How To Build A Backyard Entertainment Center
Are you ready to build a new backyard entertainment center? Summertime is here and the backyard needs to be ready for fun and relaxation and the only way to do that is to have the perfect patio.
The patio doesn't have to be super fantastic but a cover and some kind of flooring is always nice. As far as the cover goes, a pergola helps give a little shade and if you can't afford it an umbrella on a table will also work.
A deck is easier to put up for most people than doing concrete, using treated wood is cheaper than composite, but composite is less work and last longer. You don't have to stain or do upkeep on composite wood. The picture above shows you a layout of a deck that is close to the ground.
Figure out your size and layout the measurements, make sure you are square and put a temporary string imaginary deck down. This way you will have something to follow. The ledger board, usually a 2 x 10 or 2 x 12 board will be anchored directly to your house framing and will form the structural side of the deck against your house. The general procedure goes like this: Remove the siding where the header board must go. Tuck flashing up under the piece of siding that remains above this area. Extend the flashing down the side of the house, low enough that it will extend below the bottom of the ledger board once it is installed. This flashing will prevent water from getting behind the framing. Just remember height wise you still have other boards to go on top of this so keep in mind when figuring your height.
The ledger board is then attached over the metal flashing with bolts or lag screws. Make sure to seal behind the ledger with caulk to further ensure no moisture can enter.
Now you will install the vertical posts that will support the beams, which will, in turn, provide the main support for the beam. Dig holes to whatever depth is dictated by your building inspection office, then pour concrete and install 6 x 6 or 4 x 4 posts to the required height. Posts can be embedded into the concrete itself, but a better method is to use cardboard tube forms, then embed metal post anchors in the wet concrete at the top of the form. The wooden posts are then attached to these anchors after the concrete dries.
Whatever method used, it is critical that the posts be exactly plumb, and that they are cut off at precisely the right height as dictated by your building plans. Many builders find it easiest to install the posts first, then cut them all off to the desired height.
In most deck construction plans, one or more horizontal beams are now installed. These beams will provide support for the joists soon to follow. Generally, the deck joists will be attached on one end to the ledger board with joist hangers and will rest on the other end by a beam that's supported by the posts you have just installed.
If you are building a deck bigger than 6 feet long you will need a middle brace or as many braces necessary. Now you will install the principle framework of the deck, which includes interior joists spaced every 12 or 16" apart, as well as rim joists, which form the outside edge of the deck. One end of each joist will be attached to the ledger board with metal joist hangers, while the other end will either rest on top of the support beam, or, in some designs will be anchored to the inside face of the beam.
Note that all metal connectors and fasteners must be made with corrosion-resistant fasteners and metal connectors. Ordinary galvanized fasteners are not appropriate if you are using pressure-treated lumber, as the chemicals in the wood can corrode them. Make sure to buy screws, nails and other hardware designed to withstand the chemicals.
Here, too, the spacing of joists and the lumber dimension will be determined both by your deck plans and the requirements of your building inspection office. Very small decks may call for joists built from 2 x 6 lumber, while large decks may require 2 x 10 or 2 x 12 lumber. Load calculations are very complicated, so make sure to consult your building inspection office on requirements for posts, beams, and joists.
The next step is to attach decking boards, which will often be 1x 4 or 1 x 6 lumber, or fabricated decking boards with rounded edges. Another option here will be synthetic decking boards, which are notable for their long life. It is quite common to build the deck structure with pressure-treated lumber, then use synthetic decking materials for the visible decking surface and railings.
The next step is to attach decking boards, which will often be 1x 4 or 1 x 6 lumber, or fabricated decking boards with rounded edges. Another option here will be synthetic decking boards, which are notable for their long life. It is quite common to build the deck structure with pressure-treated lumber, then use synthetic decking materials for the visible decking surface and railings.
To stain your deck you will need to wait a few weeks until it has completely dried out, but you do want to make sure it is done before winter sets in.
Hopefully, you are ready for a new backyard entertainment center so you can begin planning all the neat things you can add to your backyard for fun and relaxation.
The patio doesn't have to be super fantastic but a cover and some kind of flooring is always nice. As far as the cover goes, a pergola helps give a little shade and if you can't afford it an umbrella on a table will also work.
A deck is easier to put up for most people than doing concrete, using treated wood is cheaper than composite, but composite is less work and last longer. You don't have to stain or do upkeep on composite wood. The picture above shows you a layout of a deck that is close to the ground.
Figure out your size and layout the measurements, make sure you are square and put a temporary string imaginary deck down. This way you will have something to follow. The ledger board, usually a 2 x 10 or 2 x 12 board will be anchored directly to your house framing and will form the structural side of the deck against your house. The general procedure goes like this: Remove the siding where the header board must go. Tuck flashing up under the piece of siding that remains above this area. Extend the flashing down the side of the house, low enough that it will extend below the bottom of the ledger board once it is installed. This flashing will prevent water from getting behind the framing. Just remember height wise you still have other boards to go on top of this so keep in mind when figuring your height.
The ledger board is then attached over the metal flashing with bolts or lag screws. Make sure to seal behind the ledger with caulk to further ensure no moisture can enter.
Now you will install the vertical posts that will support the beams, which will, in turn, provide the main support for the beam. Dig holes to whatever depth is dictated by your building inspection office, then pour concrete and install 6 x 6 or 4 x 4 posts to the required height. Posts can be embedded into the concrete itself, but a better method is to use cardboard tube forms, then embed metal post anchors in the wet concrete at the top of the form. The wooden posts are then attached to these anchors after the concrete dries.
Whatever method used, it is critical that the posts be exactly plumb, and that they are cut off at precisely the right height as dictated by your building plans. Many builders find it easiest to install the posts first, then cut them all off to the desired height.
In most deck construction plans, one or more horizontal beams are now installed. These beams will provide support for the joists soon to follow. Generally, the deck joists will be attached on one end to the ledger board with joist hangers and will rest on the other end by a beam that's supported by the posts you have just installed.
If you are building a deck bigger than 6 feet long you will need a middle brace or as many braces necessary. Now you will install the principle framework of the deck, which includes interior joists spaced every 12 or 16" apart, as well as rim joists, which form the outside edge of the deck. One end of each joist will be attached to the ledger board with metal joist hangers, while the other end will either rest on top of the support beam, or, in some designs will be anchored to the inside face of the beam.
Note that all metal connectors and fasteners must be made with corrosion-resistant fasteners and metal connectors. Ordinary galvanized fasteners are not appropriate if you are using pressure-treated lumber, as the chemicals in the wood can corrode them. Make sure to buy screws, nails and other hardware designed to withstand the chemicals.
Here, too, the spacing of joists and the lumber dimension will be determined both by your deck plans and the requirements of your building inspection office. Very small decks may call for joists built from 2 x 6 lumber, while large decks may require 2 x 10 or 2 x 12 lumber. Load calculations are very complicated, so make sure to consult your building inspection office on requirements for posts, beams, and joists.
The next step is to attach decking boards, which will often be 1x 4 or 1 x 6 lumber, or fabricated decking boards with rounded edges. Another option here will be synthetic decking boards, which are notable for their long life. It is quite common to build the deck structure with pressure-treated lumber, then use synthetic decking materials for the visible decking surface and railings.
The next step is to attach decking boards, which will often be 1x 4 or 1 x 6 lumber, or fabricated decking boards with rounded edges. Another option here will be synthetic decking boards, which are notable for their long life. It is quite common to build the deck structure with pressure-treated lumber, then use synthetic decking materials for the visible decking surface and railings.
To stain your deck you will need to wait a few weeks until it has completely dried out, but you do want to make sure it is done before winter sets in.
Hopefully, you are ready for a new backyard entertainment center so you can begin planning all the neat things you can add to your backyard for fun and relaxation.
How To Build A Storage Area For Kids Toys
Christmas is getting closer and when it's over the kids will be swimming in toys. What will you do with the toys to keep their rooms neat or the house looking like you cleaned up once in awhile. Have you ever thought of building a toy box for them or possibly creating a storage unit. This article is going to show you how to build a storage area for the kids toys.
There are several ways of going about making storage bins for the kids toys. If they play in there room a toy box would be nice. Christmas toys will be great for the kids, but they have other toys that are still great for them too, before letting play with their new toys it is time to sort out broken and old toys and throw them away or donate them to the Salvation Army. Next, the ones they will want to play with later put into a toy box just for them or if they play with toys in the den or living room create a shelving unit with plastic boxes or make wooden boxes that are made similar to the toy box we will be making. Drill 2 holes at the end and put a rope through, tying a knot behind each hole creating a handle as seen in the picture.
In the slider I have given you pictures of a couple toy boxes with pictures showing frames. They were using 2x2 wood going up and down and 1x4 going across. How you put the remaining 1x4s on depend on how you want the box to look. The one frame has the 1x4 butting up against the 2x2 then screwed in through the side. The other 1x4 are then going across or you cam make the frame where the 1x4s butt on the inside and the 1x4s but on the outside. Go lengthwise across the bottom, then put on castors.
For the top use 2 1x1s or for more strength 2x2s. Measure a distance that will have them clear the frame of the box then screw on 1x4s lengthwise, measure so you have an edge around the top of your box when you close your lid. You can cover a 1/2 inch thick board cut to fit the top with foam and a sturdy material to make a cushioned bench for kids to sit on, if you do this you might want to put a 2x2 brace across the middle of the toy box. Screw the board onto the lid of the toy box after you have painted or stained it the color you want.
You can take 3 hinges and connect the lid to one side of your of the toy box. That pretty much finishes off your toy box. You can make small boxes pretty much the same way to put into shelving units for storage in dens or living rooms. Shelving units can be bought at Walmart or Target for very little money.
Another way to make a great toy box for the kids is by taking an old dresser, remove the drawers and top of dresser.. Take the bottom out of one drawer attach the drawers together and slide back into dresser. Make a lid and attach with hinges. Paint however you want it. In the slider, I have a picture of a storage bench and only one drawer is used, but for a deeper toy box use 2 drawers.Hope this helped you on how to build a storage area for your kids.
There are several ways of going about making storage bins for the kids toys. If they play in there room a toy box would be nice. Christmas toys will be great for the kids, but they have other toys that are still great for them too, before letting play with their new toys it is time to sort out broken and old toys and throw them away or donate them to the Salvation Army. Next, the ones they will want to play with later put into a toy box just for them or if they play with toys in the den or living room create a shelving unit with plastic boxes or make wooden boxes that are made similar to the toy box we will be making. Drill 2 holes at the end and put a rope through, tying a knot behind each hole creating a handle as seen in the picture.
In the slider I have given you pictures of a couple toy boxes with pictures showing frames. They were using 2x2 wood going up and down and 1x4 going across. How you put the remaining 1x4s on depend on how you want the box to look. The one frame has the 1x4 butting up against the 2x2 then screwed in through the side. The other 1x4 are then going across or you cam make the frame where the 1x4s butt on the inside and the 1x4s but on the outside. Go lengthwise across the bottom, then put on castors.
For the top use 2 1x1s or for more strength 2x2s. Measure a distance that will have them clear the frame of the box then screw on 1x4s lengthwise, measure so you have an edge around the top of your box when you close your lid. You can cover a 1/2 inch thick board cut to fit the top with foam and a sturdy material to make a cushioned bench for kids to sit on, if you do this you might want to put a 2x2 brace across the middle of the toy box. Screw the board onto the lid of the toy box after you have painted or stained it the color you want.
You can take 3 hinges and connect the lid to one side of your of the toy box. That pretty much finishes off your toy box. You can make small boxes pretty much the same way to put into shelving units for storage in dens or living rooms. Shelving units can be bought at Walmart or Target for very little money.
Another way to make a great toy box for the kids is by taking an old dresser, remove the drawers and top of dresser.. Take the bottom out of one drawer attach the drawers together and slide back into dresser. Make a lid and attach with hinges. Paint however you want it. In the slider, I have a picture of a storage bench and only one drawer is used, but for a deeper toy box use 2 drawers.Hope this helped you on how to build a storage area for your kids.
How To Update A Study Area For Your Teenager
It's back to school for the kids and you are wondering how to update a study area for your teenager. Well, you came to the right place. There are so many things you can do to make a place for your to teen enjoy studying. The one thing you want to remember is keep his cell phone and games near you during study time or make sure his door is open to keep an eye on what is being done if the study area is in the bedroom.
If the room is really scarce in space a corner space can be used. A corner desk can turn that area into a study area as seen in the photo. Of course the photo shows a girls room, but you can find desks for boys that will work.
If you have a cubby hole space, you can fit in a piece of laminate top from a hardware store or even use an old wood door. Mount it to a 2x4 frame that has been placed on the wall or if there is enough room place 2 file cabinets and then set your wood door on top or whatever you decide to use for a desk top. Put shelves above for books. If you have a large empty wall you can frame a study area with bookcases then make yourself a 2x4 frame again attaching to the bookcases which would be on each side and to the wall. Again place a laminate piece purchased from the hardware store or an old smooth wood door. Put pegboard for them to hang items on.
Another great place for a study area is a closet. Some homes have shallow closets going across the whole wall, The closet can be divided and then wired. Put up two sets of doors one for the closet, the other for the study area. Make sure the desk is high enough so the chair can go under when not in use.
A simple desk with metal baskets to hold the kids supplies and shelves above, can also work as a study area. You can keep your expenses down.
Also if your teen should have bunk beds you could remove the bottom bunk, making sure to put in support across the bottom backside and on both ends of the bed so it doesn't wobble. Then but file cabinets and build a desk or purchase a desk. You can do anything you want. Learning how to update a study area for teenager really isn't that hard.
If the room is really scarce in space a corner space can be used. A corner desk can turn that area into a study area as seen in the photo. Of course the photo shows a girls room, but you can find desks for boys that will work.
If you have a cubby hole space, you can fit in a piece of laminate top from a hardware store or even use an old wood door. Mount it to a 2x4 frame that has been placed on the wall or if there is enough room place 2 file cabinets and then set your wood door on top or whatever you decide to use for a desk top. Put shelves above for books. If you have a large empty wall you can frame a study area with bookcases then make yourself a 2x4 frame again attaching to the bookcases which would be on each side and to the wall. Again place a laminate piece purchased from the hardware store or an old smooth wood door. Put pegboard for them to hang items on.
Another great place for a study area is a closet. Some homes have shallow closets going across the whole wall, The closet can be divided and then wired. Put up two sets of doors one for the closet, the other for the study area. Make sure the desk is high enough so the chair can go under when not in use.
A simple desk with metal baskets to hold the kids supplies and shelves above, can also work as a study area. You can keep your expenses down.
Also if your teen should have bunk beds you could remove the bottom bunk, making sure to put in support across the bottom backside and on both ends of the bed so it doesn't wobble. Then but file cabinets and build a desk or purchase a desk. You can do anything you want. Learning how to update a study area for teenager really isn't that hard.
Can Treehouses Be For Families, Kids, And Businesses
Treehouses have always been a kids desired dreamland. Their hideaway from parents and friends that they can keep to themselves or share with whomever they want, but can treehouses be for families, kids and businesses. You bet they can. For some reason, people are wanting to cut down on the size of their home. Many are finding that they really wanting the money that is being thrown away on homes anymore for insurance, taxes, interest and just the cost of homes today, to be used to travel and enjoy living, instead of working hard to try to pay for their home.
Many are living in homes that total 200 to 500 square feet. Some have found to buy land around the a lake, that are loaded with trees. Instead of clearing the trees homes are now being built with complete plumbing.
Some have built small treehouses in the place of a cabin where they could come up and spend a week or two or stay on the weekends or even rent them out.
One man even bought 3 1/2 acres and built a small 300 square foot cabin for him and his wife. He then decided to make a treehouse for his granddaughters to come and stay. He had a bed, a bathroom, and a little sitting area. Once he was done, he decided to make several treehouses to rent out. He also had a dock at the lake where he rented out boats to the renters to go fishing. He also sold bait to them. His wife had him build a small cafe to offer 3 meals a day to the renters. He did not realize his treehouses would be a successful business, but with a little advertising many people wanted to stay in a treehouse and enjoyed the quiet and relaxing area he had created.
If you would like to build a treehouse go to the library and get a book about treehouses. Look on Youtube, you will find a lot of information about treehouses. You can also get a contractor to build one for you or even draw up some plans for you. Just remember. You also have to have permits for treehouses just like regular homes. Hopefully, you will find out if treehouses can be for families, kids and businesses.
Many are living in homes that total 200 to 500 square feet. Some have found to buy land around the a lake, that are loaded with trees. Instead of clearing the trees homes are now being built with complete plumbing.
Some have built small treehouses in the place of a cabin where they could come up and spend a week or two or stay on the weekends or even rent them out.
One man even bought 3 1/2 acres and built a small 300 square foot cabin for him and his wife. He then decided to make a treehouse for his granddaughters to come and stay. He had a bed, a bathroom, and a little sitting area. Once he was done, he decided to make several treehouses to rent out. He also had a dock at the lake where he rented out boats to the renters to go fishing. He also sold bait to them. His wife had him build a small cafe to offer 3 meals a day to the renters. He did not realize his treehouses would be a successful business, but with a little advertising many people wanted to stay in a treehouse and enjoyed the quiet and relaxing area he had created.
If you would like to build a treehouse go to the library and get a book about treehouses. Look on Youtube, you will find a lot of information about treehouses. You can also get a contractor to build one for you or even draw up some plans for you. Just remember. You also have to have permits for treehouses just like regular homes. Hopefully, you will find out if treehouses can be for families, kids and businesses.
How To Update The Patio And Yard
With Spring here and Summer around the corner learning how to update the patio and yard will make a great entertainment place for the family to enjoy. Here on Easy Design Dollar you will find some easy ways to add shade, build a patio and create nice looking yards with not a lot of money or labor.
First, about the garden picture that is added to the slideshow, it can make a nice addition to your yard, especially if you are handicapped or have back problems. If you read the article below on how to prepare for a garden, you can just add rows of the 2x8s to make it as high as you need, or you can also use 2x10s whatever works out for you. When I saw the photo, I thought it would be great for those who have bad backs. Bending over can become quite painful over a period of time.
My next project for you is creating shade for the home. Pergolas can be built fairly easy. There are attachments for concrete and then you can surround with wood to hide the attachments. If it is possible to dig holes on the outside of the patio go at least 18 inches to 2 feet deep and the add a base of concrete for a 4x4 to sit on. Once it has cured, put in 4x4s and put concrete around. Then you can begin building your Pergola.
You can make a complex Pergola or make a simple one, it can be free standing or attached to the home as seen in the photos.
Another way to obtain shade without spending so much money. is purchase a table with an umbrella. Sit it on an uncovered patio. Remove the umbrella during storms to keep it from rotting.
Your yard can be made to look nice by just pouring sidewalks, taking concrete blocks to make planters and benches, then stucco or plaster over the concrete blocks. You can purchase poured stones to frame flower beds. Remember to give a curving motion to your flower bed. having a squared off flower bed is not as attractive as one with a rounded corner and curvatures along the front. Putting in perennials that are flourishing with greenery and have beautiful flowers.
An easy to make a patio is to clear away grass, level the area, lay sand on top of the dirt and pack down. Start with brick or block in the middle of your area and work a pattern. It is best to figure out your pattern to finish off where you can do little or no cutting of the blocks.
Just by keeping the yard mowed and the weeds kept under control will help a lot in making your yard pleasant to look at, but by adding a few flower beds and a shaded patio makes the backyard a place for you to enjoy. So don't be afraid to find out how to update the patio and yard.
First, about the garden picture that is added to the slideshow, it can make a nice addition to your yard, especially if you are handicapped or have back problems. If you read the article below on how to prepare for a garden, you can just add rows of the 2x8s to make it as high as you need, or you can also use 2x10s whatever works out for you. When I saw the photo, I thought it would be great for those who have bad backs. Bending over can become quite painful over a period of time.
My next project for you is creating shade for the home. Pergolas can be built fairly easy. There are attachments for concrete and then you can surround with wood to hide the attachments. If it is possible to dig holes on the outside of the patio go at least 18 inches to 2 feet deep and the add a base of concrete for a 4x4 to sit on. Once it has cured, put in 4x4s and put concrete around. Then you can begin building your Pergola.
You can make a complex Pergola or make a simple one, it can be free standing or attached to the home as seen in the photos.
Another way to obtain shade without spending so much money. is purchase a table with an umbrella. Sit it on an uncovered patio. Remove the umbrella during storms to keep it from rotting.
Your yard can be made to look nice by just pouring sidewalks, taking concrete blocks to make planters and benches, then stucco or plaster over the concrete blocks. You can purchase poured stones to frame flower beds. Remember to give a curving motion to your flower bed. having a squared off flower bed is not as attractive as one with a rounded corner and curvatures along the front. Putting in perennials that are flourishing with greenery and have beautiful flowers.
An easy to make a patio is to clear away grass, level the area, lay sand on top of the dirt and pack down. Start with brick or block in the middle of your area and work a pattern. It is best to figure out your pattern to finish off where you can do little or no cutting of the blocks.
Just by keeping the yard mowed and the weeds kept under control will help a lot in making your yard pleasant to look at, but by adding a few flower beds and a shaded patio makes the backyard a place for you to enjoy. So don't be afraid to find out how to update the patio and yard.
How To Prepare For A Garden
It's the time of the year to plant and prepare a garden bed, but maybe you are wondering how to prepare for a garden and build a garden bed. It really isn't that hard and many of you think that you don't have a backyard big enough to have a garden. My whole lot is 10,000 square feet with a 1754 square foot house and a two car garage. I also have a 12x35 foot patio going across the back of the house and there is a 10x16 foot storage building in the backyard with a large amount of white rock surrounding it.
As you can see, I didn't want much yard to mow, I have three 4x8 boxes and one 4x4 box made of wood then one 4x4 square made of concrete blocks for herbs that are all surrounded with brick. I also grow tomatoes on the patio in large pots. I always have enough vegetables to give to friends and family members.
If you look at the slides above you will see different ways to prepare layouts and materials for garden beds. It really is wise to surround each bed with brick or gravel, something to walk on other than grass. If you have Bermuda grass, it can easily crawl underneath your barriers into the beds. If you use gravel as walkways, you will want a piece of foam to kneel on when working in the beds.
One thing about raised beds is it is easier to keep weeds out. You can plant the plants closer together, because you can put special soil to keep it fertilized and also control the moisture. This means very little weeding or tilling.
When building the beds you also need to to add something for your climbing plants to climb on, if you look at the sliders, you will see what I mean. I also put in a photo that showed a box that was specially made for tomatoes. Tomatoes need something to hold them up and also to provide them with a little shade during the hottest part of the day. If the tomatoes get too hot the skin gets too tough. The one photo I have in the slider, gives you a great idea how to build a box that will help you with your tomatoes.
Hopefully this blog helped you learn how to prepare for a garden. Once you have the boxes built, just remember the top soil and and a special soil with fertilizer and moisture control. Then begin planting all your favorite plants. Remember that there are patio tomatoes that can be grown in pots and this will save you space in the garden. What is great about these pots, I bring them in right before the freeze and have tomatoes until January. Its nice if you have a sun room. I also replant the herbs from my concrete blocks and bring the ones that are annuals into the house, in order to extend their life.
Visit my Facebook Fan Page to find out how to cook some of those great vegetables you have grown, by visiting http://www.facebook.com/lazycookingreigns
As you can see, I didn't want much yard to mow, I have three 4x8 boxes and one 4x4 box made of wood then one 4x4 square made of concrete blocks for herbs that are all surrounded with brick. I also grow tomatoes on the patio in large pots. I always have enough vegetables to give to friends and family members.
If you look at the slides above you will see different ways to prepare layouts and materials for garden beds. It really is wise to surround each bed with brick or gravel, something to walk on other than grass. If you have Bermuda grass, it can easily crawl underneath your barriers into the beds. If you use gravel as walkways, you will want a piece of foam to kneel on when working in the beds.
One thing about raised beds is it is easier to keep weeds out. You can plant the plants closer together, because you can put special soil to keep it fertilized and also control the moisture. This means very little weeding or tilling.
When building the beds you also need to to add something for your climbing plants to climb on, if you look at the sliders, you will see what I mean. I also put in a photo that showed a box that was specially made for tomatoes. Tomatoes need something to hold them up and also to provide them with a little shade during the hottest part of the day. If the tomatoes get too hot the skin gets too tough. The one photo I have in the slider, gives you a great idea how to build a box that will help you with your tomatoes.
Hopefully this blog helped you learn how to prepare for a garden. Once you have the boxes built, just remember the top soil and and a special soil with fertilizer and moisture control. Then begin planting all your favorite plants. Remember that there are patio tomatoes that can be grown in pots and this will save you space in the garden. What is great about these pots, I bring them in right before the freeze and have tomatoes until January. Its nice if you have a sun room. I also replant the herbs from my concrete blocks and bring the ones that are annuals into the house, in order to extend their life.
Visit my Facebook Fan Page to find out how to cook some of those great vegetables you have grown, by visiting http://www.facebook.com/lazycookingreigns
How To Enjoy Flea Market Flipping
Have you ever wondered how to enjoy flea market flipping, well you can, because it really isn't all work and no play. You know how enjoyable it is to go to flea markets and to barter with the dealers for the best price for items you have chosen. Well you are just beginning your first steps in flea market flipping. Pick the items you want and decide what you want to build, then barter with the dealer to get the best price for items you want to purchase.
By looking at the photos I have above you can see that many pieces of furniture can be created from junk or unused pieces of furniture. The main pieces of furniture usually found at flea markets are dressers or chairs. With dressers, you can make unlimited items, such as: doggie beds, entertainment centers, bars, storage benches, or just refinish into a nice dresser. You can take other unused items and turn them into lamps, coffee tables, outdoor benches, desk, and many more.
In the photos I showed you how one dresser had the top removed. Then the drawers, the drawer fronts were then used as the back and a board was put down for a seat which they later put a cushion on it with a cover, making a lovely storage bench.
In other photos I showed how you could take two chairs, remove the front legs, then add boards in the front and the back to connect. also place boards across the back connecting the chairs and on top of the seat to create a bench. You will want to strip down the chairs first so they can be painted or stained with the wood. If you want to make the chairs for inside the house put two boards framing for a covered cushioned board on the back and the put a matching one on the seat.
Now if you would like to start a doggie bed business, you could turn old dressers into doggie beds. The drawers you removed from the dressers could be made into doggie beds. Even old wooden TV boxes can be made into doggie beds, don't forget about the cats. They need a bed too.
If you like making lamps or hanging lamps, flea markets always have all kinds of metal and glass products that can be incorporated into lamps. The one I have in a photo for you is a world globe that was open up and made into a lamp.
Coffee tables are usually one of the easiest to make of all flea market flipping projects. Most of the time it only requires cleaning up the piece and putting on a tabletop. Most of the time the tabletop is glass or beautiful piece of wood. As you can see in the photos the coffee table was made from a printers cabinet. I have seen coffee tables made from so many things, you would never believe what was used to create really unusual a nice looking coffee tables.
As you can see learning how to enjoy flea market flipping can also be profitable as well as a way of relaxing and just think you just learned this from Easy Design Dollar.
By looking at the photos I have above you can see that many pieces of furniture can be created from junk or unused pieces of furniture. The main pieces of furniture usually found at flea markets are dressers or chairs. With dressers, you can make unlimited items, such as: doggie beds, entertainment centers, bars, storage benches, or just refinish into a nice dresser. You can take other unused items and turn them into lamps, coffee tables, outdoor benches, desk, and many more.
In the photos I showed you how one dresser had the top removed. Then the drawers, the drawer fronts were then used as the back and a board was put down for a seat which they later put a cushion on it with a cover, making a lovely storage bench.
In other photos I showed how you could take two chairs, remove the front legs, then add boards in the front and the back to connect. also place boards across the back connecting the chairs and on top of the seat to create a bench. You will want to strip down the chairs first so they can be painted or stained with the wood. If you want to make the chairs for inside the house put two boards framing for a covered cushioned board on the back and the put a matching one on the seat.
Now if you would like to start a doggie bed business, you could turn old dressers into doggie beds. The drawers you removed from the dressers could be made into doggie beds. Even old wooden TV boxes can be made into doggie beds, don't forget about the cats. They need a bed too.
If you like making lamps or hanging lamps, flea markets always have all kinds of metal and glass products that can be incorporated into lamps. The one I have in a photo for you is a world globe that was open up and made into a lamp.
Coffee tables are usually one of the easiest to make of all flea market flipping projects. Most of the time it only requires cleaning up the piece and putting on a tabletop. Most of the time the tabletop is glass or beautiful piece of wood. As you can see in the photos the coffee table was made from a printers cabinet. I have seen coffee tables made from so many things, you would never believe what was used to create really unusual a nice looking coffee tables.
As you can see learning how to enjoy flea market flipping can also be profitable as well as a way of relaxing and just think you just learned this from Easy Design Dollar.
How To Refurbish An Old Fireplace
Have you ever wondered how to refurbish an old fireplace as you stare at yours that is covered in smoked and is out dated. Well, this article is going to give you a few tips and by watching the video you can see how you can change your fireplace in a few days into a new looking fireplace.
There are so many ways to remodel your fireplace, but you must first decide what will go best with your home. Do you want to have a rock veneer and be more rustic or tile and be more modern and dressy. One thing those two do have in common, are they are done about the same way.
If you are covering a brick fireplace with a rock veneer you need to cover with mortar and then etch lines with the trowel going across giving texture. Allow to dry for two days, then mix your mortar to cake batter consistency, if you are doing a grey, white color tone rock keep a grey mortar. If you use a more brown tone color veneer put a dye into the mortar giving it a brownish tone. Apply the mortar to the back of your rock and apply. If you have a corner to your fireplace then apply the corners first. If you need to cut the stones you can use a wet tile cutter or a diamond blade circular blade to cut them. Make sure you cut them outside because they are very dusty.
The tiles are put on the same way except you don't need to let the mortar dry before tiling. I had a white wood above that that had a cut out design but when I inserted a high energy gas insert it was too hot and cause sap to come out in one spot. I cover the wood with Duroc and then tiled with pretty glass tile. If you look down into earlier blogs you will also see a fireplace I tiled over that was an ugly gold brick fireplace.
The video shows you a beautiful tiled fireplace but he has not finished with the grout and the grout to me is the hardest part. When putting grout on make sure you go at an angle when spreading and work the grout well into the spaces between the tiles. It is wise to not let the grout set too long on the tile especially if you use a slate or porous tile because when it begins to dry it is hard to remove and you do not want to rub a lot on the tile because you may remove the grout between the tile. Once the grout has set up overnight you can go back an clean the tile better using a haze remover.
Make sure not to use a really wet sponge when removing your first grout, also it is important to protect surrounding area from mortar and grout. If you do get it on other surfaces be sure to clean it well with clean water and rag, because you will leave a haze on floor and walls.
Hope the video helped you learn how to refurbish an old fireplace into something that you will enjoy into the future.
There are so many ways to remodel your fireplace, but you must first decide what will go best with your home. Do you want to have a rock veneer and be more rustic or tile and be more modern and dressy. One thing those two do have in common, are they are done about the same way.
If you are covering a brick fireplace with a rock veneer you need to cover with mortar and then etch lines with the trowel going across giving texture. Allow to dry for two days, then mix your mortar to cake batter consistency, if you are doing a grey, white color tone rock keep a grey mortar. If you use a more brown tone color veneer put a dye into the mortar giving it a brownish tone. Apply the mortar to the back of your rock and apply. If you have a corner to your fireplace then apply the corners first. If you need to cut the stones you can use a wet tile cutter or a diamond blade circular blade to cut them. Make sure you cut them outside because they are very dusty.
The tiles are put on the same way except you don't need to let the mortar dry before tiling. I had a white wood above that that had a cut out design but when I inserted a high energy gas insert it was too hot and cause sap to come out in one spot. I cover the wood with Duroc and then tiled with pretty glass tile. If you look down into earlier blogs you will also see a fireplace I tiled over that was an ugly gold brick fireplace.
The video shows you a beautiful tiled fireplace but he has not finished with the grout and the grout to me is the hardest part. When putting grout on make sure you go at an angle when spreading and work the grout well into the spaces between the tiles. It is wise to not let the grout set too long on the tile especially if you use a slate or porous tile because when it begins to dry it is hard to remove and you do not want to rub a lot on the tile because you may remove the grout between the tile. Once the grout has set up overnight you can go back an clean the tile better using a haze remover.
Make sure not to use a really wet sponge when removing your first grout, also it is important to protect surrounding area from mortar and grout. If you do get it on other surfaces be sure to clean it well with clean water and rag, because you will leave a haze on floor and walls.
Hope the video helped you learn how to refurbish an old fireplace into something that you will enjoy into the future.
How To Build A Decorative Heating Device
Winter is here and the cost of keeping the house warm can become very costly to our budget. Dressing warmly can be helpful, but having an extra heating device that is decorative and inexpensive to use would make for a even better way to keep warm. So watching the video above will show you how to build a decorative heating device that's quite easy to do.
The video walk you through making this little heater and you might like to have one for the bedroom and bathroom. You can decorate it to your taste or keep it as simple as shown in the video.
To give a more finish look, buy a can of black spray paint that has a primer in it and spray the chain and bolts black, or if you prefer a different color, spray them the way you want them.
You can purchase stencils at a craft store and put a border around the bottom of the pots. Next as far as the base goes I would use a 2x8 and cut an oval from it then router the edges. I did not care for the wood left unstained, because I thought there was too much difference in color from the stand and the pots, so I would stain the base with a stain that has varnish in it and then lightly sand Mine would look a little more finished, but it will take a little more work.
So there you have a very inexpensive heating device that puts out a little heat for hardly any work. You can share with your friends how to build a decorative heating device from Easy Design Dollar.
The video walk you through making this little heater and you might like to have one for the bedroom and bathroom. You can decorate it to your taste or keep it as simple as shown in the video.
To give a more finish look, buy a can of black spray paint that has a primer in it and spray the chain and bolts black, or if you prefer a different color, spray them the way you want them.
You can purchase stencils at a craft store and put a border around the bottom of the pots. Next as far as the base goes I would use a 2x8 and cut an oval from it then router the edges. I did not care for the wood left unstained, because I thought there was too much difference in color from the stand and the pots, so I would stain the base with a stain that has varnish in it and then lightly sand Mine would look a little more finished, but it will take a little more work.
So there you have a very inexpensive heating device that puts out a little heat for hardly any work. You can share with your friends how to build a decorative heating device from Easy Design Dollar.
How To Create A Bar From Old Furniture
When you are decorating and trying to update your home, but money is short, have you ever wondered how to create a bar from old furniture or would like to have a wine rack, but can't afford a new one. This article is going to help you figure out how to create a bar from old furniture you may have hidden away in a back bedroom.
All you need is an old dresser or piano, if you don't have one go to a flea market or garage sale and find one that will fit the size you need. If you look at the images above you will see that there is even a bookcase turned into a bar. Check out all the images and you will see several different pieces of furniture turned into a bar or wine rack.
You will need to decide how you will want your bar to look like. You can even put granite on top that is extended out so you can even use bar stools.The backside of the dresser can be covered with paneling or wood strips or even with metal depending on what you want. Or you can turn the back to the wall as those in the images.
You will need to remove the drawers for the wine rack and if there is not a wood base under the drawers,put in wood for shelves. You will also need to make a pattern for a front edging and back edging for you wine bottles to rest on and then attach to the shelving after you have stripped all the old paint or varnish.
Once you have it put back the wine rack or bar together, the way you want it. You can stain it the color you want, lightly sand with fine sandpaper and then apply varnish, two coats and sand between coats. You can also paint it, with any color you want in a semi gloss paint. You can even use paper for the back of your bookcase as seen in the image.
There are so many different ways you can change a dresser or a piece of furniture to make your bar. As I mentioned before you can add granite to the top or if you want apply Duroc and then tile, with ceramic or glass tile. You can take out all the drawers and put in doors.Even changing the hardware can make a great difference in the style of your bar.
So now you know how to create a bar from old furniture, find out just how easy it really can be and how much fun you can have.
All you need is an old dresser or piano, if you don't have one go to a flea market or garage sale and find one that will fit the size you need. If you look at the images above you will see that there is even a bookcase turned into a bar. Check out all the images and you will see several different pieces of furniture turned into a bar or wine rack.
You will need to decide how you will want your bar to look like. You can even put granite on top that is extended out so you can even use bar stools.The backside of the dresser can be covered with paneling or wood strips or even with metal depending on what you want. Or you can turn the back to the wall as those in the images.
You will need to remove the drawers for the wine rack and if there is not a wood base under the drawers,put in wood for shelves. You will also need to make a pattern for a front edging and back edging for you wine bottles to rest on and then attach to the shelving after you have stripped all the old paint or varnish.
Once you have it put back the wine rack or bar together, the way you want it. You can stain it the color you want, lightly sand with fine sandpaper and then apply varnish, two coats and sand between coats. You can also paint it, with any color you want in a semi gloss paint. You can even use paper for the back of your bookcase as seen in the image.
There are so many different ways you can change a dresser or a piece of furniture to make your bar. As I mentioned before you can add granite to the top or if you want apply Duroc and then tile, with ceramic or glass tile. You can take out all the drawers and put in doors.Even changing the hardware can make a great difference in the style of your bar.
So now you know how to create a bar from old furniture, find out just how easy it really can be and how much fun you can have.
How To Create Concrete Countertops
Have ever wondered how to create concrete countertops. The video above will walk you step by step to create a beautiful Travertine looking counter top out of concrete. If you get the hang of it, you can build your countertops not only for your bathroom but for your kitchen.
There are so many different types of concrete countertops. You can put dyes in the concrete along with crystals or chips and create stone looking counter tops or you can even have them looking like they are concrete that has dyes put on top then glazed, giving a great effect.
Another great thing for vanities is just cutting the holes for the faucets and the sink drain. Then have the drain sit on tip. There are so many beautiful sinks to choose from, to add to the creation of your concrete countertop.
What is also great about the concrete counters is the novelty. If you create it yourself, there will no other one out there like yours. So watch the video to find out how to create a concrete countertop and maybe you will get brave and give it a try.
There are so many different types of concrete countertops. You can put dyes in the concrete along with crystals or chips and create stone looking counter tops or you can even have them looking like they are concrete that has dyes put on top then glazed, giving a great effect.
Another great thing for vanities is just cutting the holes for the faucets and the sink drain. Then have the drain sit on tip. There are so many beautiful sinks to choose from, to add to the creation of your concrete countertop.
What is also great about the concrete counters is the novelty. If you create it yourself, there will no other one out there like yours. So watch the video to find out how to create a concrete countertop and maybe you will get brave and give it a try.
How To Update A Teenagers Room
How to update a teenagers room can just mean painting the walls in the color the teenager likes, but if you want to decorate your kid’s bedroom you need to provide the all necessary installments to make it beautiful so that your kids could enjoy spending time in their bedroom. It should be enriched with beautiful furniture and gaming items. Scheme of colors matching or contrast both should be excellent such shown in the following beautiful perfect bedrooms so that it also enhance their life education skills
The room needs to take care of the teenagers needs when friends come over and have a place to chat and spend the night, If he has a large room then a bed and a sofa can be placed in the room, but if the room is small then two beds may be needed and one may be needed to be built next to the floor and nest to the wall to be used as a chat are or for a sleeping area.
Sometimes you can use the dresser as a half wall nest to the bed. giving more space in the room. Don't be afraid to refinish their furniture. The furniture can be painted in pretty colors to go with their rooms.
Boys are easy to decorate because most love cars or sports and these can be incorporated in your decorating, but remember they won't be teens for long and by the time they turn 17 0r 18 they will want to change their room to impress the girls.
The young female teens love pretty colors and very feminine rooms, for them all you need is really nice colors in paint, don't forget the furniture. They will especially need a place to chat. Here again a big room that can handle a sofa would be great if not, those large bean bag pillows that you put on the floor will also work. Here again don't get carried away because they do grow u[ fast and they will want a grown up room in no time.
Hopefully this slider gave you some ideas on how to update a teenager room, if not just ask them, I can guarantee they will have a lot of suggestions for you.
The room needs to take care of the teenagers needs when friends come over and have a place to chat and spend the night, If he has a large room then a bed and a sofa can be placed in the room, but if the room is small then two beds may be needed and one may be needed to be built next to the floor and nest to the wall to be used as a chat are or for a sleeping area.
Sometimes you can use the dresser as a half wall nest to the bed. giving more space in the room. Don't be afraid to refinish their furniture. The furniture can be painted in pretty colors to go with their rooms.
Boys are easy to decorate because most love cars or sports and these can be incorporated in your decorating, but remember they won't be teens for long and by the time they turn 17 0r 18 they will want to change their room to impress the girls.
The young female teens love pretty colors and very feminine rooms, for them all you need is really nice colors in paint, don't forget the furniture. They will especially need a place to chat. Here again a big room that can handle a sofa would be great if not, those large bean bag pillows that you put on the floor will also work. Here again don't get carried away because they do grow u[ fast and they will want a grown up room in no time.
Hopefully this slider gave you some ideas on how to update a teenager room, if not just ask them, I can guarantee they will have a lot of suggestions for you.
How To Make The Backyard Livable
If you have pets and children sometimes it is hard for both of them to share the backyard. Especially if your children are small and your pets are large. You wonder how to make the backyard livable. Many of you let the pets takeover the backyard and the children end up making the house their playground or the front yard their place to play.
By allowing the children to play in the front yard you either have to stay out there with them the whole time or take a big chance if you don't stay that they will go into the street, go off, or picked up by some unwanted person. You can't imagine how many times I have heard of two and three year olds who have left their home and have not been found for several hours even for several days, because parents did not watch their child.
So this blog is going to help your create a backyard for both your pets and your kids and maybe you can even make room for an entertainment space for yourself,where the whole family can get together and and enjoy their backyard.
In the slides above I show different ways to contain your dogs, One of the easiest ways is to use one of the side of you home and block it off. Put a doghouse for then to keep warm in the winter and make sure they have shade in the summer. It would be wise to have a concrete block for the house to sit on to keep it dry. It makes it easier to keep water and food for them if you have room you can put in a small pool because many dogs love to get into water. Please think of your dog as you do your child and keep his room clean too. It is important to clean up the dogs feces to prevent flies, also plant some small shrubs against the fence for males to urinate. You can let the dogs out to play or take on walks, but with small children it is wise for you to keep them penned up if you are not out there to watch.
I showed other pens in the slide that are easy to make and can to be put over to one side of the yard. If you have a large yard you can even fence off an area just for your dogs to run in.
Now when it comes to your area there are many ways to create patios for you. I just showed one, which was created with stone, but you could build a deck that dits on the ground with a pergola over it to give you some shade I just finished building a patio deck with composite wood then while building it I took four 6x6 post and installed in the deck so I could make a deck cover with 2x4s and corrugated vinyl, then I designed privacy screens to go all the way around with lattice and 1x4s. I gave it an oriental look in design and stained all the wood black and grey. Anyway it turned out quite nice. You can draw up anything you want just keep it fairly simple.
As far as the kids go, make an area for them where they can have a place to climb and swing sets. Don't be afraid to build anything, you can always find directions for things to build on Youtube.com.
Learn how to make the backyard livable and everyone will be much safer and happier. I just can't believe how many people who have moved their BBQs to the front yard because of there dogs. I see more people sitting in the front yard then I ever have before, with kids playing out there too.
By allowing the children to play in the front yard you either have to stay out there with them the whole time or take a big chance if you don't stay that they will go into the street, go off, or picked up by some unwanted person. You can't imagine how many times I have heard of two and three year olds who have left their home and have not been found for several hours even for several days, because parents did not watch their child.
So this blog is going to help your create a backyard for both your pets and your kids and maybe you can even make room for an entertainment space for yourself,where the whole family can get together and and enjoy their backyard.
In the slides above I show different ways to contain your dogs, One of the easiest ways is to use one of the side of you home and block it off. Put a doghouse for then to keep warm in the winter and make sure they have shade in the summer. It would be wise to have a concrete block for the house to sit on to keep it dry. It makes it easier to keep water and food for them if you have room you can put in a small pool because many dogs love to get into water. Please think of your dog as you do your child and keep his room clean too. It is important to clean up the dogs feces to prevent flies, also plant some small shrubs against the fence for males to urinate. You can let the dogs out to play or take on walks, but with small children it is wise for you to keep them penned up if you are not out there to watch.
I showed other pens in the slide that are easy to make and can to be put over to one side of the yard. If you have a large yard you can even fence off an area just for your dogs to run in.
Now when it comes to your area there are many ways to create patios for you. I just showed one, which was created with stone, but you could build a deck that dits on the ground with a pergola over it to give you some shade I just finished building a patio deck with composite wood then while building it I took four 6x6 post and installed in the deck so I could make a deck cover with 2x4s and corrugated vinyl, then I designed privacy screens to go all the way around with lattice and 1x4s. I gave it an oriental look in design and stained all the wood black and grey. Anyway it turned out quite nice. You can draw up anything you want just keep it fairly simple.
As far as the kids go, make an area for them where they can have a place to climb and swing sets. Don't be afraid to build anything, you can always find directions for things to build on Youtube.com.
Learn how to make the backyard livable and everyone will be much safer and happier. I just can't believe how many people who have moved their BBQs to the front yard because of there dogs. I see more people sitting in the front yard then I ever have before, with kids playing out there too.
How To Build A Fire Pit
Have you ever wondered how to build a fire pit for your backyard? Well, today you are going to find out the many ways a fire pit can be built and many of them are basically very easy.
Of course the easiest is dig a shallow hole and surround it with rock. Not only is it easy it is free, but not the most efficient or attractive. By placing the fire pit on a concrete or stone base it is a lot easier to clean out the ashes.
It really isn't that hard to pour a concrete base. Remove all the grass level the ground then build a square the size you want with 2x4s. If you you make it very large you may need to put sand on the bottom and wire before pouring the concrete. Level it off and let it dry. If you decide to do it the size of a patio then you will need 2x6s gravel and wire and depending on the size you may need to divide it.If you want a round fire pit you can still have a concrete square that is larger than what you want your fire pit to be, just make sure you have room to stand, you can sit in chairs around it.
Next all you need to do is decide what you want to use to build you fire pit. If you look at the pictures above you will see they are built with different materials You can make it square, round, or in a rectangle form whatever you like and however you stack your blocks. You can also make them with a propane fire If you buy a kit to insert into your fire pit. Those fire pits are usually taller that the wood burning fire pits. If you will look at the pictures you can see where a pan is put on the top pf one round set of bricks. This should give you an idea of how to make the propane, because they have special pans where gas comes out and you can put in lava rock ot special glass.
Another way to create a fire pit is with concrete and I have a picture above that shows you one. With the concrete fireplace you can become very creative. You have to build some kind of form for your concrete to go into make a solid base and then have a place where you can impress a large pan into the concrete or create a square that sits elevated into another square and pour the concrete into the space between the squares, Remove the wood. They would be like the planters I described in the blog before.
Fire pits can be purchased and they come in all different types. You can choose from wood , natural gas or propane. They are very decorative and some are even used as coffee tables.
Fire pits are fun to have and especially great to use during the Fall season. So hopefully I gave you enough information on how to build a fire pit so you can enjoy one this year too.
Of course the easiest is dig a shallow hole and surround it with rock. Not only is it easy it is free, but not the most efficient or attractive. By placing the fire pit on a concrete or stone base it is a lot easier to clean out the ashes.
It really isn't that hard to pour a concrete base. Remove all the grass level the ground then build a square the size you want with 2x4s. If you you make it very large you may need to put sand on the bottom and wire before pouring the concrete. Level it off and let it dry. If you decide to do it the size of a patio then you will need 2x6s gravel and wire and depending on the size you may need to divide it.If you want a round fire pit you can still have a concrete square that is larger than what you want your fire pit to be, just make sure you have room to stand, you can sit in chairs around it.
Next all you need to do is decide what you want to use to build you fire pit. If you look at the pictures above you will see they are built with different materials You can make it square, round, or in a rectangle form whatever you like and however you stack your blocks. You can also make them with a propane fire If you buy a kit to insert into your fire pit. Those fire pits are usually taller that the wood burning fire pits. If you will look at the pictures you can see where a pan is put on the top pf one round set of bricks. This should give you an idea of how to make the propane, because they have special pans where gas comes out and you can put in lava rock ot special glass.
Another way to create a fire pit is with concrete and I have a picture above that shows you one. With the concrete fireplace you can become very creative. You have to build some kind of form for your concrete to go into make a solid base and then have a place where you can impress a large pan into the concrete or create a square that sits elevated into another square and pour the concrete into the space between the squares, Remove the wood. They would be like the planters I described in the blog before.
Fire pits can be purchased and they come in all different types. You can choose from wood , natural gas or propane. They are very decorative and some are even used as coffee tables.
Fire pits are fun to have and especially great to use during the Fall season. So hopefully I gave you enough information on how to build a fire pit so you can enjoy one this year too.
Building Decorative Concrete Planters
There isn't anything better in great curb appeal then when you want to sell your home. So building decorative concrete planters to have as part of that curb appeal would be really nice. The video above shows you how to put together a very elegant planter to line your driveway or entry way. They would look nice on a patio in the backyard too.
What's really great in making concrete planters is that it can be very easy or as complicated as the one in the video which really wasn't that complicated, but took sometime in building. One of the easiest ways of making concrete planters, although they are not as decorative as the one in the video, but they could be depending on how you stain them, is by using different containers. You can use an old planter and then place a cork or a wood plug in the hole at the bottom, put in the concrete on the bottom set in another container and fill in around the side. If the second container is not plastic it is wise to put it in a plastic sack to make it easier to remove. also fill the second container with sand to give it weight so it won't move and make sure it is in the center of the first container.After filling around the sides, gently tap on the sides to remove air bubbles. Let set for a two or three days and remove the second container.
Now while you are still working with the wet concrete before you have poured it into the first container you can get a color by adding a color iron oxide that you have chosen. If you want several colors, you can wait until dry then buy stains, and brush on as you see fit. If you want the rim of your container to be really smooth dip your fingers into water while the concrete is still wet, slide them around the top of the concrete until you achieve the smoothness you want.
You can make all kinds of concrete planters that will last you a long time, because building decorative concrete planters are easy and fun. Watch for the next article I will be showing you how to make garden planters out of pallets for small yards that you can grow tomatoes, herbs or whatever vegetable you want.
How To Create A Garden Water Fountain
Right now is a great time to be working in your yard and creating a place that you want to go out and stay awhile. A place to have guests who will ooh and ah about how nice all the great things you have i your backyard. One thing that is always nice to have is a water fountain and this article will help you on how to create a garden water fountain.
There are so many ways to build water fountains and you can make then small or very large, but no matter what size they are, you basically use the same things for them all.
If you are putting it on the patio, you will want to keep it fairly small and a large flower pot works great. You can buy a new one at the store or if you have an old one at hand you can even use it. You can buy waterproof paint to go over it if you decide to use it to hold the water, but if you are going to do as the video and use a bucket to go inside, you can paint the outside with any ceramic paint.
If you follow the video everything is really very easy, but I have seen where silicone has been used to fill the hole on the bottom of a regular pot and then a pump is silicone to the bottom of the pot, the pot is filled half way with water and then water flows from the pipe. In some I have seen plants that can been planted in the water to hide the pump and come up around the flowing water.
However you want the water fountain, you can design in so many ways, you can even use a bird bath or purchase rocks that have been drilled just for the tubing to go in to recirculate the water. Pretty much all you need is a pump and a waterproof container to hold the pump and the begin designing the water fountain however you want it.
There are so many ways to build water fountains and you can make then small or very large, but no matter what size they are, you basically use the same things for them all.
If you are putting it on the patio, you will want to keep it fairly small and a large flower pot works great. You can buy a new one at the store or if you have an old one at hand you can even use it. You can buy waterproof paint to go over it if you decide to use it to hold the water, but if you are going to do as the video and use a bucket to go inside, you can paint the outside with any ceramic paint.
If you follow the video everything is really very easy, but I have seen where silicone has been used to fill the hole on the bottom of a regular pot and then a pump is silicone to the bottom of the pot, the pot is filled half way with water and then water flows from the pipe. In some I have seen plants that can been planted in the water to hide the pump and come up around the flowing water.
However you want the water fountain, you can design in so many ways, you can even use a bird bath or purchase rocks that have been drilled just for the tubing to go in to recirculate the water. Pretty much all you need is a pump and a waterproof container to hold the pump and the begin designing the water fountain however you want it.
How To Build A Deck
Have you ever wondered how to build a deck, well this video will give you the instructions to make a ground level deck and you will be quite surprised just how easy it is to make. It will show you pretty much step by step exactly what you need to do.
One of the first things you need to do is figure out exactly what size your deck needs to be and then from there get you supplies. By watching the video you will get a good idea of what you should buy. Although my tips to you is don't use nails to put it together but use screws. Nails have a tendency of popping back up and if you need to replace a board, it is easier to remove screws than nails.
The next thing to keep in mind is there are several types of wood you can use, depending on how much you want to spend, will guide you to what wood you will use. Also how much work you will want to do over the years should also be kept in mind when choosing the wood.
Treated wood is the least expensive and there are several grades of treated wood. The main thing you need to keep in mind here is, once you have the deck made, you need to let the wood set for about 6 months before staining. This will give it plenty of time for it to dry, otherwise if you try staining before it dries out, water will push through the stain causing problems with your stain.
The next wood you could choose is Redwood, it is very attractive, but expensive. You don't need to stain, but just applies an oil base protective coating. Then last is the composite wood that is already finished. It is also very expensive but you won't have to worry about keeping it up. Of course, if you become too rough on it, there is a possibility of scratching it.
Whatever wood you choose, you can enjoy your deck for years and hopefully you learned how to build a deck.
One of the first things you need to do is figure out exactly what size your deck needs to be and then from there get you supplies. By watching the video you will get a good idea of what you should buy. Although my tips to you is don't use nails to put it together but use screws. Nails have a tendency of popping back up and if you need to replace a board, it is easier to remove screws than nails.
The next thing to keep in mind is there are several types of wood you can use, depending on how much you want to spend, will guide you to what wood you will use. Also how much work you will want to do over the years should also be kept in mind when choosing the wood.
Treated wood is the least expensive and there are several grades of treated wood. The main thing you need to keep in mind here is, once you have the deck made, you need to let the wood set for about 6 months before staining. This will give it plenty of time for it to dry, otherwise if you try staining before it dries out, water will push through the stain causing problems with your stain.
The next wood you could choose is Redwood, it is very attractive, but expensive. You don't need to stain, but just applies an oil base protective coating. Then last is the composite wood that is already finished. It is also very expensive but you won't have to worry about keeping it up. Of course, if you become too rough on it, there is a possibility of scratching it.
Whatever wood you choose, you can enjoy your deck for years and hopefully you learned how to build a deck.
Mudrooms Can Be Useful
Mudrooms can be useful and an easy design dollar, what I mean is you can have a nice mudroom without spending a lot of money. As you can see in the slides above mudrooms can be found in various place in your home. Sometimes at the entry way, or the back door, the wash room and sun rooms. Depending where they are will depend what you will do with them.
If they are found in the entry way of the home in your living room you will need to decorate more elaborately to match the living room. Having a nice bench with wicker baskets underneath for shoes and a decorative hanger for coats and hats will help keep visitors coats handy.
If you are at the back door entry you can build shelves going to the ceiling along with a closet to to put coats and shoes away. This is also what can be done in the wash room room. For your sun room you may want to be more decorative and build a bookcase that will hold wicker baskets and small closet at both ends making a whole wall useful for flowers as well as putting away the clothes you take off when entering.
As you can see that even a mudroom can be made to house an area for you pets, especially for cat litters. By building a small area under a shelf with a door that has a hole for the the cat to climb into, then your cat litter will be out of sight. The cat will be happy because they will have their privacy.
So wherever they need to be built mudrooms can be useful and easy on the dollar.
If they are found in the entry way of the home in your living room you will need to decorate more elaborately to match the living room. Having a nice bench with wicker baskets underneath for shoes and a decorative hanger for coats and hats will help keep visitors coats handy.
If you are at the back door entry you can build shelves going to the ceiling along with a closet to to put coats and shoes away. This is also what can be done in the wash room room. For your sun room you may want to be more decorative and build a bookcase that will hold wicker baskets and small closet at both ends making a whole wall useful for flowers as well as putting away the clothes you take off when entering.
As you can see that even a mudroom can be made to house an area for you pets, especially for cat litters. By building a small area under a shelf with a door that has a hole for the the cat to climb into, then your cat litter will be out of sight. The cat will be happy because they will have their privacy.
So wherever they need to be built mudrooms can be useful and easy on the dollar.
Kitchen On A Budget
If you need a new kitchen on a budget, there are several ways to go about doing it. The best way to decorate your kitchen on a budget is to get out and do the work yourself. Labor is expensive and trust me if you would get a book or two on How To's you would be surprised just how easy a lot of remodeling really is to do.
One of the major thing to do is redoing the cabinets, and I know I have mentioned it before. Your cabinets over a period of time begin to show wear and tear, but it is surprising what stripping the finish, restaining or painting the cabinets can do. Then putting on new hardware makes them look new again. If you have a small kitchen replacing the floors with laminate wood floors or tile floors would improve a lot if you have vinyl floors. Also new counter tops can make a lot of difference.
You can't imagine how much difference you can make by just repainting the walls and if you have no backsplash even just putting up a partial one will help create a more complete kitchen, especially if you will do behind the stove.
Looking at different pictures of kitchen may give you some ideas of how to arrange the furniture in your kitchen to make it more pleasing and I guarantee that it will help your budget, because it doesn't cost anything to move furniture and make your counter tops look more pleasing.
Designing your kitchen on a budget isn't all bad and if you are selling your home it is important that you make your kitchen look like the number one room in your house. So keep that in mind and don't be afraid to do the work yourself to keep the cost down If you have questions then go to Contact and leave me a message, I would be glad to help.
One of the major thing to do is redoing the cabinets, and I know I have mentioned it before. Your cabinets over a period of time begin to show wear and tear, but it is surprising what stripping the finish, restaining or painting the cabinets can do. Then putting on new hardware makes them look new again. If you have a small kitchen replacing the floors with laminate wood floors or tile floors would improve a lot if you have vinyl floors. Also new counter tops can make a lot of difference.
You can't imagine how much difference you can make by just repainting the walls and if you have no backsplash even just putting up a partial one will help create a more complete kitchen, especially if you will do behind the stove.
Looking at different pictures of kitchen may give you some ideas of how to arrange the furniture in your kitchen to make it more pleasing and I guarantee that it will help your budget, because it doesn't cost anything to move furniture and make your counter tops look more pleasing.
Designing your kitchen on a budget isn't all bad and if you are selling your home it is important that you make your kitchen look like the number one room in your house. So keep that in mind and don't be afraid to do the work yourself to keep the cost down If you have questions then go to Contact and leave me a message, I would be glad to help.
Decorating A Child's Bedroom
Children's rooms can be very creative and a lot of fun to do. The most important thing is to get the consent of the child in the way you are going to do it. You will want to discuss with your child the colors that will be needed along with the theme. The child is the one to be using the room so it is important that it is done the way they want.
When the children are younger bunk beds are great especially if your space is limited. They can be built over desks or desks can be built to the side of the bed. It is important that you put a desk in a child's bedroom, because they need a place to do their homework. It is best to have an organized place for it. Another twin bed arrangement that is good in a child's room is a trundle bed. If space is limited you can have an extra twin bed that is hidden for their friends.
You can make your own bunk beds out of plywood. Making the design simple is great but then you can really become creative adding extra storage with small closets drawers and miniature trunk type steps up to the top bunk. You can books in home improvement stores that will help with building all kinds of beds.
For young boys beds made to look like cars is fantastic and decorating their room with car posters and different car accessories can really make the kids love their rooms. You can buy car beds at furniture store or even get patterns for car beds then paint them to your liking.
As the kids get older and become teens, they usually want full size beds. The want their rooms to appear more adult looking. The male teenager have a tendency to go to black and red or navy and red. The love posters of favorite singers and actors. Female teenager seem to like white furniture with colors in lavender and pink, but sometimes they will choose colors that our very dynamic, so be ready for anything from teenagers.
Just keep in mind that decorating a kids room can be easy. You can go to flea markets and find old furniture, strip it down, then paint whatever color you want. Then add the things to the room your child likes to make his bedroom his. Just remember a desk is important, because as they get bigger they will want a computer for homework and play and a desk is a perfect place for it. Also you can build different things for the room that you might not be able to find in the stores it really isn't that hard to be creative look in books or on Youtube. Your child deserves the best bedroom.
When the children are younger bunk beds are great especially if your space is limited. They can be built over desks or desks can be built to the side of the bed. It is important that you put a desk in a child's bedroom, because they need a place to do their homework. It is best to have an organized place for it. Another twin bed arrangement that is good in a child's room is a trundle bed. If space is limited you can have an extra twin bed that is hidden for their friends.
You can make your own bunk beds out of plywood. Making the design simple is great but then you can really become creative adding extra storage with small closets drawers and miniature trunk type steps up to the top bunk. You can books in home improvement stores that will help with building all kinds of beds.
For young boys beds made to look like cars is fantastic and decorating their room with car posters and different car accessories can really make the kids love their rooms. You can buy car beds at furniture store or even get patterns for car beds then paint them to your liking.
As the kids get older and become teens, they usually want full size beds. The want their rooms to appear more adult looking. The male teenager have a tendency to go to black and red or navy and red. The love posters of favorite singers and actors. Female teenager seem to like white furniture with colors in lavender and pink, but sometimes they will choose colors that our very dynamic, so be ready for anything from teenagers.
Just keep in mind that decorating a kids room can be easy. You can go to flea markets and find old furniture, strip it down, then paint whatever color you want. Then add the things to the room your child likes to make his bedroom his. Just remember a desk is important, because as they get bigger they will want a computer for homework and play and a desk is a perfect place for it. Also you can build different things for the room that you might not be able to find in the stores it really isn't that hard to be creative look in books or on Youtube. Your child deserves the best bedroom.
Choosing Tiles For A Bathroom
Remodeling a bathroom is fun, a lot of work , and can take up a lot of time deciding how you want it to look. I know because I am in the middle of two bathrooms right now. So I decided to let you in on all the fun I am having. Especially in choosing tile.
The first thing you need to is figure out exactly what you want to do. Don't do I did and started out by putting granite on the counter tops and going from there, because some times it is very hard to choose the tile to go with it. Not only that matching paint some times is not easy either. Luckily I can mix my own colors. Being an artist I have so many acrylic paints and I know what colors can go together to create the color I want.
I chose slides for you to give you ideas on how to pick out tiles. On one of the slide you will notice that all that tile matches, floor, wall, and backsplash. This is the easiest way to go. There is no decision making in trying to decide what other tiles to go with it. You will also notice that is very attractive. They kept the walls neutral and played up the tile.
On another slide I chose one for two things, I think I have describe how to make a bench with concrete blocks, but I didn't have a good picture for you. This bench is a good example of how concrete blocks are used to make the bench, then cover with Duroc and then tile or to make it even more decorative, cover the top of the bench with granite. The next thing I wanted to mention about this slide was that this shower was tiled and then had inserts. I plan on using large tiles then using narrow glass inserts approximately 4 to 6 inches wide. As you can see in another slide. Once I am ready for the inserts I will decide then insert, or if I am wise I will layout the tile first and see which way I want to go before I start tiling. Glass inserts of darker tile inserts can snap up your tiling giving you a colorful effect, especially if you are staying with white tiles. Another way to add a little color is use a darker border around your tile project.
Now the slide that really impressed me and I may do it in my bathroom where I am having the tub. I can't fit in a whirlpool, but I could use the same tiles that are the ends of the back wall on the slide that shows the beautiful single wall of tile. Then do the back wall as they did with glass tiles and regular tiles making it so striking and costly. The only problem with glass tiles is they are expensive, but to me they are easier to install but a little harder to cut.
Another slide shows that you can have a floor a different color than what is on the walls. On this slide they kept the colors in the same color tone, but put a lighter one on the floor and a darker on the walls. This can be fun especially with tiles that look like wood and come in all different shades.
The last slide I wanted to explain, which was not exactly my favorite, but it showed that you can use more than one color in your tile. You need to be careful because some times your colors may be distracting from the other colors, as I feel the pink tile does in this bathroom. Although pink is a complimentary color to green, it really would have been better to be used in decorating than in using it in the tile. This something for you to decide but remember this, once tile is put down it is very hard to remove, so staying with neutral colors are always a safer bet.
Decorating the bathroom is usually done mostly with tile. It really isn't that hard to do, but there are tile layers out there for you. I can tell you if you are removing a tub and replacing it with a walk-in shower it is wise to have some one do the floor for you or purchase a shower pan and even those need to sit on concrete or tile.
Whatever you choose if you put them together first and add samples of colors you will see what you will be achieving. One other tip, if you decide to choose all white, and I have met many who have done it that way, because they could not decide on the color, then please decide to decorate with a bright color so it doesn't look like a hospital.
So choosing your tile and putting it together correctly will help make that bathroom. the bathroom of you dreams.
The first thing you need to is figure out exactly what you want to do. Don't do I did and started out by putting granite on the counter tops and going from there, because some times it is very hard to choose the tile to go with it. Not only that matching paint some times is not easy either. Luckily I can mix my own colors. Being an artist I have so many acrylic paints and I know what colors can go together to create the color I want.
I chose slides for you to give you ideas on how to pick out tiles. On one of the slide you will notice that all that tile matches, floor, wall, and backsplash. This is the easiest way to go. There is no decision making in trying to decide what other tiles to go with it. You will also notice that is very attractive. They kept the walls neutral and played up the tile.
On another slide I chose one for two things, I think I have describe how to make a bench with concrete blocks, but I didn't have a good picture for you. This bench is a good example of how concrete blocks are used to make the bench, then cover with Duroc and then tile or to make it even more decorative, cover the top of the bench with granite. The next thing I wanted to mention about this slide was that this shower was tiled and then had inserts. I plan on using large tiles then using narrow glass inserts approximately 4 to 6 inches wide. As you can see in another slide. Once I am ready for the inserts I will decide then insert, or if I am wise I will layout the tile first and see which way I want to go before I start tiling. Glass inserts of darker tile inserts can snap up your tiling giving you a colorful effect, especially if you are staying with white tiles. Another way to add a little color is use a darker border around your tile project.
Now the slide that really impressed me and I may do it in my bathroom where I am having the tub. I can't fit in a whirlpool, but I could use the same tiles that are the ends of the back wall on the slide that shows the beautiful single wall of tile. Then do the back wall as they did with glass tiles and regular tiles making it so striking and costly. The only problem with glass tiles is they are expensive, but to me they are easier to install but a little harder to cut.
Another slide shows that you can have a floor a different color than what is on the walls. On this slide they kept the colors in the same color tone, but put a lighter one on the floor and a darker on the walls. This can be fun especially with tiles that look like wood and come in all different shades.
The last slide I wanted to explain, which was not exactly my favorite, but it showed that you can use more than one color in your tile. You need to be careful because some times your colors may be distracting from the other colors, as I feel the pink tile does in this bathroom. Although pink is a complimentary color to green, it really would have been better to be used in decorating than in using it in the tile. This something for you to decide but remember this, once tile is put down it is very hard to remove, so staying with neutral colors are always a safer bet.
Decorating the bathroom is usually done mostly with tile. It really isn't that hard to do, but there are tile layers out there for you. I can tell you if you are removing a tub and replacing it with a walk-in shower it is wise to have some one do the floor for you or purchase a shower pan and even those need to sit on concrete or tile.
Whatever you choose if you put them together first and add samples of colors you will see what you will be achieving. One other tip, if you decide to choose all white, and I have met many who have done it that way, because they could not decide on the color, then please decide to decorate with a bright color so it doesn't look like a hospital.
So choosing your tile and putting it together correctly will help make that bathroom. the bathroom of you dreams.
How To Faux Paint
Faux painting is one of the best ways to decorate your walls inexpensively but make them look very expensive. It may take more work than plain painting, but when the neighbors and friends keep giving you compliments on your walls, then lets see how much you really hated the work.
Some faux painting really can be quite easy and the video above is one. I am going to faux paint my kitchen walls, because they are painted a dark adobe brown color, which would have been fine, if my kitchen wasn't so small.
My son loves dark colors which are great in large rooms, luckily he has a very large house. For years he loved everything faux painted or painted very dark. This year he decided to go to a lighter beige, which made me happy because he had so much heavy woodwork and his kitchen cabinets were decorated in such a busy manner that the faux painting he had, made everything look too busy. Now with just plain beige walls, everything stands out like they should.
So my point is, take the faux painting into consideration as to the way your room looks. If you have every thing decorated to the hilt then maybe you need to keep your walls simple. In my kitchen it is small, but I decorated with fairly ornate granite counter tops. I had plan on painting with a light adobe. I mixed my own paint from left over paints, but my husband was not happy with the color nor with the sheen. He thought it was too flat. Now what was I going to do with a gallon of paint. Of course, being a woman, I painted the walls anyway, but I knew I had to keep my husband happy too. So I let the walls dry. Then mixed a reddish brown acrylic paint in a bottle from Hobby Lobby with a glaze that I brushed on the wall. My wall was textured and I had plan on just wiping it off and leaving the high places the undercoat color and the glaze color in the cracks. I was using a sweat shirt to begin wiping, but I noticed that I liked just blotting it better. So I just kept going all over the wall turning the shirt in different directions, as I went blotting up excess paint and leaving what I wanted, making sure to overlap. It turned out very nice and when my husband saw it, he liked it.
This probably is one of the easiest ways of faux painting, so is the one on the video. Another way to faux paint is using plastic bags and not putting on as much paint as the lady on the video, let dry. Once dry mix a coordinating color with a glaze and brush over the whole wall.
There are so many ways to faux paint I would have to write a book to tell you how to do them all, but Youtube can help you. You can find ways to make your walls look like marble, or how to paint with a sponge, I've even painted using saran wrap. You can even get more ornate, but I guarantee that is a lot more work, by using stencils on the wall, even after you have put on a pretty background. So begin the easy faux painting and then step into the world of decorative faux painting.
Learn how colors go together by studying a color wheel and faux painting will become even easier for you. The colors that are side to side are in the same families while the colors that are across from each other are complimentary colors. Most of the time the colors that are in the same family are used in faux painting and the colors that are across are use in decorating. Keep this in mind when decorating and you should have a well color coordinated home.
Hopefully, you are ready to try at least one wall in your home with faux painting just make sure it is a dominating wall, you don't have to do all four. You will find that faux painting can be a great decorating way to make your home look great.
Refinish Kitchen Cabinets
I haven't been able to give some great advice on remodeling because I have been so busy finishing my home, and now that it has sold. I have purchased my new home. Moving took some time and as you know being a designer, I have started remodeling on my new home. Although this home was much newer than the last and I decided I wanted one where I would remodel mostly in the yard.
Due to the fact I haven't given you anything new lately I decided to give you a You Tube on how to refinish cabinets. Remodeling the kitchen and bathroom are the two costly rooms to remodel, but if you want to sell your home they are the two rooms that have to look the best. So this article is for your kitchen.
To begin with you will want to start off with fairly decent kitchen cabinets, if they are in bad shape you can look on the computer and find unfinished cabinet doors at a fairly decent price. These can be finished as in the video or painted any color you prefer. If you finish as in the video, you will need to strip down the cabinet frames and finish the frames to match the cabinet doors.
The next thing to keep in mind is your hardware. Does it go with your finish, maybe it needs updating. Here again you will need to make a decision because hardware isn't cheap and it finishes off your cabinets. If you have tiled counter tops, over a period of time the grout becomes stained and starts to break down. You can either redo the grout or buy new counter tops.
Now lets talk about counter tops, my preference is granite or quartz but there is so many different types anymore. I have even seen some very nice looking stained concrete counters, but if you don't have the money for these, because these can be costly, there still very nice looking laminate counter tops that look almost like granite. In fact the other day in Lowes, I saw a laminate counter that looked almost like the granite I am installing in my new kitchen.
Another thing to update in you kitchen is the backsplash. There is so many different choices that I am having trouble deciding what to choose. If you have a large kitchen then the best bet to stick with is tile and not the glass tile. I am having trouble deciding between glass tiles which are fairly expensive and a very pretty rippled copper tin which is also very expensive. Having a smaller kitchen will make it less expensive for me and I am beginning to decide on the copper. For one reason, it comes in larger sheets, can be cut with snippers or scissors. It can to stuck to the wall with double sided tape or special glue and doesn't need to have grout applied to it which I hate doing.
So if you do refinish your cabinets and your backsplash and counters are in good shape then make sure you do a finish what will go with them so you don't have to put out the extra money. Such as dining room furniture or bar stools. Give your walls a fresh coat of paint which I will give tips in my next article.
Enjoy the video, then after your work on your kitchen cabinets is done, sit down, have a cup of coffee and admire how nice your kitchen looks.
Due to the fact I haven't given you anything new lately I decided to give you a You Tube on how to refinish cabinets. Remodeling the kitchen and bathroom are the two costly rooms to remodel, but if you want to sell your home they are the two rooms that have to look the best. So this article is for your kitchen.
To begin with you will want to start off with fairly decent kitchen cabinets, if they are in bad shape you can look on the computer and find unfinished cabinet doors at a fairly decent price. These can be finished as in the video or painted any color you prefer. If you finish as in the video, you will need to strip down the cabinet frames and finish the frames to match the cabinet doors.
The next thing to keep in mind is your hardware. Does it go with your finish, maybe it needs updating. Here again you will need to make a decision because hardware isn't cheap and it finishes off your cabinets. If you have tiled counter tops, over a period of time the grout becomes stained and starts to break down. You can either redo the grout or buy new counter tops.
Now lets talk about counter tops, my preference is granite or quartz but there is so many different types anymore. I have even seen some very nice looking stained concrete counters, but if you don't have the money for these, because these can be costly, there still very nice looking laminate counter tops that look almost like granite. In fact the other day in Lowes, I saw a laminate counter that looked almost like the granite I am installing in my new kitchen.
Another thing to update in you kitchen is the backsplash. There is so many different choices that I am having trouble deciding what to choose. If you have a large kitchen then the best bet to stick with is tile and not the glass tile. I am having trouble deciding between glass tiles which are fairly expensive and a very pretty rippled copper tin which is also very expensive. Having a smaller kitchen will make it less expensive for me and I am beginning to decide on the copper. For one reason, it comes in larger sheets, can be cut with snippers or scissors. It can to stuck to the wall with double sided tape or special glue and doesn't need to have grout applied to it which I hate doing.
So if you do refinish your cabinets and your backsplash and counters are in good shape then make sure you do a finish what will go with them so you don't have to put out the extra money. Such as dining room furniture or bar stools. Give your walls a fresh coat of paint which I will give tips in my next article.
Enjoy the video, then after your work on your kitchen cabinets is done, sit down, have a cup of coffee and admire how nice your kitchen looks.
How To Rejuvenate Your Furniture Easily
To rejuvenate or refinish furniture is really basically very easy. Well sort of, if you like the work. Taking old pieces of furniture that have seen their days can be fun, giving them new life. Sometimes just sanding well, putting on a good coat of primer, then becoming very artistic is all you need to do, or better yet, become completely creative and remove drawers add new trim and hardware and turn it into a completely different piece, from a chester drawers to an entertainment center.
Going to flea markets can be great fun when you know you need some new furniture but can't afford to shop at a furniture store. If you can find pieces that are solid wood the easier and better it is to refinish. Most of the time the old solid wood pieces hardly have any varnish left on them making it much easier to strip off or sand down and cover with primer if painted. The pieces I picked for you to see in the slide show give you ideas of different ways of refinishing.
The two color desk piece is really a very easy piece to do. It probably was sanded down until it was smooth to touch, then primed with a good primer and then painted with two different colors. The drawer knobs appear to be wood, and here again sand them with fine sand paper until smooth, then paint with a nice contrasting color. I finished my desk in my kitchen by sanding, then priming and finishing with a matching white coat of paint, but what made the desk fit into the kitchen was I put a matching piece of granite on it. As you see you can add different tops if you want, or if the top is shot find something to replace it, like putting on Duroc on top and tile the top, then finish with a nice piece of wood trim around the edge.
One piece I thought was nice was the chester drawer that had been painted black. It appears to have a "krackled" finish. The flowers were painted on with a template, giving it a different appearance. I have seen a chester drawers made into an entertainment center. It had the top drawer removed, the drawers and top were stained a light brown and everything else was painted black. On the drawers a decorative design was done in black with a template. The television sat on top and the other devices sat in the space where they had removed the drawer. It was very attractive.
The other chester drawers you see have been painted. One painted the hardware which really made the piece stand out. Now the other piece was done to be antique or cottage style and after it was painted the edges were sanded down to show bare wood. This is all to your taste. You can take piece of furniture and redo it to make it look old again.
I told you once about making patio furniture from wood pallets well, if you are hard up for money, wood pallets can also make you furniture, as you can see in the picture with the bed frame. You can see it did not take much work, you just need to do some measuring and draw up a plan by looking at the picture and you should be able to create a bed frame in a day.
There are many ways of refinishing and getting on the computer can give you step by step if you want to strip, stain, and varnish a piece. Myself I enjoy painting it is more artistic and not so much work, but I have done both, so I say give them both a try. My favorite is to completely redesign the piece so it is something else. Whatever you do with the furniture I assure you, you will find it exciting and money saving.
Going to flea markets can be great fun when you know you need some new furniture but can't afford to shop at a furniture store. If you can find pieces that are solid wood the easier and better it is to refinish. Most of the time the old solid wood pieces hardly have any varnish left on them making it much easier to strip off or sand down and cover with primer if painted. The pieces I picked for you to see in the slide show give you ideas of different ways of refinishing.
The two color desk piece is really a very easy piece to do. It probably was sanded down until it was smooth to touch, then primed with a good primer and then painted with two different colors. The drawer knobs appear to be wood, and here again sand them with fine sand paper until smooth, then paint with a nice contrasting color. I finished my desk in my kitchen by sanding, then priming and finishing with a matching white coat of paint, but what made the desk fit into the kitchen was I put a matching piece of granite on it. As you see you can add different tops if you want, or if the top is shot find something to replace it, like putting on Duroc on top and tile the top, then finish with a nice piece of wood trim around the edge.
One piece I thought was nice was the chester drawer that had been painted black. It appears to have a "krackled" finish. The flowers were painted on with a template, giving it a different appearance. I have seen a chester drawers made into an entertainment center. It had the top drawer removed, the drawers and top were stained a light brown and everything else was painted black. On the drawers a decorative design was done in black with a template. The television sat on top and the other devices sat in the space where they had removed the drawer. It was very attractive.
The other chester drawers you see have been painted. One painted the hardware which really made the piece stand out. Now the other piece was done to be antique or cottage style and after it was painted the edges were sanded down to show bare wood. This is all to your taste. You can take piece of furniture and redo it to make it look old again.
I told you once about making patio furniture from wood pallets well, if you are hard up for money, wood pallets can also make you furniture, as you can see in the picture with the bed frame. You can see it did not take much work, you just need to do some measuring and draw up a plan by looking at the picture and you should be able to create a bed frame in a day.
There are many ways of refinishing and getting on the computer can give you step by step if you want to strip, stain, and varnish a piece. Myself I enjoy painting it is more artistic and not so much work, but I have done both, so I say give them both a try. My favorite is to completely redesign the piece so it is something else. Whatever you do with the furniture I assure you, you will find it exciting and money saving.
How To Create A Patio Artistically
Patios can be a great place to spend a nice summer evening, sharing a glass of wine among friends or family, especially if you have an extra special one. Above are picture of several patios, some are not completely finished, but were chosen for the simplicity of what could be a start of a very nice area for gatherings.
The pergola that covers the patio which shows no artistic flair, shows that if you have just a plain patio with no cover, can have a cover that can be made easily and not at a great cost. The three 4x4 are placed on the patio with special braces or you could dig holes on the outside of the concrete, put them in there,pour in dry concrete, add water, bracing them until the concrete is dry. Make sure they are level when you lay the 2x4 on top, also be sure you use redwood or treated wood.
The height of the 4x4 will be decided on how much of a pitch you want. You will then put a 2x6 or 2x4 flat across the eave of your home. If you have a very deep patio I would put 4x4 on each side and instead of laying the 2x4 on top of the 4x4s I would go across them bringing it up to the top edge of the 4x4, giving you more support, making a rectangle around them. Then from there you will attach the pergola cross boards that are cut on a curve at the ends. You Probably can get a template at the lumberyard. After that, all you need to is lay on the 2x2s.
Now to make it artistic all you need is add decorative wood supports at each corner and at the middle pole. Then some nice patio furniture and a few decorative pots of flowers. This patio didn't cost a lot but now you have some place to sit that is comfortable, shady and decorative.
As you noticed there is a picture of a more decorative pergola, which cost more to make and was more work. Another really easy patio is the fire pit built on the pea gravel with chairs sitting around, with additional small outdoor tables and a few potted plants this would be a great place for an evening get together.
Bricks make great patio and mixed with treated wood flower beds can become a very colorful and enjoying place to sit and relax. If you want to be really artistic see how painting a wood bench, pots, watering can and have beautiful throw pillows and flowers surround the area, become a luxurious patio.
There are so many ways to make a patio a great place to just relax and enjoy the outdoors and by adding a few potted plants and nice painted utensils, you too can create an artistic patio. If you would like help in creating a patio then go to Contact and leave me a message, I would be glad to give you all the help you need to make a place that is relaxing and enjoyable.
The pergola that covers the patio which shows no artistic flair, shows that if you have just a plain patio with no cover, can have a cover that can be made easily and not at a great cost. The three 4x4 are placed on the patio with special braces or you could dig holes on the outside of the concrete, put them in there,pour in dry concrete, add water, bracing them until the concrete is dry. Make sure they are level when you lay the 2x4 on top, also be sure you use redwood or treated wood.
The height of the 4x4 will be decided on how much of a pitch you want. You will then put a 2x6 or 2x4 flat across the eave of your home. If you have a very deep patio I would put 4x4 on each side and instead of laying the 2x4 on top of the 4x4s I would go across them bringing it up to the top edge of the 4x4, giving you more support, making a rectangle around them. Then from there you will attach the pergola cross boards that are cut on a curve at the ends. You Probably can get a template at the lumberyard. After that, all you need to is lay on the 2x2s.
Now to make it artistic all you need is add decorative wood supports at each corner and at the middle pole. Then some nice patio furniture and a few decorative pots of flowers. This patio didn't cost a lot but now you have some place to sit that is comfortable, shady and decorative.
As you noticed there is a picture of a more decorative pergola, which cost more to make and was more work. Another really easy patio is the fire pit built on the pea gravel with chairs sitting around, with additional small outdoor tables and a few potted plants this would be a great place for an evening get together.
Bricks make great patio and mixed with treated wood flower beds can become a very colorful and enjoying place to sit and relax. If you want to be really artistic see how painting a wood bench, pots, watering can and have beautiful throw pillows and flowers surround the area, become a luxurious patio.
There are so many ways to make a patio a great place to just relax and enjoy the outdoors and by adding a few potted plants and nice painted utensils, you too can create an artistic patio. If you would like help in creating a patio then go to Contact and leave me a message, I would be glad to give you all the help you need to make a place that is relaxing and enjoyable.
How To Create A Bedroom Inexpensively And Quickly
Decorating and redoing bedrooms are one of the easiest rooms in the house to do. You can redo used bedroom furniture, finish unfinished furniture, or just create your own. In every one of my bedrooms I used pillows as headboards, also you will note in the purple bedroom, there is such a small bed frame that pillows would have easily made a headboard, especially with all the other art work around.
In my bedroom, I was able to purchase the wicker furniture at a very good price at an overstock store. The bamboo chair and wicker end seat was purchased at a Dollar General store at very little money. I found the wicker fan at Home Depot. I spent 2 weeks painting the room, but all the wood trim was painted to look like bamboo to match the bamboo in the trim going around the wall. I even purchased 2" diameter wooden poles and wooden unfinished curtain rod holders that I painted to look like bamboo, then draped them with mosquito netting. I also used blinds that were made of bamboo. As you can see with a few items added, my room is very tropical, the only problem with the room, is that it is a little small, but that goes with older homes.
In another picture you see a headboard made with foam on a board covered with material then outlined with decorative thumbtacks. You can also make headboards by building large shelving or wooden box clusters, just let your imagination go.
As you can see in the above slides, there is no option in color and you can do more than just paint one color. The same with style of furniture and kind of floor, you can do what you want. The most important thing is to do rough sketches and look at different colors, know what you are going to do, before you do it.
If you would like some help with designing your bedroom or a little advice on how you can find ways to save go to Contact and leave me a comment.
In my bedroom, I was able to purchase the wicker furniture at a very good price at an overstock store. The bamboo chair and wicker end seat was purchased at a Dollar General store at very little money. I found the wicker fan at Home Depot. I spent 2 weeks painting the room, but all the wood trim was painted to look like bamboo to match the bamboo in the trim going around the wall. I even purchased 2" diameter wooden poles and wooden unfinished curtain rod holders that I painted to look like bamboo, then draped them with mosquito netting. I also used blinds that were made of bamboo. As you can see with a few items added, my room is very tropical, the only problem with the room, is that it is a little small, but that goes with older homes.
In another picture you see a headboard made with foam on a board covered with material then outlined with decorative thumbtacks. You can also make headboards by building large shelving or wooden box clusters, just let your imagination go.
As you can see in the above slides, there is no option in color and you can do more than just paint one color. The same with style of furniture and kind of floor, you can do what you want. The most important thing is to do rough sketches and look at different colors, know what you are going to do, before you do it.
If you would like some help with designing your bedroom or a little advice on how you can find ways to save go to Contact and leave me a comment.
How Do You Design an Entertainment Wall Easily
If you have a large wall that you want to put a large TV with, but have no idea how to go about doing it, you came to the right place. You will find just how you can make an elegant wall without really doing that much, well that depends just how ornate you want it.
As you see in the slides there are several ways in going about designing your wall, now one of the pictures that is being used displays two bookcases with storage, an entertainment center and then storage attached above. It was put in there to give you an idea how bookcases can be used. I will tell you a simpler and more modern looking way is to have some open bookcases with an overhead board attaching them.
Just buy a 2x12 because bookcases are approximately that wide, stain it or paint it to match your bookcases and entertainment center. Then slide it on to the tops of bookcase and over the entertainment center where the TV sets.
What is nice about this arrangement is you can make it to fill your whole wall or just part. You can keep it simple or spend more money, buying ornate bookcases and entertainment centers. You can also add over head storage compartments when you make the cover between the bookcases that is shown in the picture with the white bookcase entertainment center. They can be open boxes with slde in wicker boxes or you can have them close with glass doors, actually there are endless possibilities.
Now there is the entertainment wall that consist mainly of the TV on an entertainment center and a wall of different sizes of shelves. These shelves can be made several different ways you can use 2x8 boards that are stained the color you want or you can build a frame with cross bars out of 2x2 and then with 1x4 and 1x8 make a box to slide over your frame . You will have a little wider shelf made this way.
The picture on my About page is similar and has an entertainment center with 1x8 shelves but it also has two long storage boxes with glass doors. You can also make these yourself, but leave them open as display cases. They would look just as attractive, not hard to make, and I think you would really enjoy them.
One of the entertainment walls I really like is the one that looks like a floating entertainment center. Here again it is made by making a frame with cross bars this time by using 2x4 wood. The box that goes over it, can be with 1x6 and then nice plywood sheeting stained however you want. If you notice one set of bookcases is set on the entertainment center and the other butts up to it.
If you will notice that above the TV it is all closed in and there are lights shining down on the TV. Evidently the area above is where the electrical has been done. Above the electrical there are more open boxes that are very easy to make.
What makes this wall really attractive is the deep brown against the white wood, which seems to make the TV look like it belongs there.
Last but not least, is the wall of shelves and storage areas. This really can easily be made. First of all, if you have kids I would not have all those doors, but just have two under the TV. Then section off the other areas to hold wicker baskets for the kids to put their toys in them. The shelves are basically made the same way as I described before, and the long upper shelf with storage boxes are 2x12. The first, supported by wood braces and the second supported by the dividers of the storage boxes. As I said before I really think this one would be great if you had kids.
These entertainment centers are very attractive and really don't take as much to create them. Sometimes just purchasing the furniture and putting them together with a little wood will create a beautiful wall for entertainment.
As you see in the slides there are several ways in going about designing your wall, now one of the pictures that is being used displays two bookcases with storage, an entertainment center and then storage attached above. It was put in there to give you an idea how bookcases can be used. I will tell you a simpler and more modern looking way is to have some open bookcases with an overhead board attaching them.
Just buy a 2x12 because bookcases are approximately that wide, stain it or paint it to match your bookcases and entertainment center. Then slide it on to the tops of bookcase and over the entertainment center where the TV sets.
What is nice about this arrangement is you can make it to fill your whole wall or just part. You can keep it simple or spend more money, buying ornate bookcases and entertainment centers. You can also add over head storage compartments when you make the cover between the bookcases that is shown in the picture with the white bookcase entertainment center. They can be open boxes with slde in wicker boxes or you can have them close with glass doors, actually there are endless possibilities.
Now there is the entertainment wall that consist mainly of the TV on an entertainment center and a wall of different sizes of shelves. These shelves can be made several different ways you can use 2x8 boards that are stained the color you want or you can build a frame with cross bars out of 2x2 and then with 1x4 and 1x8 make a box to slide over your frame . You will have a little wider shelf made this way.
The picture on my About page is similar and has an entertainment center with 1x8 shelves but it also has two long storage boxes with glass doors. You can also make these yourself, but leave them open as display cases. They would look just as attractive, not hard to make, and I think you would really enjoy them.
One of the entertainment walls I really like is the one that looks like a floating entertainment center. Here again it is made by making a frame with cross bars this time by using 2x4 wood. The box that goes over it, can be with 1x6 and then nice plywood sheeting stained however you want. If you notice one set of bookcases is set on the entertainment center and the other butts up to it.
If you will notice that above the TV it is all closed in and there are lights shining down on the TV. Evidently the area above is where the electrical has been done. Above the electrical there are more open boxes that are very easy to make.
What makes this wall really attractive is the deep brown against the white wood, which seems to make the TV look like it belongs there.
Last but not least, is the wall of shelves and storage areas. This really can easily be made. First of all, if you have kids I would not have all those doors, but just have two under the TV. Then section off the other areas to hold wicker baskets for the kids to put their toys in them. The shelves are basically made the same way as I described before, and the long upper shelf with storage boxes are 2x12. The first, supported by wood braces and the second supported by the dividers of the storage boxes. As I said before I really think this one would be great if you had kids.
These entertainment centers are very attractive and really don't take as much to create them. Sometimes just purchasing the furniture and putting them together with a little wood will create a beautiful wall for entertainment.
How Hard Are Bathrooms to Update
Updating a bathroom is only as hard as you make it. This my bathroom and you would never imagine what it looked like when I purchased the home. The bathtub was then under the window and there was just a single old fashion blue green sink and blue green tub and toilet. Not only that but the floors were vinyl and so were the tiles that went 2/3 ways up the wall, even worse they were a ghastly colored pink crowned in black.
The first time I remodeled I moved the tub and put a four foot vanity with a laminate counter top that covered the six foot space creating a makeup area. When I created a makeup area I put a stool that I covered to match the colors in the room.
The next time I had a vanity made for me that was six feet long. I had the counter tops done in granite. What was really great was when I started pricing vanities I couldn't believe the price for that size even in unfinished vanities. I wanted something special with lots of storage and double sinks because I knew we would be listing our home.
Double sinks are important when it comes time to sell. I also found 15" sinks which are not the most common but I wanted to give a lot of counter space. My whole vanity cost me $1100 faucets and all compared to $1000 I was finding being priced just for vanities, even unfinished. I got the really good deal on the vanity because I met the man at the Home Show. He made cabinets on the side so it was not his main income. I really got a good deal on the granite, they were at the show too and had several specials on installing different sizes and one fit mine. What helped me get such a beautiful piece of granite at their bargain price, was when I went to pick out my granite I was able to find a slab that was leftover from another cut, but it just fit my vanity, so I got it at the price they were asking on the show special, otherwise I wouldn't have.
I could have just ripped off the vinyl on the walls and tiled, but when I did take off the vinyl, it left black felt everywhere. I decided that wainscoting would be best. The first time I just stained it oak with a water base stain and finish because I knew I'd probably paint over it some time. I did it with a light cream then antique with an acrylic paint mixed in a glaze.
You just brush the glaze on the wipe it off. It will stay into all the crevices. I don't know if you can see in the picture, but I have all kinds of trim. I am a trim freak, at times I will even create my own trim. The more detailed the trim the better for antiquing. I put in a glass block window and even around that window there is double trim.
I have a storage cabinet next to the tub that is same color as the vanity and it is a double storage cabinet that has trim that has been antiqued. As you can see tile is not necessary if you paint the wainscoting with semi-gloss paint it is easy to wipe off and will take the dampness.
I tiled both the floors and behind the shower. The floor was just a simple large porcelain tile and around the shower is a pretty white tile that has streaks of color going through it. I finished the edge of the shower tiles with a lighter cap tile.
As I told you before I don't leave my ceilings start white and in here it is painted a creamy beige, while the walls are painted in an adobe brown color. I did the fixtures in brass,along with a brass shower door. Now as far as the shower door goes I will never buy anything else but a frameless shower door. They don't have the rubber sealant around them like the other doors do, which I guarantee, attract mold.
Wainscoting is cheaper than tile and lot less work to install, I know I may have spent more for all the extra trim and I really didn't need to have a glass block window. Since I did all the labor I could easily afford it. If you what to find out exactly how any one of these projects are done then visit Contact and leave me a message.
The first time I remodeled I moved the tub and put a four foot vanity with a laminate counter top that covered the six foot space creating a makeup area. When I created a makeup area I put a stool that I covered to match the colors in the room.
The next time I had a vanity made for me that was six feet long. I had the counter tops done in granite. What was really great was when I started pricing vanities I couldn't believe the price for that size even in unfinished vanities. I wanted something special with lots of storage and double sinks because I knew we would be listing our home.
Double sinks are important when it comes time to sell. I also found 15" sinks which are not the most common but I wanted to give a lot of counter space. My whole vanity cost me $1100 faucets and all compared to $1000 I was finding being priced just for vanities, even unfinished. I got the really good deal on the vanity because I met the man at the Home Show. He made cabinets on the side so it was not his main income. I really got a good deal on the granite, they were at the show too and had several specials on installing different sizes and one fit mine. What helped me get such a beautiful piece of granite at their bargain price, was when I went to pick out my granite I was able to find a slab that was leftover from another cut, but it just fit my vanity, so I got it at the price they were asking on the show special, otherwise I wouldn't have.
I could have just ripped off the vinyl on the walls and tiled, but when I did take off the vinyl, it left black felt everywhere. I decided that wainscoting would be best. The first time I just stained it oak with a water base stain and finish because I knew I'd probably paint over it some time. I did it with a light cream then antique with an acrylic paint mixed in a glaze.
You just brush the glaze on the wipe it off. It will stay into all the crevices. I don't know if you can see in the picture, but I have all kinds of trim. I am a trim freak, at times I will even create my own trim. The more detailed the trim the better for antiquing. I put in a glass block window and even around that window there is double trim.
I have a storage cabinet next to the tub that is same color as the vanity and it is a double storage cabinet that has trim that has been antiqued. As you can see tile is not necessary if you paint the wainscoting with semi-gloss paint it is easy to wipe off and will take the dampness.
I tiled both the floors and behind the shower. The floor was just a simple large porcelain tile and around the shower is a pretty white tile that has streaks of color going through it. I finished the edge of the shower tiles with a lighter cap tile.
As I told you before I don't leave my ceilings start white and in here it is painted a creamy beige, while the walls are painted in an adobe brown color. I did the fixtures in brass,along with a brass shower door. Now as far as the shower door goes I will never buy anything else but a frameless shower door. They don't have the rubber sealant around them like the other doors do, which I guarantee, attract mold.
Wainscoting is cheaper than tile and lot less work to install, I know I may have spent more for all the extra trim and I really didn't need to have a glass block window. Since I did all the labor I could easily afford it. If you what to find out exactly how any one of these projects are done then visit Contact and leave me a message.
How Do You Update a Fireplace
The fireplace above is very eye catching but if you had seen it when the house was bought you would never believe it was the same fireplace. The original fireplace was gold brick had no mantle and going across the top was a mirror.
The first time I remodeled it I painted the bricks white, but that just didn't do it. So I spent time looking for large tiles with a really nice color and a very cheap price. Unbelievably, I managed to do it and each one of the tiles cost only $2.99 each. As you can see I took down the old mirror and replaced it with wainscoting that I lightly stained oak I also put up a very inexpensive mantle made out of pine that I distressed and stained to matched the wainscoting. If you can see the trim around the door and the baseboard, it is just 1x4's that have been distressed and stained to match above the fireplace.
When I remodeled the first time the family room was done western and I had tan walls with a ceramic buffalo skull hanging where the clock hangs on the wainscoting now and instead of candles, I had Indian weapons up there along with the guns. On the wall above the couch I had an Indian painting which I painted hanging. I can never keep anything for very long but just buy a few things, use some paint and you can make a room look like a completely different place.
I also decided to cut out a spot in my rug to tile, because I did have a throw rug there, but every time I would open up the fire door and restock the fire ashes would blow out and burn small holes in the rug. I decided to tile there to stop the problem and actually I thought it looked better than the throw rug.
Updating an old fireplace can really make a room look so much newer and charming and it isn't any harder than tiling on the wall, but you will first need to cover the bricks with a thin coat of mortar mixed with Thinset to peanut butter consistency. Make sure bricks were clean first, before you put the mortar on and cover with a thin coat filling all joints and any chips, let dry then you are ready to tile. Here again it is so much easier to tile if you will find tiles that will fit your space without hardly doing any cutting. So remember this when buying. Have a design in mind and a size of tile before you go shopping. Here again you can look on the computer and get detail pictures of exactly how to tile your fireplace.
You can mortar over your prepared bricks and start placing the tiles just like you tiled your wall, make sure you press them well into the wet mortar and use your spacers. Let dry overnight, then apply grout, clean off all your grout, let that dry. After letting grout dry overnight take some grout haze cleaner and with a damp rag clean tiles and then your done.
Isn't it a great feeling to stand there and admire a new fireplace. The next for you to remember, if you use your fireplace often is make sure you get someone to clean it yearly, or you may in up with a chimney fire. If you have a really good chimney what is really great is to have a woodstove insert put into your fireplace, as I did, but I also had to have a new metal chimney put in because mine was not safe enough to handle the heat woodstoves provide. My electric bill in the winter is low because we burn wood. The fireplace can be great and when updated elegant.
The first time I remodeled it I painted the bricks white, but that just didn't do it. So I spent time looking for large tiles with a really nice color and a very cheap price. Unbelievably, I managed to do it and each one of the tiles cost only $2.99 each. As you can see I took down the old mirror and replaced it with wainscoting that I lightly stained oak I also put up a very inexpensive mantle made out of pine that I distressed and stained to matched the wainscoting. If you can see the trim around the door and the baseboard, it is just 1x4's that have been distressed and stained to match above the fireplace.
When I remodeled the first time the family room was done western and I had tan walls with a ceramic buffalo skull hanging where the clock hangs on the wainscoting now and instead of candles, I had Indian weapons up there along with the guns. On the wall above the couch I had an Indian painting which I painted hanging. I can never keep anything for very long but just buy a few things, use some paint and you can make a room look like a completely different place.
I also decided to cut out a spot in my rug to tile, because I did have a throw rug there, but every time I would open up the fire door and restock the fire ashes would blow out and burn small holes in the rug. I decided to tile there to stop the problem and actually I thought it looked better than the throw rug.
Updating an old fireplace can really make a room look so much newer and charming and it isn't any harder than tiling on the wall, but you will first need to cover the bricks with a thin coat of mortar mixed with Thinset to peanut butter consistency. Make sure bricks were clean first, before you put the mortar on and cover with a thin coat filling all joints and any chips, let dry then you are ready to tile. Here again it is so much easier to tile if you will find tiles that will fit your space without hardly doing any cutting. So remember this when buying. Have a design in mind and a size of tile before you go shopping. Here again you can look on the computer and get detail pictures of exactly how to tile your fireplace.
You can mortar over your prepared bricks and start placing the tiles just like you tiled your wall, make sure you press them well into the wet mortar and use your spacers. Let dry overnight, then apply grout, clean off all your grout, let that dry. After letting grout dry overnight take some grout haze cleaner and with a damp rag clean tiles and then your done.
Isn't it a great feeling to stand there and admire a new fireplace. The next for you to remember, if you use your fireplace often is make sure you get someone to clean it yearly, or you may in up with a chimney fire. If you have a really good chimney what is really great is to have a woodstove insert put into your fireplace, as I did, but I also had to have a new metal chimney put in because mine was not safe enough to handle the heat woodstoves provide. My electric bill in the winter is low because we burn wood. The fireplace can be great and when updated elegant.
What Makes an Attractive Kitchen
When I first bought my home it was several years old and needed a lot of work done to it. Being a designer you can imagine how many times I have redone my house over a eighteen year period. Every time my husband would leave town on a job for a few weeks , I would decide it was time to install new tile or rebuild something. So my house is kept fairly up to date, as you can see in the above slide show of my kitchen.
I decided to redesign this kitchen last year and finished by laying a new wood floor this year. Now about the floor, I went with laminate because it is a kitchen and of course laminate is cheaper than wood it is much more easier to take care of if you have pets. Myself, I really would not have put this color of floor in my kitchen but have gone with a more driftwood affect to flow with the white and grey in the room but my husband did not like the driftwood color. Also because we listed our home it was more practical to go with a floor that everyone would like. It is very important when decorating that if you plan to sell soon that you keep in mind that you may need to decorate for the buyers and not for yourself. The most important part of a home when selling is your kitchen first is how your home appears to the buyer when they first come. If they don't like what they see before leaving the car more than likely they won't get out of the car.
When I redesigned my kitchen this time, I planned on having granite counter tops. My cabinets were not that old so instead of paying a lot for new cabinets, I stripped the paint off and primed and repainted with white semi-gloss paint. It is wise to use a semi-gloss because it is easier to clean than egg shell or any other less glossy. I also bought new hardware for my cabinets in black to match the counter tops, but if your hardware is in good condition use it. The desk you see in the kitchen was a cream colored desk I bought online and I primed and painted to match my cabinets. I also had it covered with matching granite on top.
Now I know you are all thinking that granite is costly and you could not get it for your kitchen, but If you would go to a granite place and look around you will find that they have a lot of pieces on sell, because they don't have full slabs. You can get them at a fairly reasonable price. The next catch is installation, some are high in cost and some aren't. The best thing to do is shop around. I can also tell you from experience that going to the Home Show is where you can find some of the best prices because there they are competing against each other. I will also tell you that you will want some one that has been in business for awhile otherwise you may not be very happy with their work, trust me, I know. A little extra scrutiny on the granite is wise because sometimes fine cracks can not be seen, so look carefully.
When I designed my eating bar I made sure I had plenty of support for the granite otherwise the weight of the granite will bow your wood, make sure you have enough support even with your counters. I changed my back splash several times over the years and could never make up my mind what I really liked. The best thing to do, is to purchase a few tiles you really like, take them home and set them up on top of the counter top and look at them in the room itself, there you will get the feel of it. The tile is easy to do, in fact I would rather do wall tile than floor tile. Although kitchen counters do cause a little problem to have to work over them, I still prefer tiling on the walls then on the floor. The only catch to the walls is tiles slide. So you need to figure exactly how you are going to lay them.
I will start in the center and tape to see just how my pattern will look and fit on the wall. I also try to arrange a pattern that requires as little cutting as possible because I hate to cut, so I really work every thing out even when purchasing my tiles to make sure I can get them in that space without doing much cutting. Once you have every thing figured out it is time to tile. As before I told you to have a trowel with grooves, and a sponge and bucket to clean the grout. On the wall you usually put the tile a lot closer together which it a lot easier to grout, so you will also need smaller spacers. Then begin tiling as I described before, only this time you will be able to buy premixed mortar and grout to do your tiles. I don't think I mentioned about tile cutters. There are several tile cutters, for the wall you usually use smaller tiles, so a score type cutter is sufficient. Now floor tile requires either a circular saw with a ceramic blade or a wet saw. Y0ur best and easiest of all the tile cutters is the wet saw.
As you can see I used a lot of wood in my kitchen from wainscoting to all kinds of wood trim. I also faux painted one wall, although in the photographs in doesn't show well, but the wall looks more like wall paper. It was not hard to do. I took the color that I painted the ceiling and base coated one section of the wall, while the paint was still wet I used a two sided sponge roller brush that comes to a point at the end and dipped one side in black and then the other side was dipped in the color I painted the walls. I rolled the color on the wall being careful not to overwork the color or pressing down too hard on the roller. Then I had a large soft dry brush that I lightly blended the colors, here again it is very important not to overwork your colors or they will all blend into one.
As you noticed the walls are a blue grey, but do you notice that I painted the ceiling a very light grey. It is very common to see white ceilings but if you truly want a warm and elegant room, paint your ceiling a lighter color of the walls. I have even seen some ceilings done in darker colors of the wall. It all depend on what you are trying to achieve in that room. My accent colors for my kitchen are yellow and red and you will note them in the valance above the sink and the throw rug in front of the sink. I also have the colors on paintings on the wall and in an area rug under the dining room table.
Remodeling your kitchen can be really fun and when your done you will feel like you have actually achieved something. One of the most important rooms in your house when it comes to selling your house is your kitchen, so it is very important to make it top notch and very eye catching. If you would like help with your kitchen then visit Contact and leave me a comment I would gladly give you some help.
I decided to redesign this kitchen last year and finished by laying a new wood floor this year. Now about the floor, I went with laminate because it is a kitchen and of course laminate is cheaper than wood it is much more easier to take care of if you have pets. Myself, I really would not have put this color of floor in my kitchen but have gone with a more driftwood affect to flow with the white and grey in the room but my husband did not like the driftwood color. Also because we listed our home it was more practical to go with a floor that everyone would like. It is very important when decorating that if you plan to sell soon that you keep in mind that you may need to decorate for the buyers and not for yourself. The most important part of a home when selling is your kitchen first is how your home appears to the buyer when they first come. If they don't like what they see before leaving the car more than likely they won't get out of the car.
When I redesigned my kitchen this time, I planned on having granite counter tops. My cabinets were not that old so instead of paying a lot for new cabinets, I stripped the paint off and primed and repainted with white semi-gloss paint. It is wise to use a semi-gloss because it is easier to clean than egg shell or any other less glossy. I also bought new hardware for my cabinets in black to match the counter tops, but if your hardware is in good condition use it. The desk you see in the kitchen was a cream colored desk I bought online and I primed and painted to match my cabinets. I also had it covered with matching granite on top.
Now I know you are all thinking that granite is costly and you could not get it for your kitchen, but If you would go to a granite place and look around you will find that they have a lot of pieces on sell, because they don't have full slabs. You can get them at a fairly reasonable price. The next catch is installation, some are high in cost and some aren't. The best thing to do is shop around. I can also tell you from experience that going to the Home Show is where you can find some of the best prices because there they are competing against each other. I will also tell you that you will want some one that has been in business for awhile otherwise you may not be very happy with their work, trust me, I know. A little extra scrutiny on the granite is wise because sometimes fine cracks can not be seen, so look carefully.
When I designed my eating bar I made sure I had plenty of support for the granite otherwise the weight of the granite will bow your wood, make sure you have enough support even with your counters. I changed my back splash several times over the years and could never make up my mind what I really liked. The best thing to do, is to purchase a few tiles you really like, take them home and set them up on top of the counter top and look at them in the room itself, there you will get the feel of it. The tile is easy to do, in fact I would rather do wall tile than floor tile. Although kitchen counters do cause a little problem to have to work over them, I still prefer tiling on the walls then on the floor. The only catch to the walls is tiles slide. So you need to figure exactly how you are going to lay them.
I will start in the center and tape to see just how my pattern will look and fit on the wall. I also try to arrange a pattern that requires as little cutting as possible because I hate to cut, so I really work every thing out even when purchasing my tiles to make sure I can get them in that space without doing much cutting. Once you have every thing figured out it is time to tile. As before I told you to have a trowel with grooves, and a sponge and bucket to clean the grout. On the wall you usually put the tile a lot closer together which it a lot easier to grout, so you will also need smaller spacers. Then begin tiling as I described before, only this time you will be able to buy premixed mortar and grout to do your tiles. I don't think I mentioned about tile cutters. There are several tile cutters, for the wall you usually use smaller tiles, so a score type cutter is sufficient. Now floor tile requires either a circular saw with a ceramic blade or a wet saw. Y0ur best and easiest of all the tile cutters is the wet saw.
As you can see I used a lot of wood in my kitchen from wainscoting to all kinds of wood trim. I also faux painted one wall, although in the photographs in doesn't show well, but the wall looks more like wall paper. It was not hard to do. I took the color that I painted the ceiling and base coated one section of the wall, while the paint was still wet I used a two sided sponge roller brush that comes to a point at the end and dipped one side in black and then the other side was dipped in the color I painted the walls. I rolled the color on the wall being careful not to overwork the color or pressing down too hard on the roller. Then I had a large soft dry brush that I lightly blended the colors, here again it is very important not to overwork your colors or they will all blend into one.
As you noticed the walls are a blue grey, but do you notice that I painted the ceiling a very light grey. It is very common to see white ceilings but if you truly want a warm and elegant room, paint your ceiling a lighter color of the walls. I have even seen some ceilings done in darker colors of the wall. It all depend on what you are trying to achieve in that room. My accent colors for my kitchen are yellow and red and you will note them in the valance above the sink and the throw rug in front of the sink. I also have the colors on paintings on the wall and in an area rug under the dining room table.
Remodeling your kitchen can be really fun and when your done you will feel like you have actually achieved something. One of the most important rooms in your house when it comes to selling your house is your kitchen, so it is very important to make it top notch and very eye catching. If you would like help with your kitchen then visit Contact and leave me a comment I would gladly give you some help.
How to Lay an Elegant Tile Floor Inexpensively
Have you ever wanted to have floors that stood out and showed a decorative flair but really didn't have the money to do it. Well now you can. Tiling yourself really isn't that difficult although a lot of physical labor. You will need to be agile and have the ability to get up and down easily. I myself prefer to do back splashes then floor tile because if you have sore knees I guarantee they will become worse, that is why it is wise to use knee pads.
To begin with you need to find a design that is fairly easy to do if you have never tiled before. The one I have in the picture looks elegant but really is very easy to do especially if you have a big room if you have a small room you can do the same thing just drop the size of the tiles. As far as this picture goes it is just a little too formal for me and I think it would look just as neat by using smaller tiles in the middle, say one foot square, then going around the outside,also using one foot square, but of a different color, in this case, maybe a marble looking brown and have four completely different style corners.
You will need to measure the room and figure out the square footage. From there it will be the salesman at the tile outlet store who will figure out exactly what you need. Be sure you take the picture with you so he can see the design. Make sure everything is on your drawing of your room floor, if you have built-in cabinets or a fireplace these are all measured and marked on your drawing. Take off baseboards before you measure because your baseboards will be going on top of your tile to finish off your room.
You want to find a large tile store that carries everything, with large selections. These stores will have a lot to choose from and always have tiles on sale. Also the larger the tile the cheaper and the easier to lay. So keep this in mind. We all want to save some money and have more to choose from.
Once you have all the tiles at home you will have to lay out your pattern starting from the center of the room because you want the cut tiles to be even around the edges. You will also need to have your inlaid design to be evenly set around your room, so set everything accordingly. One thing I did forget to mention, If you are laying on wood floor you will need to put down Duroc concrete sheets, because you cannot directly lay tile on wood floors. Unfortunately these are a little expensive, weigh a lot but are necessary. If you have concrete floors for your tiles to go on, you must make sure they are level. Go to a home improvement place and ask someone there to help you with leveling your floor, they can.
I hope that when you were at the tile outlet store you purchased all the tools you needed. They will help you gather all the supplies like the trowel, sponge to remove grout, tile spacers, a tool to smooth out the grout between tiles, tile spacers, mortar and grout and a tile cutter.. There are a few things you will need but the salesman should be able to gather everything. Now you are ready to tile. It is best if you watch a video and I know you can find one on YouTube or read a book on tiling that has pictures, it will make it a lot easier.
First apply the mortar with the trowel that has grooves, do not do large areas it is best to work in smaller areas, otherwise you will find that reaching is difficult and handling the tile hard so only mortar approximately 1 to 2 rows at a time, depending on how small the tiles are. When you spread the mortar use the flat side and use a little less than a 1/4 inch thick, then use the teeth to make a grooves also cover the back of the tile then tile, putting a spacer between each tile, keeping the space between the tiles for the grout. Complete your tiling, allow to dry overnight. Do not walk on it until the next day because you can cause you r tile to slide and have uneven grout space. You also need to make sure all mortar is cleaned from your tiles and grout spaces before drying so do it as you work laying the tile.
Mixing the grout is pretty much like mixing the mortar, which you want to keep at a little thicker than cake batter. If you are doing a small room you can buy premix which is easier but cost more. If you are doing a bathroom it would be wise to use the epoxy grout because this is water resistant and doesn't have to be sealed every year, really great for around tubs and sinks.
Here again work in small areas, the grout dries fast and is hard to get off if not done right especially if you have porous tiles. Spread grout over the area at an angle across the grout lines so the grout can get in the space. Let it set for a few minutes then using your special sponge with a bucket of water wipe off grout, you can also use the tool that rolls down the grout line giving a smooth looking grout line. Go across grout lines and not down them, you don't want to wipe out your grout. Keep your sponge rinsed out and the water squeezed out for best cleaning. You will also need to clean your bucket of water every so often. Don't pour it down your sink pour it outside on the ground in rocks, otherwise, you may have clogged sinks. When done let dry, don't walk on it, if possible.
The next day use a solution of grout haze remover mixed with water and wipe down the tiles. You will have a decorative floor that did not cost a fortune it cost to have a professional lay it for you. As you can see this design isn't very hard and all you need is 4 corner tiles which you might find in closeout and the different colored tiles could also be found at closeout because you don't use many of those or if you like the picture really well just stick to tiles that are similar to it, although the tiles with the design will be more costly than plain tiles unless you can find them in closeout. I always try to get my tile bought at a discount.
Enjoy the look of your floor for a lot lower cost. A little more work, but when your done, you can say "I did it."
To begin with you need to find a design that is fairly easy to do if you have never tiled before. The one I have in the picture looks elegant but really is very easy to do especially if you have a big room if you have a small room you can do the same thing just drop the size of the tiles. As far as this picture goes it is just a little too formal for me and I think it would look just as neat by using smaller tiles in the middle, say one foot square, then going around the outside,also using one foot square, but of a different color, in this case, maybe a marble looking brown and have four completely different style corners.
You will need to measure the room and figure out the square footage. From there it will be the salesman at the tile outlet store who will figure out exactly what you need. Be sure you take the picture with you so he can see the design. Make sure everything is on your drawing of your room floor, if you have built-in cabinets or a fireplace these are all measured and marked on your drawing. Take off baseboards before you measure because your baseboards will be going on top of your tile to finish off your room.
You want to find a large tile store that carries everything, with large selections. These stores will have a lot to choose from and always have tiles on sale. Also the larger the tile the cheaper and the easier to lay. So keep this in mind. We all want to save some money and have more to choose from.
Once you have all the tiles at home you will have to lay out your pattern starting from the center of the room because you want the cut tiles to be even around the edges. You will also need to have your inlaid design to be evenly set around your room, so set everything accordingly. One thing I did forget to mention, If you are laying on wood floor you will need to put down Duroc concrete sheets, because you cannot directly lay tile on wood floors. Unfortunately these are a little expensive, weigh a lot but are necessary. If you have concrete floors for your tiles to go on, you must make sure they are level. Go to a home improvement place and ask someone there to help you with leveling your floor, they can.
I hope that when you were at the tile outlet store you purchased all the tools you needed. They will help you gather all the supplies like the trowel, sponge to remove grout, tile spacers, a tool to smooth out the grout between tiles, tile spacers, mortar and grout and a tile cutter.. There are a few things you will need but the salesman should be able to gather everything. Now you are ready to tile. It is best if you watch a video and I know you can find one on YouTube or read a book on tiling that has pictures, it will make it a lot easier.
First apply the mortar with the trowel that has grooves, do not do large areas it is best to work in smaller areas, otherwise you will find that reaching is difficult and handling the tile hard so only mortar approximately 1 to 2 rows at a time, depending on how small the tiles are. When you spread the mortar use the flat side and use a little less than a 1/4 inch thick, then use the teeth to make a grooves also cover the back of the tile then tile, putting a spacer between each tile, keeping the space between the tiles for the grout. Complete your tiling, allow to dry overnight. Do not walk on it until the next day because you can cause you r tile to slide and have uneven grout space. You also need to make sure all mortar is cleaned from your tiles and grout spaces before drying so do it as you work laying the tile.
Mixing the grout is pretty much like mixing the mortar, which you want to keep at a little thicker than cake batter. If you are doing a small room you can buy premix which is easier but cost more. If you are doing a bathroom it would be wise to use the epoxy grout because this is water resistant and doesn't have to be sealed every year, really great for around tubs and sinks.
Here again work in small areas, the grout dries fast and is hard to get off if not done right especially if you have porous tiles. Spread grout over the area at an angle across the grout lines so the grout can get in the space. Let it set for a few minutes then using your special sponge with a bucket of water wipe off grout, you can also use the tool that rolls down the grout line giving a smooth looking grout line. Go across grout lines and not down them, you don't want to wipe out your grout. Keep your sponge rinsed out and the water squeezed out for best cleaning. You will also need to clean your bucket of water every so often. Don't pour it down your sink pour it outside on the ground in rocks, otherwise, you may have clogged sinks. When done let dry, don't walk on it, if possible.
The next day use a solution of grout haze remover mixed with water and wipe down the tiles. You will have a decorative floor that did not cost a fortune it cost to have a professional lay it for you. As you can see this design isn't very hard and all you need is 4 corner tiles which you might find in closeout and the different colored tiles could also be found at closeout because you don't use many of those or if you like the picture really well just stick to tiles that are similar to it, although the tiles with the design will be more costly than plain tiles unless you can find them in closeout. I always try to get my tile bought at a discount.
Enjoy the look of your floor for a lot lower cost. A little more work, but when your done, you can say "I did it."
Inexpensive Patio furniture with a Designer Look
As you can see this patio is very artistic in design, but can be made very inexpensively. As money gets tighter it is time for us to turn into artistic designers if we want to have nice looking homes. You can build this patio for little investment but the work happens to be a little more.
To begin with, you need to make a drawing of each piece you want for your patio. You do not need to do a perfect sketch, but you will need to have something to put measurements on . Now the next thing is to figure out how big or small you want it. Here is a hint for you. As you can see these have been made from pallets that are used in shipping, so I would advise you to first, get a collection of nice wood pallets, this will help your measurements. You will want to stay in that size range. The table appears to be almost the size of the pallet but not as square.
The pallets can usually be found at any company that has items shipped in to them, many of those companies usually trash their pallets, so if you would speak with them and make a deal to have them save them for you. You will have your wood at very little to no cost depending on your size. If you decide to make them a little longer you will then need to purchase some wood. Along with the wood, you will also need nails or screws that do not rust.
The appearance of the furniture above looks unfinished and depending on how rustic you want it, will depend how you finish it. Myself I would have at least 2 coats of a matte polyurethane sealer put on the furniture because your furniture will last longer. With this type of sealant it will keep the color of the pallet. If you would like a color don’t paint, painting loses the rustic affect. Buy a polyurethane sealant with a stain in it The stain will give it a wood color and keep it with a nice rustic look. Whatever you decide will still make nice looking patio furniture.
When arranging your furniture it is important to add color with potted plants or as in the picture, they have a lot of ferns. So now you are an artist and designer with an inexpensive touch. There are so many things we can do to enjoy art beside painting a picture.
To begin with, you need to make a drawing of each piece you want for your patio. You do not need to do a perfect sketch, but you will need to have something to put measurements on . Now the next thing is to figure out how big or small you want it. Here is a hint for you. As you can see these have been made from pallets that are used in shipping, so I would advise you to first, get a collection of nice wood pallets, this will help your measurements. You will want to stay in that size range. The table appears to be almost the size of the pallet but not as square.
The pallets can usually be found at any company that has items shipped in to them, many of those companies usually trash their pallets, so if you would speak with them and make a deal to have them save them for you. You will have your wood at very little to no cost depending on your size. If you decide to make them a little longer you will then need to purchase some wood. Along with the wood, you will also need nails or screws that do not rust.
The appearance of the furniture above looks unfinished and depending on how rustic you want it, will depend how you finish it. Myself I would have at least 2 coats of a matte polyurethane sealer put on the furniture because your furniture will last longer. With this type of sealant it will keep the color of the pallet. If you would like a color don’t paint, painting loses the rustic affect. Buy a polyurethane sealant with a stain in it The stain will give it a wood color and keep it with a nice rustic look. Whatever you decide will still make nice looking patio furniture.
When arranging your furniture it is important to add color with potted plants or as in the picture, they have a lot of ferns. So now you are an artist and designer with an inexpensive touch. There are so many things we can do to enjoy art beside painting a picture.
