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Hardwood Staircase Installation: Replacing Carpet With Wood Treads Using An Easy-To-Make Template For Pie Steps or Curved Staircases

Last Fall, we tackled the renovation of our home’s foyer. The biggest project was replacing the old carpet on the staircase with hardwood treads and white risers. While it seemed a pretty straight-forward project in the beginning, it ended up being the one project we couldn’t get a contractor to do. No one wanted the job.

The problem? Our staircase is angled and features a “pie step” or curved landing. This created an issue because these “pie steps” could not be outfitted with a standard stair tread. So we figured out how to DIY the job. In doing so, we saved thousands of dollars! Today, I’m showing you how I created a template to create the deeper stair treads that pie step landing required so you can do it yourself!

When we moved into this house, almost two years ago, we knew immediately that we’d be replacing the carpet running down the stairs. While photos might convey a different look, it was old and super dingy. Then, to make matters even worse, our cats had taken to treating it as a scratching post and it was beginning to shred. It was so bad that we’d actually taped sections back together, using packaging tape! Ahhh… the miracle of selective editing!

Since we’d begun planning to prep the house for resale, we knew that this had to be addressed. After all, the staircase is at the very front of our house and empties into the foyer. This is going to be the first impression a buyer gets when they tour our home. So we needed to make it as impressive as possible!

This is just one of a few other projects we tackled during this renovation. We also installed hardwood throughout the upstairs hallway, added a stair runner, and installed grasscloth wallpaper.

You can see the full project reveal here: Updated Suburban Entryway Reveal

How Standard Stair Treads and Risers Are Installed

The good news is that, unless your entire staircase is curved or spiraled, your modifications are going to be minimal for the majority of this project. You will only need to modify the treads on the steps that are extra deep or angled.

Luckily, there are dozens of tutorials on installing stair treads and risers on standard staircases. I will throw in this information: For this project, I used a very specific stair tread and riser. It’s imperative that you use the same treads and risers for your entire project. For moving forward with this project, a stair and riser kit with a decorative lip or overhang will not work.

Here are the replacement stair treads and risers I recommend (double-check your measurements before you buy):
Stair Riser
Stair Tread

Building stairs is easy when it’s a straight shot from the bottom to top.

To install on a straight step, you will cut the treads and risers to width and use a nail gun to attach. Here’s a video to explain the process for standard (straight) steps: Installing Unfinished Hardwood Stairs. Once they are installed, you will apply caulk, paint, and stain.

That’s the easy part.

There were two tricky parts of this stair installation:

Preparing the staircase base (under the carpet) was a feat in itself. You see, the stair was built with a lipped edge (vs. waterfall). This means that the tread, built of construction lumber, extended approximately one inch past the riser. In order to install a solid hardwood tread over the existing tread, we had to first rip back the overlap.

We did this by using a reciprocating saw to trim the excess inch off the front of each step. Here, you can see my sweet wife and (often unenthusiastic) helper, Christine doing just that.

The second issue goes back to the angled return. Midway up the flight of stairs, the staircase takes a turn of approximately 60 degrees. In order to accommodate a tread on the three affected stairs whose treads are not the same depth on each side. Here’s my solution;

The Easiest Way To Make A Template For Your REPLACEMENT Stair Treads

Since there’s such an array of angles and necessary cuts for these treads, I opted to create a template for each individual stair tread. The material? Masking tape.

I simply used a length of tape for each side. I taped them directly onto the existing tread base. Then I lifted from the base and applied to the hardwood treads that were prepared for cutting, allowing for a 1” overhand at the front of the tread (curved front).

For the step that required a deeper tread than was standard, I used to treads, glued and binder with biscuits, then placed the template on top and marked my cut lines with a pencil.

My cuts were made with a table saw and a circular saw. Here I am, looking possibly my worst, but cutting the heck outta that wood.

PS. wedged between two saws is my Happy Place.

Once my cuts were made, I installed these treads with framing nails, taking special precaution to secure both of the original pieces in place to avoid shifting. Since I knew I’d be installing a runner, I opted to nail most of the board down the center.

I followed the same technique for all three angled (pie stair) treads.

And then I finished it all off with stain, paint and a permanent runner (which is actually just 3 store-bought runners, trimmed and secured in place with a staple gun).

So there you have it! If you intend to replace your carpeted staircase with hardwoods but your contractors all say it’s too challenging because of a “pie step” or angled return, you can always just do it yourself and save the money!

I’m incredibly happy with the results of our stairs makeover. In the end, it was well worth the time and energy we spent and since we didn’t have labor costs, we only had to pay for the stair parts! I love a good DIY when it saves me money!

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HAPPY RENOVATING!!

xoxo
Teri

The post DIY Hardwood Staircase Makeover: Replacing Carpet With Wood Treads On Pie Steps And Curved Landings appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

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How To Install Horizontal Board And Batten: My Modern Shiplap DIY Knockoff On The Cheap

Last Spring, we did a 6 week makeover on our dining room. During this makeover, we removed the stuffy wainscoting and planned to install shiplap. Only we ran into budgetary issues and realized the cost of shiplap was way too prohibitive for us. So instead, we spent less than $200 to get a modern board and batten look in our dining room and we love it! Today, I’m finally breaking down the full process so you can DIY!

THE COST OF SHIPLAP

The original plan called for shiplap that would carry 4 feet up the wall (I have 10’ high ceilings). The cost of the materials we needed to complete the shiplap project was $1,200.

The plan also called for two wall sconces. To achieve this, we hired an electrician to install light boxes. The day before he was supposed to install them, he broke his arm.

Scrambling, I called a local contractor who said he could come out the very next day and do it. I was desperate. The quote was high. The desperation was higher (The One Room Challenge runs only six weeks, remember?).

So I cracked. I spent the shiplap budget on an electrician. It was the saddest day of my life. This is a lie. I’m being overly dramatic. The saddest day of my life was May 25, 2011: the day of the final airing of The Oprah Winfrey Show, obviously.

Saddest day or not, I was still incredibly upset about going back to the drawing board. After all, I couldn’t just leave the current wainscoting. I’d already taken it down.

So I sulked around the trim department at the local hardware store (Home Depot, actually) until inspiration struck. And it didn’t even strike me. Christine was the one who got inspired.

She found some 1″ (one inch) wide vinyl lattice and said, “What if we hang this horizontally in a wide pattern?” and I was like Give me all the lattice you have now! 

At $4 per 8’ (eight foot) long piece, this project would come in at a total of $160. Approximately $1,000 less than the shiplap treatment. Yes, you read that correctly.

HOW TO INSTALL A CHEAP SHIPLAP ALTERNATIVE

MATERIALS USED: we used 1” vinyl lattice that you can find in the decorative trim section of the hardware store. you can use any material with this tutorial

We determined placing them five feet up the wall, in increments of seven inches apart, was the best way to achieve the same general look. So we painted the walls white and began installing. I highly recommend you paint the walls your base color first. It’s so much easier to cut back in around the trim once it’s installed, since a standard paint roller will never fit between each slat.

STEP ONE – Make it level.
Determine your level line. Do this by marking a single line 7” (or however far apart you want your strips spaced) up from the baseboard. I chose to carry them seven inches apart because this spacing would allow me to avoid any outlets and switches on the wall.

Then use a long level to mark a straight line across the entire wall. You’ll install one strip at this line, using a level to insure it maintains level. Do not rely on your baseboards or floor to determine levelness, as they are almost always uneven.

STEP TWO – Cut your guides.
Once your first slat has been installed evenly around the room, you can now use a guide to install every new slat to the wall. Do this by cutting 3 pieces of scrap trim to the desired distance between each slat. For instance, we were doing 7 inches between every slat, so we cut 3 pieces of scrap down to 7” each.

If you don’t have any scrap lying around, you can make this guide by cutting one of the boards at your desired length (width apart).

STEP THREE – Secure each piece with glue and trim nails.
Form a bead of construction glue along the backside of the strip. Did you know that creating a “bead” pattern with your glue, rather than a straight line, actually gets you better adherence? It’s true. The bead creates suction that acts as a double force of protection. A straight line? No suction. Plus you’re wasting glue that way.

Secure your slat to the wall and slide a guide between each piece, vertically (see photo above). Then nail each piece in place with a finish nailer. You can also use a hammer and a nailset if you don’t have a finish nailer.

STEP FOUR – Caulk + paint.

Caulk each piece of trim where it meets the wall and paint it the same color as the wall. 

THE PAY-OFF

The end result is a look that winks at shiplap, but is even more modern. It’s certainly not a fake shiplap. The dimensions are exactly the opposite. I’ve even noticed that lately it’s heading up on the list of modern wainscoting trends.

But I really like that it’s not what everyone else has. It’s unique and fun. It’s really lightened up the space. 

Shiplap walls aren’t the only cool feature we got from this tutorial!

In fact, we loved this modern board and batten so much that we later carried it into the kitchen by installing the same trim detail on our kitchen island.

SHOULD YOU INSTALL TRIMWORK DETAILING IN YOUR HOME?

Considering this look in your home? You’ll be happy to know that every guest remarks at how lovely it is. In fact, we hosted out HOA’s holiday party this past year and a dozen neighbors asked who we hired to install it!

It makes me incredibly secure to know that, when we go to sell this Spring, our little $160 hack is going to be a major selling point.

We’ve even since dialed back the look. by installing a new faux grasscloth wallpaper, in place of the original Serena & Lily wallpaper. More on that here.

But we have no regrets about this trim! Not one bit!

Wondering what sort of upgrades your real estate market demands? I’ve got just the tool for you!

Planning to try this hack in your home? I’d love to see how it goes! Remember to tag me @tmoorehome on Instagram to show off your handy work! I love sharing your success stories with my friends!

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Commenting on this post is disabled after 24 hours so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out! xoxo

HAPPY DIYING!

xoxo
Teri

The post Cheap Shiplap DIY: Horizontal Board And Batten Tutorial appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

How To Determine Your Decorating Style

I’m always hearing from people who say they just can’t pinpoint their style. I totally understand that. People like pretty things. So when a room is pretty, regardless of the style, we tend to consider it “our style” simply because we enjoy looking at it. But simply enjoying looking at it doesn’t make it appropriate for our own homes. 

Here’s a test. It’s extreme. I’ve taken two opposing ends of the design spectrum and made mood boards for a home office. Imagine you’ll be spending your whole day in this room. Don’t consider practical things like “Is this plush enough?”. Those considerations are important when it comes to real-life decorating, for sure. But for our purposes here, let’s just talk style. Which of these two rooms makes you the happiest? If neither is exactly what you like, no worries. Pick your favorite. 

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If you found the Modern Glam office to be your favorite, your tastes lean more towards what I call the fancy side of the spectrum.  You like a space that feels polished and complete. Coordinating fabrics and high sheen metals are hallmarks of your favorite rooms. To inch closer to your exact taste, you’ll likely find the most inspiration from the top three decor styles.

1. Modern / Contemporary
Sleek and stylish clean lines and monochromatic color palettes are staples of Modern and Contemporary design. Check out this living room from Interior Designer, Claudia Leccacorvi for inspiration. 

Photo by Claudia Leccacorvi – Look for living room design inspiration

2. Traditional
Mixes of pattern in textiles, furniture, and wallpaper are custom in traditional style. Here’s a beautiful bedroom designed by Joan Craig and Gemma Parker-McKeon to inspire you. 

3. Global
Global design is an accumulation of different styles from around the world that  very distinct characteristics on their own, but are often combined. Moroccan tiles, bamboo blinds, ornate wood carvings, and plush turkish rugs are all staples of Global home design. You’d never guess this patio, designed by Martin Lawrence Bullard, overlooks a canyon in Los Angeles. It feels like a vacation. 

These are just a jumping off point. If you loved the Modern Glam office, but none of those photos spoke to you, try a search for the following design styles on Pinterest:
French Country
Shabby Chic
Art Deco
Hollywood Glam
Moroccan
Chinoiserie

If you found the Modern Farmhouse office more appealing, you’re not alone! According to Pinterest, “Modern Farmhouse” was the most searched term in 2017. Half the nation collectively wept when Chip and Joanna Gaines announced they were cancelling their TV show. And I conducted a very scientific poll in my Instagram stories last week that led to a unanimous “YES! Modern Farmhouse is all the rage!” vote.

People love this style. There’s something very cozy and achievable about it. But there are a lot of people (like me!) who appreciate the simplicity and comfort but don’t really want to start collecting vintage farm signs either. If you love the accessibility and leisure of Modern Farmhouse, but find yourself a little put-off by the whole “farmhouse” part, you might enjoy these Top 3 alternatives.

1. Scandinavian
Ikea has had a huge role in establishing the global market for inexpensive modern decor, no doubt. But the mega retailer rarely gets credit for its other major accomplishment:  Introducing the laid-back chic Scandinavian style to the rest of the world. Google search “Hygge” and you’ll find thousands of images containing plush throws and neutral, candlelit rooms. Americans really do love this style. Modern furniture style in traditional and rustic finishes make this Scandinavian living room feel clean, minimal, and cozy. 

2. Coastal
We’ve all seen some baaaaaaaad fish decor in hotel rooms. That is not what I’m talking about. Coastal decor is inspired by the ocean, but doesn’t scream “WE ARE AT THE BEACH AND THAT’S WHERE FISH LIVE”. Rather, this style is achieved by incorporating natural sand tones with blue and green hues and tops it off with a little whitewash for effect. My favorite place to spot Coastal design is in bathrooms, like this one by Evans Architects in Los Angeles. 

3. MidCentury Modern
I could write a whole post about this style. Partially because I love it, partially because the term is now used so broadly that it has almost no meaning, and partially because the history of MidCentury design is very interesting and involves a mission to create affordable housing for everyone and also Nazis.

But I’m not going to go into details right now. Maybe I’ll do that one day, but for now, just Google “Bauhaus” (not the band) and you can learn about the roots of MidCentury design and, I’m telling you, they’re deep and DRAMATIC.  

Generally, midcentury design is based on modern home furnishings that were created post-WWII and prior to 1965. So, no, your mother’s floral tea towels do not count. That’s vintage, not midcentury.

Hairpin legs, bent pressed wood, warm primary colors, and rounded seating are all staples of MidCentury design. These days, I’m a fan of sprinkling in a few pieces here and there. Too many period pieces and the room will look like a set, not a home. This small workstation, designed by Destination Nursery, achieves the perfect balance. 

If you loved the Modern Farmhouse mood board but didn’t really jive with any of these other spaces, you might just love Modern Farmhouse style.

Or you might find yourself more inclined to fill your spaces with some of these other casual styles:
Industrial
Rustic
Country
Mediterranean
Arts & Crafts
Transitional

Pinpointing your own style can be hard work. It can take a while. It really helps if you immerse yourself in other peoples’ rooms. When you find a photo you like, analyze it. Every piece. You like the drapes? If so, in which of the aforementioned rooms would they fit best?

Join Pinterest and start pinning every room you see that feels good to you. But don’t just pin them and leave them. Look back on your pins every few days. See if you can determine a common theme. Click on the links. Read the blogs and articles in which the images originally appear. Sometimes, the original author has already broken down the room style for you. 

Now that you have a better idea of your style, you can now move on to incorporating some new pieces into your room to bring it out. That’s a great place to start!

Of course if you need more help, reach out. Here are my services and rates.
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xoxo
Teri

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Commenting on this post is disabled after 24 hours so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out! xoxo

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DIY HOLIDAY PROJECTS ON A BUDGET

If you’ve ever received a gift from me, you know I taking wrapping very seriously. I love a good cloth ribbon and coordinated paper but even more, I like to create gift tags that can be used as Christmas tree ornaments or activities for children. Here are my favorite tags I’m giving out to my family members this year.

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DIY COLORING BOOK GIFT TAG FOR KID’S CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

This one is super easy to make and just requires printer paper, hole punch, a small ribbon and a crayon. You can create your own coloring pages using Canva for free.

Once you’ve printed the pages, here are your next steps.

Cut each page in half and then in thirds until all images are on a separate sheet, facing the same direction.

Use a hole punch to make two equidistant holes in the top. Then string a ribbon, tied with a crayon through the holes and tie onto the gift.

KId’s Christmas Ornament with CRAYONS

Along the same lines, this one is a little sturdier, so it can hold more crayons. I’d actually use these as stocking stuffers too. In addition to scissors and tape, here are the supplies you need:

Use a permanent marker to embellish the snowman and write the child’s name. Then cut a slit through which you can secure the crayons. Use tape to keep the crayons in place on the back. I used double-sided tape on the front and the back to keep them in place.

LEFTOVER HALLOWEEN CANDY CHRISTMAS GIFT TAG

I had a ton of little bags of M&Ms left over from Halloween, but you can use basically any candy. I sorted through and pulled out all the red ones, though red & green would be cute too! I filled a cellophane bag half-way with the candy and tied with a red ribbon.

Then I used a paint pen to write the receiver’s name on a mini ornament and tied it to the package.

This one is for my father-in-law. He’s going to love it!

WINE CORK CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT WITH PERSONALIZATION

I keep every wine work from every bottle I’ve ever consumed with friends or family. I write the date, occasion, and with whom I shared the bottle on the cork and then I toss it into a large vase. Recently, it occurred to me that some of these corks may be better off with the other person. For instance, if you’ve got a champagne cork from your niece’s wedding, this is the perfect way to reuse it and show her you love her. To attach string, I bent a metal ornament hook and pierced the top of the cork, creating a hook. I secured with hot glue. Then I painted this ornament, to match her decor but these would also look great in their original hues.

Using my trusty paint pen, I wrote the receiver’s name on the cork front. Then I added a little sprig of holly from a wreath that was destined for the garbage and strung a piece of red yarn through the hook.

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CLASSIC CANDY CANE REINDEER MEETS SCANDINAVIAN MOOSE

Here’s a super simple one. Instead of using the pipe cleaners to create reindeer antlers, why not jazz up your candy canes with construction paper moose antlers? The wider antlers provide plenty of space on which to write the receiver’s names and they’ll be so happy to get candy. No glue required!

WOOD BRANCH CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS / GIFT TAGS

I’ve been making these for years! Any time a branch falls down in my yard, I collect it and let it dry out. Then I use my compound miter saw to slice it into 1/2” thick pieces. If that sounds too complex for you or you don’t currently hoard brush like I do, you can also buy pre-sliced wood. These are a bargain! Less than $1 each and they have holes pre-drilled!

Since mine don’t have holes, I just use hot glue to adhere an ornament hook to the back of each slice.

Some years, I pull out my wood burner and burn each person’s name into the wood. This year, I chose a simpler approach: stamps and paint. Either way, here are the items you’ll need;

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EASIEST CINNAMON ORNAMENT GIFT TAG FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Here’s what you need:
1 cup cinnamon
3/4 cup applesauce
2 tablespoons glue

Mix the ingredients to create a dough. Roll out on a covered surface (cinnamon will stain!). Use cookie cutters to get the shape. Bake at 200 degrees for two hours.

COOKIE CUTTER GARLAND GIFT TAG FOR CHRISTMAS

Here’s one last idea. This would make a cute gift tag for Mom (moms love cookie cutters, don’t they?) or you could string up a bunch and make garland. Just spray paint some Christmas-themed cookie cutters to match your decor and use yarn or twine to hang them.

You could tie this bow around the cookie cutter and that serves as your gift tag. OR you could just give the cookie cutter as a gift.

I used baker’s twine on the cookie cutters then tie them at varying lengths for the garland. For the garland length, I like this really chunky yarn. It’s textural and adds a little special knit quality. I also use it as garland on the tree.

PS. My “tablecloth” is actually a scarf. Because tablecloths are expensive and you can get a large scarf for under $20. See below!

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Happy Holidays!
xoxo
Teri

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The post DIY Tutorial: Christmas Gift Tags That Double As The Gifts Themselves appeared first on Fortune House Shop.