Cost break-down of foyer & other stuff :)

So yesterday, I posted the big foyer reveal but didn't really give too much detail about how much the foyer re-do cost and how to do a few things (such as the lattice work).  I was just to excited to show you the big transformation and figured I could post the details later.  Well, here they are.  Let's do the cost break-down first.

I just have to say one thing - This actually didn't cost me a PENNY because I used gift cards from my birthday (from Home Goods & a Visa gift card from Dad).  But I still want you to see how much it all came to.

• Glidden Brown Paint - $23.00
• 5 pieces of Lattice - $18.20 ($3.64 a piece for 8 feet)
• Rug from HG - $19.99
• Brown wooden art from HG - $29.00
• Lamp on table from HG - $22.00 - CLEARANCE
• White chair - $15.00 from Craigslist!
• White Paint - Free (already had)
• Table in corner - Free (already had, from Ikea though, $19.99!)
• Pillow on chair - Free (stole from guest room!)
• Other art on walls - Free (already owned)
• White shelf - Free (had 4 for the office, only used 3 - from my mom!)

Grand Total - $127.19!!!  Not to shabby :)

Ok, so here is the deal with the lattice work.  ANYONE can do it.  You just need to figure out how much you need.  5 8 feet pieces was going to be enough for me since the space I was doing it in, wasn't huge.  First, you'll need to measure how tall you want your vertical pieces to go.  Mine were 32 inches tall.  Then you need to decide how far apart you want them on the wall.  Mine were 12 inches a part.  So that came to 4 vertical pieces on each wall (=8).  So I measured them out and cut them one by one using my exacto knife and then since this lattice is foam, you can just snap it.  I usually get my sandpaper and sand the ends for a nice even look.  After you snap all of your pieces, the fun part starts.  Simply measure out the first piece on the wall and nail into place.  Continue to do that until all your vertical pieces are hung on the wall.  I put about 4 nails in each piece to make sure they stayed.  After the vertical pieces are done, you can now measure out the one long horizontal piece that goes on top of the vertical pieces.  Measure it out, snap, sand and nail.  Boom! Done!  This is what it will look like when you are done with this process:

 

There are probably some spots that need some filling with some spackle.  I needed to fill a few, seen here:

I know.  Quite a gap.  No big deal - Get your spackle out and just fill it in nice and thick.  Let it dry for a bit then go back and sand it down.  Done!  No one will ever know.  So now you are ready to paint the wall!  I went ahead and painted the boards too just to give it a little extra shine.  Also, it covers up the nails better too.  These are white nails (that I used from a previous project) so you don't really need to, but I think it does look better if it's allll painted.  Here is the end result after 2 coats:

 

Easy-Peasy! :)  The best part is, you don't need heavy machines like a saw, or a nail gun.  Now if you have those, please use them!!  It would make things A LOT easier and probably faster, but I am a DIY-ER with nothing like that!  Not yet at least...I would love my own meeter saw or Dremel saw and a nail gun, but dang, those are expensive!  We are a family on a budget folks!  You work with what you got, right? :)

Anyways, hope you enjoy this project as much as I did.  Try it at your house!  Thanks again! :)

DIY Memo Board or Bulletin Board

Well I decided while the second coat of primer was drying on my desk, I would make a small project (for barely nothing!) for our new office space.  I decided to make a Memo Board or a Bulletin Board.  This is a VERY easy project and quite inexpensive.  This is what the final product will look like:

Nice, huh?  Well thank you! Let me show you how to do this simple, cute project.  
What you'll need:

• A Frame
• Paint
• Fabric
• Foam Board
• Stapler
• Exact o Knife

Ok, so here is a little secret.  The frame can come from somewhere like a thrift store.  It doesn't matter how ugly the picture is inside the frame, toss that!  You can easily prime the frame and paint it the color you want for PENNIES.  Unfortunately, all my thrift stores stink!  I couldn't find anything.  So I went to my FAVORITE store, Hobby Lobby and found a plain wooden frame for 50% off!  I spent $7.00 on a plain frame.                         

So the first step is to lay the frame down on your foam board (also from Hob Lob - $1.99) and trace the size of the frame so that the foam board will slip right in.  Now cut the foam board with your exact-o knife.  Take your fabric and now wrap it the foam board like your wrapping a present. 

                                                    

You will use your stapler to secure the fabric to the board.  Now you'll want to paint your frame.  It literally took me 10 minutes to paint this wooden frame.  I decided to use a gray paint that I already had in a sample color I got from Home Depot about 2 months ago.  It'll look really pretty with the light blue color I am painting the room.  

Once its done drying, just take your foam board and press it into the frame and make sure its nice and snug in the frame.  I went ahead and hung it on the wall just you could see the finished project on the wall, but I'll be moving it soon when I paint. 

VIOLA!

Finished product!  Like the lamp next to it??  Me too!  It's staying! :)  I bought a gray rug from Ikea that will really compliment this new memo board and lamp shade (more on the rug later..)

So final costs on the Memo Board or Bulletin Board Project:

• Frame - $7.00
• Foam Board - Free (Already some left over)
• Paint - Free (Already had sample)
• Fabric - Free (Left over from headboard project)
• TOTAL - $7.00!!

Now, if you need to buy these items, go over to Hob Lob and these are the estimated costs:

• Frame - $7.00
• Foam Board - $2.00
• Paint Sample - $2.95
• Fabric - (3 yards around $3.00 per year) = $9.00
• TOTAL - $20.95!!

WOW!! Even if you have to purchase these items, it'll still only cost around $20, maybe less if you get the fabric you want on clearance.

Thanks again for reading Re-Stylin'!  The desk should be finished in no time.  :)