DIY Chalk Painted Cabinet Makeover | Before and After

If you saw my last post about the Fish Room, you caught a glimpse of the second-hand furniture that replaced the terrible cabinetry.  There's so much more storage now, which is perfect because my Mom and I streamlined and pooled our sewing supplies.  She has downsized to a much cozier home, plus we always work on sewing projects at my place anyway, so it just made sense to keep everything here.  But I also store my paints, adhesives, and other garage-y things that can't freeze in the Fish Room as well, so the more drawers, cabinets, and shelves the better!

This furniture just happened to fit so well but it was definitely a bit of a hodgepodge - nothing a little paint couldn't fix!  Even though the Ikea furniture had some scratches and dents, I really liked the white melamine and faux wood foil because it has a light and airy vibe with a Scandi feel.  But the pine cabinet I acquired was a little too country for me and I wanted this room to look polished - not like a space where furniture comes to die.

Here's a look at the cabinet before:

It's been a long time since I painted wood because I've really been loving natural wood tones lately (especially walnut!).  When I've decided the wood-look is too much, I've leaned toward pale grey or cream stains to let the grain shine.  But this particular piece needed a paint job and I found the perfect pale blue/grey hue in Rust-Oleum's new chalk paint line.  Their "Serenity Blue" (insanity later) picks up on the blue trim on the glass doors of the Ikea cabinets, which makes my decorating decisions feel intentional (and less "happy accidental," which is what they are).

I hadn't used chalk paint before, so this was a fun experiment and I love that Rust-Oleum has their own line.  It comes as a spray paint or in a can and I opted for the latter for the cabinet so I could avoid any brush strokes.  Although chalk paint doesn't require priming (sweet!), I did lightly sand the entire unit.  I didn't tape off any areas - I just spray painted it closed, to preserve the cedar interior.
 


I am in love with how QUICKLY this paint dries!  I had dragged it outside when I was home alone one day and had sprayed on the first coat before heading back into the Fish Room to work on another project.  I had only been working for about 15 minutes when I heard a rumble and realized my beautiful, sunny day with clear skies had morphed into a thunder storm.  I ran to the drive way, convinced I'd ruined my paint job but the paint was dry enough for me to heave and shove and drag this massively heavy chest back into the garage.  A few days later the skies cleared again and I finished applying the second and third coats.  Any other paint would have been ruined by the sudden downpour - and my manhandling - but this paint was unscathed.

The coverage was splotchy at first but after three coats it was so seamless and smooth - I love the matte finish and how it modernized this somewhat dated piece.  The stenciled design on the front was covered perfectly, the but irregularities in the wood (which seem faux, to be honest) were preserved. 

To keep things simple, I painted the wood knobs too.

To help prevent that furniture graveyard look even more, Hubby and I added some DIY plywood shelves that line up with the shelves in the Ikea cabinets, but are painted the same blue/grey chalk paint as the cabinet.  For the shelves, however, I decided to try brushing on the paint.  For that application, you have to commit!  No re-brushing is allowed - you have to work quickly and confidently to avoid streaks or brush marks.  But it also goes on really well and a little goes a long way so I have tons left (you might have spotted the color because I used it for my mini potted plant ornaments!)

I found the brackets in the garage and spray painted them white but, in hindsight, we should have sprung for some tougher brackets like the ones in the kitchen.  I wanted to work with what I had but these light duty brackets mean we can't really load down the shelves - which might be a wise idea anyway.  I'll see how they hold up.



When we renovate this space for real, we'll spring for new cabinets, but for now it was so nice to re-purpose and find a home for this random grouping - along with some bits and bobs from the garage.

I am planning on sharing the full before and after tour in the new year - I decided to make a few last minute additions.  But really, when is a space ever "done"?

DIY Utility Sink Skirt | New Sink + Faucet for the Fish Room!

The Fish Room is done!  I'm working on the full "before" and "after" post, but it's really difficult to photograph this space, especially now that the skies have turned dreary, snowy, and grey.  While I wait for the perfect sunny day, I wanted to start sharing some of the changes we made in this odd little room.

The last time you saw the Fish Room, it was just a sea of brand new DIY plywood floors (although I did give you a pretty big sneak peek in this post).  Now the room has furniture, shelving, storage - even a new sink and faucet!  The sink and faucet is what I want to talk about today, because I am so smitten with the faucet we found.  It was such a challenge to find the right size faucet to fit the sink we bought, which is really only designed to fit the ubiquitous chrome utility sink faucet.  I had my eye on a few different designs (like this beautiful kitchen faucet), but they wouldn't fit!  Lucky for me, Delta came to the rescue with this classic single handle bar/prep faucet that's sleek and gorgeous - and just happens to be the perfect size for this utility sink!



The Fish Room originally had a pretty dreadful sink, in a janky old cabinet, but even once we removed the rest of the cabinetry, I actually contemplated keeping the sink and just painting the cabinet because a new sink (even a cheap new sink) was more than my tiny budget could handle.  But at the last minute I decided to rip it out - and I'm so glad I did!

Seriously, what was I thinking trying to work with that?  Now that same angle looks like this:

After impulsively ripping out the old sink and cabinet, I contemplated one of those fancy laundry tubs built into a sleek cabinet but those rang in at around $200-300.  I couldn't justify that price tag because when we eventually renovate this space we won't need a laundry tub (we're getting a dog washing station that doubles as a sink), so it seemed wasteful to buy that kind of cabinet now.  Plus, who knows what kind of mess I'll end up making in here - it is a craft room after all.  In the end, we found a really nice utility sink for super cheap in a local big box store, and something about it feels more modern than the typical laundry tub (see the old townhouse laundry room sink for a comparison so you can see what I mean).  The only problem was those ugly legs!  Yikes.  I stash paint under there too, so I wanted to cover it somehow.



We contemplated building some kind of encasement with the leftover watercolor stained plywood pieces but we both agreed that's too much of a good thing.  With the budget in mind, I re-purposed the fabric from my failed shower curtain hack (in the link, it's the ruched monstrosity we tried before my Mom and I sewed the simple tweed-look curtain) and we sewed a simple skirt for the sink.  I had seen some very traditional, fluffy looking utility sink skirts, but I wanted something more sleek and modern.



Making this DIY laundry tub skirt was so easy but it really helps the space feel more polished.



Because of the location of the plumbing, the sink is right up against the wall so the sink skirt only needed to cover two sides, but we made it long enough to wrap around a little bit so it looks like it covers all four sides.  It's basically just a rectangle with hemmed edges and to make it look a little fuller, but we also sewed a small pleat into the corners to give it some oomph.

(Don't mind out rough hemming job - no one will see it but blog readers, haha).

Then, using a zipper foot, we sewed on the velcro - the other side was backed with peel and stick tape and easily affixed under the lip of the sink.





I love the pale blue/grey hue of this linen because it's quiet and simple.  Plus it always feels good to use up something instead of buying new - not that it isn't nice to replace something broken and ugly with something shiny and new once in awhile! 

Along with the gorgeous faucet they sent me, Delta also provided the Compel towel ring (I hadn't even thought of where I'd hang a hand towel) and three of the Trinsic robe hooks (which come in lots of finishes, including this gorgeous champagne bronze).  Because this room isn't accessible from inside the house, I usually don a coat or jacket to run over here, so it's nice to have a place to hang my coat, keys, scarf, dog leashes - whatever.  The Trinsic collection also has really beautiful faucets, like this modern wall mount bathroom faucet and this matte black tub faucet combo kit.

You know my penchant for simple fixtures in matching brushed nickel.  Even though this room isn't accessible from inside, I still like that the faucet and accessories have the same modern feel and similar shape as the hardware and faucets inside.  It makes the space feel less like an afterthought and more cohesive.  Plus, when we do renovate out here, it will be easy to transition these pieces to somewhere else in the house because although the utility sink likely won't find a new home, the faucet and accessories definitely can!  Knowing this makeover is temporary, I've been trying to make my design decisions strategically, with re-purposing in mind.

I can't wait to show you the rest of the room, along with some more before and afters!

Sources: Bar/Prep Faucet | Trinsic Robe Hooks | Compel Towel Ring | Hand Towel (similar) | Utility Sink (similar) | Grey Linen Fabric (similar) | Velcro Tape | Fabric Storage Bins (similar)

P.S. Be careful online shopping because when a deal seems too good to be true, it might be a miniature that you almost mistakenly order, lol.

Read more »

Decorating with Lowe's + a Peek into the Fish Room

Time for an embarrassing confession: for some reason, I have been agonizing over a clock for the bathroom since we finished renovating it!  I've scoured every local shop and big box store, and spent more hours than I care to admit scrolling online.

After all of that work, I carefully chose TWO clocks over the course of six months and neither were a good fit!  One had brass arms (how did I miss that?) and the other ended up looking cheap next to the expensive Kohler fixtures.  Both clocks found homes elsewhere in the lakehouse, but I was still clock-less in here and I NEED a clock in the bathroom.  Otherwise time feels like it stands still while I try to force some volume into my fine hair and when I finally emerge, coiffed and ready to take on the day, I've inevitably been in their 20 minutes longer than I thought I was.  Some kind of weird time wormhole exists in the bathroom (either that or I'm spending more time than I think I am, just admiring the turquoise sinks).

Happily, clock number three - the Ergo Bentwood Wall Clock, from Lowe's Canada! - actually does the trick.  You can't buy it online, so you'll have to pop into your local Lowe's to take a peek.

Just call me Goldilocks and the Three Clocks. 

From Lowe's Modern Nostalgia home decor trend collection, the bentwood frame is stained a rich hue that is close to the walnut cabinetry and the silver hands work perfectly with the brushed nickel finish I used exclusively in this renovation.  Plus it's BIG, so I feel like it's shouting the time at me and I need any extra motivation I can find to pry myself out of my cozy lakehouse. 

Now I have no excuse for being late!

Darn.

Although, speaking of clocks, I might need one in the fish room too, because that's where I'm storing all of my fabric, craft and paint supplies these days, so you know I'll lose a lot of time in there too.  I wrapped it up over the weekend so I just have to photograph it and then I can share the full reveal!  In the meantime, here's a sneak peek...

I had always pined for these Umbra Trigg Wall Vessels but had no justifiable use or purpose for them until we started decorating this odd little room.  This blank wall called out to me, but it wasn't really a spot I wanted to tuck any artwork because it's kind of hidden.  I decided three of the large wall pockets would be so cute, packed with some of our prettiest craft supplies, like these pale aqua scissors and some other gems.

You know my stance on brass, so I'm actually contemplating spray painting the metal frame a soft blue hue but I just haven't made the leap yet.  Maybe we can place bets on whether, when reveal day arrives, these wall pockets will still be brass or have the very Tanya-eqsue treatment of a blast of turquoise paint...

Any takers?

I was provided product and compensation by Lowe's Canada, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.  If you missed it, check out the gorgeous, hand waxed reclaimed wood mirror I picked up at Lowe's for my entryway.

Read more »

DIY Plywood Floor | Tips, Tricks + Troubleshooting

Last week I gave you a sneak peek of the DIY plywood floors for the fish room.  I showed you my inspiration and how I created that watercolor effect with blue wood stain.  Today I'm breaking down how Handy Hubby and I turned those plywood sheets into vibrant DIY flooring!

One quick note: if you're not planning on doing a watercolor effect like I did, then set aside staining/painting/clear coating until the floor is installed because the planks do need a light sand on the edges once they're cut and this can mar a finish.  As you saw, I did apply my stain first because I wanted to create a large design before cutting up the plywood.

Supplies:

• Good One Side Plywood (we used 1/4" Maple)
• LePage PL Premium Construction Adhesive
• Caulking Gun
• Air Nailer + Nails (size depends on floor thickness)
• Compressor
• Chalk Snap Line 
• Table Saw
• Mitre Saw
• Jig Saw
• Sand Paper 
• Finitec 3000 Water Based Polyurethane Hardwood Floor Finish (Semi-gloss)

Cutting the Plywood Floor Planks:

Did I mention that we finally have a table saw?  I've long bemoaned our lack of a table saw and after years of using his, my woodworker father-in-law hooked us up with a great previously-loved one for an amazing price (an older version of this, for only $300)!  With our new-to-us table saw, we ripped the plywood boards into approximately 7.25" wide strips.  The length and size is really up to you.  Too wide and the planks might cup, too narrow and it will be tons of extra work.

I don't have many photos because it took both of us to maneuver these sheets, but I think this step is pretty straightforward.  My two tips: cut the plywood sheets with the good side up, so most of the tear out will be on the bottom, and make sure to be really careful about cutting the boards with straight edges because any curve in the cuts will turn into gaps on install. 

Next we used our trusty mitre saw and cut the boards into 31" lengths - again, this measurement is totally up to you and you can even vary the lengths to mimic hardwood.  I just wanted a pattern that was simple so I could focus on the color when laying out my pattern, without the added headache of sorting through boards of different lengths.

Sanding the Plywood Floor Planks:

After cutting came the sanding.  It went much faster than I thought, but it definitely wasn't fun to have to sand the edges of each and every board.  I beveled each cut edge, so it was less sharp, by running a fine grit sand paper along the edge.  Then I also sanded the ends lightly to resolve any minor tear out (there was very little).  This is why I recommend staining/painting after install, if you can.   But I worked very carefully and sanded as little as possible to keep my blue stain intact along the edges.

While I hand sanded, Hubby took a belt sander and sanded down some weird glue blobs and resin spills to make sure we had as smooth a surface as possible to lay down our plywood planks.

Planning the Lay Out of the Plywood Floor Planks

Once the boards were cut and sanded into planks, I sorted them into four piles ranging from solid stain to mostly natural wood which made it easier to lay out my "pattern" - I use the word loosely.

I dry fit the planks on the floor to (1) double check we had enough (phew) and (2) plan my random pattern.  Isn't it funny how much more effort a random pattern requires?  I wanted to strike a balance between the different shades of blue and also the negative space ratio.  Plus I jettisoned a couple of boards that weren't straight enough (I am allergic to sawdust so I sneezed a lot while we were using the table saw, which probably explains a few loopy boards). 

Installing the Plywood Floor Planks:

To install the boards we used construction adhesive and also our air nailer.  With this busy pattern, the nails are pretty much lost.  That's the beauty of this watercolor staining process: it hides so many flaws (and dirt, too)!  We didn't line it up with the wall because it bowed, so we snapped a chalk line and worked off that.  Because I knew I'd have furniture on the plumbing side of the room, we started with a full row on the small firewood cubby wall because that's what you see when you enter the room and I didn't want to see a half width board there.

Board by board, we applied the adhesive and pressed down, using the air nailer to affix six nails (each corner plus one on each side).  If we did this again, we'd also add an "X" of adhesive to the middle of each wood plank.  But as it is, everything is held down perfectly and it feels great - really solid.

It went really quickly and progress was only slowed by having to cut some weird pieces to fit around pipes, door frames, and the floor vent.  We used a jigsaw for those cuts and that took a little fussing.

Even though it's going to be hidden, I am especially impressed with how tightly Hubs fit the plywood around the pipes:

Unfortunately, we did make one mistake!  Hubby and I disagreed slightly about how to lay down the floor: he wanted to alternate starting the pattern with a whole board on alternative ends so the pattern would zig zag a bit but we'd have fewer cuts.  I rallied for 15 additional cuts, which would mean the seams would all line up.  We went with my pattern. 

For one day. 

When we came back on the second day to finish up the floor, I dry fit the planks and went to monkey with the poly in the garage - it was the only time I wasn't working on laying the floor with Hubby - and he installed an entire row with his desired layout.  He just totally forgot the conversation we had!  So now, 3/4 of the way across the room there's a jog in the pattern.  You can see it in the photos I've shared but so far no one - online or in person - notices but us.  If this were in the house and a permanent flooring, I'd have ripped up the boards but I didn't want to risk wasting any and coming up short.  I figured the busy pattern would work to our advantage with this little error.

Here it is installed, before the polyurethane coat:

Finishing the Plywood Floor Planks:

With the stain already applied, I only needed to clear coat but, like I mentioned, the stain really should have been allowed to cure for a week.  But I had to get moving on this project, so we went ahead and finished it.  I tested a plank and my worst fear was confirmed: the polyurethane re-activated the over-dyed stain and turned pale blue!  It made the stain run a bit onto unstained areas, but not enough to make me dislike it.

So I went ahead and applied the clear coat, juggling different brushes and pots of poly to try and keep the color from running.  The first coat took hours and hours!  That's why with this staining method, I'd recommend a spray on finish done prior to install (but after sanding).  But for a regular stain or paint, you would have a much easier time because my watercolor method is what bogged down the progress.

After the first coat was finished, I waited four hours and then lightly sanded.  That helps smooth any bumps or raised grain, plus it helps "key" the next layer - basically it gives the poly something to grip.  Hubby helped and together we wiped the sanding dust off really well and then applied the second coat which went so much more quickly because the color was locked in and no longer bled. Yay!  For this brand, if the third coat is applied no later than 3 hours, you can skip sanding and just apply the finish - so I definitely set an alarm and waited for the two hour mark before testing if it was dry (it was!) and quickly applying the final coat.

A little confession: we stayed up until 5am one night so we could do the poly in one shot - and skip that second sanding.  I'll do anything to avoid more sanding...

The semi-gloss polyurethane adds so much depth and such a gorgeous sheen to the floor - and the bleeding isn't really noticeable so it was worth the gamble, for sure!  My Mom says it actually really works with the stain and makes it look even more like aerial shots or water or topographical maps.  That's a win!  I actually don't think anyone would have noticed if I didn't point it out (you can scroll up to see the photo of the floor pre-poly again), but I just wanted to make everyone aware of this issue. 

   
What Does a Plywood Floor Feel Like?  

I had seen plywood floors online before and always questioned how nice they would feel underfoot  Because this is a room I will probably often wear shoes in, smoothness and comfort ranked low on my list of priorities but - surprise, surprise - it feels nice and smooth!  The plywood I bought was not construction grade, it came from a lumberyard with nice quality woods designed for furniture building and the like, so it was already incredibly smooth and well sanded.  Sanding the edges helped prevent any sharpness between the boards and sanding between the coats of poly - plus applying three coats it total - really helped the smoothness as well.  All of our nails were installed below the surface of the wood  (none stick out), so this floor is actually very nice to walk on.  I've spent a lot of time padding around in here in socks, puttering and organizing.  There are some imperfections: teeny gaps because the boards aren't 100% straight - and of course our weird pattern disagreement - but nothing that impacts how it feels. 

Here's the real test: I can dry Swiffer in here without the cloth getting caught on anything - it just glides right across.  That's a good indicator of a smooth, even floor, I think.

I'm definitely surprised and really impressed with how much these feel like a real floor.  I was honestly expecting that they would feel cheap but they don't!  If anyone has lived with DIY plywood floors, I'd love to hear about how they've worn over time and whether you do/don't like them. 

I'll definitely share an update about how this plywood floor wears and whether we discover any problems or complaints but, so far, I am absolutely SMITTEN!  They look so amazing and they were easy to install over the old tile floor.  I am sure I will curse these when we go to renovate and have to remove a million nails but that's a problem for Future Me.

Current Me is pretty excited to do some plumbing and some more organizing and show off the new and improved Fish Room tour - soonish!  But these DIY plywood floors are definitely my favorite part so far. 

Read more »