Smiedendipity

DIY Install: Pottery Barn Vintage Recessed Medicine Cabinet

Posted on August 26, 2016

We’ve been trying to find some time to sit down and plan out the nursery, and decided to put most of our house projects on hold until it was finished. Then one day, one of Jeremy’s super-generous coworkers said “Hey, I have this Pottery Barn medicine cabinet that I bought a few years ago and don’t have any use for now. Do you want it?”

And I was like:

…and we totally forgot about the nursery. Oops! The End.

Really though, it was an amazing gift (thank you, Sharon!) as we’d been talking for over a year about how little storage space the guest bathroom has, and how a medicine cabinet would solve that problem. We were going to hang on to it until after the baby was here, but after thinking it through it was decided that if we were going to cut holes in the walls and take on a big project like this, it would probably be best to do it before we have infant needs and nap times to compete with. So with that, we jumped right in!

This is the cabinet, in chrome finish. Isn’t it pretty? Originally, there was just a framed mirror hung on the wall. It was a good size for the space, but obviously the lack of storage was an issue.

We took down the mirror, turned off the power to the bathroom, and cut a few exploratory holes in the wall. This is a really important step, you need to take your time determining where plumbing and electrical are running before you go any further. Just our luck, we found we had a water pipe running directly behind where the cabinet would have to sit. This was not the best news. And the hole in wall got progressively bigger as Jeremy kept saying “I just need to cut a little more out so I have room to work.” At this point I was a little scared that we were about to tear our bathroom apart forever.

Thankfully, Jeremy had some plumbing knowledge from one of his jobs in high school, so he felt comfortable taking this on himself. He ended up buying 4- 45 degree copper elbows, flux, and pipe sanding cloth. We had a soldering gun and solder, too. After shutting off the water, he was able to move the pipe back further into the wall, leaving plenty of clearance between the wall/pipe/medicine cabinet. The real moment of truth was turning the water back on, and making sure the soldering job was solid. It was! I’m still SO impressed with what a great job he did, since any kind of plumbing or electrical is intimidating to me.

We’d already determined where the medicine cabinet would sit before we cut into the wall, so now we just had to frame it out. Jeremy used 2×4’s cut to size, to frame out the cabinet insert. By using the existing woodwork + 2 extra pieces to frame out the top and bottom, we were able to make the frame REALLY solid and stable.

To repair the gaping hole we’d left in the drywall, we went to Lowe’s to grab some more. Pro tip: if you only have a small section to repair, ask them if they have any scrap drywall to sell. These are full sheets that have small imperfections that make them unsellable as a whole – we were able to get a 4’x4′ piece cut from a scrap piece of green board (good for moisture-heavy rooms) for $1. Can’t beat that! We cut the drywall to match the existing space, and screwed it in. Jeremy then cut the hole out for the cabinet insert, and put the cabinet in to make sure it fit.

We then taped and mudded the edges of the drywall, and filled in all of the screw holes. After it dried it was given a good sanding to remove any rough edges or bumps, and this had to be repeated for a total of 5 coats. We use pre-mixed joint compound, and have found that this kind is the easiest to work with – be prepared to be patient with the drying time. It took almost a whole day for each coat to fully dry. I also highly recommend a Magic Trowel for a really smooth finish!

After the final coat was dry it was sanded, primed (with trusty old Kilz), and painted (Benjamin Moore – Palladian Blue). We then re-inserted the cabinet, screwed it in place, and put in the glass shelving. Finally done, and looking like it was there the whole time! We re-hung the lights upside down on accident, but decided to leave it for a while to see if we liked it.

I made a fun little sign out of some scrap wood for the floating shelf.

The project turned out to be a little more involved than we anticipated, but turned out so great. The cabinet sits flush with the wall, which is perfect for the small space, and now we have storage! Totally worth it.

I had to take a sappy photo because I realized seconds before I took this that we met 13 years ago today! Now I guess we should probably get working on that nursery 🙂

Second Trimester Favorites

Posted on August 23, 2016

Oh hey, third trimester.

Yep, I just entered the home stretch of pregnancy – and I can’t believe it! I just had my glucose test last week – I bombed the 1-hour test, which was pretty stressful. I thought that I was healthy enough that it wouldn’t be a problem, but I’ve learned it’s really common for healthy women to fail it. I had to go in last Friday for the dreaded 3-hour Glucose Tolerance Test, and while it was rough (I hate having my blood drawn!), I got the news yesterday that I passed with flying colors. So, yay! I definitely have a lot more appreciation for my own mom after experiencing pregnancy for myself. Between the morning sickness in the beginning, the crazy emotions, body changes, and all of the medical tests, I’ve realized just how much my mom went through to get me here. Thanks, mom!

Today I want to share with you some of my favorite things from my second trimester. The trimester that my midwife lovingly refers to as “the honeymoon”, and I can see why. It was pretty amazing, especially after experiencing the ridiculousness (so.much.nausea.) of first tri. I felt oddly normal aside from my growing bump, but with 200% of my energy back. I also got 200% of my appetite back…fighting off dairy-free ice cream is a real struggle. I also hit a few milestones – the baby now responds to my voice which is so cute, and I was finally asked by a stranger recently when I’m due. That makes it real! 🙂

1.) Gabrialla Maternity Support Belt
If you follow my Instagram, you know I post a lot about running during pregnancy. Staying fit while you’re growing a human is hard work, and with that comes a lot of aches and pains as your body stretches to accommodate the little one. I started getting pretty severe round ligament pain on my left side around 16 weeks, which made running really uncomfortable and not to mention the weight that the baby puts on your bladder makes it feel like you’re going to pee yourself with every stride. Sexy, no? A friend and fellow runner recommended this support belt, and it has been LIFE CHANGING (thanks, Michele!). It can be worn right under my running tops without chafing, and really holds the belly in place. Right now I only wear this for high impact workouts, but I can see myself in it more often once I get to the middle/end of the third trimester. Highly recommend, but go with one size up for comfort.

2.) Snoogle Pregnancy Pillow
After the first trimester is over and your belly starts growing, you’re not supposed to sleep on your back anymore to avoid putting too much pressure on the blood vessels going to your legs, and the baby. Jeremy surprised me with this amazing pillow at the beginning of the second trimester as a way to help with this. It is super comfortable, and has a washable slipcover. True story: he steals it in the morning if I get out of bed before him…he (not so secretly) wants one for himself!

3.) Gap Maternity Leggings
So, the Gap is pretty much the holy grail for affordable, quality maternity clothing. Once I had a visible belly, I hated the way that my normal clothing fit and felt on my body. I picked up two pairs of their Pure Body Leggings – in black, and charcoal – and love them. I bought the demi panel leggings, and was worried that the band under the belly wouldn’t be comfortable, but I was wrong. The band is wide and very elastic, so these have become a staple in my closet. The best part is that these don’t *look* like maternity clothing, which means I’ll keep wearing them after the baby comes. The Gap almost always has a 35-50% off + free shipping sale running, which keeps their clothing even less expensive than Target or Old Navy. You can sign up for their emails here to be notified of upcoming sales, and get 25% off your first order.

4.) Cindy’s Kitchen Balsamic Vinaigrette
I get asked pretty often what weird things I’m craving, and the truth is I don’t really have many cravings, I just want more of what I liked to eat before pregnancy. If I had to pick one thing that I really want most of the time, it would be this vinaigrette. I want to put it on just about everything – chicken, salads, peaches, ~~drink it straight from the bottle~~ – which is a little unusual I guess. This stuff is SO good, though.

5.) Suzanne Bowen Barre Workouts
In my first trimester favorites, I mentioned that I’d been doing some Jillian Michaels workouts – which were great! I love HIIT workouts, but pulled an oblique muscle around 14 weeks after one of these workouts, which was a clear sign that my abs could no longer handle that kind of strain. A minor tear in an oblique is one of the most painful things I’ve ever experienced, because you use your core for EVERYTHING. I had to take a full two weeks off of any exercise, and if we’re being honest, most movement. During that time, I researched more challenging prenatal workouts and came across the BarreAmped method. I’ve always equated prenatal workouts with being too easy, but these (especially the Sleek & Toned DVD) are TOUGH. I vividly remember having to stop every 45 seconds during the first workout because my muscles were being burned out so quickly…there may also have been some swear words. If you are skeptical at all, just take a quick glance at any Barre instructor’s butt. That should be enough evidence that these routines work. This + running 5-6 days a week has kept me feeling really fit!

6.) La Croix Curate’ – Watermelon
I don’t have a problem with La Croix, you have a problem. I can stop drinking it whenever I want. Okay, not really…this stuff saved me in the first trimester, and I’m still addicted now.

7.) Mindful Birthing book
As someone with a type A personality who struggles with anxiety at times, I’ve used a lot of mindfulness techniques over the years to get myself into a healthy, comfortable headspace. So when I found this book on Amazon (which also came highly recommended by my doula), I snatched it up quickly! The author applies the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction technique to the process and pain of labor and childbirth. I just finished the book, and while I can’t yet attest to it’s effectiveness during labor, I’m already finding the meditation and mindfulness exercises to be extremely helpful in everyday life. I’ll offer a full review once this little one arrives!

8.) Pregnant Chicken Blog
Let’s get real for a second, shall we? Pregnancy is beautiful, and amazing, and a miraculous journey. But it’s also pretty weird and gross, sometimes. Now that I’m in the beginning of the third trimester, I’m starting to transition from “oh yay, baby kicks!” to “NO ONE TOLD ME THERE WOULD BE CANKLES”. Amy, the author over at Pregnant Chicken, has a hilarious way of delivering otherwise serious information. I love how she keeps it real, honest, and throws in a few swears here and there – it feels like you’re listening to a friend talk. I especially love her weekly emails, and baby registry suggestions. If you’re newly pregnant, please do yourself a favor and hop over there for a read. So refreshing!

What were your favorites during the easiest trimester?

DIY Decor Family

Grandpa Sugar’s Refinished Canoe Paddles

Posted on August 16, 2016

Hi, readers! Today I’m sharing a recent decor project that’s really special to me, because it is like hanging a piece of family history on the wall.

These are my grandparents, Grandma Darlin’ & Grandpa Sugar. They used to call us darlin’ and sugar when we were little – so to us, those were their names, too. This has stuck with us into adulthood, and still stands today! They are two of my favorite people on the planet.

They sold their house, basically our family headquarters, last summer in an effort to downsize. An understandable decision, but we were all sad to no longer have this space as a gathering place. I spent every Christmas Eve at this house since I was born…so it’s been a little bit of a change, as silly as that may sound. Even though we miss this place, I’m really happy that they were able to sell and find a new adorable place to call home. Jeremy and I often talk about winning the lottery and buying it back someday 🙂

So many great memories in this place.

Last July when we made our final visit to help clean and take things off their hands that they no longer needed, my Grandpa took Jeremy and I up to his GIANT pole barn at the back of the property, to have a quick look through to see if there was anything we could take. We spent a good 25 minutes out there with him, looking at everything they’d collected over the years, but didn’t see much we could use. On our way out to head back down to the house, a pair of paddles caught Jeremy’s eye. They were dingy, beat up, and partially broken, but PERFECT in their own way – so we asked if we could take them. Grandpa laughed at us a little and said “I don’t know what you’d want those old things for, but alright!”

This is what we started with. I love the look of aged oars, but these needed a little help.

I used an orbital sander, and did a light sanding with a 120 grit pad on both sides. I went really easy on the handles and sides because the wood was a little softer and I didn’t want to reshape it.

Night and day difference after sanding, right? I finished it off with a quick sanding with a 220 grit pad to get a nice smooth finish. To get the weathered but clean look, I decided against actually staining the wood, and instead just put on 2 coats of sanding sealer. There are compounds in this sealer called stearates that make the finish thick and soft. If you plan on putting a harder finishing coat of lacquer over top like I did, you only want to stick with 1-2 coats of the sanding sealer. Putting any more on increases the chances that your lacquer finish will chip or crack later on.

I really like how the sanding sealer darkened the wood just a bit, but still let all of the weathered grain show through.

After letting these coats dry for 2-3 hours, I rolled on 3 coats of Spar Urethane in a semi-gloss finish.

Finished 🙂

Now the tricky part: trying to figure out how to hang these paddles on the wall in an “X” shape. There aren’t very many tutorials out there on how to do this, so we had to wing it.

The taupe wall color had to go, so first I cleaned the walls and gave them two coats of Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee. It’s a warm white that really cozied up the space and makes the oars pop.

I wasn’t crazy about the idea of screwing the oars into the wall and creating a million holes, in case we wanted to move them in the future – I was also worried about damaging the oars themselves, so I decided to hang these using medium Command velcro strips. Each strip holds up to 12 lbs, so using 2-3 per paddle, these were more than strong enough to do the job.

To hang the first oar, I marked both on the wall and the oar where the command strips needed to go, and attached them. To hang the second oar on top, I had to cut a stabilizing block of wood to place behind the lower part of the paddle to hold it in place, away from the wall. I then attached the command strips, and put the oar in place. Following the directions, you need to then remove the oars from the wall and press the strips on the wall firmly for 30 seconds, and then let the bond set up for an hour before hanging the oars again.

Done!

Thanks to my grandparents for letting us have these, I love having a little piece of your home hanging on my wall.

Family

Smieds Lately

Posted on July 28, 2016

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks at our house. Good, but hectic! We spent the 4th of July weekend in St. Joseph, getting some beach time and sun right on Lake Michigan. It was so nice to spend some time with Jeremy’s family, and also just unplug and unwind. I find that when we’re home, neither of us can really relax because we’re running through the endless to do lists we have for our house. Whether it be a room makeover, small renovation, or prepping for baby Smied, there is always something to be done which leaves us feeling guilty if we just want to STOP and relax for a bit. Sometimes you have to remove yourself from the environment, to really let your mind quiet down. We got in some great dune hiking, and also caught this gorgeous sunset.

It was cloudy for most of the evening, but the skies parted when we got to the beach. We strung up our hammock at the beach we were married on, and enjoyed the view for a few hours.

Back to our to-do list, we have around 4 months left before the baby is ready to join the outside world…and while we started our baby registry, we still have to sit down and plan out our nursery. We planned on doing it last weekend, but got caught up in a “simple” medicine cabinet install that turned into cutting out framework, and moving water pipes.

You never know what you’re going to get when you start opening up walls! The finished project will be up in a new blog post soon.