Guest Bath: Resumed

If you came here expecting to see my freshly painted Ikea Hemnes dresser, I apologize. We had a change of plans.<br /><br />I had a few errands to run Saturday so I had to postpone the painting project, so instead I convinced Brad to finally get our guest bath vanity from Lowe's, so our guests could start washing their hands after they used the restroom. <br /><br />We began our guest bath transformation in June, but had to bring it to a hault in the middle of demo following our sudden <a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/06/well-it-was-nice-while-lasted.html">unfortunate news</a>. After our <a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/05/good-news-bad-news.html">wrong granite install</a> ordeal, Lowe's agreed to make it up to us with a discount of some sort for our next big purchase.<br /><br />This single purchase project soon turned into a total bath overhaul (or at least picking up from where we left off). While we were measuring for the vanity, we knew we had to find a solution for the messed up drywall where the previous vanity had been:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsWDRWUvz2isaY2D1i2mD4RuILS2swcxvz-OE39xjhbn5PikG2XbnT1PYklF0icmtZjFJE0aHViJEL_gRDVfRrMupJesUYLs_UVn79VZCloZ5VARzALkIwzz_056c3ppmcSV6jtDUij-8/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsWDRWUvz2isaY2D1i2mD4RuILS2swcxvz-OE39xjhbn5PikG2XbnT1PYklF0icmtZjFJE0aHViJEL_gRDVfRrMupJesUYLs_UVn79VZCloZ5VARzALkIwzz_056c3ppmcSV6jtDUij-8/s640/IMG_0119.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Old pic, before new floors and toilet</em></td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />So, I came up with the idea to use the wonderfully simple/cheap and aesthetically pleasing beadboard. Luckily, Brad was down with the plan, so we headed to Lowe's to get the goods.<br /><br /><br />We ended up finding a vanity that would work perfectly (it was a vanity/counter top/sink combo so we had no choice but to take it all).<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hfFxDciK78-JnQ8NisLvybPpulWzJxaMfTd6tBd1makrAR2F49mbjaJfgYHg1Q5yoojPBrjxr4ZwtN9dD8x4pU_MOCptDU40Bl9lpS69s-pJq6nUe8PC0P446qLg0rkrmV3pgIy5qfZV/s1600/vanity.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hfFxDciK78-JnQ8NisLvybPpulWzJxaMfTd6tBd1makrAR2F49mbjaJfgYHg1Q5yoojPBrjxr4ZwtN9dD8x4pU_MOCptDU40Bl9lpS69s-pJq6nUe8PC0P446qLg0rkrmV3pgIy5qfZV/s640/vanity.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> And we loved it all. And we also loved that Lowe's paid for $150 of it plus free delivery (yay!)<br /><br />We also purchased the matching mirror:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpB5nON9csGp-nAdt3VL9sJoFzky0-Ht7_AZu78S4Z-21ttGfCu0Hpjp1u0S4VLoXIGB_lCGUwr0j_2mKsz7l8fFtYE9r4E1og_NmbJONI7RwU6DbIBh981i_HGj-GZtFXLidd5BJXHpL/s1600/mirror.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpB5nON9csGp-nAdt3VL9sJoFzky0-Ht7_AZu78S4Z-21ttGfCu0Hpjp1u0S4VLoXIGB_lCGUwr0j_2mKsz7l8fFtYE9r4E1og_NmbJONI7RwU6DbIBh981i_HGj-GZtFXLidd5BJXHpL/s640/mirror.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />For the sink hardware, I found a nice ORB faucet to fit the vanity, on super clearance:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdddVGWeifxY6WGmI6SKMsNFN8jSsOymG3Gmp-_8iXUbYoN3EwGLmb7KPUZ1H6ytxYVzS5tHnNAo9dOSzmet0khsv9l3yBCejkUHkw85U_5_zBiJU-wqocl9buiQrgnFsVFY0eUZlCWiST/s1600/IMG_5917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdddVGWeifxY6WGmI6SKMsNFN8jSsOymG3Gmp-_8iXUbYoN3EwGLmb7KPUZ1H6ytxYVzS5tHnNAo9dOSzmet0khsv9l3yBCejkUHkw85U_5_zBiJU-wqocl9buiQrgnFsVFY0eUZlCWiST/s640/IMG_5917.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I didn't see any lighting I loved there, so we went to Home Depot and picked up a nice 3-light ORB wall mounted fixture (sorry, no pics just yet.... it will just have to be a surprise)<br /><br />Back at the house, we were dying to get rid of these old 90's porcelain towel and toilet paper holders (ugh)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i52.tinypic.com/2vjbqfo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i52.tinypic.com/2vjbqfo.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />After trying to delicately remove them with no luck, it was hammer time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDzws1spqGYdsnQRgEHDC5TI-r9k3OXr6kZj4Gmf1tPB2_JwhIoccfn7raMv_dF0jyI37nKHcskZc7wAMN2gtpMp95YmmLDatQeAiDrwlcRK8HLteA4IBmSxH4215DDpwZNRsCPvnGudL/s1600/IMG_5889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDzws1spqGYdsnQRgEHDC5TI-r9k3OXr6kZj4Gmf1tPB2_JwhIoccfn7raMv_dF0jyI37nKHcskZc7wAMN2gtpMp95YmmLDatQeAiDrwlcRK8HLteA4IBmSxH4215DDpwZNRsCPvnGudL/s640/IMG_5889.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Which unfortunately left us with these:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dcYstveIqq9vvtVe9jSl5U5E1wN5ICbui4UcVbQVl4rEPTW_U1B4x1EyNOsI_ylTf8bKRnn09KxvOyx3QO4S4kxyDJpKGjnNJNr18LPNsWmG5rZdhoZMQHhrrrjTh5R9eiEKEVA_-6zb/s1600/IMG_5890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dcYstveIqq9vvtVe9jSl5U5E1wN5ICbui4UcVbQVl4rEPTW_U1B4x1EyNOsI_ylTf8bKRnn09KxvOyx3QO4S4kxyDJpKGjnNJNr18LPNsWmG5rZdhoZMQHhrrrjTh5R9eiEKEVA_-6zb/s640/IMG_5890.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUqVwE87UC9Yf9TpE4eUBYdevhO1OXJLM7nkIXLtebkgls9Sujkm-V38T_4WQOz-uP2hSLR1WICCQwnq5isSR1MbStOD2pBzPXrQMOg4X450tKPFD6_GEVPMgEoXRBw-K6mc8aJlBYBa8/s1600/IMG_5896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUqVwE87UC9Yf9TpE4eUBYdevhO1OXJLM7nkIXLtebkgls9Sujkm-V38T_4WQOz-uP2hSLR1WICCQwnq5isSR1MbStOD2pBzPXrQMOg4X450tKPFD6_GEVPMgEoXRBw-K6mc8aJlBYBa8/s640/IMG_5896.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The bottom hole would thankfully be covered by beadboard, but the top two were going to be an issue. So we picked up a couple 6" mesh patch kits and hoped for the best...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rbTGm8Pc19kXpJPe6SJ6LYdoF61X27x01q2KolgZuLUjDEyofjpXKK_lFSBe67jB9IEL3h8JObwr4H_fm2YQwNG0R8y24FgcQG7_2bhnGHfQ05YAIi2DzyeobIZTIAz_7C6VLLTZzCvs/s1600/IMG_5902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rbTGm8Pc19kXpJPe6SJ6LYdoF61X27x01q2KolgZuLUjDEyofjpXKK_lFSBe67jB9IEL3h8JObwr4H_fm2YQwNG0R8y24FgcQG7_2bhnGHfQ05YAIi2DzyeobIZTIAz_7C6VLLTZzCvs/s640/IMG_5902.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />This was earlier today... and they are still pink as I type.<br /><br />Our old baseboards were lookin pretty gnarly, so we picked up some fresh replacements:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-31zJ2aZBV_qxHcCYXlFUpyx09S2oVw5oQD4K25ReCLgFn18yZfgBPquY4_GGyKYIQ1AcCs3qs6qLqRSnZhRr9w1AlBt2nEZDEJ_ZOy_XybBJ0HHJ1zqDtsn2QMnwiX0_is_L_ZqF59bU/s1600/IMG_5883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-31zJ2aZBV_qxHcCYXlFUpyx09S2oVw5oQD4K25ReCLgFn18yZfgBPquY4_GGyKYIQ1AcCs3qs6qLqRSnZhRr9w1AlBt2nEZDEJ_ZOy_XybBJ0HHJ1zqDtsn2QMnwiX0_is_L_ZqF59bU/s640/IMG_5883.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Susie was double checking our plumbing measurements, just to make sure</em></td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><br /><br />We had a fun surprise underneath....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXu5R60NkfcufQxgfQ700udZb7qKT5Ythb50sw69i8jEfUuzNpE8QenqItx0NmNVpYZEDbhTY1CtBVdWjztoKPHnCQds3Q8qYm0jrwvpFKsTIw69sk8QGoG8jkeHmgwCQ59mXGn2rR-BH7/s1600/IMG_5888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXu5R60NkfcufQxgfQ700udZb7qKT5Ythb50sw69i8jEfUuzNpE8QenqItx0NmNVpYZEDbhTY1CtBVdWjztoKPHnCQds3Q8qYm0jrwvpFKsTIw69sk8QGoG8jkeHmgwCQ59mXGn2rR-BH7/s640/IMG_5888.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />After the new trim piece went in, we were left with gaps in the grout which had to be addressed. Both of us being grout virgins, we were slightly nervous about taking on the project without adult supervision... but it had to be done.<br /><br />So we dug up the old bag of grout that the tile installer had left in the garage, added some water, and grabbed a dish sponge. <br /><br />And I am proud to report, I have unlocked my hidden talent.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrYa_QOteCh-BPuHjGL45hs2lnQulwvAsey8ulSc9l4DvNnzTJCg-u5JpfB4ikzFHd879-ZX0mcxU69ApgB6mW55Y3_mDm0B4bvx_HOokLy_3c_mBq_UyEzfwO9FxsA9R_InV7Rfqnn6m/s1600/IMG_5931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrYa_QOteCh-BPuHjGL45hs2lnQulwvAsey8ulSc9l4DvNnzTJCg-u5JpfB4ikzFHd879-ZX0mcxU69ApgB6mW55Y3_mDm0B4bvx_HOokLy_3c_mBq_UyEzfwO9FxsA9R_InV7Rfqnn6m/s640/IMG_5931.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Skills... right? I had so much fun that I actually went and touched up the kitchen and foyer tile (you know, to fix the "professional's" amateur mistakes). But seriously, grouting is fun and I'm happy to check it off my bucket list.<br /><br />Back to the bathroom. <br /><br />We had more patching to do...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzAVZ7EK_pwnjUBNVOJhvNVbC8XuSW2Y1rvBySuzqk4PDeyBzggbFANPx0H2WRJeqRuyGyZL_lo8P6u-knEldhAVP643JFIVdBr9geoI1jUaYAx068-391Jugw7SH8hDAV-5kr4QOjIwo/s1600/IMG_5910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzAVZ7EK_pwnjUBNVOJhvNVbC8XuSW2Y1rvBySuzqk4PDeyBzggbFANPx0H2WRJeqRuyGyZL_lo8P6u-knEldhAVP643JFIVdBr9geoI1jUaYAx068-391Jugw7SH8hDAV-5kr4QOjIwo/s640/IMG_5910.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />While we were waiting for all the pink to turn white, we figured we'd just start painting around the spackled areas since we wanted to be as efficient with our time as possible (and it was Sunday evening so the clock was ticking).<br /><br />I was getting tired of the pale beige-yellow, and didn't want to splurge for a new gallon of paint, so I used the color that's currently in our hallway and kitchen (Valspar's Tranquil). I love how the color looks different in all 3 spaces because of the lighting. In this bathroom it's a darker and warmer soft grey. <br /><br />After we got a solid coat on all the walls, we moved to the beadboard. Lucky for us, Home Depot had cut at least most pieces correctly. Enough to get started at least. <br /><br />We did the "easy wall" first. We simply lined our boards up (this was in 2 pieces since the panels are only 4" wide), put a bit of liquid nails on the back, and nail gun'd the suckers in. The trim required one simple miter cut and we popped that baby with a few nails, and viola! We are getting good at this stuff.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOrWSbWLFZyBiLgzigtDTZG62Y6uU8W9dIxAxAN4_1d9jiLZkLgcTDNczIC4BJs556xoqGfY1Uc2SXhBEilVGAIdh6eYpRTDahcO75Rtb1Gdn1SSm6DqQIbxHsgB-sZaUFU2KYeg01rRY/s1600/IMG_5926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOrWSbWLFZyBiLgzigtDTZG62Y6uU8W9dIxAxAN4_1d9jiLZkLgcTDNczIC4BJs556xoqGfY1Uc2SXhBEilVGAIdh6eYpRTDahcO75Rtb1Gdn1SSm6DqQIbxHsgB-sZaUFU2KYeg01rRY/s640/IMG_5926.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />The next wall required a bit more planning to work around the plumbing, like this pipe behind the toilet:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoxXHGxZ988uu5TTsaIeHZcMvk5sjYIRHyH3BOg1Ib-JbKR8uuo5dBzGS12dg_asTLwKZ5P3EQdrzudnMNP2Z2bN7KrVUBOs4ctyMcHFaOl5Acn7-iUcNC8Cfp91XLh0a8NmbT2umweEH/s1600/IMG_5925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoxXHGxZ988uu5TTsaIeHZcMvk5sjYIRHyH3BOg1Ib-JbKR8uuo5dBzGS12dg_asTLwKZ5P3EQdrzudnMNP2Z2bN7KrVUBOs4ctyMcHFaOl5Acn7-iUcNC8Cfp91XLh0a8NmbT2umweEH/s640/IMG_5925.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Brad notched a section out with his jigsaw for the sink plumbing (which didn't come out as smooth as expected since we were holding it with our hands trying to calm the violent shaking....), but it's behind the sink so no one will see it. <br /><br />Here's the other side as of now:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA2FWgMJEqx8tewrLJZAxBsnb6UaMxk9MHQ0uYkNS5kAP2rb6-rmg4Cycgarn66pNfeJHvGwwj2dcJwjyspmy7T8sU7g412dyOO6Qdv5-v0FwW18eahNvwg39MXo7sZ2UBVNBQLgbLVDK/s1600/IMG_5929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA2FWgMJEqx8tewrLJZAxBsnb6UaMxk9MHQ0uYkNS5kAP2rb6-rmg4Cycgarn66pNfeJHvGwwj2dcJwjyspmy7T8sU7g412dyOO6Qdv5-v0FwW18eahNvwg39MXo7sZ2UBVNBQLgbLVDK/s640/IMG_5929.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />We have one more small piece to put up on that wall, and one more on the side wall (that Home Depot needs to trim a bit more), then the chair rail for that side and our molding is done!<br /><br />To make sure we had the right measurements, we set the vanity up in the space:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFUHfGf3hqk7yTtlDyRKxSfupXLU4T2ogExEttIdVFRWqrLYi3UTI3Zob04z_zqY669kS0_pcAtf6zDO25aT8P3Wg_vgcocl27NLtI-dMVACGoSPXnPJ5X_5qFjg6-_mgBnJFYcG0bUwC/s1600/IMG_5927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFUHfGf3hqk7yTtlDyRKxSfupXLU4T2ogExEttIdVFRWqrLYi3UTI3Zob04z_zqY669kS0_pcAtf6zDO25aT8P3Wg_vgcocl27NLtI-dMVACGoSPXnPJ5X_5qFjg6-_mgBnJFYcG0bUwC/s640/IMG_5927.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />See how it lines up near perfect with the molding? The chair rail will run seamlessly on top of both across that wall. I'm so glad (/surprised) we avoided major disaster with all these measurements... this was definitely a first.<br /><br /><br />And there you have it, the current state of our bathroom. Brad will be working on it throughout the week, and hopefully this weekend we can finish "most" of it. I'd still love to have the shower/tub reglazed in white, and to knock out the recessed medicine cabinet on the right wall and build a recessed open shelving cubby. That will come soon, but for now I'm so excited we're back into a new (much needed project!)<br /><br /><br /><br />We've also been keeping busy with other things...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcUa_b-1ljGamGuAL8UjKB8oUljRTNXgVUW5_39b2VoK9jz61UuU76BmK4AP4LvSp4yz7zKhJPBzg5dDiFyVCAOGc5mNXwp2Je0YEhXrCahTgobj0QPOqjtV-s8GUIhMrNe-PY0ZpOBLn/s1600/IMG_5912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcUa_b-1ljGamGuAL8UjKB8oUljRTNXgVUW5_39b2VoK9jz61UuU76BmK4AP4LvSp4yz7zKhJPBzg5dDiFyVCAOGc5mNXwp2Je0YEhXrCahTgobj0QPOqjtV-s8GUIhMrNe-PY0ZpOBLn/s640/IMG_5912.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />We finally got around to installing this <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90011396#/10011395/">Grundtal rail</a> from Ikea and I'm quite excited about it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKJ5FarurmtucO1JDaUaUv5ZFOcFm7601p4pkJAtIqGQ_TrkBp8_SfcUk1bLyN6ysXQgGkzpcUwJhxi5IWMM3rAsINIQ0K03LUtAKtKXjkWtWUE4i-mHqyNldEjiQ2a4ycAsRKY2Mcb6n/s1600/IMG_5915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKJ5FarurmtucO1JDaUaUv5ZFOcFm7601p4pkJAtIqGQ_TrkBp8_SfcUk1bLyN6ysXQgGkzpcUwJhxi5IWMM3rAsINIQ0K03LUtAKtKXjkWtWUE4i-mHqyNldEjiQ2a4ycAsRKY2Mcb6n/s640/IMG_5915.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN06N0PY3d-remTJEFgz3ntPk2KJVpsWnhFHtGAicllNyPBOPlUnqIi0zc5Nyu0WuOJePX-k3hzvItYudf8Reh7CRbjneGXCJ0AVGQAgeoC_YrNGSkGFLKb-5lTZqYBm2DRw6oZW8yMWKr/s1600/IMG_5919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN06N0PY3d-remTJEFgz3ntPk2KJVpsWnhFHtGAicllNyPBOPlUnqIi0zc5Nyu0WuOJePX-k3hzvItYudf8Reh7CRbjneGXCJ0AVGQAgeoC_YrNGSkGFLKb-5lTZqYBm2DRw6oZW8yMWKr/s640/IMG_5919.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Great storage solution, right?<br /><br /><br />And finally... something caught my eye on Overstock the other night.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAHzwbsN05UIELfZfTHC0Dov68qZwA8Xlbke4k1NiK7Pctg3QwlASonsRnJiyXjU_d7F0cofnVLYGU3F7bBMoAJXz-r2Yoooey3dJuNPUS9WfjSeL7FcTBaOSmvYocLDX201ksndt9l5Z/s1600/Light.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAHzwbsN05UIELfZfTHC0Dov68qZwA8Xlbke4k1NiK7Pctg3QwlASonsRnJiyXjU_d7F0cofnVLYGU3F7bBMoAJXz-r2Yoooey3dJuNPUS9WfjSeL7FcTBaOSmvYocLDX201ksndt9l5Z/s640/Light.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />So I bought it. And it's going in the foyer. Finally. After monthssssssss of searching every corner of the internet/world, I found something I love! For a great price, too.<br /><br />And speaking of our foyer... (quick pic to jog your memory)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLbOnMgue__x3kN-1j5lOpqzfh9LvkBWUc0Ofnz3359pPxLARt83U1TtH3A_xWUvi_fv3pvjhdksZ0gjkYNzjFbXTimIwlnmSF0Uv6y7zMydrMyQ6TobWWyGynE57FALRnj9ETkP_ec9_/s1600/IMG_5434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLbOnMgue__x3kN-1j5lOpqzfh9LvkBWUc0Ofnz3359pPxLARt83U1TtH3A_xWUvi_fv3pvjhdksZ0gjkYNzjFbXTimIwlnmSF0Uv6y7zMydrMyQ6TobWWyGynE57FALRnj9ETkP_ec9_/s640/IMG_5434.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><br /><br />Brad and I were talking about all the scuffs and scratches and decaying baseboard and trim that has occured in this area, and by some miracle I got him to agree to a full board & batten makeover {insert huge smiley face here}. Apparently he's forgotten the total pain that was our dining room faux wainscotting adventure... but now I have it in writing so I can hold him to it! This probably won't happen for another several weeks, but it's on the radar!<br /><br />Now if you'll excuse me... I need to scrub the grout and caulk and paint off myself. Have a happy week everyone!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

Guest Bath: Resumed

If you came here expecting to see my freshly painted Ikea Hemnes dresser, I apologize. We had a change of plans. I had a few errands to run ...

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Ikea Hemnes nightstand hack

These past couple weeks have been non-stop crazy busy-ness for me, but I still had time to squeeze in a quick furniture facelift!<br /><br />Saturday morning I decided to give our Ikea Hemnes nightstands a makeover.<br /><br />Here's one in all its' factory black-brown glory:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeOHY3EaA_ppTr5_UW6cDbkgEuSD5gu3T0JMz837DGIv3TteRg1xQH1pzvgYvQbeG_jcIkxextGoTeY-mrhlGlSfRMK925gDGu-HEoT7VvVogu5JSulKMDX5HHGJU4AvEfehL1bfHuabQ/s1600/IMG_3607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeOHY3EaA_ppTr5_UW6cDbkgEuSD5gu3T0JMz837DGIv3TteRg1xQH1pzvgYvQbeG_jcIkxextGoTeY-mrhlGlSfRMK925gDGu-HEoT7VvVogu5JSulKMDX5HHGJU4AvEfehL1bfHuabQ/s640/IMG_3607.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It an effort to make the house light, bright and airy, our dark furniture has to go. Brad said I was not allowed to buy new furniture (boo) so I had to work with what had. I still love the style of the nightstands, so I figured all I needed to be happy was a fresh coat of paint. In white, of course. I didn't want a stark bright white, so I chose Behr's "Popped Corn", which is a soft white. I love this color.<br /><br />I wanted to do it right this time, so I splurged and paid $14 for a Purdy brush (which is supposedly the best thing out there), and a bottle of floetrol to condition the paint and minimize brush strokes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreZumzfOsPmgM-tWgWHxzFyD_DOrQrUhJpUrwdvBtJJlhREgKMTopAxvASDXeETZbhJRo1sxEhwQURe5LOxOR1_iFp5iYDfK3QQB945gFbAxn-MoITKa577KlE5rR2X2mvcuMIrylxz5m/s1600/IMG_5837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreZumzfOsPmgM-tWgWHxzFyD_DOrQrUhJpUrwdvBtJJlhREgKMTopAxvASDXeETZbhJRo1sxEhwQURe5LOxOR1_iFp5iYDfK3QQB945gFbAxn-MoITKa577KlE5rR2X2mvcuMIrylxz5m/s640/IMG_5837.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And here was the plan:<br /><br />1. Lightly sand<br />2. Apply 2-3 coats of primer<br />3. Apply 1-2 coats of paint + floetrol<br />4. Apply 1-2 coats of polycrylic to seal the finish<br /><br />First thing first... I dragged the tables into the garage to examine their condition:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SsGzJpQZmnHBmuzyfO62TAjxwreo5yyghdRjJVglSOTzilEbaMCBpen_1PbNGp6PDsSw5ighqhSIKmSE1xttz1x_nQPbu_KKC0T9rPzeU-rc73sfmFL-3R1C3G30ISAe_a9Ya6Qt_Oja/s1600/IMG_5839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SsGzJpQZmnHBmuzyfO62TAjxwreo5yyghdRjJVglSOTzilEbaMCBpen_1PbNGp6PDsSw5ighqhSIKmSE1xttz1x_nQPbu_KKC0T9rPzeU-rc73sfmFL-3R1C3G30ISAe_a9Ya6Qt_Oja/s640/IMG_5839.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Yikes... that's what 3 years, a cross country move and a naughty kitten will do for your furniture. So I spackled the scratches and lightly sanded.<br /><br />Then it was time for primer. I used my brand new Purdy brush for this, and noticed the primer was going on really thick and sticky-like... if that makes sense. The brush strokes were very visible too. Maybe I was doing something wrong.... but I'm not impressed with this brush at all. <br /><br />I also came across an issue I didn't even think about... getting the paint on smoothly around the edges. I'm not sure what type of brush you need to do this correctly, but it wasn't what I was using. The paint would pile up along the edge, and by the time I noticed it, the super fast drying primer was already dry so I was left with paint buildup along all the corners. No fun. <br /><br />But at least it looks good in pictures, right?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjwrfvpLWH6cjf21jmzU7WKQ9Abre0M1jWGdYtUAXm8u7pPKJ0GNmFwLibVPbIqtzBLEtIqI88tg_418KqbzyBx608Rt2ZSRa-5_yLO5TWFqFq8Nvd6HQNYbN121tOP4cRtrsm3U2FSuS/s1600/IMG_5842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjwrfvpLWH6cjf21jmzU7WKQ9Abre0M1jWGdYtUAXm8u7pPKJ0GNmFwLibVPbIqtzBLEtIqI88tg_418KqbzyBx608Rt2ZSRa-5_yLO5TWFqFq8Nvd6HQNYbN121tOP4cRtrsm3U2FSuS/s640/IMG_5842.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />So, here's what I would have done differently. SPRAY PRIMER. Lesson learned.<br /><br />After the primer was dry, I began to apply the paint + floetrol. I was hoping the floetrol could even out the existing paint-stroked primer finish, but I guess it doesn't work like that. I ditched the Purdy brush and used my Home Depot dollar bin special brush to do the job. This worked out much better.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSKt9MG57z-8qKvZ4hK1q4BE62Fm6TUTbEktjXh729Bmq_dxSKj1es5wkoCB8nlkI6ipSh3_MxfO-U_uulbQgyik92K0FKNokIE20GCRs_hphrNLVMrnWGt9RZTeEWbhrresOMaN2PpjW/s1600/IMG_5847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSKt9MG57z-8qKvZ4hK1q4BE62Fm6TUTbEktjXh729Bmq_dxSKj1es5wkoCB8nlkI6ipSh3_MxfO-U_uulbQgyik92K0FKNokIE20GCRs_hphrNLVMrnWGt9RZTeEWbhrresOMaN2PpjW/s640/IMG_5847.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />After the paint was dry, I stood back and looked at my creations. Then I decided "these would look super awesome if they were lightly distressed around the edges." Actually... who am I kidding, I was really thinking "this paint buildup around the edges looks like crap and I'm going to have to sand it off."<br /><br />But honestly, it did work out, because I really do like the end result (stay tuned).<br /><br />So I sanded...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuhdlIr0XrVjA8lTK32Tq1KHwwgEC5meep2DoG7-kaKj6fEa8sVPaSSQD61oltN1HMIbZArWsIHKi5xhcso_uXLh6IUdFBlxnI-KNmRlGNnEZZJeTbGuslNPlKxnRx-zGJzlcHTeBoA_a/s1600/IMG_5849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuhdlIr0XrVjA8lTK32Tq1KHwwgEC5meep2DoG7-kaKj6fEa8sVPaSSQD61oltN1HMIbZArWsIHKi5xhcso_uXLh6IUdFBlxnI-KNmRlGNnEZZJeTbGuslNPlKxnRx-zGJzlcHTeBoA_a/s640/IMG_5849.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Distressing is always the most exciting part about these projects, I think. Here's a quick comparison shot of the magic of distressing:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1wAzuIfi1j-hwVrfInuQ0xUYoIcn_1Ut3qHyg1PnduqZ1dARQP7LdsynWCmSzTtabpMqgA9tOa030lTRIP0ScK9eqV2wWVxxBAlIyKfeAWJXnixs7KbGdIn5u-6S-T1RAD5szPB23EHv/s1600/IMG_5841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1wAzuIfi1j-hwVrfInuQ0xUYoIcn_1Ut3qHyg1PnduqZ1dARQP7LdsynWCmSzTtabpMqgA9tOa030lTRIP0ScK9eqV2wWVxxBAlIyKfeAWJXnixs7KbGdIn5u-6S-T1RAD5szPB23EHv/s640/IMG_5841.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Ewww</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRUuvy06WiJ_flf_fWJg-spJzGV8raeLeJUWHL8fz9pBHCsCRLcKdYSsUZ0sUc_v8C39mpcbiDf18l9fr1RbHYXrZ6MugwF1AgD6XyfxE-Ee5OvGRhGU0fysHF3vxO6hBBu3T9DLOojNX/s1600/IMG_5851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRUuvy06WiJ_flf_fWJg-spJzGV8raeLeJUWHL8fz9pBHCsCRLcKdYSsUZ0sUc_v8C39mpcbiDf18l9fr1RbHYXrZ6MugwF1AgD6XyfxE-Ee5OvGRhGU0fysHF3vxO6hBBu3T9DLOojNX/s640/IMG_5851.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>All better!</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Doesn't that look better? I thought so.<br /><br />I brought the night stands back into the room and set the lamp on them... when I realized that the brushed nickel lamp base wasn't really vibing with the rest of the room. And there's only one solution to that: Oil Rubbed Bronze.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m5jnz23NDIKO8A3fqG2LIMnNt-76Ec3jKcWC4P7labJlXJRhTajrQY4FiLHIdO6C0yOjm1-loHvEyLjDDsFjiRLzTWm_f-f3YZu-VR7ykAZiFvAMr0kBkU68G6J9_tlv2hDHo_9IeUKC/s1600/IMG_5852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m5jnz23NDIKO8A3fqG2LIMnNt-76Ec3jKcWC4P7labJlXJRhTajrQY4FiLHIdO6C0yOjm1-loHvEyLjDDsFjiRLzTWm_f-f3YZu-VR7ykAZiFvAMr0kBkU68G6J9_tlv2hDHo_9IeUKC/s640/IMG_5852.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Gotta love spontaneous mini-makovers... Anyway, here's the finished results!<br /><br /><br />Nightstand #1<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujzdaZG_Bfbj3JY-cnyy3YDcqTX7KYwhzrvpStWyp8xFxWoheZpBymx7Xe7BnspXffF6rNhZ8PpjIunNdErnU9d-J7Hsp7Qu-BUGDxrzgykCGMKBSgi6fgy9QkrcoTuCnk7wxpCFW4BiX/s1600/IMG_5868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujzdaZG_Bfbj3JY-cnyy3YDcqTX7KYwhzrvpStWyp8xFxWoheZpBymx7Xe7BnspXffF6rNhZ8PpjIunNdErnU9d-J7Hsp7Qu-BUGDxrzgykCGMKBSgi6fgy9QkrcoTuCnk7wxpCFW4BiX/s640/IMG_5868.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKPSjB4VEh5pO8wzskQW3HXz-Yzpl-LwPwHd_cAbwGSe8CI8YL1Dk9rIugIA85vMvugjF9v-sZscD4L4E75J1ipgHH97gHbsxVFIhV9Y41oqYjeI90yqCWCT2fI_kDClkw6bbWJqj_Z-I/s1600/IMG_5873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKPSjB4VEh5pO8wzskQW3HXz-Yzpl-LwPwHd_cAbwGSe8CI8YL1Dk9rIugIA85vMvugjF9v-sZscD4L4E75J1ipgHH97gHbsxVFIhV9Y41oqYjeI90yqCWCT2fI_kDClkw6bbWJqj_Z-I/s640/IMG_5873.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nightstand #2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcf5qW2z2y3aRcq9RgdtQ7OC-4IkI_QwrbHk0_rA9h2Bqu5uahvgUqp9ghgaASmqU5Vp2cGgr1qxibYnj2kJfE5I33OwjUsMvtJP0_H9UOW_pw1yzgh9mFueJZrMFwAUML-EJA14zkf6Kr/s1600/IMG_5860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcf5qW2z2y3aRcq9RgdtQ7OC-4IkI_QwrbHk0_rA9h2Bqu5uahvgUqp9ghgaASmqU5Vp2cGgr1qxibYnj2kJfE5I33OwjUsMvtJP0_H9UOW_pw1yzgh9mFueJZrMFwAUML-EJA14zkf6Kr/s640/IMG_5860.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eX-jsmoc_9Jaf6tGaf6qoMAl_galNlweL8eD_95DLHfTfsXjK9taF8oLz1UDt1_OZx9tc70_cJUjVVmeo_zT_GgCnP8YqOHJ0c-P4DpEGMa9HtMG-Cshn6FlUzqPcHtSf_xYHhZdK_43/s1600/IMG_5863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eX-jsmoc_9Jaf6tGaf6qoMAl_galNlweL8eD_95DLHfTfsXjK9taF8oLz1UDt1_OZx9tc70_cJUjVVmeo_zT_GgCnP8YqOHJ0c-P4DpEGMa9HtMG-Cshn6FlUzqPcHtSf_xYHhZdK_43/s640/IMG_5863.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Closeup of detail:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpqq3u_-9oalCZX8c9EEVhRqeGFCKK1MfWJSo4EUMqrChVW5KTLBMyEIn5u9WolqQAMwZ87mnG39R3Kph60R1Og9IyKAxAqR_xU1LpMyW3AgUI6Cs7pA2wmzXnSnmiSGAI6H12duyuHrS/s1600/IMG_5875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpqq3u_-9oalCZX8c9EEVhRqeGFCKK1MfWJSo4EUMqrChVW5KTLBMyEIn5u9WolqQAMwZ87mnG39R3Kph60R1Og9IyKAxAqR_xU1LpMyW3AgUI6Cs7pA2wmzXnSnmiSGAI6H12duyuHrS/s640/IMG_5875.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I actually think the factory knobs were perfect so I left them in. What do you think? Better than the black?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This project was really just a warmup for the big finale...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhu2KGWz01ftH4KpJsZRdluI-rBD73D8z21a5wAh6WC7ijrhGUwF6oGeQ-iQYnUHCKS1bGA-cZyVltTzAsu8Bsm0R3kXQ-BcCAPjQbJvHEdcBZIiJY7exMyAgN1RmWNfxlWoCMULDsqiBz/s1600/IMG_4928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhu2KGWz01ftH4KpJsZRdluI-rBD73D8z21a5wAh6WC7ijrhGUwF6oGeQ-iQYnUHCKS1bGA-cZyVltTzAsu8Bsm0R3kXQ-BcCAPjQbJvHEdcBZIiJY7exMyAgN1RmWNfxlWoCMULDsqiBz/s640/IMG_4928.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This will be quite an undertaking, but now that I'll be able to erase my mistakes with distressing, I'm not quite as worried. If I still haven't found a dining room table sometime next week, this will be on the agenda for next weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This weekend's project was brought to you by the installation of this (much needed) AC in the garage...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mKz3-q_Mv9jzikl0dc323XPUywnw4aN_ZsGRppsEAbOSyZcGdGaNCl9ABjlXXdP8HjA7sgLeQ-RKvxP2X4jbXMyz4HizfYgrCZS9cYbnLqZiFwuEbnq7e87U8XaHDVESCSesQlKvsbRa/s1600/IMG_5840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mKz3-q_Mv9jzikl0dc323XPUywnw4aN_ZsGRppsEAbOSyZcGdGaNCl9ABjlXXdP8HjA7sgLeQ-RKvxP2X4jbXMyz4HizfYgrCZS9cYbnLqZiFwuEbnq7e87U8XaHDVESCSesQlKvsbRa/s640/IMG_5840.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Brad surprised me with this when I came home from work last week. What a thoughtful hubby, right? But his good deeds didn't end there. The other night I came home to a pile of lumber in the garage. Brad had enlisted the help of our neighbor to build a work bench... Woo hoo! Music to my ears.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately he forgot to take a before pic, but picture a bunch of junk piled up in the corner. Here they are during the construction process:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUebGTs2n6tg-NxU4k4J1Dpmgw8uCKvLOmDdQYSCh7F0QQu2y2I0eaDGhn2EloJ304Lqt8Hv1Ka5YoRvnZQ6WLPWKZ5mexiNXG6-BWxUdeRuhg_KEZFaU2mEwjjQLlcm68yV8tu6RIb_vs/s1600/IMG_5817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUebGTs2n6tg-NxU4k4J1Dpmgw8uCKvLOmDdQYSCh7F0QQu2y2I0eaDGhn2EloJ304Lqt8Hv1Ka5YoRvnZQ6WLPWKZ5mexiNXG6-BWxUdeRuhg_KEZFaU2mEwjjQLlcm68yV8tu6RIb_vs/s640/IMG_5817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now we have this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxzeNijCUlu57fm7gjcHpRShDc4I__Ym4KtyVJdhMCW_QHemjE0Tb3csh-s169uEUlr5ZDF4Qk_4eDjXmjRYef8sC2ay5iOspMxqHaeI7Oi0kzINYBjHWR8QNh_XzxscYDgtHe_wdy3W0/s1600/IMG_5829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxzeNijCUlu57fm7gjcHpRShDc4I__Ym4KtyVJdhMCW_QHemjE0Tb3csh-s169uEUlr5ZDF4Qk_4eDjXmjRYef8sC2ay5iOspMxqHaeI7Oi0kzINYBjHWR8QNh_XzxscYDgtHe_wdy3W0/s640/IMG_5829.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUd42U9rRH2jXGg3qmd6MTXUdsWQHt-9mrmaw36dBkKulo80E7gx50RD0Yl4L2DBaO_iDmaph3BFknk2tApqJ0UW-zHHAzNwxlodB3GZLGoA-5VIDk9het5kP7-4wrtElg7ziErpGR6Mf/s1600/IMG_5830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUd42U9rRH2jXGg3qmd6MTXUdsWQHt-9mrmaw36dBkKulo80E7gx50RD0Yl4L2DBaO_iDmaph3BFknk2tApqJ0UW-zHHAzNwxlodB3GZLGoA-5VIDk9het5kP7-4wrtElg7ziErpGR6Mf/s640/IMG_5830.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's purely functional; nothing pretty to look at. But it makes my life So.Much.Easier when I'm in there. He even hooked up a work light so we can work into the night hours. And, someone has been reading my blog and taking notes, cause he used my poly to seal the top (and even remembered to take a picture for the blog)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty28SGysb1-jbrxdEK4m96h7gwIUsQAikNLMHhSEvhqZ5zM0ppfOSLhrJvTLT-I2JoNfHx9a0GNE0QU6tH16jPFmmlgWjfgza4_8HkYwxJabWkch6FrwDxkOele_Z6PEJgbGLC01H_0A2/s1600/IMG_5826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty28SGysb1-jbrxdEK4m96h7gwIUsQAikNLMHhSEvhqZ5zM0ppfOSLhrJvTLT-I2JoNfHx9a0GNE0QU6tH16jPFmmlgWjfgza4_8HkYwxJabWkch6FrwDxkOele_Z6PEJgbGLC01H_0A2/s640/IMG_5826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe I'll try to make it pretty someday, but right now I'm just thrilled to have it at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, I have a pretty big shop announcement...... I opened a second etsy store!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jennasuemaps.etsy.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GsVvmwEe-5Mp19wAgs5_WB2mPfzOlR3sK4Ockp_3ZqZbtq7TymJmk5ucEbyTkuvWo19PzSOeB1mlM0fxRW2zos60ccrfR7m7uqIot4cBpFhFaXClgP26UJ-Fmswg_mZBrv0cx9A4mAdU/s640/NewShop.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My map collection was getting quite large, so I decided to give them their very own store. I'm looking forward to adding even more and seeing how this new division develops! I'm also going to have a "Map of the Month", where my customers can nominate a different city each month to go on sale. Should be exciting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And with that, I'm off to fill orders for the rest of the night (while trying to make some time for dinner and Entourage). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a happy week everyone!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>

Ikea Hemnes nightstand hack

These past couple weeks have been non-stop crazy busy-ness for me, but I still had time to squeeze in a quick furniture facelift! Saturday m...

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Home Sweet Home

I'm home again... after one of the best weeks of my life.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwW68xovFFSIlj_z3SPGnfXnNojYtHljx7gNFkFWUzdj8wDNGNbHBEc2rCTOjRFDyN1AHViz3Un-0ZQ10LGkIa8MAR5OWT3UdxMnCe23zJGJ3eWNvjGFD4yKNbp0iK6LKW4nvu_lbdPpO/s1600/ImperialBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwW68xovFFSIlj_z3SPGnfXnNojYtHljx7gNFkFWUzdj8wDNGNbHBEc2rCTOjRFDyN1AHViz3Un-0ZQ10LGkIa8MAR5OWT3UdxMnCe23zJGJ3eWNvjGFD4yKNbp0iK6LKW4nvu_lbdPpO/s1600/ImperialBeach.jpg" /></a></div><br />It was full of fun and excitement and happiness and love. But now I miss my family a lot more. I was doing fine after months of being settled in with our own little life 3000 miles away... but I can't stay here forever. Not that we have plans to move or anything... I'm still determined to continue renovating this home and to fulfill all these visions I have for it. And for the record, I like Florida better than California, in almost every way. The weather, the lakes and forests, uncrowded white sand beaches with swimmable water, no traffic on Sundays, cost of living, abundant wildlife... and the gorgeous ever-changing skies most of all. But my heart is with my family, and my family is in California. We'll see what the future brings....<br /><br />For now, it's back to reality here with plans for the house (low cost projects, as we're still working with a single income budget) and working on my business which has been keeping me so busy (yay!). I've got some big changes in the works right now that will be launched within the next week or two and I can't wait to share. Keeping my focus on the fun stuff is helping me get through this rough patch, and hopefully we'll come out the other end much better and stronger. <br /><br />If you didn't get a chance to see this yet, check out my latest feature on <a href="http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2011/07/reader-space-jennas-drool-worthy-entry.html">IHeartOrganizing!</a> Jen found a pic of my entryway and asked me to do a quick write-up of the transformation and I couldn't be more honored!<br /><br /><br />Trying to decide what to do for next weekends project... find and refinish a new dining table? Frame gallery wall? New dresser for the office? Repaint our bedroom dresser + night stands? Upholstered headboard for the bed? Curtains in the sun room? So much to do, so little time! Stay tuned to see what happens :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

Home Sweet Home

I'm home again... after one of the best weeks of my life. It was full of fun and excitement and happiness and love. But now I miss my fa...

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