Our DIY Renovation Projects Of Our Last Property

STEP 1: Our Process

The photo pictured was the living prior to our purchase. We began by reviewing what would make the biggest impact in our design.

Our answer was:

1. An unclutter space and laying out the furniture to make the fireplace the main focal point.
2. A neutral paint color would allow for less distraction
3. Crown molding and trim would give the room a grander feel.

The Finish Room

STEP 2: Removed All Old Trim and Baseboards

STEP 3: Removed Railing

The railing were my pain point so I we removed them.

This home had 3 levels and very busy railings. We opted to use steel rods and cut them for the balusters.

Step 4: Installed The Baseboard and Crown Molding

Pro Tip:

To save money we used MDF board on the crown molding and used hardwood baseboards. MDF board is less expensive and "lighter" for easier installation.

It is not recommended for basements since it is soft and will damage easier.

Side Note:

The wood slats in this townhome were very narrow and were not in great condition.

Therefore, going with a dark stain covered some of the imperfections and created a "richer" appearance.

Completed Project

1. Placed furniture against the walls to create a before traffic flow
2. The fireplace was used as the focal point of the room

We used the left over crown molding to create the fireplace mantel and a marble fabricator gifted us his scraps to use in the inside of our mantel.

The marble for the fireplace and for our three bathrooms was FREE

PRO TIP: Fabricators need to pay to remove scrap pieces of marble from their yards. Some are willing to gift them away.

I created this fillable PDF workbook to keep my projects organized.