Today is #shadesofdiy reveal day for the color pin Today is #shadesofdiy reveal day for the color pink. I am beyond grateful of these ladies for choosing me as their guest participant. 

@baker.blooms 
@homemadehuppy 
@curatedbyconstance 
@hautehouselove 

These little $1.50 travertine tiles turned coasters quickly became one of my favorite DIYs. Originally I had a big wallpaper reveal planned for you all but alas, life got in the way. 

But honestly, this project meant more to me than just a little DIY. This whole thing has served up a big life lesson for me (something I have been deeply struggling with for a while now). 

You see, I’ve been battling with self doubt, with worrying I’m not doing enough or “big” enough things, for that wow factor (like a wallpaper reveal). But, these little coasters allowed me to remember the joy I have in all of this and reminded me that perfection is not my goal. My goal is to show others that good-feeling design can be approachable, affordable, and attainable. And this little project is just that. 

I have been so caught up in my own head, dragging myself backwards, allowing those deprecating words like “failure” and “unworthy” to sink in. 

But these little coasters took me back to when all I could do was take a blurry photo, all I could do were minimal cheap projects, and I was so proud. It’s good to feel that pride again. 

So thank you, ladies, for allowing me to participate in this. I’m not sure you’ll ever realize how a little pink project helped save my mental state. 

Thank you, coasters, for reminding me of the reason I love design and DIY.

And thank you past self for relishing in the little things, present self for just allowing creativity to flow through this project, and future self for taking these lessons and blossoming them into something great. God has something big planned for you. You just don’t know what that is yet. ❤️
Another “room” makeover down in the books!! Ya Another “room” makeover down in the books!! Yahoo! So happy with this little mudroom makeover that will make our space so much more functional but also beautiful. This fun DIY room divider hides our water heater perfectly and adds the perfect punch of personality. Little spaces like these are great for trying something new like painting a ceiling or adding pattern. Have fun with your small spaces!
Welp. Me and this staple gun made some fine progre Welp. Me and this staple gun made some fine progress on this DIY arch room divider this weekend. (You can see all of the mudroom progress under the mudroom story highlight on my profile.) Now I just need to add on the legs and use this baby to hide the water heater!
It’s a late post kind of day. I recently scored It’s a late post kind of day. I recently scored this beautiful wood and wicker mid century cabinet from Facebook Marketplace and I’m in love! We knew this little nook (that used to be a closet) was going to be a hard fit. We wanted a piece of furniture that would not only look nice but provide some much needed storage for our kids craft projects and my extra decor pieces. This just so happened to fit perfectly in this space. I’m obsessed with it’s woven features, original brass handles, and mirrored back. Eek!! 

Also, swipe to see the beautiful artwork by @nabeelarumi. I finally found the perfect spot for her piece. The colors are absolutely stunning and the message is even more beautiful.
I’m still so proud of this mural. It really took I’m still so proud of this mural. It really took me out of my comfort zone. I get to see it every time I walk up to our front door, peeking through like a happy sunburst. This is about as far as we’ve gotten on this entryway but we have big plans. The majority of our entryway is paneled in real cedar planks which I love. The split level stairs are delicately wrapped in puke-inducing carpet which I don’t love. We have huge huge fun plans for these stairs; something I’ve never seen before. None of this will get done until after our kitchen remodel though so.... how’s that for a cliff hanger? I feel like a lot of our plans are on standstill right now because of refinancing so for now, I just have to tell you that I have plans but not actually share them with you.... good tactic? 😂🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️
I clearly have something for color and pattern! I’ve been trying to think of what my design style is and I’m struggling with a name. Colorful eclectic?! Artful schmorgasbord?! Circus chic?! You tell me. What would you call my design style?
Posing with water heaters is a thing, didn’t you Posing with water heaters is a thing, didn’t you know? If you saw my stories, you already know but we’re in the process of transforming this utility closet into a mudroom closet to store all of the things. But why not make it both functional and pretty? This bright sunny yellow on the ceiling makes me so happy and the white paint on the walls really cleaned up the space. For freshness, brightness, and cleanliness, this white paint is my #shadesofdiy project this month. More to come on this small space but for now, I’ll just keep posing with the water heater and extension pole.
I’ve been nerding out on Mailchimp and HTML code I’ve been nerding out on Mailchimp and HTML code for my site and I think I finally figured it out!!! A lot of new stuff coming your way by the end of the week! Thanks everybody for your patience.
There can be a bit of a stigma behind thrifted hom There can be a bit of a stigma behind thrifted home pieces. While it’s become somewhat trendy in the last few years, I often run into people who think it might be gross, cheap, or out of style. Here’s what I have to say about that. 

1. Almost all items are cleanable. With the right technique, you can clean and sanitize just about everything that is secondhand. It’s also about sustainability. Thrifting and secondhand shopping are reusing usable items. That’s not gross. Putting well-working pieces in the landfill; more gross and a waste. You never know what someone else would consider valuable. 

2. While the items may have a cheap cost, generally you’re able to buy pieces that are much sturdier. Old things were just made better. They were made to last and were meticulously curated. And even modern pieces with good craftsmanship can stand the test of time. The cost may be cheap but the quality can be far from cheap. Thrifty does not have to look cheap!

3. As far as things being “out of style,” I say pish posh. If something makes you happy, that’s what you should gravitate towards. Don’t allow a magazine, a retail store, or even a little Instagram account tell you what you like. If you like it, it will go with your other pieces. Sometimes you just have to get creative. You are cool and unique. Let your space reflect that. 

#sorealhomes
#eclecticinspiredhome
#diymakesmehuppy
#smallsharebigdreams
#decoranddiys
#moderndiydesign
#mythriftydiy
#thanksitsthrifted
#textureismystyle
#ispyvintage
#foundandforaged
#brassisback
#curatedmaximalism
#diylookforless
#ourspaceourplace
#featuremydecor
#hauteeclectic
#interioroasis
#myaestheticabode
#homeloveliving
#mysmphome
#moreismoredecor
#homeisafeeling
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Uncategorized · August 2, 2019

Stenciled Fireplace DIY – Upgrade Your Builder-Grade

One of the things I love doing on this blog is showing that you don’t have to stick with builder-grade finishes and you don’t have to do expensive changes to update them. Take our fireplace tile surround, for example. We chose this stone when we built our house. It was the best out of the options we had but it felt dark and it didn’t blend with our whimsical chic style. So, I decided I would paint it and do a stenciled fireplace DIY.

stenciled fireplace diy, concrete tile, cement tile, modern fireplace, fireplace update

In comes Cutting Edge Stencils. They have a large variety of all different style wall stencils at extremely affordable prices as well as the supplies you need to make your stenciling experience easy and efficient. Most impressive to me are their tile stencils with modern patterns that mimic the popular concrete tiles that we love but realistically can’t afford right now.

And if you’ve been around for a while, you know I am a fan of stencils! You can see how I used one in our laundry room makeover to give the look of wallpaper as well as in our master bathroom makeover to do a wall feature and transform our builder-grade vinyl floors.

This post is in collaboration with Cutting Edge Stencils. The stencils used in this project were supplied by Cutting Edge Stencils but the ideas, opinions, and words are all my own.

original stone fireplace with styled mantel

Our existing stone tiles are similar to a smooth slate and have some texture to them. They were not glossy. This project took me one day to complete and I am so incredibly pleased with how it turned out!

stenciling supplies

Supplies Needed:

  • Rag for cleaning
  • Rag for wiping
  • Painter’s tape
  • Chalk Paint (I used two different colors, but you can customize however you’d like) Sidenote: You could use acrylic paint for the stencil but I wanted the tile to have a chalky finish to make it look like concrete. It’s completely up to preference. I used Behr chalk paint in Snowy Pine and Behr chalk paint in Norwegian Blue.
  • Roller of Paint brush of your choice
  • Stencil of your choice – I used the Nola tile stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils
  • Stencil brush in correct size (the finer the detail of the patterned stencil, the smaller brush you will want to use) – I used the second smallest stencil brush from Cutting Edge Stencils

Stenciled Fireplace DIY Steps:

  1. Prep the surface using warm water on a clean rag. This will help the paint stick and will rid the surface of any dust or particles.
cleaning tile before stenciling

2. If necessary, use painter’s tape to tape off any edges you don’t want to get paint on.

3. Using your preferred roller or brush, start painting the tile and grout lines with chalk paint. I wanted a bright base so I chose a nice creamy white. (Snowy Pine by Behr Chalk Paint)

Behr Chalk Paint

4. If you’re painting stone like me, it is porous so you will need several coats. I did about 4 coats on mine for full coverage. Let dry for at least 3 hours. (If using paint other than chalk paint, you may need to let paint dry a little longer. What’s nice with stenciling is you do not have to wait for the base color to be completely cured.)

  • first coat painting tile
    1st Coat
  • 2nd Coat
  • Fourth coat painting tile
    4th Coat

5. Now you’re ready to stencil your fireplace. Place the tape on all four sides of the stencil as if you’re framing it. You will likely need to replace the tape after 4 placements or so to keep a tight bond on the tile and prevent any slippage.

6. Place the stencil on your tile carefully lining up the pattern with your existing tile. (If you’re like me, the stencil did not fit our existing tile perfectly. I knew this ahead of time and made sure to pick a pattern that I could manipulate to fit our tile and existing grout lines.) Press firmly on the tape to position the stencil.

Stenciling tile

7. Pour some of your second paint color on a paper plate or other flat surface. A little paint goes a long way with stenciling. Make sure you do not cover the entire area of the flat surface with paint because you will want an area to rid your brush or excess.

Paint for stenciling
You’ll notice I poured a little too much here than recommended.

8. Apply paint to your stenciling brush by keeping the brush perpendicular to the plate. Rid your brush of excess paint by stippling on the blank area of the paper plate. You will be essentially using the least amount of paint you can on your brush to prevent paint from leaking through the stencil and messing up your pattern.

9. Now it’s time to stencil! Holding the stencil firmly with your other hand, take the brush and stipple the paint onto the stencil. Dab, don’t brush, the paint on. This not only provides a nice texture but also keeps the paint from slipping under the stencil and messing up the pattern.

10.Continue until you need to move your stencil. There is no need to wait for it to dry until you move your stencil to the next section. Since you are using such a dry brush, it dries very quickly.

stenciling a fireplace

11. Position your stencil to the next section and repeat.

If you do make a mistake, have a damp rag on hand to quickly wipe off the mistake and try again!

Don’t forget to wash your stencil after several uses. You can tell it will need washed when you start to see paint on the underside of the stencil or if seepage starts to happen. Cutting Edge Stencils are incredibly easy to wash. Place them in your sink with warm water running on it and gently scrub the paint off with a sponge or even your fingers. The paint will come right off! It dries easily too so you can jump right back into your project.

The Finished Product

Stenciled Fireplace DIY - modern geometric fireplace - concrete tile

Here is how our fireplace turned out! I am so thrilled with how it brightened up this dark corner and added the whimsical personality that we love so much. The geometric shapes modernize it. The colors compliment the warm tones of the mantel and the calmness of the light greenish blue on the wall.

Fireplace DIY

If you follow me on Instagram (@rufusandhenrietta), stay tuned for a giveaway where you can receive your very own stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils and you can try doing your own fireplace DIY or transforming another area in your home. And if you do, please tag me in your photos or send them to me! I get so inspired by your projects and how you translate things into your own spaces.

Happy Creating!

In: Uncategorized · Tagged: builder-grade upgrade, diy, fireplace, Home Decor, paint

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Today is #shadesofdiy reveal day for the color pin Today is #shadesofdiy reveal day for the color pink. I am beyond grateful of these ladies for choosing me as their guest participant. 

@baker.blooms 
@homemadehuppy 
@curatedbyconstance 
@hautehouselove 

These little $1.50 travertine tiles turned coasters quickly became one of my favorite DIYs. Originally I had a big wallpaper reveal planned for you all but alas, life got in the way. 

But honestly, this project meant more to me than just a little DIY. This whole thing has served up a big life lesson for me (something I have been deeply struggling with for a while now). 

You see, I’ve been battling with self doubt, with worrying I’m not doing enough or “big” enough things, for that wow factor (like a wallpaper reveal). But, these little coasters allowed me to remember the joy I have in all of this and reminded me that perfection is not my goal. My goal is to show others that good-feeling design can be approachable, affordable, and attainable. And this little project is just that. 

I have been so caught up in my own head, dragging myself backwards, allowing those deprecating words like “failure” and “unworthy” to sink in. 

But these little coasters took me back to when all I could do was take a blurry photo, all I could do were minimal cheap projects, and I was so proud. It’s good to feel that pride again. 

So thank you, ladies, for allowing me to participate in this. I’m not sure you’ll ever realize how a little pink project helped save my mental state. 

Thank you, coasters, for reminding me of the reason I love design and DIY.

And thank you past self for relishing in the little things, present self for just allowing creativity to flow through this project, and future self for taking these lessons and blossoming them into something great. God has something big planned for you. You just don’t know what that is yet. ❤️
Another “room” makeover down in the books!! Ya Another “room” makeover down in the books!! Yahoo! So happy with this little mudroom makeover that will make our space so much more functional but also beautiful. This fun DIY room divider hides our water heater perfectly and adds the perfect punch of personality. Little spaces like these are great for trying something new like painting a ceiling or adding pattern. Have fun with your small spaces!
Welp. Me and this staple gun made some fine progre Welp. Me and this staple gun made some fine progress on this DIY arch room divider this weekend. (You can see all of the mudroom progress under the mudroom story highlight on my profile.) Now I just need to add on the legs and use this baby to hide the water heater!
It’s a late post kind of day. I recently scored It’s a late post kind of day. I recently scored this beautiful wood and wicker mid century cabinet from Facebook Marketplace and I’m in love! We knew this little nook (that used to be a closet) was going to be a hard fit. We wanted a piece of furniture that would not only look nice but provide some much needed storage for our kids craft projects and my extra decor pieces. This just so happened to fit perfectly in this space. I’m obsessed with it’s woven features, original brass handles, and mirrored back. Eek!! 

Also, swipe to see the beautiful artwork by @nabeelarumi. I finally found the perfect spot for her piece. The colors are absolutely stunning and the message is even more beautiful.
I’m still so proud of this mural. It really took I’m still so proud of this mural. It really took me out of my comfort zone. I get to see it every time I walk up to our front door, peeking through like a happy sunburst. This is about as far as we’ve gotten on this entryway but we have big plans. The majority of our entryway is paneled in real cedar planks which I love. The split level stairs are delicately wrapped in puke-inducing carpet which I don’t love. We have huge huge fun plans for these stairs; something I’ve never seen before. None of this will get done until after our kitchen remodel though so.... how’s that for a cliff hanger? I feel like a lot of our plans are on standstill right now because of refinancing so for now, I just have to tell you that I have plans but not actually share them with you.... good tactic? 😂🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️
I clearly have something for color and pattern! I’ve been trying to think of what my design style is and I’m struggling with a name. Colorful eclectic?! Artful schmorgasbord?! Circus chic?! You tell me. What would you call my design style?
Posing with water heaters is a thing, didn’t you Posing with water heaters is a thing, didn’t you know? If you saw my stories, you already know but we’re in the process of transforming this utility closet into a mudroom closet to store all of the things. But why not make it both functional and pretty? This bright sunny yellow on the ceiling makes me so happy and the white paint on the walls really cleaned up the space. For freshness, brightness, and cleanliness, this white paint is my #shadesofdiy project this month. More to come on this small space but for now, I’ll just keep posing with the water heater and extension pole.
I’ve been nerding out on Mailchimp and HTML code I’ve been nerding out on Mailchimp and HTML code for my site and I think I finally figured it out!!! A lot of new stuff coming your way by the end of the week! Thanks everybody for your patience.
There can be a bit of a stigma behind thrifted hom There can be a bit of a stigma behind thrifted home pieces. While it’s become somewhat trendy in the last few years, I often run into people who think it might be gross, cheap, or out of style. Here’s what I have to say about that. 

1. Almost all items are cleanable. With the right technique, you can clean and sanitize just about everything that is secondhand. It’s also about sustainability. Thrifting and secondhand shopping are reusing usable items. That’s not gross. Putting well-working pieces in the landfill; more gross and a waste. You never know what someone else would consider valuable. 

2. While the items may have a cheap cost, generally you’re able to buy pieces that are much sturdier. Old things were just made better. They were made to last and were meticulously curated. And even modern pieces with good craftsmanship can stand the test of time. The cost may be cheap but the quality can be far from cheap. Thrifty does not have to look cheap!

3. As far as things being “out of style,” I say pish posh. If something makes you happy, that’s what you should gravitate towards. Don’t allow a magazine, a retail store, or even a little Instagram account tell you what you like. If you like it, it will go with your other pieces. Sometimes you just have to get creative. You are cool and unique. Let your space reflect that. 

#sorealhomes
#eclecticinspiredhome
#diymakesmehuppy
#smallsharebigdreams
#decoranddiys
#moderndiydesign
#mythriftydiy
#thanksitsthrifted
#textureismystyle
#ispyvintage
#foundandforaged
#brassisback
#curatedmaximalism
#diylookforless
#ourspaceourplace
#featuremydecor
#hauteeclectic
#interioroasis
#myaestheticabode
#homeloveliving
#mysmphome
#moreismoredecor
#homeisafeeling
Happy new year! Man I’ve missed you all! I’m s Happy new year! Man I’ve missed you all! I’m so glad to be back. I had an amazing time with my family over the last month(s) and enjoyed the much needed time off. Virtual school may have deepened my forehead wrinkles but it’s also deepened my appreciation for my kids as individuals. Getting a front row seat to their growth in skills and confidence has been life changing. They are persevering (even with their crazy teacher at home) and are really pushing themselves. They’ve taught me so much. 

With that being said, one of the things I’ve learned about myself is I can take myself too seriously. But why? I’m really a weirdo at heart and I love that about me. I let my head get in the way far too often. I’m not a big resolution person but I do want to be more intentional about letting loose this year, reaching for my dreams, and giving myself grace when things don’t go as planned. 

Do you have any goals for this year?

Here’s a fun little tip: thrifted vintage fabric makes a fun and fresh tablecloth.

#homeisafeeling
#nestandthrive
#thenewbohemians
#mymonthincolour
#mycribaesthetics
#interiorsthatcrush
#theclassicquirkyhome
#finditstyleit
#diyrightnow
#mywholehome
#diyhousetohome
#ourspaceourplace
#instadiyflip
#homeswithcharacter
#homecanvas
#cozycollectives
#dailydecordistraction
#mymeaningfulhome
#dwelleclectically
#hgtvhandmade
#hgtvhandmadehome
#eyemydiy
#fearlessinteriors
#showingmydiy
#howwestylehomes
#interiorsthatcrush
#girlswhodiy
#thriftproud

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