CheaperThanWine

projects with panache

[cheaperthanwine]

Want drama? Paint your ceilings!

I went to a friend’s house the other day who was in the middle of having it repainted and I immediately noticed this awful area on the ceiling and said, “Oh my gosh, I never noticed the water damage on your kitchen ceiling!” My friend promptly replied, “No Jenn, that’s not water damage. That’s a spot the painter missed, and he’s coming back tomorrow to fix it.” It wasn’t the fact he missed it that surprised me, it was how awful the ceiling had looked before he painted it that shocked me. I mean shocked!

When I moved into my fifty year old house six months ago, there was a distinct odor to the home. You know how everyone’s houses smell a little different? Well, this one smelled like a combination of really bad incense and “old.” It was odd and it was bad. We repainted every wall in the home which made a tremendous difference, but we also painted every single ceiling. As affirmed by family and friends, there is zero “weird smell” in my house now! Often times ceilings are never painted and the plaster absorbs odors over time, especially in kitchens or even worse, older homes where previous owners long ago may have smoked. Burning lots of candles can also discolor ceilings.

So in short, painting your ceilings makes your home look brighter, your ceilings look taller, and will seal the plaster to prevent the odd smell factor!

Helpful Hints

There are lots of varieties of ceiling paint and it’s typically a thinner paint, so cover everything on the ground and walls before you get started.

My preferred ceiling paint because it’s cheap and covers in one coat is Behr Ceiling Paint (purple can).

Like all things white, there are a hundred shades, so don’t switch after you start so if you ever need to touch up a ceiling in your home again, you can count on it being the same as your “leftover" can.

Carefully trim the edges first and then roll the rest.

Ceilings are much harder to paint than you think because it’s difficult to see where you have been. Work in daylight and be sure to overlap your roller marks.

If your ceiling is heavily textured with something like popcorn, be prepared to roll both directions (perpendicular to each other), keep plenty of paint on your roller and don’t go over an area more than once or the popcorn will pull off. You may need to change your roller after each room depending on how full it gets of texture.

Enjoy the project!

[cheaperthanwine]

Updates for Functionality

"Don't just update to make it look better - make it work better if you can."  -- Jennifer Lea

As you know, I love fresh and clean updates to make homes feel new again, but whenever I update a space, I think about how to maximize it. What do I really need that space to be for? The toy room that might have worked 8 years ago is no longer serving its purpose. The laundry room that is on the smaller side was perfectly fine until your family grew into a small tribe. Or in my most recent case, the 1970’s wet bar conveniently located off the garage could be used far more effectively as a “drop zone” and hopefully help my kids backpacks and coats find a better spot to live than the floor!

So, what goes into a drop zone? The typical ones are a bench, baskets, and hooks. All this works fine and looks lovely, but think for a moment about how updating the space can serve your family, not just serve a cute instagram post. For example, after remodeling my kitchen and in living in my house for about six months, there were three things that I struggled with daily for a place to put: lunch boxes, extra shopping bags, and MASKS! Who would have ever thought we’d have to have a place for masks, right? A year later and we’re still washing and wearing, so it’s about time they find a semi-permanent home.

To solve this I decided to create a multi-level space to store these random items and have a convenient space to put my coffee before I walk out the door and any “don’t forget items.” It’s a fairly simply cupboard with hooks and let me tell you, it’s been life changing! Now, if I could just teach the backpacks and coats to hang themselves up since my kids can’t seem to figure it out!

[cheaperthanwine]

Paint Your Grout

Let’s be honest…we all love our tile, but keeping grout clean is my nemesis! And over time, no matter how much you clean it or what you clean it with, it just gets dingy. Here’s your answer - paint it! There is specially designed grout paint. The prep (as always!) is key. It’s detailed work, but I’m telling you, your tile will look brand new when you’re done! I haven’t researched what goes into doing your shower, but this method is tried and true on my floors for years!

Investment

Money | $30-$60

Time | 30 minutes per 3x3’ area

Supplies*

Grout colorant of choice. You can stick with the same as your current and just freshen it up and make it look uniform and clean, or go darker. If you want to go light, be prepared to do multiple coats. The same color is the easiest and looks awesome.

Prep cleaner for grout. If your grout has never been sealed and you cleaned it with vinegar really well, this step is probably not necessary.

Nylon scrubbing sponge or toothbrush.

Old rag/towel to wipe excess.

Small paintbrush, about the width of your grout lines.

Patience. Not for sale. :)

Steps

Clean the heck out of your grout. Let dry two hours.

Pour a small amount of colorant into a disposable cup and get to work with your small paint brush. It dries fairly fast, so don’t dink around too much and definitely don’t let excess set up. Adequately cover and wipe off any excess immediately with a damp (not wet) rag from the edges.

Let cure 7 days before steaming or cleaning.

Enjoy the Project

Playlist | This is Carly Pierce

Wine | Kirkland Box Cab :)

*My site may contain affiliate links where I receive a small percentage of commission from the company for sales generated on behalf of my blog. Your price does not increase, and I never include links for any products I don’t use, like and recommend. Thanks for your support!

[cheaperthanwine]

Convert a Wired Fixture

There is an alternative, MUCH less expensive answer than calling an electrician to wire your house if there is a place you really want a light, such as a sconce by your sofa or a pair for reading lights by your bed - it’s called a $2 extension cord! It’s super easy to “wire” a fixture to an extension cord so then you can plug it in. You do have to think about what you’re going to do with the cord to hide it, but I’ve got some ideas on that, too! Keep reading for the “how to!”

Supplies*

Extension Cord

T-Stripper

Box cutter/razor blade

Electrical Caps (2)

Screwdriver (or drill)

Cord covers (optional)

Wifi Plug (optional)

Steps

Using your t-stripper wire cutter, cut off end of extension cord where you would plug a cord into (not the end that plugs into the wall!)

Carefully cut with a razor blade between the two edges of the extension where the wires come together, about 1-2 inches long.

Use your t-stripper, on the biggest hole, to cut & strip the extension cord plastic off the end wire so you have about a ½” of exposed wire on each side of your “split cord.”

Use electrical caps to secure the wires to your fixture. Black to black, white to white and the copper wire goes around the screw attached to the fixture mount itself.

Mount your fixture bracket wherever you want it.

Attach your fixture to it as designed; you may need to make an accommodation for the cord that will stick out from somewhere behind the fixture. Ideally, this is where you want to run a cord cover from. Alternatively, it’s pretty darn easy to drill or cut a small hole in the wall and literally drop your extension cord down it to fish it from down below through another smaller hole. They make nice plates to finish off your holes, and if you do it directly behind the fixture mount, you’ll never see it until you take it down someday and if you can run the cord down the wall to land behind a couch, plant, etc., you won’t really see the other end either. There are a number of nice cord cover options if you want to run it on top of the wall as well.

Plug it in, viola!

PRO TIP: Use an Alexa enabled wifi plug or outlet so your new light can turn on by command or on a schedule!Enjoy the Project

Playlist | Kenny Chesney

Wine | 2018 Cherries & Rainbows Red Wine

*My site may contain affiliate links where I receive a small percentage of commission from the company for sales generated on behalf of my blog. Your price does not increase, and I never include links for any products I don’t use

[cheaperthanwine]

Difference Between Nail polish and Paint

I was helping a friend with wall paint and I was trying to explain how to select a paint. I decided I could probably write a course on this, but what I want you to really think about is comparing it to nail polish. There are too many people who go to the paint counter at wherever with their chosen color in hand and say “I need a gallon please.” You know the drill - they start asking you questions about what kind and what sheen of finish you want and here it comes the “oh s*%t” moment when you don’t have a clue!

Now, if you are fortunate enough to have a gray haired old school painter working, you can tell them about your project and they will help you pick the right kind of paint. However, the last time I encountered one of those experts was years ago! Most of the time it’s a twenty something who may have never painted a wall in their life. So, let’s rethink asking advice at the paint store, instead, research before you go! 

Picking out paint for your project is just like picking out nail polish! You know there are differences between shades, brands, texture, thickness, applicator brush, the sheen, the durability, how easy it is to remove, etc. SAME WITH PAINT! I can’t tell you which is best as a general matter, although I definitely have some biases based on my own experience. My recommendation is when you get ready to tackle a project, go on Facebook to DIY forums such as Paint it Beautiful, Houzz or Pinterest and just start researching what other people recommend and what they have used. You want to keep in mind the following questions:

Is my project inside or outside?

What is the surface of your project? Brand new drywall, varnished wood, new wood, old wall, etc. You may need a primer or other type of prep. No prep = bad results, I don’t care how good of paint you bought!

How durable does this need to be? Heavy foot or hand traffic or just pretty sitting on a shelf?

Does it need to be washable?

Do you want it to look brand new or distressed?

Are you willing to do multiple steps or want more like a one-and-done application?

Do you want it to be matte/flat or shiny/gloss?

How much will the sun shine on it?

Are you painting over a dark or super light color with the opposite color of new paint?

Bottom Line

The type of paint you choose will 100% affect the outcome of your project and ultimately how happy you are with it! 

Enjoy the Project

Playlist | CheaperThanWine

Wine | Meiomi Pinor Noir

*My site may contain affiliate links where I receive a small percentage of commission from the company for sales generated on behalf of my blog. Your price does not increase, and I never include links for any products I don’t use, like and recommend. Thanks for your support!

[cheaperthanwine]

Exhaust Fan to Recessed Can

How often do you use the exhaust fan in your bathroom? Is it old and ugly? Dirty? Would you much rather have a nice LED can light where it currently is? Me too! So let’s talk about these fans for a moment…

Pros:

Remove excess moisture from the air when showering.

Help remove foul smelling air.

Cons:

They get dirty and no one ever cleans them.

They are loud.

They let in cold air from up above.

If they include a light, it’s usually not very bright.

Their effectiveness is questionable, and zero if you never turn them on.

Poopouri or scented sprays are more effective in removing odor.

Unless you take a long shower every day and steam up the bathroom, and run the fan while doing so, you probably don’t need one.

So, what’s a gal to do? Convert it to a fresh, new, clean LED recessed can light! I love the look, the light is so much brighter and I don’t miss the darn fan at all! Plus, it gives me an excellent reason to shiplap my ceiling to cover up the ugly square hole in the ceiling.

Supplies

LED Recessed Can Light (wet rated for bathrooms)

Wire Connectors

T-Stripper

Drill or screwdriver (Phillips & flat head)

Steps

Turn off power to fan at circuit box.

Flip switch for fan (and light with fan if separate) to make sure both are off or just voltage meter to test wires.

Remove cover of exhaust fan. Be prepared for dirt. May want to consider throwing an old sheet or painters cloth under your work area first.

Unscrew fan (wherever there are screws securing it). It is nearly impossible to get the housing box out of the ceiling, so we’re not going to try. You are only going to remove the “guts” so we can create a little room to house the light. If this is not possible, with your style of fan, you can install a totally flat LED panel light (round or square) and just go right up to it. You might have to get creative with how to attach it to the ceiling, but I am confident you can figure it out - think screws!

Once you have the fan loose, disconnect the wires running to it There should be a ground (copper), black, red, and white (neutral). There may only be three. Either is okay. The green or copper is always the ground, the white is the neutral and then the red and black are “hot” and you that’s when you definitely want to make sure the power is off.

Now, your new light has three wires - green, black and white. Use your wire connectors to match the colors up - green to green (I always do first), white to white (I always do second) and then black to black, or black and red. When you use a wire connector nut, the idea is that you put all of your wires into the very tip and when you turn it clockwise, it twists them all together. Wire connectors come in different sizes and if it is too small, it won’t allow all of your wires to fit in there - the yellow and orange caps usually work for most everything. There are also cool clamp connectors where you push the wires in instead of twisting, they work great too, just depends on your preference. I use those in tight spaces such as wifi outlets, but as a general matter, the twist style is just fine.

Okay, let it hang there a second (these lights are so lightweight!)  and go turn the power back on and turn on the switch - is it on? Great! If not, turn the power back off and double check your connections are all tight. If there were two sets of wires (like if there was a light wired separate, then switch which set of wires you have the black wired to the other set. For example, if you had two blacks together and you put your new black wire with that, but it’s not coming on, then remove your new wire (put a cap tight back on the two old blacks) and then wire the new black to the red and black set. Turn the power on and try it again. An electrician probably does this more efficiently than I do. For me it’s a bit of trial and error sometimes, but we’re only talking about so many options here and you can figure it out!

Once you have power working with the switch, turn the switch off and work on connecting the light to the ceiling. Fit the springs on each side inside the fan housing and call it done.

Get creative with your ceiling to shiplap, used restored barn wood, panels, or other decorative ceiling tiles to update your entire bathroom look and cover up the excess space of the exhaust fan.

Enjoy the Project

Wine | Hampton Water Rose 2018

Playlist | Cheaper Than Wine

[cheaperthanwine]

Weather Stripping

After the polar vortex last week, I was reminded how important good weather stripping is around your doors! There is a weather strip that runs along the bottom of the actual door (the only way to get to it is to remove the door) and the other type is a formed plastic/rubber strip that pushes into a groove in the door frame itself. Take a look at yours for any of the following issues:

It doesn’t match the color of the trim. Very common in older homes when all the stained woodwork got repainted to white, the weather stripping didn’t get replaced and is still black or brown. Worse, maybe it accidentally got painted, too! Bottom line, the weather stripping should be the same color as the door frame and trim, not the color of the door itself. 

It’s beat up. After all, it is just plastic and can tear fairly easily when moving furniture in and out of homes or in my case, my old dog used to tear the heck out of it when someone came to the door to greet them.

It’s no longer effective. Overtime, the weather stripping can become flattened and hard and no longer working as well as it used to keep out drafts. If you run your hand along the edge of the door and feel cold air coming in by the drove, it’s a good time to replace it.

Whatever the reason, replacing it is fairly easy and cheap to do! I recommend first getting a pair of needle nose pliers and starting at the bottom along a side to pull firmly and get about 5” out. Take a pair of scissors and cut off 1” and then push the other back in. This is your sample to take to the hardware store if you want to stick with the same style. You can most likely change it as the door frame grooves are pretty standard, but in my case with my dog, I regularly replaced the bottom 4’ where he was constantly tearing it and I wanted it to be identical to the existing weather stripping. If you’re replacing all three sides, it likely won’t matter.

When you go to the hardware store, you just buy two longer pieces for the sides and one 36” for the top (cut with scissors if your door is smaller). If you have an oversized door, you may need to buy three long pieces to do 1 ½ on each side. Same across the top if you have a double door entry. 

When you are ready, just use your pliers and remove all the weather stripping and then starting across the top, push your piece in. Then move to one of the sides and start at the top to get a tight corner and then push in down the rest of the door. Repeat on other side.

Weather stripping is another one of those little details that can make a big difference in both functionality and aesthetics!

 Enjoy the Project!

Music | Cheaper Than Wine

Wine |2019 Big Beat Red Blend

[cheaperthanwine]

Tiny Laundry Room

"Irony | The opposite of wrinkly"

My laundry room was once in the bathroom. Literally, you sat down on the toilet in the powder bath and you looked at the washing machine and dryer. No doors to cover, just right off the front door, there was the bathroom and the laundry room. This wasn’t working for me… So, I went on a mission to figure out how to close off the wall in the bathroom and keep the washer & dryer in the same place, so the plumbing lines and dryer vent didn’t have to be moved. Viola, out came a spacious and fabulous pantry with a full size stacked washer & dryer in a tiny space! It was perfect, except, where was I going to put my iron and ironing board that I use, maybe, twice a year? The closet? No, it needed to be more convenient or I knew I would NEVER use it!

I went on a mission to find a fold down ironing board and iron mount. I didn’t want one in a nice cupboard because I didn’t have the space. What I came up with is just perfect and 100% functional. Everything about this is convenient and takes up no extra space. Think about ways in your home to maximize your space in creative ways and seriously, if the iron and ironing board are stashed away in a closet and haven’t been used in years, don’t burden yourself with that guilt and just get rid of them!

Supplies

Fold Out Ironing Board

Iron Wall Mount

Industrial Farmhouse Iron Clothes Hanger

[cheaperthanwine]

No More Stuck Curtains!

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results."  -- Albert Einstein

Every night for the past month when I have gone to close my newly made curtains on their rings, it never fails the rings get stuck on the rod joist. I don’t know what else to call it - the part where the two rods come together and differ by about ⅛” in height. So, I have to stop, jiggle it a bit and then I accidentally jiggle one or two of the hooks out of the rings and I can’t reach to fix it, so I have to go get a step stool, and finally, the curtains are closed. A ridiculous amount of work and frustration, repeatedly every night, to just close the damn curtains!

My number two Strength is Maximizer. This means that I can only handle so much insanity before I have to fix the problem. There is always a better solution, but there are few people in life who are willing to stop, take time to figure it out and save literally years of time and future frustration! I find this particularly true in technology!

There are some inventions that are life changing and Ezy Glide Tape is one of them. I found this solution on Amazon for $10 and I have already ordered another role. My curtains are nearly silent closing now and don’t get stuck! Thank you for whoever invented this and saved my mental health for another day! :)

Investment

Money | $10 per role (10 feet). I started out only doing the “half” of the rod with the joist on all of my windows, but love the fact my curtains are so much quieter closing, that I would suggest ordering enough to span the entire rod. You can’t just go over the “bump” to make this work, so measure and order accordingly.

Time | 5 minutes per rod

Supplies*

Ezy Glide Tape

Microfiber towel to dust rod

Scissors

Steps

Dust curtain rod. Focus on side with joist to start with if you don’t plan on going across entire rod (both sides of center).

Measure length of tape needed and cut.

Feed under rings. Then start removing red tape from center. Make sure if you’re only doing half, you are just slightly over center so the ring closest to center won’t get stuck when you go to close it or you just reversed your original problem! You want to make sure you are putting it on the top of the rod, but perhaps just a little on the back side if you are going to error one direction because when you go to close the curtain you pull it slightly towards you. Plus, it makes it less visible, although I can’t see my tape no matter how hard I look, so don’t stress about that!

Press firmly across tape.

Done!

Enjoy the Project

Playlist | Kenny Chesney - I think I only had time for one or two songs!

Wine | Meiomi Pinot Noir

*My site may contain affiliate links where I receive a small percentage of commission from the company for sales generated on behalf of my blog. Your price does not increase, and I never include links for any products I don’t use, like and recom

[cheaperthanwine]

Sensor Light Switches

I admit that I am horrible about turning off the lights! I love lit rooms, any time of day, and all day, for that matter. They are warm, welcoming and everything just looks better with the lights on! Well, maybe not everything but that’s a different blog! But, I know the environmentalists are cringing and I have found that sensor light switches are magical

What

Sensor light switches are exactly what they imply – they sense motion when someone walks into a room and turn on. The default setting for most is to turn off after 5 minutes of no motion. This is adjustable. 

Where

They are available in a dimmer option or just on/off. I find the dimmer to be a bit of a pain because it’s not easy to temporarily reprogram for a dinner party for example (do we have those anymore?! #covid) and then reprogram for full brightness. I find sensor switches work better in “all on/off” spaces where you don’t use dimmers. 

Bathrooms, kids bedrooms, pantry, laundry room, or anywhere else you are finding you have to holler at your children to turn off the lights or you when run through the house turning off the lights before you walk out the door. 

How

Turn off the power, disconnect the old switch and swap out the old switch for the sensor switch! Couple of notes – some sensor switches require a neutral which is usually a white wire sometimes in the back of the box not being used. Older houses especially may not have neutrals in every box, so when purchasing, look for “no neutral required” and then you won’t have to worry about it. Also pay attention to single pole v. three-way options. Three way switches can get tricky (anywhere there is more than one switch to turn on/off a light is a three way, even if it’s just two switches). My point is, try to pick sensor switch location that are single pole such as most bathrooms, closets, bedrooms, etc. 

 Enjoy the Project!

Music | Cheaper Than Wine

Wine | Robert Mondavi Merlot

[cheaperthanwine]

LVT: What, When, Where & Why

What:

Luxury Vinyl Tile or Luxury Vinyl Planks, also known as LVT or LVP, is a newer flooring product on the market growing in popularity for residential use. It’s been used in commercial applications for years! The “T” or “P” is really dictated by manufacturer and the shape of the product. It honestly comes in all sizes and shapes for 12”x12” to wood-like planks. Shoot for 7mm-12mm for good residential quality. The thicker, the better.

When:

Great to go over existing flooring such as tile or wood or a bare subfloor such as concrete. When it’s not good is if the subfloor is uneven such as tile that has been torn up or different levels of flooring because of foundation issues. It’s like a piece of rubber that will take the shape of whatever is below it, so seams, gaps, indents, bumps, etc. on whatever is under it, will show over time, if not immediately.

Where:

Super awesome for high traffic areas due to its durability. Kitchens, basements and bathrooms are all options! The install process for bathrooms is a little different to ensure water doesn’t get under it. Probably safer to stick to non-wet areas, but everyone is different and powder baths would be totally fine.

Why:

Think kids and dogs! Nothing happens to this stuff and the best part is, in the rare event you have damage to a tile, you can just pull that one up, slap some glue down and put a new one in. Brilliant! It comes in lots of different sizes, textures and colors. The pricing on it is good and the best part, again given a ready subfloor, you can install it yourself! If you are going to require a lot of subfloor work like I did, I wouldn’t attempt it yourself!

[cheaperthanwine]

HOW TO FIX BAD WALL TEXTURE BEFORE REPAINTING

"If it looks like crap before you paint it, it will look like crap after!"  -- J

Here’s the number one rule when it comes to painting…if it looks like crap before, it will look like crap after! When you think about brand new drywall, the first coat of paint that is applied is really texture going on, which is why it’s critical the roller is high quality, paint is applied evenly and lap lines don’t show. But, when you’re talking about a house that has been repainted several times, the texture you’re working with is probably not great do to prior bad DIY jobs. So, your options depend on how severe the problem is. Here are a few suggestions in order of “extremeness”…

Patch nail holes and minor dings with Crawfords spackle or equivalent

Sand rough spots. In my case, I literally sanded every wall, and the entire wall, in the house because it was so bad.

Skim coat the entire wall. In extreme cases and when sanding is no longer effective, you can apply a drywall mud skim coat to the entire wall to basically restore the surface to like-new drywall. This means you need to prime it before painting to seal the mud. See the video below for more detail and steps on the process!

When you think you are done with your prep work, shut your eyes and use your hand to feel the surface. Prep work with painting makes everything look worse before it looks better and if you just go by your eyes, you’ll miss tons. So, close them and go by touch. Stop and fix what you feel and you’ll end up with a beautiful new paint job when you finally get a brush and roller in your hand!

Enjoy the Project

Playlist | This is Kenny Chesney by Spotify

Wine | Kendall Jackson Chardonnay

*My site may contain affiliate links where I receive a small percentage of commission from the company for sales generated on behalf of my blog. Your price does not increase, and I never include links for any products I don’t use, like and recommend. Thanks for your support!

[cheaperthanwine]

Favorite Tech Gifts

If you’re looking for a few last minute holiday tech gifts, here are links to a few of my favorites! Hurry up and order today for Christmas delivery!

Apple AirPods

Apple AirPods Pro

Wifi Outlet Plugs $25 for four (works with Alexa, “Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree, lamp, etc.”)

USB Outlets $20 for two on average

Echo Smart Speaker $29

Echo Flex $9.99 (mini speaker to say “Alexa, turn on the hall light” or “add dish scrubber to my shopping cart”)

LED Strip Light $15 ave (Under cabinet, over cabinet or anywhere lighting. Get “warm white 3000K." Kids also love the colored ones for their rooms!)

Good luck and happy shopping!

[cheaperthanwine]

How to Install Tile Backsplash the Easy Way!

Tile backsplashes whether they are in the kitchen or bathroom tend to become more quickly outdated than what you would like to think and they can be kind of a pain in the rear to update. I stumbled across a fantastic product a few years ago that makes the install and replacement job much easier. With that said, if you are thinking of tacking this yourself there are two key things you need:

You like to do jigsaw puzzles. I know you may think this has nothing to do with tiling a backsplash, but oh contraire! Once you get the “big stuff” on, you’ll spend several hours filling in the little spots and it’s seriously just like a giant puzzle! If you hate puzzles, stop here and hire someone. That someone could be your 14 year old. ;)

Wet tile saw. You can hopefully find somewhere to rent one of these, unless you have several upcoming tile projects in which case you might want to buy one. There are lots of ways to cut tile, but when you’re working with mosiac type installs, it simply does the best job. Not the cleanest way to get it done, but the best in my opinion.

So, besides time consuming, there really isn’t anything that hard about this project if you use my method! Let’s get started!

Investment

Money | Can vary widely depending on the tile selection! Look for deals in your area from local warehouses. I found mine on a steal and did the whole thing for $150 in tile! I’d allow your budget to be about $250 total to include the backing, grout, tile and supplies for 15 sq ft. Obviously, materials go up from there if you have more space.

Time | My project was 6 hours start to finish for 15 sq feet and a very difficult tile to lay because of the 45 degree angles, but I would allow a day (or night) for whatever you’re going to tackle. :)

Supplies*

Wet saw

Grout in color choice (I prefer the pre-mixed version)

Tile of choice

MusselBound Tile Mat (cannot use in wet spaces like showers). This is in lieu of thin set you would normally use to back the tile.

Bucket, rag, water, yellow foam sponge, grout float (optional), putty knife

Steps

Determine area and mark off with a square or tape measure and lines to ensure you are STARTING WITH STRAIGHT LINES. This is like a wallpaper project, if your first piece is off, the entire thing is going to be crooked. Think about how you want the tile laid out (horizontal, vertical, angle, etc.). How you want the end result to look is going to impact where you start.

Apply MusselBound Mat by unrolling and applying to measured surface. This is a two person job typically. You only get one chance to get it right or you’ll risk it not doing its job. Don’t remove the side you are going to stick the tile to until your workspace is clean and you are totally ready. It’s like a giant 3M sticker! It won’t dry out per say, but you don’t want it to get dirty.

Get started! You don’t have to do a thing to your tile other than make sure it’s dry and clean. Just start sticking it up where you designated your starting point to be! Do all the "big pieces” first and then you’ll get to the jigsaw part to start filling in.

There is no waiting time to grout with the Musselbound mat, so start filling in the grout lines as deep as the product will go. Gently wipe off excess with foam sponge. Go back over in an hour to remove remaining glaze.

You’re done!

Enjoy the Project

Playlist | Country Coffeehouse by Spotify

Wine | Meiomi Pinot Noir

*My site may contain affiliate links where I receive a small percentage of commission from the company for sales generated on behalf of my blog. Your price does not increase, and I never include links for any products I don’t use, like and recommend. Thanks for your support!

[cheaperthanwine]

Holiday Gift Ideas!

"It's all about the right tool to get the job done right!"  -- Jennifer

I know not everyone gets as excited about tools as I do, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite with you in case you are looking for some unique holiday gift ideas! You can muster through almost every job with the wrong tools, but let me tell you, it goes a whole lot better (and much easier) with the right tools! Here are a few of my favorite go-to’s for your hard to buy shoppers. And trust me, even if they already have a drill, my dad owns 5! You can never have too many tools! Happy shopping!

A few of my favorite things…

Compact drill with lights!

All in one screwdriver (with regular and mini bits!)

Pry bar

All time favorite cleaning combo from @GoCleanCo: Get a 2 gallon bucket with Powdered Tide, microfiber rags, bleach and tie a bow on it! Any woman would love this!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

[cheaperthanwine]

Welcome…the entry says it all!

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression. "  -- Oscar Wilde

A cleaning company once told me that they cleaned the glass of the front storm door every single time they came because a sparkling clean door indicated a sparkling clean house (even if it wasn’t always!). The reverse is also true, if the front door is dirty, you wonder what condition the rest of the home might be. It’s honestly true! Well, just like clean glass, the threshold of the door (the bottom part of the frame you walk over) can get pretty disgusting and sometimes, there is only so much elbow grease can do. So, what’s next? Grab your can of gel stain and get to work!

Investment

Money | Maybe nothing if you have some leftover materials on hand! Supplies below.

Time | 1 hour working time; more for drying time.

Supplies*

Bucket of hot water, 1 tsp Clorox and 1 tsp Powder Tide from @gocleanco and an old toothbrush!

Painters tape

Gel stain

Steel wool or small paint brush

General Finishes oil based topcoat

Steps

Scrub the entire door threshold with the Clorox tide mix above. Get in the grooves and the corners. Wipe and let dry.

Tape off any area that isn’t wood to avoid getting the stain on it (floor and door edges). Seal tape edges well.

Use a very small amount of steel wool (fine grade!) with the gel stain in your desired color choice to go on the wood. Rub it in there with the steel wool and let sit for a minute or two. Use the steel wool again to wipe it off. Leave as much on as you want, depending on desired color. If you want more of a wood grain look, use a 1” chip brush to show the brush marks in the stain and let dry.

Let stain dry for 2 hours.

Apply first top coat with a soft cloth. Wipe on and wipe off excess. This should be a very thin coat. Let dry 24 hours.

Sand lightly if needed; apply second coat. Let dry 12 hours.

Apply third coat. Let dry 12 hours.

Enjoy the Project

Playlist | Very Nearly Nashville by Spotify

Wine | Angeline Merlot

*My site may contain affiliate links where I receive a small percentage of commission from the company for sales generated on behalf of my blog. Your price does not increase, and I never include links for any products I don’t use, like and recommend. Thanks for your support!

[cheaperthanwine]

Adding Detail & Design

(and How to Tie the Perfect Bow)

Investment

Money | $10 Ribbon

Time | 1 hour

Supplies*

1 ½” wide unwired ribbon - need 25” per bow you plan to tie. I used this one from Amazon. I would have used this one but they didn’t have the color I wanted. :)

Steps

Cut your ribbon into 25” lengths. Each point should be cut an angle for a prettier edge.

Tie each bow. Watch the video for how to get the perfect bow so your “tails” both hang down and the same direction. This is also very helpful to know for girl’s dresses with ties, our fashion wrap shirts and gifts! I learned this from my mom and we are both known as the “professional bow tier-ers” by our friends!

Enjoy the Project

Playlist | Pure Country by Apple Music

Wine | Actually, it’s a Mic Ultra tonight.

*My site may contain affiliate links where I receive a small percentage of commission from the company for sales generated on behalf of my blog. Your price does not increase, and I never include links for any products I don’t use, like and recommend. Thanks for your support!