Home Improvement

On Procrastination

Published on January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 by Our Humble Abode8 Comments

Several months ago, I was offered a chance to review Dutch Boy paint. Not having a local retailer, I had never tried Dutch Boy, so I was curious to see what I thought about it. I picked out a pale green, Mackinac Island, to paint over the cranberry red walls.

I just couldn’t take it any longer. Happily, the green is a soothing, pale color. And the paint covered the red in two coats, without primer or any special treatment.

Being in a confined space, I really appreciated zero VOC, low odor paint.

However, I’m not thrilled with the green wall/orange-y oak trim combo. Of course, that’s not the paint’s fault, just an ugly combo akin to putting lipstick on a pig. Eventually we’ll remodel this bathroom including refinishing the clawfoot tub we pulled out of the main bathroom, shortening the vanity to one sink (to make room for the tub under the window), installing new tile, and new paint. So this is a temporary fix to cover up the blood-red walls.

And here’s the procrastination part. The light fixture in there is ornate and detailed. Too detailed for me to care to cut in around. I figured Ben could take the light down for me to paint behind, then put it back up. Well, we still haven’t done that. So here’s how it has looked for the past few months.

Ooooh, aaahhh. Can’t wait to tackle the bathroom for a brighter, cleaner, less 70’s look.

P.S. We were not compensated for this post, but the paint was free in exchange for a review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Mantel Madness

Published on January 9, 2013March 26, 2013 by Our Humble Abode26 Comments

For a long time, I’ve wanted a house with a mantel to decorate. We had a fireplace in our first house, but the stand alone design didn’t allow for a mantel to decorate. But now we’ve got one, thanks to a new fireplace surround. I’ve patiently waited for the paint to cure. Now that it has, I’m in full decorating mode. Originally, I thought I’d stretch a long, lean canvas to paint an abstract landscape on. It would have worked, provided the real painting turned out as well as the one I had mentally painted.

Then, to get an idea of the size I’d want, I pulled a few frames out of the basement storage. And then I switched gears, pulling out more frames to make a layered frame shelf. Sure, one large art piece would look fine, but then I’d feel the need to fill in with tchotchkes, aka clutter. Round one, I centered a 16 by 20 white frame then layered in 11 by 14 frames and filled in gaps with smaller ones.

Don’t mind what’s in the frames, some (or all?) will change. Too small and washed out. I pulled slightly larger wooden frame out from under the guest bed and set it up front and center. More frames around it, this time including a 12 by 12 frame.

Not a winner. I really liked the black frame and mix of styles and colors.

Close, but no cigar. Needs a little more height on the right side, so the 12 by 12 frame got the boot and an 11 by 14 took its place.

Almost there; that gold vase just didn’t tickle my pickle, nor did it serve a purpose. A set of matching white marble vases balanced the ends, and holds matches.

Obviously I’ll need to fill the center frame and swap out some art in the other frames.

Also on the redo list, painting the small square frame white and the small rectangle frame black. Gotta spread out the light and dark for balance.

We also loaded up the wood box over the weekend and love the usefulness, rustic look, and warmth it adds to the room.

So what do you think of layered frames on a mantel? What do you have above your fireplace? Do you have a favorite art piece? Any suggestions for customizeable/DIY/special art to add in the frames? I’d like a mix of art, photos, and something for the small shadowbox.

Nookie There

Published on January 3, 2013March 26, 2013 by Our Humble Abode17 Comments

In addition to the fireplace surround, we’ve also been busy building a little nook storage. We’re still not completely done (are we ever?!), but a few of you noticed it a few posts back. It was a small project, but we think it will make a difference in the function of the room. Another dead, useless corner, we need not. Ben built a basic cabinet with a floating shelf above. To make the floating shelf, Ben attached thin strips to the side and back walls. A piece of 3/4 inch MDF on top, then a few bracing boards sandwiched between a piece of 1/4 inch MDF.

To hide the gap, he added a piece of 3/4 inch MDF. Wood filler, primer, and paint covers the seams and brightens the little nook. Eventually, we plan to add a tv on top of the cabinet with decorative items and books on the top shelf. Originally, I wanted two shelves, but it would have been too tight and cramped up to the ceiling.

Oh, and I’m testing out a paint color. I picked up many of the swatches you all recommended, and Behr’s Wheat Bread was a close contender. But being on the north side seemed to bring out the blues in every color. Instead, we moved to the next swatch over and liked Behr’s Sandstone Cove. In bright light, it reads more tan, but in dimmer light (natural on the other side of the room or artificial) it has a slight gray undertone. Here it is compared to a 25% tint of Wood Smoke.

Wood storage is necessary close to the fireplace. Right now, we’re going outside to get wood. Every time we want to start or stoke the fire. So that’s how the bottom cabinet will function, once the paint cures that is.

Now we’ve got to install the baseboard, crown, and the rest of the trim around the doors in the hallway. There it is, a quickie built-in.

Have you made any storage additions recently? I’m craving a good organizational fix. Am I the only one that gets that itch after a new year?

Surrounded

Published on December 31, 2012March 26, 2013 by Our Humble Abode28 Comments

Well, it’s the last day of 2012. I seriously can’t believe how fast this year has gone by. We’ve got a nearly complete year and nearly complete fireplace. Though we did deviate from our original plan. Ben added the border trim and we decided to k.i.s.s.; keep it simple, silly.

Down the road, if we feel the need to add more trim, we can. I spent a few days sanding, priming, and painting the beast.

The front, mantel, hearth, and both sides have simple 1/4 inch thick by 2 1/2 inch wide trim around the edges.

Once the paint cures, I can start decorating. Eek, I’m so excited. We’re still not sure exactly what large item we want above. Maybe a mirror, but I’m leaning toward a long, lean art piece.

And then I can add accessories to the mantel. For now though, we’re just happy to have a more functional, brighter, cleaner (and easier to clean!) fireplace. Black hole, no longer.

Next up, sealing the slate, then grout. And then we can cross this make over off our list.

How did 2012 treat you? Any big life changes for you? Moving to the mountain house was our biggest change. And one we didn’t expect a year ago. Heck, this time last year we were mid kitchen remodel.

Squirrel in the House!

Published on December 28, 2012March 26, 2013 by Our Humble Abode13 Comments

Luckily, not a real squirrel. Just squirrel colored paint. On the doors. Two down, six more to go!

Handy Sammy is home visiting his family, so I took this opportunity to paint the main bathroom door. When only the boys are using it and they don’t care about privacy.

I used Behr’s Squirrel, color matched to Glidden’s Duo paint. Two coats of paint on each side with drying time between and here we are.

This is the only room we’ve installed new trim, and I love the contrast of the dark gray door with white.

This color changes depending on the lighting. Sometimes it has a green tint, others slightly brown. But here’s the most accurate shot of the color.

And now the brass handles don’t look terrible. Still not my favorite, but better. Perhaps I can use a very fine sandpaper to take the polished brass down to a satin brass? Ben is completely against spray painted handles, so that’s out. I’ve also tried Blue Magic and steel wool without any change.

Do you like dark painted doors? Have you used a fine sandpaper to tone down the brightness of brass?