Nursery: Picture Ledges

posted by Paige, . 3 Comments

Back in this nursery inspiration post, I mentioned wanting some picture ledges above the glider for a little reading nook. Done!

This was a very, very easy project. There are so many different ways to do it too. I’ll tell you how I did it, then give you some links to other sources.

Supplies:

  • 1″ x 2″ x 4′ premium pine (front)
  • 1″ x 3″ x 4′ premium pine (back)
  • 1″ x 4″ x 4′ premium pine (base)
  • Saw
  • Drill
  • Kreg jig + screws (1 1/4″ in this case)
  • Clamp
  • Primer
  • Paint
  • Four 2″ screws
  • Level

1. Cut shelves to length

I wanted two 24″ shelves, so I made three simple cuts, slicing each piece of wood in half. I lightly sanded rough edges.

2. Get Kreg Jiggy Wit It

I put the pieces in place and make a couple of marks where the screws would go. Three to hold the back to the base, two to hold the front lip to the base.

Then I drilled the pocket holes.

3. Piece It Together

This is much easier to do with a clamp so your wood doesn’t wiggle. Also, ATTACH THE SMALL FRONT LIP FIRST. If you do the back one first, you won’t be able to get your drill in place to attach the front lip. (The pocket holes are hidden, but they’re drilled into the 1″ x 4″ base piece)

4. Patch It, Prime It, Paint It

I skipped any wood patching (the holes are hidden by books) and went straight to priming.

I used premium pine, which meant no knots, which meant I didn’t have to worry about using a stain blocking primer. So a basic coat of aerosol primer did the trick.

I painted it white with an Olympic exterior paint we had from touching up our front porch last summer. The stronger enamel meant I got to  skip the whole polyurethane step.

5. Hang It

I wanted to make sure I drilled these into studs (books are heavy!), so first, I found studs in the wall. Then I aligned the picture ledges to where I’d normally hang them and marked where the two studs and ledge aligned.

I drilled a couple of pilot holes, then hung them on the wall (in the studs!) with two 2″ screws each. Obviously, use a level!

I may go back and dab white on the screws for better blending.

Easy access book shelf: Done-zo. Obviously, this will just hold a few favorites. We’ll need a solution for all the other books we’re bound to receive and buy. But we’ll jump that hurdle when we get to it!

Other sources: Ana White (ledges sans Kreg jig!) and Yellow Brick Home (similar, and based on the IKEA Ribba, which is what I was going for).

Bump Watch: Week 38

posted by Paige, . Add Comment

Man, this pregnancy, I have fallen off the writing wagon so many times. I think I’m doing great, then I look back and realize the last time I wrote was last month. Oooops.

Anyway, I’m here today with  one of my last pregnancy updates. Today marks 38 weeks of baby incubation.

I’ve gained 30 pounds on the dot. It’s been hard to exercise (exercise = walking laps around a local community college’s nature trail) because we had a streak of 90 degree days, but things cooled down, so I’m back at it.

I’m sleeping okay. Ryan has officially moved in our guest room to give me space to stretch out. Plus, I’m going to bed an hour earlier than him, so it helps.

I haven’t gone on maternity leave yet. I want to, because I just want to go to my mom’s house and float in her pool all day, but at the same time, I know I’d go crazy waiting for a baby and not keeping myself occupied.

The nursery is still under construction. We have major things ticked off the list: car seat installed, Pack ‘N Play with bassinet set up, “go time” bags kinda sorta packed, breast pump ordered and received (for free, thanks to the ACA and insurance!). There are little things though. Coordinating who will let our dog out if we’re gone for more than 10 hours, prepping some homemade meals that we can freeze now and throw in the oven later, etc.

 

I’m ready for it though. Not just ready to get him out so I can have my body back to myself. I mean, I’m really ready. There have been a few times in the pregnancy where I couldn’t wrap my head around having a child, but now I have (I think?). I feel mentally prepared for the birthing time, the prolonged discomfort, and the idea of the baby. Calm and relaxed.

Now, seriously baby, you can come out.

After Two Months of Waiting…

posted by Paige, . 4 Comments

It’s here! It’s here!

I went back and forth on this bed thing for a while. Do I buy it? Rehab something from Craigslist? DIY it? A bed? Or just a headboard? There’s a lot of inspiration out there for making your own bed, but it wasn’t quite clicking for me. I think it had a lot of do with insufficient workspace. It’s not a done-in-a-day project, and where would I put a bed between work sessions? #smallhouseproblems

For fun, let’s take a trip down memory lane.

When we first moved in. Disaster.

We finally got less cluttered and softened things up with paint, curtains, a new duvet and a dresser that actually fit the space.

Then a round of stenciling, new nightstands (which you can’t see, but the owl lamp is higher!) another duvet update and a bed skirt update (no more pleats!).

And now! The fan is all white (thanks, spray paint), we have prints on the wall, a turtle shell, sconces and a BED.

West Elm had a President’s Day sale. The Vonnegut/Kraft queen bed was originally $1,099, but on sale with a promo code, it came to $479. Shipping and processing, tax and delivery kicked it up a bit more ($639 total to be exact), but it was hard to argue with a base price of more than half off the original price. After shopping around, I realized less than $700 for a stylish piece of solid wood furniture was a deal.

Bed without pillows, so you can see the headboard. Also, I’m just now realizing the bed isn’t centered with the frames. Must. Adjust. ASAP.

So why I am telling you about a bed we bought in February? Because we JUST got it! It was backordered on us twice. I began to wonder, will I have a bed or a baby first?

Husband stayed home last Tuesday for the delivery. He texted me this photo, “I think we need to get rid of the box springs.” Uuum. Yes. Note how much lower the nightstands are! So that, combined with the extra height hiding the headboard, meant bye-bye box springs.

Regrettably, here’s where the box springs are living. We found a local rescue mission that will take them, but we need to figure out how to get them there. Oh, and that ottoman is living there too. The Vonnegut/Kraft bed has a bench that pairs with it, and even though it looks awesome, I really like the ottoman’s storage. We just need something longer like this.

And about those botanical prints.

My best thrift/antique shop find to date. They were $30 each, but the store owner sold me the set for $80. Four prints. Matted. With frames. BIG FRAMES. $80. If you’ve never shopped for frames, you have no idea what the big deal is. Something like this at Homegoods would cost at least $40 each. At least!

We still have a few things to work on. I’d love a big rug under the bed. I think jute would be pretty, but I’m allergic to those things, so that won’t be happening.

And I need to fill these frames. They’ve been like this for…six months? Ugh. I’d love to start a collection of frames and jewelry and stuff to put on the dresser too. Right now, I tend to pile clothes on it. Maybe frames and books would deter that.

So, happy day, we have a bed. It only took two years, but it’s starting to look like grown ups live here, even if the bed and frames are a little off-center.