The Mystery of the Closet Expedit

Kind of sounds like a Nancy Drew Mystery Book, doesn't it? ;)   A few days ago I pulled a Houdini in the renovation of the office closet.

Here's a view of the "Before" and "After" below.  You can view this closet renovation project, HERE.

The Houdini part was getting an IKEA Expedit shelving unit, which measures 58 5/8 inches wide, into in a closet that is only about 1/2 to 3/4 inch wider than the Expedit itself.  The closet only measures around 59 1/4 inches wide with the baseboard removed.

I didn't buy the Expedit on my first trip down to IKEA but after I realized the side panel of the Expedit fit inside the unit itself once it was assembled giving me a teeny bit of wiggle room with which to work, I was embolden to give it a try.  I considered the worse thing that could happen:  I'd have to take it all apart and haul it back downstairs to either the garage or basement where it would become storage shelving for one of those areas.  Not really what I wanted, but I could live with that if it came down to it.

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Pottery Barn Bedford Office Additions: Welcome to the 157th Metamorphosis Monday!

Happy Metamorphosis Monday!  Thank you for all the supportive comments and e-mails I received about changing the start of our Met Monday party to Monday morning and our Tablescape Thursday party to Thursday morning.  You guys are awesome!

I'm so excited to share some fun tweaks and additions I've made in the office this week.  (You can follow the full transformation of the office in THIS post.)  You may remember in the past I've mentioned I would love an ottoman for the seating area.

I have envisioned something with a rattan or wicker base and a nice cream or light colored cushion on top for comfort.  I thought it would add some additional texture and interest in the office and would tie in nicely with the baskets you see in the desk unit below

Ideally, I wanted it to be a storage ottoman so I could hide away the throw I use during the wintertime.  After searching online and in local stores, I hadn't been able to find one I liked or that fit the budget I had in mind for this purchase.  At one time, I tried a few large rattan baskets (with lids) but the tops were either too weak to act as an ottoman or they were too large or too tall.  Plus, they weren't really that comfy under foot.

The ottoman shown below at Pottery Barn came the closest to the look I wanted, but it's way too big, too expensive and isn't a storage ottoman.  If it had met just two of those three requirements, I probably would have gone for it.  It's a pretty good example of what I had in mind.   I do this to myself all the time...conjure up what I want/need in my head, then discover it doesn't exist. lol  Do you do that, too?

Source

In a recent post I mentioned my quest for an ottoman, and a dearheart suggested looking at World Market.   I did and found an ottoman that works well for this space and at a great price, only $67.  Okay, enough talking...come check it out.
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Reforming My Faux Ways

I've shared this view of my family room many times. This room can be a tricky room to photograph because of the judges paneling which soaks up all the available light.  Don't get me wrong, I love judges paneling, but it does make for some interesting camera work.

Speaking of cameras, allow me to veer off the topic of this post for just a second.  I've received several requests over the past few months asking for tips on taking better photos for blog posts.   A photography expert, I am not—not even close.  I have learned a few things over the past few years of taking pics for the blog, and I'm more than happy to share the teensy bit I have learned.  So, sometime soon, very soon, I'll share information about the "equipment"  I use, how I take the photographs you see here on the blog, how I edit pics (if/when I do edit them) and other random picture taking tips I've picked up.  Update:  Photography Tips posts can be found HERE and HERE.  You'll also find more Blogging Tutorials and Tips under the category "Renovations and Tuts" at the top of the blog.

But we're not talking cameras today.  Nope, today it's the battle of the faux.

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Top Projects for 2011

Rhoda is having a Top Projects of 2011 Party and I am joining in with a few of the projects I worked on around the old homestead this year.  There were lots of small ones, but I'm just linking to a few of my faves for this party.

Bedroom becomes home office/craft room/sewing room

Before:




After:

Project (from start to finish) can be viewed HERE.

Screened-in Porch goes through a transformation for the 4th of July:

Before:

After:

You'll find the full transformation HERE.

Craft a flag for your patriotic celebrations:

Before:

After:

You'll find the tutorial for building this flag HERE.

You'll find lots more fab projects over at Southern Hospitality so stop by and check them out!

Change Your Decor for the Seasons Easily and Inexpensively: Welcome to the 141st Metamorphosis Monday!

Happy Met Monday! Hope your weekend has been grand!

Do you have a room in your home that you love to change up and transform with the seasons? Kristy, a talented Interior Designer who lives on the West Coast of Florida with her husband and two daughters, enjoys transforming her living room to reflect the changing of the seasons and holidays.  Kristy's home, Starfish Cottage, is decorated in a style she describes as "laid-back coastal cottage."

Kristy shared a few pics with me recently showing the transformation of her living room beginning in early spring going into late summer.  Let's take the tour!

In early spring, Kristy gives her living room a fresh, springtime look!

Absolutely love these fabrics!
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Beach Front Condo Renovation, Part II: Welcome to the 138th Metamorphosis Monday!

Suzy and her hubby purchased a small beach-front condo and completely renovated it from top to bottom.  I shared the Before and After of the entry hall (with bunk beds) and the living room/sitting/dining area in THIS post.  Today, we're touring the Kitchen, Master Bedroom and Bath.  Prepare to be delighted!

Here's how the kitchen looked prior to the renovation...very dated.

AFTER:  All the rooms received new paint, laminate wood flooring, and new ceiling fans.

Wow!  Such a wonderful renovation of the kitchen with painted cabinets, new appliances and a gorgeous backsplash.

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Beach Front Condo Renovation, Part I

Recently, Suzy, who blogs at Worthing Court, shared a wonderful renovation of her beach house.

When Suzy and her hubby first purchased their beach front condo, it was in really rough shape.  Suzy looked out at this gorgeous view, closed her eyes and envisioned what this home could become.  The transformation is astounding...truly beautiful.

Before
This was the view as Suzy entered the condo.

Before:

This small condo is just 500 square foot, but it was the perfect size for a little beach getaway.  Here's how it looked once they completed the makeover.  Wow!

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Beautiful Lake House Kitchen Renovation: Welcome to the 135th Metamorphosis Monday!

Whew!  What a weekend.  It's been a painting marathon around here...but it's done.   How was your weekend?  Do anything fun or was it a weekend for working around the house?

Lake House Kitchen Renovation:
I'm exited to share a wonderful kitchen renovation for this Metamorphosis Monday.  Wendy, a reader of BNOTP, recently shared some pics of a kitchen renovation in her vacation lake home located on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

When Wendy and her husband first bought their vacation home, they were planning on making a few modest changes in the kitchen.  But once they took a closer look at the kitchen cabinets, the counters, and the sink, the more they realized a full kitchen renovation was in order.

Wendy said, "Since we were trying to furnish a second home, we didn't plan on redoing the kitchen but I couldn't tolerate the mold in the grout and the general yuck of the sticky cabinets. We thought we'd paint the cabinet frames, and buy new doors and laminate counters as a low cost make-it-work-for-now alternative.

In obtaining estimates, we met with a local kitchen designer who said she could get us a whole new kitchen with granite for what we had budgeted. REALLY? Well, yeah, but once we went to her showroom, my husband fell in love with the better cabinets and before we knew it, we were getting THIS kitchen. I'm sure ultimately we saved money since we no longer were going to have to remodel twice. The "better" kitchen was maybe half again what we budgeted originally."

Wendy said, "The kitchen was old with laminate cabinets with oak finger pulls, and the tile countertops were probably a DIY project with ceramic tile applied to the original laminate countertops."

BEFORE:

Here's a shot of that tile Wendy was talking about.  Definitely time for a change...goodbye moldy tile.
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Chaos, Progress and Mario Buatta

Today my house is completely topsy turvy. If you rang my door bell and I invited you in, you'd be here for about 30 seconds before you would suddenly remember you had a pressing engagement elsewhere.  And I wouldn't blame you, I'd run, too.  But I live here.

You know how something prays on your mind...something you've been putting off.  The weekends are filled with friends and activities, places to go and things to do.  But then a weekend arrives, and you know.  You know there are no more excuses...time to get down to it.

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Screen In Your Deck Easily and Inexpensively: Welcome to the 133rd Metamorphosis Monday!

How was your weekend? Did you spend any time outdoors grilling or just sitting on your porch, patio or deck? Would you spend more time outside if you didn't have to cope with the bugs and that hot summer sun?

I'm so excited about the metamorphosis I'll be sharing today.  Recently, Terry who blogs at  La Bella Vie, shared a few pics of her answer to enjoying more outdoor time, minus the hot sun and bugs. I loved her low-cost answer to beating the heat and mosquitoes and I'm so happy to share this wonderful space with you for this week's Metamorphosis Monday.

Before:
Terry's deck used to look like this.  Typical deck, right?

Take a look at it now! A lovely screened oasis!
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A Pantry Restoration

Over the last few months, I've been posting about the amazing restoration of Historic Stedham House by Dustin, owner of Van de Fleet Designs and Restorations.  

Dustin knows all about historic homes, having restored several over the years, including this beauty he purchased during his college days. 

Dustin currently lives in this gorgeous historic 1912 home (below) and he has worked hard returning it to its original state, as well. 

Click HERE to continue reading...

9 Great Features for Your Screened-In Porch

A little over three years ago I was faced with a big decision. I had a badly deteriorating deck and I knew if I didn't replace it, I would surely have to replace it before I ever listed my house to sell one day. How often do we do that...wait until it's time to move before we fix things or make improvements we've dreamed of for years? Then it's the next homeowner who gets to enjoy our hard work. If you've been putting off a little home renovation dream, don't wait until it's time to move. Do it for you and enjoy it now.

My deck had lots of issues. Boards were popping up and splintering and the previous homeowners had added an addition that was a drop off from the original deck. It was really a hazard and was just an example of poor planning and design.



Also, the steps stuck out into the center of the yard and took up a lot of space in addition to just being unattractive. It was clear the best course of action would be to tear off the old deck and start from scratch.



As I began the process of getting estimates for the porch, I immersed myself in all things "porch" by reading books about porches and searching online for pictures and ideas.

In the end it was clear, I wanted a traditional porch with an old fashioned porch feel...the kind of porch where you could spend lazy afternoons sipping sweet iced tea with friends...or alone, reading, napping and enjoying the breezes.

Now, I certainly don't claim to be an expert on everything you need to know about adding on a screened-in porch, but since it's springtime and porch time, I thought I'd share what I have learned and have come to value in a porch in hopes it will prove helpful for you.

As I always say, please take what you can use from this post--what suits your needs, then just discard the rest. The porch of your dreams might look very different from the one I added, but hopefully you'll glean a few new ideas from my experience.

As with any renovation or addition, the most important place to start is by sitting down and making a list of how you want your new space to function once you're done. How do you plan to use the space? What activities will take place there? What needs do you want this space to meet?

When I began planning the addition of my porch, my list included:

1. Lots of seating
2. Roomy enough for friends and family
2. A place to dine
3. No mosquitoes or bugs getting in
4. Soft lighting for evening time
5. Ceiling fans
6. Music

Looking at my list, you'll see my plans for this space were pretty basic...nothing too out of the ordinary. While I was in my research phase, I saw porches with wide screen TVs and Jacuzzis. Though those weren't features I wanted for my porch, they might be features you would like. Dream big when you're making your list. You can always scale back your plans later if needed.

It's important to read and research a lot in the planning stage because you don't want to spend money adding a screened-in porch to realize later you left out something you really wanted. As you read and research, jot down ideas and questions so you'll have a list once you start getting estimates for your addition.

I've been asked before why I didn't add on a sun room. That's a little like asking a person why they bought a convertible car when they could have a hardtop. I really wanted a porch, not another cooled and heated space. I do love sun rooms, but that just wasn't what I wanted. Now that I've had a screened-in porch, I'm totally ruined. I never want to be without one again, if I can at all help it.

I could write volumes about all the things I learned in the process of adding on a screened-in porch, but today I thought I'd share 9 of my most loved features for a porch.


Size:
Size is pretty important when designing a screened-in porch. My deck was 18 feet long and only 12 feet deep, which seemed deep enough. The contractor I used encouraged me to build my porch 2 feet deeper making it 14 feet deep. I'm so glad he did. He told me he had never had anyone call him back and say they wished their porch was smaller, but that folks always regretted if they had gone too small in their design.


Mosquito-proof Flooring:
There are a number of options for porch flooring. I avoided regular decking because there are always gaps between the boards which means you'll need to screen under the flooring to keep all the bugs out. Yep, folks do screen under the flooring. I've seen it done while on house tours.

I wanted my porch to feel more like an extension of the house, like a room that just happened to be outdoors, so I went with tongue and groove KDAT wood. KDAT stands for Kiln Dried After Treatment. Just "Google" KDAT flooring and you can read all about it.

My contractor originally tried to convince me to use tile. A tiled floor was not at all in keeping with the feel I had envisioned for the porch. I wanted an old fashioned looking porch floor. He did talk me out of painting the flooring and staining it, instead. I still love the look of a painted porch floor, too. I even like it when they start to show some wear and look a little worn.

Staining the flooring created a really nice transition from the inside of my home to the porch. My contractor had my flooring professionally installed by a flooring company and they glued and nailed it down to ensure it didn't warp in the humidity we have during the summer months. He also used a really heavy-duty subflooring underneath it for extra stability. If you use KDAT wood for a porch floor, just follow their recommendations for installation.


Dining Area:
One of my favorite features on my porch is a dining area. Meals just taste better out on the porch. I recommend allowing room for a table that will seat at least 4, preferably 6 or even 8. Just imagine all the breakfasts, cookouts and dinner parties you can have with friends and family out on the porch. (This tablescape is available HERE.)

China Cabinet:
If you've allowed room for a dining space, put a piece of furniture out on the porch for storing the china you'll be using every day. It will make it really easy to dine outside whenever you're in the mood.

You may need to take things out each spring and give them a quick wash for the season, but it really comes in handy having a cabinet close at hand for storage. You can see how I painted the cabinet I use on the porch in THIS post. This piece was only $95 at a local antique/thrift store and I painted it with an exterior grade paint. It's still holding up well and it has been through some bitter winters and super hot and humid summers.

Ceiling Fans:
You gotta have ceiling fans. Not only do they caress you with cool breezes, they add so much ambiance and romance to the porch. Even when it's not that hot outside, I'll turn on the fans at their lowest setting just to enjoy their slow movement as they gently circle overhead. One fan is good, two is even better if it's a good size porch.

Be sure to buy "exterior" grade fans. You can get away with interior grade fans...for about a year. But before long, the heat and humidity will cause the blades to droop. It's not a pretty sight when that happens. Also, the housing and inner parts of the fan may rust and cease to work. Exterior grade fans don't cost that much more and are the smarter way to go. They come in a gazillion styles. I found some online at Lowe's with a wicker look to go with my wicker furniture.

Lighting:
Lighting is so important in any space, be it indoors or out. I'm not a big fan of overhead lighting, but I love lamp light. So when I designed the porch, I ask my contractor to include a lot of outlets. I think he thought I was crazy.




It added some expense to the cost of the porch, but it was so worth it. I have four outlets on the porch itself. One outlet was already on the wall behind the hutch, the other three were added. That's how I get the soft lamp lighting in the evening. If you're wondering about rain and having outlets on the porch, just check my FAQ at the top of the blog.

Out on the decks, the outlets have special covers over them and they work great.





That's how I was able to create this tablescape on the deck. This outlet is located under the window. (Tablescape can be viewed HERE.)

I also use it for a fountain I put out occasionally. There are two more outlets on this deck. One is for the gas grill because it has a light inside and the other was for lighting I had strung around under the handrail.  They also come in handy for plugging in electric blowers when you need to blow off the deck.

Music
The only thing better than decompressing under swirling fans on a screened-in porch is doing it to the sound of James Taylor or Michael Bublé singing your favorite tunes. This is your chance. You're adding on a porch...pre-wire that baby right up front for some great outdoor speakers.

I had the porch pre-wired and a speaker placed over each door leading out to the decks. You can also enjoy the music while on the decks. Again, make sure you use speakers designed for the outdoors; regular speakers won't hold up.

A Swing:
I have to be honest, I've never been much of a swing person. Or, at least I thought I wasn't. I like to be stationary when I'm sitting--not real crazy about swaying to and fro. But the porch had a spot that was the perfect size for a swing due to the fireplace box that juts out into the porch.

I knew I wanted a seating group in that area. A swing seemed like a great way to finish out the seating instead of just having another settee or more chairs.

Now about this swing thing...be forewarned, swings are people magnets. Your guests will totally gravitate to it. It's always the first place they head. When I have friends over for a cookout or party, someone always goes for the swing and stakes it out before anyone else gets a chance.

You may not be a big swing person, but your guests will be. You can count on it. A swings adds something special to a porch...hard to describe. You need a swing.


Ceiling Height:
I saved this for last because it's not always something you can design into a porch, but I recommend it if you can. If you have the room and your house will allow, go "up" in your design. Raise the ceiling. It will make a smaller porch feel much bigger, plus it really helps the porch feel even cooler. Height will add to that airy, summer-breeze feeling you are seeking out on a porch.

If you're thinking about adding a porch, go for it. It may just become your favorite "room" in your home.

If you have any questions about the porch, please check the FAQ at the top of the blog. If you don't see your answer, feel free to e-mail me. It may take me a day or two to get back, but I'll do my best to respond.

You can read more about the construction of the porch HERE.

Installing Hard Wood Floors in Real Time: Final for Today

With the sanding complete...


It was time to evaluate the stain. The wood I always have installed is white oak (not red oak) so I can get a nice amber or yellow sunshine color. Last time a mix of equal parts Natural and Puritan Pine stain worked well to get the color I like. (These are Minwax colors, I believe.) This is the view standing in the hallway looking into the room. The Natural and PP combo is on the left and natural alone is on the right.




Look how different they look standing inside the room looking toward the door with the windows to my back. The direction of the grain of the wood really makes a difference. I went with just the natural stain because the floors always naturally amber a bit over time. We didn't want to go too dark or amber right now.


Unfortunately, they finished staining and putting on the first coat of polyurethane and sealed up the door before I realized it, so I missed getting a finished picture. I can unseal the door tomorrow morning and walk on it by 1:00 PM, so I'll share some pics tomorrow. Final coats of poly will go down on Monday and Tuesday. If you missed them, you can view Part 1, HERE and Part 2, HERE and Part 3, HERE.





Mr. Max listened to all the noise today but never acted scared. Brave kitty. :) Hope you enjoyed following the process of having wood flooring installed. See you tomorrow with a final photo. Have a wonderful weekend!

Installing Hard Wood Floors in Real Time: Part 3

Floor is in...







Closet is done, too. Sanding has begun. If you missed them, you can view Part 1, HERE and Part 2, HERE.



Several folks have emailed and asked what company I am using for my flooring. I love A.L. Thomas out of Buford, GA. (678-546-6970) They have installed/finished flooring in my home before and always do a wonderful job. Plus, they have been in business 65 years! Wow!