Monthly Archives: September 2013

OSB ~ A Great Look for Less!

What is OSB?  Homerenovations.about.com describes OSB like this…

OSB stands for oriented strand board. OSB has the appearance of giant cornflakes pressed together to form structural panels in sizes similar to plywood, such as 4′ x 8′ x 5/8″.

OSB ~ Oriented Strand Board

OSB is basically a construction grade materials that is rarely seen in a finished product. It is the hidden sub floor below the “finished” flooring, whether that be hardwood flooring, carpet, vinyl, tile or anything else.  However, in recent years, the industrial look has become more popular and OSB is making its way into finished decor.

Why OSB?

We first saw OSB used on the second floor of a heritage home.  The owners told us that the original hardwoods were beyond repair and they saw OSB as a great alternative.  I am often so disappointed when I visit old homes and see that the original hardwoods have been replaces with laminate or carpet. When I saw the exposed OSB flooring, I immediately loved the look and the concept.  It is like a wood/cork look and because it is completely different from hardwood flooring, it didn’t compete with original floors that remained on the main floor of the house.

OSB floors

Here is a shot of the OSB floors we saw in the heritage home. We went on to buy this house, but that is a story for another time.

The floors were very inexpensive, durable and offered a great unique look. I loved them and knew they would work perfectly on the upper floor of our 1921 home as well.

A Great Alternative

If you are looking for an inexpensive and easy alternative to update your flooring, look no further.

I believe the second floor of our home has around 700 square feet.  When we moved in, the upstairs was completely covered in 1970’s brown carpet (except for the bathroom). Despite the fact that we live in a heritage home, we were told that there was no hardwood flooring beneath the carpet. We also knew that laying new hardwoods would not only be very expensive, but also crazy with two small children occupying the entire upper floor. We wanted a great look, but without having to “police” the floors. We decided to replace the ugly carpet with oriented strand board similar to the floors we saw in the other house. We bought the OSB from Home Depot and laid the 4 X 8 sheets on the entire second floor. The boards are made with a “tongue and groove” edge, so the seams fit tightly together. Once all the boards were in, we rented a sander from Home Depot and proceeded to sand the wood down to get a nice blond finish.  Tim put on several coats of urethane for durability and when all was said and done, we completed the entire second floor for under $700 (including wood, machine rental, urethane and the roller for application).

I absolutely love the textured look and we are not concerned about the wear and tear on the floors. Our son even plays floor hockey in the oversized landing area! We did the floors 5 years ago and they have proven to be durable and completely kid proof.  In fact, we will also consider OSB for our basement floors….if we ever get that far in the renovations!

Here is a short slide show of the OSB floors on our second story.

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Painting Perfect Stripes

Very few people have a steady enough hand to paint the perfect straight line.  If you are like me, I always use my trusty painter’s tape when trying to get that perfect straight edge. Despite my efforts to perfectly align my tape and rub my finger over the surface to be sure there would be no seepage, I would often feel frustrated and disappointed with the results when I peeled the tape back and found that there was still “bleeding” onto the base colour.

Please Stop the Bleeding!

Several years ago, I came across this great tutorial for making the perfect straight lines without bleeding. It works every time. Although there are a few more steps involved, it is completely worth the effort.  I couldn’t find the original, but this tutorial provides the same information and steps.  It is complete with pictures and more detailed than my description below.

In a nut shell:

  1. Measure very carefully and be sure to use a level to ensure that the finished line is perfectly straight.
  2. Tape off the line with blue or green painter’s tape (I have used both).  I always use a credit card or wooden wedge and slide it along the edge to ensure proper adhesion of the tape.
  3. THIS IS THE KEY:  Take the base colour of the wall above and below the stripe (navy in Shay’s room) and paint a thin coat of paint over the edge of the tape.  The paint will bleed under the tape, but the paint that bleeds through will be the same colour as the wall above and below the stripe.  For example, when painting Shay’s red stripe, I first painted a thin coat of navy blue over the edge of the tape, so that navy would bleed onto navy. This seals the edge and prevents the top coats of red from bleeding through.
  4. Let dry completely.
  5. Paint your coloured stripe and remove the tape.  You will get a perfect finished line every time.

You can see that Shay’s red stripe extends around his whole room.  Two of his walls are painted navy and two are taupe, but the red stripe circles the entire room, through both colours.  Obviously, when painting the red stripe on his taupe walls, I first painted a coat of taupe to extend over the edge of the tape and seal the edge from bleeding.

Another Technique for Getting the Perfect Edge

I have never used the technique below, but thought it looked like an excellent idea for when you have two different surfaces meeting.

Happy painting!

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Antique Dresser Upcycle: Bathroom Vanity

Three and a half years ago, we gutted the main floor bathroom of our 1921 home.  It was ugly and quite disgusting.  We originally hired someone to do the job, but after demonstrating work ethic that was deplorable, we completed the project on our own.  I am so lucky to have a husband that can do almost anything when it comes to home repair and renos!

This bathroom reno was major and every single item became a major design decision for me.  I knew what I wanted and each item had to fit to perfection within the new space.  I can honestly say that I probably spent 200 hours looking at fixtures, vanities and other accessories.  I pretty much knew right then and there that I would never be able to have a new home built.  I would literally drive the entire family crazy.  Besides that, I don’t know if I could ever give-up on the character and warmth of a heritage home.

Look at this ugly vanity that was in the existing bathroom. It just had to go….along with the toilet, walls and pretty much everything else!

Old Vanity

The Search for a Vanity

I knew I wanted a Victorian Style bathroom and was determined to find pieces that complemented the look.  We searched every bathroom store in the city and scoured the internet, but to no avail.  In the end, I decided to look for an antique piece that could be converted into a vanity.  So aside from shopping bathroom stores, I began to look at antique stores in the area.

sign

This sign was in the window of a local antique shop. Hilarious!

One day, while visiting my one of my favourite stores…The Old House Revival Company, I explained what I was looking for to one of the clerks.  I didn’t find anything in the store, but she invited me into the “staff only” portion of the basement to see if there was anything that caught my eye.  As soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw it.  The piece.  The exact shape and style I was looking for.  I knew it would be perfect, but was also quite sure that I would need an extra dose of sweetness and persuasive intellect to convince my husband.

BEFORE: Antique Dresser
You can see the drawer fronts were actually just propped up and when I whent o open them all the pieces were shoved inside.

So, you can see it was in less than perfect shape and my husband did not initially share my vision. However, he has also been with me long enough to know I would never let it go….this was the piece I wanted. We paid the $100 (cheap for a vanity), but perhaps not the greatest deal when you consider that it was in no way usable in its current condition.

Upcyling the Anitque Dresser

We sanded the piece down to the raw wood and then had a cabinet-maker from the area make new drawers on sliders to replace the old ones.  He used the existing drawer fronts to maintain the integrity of the piece.  The original dovetail is still there and had to be left, but it is completely hidden when the drawers are closed.new drawers on sliders

The top middle drawer would not be usable because of the piping, but he was able to make the large middle drawer in a U shape to go around the pipes.  (I would show you a picture, but that would mean I would have to clean the drawer first and I am too busy to do that today! Sorry.)  He also cut the hole for the sink and painted the piece out white. (Unfortunately, it is already on my list of things to do as it really needs to be repainted.)

painted dresser

Here is the dresser all repaired and painted. This is just before the hole for the sink was cut.

The Sink for the Vanity

My cousin had a pottery sink in her bathroom and I always loved the look. I thought that pottery would be a perfect look with the vanity style…kind of like the old washstand with a basin. We went to a local pottery shop and I found a chocolate-brown sink that I immediately loved. It was $295 and I wanted to be sure there were no chips or anything so I was looking it over before purchasing it. When I turned it over, there was a slight crack on the bottom. I asked the sales lady about it and she said that “baking cracks” were common and that it wouldn’t have an impact on the integrity of the piece, but that she would give me a discount for the crack. It was on the bottom and would be completely hidden under the vanity top, so as long as it was not going to break, I was going to take it. I couldn’t believe it when I got to the till and she asked me if $50 would be an acceptable price! “Uhhh, yah!” We have had the sink for three years and there has never been a problem. What a score!

The Finished Antique Vanity Upcycle

I absolutely loved the finished look.  The curves of the dresser and rounded drawer fronts were exactly what I was looking for.  We were forced to lower the sink into the cabinet a bit more than I originally wanted to, due to the height of the dresser and clearance needed for the wall mount taps, but it turned out fine.  We purchase the handles at Lee Valley and love the design of them.

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Halloween Is Just Around the Corner

I need to start by saying that I am not a big Halloween fan, but when you check-out the video at the end you will see why I have put my personal preferences aside and embraced the whole Halloween experience.  It really does create memories that last a life time.

My Halloween Experiences:

My memories of childhood Halloweens are not of treats and candy, but of being terrified by the older kids in my home town.  I remember them doing things like stealing our candy bags, jumping out and scaring us and starting straw bales on fire in the town streets.  I really don’t remember ever having fun (although I am sure I must have when I was younger and went out with my parents). All I recall is being afraid and too cool to tell my friends how I felt.  I spent most of the evening in fear (although I am sure there was not any real danger).  Even as an adult, people in masks kind of freak me out.

Halloween for the Next Generation:

We all know how much fun it is to dress-up and pretend to be someone or something we are not. For my daughter’s third birthday, we made her a dress-up “trunk” and filled it with all kinds of clothing and accessories from local thrift shops.  It was a hit, just as my own “tickle trunk” was when I was growing up.  To this day, our dress-up trunk is still a favourite when friends come to play.  However, when it came to celebrating Halloween, we just decided to delay the inevitable.  We lived in an apartment for the first few years of my daughter’s life and therefore, we did not have “trick or treaters” coming to our door.  We never gave her candy and she really had no way of even knowing Halloween existed.  In my world, this was nice.  No candy eating to police (sorry, but I believe that candy and sugar is like a poison for small children – so we were pretty diligent about this) and no costumes to make. My daughter was completely unaware of  Halloween until she was in Nursery School and they were having a class party. We didn’t want her to lose out on the fun of dressing-up and didn’t even consider not having her participate once the “cat was out of the bag”.

I will never forget her first Halloween. We had very briefly talked about going “trick or treating” after school, but Eden really didn’t understand what it was an said we would decide when she got home from Nursery School.  She was 4 3/4 and Shay was almost 2 1/2.  We weren’t sure what the final decision would be, so we went through our dress-up trunk and found costumes for both her and Shay (just in case).  Of course, Eden was a princess! (Aren’t all 4 and 5 year old girls?) We also had an old lion costume in the “trunk”, so we decided that they could go out as “Beauty and the Beast”, if we opted to go at all. (Eden was not dressed up as Belle, but she was a princess and it would work in a pinch.)  She had a great time at school and thought that Halloween was really fun.  However, when we asked her if she wanted to go “trick or treating” or not, she reached in her backpack and pulled out  a little Dixie cup full of treats and said “Oh, no we don’t have to go, look at all the treats I got from my teacher!”  She had never seen so many candies in her life and couldn’t imagine that she needed more.  However, Shay was excited to dress-up and so it was decided that we would go out.  We got them both ready and went to Grandma and Grandpa’s and two neighbors.  The kids were so excited and could not believe the loot they got. The container we gave them was very small, so their treats filled it to the top. We were totally laughing, as they had no idea what was to come in years ahead.

Halloween Costumes:

Of course, after that first Halloween “trick or treating” became an annual event.  I am not sure about your house, but at the Roys, we start planning our costumes in September or sooner. Generally, we do not buy the commercial costumes, but rather try to put together odds and ends from around home or the thrift store.  I thought I would share some of our favourites in case you are starting to think ahead to October 31st, as well.  Here are some of our favourites.

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A Favourite Halloween Memory:

I don’t like scary costumes and Shay really wanted to be Dracula when he was 4, so we made a compromise and I said he could be “The Count” from Sesame Street.  Here is a video clip of him doing his Count gig.  Gotta love it!

We are All Teachers and Students

I love this video!  It is created by SoulPancake and is dedicated to all teachers, but like “Kid President” suggests, we are all students and we’re all teachers.  This video has an awesome message for all and he is absolutely adorable!

I believe that every person was created for a purpose and that we each bring something unique to the world.  We are never too old or too young to make a difference, we simply must strive for excellence in all we do, each and every day. No one is perfect, but we can make an impact on someone ~ a child, a neighbor or even a stranger.

It is time to be more awesome!  No matter who you are….someone is learning from you. What are you teaching the world? 

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Waffles with Yummy Dipping Sauce

It is Sunday, the perfect day for waffles served with a white cream sauce.  This recipe was given to us by a close family friend, Kirsten, and has long since been a family favourite. Thanks Kirsten!

waffles

Click the image to get the PDF version of the recipe.

Waffles with Dipping Sauce

Waffles:
5 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups white flour (I use whole wheat)
2 cups milk
2 Tablespoons baking powder

Beat the eggs with an electric mixer.  Add oil and beat again. Mix in salt.  Mix flour, milk and baking powder together in a separate bowl.  Stir into the egg mixture.  Bake in a waffle iron.  (It takes 4 minutes in mine, but I am sure that will vary depending on the iron.)

*I am too lazy to use two bowls.  I do the first three steps and then just add the flour, milk and baking powder directly into the egg mixture gradually, mixing it after each addition.  This seems to work fine.  I hand mix as I add the flour, so it doesn’t spray all over.  I tend to do things in a bit of a rush and thus I have tried using the electric beater and had flour spray all over.  Dah!  As I am writing this, I am having a thought. I don’t know why I have never tried it before, but I am going to do it in my blender next time.  I think that would work well and the lid would prevent it from making a big mess.

White Sauce:
3 cups of milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup of cornstarch
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Whisk milk, sugar and cornstarch together in a microwave safe bowl.  Cook until boiling in the microwave (but stopping at one minute intervals to stir). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.  (You must add the vanilla at the end or it doesn’t seem to thicken the same).    If you read between the lines, you will realize that once again, I tried to skip a step and threw everything in at the beginning and it was a “fail”. The good news is that I don’t give up easily and learn from my mistakes.  I will try to save you the pain of failure.

Waffle Serving Suggestions:

We always serve the waffles with fresh or defrosted frozen berries and the white sauce.  My son loves to have maple syrup with the berries and white sauce ~ it is sinful, but so delicious!  Enjoy!

Side note:  I can’t say how many waffles it actually makes as I never get a chance to count them.  They are generally scooped up right off the iron. I only make a single batch for our family of four and it is fine.  If there seems to be extra, you can either save the batter in the fridge and make fresh waffles the next morning or freeze cooked waffles and pop them in the toaster like an Eggo.

Back on the Wagon

Hey all!  Well we’re two weeks into the school year and I am absolutely exhausted.  I haven’t gone to bed later than 9 o’clock in a week and feel like I’ve been hit by a Mac truck.  Despite this, I decided that I really needed to get my lazy bottom up and try to get back into some form of exercise regime.

Jillian Michael’s Ripped in 30

I got myself up and dressed, set-up my make-shift gym (in the living room) and plugged in my Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30Jillian Michael’s Ripped in 30 DVD.  I like it because it is intense, but short ~ 20 minutes. Seriously, no excuses, 20 minutes is doable for anyone.  I am not too proud to say that I have been too lazy to exercise. Everyone can find 20 minutes, I just have not made it a priority in my life lately and I really need to change that.  The premise of this program is to do 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio and 1 minute abs X 3, with each of the three sets being completely different. Clearly, I am not in very good shape as I don’t remember this ever being so hard.  I got through the workout with sweat pouring and total exhaustion taking over my body.  By the end of the two minute stretch, I started to feel very over-heated and had to sit with my head between my legs for several minutes before venturing outside to cool down. (A very proud moment indeed ~ sick after a measly 20 minutes…really?) After several minutes, I started to feel slightly better.  That is well enough to make it to the couch to lie down and have an hour nap.  I just love working-out and getting back in shape ~ NOT!!  So much to look forward to tomorrow!

Focus on the Why

It is now about 2 1/2 hours later, I have eaten 2 pouched eggs on a slice of toast and feel almost normal, but am still sporting a beet red face.  I know that I feel so much better when I am exercising regularly and really have to push through this stage.  I find that everything works better with proper conditioning ~ digestion, sleep, stamina, energy levels and over-all health.  With working close to fulltime hours, the kids activities and now daily blogging, I need to exercise more than ever. Jillian recommends working out 5 to 6 days per week.  I have done lots of reading on the negative impact of over-exercise and how it can actually cause inflammation and strain on your body. I will not be following her recommendations.  I may begin with 5 days this week just to get the kinks out, but I plan to aim for 3 to 4 work-outs per week in addition to my Thursday night volleyball.  I have never been an exercise addict, I do it for the results and health benefits ~ nothing more.  There is not a single work-out that I love, but there are some that I hate less and almost enjoy.  Yoga is definitely on that list.  I enjoy Yoga more than most programs and always feel like I have had a good workout.  There is a part of the P90X Yoga workout that I do actually love and that is the last nine minutes when you get to totally relax in the Child’s Pose and then flip over and do the Corpse Pose.  I usually fall asleep at this point.  (I can’t help it, it is in my blood ~ my dad’s family can literally fall asleep anywhere.)

I am a very determined person.  When I truly make a decision and am committed to a cause, system or plan, I am very good at sticking to it ~ be it exercise, eating plans, blogging or anything else.  For me, I can stick to anything as long as I focus on the WHY.  It is really the key to success in anything.  You must create a really strong case for WHY it is worth the effort to commit to something or even take the initial risk when stepping outside your comfort zone.  When you build-up the WHY and focus only on the results/goal, there really is no other option, but to stick to it.  Keep focussed on the WHY at all times and in all areas of your life.  I try very hard not to focus on the how, the when or the possibility of failure.

Having said that, exercise is definitely something that I have always struggled with.  When I do a structured plan like P90X, guaranteed I will not miss a single day for 3 months. However, when the program ends, my commitment is over and I have found I often slowly slip into a new commitment… of doing little to nothing. That is why for me, I now understand myself well enough to know that I need to take on a commitment that I will stick to long-term.  Again, that whole concept of being “A little, A lot” person, instead of “A lot, A little” person.  If I workout for less time (20 to 30 minutes), less often (3 to 4 times per week), I am more likely to do it for a long time.   This makes more sense than working-out like crazy every day (a lot) and then it only lasts a short time.  I like structure, so I often find it much easier to get up at 5:30am to workout before going to work.  On weekends and my day off, I find that there are more distractions with the kids up and around and a huge list of “to do’s”.  It is not uncommon for the whole day to pass by without exercising.

Back on the Wagon

I am really going to have to use my own advise and focus on the WHY, as I am really not looking forward to a repeat of today, tomorrow.  I sure didn’t feel well. However, I now have the added incentive and pressure of having to admit to you all that I quit and am not doing anything. The stakes now seem pretty high, so I guess I can add that to my WHY list!

DIY Subway Art

Subway Art:

When it comes to design there are so many things that I love ~ a cool font, printed fabrics and paper, the unique shape of a piece of furniture or the architectural design of a heritage building.  I found this cool idea for a super easy DIY subway art project on Pinterest a few years ago.  I thought it made a brilliant baby gift, but also knew the idea could be used in many other cool ways.  I loved how she used different fonts and alignment to get the overall look.

subway art tutorial


Click the image to visit the original post and find the complete tutorial.

Bathroom Chores ~ Subway Art Style

This project works best using Powerpoint or Keynote because both programs allow you to really play around with the text within the given document.  Basically, each tag line is made in a different text box that is formatted with a specific font, colour and size to fit with the overall look of the sign.  I  adjusted the font direction to create the vertical “chores” tag.  When I completed the sign in the program, I simply printed it on a full 8 1/2″ by 11″ cardstock paper using my coloured printer.  I cut a board the same size as the paper and painted it white. I drilled a hole in the back,so that it could be hung after completion.  I then applied a thin layer of podge and carefully placed the paper on top.  I smoothed out any bubbles by gently pressing a dry cloth across the surface.  I wanted to distress mine a bit, so I sanded the paper edges and letters very gently and added a little brown ink to the edges and some areas of the surface.  Finally, I put on a coat or two of Modge Podge to finish off the project.  This worked really well, but I must admit that the moisture in the bathroom is not the best place for a project like this. Over time, it has warped/puckered slightly.  If you want to do this project, I encourage you to click on the image above and get the complete step by step tutorial.

DIY Subway Art

This sign was made for my children’s upstairs bathroom when I did a bathroom make-over a few years ago.  I love that it serves a dual purpose ~ bathroom art and chore list all in one.

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Pillow Talk: What’s in Your Pillow?

When I was a little girl, my mom made our pillows because it was less expensive.  She used foam chips to fill the pillows and I can not tell you how comfortable the pillows were.  I like a pillow that is fluffy, but under stuffed….if that makes sense.  I get a sore neck whenever I try to sleep on a “full” pillow without much “give”.  So, for my entire life, I have used a homemade foam chipped pillow.  My pillow is my baby…I do not go anywhere without my pillow.  Most would not call this limp little under-stuffed blob a pillow, but for me it is what lures me to my bed each night.  I LOVE MY PILLOW!

foam chip pillow

Confessions of a Peculiar Pillow Princess:

Now brace yourself, because this is pretty gross, but for many many years I used my very own childhood pillow and took it where ever I went.  I would wash it periodically, but literally used it for years and years and years and years…too many to count.  Eventually, I took all of the old foam chips out and transferred them to a new casing due to wear and tear, but kept the same foam chips.   Yuck!  I can’t even begin to imagine what lived in that thing??  Over the years, we have bought several pillows to try-out.  I have a water pillow which we all have tried and hate and other pillows with various kinds of stuffing, but to no avail.  When I was little, my mom told me that she thought I was allergic to feathers and that is another reason why she originally made the foam chip pillows.  Strangely, this has had a life long psychological bearing on my state of mind concerning pillows and I have never purchased a feather pillow despite the fact that I sleep with a feather tick (down comforter) every night!  I always come back to my good old foam chipped pillow. Several years ago, I actually made a new pillow – stuffing and all.  I bought fabric and foam chips and stuffed it.  Of course, it was difficult to get the right amount of stuffing and I had to take the stitches out several times to get it just right.  In fact, I loved it so much that I made a second one to cuddle when my husband works nights!

Over the years, my kids have had the opportunity to try-out my pillows and guess what…they too have their very own homemade foam chip pillow.  I have never told them they were allergic to other types of pillows, so hopefully they will grow-up to be more adaptable than I am.

foam chip pillow

Shay converted to foam chips this summer and was so excited to get his own pillow just like mine!  I can whip these babies up in a heartbeat and so they can easily be replaced when needed.  Most people have never even heard of foam chip pillows, but for me they are my ticket to dream land.

Pillow Preferences

Did you know that the possibilities for pillow stuffings are endless?  Check out this link to find out the 10 best natural pillow alternatives.  I noticed that foam chips was not on their list.  Personally, I can’t imagine sleeping on Buckwheat, but whatever floats your boat.  (People are probably saying the same thing about my weird pillow preference.)  This website talks about other possible stuffings and their benefits.

What’s in Your Pillow?

Brace yourself.  This is completely disgusting and you will soon see why it is recommended that you wash your pillow two to three times per year and replace it about ever 2 years.

Pillow Care 101:

Check-out this video to learn how to test your pillow to see if it needs to be tossed or not.  (Clearly this test would not work on my under-stuffed foam chip pillow, but will work for most normal pillows, I assume).  I wash our pillows a few times a year, but must admit I haven’t replaced them in several.  However, I am pretty sure we’ll be on a new pillow replacement cycle after learning what I did, when preparing for this post.

Well, this “Pillow Princess” definitely needs to add “make new pillows” to her “to do” list…..Do you ever feel like you were happier when you didn’t know the whole truth?  Me too!

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Upcycled Play Kitchen: Part 1

I have wanted to do a project like this for a very long time, but I must admit it seemed a bit much to take on and of course makes no sense at all since my daughter is already 11 and is almost as tall as me!  I don’t know why I am so drawn to make one of these, but I have seen many examples of brilliant entertainment unit updates and the cutest play kitchens ever. To be honest, the upcycled red storage unit in my son’s room was originally purchased for a play kitchen, but it was a bit daunting and I “chickened-out”.

BEFORE: Entertainment Unit
Upcycled storage unit instead

Old TV Cabinet

I was really determined to make a play kitchen and when we switched our living room around this summer, our old TV cabinet suddenly became available!  The cost to upcycle this would be next to nothing because it was a piece I already had, so I decided worst case scenario, I ruin it and am out nothing but time and energy.  This photo was cropped from a Christmas picture, so it is not the best shot of the stand, but you can get an idea of what I am working with.  This cabinet must be close to 20 years old, but has worn well.  IMG_5415

My plan was to make the TV cabinet into the “sink” and “stove”, and then find another piece of furniture to serve as a “fridge”. I got to work right away and started to draw out a bit of a plan. I scoured the net to gather ideas and then began to collect the items I would need for my own version.

Old Stereo Cabinet

I decided to start to search Kijiji for a piece that was taller and could act as the fridge in the finished project.  I was thinking a lingerie chest or highboy style dresser at first, but then it hit me – why not try to find a stereo cabinet from the same era as the TV stand.  I didn’t want to pay much as this project may not work out and even if it does, I don’t have a purchaser or destination in mind.  I really have no use for it when it is done, but I think it will be lots of fun to make.  I ended up finding this cabinet at a garage sale and got it for $10.  I am really trying to keep this project simple, so I decided to make the finished project black as well.  This meant I was able to apply one coat of paint to freshen it up and required a lot less prep work.  Needless to say, completing this project is not a top priority.  I have so many projects on my list that should take precedence over this, but I will putter away and hope to finish it up sometime this fall.

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Play Kitchen Parts and Purchases

  • stereo cabinet for the fridge
  • a door from the “Re-Store” (Habitat for Humanity) $6 – this will be the door for the fridge – goodbye glass
  • pretty fabric for a curtain on the stove/sink cabinet and a few accessories – Fabric is my weakness – I totally splurged on this!
  • knobs from an antique store 4 for $6
  • wooden circles for the elements from the craft store – about $1.50 eachl
  • a silver bowl from a garage sale $1 (sink)
  • taps/faucet $5 garage sale purchase

BEFORE: TV Stand

Play Kitchen Initial Steps

  • Used my elementary school compass to draw a large circle slightly larger than the circumference of the bowl.
  • Used the skill saw to cut my very first circle – it wasn’t a fail, but not perfect.  Fortunately, the bowl has a lip and once it is siliconed in place it will not be an issue.
  • Sanded (scuffed) the entire surface of both cabinets and gave them a fresh coat of black paint.
  • Cut backs for both cabinets from scrap wood in the basement.  I wanted to use wood instead of that cardboard type of backing most of these cabinets are built with.  It will make the pieces more durable and sturdy.
  • I primed the backs and bottoms of the stereo cabinet shelves.

I am not sure what the timeline on this project will be, but now that I am back to work I will have huge time restraints and thus limited time for projects.  As mentioned above, I hope to finish it up this fall.  Maybe someone will be interested in it for a Christmas present for a little one??  Watch for Part 2 of this project within the next few weeks (I hope).

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