Category Archives: Floors and Rugs

There’s a Hole in the Wall!

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Okay, because I’m a crazy lady, I decided to tackle a room makeover in December. In my defense, it’s just a little room so it shouldn’t disrupt our entire holiday season or anything, right? Right! Well, I’ve always been told “it’s the thought that counts” and I’m going with that thought. 

We have this odd enclosed porch area off the open pantry…see that door on the left?open pantry at diyshowoff.com

The one with the curtains? That’s the original front door to this old house. And where does it lead? To a warm and inviting entryway to our house? 

No. A homeowner from the past enclosed the porch and rerouted the door to the side. We enter our home through the back French doors on the patio.  We do not have a real front door or curb appeal and that’s a dream for another day but we did recently put in new windows AND insulated the outer walls. And this room reached my puke-point. It looked like a room from an episode of Hoarders. A true junk room. I’m over it. It’s something you don’t see on a blog every day. The ugly truth. Well, enough is enough. 

home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff

Oh, and that room has this window at the bottom of our stairs in our living room always bothered me. An exterior window INTERIOR? Don’t you just love nearly 100 year old houses? Weird. Oh, “let’s look out this window at the sunny day” … (::cue horror movie music::) … it’s a room piled to the ceiling with JUNK. NO! Just no. Merry Christmas to me because it’s going away! 

home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff

Did you even notice it had exterior vinyl siding on two walls? Looks like an option for insulation from a past home owner. 

home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff It’s coming off!home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff

Down to the original siding from 1927… but those other walls? Ugh. they’re staying for now. 

home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoffI decided to make that window into an open doorway. 

home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoffhome office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff

And the siding has been removed and drywall installed. It’s starting to come together. No matter what, anything is better than it was and I’m looking forward to a bright fresh new room. 

home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff

The original front door (below). home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff

Those other two crazy walls with planks and hunter green trim overload are too involved to change out now (moving windows and doors to install drywall is more involved than we can deal with at the present time, so fingers crossed that paint tone down that in-yo-face trim circus! 

home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff

And the floor? That hideous green painted concrete has to go. New product: Floorté, enhanced luxury vinyl plank floor by Shaw and I can’t wait! More on that coming up. Floorté is a luxury line locking durable engineered waterproof PVC flooring option. More on that coming up! For now, there are some decisions to make…

home office makeover before and in progress @diyshowoff

And someday, when a new beautiful front door is in the budget, this room will grow up to be a real live front entryway, a foyer! But for now, I’m claiming this space to create more square footage, to make it useful space. I’m still on the fence about it’s purpose though. I’m leaning towards den/home office.  

Stay tuned for more progress! 

Laundry Room Herringbone Pattern Tile Floor Details

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We’ve been working in the laundry room (see more in the home tour). We chose black walnut porcelain tile that looks like wood and oh my, it’s gorgeous!

Herringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOff (38 of 83)

do-it-yourself laundry pedestals

When we got it home from Lowe’s, my sweet husband suggested doing a herringbone pattern (because the herringbone patterned brick walkway and patio wasn’t enough torture, I guess) and I think he realized after his offer, that he may have stuck his foot in his mouth. But he did a beautiful job despite the tricky cuts, despite the fact that most of it is covered by a washer and dryer, a throw rug and someday soon, cabinetry and shelving. 

DIY laundry pedestal

This isn’t a full detailed tutorial per se because I’m not the one who did the work but I did take some pictures of the process for your DIY tiling enjoyment. Be sure to do plenty of research on tiling tips before beginning. Ready?

Level subfloor. Check. Hubby glued and screwed down Hardibacker. 

Herringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOffHerringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOffHerringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOffHerringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOff

He started the tile pattern by creating a border around the space and cutting/laying out/fitting those tiles first.

Herringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOff

Then laid out the placement of the herringbone with solid un-cut tiles in the design. 

Herringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOff

Next up is cutting the tiles needed to create a herringbone pattern in the space between the tile border. 

Herringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOffHerringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOff

We find (he finds) that using FrogTape on the tile cut lines for tricky cuts with angles or small pieces helps prevent breakage. 

Herringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOff

We used 1/32″ spacers. We didn’t want huge gaps between the tiles since they resemble wood. 

Herringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOff

Next up, he set the tiles with mortar (OmniGrip) applied with a trowel. 

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Then removed the spacers and started the grouting process. We let it ‘cure’ for a week before  applying the grout. 

Grouting: We chose a black grout because it gave a similar look to the edges of our distressed antique java bamboo floors in the adjoining room. He used a sanded black epoxy grout (Quartz Lock Urethane Grout – jet black), smushing it into the spaces between the tile with a float then wiping away the excess with a sponge.

Herringbone Tile Floor - DIYShowOff

Let dry a good 24 hours before walking on it and because we were awaiting appliances, it was a couple weeks before every-day traffic. 

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Isn’t it beautiful? I was half tempted to put the washer and dryer somewhere else so I don’t have to cover it up! More laundry room makeover details coming up. Stay tuned!

DIYShowOff Laundry Room Pedestals 

Eclectic Guest Bedroom Ideas

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When I shared our family room and kitchen in the What’s Your Style Series, one style those rooms (and all rooms in my home) share is “eclectic”.

Visiting from the beautiful bedroom at Shabby Love? Welcome, friends!

When you do what you love, specifically on a small budget; thrift stores, flea markets, estate sales, yard sales and Craigs List become favorite sources for unique, eclectic decor. Our guest bedroom is no exception. 

blue orange and gold eclectic guest bedroom at diyshowoff.com blue orange and gold guest room bed at diyshowoff.comblue orange and gold guest room bed at diyshowoff.comguest bedroom at diyshowoff.comeclectic guest room at diyshowoff.com

and a mix of old and new.

mixing old and new - eclectic guest bedroom at diyshowoff.com

Small budget? Wrap a canvas you already own with pretty wrapping paper to freshen up old decor. 

wrapping paper canvas art at diyshowoff.com

Layer the bed with a folded top sheet topped with a throw blanket. Cat optional. 

eclectic guest bedroom at diyshowoff

Eclectic: mismatched furniture, a mix of pattern and colors, collected-over-time gallery wall, DIY accents, a painted floor and flea market finds. 

blue orange gold eclectic guest bedroom at diyshowoff.commixed media gallery wall at diyshowoff.comguest bedroom redo at diyshowoff.comeclectic guest bedroomDIY cat window seat

I’m in the process of planning a re-do on our other guest room/dressing room. Our master bedroom is a disaster since the day we moved in but always seems to get pushed further down the priority list. What’s your style and favorite bedroom in your home?

Posts related to this room/DIY in this bedroom:

diy luggage rack

easy DIY cat window seat

chevron Shape Tape tray

painted dresser tutorial at diyshowoff.com

See more of my style in the DIY Show Off Home Tour.

Ready for some more bedroom inspiration? Check out these bedroom beauties in the What’s Your Style Series:

what's your style series

Ready for a little inspiration to get started on freshening up your bedroom? Check out the giveaway using the widget below to be entered to win a $100 gift card to Online Fabric Store. Good luck!

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