching.

After sewing along the bottom, I make a pocket on each end for stainless steel washers to tuck in. Unfortunately, after using the shower, these weren’t heavy enough to hold the curtain with the convection current the shower created. But they do make the curtain hang nicely when open. So, I’m on to plan b, suction cups. Wish the shower pan was magnetic!

In other small news, I found these wooden drawer pulls at Hobby Lobby. At $2 each, I thought they would make cute hand towel hooks. A tight-fitting anchor in the wall worked perfectly to hang these dudes.

I love how the wood picks up the branch color of the towels. And adds a slight touch of warmth to the dark walls.

We’re still missing a vanity, but we’re all so happy with the progress. Even the boys; they said black and white are their favorite colors. Such funny opinions.

2013 Favs

Published on January 2, 2014January 2, 2014 by Our Humble Abode5 Comments

Hey, everyone! Happy New Year! Our 2014 is off to a rough start with sick kiddos, but we’re so excited for a fresh start. While Ben and I both love projects, sometimes it’s tough. Roadblocks hit, things take longer than anticipated, or just an itch to get started on a new project. It can feel like treading water. Plenty to keep busy, but you’re not getting anywhere. A look back on what has been accomplished or finished is an easy way to feel better. What better time to reminisce than a new year? So, here are some of my favorite projects from 2013.

In January we: Built wood storage and shelving, organized the main bathroom, crafted tree slice art, and art for our freshly finished fireplace.

February included: A little demo, followed up with freshly painted walls (man is that a good feeling!), a thrifted dresser makeover and reveal, hey-o, a finished bathroom, then, of course, a toilet set back.

March was our guest room revamp month: Starting with cutting out the existing bookshelves, then styled shelves and a blue headboard, a DIY pendant with wrapped cord, finished off with warm yellow walls. Hey, we finished a room in a month. That has to be a record for us.

April we had less focus: The beginnings of a waterfall and landscape filled summer, embroidered constellation art, modern rectangle quilt, and yet another thrifted dresser makeover.

May was furniture filled: I crafted some cute hooks, found, refinished, upholstered, and revealed $5 thrifted chairs, made and installed a PVC pendant.

June was a little slower: Our biggest, most time-consuming project was building a reclaimed beam deck. Between decking, I scraped off a popcorn ceiling and patched it, made a quick, rough (read, not museum quality…ever) large painting, cheaply and easily built canvas frames, and put a walnut to the test.

July was filled with landscape work and a fresh boys room: Ben finished the deck, built a bocce ball court, custom beds while I made text bubble pillow cases, and painted Green Eggs and Ham art.

August, another month of outdoor work: stained the deck, building beam stairs, turn a book into a game board, how to cut a round top for our thrifted table base, nail and string plus art, and surprise, another thrifted chair!

We wrapped up outdoor work and did small crafts in September: Finally painted over the crazy blue in our bedroom, cringed while our landscaping washed away (lesson learned. If I declare a project finished, something will happen to prove me wrong), created a wheeled stump side table, initial bottle labels, wood wrapped planter, knock off clay wishbone, jewel toned fall scheme.

In October we: herringboned (now a verb) a table top, DIY’d an outdoor gas fire pit, fixed the damaged back yard, plotted our bathroom remodel, updated our coffee table top with V stripes, under $5 lyric art.

November was busy with family, but fewer projects: demoed the master bathroom, brought our MCM bench inside and gave it an update, sewed more pillows (shocker!) got crafty with paper mâché, built an entry console shelf, set a colorful Thanksgiving table with a painted plus table runner.

December had a lot of bathroom work and Christmas crafts: bought a real dining table, easiest way to sew in a zipper, got in the Christmas spirit with a colorful scheme and felt garland, tiled the heck outta the bathroom, planked the ceiling and walls, debated colors then painted the bathroom walls dark. What a way to end the year.

Whew, makes me happy and exhausted going through it all again. Now I’m even more excited to wrap up the bathroom and get started on another project. What project have you tackled this year that makes you giddy? Or makes you happy you’re done?