step it up

We are preparing our townhome to become a rental, and the one big improvement we must make is replacing the carpet upstairs and in the stairwell. We have lived with this carpet since we moved in and it is showing some wear and tear (understatement of the century). While pricing carpet, I was determined to at least explore the idea of refinishing the stairs if the wood underneath was suitable. So one Friday evening, on a whim, we ripped up the carpet on the stairs...

And the treads were in pretty great condition! We were pleasantly surprised, to say the least. Especially after finding out we were going to save over 200 bucks by not having to carpet them!

So the next 24 hours were spent pulling out every staple that was ever manufactured on earth from the treads and risers. How did I get so lucky to have them all on my stairs? Did the original carpet guys have some sort of vendetta out against me? My forarms and hands are still sore.
We did have help, though.

I used wood filler for all the nail and staple holes, any big divots or crack, and then we got busy sanding these suckers smooth.

Then the fun part arrived (not really). Paint! I chose to use paint instead of stain (which I would have preferred) due to the overspray from the white trim when these were installed. We sanded and sanded and sanded without any luck. So staining them was not an option.

I painted the risers first with basic white paint, and then moved to the treads. I started by painting (black cashmere - couldn't tell you the brand) every other tread since we still needed access to the upstairs. So our gluts got quite the workout over the course of this week! It was like the world's best stair climber machine.

I painted two coats of black and let them cure completely before I used poly to seal them. After three coats of poly (sanding lightly in between coats), and 24-36 hours to cure, I got started on the other set of alternating stairs, and used the same process.

Phew. Long project.

I still wasn't totally pleased with them, since I'm a little OCD bit of a perfectionist. See that gap in between the wall and the stairs? It just didn't look finished. We were already planning to put quarter rounds where the black meets the white to finish it off, but that gap needed some attention too. So off I went to the hardware store for quarter round and - my solution to that unsightly gap - lots and lots of caulk.

Matt cut the quarter round and we glued it into place. Like with liquid nails, but still. How's that for a shortcut? I then got busy taping off the stairs like so...

And then ran a line of caulk up a few stairs at a time.  



I think I learned this tip from Sherry at Young House Love, but if you dip your finger in water before smoothing the caulk, this process goes a lot...well, smoother. It gets rid of any ridges or bubbles or lines that you may create otherwise. I always feel like a caulker-extraordinare when I use this tip. Thanks Sherry!

Pull the tape off while it's still wet, and you should have a pretty darn crisp line!

There were only a couple of spots that I had to touch up, but that was because the wood was somewhat splintered on the sides in a few places.

Overall, I'm really happy with the end result. I think it's perfect for a rental property - no carpet to get worn down and grimy on the stairs. And it's kind of pretty too!

Hopefully the next project I post will be in our NEW HOUSE!

-Lauren

a-door-able

Another part of our new house that will need some updating is the front door. The shutters are black, which I love on the brick, but the door is a fabulous, nineteen-eighties burgandy.

I am itching for a little subtle-brightness and I think a sweet, rich teal is just the answer...

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I've tried to talk Matt into a buttery-yellow door with no such luck. He's just recently warmed up to pretty teals in home decor. Let's not push it... too much, too fast!

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The very first one is my very favorite. Our front door will be flanked in brick as well, so that photo helps me visualize it better. I think this will be one of my very first updates... such a rewarding little project!

Lauren



ch-ch-ch-changes

Some exciting news around these parts... Matt and I are in the process of buying a new house! We adore our little townhome and it holds extra-special memories for us, but we are really excited to make this new place our home. While I have no idea what I'll do with all this new space, I can't wait to start the process of making it ours. We are MOST excited about the gorgeous back yard... we've had a little 12x12 outdoor patio to call our own for the past 3+ years so this is a major upgrade!

There is lots of updating to do throughout this 25-year old house, so I've, of course, turned to Pinterest for every last bit of inspiration so far.

I'm thinking dark gray, putty-colored cabinets and we will be covering the current tile backsplash with a beadboard one...

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Like I mentioned before, there is lots of updating to be done - like eighties-style brass fireplace fronts and shiny, brass door hardware. There are lots of awesome tutorials out there, though, from great bloggers like Young House Love and Centsational Girl. Don't let the brass frighten you!

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I'll even have a space to turn into the mudroom I've always wanted!

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All in all, I'm super excited. Even with all the work to be done, the house is completely turn-key, so we're able to do all of these updates at our leisure. We feel so blessed and can't wait to show you all the changes!

Lauren

Honey Do List

It is warm and sunshine-y out, which can only mean one thing. Summer is HERE. Spring and Summer have always been my favorite times of the year, with the exception of football season. Which, in our household, is a season in and of itself. (Go Dawgs!)

With the change in temperatures and my subsequent elevated mood, I am all motivated and ready to tackle some serious home projects. I made a list of short and long term projects that we'd like to finish, and already marked a rather simple one off my list.

- Paint the downstairs - all of it -  in cooler tones. 

- Paint our kitchen cabinets. (I'm so excited for this one)

- Paint our stair rail glossy black to replace that stupid builder-grade orange-y wood. ( This is done! I did it while Matt was playing golf one afternoon this week. He was scared I would drip black paint everywhere, so I did it without him knowing so he wouldn't have to worry. :) So thoughtful of me. And he loves it! It looks really sharp.)

- Possibly paint interior doors black in our boring upstairs landing.
- Install beadboard under our bar.

- Paint bathroom vanities. (2)

- Frame out bathroom mirrors.

- Install board and batten in half balf, master bath. Heck, why not the guest bath while we're at it?!

- Install new carpet upstairs - this will be a long time coming.

- Transition 2nd bedroom into office space/guest room. (Below is what I'm thinking for the space... a lot of the items are based on what we already have in our office "nook" off the kitchen.) 

- Install single, high shelf in living room for a mini-library. (inspiration pic below)

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- possibly bring a pop of red into living room with storage ottomon to replace coffee table. (I haven't run this one by Matt yet. Suprise, honey! This is what your crazy wife is daydreaming about.) I [heart] this ikat one below, although it's completely out of my price range which, at this time, is approximately $0.

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I'm looking forward to completing some of these fun projects with my #1 guy! I'll be sure to update along the way. Happy summer!

Lauren

you pretty thing...

My mother-in-law gave me the sweetest oval mirror for my birthday a few weeks ago. I just recently got around to refinishing it, and had a deep blue-green in mind for this pretty thing...

(Yes, that's a wooden spool in the mirror's reflection. Ignore it for now!)

I cleaned it up and smoothed out some rough edges before applying a coat of Minwax stain in Ebony. I avoided sanding it to the bone simply because I prefer those little scuff and marks that come with age.

I mixed a few colors from my "oops" paint collection to come up with the final shade of blue-green. It is definitely more teal than it looks in these photos.

I liked the color that I mixed so much that I found a few other small pieces around the house to paint. Beware! Nothing is safe!
And for good measure, an instagrammed version. Duh. Everything is prettier on instagram. You can follow my instagram feed... username laurengiesler.

This pretty thing makes me smile every time I walk in the door! Matt even high-fived me when he saw the finished product. Success!

Lauren

Movin' on Up

The possibility of a move in the near future has me begging the question: where in the world do I start?

In one sense, it's exciting... starting from scratch. Changing that wall color that was never right. Arranging a room in a whole new way. Finding new homes for accessories and art. On the other hand, it can be rather overwhelming... So many choices! And I am not exactly known for my decisiveness.

In the meantime, I've been collecting some rather simple, but inspirational ideas to get me started and excited!


Shutters on the interior is a charming (and cheap!) alternative to fabric panels, don't you think?

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I am falling in love with the idea of a deep blue accent wall. How dreamy is this color?

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A covered porch overlooking the treetops is the perfect setting for a string of outdoor lights.

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Maps have always fascinated me. Even now, I like to follow our route on my phone and take note of quirky town names and random attractions nearby. I love the idea of framed maps as art in any room!

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It's not a secret that I am a huge fan of stripes, and these are no different. These wide stripes are to.die.for.

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You can see more ideas here.

Does the idea of a blank canvas excite or intimidate you?

Lauren

SoCal Neighborhood Tour

Since I promised a neighborhood tour of San Diego.... without further ado!

On the way to La Jolla, I stumbled across this beauty... with quite a view from the back, I imagine, considering this property over looked all of La Jolla and the Pacific. Unfortunately, Matt wouldn't let me snoop to that degree. Boo!

The following are on the coast in La Jolla....

Not much yard space to speak of...

But who needs a back yard when this is your back yard? 

Point Loma had lots of different styles to choose from. And is such a quaint little area, too!

Let's be honest, here... I would take any of these houses in Laguna Beach...

I mean, seriously.

Can you imagine waking up to this each morning? 

These cedar shakes make me cry a little. And the roof deck! Swoon.

We took a stroll along the Venice canals near Los Angeles, as well. Talk about some unique, beautiful homes!

Favorite! I'm sensing a theme, here. Craftsman, cedar, and terraces, perhaps?! 

This one is so dreamy, too! Again, with the cedar! You're killing me. L-O-V-E.

Who wants to pack up and move with me? You? Yes? 


Did I mention it's always 70 and sunny? 


Let's GO.


Lauren