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Another Big Bite

Another Big Bite

Tag Archives: before and after

Finn’s Big Boy Room – Put a fork in it; it is DONE!

18 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in Fixing Up the House, I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo'

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

bedroom, before and after, boys room, decorating, diy, home, house, kids, kids room, loft bed, remodel, renovating

1finn1This weekend, we put a few finishing touches on Finn’s room.  I was super stoked, but I still was searching for a rug to hide the fugly carpet (which is not on our list of priorities to replace).  After heading to Ikea on Tuesday night, I snagged one of my top contenders for $35 from the As-Is section.

And now, with the rug down, the room finally feels done!  Here is what it looked like when we moved in…

Before...

Before…

And this was the other side of the room…

IMG_5362And now:

1finn4

There are a few minor pieces of trim that we are still scratching our heads about exactly how to address (like the small gap between the wall and rock wall and the toe-kick at the bottom of the rock wall), but everything else is totally complete.

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I put tiny curtains up under his loft to give him a little fort to hang out in.  It also has been employed as a stage.  And a reading room.  And a hideout for doing things Mom doesn’t let you do, but now you have a secret hideout to do it in.  Like giving your Lego men a bath in a cup of water.  And spilling it.

The Lego table was originally parked under his USA map (see the full rundown on that project – my favorite – here), and the closet was supposed to house his dresser to free up some floor space.  Oh, I measured twice to make sure it would fit – and it did with lots of room to spare.  Only I forgot to think about making sure the drawers would open once it was inside the closet.  Spoiler alert: drawers didn’t open, and it moved back to its original spot.  Now that it is there, I think it anchors the map much better than the Lego table did.  Finn’s made sure the map doubles as a cork board of sorts…

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The frog donning a Batman costume was TOTALLY Finn’s idea. Bah-rill-yant.

We also found a new spot for the rhino head I made him a few years ago.  The rhino keeps his Disney pins safe.  And I was sooooo happy to hang up the sign with his name on it; my dear friend from Spokane made it as a piece of decor for Finn & I’s baby shower years ago…  (Miss you, Great and Powerful Peggy!)

1finn12Hands down, the best part of the room is the bed.  It is mega sturdy (all four of us have been up there without the slightest creak or wiggle) and Finny has a blast climbing up the wall to get in and out of bed.  I think we have successfully planted the rock climbing seed for little Alice…  She whips up that baby like a spider monkey.  She has a bit of a problem getting down, but we’re working on it.

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1finn9

1finn11I did a little digging through Nae and I’s old road trip pics from years ago, and decided to meld one of the shots from Sequioa National Park with a favorite literary reference.  A match made in Tolkien-nerd-road-trip heaven.  Finn also gets lots of use out of the little shelf underneath it…  It is just out of reach of Alice’s destructive little fingers and makes a great spot to keep his latest Lego creations safe.

1finn5Now that it is done (99% anyway), I am itching to get going on Alice’s room.  My mom is coming to visit in a week…  Ikea is begging for a mom-grandma-kids shopping trip.

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But for now, I have a few weeks to clean up all the tools stashed upstairs.  And to plot my next move for Alice’s space…

Just in case you are curious about our process, check out the room in-progress here, here and here.

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DIY (Faux, No-Sew) Roman Shades

16 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in Fixing Up the House, I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo'

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Tags

before and after, boys room, diy, home, kids room, new sew, roman shades, sewing

Another Big Bite - DIY Faux Roman Shade

Finn’s room is coming along quite nicely.  And by “quite nicely,” I mean that nothing of interest has been done since I painted it.

Baby steps.  Baby steps.

Yesterday I busted out a roman shade for his window.  It is just for show.  Even though I love the look of roman shades, the process of opening and closing them twice a day is a pain-in-the-ass…  Since his blinds are in pretty good shape and not a wonky color (like my kitchen blinds were), I figured I would throw a valance up over the window to give it a little extra height and bring some more white into the room.

I fell in love with the greek key trim that I spotted at Hobby Lobby, and while I still think it is awesome, I’m a little on the fence about how I feel about it in Finn’s room.  I’m hoping once everything is pulled together, it won’t look so out-of-place.  Maybe it’s too girly.

Since the only thing I had to buy was the trim, I didn’t feel so bad about breaking the bank for what amounts to glorified ribbon… After my 40% off coupon it was $17.00; but everything else I used was lying around the house.  The white fabric is left over from Alice’s curtains and the length of 1×2 was raided from Nathan’s ever-growing scrap wood stash.

I made the shades about an inch and a half wider than the window.  I cut the fabric slightly larger than I needed so I could hem the seams with iron-on seam tape.  The fabric is only about two-thirds the size you would need to cover the whole window.

photo 1 (1)

To attach the trim, I ironed on fuseable seam tape (with the peel-off paper) the entire length first; it needed two strips since it was so wide.

photo (2)

Once I peeled off the paper, I flipped it upside down and ironed it from the back.  The trim would have melted under the heat of the iron.

photo 2 (1)

The mitered corners were the trickiest part, but were much easier than I thought they would be.  I made sure NOT to iron the trim all the way to the corner.  Then I folded the trim at a 45 degree angle backwards at the corner (away from the next edge) …

photo 3 (1)

And then folded it back in the direction of the new edge.

photo 4 (1)

Finally, I carefully flipped the whole thing over and ironed the hell out of the back.  (Even though none of that made sense in actual words, I hope the pictures made it easier to understand.).

photo 2 (2)

I cut a length of 1×2 just shy of the length of my shade.  I used an old-school manual saw and miter box, but if I would have had to buy a new piece of wood at Home Depot, I would have had it cut there (for free – if Nathan wasn’t around).  They also have a self-serve hand saw and miter box to use in the trim department.

Another Big Bite - DIY Faux Roman Shade2

I hot glued the top of the fabric to the back of the 1×2.  To get the folds, I whipped out my handy-dandy electric stapler (literally one of the BEST Christmas presents I have ever received – Thanks, Mom!!) and popped two staples into the wood where I wanted my folds to be.  I also stapled the top of the fabric just for good measure.

photo 3 (2)

To hang it on the wall, I marked a level line where I wanted the top of the shade to be and drove three screws through the wood.  I had a tiny bit of a sag in the middle of the fabric when I was done, so I popped a couple extra staples through the back of the fabric and into the wood.

I also hung Finn’s rhino head back up.  A few months ago, it leapt to its death and made sure to maim poor little Finny in the process.  After that trip to the ER, I decided to screw that bitch into the wall.  It. Does. Not. Move.

Another Big Bite - DIY Faux Roman Shade3

Another Big Bite - DIY Faux Roman Shade4

And wouldn’t ya know?  Finn hates it.

He thinks that he should have Spiderman curtains.  And I keep holding back from buying Spiderman sheets and pillows for two reasons… They are ugly AND I think he’ll be over Spiderman before I even send them through the washing machine once.  This second reason is mostly self-justification, though.  He has been totally into Spidey for over half of his life.  And that is a long time when you are four.

And Nathan wants the room to have a giant AT-AT from Star Wars in it.

I simply cannot win.  (This is why I do all this stuff without telling anyone before hand, I’ll have you know.)

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They See Me Strollin’. They Hatin’.

02 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo', The "Joy" of Parenting

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

alice, before and after, crafts, diy, doll stroller, dolls, goodwill, kids, parenting, recycle, sewing, upcycle, upcycling

Another Big Bite - Doll Stroller Makeover

Oh, Alice and her babies.

She’s been enamored with baby dolls since she’s been able to sit up.  Finn suggested we get her a stroller for her first birthday, which turned out to be a stroke of genius.  We ordered a plastic Fisher Price walker-type one from Amazon, and she was on a roll. Once she realized that she had more than just the one baby, all hell broke loose because the other babies were too big.

That one has been banished to the basement for its tantrum-causing tendencies.  Don’t worry; it has the giant cardboard bricks, slot-cars and Hot Wheel track down there to keep it company.

Last week, after my I-should-get-rid-of-my-crappy-Old-Navy-clothes epiphany, I whittled down my closet by almost half and lugged two giant blue Ikea bags full of clothes to Goodwill.  I made the mistake of popping in.  And left $3.00 poorer with this icky bad boy in my trunk.

Another Big Bite - Doll Stroller Makeover before

I scrubbed the hell out of it with Clorox wipes.  Instead of being a regular person and plunking the cover in the wash, I made a new cover.  Just trying to make the world a little cuter, one beat-up doll stroller at a time.

It wasn’t rocket science; I used a seam ripper to tear it apart and then traced the pieces onto leftover fabric scraps.  Oh, yeah, canvas dropcloth to the rescue yet again!  I’m gonna milk that baby as long as I can.  Best twenty bucks I’ve ever spent.  Since the original stroller fabric was finished in bias tape (which tests my sewing skills and frustrates me to no end) and I was fresh out (shucky-darn, motherfucka), I opted to double up the canvas with some cute Amy Butler fabric I had lying around waiting for a project.  That meant adding a bit of seam allowance.

photo 1 (12)

Then traced my canvas on to the cute fabric...

Then traced my canvas on to the cute fabric…

I made sure to add elastic loops, static loops and velcro wherever the original had it.  The original had a pair of D-rings and webbing for the belt to hold the doll in.  Alice would have long outgrown this darn thing before she was able to manipulate those, so I improvised a velcro/fabric belt instead.

1stroller1

Now she’s happier than a brand-new momma with a Bugaboo…  (Probably because she gets more sleep).  And I’m happier because this one folds up and hides in the cabinets in the living room when she’s done.

Ohmygod!  She was so little in December!  And not even walking on her own.

Ohmygod! She was so little in December! And not even walking on her own.

1stroller4

1stroller3

“Back up, lady. That last Petite Vanilla Scone has my name written all over it.”

No stroller, but I couldn't resist.

No stroller, but I couldn’t resist.

This should stay relevant until she realizes they make DOUBLE strollers for dolls…  I’ll plead with her to reconsider putting it on her Christmas list.  (“Please, Alice, honey.  Your father and I thought we had to have a double stroller for the two of you kids…  And that thing is a bitch to get around.  And takes up too much real estate in the garage…  Even though it is AMAZING.”)  But she’ll be just like her mom – and won’t listen to her mother’s sage advice.

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Woo! Foxy Pillow!

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo'

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

before and after, decorating, diy, fox, home, pillow, recycle, sewing, sweater, upcycle, upcycling

Here I come, baby.  I’m comin’ to lean on ya.

1foxp2

As I write this, I am beginning to notice a pattern.  Buying clothes for myself at Old Navy is not wise.  I have countless pairs of jeans and shirts in my closet that don’t fit, are a weird color, are falling apart or some combination of any of those three.  The one thing they all have in common?  Old Navy.

But, hey, they were also all very reasonably priced.  So there’s that.

photo 1 (9)

Here’s the thing; I bought that crap because I thought it was cute at one time or another.  This sweater is textbook Old Navy…  Cute idea, slightly the wrong color, poor quality, ill-fitting…  And only sixteen dollars!  Why yes, ma’am, I’ll take it!

I like the fox, I do, but no one over the age of fourteen (I’m being generous here) should be sporting woodland creatures in the name of fashion.  Since I’m not the greatest at math, I clearly overlooked the fact that I am in my thirties and have no business traipsing around in a sweater emblazoned with Tod from The Fox and the Hound.

Still, it is kinda cute.  So I made a pillow out of it.  Lined with (what else but) a drop cloth.

I was mad impressed with myself when I finally zipped up the invisible zipper that I put in – after ripping it out only twice.  By the time I got around to getting started on the insert for the pillow, I had an epiphany.

Lightning had struck my brain.

Hey, I’ve got 826 down pillows scattered around the house.  Surely I can spare one of them for The Fantastic Mr. Fox.  They are all too big; I’ll just rip one open and make it smaller!!  Easy, peasy!

Do you have any idea how many fucking feathers are in a 20″ down pillow insert?  This many; it fills a bin that is big enough for me to lay down in.

photo 2 (9)So there I am, in the middle of the night, choking on the remains of some unfortunate specimen of water fowl, wishing I would have worn a mask, covered from head to toe in static-infused downy goodness, and it strikes me that some poor soul has to do this every damn day, forty hours a week, fifty-two weeks a year.  And I’m doing it for a HOBBY.  Clearly, I’m a dumbass.

Not that we didn’t already know that about me.  I mean, hey, I’m a grown woman buying clothes from Old Navy without trying them on.

Now I’ve got a pillow – a fox, made out of sheep’s hair (wool), stuffed with a goose. It is the turducken of soft furnishings… A sheeoxaquack?  I dunno.

1foxp1

Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m off to my closet to get a pile going for Goodwill.

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The Lord of the Shower Curtain Rings: The Return of Irish Spring

22 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by anotherbigbite in Fixing Up the House

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

bathroom, bathroom remodel, before and after, diy, home, remodel, Remodeling, renovating

Oh, how I wish the completion of our final bathroom came with Viggo Mortensen sportin’ a crown and swinging a super intimidating sword.  (Do you think he uses Irish Spring?  I kinda figure him for a Nivea man…)

But alas, not all things turn out just the way you want them.

Our last bathroom, the master bath, didn’t turn out exactly the way I would have liked, but only because it didn’t make much sense to purchase a new mirror (instead of spray painting the existing one), invest in the most amazing mosaic accent tile and splurge on exactly the right light fixture – since the house officially went on the market on Wednesday.

Other than that, it looks just as I thought it would; amazing.  Due only to Mr. Nathan. When I look back on all our renovation “in progress” photos, most of them are of the back of his head, not mine.

Was I thinking ahead, I might have moved the toilet scrubber outta the way for the photo.

This was a full gut job; except for the tub.  I also would have put in a deeper tub if we were going to be here for the long haul.  Even though it was original to the house, the tub was still in great shape and pristine white.  No need to mess with (cough) perfection.

Way less penis-y, unlike our downstairs bathroom.

We added a new vanity/sink, replaced the toilet and redid the tile in the shower.  I know you must be sick of hearing about drywall dust by now, but I am sooo glad that we are done with drywalling.  It wasn’t the hardest part, but it was the messiest.  The new floor is so dark, and I like it, though I was a little nervous about it when we bought the tile.  In the end, I’m happy with it.

I was tearing out my hair looking for something cheap to put up on the walls, and lo and behold, I already has these postcards from our West Coast road trip many moons ago.

Right outside the bathroom was an awkward vanity/makeup area thing.  It was hideous, and that does not come through in the pictures at all.  We removed the 1970’s groovy door, painted the drawer fronts underneath and added a new vanity top.  In a perfect world, we would have used a slab of travertine like the vanity top in the bathroom, but again, money, money, money.  We sprung $22.00 for an unfinished door, stained and sealed it.

I’m a little sad that we don’t actually get to use this bathroom.  Very sad, actually.  The very same way that you might feel about these dorky “Lord of the Rings” inspired post titles.  Unfortunately,  my friend, this was the last one.  For a while, at least.

Once we were all done, Nathan took a deep breath and sighed one of those exasperated sighs one does after finishing a long and tedious project…

“Fuck it.  Let’s stay.”

And for a little second, I was totally with him.  I ran my hands along the edge of the vanity and took one glance at our doughy Ohio-ed selves in the mirror and then  immediately got my priorities straight.

“Nice house in Ohio, or the unknown in Colorado?”  I asked him.

Yep.  Both of us agree.  Colo-freakin-rado.

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