Sunday, October 6, 2013

Faux Board and Batten with Lattice & Chair Rail


Happy Sunday! So this weekend I took on the task of re-doing my foyer. I still have some small items to finish off but wanted to show you the faux board and batten I put up. It is not a new idea but thought it would look fabulous in my foyer. I have a very dark foyer with hardwood floors in some need of refinishing. I originally had chair rail I installed a few months back and had painted the bottom a red and the top a tan gold that I love (Valspar paint). The dark red even though it was only on the bottom half of the chair rail was too dark for the room and did not blend well with the black interior front door (painted a few doors black a few months ago). So for $75 dollars I did a mini makeover of my foyer and absolutely love it! It completely brightened up the space and was very, very easy. The hardest part was caulking & painting. Here is how I did it but first let me show you the before and then a few after pictures. 

This was before I painted the door black.  I love the interior door black but did not go well with the walls. Here is another picture of the red with the black door. 


So you can see it did not look that great. Something was not flowing well so I decided that black and white would blend a lot better and to introduce faux board and batten. I did not want to remove the chair rail that I had put up a few months ago so I decided to simply add lattice strips 12 inches apart and paint it all bright white. I was off to home depot...

I calculated I would need 27 lattice strips at 33 inches height. The cost was 97 cents a foot for the lattice. I did opt for the primed lattice strips to make it easier for me to paint. I cut all my lattice strips into 64 inch pieces and then cut them into 33 inches at home. I did have a little waste but I was okay with that. I then cut my strips and begun to place them using a level to make sure they are straight and held them on with blue painters tape.

My little Pomeranian, Boo Boo was supervising me measure the whole time (see him in the picture lol)



You can see that I did prime one wall prior to putting up the lattice strips but then decided I didn't want to wait until the primer dried so I went ahead and put up the rest of the strips then primed. I let dry and then about 2 -3 hours later I went ahead and caulked any holes or gaps and nail holes and then let dry overnight. I then awoke the next day and sanded and painted 3 coats of gloss white Rustoleum paint. I think it looks fabulous!






You might have noticed the white table in the foyer got a face lift as well. I sanded, primed and spray painted it with Rustoleum Dark Walnut. I added a new rug by the door (still want to get a much larger foyer rug) and re-arranged some pictures on the wall to make the walls more pleasing. I want to add some color pieces to the foyer as well soon. I am thinking of adding some red accent pieces. I also want to redo (paint of course!) the planter pot. 

The white faux board and batten matches well with the black door and really makes the area seem larger and brighter so I am very pleased. I already had the Rustoleum gloss white (my husband jokes I have more paint than a painter), and the primer. So my total cost was for the lattice strips which cost $75 dollars. 

Well, what do you think?

Here is one more before and after picture.... 




Stay tuned for me to reveal the full foyer makeover which will include, refinishing the hardwood floors, stairs and banister (DIY), a larger new rug (still searching for the perfect one!), paint the other two doors in the foyer black (I have painted the exterior doors black on both sides but have not painted the coat closet and half bath door that are shown in these pictures in my foyer) and add some more decor to the foyer...

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Top 10 Home Decor Accessories a home should have handy

Hello! Today I am going to share my thoughts on the top 10 home decor accessories you should always have handy for your home. These items come in a variety of shapes and sizes but can be used in so many ways in decorating your home. 

1)   Candlesticks - Not just used for candles anymore, decorate with holiday décor or use in any room!
2)   Vases - whether for fresh flowers or filled with candy or decoration these are versatile item that everyone should have
3)   Candles - Candles can be used as standalone decorating piece, combined with other items, used in vases and on candlesticks, and are great mood setters for any well designed home
4)   Fresh Flowers/Greenery - Bringing the outdoors in, not only can make a house look beautiful but can make it feel more like a home and can provide a light scent to the home
5)   Books - Not only used for entertainment but can be used as a decor accessory on tables & bookshelves and in addition can be used to stack other decor items like candlesticks
6)   Lamps/Lighting - Even if you have recessed lighting in a home a well-placed lamp or alternate lighting not only can bring high style to a home but add to the lighting and feel of a home
7)   Fabric - I say this universally because it relates to all areas of a home from Pillows, Rugs, curtains, table runners, decorative art, throws and napkins. Fabric brings softness to a home. Pay attention to areas needing fabric added whether it is a simple throw pillow to something larger like a rug. Incorporate fabric in any great style. 
8)   Picture Frames - Whether you use them to display your family favorite portraits, art or simply to use for awesome crafts like chalkboards and framing mirrors. 
9)   Baskets - Wire, Plastic, Wicker.. have them handy to add style to any room. Whether used on shelves, or next to couches or even smaller ones used for organizing. Baskets are universal decorative items that can be used in many ways. 
10) Mirrors – Mirrors bounce light and can make small spaces seem larger. Do not underestimate the power of a mirror in a home. 

If you don’t have these items in your home, invest now! Do not pass up items in these categories that spark your interest, you will be surprised how these pieces can be used over and over, even if you change your décor.

Realtor Tip: These items are great for staging a home and making a home more welcoming. Put a mirror in a small hallway, put candles and candlesticks on tables and counters, clear tables and put a vase with fresh flowers, bring in some fabric with table runners and napkins to stage a dinner table. Use fabric to hide bold color choices in furniture or tone it down. Use baskets to hide things, de-clutter and fill space. Turn on all lights and make sure all rooms are well lit with lamps. Use books on tables to make home feel lived and for layering. Replace picture frames with decorative fabric or art printouts instead of personal pictures.