A Dream Realized

<p>So you may have read that title and came here to read thinking this post was something BIG. Like dreams normal people have…a vacation overseas. Or a new car. World peace. (Um, me too.) My dream? It’s always been a window seat. Every since I was a wee one at 20 years of age – I’ve looked at them in magazines and on TV and I. loved. them. </p> <p>I have a couple spots in our house where we could potentially build a seat one day, but when we changed things around during our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/family%20room%20reno" target="_blank">family room reno</a> last year I found a spot that would work even better. I knew it would be perfect and would be extra seating and would look like it was always meant to be there. </p> <p>Our bay window in the kitchen was that perfect spot. The first phase was to remove the old back door that used to be in between the windows. While they were at it I had some lights added since that area can get really dark: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz6glyVbpiKW9DUU3iWPX4TaomAzUC8yKy9S0_NUmY7pT4IxajND8sp1j0-8cHAs30ymNq9L1w78j_PCJmJsAO2_s9axgU9quf7y9ps3DxzufHqD-mhPaX_RdIrqQ5P8yKx06_0_GHlo/s1600-h/IMG_0483%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bay window in kitchen" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkVakplQRXSMToZeiDyDLjbJGUSyJqqS26piRrJK38tLGA_mbdFlxsHe9YZbPyx7gM_so1J9SB2U2VtqhaQ9CQXyGivdIdwSkPrc1c23rXgTxHneynxRb75g_6HpfJvL0qm_lNu1DeVM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bay window in kitchen" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It sat like that for the past three months. I didn’t even paint the trim because I was so busy. I lie…I knew it was going to take forever so I ignored it. :)</p> <p>But last week I finally started the painting and then at the end of the week <em>this</em> started as well: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgFawtBojeQlsIritOwBAxpvA875oyd6fl0oIce0H48TBOmPq8IYInq_-KlZ_nJZBmFWuz_ddoHU60I-3lYHQkfDknZHTyqqG3ncQXVtRgDeZO3WgezZRuWKVBjgak1kTxibciWW89CU/s1600-h/IMG_1710%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="building a window seat" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pem2gipjGn6ZKMmiT2uGB1ZCtbl41SlKwpDmYQeQdHGm3JnyQzYn5ZmXpFsajBsBPsm403QE2pdZg7wlggpa7l1s81OXoizzYN8AF4Lz4bymxJc-ASM62aSWogfP4sBwM1b2qYZIGPs/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="building a window seat" width="500" /></a></p> <p>If you remember I mentioned last week that our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2015/01/final-kitchen-island-plans.html" target="_blank">plans for the kitchen island</a> changed a bit. Those changes resulted in a HUGE savings – the budget for the island was cut in about a third. </p> <p>So when the handymen said they would build the seat for $300, I said DO IT: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnO-QMIksvNLN5S5C2Y-U5KTkJLPaZ-uggFTePw6cgs4KGqMpnTZYnsw0E18LUtiwlN-QsSrL5CpW9IZFD2Ui8eZ54mB72IiHojCErIvHgzvvE5wYXi0Fvmz-C1fx2_LzGNiavPi4MdkI/s1600-h/transkitchens_ss3.jpg.rendition.largest%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="building a bay window seat" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii22Z-NK990oBmTpKW1XlO1_EgJUU7ipoJig5CFZcBk09fejcz112AZqqRm42KPw7VdQMIRYMMp3lyCvwpcs2JyAMODGiW7Hg2nq9XQ3opBNUMTLHpiR3T3iya_xD8d87arTTOnqKp3o4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="building a bay window seat" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And yes, I paid them on the last day of the no spend month. :)</p> <p>I planned to do this myself but I am hosting a shower this weekend (the extra seating will be wonderful!!), I don’t have a table saw and it would take me about a month to do this on my own. And goodness…sometimes it’s nice to have help. So I hired this part out. They framed it and put the face on – and were done in less than a day. </p> <p>We used scrap two by fours that I had for the frame and some other scrap wood I had for the inside of the seat. I also had them extend the outlet so we could still use it. </p> <p>Most of it wasn’t too complex – but the top piece did take some precise cutting. I was impressed that they got the front perfectly flush with the wall so the baseboard flows seamlessly. And they had to build up the inside of the bench so the lid would support a few human beings. :) </p> <p>When they left my work started. Here’s how it looked (I had already started all the trim and painting on the walls last week: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOVNMccZEk3eI4LYbenjWER4NLQV-bxdI_fjrQ79-4Q0kir5IHBLVnbBH4F7c0eex9_5o7o7ekW2koOPUDVD3q2jyxXATU1AcWV7QbObg1jDyGznh9uenIyGZg1FoVUShHf6xV1SRTXM/s1600-h/IMG_1382%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="window seat framing " border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8I-tMMwy6NoVzMwiYLLT7TQVu0q4D3uwPG1srK15bgHSRk0fRapgVA9vSnyiXrJB-JpRK6vCcr2CwOrAaBkPQ0ZspO9Dpnz-5bs-Paj_Q_PBMum3Ff8PX61jHKheRuPmRI0HcMCgGTY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="window seat framing " width="550" /></a></p> <p>I added the beefed up baseboard first – I do it this way so the vertical boards (the board and batten around the room) have something flush to sit on. I also added a board across the top on the front of the bench: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsySRcqhedN52ctiaI6sKxsBuYcj2pqVKXBAk_JiQ_D9vDY2tqjm-RvlqYQ317YJgHv6g-KeHKFGgdKklz3JGEmLCWQ1b5Yn86CX8QCkfHj6nOfzwONNZPGbuSkaJm-BBQVsStKQvt_m0/s1600-h/FullSizeRender%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NjJhY-ugvs5wqG-Ik8Lw90TqiwjANA0VqmtIK47rty6gGuKfZRxNb1necOKDo5LAocpjjIhP7kVvEsaqlpO_Xv2V3Ob5_qs5whXqOtlBs-z0sUml2GI-pO1rUjGNbOKJYlZxpnausrE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Next up came quarter round and primer: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EkUuCbcZQtDgUyFmDJaQd9fsBJjNr7kk8nBn2F9G7vABcPLsph_gSdtGMUVMvtVvxDelkf78X_UNH3C9EpE-Sw1kaZSKv_5T1xfz6RA9vSMeGEV69DmXqL56QJ45FnmDecGcRKQvfwI/s1600-h/IMG_1765%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="building a window seat" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEdT4_w_eqZ5QRqk-P9zZ8FOK4oMamYBFCg_KcKemOp7pUoLSqDtyVLcL9Y2tUfL7YLfTGstPNwCXMV0RqZlHSsqwASnfSma6TZe9DziCikK6yOF8p9G_shqG0nB60coaQ3uA1blA6EE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="building a window seat" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It was starting to come together! </p> <p>I finished up the NINE coats of paint on the windows (three per window – I actually need to do one more quick coat on the fronts of the trim):</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3vmvyaTU5WKs_1AsExr4QQI3U46TjwyIZ0qUQbHUUF-kDelTk_1ZCyRVBDsEzmfaoMGOOEPP5Yhbs4wn5LnL4ocSJJgnbfRASpTIfeMjECl3DP2ZOooSvZT8zVfh4Fr-7Qj2sBjOtKs/s1600-h/IMG_1396%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="DIY craftsman window trim" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aG25RDrOWsRX135drz03sfCCdTqzb9AVZ43wYCGzN6td_WD2sVDVNjeLYQsmWQsIX3YkEx4HLUSpi18IJWjxVUg3iMDs9AKtweT4PH4gAAJvB8RE7TxWsV14C3tjwVVGwgxbxdwzjLo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY craftsman window trim" width="495" /></a></p> <p>Next I sanded and caulked everything and did a coat of semi gloss white all over the seat. The last step was to add the rest of the trim to the front and along the top of the white on the walls: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hn9weA4FsZEgssEu2TRRw6tfsNT-44i6C92moRIuGoQgJ0lfdm54H36VH9SZk1AJ_lq-wRMLmB1dUQicbyKGL_B4IAB9ax8DPH6o5MEma1HwmQjR4OyJwjbwH3vQ_ho6wZNz3Mc6jNc/s1600-h/IMG_1389%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white window seat" border="0" height="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAVTMg-bwwi0kGBaIh3QUWcL7piydpxs4a_40HJvdLR-hl21BjzInEsUC-WlHglCx4q31sGU2Q_EoaOV8FfsUgEzd_X6pS_-eh7vIhdNiQwGFi7SMOZSts50jz6Akzf4jq0m_7dYXbzg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="white window seat" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I actually have one more coat to do on everything and a little more caulking but I was pooped at midnight last night and had to stop. I threw some pillows on here just to show how GREAT that white will look with some color!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSH8z7EM3Zvug9kZqNGa4qpGQs14vImU8w18pD8CJLw-mErAJIhEkzANMJpVbQBb5E-LgT_zCzjhhCUdwvH_xf2Zma2xlBWCwPKoNSMn_3f6OBTmCjq3sINDjzMdKcaVfSevoSeVA9BMk/s1600-h/IMG_1392%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="window seat in kitchen" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDXrU86pXGQosM-s31lQcNaWyjpvOyPiNyXoec8Onm45s4vgA53iOmYwTv0F7zPbqMFBjCEnGDvg4VHminM_3prIBEDhw2S2aOGh-G7UedNCB6Ju4Z6bh_HY8qQk7Eii8JNQfnet0rCA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="window seat in kitchen" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Oh, and I still need to put some trim around the edges on top to hide the small gap along the walls. I am making myself finish all these details before I can start on the island. :) </p> <p>And of course eventually there will be a big cushion on here as well! It will take me some time to figure out what fabric and colors I want to go with here so that won’t happen for a bit: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6koIf26f63w1pgKwFKQ3MLUYWr9RsHI7SphlxgO8c7y0ZDP3VbCA2DDA4iNRwpalD57sDCd8FyzJiYsrk909w6SIIjTEsYoSa8b0QQP-ysoWIkEmNldiIIQ__mKVKaHQFZrkDd1N1IpA/s1600-h/IMG_1398%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="metal outdoor lights inside" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79jZB_BG2G2QdoUO4DD8UrFyGWXrLWAnZTZjVbN1xtrJtQb6pwhPr5hk6g9FUDSpI86jKU7uyB3Fy9CNKyGtfV-DwIcYAQYkK-1tGh0WFm7aXp1rGMj7xFPWJt-bNVev3PZOFLUa1FnU/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="metal outdoor lights inside" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It will definitely include some color though! Because this area gets so much sun I’m thinking I’ll have to go with an outdoor fabric. </p> <p>But for now…isn’t it lovely?? Sing it to yourself:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsF5uEydwkadqe_nmzpWEoDfd7oZMPkEaGUXIjmwAXvlA9c3p3etUB7lE2K_k2RKkVHdzq1CNt4TyGPnpyzlmHbLreD287-9wCWmUiWfAOL_iOpm7C_yA5Dj654buUXQv099dnAgEvLB0/s1600-h/IMG_1399%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bay window seat " border="0" height="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JRoecyNuNvrDDUgQDvjp8B9vAncl1z3qStN9IrLWAga8qkzOiI7Oa7ROEN6DMI-SJmd9fvqKfvQwmOOllpfBjZUT5FHqtqay-pVpwjVFncn7V1lD7tl64HF4cCfSiSszxcQ2lKGQK9s/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bay window seat " width="500" /></a></p> <p>Every night this past weekend I would stand here before going to bed and just stare at it. I’m not gonna lie, I got a little teary at one point. Goofy I know, but sometimes it hits me hard that I get to do this stuff in our house. Better than I deserve. </p> <p>Here is it is at night with the lights on: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W6IzOL1-Tc1Z8XkizyYgjnJKF7KJcHwZdyzR4Rr4M-QWtEglAISpoBgSF6XKfhY1lkfDqxozIuhyphenhyphenynOudBwAY7o36r02evclXdV9LQTaKtfxQd6OM86DOU3uPDHuiju57GgOvAnXBzQ/s1600-h/transkitchens_ss3.jpg.rendition.largest%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="outdoor lights inside" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxih9vVIQUL06t5OSP0R3VctHqimaxC1fPSeOC2gRcr04OU7MgV84496TOYqWqDS-Msgzw0OdS4IOezjMDqcwrF_emWDrrHYJ_hXiYTJ3IuMPwbQIXLCb5KtHYZPLIw-fFzmsy0D2MIo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="outdoor lights inside" width="500" /></a></p> <p>One more thing to add to my list – a dimmer. Oh yes. </p> <p>Of course in this house I need things to be functional as well as pretty, so the best part is hiding under that top:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ4IEnmcHX0cYFYzt-FtlrX6khUlZswNsK_cEj7SZpLOg2VNiT2UPeHKxp2-IsBSlYQEHIiE2oodsmIaOD7FM0WtzlvlsYv6R7Tp1v5O3zs1mUhAjUq73CV17C0e60Y8H8xAQecwpRxQ/s1600-h/IMG_1401%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="window seat in bay window" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMQv0um-z5XBY-eNelkVX8Vedhjiqyhhl2lqChPYcKDvxOOCOs2_IycBy2XIiaDeH59lzLSFzD91j8XzsaK1oGh7X6wih5DB0YCFZ0IQaF7LvbwmsNH5btDb2Pni_pFoM7cfninC35vo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="window seat in bay window" width="500" /></a></p> <p>BOOM. (Fist pump and explode): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7v89D-Ld4DXgHDD8C9ayGNlwSAup8YBP_AnyKcSal8lSogkRIlDWvM2XtvVFPh4Lh_DHaLE-VFZj8pUmRIKU_OnQxu1eVDD74aj0LLzE7zHWbfjQRMIFPoLypHbny_TD-bCDbHlIy44/s1600-h/IMG_1406%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="storage inside window seat" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59xyhbzxAoWQ3PmG93N5tSteP9iJkvSNvh5Qg-CkDNbl60bQ8udATDM_l8m8kopQxz1KXyRlQoK9_wbdTYw_Wc4qRuVmyW4MvcXlghyphenhyphenQwsiqm1TQNjIJuR_FrMstmHUOSOZl_95y7HI0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="storage inside window seat" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I’ve had my supplies in here for now but finally a spot for all of the basketballs!! Is this <em>heaven??</em>  </p> <p>Actually I don’t know what we’ll keep in here. It may very well be the basketballs. I can also see keeping the big kitchen stuff like the crock pot and drink dispensers in here. Oh my goodness…the possibilities. I do need to add some hinges that will hold up the heavy door though – I think I may have to get something online because nothing I’ve found at the store is strong enough. </p> <p>There you go…a dream realized. It doesn’t take much for me folks. :) As I mentioned, I hope to get all the little stuff done on the seat this week and then I will start on the island. I will be building the extension for that myself and I’m so excited about my last minute addition! Crossing my fingers it all works out.</p> <p>After the island is done I’ll be taking a break from the kitchen to save up for the next phase, building an enclosure for the fridge. Thanks again for coming along for my house projects! It’s fun to share this with you all. :) </p> <p>Linking up to Beth’s party <a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-196.html" target="_blank">here</a>! </p>

A Dream Realized

So you may have read that title and came here to read thinking this post was something BIG. Like dreams normal people have…a vacation overse...

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Board and batten tutorial

<p>Happy Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend planned -- even if that means laying on the couch watching Christmas movies, cause that sounds amazing. I’ll be doing the same for at least a little bit. :)</p> <p>I’m back today with a quick tutorial on a project I’ve shared a few times here on the old blog…but I don’t know that I’ve really shared the step by step. Maybe I have…I’m 1300+ posts in here so it gets fuzzy. </p> <p>But even if I have, it’s been awhile. So here you go – the simple board and batten tutorial for your walls. Mine have a little extra going on at the top and bottom but you can simplify that look to how you’d like it. </p> <p>We have a small wall between the bay window and <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-new-back-door.html">new doors</a> that I couldn’t finish up till the doors went in. I decided to tackle it about four hours before we had 20 people arriving at our house last weekend. Perfect timing, <em>duh!</em></p> <p>This is what I started with: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN_TpocFxllEekqITweDV1-qJS8vL-DAsNyXWgBYBBff5huX019A-1ANsIcWjQfgT3jvX9jdpzqTNyt84IQfNet0wBOm3e5BRGPOjo8FyvlDsPOAVXjf4QITxlUrMOv2JpIaTArnMqI0/s1600-h/IMG_0639%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to install board and batten" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_eOOMVsRBEHepUiuH9Vmd8WNwL8B88CsXvGkU4sex8mM_WAX3znMxvJdy0dLCpLg_BE4_1sEqgqGw_ctcMRcVSjSjCCcycgIAX7mS9CnVuHhPrjVPgKCkSLTGNFvP89e9dcJre6R7Zk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to install board and batten" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Now that I’ve done this a few times I always start at the top. The patches on the wall were from a speaker we didn’t need and a hole they had to make to run some electrical. These spots really need another coat of mud but I was tired of this area looking half way done…so they were painted. I’ll fix that later. :) </p> <p>This pic really shows the difference in the new and old paint by the way. The bottom is the Sisal we had up for ten years, the top is Analytical Gray that we’ve used throughout the main floor of our house. </p> <p>Here’s a close up of the top piece – it’s actually three pieces of wood/mdf:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTIH-DdF6DZNmEOVW0xEZGqn_wJxCO2B-WqpAHe2ynMNU9ef7pHw2e35JRjjdtvXigLc4AopaOdsHBaykjVzeggJRDT2wPAVuYHPVVwReL3zFU6ZCELD5j464JKGTaVlPA5UVybXJ9Pk/s1600-h/IMG_0761%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten trim details" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFrx6MoD3dBjpS_2OzLk-gxWCk8nVEkTh9drtWB1IdwVlxcj5s8B5ybP0nfSPAcJdfgzFJjz27QYP6E_Tt-QXikry1w74nUJnbs6jPQKJOVujO_b_K_KUCoK_wC6UhWAEv0tJRHoQJvA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten trim details" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The mdf is the main piece along the bottom, there’s a 1x2 on top (either wood or mdf – I usually use mdf but I was using what I had in my scrap pile) and then a small decorative trim piece in the corner those two create. </p> <p>I don’t always add that little trim – in our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/Mud%20room">mud room</a> I did a similar topper and just left it without for a simpler look: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhP7bihmvar-Ozynmk9_p0JIU_oWTEZO8AyUva_6oF1z80_hv_y_ro8XzCtIZEWO6RZyNZecYMNhPJBs4eU7xKY2E02ENDbGlULu83gHTWkoMo3PA-VdfgVMvs6ex5JWsSwjpZi31TCzQ/s1600-h/IMG_8210%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="beadboard" border="0" height="671" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOkfUbhxpLEZrYfphRv17dJpo-uPPveAGTn_wC7FIgQjbH8UfxEDECwv0G3Bdw7QvBF-gV4oCcMbQV33LJHJiSmyTXkntpi9e910uRciU8NNU-AMPgMeO0SENttB0gFzv9kS1Sw0zocY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="beadboard" width="500" /></a> Here’s a profile of how it comes together: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXekiQ9GX4CRwcUkbQ57e3rzku1xF9agT9OBhOAuhfuEtgBV9W3MM0Uvo-K096ouWpwFEGB0VI0VkjxFzZnRZ68B1Px0CEx61ZRv3du-YGuXrKdtzfDUwIQ-5yD6thDgQW2gzPIqxtJas/s1600-h/IMG_0760%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten trim" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZitPzIksnHcEiO1dOmH3u3yqzJcIyjEqhJOAonfro2JGM_2gDjEQ7Hdiv5FuDvGJZAuBP0-X_CxoDRJXgsRF8ANu3jS1LsfsAybrPEDquhutb9l254NtN7kl_721sm2p7Ay5lInNdGg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten trim" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I haven’t touched it up yet, obviously. ;) You can do a nicer “return” at the end and most of the time I do that – but I’m not sure if I’m adding this trim around the bay window area with the window seat or not. So I just did a straight cut and I think that’s fine too. </p> <p>The bottom is a little more complicated – I did the office base like this and had to match the rest of the room to it when we took the wall down: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG9jPily_us8H7II1PSZCNFfD3B3fisu-65f8PMQBmkVQkaD3PZuRZsntJNYhgm1ZH1JUayfM6Z14kR_rMTzqTT0vQCJUxaXZqke9fgv0IdA1ONfgch8qsJjECX3NiB2L8i1YKOaZJOI/s1600-h/IMG_0762%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="covering baseboards" border="0" height="701" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht76JY_2oAY2RO2yuBHOAK9QtmvrRraWWB0T8FfqHu5Hw3IzhB83jE8qTMYY_5N-lDx90d1S_cqY44lriz1XhShXFBqNF6PQq5qVSNM8k9cWCIEcgaXhoH1I5lQ21oGj_PAWXi_bKY3jg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="covering baseboards" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I did it this way because our original baseboards are so impossible to remove – so I just cover them up. I shared how I’ve done this with a simpler look <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/03/beefing-up-baseboards.html">here</a>. Here the guys removed the base when they installed the new door so I had to use scrap behind it to mimic the look around the room. I prefer no quarter round lately but I had to use it here. (This is actually isn’t quarter, it’s a slightly thinner trim.)</p> <p>So that’s why it’s so busy down there – and I do this so that the boards have a flat surface to butt up against at the bottom. Otherwise they will most likely be thicker than your baseboards – not a big deal really. But if the overhang will bother you you’ll want to adjust/remove your current baseboards. </p> <p>Anyway…before I install I’ve learned it’s easiest to paint the wall first: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEunJnkR7SJeECUFBT_JagiUN5CnGzNRbT_PP8hJp0HXIgj6Nsa8pytG9B2XG2imC-cAx2VqrIVTjqC_tXbM4Rnp3kmaO4T0HtyFm3DGYAvekXnZlEoFrVekNQ0-aCd7yZbB4uE8RiTQ/s1600-h/IMG_0640%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten tutorial" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRda-lflY-mAXKJ5S15jE45E5DKPq9ibgtWSJPTKcN5jHUU1yptYL-XefyLVKwOWrPHTEEdSp4BbcEp5_lw5pJTwGo-HOaJydy7zK0p5kpiQDcQ0Eob2lf-E977_VrMKO3C7zQHpf0sf8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten tutorial" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It takes me three coats to get it covered well. I just use the base white from Sherwin Williams – I believe it’s called Pure White. I will also use a basic semi gloss white off the shelf at the hardware store. </p> <p>The long boards go second: </p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPPfIRF_dUGLo_l_E2tB5KhZgqa9bo6-KoREifJ8IufWaSnt664AmDp7lNzDcEukfSxo0Pr5O3UpUNRp4f9fbZ2TfHXbWNcx_usudBBSlRftH5iOAvMvK1Ea8XovZMV8PKikQOS87634/s1600-h/IMG_0642%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten tutorial" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6iDYuDm0qBTlRyN1ut_mw45WCGJdW5pFyeNH_GgHLZRiOZRSd-BZ962BVezBHIgtIyGJW45ieL86hVeMTCpYqc6TJQD1qFnfwWSqpod-iGXTKBM7hvYkREzwjr45ACRq68eMSTMPoYY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten tutorial" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I’ve done this both ways – the longer boards first and the topper second, but I find I can get a tighter fit if I do these second. (I can get it just right so I don’t have gaps.)</p> <p>The horizontal, shorter boards go last: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx18W1b311VfL2_92775JaSk0e8v06UPNw23SoP-N6c-Zn_qXLLi-Nkg-l754AjQV_z1FcNnaLU9p14TJ7zNm_e8AvuOwX8Wi9hvrWC5EHa_9_os2_cn9cxVrXrxWPKzfO1lXIehqfNJU/s1600-h/IMG_0643%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to install board and batten" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivXEzqhhzXx2t9PxJ-mkN15Jji8IrSKuwEdd3E_CHeVRotQDl1FjaB0W_Ual7urLLIJLtayUUuiK3Z3zYuKc40ibbkjSMyDKpKPw5xJNJdbIpHRzZXKrQG5YOQOz-T_7jg2yKy5zWkls/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to install board and batten" width="500" /></a></p> <p>My spacing around the room has been 10 inches down from the topper. Of course that was brilliant spacing because it hits every. single. switch. :) I just do that section in three pieces – I’ve tried using a jigsaw to cut the notch for the switch plate but I can’t cut that straight – it’s not pretty. </p> <p>This works much better. After caulk, nail filler and two coats of paint on the boards, it’s ready!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Em5GFoQkHEmpHHdqK8hfm-6lXOO7YGS2YfKNHqjaJ93Uf8rYbIDOpzTuIO9_s3epWYpw-SAbphfC5Lc1pXnHUUqM-GPQ00fmInN4XdGxSW1RtGN8wO3OmGhbzpLEQe7jyMMavC9ZW48/s1600-h/IMG_0644%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to install board and batten" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeiH3OGq2oby9EKoG6gVVIYz99MaREaPKvLqOP2dMJAdGB-Rf-EvZhQpgt1xX9Tr54I4eOA6c7YxPkVzG6CCKb96TF5pbAtPQfreIpwFm-T85X82KjgpIFSy3DgFe_hl-DjA0I10rcmk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to install board and batten" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The baseboards will continue to the window seat so that area is undone for the time being. I’m finishing up the crown extension this weekend so that wall will be completely done! </p> <p>Again, this is not a hard project – it just takes time. I used some scrap and some new mdf for this section. One eight foot piece get’s you one board (more if you’re making yours shorter) and at least one batten. ;) </p> <p>It looks crisp and clean and pretty with the newly <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-in-kitchen.html">decorated shelves</a> in the kitchen: </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J20VKEm7ZTU/VIHktX6vFrI/AAAAAAAAtQk/OjPuuoPfqkk/s1600-h/IMG_0651%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="metal shelves in kitchen" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7bUQN6CUIew/VIHkuDxKoII/AAAAAAAAtQs/S77NMmWrHdg/IMG_0651_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="metal shelves in kitchen" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And of course this wall now matches the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/family%20room">family room</a> next door, finally! Yay! I’ve been waiting so long to get that little wall finished up!: </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TrYJAP7RCqw/VIHku3_1bxI/AAAAAAAAtQ0/ObWSexNRkSw/s1600-h/IMG_0331%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="family room board and batten walls" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U2t6UqivRPs/VIHkvu5gPoI/AAAAAAAAtQ8/09ZTsZa0rA4/IMG_0331_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="family room board and batten walls" width="500" /></a>Goodness, it takes forever to get these little projects finished up! Good thing I LOVE doing it! </p> <p>So there you go, a quick how-to on that classic board and batten look. Have you done this treatment on your walls? If you have any questions please let me know! Have a GREAT weekend my friends!  </p>

Board and batten tutorial

Happy Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend planned -- even if that means laying on the couch watching Christmas movies, cause that soun...

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Fall nesting

<p>Hello everybody! Hope you had a lovely fall weekend! In between some fun I was able to get a few little things done around the house and get a bit of fall decor out as well. </p> <p>I’ve actually been tackling some little projects over the past week or so – including a LOT of cleaning and organizing. Our home has felt like a mess even weeks after the construction in the family room was completed. So I’ve been addressing the piles o’ crap everywhere and finishing up small projects along the way.</p> <p>I’ve been planning to paint this mirror frame for weeks now: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3bRcRq2aOctKK-Ra-VkCPw_vR_I442jD1eyQ-MsAwBvYgCxRoTJKTghcftjs6Pjc5pWq98_4uvpV2_i66iE7Z_zudqWYPkunOccCPeDbPd1inuXU6ouZMj_xQ28u17exaF-Pti87N3c/s1600-h/IMG_9728%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten walls" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6j2BQYIQBZIZfiCSJ8Y4xJtiy5dS_BKkGm94eoOyPzl-I-4ytGv1g9jzTBy1ZLvJLJBgU2jndYpDI8vvyhGDElUemAHQQNySqlL3i1XpxnK4fgBsxWOBUP3jTW8ejhfkKXSIs_8BP78c/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten walls" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I went back and forth on a color and actually started painting it a brick red color – which would look GREAT for fall. But I quickly realized come spring and summer that the color would feel really off in this room. </p> <p>I don’t want to add too much more gray to this room but I felt like it needed some balancing out – so I went with gray. ;) It really feels right with that color on the fireplace across the room too.</p> <p>I LOVE how it looks with the finish on that table, the white walls and the green lamps: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8l43kwJfeoI34AMrmuKAIGt35cniQ5_1eCc4C_P4gLwciZnrRB6lXaTwC5OKmTiTEweufSuO1spWYp-aBF-DfhCeVDnfuEthHD2VR4226WENR1mSXFPxhN301IJWMExubMj5lQcoUEE/s1600-h/IMG_0108%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="world market foyer table" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAC0ithkNyoBtj9NB5T0V0H5An_AgIQxXCLk1TWVmsl2mFiLswvNXOTYt3l27IvIKW6cQ64KNPox7Y18ZXn9IBPfa7UrAApnEsfLtBSBCeNyvsMv4P0K-rrBNcOJUPrZHzmzk3frDQAI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="world market foyer table" width="489" /></a> It’s cloudy and dark here today, hence the darker photos. You’ll see I also finished up that little bit of trim on the board and batten. The trim that’s still not painted. :) But at least it’s all done and <em>ready</em> for paint. </p> <p>By the way, I framed out that mirror myself years ago. It used to live in the chocolate brown dining room and you can see how I made it <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/07/dining-room-update.html">here</a>. </p> <p>A wall in the old office has been without the top trim since July – I finally got that replaced (we saved a lot of the old trim so I just reused what I had for most of it). It still needs painting as well – do you sense a pattern here? But I got some art up on one wall that <em>is</em> done: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UQ5fnGka8TVNu2_7ZJyS2bYNiNWHfa6XRXA5K4UgQnJdxkJb_x8Ih11WPLXo2qO9Pzzifx9atyZ5EpnV7UaIgkTNajdIDw9F_G2qa8GGguwiGpapIo6e0tZBy8KXWNSeIi5fY-w5Kqs/s1600-h/IMG_0115%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten walls @thriftydecorchick" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiS8StYH0PJLvdp5JwAgLXTH2YZlfqvYnqcs78AV3S-WczaKgIP8GSA0zUj9dJsJXfjGr8ibjvj6ZGb6tZNd42wlGVgtNudNcqQZNYcyseFU3hVFhzj_jOSq5vpOBlhJkqedLGVdWTkXI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten walls @thriftydecorchick" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Which totally makes me feel like I’m getting to the home stretch in this room! Hanging stuff signifies (almost) completion to me. :) </p> <p>I focused on the upstairs too and changed up the decor on the bedroom mantel to warm it up a bit: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0L89ivh-o7Gtu3Gm0o6Lf0CKjWk5fBC1Wb8Hy5k5T09iA9-Zsj6XLbkHqG3R7YUFfxRa4EvQxvMOZkM8SiVQCN38HUXpxfs6y25KEJl0CSzo3ZCX9Pw6H6XzpYZgaR9WlwnaJ4FItoE/s1600-h/IMG_0118%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray and green mosiac tile surround on fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-6jEUHyHA4gUEf6dfEU9EDqAQszfLCH0DTF4XYboQEYn66qEt6f-bezpBXmwnyjeU-VU5O7lTXNrTwBkA29FUiXbAZSSTt7kJv2ObKgQgIz0Z5l7RDlU5WIkcbhpLXkgyJ5lvDyhXqc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray and green mosiac tile surround on fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Those walls STILL haven’t been painted to go with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/03/dark-gray-accent-wall.html">new dark gray wall</a> – but I do love that gray/green color for fall. It feels very cozy! I also cleaned <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/09/cleaning-gas-fireplace-glass.html">the gas fireplace glass</a> in preparation for the colder months. Today we’re supposed to have an unusually warm day but after that it’s going to get chilly for good. </p> <p>And speaking of fireplaces – when I shared the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/09/13-planked-wall-finished-fireplace.html">new completed one</a> in the family room a couple weeks ago some of you suggested painting the crown molding at the top. You were so right and I seriously stared at it every. single. day. wanting that white gone. </p> <p>It finally bugged me so much I got up on the ladder late last night while I watched Revenge and got it painted to match the rest of the fireplace: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcPC3UtrLEeMsvZzlMNqxPXTGgEnXapRiR3PGyO0kDbWehzzU2eL3RC3-KtsmBplDWGL1-gOPRahJ_N3CpRawl5AoOZXsHpy9UzHqFcirfpfMC-r_G0Bgm9SK8gD2nl4J1mPu7yWz2Z4/s1600-h/IMG_0125%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray painted fireplace @thriftydecorchick" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPix1HcsOQ6AcEHvAam7kb9j4htCzaNK_1zPtije2rIsPZodwlpYlNfloYigxmN9UUs1xwQ_Y37ICF8uFxgbi9uiVvxi1mqqh-K_3Bbuymc4UybdjX2dpYtzOSu7tDBzm_AuStla8BjU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray painted fireplace @thriftydecorchick" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Ahhhh. SO much better. Now I can quit twitching. :) </p> <p>Today my goal is to get the garage cleaned out so I can actually reach the rest of our fall decor. The boy is begging for some Halloween so I must comply. </p> <p>It feels SO good to get little projects like these done! I’m really wanting to focus on some other areas of the house but my goal is to get the family room done this week – I’m going to make it happen!! I LOVE this time of year – fluffing, cleaning, getting ready to host family and friends and warming up the house. I’m one of those weirdos that actually enjoys the colder months. (Until about February or so.)</p> <p>Have you done anything around the house to prep for fall and winter? I can’t believe it but I’m already starting to think about the holidays – every year I’m determined not to be rushing around and every year I’m rushing around. We’ll see if this year is any different. :)</p>

Fall nesting

Hello everybody! Hope you had a lovely fall weekend! In between some fun I was able to get a few little things done around the house and get...

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$13 planked wall (Finished fireplace!)

<p>Hello all! Wow, what a full weekend! My husband was out of town so the kiddo and I played hard all day Saturday – all kinds of fall goodness. Sunday I worked my tail off getting the fireplace finished up, finally! <strong>It’s DONE! </strong></p> <p>I had a couple things left to do to get it done – I had already finished up the wall treatment above the fireplace and I’m really pleased with how it came together.<em> </em>I knew all along I wanted to plank the top wall, but I wanted to do it a little differently than I did <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/06/over-fireplace.html">last time</a>. I wanted the planks to be much wider than the standard mdf or <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/powder-room-redo-complete.html">pine</a> I usually use. So I went straight for the underlayment at the hardware store: </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw9Vbp4pn74bk52KKmv-Gox1mOYXNA66xmy2U7NqqqlIfgbuREKAn_OL3dfFpO_azPzS8RBhy-DrTOD_rqFeBbdC_TF1ys4aefAvf6WfQMGtI6c6Kk0WmudUy3c7wjDR5mu0BKpBeX6M/s1600-h/underlayment%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="underlayment as wood planks" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnOk3Gkz2_-2XW9ZZi7FpLYUm6JsQ0Ch3JekEW7ZIbeUtV_VxJ_ldDS0t4XR5FgCN8JPDeXS4N0w21PMe-xCYJJFZKh1CP2eFHMrE0f8_l2sbYREDMwBGPMn0kSUHASFJjB70M5JtBeQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="underlayment as wood planks" width="450" /></a> </p> <p>This is the stuff used under flooring and it’s SUPER cheap. I paid $13 for a big sheet. The nice guy at Lowe’s cut it down into strips for me – each one just over five inches wide. </p> <p>The edges needed to be sanded down just a little bit – it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be though. Then I gave them two coats of my Peppercorn color and started the process of hanging:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVK7QWZ3iN9iQx7uyAGu7DuGZjI7gRSixVesT1vYZgSUMwNQqk2HdQ-VxneuhEBZfD-CXLUXTOr-ZU9QYij6lR1-eDtoYRc3kk7w4fFw246wEzqWlnsMyAlKuqVGlDYWG7tSsn2oKgco/s1600-h/IMG_9917%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="installing wood planks" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbUSDW9xlDH97N4pxCSCXhmeQiVV7IRFUkKZL2jj9sXaUtqLqwBSY3o-mcn-Kbh9mjgExGER4qapya5kUMKZ_R7gQaclHYmrM2Oz-_gaARVExY6RxfmLhRtcCZSSaf2ZMqdO7-G6tAmg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="installing wood planks" width="500" /></a></p> <p>My wall is a little over 50 inches tall so I did some figuring to determine the width of each plank – I knew I was going to put some space between each one so I ended up with the five+ size. You can use anything you want as a spacer – I had my brad nails on hand so used those. </p> <p>By the way, I painted the wall the gray color first – this is important if you’re going to leave any space between your boards. </p> <p>I moved my “spacers” down each plank as I nailed them in, checking for level while I did it: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFfb3sNLayIN-5oBMRUwVIRe3o-d1v0de6Acc8wHqqTD6KTk_ZnyzFsjYHM_PdHpldH-t665_mhXop_UgNCjqizik_sAeUYXtQCdYcaRuACxcrbVuQnML15xTKddkhvRXcLyd9dyF5Jw/s1600-h/IMG_9920%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="wood plank wall install" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDLby8e6NNj_uBSEw8oyBksDAOQCtfZpNUvXKck23M-KGZXwunz6nIN6cHejedKCrueipnpPhyphenhyphenRxn6loXpyakWsDIV2X0cxhFSKEBLslZZrYjC4S4NwranyVTkLmZO352pDIhcn_EqDo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="wood plank wall install" width="500" /></a></p> <p>This install went really fast – the front part anyway. The only parts that took some time were around the outlet: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrpBwxW8Zqc8ddrOz7Kx9e0iHmxH33SrOO8mKByITFA-SNl0N57l5IEXmYo11xQyvdhtYY65F_y2Ipjsi8aQfjhYQvVCn5Hlg0YbXhM2lPEZUsSBGGPg8zspJW6ir13BlzKaA6CWI6-I/s1600-h/IMG_9921%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="cutting wood around outlet" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDn5cpaDm2uEDmuvcvhuWySrRh7Qifwc2MVzsAxv09KkxoNZ1jXhiuP0bnzToH_l3PuWt7lfJaJgVFTegViBfRcLd0Ns_m-iHf7bc7_OOWNVFgO3YcKVsP27bPJWp8DnrTRMfU2sa24o/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="cutting wood around outlet" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I used my jigsaw to cut out the spot for it. This wood is so thin I could have just scored it and broken it off really:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXw8ACz2sPWg4TeaM8ptfy_YK3SQgiAUuuiUVzXjYiUG-WOJdHp5-SUY3UsCkExNCctllBJrxssD5ZOxxw_6xgQ1azXrG75bQHS7zdONXmj_dcfO0YflKOTYmB121aK9mWbQ1tubew7k/s1600-h/IMG_9924%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cutting planks around outlet" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GHJTqG5wZmmpJHhq2anSd2SvDcHgiM6DL7iBff9M-eoss0FLUp-tarPWp8wkZMZ71Njgaciun82WPAzZvv6M7SoTXfRshSpK3f6NMWPykDY_D0iWc9monrThAnyIt7BSzWJMVb6Qkz0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="cutting planks around outlet" width="500" /></a> You can see I’m no ace at the jigsaw. ;) Good thing nobody will ever see it. </p> <p>I painted right over the outlet and the cover: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7x4WafutILRJBuGxKQnMuNCkU7oF1Svwj5tImeP9j-AzFRGAJEL23NNGP5LPJp7f44VnzGW9u09mIG4MtRQ_83ncY3-gLyOHEyyxnBoNIYclxh4dAlRPkVXzUeWx76NwqKll_bnCJzc/s1600-h/IMG_9925%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="painted outlet" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDU74KfsYdSTYno3v4ODRKVAcTUVZpeKfspS3EBtdT1I1JegDPTW__UAfSfBHOikl3Hc00SHIqt2wxD-e3VeGcut2297_UVyV9WC7ZdlvHtbS0p79QihGNhrLvd09t_JjsiqlZhp-1NQQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="painted outlet" width="500" /></a> </p> <p>The sides took some time as well just because I needed so many pieces. These were installed the same way: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOTaFkFULubpVuBbSfURtpRHwTvGD-ng0EVCu4EoOHCl_HEdxP6ke4YneUwbGKpQuKNxiUBAqcYvPLFsntuKyLL71Df7QP0t_UvcfDTuoP7cc0KCcWIUHFYh-7gL-nT5wVhdBPSmjPmY/s1600-h/IMG_9927%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cheap wood planked wall " border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MZaz_-ZZvE_5HFh7edEGBgRr_PCgiks-XJJUQXkZ-xAIOdnLYT3cTuLzdlhnZiWWM73WCoFLwunLp6j770v1B4qUzEtm_hXlclC26wooIqrMUQKFqrVwHIFSL_d_7EszIeepSUhE-zA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="cheap wood planked wall " width="500" /></a></p> <p>Because I needed so many boards that were the exact same size I just used my original as a guide to cut them all out: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAGiYVQQHkVOj7QAJBm6huXE0iRbNM40gHacXxhTXqkdv2_HRAJfTLgbBF9hUFrf3kb7TN1oFQHFw7V39uCUrel3ZcYeY4u5bmXDKyA5jEdSrOpBA-vjH3KAbN4BzsbCwfjEE5kHt9SY/s1600-h/IMG_9928%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlHUCLENAxMoUFkWBZOIJwvn2iC1EsI4YQ6eQnpkF7EYBjXR8wFrFQlmg8jKbGl87ahMc8S9vzldBvvluf4Ps-btk1yi_cKCYX5DYyQAERAjC71UEndYIqjkSe2KdJHJISPvddJjVxgU/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="494" /></a></p> <p>I just lay it on top of the board, mark the line, cut, lay it down again, cut…it saves time instead of measuring every single piece. </p> <p>You can see here how skinny this wood is – exactly what I was looking for!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDid7M8zmm2Kb3sLbKzFVDX8Y9Nx4XA10gWJjPcfTyO0jEENM7dCHbOVf0jiRpBKhnOi4-AyC8wYsog5pkFdYWWM9DDRovjbjkfdnzTdl91HaO0WigV55VuBmtqUfLrW0oc5R_CJ3ieKc/s1600-h/IMG_9931%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="underlayment wood planks" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgows23xzEv-k-OSDVS8B48Rjtgxlnuc1_Xp9ku0seVfiq4xz9cA5Tn4mUzynv3opvBzmZwwykfIy4fa0hGJPr2645b88GZDE2hSwJFZhLSDxbJzI295zea6w3AzzUxIqVlX1QgUkYTIqo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="underlayment wood planks" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The corners didn’t need to be perfect because I covered those with some corner molding. </p> <p>I had finished all that up last week but still needed to touch up some spots. I also put one final coat on the entire fireplace – it needed three coats of the Peppercorn all together. </p> <p>Here’s that same corner with the trim covering up those rough edges: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_auKuXZRskRtnJhFW1BAvhAkkBVg2O92O0rZS4u_rrTrSHqLYpKA2Cb_33uJLH5yBt4DyG4JjQi9eyTPJ6RCgeNG4EmVpVjjllQ2qclZ-gxHRy1GVj-9oOoYNjA2DEb_LNKjf-9a6YEQ/s1600-h/IMG_9994%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood planked fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiML3G8HNr0uRN-N8uZrFuy3pyUs-x0_O3S1No7koeI4pEFgiHRhdqGFiE6kuPinIR588hOFtbK12GVPNnlu3zFXZHxVzWksj7sje1-YI7MhUtSqieuZEbdjuclFm-vaAryk2-0rL7CmH0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="wood planked fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I haven’t even filled the holes on the wall yet and I don’t think I will – they add a little rustic flair that keeps this area from getting too stuffy. That’s my excuse anyway. :)</p> <p>When I designed this huge fireplace I knew the TV was going to have to go above. Not my first choice but it was the only way to make the layout work. So I had the guys make an inset in the middle of that upper wall for the TV to sit into: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_eWyT4HPdKP9JXfjutvLAbeHtH86nSkCl5RKN3cSrq05LvxmEiZh-g-WjEZXo8CG-o7k7ixT_1EWvZdOFmvXusLTFskY1sj1p0uL90OvigheYQgbHr_kRsdo5-MU8uUapDTdtvmTKrA/s1600-h/IMG_9996%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="TV above fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UL0yiCDJ8FxjVsoo1O-5Z6oUchHJwpSLiV985ZrctV-ue-3M5nwiJfIgUxraumipJEiFGnvPROlUN6bf686VSm78Dv2L3bkSHggjz4ruV53FXHz0F1KXNSXJgTJh1WDHwbXriSzObuI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="TV above fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p>We have it on a bracket that moves any direction – but when we push it back in you can’t see any cords at all. I LOVE that. Love love love: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5ARF5InBha48N7XK6_kmVUg132AfPZtqFOR2fQyG8bXRKPgk80Z5EsK477NPiZpxUL3QCGUzL3CgIS-ISBismGV_QP9kOo1RmIpGZeD5L-UaCPXVtpxECqSU7UVvOCLodYX5WAvmbJA/s1600-h/IMG_9987%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="TV above fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Iqlx9cYJFFAOYfGKJzdVRMxStay4q_qCghj8LY-lJVT6cdF9-5HS5D7TYU-HQ294uz0aHEW3FyAe8-rQ3P1VbcPDkrPqrSb-2S3q328ojRxZXyjr8NcaRobnDXQhl2N3DG-Xb4qgL9U/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="TV above fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I cannot believe this thing is finally done! I’m absolutely head over heels for all of it!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBiY4oVvFj5x98ltKlNmxdrQuwUCBlt22q4gLy31DarYnwIqrmmg259Q11TWoGHGs9yUBmjtoH_lxacLCqS-4PuEwB3Bnbrfiv59VJ5COVtYmRNBiccsaCZ_7gCdVDY5Jn7rt1wPX3n0/s1600-h/IMG_9974%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMILquj9XsrH3CWifKrWS1MwMHM0YoThbBQxt7FCfRteN5crbCh5GzNulhiSx9Y438pC0AF39TcsTEG6v5w8HEoNU-mFx3f13u9Dh-9tPmD8CqteKYU-fRRuNKoQyZx5-2zltKFzCbRBc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="gray fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I went out of my comfort zone painting it that dark gray but I LOVE it. It feels good to branch out every once and a while. :) </p> <p>We get such good light in here now the room can take it: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Nh4k8Q8kRudCcTEkpBq6UFbXslj5IRdVXzY-M45DPqHFTImAoyELR-LtkCKpcJ6WzFZbxSedDoHKqwysg5fKVuFNKvoVccNwsnNV2mMevNAK2T7Y3oW74Tfzj-ZtzA3OAskYWHeuXDc/s1600-h/IMG_9975%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="gray fireplace with built ins" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsXNJyR4fbY93i5s-dUvoLUcrBEcqgUAtFmenrX4Fxa2qE2M8kXAVC0sb-Bwqh_uToLWk6Rtv40rGnln7t-LB5r1JryDfejn0ti-PE5I_3Yf12sxEYu_uydriWIC8Gu0Nr8n4cIMll1g/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="gray fireplace with built ins" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I haven’t really decorated it yet – this is stuff I’ve had up here and I’m not sure it will stay. I’m not sure if I’ll keep the long box up there or not: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMl_w6r1fnR38b5YbkISHULumIfNgpwOnLcbRk0c0qkPsIAiZt-T7bFoSaVIAB6KdnC-nIDzbhZPP1zUjM5Y7rvSwSW3DJZRICCRyRJod_1geMhoBMy5KvT-81icJV-L3q0FawMnnpLg/s1600-h/IMG_9980%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsGp4rbOD_UUQSgroNuhJgqyQ8TnzuSz-CMsOzObu0nl5-0KkR2Yu7FZvvo9hyphenhyphenuARWDfnAzo5gY8kKULH0T7PRj1bSd9y3KXOAR_cz3En_8H8LEFUeGY2OQ1WjOruYAnG7twXnflwGGA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="herringbone tile" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The mantel is so deep -- my possibilities are endless! I just want to play around with some things to see what works. For now it’s simple and I like it. </p> <p>I had some gold candle sconces from Target to hang on either side of the TV but when we held them up last night both my husband and I thought they didn’t look right. It looked too busy. I think I’d still like to try something on either side perhaps, but they will need to be long and skinny: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1hC5oZ9n3iY-m-lENdzHXL2V2I9ygMoruzlSjDcMt-Guihq_zgkN10yjniCSmk0Psf94GNQvkKsSpLg_A4PYg0xwh8nBT3Ay_IhXNl0E6f41gNTCqgP6SQ9zD0A4W7eMqOvh7Sxo4d4/s1600-h/IMG_9985%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="peppercorn sherwin williams" border="0" height="678" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ6JYJAjUy95f_dScgnJskbp6AE-Zfq7adciQ-5s-EU7JEgs-Q7kc83deavCYP1MW6wNx2FNy1Cv-ahnWch6nUBaehMq0SCVwhBJ9yXHz-6ff3xOipWIfO2QZmhQ8LnPkxfLmZTw-QLE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="peppercorn sherwin williams" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The crown still needs to be painted and finished up there…I’ll tackle that all at once around the room.</p> <p>If you remember we had to build the fireplace out this far because otherwise we would’ve had to get a permit to build a “doghouse” off the back of the house for it. That would have added quite a bit of time and lots of money so we went with this. It ended up working GREAT because we now have extra storage and a spot for the TV components on the sides: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVgyWLAA0P267w5vBdLHetP6TBqQ7iSMfo9AFKOEbG7ibDING1-q0uE9rX7d2pjE_JPaGtfwvAYf3gCuAFgFH7p1s_tSlprjmnaGsif5Ho7NGf1mxsuoQ9TkA31381f_q-CVl4ydSR08/s1600-h/IMG_9990%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="TV component storage next to fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgga8HZQ1vqtVm78wFABYzjs0az-9Ddp36dsFrnqEuS9UZFhPoFTtMmTC7LYMZ9IcePsYP9yUpt3_D_qvsTVqwpgOi3X33_HNRUM_3uXl318xL67MH9-eDBNMEGsOb-SIELc9amv-wr2RY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="TV component storage next to fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p>A few of you asked and YES the remotes work through that metal sheeting! I LOVE that I have all kinds of junk in those cabinets right now and you can’t even tell. Buwhahaha. :)</p> <p>We were going to hold off on any more construction till next year…but then I quickly realized I just wanted to get it all over with. So that window on the right will be double doors soon (I’m hoping within a month) and the bay window in the kitchen will get a makeover too. So I haven’t continued the molding in that area or painted anything – there’s no point till after we get that done. </p> <p>But the big beast in the room is DONE!! It took me nearly a month!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxQ1UeICJYsnm4YJNn_9M0nWcgMfFe3gIoRwFOVg7_YZDFVTFmt1otD7AdPYZl6mNECaYrPwHxQ8wfb1qmGbF984A8GpvSuW6GiL5rrdsIgR_0N9g1ftxtYiYa4X3BtzQ5c3JNO37-28/s1600-h/IMG_9992%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="dark gray fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2aAbWA-PJ2LRjRRyERzhPcyCAoRqBBGE13-EnFznRLAngNImtorQKLZIJJUaH3rGRDsNyTWFYlEOc_TDJHvTUJip4muBt2NkulHBCec1AyCzFXglP8ntyDE0IKQuW8PoQjgH_YnQy2k/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="dark gray fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I’m SO pleased with it. Now onto the smaller jobs in this room to get it finished up – paint, molding fixes, door trim, more paint and then some final decorating touches. This is taking waaaay longer than I thought it would but it’s been a pleasure along the way. :) Thanks for coming along with me, as always. </p> <p>To see more about the dark gray color, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-painted-fireplace.html">here</a>. <br />To see how I cut the inserts out of the doors and what I used to cover them, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/09/built-ins-for-electronics.html">here</a>. <br />For a tutorial on installing a tile fireplace surround, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/09/tiling-fireplace-surround.html">here</a>. <br />For tips on how to clean the glass on a gas fireplace visit <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/09/cleaning-gas-fireplace-glass.html">here</a> and more tips on sprucing up your fireplace <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/09/high-heat-paint.html">here</a>. </p>

$13 planked wall (Finished fireplace!)

Hello all! Wow, what a full weekend! My husband was out of town so the kiddo and I played hard all day Saturday – all kinds of fall goodness...

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It’s time for some board and batten

<p>Hey heeeey! Hope your weekend was great! </p> <p>I got SO MUCH DONE in the family room over the weekend – so much that I’m crazy sore today. Me thinks I’m getting too old for the days of nonstop DIY. We’ve been living with <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/family%20room%20reno" target="_blank">our family room</a> half way done for a couple weeks now – I’ve gotten very little done up till now. I was out of town for a trip three days, then I was sick for most of last week with a crappy cold. I didn’t feel like doing anything. </p> <p>Yesterday was the first day I felt good and had a mostly free day to get things done. I can live with half way for a while – then all the sudden I can’t handle it one. more. day. and I go into beast mode. There’s something about this time of year – I want to NEST like you wouldn’t believe. I want to decrapify my entire house, fluff everything, start thinking about fall decor…all that stuff. And none of that is happening if I have the family room taunting me. :) </p> <p>There’s so much for me to do in the room, it can become overwhelming. So I’ve been focusing on a few walls at a time. I painted the walls in one end of the room already and I’m still patching some of the board and batten and touching up paint there. But the biggest area that’s been bugging me is this side of the room: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-03VLYw2WgkLtH0Vp2d3sbKB7njC6QX1kkBQd4Rq64yoso55hzswH3KGz8YMBB0hN9DroK7uN9P_vw4bjRlYjAzn4HNb22ZC682drtdeGx7qfCfaPI8DRjA93ri26GN157dnpvEbYqU/s1600-h/IMG_9718%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX7pAoHZFl6HHfVn5XxD4xjkw440ETyx0bYnT7Ly2INUnH9vB48xZ3dtzuv6BVONOI0oObw_2Y5QWWqT4pKhazmvSxYxqaY0AAidVZYL54uUNLGMi4s-KgME2ip7-7K0sxvrP0UpNC7w/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It was really a mess, as you can see. My first plan of action yesterday was to finish up extending the crown molding. This is a little trick I use to make the crown appear thicker. You all know how I love me some chunky trim! </p> <p>I’ve seen a method where they attach baseboards to the wall, I think upside down? And then you install the crown over it. A few things though – I already had the crown up in the room, so I’m not taking it down just to put it back up. Also, that’s a BIG added expense in a room this size. Third – I had already done this trick in the office so I needed to continue in throughout the space anyway. :)</p> <p>It’s quite easy – it just takes a lot of trips up and down the ladder. (I should have legs of steel at this point, really.) I use this inexpensive decorative trim:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUDdgApxIQ4WgEVmWbq9mbT4W18XyjERCUqCUV9Pn97Mqx8sRgiGt0e4kFHskMSAgq-8rXbT_2lcb8104Ur3QKJey3znCnmlYLBXgPPFyTlG7Ze1bE2ruGb1UF2Er0CO76PdG79qkHPg/s1600-h/IMG_9719%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="beefing up crown molding" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwISBG98_vvqJSvcMuyMTIL8KBib3MVLdQyM0fQfN-q_PGRfAVtIe6sPrGBdz7HupzV4wp_pHJLOOcnEwA-SHLzWtUxOaXA0SKGdTnpmJQ7KnAe0aXJ24jQNoZ7_MIhaYWGNuVB7vYM9I/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="beefing up crown molding" width="500" /></a>You can find it at Lowe’s and Home Depot. I just place it about an inch below the current crown. You can use a piece of wood or something as a spacer so you have the same distance around the room – I just use my level as I go around so it’s fairly consistent. </p> <p>The great thing about working so high up is when you cut the piece too short <em>for the third time</em> and just put it up anyway cause it’s making you cuss,<em> </em>nobody will know: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsr4Y0ZfdsyJ3f0x3Q6hbkhOKZsG3_afC8qVmjPbBbOFSwMNlHha23tEH1_LijtT9p4e-6Bd1zPFmQZ02MzWltB38mhsBVFs7UwVscqK-YLTJbZVf7TgDQAeXBnq_LNEqa-rzbjLwG0s/s1600-h/IMG_9721%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY thick crown molding" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8p43VDd6o_cTE1lagbW65TveUeMgBqWg0JNXroU7y7dhGboS-171rUTMzZmbgoVJJUAfRk6b5L3gMYy_TTGlFWPJ5zG2Pfin7n8aIt3x4eIGw-leUQy6pMhF0mHgIQlUyX4KN4vPrjwY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY thick crown molding" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Caulk and spackle people. <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/06/caulk-and-spackle-my-bffs.html" target="_blank">Caulk and spackle</a>. </p> <p>It took three coats of semi gloss white (legs of steel) until it was covered, but it looks so good! Chunky!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe8rWfOVM9WvLx09edMlifv9Moo61uEGnogCwBVtH_XBQCEapweuB1HobCEtI1isNZp_Dfi6rJDMFgXvoAGMKyckSQj2EVJlEi9fWKu3o0F7og5G7AdgD_6OSkayp-WFvcCx3kCPG6MU/s1600-h/IMG_9734%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="making crown molding look thicker" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21F1TVv3JBOkJVzz7-FUJMSciX8cZa_OskKHPa3lDg5cFHMUHo2XPz9ReoP5cDmnRzTP5aZ_akWm6lYo9-I77-OjTslUDXQGlyEDIu_7pVJQpGfMKOUqHDDUOVhMOdI26hDRTfMhuiQ4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="making crown molding look thicker" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The day we tore down the wall one of the guys mentioned how I was going to have to redo all the crown in the family room to match up with the office because I had used the baseboards underneath. It fooled him, it will fool others. ;) </p> <p>So I mentioned I was in beast mode yesterday and this is where the rest of the work came in. Here’s a shot of this wall just after I finished installing the small trim: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjes5zEobkWCyht9d-mlWsPHhaBaWCSkCjL-gh9_-gByvPY3hsexykDndcu8rJEw-C4u4K8EwL3AKYNr6alB7CV1cTlEL6cpYz4crcEzomnWEearIkDYmSIaIyKY58EIsU9Lbr-agk8l68/s1600-h/IMG_9723%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXf5y5NGq-1XH4_zsX7ajPz4410DySOGbsw1c34gy_H7pXK1p_7tSLHoxm-YM-fUonEWeXOdr1ftlzgdgT_7IfGhhtmCqXYXrsh8gkOtWenaRs-ZOeboOobYzCA8bdFWhReeTofjJv5iY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="485" /></a></p> <p>It hadn’t been painted yet, obviously. We had to patch a few holes from the TV hanging there before and the darker rectangles on the wall were from the molding I had had up there forever. Nearly eight years – I’ve been ready for a change for awhile. </p> <p>After caulking the baseboards in three places, painting them, painting the bottom part of the wall three times in semi gloss white, installing all the board and batten and most of the decorative trim, finishing up the crown and painting the walls <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-new-wall-color-kind-of.html" target="_blank">their new color</a>, I ended up with this: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJEeF3DZO1dNaWc-NL9eZiWQTK3DLVFEHN-PpDP3uAKGseF_cGY-FWLcN-cAZY5VAj6IJ0l-gxV6lgTfkrkqPyDl4wpHJxVc5mvRXGvg0h-K6D6YxO3UMQCZHI11JG5dx_JqII5dGDgM/s1600-h/IMG_9728%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white board and batten" border="0" height="761" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjQw8NVqW0pz4t5clxSSjV1PgiXRD4vmjKEbyLjaGvk8ew6AOY00VGuTL0EZOQiEx3f9DYfDNHhvlLcxC_yFCBa13dQgc8FkrcwNq2iyVojvFkY7wDTVp_NTfBMztTIByKbO0r4eT418/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="white board and batten" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And I LOVE IT. Whoa, I LOVE how the white looks against our floors and the furniture. Yummy. </p> <p>OK, so this spot is still far from done. I still need to finish that small decorative trim at the top of the board and batten – I ran out:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSHyUJ3hV6u54AoBMXdPIqdXAgm4DVoBeH3FrmAwq8Dzm6Udkc6q3LgFpQY72exfI5F8ZLt9y1-r8qf_iRpu9KA7LI51oz3oFJVE1ScNV2Ek_uUnVrdPMxuxbOh7KZivglntf9QhX5ok/s1600-h/IMG_9735%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_QXcHWmWfLp2aOKpsHUzlVxoJ8zUD8_YwT-Rm-vfatn-akErl_2BbI6LmVJvyqE1IeNngjwj6tj85uwJYxGUQFq0c7zcoDsmfmpKTNidmd4kinOfIYNDZEp1gYtchPS1GFIT2O0H-dc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The door trim in the background still needs to be finished and painted. And the biggest thing is caulking and painting all the boards on the wall. </p> <p>But it’s closer and it looks SO much better so I’m celebrating that!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YaxVBBatLq7SHle0tbVhZyaKM6crwtzGaeWraxi28SHAK0snUjXYcZB-nEiuV-Aw1v-cnAofomK2C7-Nt-fjwYZUF23_NfZ7fpSGKlWc0iVxbFhaZjHNpjCPF2iH2HAfUvHnwhBHLb8/s1600-h/IMG_9730%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="long table world market" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A3jgmskCEsXg2-g1PmPosONmu0eoYDiw027SLKwu2xSor1z4zWvMIburXxvZhIKNFMfb9_ciQ_loeZgbRQK-9B9rcsUxX-nEJP15jI0nFHXgJqeO3vg1KhwFwYvywc9HAJCuPafql3g/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="long table world market" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I’m trying not to think much about the decor just yet – but the accessories will change up on that table. It’s a bit too neutral for me. And I want to paint that mirror a fun color, I just have no idea what it will be. :) </p> <p>But the wall looks a ton better and I’m SO excited about the direction of this room. I still need to patch a few spots on the other wall, finish up the board and batten on the other side of the room (there’s not much) and then I’m putting all of my attention on the fireplace. I want this space done by the end of September – that’s my goal. Sooner would be awesome!</p> <p>**To see my how to install the board and batten look, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/progress-board-batten-in-office.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />**For more about that awesome table and where it used to sit go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-little-somethin.html" target="_blank">here</a>. :) </p>

It’s time for some board and batten

Hey heeeey! Hope your weekend was great! I got SO MUCH DONE in the family room over the weekend – so much that I’m crazy sore today. Me th...

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