7 Easy Weekend Home Projects + October Link Party

October already! I’m ready for the change of seasons. We had a chilly couple of days, and then the temperatures have been back up and unseasonably warm, so I’m ready for fall. Bring on the boots and jackets!

As always,  we have a lot of great projects from last month’s party! See them all here, and see our picks for some great weekend projects below. The big projects are great, but there’s something about the satisfaction of a quick weekend project that just makes this DIYers heart happy.

7 Easy Weekend Home Projects

Spices can be hard to organize well in the kitchen, so White Tulip Designs put together these easy spice shelves for the end of her kitchen cupboards. This is especially nice for those larger bottles or odd-sized containers that don’t fit with smaller spice jars.

This floating night stand by Mylove2create looks complicated, but it’s really just ONE board and a bit of time with a jigsaw!

Glass front cabinets look nice, but you can add some privacy and charm with fabric behind the glass — and the method that Exquisitely Unremarkable used makes it easy to swap fabric when you want, too!

If you’ve got an old piece of barn wood (or a barn door, nice find!), give it some personal meaning with an easy painted design like House on Raspberry Hill.

Bookcases don’t need to be boring! See how to add fabric to the give your bookshelf some personality with Polished Habitat.

Adding floating shelves to a niche is a great weekend project — and CK and Nate made a couple of extra cuts to make the shelf supports disappear so the shelves really do float!

Give your window a bit of rustic charm with a DIY rope and wood valance by Refresh Living — this could look really great over some patterned curtains or roman shades, too!

And, now, once again — it’s your turn to link up! Show us your BEST photos and projects (and please link up different projects each month). Thanks and Happy October!

Loading InLinkz ...

The post 7 Easy Weekend Home Projects + October Link Party appeared first on Remodelaholic.

Home trend: 5 ways to use slate

Slate is one of those materials that creates drama in the home. Brooding, dark and mysterious, this rock isn’t for the faint-hearted; it definitely makes a statement.

That said, it’s a popular choice due to its interesting texture, its durability and – let’s face it – because it looks expensive. Careful though, overdo it and your room could look like a crypt. Fortunately, there are ways to incorporate this stone into your décor so that you’re adding a touch of class and not a sense of gothic doom. Here are five stylish uses for slate in the home:

Totally floored

Let’s start with the obvious. With a colour that hides a multitude of sins, rustic undulations and unique character, slate floor tiles look spectacular. Understated and muted, they add an unobtrusive elegance to any kitchen or hallway. They don’t just look good either; they’re hardwearing enough to endure years of heavy traffic. Better still, they boast heat-retaining properties which should help keep your home warmer in the winter.

The tiles are perfectly suitable for external use too, so you could extend the look out into a patio area for stylish continuity.

Work(top)ing it out

Natural stone is one of the most desirable materials for kitchen worktops. Practical and beautiful, slate is able to withstand extreme temperatures and spills. The smooth surface is perfect for rolling bread dough, pastry or icing and you know it will last for years.

Revamping the kitchen is an expensive and time-consuming task, not something you want to repeat very often. So, it’s important to choose a material which will remain timeless and that will work with different colour themes – it’s likely you’ll paint the walls before you change the worktops again, after all. Typically installed in a matte finish, slate worktops solve all these problems, leaving you to be the envy of all your friends.

Slating the bathroom

There’s something soothing about slate, which is why it often features in posh spas. The misty grey shade possesses calming properties and where better to use it than the bathroom, where you can create your own sanctuary of serenity? Here you might see slate tiles on the wall in addition to the floor. The rock works well with chrome fixings and white sanitary ware, producing a peaceful effect.

If you have a lot of light in the bathroom, whether natural or not, you could even create a wall of rough slate, perfect for a wet room. Otherwise, restrict your use to just one or two walls, keeping the remaining ones white.

Hearth of stone

Increasing numbers of people are installing log burners into their homes as a way to more responsibly and cheaply heat their rooms. These heavy-duty, black burners aren’t just functional, they serve as aesthetic additions to the home and a slate hearth provides the perfect finishing touch.

They come in many different designs: from uniform tiles to uneven, raw-edged slabs – far superior to red brick alternatives. No two slate hearths are the same, they’re easy to clean (providing you do it correctly and use the right products) and any ash is more easily disguised before you can get to it with the dustpan and brush.

Paint it slate

Okay, so it’s not quite slate the rock but you can easily incorporate slate into your home by painting your walls a warming shade of slate grey. This neutral hue is extremely fashionable at the moment and it needn’t be restricted to older properties; it can offer a totally contemporary feel. It’s been hailed by interior designers as sophisticated, clean and grown-up with an ability to ‘retain a coolness that makes it modern’.

Slate grey provides a great canvas for furniture and pairing it with lighter grey or hot pink accents will create a vibrant look.

To complement your newly painted room, you could add slate accessories: mats and coasters, vases and pots, art ‘installations’ on the wall, picture frames, cake stands, cheeseboards and pretty slate hearts strung with twine.

As you can see, slate isn’t just for your roof – there are numerous ways you can use it in your home; whether you want a breath-taking new look or you’re just searching for a colour scheme which isn’t based around boring magnolia. Why not be a little bit daring?

Elizabeth Smythe is a content specialist writing on behalf of Shaw Stone, one of the largest suppliers of granite worktops in the UK.

The post Home trend: 5 ways to use slate appeared first on Rated People Blog.

Vision for The Laundry Room & Craft Room {My New House!}

What a week! Technology has not been my friend. From the dryer breaking down, leaving us with draping laundry to dry all over the house, to my blog practically combusting before my eyes and the resulting havoc of trying to piece it back together again (with the help of my patient tech person, Ted) I’m ready to just […]

This article Vision for The Laundry Room & Craft Room {My New House!} is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

EeSoffit

A seamless and smart design by EeStairs our sponsor

~thrifty Thursday~ {French clock}

I was at the goodwill last week and came upon a pair of metal clock hands for $9.99 plus 50% off.

I would be lying if I said I hadn't been on the lookout for a pair.

I have forever been wanting to make a large clock.

While I was driving home I remembered seeing a large white metal table top at a friends garage sale last summer. Not thinking she'd still have it since it was a year ago, I decided to ask her just in case.

And guess what, she still had it and said she'd sell it to me for $10!

The tabletop is huge, 42" to be exact.

The clock hands were the perfect size.

I cleaned up the table and spray painted the clock hands black.

I found a clock image I liked online and penciled it all out before painting it.

My husband is going to weld the clock hands on, for now they are just resting there for the picture.

After I painted it, I did scuff it up a little bit with some sandpaper to age it, then sealed it with a matte varathane.

Now I just need to find the perfect spot for it.

Not bad for $15!

xoxo

Autumn Leaves on Display – All Year Round

Before you know it, the trees (and sidewalks) will be ablaze with color (unless you happen to live in one of those seasonless places). Autumn is a fleeting season, characterized by a brief but magnificent display of color. For many, … Continued

The post Autumn Leaves on Display – All Year Round appeared first on QB Blog.

DIY Butcher Block & Wood Countertop Reviews

So far in this little durability review series, we’ve talked about updating cabinets by painting them and going industrial with concrete countertops — now we’re going a little more rustic with about butcher block and wood countertop reviews!

Wood countertops add warmth, texture, and charm to a kitchen or bath in a way that not many other materials can! Wood does require careful sealing and/or special treatment to keep it looking nice. Butcher block is meant to be cut on and needs to be treated differently, whereas non-butcherblock wood countertops can be sealed to be completely to lock out any moisture that might cause damage. See what these bloggers’ experiences tell you about whether or not wood countertops are right for you.

This post may contain affiliate links. See our full privacy policy and disclosure here. 

Wood and Butcher Block Countertop Reviews

Jill | The Rozy Home

Jill recently DIYed her herringbone wood countertops in her kitchen makeover — and they are stunning! See the full tutorial here.

“I created the countertops using 2″ white oak and cut them into small blocks. I placed the blocks into a herringbone pattern and finished them with a white wash pattern. I think that with wood counters, you have to really stay on top of them. I’m terrible about not following behind my kids with a sponge so sometimes it takes a bit to find messes. When I do find them, a simple scrub and they are good to go. Note: I put 3 coats of Watco on the back countertops and only 2 on the front. I honestly think the island could use about 4 or 5 because of its constant use.”

YES, Jill would do this again, and she rated her countertops as a 5 (Amazing. I expect this to last for many years.)

Jill’s tips: If you are doing this on an island with a sink, start at the sink area first. The sink was the last section we did and there wasn’t enough wood to support it the first time, so we had to go back and redo the pattern in that area to give the sink support.

---

Andrea | Keeping It Cozy

Andrea made her own butcherblock countertops for her kitchen four years ago, using reclaimed wood, salad bowl finish, and plenty of hard work! She shared the tutorial with us here as well.  And her country style kitchen is gorgeous — see more here.

“After using our butcher block countertops for the past four years, I can’t imagine having another type of countertop material. Our countertops have only become better with age. The regular use and cleaning has left them darker in appearance and extremely smooth. The best part about butcher block countertops is that if you ever have a ding or a burn mark, you can so easily sand it out and reapply a sealer.”

YES, Andrea says, “Absolutely I would recommend this to a friend, and have done so many times! The material is extremely durable, beautiful and natural. The only maintenance is sanding if needed and resealing every 3-6 months.”

Andrea rates the durability as a 5 (Amazing. I expect this to last for many years.)

Andrea’s tips: Here’s a post I wrote a couple years ago on sealing and maintaining butcher block countertops. Another great product if you’d like to go the more natural route, is citrus solvent and tung oil (like this). A good source for affordable butcher block is Ikea. Since our original post, we added some additional countertop and cabinet space and used a solid oak butcher block from Ikea, which we’ve been very happy with.

---

Vanessa | This and That

Vanessa installed IKEA beech butcherblock countertops with an undermount sink in her kitchen over 6 years ago. She sealed it with Waterlox, and they still look great! See the full tutorial here.

“We have had the countertop for 6 years now. I feel like it has held up pretty good. In the past 2 years they have gotten a lot more wear and in the past 6 months I can see the result of that. Around the built in soap dispenser there have been some places that soap has dripped out and sat overnight and it looks like it has eaten the water lox off. There is one other area of the counter that looks like this and it is where I unknowingly dripped some Dawn Ultra Concentrated and didn’t clean it up. I think it is the Dawn in a non diluted state because nothing else has done this to the counters. They are getting a little dull so I plan on applying a fresh coat of Waterlox in the winter.”

YES, Vanessa would (and has) done this again! “This is our 2nd time having these countertops. 9 years total and if we got new countertops tomorrow I would do the same thing.” She rates the durability is a 4 (Great) and “other than the Dawn spots I would rate as a 5.”

Vanessa’s tips: Read more in her blog post here — including great details about installing the undermount sink.

---

Ashley | Domestic Imperfection

Ashley made a new countertop for her upcycled dresser vanity nearly 3 years ago, using unfinished wood flooring (which was sealed with tung oil finish, and then later stained and sealed with polycrylic). ​Full details here.

“It has held up okay. We installed it about 2 1/2 years ago and it still looks good and does it’s job, but it needs to be sanded down and refinished. The sealer is getting kinda foggy and the countertop isn’t as smooth as it once was. Plus I accidentally burned it a bit with a flat iron.”

Ashley says YES, she would do this again.  “This countertop is certainly budget friendly and I think it looks pretty great, and if the if the sealer did a better job I don’t think there would be any issues.”She rates the vanity top as a 3 (Good. It does its job.)

Ashley’s tips: Choose your sealer carefully. In our kitchen there we have butcher block countertops and sealed them with Waterlox, and they are holding up much much better. (You can read about those here and here).

Read more about wood countertop durability on the next page –>

The post DIY Butcher Block & Wood Countertop Reviews appeared first on Remodelaholic.