Archive for September, 2008
This One’s For You
Young House Love turns one this week (insert party kazoo sound effect here). And to celebrate, we’re doing a couple of things to mark the incredible year we’ve shared with all of you.
First, we’ve lined up a week of blogiversary-themed posts that take a look back at some of our (and your) favorite old posts coupled with some new stories and all the behind-the-scenes dirt. Plus we’ll give you a chance to weigh in on what Young House Love will become in year numero dos.
But before we do all that, we wanted to take time to say “thank you.” We never imagined 12 months ago that starting a little blog to document our kitchen remodel would snowball into full-time gig, and we have your enthusiasm and support to thank for that. Man, if only you guys could see how excited we still get every time one of you takes a moment to comment, well, you’d probably think we’re crazy.
What’s truly crazy though are all the strange and wonderful things that your support has brought us this year. We’ve found our way into newspapers and magazines and are eagerly awaiting our debut on HGTV (um, hello crazytown, we even got a call from Oprah’s people). And while the exposure is euphoric (somebody pinch us) the fact that we’re able to do what we love everyday (and still put food on the table) makes us feel truly blessed and appreciative for each and every one of you.
So again – it can’t be said enough – thank you for all that you’ve done to give us the means and motivation to do this. Just call us your number one fans.
Reader Redesign: The Frame Game
When we got a letter from Jacky all about her mantle makeover, we couldn’t wait to share the fun before and after pics. Here’s her letter:
I’m a BIG fan of your site. And I wanted to share my living room makeover with you. We didn’t know what to do with our oddly shaped concrete mantle, so we left it alone for two plus years. But after reading all your archives, I was really inspired to makeover the entire mantle wall! First, I picked up 2 pieces of reclaimed wood molding and 1×12 board (for $30) and began building a custom mantle top. Since my husband was busy at work, I decided to tackle the carpentry myself. Using a chop saw and some finish nails I eventually assembled all the pieces, and primed & painted everything with two coats of semi-gross white. Since our old concrete fireplace surround looked dirty with a freshly painted mantle top, I ended up painting the concrete the same white color and then just popped the mantle cap right on top of it! I love the curve of the crown moldings w/crisp white paint.
My next project was to deal with the huge mirror above the mantle. I originally wanted to buy a smaller framed one, but I couldn’t find a perfect mirror within our budget. So instead of taking down the large heavy mirror I left it on the wall and installed a wood frame right over it! I found salvaged 35 cent/foot molding, cut 45 degree angles for the corners, and painted them with two coats of rich ebony wood stain. Figuring out how to install the frame was a bit tricky, but I got a great idea from a local hardware store guy: double-sided tape! It worked perfectly and was so EASY to install! -Jacky
Here’s a before shot of Jacky’s curved concrete fireplace mantle and jumbo frameless mirror:
And the fabulously updated new mantle & posh “new” framed mirror:
That’s the DIY spirit Jacky! And done with your own two hands no less. Thanks a million for sharing!
Burning Question: Open For Business?
Yet another burning question for you guys: is open shelving sweet and simple or impractical and overexposed? It’s certainly increasingly popular- but is it a passing trend or a smart solution that’s here to stay? It’s a pretty budget-friendly option (thanks to Ikea’s Lack shelves or even just a few planks of wood & some simple brackets). But would exposed storage cramp your style and get super dusty? Don’t be shy. Tell us whatcha think.
