Halloween 2015

Updated cabinets

I have to 2 shelving units in my “Blue room” that we use to store random items.

 I decided it was time to add some doors to cover some of the clutter within and add visual interest.

Supplies Used

I used high density fiber board instead of wood because it is lighter and less expensive.

I measured all odd shaped outlines of the shelving unit’s compartments and used a ruler to draw the pattern on the fiber board.

My husband cut out all the “doors” using a circular saw

Once I had all the pieces I painted them black (2 coats)

Once they were completely dry, I used masking/painters tape and made in random line patterns

Then painted them white (2 coats)

I pulled off the tape, and then painted all the edges black.

I used screwed in the self-closing flush cabinet hinges to doors

and then mount the doors to the interior of the cabinet

Entryway / Mudroom

There is a tiny vestibule between my front door and main living area.  Its about 5 1/2 x 5 1/2, with both doors centered on opposite walls.

 Finding functional storage that fit was be tricky.
I purchased the  Ikea Children's Odda storage unit that combines a rolling hamper, drawers, and a clothes tree. This unit met my exact need for stylish compact storage and seating.  
For wall decor I purchased a canvas print  and arranged 5 Ikea malm mirrors over the top and along the right side of it. 
To add visual interest, as well as functionality, I replicated the same style of the "clothes tree" and made 2 wall mounted "hooks" for the wall adjacent to the storage unit. 
I mounted  an Ikea Billdal Mirror on the wall across from the unit and placed an Ikea FÖRÄNDRAD Vase, that I spray painetd black, with a smycka Gladiolus flower under it. On the storage bench I placed 2 cushions (2 inner cushions covered in Ikea Nils Eslöv Black/White pattern )

Vision Board

Floor Plan

Final Product

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Kitchen Update

My kitchen was in desperate need of updating!

When we first moved in the walls were all beige and worn, there was a white fridge and the rest of the appliances were black. I used stone contact paper as "back splash", painted the walls green, and added a Tuscan Retreat wall border and window valance. 

After 6 years it was definitely time for a change!

I painted the walls a dark Chocolate Brown (with 2 kids and 2 large dogs the walls get a lot of marks, especially on the lower half). I simply replaced the old wooden knobs with Antique Brass Knobs and installed Smart Tile Back splash. I built a custom kitchen counter top and storage unit and incorporated the same Smart Tiles and Antique Brass Knobs. I ordered 2 large poster prints and added a Greek Key marble wall border over the cabinets to lighten up the kitchen and add contrast to the dark walls. And purchased a wine rack that both cleared the top of the fridge and is a nice vertical interest piece to the wall. 

Vision Board

I am very pleased with the kitchen update!

  

Custom Kitchen Counter Top and Storage

I wanted to update and create more counter top area.

I already had an Ikea Expedit Unit (now the Kallax) with 8 large Lekman storage bins. 

For this Expedit/ Lekman/ Linnmon hack I used the supplies pictured

I bought 2 Linnmon counter tops and sawed one of them to complete the desired length of 67” when joined together. I marked the actual expedit counter width (so once mounted it lays flush on top) and used 2 flat braces to join them together.

I then covered the merged counter tops in marble contact paper and secured the counter top to the expedit using 4 “L” braces at each corner at the front and back of the unit. To cover the silver “L” braces from showing on the front of the unit I simply used black electrical tape. Once the counter top was secured I used peel and stick marble finish floor tile on the top of the counter for a durable heat resistant counter surface. Being that there is a baseboard heater on the wall that the new counter will be in front of, I installed a total of 8 Flat "L" braces to the back of the unit to stop the Lekman boxes from sliding past the unit to the wall.

I covered the front of the Lekman boxes with the same Smart tiles I installed as the back splash in my kitchen. I used a box cutter to cut off any excess off the edges. I then used screw to poke a hole through the middle square opening of the Lekman and used fiberboard that I stacked and taped together as a spacer/washer for the Antique Brass knob pull.

I am beyond pleased with my new 

custom counter top and storage unit!

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Eyesore No More!

To cover up the HIDEOUS built in AC unit in my living room wall I installed a KVARTAL panel bracket system and a large  poster.

I mounted the KVARTAL wall hardware and single track rail above the unit.

I ordered a large poster print, to be used as the “panel” with the KVARTAL top and bottom rail, and mounted it to the single track rail.

Now, whenever  the AC isn't in use I can slide the poster in front of it. 

It is a great graphic piece of art in addition to FINALLY getting rid of the eyesore! 

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Living Room & Family Room Update

It was time for Living Room & Family room update!

We’ve had our living room furniture for almost 10 years and it was time for a change! Our current living room's (10 ½ x 16) configuration was tight but best accommodated what we had. The TV was huge and took up a lot of valuable space. Our current sofa, chaise, and chair along with bulky side and coffee tables made the room feel smaller than it is. There is also a permanent AC Unit in the wall thatwas a CONSTANT  eyesore! The living room is joined to our Family room, or as we call it “The Blue Room”,  by a large 7 ½ wide opening.  
The Blue Room (12x 13 ½) is intended as a formal dining room, but we are a young family so it suits us better to use it as our computer room /office/ dining room/ music room/ art studio /game room......Family Room. The current Blue Room configuration is very open, with the computer desk, printer stand, drumset, a few shelving units and a bar height  table with 4 stools. The TV was mounted right above the table  which is way too close for the kids to sit and eat in front of and the table was too small for us all to eat together. We'd have to pull the table  away from the wall whenever  any of us ate while watching  TV or if there were more than 2 of us sitting together  for a meal, which was at least  once a day. Other than that the room's current set up functioned best to our needs.

Click the images below to enlarge

 

  

 

I created these vision boards and floor plan:

Living Room Vision Board

Blue Room Vision Board

For the new living room design I purchased a large black leather sectional, colorful accent chairs, and to conserve floor space, a wall mounted 3-D Smart TV and floating wall mounted TV stand.  I wanted a coffee table that would be large enough for the sectional, but not compromise floor space so I purchased a 60" espresso slat bench and had a custom piece of glass cut to place on top of it. I bought an 8' runner carpet and placed one end under the sectional so it runs out and under the coffee table. To cover up the AC unit I installed a panel bracket system (the same I used for my panel curtains) to the wall above it, and hung a large poster print so that whenever  the AC wasn't in use I could slide the poster in front of it.  It is a great graphic piece of art in addition to FINALLY getting rid of the eyesore! To store all the video games and controllers I built a small 2 shelf unit the same width of the wall next to the opening between the rooms, painted it the same color as the wall, and attached stainless steel legs to raise it so it would clear the baseboard heaters. I got rid of the dated wood ceiling fan and installed a simple light fixture. I decided to change the color of the red stripes I already had painted throughout walls to blue  and green. On the picture  wall off the Living room, leading to the stairs, I painted the larger  bottom stripe various  colors  broken up by silver lines.

In the Blue room I wanted a dining area (that we didn't have to constantly be pulling out whenever  we wanted to sit together or if we wanted to watch TV while eating a meal) without losing the other functions we needed. I decided  the best way to execute  that is switch the walls the TV and large canvas print were on, and purchase a larger table top for the bar table base I already had. I also got 6 new stools for additional dining seating. I got rid of the printer stand and rearranged the rest of the shelving units I already  had and installed a new ceiling fan, since I took the one out of the living room. The ceiling  fan light  was not as bright  as we sometimes need so I also purchased a floor lamp, which I placed on top of the "Art Supplies" shelving unit with a dimmer switch, for whenever  we needed bright lighting.  I wanted to add funky colorful twist on the wall surrounding the TV, so I ordered the Safari and North American Sets on Cardboard Safari and had the kids make their own designs on them.

Click the images below to enlarge

 

  

 

 

  

 

The Living room now has even more seating and table-top surfaces than before AND is much more contemporary and spacious. When the kids want to play the Wii or Kinect the “coffee table” slides right under the Floating TV Stand and there is plenty of space for them to jump around.

The Blue Room now has a more formal dining area with additional seating while still maintaining all the purposes we require of the room.

We are extremely pleased with our new Living & Blue Rooms!

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