VERY Large Closet Makeover!!

Friday, another windy day here in Minnesota.  Another day to dig the car out of the snow.   Luckily, we have some great neighbors that came and helped clear out our massive driveway.   Might as well stay in the house and keep working on indoor stuff.

First I would like to say, this entire closet shelving system cost us about $75!

This WAS a big empty and wasted space.  This closet is in our basement family room (aka Hubby’s Den) and we kept piling boxes and bins in there.  Well, if it wasn’t hard enough to get something from the very bottom bin (nor would you want to) the bins and boxes started cracking under pressure.  Not good.  I knew (hubby didn’t) that I wanted nothing but shelves.  We have another large closet in another room with hanging room for coats and such.  Shelves would allow us to get everything out of boxes (most) and  be able to actually get to something at the  bottom with ease.  I wanted to keep it very reasonable yet durable.

I choose to use MDF and 2 X 4′s to build the entire thing.  Jason (Hubby) wanted them to actually look nice.  (Not sure why, it has doors….to close and cover it all of the junk we can’t part with)  So I told him OK!  He picked out the color, he cut all the cuts and I painted and made it all look pretty.

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So all of this stuff was in there.  I started pulling it all out when I remembered I didn’t take a before picture.  I wasn’t about to put it all back in the closet.

Kind of sad looking though.

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I pre-painted everything before install.  From experience, it’s much easier and faster to touch up paint afterwards.  Versus trying to tape off the walls and painting during.

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The kids were extremely helpful…..

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We figured out how high the first shelf should go based on the height of a normal tote that would go on the floor.  Jason made his measurements and then attached the supports, made from 2 X 4′s, into studs in the wall.

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And the painted boards look really nice.

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The tools…level is always good. :)

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We decided that making the shelves the full length and depth of the closet, would give us the most storage out of the closet.  Only tricky part, was getting them all in.  We had to start from the bottom and build up, one shelf at a time.

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Then I added center supports being the shelves are SO long.

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I marked the center of the shelf, then marked the center of the 2 X 4 and lined them up to ensure I got them all in the center and lined up with each other.

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We originally planned on 4 shelves, but during the installing process we decided not to add the last shelf.

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I LOVE the storage space we have now!!  I’m still working on sorting through stuff we could really just sell or toss, but for now, it looks clean!

New Items Up For Sale, HUGE Workbench/Island and HUGE Chalkboard!!

Hello Everyone!  Happy Thursday!  Almost the end of the week finally.  I thought I would write a quick post on what I have been finishing up this week.

I got this HUGE workbench from my in-laws that were actually going to get rid of it!  I said NOOOOO  I’ll take it!  So glad I did.  It really turned out ‘pretty’.

Here is the Before.

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VERY dirty, and there were 3 different paint colors on it.  This used to be in a basement used as what it is, a workbench.  But it is very solid and still in great shape.  Has good bones.

After.

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I added some nice wood around the top just to give it that clean look.

All it needs are some cute wire or decorative baskets to fill in the space below.

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I had to add some wheels which ends up making this piece sit at a very tall 39″.  You could take them off, but for me, being a taller person, this would make the perfect sized kitchen island.

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It took a lot of sanding but very much worth it.

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This Huge chalkboard can hang on the wall and is 43 1/2″ tall and 28″ wide.

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On to the next projects!  There are pieces of furniture calling my name…

 

Old Wooden Lamp Gets Revived!!

I really can’t wait to share this!  After my dad passed away, we were going through piles and piles of STUFF.  I came across this old dirty lamp in the shed.  I thought it was strange that he kept it, especially in the shed.  I told my hubby to hold onto it so I could ask my grandma the story behind it.

I’m sure glad I did.  My dad made it when he was in High School!  There wasn’t much to it other than a very old cord and a lot of dirt.  This lil guy has potential to look great again!

Before, it had it’s fair share of dirt on it.  And 1970 called, they wanted their cord back!!

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(I’m pretty sure there has got to be a funny ECard out there somewhere about these old lamp cords.)

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I could’ve saved a few bucks by painting the old hardware pieces…..  But I didn’t.

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Good ole’ trusty Murphy Oil to clean it up nicely.

SPARKLY CLEAN!

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I did wipe on some oil to give it it’s shine back.

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The new hardware looks nice.  I picked everything up at Lowes.  Putting the new cord and new hardware together took me 10 minutes.  I just bought the same exact stuff, took it apart, and put it back together exactly the same.  (Ok, hubby helped a little!)

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Added the lamp shade and it fits in my son’s space perfectly.

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I have my share of items I’ve kept of my dad’s, but this I gave to my son to have and to cherish.  Yes, it’s ONLY a lamp, but it’s something!  And it’s one more thing out of the shed and in use!

 

Kids’ Art Board…I Made This One For Only $15!!! No Saw Needed!

The past few weeks I have been frantically trying to finish up the 17 projects I have started.  I don’t know why I do that to myself sometimes.  I just need to finish one at a time.  But I don’t think I know what that means.  Anyways….

We have a pretty nice long hallway by the kids’ bedrooms.   If your kids are anything like mine, their art projects from school come pouring in and camouflage the refrigerator.  So what a better way to be able to display their WONDERFUL projects and see where the milk goes again!

This project was so simple and easy enough for ANYONE to do.  It literally took me a total of minutes to do.  You can go all out more, if you’d like, but for me I just wanted something simple and quick.

This is what you’ll need…

-A piece of wood.

-Screw/drill gun or screw driver

-D-Ring hooks for hanging pictures

-Wire

-Wire cutter (Or scissors depending on the thickness of wire that you use.)

-Clothespins

-Paint (optional)

-Drill with drill bit (optional)

-Very eager children!  ;) (Not optional, hehehe…)

I’m sure you could do this project for a lot cheaper depending on the type of wood you use.  I picked up this really unique looking wood and it cost me about $7.50.  Which seems like a lot for just one pieces.   I just really liked how rustic and natural it looks.

All I did with the wood was sand the edges down a little bit with some sand paper and wiped on some Teak Oil.

You can see my post on the Incubator I refinished using Teak Oil here.

This board is approximately 8 feet long.  Again, I have a nice super long hallway and this worked perfectly where as I didn’t need to cut it down at all.  You can cut it whatever length you need it at.

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I had some of this paper-like wrapped wire.  I think I got this from Joann’s and it was near the floral section.  But any wire, string, or rope will do.  As long as it can withstand kiddos constantly messing with it.  I would suggest some sort of wire due to stretching over time.

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First, I flipped the wood to its back side.  I wanted to attach my hooks to hang it on the wall.  This is where I pre-drilled a hole.  This helps prevent stripping the screw and helps the screw go all the way in without any problems.  I pretty much do this every time.  You don’t have to, but it really helps.

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Once I got 2 of the D-ring hooks attached to the back, I flipped it over to the front side and attached 2 more D-ring hooks but at a sideways angle.

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Again, I pre-drill holes here as well.

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Then all I have to do is wrap my wire around these hooks.  Super easy right!?

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That is it!!!

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I attached it to the wall low enough so the kids can reach, but high enough that the baby can not!

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I bought a small pack of these clothespins and painted them black.  For a pack of 24 cost me $4.  You can find these pretty much anywhere that sells small decorative wood parts, like Joann’s or Michaels.

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This whole project only cost me about $15 to make.  And not very much time.

The kids already started hanging stuff.  I’m sure it won’t be long before the have it filled up!

Kitchen Valances

Almost Friday!!!  Another long week of cold weather, nasty wind, and sick kids.  I’m sure ready for winter to be over!  However, this cold weather is letting me get a lot of ‘In-house’ stuff done.  Which is the plus side.

A few weeks ago, I asked for suggestions on which fabric to use for kitchen valances.  I got such great responses and THANK YOU!!

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Here were the choices I had to choose from.  What can I say, I love fabric and have a TON to choose from!

I finally got them done!

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I decided on the floral fabric!  Yay!  It looks really nice.

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What do ya think?  Just gives these windows a little something.

Two-Toned Painted White Bookshelf…Perfect For Girl’s Room!

Happy Friday Everyone!!  Finally nice weather and the snow has stopped.  At least for a day or two.  And out here, if it’s not the weather slowing me down, it’s 3 sick kiddos!

I have been working on the kids’ rooms (still!).   For my daughter’s room, I made two bookshelves.  I asked her what color she wanted them to be.  She said dark blue.  We ‘compromised’ on a cream color that would match her dresser and bed frame.

Have you seen Ana White’s website?!  If not, you are missing out!  She is super talented and has some great (FREE!) furniture plans.

You can find the directions on how to build the bookshelves here.

First and foremost, I had to build the shelves.  They turned out great.  The directions that Ana and the Shanty-2-Chic girls had made them pretty easy to build.

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Then I brushed on a coat of stain.  I usually use Minwax products.

Ta..Da..!!

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They actually looked really nice stained just like this.  But my daughter didn’t.

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I waited for them to dry, picked out the paint color and started painting.  I did use two coats of paint on them.  Once I put on the first coat of paint, I could see brush marks.  The stain acted as an oil, so in some parts of the shelf, the paint sort-of sat on top.  Leaving some brush marks.  I like a clean, no brush marks, kind of paint job.

So I put two coats of paint on and before a full 24 hours went by, I sanded (distressed) them down.  Not a lot!  Just enough to see the pretty stain come through.  I added some wax and done.  They turned out just the way I was hoping.

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I did place the top shelves to have more room so she could put taller items, like lamps, there.   I may even make some sort of ‘charging station’ that could be set on the shelves for things like her kindle etc.

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A close up of the finish.  You can see the stain but it gives it a nice primitive look.  And I don’t have to do any wiping or other hard work after I get the paint on afterwards.   Just adding the wax finish.

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  I cut out this hole in the back corner so she could fit the lamp cords through the back.

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This is a sweet little wooden box my dad had made for my daughter shortly before he passed away.  She adores it.  Had to throw this picture in.

The bookshelves look great and offer her the much needed storage she needed, perfect for a girl’s room.  Now to finish up other things in her room to get it all done and move onto the next rooms.  Look for that post soon!

Here, you can find how I decorated her light switch covers with fabric!

Other Blogs I love! My Repurposed Life

 

Using Fabric on Furniture

I LOVE fabric!  Especially pretty fabric.  I have refinished a few pieces using fabric.  The idea first came to me when I had a cabinet that had some bad damage and really didn’t want to wood fill it and sand it all down just for it not to look good still.  My solution was to put fabric over it!  Here are a couple of the pieces I added fabric to.

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This cabinet was so popular, I had to make two!

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Now go find some pretty fabric and get started!

 

 

Outdoors Here In The Country… A Frosty Morning!

Happy Wednesday!  It has been a long week already.  Sick kids, snow storms, just the norm. But I woke up this morning and looked out the windows.  Such beautiful frosty trees!  What a wonderful treat.  I wouldn’t consider myself a photographer and I probably never will.  But I love capturing the moments like these.

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I had to step out on the porch and take a big deep breath of the brisk cold air and snap a few pictures.

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The rocking chair looks so lonely!  I can only picture myself sitting out here in a few months with my coffee watching the sun rise in this rocker.

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It’s supposed to be another nice day out today.  Then more snow to come for us.  But for today, I may just need to bundle the babes up and get outside and just enjoy the 40 degrees we are supposed to get.

Hope you all get to get out and enjoy the day as well.

Light Switch Cover Makeover!

I’ve been slowly getting little things done in each of the kids’ bedrooms.  On one wall, my daughter’s room has a little cluster of switches.  I thought I could dress them up a bit.  It was a lot easier than I thought too!  But I can’t help myself with these little details.

What you will need:

-Mod Podge

-Fabric

-Small Foam Brush

-Cheap Light Switch Cover

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She got to choose the fabric she wanted.  It’s a thinner fabric, not to have much bulging while putting it on.

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I figured out which parts of the fabric I wanted to show up on the switches and cut around it.

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Better to over-cut than have to cut again because I didn’t have enough.

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Slapped on the mod podge.

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Then I covered the switch with the fabric.  I then cut out square sections on the corners so they could just overlap versus having too much fabric in my way.

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Added some more podge and folded the edges down.  I did go around the edges and put a little more podge to prevent fraying or peeling off.

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That’s it!  Now to cut my holes.

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I cut a small slice through the center then cut to each corner.  Turned the switch to the back and added more podge.  I also cut very small holes for the screws to get through the fabric as well.

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I held the switch up to my windows so I didn’t have to guess where I was cutting.  Brilliant, right!?

Ta Da!!

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The best part, is if she changes her mind as the years go by, I can just go pick up some more cheap light switches and decorate however.

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It was so easy, that I even did it while my mini-me was hanging around!!

I know, how can I seriously get anything done with this cute face!?

Vanity Makeover, Before and After Photos

On my Facebook Page I posted a picture of some fabric and a purple vanity.  I asked which fabric to use on the bench that goes with it.  And boy oh boy, did I get some responses!  Thank you everyone!!!   I’m very indecisive.  It’s really a curse.

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Here is the before on this vanity.

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AFTER!!  I choose the printed fabric.  It’s very neutral.  I really like the contrasting colors as well.  The black in the print goes really great with the black handles.  These are original handles too!  I just gave them a little paint to refresh.

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This purple vanity makeover is almost complete.  I had a little hiccup with the very large mirror that goes with it and am working on it still.

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And let me tell you!!  Going out to the shop today was a feat in it’s own!  The wind is terrible today!  To the right, you can barely see the evergreens that are in OUR yard!

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So what do you think of the purple??  They say the purple is a hot color this year!