During renovations, there is usually a plan. A plan that includes drawings and a budget.

Naked girls room floor did not make it in the budget for new floor so I needed a plan. It had to be super cool, make a statement and cost very little. That plan is my speciality!!! 

The floor is plywood. What do you do with a plywood floor? 

Paint of course. 

But not just any old paint. Not naked girls room, the guest room, the coolest room in the house!

I started searching for inspiration. Fixer Upper inspiration? Maybe. I had dreamt about this tile and wondered if it might work on a floor. 

Then I found this sweet blog post and knew instantly that it was what I wanted 

I got busy. 

Where do I get that stencil?

How exactly do I stencil a plywood floor? 

What materials do I need?

Can I paint details like that?

I found the stencil. Thank you cutting edge stencils. $16.00

Any old paint will do. Base coat $20. Stencil paint already had – free.

Plan a day to start. Of course it’s a Thursday. To be exact it was last Thursday.

The day was scheduled

I had all the supplies needed

I was ready

I laid out my stencil and rolled on the paint 

Ok not too bad

I rolled a couple more.

Not in love. The paint was gloopy, the walls were not square and I thought I might cry.

What’s wrong? Painting is what I do? 

So what does one do that hates her partially painted floor? She paints over it. Erase the ugly. Walk away 

Discouraged? Yes

Not good enough? Most definitely 

Go to Plan B? I DONT HAVE A PLAN B!!!!

Go to Steve. Yes 

“I’m frustrated with the floor. Will you help me make a plan?”

We make a plan. 

Start here. The floor is square

Don’t paint here till last or you won’t have a path to get out. 

Watch 12 you tube videos to get some hints. I watched at least 12.

Yesterday, of course a Thursday, was the day.

I’m nervous. Well that sounds stupid. Nervous about painting a floor? Yes. My confidence is shattered a little. Just do it. 

Up the stairs I go. 

I follow the plan. 

The plan is working!

Here is the first picture I sent to some of my tribe. I needed confirmation that it looked as  good as I thought it did. 

I felt like Supergirl! It was working and I did it. 

The floor still need a few touch ups and many many coats of polyurethane but I couldn t wait to show you! 

This post is so much more than a floor. It’s about not giving up when you want to. It’s about someone stepping into your life and filling you with the confidence you need to do it again.

It’s about your tribe. Having those people in your life that are “your people.” Encouragers, love you when you are stupid, card players, hanger outers, eaters, whatevers. I hope I’m as important to my tribe as they are to me. 

Love, 

The girls awake at 3:30. whatever I painted a floor!!! 

I have procrastinated writing a post for a couple of reasons.

1. I haven’t  been very productive lately so not much to show. Who else loathes this time of year? Dark at what seems like 4:30pm, colder than what I like. Don’t hate me northern folks. I said colder than what I like which is around 80 degrees. 

2. My guy has been sick this week and when he wants to go to bed at 7:00 and watch tv, I’m going too.

3. I am ashamed because my lack of productivity has caused me to have 4 projects going on at the same time. My word for the year is complete. 

Not half done. 

Not move on to something else. 

In my defense, I tried to finish the floor in naked girls room. However my first attempt at floor stenciling was by far a BIG FAT FAILURE. I started. I did not even for a second like what was happening so I painted over and will start again tomorrow. 

Second times a charm right? I got this. I have a plan.

In the meantime, I can’t just watch floor paint dry so I went outside and looked for something to occupy my time until I can get back on the floor.

I started to repurpose this cute little bookshelf for Jacks room. The story?? It’s a good one, just wait.

Another was this. This is the inspiration picture from Pinterest but I’ve already got my own version ready to paint.

And then there are the 2 pews I’m working on. I can’t for the life of me find a picture.

Now you know my shame. Maybe complete means I finish all 5 around the same time.

Fingers crossed 

Love,

The girl who is buying nursery paint tomorrow 

P.S.

I forgot about the screen door !!! 

A few weeks ago, Dad and I started on this little beauty. I posted about it here. The search is over . Wow, just look at those gold legs. Not the prettiest, but she was the perfect size.

I did not love the open area above the doors. The whole idea behind this cabinet is to hide all of this…..

It’s like a giant web trapped behind the TV. Gotta go.

So without further delay……

Ignore the wires for now. I have been informed that holes will need to be made and wires fished through said holes. Yadda Yadda Yadda.

Now Dad and I have never claimed to be carpenters but we decided to add doors to the open area. I didn’t want solid doors because if the cable box is housed there, the remote needs to be able to connect. The almost done is because I have yet to find a little hook/latch that will keep the cute little wire doors closed.

3 coats of white “homemade” chalk paint created the beautiful finish. I even painted the wire on the door fronts. Then everything was sanded and waxed because everything is better chippy white. Little vintage here, little vintage there.

We also built little wire windows for the sides.

The insides needed a little pizazz so they were painted.

This little cutie has a surprise. The sides come down so that she can be thinner if she wants.  Maybe she wants to be a buffet. She can if she wants, look at those caster feet. I.LOVE.CASTERS!!!!!

One more shot of the top just for kicks.

I stripped the old stain and restained. It took 3 different looks before I was happy but now? Happy.

It didn’t take long for the dog bed to make it into the picture.

Thanks for visiting! I love showing off my new/old stuff.

Love,

the girl who is going to bed. It was a long night. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz time.

Do you ever get so excited to show something to someone that you just can’t wait? You jump around and scream just a little. Is it just me? Come on really?

Well if you won’t tell the truth, I will.

Here’s the back story…..

I knew I wanted slide together barn doors in our bedroom going into the bathroom. I could see it in my head. I know weird but whatever.

I wanted old doors but the size of the doorway was wonky and it was going to be long and difficult to find doors to fit. So the next best thing is to buy new (yuck) and make it look old.

First things first, find an inspiration picture. Gotta love Pinterest.

Here are the two I had settled on. I usually send my idea pictures to a few of my friends and wait for a reaction. My friends….ridiculously honest. Will tell me what they love and well, what they really don’t love. My friends were split right down the middle. A few were for the stained and a few, including me were for the chippy  white. Everything looks better in chippy white.

So the day finally came I would start on the doors. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. I was in my paint splattered clothes and I got to work.

Here are the “new” doors. Plain, boring and not at all what I wanted but Lowes is my friend and ordered the exact size door we needed.

Step One: Find the appropriate stain to use for the first coat. Now, I have a large supply of paints and stains and there is nothing better than having what you need and you don’t need to purchase anything.

Step Two: Slop the stain on the door and wipe it off. Now remember I was going to add the paint as the top coat so the stain did not have to be pretty.

Step Three: Forget to take a picture of Step three. Add a darker stain to the first coat and wipe off but leave some of the darker stain inside the raised panel area and the creases.

Step Four: Leave the doors in the carport for weeks because you still can’t decided which treatment you like best. Stain or chippy white. Stain or chippy white. STAIN. OR. CHIPPY. WHITE.

Step Five: decide that they are perfect just as they are and then watch as your super cute and talented husband hang the “OH MY GOSH” prettiest doors ever. Look at that barndoor hardware. Love. Love Love. Sorry my pictures are pretty crappy.

I show you the close up so that all of you know that you do not have to have any skill to do this. Update: My part = no skill. Steve’s part = super skill! I promise you, it was slop it on and wipe it off. It’s that easy.

I am still looking for the perfect door hardware and Steve needs to finish adjusting so they close perfectly but I just couldn’t wait to show you.

You know I like most things old. This post proves that just because it’s new, doesn’t mean it has to look that way.

Love,

the girl going to bed early because tomorrow is CHURCH!!!!!