The Ugly Duckling House

Saturday Stimuli: Ornate Patterns

2012-01-28T01:30:00.000-05:00

Whenever I get a little stressed, I daydream about a faraway, exotic locale. One where I let my hair do as it pleases (which ranges anywhere from pin straight to wavy curls), wear long, flowy dresses, and pile on the jewelry. Despite a love of chic and modern decor, I am still a sucker for crossed patterns and mixes of bright pops of color. In my Batik Chic Pinterest board, you'll find just that. Do the two aesthetics always have to be in conflict? Not at all; they all tend to look pretty amazing against a simple, white wall.

Source: etsy.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

Source: frommoontomoon.blogspot.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

Source: sweetparadox.tumblr.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

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Source: google.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

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Here, stare at the cute dog

2012-01-26T03:04:00.000-05:00

Today's Thursday, which means I'll be spending the evening with people who are just as tired, cranky, and (probably) hungry as I am. In other words: class. It's becoming another segment of my life now, so either I've got to get the hang of this or you'll have to get used to me being in a crappy mood every other week.

Kidding. Why stop at every other week?

So, instead of my usual posting, I'll just show you the latest pictures of Charlie enjoying a little sniff sniff/run/play action at the park:

Hey, at least one of us is having fun, right?

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Two Accent Walls?

2012-01-25T01:30:00.000-05:00

Even though I really want to paint the study-o navy, I've been thinking that painting all of the walls the same dark color would turn it into a cave.

Instead, I'm exploring the idea of painting the wall with the widow, and the one against the door (which is only seen when you're in the room). That way, the room will appear to have a navy accent wall, the white desk will pop off the dark color, and the room will still stay bright. As for the other two walls? They will actually change to white, similar to the Pinterest pic below.

Source: boligpluss.no via Meaghan on Pinterest

So lately, I've been seeking out accent wall photos for inspiration. Have you ever painted an accent wall in your home? What did you like? Dislike?

Source: bhg.com via Lynnette on Pinterest

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Two New Small Projects

2012-01-24T01:30:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, I dug out two very important objects that I'll be working on for the study-o.

The first is a small shelf which surprisingly is the exact same width as the desk. I'll need to paint it white. Oh, and dust it off :)

The second is the chair I picked up off Craiglist.

I've been shopping around for fabric to give it a makeover and have narrowed it down to two options:

Waverly Strands in Black

Vintage leaf print fabric from CANOPYstudio

I'm still mulling it over, but the entire chair will change depending on the fabric I pick.

I have them both on the new desk so that I can work on them over the next few weeks. Hopefully it doesn't take me long, but I'll update you as I go as always!

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Shelf Liner Turned Anti-Slip Rug Pad

2012-01-23T01:30:00.000-05:00

What I love most about waking up in the morning is that there is a furry puppy smile to greet me. As soon as Charlie gets out of her crate (she'll still be crate training until she's a year old), she runs from the guest room into the master bedroom, shaking her tail so hard that her whole body wiggles.

She also runs across the new rug in the upstairs hallway, but unfortunately does this to it:

Hmm. Well, I have to keep the dog. I want to keep the rug. But I don't want to fix this each morning. What to do?

A rug pad keeps slippery rugs like mine held snugly to a smooth floor. Unfortunately, getting one can cost almost as much as the rug itself. For example, you can pick up these at Target, but the size I would need for a rug this size starts at $15, and for your usual 5x8 rug, can cost around $30. But if you hold one in your hand, it's basically the same material that you can find to line your kitchen shelves and drawers. Suddenly, I had an idea. I had some leftover liner in the pantry and cut it to size.

Problem solved! Of course, it's a bit anticlimactic to see that the rug looks the same as it did before I put the anti-slip pad down, but isn't that sort of the point?

Granted, shelf liners are only 12 or 20 inches wide, so for bigger rugs you'd have to tape two strips together. In this case, the cost savings is minimal, and really not worthy of the effort. Instead, I would recommend STOPP anti-slip rug pads from IKEA. They are the cheapest I've found and come in two sizes ($3.99 - $9.99) and can easily be cut to size.

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Saturday Stimuli: Winter White

2012-01-21T01:30:00.001-05:00

Source: flickr.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

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Source: weddingdish.thinklikeabride.com via Rebeca on Pinterest

Source: walkinginmyadventure.tumblr.com via UPM, on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

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Source: Uploaded by user via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

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Source: etsy.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

Source: stellaresque42.tumblr.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

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Odds and (Week)Ends

2012-01-19T23:30:00.000-05:00

This weekend, I have a few items to cross off the to-do list. First, I'll finally be picking up the bathroom tile.

I also have a small brown shelf that I snagged from a thrift store years ago. Since it's already painted, I'm hoping I can do a quick sand prep, prime, and paint job to match it to the new study-o desk. Just as soon as I dig my way into the organized (but dense) clutter. It's like a game of Tetris, only the risk of doing it wrong is breaking a lamp shade.

Finally, I'm going to address a few odds and ends in the upstairs hallway. Yes, it involves caulk. And probably a rug pad since Charlie is not a big fan of the way dog weight + momentum = unintentional slip n' slide.

If I'm lucky, I may even get started on another item for organizing the study-o. I spotted a really awesome inspiration pic the other day thanks to a tweet from BobVila.com. I am in pure envy of the amount of cool drifting out of this room.

curbly

Small goals are still goals - and they all get me steps closer to a completed room. Er, hallway? Sigh, at least it's the weekend. Happy Friday!

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Extra Organization

2012-01-18T01:30:00.000-05:00

I'm on the hunt for a little organization for the study-o...

But first, I'm shopping the house. Somewhere in this mess is a small bookshelf. And it looks like I've already got my desk chair. I've just got to give it a makeover.

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Easy DIY Craft Desk

2012-01-17T01:30:00.001-05:00

Last week, I showed you the start of my schmancy new desk for the study-o. After a weekend of making the final few tweaks, the two tables are ready for a final reveal:

I. Freaking. Made. That. And here's how.

(by the way, materials I used are put in bold on this post to make your shopping list easier if you're thinking of building this yourself)

Before getting started on this project, I did a little research on desk heights. Knowing how much time I'll spend at this spot ~~blogging and pinning~~ writing and studying, it was important to get the height at a level as comfortable as possible. Most sites that I could find said that desks are usually 28 to 31 inches tall, and maybe even a little lower if you want it at a good keyboard height to save your arms and wrists from fatigue.

I'd already picked up two ANTONIUS desk tops from IKEA earlier last year, so I had a starting point of a one-inch thickness of desk surface to build from the top down. This left me with a leg height range of 27 to 30 inches (I know, math is hard). But after considering both my short stature and knowing that I'd be using my laptop regularly on the desk surface, 30 inches for table legs seemed like it would probably on the too-tall side. In contrast, 27 inches seemed to be just the right fit (like Goldilocks, only cooler since we're discussing building furniture - porridge and sawdust taste about the same, though).

On a usual weekly run to Lowes about a month prior, I grabbed four 3x3 poplar posts having no real idea of what to do with them. It wouldn't be enough for both desks, but it was perfect for a trial run. That is, if I'd actually gone one step further and also grabbed the rest of what I'd need to create the frame for each side of the desk. Oh well - it's kind of easy to pick up more when you know you're already headed back to the store in just a few days. After picking up some poplar 1x3s, it was time to get started:

1. Because of the pre-bought desk tops, I knew that the end result needed to be no longer than 46 7/8" for the front and back, and no more than 23 5/8" on the sides. Considering that the 3x3 posts were 2.5" wide each (remember, there is a nominal width and an actual width for lumber), I subtracted 5 inches from each measurement of the 1x3s. Sort of like this:

2. I cut everything down using a Christmas gift - my new compound miter saw (before this, I was borrowing one from Dad):

3. With my pieces cut and pre-primed (to make it one less step after putting things together), I drilled pocket holes on each end using my new Kreg Jig. Love this thing! Here are a few of my tips for getting started:

For learning how to use the tool itself (setting the drill bit to the right length, adjusting the jig height, etc), this is a great tutorial and really helped me gain confidence that I was doing things right.
Clamp, clamp, clamp: The number of clamps I used to keep everything snug and still may have been excessive, but you can't be too careful when needing to drill these holes. Clamp the jig down to the desk and clamp the wood to each other/to the table when screwing things together. I bought a right angle clamp for attaching the 1x3s to the posts.
The sawdust builds up which can create drilling/splitting issues, so in my opinion it's best to take the jig apart every few boards and dust things out. Also, the nut that is tightened around the drill bit (which makes sure the drill doesn't go through too much of the wood) needs to be checked to make sure it doesn't move further up the drill after a while. It's just best to re-check things after you've been drilling for a while.
This tool definitely requires a fully charged battery for projects this size.
There is not a single thing in this post that won't be snickered about in a dirty way by some of my immature (but hilarious) friends.

4. For this project, since I was using boards that were 3/4" thick, I needed 1 1/4" screws. Just trust me on that one; you definitely do not need 1 1/2" screws. But since I bought the incorrect ones initially, I used them when I had to join the 1x3 to the 3x3 and depended on the angle (if I was screwing the pieces to the outside of the table, I used the 1 1/4" so to not cause the screw to poke through).

5. With the pieces cut and primed, I put things together with the 3x3 posts as my starting point. Then a 1x3 cut to 18 5/8" was wedged horizontally between the posts, and a vertical piece cut to the same length was used for the support along the top. Here is a visual of each side to better illustrate:

6. As I mentioned before, I sort of messed up with the first desk and screwed in the leg support in the wrong direction. For desk #2, I made sure that didn't happen again by marking the top pieces. So simple, and yet it took me two tries to get that right (and yes, I almost did it again, but the marking saved me)!

7. Obviously desk #2 came together a lot faster than the first one (it didn't have all of that pesky math). Once everything was together, I screwed in the top, patched up any holes with wood filler, filled in cracks with caulk, and gave it two smooth coats of ultra white satin paint (for the smoothest finish, I used a sanding sponge with fine 220-grit between coats). The table top isn't quite as bright as the ultra white paint, but it's not a noticeable enough difference to irk me (I guess I'm either getting better at the OCD stuff or am just too tired after building these to go back to the store to match the paint). The Porter-Cable oscillating tool came in really handy on this project (speaking of, the winner of last week's giveaway can be found here).

I'm still trying to decide if I want to install drawers (similar to these plans) but want to see it in the space before I make any decisions. Even though I know the desk will be an L shape, determining which L shape to go with will determine where I can't put a drawer (or I suppose a secret one that no one knows is there). See the diagram below for a better idea of what I mean. If I decide against the drawers, I only need to add another 1x3 to the fronts to hide any imperfections on the inside. Obviously as you saw in the pictures, I went with Option B for now and will give it a few days to see if I want to change it.

So, there you have it: how to built a simple, sturdy desk with function. And just because I'm so proud of building my first piece of furniture, let's see it again:

I'm really looking forward to finding the right paint color for the walls, but having these desks is miles ahead of where I was a few weeks ago, so I can wait on paint for a bit. It's not like I'm short on other projects! Who's up for a bathroom makeover?

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Close

2012-01-16T01:30:00.002-05:00

The desks aren't quite ready to call them "done" - but they are assembled, getting a few final coats of paint, and in the room they'll be in for the long haul.

In other words, close enough to show you this:

I'd planned on giving the tutorial this morning, but it looks like I'll need one more day before I can have a final shot of them in their final spot.

But they're close!

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Saturday Stimuli: Tangerine

2012-01-14T01:30:00.002-05:00

So the Pantone Color of 2012 has been announced as Tangerine Tango. It's certainly making the rounds in blogland and on Pinterest. What do you think of it? Are you an orangey-red decor fan, or would you rather leave it in your nail polish? (I, for one, love having this hue on my toes in the summer) On the fence? Maybe these photos will help you decide (and there are a lot of 'em!). I'm definitely liking the mix of this bold hue with a more subdued gray (there I go with gray again).

Source: access.decorati.com via Lania on Pinterest

Source: dustjacketattic.blogspot.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: empireoffashion.tumblr.com via Marylle on Pinterest

Source: designedtothenines.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Jamie on Pinterest

Source: designspongeonline.com via Rorie on Pinterest

Source: designedtothenines.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

Source: dwellstudio.com via Yohan Joanie on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: hautemamasfaves.tumblr.com via Angie on Pinterest

Source: favoritepaintcolors.blogspot.com via Sarah @The Ugly Duckling House on Pinterest

What say you? Are you planning on using this color in your decor this year? Are we talking a splash (like those bookshelves or kitchen stools), or the full enchilada (like those color-drenched bedroom walls)? I for one think I'll see a piece of art or two around the Ugg-Duck with this fun and vibrant shade (and in case you can't tell from the artwork I pick, I may go with gray on walls, but I love color in my art).

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Craft Desk (Partial) Reveal

2012-01-13T01:30:00.000-05:00

The desk is FINALLY ready for its first tryout in the study-o.

Did I go with Design #1? Nope. Design #2? Nuh-uh.

I went sleek and modern. You kinda already saw it already when I showed you build day #2, but let's just pretend it's for the first time since it's finally in its new spot.

Ooh, ahh. It's sturdy, solid, and its imperfections are well-hidden (of course it's not perfect; I'm just happy it's not a complete wonky disaster). And the best part is that it's ready just in time for school.

For today, I'm just going to enjoy its simplicity. On Monday, I'll go over the build itself and why I chose this design in the first place (my time crunch was definitely a factor). Trust me, I know it looks like four posts and a table top, but it actually did require a little know-how to make sure it didn't wobble or collapse (that table top is actually fairly heavy).

You may have also noticed that there is only one in the room so far. Gold star for you. The second is on its way, I just need to let the temps creep back up to a reasonable level so I can finish the paint job in the garage (it has less to do with the paint and more to do with the person painting it not wanting to freeze her ass off for no good reason).

I want to give it a name, but I'm not even sure it's a he or a she yet. Part of me thinks it should be a he and that I should name it something that ends in -o (to go with the Study-O itself). Something that sounds smart. You know, to encourage all of the learning that's supposed to be going on in this room (or something like that - ignore me, I'm trying to re-route brain cells to book learnin'). Got any suggestions?

PSST: Don't forget that the Porter-Cable giveaway is open until 8 PM tonight. Be sure to enter!

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Blogs, Breakups, and DIYing Solo

2012-01-12T01:30:00.000-05:00

It's been more than six months since Scott moved out, and although I haven't been asked outright, if my readers are anything like my close friends, I have a feeling that there are some curious minds wanting to know about adjusting to remodeling a house alone (especially when the kind of work that needs to be done often needs a second set of hands). In case you can't tell from some of my unhinged (and as I attempt, funny) rants, I guess I'll just go ahead and sate your curiosity.

(First I'd like to just say, this subject is a little awkward and this post was written without much time spent editing. For you new readers, you might want to skip or read the story in the link above to get caught up. Since this isn't really project-related, if you read this blog for just that, feel free to skip this post too and wait for tomorrow's. Big reveal of the desk coming up then!)

Remodeling a house is a very challenging (and stressful) task. When you couple that with the everyday goings-on of having a job, a social life, and adding school to the mix, remodeling a house can be damn near enough to drive you insane. We're not talking redecorating a house here either; we're talking ripping up flooring, dealing with plumbing issues, and being up to my elbows in drywall dust. It's not something a coat of paint can always fix. Or that I can afford. One's living space is supposed to be what relaxes them, and although I strive for that, getting there requires a lot of hard work, frustration, and mess. And for the last six months, I haven't had another person I can call from another room to hold something steady for me or stay home for the termite guy or another set of eyes. So, how does one handle these things? Or simply, how does one keep it together?

I'm no more interested in hashing out the details of my love life (or, well, lack thereof) now than when we first split, but the best part about that post (which now feels a lot longer than six months ago) has been the overwhelming support I've received from my readers.

To the many who have left comments on this site, and to the many more who have sent me private emails, thank you. I don't think I could ever say that enough. You guys are freaking awesome and the thing that keeps me writing.

But to answer the questions at hand (I suppose): What are things like now, and how do they get dealt with?

I still have help, but I have to wait a little longer and plan a lot better. My family, especially my dad, is wonderfully supportive. It's truly great to have his (and my mom's) help, but since we live nearly an hour apart, I don't get to tackle things as quickly as I used to when I had another set of hands mere seconds away. To put it simply, it's just something I have to learn to plan around. There is a lot more "Hey, since you're here, can you help me with one more thing?" My friends aren't immune to this treatment either. They have pretty much learned to accept that if I invite them out for dinner anywhere near my house, there is a strong possibility I'll ask them to hold something steady or lift something heavy before we head out.

Distractions ease the stress of not knowing what to do next. Between the job, the house, and school, it's probably obvious I'm taking on enough to keep me occupied for the next century. While that can be really taxing sometimes, it also means I have the ability to change things up all the time (sort of because I have to). There simply is no time for being in a rut for too long (project-wise I mean).

I spend my free time wisely. The time I have for a social life is rare enough as it is, so I try to spend what little time I have catching up with friends. And since they are mostly coupled up already, the opportunity to meet someone new is simply nonexistent. The whole out of sight, out of mind thing plays a pretty big role, and unless I were to meet someone who would consider tiling a bathroom floor as a date (okay, maybe not a first date), the chances of finding something sustainable are, by my assessment, pretty unlikely. I'm not purposely avoiding dating, but wearing a HOLY SH*T I'M BUSY tattoo on my forehead doesn't exactly turn me into Gwyneth Paltrow.

This, I could probably make time for :)

I'm happy where I am. Being in a relationship that lasted nearly four years (and buying this house) brought a lot of clarity to what I want. For the last six+ months, my time has been spent on things that will lead to something better. And while I'm always busy, and sometimes feel in over my head, I'm exactly where I want to be and doing exactly what I want to be doing. Which, believe it or not, makes things seem far less strained since I know I'm making that time really count. Someday, I do want a relationship that is meaningful, and that means being a little picky (okay, a lot). Knowing what's worth my time and effort brings a great deal of joy and satisfaction to what's lying ahead; whether that includes another person or not. And not only that; the freedom to not give a damn if I want to is kind of nice. Paint that curtain rod red? Why not? Do a little dance Cameron Diaz style while I work on my study-o desk? It's not like anyone's going to see (or hear my singing voice).

I let people have their own opinions and do what I want anyway. When you're in a couple that isn't working (which to be fair is not the same thing as a bad relationship), people offer plenty of opinions on what you should do. When you're single, same thing; only they keep trying to inquire about dating again as if it's an exposed wire you haven't gotten around to fixing yet. If you just accept that others are going to want you to the exact opposite of what you are doing, finding balance is a little easier because the advice is eventually all just noise. Kinda like an office cubemate who can't figure out how to mute the keys on his cell phone. It's annoying, but you can deal with it. After all, each person giving advice is only trying to find a way to help (they can read that tattoo loud and clear). The convenient thing is, you can easily start to apply this to home remodeling, too. You don't need to get everyone else's opinion before making a decision. Let the creativity flow (just try not to let it drip on the new rug). You'll be surprised with what happens with that newfound confidence.

My brother-in-law bought me this shirt for Christmas. LOVE it.

Budgeting. From a financing perspective, Scott (& Colby) were roommates and did not contribute to the cost of home improvement projects. We shared living expenses (half of my mortgage was his rent and we split utility costs), but since I was the sole owner of the house, DIYing came out of my pocket exclusively. It made things pretty easy when he moved out, and it made for only a little bit of a budget adjustment after the fact. That's not to say that I haven't had to take a longer period of time to save up for bigger projects than I would have if I were still splitting those expenses of course (I still haven't bought the bathroom tile), but part of why I bought the house was that it was cheaper than renting an apartment, so thankfully I'm not in a difficult financial situation like many people are after a breakup.

But, what if? One thing is clear so far: If anyone new does come along, they won't be appearing on this blog for a long, long time (but they'd certainly be behind the scenes - hey, it's part of the package now). And while being a girl who is 5'2" and doing most of the work alone can be a challenge when it comes to remodeling a 1980s eyesore (and um, reaching things on shelves), it's not something I feel that should define what this blog is all about. Yes, it is part of my story (which is the only reason I'm babbling on about it now), but it's only part of my story. In the end, I'm just a DIYer who wants to figure out how to do something right, and as inexpensively as possible. And then of course, share it so you can kick that project's ass, too.

So, there you have it: support, balance, and the usual rambling nonsense. Now if you'll excuse me, I have class tonight and about six things I've got to get to :)

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What's New Wednesday: CB2

2012-01-11T01:30:00.002-05:00

Are you getting spammed with all of the hot new items in EVERY store right now? I sure am. And it's making me drool. I mean, c'mon guys, I just finished Christmas, and now you're making me want to spend again?

In case you're like me and can only ~~window~~ web shop, it's at least fun to see what's new and trendy for 2012, even if I can't buy it:

Green with Envy

Was 2011 not your year? Well maybe you could use a little Luck o' the Irish for 2012. CB2 is full of green things that can get your home in a very cheerful mood (and maybe using the color of money in your home will bring some of it in your bank account?).

(Clockwise from top left:) luck side table/ geobloom rug/ hancock clover bookcase/ formosa clover tray table/ coup clover pillow/ reed clover chair

Hivey League

This hexagon-influenced decor is the bee's knees.

hive orange storage unit/ coup chartreuse pillow/ cage brass pendant lamp/ wrap vases/ twine server

Tangerine Scene

Do you think they got the memo about the 2012 color of the year?

echo orange chair/ atomic lobster arc floor lamp/ cage fuel pendant lamp/ materiali molli poster/ idle-go clock/ parlour atomic orange chair/ anemone vase set

Decornographic

I'm flat-out loving these geometric prints in classic black and white. And that pixelated rug would be perfection in my new study-o with the white desk and navy walls. Perhaps I'll have to DIY one or wait until it goes on sale.

frizzle pillow/ pixel rug/ code vase/ brutalist bookends/ stache pillow

See anything you like? What are you most digging for 2012?

By the way: I was not compensated in any way for promoting these products. I just like window shopping!

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My One Car Workshop

2012-01-10T01:30:00.000-05:00

When it comes to a workshop, the best I've got is my one car garage (that for the entire time I've lived in this house has never actually housed a car, and that might not ever change).

Building the study-o desk has brought a few new realizations to the forefront. Such as:

Wow, this one-car garage is really tiny.

I need more space to do the things I enjoy.

I never thought I'd be the kind of girl who would spend this kind of time in a garage. And like it.

I could really use a shop vac.

I guess I'll tack this on to the 2012 wish list. But I am still holding finishing the master bath and kitchen remodels priority over this space. But then again, having a work room that's actually functional could make both projects a little easier.

Ugh, I hate these in-between moments. It's the kitchen and the egg all over again. But I think I'm heading in the right direction. I want that master bath pronto (well, as much as one can call a 6 by 9 foot space a master bath) so I'm still setting my sights on that as my number one priority now that the desks are finally crossing the finish line.

Then the kitchen and garage will have a discussion among themselves and get back to me on which is more important.

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A Curtain, Please (Porter Cable Oscillating Tool Review & Giveaway)

2012-01-09T00:45:00.000-05:00

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

CONGRATULATIONS Rhonda Grisham! Best of luck with your master bath renovations!

I've mentioned it before, but I have no curtains in my house. Plenty of blinds, but no curtains. This is not really by choice, it's just that most projects have taken priority over spending hundreds of dollars on curtain rods (one large rod can cost $40 - 80, and I have several large windows I'd really like to cover, which is not in the budget right now). And then spending hundreds more on curtains themselves? Fuhgeddaboudit.

One in particular that I'd like to cover is not a window at all; it's actually the sliding glass doors that lead to the back yard from the kitchen. Even though my back yard is enclosed, I still get paranoid about strolling in front of this thing late at night in my pjs. That is to say, my absent-minded strolling late at night when I'm searching for pajama bottoms in the clean laundry and walk to the sliding door to let the dog in. So basically, if there were someone in my back yard, they'd get an eyeful of me in about half of my pjs.

And of course, I'd freak the hell out, because there really shouldn't be anyone in my back yard, anyway.

Anywho, I get paranoid about walking around my house, and I've had enough. With a little help and test drive of an oscillating tool from Porter-Cable, this problem is on its way to being solved.

Unlike most blades that rotate or spin, oscillating blades move from side to side. The smaller movement allows for more precise and steady cutting. And when you're about to try what I did, steady is definitely needed.

This oscillating multi-tool has several attachments that can (depending on the blade you choose) sand, cut through wood/drywall/metal, grind hard to reach spots, remove grout (something I might have to do in the master bathroom very soon), and slice through baseboards (something else I'll likely have to do soon).

While there are other multi-tools on the market, what sets the Porter-Cable tool apart is its Tool Free System - you don't need an Allen wrench to remove and switch between blades. You simply press a lever to pop the blade off the end, and snap another in its place. For someone like me, tools that allow me to skip non-essential steps are made of win. I did my best to take a shot of it, but you need a good amount of pressure on the lever to get it to open, which didn't lend itself well to staying steady for a camera shot. It's considerably easier when you turn the blade the right way though (I didn't read the directions and tried putting it on upside down).

Okay, so let's move on to the actual project, shall we? Allison from House of Hepworths found an ingenious way of making her own curtain rods from electrical conduit, and I wanted to try my hand at it with a thicker pipe (she used a 1/2" but I wanted something beefier). The only problem was finding a tool to cut the conduit pipe. I looked all over the improvement store by my house and couldn't find the $6 pipe cutter that Allison referenced; everything that would fit the 3/4" pipe I picked width was $30 and up. My inexpensive solution (only $4 for a 3/4" conduit pipe at 10 feet long) was threatening to turn pricey fast (Don't you hate it when that happens?).

But with the metal attachment of the oscillating tool, cutting the pipe was a snap. Even when it's turned on, the tool is steady and comfortable in one hand, so I simply clamped the pipe down onto my work table in the garage and cut the tool to the length I needed (about 62 inches). From there, it was pretty much the same directions as you can find here.

Mark...

Slice through...

And done.

The cut wasn't perfectly even, but I was quite impressed that it cut through so well. I really expected that I'd destroy the blade by the end, but aside from removing the paint, the teeth stayed intact.

The only gripe I have about the tool after this project so far is that the cord is a little too short in my opinion. Getting into those hard to reach places (what this tool is made to do) might be a little difficult if an electrical cord isn't close by. When I use it in the bathrooms where the electrical socket is as far away from the tub as possible, I may need an extension cord to really make it work (Sheesh, Builders of My House, it's like you think using a power tool in the tub is a bad idea). Cordless is also an option (and cheaper), but I wonder if it might compromise power.

I like that it's a really powerful little tool right in my hand, and that I can adjust the speed for different projects. I'm still planning on using it for the bathroom (grout and caulk removal/repair) and a few more small tasks around the house, so you'll definitely be seeing this tool in UDH projects again.

I still haven't found finials I like or curtains I'd really like to use, but I'm considering painting it with a little of this:

That's the benefit of a $4 version; you don't have to be afraid of trying out something different just because. And now I'm also one step closer to having privacy at last. And speaking of at last, we're finally at the end of this post. Which means it's time for the Porter-Cable giveaway! Here we go...

~~WHAT YOU WIN: One Porter-Cable 2.5 Amp 36-Piece Corded Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit (a $149 value)~~
~~GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Friday, January 13th (FRIDAY THE 13TH!) at 8 PM.~~
~~NUMBER OF WINNERS: 1~~
~~SHIPS: U.S. and Canada only.~~
~~Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on this post.~~

~~TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:~~

Follow this blog however you choose (Facebook, Twitter, GFC, etc.). These giveaways are made possible thanks to loyal readership.
Leave a comment on this post and let me know what your top project is for 2012 (don't forget to include your contact info!)
For up to two additional entries, you can retweet this giveaway on Twitter (please mention @uglyducklingDIY and @PorterCable when you do) or like Porter Cable on Facebook and leave a comment to let them know that The Ugly Duckling House sent ya. Leave a separate comment for each activity you did on this post.

Good luck!

This giveaway is sponsored by Porter-Cable. All opinions and reviews are 100% my own. A Porter-Cable oscillating tool was given in return for hosting of this review and giveaway, but this post (and others) may also contain sponsored links. Please also see my Disclaimer page for additional details on giveaway and advertising policies.

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Saturday Stimuli: Organization

2012-01-07T01:30:00.002-05:00

Is one of your New Years resolutions to get more organized? Mine too. Here are a few simple and easy ideas to make it happen!

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What A Tool

2012-01-06T01:30:00.002-05:00

Whenever someone says the word tool, I still think of something like this:

Or these:

Not something like this:

Though, this year I think that's changing. I'm thisclose to drawing little hearts all over it.

And my coworkers started saving these guys for me:

They're old Orbit gum containers. How clever of them is that? Free, and they hold the perfect amount of stuff inside for my someday ~~efficient~~ workshop (they hold exactly one package of Kreg screws; I love happy coincidences like that).

By the way, have you thought about expanding your tool collection? Because I'm having an awesome giveaway starting Monday that will help you do exactly that. Here's a hint, but you'll have to wait for Monday to enter!

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Tile Sneak Peek

2012-01-05T01:30:00.001-05:00

Last week I told you all about my recent (and successful) trip to Floor and Decor outlets where I found a tile to match the existing shower tile in the master and guest bathrooms.

I'm planning on replacing the linoleum (that was so yellowed and ugly that I painted them just to get them out of sight) in both, but hauled a sample tile home first to test things out. I say hauled because these tiles are 12 by 24 inches, and the store won't break off tile pieces for samples - even damaged tiles, and you know I asked (you can order samples online, but at $1.99 per square foot, the cost to just bring an actual tile home was more appealing to see if the size would work in my tiny bathrooms). As convinced as I was that this was the tile I'd been looking for, it's always a good idea to see how things look in your own home with your own lighting (which I'll admit isn't the greatest at night when I took these pics, which makes the walls bluer and the shower tile appear more beige than it is).

Seeing it at home only reaffirmed my first instincts that this was it. I'd found my tile! It was time to get out the calculator to see how much I'd have to invest initially to get started. Between the guest and master bathrooms, the tub in each room nixes several feet of space that the tile would need to cover, leaving me with just about a 6 x 6 foot square in each space. Choosing a conservative oops factor (usually 10-15% for waste), that left me with about 80 square feet to cover. At 15.5 square feet per box, I needed just over five boxes and would give me plenty of wiggle room (considering this is my first major tile project, I may have a few more oops moments than some, so that sixth box will allow for the learning curve).

Sq Feet Needed: approx. 80 (5.16 boxes)
$30.88/box
15.5 Sqft/box
TOTAL: $185.28 + tax

I think I can get started on this project sooner than I thought!

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Making Mistakes

2012-01-04T13:30:00.000-05:00

Oops.

It's bound to happen when you're doing something for the first time. Like building two desks in your craft/study room and you've never really built anything before in your life. Sure, I know a thing or two by now about caulk, painting, and even sawing under a stone fireplace to install flooring, but each time there was a learning curve. Fun, but not without a little trial and error.

The error being that I pre-drilled my pocket holes in one piece of wood only to later discover that I put the piece upside down when I connected them to the 3x3 posts that would hold the desk up.

Like I said, oops. No matter though - I have two ways of fixing it:
1. Unscrew both sides, flip the piece in the right direction, and screw everything back together and make sure it's square once more. OR
2. Drill new pocket holes in the right direction and patch the ones that face the wrong way.

Yeah, #2 sounds easier to me, too. Especially when I'm already patching up the other holes anyway in prep for the final coats of paint.

I guess the lesson here is that it's okay to make mistakes. When it comes to building furniture, precise cuts and attention to detail is important - but don't sweat it if you're learning how to do something for the first time. We're all DIYers here, and in my opinion it does a disservice to you all to pretend that things work out perfectly each and every time. I feel the same intimidation about new products as you do: Will I get it right? Will I embarrass myself if I post this? Screw it; let's just see what happens.

And that, my friends, is what DIYing is all about. You figure it out, learn what not to do, and know better next time (like when I build desk frame #2). And once it's all painted, no one will know that I goofed up in the first place. Except all of you :)

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What's New Wednesday: The Ugg-Duck

2012-01-04T01:30:00.000-05:00

Normally my WNW posts are all about what's new in stores, but then I realized I didn't have to venture out. There's something new at the UDH!

There is a small area when coming up the stairs in my little house. In my opinion, it's too small to really call a hallway even though it serves as one. The term landing also doesn't seem right, since a landing is technically supposed to be an area between two flights of stairs (see here for that Lingo Lesson).

Regardless of the term for it, it's a perfect size for a 3 x 5 area rug, and over the weekend, I discovered a perfect little pop of color shopping online at World Market.

The only problem with the rug wasn't the rug at all; it was the looming coupon deadline I had to purchase it. Originally, I intended to swing by WM on Sunday with a 15% off coupon I had received by signing up for their emails (I highly recommend you do this if you like the store; they almost always have some kind of exclusive sale going on and honor the email discounts if you can pull them up on your phone). But thanks to working on the study-o desk, getting to WM wasn't possible during the coupon time limit. Bummer.

But as the old adage goes, good things come to those who wait. Missing the 15% off coupon apparently opened the door for a new coupon the very next day. This time, it was for $10 off when you spend $30 or more. Considering that the rug was originally priced at $50, that meant my $10 off would equate to 20% off my total. Score.

The rug wasn't super pricey, so the extra 5% meant an additional savings of only a few bucks, but I'm satisfied that I've managed to stretch my DIY dollar even further. And the rug looks great in its new spot, too!

Score any great deals lately?

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DIY Desk Progress: Day 2

2012-01-03T01:30:00.000-05:00

Day 2 of desk build. Don't mind the garage - it too is a work in progress. Yesterday that entire area had Christmas boxes stacked up.

I won't say it came without frustration, and despite its imperfections (hey, never built a piece of furniture before - I'm just amazed it stands up straight), it will be worth it in the end.

These are just a few pictures I took, mostly after everything was done (for safety reasons, it's not very easy - or wise - to take action shots when you're working alone in a garage).

But you get the idea.

The table top is not yet attached to the legs, and I still need to add a support beam along the back, but the desk (well, one of them) is looking pretty good so far. I still need to patch the screw holes (and one imperfection) with wood filler, paint it, and build desk frame #2. Then I'll have to build storage. A full play-by-play and final reveal is coming soon.

Oh, and after taking all of these pictures, I realize one of the pieces (on the right) is actually upside down. Frig.

It's going to be a long week :)

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Let's DO THIS

2012-01-02T01:30:00.000-05:00

After what feels like far too much waiting, I've started on one of my NYE resolutions already: the STUDY-O DESK!

These are just a few shots from the build process so far, but I'm getting really excited at the idea that I will finally have this sucker in place in less than a week. That's the plan, at least.

I've cut all of the pieces down, sanded, and primed them. I found a rather clever (if I do say so myself) way of elevating each piece off the table to paint three sides at once (without sticking to the table or sitting in a puddle that creates little ridges on either side).

(I have way too much spray paint, I guess.)

I've made a big sawdusty mess so far, and that's only after spending the morning clearing out and trashing plenty of junk in the garage that really had no place being there. It's a bad habit, I know. Working on it.

But here's where I stood after the first day. Once things are fastened together, I'll be able to paint it as one solid piece (but priming beforehand is just easier).

One last tip: Even though we've all heard measure twice, cut once plenty of times, there is another important key to cutting: remember that the saw blade itself has a thickness of its own (called kerf). When cutting, make sure the blade cuts down on your marked line on the other (waste) side to prevent shaving off a small amount from your measured board. Building furniture requires very precise cuts, so this little lost amount plays a significant role in fitting everything together. In the same vein, don't measure and mark all of your pieces on the same length of board at once. You'll need to measure and cut each piece one-by-one to prevent losing the width of the blade from each cut.

Stick around for the rest of this week for more updates on my new desk!

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Happy New Year

2012-01-01T03:00:00.000-05:00

Every now and then, like on New Years Eve, fantastic weather shines down, gets me out of the house, and allows me to take a breather and enjoy my few surroundings.

I hope you all had a brilliant New Years. Welcome to 2012!

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Saturday Stimuli: Glitter!

2011-12-31T01:30:00.000-05:00

Feelin' sparkly today. How about you?

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Happy New Year!

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