my best DIY round up

I thought I would bump up some of my older DIY posts...I figured why not start with this one that cost very little but that has such a great result...How to build a fridge enclosure...

Click here for that post 

Here is the before...a standard not upgraded shallow cabinet above the fridge space....a $200 or more upgrade is a fridge enclosure...its a beautiful thing...but for $30-40 you can do this yourself...

How I paint cabinets....

For a durable easy to do water based cabinet paint tutorial...follow the links below

Part 1 & Part 2

How to build a pine counter...I wanted a wood counter but after the dream kitchen reno's I needed to save money so I figured out how to make a solid pine counter for much less than a butcher block counter...click here for that how to

My best and most ambitious how to has to be the coffered ceiling

click here 

How to make a dutch door from a standard hollow door 

I really am passionate about DIY...I really like to try new things and challenge myself...and add new and origional touches to my homes....I think everyone can DIY from small craft projects to ambitious DIY projects... I think if you have decent tool skills and a good eye and love to work with your hands DIY is something to give a try..and if you don't know to build but you want to give it a try and give yourself permission to learn and to even make mistakes...mistakes are part of the learning process...if its your house give yourself the permission to try something new. 

DIY cheap faux shiplap

In this post I am going to explain how I did this very popular project...SHIPLAP...I know it is been done everywhere and really popular and possibly trendy...but it is a simple trim detail that adds oodles of character to an otherwise bland wall...and it is or can be cheap... 

I used Hardboard...you can use 3/4" pine or 1/4" sanded plywood or the cheap stuff like I did... $8.90 a 4x8 sheet at the time of this post....I had the lumber store rip the sheets down to 6" strips so they were 6"by 8'

I then brought them home and sanded the edges and primed one flat side and the edges, after that dried I sanded them smooth again and painted each strip twice with a latex paint...I used flat but after installing I would suggest a satin finish, it looks so much better....I did a final coat in satin...

Because the hardboard is thin and my baseboards were thicker I was able to leave them in place...

The next part is important to get a great result...if your baseboard is the thin cheap builder kind...YOU MUST REMOVE IT NOW....just do it, leaving cheap builder baseboard in place and adding shiplap will result in a cheap look a very amateur looking job...and let's avoid that!

It is best to add a new baseboard on top of the shiplap to get a professional look...unless you have a thicker baseboard...I hope I have explained this properly....

So onto installation: you will want to find the studs in the wall where you want to install the shiplap...and mark the wall, this is where you will nail the strips to the wall....make sure to paint the wall white prior to installation of the strips...

Then using no more nails adhesive you will make sure to add a good amount along the back of the whole strip and using a level you will level your first run of shiplap...and nail it into the studs...this will hold it while the glue dries...make sure not to set your nail gun too deep as the nails will easily go straight through the material and you don't want the nails to go all the way through, just slightly counter sunk...I always use my RYOBI airstrike...it's the best, treat yourself to one if you are doing to do more than one DIY trim project you need a good nail gun and a cordless nail gun makes all these jobs so much better.

For my project my walls were not longer than 8' so I didn't have an seams but if you have a long wall stagger your joints...I used a miter saw to cut the strips to length...

As far as the spacing goes I used an coin from Aruba...it was square so it was very handy with the flat side... you can use a nickle, or you can use a scrap of the hardboard for a more accentuated gap line, it all looks great...for the corners I just did butt joints for a clean contemporary result but if you like you can add strips of wood on the corners but then you get into issue with the baseboard if you have outside corners...just keep in mind you never want your applied trim or woodwork to jut out more then the baseboard, it is just wrong...I added adhesive to the butt joint to keep them together.

 The last step is to add the baseboard if you removed what was there then it's time to fill the holes... and imperfections with a spackle and sand smooth...you can use a flash light to shine light on your wall before you paint because spackle dries white and when you miss one nail hole then paint it is really hard to get that smooth again...and it looks crappy if you paint over a bit of smeared spackle....

last step is a good coat or two of latex paint...I applied the paint with a small roller.

This is really a simple project and if you are thinking about doing it I would say you have nothing to lose...you will love it. 

how to add a furniture detail to kitchen cabinets

the kitchen is coming along nicely...I love the blue that I painted the island and adding the shiplap has really made a huge difference to the whole feel of the kitchen...its Huronia by Para...

much like in our last kitchen I wanted to add some bases that look like a furniture detail...I will eventually get around to painting the perimiter cabinets but for now I will focus on the island...and the details were lacking so I made some easy changes...

here is the island how it looked when we took posession... the top is made from old pews {super cool} but it was a very orange tone that we did not like...I like the wood but not the colour so I took it off and sanded the bottom and stained it and made it the top and now we love it....and I really think that sticking cabinet doors on to the ends of cabinets is kind of strange so I knew that wouldn't stay long...

as you can see we have new windows...and they are AHmazing....and addin the open shelving really gives it that open feeling...

the next step was to remove the decorative doors and to add shiplap v-groove...

and paint out the trim on that windows...boy was that the right thing to do...

I then painted the new wood Huronia by Para in a melamine paint...which has been such a nice paint to use, it goes on beautifully and covers so well...but that is as far as it went from July until Oct...I've been moving at a much slower pace over the last year....there is a lot going on in my life so when I can get to it I tackle my DIY but it is not like it used to be...quick quick quick....

it's truly amazing that making a few changes can even make a huge difference...I thought we had to strip and restain the floors but now that they are the only warm wood they look quite nice...they have a lot of character... I can't mop them as they are rough but I will remedy that over time... a good sand and some poly and they will be great... 

 although the other side of the island is still off white....and may be that way for a while.. I can live with that....because from where I sit right now it looks pretty good...so I can live with slow going progress.

here are some great examples of furniture foot details from my Pinterest Kitchen board  you will find these photos and the links for them and lots of other beautiful kitchen inspiration...they were the push I needed to add this detail to our kitchen.

I built this simple and easy furniture detail and I'm going to try to explain how you can do it too....
I used 1x 4 " select pine I ripped it to the height I needed it to be to fit under the cabinet into the kickplate area and cut it to the width that I needed it to be, then I drew on the design I wanted for the cut out...and I cut out the shape...

here is a photo from our last kitchen ...I think you can add this detail to just one area or the whole kitchen but it just adds so much style and it is a very inexpensive simple detail...

 I used my new Ryobi band saw which made this job really easy but you could use a jig saw or even a coping saw...if you don't have a band saw...

the center cut is the hardest piece to cut, but it is doable with a table saw...this would be a very hard clean cut to make without a table saw...you just make most of this cut by bringing the wood down carefully onto the blade....

I added wood to the back of the detail piece as shown, I just did a butt joint and used my Ryobi airstrike and brad nails...it is now square and ready to install into place...I added filler pieces behind to afix this detail.....so it is 4 pieces of wood, that is it...

what a difference...

I am testing how well this paint will adhere to these very smooth painted doors...if all goes well I will be painting the entire island and adding new hardware...if you would like to see a good tutorial on how to paint kitchen cabinets click here 

                                            I hope that maybe this was somewhat helpful...till next time...

*this post has been sponsored by Ryobi tools...but I only recommend using products that I fully believe in and use myself.

all about fall

It's been one of the best fall season's ever....because it has felt more like summer lately...I was in high gear to get as many tables completed before Thanksgiving and this was my last one to go out just in time...it's easily my favourite design... it is inspired by a similar table Restoration Hardware sells...but mine has many design and structural differences that make it a better version in my humble opinion...

here is the next one I am currently working on...I love these legs...I rarely use pocket holes but when I do this ryobi drill makes the job so quick and easy...here is my favourite combo kit it is incredible value 

this finish is a custom blend, hand applied and then several coats of  Miss Mustardseed hemp oil from is applied...

I was saying lately how circular saws used to scare me as I found them hard to manage...until I bought this one several years back...I have very weak wrists from years of DIYing...so heavy bulky tools and batteries do not work for me...this small saw is powerful enough for all my needs and is the perfect weight for me....I remember buying it in this combo set...always a great deal with RYOBI 

I have added a new workshop project...this 36" long seasonal table box....its full of pumpkins now but it will work for all seasons....

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving....here is a little fun table scape for fall that can take you right up to Halloween....

Looks like fall has finally arrived here anyway...its time for blankets, sweaters and warm drinks....and lots of raking leaves....

Bye for now, 

Chris.

disclaimer * this is a Ryobi sponsored post...all of the opinions are my own ...the links are NOT affiliate.

Born to Create

This is my latest White Wood custom clock design...every time I make clocks I learn a new technique which is amazing, it feeds my soul to create new things...

 When did I know that I was born to create...? I'm trying to think back...when was it..?..it must have been when we had our first apartment and I got creative with how to decorate on a nearly $0 budget...decorating with flea market finds and making over pieces with paint....thankfully the budgets got bigger...and my skills got better and better...I remember making some shutters and a faux gate to hang on the wall above our sofa...using a hammer and nails and a hand saw...I was just always one to jump in and create...then after moving to our second apartment my husband gave me an industrial glue gun and a mouse sander for Christmas...

I have been so happy to share all I have learned with others now, people that are now starting out their creative journey.

I was recently asked to be interviewed for East magazine and of course I said yes...and was I ever shocked to see my own space on the cover....how fun, the article is so good...lol and I just loved the photos...what an honour...here is a link to EAST if you would like to take a look. 

Moving to this house has opened up the flood gates as far as my creation of decor pieces...

I have designed my own modern farmhouse brackets made locally for me, I make the distressed rustic shelves.

I recently added these custom laundry drying racks...this was such a fun group of ladies...so full of fun and creativity.

It has made all the difference to have the support of Ryobi and to offer all these tools for my workshops...so grateful.

Sometimes with DIY the very best results come from mistakes...for instance this clock needed to have the center sanded back to re-do the lettering but the end result was far better than if the mistake hadn't occured....I love this...

I really have been having so much fun creating new pieces...so much fun following my dreams...

It's pretty amazing how blogging has opened so many amazing doors for me...how it has lead me to follow my dreams to create beautiful things...