My Woodworking Shop Tour

I figured I would do a little shop tour video for everyone! I know I enjoy seeing other peoples shops to get ideas and learn what works for them so that maybe I can make my workspace a little better. I know I really ejoy showing my small woodworking shop to any guests we may have over, I love explaining what each tool does and how and why I built my different jigs, storage systems, and shop furniture things. Maybe my video gave you some inspiration or an idea of a way you can improve your small shop. If anyone has any questions please feel free to let me know and I will be happy to answer them!

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State Pride Tour California

When Beckie from Infarrantly Creative asked me to join her State Pride tour, I jumped at the opportunity to represent California! Together with 30 bloggers, representing 30 states, were putting together a blog hop with projects that celebrate each of our states! Im following Stephanie from Somewhat Simple, so if you missed her Arizona project, make sure to check it out!!

Were moving from California to Ohio in two short weeks, so its the perfect time to celebrate our home of the past two years!

When I think about California, I instantly think about sun, sand and water. So I decided to create a gallery wall using our driftwood frames, a cut out of the text, California, and a cabinet door turned into a beach sign.

Heres how we did it!

For the beach sign, we created a text document to scale in Adobe Illustrator. Then we made a grid (so that the text would line up easily) and printed sections on 8.5 x 11 paper. We shifted the text on the printable space until the entire document was printed. Any print shop, such as staples or Fed Ex office would be able to print large scale if youd like to skip the printing and taping step.

We lined them up and taped the sheets together.

Then taped it to a large sheet of cardboard and taped transparent contact paper overtop and cut out with an xacto knife.

We primed and painted a large cabinet door.

Once dry, we removed the backing and placed the contact paper on the cabinet door, pressing down all of the edges.

Then using white spray paint directly above (to avoid it going underneath any loose edges). We sprayed using two thin coats, letting it dry about 30 minutes between coats.

Letting it dry about 5 to 10 minutes, we took off the contact paper and attached hanging hardware on the back.

and thats it!

For the California cut out, we repeated the first step of the beach sign, printing and taping the text together.

Using spray adhesive, we mounted the printed out to an 1/8" piece of luan.

Drilled holes in the closed areas for the jigsaw blade to enter.

And cut it out with the jigsaw, using a blade designed to cut slowly and minimize splintering.

We primed and spray painted with Rustoleum Lemongrass. Finally, we glued a piece of twine on the back to hang it. I love the simplicity of it!

We paired it with a few of our driftwood frames, made from CA driftwood that we milled, tutorial here

I love the bright colors paired with the beachy wood!

Ah, Im missing the sunny weather of California already!! Heres hoping that its a mild winter in Ohio!

Click here to see how we made this campaign style desk and here to see more about the Eames chairs  
Be sure to head over to DIY Show Off next, to check out Roeshels Pennsylvania inspired project!!

Thanks so much to Beckie for organizing this state pride tour!! 

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House Tour Upstairs

If you missed yesterdays post, make sure to check out the lower level tour here.

Moving upstairs ..

The middle risers are open. Wed love to make them all open and switch them to a thick oak to match the hardwood floors. Plus the pine treads are pretty worn - not unfixable, but we think a thick oak could look awesome!

Looking down at the great room. See those squares, half way up the beams on the right? Those are covering outlets, still confused why there would be outlets up there ..

At the top of the steps, there is a open lofted area adjacent to the bedroom and the bathroom. Well probably use this as a sitting room, maybe built in shelving against the wall on the right.

Turning the corner, the master bedroom is on the back wall. It has a beautiful vaulted ceiling and large windows. Plus its a good size. I finally have room for a bench at the foot of the bed :)

Looking at the closet wall (David snuck in the pic :)

and the closet.

Moving back into the lofted room, you enter the master bath. Its almost identical to the bathroom downstairs, but it doesnt have a double sided closet and it has vaulted ceilings.

See the door on the right? Ill show you where it goes in a second.

The door to the right opens into a second loft area. Probably the strangest, but my favorite part of the house. This will be my office, and the only way to get there is through the bathroom ..

The size is perfect, I love the windows, and the fact that its kinda hidden, but open.

The openness and originality is why we fell in love with this house. I never imagined getting a house with this much wood, but we do plan on painting at least some of it. I think for wood to work well, it needs to be broken up, there needs to be contrast .. so the matching banister, floors and beams running together makes it look heavy. By adding a lighter contrasting color in between, it will help emphasis how open the house really is.

There is a walk out basement, with one open room, a bedroom (really a storage room), full bath and laundry room, but Ill wait to share those pics till a little later. I wasnt able to get pictures before we moved our stuff in, so its full of boxes.

Were itching to get started on projects, but Im not sure how much well be able to get done until April when were finished in Ohio. I may be spending part time here since David will start working long hours soon, but not sure yet. Ill keep you updated! In any event, were in full project mode for things that will go into our house.

Hope you enjoyed our little tour!

p.s. notice that the pics are a little wider? We got a wide angle lens, so that should help capture the entire space :) Link here

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Master Bedroom Tour

Over the past few weeks weve finished our CA rental, so over the next week or two, Ill be sharing room tours!

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At the end of March we started redoing our bedroom, now that were done, heres a little tour!

Our first projects were a large grasscloth and nailhead feature wall and the coral upholstered headboard with curved arms. 

The coral headboard is one of my favorite projects, its simple but the color really makes it pop! The curved arms were a last minute decision, mimicking the edge of the nailhead pattern.

I DIYed a few pillows. The euro sham is a mint and polka dot scarf from World Market (lined with a white table cloth), the toss pillow is a white pillow sham from Ikea with a painted border created with painters tape. The bolster is a kitchen towel from World Market. 

We moved the drum shade chandelier in here from the guest room, it puts off the softest light, love it!

 

We built two nightstands with bamboo legs and a Skubb drawer from Ikea. We also painted dated brass lamps with white spray paint and made a removable white shade cover.

I embellished simple white Ikea panels with a stenciled border and small pom pom trim. 

 The writing desk was one of our first refinishing projects.

Finally, the chalk paint coral dresser sits underneath the tv and trellis stenciled wall.

I could tweak things forever (starting with a smaller tv), but overall, Im SO happy with how it turned out! 

Other sources: Moroccan Pouf, Striped coral runner (Target), White urchin (Target), Candle (Target), His/Hers letters from a local consignment shop

Looking at these photos, Ive realized that weve made or customized just about everything in our place. Wow! Thats a lot of hours... Im thinking next time it might be best to mix store bought/investment pieces with DIY projects, lets see how I do :)

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