Fall wreaths are the best way to welcome guests into your home and set the tone for beautiful curb appeal this season. Before Hurricane Irma, we had removed all of our front porch furniture and it stayed looking dark and dreary until I partnered with Lowe’s to feature their Fall Harvest outdoor decor items, including fall wreaths. Take a look at how I welcome autumn to my porch with their wreaths for autumn, as well as fresh flowers and harvest finds!

(Roll over the picture to find out more details on where you can find these items at your local Lowe’s or on Lowes.com)

I Loved the Fall Wreaths at Lowe’s for my Front Door

As you already know wreaths are a huge part of my life from my How To Make a Burlap Wreath sister site. On that site, I highlight gorgeous wreath tutorials for every season, occasion and also list by materials. The fall wreaths at Lowe’s are perfect for any decorative style and I chose their Holiday Living 22-in Orange Indoor Gourd Artificial Thanksgiving Wreath. The mixture of gourds, pumpkins, feathers, and leaves is the perfect grapevine wreath to celebrate the season. What I love even better? That I can keep this up throughout October and November!

Our “Before” front porch was dark and dreary

Fall Wreaths Pair Beautifully with Lowe’s Pumpkins, Topiary and Planted Flowers

Color and textures are the simplest way to bring warmth to your front porch. After I put my own porch furniture back, I used Lowe’s potted yellow mums flowers and their craft pumpkins in varying sizes around the porch.

I think fall wreaths always look better when they have another element to pull them together. The Holiday Living Pumpkin Topiary with White LED Lights also adds vertical height next to the front door. I love how the grapevine pumpkin topiary also lights up at night.

Here’s the Lowe’s Fall Decorating Pieces I Paired with My Wreath

I couldn’t resist getting these happy yellow mums and playful pumpkins to go alongside the pillows!

How Will you Decorate your Fall Porch this Season?

I encourage you to take a look at Lowe’s Fall and Halloween outdoor decorations. They have a wide array of styles that will perk up your outdoor home.

If you need inspiration ideas peruse through your local Lowe’s and see what ideas they have.

For more wreaths ideas I encourage you to visit the Fall Wreaths category on How To Make a Burlap Wreath.com

Happy DIY Saturday! It is the weekend and one of the top DIY projects is bathroom remodeling. Whether your bathroom is outdated with off color fixtures, or you want to upgrade to green plumbing fixtures, a weekend bathroom remodel could be on your list of things to do.

Image via: House Beautiful

Today, watch this video for staging your bathroom remodel into phases, but planning everything in the beginning to avoid wasting time, reopening up walls, etc.. You know that saying, “Measure twice, cut once” ? Yep, same mindset!  Then read my guest blogger’s post to accomplish a weekend half bath project in a weekend! Get going!

You Tube Video – Bathroom Remodeling Ideas on a Budget – Lowe’s

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Guest Blogger – Half Bathroom Makeover in a Weekend

Want an updated look for your small half bath? A weekend of work can pay off with a transformed space, and you won’t spend an arm and a leg!

1. Design it!

The project bathroom had a builder-grade vanity and dingy vinyl sheet flooring. The sink was very small and difficult to use, and the faucet had recently failed. Since it was going to take just as much work to install a new faucet as it would to install a new sink, the homeowners decided to tackle the entire project. They selected a new pedestal sink and polished chrome faucet, both square to complement the new square light fixture. New paint was picked for the walls, and natural stone tile for the flooring.

Image via: Decor Pad

2. Demolition!

All water lines were shut off to the toilet and the faucet, and then each was removed. Removal of a toilet can be made much easier with a large sponge and a bucket. After the water is turned off, flush the toilet a few times until the tank is mostly empty. Then, simply allow the dry sponge to soak up remaining water in the tank and bowl before squeezing it into the bucket. Repeat as necessary until the unit is mostly dry. Tip: it will not be completely dry and will leak when you move it, so rest it on a towel or on a boot tray once it is extracted from the bathroom. Also, be sure to work the toilet free by gripping the bowl, not the tank. Remove the wax seal from underneath the toilet, and also clean up the flange on the floor.

In this bathroom, the vanity had been glued to the walls and floor, and was removed with a small sledgehammer. The sheet vinyl flooring was cut at the door threshold and peeled up, revealing two additional layers of vinyl underneath. All earlier flooring was then removed to get down to the plywood subfloor. The door was measured to ensure it would freely open over the new tile flooring, and the door casing was trimmed with an oscillating multi-tool.

3. Paint!

Since the walls behind the former vanity had never been painted, but would be exposed and visible behind the new pedestal sink, the homeowner sanded and primed the blueboard so that it blended in smoothly with the remaining walls. Trim was painted white, and the walls primed and painted a shade of blue. Tip: have your primer tinted the same color as your finish paint.

Image via: The Perfect Bath

4. Floor!

The homeowners wanted a tile floor, and considered a few options. Large 12×12 inch tiles are inexpensive and look nice. 1-inch mosaic tiles are typically sold in 12×12 inch sheets with a mesh backing to help make installation easy, but are almost always substantially more expensive than the larger tiles. Since the flange and a few water lines passed up through the floor, several cutouts would be necessary in the tile flooring. The homeowners chose to install the more expensive natural stone mosaic tiles, as they’d be able to simply use scissors to remove individual 1-inch square tiles for the cutouts, rather than needing to rent a wet saw to cut the larger tiles. Additionally, the smaller tiles are much less likely to flex and crack underfoot, so they permit a somewhat less rigid subfloor.

The plywood subfloor was smooth and in good condition. EZMat underlayment was installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, the floor was tiled. Tip: read about the type of tile you are using to ensure that you seal it properly – some tiles require sealing prior to grouting, and then again after the grout has cured. Be sure to let the floor dry per the directions on the mastic and grout before moving forward. Finish the job by installing pre-painted quarter round or shoe molding around the perimeter and a transition threshold at the doorway.

5. Fixtures!

With the floor in and looking good, it was time to install the new sink. Pedestal sinks must be affixed to the wall, ideally directly into studs. Use a stud finder and make pilot holes in the locations where the sink bolts will go. Wall anchors can work if you’re unable to bolt the sink into studs. Just be sure the anchors are sufficiently strong to hold the heavy sink. Very large toggle bolts will do the job.

Install the plumbing components in the sink, test for leaks, the hang it on the wall, making sure that the drain lines up properly. Place the pedestal underneath the sink. Ideally, it will rest on the pedestal but be firmly affixed to the wall. The drain connections should be hidden behind the pedestal. Connect the water supply lines. Tip: when installing any new faucet, remove the aerator prior to running any water through the faucet. You’ll flush out any foreign material from the supply lines and from inside your new faucet instead of clogging the aerator.

Image via: The decorista

Use a new wax seal and install the toilet on the floor flange. While the tank is dry, it’s not a bad idea to swap out the old float mechanism for a new one, so do that too if the inspiration strikes. Connect the water supply, then turn it on and watch for leaks. Tip: place paper towels around the connection between the tank and the bowl, and around the base of the toilet for easy leak detection. Leaks can appear days later, so keep checking!

Following all precautions relating to working with electricity, replace the light fixture with a new, modern one. Add a toilet paper holder, towel ring and any other fixtures you desire to complete the transformation. Don’t forget to seal your tiles and grout after it has cured.

6. Enjoy!

With just a weekend and $500, you too can transform your outdated half bath into a modern space you’ll be proud to share with your guests.

Kiersten Gurry is an expert on home decor and works for FirstImpressionSecurityDoors.com. The company boasts an impressive variety of Phoenix security gates and Arizona iron spiral stair case options for homeowners and apartment buildings in the area.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Best of 2011 – #1

How to Install Interior Stone Veneer (Video)

We made it to #1 of Stagetecture’s Best of 2011! These last 5 days I have showed you the top 5 posts of 2011 that were chosen by you, my readers. Today, we are at #1, and it is a DIY Saturday on how to install stone veneer in their home. While we all love the look of beautiful stone in our homes, veneer is a great option that is more affordable, and we can install it ourselves! Congratulations to all you DIY’ers, once again proving that homeowners love their DIY projects.

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Happy DIY Saturday! Today celebrates our 40th DIY Saturday, and we have covered so many projects. I hope you have taken advantage of them, or at least they’ve given you ideas for what projects you will be starting soon.

As we continue through ‘home renewal’ month, I thought about the need to bring your outdoors inside your home, as well as bring your indoors outside. This creates a union between your inside and outside that feels and looks great. Today, we’re going to see how to install interior stone veneer to a wall. Stone Veneer Wall Ideas or How to Install Faux Stone Panels are perfect for homes that want a rustic or more textured look to their interiors.

How to Install Interior Stone Veneer (Video)

How to Install Faux Stone Panels

This stone veneer option is gorgeous in a contemporary home. Another option is White Natural Stacked Stone veneer wall that can add beauty and value to your home.

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Prepping the Wall Surface for Applying Veneer Stone

Locate the wall studs using a stud finder and mark with an “X” on the ceiling. Beginning at the bottom of the wall, staple builder’s felt horizontally, overlapping the felt 2 inches. Use continuous sections of felt across the wall with no vertical seams. Vertical seams can allow water from the mortar to damage the underlying surfaces. Nail metal lath over the felt, with the “cups” of the lath toward you and facing upward toward the ceiling. Secure with roofing nails to the wall studs. Lath will feel rough to the touch, when running your hand downward. The “cups” in the lath are designed to hold the mortar in place and not allow it to slip downward on the wall.

Applying Mortar Scratch Coat for a Stacked Stone Wall

Mix veneer mortar to the consistency of creamy peanut butter and apply to the metal lath with a finishing trowel. Use a downward motion initially to fill the “cups” in the lath with mortar. Continue adding mortar until a thickness of ½ inch spreads evenly over the lath. Use a notched tiling trowel to comb across the mortar while still pliable to create grooves for better adherence of the mortar applied to the stone veneer. The scratch coat of mortar will dry overnight.

Designing the Layout of the Stones

On a flat area, use painter’s tape to outline an area the size and dimensions of the wall being covered with the stone veneer. Lay the stone in this area until you create an attractive arrangement. Leave an area between the stones the width of a finger and stagger the shapes and sizes of the stone. If your prefer the stone already in place, consider Stone Veneer Wall Panels that could save you time.

Installing the Stone Veneer

Mix the mortar to a pudding consistency. Spray the back of each stone and the wall with water. Begin at the bottom of the wall. Apply mortar around the edges of the backside of the stone, leaving an opening in the center. Press the mortared stone against the wall, wiggling it back and forth slightly. Mortar will ooze out on all sides. Do not get mortar on the face of the stone; it will stain. Leave a space the width of a finger between the stones. Use an angle grinder with a diamond wheel to make any necessary cuts to the stones. Continue until all stones are in place.Use a striking tool and a whisk broom to remove excess mortar from between the stones to allow room for the application of grout. Allow the stone veneer wall to dry overnight.

Grouting the Stone Veneer Wall

Fill a grout bag with mortar mixed to a pudding consistency. Squeeze the mortar out the tip of the grout bag into the opening between the stones, beginning with the vertical joints and then the horizontal. Allow the grout to protrude slightly above the stones. Allow the grout to cure one hour and use a striking tool to dress the grout.To give a classic look to the grout, use the striking tool to remove some of the grout, slightly recessing the grout below the level of the stone. For a rustic look, dress the grout level to the face of the stone. Brush the grout joints with a whisk broom to create a natural finish. The wall will cure in 48 hours.

For more Faux Stone Panels ideas look here.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

Spring is the perfect time to start thinking about home improvements. Whether you’re trying to sell your home in the near future, or you are wanting to add value for the future, now is the perfect time to start planning and getting started.

Today our Guest Blogger, Mark from Mesa Garage Doors, shows you how to add value to your home, without spending a lot of money.

_______________________

Whether you are looking to sell or not, it is always nice to have a good chunk of equity in your house, and who wouldn’t want to increase the value of where they lived?

So in this guest post, whether you are looking to downsize, sell an investment or just make your own home a little nicer, I am going to share with you a few cost effective ways that you can boost the value of your property.

1: Build an extension

This is the classic option, and if you’re interested in adding substantial value it is a great idea. Make sure that your extension doesn’t result in a top heavy house though.

A classic mistake is to add additional bed rooms but not add sufficient living space downstairs. This can result in adding less value than the cost of the extension. The key is careful planning, come up with something that makes sense for your house.

2: Add a garage

Depending on the area you live in, a garage can add a lot of value, or at least pay for itself. Nicely selected garage doors can offset your property very well and make it easier to sell when you choose to. Additionally you might be able to save money on car insurance whilst you are still living there.

3: Re-decorate

This is a really easy way to add a little value, make your house more sellable and make your home a little more pleasant all in one go. Brightening up your walls with a fresh lick of paint can really transform your home and make your rooms feel bigger.

4: Upgrade your kitchen

If your kitchen is old and in need of a re-vamp, getting a new one can be very cost effective. Compared to a old outdated kitchen, a new one can add as much as $5-7,000 to the value of your home.

Added to this the fact that if you install it yourself it might only cost $3-4,000… You might make a good profit.

Even if you don’t make a profit though, the cost need not be any more than the increase in value, which means you get a nice new kitchen effectively for free!

5: Make your home more appealing: stop smoking

Two final points here, just simple things; firstly, stop smoking in the house if you do so currently. A smokey smell can vastly reduce the saleability of a house and as a result the value too.

6: Tidy up

If you are planning on selling up, de-cluttering is perhaps one of the most cost effective things you can do. It will make your house look nicer, more homely, more spacious and better cared for – and all it will cost you is a bit of time.

This post was brought to you by Mark from MesaGarageDoors.com. We sell a wide range of high quality garage doors at the best possible prices, many with a lifetime guarantee.

If you’re interested in being a Guest Blogger on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy DIY Saturday! Now that spring is officially here, it is time to start shifting focus to your deck, porch or patio area. Over the winter months, wood decks can get dirty, worn, and the stain will have faded, etc…  Today’s DIY Saturday shows you how to spruce up your deck as well as power washing, choosing a stain, and step by step directions to apply.

Before you know it, you will be lounging along side your spring flowers on your beautiful deck.

Also look at the You Tube video from Lowe’s for – Choosing plants to beautify your deck.

How to spruce up your deck from This Old House.

1.) Choosing a finish for your deck:

Choosing a finish for a softwood deck is a three-way tug of war between aesthetics, practicality, and protection. Favor any one characteristic, and you have to give up a bit of the other two. For example, if showing off the beauty of new wood is top priority, a clear finish is the obvious choice. But that clarity also lets in destructive UV rays, and that means more frequent reapplication (every six to 24 months). By contrast, solid stains offer great sun protection but hide the wood’s grain under an opaque film. They have about a four-year life span, but like all film forming finishes, they tend to peel or crack.

The most popular deck finishes are semitransparent stains, which are also the easiest to maintain. They contain more sun-blocking pigments than clear finishes, but not enough to completely obscure the wood grain. And because they penetrate the surface, there’s no film to fail. Just recoat as needed, generally after three years.

2.) Wash your deck:

• Wait for an overcast day, when evaporation from the deck will be slower.

•Remove furniture and plants, and trim or tie back any branches touching the deck.

•Wet down or cover adjacent foliage and siding, and protect yourself with rubber boots and rain pants.

•Wash leaves and dirt off the deck and railings with a spray from a garden hose or a pressure washer set at 3,000 psi and fitted with a gentle 40-degree fan nozzle. For maximum efficiency, hold the nozzle tip about 18 inches from the wood.

3.) Scrubbing:

•With the deck still wet, put on latex gloves and dip a brush with stiff, chemical-resistant bristles into the cleaning solution.

• Scrub the wood in the direction of the grain. Work in small sections, starting with the top rail, then the balusters, posts, and bottom rail.

•Tackle the deck boards last, no more than 200 square feet at a time.

Tip: The soap bubbles will help you see which areas you’ve covered.

4.) Power rinsing your deck:

• Wait at least 15 minutes, then rinse off the solution completely using a garden hose or a pressure washer with a 40-degree fan nozzle. Hold the pressure-washer wand no closer than 6 to 8 inches from the wood. The spray should span the width of one board and hit the surface at a 45-degree angle. Move steadily, rinsing one board at a time.

Warning: Never let the wand halt in one place while the spray is on.

5.) Let Dry:

•Before stain can be applied, the wood must dry or it won’t absorb the finish. Three or four consecutive days without rain is enough time in most climates. (When in doubt, check with a moisture meter; when it reads 15 percent or less, the wood is ready to coat.)

•Sweep the deck clean before applying stain.

6.) Stain the railings:

•Using a synthetic filament brush slightly wider than the deck’s boards, apply the stain full-strength in the same order you scrubbed: top rail, balusters and posts, bottom rail, and then the decking.

•Brush up drips and runs immediately.

•For an even color, stir the stain frequently during application.

Tip: Finish all four sides of each baluster before moving on to the next one.

7.) Stain deck:

•Brush the deck’s boards one at a time with long, even strokes, working with the grain. Keep a wet edge to prevent lap marks, and immediately brush out any pools of stain.

•When you’re finished, let the deck dry for at least two days before walking on it or replacing the furniture.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

Stone veneer is very popular in interior homes. From fireplaces and feature accent walls to backsplashes in the kitchen and bathroom. Today celebrates our 40th DIY Saturday, and we have covered so many projects. I hope you have taken advantage of them, or at least they’ve given you ideas for what projects you will be starting soon.

As we continue through ‘home renewal’ month, I thought about the need to bring your outdoors inside your home, as well as bring your indoors outside. This creates a union between your inside and outside that feels and looks great. Today, we’re going to see how to install interior stone veneer to a wall. Stone Veneer Wall Ideas or How to Install Faux Stone Panels are perfect for homes that want a rustic or more textured look to their interiors.

How to Install Interior Stone Veneer (Video)

How to Install Faux Stone Panels

This stone veneer option is gorgeous in a contemporary home. Another option is White Natural Stacked Stone veneer wall that can add beauty and value to your home.

[ad#co-2]

Prepping the Wall Surface for Applying Veneer Stone

Locate the wall studs using a stud finder and mark with an “X” on the ceiling. Beginning at the bottom of the wall, staple builder’s felt horizontally, overlapping the felt 2 inches. Use continuous sections of felt across the wall with no vertical seams. Vertical seams can allow water from the mortar to damage the underlying surfaces. Nail metal lath over the felt, with the “cups” of the lath toward you and facing upward toward the ceiling. Secure with roofing nails to the wall studs. Lath will feel rough to the touch, when running your hand downward. The “cups” in the lath are designed to hold the mortar in place and not allow it to slip downward on the wall.

Applying Mortar Scratch Coat for a Stacked Stone Wall

Mix veneer mortar to the consistency of creamy peanut butter and apply to the metal lath with a finishing trowel. Use a downward motion initially to fill the “cups” in the lath with mortar. Continue adding mortar until a thickness of ½ inch spreads evenly over the lath. Use a notched tiling trowel to comb across the mortar while still pliable to create grooves for better adherence of the mortar applied to the stone veneer. The scratch coat of mortar will dry overnight.

Designing the Layout of the Stones

On a flat area, use painter’s tape to outline an area the size and dimensions of the wall being covered with the stone veneer. Lay the stone in this area until you create an attractive arrangement. Leave an area between the stones the width of a finger and stagger the shapes and sizes of the stone. If your prefer the stone already in place, consider Stone Veneer Wall Panels that could save you time.

Installing the Stone Veneer

Mix the mortar to a pudding consistency. Spray the back of each stone and the wall with water. Begin at the bottom of the wall. Apply mortar around the edges of the backside of the stone, leaving an opening in the center. Press the mortared stone against the wall, wiggling it back and forth slightly. Mortar will ooze out on all sides. Do not get mortar on the face of the stone; it will stain. Leave a space the width of a finger between the stones. Use an angle grinder with a diamond wheel to make any necessary cuts to the stones. Continue until all stones are in place.Use a striking tool and a whisk broom to remove excess mortar from between the stones to allow room for the application of grout. Allow the stone veneer wall to dry overnight.

Need Stone Veneer Supplies?

Try getting your Stone Veneer Products and Supplies here, from Contractors Direct. They offer all of the products to help with a successful project!

Hammer
Tape measure
Angle grinder
Stapler
Notched trowel
Safety glasses
London trowel – shop for a variety of trowels
Steel trowel
Tin snips
Grout Bag
Gloves

Grouting the Stone Veneer Wall

Fill a grout bag with mortar mixed to a pudding consistency. Squeeze the mortar out the tip of the grout bag into the opening between the stones, beginning with the vertical joints and then the horizontal. Allow the grout to protrude slightly above the stones. Allow the grout to cure one hour and use a striking tool to dress the grout.To give a classic look to the grout, use the striking tool to remove some of the grout, slightly recessing the grout below the level of the stone. For a rustic look, dress the grout level to the face of the stone. Brush the grout joints with a whisk broom to create a natural finish. The wall will cure in 48 hours.

For more Faux Stone Panels ideas look here.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.