Raising Rough and Tumble Boys

I saw this awesome blog post today:

The MOB Society

I could have written this myself although not as well.  If you're raising "one of those boys" it'll do your heart good to read this.

How I Stained and Sealed my Ikea Counter Tops

I really and I mean really wanted wood counter tops.  My house is a 1910 Victorian Farmhouse. Aside from  God and my family and friends it is the love of my life.  I have tried in everything I've done to preserve the look of the home while making it functional.

For a kitchen in 1910 I wanted an authentic feel.  My house would not have been fancy enough for marble. I thought maybe soapstone but I am on a budget so I thought wood.  At first I was going to make counters out of salvaged wood flooring then I found the Ikea Numerar butcher block counters.  This seemed easier.  Ha

Here is a look at my hideous backsplash with laminate backsplash and counter.

So off to Ikea I went and also got the Domsjo single bowl apron front sink:

We bought the Numerar in Beech. 

First thing I did was sand off the factory finish with 120 grit sandpaper then 220.  I recommend using a mouse sander.  It doesn't seem to leave the swirly marks like an orbital or quarter sheet sander.  Just my opinion.

Some will say to use a tack cloth to get the dust off.  I used the shop vac to vacuum then a clean t-shirt to wipe the rest off.  It seemed to work.

First we cut the counters to length: My husband put masking tape on both sides to prevent scratching and splintering.  It worked. Then I sanded the edge.

Very important step when staining butcher block is using a pre-stain conditioner.  My stain was made by Cabot so I bought the Cabot conditioner.  Make sure to read the instructions.  Cabot says to apply the stain while it's still wet, other brands say to wait until it's dry.  Check your can! It also said to work in small areas. I found that was too complicated.  Just work fast.

The Conditioner: I poured it on and wiped it.

Then I used an appropriate brush for stain and brushed it on.  (this is actually a picture from the other counter which was in the other room)

Then I went digging though my son's dresser drawers for more old t-shirts.  I waited for five minutes then wiped up the excess stain.  DO NOT let it dry like this.

This is after it was wiped up and dried.

I used Cabot Brown Mahogany.  I stained it four times.  I didn't always use the pre-stain conditioner on the other layers.  The first time is the most important.

In between stainings I would run my hand over the counters to see if they felt rough.  I then would use fine steel wool to LIGHTLY sand, wipe with a clean t-shirt and stain again.

*word of caution* The great thing about wood counters is if you get a scratch you can sand and re-do that spot. HOWEVER if you go dark you will have to stain that little scratch over and over to get it just right.

The next step was Waterlox!

http://www.waterlox.com/products/

Everything on the web said this was the best.  It's also made right here in Texas.  I was able to buy it in a woodworking store but it can also be ordered online from their website.  

I waited two days from the last staining when I applied it.  First I rolled it on with a foam roller then got out another clean t-shirt (my son needs new clothes now) and rubbed it in using a circular motion.  It then dried smooth.  It's beautiful.  I put on five coats and waited 24 hours in between coats.  AND in case you were wondering this was about a two week project.  I also did waterlox each side.  The bottom side I only did twice.  We also added a vapor barrier over our dishwasher.

BEAUTIFUL

Installing them with the Domsjo sink there has to be a little notch cut out so the sink will fit.  Put masking tape again because if you use a jigsaw it will scratch.

Here's my hard working husband having to re-do the plumbing.  That's a whole other blog post.

Finished product:  (I'm going to put a skirt under the sink)

Here is a link to the blog post that helped me with this project:

This And That Blog

they also installed an undermount sink, there's instructions for that.

Here is another blog post if you have to cut joints.

http://stillwaterstory.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-stain-butcher-block-countertops.html

Thank you for looking!  It's still a work in progress but the counters are done!!

Kitchen Reno Part 13: Semi Final Pictures!

The kitchen doesn't feel like it's mine yet even though I literally shed blood, sweat and tears over it.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After: (Johnathan being goofy)

This is more of a during picture:

After:

Ugly ceiling before:

After:

More afters:

Things left to do:

Refinish the floors of course, fix grout in a few places, one more coat of Waterlox on the counters, new curtains and skirt for sink and order more tile for behind the sink, install pantry door and actually install the screen door.  

I can't believe it's almost done!!!

Kitchen Reno Part 12: Big Changes!

There's been some big changes!  

Here's Johnathan helping take up the floor.

I'm not going to lie this really sucked.  It wore me out.  The tile was the easy part.  Our floor had a layer of tile and two layers of vinyl on top of a sub floor made out of a masonite material.  It reminded me of what portraits are mounted on.

Termite damage on just about 8 inches of a board.  

For the floor being 103 years old and being covered up for probably 40 to 50 years it's actually in pretty awesome condition.

I don't know why but only part of the floor is painted.  Not sure what that's about.

It appears and I'm guessing probably in the 50's it was covered with these stick down tiles which explains the black marks on the wood.  I thought in the beginning something had scorched it but actually it is the backing of the stick down tiles.

That was confirmed when I took up the floor in the pantry.  That wood is not in as good of condition but I'm still going to try to refinish it.

This part of the subfloor looks like they took a piece of old paneling and used it.  It splintered everywhere.

Probably not a good idea to put a subfloor over FOUR HOLES!

The subfloor and vinyl smelled so bad!

Because most people in 1910 didn't have pantries we have wondered if this started out as a side porch then became a bathroom.  Maybe that's the reason for the holes?  

Did anyone else's grandma have these tiles?  My Grandmother had a grayish blue color just like this.

I also found this vinyl!  What is ironic is it looks like what we had in our first house. What I'm guessing is this was taken up prior to the tile being put down in the kitchen area since it's a later style then country blue and pink flowers.

  Last weekend we finally installed out counters and sink and boy was it a job!

  We had to cut notches so it would fit around our door trim on one side and our window trim on the other side.  It wasn't just straight cuts.  It probably took two hours a side to get it where it would fit just right.

We also had to cut notches so the sink would fit.

We finally get the sink in but it won't go all the way back.  Then Joe has to cut this extra piece of wood out and then it fit.  The hard part was rerouting the plumbing.  The old sink had two bowls.  This is a single bowl.  

Joe made about five trips to Ace Hardware.  It was a long day.

It works!  It took another day and few more bad words but Joe got it done.

My other project was tiling the counters for the new cabinets.  This is my favorite tile.  I just love it.

I haven't grouted yet.  The tile for the edge was actually white and I thought what the heck I'll just spray paint it.  I think it turned out pretty good.

We now have the issue of what to do below the sink.  I'm thinking maybe a little skirt of some sort.

I'm thinking about putting this tile behind the sink.

This door will hang in the door way to the left.  Originally this area was a screened in back porch.  (it's now the laundry room)  I'm going to paint the door the same red as my front door.

We put the big cabinet back where it goes.  I was tired of it being in the way.  We still haven't agreed on a way to hang it that Joe agrees is safe and that I agree looks good.  So for now it's back where it started. (I still have touch ups to do on it)

I had big plans do refinish the floors in the kitchen and dining room this weekend BUT it was my son's 14th birthday!  I was in no mood to deal with the mess of refinishing.  I think we're going to make sure everything is done completely in the kitchen then in a few weeks do the floor.  I need a break!