Staircase spindle update

After 25 years of looking at our staircase, we decided it was time for a facelift to update the look. We will share this project that takes some time, but the dramatic difference it made to just change the spindle color was amazing. See the below step by step instructions:.

Before spindle paint update

After spindle makeover

Lower level Spindles

Supplies needed you will need: 

• General Finishes Milk Paint Lamp Black (water based)
• General Finishes 
• latex or nitral gloves 
• painters tape 
• canvas drop cloth (visquine could slip on stairs)
• foam paint brush
• small paint brush
• medium paint brush

Step by Step Instructions:

• The first step is to mask off the top and bottom to prevent your paint from getting on the areas you don't want painted.  This is time consuming but well worth the time!
• Next, use clorox wipes to go over each spindle to remove dirt and oils from the finish.
• Mix the milk paint well, then strart painting from the top of the spindle and work your way to bottom. You will need the smaller brushes to get into the small crevasses. Leave time to fully dry. Once the final coat is dry, we used an old sock over our glove to put the waterbased top coats on. Bbecause its clear it goes on very quickly and is self leveling, leaving a smooth and durable final coat.  It is recommended that you do 2 coats.  
• The last step is removing the tape, revealing ;your updated staircase, Wooho!!

Master Bathroom Vanity Makeover Step by Step

I am so excited about the results we had with our fairly easy method to makeover our Master Bath Vanity. I just have to share the process!  
This process uses General Finishes Milk Paint right over the existing finish of your cabinet with no sanding! I can't say enough how pleased we are with the product!  I will outline the step by step after the series of photos below.  We started with our out dated oak cabinets.  We will give you the step by step method for the painting, but we did a bit more customizing, which I didn't do a tutorial for.

  To truely modenize the look of the vanity we decided to add 4" of height to the cabinet.  My husband used 2x4 framing and finished pine for the front to blend perfectly.  We also replaced the old tile vanity top with a custom quartz countertop.

Materials needed : drop cloth, tape, gloves,
foam brush, white cloth rag, Seagul Gray Milk Paint,
High Performance top coat

Milk Paint and Top Coat both by General Finishes

Milk Paint Makeover Step by Step:

* Begin removing the cabinet doors and drawers one at a time, marking each one with a tag of painters tape to identify which one is which (example: 1L for first left).
* Remove the hardware (handles and all hinges) and set aside.
* Wipe all cabinet wood surfaces thoroughly, with Clorox wipes .
* Use painters tape to tape around the cabinet where it meets the wall and any areas you don't want painted.
* Begin painting the cabinet using a sponge paint brush.  Apply the paint in smooth even strokes, making sure not to go back over the areas you painted until the first coat dries (the paint is self leveling).  You will need to apply at least two coats so the first coat may not look great, but the second coat should cover (because oak has deep graining, we used 3 coats).
* Paint each door, beginning by laying the cabinet on a dropcloth on the floor or work table on something to keep it off of the surface (we used small blocks of wood under the cabinet doors).  Be sure to paint each coat evenly and WAIT to paint the second coat until the first coat is thoroughly dry.  Patience is helpful here.
* While waiting for the doors to dry paint the cabinet drawer fronts and inside front of drawer.
* After the first sides are completely dry with 2 coats of paint (possibly one to two days), turn the doors over and paint the front side using the same, 2 coat method.  
* The last step is to paint all of the surfaces with the clear coat finish.You can apply this with a sock on your gloved hand and wipe all surfaces. Two coats are recommended for this also.
* When all surfaces of the cabinet itself and drawers and doors are completely dry you can begin to put the hardware on, starting with the hinges, then the cabinet handles.
* We had removed our tile counter and had it replaced with a beautiful Quartz countertop with 4" backsplash..

before paint

cabinet door after one coat of paint

Bathroom cabinets after 3 coats of paint and 2 coats of clear

Craft Toolbox Coastal Makeover

AFTER MAKEOVER

Old Wooden toolbox BEFORE Makeover

I painted the box using white Krylon spray paint, added a rafia bow and glued small shells!
 I use it to carry my craft tools from place to place while working on projects.  

Hello! Welcome to Our New Blog

We hope you enjoy some of the ideas we have tried in the past and will be sharing them as we go.  First of all I posting this DIY Concrete Wall Makeover using spray paint.  I have to say it was so easy I couldn't believe it worked!  It has been over 9 years and it is holding up great!  I have done touch up spray here and there once every 3 years so so and have used a wire brush once in a while to scrub off some of the moss from our soggy weather in the Northwest winter.

AFTER SPRAY PAINTING

Before Spray Painting

Paint with Krylon BOOT BROWN spray lightly

Painting Concrete BlocksConcrete Wall Makeover