Occasionally, you will get a piece of gorgeous wood that has voids or knots in it. You wouldn't want to add wood putty, because it wouldn't retain the look of the knots. But, you want a smooth surface. The solution is to fill the wood knots and voids with epoxy. The results will … [Read more...]
How to Refinish Wood Floors without Sanding
I love our antique heart pine floors! They are beautifully distressed. The round pegs and square nails securing them in place add loads of character. However, the square nails sit flush with the surface preventing us from ever being able to refinish them with a sander. The nails … [Read more...]
Build a Fireplace Insert Draft Stopper {a Lowe’s Creator Idea}
I'm a little bit of a fanatic when it comes to drafts. (Remember the time I weather stripped my garage doors?) Over time I've addressed most of the pesky cracks and crevices that invite cold air into our home. But, there was one draft that I've been meaning to serve an eviction … [Read more...]
Ilkley, UK – A Home Tour of an 1880 Row House
I've known Karen and her sister Anne since fourth grade. Karen was my best friend growing up and ultimately, my maid-of-honor. Anne is her older sister. During play dates, Karen and I were silly girls who avoided (the more mature) Anne, as we played top secret spy games under the … [Read more...]
How to Make New Wood Look Old, Weathered and Rustic
How to Make New Wood Look Old, Weathered and Rustic I have a confession to make. All the wood that you saw on my art studio wall is not exactly old or salvaged. Will you forgive me if I share with you the Secret to Make New Wood Look Old, Weathered and Rustic? In order … [Read more...]
Guest Post on Remodelaholic
Hello. You have reached the home of Pretty Handy Girl. We're not home right now, but you can reach us over at Remodelaholic today! Or feel free to leave us a comment and we'll get back to you shortly. Beeeeeeep.It's true, I'm not here today. Instead I'll be over at Remodelaholic … [Read more...]
Installing the Antique Heart Pine Flooring
Welcome back! If you are just joining us, we are on the fifth step of a five part series on our living room. A living room that started out as a dark cave of a room:Before picture shot during daytime with a lamp lit. VERY DARK! Previous steps can be viewed here: 1. Faux … [Read more...]
Preparing to Install Antique Heart Pine Floors (and buying antique lumber on Craig’s List)
While writing this post, I thought about some alternate titles. Here are some of the contenders:1. How to entertain your kids while installing hard wood floors2. How to cover your screened porch with debris from demolition3. When you really should rent a dumpster4. How to signify … [Read more...]