Tag Archives: diy

are we worried about asbestos exposure?

  By Karah | June 17, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , , , , , ,
7 Comments

So, we told you last week that we called in the professionals to whip our hardwood floors into shape. The timing actually worked out perfect since we had a friend come to visit for the week.  So I could do some gallivanting around Key West and still feel like things were happening around the house.  Extra points to me for slacking off and still ending up with floors that look like this right now.  :)  (And if you like gallivanting pictures, they all go down on Instagram, I’m @thespacebetweenblog.) Beautiful, right?!?!  They are the perfect shade of Marley.  :)  This picture makes me so happy!  It is beginning to start to feel like a real room … one where we can live in, with furniture and artwork … we’resoclose. The guy we hired to do all of the sanding just needs to finish up around all of the edges and then a final full sand with a finer grit sand paper and then we are going to be talking stain.  We haven’t settled on a color yet, we haven’t even really settled on the light, medium or dark debate.  Which makes me a little nervous, but the floor guy said he has some suggestions that he’s seen work well with our type of flooring (the now extinct Dade County Pine) so I’m hoping to see some samples this week and get that all figured out. Then the weekend agenda has been designated to staining.  The plan is for Joel and I to tackle the staining and finishing work. I sure do hope it goes well. But before we can get to all that, for everyone who asked about what we discovered regarding the potentially asbestos vinyl tiles, and our thoughts on asbestos exposure, here’s the skinny from our reputable ‘floor … continue reading →

the best kind of work {you are the…}

  By Karah | June 10, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , , , , , , , ,
17 Comments

Joel’s birthday was Saturday. To be honest I have to think way too hard to realize exactly how old he is. My bff actually asked me.  She’d think it would be a good idea to make a big deal if it was one of those milestone birthdays.  You know the ones. The ones that end in 0 or 5. Lucky for me it turns out it’s only one that ends in a 4. Phew.  ;) We’re not really birthday people. We like to make the most of the everyday.  Turns out we made this commitment to each other a few years back … after 10 years of making the most of everyday completely of our own accord … we thought it would be a good idea to proclaim this commitment to everyone we know. Turns out that wasn’t really a good idea.

make your own craftsman style trim and molding

  By Karah | May 31, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , , , , , ,
10 Comments

I am so stoked that Kilz is our primer sponsor for our Key West Conch house renovation.  I’m happy to share how Kilz primer is an invaluable part of any renovation or remodel project.  Check out our sponsorship details here and our full disclosure here. Yep, it’s time for a little trim and molding around here. Finally! We don’t really work on a daily schedule or itemized project plan.  And if you asked me when we moved in how long it would take to get through the renovation of the living room / dining room combo (why did we start with the biggest room again?), I would have said that I had no idea.  And I still don’t.  :) Right now we’re about 2 months in and we’re hanging trim.  It feels like such a victory. (Hooray!) And at the same time it feels like it has taken forever to get here. (Boo!) hahaha I knew from the get go I we wanted a craftsman or mission style look.  Simple, clean lines … something that wouldn’t take away from the already existing character of the wood slat walls, but would add a fresh look to the old charm.

preparing for hardwood floor restoration {open letter to our home’s previous owner}

  By Karah | May 23, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , ,
23 Comments

Dear Previous Owner of our Key West conch home, Specifically the owner who thought it was a good idea to cover up beautiful hardwood floors with carpet … … thank you. Because of you I do believe our beautiful hardwood has a better chance of being in good condition … which is more than I can say for the stank carpet.  #totalgrossness You most likely saved the beautiful wood from years of wear and tear and use.  You protected them and preserved them … … just for us. I think that is more awesome than words can express. But, can I ask you just one question?

when life hands you a wood slat wall {paint stripping tips included}

  By Karah | May 21, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
14 Comments

Strip it. Then whitewash it. Then strip it again. Ok, maybe that strategy isn’t the best approach.  ;) You’ve all seen the whole mood board concept, right?!?!  Where people put pretty images all in one spot and use it as inspiration to design and decorate a room.  And then the room ends up looking eerily similar to the original mood board. I honestly have no idea how people do it. I think I have more “mood moments”.  And they can be fleeting.  :) To take you back to when we moved into this house in the beginning of April and there was paneling Ev. Ry. Where. We got busy tearing down all of the paneling only to find drywall (painted pink in spots!) so we took a leap of faith and started tearing down the drywall, knowing there was a chance we would need to just re-install new drywall.  I definitely prayed to the DIY Gods about our work not being a waste of time and money and energy and potentially my sanity. But it was the best decision ever!  Like ever ever, even. We uncovered beautiful wood slat wall after wood slat wall.  And their paint colors even made me a little giddy. I can’t even tell you how many different design places my mind has wandered with these planked walls. How fun would it be to salvage the original colors? But how cool would it be to strip a couple to expose the beautiful wood? What about a dark stain for contrast against light painted walls? Or what about a whitewash for a more nautical/beachy look? And when my mind is shifting through these ideas faster than Kim K is getting press over another questionable pregnancy outfit … I’m just sitting in the middle of the madness. Do you do … continue reading →

easy craft idea {driftwood fish}

  By Karah | May 16, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , , , , , , ,
42 Comments

Who’s planning to spend some time at the beach this summer? Would you believe it if I told you that we moved to Key West in January and I haven’t been to the beach once?  True story. That could have something to do with the fact that we moved here from a Caribbean island with the most beautiful water on earth. Or, more accurately, that I’m not really the lay on the beach type … I’m more of a scour-the-beach-for-seaglass-and-driftwood girl so I can whip them into easy craft ideas.

how to pick paint colors

  By Karah | May 14, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , ,
18 Comments

So, which end of the paint color picking spectrum are you closer to? The ‘any ol’ color will do’ or ‘I can’t paint anything until I find just the right shade of perfect’ end? I would have said I was closer to the end where as long as I liked the color I was fine with it … until this house.  I’ve never really been stuck with analysis paralysis when it comes to paint, but I have two strategies that have worked basically fool-proof for me over the years.