Knotty pine love: Upload photos of your knotty pine rooms

Posted by: • May 18, 2012

betty crafter's knotty pine kitchenMy office studio remodel is not the only project I have up my sleeve. Shhhhh! Don’t tell anyone: I’m also working on a new little website all about, yes, the Knotty Pine. Alas, the whole wide world doesn’t quite understand — like Betty Crafter (above) and Eartha Kitsch and Jeff and Lynne and a whole bunch of us do — that knotty pine can be a gosh-darned wonderful thing.

Can you help me tell the knotty pine story — by sharing photos of your knotty pine kitchens, dens, basements, sunrooms, tiki bars — all your knotty pine galore (bathrooms, even!) –  that I can use on the new website? It’s easy to upload your photos, below. I will be so grateful!  Get out your camera — most all cameras today do a great job, cell phones, too! Use natural light, and get artsy fartsy with your angles (get up on a ladder… lay down on the floor… take wide shots… take detail and accessories shots… Have fun — let’s show ‘em that knotty can be nice! Instructions on how upload your photos follow:

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Punch List Progress Tracker

Posted by: • May 15, 2012

I will be back with new stories When My Punch List to finish my Office Studio Remodel is Done. Send Advil. Punch List Progress Tracker:

Punch Item Status
Caulk ceiling trim to fill gaps. Done. Became unnecessary because new, darker trim hides gaps.
Repaint ceiling trim another color because first color is not right. Be really careful, because trim is already nailed up there. Oh, and carpet is back in, so be sure to lay tarp etc. in case of spills. Done. Had to tape ceiling with blue painter’s tape.
Take 2 Advil. (Wednesday morning) Done.
Second coat will be necessary. Done. This is a big one. Heading into the home stretch now!
Final coat of paint around door and window – the flat part, not the decorative part. Done.
Hit tricky spot where wallpaper is not sticking well with another coat of wall size. (Yes, there is wallpaper involved). Done.
Finish tricky wallpaper spot. Done. This is also a huge one. The END of this project is in sight.
Prime wood shelving side 1. Let dry. Done.
Flip over and prime wood shelving side 2. Let dry. Done.
Paint wood shelving side 1. Let dry. Done.
Flip over and paint wood shelving side 2. Let dry. Done.
Second coat: Flip over and paint wood shelving side 1. Let dry. Done.
Take 2 Advil. (Thursday morning) Done.
Second coat: Flip over and paint wood shelving side 2. Let dry. I am skipping this step, because you can’t see the bottom of the shelves when they are installed, and because my patience with this project is on its last legs. Good enough & Done.
Call Kevin and remind him he needs to come back and (1) add bit of trim to shelf on bathroom wall and (2) put in shelf grommet thingies. Done. Called.
Figure out the “creative thing” to do with the shelf trim. Do it. Multiple steps, I repeat: Shoot me. Almost done.
Install shelves. Easy. This really isn’t even a step, but it gets in because of item above.
Install new vent cover for ductwork coming out of ceiling. (Hope it really fits cuz you aren’t sure.) Done. Got to use “The Claw.” Fits.
Go out and buy attachment brackets for vintage shutters. BTW, who has this kind of hardware? I hope it’s easy to find. (Yes, there are vintage shutters involved.)
Get hardware onto vintage shutters.
Install vintage shutters into window.
Clean new/old curtains going into window. Done.
Sew new/old curtain panels together and re-hang. Done.
Assemble rug shampooer purchased from Target July 2011. I have a feeling this is not going to be fun. At all.
Shampoo carpet while room still is empty.

Punch list

Posted by: • May 15, 2012

flocked wallpaperYou know that point in a project where all the huge stuff is behind you…  you are so close to “done”…  and you get all excited?

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Design your own workbench – amazing selection and prices

Posted by: • May 14, 2012

design your own workbenchSkip the prefab workbenches from Sears or wherever: Design your own workbench — or crafting area — to fit your space and needs using the amazing variety of legs, shelves, stringers, drawers and countertops available from McMaster-Carr. Researching storage solutions for my office remodel, I bumped into an amazing resource for all kinds of home improvement materials  – McMaster-Carr — last week. Their product line is pretty expansive, and their prices seem very competitive. This company claims 490,000 items on their website. There are a big bunch of ready-made workbenches here. BUT, if you want to design your own, here’s the trick:

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Butcher block countertops — great prices, 75 sizes

Posted by: • May 14, 2012

butcher block countertops from mcmaster carrbutcher block countertops from mcmaster carrMy obsession with finding the perfect storage solutions for my office studio remodel has been leading me to new resources. (Well, new to me.) My latest discovery: McMaster-Carr, who market all kinds of products to engineering types, and whose online catalog claims to feature 490,000 different products. Yes: 490,000 items. The first thing I want to spotlight from this incredible compendium: Butcher block countertops — in both maple and oak — that are offered in an expansive range of sizes — and at what, to me, seem like terrific prices. In addition, the maple butcher block comes in two thickness — a standard 1-3/4″ but also, a hunkier chunkier 2-1/4″. You can also get several edging styles. Based on one website I found (C&H) these seem to be made by John Boos, the famous maker of butcher block.

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Bootie Queen

Posted by: • May 11, 2012

It’s What All The Fashionistas Are Wearing This Season

plastic booties to put on your feet when you are doing a home renovation projectOf course, it’s only now that my office studio remodel is almost done that I discover that you can buy plastic booties to put over your shoes or socks when you are working in a dusty area doing your home improvement project. Denise was here last week helping. We spent like 30 hours in that room. We wore our socks the whole time. I think I pretty much destroyed three pairs. Then, electrician dude is here this week and I see these. I love these. I did like TWO PHOTOS SHOOTS with these plastic booties to wear when you are remodeling your house. I STYLED THIS PHOTO, I peaked up the little bootie points and modeled H2T just like Tyra teaches on ANTM. I did not choose new socks, though, these are what I was really wearing. I wanted to *keep it real*. 

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Barzilay Multispan Vertical Storage System — another valuable Scandinavian Modern wall unit design

Posted by: • May 10, 2012

barzilay wall unitI am loving seeing all the different kinds of midcentury Scandinavian Modern style wall units. Eric responded to my stories about the String System and the Royal Cado and Cado Systems by sending me photos of his Barzilay Multi-Span wall system – along with scans of the brochure for it. Oh — and yowza — look at his gorgeous living room. All that rich, warm wood is so stylish and comfortable. Eric’s story, more photos of his living room, and the brochure follow…

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10 NOS Tub-Master accordian-door shower doors — for a vintage travel trailer or home

Posted by: • May 10, 2012

tub master folding shower doorDustin of the 170 New Old Stock (NOS) plastic wall panels in mind-bending colors mentioned that he also has 10 NOS accordian door shower doors available for sale. Of course, I asked for pictures, pretty please.

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