About a month ago, I was sitting on our couch staring at our terrible stairs. I hated those stairs. I hated the smelly carpet that was impossible to keep clean with three dogs. I hated the golden oak banister. And most of all, I hated the fact that I was just sitting there, staring at the stairs instead of doing anything about it. So I called my friend Courtney who had just recently torn all … [Read more...] about A Lazy Person’s Guide to Stairs Part 1: Carpet Removal and Prep
Plywood Floors Update: How are they holding up one year later?
Holy schnikes, a lot has changed in a year! Shark Tails turned one, I became a contributing author at Remodelaholic, and Matt lost even more hair. If I had to guesstimate, I would say he's about 18 months from full on Sir Patrick Stewart status. If you think that's a dig, I can assure you it's not. Professor X? More like Professor SEX, amirite?! To be compared to this legend is the greatest … [Read more...] about Plywood Floors Update: How are they holding up one year later?
Dining Room Makeover: Full Reveal!
This room has been a long time in the making. I started in July and am just now, eight months later, feeling ready to call it. Old Allison would have started this in July, finished in July, and been changing things by August because she realized she hated it. I am by nature an incredibly impatient person, and that has come back to bite me in my flat, pancake rump many times throughout the … [Read more...] about Dining Room Makeover: Full Reveal!
The Little China Hutch That Could
There is a bit of a trend developing in my last several projects. This is yet another furniture "flip", spurned by the ever growing pile of crap in my basement that either needs to go, or get made over STAT. I've decided to call this series "Furniture February" in honor of all the junk that's getting new life around here, what do you think? This hutch (what constitutes a hutch, anyway?) was … [Read more...] about The Little China Hutch That Could
Mid-Century Modern Makeover
I am on a serious PAINT ALL THE FURNITURE kick thanks to a basement full of broken promises and a resolution that I am making a half baked effort to keep. This project is another RE find, and let me tell you a find it was! I am falling more and more deeply in love with all the boho/mid-century modern mashup style that is currently taking over Pinterest and Instagram feeds. I love everything … [Read more...] about Mid-Century Modern Makeover
My Top 10 Must-Have Tool Picks for Beginner Builders
Shark Tails turned one a few days ago, and I can't believe the year has flown by so quickly! Even though it hasn't been that long, looking back on some of my very first posts and projects are akin to discovering and re-reading the diary you kept in junior high: absolutely cringe inducing (except, as my dear friend Gill pointed out, the blog has photo evidence). In honor of my little blog's … [Read more...] about My Top 10 Must-Have Tool Picks for Beginner Builders