Lazy Days of Summer

So last night as Matt and I (and Diego) were relaxing in the backyard reading magazines, I realized something.


New fave wine. Its a rose but not sweet! I can't remember the name but I'll look it up and post it on FB

 I haven't shared any new projects in a week. Like many other bloggers out there, I think I'm in a summer slump. I'm taking advantage of the sun and just have too much fun laying around drinking wine (and lemon drops!) and relaxing.



Truth is, work has been a lot more challenging lately, so when I get home, I've been doing a lot more of this.



And a lot less home renovation. I've also been exercising regularly to get my booty back in shape, so I'm still working on readjusting my time management.


And there is one other problem.

Lloyd!!

Matt and I can't stop watching Entourage. I know we're like 8 years behind the trend, but we're addicted to the series (Thanks a lot Mom and Emmy!) and can't put down the remote.

Anyway, this is a long way of saying to you, my much-loved readers,

Thank you for your patience!

I've got some exciting projects in the works this weekend and two great guest bloggers next week. And once we return from our rafting trip, I'll be totally back in action.

Thanks for stickin' with me! Pin It

Newcomb Home Needs Guest Bloggers!

Hi everyone!

I hope those of you in the heat wave are staying cool! We've been having unusually cool weather here in Portland - this last weekend was one of the only days this summer it got above 80! Though seeing the uncomfortably hot temps around the country means I'm not complaining :)


I'm happy our weather is cooperating enough for me to be doing this next week.

We're going rafting and taking off mid-week. I'm SO excited to get out of town for a while!


While we're gone I'm hoping not to abandon my readers, so I'd like to feature a few guest bloggers next week!

I'd love if you'd be willing to share a new craft, recipe, or just introduce yourself with a few of your favorite projects. I'm also happy to have you share a tutorial you've published before, as long as its at least a year old (maybe something from last summer?).


If you're interested, please contact me! I can't wait to hear from you!


Sorry about my pale skin - I know its blinding you :)

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Updated Bathroom Vanity

As you guys probably know, Matt and I are working on the world’s slowest bathroom remodel. A few weekends ago we had a big push to get the floor (and more importantly, the toilet) installed before a friend came to visit.
After the floor was in, we could finally install the bathroom vanity, which has been done for a while.


Originally, I wanted to wait to show you until the new trim was installed, so everything looked clean and polished. But patience has never been my strong suit, so here we go :)


A while back I gave you a sneak peek. It was sitting in the driveway looking like this.





This is what it looked like originally. 





Can you believe I painted over that blue? ;)


Seriously, I felt like I had been transported back to 1992.


I’m pretty stoked about how it turned out. Its the same old piece, but I really think for about 15 bucks we made a huuuge difference.

See? We still need the trim on the bottom.

Clearly the color was too much, but there were some other changes we made to help update the bathroom vanity, so it no longer felt like we were on the set of In Living Color.


The little adjustments could really be applied to any outdated piece of furniture in your home. And if you’ve got a small budget like us, its best to work with what you’ve got. It would have been easier to get a new one, but we don’t have that kinda dough.


So, here are my top three tips for updating a bathroom vanity.


1. Make it Taller


Since the house is nearly 40 years old, the vanity height was a little low by today’s kitchen-cabinets-in-the-bathroom standards.


We couldn’t afford to get a new taller one, so we decided to raise the height a little with 2x4s.


BTW, does it irk anyone else that 2x4s aren’t really 2 inches by 4 inches? What a deceiving name!





It worked like a charm. The extra 1.5 inches helps the vanity feel taller, but isn’t a major change since it will be covered by the trim (when we eventually install it).


We also plan to put a 1/2 inch layer of plywood and then a layer of cement board on top of the vanity before the new tile. This will add a little more height as well, and its cheap.


2. Keep it Simple


The cabinet doors had a piece of wood detail in the center (with the knobs… weird?). It looked really dated. Some antique furniture has great detail that you’d want to show off, but if you’re looking for timeless, simple is better.





The process of simplifying the doors was pretty easy. Here’s a breakdown.





- Pry off the parts you don’t like 
- Use a razor blade to take off any splinters
- Use wood filler to cover the holes
- Smooth it out with a putty knife
- Sand it, put on more wood filler, sand again
- Do a third coat if necessary and a final sanding
- Now your doors are ready for primer!


3. The last, but most obvious tip… get new hardware


And don’t forget the hinges!





New hardware doesn’t have to be expensive. Our lovely bright blue-ness had little knobs that were barely seen. I got some new ones at the ReStore for a steal ($1 each) and a can of Krylon’s Brushed Nickel spray paint gave me a sophisticated new look for a low price.


And I barely put a dent in the spray paint can. Can’t wait to turn something else into brushed nickel :)


The old hinges were covered in blue paint. I’d heard soaking it in coke would dissolve the paint but it didn’t work. I got frustrated trying to peel it off so I just bought new ones at Home Depot, for less than 5 bucks total.


Of course, the new coat of paint helped a lot too :) So for about 15 dollars and a little work, we took our bathroom vanity from the MC Hammer days into 2011.


Here’s another look at the before and after.





If you want to see the rest of our bathroom remodel (so far), please go here, here, here, and here.


What are your favorite tricks for updating old pieces?


Linked up to

Homemaker on a Dime, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Beyond the Picket Fence, Thrifty Decorating, The Shabby Nest, Serenity Now, and The Lettered Cottage. Pin It

Guest Blogging at House of Hepworths

Hi guys! I'm guest blogging over at House of Hepworths today. What an honor! I love Allison's blog because of her clever DIY ideas, but what keeps me coming back is her sense of humor. She's hilarious! I hope you'll head on over and check out House of Hepworths!

If you're visiting from HoH, Welcome! Hope you'll stick around a while! Some of our popular posts are listed in the side bar and you can learn more about our little family here.

If you like what you see, you can find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, or subscribe for free via email or RSS. Thanks for stopping by! Pin It

Summer Breeze, Makes Me Feel Fine

I just made reservations for our first camping trip of the summer. So excited. Even though it was pouring rain yesterday, it really feels like summer now :)

In the spirit of the season, I wanted to share with you guys some amazing summery ideas I’ve seen around the blogosphere.

The first is from Nest of Posies, and will help me get in the mood for camping.

Check out her S’mores Popcorn

Doesn’t it look delish? I wish I had some right now!

Scissors and Spatulas made this fresh orange and avocado salad that would be great in the summer – no baking required!

One of my favorite blogs, Not JUST a Housewife, is having an Outdoor Spaces series. Here’s her latest installment about repurposing a ladder as a plant stand.

Maybe this is what I can do with my old ladder from the ReStore.

And what’s summer without a refreshing cocktail? This Raspberry Basil Cocktail from Cooking My Way Through My CSA sounds so good!

Do you think I could bring a martini glass and make that drink while camping? :)

What summer recipes or decor ideas have you discovered lately?

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Operation Rescue

So did any of you guys play that computer game in the ‘90s?

No?

That’s cause it doesn’t exist. Sadly, like many other things in life, it just exists in my memory. I’ve been walking around telling Matt about my “Operation Rescue. You know, named after the computer game”.

Today I wanted to tell all of you guys about my Operation Rescue and reminisce about that awesome, addicting game. Except google helped me realize, that’s not what it was called at all.

Operation Neptune.

 Via

Did you play it? I used to go to my neighbors house and we’d play it for hours. I can’t remember if we ever won. I’ll tell you what though. We SO beat Mario on the game boy :) Anyway, so many years past, the name Operation Neptune merged with another stellar DOS game: Midnight Rescue.

Via

I forgot how much I loved computer games! It probably helped shape the math nerd I’ve become today. Or maybe the blogging nerd, cause I’m still on the computer?

Wow.

Would you believe this post is about plants? It is. Promise.

Yep, I’m jumping right from the graphics of ‘90s computer games to plants, so I can tell you about Operation Rescue!

Ha! I’m such a fool.

Anyway, I have been terribly neglecting two plants of mine, so I put Operation Rescue in place to see if I could revive them.



The one on the left is a runner bean start I got in my CSA box and another is a plant I call Miss Yellow. You first saw her in my post about a romantic tablescape. She looked like this.



What have I done! I think her life in a shot glass and sporadic watering has led her down a dark path. I feel terrible, but I’m trying to rescue her!
I planted Miss Yellow in a 25 cent terra cotta pot from the ReStore. The runner bean was less fortunate, getting upgraded to a bigger plastic pot leftover from Lowe’s.



I’ve watered both of them and am determined to nurse them back to health.
Wish me luck!

Do you have any great plant rescuing tips?
Which was your favorite DOS game from the ‘90s (or ‘80s)?

PS. I’ll update Miss Yellow’s progress on facebook so be sure to check out our page!

Linked up to A Vision to Remember and Funky Junk Interiors. Pin It

Updated Drink Tray (Oregon State spirit round two)

A few days ago I shared the festive ice bucket I made with a galvanized bucket and the new Krylon Dual spray paint.

While painting the bucket for my friends (it was a gift), I also made a drink tray for us (gotta have a little Oregon State spirit in the Newcomb home too!).

The Krylon Dual spray paint worked just as well on the plastic tray as it did on the metal bucket. Good work Krylon :)

Here’s what I used:

Krylon Dual spray paint in smoke grey and mandarin
sand paper
frog tape
tape measure (not pictured)
OSU decal (or your favorite team)

First, I roughed up the tray with the sand paper and then cleaned off all the dust. Then I I spray painted the whole tray with the grey.

I wanted a design (What is that called? Greek key?) so a couple days after I painted it with grey, I taped off the design.

Once it was taped off, I sprayed it with two coats of orange.

After I peeled the tape off (about 10 minutes after I spray painted), I realized I didn’t like the look of having a grey border on the outside so I sprayed the whole edge orange.

I used a clear bumper sticker for the “OSU” but cut out each letter individually, to avoid a shiny square in the middle.

See how its not quite straight?

Yeah, I was stayin’ true to my alma mater and had a couple beers while crafting. Which may also explain this lame attempt at a staged photo.

Have you ever had Mirror Pond? Its a tasty beer from Central Oregon.

I do like the way the tray turned out. Can’t wait to have friends over to watch a little football!

Linked up to the Catch as Catch Can link party at My Repurposed Life.

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I Love Thrifting Party Recap

Saturday was the first ever I Love Thrifting Party. Rashon Carraway (aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting) had the brilliant idea to celebrate a thrifting lifestyle nationwide with I <3 Thrifting!

To join in the fun I hit up two Habitat for Humanity ReStores (who were offering great discounts) and got some great thrifty finds!

At the downtown Portland location, I grabbed some needed supplies such as caulk, grout, and a little terra cotta pot. I also snagged this old ladder.



I love it! I’m not entirely sure what I’ll do with it, but I’m thinking something with hanging plants or candles on the deck.

My last find at that store was this lonely knob.



The amazing thing about finding this knob is that I got a dresser off Craigslist for 10 bucks because it was missing a knob. And I found it! So now instead of having to buy 8 new ones, I got one for 50 cents!

After I finished shopping downtown, I headed to the Beaverton ReStore where I met fellow Oregon blogger Denise of Pink Postcard. She is great! It was the first time I’d met another home blogger and it was so fun! We didn’t have a ton of time but it was great to chat for a bit and compare purchases.

 Me, Denise, and the store manager Alex

Denise had been at the store for the morning so she pointed out this great find.



I thought about buying it but couldn’t pull the trigger. Neither could Denise. She did get some great deals though! Go check out her blog, Pink Postcard!
I got this old shutter/cabinet door thing. Not sure what I’m going to do with it yet.



And this fun little lantern (its battery operated!).



But my best buy of all was this bad boy.



I guess technically its these bad boys. Even though we’re so far from needing appliances in our not-yet-started kitchen remodel, I had to snag this microwave and wall oven. (Don’t worry, I called and told asked Matt first!)
They’re GE and had been installed in someone’s home but never used (even still had the manuals!), and I got both of them for $570!

The oven alone retails for over $1500. What a steal! I’m so excited about it. That’s $1000 off the oven and throwing in the microwave for free! I am so so happy :)

Thank you to the Habitat for Humanity ReStores, Denise from Pink Postcard, and my beautiful cousin Hannah for helping me celebrate! I had such fun on the first I Love Thrifting day.

  Cousin Hannah and our new BTF (best thrifty friend) Alex

How did you celebrate I <3 Thrifting?

Linked up to the Transformations and Treasures Linky Party at Pink Postcard.

Thanks for visiting Newcomb Home! If you are new here and enjoy your visit, I’d love for you to subscribe for free via email or RSS to stay updated on the latest. Thank you!

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How to Make an Ice Bucket (Bring on the mimosas!)

College football season is coming up soon (time flies faster and faster the older I get!) so when I got the opportunity to try out Krylon’s new Dual spray paint I happily asked for orange – the color of the Oregon State Beavers!



Krylon’s Dual spray paint is paint and primer all in one. I haven’t heard of a combo in spray paint before and was excited to give it a try. I used it on plastic and metal and it worked great! Tomorrow I’ll tell you how I transformed an outdated plastic tray. Today I’ll show you how I turned a plain galvanized bucket into a festive ice bucket.



Good friends of ours (same girl I made jam with) host a tailgater every home football game at Oregon State and its always so much fun, I thought the least I can do is give them a festive ice bucket to hold our mimosa fixin’s for those early games.

So Katie and Dan, if you read this blog and haven’t gotten your bucket yet, sorry I ruined the surprise!

It was really so easy to make. Seriously.

You need:
galvanized bucket (can be found at any hardware store)
Painters tape
paper
Krylon Dual spray paint
sticker or letters for your favorite sports team (or you could just write “Drinks” or something)

The bucket started out like this:



I took off the Behrens sticker and then taped off the opening and the middle using Frog tape and paper, so I could paint orange stripes on the top and bottom.



After everything was taped off, I went ahead and spray painted. I didn’t prep the metal at all, and since Krylon’s new Dual spray paint has primer in it, I didn’t have to prime! It was glorious!

It was pretty windy that day, so of course I held the can super close to the bucket and cause some drips. I waited till the next day and sanded down the drips a little and re-painted, good as new.

The deck however, was a casualty.



After I finished spray painting, I only waiting about 20 minutes before peeling off the painters tape. I’m not sure if this was necessary, but I wanted to make sure I had clean lines on the stripes.

After the paint was dry, I used two OSU bumper stickers to decorate the bucket.



The Beavers bumper sticker above was separate stickers for each letter, so I just stuck it on.



The OSU bumper sticker was one piece of plastic, so I cut out each letter. It avoids a shiny rectangle around the letters and makes it look more permanent and less like a sticker.

I love both sides of the bucket and can’t wait to join our friends cheering on the Beavs! As long as I have a mimosa in hand I’ll be happy, even if its 10am, cold and rainy :)



I didn’t have mimosa ingredients handy to stage the ice bucket so my nephew offered to help me show it off.



First he wasn’t sure about being in a bucket. But when he saw it was a tribute to the OSU Beavs, it made him feel better. We’re making him a fan already! :)
The Krylon Dual spray paint worked so well on the metal. I can’t wait to show you my drink tray soon!

Disclaimer:
Krylon sent me the new Dual Paint to try out but opinions are 100% honest. Check out their latest promotion, The Dual Duel, where Krylon is looking to find The Ultimate Restorer. To win this title, enter your spray paint restoration project and encourage friends and family to vote for your project as their favorite for their chance to win too.

 
Update: For a look at what else I did with the Krylon Dual spray paint check out my drink tray!

Sharing this project at The DIY Showoff's Project Parade and Tip Junkie's Tip Me Tuesday. Pin It