Home Improvement

It’s So Sick

Published on August 12, 2013August 12, 2013 by Our Humble Abode20 Comments

Hello everyone and happy Monday! Weather finally cooperated with us this weekend and we gave the back deck a finish coat. Per Ben’s research and paint store recommendations, we used Sikkens SRD in a Teak finish.

Ben had a one day only 20% off all paints and stains coupon at Home Depot, so we bought six gallons. And used just under five to get it covered in one thick, even coat.

The color samples at Home Depot and the can showed a medium toned finish, but it actually is much darker.

Not that we don’t like it, but it just wasn’t what we expected.

However, the dark wood is high contrast against the limestone, so happy accident.

It takes 48 to 72 hours to fully cure, and a few areas still are shiny. But soon we’ll be able to walk on it and (gasp!) use it.

Once the back deck dries, we’ll coat the new front walkway and steps.

More beams make three steps and a small platform.

Because the house originally had concrete steps (that still tie into the house foundation) we had to build the steps over the broken concrete.

An outdoor bench and cable rail system are still on our to do list, but we’re slowly finishing up this year’s landscape work. Which means we’re getting closer to a pretty exterior and a master bathroom remodel.

What do you think of the darker finish? Did you cross somthing off your to do list this weekend, too?

Do the Polka

Published on July 31, 2013July 31, 2013 by Our Humble Abode13 Comments

Dots, that is, thanks to Ikea. The boys and I made a somewhat impromptu trip to Minnesota to visit family and friends. Trips back always include an Ikea run, this time looking for pillow inserts and a rug. The lovely as ever Shavonda super sweetly sent me two Lappljung Ruta covers, so I bought two inserts.

While I’m super impressed with the cover quality (especially for ten bucks!), I’m not as happy with the Inner inserts. I guess for $2.99 I can’t really complain. Unfortunately, I bought two thinking they’d nicely fill each pillow. Wrong. I had to use both for one plump pillow. Now I’m wishing I hadn’t been in such a hurry, because the Fjädrar down inserts are only $6.99. Oh well, I can always make an insert.

As for rug shopping, I checked out the Magical Thinking Triangle Chain Rug, but didn’t love it for 89 bucks. When I stumbled on the Ullgump Dot Rug for only $19.99, I had to get it.

Polka dots are fun, but don’t clash with the striped curtains.

Orange isn’t a prominent color in our house, but it’s slowly growing on me. Just like the orange background of the Green Eggs and Ham painting.

Rather than spending more money on a large (8 by 10 or larger) rug, I decided to get something smaller to fit between the beds. I don’t think I’d be willing to put any more of this bold color on the floor.

My other option was a 5 by 8 blue and cream flat weave chevron rug from Home Goods for $69. It was super tempting, but I wasn’t thrilled with how thin it was. Even hanging, the corners and edges had begun to curl.

Aside from three zoo trips, a Mall of America day (with a quick Ikea stop before), mini golf, and a few beach days, I helped my sister with a few projects. This two tone dresser is hers:

While visiting with my interior designer cousin, she told me about a product, Wall Flats that she just used in a house.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t stop thinking of these light weight panels. Ready to paint and much lower commitment than tile, tack to the wall in each corner and you’re done.

Summer Playhouse

Published on July 22, 2013July 21, 2013 by Our Humble Abode10 Comments

For me, thrift store art is hit or miss. Mostly misses with ugly florals, but every once in a while, something great pops up, like this signed two color screen print titled Summer Playhouse:

There was a similar old man print, but I didn’t think I could talk Ben into liking it.

That print is precisely what prompted an art shift in the boys’ freshly revamped room. I had hung a constellation embroidery set above their bookshelf.

But it felt too top-heavy with the art a good six inches wider than the shelf. How lucky is it that this $10 print and frame was the same width as the shelf? Serendipity, people. Not the John Cusack movie, just a happy accident.

Especially because I had no idea where I would put it when I bought it. I just knew I liked it. And had to have it. The details and colors are great, and it’s a limited edition. And there are two boys, just like mine.

Now the sky maps flank the window.

One more wall to add art to. Still haven’t gotten around to de-uglying the little kitchen set. Whatever, the boys will probably out grow it soon. Buuuuut, their room is one step closer to being finished.

What rooms have you been working on lately? Finishing up a project? Just getting started?

Good Morning

Published on July 17, 2013July 16, 2013 by Our Humble Abode17 Comments

When working on the boys bedroom I got the idea to make speech bubble pillow cases. Just a quirky, cute little thing. And because Vincent likes to use two pillows at night, but the throw pillows aren’t soft enough.

I bought navy cases from Wal-Mart, then made a Photoshop template and grabbed our freezer paper.

Using a pencil, I traced my design on the matte side of the paper.

And cut out the letters.

For my design, I wanted to keep the letters and bubble surround navy and fill in with white.

I used a hot iron to adhere the templates to the corner of each pillow.

And filled in with white fabric paint.

A little paint got under the paper, but it wasn’t enough to bother me.

After letting the painted cases dry flat for three days, I turned them inside out to wash and dry. Good to use, and cute to boot. If you want to make your own, here’s the design I used.

A little personal touch really can take something plain and turn it into something completely custom. And it’s so cute to see their heads on the pillows, saying good morning or night.

Build-A-Bed

Published on July 15, 2013July 15, 2013 by Our Humble Abode13 Comments

How ’bout we talk beds. Specifically the beds Ben and I built for our boys. You already saw them in action and we’re so happy with them. At the beginning of the room make over, I threw out the idea of getting Ikea beds. Sadly, Montana doesn’t have an Ikea. So we had three options. One, wait until our next trip to Minnesota. Two, buy the beds and pay shipping to get them here. Three, build something. After crunching the numbers we realized building would be almost the same price as the Ikea bed and slat system.

To make two extra long twin beds we needed:

Three 4 by 4 by eight foot pine posts (we ordered four because we worried about the look. Good thing we did because one corner was completely gone on one)

Six 2 by 8 by eight foot pine boards

Two 4 by 8 foot OSB sheets

Six 2 by 4 boards

6 inch long screws

We cut four posts at 20 inches long for the footboard and four more at 40 inches to make the headboard. Then cut four 2 by 8’s to 39 inches to connect the posts together.

Two more 2 by 8 rails at 81 inches make up the sides.

Ben drilled staggered pilot holes in the posts. The screws go completely through the post and in a few inches of each 2 by 8.

Each rail connects to the inside of each corner post.

To support the matterss Ben cut 2 by 4 boards in half length wise and nailed them into the rails.

Four more 39 inch 2 by 4 pieces go across, resting on the rail supports.

Which holds the OSB in place before putting the matterss on.

Oh, I should mention I sanded all the pieces with 120 grit paper before giving it two coats of Minwax Polycrylic. Between coats I sanded with 400 grit paper, just to smooth the raised grain.

Now for the headboards. Unfortunately I don’t have pictures of this because we both had to stretch the upholstery fabric. Ben cut a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood to 19 by 39 inches, then nailed more cut 2 by 4 strips to all outside edges. Two by 2 pine would also work. Then we wrapped a foam matterss pad (cheaper than foam by the yard!) over the front, top and bottom, leaving the sides clear. Then we stretched the fabric over, stapling to the back under sides of the frame.

Three inch screws from the back into the posts hold the headboards in place.

All the lumber cost $120, another $12 for the fabric, and we already had the screws, foam, and clear coat. So, basically the same price as the Ikea beds, without hauling or shipping, but these beds are twice as beefy. They’re extra long twin instead of a normal twin, too. And took only two days to make. Can’t say that about some Ikea items. Ha!