Buy Second Hand First
Someone asked me recently if I was a “garage sale guru.” I’d answer to that but I prefer “Stylishly Frugal Living Expert” as my title. Regardless, I’m a garage sale, estate sale, second-hand store, free pile type-of-gal! I try and always buy used items, first, instead of buying new and that includes most items except {Read more about Buy Second Hand First}
Coffee Table Tale
Design Sponge posted recently about tray tables and I was admiring how practical and useful tray tables are. Then I remembered – I have a tray table – that I made. It’s the coffee table in our living room and the table base part used to be a bench. I don’t have the part that {Read more about Coffee Table Tale}
Bathtubs in Old Bathrooms
I’ve gotten several questions from readers about our claw-foot bathtub in our old bathroom so, I thought I’d address them here. The first question is about our tub surround that we have in our bathroom. Our tub surround is not a new-fangled “all in one tub/shower combo” that you might purchase at a large warehouse {Read more about Bathtubs in Old Bathrooms}
Laundry Chute Evolution
The final component of the bathroom re-do, the laundry chute door, was a real puzzle to figure out. We were really brainstorming about what to use – Brand new door? Custom made door? Build it ourselves out of wood door? Find a used cabinet door? A reader , Laurie, even had a great suggestion of {Read more about Laundry Chute Evolution}
Totally Tubular Aluminum Chair
image credit: Canoe Here’s a question from a reader, Robin, who was forced to buy a chair while she was out shopping with her very stylishly frugal friend – me! Robin’s house is mid-century modern and she has fabulous taste. This modern rocking chair, which does need fixing will look great in her house. Robin {Read more about Totally Tubular Aluminum Chair}
DIY Project Claw Feet
As you’ll recall, we discovered an ugly secret during our bathroom re-do project about our claw foot bathtub: our bathtub was missing one of its claw feet. To be honest with you, I’ve always thought it was me, not the bathtub, whenever the bathtub moved during my shower. I’d begin to question myself: Did I {Read more about DIY Project Claw Feet}
Bathroom Progress Part 5
The best part about the bathroom project, aside from the toilet working, bathtub working, and the sink working, is the pretty shower curtain and Roman shade. The colors are bright, cheerful, and definitely say, “Good morning, Sunshine!” when you walk through the doorway!
Abraham Lincoln Love
Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln, we sure do love you. Around here we celebrate Lincoln’s birthday with a cake or special cookies. And for some strange reason the kids have created the February 12th tradition of my husband (who is absolutely NOT a dunker) having to dunk a cookie in milk. Whether you know only the {Read more about Abraham Lincoln Love}
Yes, I Love Chairs
They say the first step in acknowledging you have a problem is admitting it. Well, I have a problem with chairs. You could call it a chair obsession if you wanted to. I like to think of them as my entertainment. So I love chairs – what’s the big deal? They’re free, on the sidewalk, {Read more about Yes, I Love Chairs}
Sources: Bathroom Project
With the bathroom project in the final stretch, I’ve had lots of inquiries about colors, stores, and type of materials used. Since I love to share my sources, below is the entire list of haunts for our bathroom project. Some hardware and tools were purchased over the years and not just for this project but {Read more about Sources: Bathroom Project}
Bathroom Progress Part 4
In a marriage, spouses each take on different roles and responsibilities. In our marriage, I somehow have the role of plumber and in particular, the one who installs toilets. I’m not entirely sure how this happened but over nearly 22 years of marriage, 2 old houses and 4 bathroom renovations later, I’ve gotten plenty of {Read more about Bathroom Progress Part 4}
Found: One Claw Foot
The bathroom do it yourself project hit a sticking point early on. We had no idea but our claw foot bathtub was missing a foot. I really don’t know how this happened but that’s part of the joy of owning an old house – surprises. With a claw foot in hand, we headed to Hippo {Read more about Found: One Claw Foot}
Bathroom Progress Part 3
Oh joy! Progress is being made…floors are being laid. Now that the walls and ceiling are patched and painted, we’ve moved onto the flooring. When you’re in the middle of a do it yourself project, especially one that involves plumbing and you’re down to only one toilet in the house, you want to get another {Read more about Bathroom Progress Part 3}
Bathroom Progress Part 2
Once you start a house project on an old house, you’re opening a can of worms. If your goal is to fix one thing and you open a wall or move a bathtub, you’re guaranteed to find 10 plus other projects that need doing. Surprise! You need to fix more things and of course they’re {Read more about Bathroom Progress Part 2}
Bathroom Progress Part 1
Do you ever have that feeling when you start a project that things have to get really bad before they can get better? Or, when you need to organize a closet or clean out a drawer you have to take everything out to start with a clean slate or palette? If only this project were {Read more about Bathroom Progress Part 1}
