A few months ago I asked which DIY topics y'all would like me to cover, and the most popular answer was a post on how to paint cabinets. That surprised me a bit, because I've actually written quite a few posts on the subject. The information is scattered and not easy to find though, so the obvious answer was to write one big post containing everything I've learned so far. So here it is, my ultimate guide to painting cabinets!
The first thing you need to know about painting …
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A Review of our Brick Flooring – One Year Later
Almost exactly a year ago we installed the brick flooring in the mudroom, laundry room, and half bathroom. When we installed it I knew I loved the look, but had no idea how it would actually function and hold up in real life. Would it be easy to clean? Catch all the dirt? Can you mop it? Will it hurt to walk on with bare feet? Will it stain easily? Adam and I didn't know the answers to any of these questions, but we decided to install it anyway and see how it …
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RV Remodel – Dark and Dated to Bright and Inviting!
It's finally RV reveal time! Are you ready for some serious before and after pictures?! In case you haven't been following along, here are all the posts about the RV remodel.
RV Remodel Posts
Buying the RV
RV remodel design plan
Painting the cabinets
Painting the walls
Painting the countertops
Rustic wood accent wall
Reupholstering the banquette
When Adam and I were RV shopping we had a list of must-haves. We wanted a pull behind camper that could sleep all six of us …
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DIY Electric Fireplace
So I know we said the bedroom was finished, but that was a lie. We still needed to add wood flooring and a fireplace, but neither one was going to happen for a few years (since my four sons are now eating our house projects budget. Literally eating it...they never stop eating. I'm screwed when they're teenagers.)
Adam and I found a way to add a fireplace and not break the bank though, and now this exists in our bedroom...
I'm so glad we didn't wait, because having a fireplace in …
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Our Rustic Master Bedroom Retreat – The Reveal!
Thank you to Modsy for sponsoring this post. Want to try Modsy for yourself? Use code ASHLEY20 to get 20% off a design package!
It's here! Master bedroom reveal day!
Adam and I have been chipping away at the bedroom for the last couple of years, and slowly but surely it went from a mostly empty mishmash of random items to a relaxing retreat where we can escape at the end of the day. It's amazing.
So just to tide you over before we get to the guts of the blog post, here are a few pictures …
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Mudroom Reveal – Where Form Meets Function
IT'S MUDROOM REVEAL DAY!! Let's just skip the forced introductory paragraph and get right to the good stuff. Here she is!
I don't think I could love it more. It's so satisfying to have a blank space and a vision, and then watch that vision actually come to life!
From start to finish the mudroom remodel (makeover/finish out/whatever you want to call it) took us almost exactly six months. That definitely isn't a short amount of time, but I think it's realistic for a DIY family …
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DIY Reclaimed Wood Ceiling (so cheap, so pretty)
I don't think I've been THIS excited about showing y'all a project in a long time. The reclaimed wood ceiling in our kitchen and dining room is finished and it is just SO GOOD.
It's cozy and warm and I just love it. The house feels so much less like an unfinished white box and more like the home I have always pictured in my head. Also, the whole thing only cost $322. That's a deal in my book.
A wood ceiling in the kitchen and dining room was on the "must have" list from the …
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DIY Concrete Countertops, Part I- Setting the Forms
Well, we did it...we actually poured our own concrete countertops! Adam and I spent hours and hours (and hours) researching this before we did it. We read tutorials and watched YouTube videos and generally felt prepared and confident...but honestly, the process still didn’t go quite like we thought it would. Turns out no amount of research or reading can compare to actually getting your hands dirty. I already knew that...but now I know it better.
There are a lot of steps and information to …
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Southwestern Guest Room Reveal
Time for another reveal post! Can you tell I'm trying to tie up loose ends on this house before I completely move onto the next one? Although this room turned out so well that I think I'm just going to move it right into the next house and try to change as little as possible. Anyway, here it is!
Here is what the room looked like previously...the one on the left is just after we bought it, and the on the right is after the first makeover.
This is by far my favorite room in the …
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Ten home improvement projects I would do again
Well, I didn't really expect to be sitting around my house writing posts this week, but alas, here I am...41 weeks pregnant. According to the doctor there are no signs that I will go into labor in the next week, so he scheduled me for an induction on Wednesday if nothing happens before then. I'm praying it doesn't come to that though, because I really want to go into labor naturally. Pitocin is the devil.
Anyway, I'm just going to keep writing list posts that don't require me to any actual …
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Ten home improvement projects I won’t be repeating
So today is my official due date. This baby is fully cooked, I'm horribly uncomfortable, and the doctor said at my appointment on Tuesday that it doesn't look like this kid is planning to come anytime soon. Darn my comfortable uterus! I was really hoping to have this kid a few days before the due date (like my last pregnancy), but it looks like this pregnancy might be more like my first, when I went until 42 weeks. My oldest's fifth birthday is on Sunday though and I REALLY don't want them to …
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Top Ten Must-Haves for the Next House
We're nearing the final stages of designing our new house (almost to the blueprints stage!) and I've spent the last couple months reflecting on this house, thinking about what we've messed up, what we love, and what we would change. I have a couple of posts coming up relating to all that, and today is the first.
My list is actually much, MUCH longer than this (I'm such a pain), but for the sake of time and everyone's sanity I'm going to keep all my lists down to top ten lists. So in no …
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My Painted Shower – One Year Later
Last October I did something crazy....I painted my shower. The post I wrote about the process has become one of my most popular, probably because (much like my paper bag flooring) it's just an unusual concept. Anyway, since it's been over a year I figured its high time for an update. After all, whats the point of posting crazy tutorials if I'm not going to let you know if they are a total waste of time or not?
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ORIGINAL TUTORIAL
I have good news...it wasn't a total …
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9 Room Painting Tips & Tricks that Make the Job Easier
Some women have a lot of shoes, others prefer to spend their hard-earned money on nice purses. Some collect kitchen gadgets, books, hours at crossfit, or cats. Me? I collect paint. My entryway closet holds all my painting supplies and is currently home to nearly eighty cans of paint, stain, sealer, and spray paint. I know, ridiculous...you don't have to tell me. My point is that over the years I have learned a lot about painting and have some tips that will make painting a room easier, faster, …
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How to Make Book Slings
If this sounds oddly familiar to you, it's because I've already done (and blogged about) this project. I made my first set of book slings a few years ago while pregnant with boy #2, but I'm going to throw it out there again since 98% of my current readers probably haven't seen that post. Plus these slings have been really great... I mean, we're renovating the room and these are the only things that are staying. So here is the new set....
and here is the old one.
I made this new set all …
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Reader Question – How do you feel about the size of your home?
A couple of weeks ago I received this comment from a reader...
"We are closing on our house this Friday, it is 1523 sq ft. When I told friends and family, a lot of them think it is a little small. I would love to see a blog post on your thoughts on house size".
I think that is an excellent topic for a post, so lets dive right in.
The average size of a house in the U.S. nearly 2400 square feet (source), my house is 1650.
Adam and I purchased it back in 2010 (our first house!) and we planned …
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The Most Embarrassing Post I’ve Ever Written
Three years ago today I started Domestic Imperfection. For the first two blogiversaries I put together giveaways as a thank you to my readers for all the support. This year I didn't plan anything though, mostly because it's a whole lot of work and only one or two people win things. So instead I'm going to do something better...I'm going to completely embarrass myself for your entertainment. If that doesn't show my gratitude then I don't know what does.
So here it goes.
Sometimes get …
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How to Refinish Outdated Tile (yes, I painted my shower)
(Update - Click here to see how my painted shower is holding up after a year of use!)
Who here has outdated tile in their bathroom but doesn't want to rip it out and replace it? (I'm looking at you, mom!) Did you know that you can paint it?
I wavered about doing something with the tile in our master bathroom for a long time. It's not terrible and I don't hate it...but by the same token I don't love it either. I didn't want to rip it out and re-tile...in our forever house, yes, in this …
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My Butcher Block Countertops, Two Years Later
A few weeks ago I got an e-mail from a reader asking me to write a post about how our butcher block countertops are holding up. I have to admit, I'm a little embarrassed I didn't think of this myself....of course I should write a follow-up post. My main concern when we choose them was how they would hold up over time and I'm sure many of you are wondering the same thing. So here it is, a completely honest update on our wood counters.
Two years ago, in September 2011, I wrote a post about …
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How to Raise Your Kitchen Cabinets to the Ceiling
Let's talk about that space above your cabinets for a second...that useless space that does nothing but collect dust and cause design dilemmas. Do you decorate it? Leave it? I have always left it, I love to decorate but I'm not a fan of having stuff just for the sake of having stuff. When Adam and started the kitchen remodel I had a lot of ideas and things I knew I wanted, but my number one thing was to make those cabinets touch the ceiling, somehow. Adam and I found a solution...the perfect …
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Paper Bag Floors – A Tutorial
Those of you that are looking for an affordable, attractive, totally doable flooring solution have come to the right place! My husband and I are starting the remodel of our boys room, and I was feeling creative and wanted to try paper flooring. I had seen it before and thought it looked great...but mostly I liked the idea because it was so cost effective. My boys room is about 10 x 12 and I did the entire floor for about $80 (and I have enough supplies left over that the next room will cost …
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