Happy 100th Birthday

This may not be a birthday that Willard Scott will recognize...

but this year {2012} our house turns 100.

Let's put this into perspective. 100 years ago, the Titanic sank {wow}, a loaf of bread was 5 cents, New Mexico and Arizona were admitted as the 47th and 48th US states AND my house was built {and still stands}.

Though it was not a love at first sight feeling with this house, with each project we tackled, each room we put our mark on, this house has invaded our hearts and our souls. We may not have the biggest house, we may not have the fanciest house BUT we have a house that feels like home and one that holds some very happy memories.

So happy 100th birthday house.

I am honored to be part of your 100 year history.

Over the course of this year, I'll share with you a glimpse into our home, hopefully paying a tribute our 100 year old house deserves.

Home Improvement Junkie

Guilty as charged. I am a home improvement junkie.

This was introduced early on. My dad, whom I inherited this disease from, was always fixing or building something. Often, my sister and I would hand him tools, keep him company or, in the case below, dance along to whatever music he was playing.

We were probably listening to Billy Joel's Glass Houses album {yes, this was before CDs}. Is it strange that certain songs remind me of a home improvement project {and, of course, my dad}?

The Beatles, remind me of the hours I spent, in my first house, working with my dad as we remodeled a very pink and very outdated bathroom.

Penny Lane {by the Beatles} will forever bring back happy memories of my dad whistling as he labored turning a vision of what I wanted for my new bathroom into a reality. It will also remind me of the importance of buying quality tools {but that's a story for another day}.

Louis Prima crooned as my dad helped me turn an attic into a loft.

Jump, Jive An' Wail {by Louis Prima}, will remind me of dancing around that dusty old attic with my dad as he taught me how to use a nail gun for the first time.

Frank Sinatra played as my dad, Grace and I put up molding in our dining room {in our current house}.

That's Life {by Frank Sinatra} brings me back to that happy day when Grace got to work with her grandpa on her first home improvement project, another generation exposed to this disease. My favorite project by far.

This past weekend, Dean Martin played, practically on repeat as my dad, my husband and I all worked side by side turning this disaster of a closet into...

A closet I still can't believe is mine.

{It's still a work in progress touching things up and moving clothes back in.}

The only thing better than my under shoe rack lighting...

Being able to work on another project with my dad.

Memories Are Made of This, by Dean Martin, ironically, will remind me of my most recent project with my dad.

Much like childbirth, the trials and tribulations of home renovation projects {like the mess, the countless trips to Home Depot, the frustrations, the disarray} all fade over time. What lingers on, at least for me, the memories created spending time with my dad.

I think this is why, I'll forever be a home improvement junkie.

One of those days...

I was going to spare you any before pictures of my closet until I could show you pictures of its transformation BUT sometimes life throws you a curve ball.

We've been planning a closet remodel. It's one of the only rooms in our house that we haven't remodeled. It was last on the list of things to do because no one sees it and, though it wasn't the prettiest of rooms, it was functional, until yesterday...

Though I love old houses, I am not a fan of plaster walls. An 8 foot wire shelf ripped right out of the wall sending all my clothes flying in different directions.

If there was ever a question about investing in a closet remodel, I think that it was answered yesterday.

One step closer

I have big plans for my butler pantry.

I've mentioned before, I have dreams of installing a library ladder in our pantry. We've been scouring thrift stores, flea markets and perhaps my dad's shed for the perfect ladder. Lo and behold, in passing, we mentioned our plans to my husband's uncle AND it just so happened he had an actual library ladder.

It's about 4 feet longer than we need, but that can easily be corrected. This ladder has so much character and undoubtedly so much history.

I can't wait to see to see this ladder restored to its original condition, after the years of dirt are cleaned off and the ladder is refinished. Thankfully this is a project I'll happily be handing over to my husband.

Looks like our dream is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Martha Inspired

With my ReStore can of Martha Stewart's Primer and Sealer in hand.

I decided to paint our window seat window. I wish I had a better before picture but I was so anxious to start my project, I assumed in the thousands of pictures I have on my computer, I most certainly had one already. Nope.

So, here are a few pictures, from when we first moved in. Notice the bunnies, must have been Easter.

Here's another view {from Valentine's}.

The wood was in bad shape, as could be expected when you own a house that is almost 100 years old. Since we decided to paint the window, we were able to use chaulk to fill in the holes and gaps in the wood. We had hoped, by painting it white, it would blend with the bookcase, giving it a uniformed and cohesive look.

While I painted so did Grace. Don't worry, the room was well ventilated.

When the window was primed and painted, I sighed with relief because I think it opened our living room up, making it feel bigger, brighter and crisper. It also highlights the leaded window and the Moravian star light I just got for my anniversary which I love.

Did you notice the mail truck through the window? This was one of those good mail days, you know like when the new Martha Stewart Living has just been delivered. Happy day!

Apparently Grace feels the same way.

*No other wood was harmed in the process.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

I have no doubts that I may be among the last to hear about Habitat for Humanity's Restore.

ReStores recycle used and surplus household and construction materials donated by individuals, contractors and wholesale stores at a steal of a deal. Some items are brand new, others gently used. Because they rely on donations, new items consistently rotate into their inventory. You never know what deals you might stumble across.

I wasted no time planning my first visit, when I realized what I potentially could be missing out on. Be warned, they have limited hours. So make sure to check the hours of operation before you head out.

Being an avid DIYer, from the second I walked in the door to the second I left I was at the same time kicking myself for not having found this store earlier and fascinated by the array of things they had for sale.

There were stacks of lumber ranging in price from between .10 and .30 cents per linear foot. Lumber is an expense that has no draw for me since it's not something, when your project is completed, that is seen. For such an unexciting purchase, it always seems to take up a majority of my budget. With that being said, to now know I have found a place to save money on lumber makes it a more tolerable expense.

In addition to lumber they also had a large variety of hardwood for $1 a linear foot.

I was impressed with not only the amount of doors but the different styles of doors available. The doors ranged in price from $5 to $25. They also had a section of French doors, sliding doors, screen doors, door knobs and windows.

This beautiful claw foot bathtub, including faucet was $700. It was in beyond amazing.

I fell in love with this vanity. We put something very similar in one of our bathrooms. This one was only $110.

I think pedestal sinks have a very clean and classic look and for $30 how can you pass that up?

They even had toilets. Most were $25.

There were kitchen cabinets that ranged from full sets to individuals cabinets. While I was there, someone bought a full set of cabinets for $700. This was my favorite.

There was also a lighting section. Some fixtures may have seemed a little dated but with all the DIYers and spectacular before and afters, I am sure even a dated fixture has potential to be spectacular.

Some other things they had, that I didn't think to take pictures of, are furniture {sofas, dining room tables and chairs, entertainment centers, desks}, appliances {again, some new and some gently used}, tools, boxes of tile, tubes of chaulk for a $1, cans of paint ranging from $2-$10 and stain.

Even though, I have no projects on the immediate horizon, I still left making a purchase. I bought an unused gallon of Martha Stewart's primer and sealer for $10.

It didn't take long for me to find a purpose and put it to use {but that will have to wait for another post}!

Hopefully you can find a ReStore near you. You never know what you might stumble across and all the proceeds go right back to Habitat for Humanity. That's a win-win in my book.

Quick Bathroom Updates

Curious how I took my bathroom from this...

To this...

With baby steps.

1. We replaced the oak framed mirror with a $150 bronze wall mounted medicine cabinet, providing more storage. We would have preferred a recessed mounted medicine cabinet but with plaster walls sometimes you have to compromise.

2. We replaced the tulip frosted glass shades on the light fixture with marbleized cream and brown glass shades. New glass shades cost just under $10 depending on the style you like. The oak panel the light was mounted on was painted the same color as the wall, to minimize it visually.

3. We replaced the silver and gold toned faucet with a $60 bronze faucet.
Shop the clearance section. Most of the time, items in the clearance section are close outs AND available for a steal of a deal.

4. We replaced the oak vanity top with a Corian vanity top. Corian is simple, clean and relatively inexpensive. Vanity tops will vary in cost depending on substance and size. If you have a standard vanity, again, shop the clearance section, you never know what you'll find.

5. Stained glass. The addition of the stained glass to the cabinet door started to give our vanity a custom look. Even if you don't have the extent of updates we had to make, this simple update makes a HUGE impact. Again, depending on size and type of glass, prices vary. Our cost was roughly $30.

Here is a close up of the outside of our cabinet door.

Using an X-acto knife, and I am sure there may be better methods, we cut the middle panel out of the cabinet door. Make your cuts from inside of cabinet door, making sure not to cut the frame/border as you make your cuts. We ordered stained glass from a craft specialty store and had it pre-cut. To mount the stained glass, we used mirror clips to secure the glass to the cabinet door.

With our X-acto knife method, you can see there are some rough edges. Fortunately, they are on the inside of the cabinet so it's our little secret.

The final steps:

1. We added bronze knobs to the cabinet door and cabinet drawers. We got a set of 10 knobs for under $20. Knobs can be bought in sets or individually.

2. We used gel stain to stain our vanity. I am sure there are other methods but what we did was gently sand our vanity and apply the gel stain. Gel stain is thicker than normal stain, it almost has a paint consistency. It looks best when applied in several coats. A can of gel stain is about $15.

A combination of simple changes can lead to a dramatic transformation. A little vision doesn't have to cost a lot of money in the end.

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