Step five – Inserting the sink
Once you are sure that you have the granite cut for the countertops then you are ready to insert the sink. You probably have purchased a piece of granite that has been precut for a sink and you have the new sink ready to go. With a friend to help you, place the granite piece, with the sink hole in it, on top of the plywood that you nailed in place over the sink’s opening.
When the granite is in place, take a pencil (or a permanent marker), and trace the outline of the opening onto the plywood. It doesn’t have to be a perfect fit but you should try to make it as accurate as possible. After the pattern has been traced onto the plywood, remove the granite slab.
Now take a spade bit and make a hole in the plywood that is in the center of the sink pattern you just drew. Working with the small hole, you’re going to take a jigsaw and carefully cut out the pattern. I like to cut the piece just a tiny bit bigger than the traced outline so that I don’t have to worry about the sink not fitting properly (sometimes the outline is a tad too small).
Remove the piece of ply-board that you just cut out and insert the sink, securing it into place and connecting the appropriate water lines and pipes.
Step six – Adjust the height of the granite tops
Don’t be surprised if your granite looks a little uneven in places because this commonly occurs. You can use shims to adjust the height and be sure to work with a level so that you can determine that the granite is correctly placed. Some people may recommend using screws that are inserted from underneath the plywood to raise it but this can be difficult to do. I prefer using the shims or even pieces of thick cardboard or plywood to fix any uneven spots.
Step seven – Secure the countertop
Before you take this step, I highly recommend going back and making sure that the granite is level because once you secure it, the only way to fix it will be to redo the entire job. With your helper, carefully raise the piece of granite that you are securing and then apply a small amount of silicone to the areas of the plywood that sit on top of your cabinets’ frame. Be sure to space these amounts equally apart – no more than 12 inches from each other. One way to make sure that you have enough silicone is to make each amount about the size of a men’s watch face. Now carefully lay the granite back down in place, making sure it is even.
If you are working with the granite piece with the sink, don’t forget to add a bead of caulk around the sink itself so that water cannot get in between the granite countertop and the sink.
Step eight – fill the seams
The seams can be a little tricky since you need to add some color in order for them to blend in with the color of the granite. First, take some blue masking tape and place it on top of the granite on either side of the seam. Then mix a small amount of the polyester-based resin with some coloring until you get the right shade and then add a hardener right before applying it to the seam. Carefully fill the gap with the mixture while making sure that the color looks natural, and then remove the tape with the extra resin on it. Once it dries, you can then buff it smooth.
What color granite do you prefer?
Granite countertops are extremely popular for many homes and while it may seem a daunting task, if you take your time and familiarize yourself with the tools and materials beforehand, you can do the installation yourself.
Tools/materials needed:
 Buffing pad
¾” plywood
sink
Toothpicks
duct tape
grinder
Buffer
masking tape
mixing plate
Drill
level
polyester-based resin
Utility knife
kraft paper
carpenter’s square
Cardboard
2×4 boards
sawhorses
Circular saw
granite
countertop pieces
Caulk gun
rages
granite cutter
Screws
2” and 6” levels
vix bit
Dry-cut segmented diamond blade
screwdriver
dust mask
spade bit
jigsaw
pencil
Step one – Preparation
Granite is a very heavy material so before you start your installation process the first thing you need to do is make sure that you put something on top of the cabinets to provide some extra support. This is where the plywood comes in because you are going to attach it on top before laying the granite down. You want to cut the plywood so that it fits exactly over the cabinets with no extended edge, so you should take the time to measure the area before making the cuts.
After the plywood is cut, you are going to drill a small hole into the wood where it sits on top of the frame of your cabinets. This way, you won’t split the plywood when you attach it with the screws.
Step two – Working with granite
When you are working with granite, I highly recommend having a helper or two because of the weight. Granite can also break easy when it is in a long slab form so having the extra help will prevent any accidents from happening.
For this blog, I am going to assume that you have already chosen the granite that you plan to use and have ordered them. You should order your granite before the installation date and when you store them, be sure to make sure that they are placed upright to avoid putting undue pressure on them.
Step three — Cutting the granite
If you are planning to cut the granite, you should make sure that you use the appropriate saw blade. I think the dry-cut segmented diamond blade works the best. If you are unsure as to how to cut granite correctly, the best way to learn is to have someone with experience show you or you might be able to find a class where you can practice with the saw until you are comfortable doing it on your own.
You should also learn how to scribe granite correctly and you can learn this from the same sources. I don’t recommend reading an article on how to do it because it is always better to watch someone in person so that you can ask questions and try it yourself with some supervision.
Step four—Testing the fit
After cutting the granite to the correct measurements—again take your time to make sure that your measurements are accurate before making those cuts—you should lay the granite out in a process known as a test fit. This is to check the cut granite to determine that it is cut correctly and that the pieces all fit nicely together.
Okay…let’s go to step 2…
 Today, we’re going to talk about hardware for your home and how you can improve your home’s curb appeal with just a few simple changes. I think this is one of the easiest ways to add some charm to any home and yard and it doesn’t cost a lot of money either.
Door knockers
Did you know that there are literally hundreds of door knockers that you can choose from to dress up your front door? This means that you can find a door knocker to fit with any type of door or home exterior. There are the traditional lion head doorknockers with the golden ring in their mouth, pineapple door knockers, pinecone shaped ones, flower baskets, dogs (you can pick your favorite breed), nautical creatures like sea shells, crabs, and starfish, dragonflies, amphibians, equestrian door knockers, grapes, and rustic ones made from iron. If you think that door knockers are old fashioned, you will be pleasantly surprised by the many modern designs that are available.
House numbers
House numbers are making a comeback and personally, I think it’s much easier to find someone’s home if I can find the street number somewhere visible on the house. As with door knockers, there are hundreds (and I do mean hundreds) of number designs out on the market. Some, such as Lucite numbers, I would not necessarily recommend unless your house will make a great contrasting backdrop for them. Others will make a fantastic statement and can even represent the style of your home well. There are a lot of colors to choose from as well as metal finishes and you can choose fat numbers, tall numbers, skinny numbers, and short numbers. There are also plenty that have their own unique personality to add to your home’s curb appeal.
Address plaques
If you do not want the hassle of hanging individual numbers on your home or mailbox post, you may like the idea of hanging an address plaque instead. You can choose to have just your home’s street number printed on it or you can include the name of your street, if you like the name. Some plaques even come with cute and friendly messages on them, giving your home a welcoming appearance to newcomers and guests. There are many different shapes, colored backdrops, and finishes too so that you can find one that fits your home’s personality and architectural style.
Just one word of advice—be careful to make sure that your address plaque acts as an accent to your home and not as a focal point because an improper sized one can be an eyesore.
Doorbells
Yes, believe it or not, you can even dress up your house with a new doorbell and you will likely be surprised by how many kinds there are out there. You can choose the same finish as your door knocker and house numbers (if you are using that hardware) or you can do something more along the lines of a novelty look. With doorbells, you will find that you can buy one that is made out of resin with paint or you can choose a metal one. The resin doorbells tend to be in the shapes of objects that range from sailboats to flowers.
What kind of hardware pieces do you like on houses?
 Originating in Britain, shabby chic is an interior design style that is easily recognizable the moment you see it. It is also not very common. In fact, I personally have not seen anyone who decorates their home in this style. However, that does not mean that there are not people who do, and for people who like this interior design, there are plenty of furnishings and other decorative pieces.
White background
In shabby chick, the walls, floors, and ceilings stay a beautiful bright white color. Sometimes, you will see an accent color used for wood paneling and wood trim but the color is very light so that it does not create a contrast effect. The purpose is to keep the room as light as possible in order to bring attention to the furnishings and accessories.
Distressed
If you like furniture that looks like it has been used for hundreds of years then you will love the distressed look that is predominant in shabby chick furnishings. The distressed look is created with a couple of different methods. Some people like to use paint to create the impression that the piece has been well used over the years while other people will use sandpaper to remove portions of the paint layers (which can be several), revealing the natural wood or other paint colors underneath.
Distressed furniture is common to find and you do not have to visit an antique store to get the distressed look. There are many manufacturers out there that create pieces of furniture with the distressed finish that you are looking for.
Vintage
Some people think that vintage and antique are the same thing, but actually, vintage furnishings and accessories are items that are anywhere from 30 years to 100 years old. In shabby chick, the trick is to find vintage pieces that will accent your distressed furniture and these can be in bold colors or in softer shades, depending on the atmosphere you are trying to create.
When you are looking for vintage items, it is important to make sure that you choose pieces that are quality made. Don’t just pick it because it fits within that timeframe –select pillows, throw blankets, bowls, wall art, and other pieces that will look well against your white background. You also want to avoid items that were considered trendy when they first came out so that your space does not look dated. Because you are using distressed furniture, try to choose items that are made out of natural materials so they will blend nicely together.
Feminine
Many times, shabby chick is thought of as a feminine interior design style because generally, pastel colors are used as the palate. Fabric printed with soft colored flowers is popular for shabby chick rooms, especially bedrooms, and old chandeliers, vintage perfume bottles, scrolled iron pieces, and rocking horses are also sought after items. It is important to make sure that you choose pieces that come from different time frames when shopping for accessories. This will prevent a dated appearance and allow you to express some creativity in the room.
Would you ever decorate one of your rooms in shabby chick?
 When I was younger, I remember my sister begging our parents for a canopy bed. Of course, it had to be pink and white with roses adorning it. She never got the bed in her youth but later, she bought a black wrought iron one, wrapping white gauze around the frame at the head and foot and accenting it with silk ivy.
No romantic past
Surprisingly, the canopy bed did not start out as a romantic image when it first emerged. Rather, it was considered an extra protection against the cold, bugs, and other unpleasant things, created in about the 13th century. Wealthy people used them to provide privacy since there were often servants sleeping in the same room. Remember the scene in Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol when Scrooge hid inside his canopy bed with its ragged curtains? Though that story takes place in a more modern period, it was still far from a romantic image, wasn’t it?
The medieval bed
Sometime in the 16th century, as houses developed into stronger and more secure dwellings, wealthy people began to improve the appearance of their canopy beds with velvet, carved wood frames, gilding, and other expensive material. This is when the canopy bed first became a romantic image, associated with royalty and a prosperous life.
The role of the canopy today
Today, the canopy can be an elegant addition to any bedroom and there are a number of styles that embrace the canopy design.
Standard– this type of canopy is the traditional canopy with the four posts and the wooden frame on top.
Curtain rod – this style of canopy uses the ceiling as the roof of the canopy and then there are curtain rods that are attached to the ceiling from which the curtains are hung.
Shelf canopy –This is more of a partial canopy that is placed at the head of the bed using a shelf and curtains to form a semi-protected area. There are many options for this type of canopy, providing you with some creative possibilities.
Swagged canopy – Think of a rod that extends over the head of the bed with curtains or draped material swooping down at a diagonal, forming an upside down V, and you have the picture of a swagged canopy bed.
Crown canopy –The crown canopy is a pair of draperies that extends out of a piece that resembles a large crown which is usually fastened to the headboard wall. It can be made out of wrought iron, wood, or even covered with fabric and presents an elegant look for the bedroom.
Choosing a canopy
When choosing a canopy, you want to make sure that you have the height and width to accompany the bed because this type of bed can take up a lot of room. I recommend making sure that the canopy style you select is appropriate to the room’s size so that it does not look overwhelming.
Consider other furniture pieces that are in the room and think about how the canopy bed will look with them. Since the canopy is going to be the room’s focus, you want to make sure that it will not compete with anything else in the room.
What is your favorite kind of canopy?
 No, I’m not talking about the dreaded in-laws or annoying neighbors. I’m talking about unwanted guests that are much smaller in stature—the creepy crawly kind. Once it starts warming up outside, it seems that all of those tiny creatures start emerging and they appear everywhere. However there are some great things that you can do around your home to keep them from getting in.
Look for any cracks
Have you ever seen a wildlife film where animals are able to squeeze into the tiniest spaces? If you have, than you should be aware that mice and other small creatures are able to get into your house through the smallest of cracks. This will require you to get dirty but you should get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the inside and outside of your home if you have consistent problems with ants, mice, and other pests. For mice measuring, use your pinkie finger or a pen on any tiny holes that you may come across. If you can fit either of these into the hole, than you need to seal it because that means baby mice can get in.
Remove foliage away from the house exterior
Did you know that insects will actually use tree branches and bush limbs to get into your home? This extending foliage acts as a kind of highway for insects so you want to be sure and remove anything that has contact with the walls or roof of your home. If you have a wood pile for your fireplace, make sure that it is not located near the house or touching the house in any way.
Avoid cardboard box build-up
Cockroaches love dark places and it is not uncommon to find them hiding among stacks of cardboard boxes. If you have quite a few cardboard boxes piling up in your garage or basement, then it could be time to go through them, sort the contents, get rid of unwanted items, and even replace the cardboard boxes with plastic storage containers.
Add a chimney cap
Your chimney should have a chimney cap placed on top of it to discourage birds, squirrels, and other creatures from getting into your chimney and creating a nest. These should be easily available through any home supply store in your area.
Check your dampers
While you are checking for branches and exterior cracks, it would also be a good idea to check and make sure that the dampers on your home are working properly. Dampers that are connected to dryers and other ventilation systems can stick after a while, allowing an open passageway into your home for small animals, including birds. If your dampers are not working properly, then you should replace them as soon as possible.
Watch out for moisture spots
As you probably know, moisture spots are perfect breeding ground for insects and insect colonies so you should periodically check around your home and basement for any signs of dampness. You can do this by directing rainwater away from the base of your home, using a rain barrel or some other device. Also, if you notice any damp issues in your basement or in other parts of your home, be sure and call in a professional to find the problem and fix it.
How do you defend your home from insect and rodent invasion?
 I have talked about focal points in yards before but did you know that you can even establish focal points in rooms too? Think about your living room as an example. When you walk into it, do you immediately find yourself looking at a specific item in it? If you are, then that item, whatever it may be, is your room’s focal point.
Identifying your focal point
The key in establishing a focal point is to identify what is in the room that is acting as a focal point. Sometimes the answer is obvious, such as a large fireplace or perhaps a wide window, but other times, you have to decide what the focal point is going to be. Usually, it is the most noticeable item in the room or an item that is going to get the most attention like a TV. You may be working with an entire room remodel or redecorating project and so perhaps you aren’t sure what your focal point is going to be. Having this idea in mind will help you choose the pieces that you are going to place in your room more carefully.
Choosing your focal point
A focal point can be anything – a living room set, a colorful rug, a piano, a bed, or even a tall cabinet. When you are shopping for furnishings and decorations, think about whether that piece would be a focal point for your room. Furnishings that are large, tall, or brightly colored will automatically attract attention and make the best focal points. Also important, it is the location in which to place the item because the tall cabinet sitting in a hidden corner of the room may not be as noticeable as a grand piano in the center of a room. The focal point should be seen from the entrance of the room.
Accenting your focal point
Once you decide what your focal point is, then the items that you place around it should be chosen with the purpose of directing attention to the focal point. If your focal point is a fireplace or a TV, then you will not want to choose furniture that is attention grabbing in its own right. In a bedroom, you can accent the focal point, which is usually the bed, with beautiful linens to draw attention to the bed itself. For the dining room, your dining room table is likely to be the focal point and you can bring more attention to it with a beautiful chandelier hanging above it or a fabulous looking centerpiece.
Establishing more than one focal point
Generally, choosing more than one focal point can make a room appear confused but you can establish smaller focal points in the same room as the main focal point. This may be a simple painting that is hanging above a side table, a curio cabinet that contains antique dishes in a dining room, or a marble table that is sitting before a grand staircase.
If you are working with the multipurpose room, it may be possible to create more than one main focal point as long as you stay within each room’s section. For example, if you have a family room that opens into an informal dining room that then opens into a kitchen, you could technically use three focal points – one for each area.
What do you consider your home’s focal points?
 Pavers are marvelous inventions that were created in Europe centuries ago. If you travel to any European city, you would find old sections that still feature paved roads and passageways and they only serve to add to the charm of the place. Pavers can be made from a number of materials including clay, cobblestone, and even concrete. While they have not been that popular on the American continent, I am happy see that changing. In connection to this growing trend, here are four ways that you can use pavers around your home.
Patios
If you aren’t crazy about having a huge slab of cold looking concrete, think about using pavers instead. These smaller slabs can be arranged in geometric patterns, giving your patio a unique and old charm. Imagine these slabs separated by thin lines of grass, softening its appearance and then adding some potted plants and patio furniture to make a calm retreat. Pavers also give you the opportunity to decide on the size of your patio area and enlarge or shorten it without a great deal of work involved. If money is a concern, you can create an outdoor space with pavers a little at a time without a lot of inconvenience.
Driveways
You have already probably seen a house or two in your neighborhood where the owner has used pavers in place of poured concrete or asphalt. I probably also don’t have to tell you the great impact that such a driveway creates on the overall impression of the house. You may not know it, but often, using pavers for your driveway can actually boost your home’s value both in dollars and in finding a buyer. I always think that pavers immediately evoke an old-world elegance to any home whether it is modern or Victorian. There are different sizes when it comes to pavers and of course, you can also create all kinds of unique patterns to create a wow factor.
Retaining Walls
We’ve talked about retaining walls in a previous post but pavers are a great choice to use since they are easy to stack on top of each other. With pavers, you can build a secure wall that reaches any height while also adding some additional charm to your yard. Because there are so many colors and textures to choose from, you can decide to use pavers to create a focal point or you can decide to use them as an element that will softly blend into the overall appearance of your outdoor space.
Walkways/steps
What better way to add some curb appeal to your home than by using pavers to create a welcoming walkup or front steps? I would recommend selecting colors that echo the colors of your home’s exterior or, if you are looking for something really unique, you could choose pavers in a bold color to create a statement. You can also space them apart in your yard around flower beds and gardens and plant small mosses around them to make them appear as if they have been there for a long time.
What would you do with pavers around your home?
 Part of dressing up your home may include putting a new lockset on a door or two. Many people like to have locks on their interior doors for privacy—especially when it comes to bedrooms. For this blog post, we’re going to go through the steps of how to install a lockset in your door.
Tools/materials
Hammer tape measure awl
electric drill/bits Phillips head screwdriver utility knife
7/8 inch spade bit/chisel two 1/8 inch hole saw combination square
Step one – drilling the hole
If your door does not have a hole for the doorknob, you will need to drill one. For this step, you should use a couple of wood shims to keep the door in position, putting them between the bottom of the door and your floor. Generally, the doorknob is about 36 inches above the bottom of the door but you may want to check with the other doorknobs in your home to make sure. If they are different measurements, then you will want to make sure that you put your hole at the same height as the others so that you have some unity.
Once you have the correct height, use the combination square to draw a line across the edge of the door where it will close against the doorframe. You also want to continue that line that you have just drawn onto the side of the door where you will be making the hole. Your lockset should come with a pattern that you fit over that part of the door and the pattern will be the base of the lockset. Now put the awl into the center of the drawing and you can use a nail to do the same thing with the drawing that is on the edge of the door. Then go ahead and take off the pattern and drill the hole for the door knob and for the latch plate that will fit on the edge of the door.
Step two – put on the latch plate
Again, if you are working with an undrilled door, you also need to put in the groove for the latch plate and this is simply done by using the latch plate to create an outline that you cut with the utility knife. The spade bit or chisel is then used to remove 1/8 inch from that outline, creating a perfect indent for your latch plate to be installed into.
If you have a pre-cut door then all you have to do is simply attach the latch plate into place with the screwdriver, making sure that it is even with your door.
Step three – put in the knob
Your lockset has two distinctive knobs. One of these knobs has an extended piece that is referred to as the spindle. This knob is your outside knob and once you have your latch plate in place, you are going to put your outside knob into its place, making sure that the spindle goes through the hole in the latch piece, which should be sitting inside the round hole. Then you take your inside knob, which controls the lock, and attach it to the spindle, securing it to the door with the screws.
NOTE – if you are putting a new door into a new door frame, you will probably need to install what is referred to as a strike plate. If this is the case, you want to make sure that it lines up with the latch plate before securing it.
What kind of lockset are you installing?
 One of my favorite types of architectural designs is the arts and crafts style. Perhaps this is because wood is a major element and because I like things that are made by hand. This natural appearance is what defines the arts and crafts design and I also think that homes which feature this type of interior style just seem to have a natural warmth to them that invites you in.
Natural materials
As I have already stated, wood is the primary material used in arts and crafts decor. In addition, other natural materials are also used such as glass that is made from sand, handmade tiles from clay and other natural ingredients, cotton, stone, leather, and linen. While brass and silver dominate in other interior decor, they are almost entirely eliminated in the arts and crafts style. Cabinet doors and other furnishings are usually given wooden handles in place of metal ones.
Crafted by hand
The arts and crafts movement emerged in the 19th century when handmade goods were still rather common. As a result, furnishings and accessories created during this period were all done by hand, resulting in some the most beautiful pieces in the home products industry. They are also simple in appearance, which is another reason why I like them so much – the emphasis being placed on the material it was being made out of rather than the design or style. It may be difficult today to find handmade furnishings for your home but there are several examples out there and I do know that there are still furniture makers who incorporate the arts and crafts style in their pieces.
Soft light
Aside from wood, stained glass is also incorporated into homes that feature the arts and crafts style. Especially popular are the Tiffany lamps with their stained glass lamp shades and stained glass panels which can fill an entire window. These are quite colorful and usually provide the only source of colors in the public areas of the home. Stained glass windows and lighting pieces also create a soft light that makes the wood in the home glow, giving it that warm inviting appearance. For these accessories, wrought iron or antiqued brass is used in place of regular metals.
Built-in pieces
In homes that have been built with the arts and crafts style, built in furniture is quite common such as cabinets, shelves, buffets, and even dressers. These are all made out of wood and which is usually oak or cherry because of the appearance it gives in the room. These built-in pieces can take up an entire wall length and their handmade structure makes them one-of-a-kind furnishings.
Simple accessories
If you take a walk through a home that is decorated in a true arts and crafts style, you will find that the accessories are very simple. Usually, you will find a potted plant or two in the room, depending on its size and perhaps an Oriental rug or two. The fireplace is also a necessity with the arts and crafts style and these are easy to incorporate with options in electric and gas fireplaces now available. Adding accessories should be done with caution and with the idea that it should bring attention to the beauty of the wood in the space.
What do you like about the arts and crafts interior design?
|
|
