Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors

Featured

Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors! Finally! The day I’ve been waiting for! 

Moving right along! As a member of the Shaw Styleboard, I had the opportunity to choose flooring for the studio renovation. There are so many beautiful flooring options to choose from! After viewing a lot of samples and going over my options, I decided on Monterrey Grandview which is a solid hardwood in wide distressed planks. Hickory is classic, right?! It has a variation of earthy gray and brown tones, not too dark, not too light and an 8 inch width making it it more of an eye catcher. Plus, you guys! It has a hand scraped look! Bonus! AND stunning beveled edge! All the things you’d choose if you were creating a drop-dead-gorgeous flooring product. #mine

Shaw Hardwood Floors – Monterrey Grandview

Shaw Monterrey Grandview sample Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood sample

Old meets new…old floor vs new floor

Before:

The original floors were covered by an industrial type blue carpeting which was glued over the original pine floor which was in poor condition. Here are some before photos:

DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff

And after removing the carpet:

old floor with fireplace damaged pine floors damaged hardwood floors with glue damaged hardwood floors hardwood floors before

Follow the #helloredreno series for the entire renovation diary.

The subcontractor, Tim and his team, installed the floors in the basement in our home and this subcontractor from A&S had his work cut out for him with this project!

how to tile a bathroom floor gray and white hexagon tile

Remember the hexagon tile floor from the adjoining bathroom and how I wanted it to transition to the hardwood floors?

hexagon tile floor transition shaw hardwood floor installationhardwood floor installation hardwood to tile installationcutting hardwood flooring installing hardwood floors new hardwood over old Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood floors

After:

Tricky! But Tim and his team got the job done!

flowing tile to hardwood transition

And it’s beautiful! I’d go as far as saying ‘stunning’! I love the flow of the transition from the San Francisco hexagon tiles to the hardwood…

hexagon tile to hardwood transition

Look again:

Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood San Francisco hexagon tile

Shaw San Francisco hexagon tiles Presidio // Lombard

Can’t get enough? Me either! How about from this angle…

hexagon tile flooring

OoOoOoOhhhh! Isn’t she lovely? I love.love.love that I can be more creative than ever with this design! It’s exactly the look I wanted. You know how good it feels to get what you want! hehe 

Shaw San Francisco tile Monterrey Grandview hardwood

It takes some serious skills to be able to work with that and thankfully Tim was up for the challenge! I would have looked at it and cried. Just the measurements and math of it! I like puzzles and all, but this required master skills!

hexagon tiles meet hardwood

The rest of the hardwoods were installed without a hitch. Because of the original floor and working with the height of the tile, each room got it’s own direction and I think that actually adds to the charm, a break in the pattern. Love it! 

Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood Shaw Monterrey Grandview hickory floors Shaw Monterrey Grandview handscraped hardwood Shaw Monterrey Grandview rustic hardwood

And now the floor is not only gorgeous, it’s durable and sturdy and will be here, admired and adored for all time, the beautiful base for what’s going to be a gorgeous comfortable get-away living space!

Shaw Monterrey Grandview wide plank flooring

I cannot wait for the full reveal! 

Next up on the remodel:

Replacing carpet on the stairs and landing, paint, baseboards, installing doors, light fixtures, fun feature wall (wallpaper or shiplap … what say you?), possibly creating a kitchenette then furnishing, decorating and then the reveal! Then moving in! Okay, not that last part but I do plan to extend the invitation and welcome you to visit! 

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

So subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #6: Bathroom Flooring

Featured

It feels as if it’s been a while since I shared an update on the studio renovation. Most recent progress is the beautiful tile floors have been installed in the upstairs bathroom. As a member of the Shaw StyleBoard, I had the opportunity to choose some flooring for the studio.

My Choice: 

For the upstairs bathroom, I chose Presidio (whites) and Lombard (grays) from the same San Francisco design style. It’s a rustic and beautiful hexagon glazed porcelain tile from Shaw Floors with a reclaimed brick texture. And it’s absolutely gorgeous! My most favorite flooring to date!

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

You guys, it was love at first sight! The kind where you see it then continue to shop but always go back to it. Nothing compares. Nothing else will work. It’s this or nothing. I love when that happens! The alternative is so many choices and a hard time narrowing it down to one but this time around, I knew “THIS IS IT”! And for the record, this tile is versaTILE and can be used on floors, showers, patios, backslashes…just about anywhere. Since this is that the studio, it may show up somewhere in my house as well. 

Let’s revisit the scary “before” picture. It’s a good thing I can see potential past the nasty, right? 

Before:

DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff 

The original old hardwood floors had to be removed. 

bathroom makeoverbathroom makeoverBathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

A plywood subfloor was installed and leveled to prepare a base for the cement board which then is the base for the actual mortar and tile. 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

The seems were taped and sealed.

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Flooring was installed by Rege, Mike and Tyler, subcontractors from A&S Carpet in Allison Park, PA. They did a beautiful job! 

Installation:

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

The white and gray hexagon tiles were placed randomly. I usually do prefer the symmetry of a planned and arranged design – stripes or checkerboard and even considered a flower-type design but this time because of the transition of flowing over into the hardwood, I really liked the random placement. 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Rather than the traditional ‘hump’ or straight cut line in the threshold where tile meets hardwood, we continued the tile across the threshold and into the next room. It reminds me of a glacier…moving/reaching into the bedroom. It’s SO cool and so different and it’s amazing! You can see the links to inspiration for this idea on my studio Pinterest board

Transition: 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Just wait until you see the hardwood next to it! You’ll drool! 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredrenoYou may remember me asking about grout colors. I originally chose “Iron” at the store but after some thought changed my mind to “Charcoal”. Frank at A&S was very accommodating with my request! No problem!

Grout: 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Perfection!

Reveal:

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

What do you think? Do you prefer the standard transition piece dividing tile and hardwood in the doorway or would you consider a smooth transition and design feature? 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

A BIG thanks to A&S for the installation. I’m THRILLED with the end result! 

Here’s a sneak peek of the vanity with the floor…I can’t wait for the finishing touches!

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

So pretty! And all three features: that gorgeous floor, the beautiful vanity against that original wood plank wall…

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Next up on the bathroom remodel:

Paint, baseboards, {possible} vintage cast iron tub re-finishing, installing the toilet, vanity, sconce lights and my favorite part…decorating and the reveal! Oh. And probably cutting down 6 doors since re-doing the floors raised them. Not looking forward to that part but things are moving along. Stay tuned!

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

So subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Top Essential Oils for DIY lovers

Featured

Hello fellow DIY lovers!!! 

With the studio renovation in progress (follow #helloredreno), I’ve never been so grateful for the power of essential oils! As a DIY enthusiast, I always have one project or another going on and as a DIY blogger, the process from start to finish takes a little longer. Know what I mean? I ALWAYS ALWAYS have my essential oils within reach! Why would it even matter? Well, here are some of my favorite must have essential oils when it comes DIY.

#helloredreno

Peppermint Vitality – energize! Add a drop to morning coffee or a cold glass of water (be prepared – it’s powerful). It’s gonna wake you up! essential oils @diyshowoff

Diffuse for an energizing scent and to enhance concentration…that tip “measure once, cut twice”? It’s so easy to work on auto-pilot and make mistakes. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need a poke to bring me back to mental clarity and alertness. 

peppermint essential oil #diyPeppermint is also cooling. I like to add a couple of drops to a 2 oz. spray bottle. Spritz the back of my neck when working in the heat or feeling overheated. It’s so refreshing. Store it in the fridge. A must have for working outdoors in the summer! 

DIY Cooling Mist

Keep calm & cool off! DIY cooling spray @diyshowoff

Paint fumes? I always opt for a low or no VOC but the smell of paint can be brutal. Add 10-15 drops or so of Citrus Fresh to a gallon of paint to help neutralize the strong odor.

citrus fresh essential oils #diy

Carpet freshener: I like to mix 5-10 drops in a cup of baking soda to create a DIY carpet freshener. Sprinkle before bed, vacuum in the a.m. LOVE it! (Purification or Citrus Fresh). 

Speaking of fresh. Choose a scent you love (lavender would work too!) and freshen up the mattress!

#DIY essential oils

Lavender: Life can be crazy and busy. Sometime my brain has trouble turning off at the end of the day when there’s so much going on. Lavender in a relaxing bath, on my feet and temples.  I like to keep a DIY linen mist spray bottle on the night stand. 

Young Living essential oils @diyshowoff

Lemon – cleaning power! Sticky residue? A drop of lemon oil will dissolve the sticky mess like magic! 

lemon essential oils #diy

DiGize – When we’re working on a DIY big project, meal time is usually on the go or last priority which means we’re grabbing something quick and it’s not always a healthy choice. DiGize is my best friend and I’m never without it! NEVER! I either apply topically around my belly button or for faster relief, I will add a drop to water (1 oz – shot glass size), hold my nose and ‘down the hatch’. Instant results! 

essential oils @diyshowoff

PanAway + Copaiba – after a long day, DIY can be quite the work out. Vibrations from power tools = stiff arms. I’ll usually add a drop of PanAway to a squirt of V6 (carrier oil) and just rub it in as needed. Soooo soothing! Tip: Add a drop of Copaiba to magnify! 

Young Living essential oils @diyshowoff essential oils @diyshowoff

 

Stress Away – Dealing with complicated project details, timelines, budgets, things not working out as planned? “Stress Aways” says it all. They should sell it by the gallon. Bathe in it! Sprinkle some on yourself. Douse your spouse. Whatever it takes. This smells amazing too…a little like vacation to me. You need it! 

Young Living essential oils @diyshowoffessential oils @diyshowoff

Clean up: Thieves Household Cleaner is the best clean cleaner out there, in my opinion. This cleaning concentrate has no harsh chemicals and packs a powerful punch of cleanup and your lungs will thank you! 

Thieves household cleaner #diy

If you’re an avid addicted do-it-yourselfer too, you might want to consider adding some essential oils to alleviate the symptoms and side effects that accompany DIY! Or if you already are, are you in Salt Lake City as we speak?! Let’s connect! 

essential oils @diyshowoff

Haven’t added essential oils to your home yet? CLICK HERE to learn more about getting an amazing brand of high quality oils. I’ll also connect you to some fun and helpful communities on Facebook. You may even recognize some of your favorite DIY bloggers in the groups! It’s an amazing community of friends! I also teach classes regularly so they don’t just sit in the box and I’m offering a 2ND DIFFUSER when you purchase one of the Premium Starter Kits HERE! One for your home, one for your tool box!