2011 Task List - January Update

1 Month Down (I can't believe its already February!)
Time to check some things off the 'Master Task List', I didn't get as much done as I had hoped, mostly we've just been shoveling snow.




EXTERIOR : (We really can't do any of this stuff until the spring.)
Paint blue window trim.
Add grilles to windows.
Paint front door black.
Buy & install front door knocker.
Paint side door black.
Install whale door knocker.
Paint shutters black.
Replace house numbers.
Buy & install a new mailbox, or mail slot.
Paint front storm door black.
Build a deck off the family room.
Widen and lengthen the driveway.
Front yard landscaping.
Plant an herb garden.
Rear yard landscaping.
Power-wash & waterseal the fence.
Replace front & side lights.
 
INTERIOR :
Install box frames under chair rail in dining room.
Install crown molding in dining room.
Paint dining room.
Paint road-side Hutch.
Paint Craig’s List furniture.
Paint kitchen cabinets white.
Install new slate countertops.
Install new undermount sink.
Install new tile backsplash.
Build & install cabinets for the butler’s pantry.
Remove old laminate, and install new butcherblock countertop in butler's pantry.
Install crown molding in kitchen and above cabinets.
Remove built-in shelving from guest bedroom.
Paint guest bedroom.
Buy lamps for nightstands in guest bedroom.
Re-upholster Craig’s List chairs.
Remove and replace fish tiles in the shower.
Hang artwork & photos.
Make headboard for guest bed.
Buy stools for kitchen island. (I have to exchange them, but I still consider this 'done'.)
Replace contractor grade light fixtures throughout the house. (We've replaced one so far.)
Paint 'goldness' on fireplace insert.
Come up with a more permenant solution for the TV area.
Some how separate the dining room from the front entrance. (We made a faux-beam).
Hang curtains and shades in the dining room.
Hang remaining curtain over window in kitchen.
Install crown molding around entryway.

Christmas comes early at our house....

I'm not very patient. 
The boy and I have already opened our gifts to each other.
AND now I'm going to give you a peek at some of the gifts I got made for other people.
I like to do at least one handmade gift for the girls in the family, they appreciate it much more than boys.
My mom and my grandmother are getting monogrammed linen table runners.

I had to make one for myself too, you know, to make sure they came out okay and that I got the size right :)


My favorite gift to give is this one :

I designed a growth chart for my neice Kendall and had it printed on canvas through Uprinting.  I still need to get a ribbon to hang it, but I know my mom has some at home that I can use.  Her room has a pink and giraffe theme and I think this is going to look so awesome on her wall!  Plus now I'll get an answer when I call and ask "How big is she now?!"


What gift are you most excited to give?

DIY : Geometric Rug

Last weekend when we went home for Thanksgiving we picked up a table for the dining room.  Meaning, maybe its time to start pulling that room together........I had been looking online for an inexpensive rug for the room without much luck.  I wanted something geometric and fairly neutral; but didn't want to spend a fortune on it since my husband is prone to spilling.

I picked up this $40 rug at Ikea, and got to work laying out a link pattern with 1" blue painters tape.

I'm not going to lie, taping everything off was not a quick process.

After everything was taped off I started painting.  I'm not going to say this was a huge success, the paint is pretty uneven in places.  I would recommend doing a less contrasting color (if I were doing it again).  But o'well.  I used Benjamin Moore flat paint, in Weimaraner.

I still need to touch up the edges, so I haven't pulled off the tape there yet.

Is it perfect? Nope.
But for ~$60, its good enough for me, for now :)

Supplies : 
1 Ikea Erslev Cotton Rug  (5'11" x 8'2") ~$40
2 Rolls 1" Painters Tape (used just a little over one roll) ~$4
1 Quart Paint (only used about half) ~$15

Happy *Early* Holidays....

I had a few spare minutes over the weekend (and by spare I mean, time acquired by procrastinating the finish any of the other projects I had already started), and decided to whip up a few potential Christmas card designs.  I'm trying to be really proactive about getting our cards out early this year, since I never got around to sending out 'We've Moved' cards and I want people to know our new address (because getting snail mail is my favorite thing ever).

Design [A] : Bow

Design [B] : Ribbon

I may still make some tweaks to the colors, or completely change it up....only time will tell.
I think we'll probably end up with Option [B] since the boy thinks Option [A] is a little sexist, but then again he wont see or sign them before they go out, and would likely never know.....


Which is your favorite?

Lamp Redo....

We've had these two cheap target lamps since we first moved in together. We didn't even pay anything for them; we found them on the side of the road near our apartment.  I wasn't really loving them in our new living room but floor lamps are not cheap! (and we needed 2) so we decided to make due for now.

I picked up a can of Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint and went to town....

Big difference in only about 10 minutes....but they still looked like well, cheap target lamps.
These shades that came with the lamps I bought for our bedroom....but I hated them on those lamps and had already bought other shades - these were just sitting in our basement.

They look a little odd when they are illuminated since you can still tell the plastic shade is inside.  It's good enough for now though; and much improved for the minimal $5~$6 spray paint cost.

Have you completed any dirt cheap make-overs recently?

Birthday Present Sneak Peek....

Want to see a sneak peek of one of my birthday presents?

Obviously it's not quite done in this photo.....and to be honest it's not quite done in real life :)
It adds SO much usable counter space to our kitchen.
I have step-by-step photos documenting the process and will *hopefully* have a finished product photo soon!

Mudroom Built-Ins....

I've already confessed my love for built-ins. And this weekend we tackled our first 'semi-major' DIY built-in project.

Obligatory before shots:

I designed a simple cube shelving unit, made with 1x12's.... (this was before I put in the interior dividers)

We attached it to the wall by resting it on a 1x6 that we had already attached.  Then started filling it in with 1x3's and quarter-round to create a 'paneling' look below, added the mini-crown molding for a more integral look and some wooden corbels for a little detail and intrigue.

We (read I) started priming -

And then added a few coats of semi-gloss Benjamin Moore Simply White. This is the view when you enter from the side door.

And now we have an out-of-the-way spot for jackets (we had a coat tree in the corner that I kept running into).  With baskets for mittens and other winter necessities above.

I'm not 100% sure of the exact project cost but I'm pretty sure it was under $125.  I definitely think we added more than $125 of value to the house - do you agree?