Mood Board: A Nursery For Briteny

A close friend of mine is expecting, so when she asked me for help with the nursery-well let's just say the excitement could hardly be contained!

She had some existing elements she wanted to use like some cherry furniture and pale yellow/green/blue bedding. She really loved all those colors and couldn't choose between them, so I found a way to work them all in without being too overwhelming. Working with a gender neutral theme, here's what I suggested.

1- Some sheer blue curtains will let in light and balance the dark furniture.

2- A sweet little green lamp is fun and functional!

3- Baby animal wall art incorporates all the colors, while remaining gender neutral.

4- A cherry wood glider is comfy for mom and baby.

5- A blue and green polka dot accent rug incorporates more color into the room.

6- Paint, my favorite! She was planning on adding some chair rail, so I suggested the lighter yellow (Lively Yellow) on top, while adding some fun stripes with the darker color (Mellow Yellow) below the rail (both colors are Behr).

I can't wait to see the results, and I'll be sure to post pictures!

 

White Dove Strikes Again

You may have read about my recent kitchen painting project, during which I discovered the most perfect shade of white: Benjamin Moore's White Dove. Since I had some left over, I decided to finally give my boring particle board nightstand a new look.

Now, admittedly I'd already done this once and it didn't go well. Before I became the super style diva that I am (giggle), I went through this awkward chocolate/teal Asian phase. You may have noticed it when I showed you the before picture of my dresser. I had to paint the nightstand to match, of course.

And you guessed it, Mike is still rocking the tall chest version of my bamboo-zeled style. I won't show you that now, but rest assured it's on the list of things to do.

As you can see from the picture above, the nightstand has one of those pseudo-double-drawer-divider-line thingies, complete with a superfluous knob (it's just flowing like water, folks). I decided to streamline the whole look, so I whipped out my trusty wood filler and went to town after roughing up the surface with some sandpaper. There's a tutorial here from a similar project, if you want the deets.

After a coat of primer and 3 coats of paint (sanding lightly in between), I installed a cute little glass knob and that's a wrap! I love how it brightens up the corner that used to be so dull. I also stole the tall lamp from our guest room because I thought it looked better with the new color. Too bad, mom.

 

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Weekend Brunch 11.12.10

This week, we have the ultimate brunch from Tyler Florence. For those of you with sweet tooths, drool a little bit over this French Toast:

Upside-Down Apple French Toast

• 1 cup egg beaters/all whites


• 1 cup skim milk


• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/2 loaf challah bread, cut into 1 inch-thick slices


• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into small cubes


• 1 cup light brown sugar, plus more for sprinkling, divided


• 4 Granny Smith apples


• 1/4 cup fat free half and half cream


• 1/2 cup pecans


• 1/2 cup dried cranberries


• Confectioners' sugar, garnish, optional

Doesn't that sound absolutely divine? He pairs it with an equally impressive omelet.

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Omelet

• 4 eggs plus 1 cup egg beaters/ all whites


• 1/4 cup fat free half and half cream


• 2 tablespoon unsalted butter


• 1/3 pound smoked salmon, torn into large piece


• 1 cup light or fat free cream cheese, room temperature


• 4 green onions, finely chopped, garnish


• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

If you're not a smoked salmon fan, try this recipe with lean ham- that would be delicious as well!

With a brunch like this, you'll also want to offer some lighter options like yogurt or fresh fruit to round out the meal. Enjoy!

Saving Some Green, Part 2

When it comes to making your home more environmentally friendly, there are plenty of cheap and easy things you can do that can have a big green impact- for both the planet and your wallet. We've already talked about installing a programmable thermostat, so now I want to introduce you to another easy install we've done recently: the duel flush mechanism.

Basically this is a kit you can buy at your local home improvement store that will run you about $20. It has simple instructions, so I won't bore you with those here except to say that it took us less than 10 minutes start to finish. After a few adjustments, we were rocking our new space age toilet. Press the single droplet for errrrr.... liquid and the double droplet for when you really need to get the job done.

So there you have it, two ways you can put more green back in your pockets and on the earth. Have any of you installed any green mods lately?

Beaded Board = Instant Charm

Now that we've learned to tile a backsplash and paint cabinets, I'd like to share with you one more trick to help you customize your kitchen: paneling.

Mimicking the bead board and wainscoting of yesteryear, these modern MDF or fiberboard clones are perfect for adding detail in many areas of your home, from bathrooms to living rooms.





But, where I'm seeing it most these days is in the kitchen. It can be used as a backsplash, which is significantly cheaper and easier than tiling!

Or, wrap a boring island or counter with it for instant detail.

When I was thinking about my master plan (insert evil laugh) for the kitchen, I decided it definitely needed to include some beaded board in two areas: the counter and the exposed sides of the upper cabinets.

Adding beaded board paneling is super easy, here's what you'll need:

• Measuring tape


• Jigsaw or table saw (or the old fashioned kind)


• Beaded board panel (sold in several sizes, I chose the 4x8)


• Construction adhesive (there is a kind specifically for paneling usually with the panels in the store)


• Caulk gun, if you don't already have one


• Sandpaper (medium and fine grit)


• Finishing nails


• Hammer


• Nail set (I'll explain this in a bit)


• Wood filler

Measure your area and cut your pieces out accordingly. Prep the surface of the wall or cabinet where you want to apply the paneling with a cleaning and light sand with a medium grit. Next, apply the construction adhesive to the back of the panel using "s" shapes.

The trick to good adhesion is aerating the glue. That means you'll want to press the piece in place firmly, but then remove it and let the glue aerate for about 3 minutes. Reapply the panel, then put in a few finish nails to hold the panel in place while the glue dries completely. If you're applying molding, put the nails in at the very top or bottom where they will be covered.

If the edges of the panel will be exposed, you'll want to get a nail set. Hammer in the finish nail until it just touches the surface, then use the nail set between the hammer and your finish nail to push it below the surface. Come back with some wood filler, sand, paint, and watch those nails disappear!



Sorry for the blur, but you get the idea. I think you'll really like the results. It's a very inexpensive way to make a huge impact.





Eventually we'll trim out the top and bottom of the upper cabinets for a more finished look, but for now I'm really pleased with the paint color and the texture the beaded board offers.

Weekend Brunch 11.5.10

This week's menu comes from the one and only Bobby Flay- king of the grill. But you don't need charcoal for this impressive meal. Try it for a ladies brunch, or a surprise for your sweetie! As always, the list of ingredients here is my modified more healthy version (or suggestions from trial and error) and the directions can be found if you follow the links.

Asparagus and Fresh Pea Frittata

Tomato-Basil Topping

• 2 tablespoons olive oil


• 2 shallots, finely diced


• 1 clovegarlic, finely chopped


• 8 plumtomatoes, seeded, peeled and coarsely chopped


• Salt and freshly ground pepper


• 4 basil leaves, cut into chiffonade

Frittata:

• Fat free cooking spray


• 4 large eggs plus 1 cup egg beaters/allwhites


• 2 tablespoons water


• 3 tablespoons grated Romano cheese


• 8 spears asparagus, trimmed blanched and cut into 1/2-inch pieces


• 1/2 cup fresh peas, or defrosted frozen peas


• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley


• 6 basil leaves, cut into chiffonade


• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Blue Corn Blueberry Pancakes

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (try half all purpose, half whole wheat!)


• 1/2 cup blue cornmeal (or regular cornmeal)


• 2 tsp baking powder


• 2 tsp kosher salt


• 1/2 cup  sugar


• 1/2 cup egg beaters/all whites


• 1 1/2 to 2 cups skim milk


• Fat free cooking spray


• 1 cup fresh blueberries


• Bananas, peeled and sliced


• Mixed berries

For a special touch as the weather gets colder, try whipping up some hot flavored tea in a crockpot. Here is a great recipe for a cranberry tea.

• 7 cups water


• 1/2 (12 ounce) package cranberries


• 1 cup white sugar


• 1 oranges, juiced


• 1 lemons, juiced


• 6 whole cloves


• 1 cinnamon sticks

En Guard

How do you feel about fencing?



Do you enjoy it on a purely cosmetic level? Or would you only consider fencing for a practical reason (i.e. dogs...)



We live on a pretty un-fenceable lot, it's extremely steep and just not practical. But, I do have day dreams about the all American white picket fenced in yard...



Instead of moving, we're considering installing an invisible fence system for the dog. Has anyone had any experience with the DIY version?

Saving Some Green, Part 1

Both the kind that grows on trees AND doesn't.

There are a few simple and inexpensive "green" things you can do in your house which will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside while you save the planet and some dough. A programmable thermostat can save your a few hundred buckaroos every year, with models starting at about $30. We just installed 2 in our house, and I'm going to show you how.

First you'll need to decide what kind of stat (that's what all the cool kids say) you want. If you check them out at the store, you'll notice several types labeled as 5-2 or 5-1-1 or even a 7 day.

The translation goes something like this:

5-2: A  program for M-F and a separate one for Sa/Sun

5-1-1: A  program for M-F, and separate ones for both for Saturday AND Sunday

7 day: A separate program for every day of the week.

Take a minute to think about the schedules you keep, and decide which one is best for you. I should add that as you go down the list, the price increases. For most people (including us), I'd imagine the simple 5-2 will be sufficient. You'll also need to know if your HVAC system has emergency or auxiliary heating. Check your manual, or even your existing thermostat to find out. We have auxiliary heat, not emergency. The packaging of the stat will tell you if it's compatible with one or both of those options. Look carefully, because we bought the wrong one initially.

Since we already had a Honeywell, we ultimately ended with another Honeywell- the RTH2300B, 5-2 model which is compatible with auxiliary heat.



To install a new thermostat, first take the face plate off your existing model.



Take note of the wiring, it's likely color coded, but jot down the positions just in case.



Then, remove the wires by loosening the small screws.



Loosen the screws holding the base to the wall and slip it off.



Install the new base over the wires and attach it to the wall. Reattach the wires in their appropriate location (follow the wiring diagram provided with your stat if needed).



Add the cover, and you're all set to go! Most of these come with a built in default program, so just set the time/day and try it out for awhile. If you find that you need to make adjustments to the program, check out your operating manual for the how-to.

Take comfort in knowing you added value to your home while saving some green!

 

Tutorial: Painting (Fake Wood) Kitchen Cabinets

Let me preface this by saying that while I'd rank this about a 4 on a scale of 1-10 for difficulty, this project is not for the faint of heart. What it requires is a time investment (think 1 week, minimum) as well as a great deal of patience and attention to detail.

However, if you are tired of your ho hum builder grade cabinets...this is the perfect way to customize them for an upscale look. You may remember that I had already repainted and tiled the backsplash, so this was the final step in the transformation!

Here's what you'll need:

• Paint and primer (more on this to come)


• Nice brushes


• Sandpaper (both fine and medium grit)


• Degreaser or TSP


• Painter's Tape

Like any good home improvement project, it starts with agonizing over choices. In our case, I knew I wanted to paint the cabinets white, but who knew there were about 100 million shades of white? After taking a few samples home, I decided on Benjamin Moore's White Dove (not to be confused with Dove White).



Now normally I'd take my swatch down to Home Depot or Lowes and get a color match, but this is not a job for ordinary paint. Think about the banging, food slinging, moisture, and heat that your cabinets are subjected to. As a highly visible and frequently abused kitchen element, you definitely want these babies to come out smooth and durable. After much research and speaking with several paint experts, I decided to go with a new product by Benjamin Moore, "Advance" in a satin finish.



I did come across stories of good results with BM's Satin Impervo (both oil and waterborne) as well as Aura. There are also several specialty paints made for cabinets, but they are not always easy to find. After a recommendation from their staff, I decided to give this oil/water hybrid product from BM a shot. I purchased some nice brushes, a gallon of their Fresh Start All Purpose Primer and was on my way.

Once you gather all your supplies, the next step is to take down all your cabinet doors and drawer fronts and remove all hardware/hinges. If your kitchen has a complicated layout, you may want to label what came from where to make the re-install less of a headache. Otherwise, get out your cleaning and sanding supplies.

You might be tempted to rush into painting, but let me warn you that your finished product depends entirely on this prep work. Clean your cabinet boxes and doors thoroughly and give them a good roughing up with some medium grit sandpaper/block. My cabinets had a glossy veneer which I didn't sand completely through-I just sanded enough to take the sheen off and give the surface some grip. Be sure to wipe away the dust with a tack cloth or damp lint free cloth.

Once your cabs are clean and stripped (hehe), give them a coat of primer. For the best adhesion, let the primer cure for a full 24 hours. Patience is a virtue, my friends. The following day prime the back side of the cabinets. To save some time, I actually painted a first finish coat on my boxes the same day. Are you starting to see the pattern here? It's a whole lot of painting and a whole lot of waiting. Once the back side primer is dry, turn the doors over and give them a light sand with some fine grit sandpaper.

If this is all getting a bit confusing, let me lay out the order like this.

Day 1- Clean, sand, prime boxes and front of doors

Day 2- Lightly sand boxes and put on a first finish coat, prime back of doors

Day 3- Lightly sand front of doors and put on a first finish coat. Lightly sand first coat on boxes and paint a second (and final) finish coat.

Day 4- Lightly sand back of doors and put on a first finish coat.

Day 5- Lightly sand first coat on front of doors and put on a second coat.

Day 8 or 9 or if you have a ton of time Day 10- Reattach hardware and re-hang doors!

Before you get started, let me detail the painting technique I was shown at Benjamin Moore specifically for the Advance paint. It's designed to flow like oil, so you don't want to overwork it. Put a good amount on your brush and use long strokes to spread it as evenly as possible. Let it settle itself, try not to go back and brush it too much because it will start to set up in a few minutes. The good news is that you effectively have one practice coat to see how the paint feels and flows. By the second coat, you should be a pro!

Despite all the work, the result is totally worth it. First, let's look at those boring they-fell-off-the-contractor's-truck boxes.



After a brief stint as a disaster area...



The kitchen came together beautifully (if I do say so myself).







I also added some beadboard paneling in certain areas, which I'll show you how to do in another post this week. So, what's the verdict? You likey? Anyone else thinking about attempting this?

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