Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Painting a Crib...

For a nursery I have been working on for the last little bit (full reveal will be later), one of the projects I took on to complete the room was to paint the crib. I started out with sanding the crib with a 100 grit sponge sander. To clean up the crib and prepare the wood for paint to attach. When every nook, cranny and baluster was sanded I painted the crib with this Wagner sprayer.

I was pleased with the Wagner Spray Fast Plus Power Airless Sprayer - Paint Sprayers (Google Affiliate Ad), it did sprayed the paint on with almost a textured finish. That could have been more operator error than anything, I have to put some research into it. It did however, make the job go by much faster than hand painting it would have been. The final outcome was not as smooth as I would have hoped, but I was able to finish the in a day.

For the paint I used a low VOC, water based, stain blocking, primer and paint in one. It worked great. It blocked the stain and I was able to skip the priming step. After each coat dried I used a 120 grit sanding sponge to knock down some of the high spots. This helps for a smoother finish.

After the paint set for 24 hour. And sprayed it with Rustoleum Enamel Clear Coat (non yellowing). Again, sanded in between each coat.... All for this finished project!

What?! Are you so psyched for the whole reveal? I am!

 

Monday, November 12, 2012

Before and After...


I got this sideboard at a thrift store... Hated the color, loved the size and details.
I brought it home with Drewpy who hemmed and hawed about bringing home thrifter furniture. I believe, "this is what hoarders do..." Was said on multiple occasions. In all fairness, this is when 90% of the house was torn apart, and everything we owned was crammed in places it shouldn't have been. Now that our house is coming together, and Drew can see my vision, hoarding jokes have ceased.... I slapped on a coat of PVA (or drywall primer) because we had just out up Sheetrock. And painted it with a high density foam roller. I painted it Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore at 75% strength. I chose this color because I had it from a sample paint I used on a previous home. It looked great after the quick facelift, but what really made the difference I think were the knobs.

I got these at Hobby Lobby when they were 50% off. Now I have a unique piece of furniture to hold my printer, book, crafts and business stuff. Perfect!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Make That 99.9%...

(via)

Happy Friday!

We have some wild and crazy plans to paint a (not ours) bathroom.... Tile, floor, shower.... What can't paint do? And fingers crossed recruit Drew into helping me make some reclaimed wood fence crafts. This is all depending on weather! If it snows like it is supposed to. If it doesn't than it is a concrete pour and working on the trailer! Either way its going to be fun!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Travel Trailer Renovation Begins!

You may remember waaaaaaayyyyyyyy back when we bought this beauty.... We weren't planning on buying one, but happened upon this one for the perfect price. Better than that were the perfect turquoise appliances. So we bought her and there she has sat.... In our driveway. Well the house is now 90% done, and more than likely it will snow.... What better time to start the renovation?

 

I wanted to start with this scary picture, just for added drama!

Drew had to take off the J-channel, which is the angled metal ridge that holds on the white aluminum. To remove the aluminum, so we could see what needed to be replaced. There is quite a bit, Drew decided to start with the floor. The back section you can see in the photo was rotten with water damage. And some of the floor joist had to be replace. Drew cut back the original rotten subfloor.

Here he is reinforcing the floor. He held together the 2x2s with a framing cleat. We had a few bad pieces of insulation, that we replaced.

 

Then he applied subfloor adhesive to the floor joists, cut new subfloor to size, set it on and screwed the subfloor down back onto the floor joist.

 

After Drew had found all of the rotten subfloor and reinforced it, we had to remove the water tank and scrape up the bad linoleum. Drew had to grind off the water tank pipes from the top and bottom of the trailer.

You can see the waves on the linoleum, we took out the water tank, just to make sure everything is reinforced and the ground is as even as possible for my new flooring.

Drew cutting the drain for the water tank. You can see water damage above.

Where there is a Drew you will find a Polly.

Now for the pretty! After all the old and damaged was removed Drew went a step beyond what most trailers have, he reinforced and smoother out the floor with 1/4" underlayment. This gives more rigidity and an even surface. He simply put down more subfloor adhesive cut the underlayment to size and stapled it all to the subfloor.

New subfloor is Polly approved. Next step will be reframing the walls. Drew has built a temp support wall on one side so the trailer won't collapse. It's going to be exciting. And we bought our flooring. It was the last roll at Home Depot, it was damaged at the top. Which will be easily hidden so we got 25% off.

And if it ends up looking too much like a '50s diner, we can always paint it!

 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Thrifted Living Room

As I mentioned in my last posts... (here and here)... I was adding up how much I have spent in furnishing my entire house... The total I have come up with is roughly around $350... That is a living room, kitchen, office and bedroom.

I am going to break down my living room... And I have to say this price does not include pillows.... Pillows were bought at full price! And I luff them!

Thrifting gives you the thrill of the hunt, the retail therapy all for a fraction of the price. It does come at a cost... You can't go to a thrift store to pick up a piece of furniture you want, because you will never know what is going to be there... You will often (and should) walk away empty handed... You have to look beyond what something looks like or is and imagine what it could be or used for... I'll start with my couch (for Salt Lake folks I have added thrift store names). This was a score from Thrift Town...

I love this couch, I love how the colors mimic a peacock, it is a solid cushion back and seat, a sleeper couch and the fabric is so durable. This beauty was $30.

My gold end table... One was a quick flip DIY from two days ago, that set me back $4. The other, my gold trunk is one of my favorite finds. It was a $9 gift from heaven both from my favorite Savers!

My chinoiserie ginger jar lamps.... In a pair no less! Were $4 a piece... $8 total... Similar pair for sale here... This set is $250. The lamp shades were a $2 purchase again from Savers.

And my mirror! I just got this one last week. For $11. I brought it home and started working on a room for a client. I was looking up mirrors and happened upon this one! The exact same size and everything 42"! The price blew me away, $585! This mirror is really beautiful, and understated in the photos. I love it. Can you believe it.... Savers!

On the other side, I found this pair of armchairs on Craigslist for $15 each. In perfect condition. And the bamboo nesting tables.... I love love love them! Savers!
(still need to get a register over that vent and paint the top of the curve wall... Pay no attention to that...)
The set was $10!

They look brand new! I found these used ones selling for $160. I also might arrange them like this... Loved the layered look.

Grand total... $106... Not bad I say... At least while we are in the beginning phases of building our companies....

 

Liebster Award...

The Liebster award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

What is a Liebster?

The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

1. Each person much post 11 things about themselves

2. Answer the question the nominator made for you and also create 11 more questions for the blogs you nominate

3. Choose 11 people and link them to your post

4. Go to their page and tell them.

5. No tag backs! (This is my favorite part)...

My sister in law has an awesome fashion design blog... She nominated me for this...

What a great subject.... Me...

1. I am a business owner...

2. I have lived in construction for 3.5 years. We are 90% done! Hooray!

3. I have three dogs. A Great Dane, Cleo, two English Springer Spaniels Polly and Mac...

5. The 5 of us live in 800 sq/ft...

6. My husband is months away from his B100 license for General Construction...

7. Then we will both be business owners...

8. I love to hike and travel...

9. We are in the process of renovating a travel trailer...

10. I love love love designing trim and layouts for homes... My favorite part of design...

11. I have furnished my entire house for $350. I love to thrift!

1. What is your biggest regret?

I really don't have any major life choice regrets. The only thing I can think of is when I said an unkind thing. Or hurt someone, unintentionally, but hurt them none the less

2. What’s your most embarrassing moment?

All of my embarrassing moments have had enough distance in them to just be funny now. The one that was the most embarrassing at the time was when I tripped over a girls foot during a high school basketball game. We were the only two people on the entire court... I laughed so hard I peed my pants on the court. My teammates tried to help me up, but I knew I would empty my entire bladder if I stood up. So I yelled, "I hurt my knees!" To buy my bladder a little more time.... Just funny now!

3. Who is your best friend?

This guy.... Seriously, everyone says they married their best friend. We don't have to say that... We live it. We do everything together. There is no one I would rather be with than Drewpy. We work everyday so we can go into business together so we can spend more time together. I'm crazy about this guy!

(You can follow my Instagram feed; lindsayredd)

4. What’s your dream job?

I have my dream job. I am just working right now to refine it. I love owning my own business as an Interior Designer. I wake up excited to work. Hopefully one day soon, Drew and I will be running our own design, build team. We have been tossing around the idea of fixing up homes and airstreams all over the US... Okay let's just make that world!

5. What’s your favorite hobby?

Studying design....
I love it, as part of my business I spend hours and hours a day studying design. And learning the details, ebbs and flows of what works, and what doesn't. And why it works... Why marble etches, why soapstone or caesarstone? Full spectrum paint vs the cheapest can at Home Depot. I want to know it all. And that is my hobby. Any book, picture or place with good design I want to see it.

6. What is your favorite website?

Pinterest.... I don't really use it to find stuff, but to store all of my design inspirations, set up client projects and review all of my favorites in one place... You just can't beat it. Follow me here.

7. What’s your favorite book?

The Giver, by Lois Lowry. It's always been one of my favorites. I had heard rumor about there being a sequel. The Son(?)..... Hmm?

8. If you were on a deserted island what 3 people would you want with you and why?

These above.... And Bear Grylls... Because I can't live without them... And literally couldn't live if Bear Grylls wasn't there to help me survive.
Fact!

9. If you could change 1 thing about your life, what would it be?

If this had been a year ago I would have much to say about living my life for myself. And how I was more worried about others people's thoughts or feelings about what I wanted. I am happy to say, I have made the changes! I am living my life.... And it has made all the difference.
 

10. What was your happiest day?

I am happiest while traveling, or on some sort of adventure. So many travels with family and friends it is hard to choose...

11. What’s your biggest weakness?

Anxiety...

I am trying to turn it from a weakness to a strength. It was something that crippled me. Caused me to not want to leave the house. Miss out on opportunities and life. But as I have taken control of my life, and left the things that brought me anxiety I have felt the chains release.

It is still a part of my life, but I use it as a motivator. To be prepared, work harder and do more than my best.., after all...

Thanks Katie!

 

Monday, November 5, 2012

Fifteen Minute Dry Time....


I scored a perfectly shaped end table at Savers for $4. The only thing not perfect was the paint color.... Scooped this baby up, brought it home to my gold spray paint can I had at home. Removed the hardware with a kitchen knife.... Real DIYers use kitchen knives. Sprayed that sucker gold... Waited 15 minutes for the paint to dry.... And done! My quickest flip yet.

It looks right at home holding my $4 ginger jar lamp (of which I found in a pair!) next to my $30 sofa. Which sits below my 42" $11 mirror. I got this mirror at a thrift store as well. I came home and was looking for mirrors for a client and up popped this exact mirror for $450! What. Are. The. Odds!? Pictures do not do this mirror justice. It is quite the statement piece. Better pictures to come.