Husky Pass-Through Socket Wrench Set - Today's Homeowner

This pass-through socket wrench set from Husky can tackle jobs that standard socket sets can't. The ratchet is perfect for tightening nuts that are on long carriage bolts, and the thinner head profile allows it to fit in tight spaces. It is available at The Home Depot.

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How to Build Cabinets for an Outdoor Kitchen - Today's Homeowner

Our take on cabinets for an outdoor kitchen features a veneer of split bricks to match the house.

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Installing Roller Catches to Keep Cabinet Doors Closed - Today's Homeowner

Cabinet doors that won't close all the way is a common problem. Instead of replacing the self-closing hinges, install roller catches to keep the doors closed.

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No Mantel? No Problem! 25+ Ideas for Fireplace Mantel Alternatives

Often a fireplace is the center of the home.  As an obvious focal point, a fireplace is a natural meeting area and the mantel a natural spot to zero in on when we plan our decor.  But what if you don't have a fireplace in your home?  If you spend time eyeing-up beautiful mantels on Pinterest, you may start to feel a little left out.  There's no shortage of mantel decor ideas for all seasons and holidays, but where do you start if a fireplace mantel isn't part of the equation for you?  Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to create awesome seasonal focal points, and here are 30 fireplace mantel alternatives to get you started.

 25+ Ideas for Fireplace Mantel Alternatives

In this post:

Page 1 // Page 2 // Page 3

Faux Fireplace 

The most obvious replacement for an actual fireplace mantel is a faux fireplace mantel!  A faux fireplace has a lot of pros – the whole look and feel of an actual fireplace, added ambiance and warmth, a large focal point for a blank wall, etc.  And there are a lot of ways to go about creating one – from an actual built in fireplace with  a chimney surround and hearth, to a simple free standing fireplace surround, to a completely fabricated faux fireplace from salvaged finds.

 

Faux Fireplace Built-In // Bless'er House for Remodelaholic

 

Simple Faux Mantel Surround // Rogue Engineer

 

Freestanding Faux Fireplace // Thoughts From Alice

 

Impermanent Salvaged Fireplace // Vintage Revivals 

 

Piano Tops

Piano tops are the next best thing to having an actual fireplace mantel!  Pianos are generally large pieces of furniture that can easily create a statement and draw focus, so it's natural to decorate the top.  Instead of having a permanent decor vignette here, you can easily treat it as a mantel to decorate for the seasons or holidays.  A console piano can be decorated just as easily as an upright, and if you find one too damaged to play, consider creating an incredible furniture piece, like a desk!

 

Upright Piano Top // Cherished Bliss

 

Piano Mantel // Cottage Magpie

 

Console Piano // A Year of Strategic Serendipity

 

Piano Desk Top // Knick of Time

 

Next up, 8 MORE Ideas for Fireplace Mantel Alternatives –>

In this post:

Page 1 // Page 2 // Page 3

Don't miss this post, detailing a faux fireplace built-in, from drawing plans, to starting the build and the finished reveal!

You can learn all the secrets to styling a mantel (or a mantel alternative!) here!

Be sure to check out these posts for mantel decor ideas: Valentine Mantel, Spring Mantels, Back to School Mantels, Halloween mantels, Fall Mantels, Thanksgiving Mantels, Christmas Mantels

And these Spring Vignettes (for mantels and tables)!

The post No Mantel? No Problem! 25+ Ideas for Fireplace Mantel Alternatives appeared first on Remodelaholic.

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How to DIY Floor to Ceiling Board and Batten

Can I just say I am super excited to be here today to show you what I have been up to?  Well, I am!  Its me!  Sara from Twelve On Main and I am so excited to be here once again sharing just a bot of what I do in my home.  Today I am showing you how to DIY floor to ceiling board and batten!  

I am knee deep in a master bedroom remodel, and this DIY floor to ceiling board and batten is just one of the many things I have planned for my bedroom.

Board and batten has always been a favorite of mine.  For something that is actually very simple to do, it makes a huge impact on the space where it is installed.  I am a big fan of using other types of wall treatments as well such as reverse shiplap.

How to Install Floor to Ceiling Board and Batten

Check out the video over on our YouTube channel (and subscribe please!) and be sure to read our other posts about installing board and batten and how to get board and batten spacing perfect. 

Floor to ceiling board and batten can be installed many different ways, with many different materials including MDF (medium density fiberboard) like Cassity used here and wood planks.  Both are great ways to install.  My favorite way to install board and batten is to use furring strips from your local hardware store.  You can usually find these furring strips in an assortment of sizes including 2 by 2 inch square, 1 by 4 inch, and 1 by 3 inch strips.

For this project I used 1 by 3 inch strips.  What is great about using these is that they are cheap…like 1 dollar for a 9 foot long board.  The cons are that the strips can often be imperfect, including some raw edges, warped pieces, etc.  Its worth it to comb through the pile though and find ones that you can use.

The other benefit to using these is that the pieces are already cut!  You do not need to buy a 4ft by 8ft sheet of MDF and have it cut down into strips, which can be time consuming. 

Start by clearing the space.

The first thing you want to do is find the studs in your wall.  You can use a stud finder to do this.  

I decided to space by battens 16 inches apart, so always hitting a stud may not be possible, but  it is helpful to know where they are at.

The first piece you want to install is a trim piece at the top, along the length of the ceiling.

If you need to install or add to your baseboards this would be the time to do that too.  My baseboards are quite thick so I did not need to change them.  I kept them in place.  Use the stud marks as a guide as to where to nail into the board.

I used my pneumatic brad nailer to nail the pieces into place.  This makes really quick work of installing board and batten.

The next step is to install your first vertical piece.  

First, you will measure how long it needs to be, and cut your strips accordingly.  Now you will place it where you want to install, make sure to use a level to ensure that it is exactly straight vertically  then nail the top into place, check for level once again and nail in the bottom.  Continue to nail every 6-8 inches all along the board to ensure it is fastened to the wall.

*If you feel like it is not going to be secured to a stud and are worried about it not being secure, you can add a bead of wood glue to the side that will be in contact with the wall.  This will give you extra security.*

Now that you have the first piece in place, its time to cut a block.  I cut a block 16 inches long.  This block will help you install the rest of your pieces quickly.  

I apply the block at the top, secure the next piece snug next to it and nail.  Then take the block to the bottom of the piece, make sure it is snug and then nail again.  Now secure the rest of the piece.  Repeat this process until you have all your vertical pieces secured.

Now you are ready to putty and caulk.  Putty all the nail holes, and then use a baseboard caulk to fill in the cracks between the wall and the boards.  I used spackling compound to fill in the nail holes, since it is easier to work with.  This may not be a necessary step, but the whole wall will look much more finished if you do this.

Once everything has dried, its time to sand down any rough spots, or places that were puttied.  

Now wipe down the boards, and paint it all.  I like to use a roller to paint in between the boards, as well as the tops of the boards.  It makes quick work of it all.  I then cut in with my angled brush and do all the cracks and corners.

And that's it!

 

 

You can add extra interest to this wall by adding another set of horizontal pieces to create small squares at the top of the wall(which is what I did in my mudroom) but I wanted to keep it like this, especially for what I have planned for this room. 

 

 

 

This is just a sneak peek.

 

 

Now, I am off to finish up the rest of the walls the same way!  Wish me luck and I hope you'll stop by to check out what I am up to these days!

 

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More DIY wall treatments

the ultimate guide to wainscoting

diy fabric wall treatment

diy shiplap wall

100+ interior wall painting ideas

 

 

The post How to DIY Floor to Ceiling Board and Batten appeared first on Remodelaholic.

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How to Install Rain Gutters - Today's Homeowner

Gutters serve an important function of directing rainwater away from the house to protect your siding, foundation and landscaping. Here's how to go about installing them.

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