THE SECOND BEFORE
This is where we left off before starting our latest remodel...
...with our old vinyl floors...
When we bought the home, the dining area had been converted from a screened in porch and we took out a wall to the two rooms could flow. With that there was a transition in the floors that was not very good, and there were 4 different layers of old flooring to deal with.
*post sponsored eFaucets (see full disclosure)
We had to build up the one floor to match the plane of the other and that was no easy task because it also had another three transitions into our laundry area. What a chore!
FLOORING
For us it wasn't just "lay down some tile" because we are here 24/7. We had to lay down a path let it cure and then grout leaving a space to walk, then switch spots. It was a long process for sure that required patience from everyone.
I wasn't much help during this stage because my littlest wouldn't have anything to do with it, so it was all my husband. You can best bet I'm itching to jump in!!
We are in love with the new look and can't believe how much lighter and clean it all feels. Now we just need budget window treatments.
One other headache were these steps. The room adjacent to our kitchen is our family room that used to be a garage. The steps basically needed rebuilt and done from the front face of the bottom step.
Our temporary plastic table is going to eventually be our open frame bar (or peninsula) and those bar stools are going to get a new look too.
WHAT NEXT
And this bench I found to redo is also temporary until we complete our built-ins. You can see how I eventually refinished it HERE.
While our laundry area will have the shelves retrofitted to hold a utility tub. I can't wait!
As for me, I have been busy homeschooling, running my business and taking custom orders ever since I redid and sold our buffet that was in the start of our kitchen. Seems this buffet makeover has caused quite a stir and they're in demand.
I also have been causing a stir myself. First, I went to take down the faux barn beams that the previous owners installed, with the intention of just lightening their color.
But...(hee hee hee) once down, my kids and I loved how much open it felt and brighter too, so they came down and are staying down. This is before I tore down the awful sheetrock.
This is what the ceiling looks like bare bones. What fun!
JUNK FINDING
I've found all sorts of fun stuff, including a socket I didn't know was there and now I can finally center our fixture. Makes sense, right? Thankfully, my husband was game and new we needed to make it right. I am putting up beadboard and creating a coffered ceiling and can't wait to show you the next steps. My other changeups are this...I talked my husband into letting me get a gas cooktop instead of our electric range. I called my plumbing friend to come see about giving us an estimate to install a gas line, and he found we already have a line. Yippee!! Gotta love a woman's intuition. hee hee. So this old range will no longer be there, but instead my new cooktop sitting in storage and mounted in butcher block countertops. And we will also be building a custom range hood. You can see what I did with those upper cabinets as I repurposed them into storage bins, table centerpiece, and chalkboard.
So you may be wondering about my oven. Well, I've decided to ditch our dishwasher for a double wall oven instead. I even bought a new dishwasher to replace this one. Ah well. Here is where our ovens will go.
GOOD THINGS
My dishes will now be washed by hand in my new (old) farmhouse sink found on Craigslist.
And topped off with this gorgeous antique brass faucet from eFaucets. eep!
I will be building our lighting with these old barn enamel shades...
...paired with these antique clamps. Love me some rustic goodness. UPDATE: Lighting is done, and I share the how-to with you in this post.
WINDOW TREATMENTS
Another change-up is our window treatments - the one thing I could work on while the floor is being laid. For the entire time we've lived here, I've only had some basic mini blinds up in our dining area and never gave a hoot. I liked being able to see my kids out in the back yard and let in all the natural light.
These are mini-blinds from a local chains store and only cost about $7 each. They do want we want and have served us well. I decided to change it up and get bamboo roman shades to add a little more texture to the room and a natural element. Those things cost $24 each and I had a hard time spending that.
Funny thing is, the moment I hang them up, I say, "no." They are bulky AND you can see right through them!! What was the point of spending that kind of money for no privacy? So, I found they made liners to add which cost another $12 a piece. (here is where I get that sinking feeling - know what I mean?)
I am determined to do something different. However, there is no way I am spending $300 to replace perfectly good window treatments I already have. What's a girl to do? Create a home hack, or course.
Here's what I did for budget window treatments...I kept one of the shades and returned the rest to the store.
MORE DIY
Because these shades already had a built-in valance, I removed it and decided to use that as my guide. I rolled out the shade and removed the valance by flipping it up and taking out the staples that held it in place.
Now the original valance is separate from the shade.
Next, I flipped the shade over and removed all the rings and strings that pull the blind up.
Starting from the bottom, I removed the piece of wood that weighs the shade down using scissors.
When cutting, a few of those bamboo pieces will fall out and that is okay. Save to use for a later project (same for those rings you just took off too!)
Since the original valance is about 6" high, I add 2" to account from a top and bottom finished edge. After cutting a section, I use a large stir stick for a 5 gallon bucket to mount my valance. If you window is larger, you can use a thing strip of wood, like a furring strip found at home improvement stores.
NEXT STEPS
Pre-drill the ends of the stir stick with a drill about 1-2" in from the outer edge so they will be ready to mount when done.
Using the top edge as a guide, apply a bead of glue with your hot glue gun to the stir stick and center it on your valance.
To create a finished edge, fold up the bottom to match the same height of the original valance you took off. Glue down with your hot glue gun.
Again, using your drill, start a your screws in the holes making it easier to mount. Nothing like dropping screws all over while trying to hang window treatments, eh?
Since each window is different, just line up your valance on center and mount the valance in front of your mini blind with the bamboo panel draping over the front of the stir stick.
Not only did I get to keep the blinds I already had, but I also saved close to $300. SCORE!! The self-made valances from one bamboo shade hide those boring mini blinds. Also, they give the appearance that I have the window treatment of bamboo shades.
If you love that cotton stem wreath, I did that plus another arrangement for less than $4. Come see the video tutorial!
I think sometimes we are caught up in getting the look. Then, we end up spending more than we need to. I typically am a DIY girl but know that not everyone is that way. My hope is that this inspires you to try to create the look you want for less with budget window treatments.
Our kitchen remodel is continuing and shall be done soon as we are past the hard part. See the full reveal HERE!
Do you want to see this one-legged wonder makeover (aka a foot stool I found curbside). Isn't it cute? not. Come on over HERE.
Also, more projects like my budget window treatments:
