General Upgrades & Ideas

[Bo Diddley]

We have a handyman that we really like and who one of his favorite things to do is a backsplash. Once we are ready to pull the trigger, we will do that. Right now, we can make it look passable for about $30, so we are going to do that with the backsplash. I anticipate that we are about a year out or so with actually fixing it with a long term fix.

I'm actually fine with the cabinet color, although I think there are things that would look better. It think we can all make it work though. The biggest annoyance right now is the similarity of the cabinet to the hardwood (which we are going to need to refinish and stain).

Oh and that faucet is getting replaced for sure.

Yep. Almost identical to what we had. These pics are after.

kitchen.jpg

kitchen2.jpg

[MartyFunkhouser]

Those cabinets are the same color ours were before we painted them. We got a thick self-leveling white paint and they turned out awesome. Bo Jr used to paint professionally, and he did them for us. Our kitchen floor was a light oak hard wood and we refinished it, staining it a dark brown. We ended up put up a grey subway tile for the backsplash, and it all turned-out looking so much better than before. We bought the tiles from Lowes, and had them arrange a contractor for us. It really wasn't very much to pay him for the installation.

We have a handyman that we really like and who one of his favorite things to do is a backsplash. Once we are ready to pull the trigger, we will do that. Right now, we can make it look passable for about $30, so we are going to do that with the backsplash. I anticipate that we are about a year out or so with actually fixing it with a long term fix.

I'm actually fine with the cabinet color, although I think there are things that would look better. It think we can all make it work though. The biggest annoyance right now is the similarity of the cabinet to the hardwood (which we are going to need to refinish and stain).

cabinets and hardwood.jpg
Oh and that faucet is getting replaced for sure.

[Bo Diddley]

Right now, I'm looking at some cheaper ways to improve things before we do a permanent solution.

I hate the backsplash in our kitchen. It is part of contributing to the overall identity crisis that the house has right now. It also isn't anywhere near a priority to address right now. If we ruin the tile that is there now, who cares we are going to get rid of it eventually. We bought some peel and stick tile.

Here is the current backsplash.

Backsplash-1.jpg

I did a really terrible job putting together how it might look with the peel and stick tile.

Backsplash edited.png

I think that it will be an improvement, especially once we paint the walls white.

Also, I mentioned the idea of trying to paint the walls ourselves on the main level. My wife laughed at even considering it. I might try to paint the walls in the basement at some point.

Those cabinets are the same color ours were before we painted them. We got a thick self-leveling white paint and they turned out awesome. Bo Jr used to paint professionally, and he did them for us. Our kitchen floor was a light oak hard wood and we refinished it, staining it a dark brown. We ended up put up a grey subway tile for the backsplash, and it all turned-out looking so much better than before. We bought the tiles from Lowes, and had them arrange a contractor for us. It really wasn't very much to pay him for the installation.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Right now, I'm looking at some cheaper ways to improve things before we do a permanent solution.

I hate the backsplash in our kitchen. It is part of contributing to the overall identity crisis that the house has right now. It also isn't anywhere near a priority to address right now. If we ruin the tile that is there now, who cares we are going to get rid of it eventually. We bought some peel and stick tile.

Here is the current backsplash.

Backsplash-1.jpg

I did a really terrible job putting together how it might look with the peel and stick tile.

Backsplash edited.png

I think that it will be an improvement, especially once we paint the walls white.

Also, I mentioned the idea of trying to paint the walls ourselves on the main level. My wife laughed at even considering it. I might try to paint the walls in the basement at some point.

[Northwestcoug]

bah. do one room a night, bigger rooms on weekends. I have painted all the rooms in my house without taking time off. Tape one night, first coat the next night, finish the third. No probs.

I was a house painter in a previous life. I've painted at least some of 3 houses we've lived in. Each time I was reminded how much I hated painting, even though you're right it isn't that hard. I don't paint my houses anymore.

[Pelado]

The problem is that I don't really have the time. This is something we need to do before we move in. The longer it takes to move in, the longer it delays getting rental income from my current house. I have a limited amount of time between closing and renters moving into my house. I will be doing some painting at my rental, but that is going to be touch up stuff. When I look at all that needs to be done at the new house with paint, I'm not really wanting to take 2 or 3 days off work to paint. Perhaps, I will try to paint the basement

bah. do one room a night, bigger rooms on weekends. I have painted all the rooms in my house without taking time off. Tape one night, first coat the next night, finish the third. No probs.

I agree with falafel (what is this world coming to?). The painting at the new house doesn't necessarily have to be done before you move in, though it is easier to do it that way. Also, the painting at the rental can be done before you move out.

[falafel]

The problem is that I don't really have the time. This is something we need to do before we move in. The longer it takes to move in, the longer it delays getting rental income from my current house. I have a limited amount of time between closing and renters moving into my house. I will be doing some painting at my rental, but that is going to be touch up stuff. When I look at all that needs to be done at the new house with paint, I'm not really wanting to take 2 or 3 days off work to paint. Perhaps, I will try to paint the basement

bah. do one room a night, bigger rooms on weekends. I have painted all the rooms in my house without taking time off. Tape one night, first coat the next night, finish the third. No probs.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Painting the interior of your house is well within your abilities, funk. Watch a few YT videos, give yourself some time, and have fun. Painting can be cathartic and calming. I am looking forward to painting a few rooms myself in the next few weeks. There is something about taking an ugly or dirty canvas and making it new and clean that is very satisfying.

The problem is that I don't really have the time. This is something we need to do before we move in. The longer it takes to move in, the longer it delays getting rental income from my current house. I have a limited amount of time between closing and renters moving into my house. I will be doing some painting at my rental, but that is going to be touch up stuff. When I look at all that needs to be done at the new house with paint, I'm not really wanting to take 2 or 3 days off work to paint. Perhaps, I will try to paint the basement

[falafel]

If you do it enough, you can get good at cutting with a brush. It takes a good quality brush, though, not one of those $8 cheapies. However, before I developed this skill, I got very good at using this device to cut in ceilings. If you are careful and keep paint off the wheels when dipping it in the paint, it does a good job and it's quick. But if you get paint on the wheels, you have to stop, take off the painting pad, and wipe/scrub the wheels to free them of paint. Then dry and start over.

That stupid device is what forced me to get good at cutting with a brush. I always got paint on the wheels and therefore on the ceiling.

[Donuthole]

Painting seems easy enough, but the transitions between wall and veing kill me. I have like 5 examples of my current place where the wall paint bled onto the ceilings. I did everything your supposed... but apparently not well.

If you do it enough, you can get good at cutting with a brush. It takes a good quality brush, though, not one of those $8 cheapies. However, before I developed this skill, I got very good at using this device to cut in ceilings. If you are careful and keep paint off the wheels when dipping it in the paint, it does a good job and it's quick. But if you get paint on the wheels, you have to stop, take off the painting pad, and wipe/scrub the wheels to free them of paint. Then dry and start over.

[Pelado]

Painting the interior of your house is well within your abilities, funk. Watch a few YT videos, give yourself some time, and have fun. Painting can be cathartic and calming. I am looking forward to painting a few rooms myself in the next few weeks. There is something about taking an ugly or dirty canvas and making it new and clean that is very satisfying.

Yes, but don’t cheap out on the paint. Get good quality paint (like at Sherwin Williams) and it goes on so much easier and better.

[USUC]

Painting the interior of your house is well within your abilities, funk. Watch a few YT videos, give yourself some time, and have fun. Painting can be cathartic and calming. I am looking forward to painting a few rooms myself in the next few weeks. There is something about taking an ugly or dirty canvas and making it new and clean that is very satisfying.

Painting seems easy enough, but the transitions between wall and veing kill me. I have like 5 examples of my current place where the wall paint bled onto the ceilings. I did everything your supposed... but apparently not well.

[falafel]

You have all convinced me to paint the interior of my house and that while doing so that I shall stand on a ladder with reckless abandon.

Painting the interior of your house is well within your abilities, funk. Watch a few YT videos, give yourself some time, and have fun. Painting can be cathartic and calming. I am looking forward to painting a few rooms myself in the next few weeks. There is something about taking an ugly or dirty canvas and making it new and clean that is very satisfying.

[Bo Diddley]

You have all convinced me to paint the interior of my house and that while doing so that I shall stand on a ladder with reckless abandon.

Seriously, though, painting is not hard. You should look into it.

[MartyFunkhouser]

You have all convinced me to paint the interior of my house and that while doing so that I shall stand on a ladder with reckless abandon.