Staying at home means avoiding the nail salon, and as someone who always smudges regular nail polish (seriously, how is it possible that they can still be ready to smear by the time I go to bed?), I have a newfound appreciation for the variety of modern manicure solutions available. I previously reviewed Ohora's at-home gel strips , which are a great option for hassle-free designs. Another option that I really like, even though I am far from a pro, is dip powder. Dip powder is essentially an acrylic powder that contains pigments or glitters. You purchase a set of liquids that can be used with the powders of your choice for a quick and clean manicure that requires very little dry time. Dip powder is easily accessible, and if you're new to dip nails in general, I'd suggest a reasonably priced option for practice. I started with the Lavender Violets brand on Amazon, which comes with a set of powders + all the liquids you need for a beginner. I did find that the longevit
"..hip hip..."
When you have an open concept home, your kitchen is the center of your house, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. For example, being able to see your kids while cooking dinner? Great. Not being shut off in the kitchen away from company? Great.
Having a sink full of dishes visible from all angles? Not so great. Having a builder grade, barely painted drywall and trim set up as the centerpiece of the home? Not terrible, but not great, either.
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| Sad, builder-grade island... |
It's not like I didn't try. I had ordered supplies from the Home Depot that basically never arrived until I canceled the order months ago, but with the encouragement of a new neighbor mom friend, I ventured back to the "Deep" as I affectionately call it, and we packed her car full of 8-foot pine boards and I crossed my fingers and went in with the pry bar side of a hammer.
I am not afraid of color. I've painted an accent wall in an old home plum purple. I've had a dark teal kitchen wall covered in art and photos. But as the center of my home, I was set on white. Maybe slightly gray.
I started with nails, which didn't work in any way. My horrified daughter watched in amazement as I pried off the trim and painted in a barely noticeable gray hue. It just.. wasn't enough. While my neighbor suggested a navy blue, I opted for a medium gray-- Behr Euro Gray in satin, to be exact. And I cheated and used Loctite construction adhesive, which I 100% recommend since it took zero effort and nothing fell and knocked out my pets.
One thing you should know: if you opt to purchase wood (we used pine boards) is that the dimensions stated do not necessarily match what you will receive. You wouldn't think that you need to be "in the know" to get a piece of wood the right length, but evidently, it's a club. Take a tape measurer and ensure you get the right fit for your project.
I was terrified to ruin the center of my home, but I am blown away by how great it looks, now that I'm finished.
The tips I would give:
- measure everything, even if numbered
- my cabinets were already painted, so I didn't need quite as much priming and prep, but if you're painting wood or laminate, you'll need to look up specific instructions for that
- definitely think about the finish you want
- be brave! You can do it, and redo it if it doesn't turn out the way you want.
Essentially, we framed in the top, bottom, sides, and on the longer front-facing area, we added two additional vertical planks to make a framed design.
And then I painted it!
I added a touch of Stuart Semple's silver pigment on the curvy part of the corner piece.
It's barely noticeable, but I like different textures and it adds a little something if you're paying attention.
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