One Room Challenge Week 4 bathroom renovation. Come along the journey of renovating a bathroom with DIY projects and creative solutions.

Oh, we are halfway there and I am living on the edge because not much has been done since last week and time is running out. We have been waiting for supplies to arrive and they finally arrived today. We are into the fourth week of the 8 weeks One Room Challenge.

I was hoping to have a dramatic reveal of the shower body and tiles on the walls for you. But with the delay in the arrival of the shower body, I couldn’t make that happen. Since we have the shower body now, it’s full steam ahead.

To recap, the One Room Challenge is a bi-annual interior design event that was created by Linda from Calling it Home. She created this event to inspire and challenge interior designers, and design enthusiasts to complete a room makeover in 8 weeks. Also, this event is media sponsored by Apartment Therapy.

You can see my previous posts here…

Week 1, Week 2, Week 3

Design style

The look I am going for in this bathroom is classic with a touch of modernity. A beautiful marble herringbone pattern tile will accent the wall above the vanity to keep with the classic style.

The bathtub area will be wrapped with 12″ X 24″ white Thassos tile to keep it simple and not to compete with the herringbone tile.

Modern touches

To add a bit of modern flair to the bathroom, I am adding a 10″ square showerhead and a sleek waterfall bathtub faucet.

The black vanity faucets, towel bar, and toilet paper holder will have a modern feel with their straight lines.

DIY project for the One Room Challenge – Week 4

As I mentioned in my previous post, I purchased the vanity and the tile years ago anticipating the renovation of this bathroom. The vanity has shaker-style doors and is a bit traditional.

As time went on my style shifted from traditional and moved towards a bit more modern.

I came across this great tutorial using pole wrap by The_Avantgarde which inspired me to alter the fronts of the drawer to modernize the vanity.

I am a bit nervous trying this out, but if it doesn’t work I can just paint the vanity and call it a day. Wish me luck!

Here’s the idea of the pole wrap drawer front. I think I love it!

To-Do List- Bathroom renovation-

• Run electricity for sconces and ceiling light – Done
• Run Plumbing–Done
• Purchase a new black shower and tub faucet
• Purchase new black sink faucets
• Waterproof shower walls
• Purchase wall sconces and ceiling light
• Lighting and exhaust fan 
• Floor tile
• Tile behind vanity and tub walls 
• Grout shower walls, floor
• Pole wrap the vanity drawer fronts
• Install vanity faucet
• Install toilet
• Put in new shower fixtures
• Add molding 
• Paint walls
• Install skylight
• Add finishing touches 

I hope you come back next week to see the progress. I hope to have lots to show you.

Be sure to visit the other participants at the One Room Challenge. You are sure to find inspiration from these amazingly creative and talented people.

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One Room Challenge Week 3 of our bathroom renovation

Is it week 3 of the One Room Challenge already? The days are flying by and I’m already feeling the heat from my indecisions.

If you are new here, the One Room Challenge is a bi-annual interior design event that was created by Linda from Calling it Home. She created this event to inspire and challenge interior designers, and design enthusiasts to complete a room makeover in 8 weeks. Also, this event is media sponsored by Apartment Therapy.

For the One Room Challenge, you choose a space you want to transform and you have 8 weeks to accomplish this. Once a week you share the process of transforming your room.

This is such a great way to get a project done that you may have been wanting to do but have been putting off. Especially if you’re anything like me, I am a huge procrastinator, this will give you the motivation you need to complete your project.

Let’s catch up…

If you missed the first two weeks you can catch up here.

Week 1, Week 2

As I mentioned in my last week’s post, I had a change of plans for the bathroom fixtures. I had previously bought shower head and faucet panel that I decided not use. I had to scramble to find new faucets that I really liked.

It took some time for me to decide on the new fixtures but finally found the one I had envisioned for the bathroom.

We ordered the new shower head and faucet and patiently waiting for their arrival. It’s scheduled to arrive a week from now, I am praying that this will not set us back too much.

So far all of the electricity has been put in place for the new lighting locations.

We also add an outlet next to the toilet for a future washlet toilet seat. I am not sure which one I am going to get so I am not even going to put that into the equation of the things I have to get for now.

All the plumbing for the toilet, the vanity and drain for the tub is complete.

But we have to wait for the shower body before we finish the plumbing for the bathtub. After the shower body is installed, the next step will be to tile the bathroom,

Once the shower and bath faucet arrives we should be able to fly through the rest of the bathroom, I hope!

This week I have plans to alter the front of the vanity with pole wrap, but I’m little on the fence about that project. I have to decide soon to stay on track of time.

To Do List- Bathroom renovation-

• Run electricity for sconces and ceiling light – Done
• Run Plumbing–Done
• Purchase a new black shower and tub faucet
• Purchase new black sink faucets
• Waterproof shower walls
• Purchase wall sconces and ceiling light
• Lighting and exhaust fan 
• Floor tile
• Tile behind vanity and tub walls 
• Grout shower walls, floor
• Install vanity faucet
• Install toilet
• Put in new shower fixtures
• Add molding 
• Paint walls
• Install skylight
• Add finishing touches 

That’s all for now, I hope you come back next week to see the progress.

Be sure to visit the other participants at the One Room challenge. You are sure to find inspiration from these amazing creative and talented people.

The post One Room Challenge Week 3- Bathroom Renovation appeared first on Houzewize.

Hello friends! Have you ever felt like you don’t have enough storage space in your kitchen? I definitely do! Today, I am sharing how to build a kitchen pantry closet with step-by-step instructions so that you can add more storage space to your kitchen. Of course, this tutorial can also work for a linen closet and anywhere else you want to build a closet for extra storage space.

When we built our kitchen we thought we had plenty of cabinets to store all our dry goods and small appliances. But we quickly realized we didn’t. Especially when one of our favorite places to shop is Costco.

So this meant we needed to add kitchen cabinets or pantry closets somewhere in our limited space.

Finding the space to build a kitchen pantry closet

Finding the space to add kitchen cabinets or closets seemed impossible. We have an open floor plan and there is no wall space to add cabinets or pantry. Till one day, I had a lightbulb moment! I had a free-standing bookshelf next to my kitchen which would be perfect for a pantry. Although, it was a good place for me to display my decorative items, It was more of useful space for a kitchen pantry closet.

Plans for the pantry

I wanted to keep the closet in similar dimensions as the bookshelf to avoid extending it out too much so as not to obstruct the path. When designing the plans for the shelves, we took into account all the items that will be stored in the pantry closet. We allocated a taller section for the broom, a mop, and a vacuum cleaner. We also added an electrical power strip so that if we didn’t want to move some of the smaller appliances, they can be used inside the closet. I love this feature.

We put custom 8ft doors to the pantry so that we had easy access to top shelves and to maximize the space. I also love the grander appearance of the taller doors.

Supplies needed to build the kitchen pantry

2″ X 4″ studs

1″ X 2″ wood

1″ X 6″ painted molding

Drywall

Drywall compound

Screws

Drywall screws

Sanding block/Palm sander

Doors

Shelves

Whitewood vertical panels

Electrical strip

Door handles

Door Hinges

How to build the kitchen pantry-DIY tutorial

The dimensions for the pantry were 8ft tall X 6ft Wide and 1-1/2ft deep. If you are planning to build a pantry, the space you have will dictate the size of your pantry.

We started by framing the outside of the pantry with 2 X 4 studs to create walls on each side. Then cut drywall to size and secured it to the wood frame.

You can see the steps below… At first, we had framed to put two standard doors for the pantry. But we realized that we would lose valuable space on the top shelf and the access would be more difficult. So we decided to order custom doors from a local windows and doors store.

My husband installed a power strip for small appliances inside the pantry. It’s great for an electric pencil sharpener, toaster, or small broiler.

Installing the shelves for the Kitchen pantry

Next, we started installing the kitchen pantry shelves. We allocated a tall section for brooms, vacuum cleaners, mop since we didn’t have a broom closet. We determined the height of the shelves by the items we would put there.

Installing the shelves is pretty straightforward.

After you determine the height of each shelf, make your pencil marks on the wall where the shelves are going to be. Now it’s time to cut 1″ X 2″ strips of wood and secure them to the back of the wall and sides for the shelf to rest on.

Then measure and cut the shelf boards to size and install.

For the broom storage area, we cut the whiteboard panel to the height and secured it to the shelf on top.

After the shelves were installed the sides were plastered and painted the same color as the walls. We framed around the door with 1″ X 6″ molding to finish and it looks great!

Finally, add the door handles and paint. There you have it, a practical and affordable kitchen storage solution that can be done in a couple of days or in one day.

I love the way it turned out, just have to touch up with a little paint and another great addition to our home is complete.

You can also see how Amanda Seaghetti used a part of her dining area to build a well-needed pantry in one day.

If you need inspiration on other DIY projects, check out them out here.

Thank you for stopping by!

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I have wanted to make one of these pretty pumpkin flower arrangements for a few weeks and finally got around to it. This pumpkin flower arrangement is a perfect addition to your festive fall decor. A pumpkin flower arrangement can be a great centerpiece for your Thanksgiving tablescape. Let me show you how to make this pumpkin flower arrangement and read on to get my secret tip for extending the life of the pumpkin.

By the way, you can very easily create this pumpkin flower centerpiece using a faux pumpkin. But for now, I want to show you how to use a real pumpkin.

It’s pumpkin season and I love all things pumpkin during this time of the year. I love to walk around the neighborhood to see all the beautiful front porch displays of pumpkins in various colors, shapes, and sizes. pumpkins, gourds, and fall flowers add such a cozy, welcoming feel to the outside of the homes. You can see my porch display with the traditional orange pumpkins mixed with the heirloom pumpkins to create a homey look. This season also brings on delicious treats like pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin spice latte, you get the idea, all things pumpkin.

The arrival of fall brings an array of beautiful colors of orange, red, and yellow foliage. Local stores and farms load up on pumpkins as soon as the cool weather begins.

Let’s bring this pumpkin fest indoors with a beautiful pumpkin flower centerpiece. This flower arrangement can be used for your fall dining room tablescape, displayed on your kitchen island, on a console table, or can be a great gift idea too.

What you will need

• Flowers – I used store-bought flowers
• One pumpkin- you can use any color or size of pumpkin
• A small vase that fits inside the pumpkin
• scissors
• One cup of bleach/10 cups of water
• Carving knife

How to preserve the pumpkin flower arrangement

1– Wash the exterior of the pumpkin well with a little bleach and water to remove any dirt and bacteria, this will also help the pumpkin from rotting. I used a cup of bleach to 10 cups of water.

2– After the pumpkin is cleaned and dried, use the mouth of the vase as the guide to trace the top of the pumpkin with a marker.

3– Cut the top of the pumpkin using a carving knife or a sharp knife. Cut through the thickness of the pumpkin into the hollow center. Pull out the top with the stem and discard it.

4– Scoop out all the pumpkin seeds and pulp with a spoon. If you’re ambitious you can roast the seeds for a delicious snack. Unfortunately, I’m not that ambitious!

5– Secret Tip-Spray the inside with bleach and water and rinse. This will help to extend the life of the pumpkin. Also, changing the water in the vase every few days will keep the bacteria from growing on the flower stems and ensure the flowers will last longer.

6-Place a glass vase or bowl inside the pumpkin fill it with water and sprinkle some floral food.

How to arrange the flowers for the centerpiece

7– Arrange the flowers in your hand and hold them next to the pumpkin to measure the height you want the flowers to extend. Then trim the stems to the desired height, it’s best to cut it a little longer than shorter. You can trim a little at a time to get the right length.

8– I picked a few hydrangeas from the yard and used them first for a sturdy base. I also foraged a few ivy vines and leaves from our plum tree to add saturated colors to the arrangement.

9-Place the flowers in the vase and move them around till you are happy with the arrangement.

Viola!! A picture-perfect pumpkin flower arrangement! It’s so simple and makes for a stunning centerpiece!

Tip: Check the water level daily to increase the life of the flowers. Freshen the water every couple of days.

Have you decorated for the fall season yet? I hope this easy pumpkin flower centerpiece inspires you to create one for your home.

Thank you for stopping by!

The post How to Make a Pumpkin Flower Arrangement appeared first on Houzewize.

These mid-century modern style wood slat walls are not just for high-end hotels, and luxury homes anymore. It can easily be replicated in your home. A wood slat wall is an ideal focal point in any room in your home.

Building a DIY wood slat wall can be easy depending on the method you use. One method is cutting 4′ X 8′ plywood sheet into wood strips by ripping 1-1/2″ X 8″ down using a table saw to create the slats. One plywood will give about 40 wood slats. It is more time consuming and labor intensive but more economical.

Other method is to simply to purchase 1″X 2″X 8′ wood slats, it’s easier but more expensive. The actual size is 1′ X 1-1/2″ X 8′.

I opted to save time and purchase the wood slats to make it easier because I had the One Room Challenge dealine to keep.

Once you decide which method to use, let me show you how to build a modern DIY wood-slat wall.

The wall in this room was painted using few layers of paint to look like cement, but you can use any color for your wall. The wood slat looks the best when the wall color underneath is a deeper color, the contrast against the wood is so striking and makes the wood stand out.

Supplies needed for this Modern DIY slat wall project:

• 32 – 1/2″D X 1″W X 8’H wood slats
• Paint for wall
• Stain for wood slats
• Sanding machine or sanding block
• Cheesecloth
• Chop saw
• Table saw to cut strps if using plywood
• Finish nail gun
• Wood putty
• Eye protection
  

How to build the DIY wood-slat wall

Calculate how many slats you will need

Based on the strips and width of the space in between slats. Plan to work around outlets and light switches, keep about 1/2 inch space around the plates.

Paint the wall

With the color of your choice.

Sand the strips of wood

I found the easiest way to do this was to line strips of wood together and sand all the roughness. Do that to all three sides that will be exposed.

Stain the wood slats

With the color of your choice or keep it natural with a clear coat. I chose the acrylic Willow Gray stain by Varathane, but the color was too opaque so I added a little water to dilute the stain.

Seal the slats

Once the stain dried I sealed it with a sealer.

Cut the wood slats to length

At first, we were going to run the wood slats from the ceiling to the floor right above the baseboard. Then we decided to just let the wood slats sit on top of the desk.

If we ran it to the floor we would have had to cut the wood slats to sit on top of the desk and then install the smaller pieces underneath aligning with the top slats. We decided that we like the look of the wood sitting on top of the desk and would not make enough of a statement installing them underneath the desk also.

We cut few slats at a time since the walls and the ceilings and not very straight in my
house.

Install the would slats

We dry-fit the first wood slat to the corner of the wall at the starting point. Then we used a wood slat turned on its side which is 1” for a guide for the spacing and nailed the slats to the wall. You can use adhesive and finishing nails to secure the slats to the wall also. But, we used just finishing nails using a pneumatic nail gun in case we wanted to remove them in the future without too much damage to the wall.

Fill the nail holes with wood putty and touch up the wood putty with stain.

Voilà! These wood slat wall feature completely transformed this room! I love the way it looks!

For more projects and inspiration, follow me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Side note: Please be sure to read instructions for all tools and products. Safety should be your top priority. Always wear necessary protection when using tools (eyewear, hearing protection, gloves, dust mask, etc.). Houzewize is not responsible for any injury or damage.

Thank you for stopping by!

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