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HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON BARN DOORS

February 17, 2022

Do you remember when your parents got their first microwave? There were two trends my parents were ahead of in the mid 80’s- the microwave and the VCR. The microwave sat on the counter for weeks before we used it for anything other than melting butter for our air-popped popcorn. How did we reheat leftovers before the invention of microwaves? Well, our barn doors were my kids’ microwave.

how to save money on barn doors

I don’t remember how we got ahead of it, but I remember when this lady sent me an email that our barn doors were being featured on her blog.

how-to-make-barn-doors

Maybe not as much excitement or life-changing as watching the first time we popped a hotdog in the microwave and watch it explode after 60 seconds of energy waves.

But, we were ahead of the barn door trend ten years ago (I can’t believe it has been that long).

We replaced our hollow, french glass doors leading into the playroom (now this room) with solid doors to make barn doors.

We installed a set of double barn doors and then a single barn door leading to the mechanicals (furnace and water heater). #realtorlife

Ten years ago the big box home improvement stores referred us to large animal feed stores in Colorado. The prices were much higher. Oh and we spent way more money back in the day than we have on our most recent barn doors.

Over the years we tweaked the barn door install process and learned how to make barn doors for less money.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON BARN DOORS

MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE

  • Measure 5 times and order once.
  • Check that the width of the door(s) has enough wall space on opposite ends for the doors to open and close.
  • This saves money on a single track system versus a double track.
  • For our son’s closet doors we opted to only have one door open at a time since we had already ordered the single track.
  • There is always a way to fix something, but measuring multiple times decreases the cost of the mistake.

SCRATCH AND DENT DOORS

  • We found , solid pine doors on clearance at Home Depot. Each door had scratches on one side of each door. Since the hardware holes were not pre-drilled we could hang them with the dents on the opposite side.
  • This was perfect since the backsides of these doors were facing the interior of the closet.

PREP THE DOORS

  • Use a wood conditioner prior to staining the doors. I love this stuff. It makes the stain so much easier to apply.
  • It is worth the extra step and I am not one who likes to take an extra step in a project or recipe.

Sidenote: Does your Home Depot have an “oops paint” section? In addition to paint, they often have quarts of stain. These quart and gallon size mistakes are a few dollars.

TRACK HARDWARE

The next item to buy was the track and hardware for the barn doors. Over the years the costs for the track systems decreased as the options increased.

We found our most recent barn door hardware from Wayfair.

The image below is mine. I thought I had captured a cool angle, but apparently, Wayfair had the same idea.

As I mentioned above, we ordered a single track because of the width of the closet wall.

The only issue is we cannot open both doors at the same time.

In our lower level (basement) we used a single-track system and had enough clearance on both sides of the doors. This is really where taking the time to measure the widths and wall spaces is crucial.

Here’s the widest shot I could get of the barn doors without backing into my son’s back wall and desk.

I tried to stand on the window ledge, but that would have had a completely different outcome.

We are getting ready to replace bifold doors in my daughter’s room/guest room and our younger son’s room. Stay tuned for that DIY project.

I would love it if you pinned this for later.

how to save money on barn doors

If you want an easy-breezy Saturday morning read I would love it if you signed up for the Weekend Edit. I include one-hour projects and 3-minute crafts! You can sign up here (and that makes you eligible for my February Pottery Barn gift card giveaway

6 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS, TIPS
Tagged: BARN DOORS, DIY, PROJECTS

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THIS DIY CANVAS FRAME KIT

April 6, 2021

Sharing a beautiful DIY canvas frame kit perfect for a girls night or Mother’s Day

I did not inherit the crafty gene. My sister took all of it and upstaged me with our painted Christmas village over our college winter breaks.

But over the past year discovered, with a little bit more free time, maybe I could find my crafty side.  And then a serendipity invitation showed up in my inbox.

DIY-canvas-frame-kit

DIY CANVAS FRAME KIT BY PHOTOWALL

Photowall reached out to me to share my experience with their DIY canvas frame kit. With over 14oo0 options between their canvas prints and wallpaper options I thought I might get lost in the huge selection.

Until I landed on their floral canvas prints.

DIY-canvas-frame-kit-photowall

And between clicks and searches on Photowall’s website, I found the one.

It was the perfect print for my home office.

DIY-canvas-frame-kit With navy walls and freshly stained floors, this was the perfect canvas print with pinks and greens. I found the one in a matter of minutes.

And you will too.

And then …

While waiting four days for my tulip DIY canvas frame kit to ship from Sweden I started to panic. What if I screw this up? What if I break the frame or ruin the canvas while trying to assemble it?

So when it arrived, with a mix of emotions of excitement and a wee bit of fear,  I removed the contents from the narrow shipping box and perked up.

Could something so pretty really be this simple?

I shared a short video on my Youtube Channel to introduce this fun DIY craft in a box.

DIY-canvas-frame-kit

PHOTOTWALL  DIY CANVAS FRAME KIT INCLUDES

  • canvas print of your choosing
  • unassembled frame with adhesive tape
  • 4 brackets to reinforce the corners
  • the most practical screws ever for an assembled framed canvas
  • mounting wall bracket

The kit includes a simple instruction list that does not require a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering to assemble the frame to the canvas.

Even the supers-sized screws with ribbed edges made it easy. There was absolutely no hardware, scissors or glue needed.

DIY-canvas-frame-kit

My only suggestion for this DIY canvas print is to use a large flat surface to lay your canvas print (print side facing down) flat.

I removed all of the contents and made sure the four frame sections were aligned on the canvas correctly. And then it’s just a peel and stick step where the canvas adheres to each frame. Where the corners magically align.

I love it. The first thing I want to do is order one for my daughter and my sister for their birthdays. This would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift. You could even do it over a Zoom call with your friends or family.

I am going to have a Photowall canvas print party this summer where everyone pre-orders their canvas and we have a little girls’ craft night.

DIY-canvas-frame-kit

After this past year, I cannot think of a better way to reconnect in our homes with our girlfriends and family.

 

Photowall is offering a 25% discount with the discount code: everydayedits25.

This discount is valid for two months so forward to your friends or adult children to kick off the season of reconnecting with our friends and family!

Disclosure: Photowall provided me with a canvas framed print of my choice. 

 

WEEKLY IDEAS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX


26 Comments / Filed In: CRAFTS, DIY PROJECTS, ONE HOUR PROJECTS
Tagged: Crafts, DIY, ONE HOUR PROJECTS, PHOTOWALL

Where to Find Free Unfinished Natural Wood Slices

November 10, 2020

This tip is all about the ask to find unfinished, natural wood slices for free.

On a recent trip to Knoxville to visit my sister, my favorite brother-in-law, (BIL) (conveniently)  planned a guys day out to their property during my visit. Did you catch that too? #wink #myfavBIL

But when he mentioned they were clearing a few trees my ears perked up. All of that unfinished, natural wood and a guy with a chainsaw.

That was blogger gold.

unfinished-natural-wood-slices

HOW TO FIND UNFINISHED NATURAL WOOD SLICES FOR FREE

John was my VIP pass to a set of six unfinished wood slices (chargers to us decor enthusiasts).

MAKE FRIENDS WITH A CHAINSAW OWNER

He was happy to haul his chainsaw and safety goggles to the ranch.

I explained to him the significance of an unfinished natural wood slice and the many uses they offer.

unfinished-natural-wood-slices

His tree clearing day was a success and I found a way to pack six unfinished wood slices into my luggage along with 1/2 dozen decor stapes from my favorite home store in Knoxville.

Funny, this was not the first time I asked for branches from a guy with a chain saw.

MAKE FRIENDS WITH AN ARBORIST

I did the same thing while parallel parking next to a tree trimmer crew. After I successfully parallel parked my car, I took note of the stack of branches. Again, blogger gold there in those piles of branches.

And probably a few bugs that relocated down south.

Recently we hired a tree trimmer to remove a few dead Aspen trees. When I asked him to slice the trunk into 2 feet sections he was happy to help.

unfinished-natural-wood-slices-everydayedits

I find arborists (their official name) to be eager to unload some of their hauls. And, they load into the back of my car for free.

I have plans for that tree stump.

Can I just tell you how much I love the organic feel of a natural wood slice. I use them to bulk up a window ledge or to add height to a pumpkin. They are as versatile as grapevine.

I love a charger of any kind, but there is something special about the story or memories behind the natural wood chargers.

Like the story of how this table came from a Russian Olive tree in Denver.

I smile every time I see my natural wood slices. I have the best brother-in-law- he is definitely my favorite in the family.

unfinished-natural-wood-slices

Thanks for stopping by today. If you have any ideas of what to do with my unfinished wood slices, please leave a comment.

7 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, TIPS
Tagged: decor, DIY, Trees, UNFINISHED, WOOD SLICES

THE SECRET TO A BATHROOM REMODEL

September 27, 2020

I felt a little guilty sharing the bathroom remodel with friends and family and not let them in on the secret. The other thought swirling in my head is the song Secrets by One Republic. You know, like it’s something that I can’t confess.. but now I need to give all my secrets away. Well, today is the day to share the secret to a bathroom remodel.

I shared the boys’ Jack & Jack bathroom remodel here, but I did not let yall in on the secret. It’s more like a tip than a secret. Either way here we go … 

the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel

I dreaded the demo bathroom remodel phase. We had just completed an upstairs bath remodel in our daughter’s room/guest room).

Neither of us was prepared for the amount of work involved to remove the following: tub, shower, shower tile, toilet, vanity, baseboards, tile flooring, sink and all that tile. 

And, then the madness of the remodel is we turn around and reinstall the exact same bathroom essentials.

the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel

We learned why tile crews wear jeans and not running shorts.

My husband and I learned that hauling trash bins full of tile and drywall down four flights of stairs makes a strong case to bring back the concept of the laundry shoot (or a dumb waiter). 

My husband found out the task to remove shower and floor tile cost my husband a few weekends away from the slopes because of a pulled back muscle. 

the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel

 We planned on the bathroom remodel to be completed before our oldest son (my lefty) returned home for Thanksgiving. 

We should have clarified the year. 

best-decision-we-made-on-a-bathroom-remodel

The Secret to a Bathroom Remodel

Days before we planned to start the bathroom remodel I tossed a question around in my head.

No one else was in my thoughts. 

“What if we could pay someone to demo the bathroom?”

Just asking the question made me feel like I was cheating on my bathroom. 

the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel

 

To settle my guilty conscience, I ran the question by my husband. Casually … while I texted a Realtor friend for the name of her demo guy. 

Together, we decided, after I had already texted this guy, there was no harm in getting a quote for a bathroom demo. 

the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel

If the sequence of events sounds a bit off it is to protect my sources and timeline of events. 

Secrets …

A demo crew member was in the boys’ bathroom two hours after that text inquiry to measure the bathroom to work up a bid. 

the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel

Kenny’s quote was $100.00 more than I planned to pay.

I almost countered (I am a Realtor)  except he sent the 2nd text that he was only free on the upcoming Saturday.

Is there a patron saint for DIY projects?

I grabbed these pics to capture a few before the demo bathroom pics and a few memories. 

Scroll down to see what the boys’ bathroom looked like over the summer.

And, when I say boys I mean highschool/college-age young men. But they will always be “my boys.”

the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel

And, here was the boys’ bathroom five hours after Kenny and his two-person crew arrived on Saturday morning.

After the Demo Crew

Five hours, not months, weeks or even days. Five hours. 

the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel
the-secret-to-bathroom-remodel

You guys this took a two-person crew five hours to remove the vanity, sinks, mirror, ceramic floor tile, tub, toilet, shower tile and the drywall surrounding the shower.

They removed, hauled the vanity, sinks, mirror, tub, toilet, tile and flooring debris down four flights of stairs. And then? The second best thing besides hauling it out of the house… they hauled it away. 

It was the cleanest the boys’ bathroom has been since we moved into the home. 

 

 Because we all need a little help once in a while. 

Before you go here is a funny story about what happened to the bathroom countertop just before we installed it (ourselves). Karma for keeping a secret! 

 

2 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS, TIPS
Tagged: Bathroom, DIY, INTERIORS, Remodel

POTTERY BARN KITCHEN TABLE KNOCKOFF

August 3, 2020

I was ready to sell my kitchen table when I saw this Pottery Barn kitchen table on their website. I looked at this table online and looked over my shoulder to my World Market clearance kitchen table. It was an instant love connection and inspiration for my Pottery Barn kitchen table knockoff.

Source

My veneer-ish, shiny black table was screaming to get a makeover.

I painted my round table with this Benjamin Moore color. It is Mascarpone and it is my favorite creamy white. I use it in most of the accessories in my home.

The hardest part about this creamy white is spelling it correctly.

And, this Pottery Barn kitchen table knockoff is one of my favorites! My kitchen table went from a shiny, veneer-ish finish to a creamy color to brighten the space.

kitchen-table-pottery-barn-knockoff-feature

Taking inspiration from the Pottery Barn table, I added four navy kitchen chairs. The chairs were cheap but functional.

I am looking for a long term relationship with my kitchen chairs. Any suggestions?

Next up I purchased a round sisal rug on sale at Pottery Barn. I had plans to add a rug but waited for Elliott to finish the puppy chewing phase.

Painting the table instantly brightened the dining area. The navy curtains no longer had to fight with the black table. And, the chairs had an instant connection to the window treatments too.

More recently, I added the light fixture above the table. The light fixture updated the space and made it feel lighter and open.

I shared these tips when shopping for light fixtures.

Do you have a fun Pottery Barn knockoff? Here a few favorite Pottery Barn related posts. Pottery Barn Knockoff Chaise and Where I find decor ideas.

7 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS, PAINT PROJECTS
Tagged: DIY, Furniture, PAINT, upcycle

How to Create a Bedroom Feature Wall

May 15, 2020

I think my Little House on the Prairie obsession is why I love a planked wall. It’s the closest thing to a log cabin I am going to experience. So when I suggested to my husband we create a feature wall for our master bedroom I left out the cabin on the prairie details. 

How to Create a  Bedroom Feature Wall 

how-to-create-bedroom-feature-wall

So I borrowed the idea for my own home. You know for my brownstone in the suburbs type home. So close to a cabin living life. #wink

Supplies

The supply list is familiar and not intimidating.

  • distressed wood planks from a lumber supplier
  • miter box saw
  • level
  • paint similar in shade to the wood planks
  • nail gun
  • stud finder
  • 1/2 gallon of paint to match the wood planks

For the feature wall we purchased distressed wood planks from a specialty lumber supply company in Denver/Littleton.

how-to-create-bedroom-feature-wall

Steps

1.Paint the Feature Wall

If the feature wall is white I suggest a quick coat of a paint that is similar enough to the color of the wood planks. The paint diminishes any potential gaps between the planks.

Do not overthink the paint color. If your wall paint is a darker/darkish color you might get away with it.

We skipped this step on this feature wall.

how-to-create-bedroom-feature-wall

2. Stud Finder

We (my husband) used a stud finder to mark where the studs were located. It was easier to find the studs before we mapped out the location and pattern of the planks.

We started the top corner and worked our way down paying attention to spacing. We alternated lengths to give us a rustic vibe without it screaming cabin in the suburbs.

how-to-create-bedroom-feature-wall

 

It cost just under $250 to plank the wall. The best part was we finished this on a Saturday afternoon. I love the finished look. We added these sconces above our bed.

The mantel above our bed was my first DIY project by myself. It was a copycat Pottery Barn mantel that I made with the help of the Home Depot lumber manager. He was awesome. I had my measurements and the photo of the mantel.

When we created the feature wall my husband added new pine trim and I stained it my favorite stain on the planet.

The distressed wood planks worked in our “brownstone in the suburbs” home where a mix of industrial meets Pottery Barn on a budget.

how-to-create-bedroom-feature-wall

This was a half-day project and the hardest part was moving the bed and frame away from the feature wall. We loved the look and it warmed up the space. Do you recognize the framed “prints” on the mantel? I shared the repurposed project here.

Here is another feature wall idea for around $50. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

 

Here is another planked wall project we created using a different product we found at Home Depot.

Subscribe to Everyday Edits Newsletter

 

Leave a Comment / Filed In: All Blog Posts, DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS
Tagged: DIY, FEATURE WALL, INTERIORS, PLANKS

HOW TO REMOVE A HALF WALL

August 22, 2019

The good news is my husband and I are still married after we removed a half wall between the dining room and kitchen.  One of the best DIY decisions we made was when we decided to take out half the wall between our dining room and kitchen. You know the dining room? The room that either is dressed for a party or looks like the lost and found in a high school locker room.

But over the course of a weekend, we made the decision and never looked back.

how to remove a half wall, how to take out a half wall between two rooms

BEFORE

Our original plan was to remove the wall behind our refrigerator in the kitchen. But a consult with an architect brought up the light from the bank of windows in our dining room.

Sidenote: We hired the architect for a different project (that led to this project).

But since she charged by the hour we asked her about the wall between the kitchen and dining room.

how-to-remove-half-a-wall-everyday-edits     

This project to take out half a wall was much much easier than we anticipated. It was the biggest project my husband and I tackled.

It was bigger than this project.

It solved the problem of feeling our kitchen was not the social hub we envisioned. It had a narrow walk thru entry between the two rooms.

Removing half the wall with the upper cabinets and microwave did two things.

  1. Added much needed light from the north facing windows in the dining room.
  2. Created a little breakfast nook or work station that was out of the way of the kitchen.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU REMOVE HALF A WALL

This project required trust, grit, patience and an electrician to run interference and move an outlet. To appreciate the after here is a quick view of the dining room a few years ago.

And, yes I picked that color.

how-to-remove-a-half-wall

The dining room was the gateway to the kitchen. And, with a narrow entry arch into the kitchen. Here is the wall from the dining room. To the left is the door size entry into the kitchen.

Here’s the view from the dining room. By removing this wall we could take advantage of the light from the large dining room windows.

THE BEFORE

Here’s the view from the kitchen.

how-to-remove-a-half-wall

Tip: Before we removed the upper cabinets (and the half wall) we relocated the contents of the cabinets. Before we removed the wall we wanted to make sure we would not miss those cabinets.

At the same time, we relocated the microwave to an adjoining counter.

how-to-remove-half-wall-everyday-edits

ELECTRICAL + PLUMBING DETAILS

We hired a plumber and electrician to move the mechanics to the left inside the frame. We had to add an additional outlet on the dining room wall side per electrical code. Total costs for the mechanical was just under $300.00.

PAIN IN THE ARCH

The arch was the trickiest part of this wall removal. We had the small arch where the original entry into the kitchen existed. The main level of our house has arches in and out of every room so we wanted to keep the design. But, we had to remove the original arch before we recreated a wider arch to accommodate the extended length of the newly opened half wall.

Arch Solution

My husband found Archways & Ceilings, a US-based company, that specializes in creating arches. With simple instructions on their website, my husband measured the expanded wall opening. Within a week we had an MDF template ready to install.

We framed the top of the wall with 2×4’s and attached the MDF arch to the frame. It required a drill and screws. It was a great, affordable solution. The total cost of the MDF arch was around $100.00.

The time saved: priceless.

how-to-remove-half-wall-everyday-edits

We love the space between the kitchen and dining room and it looks like the way we envisioned it.

how to remove a half wall between two rooms

And, the best part of this half-wall removal project was how quickly we finished it.

From start to finish it was a total commitment of two-ish weekends.

It took almost a week to receive the solution for the extended arch.

The contractor quotes we received for the half-wall tear-down project was north of $6,000.00. We completed this project for less than $1500. This included the cost for the plumbing and electrical.

The Before:

It also included the temporary countertop we made until we were ready to remodel the kitchen.

how-to-remove-a-half-wall

Here is the half-wall area today a few years later. We love the openness into the dining room. We used the counter as a breakfast bar or additional seating for entertaining.

how-to-remove-a-half-wall
how to remove a half wall between the kitchen and dining room

 

2 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS
Tagged: DIY, HOME TOUR, PROJECTS, Removal, Wall

How to Create a Feature Wall with Reclaimed Wood

July 11, 2019

My house wish list is long on wants and short on cash. While prioritizing projects for our pending empty nest, we set our eyes on our basement. I just completed this one-hour corner home office project, when I realized the room needed a little something with a “wow” factor on the opposite wall. This is how to create a feature wall with reclaimed wood.

How-to-create-feature-wall-with-reclaimed-Wood-planks

This feature wall update came together when I found these weathered, hardwood boards at Home Depot. The wood boards provided an authentic, reclaimed barn wood appearance without having to find a dilapidated barn.

how-to-create-feature-wall

When I found it was cheaper to plank a feature wall with wood boards than to refinish/install wood floors, the feature wall project moved to the top of our DIY wish list.

And, that Happy Meal analogy was my pitch to my DIY partner and husband on how to create a feature wall for his basement home office/sports lounge.

To appreciate the after I have to share the before photo.

How to Create a Feature Wall (Before)

how-to-create-feature-wall

It was like a Happy Meal for DIY enthusiasts.

how-to-create-feature-wall

On a Saturday, in between work and travel, we nailed this feature wall project. The project took less than seven hours, cost under $300 and added a layer of warmth to a room that needed a cozy update.

How-to-create-feature-wall-with-reclaimed-Wood-planks

The only prep for the planked wall was to paint the wall before we installed the wood planks. The install instructions suggested painting the walls a darker color to disguise any gaps between the planks.

I did a quick prep with leftover paint in the garage. The paint was leftover from the Tuscany inspired period almost two decades ago.

You could also check the “oops” section in the paint department at Home Depot.

Supply List for Feature Wall

  • table saw/chop saw
  • nail gun (+ air compressor my husband gave me on Valentine’s Day)

We (mostly my husband) used a table saw (chop saw) and an air compressor nail gun to create the easiest, most hassle-free project ever.

The only math needed for this wall was when we measured the width and height of the feature wall. We started in the bottom right corner and worked to the left and up. Because we had an “open wall” on the left side of the feature wall that became our endpoint.

We positioned a plank horizontally to trim the open-ended wall.

How-to-create-feature-wall-with-reclaimed-Wood-planks

After spending months on this bathroom remodel, this project made a huge impact in our basement in a few hours.

The barn-like planks took an unfulfilled, uninspired wall and turned it into a conversation starter.

how-to-create-feature-wall

How-to-create-feature-wall-with-reclaimed-Wood-planks

How-to-create-feature-wall-with-reclaimed-Wood-planks

Sharing

Thrift Store Addiction

3 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS
Tagged: DIY, FEATURE WALL, RECLAIMED WOOD

HOW TO MAKE A LIVE EDGE COFFEE TABLE

June 26, 2019

When I saw the price of a live edge coffee table in a high-end furniture store I knew I would have to win the lottery. And then I realized I won the lottery years ago when my husband showed me his DIY skills. It is the foundation of our shared passion for saving money and taking our builder-grade brownstone in the suburbs home into something on the Upper West side (of our neighborhood).

HOW TO MAKE A LIVE EDGE COFFEE TABLE

For a few hundred dollars (yes hundred-not thousands).

Do you want in on a little secret about how to make a live edge coffee table? It looks incredibly fancy and expensive, but it was so easy to make it almost feels like I cheated.

live-edge-coffee-table

Seriously, this finished live edge coffee table rivals many high-end furniture stores’ live or raw edge side and coffee tables. And the best part? The only power-tool needed to make this live edge coffee table was a drill to attach the metal legs. Seriously! 

how-to-make-live-edge-coffee-table

 

how-to-make-live-edge-coffee-table 

My inspiration for this live edge coffee table came from the Arhaus catalog. I shared how I use catalogs for inspiration here.

LIVE EDGE TABLE DETAILS

  • Start with a Google search for “live edge slabs” in your area. We found our Russian Olive “species” at a Denver store appropriately named Denver’s Wood Slabs.
  • We visited the wood slab warehouse to find a slab that worked best for the dimensions we wanted for our coffee table.
  • Tip: Before purchasing make sure to map out the dimensions in the room. We went a little too big with our slab.        how to make a live edge coffee table for a few hundred dollars
  • In the warehouse, each slab included details on species and where the tree was located. Most of the Denver slabs are from parks and city streets. The Russian Olive slab we chose was salvaged from a Denver park.
  • The Russian Olive wood slab was salvaged from a Denver park. We provided the staff with the approximate dimensions for the coffee table. We arranged to pick up the wood slab after it was cut, planed, and sanded on both sides.

    how-to-make-live-edge-coffee-table 

    And, that is the best part. For the cost of the slab, the company did all of the work on the front end for us. And, we did not pay the price of a semester’s meal plan to pay for this live edge table.

how-to-make-live-edge-coffee-table 

The table looked beautiful when we picked it up.

Tip: These finished slabs are very heavy. Plan accordingly for transport.

The hardest part of this project was transferring the slab from the back of our car to the table saw stands in our garage.

The second hardest part was we only had one shot at getting the stain right! #wink

how-to-make-live-edge-coffee-table 

STAIN DETAILS 

This was the hardest step for me because I tend to rush through the staining step to get to the finished project.

Do we really need five coats of stain?

Apparently, we do need five coats of stain.

Tip: Do not rush through this process. 

I used my go-to stain for this coffee table. Jacobean is my favorite because it brings out the grain and adds a rich finish to the barn doors and mantel in our basement. I even used this stain on my tiniest stain project.

Together, over the course of several nights, we applied five coats of stain. In between each layer of stain, we completed a light sanding and patiently waited 24 hours to apply the next coat of stain.

how-to-make-live-edge-coffee-table 

FINAL STEPS

Finally, I finished the coffee table with two coats of a water-based clear coat. Between application and dry time, it took almost a full week to stain and seal the table.

I ordered the table’s legs from an Etsy shop based in Utah.

As promised, the only power tool needed for this coffee table was a power drill to attach the legs! I do recommend pre-drilling the holes.

Line up the table’s legs based on the dimensions of the table.

We love the finished look of our live edge coffee table! Now, I think I need an end table to match!

 

Our Russian Olive, live edge coffee table is a little piece of Colorado history in our living room, family room and basement. We love it so much it is in a rotation throughout the house. 

how-to-make-live-edge-coffee-table

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15 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS
Tagged: DIY, Furniture, INTERIORS, Live Edge, RAW EDGE, STAIN, Tables

CHECK OUT THIS BEFORE AND AFTER BATHROOM REMODEL

June 5, 2019

The toilet flushes and the shower works so technically the boys’ Jack + Jill (Jack + Jack) bathroom remodel is finished. Or, at least, it is a functioning bathroom. This bathroom remodel was on schedule and under budget until it went off the rails with a series of unfortunate events. We both blame the countertop. I will save that story for later because today is all about the boys’ Jack + Jack bathroom remodel.

Woohoo!

jack-and-Jill-bathroom-remodel
ja

For twelve years, the boys’ Jack & Jack bathroom paint color was the color of my lefty’s Babolat tennis bag. The shower curtain rod stayed in place with tile adhesive and a scrap block of wood. I shared the before bathroom photos here.

BEFORE BATHROOM REMODEL

I remember thinking nothing good happens when water comes in contact with wood. #realtorlife

jack-jill-bathroom-remodel-before

But, that woodblock was scrappy and did not move in ten years. The adhesive held up longer than the 1/2 dozen toilet levers replaced over the course of a decade.

I do not want to know what my boys flushed down the toilet that required so much force it broke the lever multiple times.

But today is all about the finished bathroom remodel.

jack-and-jill-bathroom-remodel

We ordered this dual vanity with sink, countertop and mirror combination from Wayfair. The vanity was scheduled to arrive three weeks after we placed our online order. This gave us some much-needed wiggle room to install the floor and shower tile.

We changed our minds with our plans to install ceramic wood floor tiles and went with a luxury vinyl plank flooring we found at Home Depot.

upstairs bathroom remodel

We based the decision on the fact it was a secondary bathroom where the (hold it together moms like me) the reality is my boys will be home for shorter increments.

It made financial sense.

boys-to-college-bathroom remodel

When we removed the baseboards we opted to replace the builder size baseboards with the more substantial 4″ trim. I love it! I want to replace all the baseboard trim!

bathroom remodel

With the flooring savings, we decided to hire a tile guy to install the shower tile. We went with a conservative grey subway tile for the shower wall.

We found a great deal on the tile from a floor & tile store. It looks great against the new white, cast iron tub.

Boys bathroom remodel,

Again, the tile guy was worth every dollar. He and his partner were up and down our stairs a hundred times making the tile cuts in our garage. We were on budget and saved our backs and marriage by hiring out the heavy lifting.

We were so close to finishing the bathroom before our middle child/son’s visit over the Easter weekend. The only thing we had to do was install the dual-sink vanity.

What could go wrong?

before and after boys bathroom

This is where the project went into, “You have got to be kidding me,” but I am going to save the countertop story for its own post. The story and life lesson are THAT good. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have caught a peek.

Here was the final detail for the boys to college bathroom remodel. We love the finished bathroom.

bathroom remodel for boy to teenage bathroom

Thank you for stopping by today! Please check out my other DIY projects here.

Would love it if you pinned this for others to see!

bathroom remodel before and after

Leave a Comment / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS
Tagged: Bathroom Vanities, Bathrooms, DIY, Remodel

HOW TO BUILD FARMHOUSE KITCHEN SHELVES

April 5, 2019

Our diy farmhouse kitchen shelves  are one of my favorite projects. The shelves opened up the space and added a bit of a trend to my aging, dated kitchen. The farmhouse kitchen shelves were an inexpensive solution to replace the dated cabinets and not lose valuable storage.

If you are looking for an entry-level DIY project these shelves are a perfect starting point.

HOW TO BUILD FARMHOUSE KITCHEN SHELVES

This was an easy Saturday afternoon project. I loved this project so much I added the same shelves to our aging basement kitchenette/bar. So the farmhouse shelf photos are from both spaces.

how-to-build-farmhouse-kitchen-shelves-everyday-edits

When we removed the half wall between our kitchen and dining room we lost a row of upper cabinets.

The open shelves were a great way to keep the space open and add storage space for the essentials.

how to build farmhouse shelves in a weekend

It was a simple project with 2 x 12 select pine from Home Depot. We went with select pine because it has a smoother finish. I cut the pine boards to size using a table saw (with an assist from my assistant (husband) to hold the end of the board).

I used my favorite pre-stain wood conditioner to prep the wood shelves.

farmhouse-kitchen-shelves-everyday-edits

This was my go-to stain for most of my DIY projects. I have a few other favs, but this is a reliable stain and gives me a rich, Colorado rustic finish.

I went with a heavy bracket and found Wade’s shop on Etsy. These were super easy to install to the wall and the weight of the brackets matched the weight of the pine shelves.

We ordered from the same Etsy store when we made this raw edge coffee table.

The hardest part of these farmhouse shelves was capturing a photo at the right time of day (still waiting) and staging the shelves. Seriously, I was so excited to stage the shelves and it has been many late nights with episodes of Friends in the background while trying to find the right accessories.

farmhouse-shelves-everyday-edits

This was an easy Saturday afternoon project. I loved this project so much I added the same shelves to our aging basement kitchenette/bar. So the farmhouse shelf photos are from both spaces.

Thanks for stopping by today. We had so much fun we added the same shelves to these windows.

how to make farmhouse shelves

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8 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS
Tagged: DIY, Farmhouse, Kitchen, Shelves

HOW TO MAKE A DIY WOOD MANTEL

March 26, 2019

I know it’s spring, but now is the time to think ahead to next fall and the warmth of a fireplace! Recently, my husband, I took advantage of a rainy weekend and built a wood mantel for under $75. Here is how to make a wood mantel for under $75.00

And, on a weekend.

how to make a DIY mantel
how-to-make-wood-mantel

My plan to figure out how to build a wood mantel began in my childhood. I remember the prep involved with a wood-burning fire.

My dad fanned the flames (literally) while my mom added pinecone firestarters to give the smolder a little more kick.

And, for 32 minutes, we enjoyed a wood-burning fire. Looking back, it was no surprise our family was one of the first on the block to convert our wood-burning fireplace to a gas fireplace.

how to make a mantel, DIY mantel, make a mantel in a weekend

One of the reasons we bought our brownstone in the suburbs home was it came with a finished lower level (basement). And, it had a dual-sided fireplace.

Dual-sided fireplaces were like a two-for-one. We got the benefit of one fireplace on both sides of two rooms.

how-to-make-wood-mantel

How to Make a Wood Mantel | Before

This is a rough image of the fireplace. The white mantel and tile front were too fancy for the basement vibe we wanted to achieve. Not to mention this screamed 2002 builder-grade fireplace. But, the bones were good! It just needed an update. We finished this stacked stone fireplace update last year.

how-to-update-fireplace-stacked-stone-before-everyday-edits-blog

With the resurfaced stacked stone front, my attention went to the fireplace mantel. This drives my husband crazy because I am always one project ahead of him.

The white mantel was too fancy for the space. I wanted a wood mantel but not too rustic. Living in Colorado we have to tone down the log cabin and bear images that come to mind of those, not from Colorado.  #wink 

The only problem with a dual fireplace is it’s best when both sides match. So when we updated one side we made a duplicate fireplace mantel on the opposite side. We did the same process when we replaced the tiles with stacked stone. And when I updated my college boys’ rooms.

how-to-make-wood-mantel

The coolest part of this mantel was the trip to a specialty lumber store.***  My husband loves this kind of thing so he took the lead to find the knotty alder wood. 

How to Make a Wood Mantel

We searched multiple ways to attach the mantel. We started here and Googled our way around the how-to details.

Wood Mantel Supplies

  • Knotty Alder Wood 1×8′
  • Furring Strips
  • We built the mantel to resemble a 3 sided box with the back open to make it easy to attach above the fireplace.
  • We used 1x8x3 for the three sides of the box.
  • We used the furring strips to create smaller wood blocks to nail the pieces together  (from the open-ended back side).
  • Short finishing nails so the nails would not pop through the front.
how-to-make-a-wood-mantel

MANTEL INSTALL DETAILS

  • Use a 2×4 (shorter by 5″ on each side of the mantel’s length and then screw into the studs.
  • The finished mantel attaches to the 2×4 (because the opposite side of the mantel’s face is open)
  • Finish with making pilot holes on the top of the mantel and then screw into the 2×4.
  • We finished with Jacobean stain (my fav)

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4 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS
Tagged: DIY, Fireplaces, Lumber, Mantels, PROJECTS

HOW TO TRANSFORM A COAT CLOSET INTO STORAGE CLOSET

February 20, 2019

This is the time of year, with chilly temps, when I love to watch a Rom-Com movie and clean closets. Except, this particular weekend I made the decision to transform our coat closet (entry closet) to a more functional and practical storage closet.

We have an entry space off of the garage where all coats and boots gather. With the exception of guests a few times of year I knew I could use the entry closet for more practical purposes.

how to transform a coat closet

I repurposed this gift wrap/pantry organizer to hold all of my cleaning products and paper towels. But there are lots of options for closets.

how-to-create-storage-closet-from-coat-closet-everyday-edits

It was time to relocate and/or organize the contents of our entry hall coat closet into a more useful storage closet.

Years ago we added wire shelving from Home Depot, but the wire shelves were not the most reliable to hold up their end of the bargain.

how-to-create-storage-closet-from-coat-closet-everyday-edits

I describe our home as a brownstone in the It’s wider than a brownstone (that’s the suburbs part) but has multiple levels and lots of steps.

Our main level includes the kitchen, family room, living room, study and dining room and guest bath.

The only storage is what is in the kitchen. This storage closet from coat closet makeover was in the works for years.

coat-closet-to-storage-closet

Moving down a flight of stairs to the entry-level is the front door and a hall closet.

how to transform a coat closet to a storage, utility closet

When guests arrive thru the front door there are two choices; to go up a flight of stairs or to go down a flight of stairs to the basement.

how-to-create-storage-closet-from-coat-closet-everyday-edits

The basement also includes the garage entry door.

It was this accident when I saw this goo creeping (spilling) out of the entry closet that set the plan into motion. All along, our coat closet really wanted to be a storage closet.

storage-closet-everyday-edits-blog

So on a blustery winter afternoon, before the first commercial during the Proposal with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock, I pulled all the contents from the entry hall coat closet.

STEPS TO TRANSFORM A COAT CLOSET TO STORAGE CLOSET

With a carload of melamine shelves like these and a table saw, we got to work with measurements. We took into consideration the height of the vacuum cleaner and the backup dog food bags. It’s also nice to have a place to stash Amazon orders.

how-to-create-storage-closet-from-coat-closet-everyday-edits

I wanted shelves where I could slide in existing storage bins. I wanted the storage closet to include the everyday essentials/non-essentials in one place.

pretty-shipping-boxes-everyday-edits

Things like light bulbs, bulk toilet paper and paper towels (remember all those stairs). It’s nice to have those supplies nearby but not next to the flour and sugar canisters.

how-to-create-storage-closet-from-coat-closet-everyday-edits

And in a few hours and repainted interior walls, I transformed a coat closet to a storage closet.

Thank you for stopping by today!

How to transform a coat closet into a storage closet, how to makeover an entry closet

 

3 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, INTERIORS
Tagged: DIY

MEET LAURA

Hi there! I am Laura the coffee-fueled creator behind Everyday Edits. This is a creative outlet for my Realtor life & my passion to re-imagine spaces on a budget.  Read more …

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