Well, That’s Different
After a number of years with just exposed OSB subfloor (and a couple of rugs) as the flooring in my kitchen… It now has (part of) a floor. Do not be fooled by that picture. It is still mostly this… I have
DIY Walk-In Shower: Step 3- Prep For Tile
As it turns out, the steps in building a shower go pretty quickly after all of that “framing and then waiting around for an inspector to let you put walls in your house” business. If you’re starting this journey in the middle
The Contractors Exam: Laws About People Who Build Houses
You might be thinking, hey, I’m not insane and taking a contractors exam in a week and half, so why do I care about this? And the answer is that obviously I’m the crazy one here and you don’t. Or. It’s possible
Pretty Mud: Things You Need To Know About Decorative Concrete
It’s possible that I almost had a minor breakdown when we had to choose the colors and patterns for the concrete that surrounds almost half of our house. Because the truth is, with decorative concrete these days, the patterns and color combinations
Kitchen: Check This Off The List
I mean, not the “done” list… I’m ambitious, but I’m not superwoman. Most days, at least. But I can check “kitchen cabinets” off the the list of decisions that have been buzzing around in my head for the last, um, eternity. For
DIY House Addition: Month 9 Wrap-Up
It’s a pretty sure bet that when I’m talking about DIYing a house addition and/or living in a garage, I’m going to make some sarcastic remarks about the state of our mental health. It comes with the territory. I’m going to break
The Evolution of a House Plan
As you might know, we bought this property in 2008, with the intention of having some bonfires here on the weekends and hanging out until we figured out what the heck to do with the place. We thought it might have something
Subtle Taupe?
First off, thank you to everyone who commented yesterday with sympathy (we’ve all been there), suggestions, links, and offers to literally go to a distributor and find the tile for me. I ordered at least four more tile samples, and ironically, the
A Wild Tile Chase: Geese Got Nothing On This
If you’ve been around here for the last week or so, you know that I have two showers ready for tile, and exactly zero tiles picked out to finish them off with. Trust me, I’ve been looking at samples, magazines, tile shops,
Elizabeth Taylor, My Walls Thank You
I spent the better part of my weekend with drywall crusties in my hair, under my fingernails, and– inexplicably– on my eyelashes. A look that I feel is slightly more glamorous now that I know that Elizabeth Taylor once owned the Ames
Finishing Drywall Joints: Tips From A Pro
Let’s just be clear here, I am not the pro. I am the tip-ee, as it were. When the guy who hung the drywall and taped the joints told me we’d need to put the last two coats of mud on the
Roamin’ Numerals and My Famous Table
Check it out. That’s my picnic table in a magazine. Somehow one of the editors of Singapore Home & Decor (yes, you read that right) found me and featured DIYdiva in their “blogs of the month” page. The fact that people half-way
Move In Date: T minus 12 Weeks and Counting
Right now if you were to ask me about the month of March, I picture a beautiful fairytale land. A distant time when the sun will be shining and the temps will consistently stay above the freezing point. The beginning of a
DIY Walk-In Shower: Step 2- Lining
We’ve come to the second part of the DIY shower adventure, and it’s only taken me four months from when I framed in the walls to get here. Hey. Don’t judge… things will be moving much quicker from here on out, which
Baby It’s Cold Outside
Here’s my normal method for dealing with months that have an average temperature below 15 degrees Fahrenheit: Hibernation. A stack of books, a clawfoot tub, a roaring fire. Basically, I’ll see you again in May. But I did two very unexpected things
Kitchen Cabinet Plan
So we’re planning on taking the big kitchen cabinet leap soon. Soon-ish. Maybe this year sometime. Or, you know, I might just set up some sawhorses and plywood in there and call it a day. Lowe’s is running their “$1500 off your
DIY Walk-In Shower: Step 3- Prep For Tile
As it turns out, the steps in building a shower go pretty quickly after all of that “framing and then waiting around for an inspector to let you put walls in your house” business. If you’re starting this journey in the middle
The Contractors Exam: Laws About People Who Build Houses
You might be thinking, hey, I’m not insane and taking a contractors exam in a week and half, so why do I care about this? And the answer is that obviously I’m the crazy one here and you don’t. Or. It’s possible
Pretty Mud: Things You Need To Know About Decorative Concrete
It’s possible that I almost had a minor breakdown when we had to choose the colors and patterns for the concrete that surrounds almost half of our house. Because the truth is, with decorative concrete these days, the patterns and color combinations
Kitchen: Check This Off The List
I mean, not the “done” list… I’m ambitious, but I’m not superwoman. Most days, at least. But I can check “kitchen cabinets” off the the list of decisions that have been buzzing around in my head for the last, um, eternity. For
DIY House Addition: Month 9 Wrap-Up
It’s a pretty sure bet that when I’m talking about DIYing a house addition and/or living in a garage, I’m going to make some sarcastic remarks about the state of our mental health. It comes with the territory. I’m going to break
The Evolution of a House Plan
As you might know, we bought this property in 2008, with the intention of having some bonfires here on the weekends and hanging out until we figured out what the heck to do with the place. We thought it might have something
Subtle Taupe?
First off, thank you to everyone who commented yesterday with sympathy (we’ve all been there), suggestions, links, and offers to literally go to a distributor and find the tile for me. I ordered at least four more tile samples, and ironically, the
A Wild Tile Chase: Geese Got Nothing On This
If you’ve been around here for the last week or so, you know that I have two showers ready for tile, and exactly zero tiles picked out to finish them off with. Trust me, I’ve been looking at samples, magazines, tile shops,
Elizabeth Taylor, My Walls Thank You
I spent the better part of my weekend with drywall crusties in my hair, under my fingernails, and– inexplicably– on my eyelashes. A look that I feel is slightly more glamorous now that I know that Elizabeth Taylor once owned the Ames
Finishing Drywall Joints: Tips From A Pro
Let’s just be clear here, I am not the pro. I am the tip-ee, as it were. When the guy who hung the drywall and taped the joints told me we’d need to put the last two coats of mud on the
Roamin’ Numerals and My Famous Table
Check it out. That’s my picnic table in a magazine. Somehow one of the editors of Singapore Home & Decor (yes, you read that right) found me and featured DIYdiva in their “blogs of the month” page. The fact that people half-way
Move In Date: T minus 12 Weeks and Counting
Right now if you were to ask me about the month of March, I picture a beautiful fairytale land. A distant time when the sun will be shining and the temps will consistently stay above the freezing point. The beginning of a
DIY Walk-In Shower: Step 2- Lining
We’ve come to the second part of the DIY shower adventure, and it’s only taken me four months from when I framed in the walls to get here. Hey. Don’t judge… things will be moving much quicker from here on out, which
Baby It’s Cold Outside
Here’s my normal method for dealing with months that have an average temperature below 15 degrees Fahrenheit: Hibernation. A stack of books, a clawfoot tub, a roaring fire. Basically, I’ll see you again in May. But I did two very unexpected things
Kitchen Cabinet Plan
So we’re planning on taking the big kitchen cabinet leap soon. Soon-ish. Maybe this year sometime. Or, you know, I might just set up some sawhorses and plywood in there and call it a day. Lowe’s is running their “$1500 off your
