Decorating – A Diamond in the Stuff

Laundry Room Board and Batten

Courtney Carmean — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 13:00:35 +0000

I have shared glimpses of my laundry room on the blog several times. You can see posts HERE, HERE, and HERE. I was wanting to upgrade the laundry room a bit and maybe even provide some more organizational options. Also, I was wanting to tackle something new. For some time I had kept my eye on DIY board and batten projects and really loved the look. This was the time to take the plunge and give it a try.

My supplies were:

6in x 1in pine board/s

3in x 1in pine boards

White caulking

Nails/nail gun

Paint

Hooks (optional)

To an extent, the amount of supplies you will need will depend on how big of an area you will be putting up your board and batten. The wall that I was putting mine on was a fairly small area so I didn’t need a lot of lumber, paint, etc. Also, some of the decisions we made were purely opinion on our part. We decided to have the whole thing stand 55in from the ground. This is just what looked good to us, I’ve seen them taller and shorter. This also applies to how far apart we decided to put the vertical boards. Our wall studs were 16in apart so we made our lives easier and nailed a 3×1 board on every stud, making sure that they were evenly spaced. We have a nail gun so that was our best option to attach the boards to the walls. If you don’t have a nail gun, a good ole hammer and nails or glue would work as well.

Once all the boards were attached to the walls, it was time to tackle the imperfections. We didn’t choose the highest quality boards (nor did we pick the roughest either) and no matter what there will be gaps and holes. I wanted the end result to look polished and professional. I grabbed some white EASY CAULKING and following the directions, I applied it to any gaps and holes I saw. Where the boards come together and where the boards attach to the wall there may be gaps. Where the nail gun shot nails into the wood there are holes. Things like wood filler work too, but I can say that this stuff was so so easy to work with and it did a great job!!! {not a paid advertisement, just my personal experience}

Once I was happy with my caulking job and it had dried, it was time to paint. We had some paint left over from a home improvement project that matched our trim, so I decided to use that. This way it would match with the baseboards underneath the board and batten. I did a few coats of it for good coverage and went back and did some touch ups when needed. I had really wanted to create more organization with this project, not just have it look pretty. So I bought some black hooks that just so happen to match the hooks on the other side of our laundry room! How that happened, I’ll never know!

*side not: forgive me, these are not the best photos as there is absolutely no natural light in this room. Unless I open the garage and the connecting door. But y’all get the point.*

So here it is all done! I absolutely love it and it has even brightened up the room, which it needed. The board and batten really upgrade the room and add something special.

To add even more organizational power, I added some nice hooks behind the door into the laundry room. When we moved in the previous owners had a simple nondescript broom holder, which served it’s purpose fine but I wanted something that looked nicer. I don’t have a closet to stuff all my brooms and such away, so behind the door it is. At least now it looks tidier and cleaner.

Here’s a shot from our garage. My sweet little puppy decided to make an appearance in this shot! I’m still loving my Crib Spring Drying Rack and my Washer and Dryer Pedestal! All this organization in one room makes my heart flutter!

It’s so pretty!

If you’re wanting to try a big project or a new idea, a small room like a laundry room or bathroom might just be the perfect place to start! Also, doing big eye catching features come across great in smaller rooms so that they are not overwhelming in scale! I think this Laundry Room Board and Batten turned out just perfectly for my room! What do you think?

Linking up with THESE great parties!!!

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Here are some Laundry Room Organizing Ideas to get that crazy room whipped into shape…..

Witch’s Scroll and Spooky Porch

Courtney Carmean — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 13:00:33 +0000

October is officially upon us. The past couple years I haven’t been in a “decorate for Halloween” kind of mood, much to my son’s dismay. So this year I PROMISED that we would SPOOKify our front porch. Shortly after said promise I got an email from the good people at PRO WORLD INC asking if I would like to give their HTV (heat transfer vinyl) a try! Well yes I would and I know JUST how I will put it to use! Enter the Witch’s Scroll and Spook Porch!

First of all, they sent me some gorgeous black glitter HTV. Yay. However, I have actually never cut glitter HTV before so I decided right then and there that this was my time to try! For those like me, fairly inexperienced to the HTV world, I broke it down into a few steps:

1: First I cut out some fabric I had lying around. It was a thick cotton canvas, I knew it would hang just how I wanted it to and it was readily available!

2: Then I designed and cut out my “image”, which just so happened to be words. Can anyone place where this quote comes from?

3: Once I had the HTV cut and weeded (might I had, it was a DREAM to weed. A DREAM!) I positioned it onto my cut out fabric.

4: Then I tore off a piece of parchment paper and laid it on top of the HTV and clear carrier sheet.

5: I cranked up my iron as hot as it would go and I pressed each section for 15 seconds each. Once all the HTV had adhered to the fabric, I removed the carrier sheet and did another press just using the parchment paper.

6: To finish it up, I grabbed a small stick and glued it to the top of the fabric. You’re probably asking yourself right about now if this lady has lost her mind. Most definitely. But we’re not getting into that now.

Ah, it’s all coming together now! Pretty fabulous right? Have you guessed the quote by now? It’s from Macbeth, you know with the three witches standing over their cauldron reciting this spell.

I picked a font that I thought looked hand written (shorelines script) like one of the witches scrawled it out. It looks so good with the glitter vinyl too. Well I was absolutely in love with my new Witch’s Scroll at this point, however my porch was certainly not living up to it’s fabulousness and I DID promise the boy that we would have an awesome Halloween porch this year.

So I got busy on creating a porch that was special enough for my new door-hanger! A trip to the local park got me some fabulous dead branches (and free I might add!). The hubby loaded the back of the truck with a bed full of these huge suckers. I also picked up these incredible pumpkins, which just so happen to be called fairytale pumpkins!

Threw a few bats up on the branches and called it FABULOUS! I mean it’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea but I’m just not into the gory, scary, morbid side of Halloween. But this, this I like!

It’s not jump-out-and-make-someone-need-a-fresh-pair-of-undies scary, but it definitely has a spooky feel too it. I’ve already successfully creeped a couple neighbor kids out so I’ve got that going for me!

Alright, so tell me what you think? Are you dying for a Witch’s Scroll for your door and a super Spooky Porch now? I thought you might! Thanks everyone for stopping by and have a great week!!!

I just may be partying with some people this week!

this post contains some paid product, but all thoughts and opinions are my own

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Want more ideas to get your Halloween into gear? How about my Halloween Mantel?

Upcycled Footboard Coat Rack

Courtney Carmean — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 13:00:13 +0000

Part of me feels like apologies are in order, I’ve basically been MIA on the ole blog here. However, the truth is we had a completely crazy busy fun family filled summer and I wouldn’t of traded a second of it. In the past months we have been to the National Archery Tournament (NASP) in Louisville, the World Archery Tournament (NASP) Mrytle Beach, Disney World, Illinois, and we’ve driven to each of the places. I think my car has about 8,000 more miles on it and we’re one windshield down. Sigh.

Now the kids are back in school, if you can believe that, and I am itching to get back to my projects. I have a MAJOR to-do list going on right now. So for today, I am sharing the other side of the very last project I shared before my summer of craziness! Here is my Upcycled Footboard Coat Rack……….

A while ago I scored this awesome headboard and footboard. Earlier this summer I shared what I did with the headboard in my Farmhouse Headboard Bench post.

I absolutely love how the headboard bench turned out, so much so I want to keep it for myself and not sell it. However I have no place whatsoever for it. This is the pain of loving what you do! After that project was complete I needed to come up with a project for the footboard. It was shorter and that posed some problems. I considered a child sized bench, but I wasn’t in love with that idea.

I’m not really sure what finally inspired me but suddenly I knew that this footboard HAD to become an awesome coat rack.

I used some Country Chic chalk paint in Vanilla Frosting. This chalk paint is quickly becoming some of my favorite chalk paint to use and no that is not a paid opinion! But hey Country Chic if you’re reading this, hey lets chat! ; )

I picked out these really beautiful iron hooks from Hobby Lobby and secured them to the footboard with screws.

I did some distressing on the new coat rack just like I did on the bench. I wanted to see some of the dark wood from beneath, I used a sanding block and hit random high points.

There you have it! So if you have an old footboard, or headboard, or hey anything really (get creative) it can easily be turned into a stunning coat rack that is sure to make a big statement! Afterall, why hang your coat on a boring ole store bought coat rack when you could have something unique and one of a kind like this Upcycled Footboard Coat Rack!

Thanks guys for reading today and I’m going to try and get back on the horse! The project horse that is!!!

Linking up to these link parties.

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While you’re visiting, come check out this amazing industrial coffee table! It’s amazing to see what it started out as!

Industrial Open Shelving

Courtney Carmean — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:00:36 +0000

I have been in a MOOD lately to update my dining area. My house has been semi the same for over two years and for this military wife that is about as much time as I usually spend in a house, so it’s time to change things up! I have a very small dining space in my great room (kitchen, dining, living room) and most of that space it taken by two large windows. I only have this one small length of wall to decorate and it was time for something new. So the old came down and my new Industrial Open Shelving went up!

Here is what the area looked like before my little makeover. And amazingly enough, it looked different before this with a large hanging mirror. I blogged about this Chippy Aqua Architectural Find in 2014.

So how did I make my industrial shelving you ask? Well pretty simply actually. It started with some piping from the hardware store. Yep just normal everyday plumbing material. I decided to use 2in x 12in boards for the shelves so I needed 12in pipes to accommodate them. I went with 3/4in flange, pipe, and cap.

I assembled the flange, pipe, and cap together after giving them a good scrubbing (the come a little oily). Then I attached them to the wall with some wall anchors and screws. I took the 2×12 pine boards and had fun distressing them with all kinds of tools, then I stained them with Special Walnut by Minwax.

I popped those boards up on the pipes and VOILA! I had so much fun decorating them even though it took me forever to get them the way I liked.

I now have a home for some of my Rae Dunn collection which makes me so happy.

I didn’t have to buy much to decorate my new shelves (always a plus), I mostly shopped my home for items. I did however create the Kitchen Conversions sign you see (click on the link for the free file).

The wall anchors and screws are doing their job, look at all those mugs! It’s all pretty heavy and it’s holding strong!!! The mug holder is from World Market in case you’re wondering.

Look at all that distressing! I took a hammer, chisel, sandpaper, and mallet to the boards to give them a really distressed look. Love how they look!

I have some little bits of industrial items around my home and this Industrial Open Shelving is a great addition! It all came together perfectly and it’s now my new favorite spot in my house, you know until my next new spot happens!!!

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Love the industrial look too? How about a Faux Card Catalog Side Table? Pretty cute right?

8 DIY Concrete Projects

Courtney Carmean — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:00:40 +0000

Lately I have been seeing more and more concrete projects and items popping up all over the place. And I’m kinda crushing on it! It’s such a simple medium, it can be used endlessly on some many different kinds of projects. I love it’s industrial feel but it can be softened depending on how you use it. So I rounded up 8 really awesome DIY Concrete Projects you totally have to try!

Check out these GEOMETRIC CONCRETE BOOKENDS! Think about all the cool shapes you could make!

This CONCRETE LETTER and AMPERSAND could be endless as well! Make any letter using their tutorial!

I’m crushing pretty hard on these DIY Concrete Planters! I think these may be on my list!

Have a table top beyond repair? Why not make a DIY Concrete Table?

Need a pendant light and don’t want to spend a ton of money? Make your own DIY Concrete Pendant Lights!

This is one of my faves! You could make this DIY Concrete Picture Frame any size you need!

I love these Concrete Vases for many reasons; but one reason is you can’t see the stems of your flowers when they are in the vase (weird pet peeve, sorry).

Concrete Counter Top! This little baby is getting filed away in my brain for sure!

So what do you think about the concrete trend? Love it or leave it? I’m kinda diggin it right now! I may have to try my hand a a couple of these babies!!!

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Love the industrial look? Check out this Industrial Spool Table….

Kitchen Conversions Chalkboard Sign

Courtney Carmean — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 14:00:52 +0000

In my effort to spruce up the house (I’m in a MOOD) I am re-doing my dining area. We have built new shelving and I will be blogging about it soon! But in the meantime I needed to decorate my new shelves. I mostly shopped my house for items but I needed to fill some gaps, so I decided to whip something up. My Kitchen Conversions Chalkboard Sign to be specific.

I happen to be perusing Michael’s the other day and came upon a clearanced out chalkboard. It was dark blue (which doesn’t go with my decor at all) but it was adorable and $1.99. So into the cart it went. It just took a little bit of white chalk paint and it was already looking more like me. I knew I wanted to do something more to it though so I grabbed my Silhouette and got to work.

I created a file of kitchen conversions using my Silhouette Cameo. I may be the only one out there, but I can never remember all of those conversions! Now I have a cheat sheet!

I cut the file out of white vinyl and placed it on the chalkboard surface. Then I used a piece of chalk to rub all over the chalkboard to make it look used. I love how the sign has a vintage-y look to it.

The Chalkboard sign looks absolutely adorable on my shelf and fits in so perfectly!

So are you just dying to make your own KITCHEN CONVERSIONS SIGN now??? Well…..if you have a Silhouette I can help with that! Simply click HERE for the file and download it! Am I favorite person today or what!?!?

Have a great week everyone! Linking up to these great link parties!!!