Houzz // DIY Painting Project: A Colorful Front Door

Do you feel that?  That bite of cold looming in the air?  Temperatures are dropping and days are growing shorter - summer is definitely over!  I'm currently at that mourning stage - wishing we had a few more weeks of warm weather but I'm also welcoming the change....and the weather ain't the only thing changing around these parts.

Continuing on our quest for a little curb appeal I gave our front door a little makeover.  Our white

I've been on the hunt for the perfect orangey-red hue and was leaning towards a salmony-coral color like Behr's Chili Pepper which would have been a bit more modern.  And then while on a mission at Home Depot I came across a gallon of Oops paint in a gorgeous red and was sold.

Houzz: Get Grout Magically Clean

Do you have dirty, grimy grout that you just can't seem to get clean?  Well, have I got the solution for you!  (Sounds like an infomercial, right?)

Seriously, though.  Tile — whether it's used as flooring, in the kitchen as a backsplash or for counters, or in the bathroom — has one great downfall: grout. Since grout is porous in nature, unsealed grout absorbs all kinds of stains, from mildew to coffee and everything in between. To say it's a headache to keep grout clean is an understatement.

We inherited marble tile counters when we purchased our home. It's pretty clear that the grout was never properly sealed, so it soaks up stains like crazy. It makes our kitchen feel gross and grimy, even if it was just cleaned. While I'd love to replace the counters with a solid surface like quartz, it's just not in our budget — plus, we just can't justify getting rid of something that's perfectly fine otherwise.  So instead, I've come up with a fool-proof method to get grout sparkling clean and all it takes is a few items and a lot of elbow grease.

Check out the full post over at Houzz to learn the easy method for yourself and be on your way to clean grout....finally!

Get Grout Magically Clean — Stains and All

So what about you guys?  Have any easy methods to get those tough to clean areas sparkling?  I'd love to hear about them in the comments section!

Disclaimer:  As a Contributor for Houzz, I have been compensated for any Ideabooks featured on Houzz, although I am not compensated for sharing Houzz Ideabooks on Revamp Homegoods.  All opinions expressed here are that of the writer and are in no way influenced by Houzz.

Houzz: Replace Your Windows And Save Money

Energy-efficient upgrades to your home can save you money in utility costs and help attract prospective buyers, too. Our century-old home has a laundry list of items that need attention. But for all the things that need to be updated, we lucked out in the window department; we have only four single-paned windows to replace. The four old windows were a break from the new, builder-grade vinyl windows that had been updated by the previous owners, and they had become a drain on our pocketbook as the months grew colder.

We replaced 2 of 4 in the kitchen nook almost a year ago and what a difference those made!  The nook was FREEZING cold - even with its baseboard heater.  Once we replaced those windows (and insulated the walls) it was like St. Bart's and family meals were much more pleasant.

The two remaining windows, one in the mudroom and one in the bathroom were the last to be replaced since their locations were pretty much separate from the rest of the house. 

The old windows did make for some cold bathroom time and I was more than excited when it was their time to go.

DIY // Update Your Kitchen Lighting on the Cheap

It's only taken 9 months, but we have finally replaced our ugly boob lights in the kitchen.  Can I get a woot woot!

I know some of you are thinking what's wrong with boobs?  EVERYTHING if you're talking about lighting. I consider these builder's grade flush-mounted lights the Achilles heel in room design. We have at least one in every room of our home. Our kitchen boasted three — one in the center of the room, one above the sink and one in the nook. We knew we needed to replace them and the center light and the one above the sink were the first to go.

We tackled the first light back in May.  We picked up the IKEA Alang light {$39.99} for its simple style its neutral color and its woven texture.  We were a little nervous going into it since we had never installed a light before, but luckily those helpful DIY'ers over at Young House Love posted a how-to a few days after we picked up our light.  {Thanks guys and perfect timing!}  It was a really simple update that I am so happy with.

Houzz: Quick Fix: Repair Cracked Bathroom Grout

Hey there!

With any home purchase, there are plenty of positives and hopefully few negatives — and ours was no exception. Our home has great potential and good bones, but with those positives we also inherited many flaws, like banged-up walls, scratched laminate flooring and a dilapidated porch. Another unlucky feature was cracking grout in the corners of our shower where tile meets tile. Not only was this an eyesore, but if left unfixed, it could have caused water damage to the home's structure.

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

Due to a house shifting and moving throughout its life span, cracking in inflexible materials is a given. In this case, grout had been used in the corners of our shower where each side of the shower meet, resulting in large cracks in the water barrier.

Houzz: Quick Fix How to Patch A Drywall Hole

Homes, even beautifully designed ones, receive their fair share of abuse over the years. Unsightly holes from repair projects gone wrong, rough and tumble children or those pesky doorknobs can detract from the lovely home you've created. While seemingly daunting, most small- to medium-size holes take little time to repair, and the fix can be done by the most novice handyman (or woman) — getting your home back to being the envy of the block.

BEFORE: This 2-inch divot from a wayward hammer stroke was in a visible location just beneath the mounting hardware of ourMoen Glenshire Pivoting Mirrorand in desperate need of being patched. To learn how you can repair holes in your drywall, just like we did, jump on over to my latest Houzz Ideabook.

Quick Fix: How to Patch a Drywall Hole

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Other design by Other Metro Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

Hopefully, I can show a little more control with the hammer.  If not at least I know how to fix my mistakes.

Disclaimer:  As a Contributor I have been compensated for any Ideabooks featured on Houzz, although I am not compensated for sharing Houzz ideabooks on Revamp Homegoods.  All opinions expressed here or that of the writer and are in no way influenced by Houzz.

Houzz: Quick Fix Reupholster A Chair Seat

This bedroom got an entire overhaul.  Along with the lamps, the vintage reproduction art and the painted rug I also updated a midcentury modern chair.  It, along with three of its friends, was a recent thrift shop score; I purchased four chairs for $20. Yes, $20 total.  Their clean lines and sleek frame plus their solid wood construction made them a perfect addition to our home. One special chair, originally intended for our breakfast nook, is now, happily, stationed in our bedroom.

 

I love the interest the bold fabric creates.  This before photo certainly shows the amazing transformation.

Houzz: Make Your Own Chalkboard Paint

I'm back!  From forgetting my adapter cord for my camera at my parent's house to my computer's ac charger ripping into two, it's been impossible to post anything.  I have quite a few projects waiting in the wing, but I thought I'd first share my most recent Houzz project - making my own chalkboard paint.

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

Chalkboard paint is popular thanks to its blend of sentiment, whimsy and practicality. Whether it's painted on walls, furniture or appliances, chalkboard paint has certainly come a long way from the basic green or slate gray boards used in schools.

Houzz: How to Paint Perfect Wall Stripes

Whether they're horizontal or vertical, stripes are one trend I hope won't go out of style any time soon. This versatile motif adds visual interest and can help showcase a room's fine points and de-emphasize flaws.

Use vertical stripes in a room with low ceilings to create the illusion of height, or use wide horizontal stripes in a room with high ceilings to ground the space. Play with the size and color to create a unique look — subtle tone-on-tone stripes of equal size create a subdued and relaxed environment, while bright, contrasting stripes varying in size create a more modern and graphic impact.

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

Now that I have you ready to bust out your painting supplies, here's a helpful how-to that will help you achieve perfect stripes every time. Check out my latest Houzz Ideabook for all the tips and tricks.

How to Paint Perfect Wall Stripes

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Bath Products on Houzz- For Example:

Bathroom Mirrors · Bathroom Storage · Bathtubs · Showers · Toilet Accessories · Toilets · Towel Bars And Hooks · Towels ·

So what about you guys?  Are you fans of using stripes on your walls?  Or do you prefer to use them on decor throughout your home?


Disclaimer:  As a Contributor I have been compensated for any Ideabooks featured on Houzz, although I am not compensated for sharing Houzz ideabooks on Revamp Homegoods.  All opinions expressed here or that of the writer and are in no way influenced by Houzz.

Houzz: How to Replace Window Trim

Whether I'm flipping through a magazine or watching the latest home show on TV, I'm always drawn to a house's trim. I love how the use of different architectural trim elements can completely change the feel of the entire house. Sometimes that can be good, and sometimes it can be utterly awful.

When we replaced our outdated and wallet-busting single-pane aluminum windows with energy-efficient double-pane vinyl windows in our kitchen nook, I began dreaming of adorning the windows with beautiful trim. I was excited for the end result, but since I'm always so focused on trim in other people's homes, I was completely terrified about actually choosing the trim and putting it in place in my own home. 

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

The possibilites for trim are positively endless. I wanted to keep things pretty simple for our 1900 cabin-style home, but I also wanted to let the trim draw the eye and showcase our view to the backyard. I got lost in all of the choices online. So I pulled back, checked out our local home store and went with my gut. Luckily, I found installing the trim to be a much easier process than picking it.

How to Replace Window Trim

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Kids Products on Houzz- For Example:

Baby Bedding · Baby Swings And Bouncers · Cribs · Kids Bedding · Kids Decor · Kids Rugs · Kids Toys · Rocking Chairs And Gliders ·

Visit the Houzz Ideabook to learn the how-tos of replacing window trim.





Disclaimer:  As a Contributor I have been compensated for any Ideabooks featured on Houzz, although I am not compensated for sharing Houzz ideabooks on Revamp Homegoods.  All opinions expressed here or that of the writer and are in no way influenced by Houzz.

Houzz: Build a Modern Window Planter Box

Window planter boxes are a great way to add an architectural element and a boost of color to your home's exterior. There are a wide variety of styles out there; I chose to create a simple box style to reflect our 1900 cabin-style home and shed.

We recently built a shed to store all those items that we've been piling in our unfinished upstairs and that we're sure to need in the future — at least, that's what I tell my husband. But the shed's simple rectangular shape was needing some serious style help, especially given its visible position in our yard. We added a six-paned window, which gave it a little somethin' somethin', but it was still a blank slate. I wanted to add simple color and texture, and I thought a window planter box would be the perfect addition.

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

Other design by Other Metro Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

Learn how to build your own simple window planter boxes by checking out my most recent Houzz Ideabook.

Build a Modern Window Planter Box

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Kitchen Products on Houzz- For Example:

Cookware And Bakeware · Kitchen Countertops · Kitchen Faucets · Kitchen Tile · Gas Ranges And Electric Ranges · Ovens · Refrigerators And Freezers · Coffee Makers And Tea Kettles ·

Have you built any window planter boxes of your own?  I'd love to see what style you built!




Disclaimer:  As a Contributor I have been compensated for any Ideabooks featured on Houzz, although I am not compensated for sharing Houzz ideabooks on Revamp Homegoods.  All opinions expressed here or that of the writer and are in no way influenced by Houzz.

Houzz: Frame Your Garden With a DIY Arbor

When the sun is out and shining (even when it hasn't been) we've been busy working outdoors sprucing up our yard with some a pea gravel pathway, hanging shelves, a brand new deck and now this beautiful garden arbor.  Does your yard need a little boost like ours did?

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

This garden arbor is simple to build and has a beautiful end result — the best of both worlds for a do-it-yourselfer. The base of this arbor consists of a basic structure that can be as simple or as ornate as desired, and the piece can be used in many ways outdoors. Use it to showcase a walkway, create a transition from one place to another, cover a bench or gate, or frame a gorgeous view.

Check out all the details here:

Frame Your Garden With a DIY Arbor for $150

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Furniture on Houzz- For Example:

Armchairs · Bar Tables · Chairs · Coffee Tables · Day Beds And Chaises · Dining Chairs And Benches · Rocking Chairs · Sectional Sofas ·

Have you guys built any garden arbors of your own?  I'd love to see what you built!



Disclaimer:  As a Contributor I have been compensated for any Ideabooks featured on Houzz, although I am not compensated for sharing Houzz ideabooks on Revamp Homegoods.  All opinions expressed here or that of the writer and are in no way influenced by Houzz.

Houzz: Build A Beautiful Platform Deck

Have you thought about building a deck but just didn't think you could manage a project of that scale?  Well, think again!

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

Learn how to build this amazingly beautiful platform deck in my Houzz Ideabook.

Build a Beautiful Platform Deck in a Weekend

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Kids Products on Houzz- For Example:

Baby Bedding · Baby Toys · Cribs · Kids Bedding · Kids Beds · Kids Decor · Kids Tables · Kids Toys ·

Disclaimer:  As a Contributor I have been compensated for any Ideabooks featured on Houzz, although I am not compensated for sharing Houzz ideabooks on Revamp Homegoods.  All opinions expressed here or that of the writer and are in no way influenced by Houzz.

Houzz: DIY: Easy Outdoor Cushions

Happy Independence Day!  Hope you're enjoying the holiday and celebrating comfortably outdoors!

Speaking of comfort...

Style and comfort go hand in hand when I'm designing a space. Whether it's a bedroom or the outdoors, a bit of texture can transform an austere space into an inviting retreat. Pillows in bright colors and beautiful patterns are one of the easiest ways to do this.

Other design by Media And Blogs Meg Padgett

But there's no need to spend a lot on them at your local home decor store — instead, save some pennies and make these versatile cushions yourself. Does the thought of sewing give you an anxiety attack? Don't worry, even a beginner like me had it easy with this project.

Check out my Houzz Ideabook to see how I did it.