A Room in a Week

No, I wasn’t featured in a reality show on HGTV; I had my dad (master carpenter and super fast worker).  I moved into my home almost a year and half ago and have completely renovated or partially re-done my bedroom, kitchen and living room.  These changes included knocking out a wall, adding a walk-in closet, vaulting the ceiling and installing new baseboards.  Despite all of this work, I still had a guest bedroom that needed an overhaul.  This room had been slated for a summer makeover, but my dad had other ideas (or maybe my dog Gage did – he slept most nights there on an old futon - I guess he wanted an upgrade).

Of all of the remodeling projects that had already been completed this one was by far the easiest.  The job had four phases - a teardown, installation, painting and trim/lighting finishes.

Phase 1 - The teardown was the quickest step. Because the plan was to add a thin layer of styrofoam insulation over the existing sheetrock, the only items that needed removing were light fixtures, wood trim and some old wood paneling.

ick...two before pictures

Phase 2 - Installation of styrofoam insulation and sheetrock was the most time-consuming step in the bedroom makeover process. After the insulation was secured to the outer walls of the bedroom as well as the ceiling, the sheetrock was laid directly on top of it. This same process was done in all other areas of my home that had insulation added.  I have already noticed a tremendous cost-savings during the home-heating season.

Phase 3 - After spackling and sanding the seams between pieces of sheetrock, my favorite step in the process had arrived - painting. After applying a tinted primer coat, I chose a blue/gray color (Wild River by Pittsburgh Paints). Paint stores will tint your primer if you ask them.  By doing this, you may only have to apply one coat of paint.  Also, some paint brands include primer/paint all in one.  You will pay a little more but it is worth it in a cleaner finish and fewer coat applications.  Also, I have discovered that it is much easier to paint before adding the window and baseboard trim, avoiding the detail work of edging. But if the trim is already up before painting, make sure that you have a brush with a fine edge.

Phase 4 - Lastly, after steps 1-3 were complete, it was time to nail in the trim pieces and install new, overhead lighting.  I was able to reuse some wider trim boards that the previous owner had used as ceiling accents. These former accent pieces now are baseboards throughout my entire home, creating a uniform, consistent look from room to room.  Finally, the simple, unobtrusive overhead lighting casts an even glow throughout the entire room.

Paint color – Wild River (Pittsburgh Paints at Menards) – I love Menards paint!

My dad retired last summer so was able to devote a couple of full days to the room and he did an amazing quick job!  It was fun to come home each day and see the transformation.  This room is very simple and will be used as a guest and sewing room. 

 

The Wonders of Spray Paint

Transforming an item from junk to treasure gives me a thrill, and often times all that is needed is a little spray paint.   My decorating style has been described by several of my close friends as “eclectic” and I tend to agree.  I like to have unique, one of kind, decorative pieces in my home, not just something I buy off the shelf and hang on the wall.  Several of these pieces have needed nothing more than a simple facelift from a can of spray paint. 

Green Metal Bucket – this was originally painted blue, faded and contained a house plant that I rescued.  The plant died, so I washed out the bucket, repainted it and now it holds board games (including my favorites Apples to Apples and Scrabble J)

Bedroom Mirror/Candle Holders – mirror from Marshalls – was originally black and the candle holders, from Bargain Bills – were white.  I picked a complementary color for my bedroom for this look

Towel Holder in Bathroom – purchased at Pier One – I didn’t care for the color, so I sprayed it cream to go with the bathroom wall color

And my favorite redo was this old Bread Box.  My mom and I found this great find at Tyme Worn Treasures.  The bread box was scratched and had paint chipping off it.  With a little sanding and a fresh coat of cream spray paint the box looked as good as new.  As a final touch, I asked an artist friend to paint the scrolled lettering on the front.  I love it!

Some keys to getting a good look from spray painting:

• Clean the surface with soap and warm water and let dry completely
• Tape any areas of the item that you do not want painted – take the time to do this first rather than cleaning up any mistakes later
• Use quality spray paint.  I am a big fan of Rustoleum, it goes on evenly with no drips or runs, and dries quickly. As a rule, two coats, minimum, is best.

I have several other transformations I’ll show you in the future – both to my indoor and outdoor décor.

Happy spraying!

Sewing...a Lost Art?

New homeowners are always budget-conscious.  One way to get the look you want at an affordable price is to create it yourself.   When I first moved in to my new home I noticed quite a few “naked” windows that needed some “dressing”.  But, considering my budget, I had to think about how I was going to make this happen.  And then inspiration hit me.  I dusted off my sewing machine, bought some fabric and made the curtains all by myself.   I really like the look of soft, flowing curtains so I took inspiration from Pottery Barn  for the style and fabric color to get the look I wanted.  From there I got to work measuring, cutting and assembling.    

When I was a little girl I remember sitting beneath the table as my mom sewed.  I loved the sound of the motor and I enjoyed watching her foot run the pedal.  However, sewing didn’t actually start for me until college when I learned the basics in a course called “Apparel Construction”.   I discovered I had a knack for sewing and started to enjoy creating many different items.  Some items could be worn (i.e. a Halloween costume) and some were for everyday use (i.e. tote bags for grocery shopping).  

On my refurbished Kenmore, I’ve sewn throw pillows and bags of various sizes, but after becoming a homeowner the potential of sewing became clear to me.  I have been able to create all of my window treatments for a fraction of the cost of buying them.

The art and skill of sewing may be a thing of the past, but I believe that more people are beginning to look at what they can make themselves.  With the online craze of Pinterest and Etsy, as well as the increase in “how to” shows on HGTV and the DIY networks, people are now exploring creative ways to update their homes themselves, resulting in huge cost-savings.  If you do not own your own sewing machine and would like to start trying to create your own projects, I would encourage you to look on Craigslist which offers reasonable deals on used sewing machines, or check out sewing repair shops for refurbished models.

Living room

My bedroom 

Both of the curtains in these two rooms were hung with curtain clips on a rod.  I like to use clips because I think the curtains slide easier – and I like the overall look.  Clips can be purchased at Target 

Bathroom 

Hung on a Café Rod, purchased at Target

Besides the low cost, some additional benefits of making window treatments yourself:

• Able to dress a custom sized window
• Can choose from a large variety of inexpensive fabrics and patterns
• Because of the low cost, you can change them with the seasons if you would like (i.e. darker fabrics in the winter, lighter fabrics in the summer)
• Can be proud of the work you put into something and see it everyday!
• Best of all: They are individually made, so you won’t have the same window treatments as your friend down the street

Moving In

Sixteen months ago I joined the fastest-growing category of first-time homeowners: the single female. Young, professional women like myself are leaping into the housing market with enthusiasm, taking advantage of one of the best times in recent history to buy our first homes. And looking back, I can easily say that buying was one of the best decisions I've made in my adult life.

I had been renting, with and without roommates since college, but decided now was a good time to make the big purchase.  Everything just kind of fell into place. Funny how that seems to happen over and over again when we are ready for an opportunity.  There is a route that I used to walk my dog almost every day. This daily ritual took us past a rambler that was being fixed up. Each day, little by little, I saw the house being transformed.  One day in late September 2010, as I was passing by, I saw the owner working outside.  I casually asked him if he was getting ready to move in. He said no, that he was getting the house ready to sell.  He asked if I was interested. After replying with a hesitant "maybe", he gave me a quick tour.  I immediately became very interested and a few days later brought my dad along for a second viewing.  A trip to the bank, followed by meeting with a lawyer culminated with an offer and acceptance in on November.  Just like that, I was a new homeowner.

Much of my new home had been redone - new floors, kitchen, bathroom - but there was still plenty of changes I wanted to make. Many rooms had 1970's wood paneling - not the look and feel I wanted to keep.  Also, the yard and exterior of the house needed some TLC. I knew right away that the immediate future would be filled with "sweat equity."  Nonetheless, excitement rather than dread was my overall outlook. 

My hope for this blog is to inspire and assist other new homeowners like me.  I will  show you how my house has changed since I purchased it, as well as provide helpful and inexpensive decorating tips to make to make your home sparkle.  I believe that homeownership can serve as a springboard of creativity. To that end, I will share with you unique and exciting ways I have made my home a personal reflection of my style. Lastly, I will share lessons I have learned from being a single female homeowner, and hopefully answer your questions on how to navigate the murky waters of home improvement, home financing, and home decorating.

Home ownership should be fun - join me on my journey and we can have fun together!