Modern Daisy Hippee

When I dive into a DIY project, I usually find myself feeling like I’ve bitten off a bit more than I can chew.  I sure don’t let that stop me.  I just account for some snags along the way when I’m planning my projects.

Well, my kitchen countertops have been in shambles for some time now.  I had tiled over the old, ugly laminate a few years ago and some of the tiles started coming loose.  It was time for something new.  I mean, they were literally falling apart at this point.  I considered concrete.  In fact, for a very long time, that was the plan.  I just knew that was going to be time intensive…  Of course, I was planning to do it myself.  I really couldn’t justify the time for that and came to the conclusion that I needed a simpler option.

In the end, I decided on butcher block.  I like wood and thought it would warm up the kitchen.  (It did, BTW.)  And, I found a real wood butcher block at Ikea for an amazingly reasonable price.  There is no Ikea here however and this was not a product they offered online.  After some searching and considering my options, I did find a local company, modernlv, that actually goes to an Ikea in California and delivers product to people here.  Woo hoo!  Perfect.  Even with the delivery service, my countertops cost less than $180…  Then, of course, there is my labor

The first part of the project was a rectangular section of counter top.  Super simple.  I cut the piece, filled in a few nicks at the edge, sanded and installed it in a morning.  No snags at all.  The hardest part of that was getting the heavy piece outside to cut it without waking B up to help.

The second part of the project was put off for a while because it involved removing the sink.  It also involved an odd corner cabinet, where I’d need to join three pieces of butcher block in the area of the sink hole.  I figured out what needed to be done and worked out a plan.  I also knew my cuts needed to be super straight in order to join the edges together.  I don’t have super fancy tools for that sort of thing, so I was a bit reluctant.

On top of all that, I also planned to change the structure a bit.  There was a raised portion of the counter behind the sink that I’ve always found annoying, so I planned to lower that to the level of the rest of the counter.  I didn’t think that was really going to be too much trouble, however it’s one of those things I thought I might not have seen the whole picture until I got into it.

This past weekend, I finally took the plunge and went forward with this part of the project.  There were some snags, although I worked through them fairly easily.  I must have measured the hole for the sink 20 times before I cut it.  Then I thought I was only cutting it a bit smaller and it turned out to be quite a bit smaller.  That was the plan though…  to avoid making the hole to big.  The sink fits in nice and snug!  So, I’d say it’s perfect.

All in all, the project went fairly well.  I love the butcher block!  I’m planning to install a metal backsplash.  That should be a piece of cake…  whenever I get around to it.

I love remodeling and redecorating.  I’ve taken on lots of projects around my homes.  Even when I was a teen, I was a big Do It Yourselfer.  My taste is NOT traditional.  It’s more eclectic and artsy.  Don’t get me wrong, I like nice stuff and I like quality work.  My stuff doesn’t always turn out perfect because usually I’m doing something I haven’t done before.  Still, it gets better every time.

I’ve done tile…  on floors, on walls, even on countertops.  I know how to use a wet saw to cut it and most of it looks decent.  I installed laminate flooring throughout my entire house.  Believe it or not, that is a one person job and not difficult at all.  The cutting is much easier with a table saw and the proper blade.  I switched from a chop saw very soon after I started that project.  I’ve done lots of painting.   I don’t have a single white wall in my home.  I’ve also done painting and refinishing on cabinets and lots of other furniture.  I’ve even taken on some minor remodeling including building a couple of pony walls and a new hearth for the fireplace.  I can tell you dealing with drywall is not my favorite thing.  It’s not difficult, just messy.

There have been lots of times when my projects are not as easy as I expect them to be.  I’ve started to expect that and not overestimate how much I can get done in a given time.  There have been things that were very frustrating, however I always figure out how to get it done.

If you’ve ever thought of doing projects like this around your home, don’t be afraid to have a go at it.  Paint is a great place to start and pretty inexpensive as well.  If you or one of your friends has leftover paint from another project, you may even be able to use that.  Be creative to use extra of multiple colors.  You could do a faux wash effect by mixing them with a bit of water.  If you buy new paint, there are some eco-friendly options available.  Of course, make sure you dispose of the cans properly when you’re finished.

When it comes to home projects, I believe I can do anything.  You can do anything too!