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Course Correction

Published on September 22, 2014September 22, 2014 by Our Humble Abode49 Comments

As we’ve worked our way around the house, replacing windows, adding insulation, new siding, and painting, we’ve been thrilled with the results.

The dark gray lap siding is exactly as we had imagined. More of the back and garage end are lap siding than corrugated rust steel. Or what will be steel, because we still haven’t gotten to that point.

Actually, we have a tiny strip of rust. The channel the steel will fit in has started to change.

Now, we’ve come to the point we need to figure out the front. Honestly, Ben and I have gone back and forth over this many times. Waffling, as it were. Rust steel isn’t a super common siding, but it feels very western. Because it’s not typical, it has been hard to decide exactly how much we want.

For us, the steel has three big advantages. One, it’s very durable. Rated for 50 years as a roof, 70 on siding and can take a beating. After this past year of crazy weather, that is important to us. Two, almost no maintenance. Once installed, let it rust (you can quicken the process by watering) and that’s it. Three, we can install it straight down to the rock. With lap siding, we’d have to follow the grade, leaving several inches of foundation exposed.

Throughout this process, we’ve asked each other, “Will that be too much rust on the front?” After making the above Photoshopped version (and sharing it Monday), we’re back to thinking it is too much. A few readers said so, too, only adding to our feelings – thank you so much for your honest opinions! More than anything, we’ve realized this: if we’re so unsure, that’s a risk we’re not willing to take. Unlike a paint color, this wouldn’t be quick, easy, or cheap to redo.

So I did what any normal crazy person would do. Turned to Photoshop again, to side our house, quickly and commitment free. Here’s the same siding with privacy rails, remaining white trim, and plants.

Sure, the plants help break up the lower portions, but it still feels busy and top-heavy. We are 100% committed to keeping the lower rust to wrap around from the garage section, so that stays.

Now we’re going with all gray lap siding for the top.

Wood deck railings add a lot of character.

Plants give life and interest to the lower sections.

White trim and in my dreams, a dark door. Doesn’t it make a huge difference?! Convincing Ben to paint the door is a different battle, one I’m not expecting to win.

I tested out several other options, just to be sure something else didn’t win us over. A few shades lighter on the bump outs, to add a little interest, without being completely different.

Or carrying the rust up around the front door.

Nope, still like the simple, uncluttered look of the all gray upper. I threw the dark door in there for good measure. Ben admits it looks good, but doesn’t think it’ll hold up to use and harsh sun. Looks like I need to talk to a paint specialist.

Update: Here are a few other options involving more rust steel. Making just the peak of the bump out rust:

Or the entire bathroom bump out steel:

Lots of fun options!

Gimme a Giveaway: Minted

Published on September 19, 2014October 10, 2014 by Our Humble Abode80 Comments

This giveaway is now closed. Our lucky winner is Arell! Congratulations, please check your email.

Allow me to introduce you to a super site for all things paper, including limited edition prints from independent artists, Minted. Seriously guys, there are some fantastic pieces.

To help narrow your search, you can organize by style, shape, type, or color. In photography art, I found some of my favorite pieces, including, but not limited to:

King of the Forest

and Queen of the Forest by Glenn Carroll. I think this pair would be perfect for either side of our entertainment center.

Staredown by Amy Carroll, because it reminds me of my Longhorns and I just love the feel of the photo.

A Shadow in a Storm by Leslie Le Coq, if you’re a horse lover.

If paintings are more your flavor, check out my favorites, and many others, Mid-Summertime by Emily Jeffords. Movement and color, but still simple.

Splendid Spring II from Makewells, for a bright abstract to perk up a dark corner.

Rural Midwest created by Robin Ott Design, cute and charming.

Drive Bye Grove by Jeff Preuss, bold and poppy, to make a statement.

Quirky and fun drawings like 4 Robins by Kim Johnson, a conversation starter.

Forsythia from Vanessa Wyler, for fall color you can appreciate after the season.

Grass with Seeds by Jorey Hurley, unfussy for a busy room.

Field of Waves from Papersheep Press would look adorable in a nursery or little boy’s room.

The Goods: A $50 Minted credit good for or toward any product, to add some art to your walls.

To Enter: Leave a comment telling us which art print(s) you’d most want to hang in your home.

For additional entries:

1. Like Our Humble Abode on Facebook. Come back to leave a second comment.

2. Follow Our Humble Abode on Instagram. Make sure you let us know you’re following.

3. Vote for our master bath in Apartment Therapy’s Room for Color contest, then leave another comment.

Contest Closes: Thursday, October 9th, 2014

Number of Winners: Just one, chosen by Random.org.

Ships: Anywhere in the world!

Other Info: We will select the winners using random.org and announce on Friday, October 10th.

Dream vs. Reality

Published on September 18, 2014September 18, 2014 by Our Humble Abode23 Comments

Have you ever had an idea, and in your head, you can picture exactly how you want it? And then you start working and it looks like crap compared to your dream version? If you said yes, you’re not alone. That’s precisely the story with the bed frame we built for our king size bed.

We thought a cantilever design would look cool and simple. Something along the lines of this frame:

Though the extra wide sides seemed like a great way to bruise our calves and shins. Everything else, we loved. Great, let’s build! With so much open space opposite the bed, we lengthened the foot to accommodate an upholstered bench. After finishing most of the frame, we brought it in to use.

It’s completely functional, but clearly looks only vaguely like our inspiration. Hashtag projectfail. Perhaps if the platform were thicker or the base shorter (maybe both), it would look better?

Not that it matters because neither Ben or I are happy with the results. To make it worse, we haven’t finished it and probably never will. Hence the lack of headboard and blank bench.

What it lacks in looks it makes up for in functionality. Without a doubt, it’s better than the too tall, floppy headboard and rolling metal frame combo we had before.

With other irons in the fire, ahem, siding, we can’t justify the project right now. That can’t stop me from dreaming and figuring out what I do want.

Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.

Door Another Day

Published on September 15, 2014 by Our Humble Abode19 Comments

Another day gone by, another door installed. Shaking up the dining room.

Before, we had a sagging, unable to open, bay window. It was big at 8 feet wide and 5 1/5 feet tall, but the grids broke up the view.

Almost immediately after moving in, we knew we wanted to swap the window for a sliding door. Once we rebuild the rotting deck, we’ll extend a walkway to the edge.

Nearly the same size (only 15 inches closer to the floor), it feels so open now.

Having two four-foot wide sections of glass versus 45 small panes makes a world of difference.

As with our new bedroom door, we’ve hung curtains on either side of the door; essentially treating it like a window.

I think my plants will love this brighter, sunny spot.

Seeing as we just installed the door this weekend, we have finishing work left to do. Like a stained wood threshold, door casings, trim, and paint.

To install the remaining lap siding on the front of the house, we moved the window installing operation to the dining room.

Now the house is ‘bookended’ by doors. Our bedroom on the right and dining on the left end. Lovely little pattern of doors and windows.

Unlike the back and garage ends of the house, the front will have more steel than lap siding. To add more interest and break up the length of the house, we have decided to wrap the bumped out areas in steel. We’ll also carry the steel around the bottom, matching the garage end.

Basically, it’ll look something like this obviously rough Photoshopped version:

And with decks with privacy style railings, maybe something like this:

Contemporary Exterior by San Diego Architects & Building Designers Allard Jansen Architects, Inc.

Also, how hot are dark bands around the decks? Might have to steal that idea, too.

Green = Green: Free Stump Coffee Table

Published on September 12, 2014September 12, 2014 by Our Humble Abode30 Comments

You may be right! I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for. To quote my longtime BFF (not really) Billy Joel.

Often times, I’m not actively searching for specific items. However, if I see something that I can’t stop thinking about, I feel compelled to get it. Such is the case of this giant slice of starting to rot cottonwood.

At 43 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall, this thing is massive, not to mention heavy. Ben thought I was crazy, but loaded the beast up for me.

The affair started innocently, as I drove past the chopped up remains of a 25 foot tall dead trunk. After a few days, I decided to ask by leaving a note with my name and number. Instead of being the crazy woman knocking on the door, demanding a piece of wood. A few hours later, a sweet gal called me back saying I could definitely take what I wanted. Sa-weet. I dropped by to pick out the piece and chatted for another one and a half hours. I guess she didn’t think I was crazy.

Back to the wood. This old cottonwood had died years ago. The stump finally fell over. Which means this thing has real character. After a thorough sanding to get the surface splinter free and as flat as possible, I dug sawdust out of the bug trails.

To get all dust and debris off and out of cracks, I lugged out the air compressor and a spray gun. Worked like a charm to get the gunk out. Then I gave the sides one coat of polycrylic. For added smoothness, I applied three coats to the top, sanding between layers. Sanding between coats is always important, but even more so on an unfinished piece of wood.

At 12 inches tall and somewhat uneven (notice a raised chunk toward the front in the photo below), I attached three steel casters. Not only do the casters add a few inches in height, it makes this two hundred pound slab mobile.

I bought four, but after talking it over with Ben and looking at the base, three worked better. Despite an uneven base, after flipping it over, the top was almost perfectly level. As the old saying goes, “Almost only counts in horseshoes and casters.” Under $6.00 each at Home Depot, these 300 pound rated wheels are heavy-duty.

Four 2 1/2 inch long screws and washers keep the wheels in place.

With the piece sanded, clean, sealed, and wheeled, all we had left was to bring it inside. Basically I made a heaftier version of this stump and put it inside my house. Feast your eyes on our new, rustic meets industrial coffee table.

Adding the heavy (both in weight and appearance) table has helped ground the room.

I’m keeping the old table. Because I love it and it could work well in our bedroom seating area.

This hulking piece was fun to work on and now has a fun story.

And character in spades.

One side has a giant crack along with a woodpecker hole.

Some of the chainsaw marks are still noticeable on the top.

Despite several rounds of sanding with 50 grit paper, the top isn’t completely smooth. I mean, you won’t get slivers if you run our hand across the top. Though it is far from your typical glossy mahogany furniture.

You can feel bumps, divots, and a few rough patches.

For a hot second, we considered screwing the crack back together. Clearly, we decided against that. It could have worked. Or it could have made the split even bigger.

Overall, this was a quick, easy, and inexpensive project. Free stump + a few hours of sanding + 1 quart of polycrylic + three steel casters = my love in coffee table form.

Based on the 17 photos, some very similar, in this post, I think it’s safe to say I’m smitten. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of cool furniture?