Home + DIY Archives – Page 5 of 5

Step-by-Step Guide to Hang Floating Shelves

August 28, 2016 5 Comments

I love the look of floating shelves – you know the ones: they look like they’re magically protruding out of the walls:

Beautiful.

But have you ever hung one up yourself? Have you? I did (kind of). I cried and got so frustrated. I drilled a hole just 1/8″ off, and the shelf wouldn’t hook on to the screws and hang properly.

Thank goodness my handy husband came to the rescue to give me a few pointers and console me in this low time.

I’m writing this post to save you from going down the road I traveled down. Here is how to actually hang these floating shelves with NO TEARS, and lots of accomplishment and pride.

Home + DIY

A Stripping & Painting Weekend

August 16, 2016 3 Comments

Over the weekend, Mr. Rissler and I decided to take a stab at chalk painting a dresser we keep in our walk-in closet. This was our first time using chalk paint, so we wanted to test it out before taking on anything too big and noticeable. This dresser was a hand-me-down from my parents and in need of a little TLC!

Chalk paint is known for requiring little-to-no prep work (e.g. sanding and priming), but we still needed to lightly sand it to remove the loose paint around the drawers. If you don’t remove loose paint, it can peel off soon after the new coat has dried and undo your hard work! 😥

Home + DIY

4 Home Decorating Tricks From My Ingenious Mama

July 29, 2016 8 Comments

Throw pillows. Baskets. Decorative Balls. Rugs. Do you have an elevated pulse? If so, you probably have a case of Hyperdecorism: an obsession with home decor. Look it up, it’s real. JK! I made it up.

I definitely have a case of Hyperdecorism. I also have a case of, “when I begin decorating I have a theme in mind, but it never seems to come together as I picture it.” I never feel like it never turns out “Pinterest-worthy.” Do you know what I mean? Does this happen to you?

Home + DIY

Hardwood Floor Adventures, Part 1: Getting an Amazing Deal and the Realistic Costs of DIY

July 21, 2016 No Comments

Over the weekend we shared a few live videos on the Rise and Renovate Facebook page of Andrew and I tearing out carpet and installing new floors in our bedroom! Before we dive into all the details, let me take you back to the beginning. Last Monday I received a text from my husband…

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Such a light text for such a hefty decision, amiright?? 😆

Aaanndddddddd here’s the car later that night. I painted myself in to help you understand how I fit into the car for our 25 minute drive home (that’s not really me just so you know, it’s hard to tell)…

I want to take you down the road of how we saved 85% on our hardwood floors, but also take a realistic look at how much it actually costs to install your own flooring.

Home + DIY, Uncategorized

A Catastro-Bee

June 17, 2016 1 Comment

via GIPHY

Bees. Bees everywhere. This was the first 3 weeks of living in our house.

Bees at our front door. Bees in the wall. Bees in the vents. Bees in the bathroom. Bees crawling on the floor.

Let me tell you a little story about how bee hives get out-of-control:

A couple years ago, there was a bee hive near our roof. The owners chose to have an exterminator come out and kill the bees. No bees, no problem! Right?

WRONG.

Home + DIY, Uncategorized

How We Saved $10,000 On Our House

June 15, 2016 No Comments

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Andrew and I began looking at buying a house around February 2016. With our marriage on the horizon, we thought it was the perfect time to start looking for our first home. While the thought of a move-in ready home was appetizing, we knew we’d enjoy a house that needed a little love (or a lot) – so we kept our expectations low. Additionally, we wanted a way to get a deal on a house. Enter: Auctions.

Most people I’ve spoken with have been semi-freaked out by the idea of buying at auction – they have the idea of driving to the courthouse with $200k hard cash in your pocket and wading through a sea of people to place your bid. To many-a-surprise, this was NOTHING like our auction experience! Here’s what happened…