Tuesday, May 29, 2012

inept DIYer: entryway {before}

Memorial Day Weekend: time for grilling, enjoying the great outdoors, and home improvement projects. As I've mentioned before, the hubs and I have no abilities whatsoever with home DIY anything. I drool over Apartment Therapy and Design*Sponge, wishing that I could replicate what I see there -- and knowing it will never, ever happen unless I hire somebody.

I went to Lowe's on Saturday morning to get some ideas for DIY projects I'm sorta kinda considering and ended up abandoning my cart (full of items) in the middle of an aisle and walking out. It reminded me of this article, which makes me laugh even just thinking about it...

There's a list a mile long of things I'd like to do to our house, but since we're thinking about moving, it's difficult to know what to take on and what to let go. But here's something we have to do, since first impressions are so key in the real estate market: fix our entryway.



What is that thing, you ask? Oh, the 1960s half-wall entryway -- so classy. Ours is made even classier by having a cut-out in the center with a large metal pan in it. Originally, it housed a very dusty collection of fake plants. I threw those out the minute we moved in and filled it with glass beads instead.



Clearly, this was not a long-term fix.

I'm loving the idea of doing something like this instead:

(image -- super inspiring blog about home improvement you should check out!)

Do you think it could be as easy as ordering a granite slab and attaching it with silicone caulk (as recommended by the owner of the original image)? And where do I go about acquiring such a slab?

And speaking of home improvement projects, we're also in the process of having our bathrooms redone. I'll be doing a big post about that soon, too -- expect to be truly terrified by the "before" pictures (quick preview: there used to be carpet. EWWWWW!).

Any master DIYers out there tackle something amazing this Memorial Day weekend? I'd love to marvel over your handiwork and bemoan my lack of DIY talent! Share links to any projects you've posted about in the comments below...

12 comments:

  1. I always say that I can't WAIT to own our home so that the hubs and I can work on home improvement projects together but in reality? I'd have no clue where to even begin and I'd just stress myself to the max, ha ha! Luckily my hubs is quite the handy-man so I guess he'll be dealing with all of the projects :)

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  2. Oh wow...that's a pretty awesome wall! lol! I'm sure the slab would be a pretty easy DIY project...but I would have no idea where to get a custom cut piece of slab that would fit. Maybe try calling a bathroom remodel company?
    ♥ Kyna

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  3. If you aren't ready to tackle buying, cutting, and adhering granite, what about just painting the half wall white? I think that would go a long way towards updating it. I understand this may be opening a can of worms if you then feel obliged to paint all your trim in the room/house white. But it would make such a dramatic impact and requires very little skill.

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    1. I've considered it, Laura, but I'm still not sure what to do with the hole!

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  4. Not that it was any BIG project, but I did this little DIY over the weekend: http://pinterest.com/pin/138626494750420570/
    And... does looking for a new house mean elsewhere in the city, or leaving the area?

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    1. Oh, we're here for the long haul. :) Just getting tired of tripping over each other in our current house and thinking of spreading our wings in a slightly larger model!

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  5. The granite slab might be a little spendy, but it would be pretty easy. The other thing you could do it put a sheet of plywood over the top (the same dimensions as the top of the wall now) and tile it. (Here is an idea: http://www.everyfinehome.com/kitchen-tile-counter-top-design-with-furniture-concept/kitchen-tile-counter-top-design-4/). It's really easy to tile if you haven't done it before, and that small of an area would be really inexpensive. I'd go with a larger stone tile, maybe use only three, and tile the edge of the top as well, about an inch down. (If that makes sense.)

    Can't wait to see what you do!

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    1. Stephanie, I've been researching this option too! The top of the half-wall has funny little corners so I'm not super keen on trying to cut/saw the plywood to exactly match it. But maybe I can figure it out...

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    2. You could always send us the dimensions and Jeb could cut it on a saw at school.

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  6. The cart at Lowe's. I laughed out loud. That's totally something I would do.

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    1. It was a bad scene, Amber. An employee saw me and I just thought, "F it, I don't even care" and just stormed past her. A trip to Target after that put me back in my usual jolly weekend mood :)

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  7. I can relate! There are SO MANY things I want to do to our house, but I know nothing about how to tackle these projects. A new kitchen floor, for starters. My best friend is super-handy and she tells me I can do it. Rather, I'm contemplating paying her to do it for me ... :)

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