Posted by Sandra on Feb 22, 2012 in Laundry Room | 4 comments

Crisis averted!

We took the weekend off to go see some sights, visit some touristy areas, make the obligatory trek to Gatlinburg for foot long corn dogs and caramel apples. (I know there must be something I’m missing about Gatlinburg because as far as I can see, it’s all about food!) We did go up in the space needle but Madison is not a fan of heights and neither is Wes…and neither is my mom. They all went back down as soon as the elevator opened back up (they were hugging the walls for 4...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 17, 2012 | 44 comments

The Laundry Room Project

Today is Madison’s 13th Birthday ! My parents flew out to be here as she takes her first steps…as a TEENAGER. I can NOT believe my girl is 13. Sigh. Anyway… whenever my parents come out for a visit, my dad likes to help me get a project done. It’s always tricky, choosing the right job. One that won’t take too much time to complete or require him to work too hard...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 16, 2012 | 35 comments

It’s kind of excitin...

…to see pictures of something you dreamed up and created in a magazine! WHAT? Yep, that’s my Picture Frame Collage Wall there on page 140 of Small Room Decorating, Spring 2012. I had been contacted about using those photos for a different magazine and was expecting to see them in Decorating Shortcuts later in the Spring but had no idea they were in Small Room Decorating. What a fun...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 14, 2012 | 6 comments

Drab to Fab Bath Design {G...

I LOVE featuring fellow BuildHers with all their skills, talents and vision! Donna’s bathroom makes me almost forget how badly I need to get on the kitchen after the workshop is done! Take a looksey! (And make sure to go visit Donna at “Is this Load Bearing” to see more of her projects and get inspired and motivated to knock a project or two off your list...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 13, 2012 | 39 comments

Kitchen Design Dilemma

I’ve never had such a hard time deciding what to do with a space as I am with this kitchen. My kitchen is separated from the living room by a big wall so it feels like I’m in “Time Out” when I’m preparing meals or cleaning up. This is what I would LOVE to do: (traditional kitchen design by minneapolis interior designer Martha O’Hara Interiors. Via:...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 10, 2012 | 9 comments

How to Apply Beadboard to ...

Applying Beadboard to the side of existing cabinets is an easy way to spice up a boring cabinet. (Old or New) Often times, cabinets will have a 1/4″ or more “lip” on the side of the cabinet where the faceframe sticks out farther than the cabinet side. Cabinets are built like this so there’s something to “take off” if the wall is not straight or the measurements were...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 8, 2012 | 9 comments

How to Paint MDF and Get S...

MDF is made of compressed wood fibers, wax and resin. It’s strong, dense and flat so is a great material to choose for cabinets and built-ins that you plan on painting. The wax and resin protect the wood fibers from absorbing the moisture in water based primer/paint. However, the cut edges have exposed wood fibers that will absorb moisture when using a water based finish creating a really...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 7, 2012 | 9 comments

Quick and Easy Way to Pain...

Beadboard can be a pain to paint because of all the nooks and crannies. I used to start out by painting the grooves with a brush and then using a roller to get the rest of the panel. But it takes a long time to brush EVERY SINGLE groove on a 4×8 Beadboard Panel so I took out a step. First, I almost always paint the entire panel all at once before I cut it to size and install it. I find...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 3, 2012 | 42 comments

Meet: Brody!

If you somehow happened to miss my news yesterday…we got a puppy! His name is “Brody”. He is a Mini Schnoodle (which is a mini Schnauzer and mini Poodle mix). He is tiny now and will be about 10 pounds when full grown. We’ve been looking for about 4 months and finally found him. I’m already in love with him! So is Madison. We all are. Honestly, who could not love...

Posted by Sandra on Feb 2, 2012 | 20 comments

Workshop Progress

My workshop is starting to look like MY workshop. :-D I’ve been making slow progress… but progress is progress. I built and installed some of the faceframes and finished my “Old World” wood countertop. I LOVE how it turned out! What, why and how later… Today, something very exciting is happening in our little family! I MAY post an update or two on Facebook if I...

Posted by Sandra on Jan 31, 2012 | 26 comments

Painting Tip: How to prep...

I paint a LOT of cabinets and when I paint cabinets, these are the type of rollers I use. I use them with oil and water based primers and paints. They are recommended for walls (you know, for hard to reach areas…) but I like them for cabinets and furniture too. My “paint guy” was surprised when I went in to buy them. He asked, “Don’t you end up with little...

Posted by Sandra on Jan 30, 2012 | 5 comments

Lights, Camera…Light...

I realize the lights in most of my Master Closet pictures show up as large glowing masses. I wanted to try to capture them so you could actually SEE them. This required precision timing and mad camera setting adjustment skills! The bulbs in the closet are all “Daylight” CFLs so I had to take the picture before the bulbs had time to heat up, which is not very long with the new CFLs...

Posted by Sandra on Jan 27, 2012 | 16 comments

Seeing Is Knowing

When I ordered my drapes for my Master Closet, I couldn’t decide between white or grey. This was what I saw that made me WANT white curtains. I can’t find the original source but I saw it on Pinterest. Ooh la la! I just love WHITE. (Little personal tidbit: It’s my favorite color!) Anyway…I’m also loving grey right now and I thought could go with either color but...

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