D.I.Y.'s that are currently improving my quality of life

[FeFeV]

Hey guys! I wanted to share with you two major craft projects I've taken on this week (1 fully completed) to REALLY improve our living space and my creative feng shui. As the "handyman" of our household I don't meet/know many women IRL who spend time in lumber yards, rock quarry's, or at home improvement stores... I personally LOVE creating with my hands and it's basically what I spend 80% of my time doing.

We moved into our current home about 3 months ago and it was SUPER important that I establish a craft/sewing table with included storage. I also had to figure out proper storage of my 100 pairs of shoes (I've since downsized to 75 pairs). The catch to all of this is: These projects all have to exist in the same room !!!!! I considered buying a full set-up from Original Scrapbox Company, but that was going to cost me around $2,000+!
Here's what I've come up with and I'm SO HAPPY!!!!

Raw materials cost estimate: $110
I'll modify this design slightly to include an extra bookshelf for additional storage.


Finished product materials total cost: $121
My installation time: about 4.5 hrs

 

[tyty333]

Nice storage FeFe...I wish we had room for a craft room but the kids get the extra room for an office. I would also like an exercise room and my own
office. Looks like I'll need a 7 bedroom house!

 

[FeFeV]

@tyty333 I would LOOOVE an exercise room
I honestly would be SO down with converting a 2+ car garage into an exercise room, at least half of the space.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Good for you! Saved a ton of money doing it yourself and it looks great.

 

[betty6333]

Nice Job!

 

[Queenie60]

very nice!

 

[Calliecake]

Looks great FefeV!!!

 

[elle_71125]

I wish I was this handy. You did a great job! I have a craft room but it consists of two fold out tables and a lot of storage boxes.

Every girl needs a pair of cowboy boots (I see you ).

 

[FeFeV]

Thanks ladies! I hoped I could maximize functionality of my craft room, I'm so glad I was able to incorporate the wall space in such a valuable way. Pinterest was great in helping me plan!

@elle_71125 my cowboy boots are SO well worn, total wardrobe staple.

 

[luv2sparkle]

Wow, that looks great! I love that table with he shelves on the end. What great space! I love all your shoes!

 

[azstonie]

Both projects, fantastic!

 

[Missy]

Love both of these FeFeV! Wonderful!

 

[VRBeauty]

Wow! Great job on both!

 

[TooPatient]

Nice work! Looks great and functional.

I am another DIYer....

Heading to get some lumber today as I do some work on the deck.

Here is what I have in my purse every day...

 

[FeFeV]

Nice work! Looks great and functional.

I am another DIYer....

Heading to get some lumber today as I do some work on the deck.

Here is what I have in my purse every day...

kindred spirits

 

[Gussie]

I wish I was this handy. You did a great job! I have a craft room but it consists of two fold out tables and a lot of storage boxes.

Every girl needs a pair of cowboy boots (I see you ).

Thanks ladies! I hoped I could maximize functionality of my craft room, I'm so glad I was able to incorporate the wall space in such a valuable way. Pinterest was great in helping me plan!

@elle_71125 my cowboy boots are SO well worn, total wardrobe staple.

Love your shoe storage! Awesome that it was diy!

I currently have 17 pairs of cowboy boots, lol!!! Absolutely love every pair too!

 

[Austina]

Girl power, great job !

I do a lot of DIY, painting, wallpapering, tiling, putting up light fittings, even been known to do a bit of plumbing too, I think it's important to learn as many skills as we can.

 

[LLJsmom]

So great that you make time to do this. So worth while. That is just terrific.

 

[Arcadian]

Very nice!! This house was newly renovated when we purchased, so very little has to actually happen in it. In our old house we added on 1,000sqft and I was the flooring guy (never ever again) I was also the tile guy. Couldn't feel the tips of my fingers for 6 weeks! that project aged me.

The few things I've done here were very minor in comparison;
I added a hydro-rail in the master bath because I wanted a hand held in addition to the regular shower. The house had Kohler and I love the shower head. So I added the shorter hydro-rail because thats all the ceiling height would allow. No rain shower but the head is up a big higher and I got the Kohler wand..whoot!

I added a WiFi Temperature Monitoring system. Was easy enough to do. For a lot of the modern systems you need to have a C cable. Mine wasn't connected so I had to chase it and get it connected. Thankfully this was a modern system that was put in in early 2016.

I changed all the light bulbs. Yes I'm including that because I have 35 cans in the common areas of this house. Image having all those bulbs on and they're incandescent. I felt like a rotisserie chicken Anyway switched them all to LED's.

Next is garbage disposal. I already put in a fuse in the secondary box for it which isn't hard if you're fuse box has the room. The hardest will be getting it lifted into place (its a biggun) He was supposed to do this project but he wrecked his shoulder. Thankfully not a big deal, I put it in the last house too.

 

[FeFeV]

Girl power, great job !

I do a lot of DIY, painting, wallpapering, tiling, putting up light fittings, even been known to do a bit of plumbing too, I think it's important to learn as many skills as we can.

This was EXACTLY my mom's thinking when she raised my sister and I. She taught us to drive on a manual 5 speed Nissan, how to change our own oil, and how to change brakes too. Although I've never changed my own oil or brakes, I've always had an impenetrable confidence in my ability of self preservation in all situations. My DH has a boosted confidence in knowing that if our lifestyle was to dramatically change I am definitely a woman that can roll with the punches.

 

[Hayley87]

Love those shoe shelves!! We're looking at doing something similar in our closet, but just one or two rows' worth to keep everything off the floor.

 

[FeFeV]

@Arcadian I've considered adding a mosaic tile backsplash in our kitchen to replace the current (heavily patina) copper one. Everyone who has done self installation of tile has the weary look of submission when I ask them about their experience!
I spent so much money on a huge rectangular overhead shower in my single gal condo... Disappointingly it does not fit our current plumbing set up in our Master bath. I think my next stop will be getting a Kholer wand/shower head duo.

I'm so glad you got rid of the incandescent bulbs! Good call!

 

[FeFeV]

Love those shoe shelves!! We're looking at doing something similar in our closet, but just one or two rows' worth to keep everything off the floor.

It's so rewarding financially + personally to DIY it! Have fun with your project! Don't buy floating shelves, custom cut lumber (FREE cuts at Lowe's) and a few Steele brackets are WAY cheaper and MUCH more sturdier.

 

[Arcadian]

@Arcadian I've considered adding a mosaic tile backsplash in our kitchen to replace the current (heavily patina) copper one. Everyone who has done self installation of tile has the weary look of submission when I ask them about their experience!
I spent so much money on a huge rectangular overhead shower in my single gal condo... Disappointingly it does not fit our current plumbing set up in our Master bath. I think my next stop will be getting a Kholer wand/shower head duo.

I'm so glad you got rid of the incandescent bulbs! Good call!

a basic backsplash would be pretty easy as long as you don't have to worry about electrical outlets. Thats what can make it a bit difficult because you might have to change all the plates screws to something longer (and the plates, you just never know!) the tile you want can also make it hard. In the old house I removed old metal tiles that had 30 years of paint (there was no savin these poor things), and replaced with tumbled stone. that wasn't too terrible as it wasn't a lot of tile.

This house dosen't have backsplash but I'm also not exactly in a rush to deal with it. I already know what tile I want, its a matter of how much of a freaking mess do I want in my house (none...lol)

Here's the Hydo rail. Ceilings in the bathroom are 8.5 feet, so not enough room to really do a rain shower like I wanted. I liked the existing head so kept it, and just did the rail and added the wand. Its Kohler (ie, it will be expensive) but I got mine all done for under 500 (look on amazon!). The actual work took me about 3 hours. That exceptionally thick tile needed a diamond drill bit. My biggest issue aside from the tile was the anchor system. That wall behind the shower is cement board on CBS so I couldn't use the anchors that came with the rail. I used stuff specific to the application and it worked fine.


If you like Kohler, then consider the hydro rail as you're not messing around with the existing plumbing and its a quick and dirty (but very pretty!) retrofit type system.

 

[Austina]

@Arcadian I've considered adding a mosaic tile backsplash in our kitchen to replace the current (heavily patina) copper one. Everyone who has done self installation of tile has the weary look of submission when I ask them about their experience!
!

Mosaic tiles are the easiest for the inexperienced tiler to install, they're very forgiving and easy to jiggle to set properly. Go for it!

 

[arkieb1]

That's very cool, I'm more of the demolition person than a building person, but I can admire your work.

I do know how to do plastering and basic things like repairing walls grouting etc, so I guess that counts for something.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Good for you! I love the self satisfaction that comes with DIY projects. I am also rather handy!

cheers--Sharon