Upside Down Kitchen Update

A finished floor, but ...

a dilemma and a change to get there.

Once the first coat of polyurethane was down, 

it darkened the floor as seen in the following photo:

Hindsight: I should have used more chalk paint.

This created a dilemma since the Polyurethane is oil-based and another layer of the chalk paint

would not have worked since it's water based and would pool up on the floor. 

I searched and searched for a solution with no results.

So I winged it and added half of a can of an oil based enamel paint

to the polyurethane. A complete guess on whether this would work or not.

I had no idea what this would do and was concerned it would ruin the floor,

or that I would create a toxic combination.

So I tested it under the area where the stove would eventually rest,

swathed in a face-mask and safety glasses.

(In spite my scientist hubby, the NVO, assuring me it would be OK.)

Whew!

Two coats of this concoction applied with a lambswool applicator 

and it worked perfectly.

And now the floor is done!!!

And we love it!

Seven days of curing the floor before the appliances can be moved back.

In the mean time, the NVO will put in new baseboards and

I will paint the baseboards, finish painting the cabinets

 (just white on white to polish them up a bit)

 and cleaning and organizing every nook and cranny that I have not hit yet. :-)

Then we will relax with a cup of tea in our new kitchen:

 And think about how fortunate we are to have the means, health and time

for this project and how well we work together.

This is the floor before:


And here it is now:

Updated and fresh

...once again for about $1.20 a square foot,

or $2.00 a square foot with a new sub-floor too.

Happy Homeowners! Happy Floor!

(More on rag rugs with link for pattern can be found here.)

Upside Down Kitchen Update 2

Progress...

 Planks are done.

 See the NVO at the finish line of his part.
I suspect this truly makes him happy!

Changing directions:

We were originally going to paint this floor with shiny bright white porch and floor paint,

but after we laid it we thought it was a shame to cover the beauty of the wood...

yes, the beauty of the plywood. :-)

So we decided to white wash it and if we didn't like it we could paint it later.

Here comes my part:

First I mixed this chalky paint with lots of water - 10-1.

Purchased at Home Depot.

In fact everything came from Home Depot.

 Then I simply brushed it on.

 Now it's time for Polyurethane.

We are thinking we are a week away from putting the kitchen back together,

which is way ahead of schedule! Yeah!

More updates to come. :-)

Upside Down Kitchen Update #3

A busy weekend so far...

It's almost a shame to think we are going to paint them white

 as the planks are quite pretty on their own.

Here's the update as of this morning:

 Remaining old floor was removed

 and taken away to old floor heaven.

Sub-floor finished in bath, hallway and

laundry area.

15/32 plywood planks ripped at 6" each.

I really did help.

My job was to push down and towards the guide.

Then the NVO measures, cuts, sands and nails in the planks.

We hope to have the rest of planks installed today, ready for first coat of primer tonight.

Oh and I forgot to tell you, this entire floor, with paint, 

will cost less than $400!

Whew hew!

Upside Down Kitchen Update #2

Here's the update on the kitchen as of this morning:

 Kitchen sub-floor is done:

Scallops are painted:

Walls are now white with a few Benjamin Moore's "Rich Cream" and

 "Mediterranean Sky" (I added more white and a little green to Mediterranean Sky).

painted accents:

Fiestaware has been reorganized again:

And for tonight...the adjoining laundry area floor,

hallway floor,

and 3/4 bath floor...

...will be torn up and ready for tomorrow's sub-floor. :-)

I really meant it when I said "Upside Down":

BEFORE:

 "BEFORE" (right side up):

I am so excited for white floors!

We are looking forward to a productive weekend!

How about you?

Want to turn your life upside down?

Then a DIY kitchen remodel will do the trick. ;-)

(You thought it was going to be a new phone, right?....

...well that will do it too!)

Kitchen Progress:

The NVO does things like tear up the old floor and...

...lay down the sub-floor....

 while I do things like paint white...

.. and draw and paint scallops

and organize spices...

and put Fiestaware in rainbow color order:

Who has the more difficult job? :-)

I never go a day without being grateful for the NVO,

that's for sure!

This is our dining/storage room:

Upside Down!

More progress to come. :-)

Spring Heart Wreath

A crocheted wreath in Spring colors for our front door.

It makes me happy!

Would you like to make one?

If so, you will need:

Yarn to crochet around the wreath;

I used this Encore yarn.

Instructions to crochet around the wreath

 and where to purchase the heart wreaths as well as how to secure the flowers found here,

more info here too.

Yarn for roses;

I used the Tilda cotton blend from My Rose Valley,

and the crochet roses...pattern found here.

The leaf pattern link and additional information for putting together the wreath is found here.

And that's all you need to make your own!

 And now I have made some roses with the leftover 

Encore pastel color spun yarn...

What should I do with them?

I still have a little more of the yarn...

Happy Springtime Everyone!!!