Archives for April 2016

Making a Fun Milepost Sign DIY

April 22, 2016 by misssuzy

I’ve seen colorful milepost signs during my travels over the past couple years. I always thought they looked so “vacationy” if that’s a word. So I decided to make one of my own for our back yard. It was a super easy project, the longest part was letting the paint dry between coats. I wanted to go ahead and get this done, I had some wisteria about to bloom outback near to where the milepost sign would be and I thought it would look so pretty with wisteria draped through it.

I used pressure treated fence pieces, sold individually at home improvement stores for a couple dollars a piece. I bought 4 in 6’ lengths. I was able to get two 30” pieces cut from one board. I cut irregular shaped “points” using a miter saw. The edges were lightly sanded, but I wanted mine to look very authentic, so perfection wasn’t the goal here. I painted them all different bright colors, using sample paint pots that I had collected from previous projects. But temember to be creative, you can mix different colors together to make another color, or you can add white to make a lighter shade of a color. I had to do multiple coats as this wood just drank the paint up. After they were completely dry from the final coat I used a fine tip paintbrush with a different color paint for the lettering.

I used the names of places that we have lived along with our favorite local beach and restaurant. I used mapquest for the mileage if you want to include that. You can use different width boards, different lengths, you can paint them all the same color or you can leave them all a natural color that will only turn more and more weathered looking over time. The sky’s the limit.

I really, really wanted to use a large piece of driftwood as my post, but I never found anything close so……..we just so happened to have the perfect thing. A tall, skinny holly tree had been damaged from the ice storms we had a couple years ago and the top finally broke off during some high winds. What better timing. I used the top of that tree and my husband removed the bark for me using a drawing knife. Using post hole diggers he dug the hole about 3 feet and packed the dirt around the post. We thought about using some quickcrete but it wasn’t necessary, it is very solid. Placing the signs randomly, pointing in all directions, I then used an electric drill with deck screws to screw each sign to the post.

Ours is out back by the courtyard and patio and it makes the perfect perch for the birds while they wait their turn at the feeder!

DIY Stenciled Crate Using Faux Barn Wood

April 22, 2016 by misssuzy

Now that I have my barn wood, it is time to create my version of that cute pricey piece that I first spotted a few weeks ago. Since I was trying to mimic my inspiration piece, I made a crate roughly 36” X 15”. I measured, and using a miter saw, cut my boards to my desired lengths. I then nailed the ends and bottom using a nail gun and brads. I did add some corner braces, using 1 x 2 scraps of wood we had been hoarding! Voil´a, you have a box!!

Crate made from DIY bar wood

Well, not so fast. Look what we can do with that box. I ordered a stencil from RightSideStuff on Etsy. I gave her my dimensions, picked out my font and phrase and she did the rest. I received it promptly and couldn’t wait to see the final result. Now, I ordered a one time use stencil, but after seeing how cute this turned out and how simple it was to make, I may order a multi use stencil from her in the future. Follow the instructions carefully. Only takes a few minutes. I used Amy Howard Natural One Step Paint in Bauhaus Buff only because I had bought some a while back and had not tried it on anything yet. I used a stencil sponge from my local craft store. Dab the paint lightly on the lettering of the stencil. Lightly is the key word here, you don’t want the paint to bleed through the stencil. Plus, if you dab it on, you will get a weathered look rather than a sharp stenciled appearance. Allow to dry and then slowly remove the stencil.

Applying paint to stencil

Then, I drilled some 5/8” holes in each end of the box and used 5/8”rope for my handles. Just feed the rope through the holes and tie in a knot. I was more than happy with the finished product!! What do you think?

Adding my rope for handles

I am giving this to a very good friend of mine as a housewarming gift! She just finished building her very first house and is about ready to move in any day now! I hope she likes it!

How To Make Your Own Barn Wood From New Wood DIY

April 22, 2016 by misssuzy

I recently saw something cute in one of my favorite local shops, but whew! It was not worth the hefty price tag! It looked so very easy to make, so I snapped a picture with my phone and returned a few days later with my husband in tow to get his take on it. I wanted to look at it again a little more closely and I wanted to know for sure that it would be as simple as it looked. Yep, no problem. He said we could do it easily. The first thing I had to do was find some barn wood. It is kind of a hot commodity right now, with people just like me using it to create all kinds of things. I found some for sale but I was not about to pay his inflated prices not to mention that would defeat the whole purpose of this DIY!! I thought about just going and helping myself to some from an old barn out in the rural part of the county. But I didn’t particularly want to get shot (that would be a first) over one of my projects, so I moved on to Plan B.

Hmmmmph! I would create my own barn wood!!! I purchased some poplar boards from my home improvement store and used a concoction that I researched online that just so happens to work like a charm. I was very skeptical at first, primarily because I am such a huge fan of real barn wood. I couldn’t imagine that this would truly look authentic! Now I will be honest, the first time I tried this I was not patient enough, (remember, not one of my strong suites.) Even if you think you might want to try this, go ahead and get your “stain” mixed up, it really looks better when left to sit a few days. Before I stained my boards, I distressed them! I went into my husband’s shop and just pulled out some random things, I proceeded to beat up my boards. It was quite liberating! I imagined it was the IRS!!! Distress as little or as much as you want. I really thought I had overdone it on some of my boards, but I don’t think there is such a thing!

tools used to distress barnwood

For the stain, add to an empty clean jar with lid:

Vinegar (apple cider vinegar gives a more blueish tint) One or two cups should be plenty, depending on what you are staining.

Shredded up piece of steel wool. I used fine.

I’ve seen this done adding coffee grounds or tea to the mix, I have tried this with coffee grounds, but for me I didn’t really see any difference.

That’s it!! That’s your stain. Doesn’t it look yummy!!

vinegar stain

After sitting for at least 24 hours (I recommend a few days) drain off the steel wool, use any paintbrush to apply the stain. Let dry. If you would like a darker finish, apply another coat. Let dry.

TIP: Keep in mind each piece of wood takes stain differently. Even if you have two pieces of the same kind of wood, it is possible that they will turn out looking completely different from each other. Which honestly just adds character!!

I then washed my boards with a milkwash, which is just watered down white paint. I used some interior Sherwin Williams wall paint that I had on hand. Add a little water to the white paint, depending how light or dark you want it. I used 4:1, 4 parts paint, 1 part water. Stir. Adjust as needed as you go along. It shouldn’t be dripping off the rag, but it will be very thin. Use a rag to wipe on, applying it to the whole surface. I did mine very lightly, but there is no right or wrong, depending on what you want your end result to look like. I wanted more of a gray, but if you like the way it looks after using the homemade stain, then you don’t even need to do the milkwash step. I was very pleased with the final product and I can’t wait to share with you what I made using my DIY barn wood!!!!

What Makes A House A Home

April 15, 2016 by misssuzy

What are some of the things you use throughout your home to create a sense of warmth and a feeling of comfort? For me, one of the things that triggers my senses are leather books.

There is just something about the smell, the feel and the look of them. I can see my husband in his sweater vest and trousers, sitting by a roaring fire, smoking a pipe with a classic book in hand. Ummmm, honey, how much would it cost to have a fireplace put in?

Leather books in library

leather book 2

It just so happens that our house has a very large room that has no identity. It has potential, but to do what? Originally I would think it was meant to be a “Carolina Room”. We already have two living spaces, an office and a screened in porch. Because of the location and the flow of things, we can’t make it into a bedroom or bunkroom. What to do, what to do?? You know experts say after buying a house, you should live in it a while before you make any major changes, kind of figure out the function of the house and how it works for the family. Unbeknownst to us, we were about to have an exceptionally lengthy getting to know each other period!

But eventually we devised a plan to turn it into a Library!

Make no mistake—-I am no great intellectual thinker. And truth be told, children’s books are my favorite!! In fact, our youngest is twelve and I still buy children’s books!! Not for her of course, she would be really upset if I didn’t clarify that!!! I know. It is weird! I’ll keep you posted on the progress and hope to post the entire library reveal soon.

You don’t need a home library though. Include leather books on your bookshelf. Try placing a couple on an end table or atop a desk. Maybe on a night stand in the master bedroom or guest bedroom next to a lamp.

They’re always classic! For some unknown reason mine seem to have a calming, relaxing effect. I always keep an eye out for leather books every time I go to any type of consignment or second hand shop. Estate sales are a good place to look as well. They aren’t easy to find, but every now and then I snag one!!

So take a look at your surroundings, please share what it is that creates a peaceful and tranquil mood for you. A temporary respite from the daily grind of juggling a million things at once? You can always put on a sweater vest, pour a glass of brandy and reach for a classic leather book!!!! Just kidding!

French Quarter Courtyard

April 15, 2016 by misssuzy

Spring has arrived!!! Hummingbirds at the feeder already— YAY!! and wisteria in bloom—- that’s all the proof I need. Well, that and the 80° temps that we have had already. But I for one am not complaining! It’s time to clean up the yard and fill my containers with blooms of every color.

Hummingbird at feeder in spring

If you have read the story of our renovation, you know that our place was in rough shape. Both inside and out. We had a little awkward area off of the screened back porch that was hugely overgrown with nothing but dirt and weeds. Since it was a spot with no identity of it’s own, it was ideally suited for a small courtyard. We made no plans to do anything elaborate. It was a manageable size, which was very appealing. Sorry for the poor quality photo…….had no idea I would want to capture “before”!!!

New Orleans style courtyard before and aftef

Courtyard Before through the Screen Porch

There was a small fountain left behind by the previous owners, inoperable (it needed a pump) laying out in the back of the property. I have never had a fountain before, and really had no opinion of it either way. My husband was pretty adamant about it and wanted to save it and try to use it somewhere down the road. So….it fit nicely into our courtyard plans. I was aiming for the New Orleans French Quarter vibe, with all the trailing vines and flowers and cobblestone walks. We used irregular pieces of slate for the hardscape. I tried to grow moss in between the stones. Having no luck with that, we opted for a small amount of English Ivy. I know, I know, everyone warns that you don’t want to grow any vine on a house. But it was the ivy that would lend itself to that “courtyard” feel. I took a chance and don’t regret it at all. Once, at the end of the growing season, and maybe again in spring if it’s a little too overgrown, I will cut it back or pull some up. It has really not been a issue at all.

Courtyard in Bloom

I think I have gone overboard on the cement planters though. It has gotten way out of hand!!! I have them in every size and shape imaginable. But you know me, I cannot pass up a deal, and more than likely most came from estate sales and such.

I only do low maintenance flowers with a long bloom season! As an added bonus (less to buy this spring) I have had several flowers come back that were supposed to be annuals. Our hibiscuses were ginormous last year and bloomed profusely. They outgrew their pots and by the end of the summer began to go backward a little bit. We kept them in the garage dormant through the winter and now that we have repotted them and sat them out in the sun, they have begun to green up. Oh Happy Day!!

Between the soothing sounds of the fountain, the chirping birds at the feeders and the faint melody of the windchimes, it is a perfect place to enjoy a glass of iced tea or unwind with a glass of wine!

Milepost sign with Wisteria

Mexican Petunia in New Orleans Style Courtyard

Mexican Petunia in Courtyard

Vintage Pieces To Add Character and Personality

April 14, 2016 by misssuzy

It is no secret that I love ~~junk~~ antique stores. Yes, you do have to look through a plethora of undesirables before you find even one piece that might warrant a second look. 99 percent of the time I leave empty handed. But I still get a rush from that thrill of the hunt!!

Vintage items that I am drawn to, for whatever reason, evoke a certain emotion. Maybe something from my childhood or a connection to a particular person or place. I have a couple vintage globes that sit atop our antique roll top desk. Why they conjure such a powerful emotion I do not know. Possibly it has something to do with my travels when I was a young child. Did anyone else cry at the beginning of Pixar’s movie “Up”?

Vintage globes and vintage metal Navy Recruitment sign

Surround yourself with those things that make you smile. When you walk in your home after being away and you utter those words “I’m so glad to be home”, think about what drives that emotion. Obviously it’s the people we share our homes with. Our pets that greet us each and every time we enter through the door. But I’m sure we have all been in a house or two that were very nice but there was just something missing. They had no personality. A house with no personality feels cold and unwelcoming. Fill your walls with art you love.

1952 Pull down school map of the United States

One never knows what one might find in a ~~junk~~ antique store. Some of my favorite pieces are those that I didn’t even know I wanted. Now when I go into a ~~junk~~ antique store and the shopkeeper asks if they can help me find something, I just smile and say “I ‘ll know it when I see it!”

Adding Color To A Neutral Room

April 14, 2016 by misssuzy

I love colorful, fun accent pieces. I had been keeping an eye out for something new to display in our antique china hutch. It needed an update to go along with our newly renovated house. For years it held a set of Blue Willow and various Flow Blue pieces. Always classic, I plan to keep them, but was in need of a punch of color in our dining room. I hate to call it a formal dining room, because nothing in the house is formal. But it is the room that is only used for holidays or when ~~entertain~~ shoot, I can’t even type that word. I overdosed on HGTV a few years ago and would cringe every time they used the word “entertain”!!! So you get the picture. I thought something bright and beachy would add a bit of whimsy to a mostly neutral room.

Probably the most nervewracking thing about me styling our home is that it takes me forever and a day to decide on something. If it doesn’t just jump out at me, I pass on it. Ultimately drawing out what would take others days to complete, weeks and months pass!

One day when I was least expecting it, I stumbled upon the perfect piece. It was a handpainted platter of a pelican by artist Dana Wittmann. I had to have it. Happy with my purchase I was excited to find a little card enclosed that told the history of the piece. Ironically, Dana Wittmann is from the Gulf Coast of Mississipi. Right from where we used to live. We moved across the country about three months before hurricane Katrina hit. Our old neighborhood was obliterated! Thankfully all our neighbors survived, but they all lost their homes and everything. For Ms. Wittmann, hurricane Katrina was a turning point in her life and Dana Wittmann Designs was born! Read about her here. So, WOW! We shared a connection. Poor woman, here I am talking about her like she is my best friend, truth is I’ve never even met her! But anywho….my collection began!

Dana Wittmann hand painted bowls platters and plates

They are beautiful, handpainted pieces. So bright and fun. A perfect way to add personality to any space. Her website states that each piece is marked by a cross, Dana’s symbol for thanks to God for the talent He has given her. She adds “My hope is that these pieces will bless people’s homes like they have mine and my family and friends. Home is where the heart is.”

Amen to that!!!!!!

Dana Wittmann hand painted gulf coast pottery

Before and After Foyer Reveal

April 14, 2016 by misssuzy

Looking back on the before pictures now, I wonder momentarily why in the world we entered into such a voluminous redo in the first place? My vision begins to clear and I once again see the quality of materials and craftsmanship (or lack of), used throughout the house. I wondered aloud to anyone who would listen, as to how the house could have possibly passed the building inspection? Honest to goodness it looked as if the drywall work was done by a tilt-a-whirl operator from the carnival!!!!

Foyer before renovation

This before picture of the foyer looks decent enough. I’m just not a fan of the 80’s! It was just all wrong. Being realistic, we knew that our renovation was going to be a (multi year) process and things would get alot worse before they got better. Knowing that we would be walking into concrete floors and drywall dust, I wanted the entryways to be pleasing. They were smaller areas that we could do in between the major work that I felt would make a huge psychological impact! With that in mind, changing the front entry door was at the top of my list! I was in a love affair with wood doors! We had just hired a contractor to begin work in the foyer replacing the pony walls. I know it sounds like a strange place to start, but I had a vision!!!!

pony wall under construction foyer before

Foyer during renovation

I guess luck was in the cards on that fateful day, because minding my own business, browsing craigslist while enjoying my morning tea, there it was!!!!!! The ad stated it was a 5K$ Borano, solid mahogany, oversized door that had never been installed. At a fraction of the cost!!! Happy Happy, Joy Joy!!!!! What’s a Borano door? I had no idea but never mind the details. It was WOOD!!

So, we drove over an hour and half to take a look, sent photos to our contractor with measurements, remeasured and prayed. The last thing we needed was unnecessary labor costs on top of the already mounting costs of this little redo. Verdict was in!!! Our contractor said it would fit!! Had we not been working with a contractor at that time, we would have had to pass on this great door. Thankfully, Steve was able to remove our standard door and sidelite and install the oversized door in the opening! Everyone that enters through that door from family and friends, to delivery men and girl scouts selling cookies, they all comment on the door! We don’t use the front door often, but it is certainly a lot more welcoming for guests when we do!!

Over time we replaced all the hollow interior doors with solid five panel doors and installed new bronze hardware. All the door and window trim was also changed from traditional to craftsman style. Much, much later our floors were installed. Read about them here. The baseboards throughout the house were replaced with the same larger baseboards used on the pony walls.

We added a new lantern from Northeast Lantern, a wool runner from Home Goods and a pillow, art and an antique bench. The walking sticks and Japanese fishing buoy are finds from antique stores. Our Westie in the before picture is Holly. Sadly she passed away last year at the age of 17!!!! She is missed every day! The after picture shows our other Westie Maggie. Westies are the BESTIES!!!

Foyer After Renovation

We used to joke that the door was what held the house up!!!!

Foyer after Renovation

Mahogany Borano Entry Door

Reclaimed Heart Pine Random Width Floors–Was It Worth The Wait?

April 6, 2016 by misssuzy

Well, to protect myself from a lawsuit, I will refrain from going into detail about the company we used to install our floors. Definitely not the smoothest part of the reno. Actually I am not sure that there was a smooth part, but anyway….The guys that actually did the work did a very good job. It was not an easy job I am sure (THE reason we did not attempt the installation ourselves) remember, the floors would set the stage for the whole house reno. There was a lot of square footage and I doubt if we had one plumb wall in the whole house. Not to mention the uneven, cracked slab!! We had removed all the floor tiles and carpet throughout the house. We were going with a wider baseboard, so we removed all the old baseboards, gutted the kitchen and pretty much were left with the shell of a house!!

removing floor tiles on concrete slab to prepare for antique heart pine wide plank floor install

removing floor tiles from slab before antique heart pine installation

We chose the glue down installation over floating. The glue is a great product, we did our research, but it is very expensive. The cost of the installation including glue and prep work added considerably to the cost of the floors. We knew that going into it, so it was not a shock, even though we ended up using TWICE the amount of glue than what was estimated……..

On day one, the owner of the company and I got into a little “disagreement” about how to install random width floors. (Even though he knew months in advance he would be installing random width). He wanted a pattern, and I wanted them “random”. After all, they were random width for a reason. We also chose to have the direction of the floors changed in a few different places, (transitioning from one room to another) to add to the character, the look of how they used to be back in the day, when rooms would be added on to a house over the years.

renovation wide plank antique reclaimed heart pine floor

Antique Reclaimed Heart Pine Wide Plank Floor

It took a crew of 4 almost a full week.

tile removed from slab floor before installation of antique wide plank heart pine

tile removed from floors before installation of antique wide plank heart pine floors

We went back and forth about whether to install the floors before the kitchen cabinets and island or the cabinets before the floors. Pine is a soft wood, that was another concern of ours. We wanted to live in our house, but spending that kind of money, we didn’t want them to have too much character right from the start, if you know what I mean!! We decided to do the floors first. We were given assurances by everyone involved that they would be very,very careful.

To make matters even worse, my husband was working out of the country and I had the good fortune of dealing with this chaos myself!!! It was a challenge. The loss of privacy was the biggest issue. It was winter, kids at school, but our two westies and I had to find a way to stay out of the way and still be present! From first thing in the morning til 6 or 7 at night. There was no furniture left to sit on. Everything was piled together and moved around as rooms were completed. The kitchen, baths and laundry room were also gutted. The baths and laundry were getting tiled, but the wood was going through the rest of the entire house. I could not wait to get them out of my house!!! Even though it only took 4 days for the actual installation, between the demo and the slab prep and the clean up after, it was more like a 2 week process!!! Was it worth it?