Blank Canvas

I recently sold a baby grand piano I purchased a few years back on Craig's List. While I loved how the piano looked and sounded, my kids weren't interested in learning!  

So on to my next project- my living room!  As you can see by the photo below it is a blank canvas. I have big plans! But I have to finish the pantry first, finish the pantry first, finish the pantry first! There I said it 3 times it has to come true!

Pantry & Command Center

My next project is tackling my former laundry room. A few months ago I relocated the washer/dryer to my master bedroom closet(my life is way easier since it's on the second floor)! 

It's been a dream to have a walk-in pantry!  Mine is located just inside garage entry so I can drop my groceries right at the door. 

While still in the planning and prep stages- I'll post these horrible before shots, the lighting is bad, it's a dark room. 

So far I have 4 IKEA Billy Bookshelves (1, 15" wide and 3, 36" wide) which are assembled and I used painted gray planks for backing. For upper cabinetry I'm using 3 Aukrum, white Adele cabinets. 

I also removed the interior door from the kitchen opening up lots of space on the opposite wall for a command center. 

I'll keep you posted as to my progress!  

Cloffice

I was desperate to get all of our tech gadgets into one place and give the kids and I a space to work in!  So I took the doors off a coat closet (we have mudroom for coats) near the family room and voila an office or "cloffice" as we like to call it. 

I started by adding wood planks or ship lap to the back wall to give it some character and then painted it gray.  I ordered floating shelves from Target which the husband easily installed (he's an attorney if he can install them anyone can). Then I needed a floating desk!  Took a two hour road trip to IKEA and found a kitchen table top.  Was able to easily cut in half to create my desk and cubby below! 

My desk chair came from Overstock.com and the little battery operated lights came from Home Depot. 

I found a shoe rack in the closet organizing aisle at Target and this houses the printer and extra paper. 

The best part- all cords come thru a hole in the desktop. All hidden from my view!!

Concrete Countertop

In February I installed Carrera Marble in my kitchen(I love them)!  I wanted a different surface on my island.  I was thinking butcher block but then I heard about Ardex Feather Finish!

Basically it is a cement underlayment floor guys use to install tiles.  Anyway the stuff is fab! I ordered mine from Amazon and it only took 1 bag and I had leftover. 

Here are the steps:

Before: laminate counter

These two tools will remove the laminate and leave a wood surface: heat gun and crow bar. It was an easy process and no mess. Just heat laminate at a corner and lift with bar! Keep heating as you pull. 

Bare counter.  You don't have to do this step you can just sand the laminate.  But I didn't find removing it hard!

Next mix your cement in a small bucket I mixed only 1cup cement to 2 cups water then I would add cement to thicken if needed. The best consistency is like icing on a cake. Then grab a big long putty knife and spread over counter. I used long swipes then re-mixed as I ran out of cement. *To do the edges: I actually spread it on with my fingers! Let dry for 24 hours!

After 24 hours this is what it looks like!  Now get your sanding block, a coarse and a fine and sand, sand, sand. Use a shop vac to help with the dust. After you have all the dust up repeat the whole cement process again. Then let dry, then sand!  I put three thin coats on!  It took a whole week -I didn't want to rush things!

This is the counter before sealing! At this point you could stain the concrete using concrete stain- I've even seen it look like wood. 

Next came the FOOD SAFE sealer. I followed the great instructions on the label. I purchased this also from Amazon. 

The sealer added a great shine and it's soft and satiny feeling. Aside from drying time and sanding this project went quickly- I'd do it again!  All for under $100!

Front Door Drab to Fab!

I've been trying to decide on the "right" shade of aqua/turqoise for my front door. Originally my door was stained and is a wood-grain fiberglass. After looking at many ideas I decided on Woodlawn Charm by Valspar in an exterior semi-gloss. Here is the before-I couldn't find a better pic and I was too excited to start painting to take one before!

Since the door was sealed with a clear poly I first painted on a coat of KILZ. I took off all my hardware and gave them a fresh coat of Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint by Rust-o-lium. I also added a kick plate and new doorbell. Total cost: under $100 for a completely new entry!  Now I just have to decide on a hanging light fixture!