Project Overload - First Up... Mud Room Closet Makeover

I am finding myself completely overwhelmed with the amount of projects that are floating around my head. The clutter, both in my brain and in my house, is driving me crazy (as I already mentioned in my last post). At the same time, I have three kids, and the Hubs and I both work full time, and it's ski season, so the time we have to complete the projects is minimal, at best.

I realize that I need to slow it down and accept that it won't happen all at once. So, I made a list (actually, I referred to my dream big list) then picked one project to tackle.

My first project is turning the back hall closet into more of a mud room area. First, I looked for some inspiration (gotta love Pinterest!). And found all of these. Then I sat down with the Hubs to chat about what is the most annoying parts of that area of the house (the clutter) and what we could do to fix it (more storage). Then I whipped up some plans that I thought would accommodate all of our needs. Here are the first draft of my closet plans:

And here is the craziness that was my mud room closet and the teeny tiny hall in front of it.

(Not sure why I have the sunscreen out in the middle of the winter.)

Then I created my "to do" list (which  I am sure will change as I go).

To Do:
1. Create bench
2. Create shelves for storage
3. Get baskets and bins to hang on side wall and to put on shelves
4. Get hooks for back wall and side wall for backpacks, jackets, and hats.
5. Figure out a fun color for the wall of finish (wallpaper? decals? wood planking?)
6. Install everything
7. Make cushion for bench
8. Decorate the wall across from the closet with mirror or chalkboard/photos/hooks

Looks like the bench is first. Be prepared, this one is going to take a few weeks day, and therefore a few posts. You know, because I decided not to rush things.

Oh, and remember those plans at the beginning of the post? Well, guess what? I have already doubted myself and my abilities and revised the plans...maybe more than once. So instead of going totally rogue, I decided to trust someone with much more experience than me. Ana White. I am obsessed with her site and the possibility of it all. Until this weekend I have simply perused her plans and dreamed.

This weekend I looked my fear of failure, and power tools, in the face and decided that her Simple Outdoor Bench would fit in my closet perfectly. Plus, it says it is simple right there in the title.

So I used her list and sent the Hubs to the Depot for the materials and a few other things. He spent less than $50 on the materials including things like screws, which we had none of. He also grabbed a few tools that we needed since I am a beginner at this. I did not even have a square. I admit it fully, and am now the proud owner of a shiny new one.

Before cutting anything, I measured all of the boards at least three times before, and after, each cut. I was very afraid to mess something up. I checked and double check the cut list because I tend to mix up numbers, especially when I am rushing. I took lots of deep breaths, made sure I was safe with the miter saw and that my fingers were no where near the danger zone, and made ALL the cuts by myself! Yes, I am proud. Jumping up and down, I rocked it, proud. Is that a little sad? Want proof?

Then I enlisted the Hubs and the oldest son to help me prime and sand boards. Lots of boards.

And this is where I am taking a break for today. It really hasn't been too bad yet. Maybe a few hours total. Did anyone else tackle a building project for the first time this weekend? More tomorrow. Thanks for your patience on this one! 

Dispelling a New Home Myth

Too often I hear, "We are going to build a new home so that we don't have to worry about fixing anything." While this may be generally true, it is not always the rule. Case in point, here is a run down of how we spent our weekend:

1. Replacing the wax ring on one of the toilets because it was leaking slightly.
2. Cleaning the septic filter because water was backing up and causing the pressure relief valves to let water into our basement...after only two months of having a newly cleaned septic tank.
3. Attempting to repair the dishawasher that wasn't draining. (This one is still not fixed and will require a professional.)

These seem like little things, I know. But it is WAYYY more annoying to spend your weekend stuck at home doing these chores when you have a brand new house, and appliances, and are under the impression that everything is  new so you don't need to worry about it. If you buy an old house, you expect to be fixing things around the house, not so with a brand new build.

Yes, things are warrantied for the first year. If it breaks, your builder should come back and fix it for you. In the year we have lived here, we have had basement flooding from a number of different leaks having to do with well pumps and septic filter back-ups, pipes that weren't completely sealed, sink holes, walls replaced due to water damage, flooring issues, etc. but there are some things that are just easier, and quicker, to do yourself, even if it means sacrificing a perfectly beautiful weekend to get it done.  Frustrating? Yes!

The moral of the story is that just because you have a brand spanking new house doesn't mean you won't still be able to enjoy the general upkeep/annoying chores/"joys" of home ownership. :)

Kitchen Planning? A Little Advice to Get You Started

Kitchens are a big deal! They are the heart of the home and can mean big bucks for resale, so they are not something to be taken lightly. When we were faced with planning our kitchen we were given an amount that our cabinets had to come in at, a few choices of granite, and basic choices like stainless steel sinks, one or two basins, etc. In some ways the fewer choices made it easier to finalize decisions, however, in other cases it was difficult to create the vision that we had in our head because our options were limited.

After seeing my options for granite, for example, I realized that I would prefer something a little different than every other house that that the builder had built. The builder agreed that if I could find granite in the same price range then we could use it without an upcharge. I spent hours looking at different types of granite; online, in the big orange and big blue stores, at local granite stores. Inevitably, I would find one that I LOVED and it would be WAYYYY over the budget. My ideas for work arounds such as putting butcher block on the island and then using the more expensive granite on the counters, were shot down either by the hubs or the builder.

Ultimately, I am okay with the granite. It works. I like it enough, but it doesn't completely meet my original vision. This is true for many of the elements of my kitchen (and the house in general). In some instances I wish I had put up more of a fight for the elements that I wanted because I am still regretting not having certain things (farmhouse sink) that would have given some character to the house. I think that if I had, my dream big list wouldn't be so big, and my "for home" and "dream home" Pinterest boards wouldn't be added to so frequently. I mean I just built a house, shouldn't I have made it my dream house when I had the chance. In a perfect world, yes. In the world of budgets and mortgages and time frames, I guess not.

If you are planning your dream kitchen, or just a new kitchen, here are some things that we did to help us plan, and some things that I wish we had done. I hope it helps!

1. Get inspired!
As far as I'm concerned Pinterest is the best thing to come along in a while. It makes searching for, and collecting inspiration SO much easier and it is important to have that inspiration in front of you when you are making decisions. It helps you and those around you (builders, spouses) stay focused on "the vision." Make sure to collect and share your inspirations!


2. Get some help
Find experts in your area to help you plan and to get advice. The big orange and big blue stores have planners who will work with you whether or not you ultimately decide to use their products. Bounce ideas off of friends whose style you admire or who have experience building or remodeling their own homes. 

3. Get an idea of how the plan will work in the space
We used painters tape to layout potential cabinet and island arrangements on the floor. It was easy to look at different options quickly.

I have also seen experts recommend using cardboard boxes for those of us who have less of an active imagination. It would help with scale and really seeing how the room would come together.

4. Tweak (not twerk...you can do that later in your kitchen if you want)

There will be things that just don't work together. If you really want that fancy busy mosaic backsplash, but have a lot going on in your granite, you may need to tweak slightly so that they work together. Maybe a simple white subway tile, or a toned down granite will work better together. Make sure that you look at everything together to see if they play nicely. If not, tweak. Also, sample paints are invaluable for trying out different colors. They are cheap and easier to see than little swatches. Use them! You can always use leftover paints for projects later.









5. Don't be afraid to ask for changes
Ultimately you will be the one who has to live in the space. If something kind of bothers you now, it will bother you a ton when you are living in the space. Now is the time to fix it! If your vision is not coming together and you feel that you need to tweak but don't say anything, you have no one to blame but yourself.

6. Ask for what you want
I know that the bottom line is always the budget (if it isn't, consider yourself lucky) but in the long run a farmhouse sink may only end up costing a dollar more (probably less) in your mortgage payment. So if you really want that farmhouse sink then get it! It will save you from regret, or a long "Dream Big" list less than a year after moving in. Trust me, I know.

7. Pay Close Attention to the Finished Product
If something doesn't seem quite right, or is not quite to your liking, say something! It is much, much easier to get builders to replace a chipped backsplash tile (for example) while they are there than trying to get them to come back. And believe me, if it doesn't get fixed that tile will stand up and scream, "look at me, look at me" every time you walk into that kitchen.

I hope those little tidbits help. My biggest regrets are not speaking up because I was afraid of appearing like a pain in the ass, and sacrificing those few pieces that would have given my home a little character for the sake of the budget.

Do you have any other pieces of advice to share? Any regrets that you have now that you are done with your build or remodel? Please share!

P.S. This is my 50th blog post! Crazy.