Your DIY Home Improvements - Post'em up!

[Chick_Maggot]

<span style="font-weight: bold">Here’s a project that was completed not long ago. When my daughter moved out on her own, I decided to turn her room into the main guest quarters, as it was larger than the existing guest room. I still stayed with the tropical vibe, but went with a more beachfront feel.

This was also my first try at constructing a wainscoting wall treatment. It was a PITA, but the wife likes it, so that’s all that matters I guess. I cheated a little here too by bringing in a pro painter who sprayed the color because I didn’t want any brush/roller marks on the wood. I painted the walls.

Also made the window cornice and bought some Mexican Parota for the table tops (still need to sand/poly them). I also made the collage over the headboard from 3 pictures, backed by some rough cork tiles framed by some stained and distressed pine. What you can’t see is a faux beam at the peak of the ceiling which has a dark bamboo inlay. The Oahu sign (the wife and I were married there) was made from scrap wood lying on the garage floor.

Still trying to talk the wife into a TV over the closet w/home theater system.</span>

[x77-69z28]

I'm just not smart enough to be able to post pics!
Buddy

[TMagda]

Hardwood on basement floor and some crown and tile.

[markinnaples]

Nice work guys. Hoping to have the pavers set around the pool this week so I can post up a &quot;Done&quot; picture, ugh. Do contractors ever do what they say, when they say they would? I think not many at all.

[Chick_Maggot]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: markinnaples</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do contractors ever do what they say, when they say they would? I think not many at all. </div></div>

My opinion is that the percentage is extremely low.

[Chick_Maggot]

<span style="font-weight: bold">That crown molding looks a lot better than I can do. I tried some in the downstairs bathroom, but I'm thinking about a do-over.

Good job. </span>

[67 Nova Boy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chick_Maggot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">


<span style="font-weight: bold">That crown molding looks a lot better than I can do. I tried some in the downstairs bathroom, but I'm thinking about a do-over.

Good job. </span> </div></div>

Caulk works wonders to fill the gaps but yes...nice job there!!

Dave
67 Nova Boy

[m22mike]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 67 Nova Boy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chick_Maggot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">


<span style="font-weight: bold">That crown molding looks a lot better than I can do. I tried some in the downstairs bathroom, but I'm thinking about a do-over.

Good job. </span> </div></div>

Caulk works wonders to fill the gaps but yes...nice job there!!

Dave
67 Nova Boy </div></div>

You may already know this , crown molding goes upside down in the mitre box.

Crown molding 101

[TMagda]

Thanks guys. First try at crown. I have a DeWalt compound miter saw and the crown is MDF. I ripped some 2x4's on an angle first and installed them around the intersection of the wall and ceiling to give me a good nailing surface wherever I might need it. Put the moulding upside down in the saw with one side on the base and one side on the backstop and cut away. Basically 2 cuts each, one to get it close, then mark with a pencil and another cut to get it exact. No caulk, but a bit of wood putty! Also used a Porter Cable air nailer.

[Chick_Maggot]

<span style="font-weight: bold">Since the family room is where we spend 99% of our time, it also needed to start representin'. There was definitely no tropical vibe in here - nasty ten-year-old outdated furniture, funky coffee table, ugly rug, busted Ikea media cabinet and a pitiful school house red brick fireplace with a tiny mantel.

In this pic, I'm already trying something with the window cornices and rope wall hanging. I also used the vases on the hearth as color inspiration for the room.</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Old and busted</span>


<span style="font-weight: bold">New and improved</span>




<span style="font-weight: bold">The shelves on the wall were made from some scrap wood I kept tripping over in the garage. The wife likes when I distress the wood for a more rustic vibe. My garage floor now has less junk on it and I have new shelves - a win win for me.</span>



<span style="font-weight: bold">The rope wall hanging seemed kind of boring, so I turned it into a clock. The &quot;numbers&quot; are made from cut and polished coconut shells. I've always been a big fan of a large time piece in a room.</span>



<span style="font-weight: bold">I also replaced a light fixture with a ceiling fan and used some Lauhala matting in the medallion.</span>




<span style="font-weight: bold">Also made my own media cabinet to hide all the AV stuff and to blend in more with the room. </span>



<span style="font-weight: bold">The fireplace was my first attempt at any kind of tile work. I'm not 100% happy with it, but it's a good 10ft job. The LED lighting looks totally cool when the room is dark.</span>



<span style="font-weight: bold">I bought some cool iron stock and had my welder fabricate a surround to hide the area around the fire box where there was no tile.</span>



<span style="font-weight: bold">The hearth was raised and meant to mimic a box filled with rocks and sand. Not seen in this pic are some decorative nail heads I later added to the mantel. I spent about 90mins trying to make the seams between the pebble tiles completely disappear (probably not a detail most people will notice but me). Horizontal wood accents on each side of the fire box are some Mexican Cocobolo I had left over from another project. Believe it or not, that's the wood's natural color. No stain needed.</span>

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