Hallway Mini Makeover

After scraping off the popcorn texture on the ceilings in my house, I’ve had a few locations where the paint started to randomly chip off. It seems like the plaster ceilings were never sanded down properly, so the old layers of paint start to come undone over time. We’ve found a solution that we need to chip all the loose paint, sand, and then use a high adhesion primer before skimming the spots and then repainting. (Easier said than done!). The good news is that it is a pretty quick project and the ceilings look perfect afterwards.

My Biggest Home Remodel Regrets

I have shared a lot of my remodel projects on this blog– from putting salvaged vintage hardwood flooring in my living room, to remodeling my kitchen, to building my own bathroom vanity. I always talk about my projects and the things I love about them, but I have never really talked about them afterwards. I’ve been reflecting on a few of the things that I wish I would have done differently, and thought I would share for you to learn from my mistakes!

Bathroom Remodel Reveal

After what seems like years in the making, I am finally done with my bathroom remodel! The remodel included demoing the old medicine cabinet and vanity, repairing and repainting walls, tiling the floor, and building a new custom vanity.

You can read more about my bathroom remodel, from the beginning below!

Bathroom Remodel Inspo

Bathroom Remodel: Building a Vanity

Bathroom Remodel: The Demo Begins

Bathroom Remodel: New Walls

Installing a New Bathroom Vanity

Tiling Over an Existing Tile Floor

And now for the big reveal:

Tiling Over an Existing Tile Floor

The last part of my bathroom remodel project was a new tile floor. I ripped up the most recent layer of tile, but didn’t want to disturb the original 1950’s tile floor. The bathroom was built around the floor, so it was easier just to tile over it.

A couple of things to consider if you want to tile over an existing tile floor are:

1. The old tiles all need to be secured to the floor. If they are starting to pop up, you either need to reattach them or pull them all up.
2. The old tiles need to be smooth without corners sticking up or high points. If you try to tile over an uneven surface with new ceramic tile, they could break.
3. The overall height of the floor needs to be able to accommodate another layer of tile (think transitions in the doorway and any moldings in the room).

Luckily for me, all of these things were in my favor.

How to Save Money on Home Remodel Projects

Owning a home is expensive, especially when you want to start doing remodel projects. It’s really fun to dream of all the things you want to do to your space, but sometimes the price tag puts the project on hold. Luckly, there are ways to save lots of money on projects. Here are a few of my secrets for getting great deals on your remodel projects:

Installing a Staircase Carpet Runner

One of the parts of my house that needed a little face lift is my basement stairwell. When I bought my house, it had been painted with a flat white paint that was already scuffed and just looked too bland. I had an extra gallon of soft yellow paint laying around, so I painted the walls yellow, and did a little gray accent wall and cabinet.

After remodeling my basement and my kitchen, the yellow stairwell connecting the two felt a little out of place, especially with the mint green kitchen! I always check the discounted paint at my local home improvement store, and stumbled across a gallon of soft gray for only $5 and figured now was the time to change out the yellow.

Before