I am so overly obsessed with this look, I wanted to do another post solely dedicated to my love for the checkered tile floor and delve into the different variations and options you have when looking to do this in your home.

There are a hundred different variations of this floor pattern, using various colors and types of tile. But for this post, I’ll be focusing on the black and white, or gray and white, marble checkered look.

So, if you are thinking about installing your own checker tiled floor, then this is the post for you! We’re going to talk about all the considerations you’ll need to think about before picking your tile, and deciding your layout and design.

Size of Tile

When you are planning your checkered floor, it’s important to consider the size and scale of the tile you will use. Do you like the busier look of smaller tiles? Or the spacious feel of large format tiles?

For large spaces you can get away with larger tiles. In this stunning dining room by Chris Loves Julia, they went with a 24×24 inch tile. It’s huge, but totally fits the scale of this extra big dining space!

We decided to go with a 18×18 for our 250 square foot laundry space, and I feel like its a nice spacious look. But I’m very glad we didn’t go bigger!! I’ll be honest, size wasn’t the biggest deciding factor for me. I knew I wanted a large format tile (ranging from 16×16 to 24×24), but I based my decision on the best looking (and cheapest) tile and it worked out to be 18×18.

Common sizes you’ll see for tiles include: 30×30, 24×24, 18×18, 12×12, and 6×6. Perhaps the most popular sized tile is the 12×12. I think this is a nice size, and I love this bathroom below by Jaimee Rose Interiors. Here the 12×12 goes nicely in the space!

And finally the smallest you can get before going into mosaics is 8×8 or 6×6. I think this look can get a little busy, but it also makes quite the impact. If you want a bit of a retro vibe, this is definitely the way to go! I just love the below room by Sarah Gordon and how the muted monochromatic space lets those smaller checkered tiles shine.

When picking the size tile for your space, definitely weigh in the other elements of the room. Are there a lot of busy looking details already? Maybe opt for larger tiles. Going for a traditional look? The 12×12 never fails! Prefer a vintage vibe? Consider some smaller tiles for your space.

Tile Material

A lot of the black and white (and gray and white) checker board floors that I see are marble or marble-look-a-likes. But that doesn’t mean you have to use real marble tiles to achieve the look. Marble can be expensive to buy and is often more money to install because of increased difficulty. There are a variety of options when it comes to tile material

Obviously nothing will ever replace the variation and beauty of real marble tile. The space below is just gobsmackingly stunning… You can tell it’s real marble because of how unique each tile is. And it’s that raw natural beauty that truly steals the show in this space.

If you love the the marble tile look, but hate the price and the idea of dealing with finicky real stone, you can consider a ceramic or porcelain tile. They make many very realistic porcelain and ceramic tiles that give you that subtle veining.

This beautiful floor by The Life Styled Co uses porcelain tiles, but still has a marble-look. I love the gray and white veining in the tiles. It adds such a nice nuance.

And then of course, you do not have to go for a marble effect at all. There are many beautiful porcelain and ceramic checkered floors that have no veining at all. This marvelous kitchen floor by Joanna Gaines, is simply black and white.

Which Tile Finish?

When looking for your checkered tile, be sure to consider what kind of finish you’d like your tile to have. Tiles range from polished, to matte, to tumbled, and each of these will give you a very different look.

Perhaps the most formal and traditional look is achieved with a polished tile. These will have a shiny appearance, and offer a more glam style. In the grand hallway below, the sheen of the tile elevates the space.

If you want a more casual or old-world look, opt for matte or honed tiles. These low to no shine tiles, as seen in the bathroom below by Ham Interiors, offer a ‘lived-in’ vibe. Real stone tiles will be called ‘honed,’ and man made tiles with low sheen are usually called ‘matte’.

And finally if you like that really old-world, totally organic, natural vibe: check out some tumbled tile. Usually an option in real stone, the tumbled look is more jagged and raw. It’s missing those perfect lines and edges and has a softer effect. Keep in mind, these imperfections will usually require larger grout lines, as seen below.

Colors for the Checkerboard

There are endless options when it comes to color for your checkered tile floors. The most classic and common route is the black and white combo. But you may also want to consider a softer look, like gray and white. You could even play with the white tile and consider an ivory or beige for a warmer effect. The floor below looks fabulous with a clay and black combination.

If you prefer to walk on the wilder side, consider some more fun color options. You could use white and red, blue and green, pink and orange… Seriously, go nuts with it! The checkerboard pattern is just so classic, that you can’t go wrong.

Border or No?

You may have noticed that some of the floors above have borders around the edges and some have the checker board pattern going all the way to the wall. In general, no border is a cleaner more modern look. But, the border can add elegance and flair if you choose to go that route!

In the photo above, Ham Interiors used a checkered tile pattern that went all the way to the walls. I think it gives this historic home an updated and more modern leaning. Using traditional materials in a slightly more modern take can be a great way to get that transitional look that is so classic and beautiful.

In this entryway, the Fox Group used a small gray border around the gray and white tile and in this case it perfectly defines the space. Without a border this flooring transition might not look so intentional and thought out.

Direction of Tile

In almost all of the pictures I’ve been sharing, the checkerboard pattern is going diagonal to the walls. This causes triangles around the edges and a diamond look. But, you can also consider laying your tiles in line with the walls for another look.

This stunning space uses a perpendicular tile pattern that gives the space a more casual vibe. I think that if you lay your tiles in line with the walls your design will usually lean slightly more casual or retro.

Checkered Tile Options

Ok, now that you know exactly what size tile you are looking for, how you’ll lay the tiles, what sheen you prefer and whether or not you’ll use a border…. How are you going to find these tiles for your harlequin floor??

Fear not, after spending hours of searching the vast internet for options, I’m here to share with you some of my favorite tile combos to get that checkered tile look!

First things first, it’s best if you can find a darker and lighter tile in the same product line. That way you can be sure that they will be the same height and size and coordinate together properly. If you are using real stone, this may not be possible and you’ll have to pay extra close attention to the dimensions of the tile and also how they are cut (rectified, beveled, tumbled etc.).

My Checkered Tile Floor

Updated to add:

The mudroom checkered tile floors turned out incredible!! Letting those floors go may be one of the saddest parts of selling the Fischer Flip. They were also our biggest tile job to date. We learned so much through the process… like always buy Mapei tiling products. They are far superior to what Menards and Home Depot sells in the grout and mortar department. We got up close and personal with a 24″ tile snapper. Cut many a door jamb with the multi-tool saw. And regretted not buying and using tile leveling clips. Through the whole thing, my confidence in tiling has increased exponentially and I cannot wait to tackle our next project! Check out the final look below…

Now, sadly I don’t think this tile is available any more at Home Depot right now… But I think this line of tile has some very similar options at an affordable price.

EMSER tiles from Home Depot
You should be able to mix and match any of these since they are the same brand, and finish. There are a variety of options in the 18″ and 24″ sizes.

• Potenza Dove 17.72 in. x 17.72 in. Matte Porcelain Stone Look Tile
• Sandstorm Kalahari Matte 17.72 in. x 17.72 in. Porcelain Tile
• Realm Ii Nation 17.72 in. x 17.72 in. Matte Porcelain Stone Look Tile
• Contessa Dama Matte 17.72 in. x 17.72 in. Porcelain Tile
• Contessa Oro 17.72 in. x 17.72 in. Matte Marble Look Porcelain

• Sterlina Gray 23.62 in. x 23.62 in. Matte Marble Look Porcelain Tile
• Sterlina White 23.62 in. x 23.62 in. Matte Marble Look Porcelain Tile
• Sterlina Asphalt 23.62 in. x 23.62 in. Matte Marble Look Porcelain Tile
• Contessa Oro 23.82 in. x 23.82 in. Matte Marble Look Porcelain Tile
• Contessa Dama 23.82 in. x 23.82 in. Matte Marble Look Porcelain

And here are some other options to consider for your marble-look tiles:

1. Bedrosians Urban porcelain tile (24×24) matte in Iron Blue and Lava Gray

2. MSI Alicante porcelain tile (18×18) matte in Bianco and Grigio

3. Carrera Marble polished tile and Vogue Gray Polished Marble Tile (18×18)

4. Bedrosians Urban porcelain tile (24×24) matte in Raven Black and Nova White

5. Black Slate Tile textured and Crema Antiqua Tumbled Travertine Tile (12×12)

6. Pianetto Polished Porcelain tile (24×24) in Sabbia Bianco and Laurento Gray

And not to be discounted, is the option to cover your existing floors with vinyl peel and stick tiles in this same style. Check out these Floorpops for a cheap and easy upgrade! Chris loves Julia even made their own line specifically so you can achieve the checkered marble tile look.

Pretty nifty right?! I would say that this is definitely a style I would like to replicate again in another space. Since installing this checkered floor, I’ve noticed so many others doing similar looks! It’s so fun to see a beautiful and classic look catch on. And I am now inspired to look to older tile patterns and colors for my future tiling projects. I wish you all the best in your checkered floor journey! And if you like this mudroom, make sure to check out how the tile looks in the sweet little adjoining half bath.

The post Checkered Tile Floors appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

She and my dad bought their current home 15 years ago, and they are ready to tackle the kitchen. It will be a very large job, but I’m excited to share all the details with you as they unfold. But currently it is in the final design stages, scheduled to start demo in a few weeks.

My absolute favorite items to shop for in a home are the lights, and my Mom’s kitchen was no exception. Needless to say, I went a little overboard on curating some lighting options… Since she can only pick one, I thought it would be fun to share them all with you in case anyone is looking to find new dining/kitchen light pairs.

1A // 1B // 2A // 2B // 3A // 3B // 4A // 4B // 5A // 5B

I broke them down by metal color for you, since most of us have one or two main finishes we are using in our homes. Right now in our house it is brass and black. I think my Mom is leaning towards silver with brass accents.

1A // 1B // 2A // 2B // 3A // 3B // 4A // 4B // 5A // 5B

I am so incredibly happy that gold came back into style. It adds so much warmth and happiness to a space. I’m going on the record saying it should never go back out of style!! And up next, a new favorite finish as of late…

1A // 1B // 2A // 2B // 3A // 3B // 4A // 4B // 5A // 5B

There you have it, 15 different affordable dining and kitchen light pairings. Or mix and match them to make your own unique look! I am a sucker for mixed metals, so I say go for it

The post Dining & Kitchen Light Pairings appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

This past weekend we went estate sale-ing and my mind has been forever changed by the most incredible use of wallpaper I have ever seen. We visited a beautiful old mansion (I think it would qualify as a mansion) in Geneva, IL. Every part of the house was beautiful, from the custom built-ins to the original woodwork and windows.

But, the use of wallpaper in that home still has my head spinning. I took some pictures and I seriously have been looking at them all day, I am so head-over-heels in love.

I think this house was already pretty cleared out before the sale, so there were only a few furniture pieces left. But the ones that remained gave you a picture of how beautifully color coordinated this house must have been in its prime.  The green in that lamp and the little bookcase and how it ties into the wallpaper just so, have me all misty-eyed!

This bathroom had possibly my favorite wallpaper of all. The colorful explosion of sweet little florals is just how I’d want my bathroom to feel. Why are we all so afraid of color anymore? I guess because color can be done in a not-so-great way… but I shouldn’t let fear of that stop me from going bold with color. Look at the reward!

Does anyone know anything about wallpapers? I’m guessing these are 70’s patterns.. based on the bright colors. But, I really have no clue.  I spent hours on eBay after we got home, trying to find similar patterns. But I didn’t have too much luck. And I was also reminded that paint is insanely cheaper than wallpaper…

Again, it’s these little things that get me… Do you ever look at something and it’s so sweet and beautiful that it makes your heart hurt? That’s how I feel about this house.  It gives me the feels in a serious way.

This was kind of a fun one. I would never choose that color or pattern together, but somehow it’s actually cute.  The curtains just elevate it a notch and somehow make it acceptable to me.  I didn’t take pictures of every room in this house, there were a ton of rooms! But I did try to captures the ones with the boldest wallpaper.

Again, I just adore this sweet green print. And something about the little lion there and the rocking chair below…. Whoever this lady was, I LOVE her. In the library of the home, I found a little notebook full of fabric clippings and notes from her textiles class in the 1960’s. It was such a special peak into the life of the woman who wallpapered the heck out of this house.

There weren’t many things left, so I actually didn’t buy anything from this sale. Although the rugs seriously tempted me. The home had an amazing selection of beautiful vintage rugs. I just wasn’t sure where I would put any of them. That is kind of the rule for our thrifting: if you don’t know where it will go, don’t buy it. I do occasionally break this rule if the item is under $20 or so.

This wallpaper doesn’t do a lot for me, but it fell in that ‘bold’ category so I had to capture it. This was the third story, and the little bedroom attached to this bath had the cutest vintage Magical Kingdom map framed and hanging on the wall.

This is a horrible picture…. But I wanted to show that the entire stairway was wallpapered in a tropical green print! How amazing is that? This was actually the second staircase, presumably it was the servants’ staircase originally. And it led to the kitchen, which was also covered in a similarly tropical paper.

Now that is seriously bold! I could never do this in my kitchen, but I have so much respect for this lady. She deserves mad props for somehow making this crazy look work!

On the estate sale listing online, the sellers advertised that they had extra rolls of wallpaper for sale. I seriously wanted that stuff. But as we walked into the home, I saw another lady walk out with the rolls. Ahhhhh, I was heartbroken… Although, it looked like the only rolls were of this leafy tropical print. Which is still super cool, but doesn’t hit me like the bright floral prints do.

Cue the butler’s pantry…. Wha What??? I know right? The craziness just doesn’t stop.  Serious mad props to this woman.  Butler’s pantries seem so romantic in older homes, but do they have a purpose in the modern kitchen? I don’t feel like they do. It seems like life these days are all about integrative kitchens where the cooking is done out in the open while entertaining guests or spending time with the family. Like who wants to go into a pantry closet and cook, right? I don’t know, I want to love them, I just can’t justify them practically in modern life….

I so wish I could have seen this house in its glory days. It had already been pretty cleared out, but imagine how beautiful it must have been all styled up with furniture and accessories!

I didn’t take too many pictures of the formal rooms… But I had to capture this little moment in the dining room. This wallpaper feels a little more formal than my personal preference. But, the color play along with the built in wood work still moves me here.

If there was one thing in this house that I would’ve really liked to buy, it was this sweet floral painting out in the porch. I have a thing for colorful artwork and this one was seriously happy and bright. But at $125, I just couldn’t pull the trigger. That probably was a good price for the size of the piece, but I just didn’t have a definite idea of where it would go. I do slightly regret it though….

After we got home, I looked up the address and found it’s recent sale pictures on Realtor.com. Since I already showed you my crappy phone pictures, I thought I’d add the professional real estate photos too for a better feel for the home.

I do have a beef with real estate photographers though. I get that their job is to capture a space and make it feel as large as possible. But I feel like they miss the ‘special moments’ in a home. Sure, their pictures use a wide angle so you can see the entire room, but somehow they just do not capture the real life feel. For instance, Better homes and Gardens would never publish your typical real estate photos in their magazine. They don’t tell the story or give you the vignettes that make the house a home. But, shouldn’t you want your home to look like a Better Home and Gardens feature story? Like wouldn’t those types of pictures help it sell better than some fish-eye view with too much HDR?

Sorry, I will get off my soap box now… but if you know a good real estate photographer that does home sale photos with soul, I would seriously like to see their work.

The post I Dream in Wallpaper appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

When pinning images you like on Pinterest, it’s important to ask yourself why you like the image. If you don’t, you’ll never truly figure out what elements make up the looks you are drawn to.  Usually I pin images that are generally appealing to me, then I go back to study individual aspects of each of them. For instance, I was looking back over my Kitchen Inspiration pin board at the faucets, and I noticed that many of them were bridge faucets.

via Vintage Tub & Bath

What the heck is a bridge faucet anyway? I turned to the all-knowing interwebs search of history on the bridge faucet or any information actually, and Google fell short. Why are more people not talking about the illustrious beauty that is the kitchen bridge faucet??? What I do know is that most modern faucets have mixer valves (the piece that brings you hot and cold water together) underneath the counter top so that they are not visible. Bridge faucets, on the other hand, tout their mixing valve (or bridge) as a piece of ornamentation or jewelry.

I think that’s a common theme in design and architecture in the last few decades: the celebration and display of mechanics. You see this in city lofts where the pipes and ducts are exposed, for example.

Styles of Bridge Faucets

Bridge faucets are technically an old-fashioned style of faucet, but I put them in the category of pedestal sinks and subway tile: totally classic. They seem to come mainly in two varieties… the traditional style with a cantilevered spout, and the high arc style with a tall rounded spout.

The first more traditional style seems most commonly available for purchase and also more affordable.  But, (of course it would be this way), the high arc style is the one I am seeing in my Pinterest research as the faucet of choice in designer kitchens. And of course it tends to be less available and more expensive.

Additionally, most bridge faucets attach to the counter top in two places right underneath each handle. But some have an additional attachment right underneath the spout. I definitely prefer the look without the third pipe coming down because it highlights the main visual appeal of the bridge faucet which is the bridge.  That third pipe kind of erases the visual space and can look busy (just my personal thought).

Functionality of Bridge Faucets

Beyond what style you prefer, there are a couple of other things to consider when looking to buy a bridge faucet: are you ok with a 2-handle kitchen faucet?  Many modern kitchen faucets have one handle for both hot and cold to aid in ease of use. Two handles, while symmetrical and beautiful, are undeniably less functional.

Another consideration in buying a bridge faucet is your preference on the sprayer.  Very few bridge faucets come with an in-spout sprayer (although there is one that I will link for you below). So, if that is an essential kitchen tool for you, you will have to consider getting an additional sprayer faucet.  Luckily, some bridge faucets are sold with matching sprayers to solve that issue.

If you’re still set on getting that beautiful kitchen jewel that is the bridge-style faucet for your own home (like I am), I’ve compiled my favorite options from around the web for you to check out. And in case your partial to an oil-rubbed bronze or gold finish, make sure to click through because a lot of these come in those options too!

(click on the ones you like to see where to buy them!)

The post Kitchen Trend – Bridge Faucets appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

Is it trendy? Sure! But is it also timeless? I believe so. The hexagon shape is here to stay and while it can totally bring a modern look and feel to your floor, it is also what I would consider to be a ‘safe’ and ‘enduring’ style.

My absolute favorite is the black tile with black grout look…. sooooo gorgeous. We wanted to go that route in our main bathroom, and while we picked out the blackest grout, it still ended up being more of a gray color. So that was a lesson to us on watching how much water we mix in our grout…

I have a lot of pins in my Main Bath inspiration board that show off the gorgeous black hexagon floor tile.

Image credit: Sarah Sherman Samuel

I especially love Sarah Sherman Samuel’s main bath renovation. She did such a beautiful job achieve that perfect black and white look. Even though that is a classic bathroom combo, she does it in a totally fresh way.  I think part of what makes the bathroom so uniquely beautiful is that the grout matches the tile. She did black grout with black tile and white grout with white tile.

In honor of this beautiful and on-trend look, I thought I’d bring you some of my favorite black hexagon inspired tiles.

one  |  two  |  three  |  four  |  five  |  six  |  seven  |  eight  |  nine

The first tile is obviously my favorite since that’s what we chose for our bathroom.  I like how it elevates the black hexagon tile look by adding texture. The embossed finish adds a lot of interest to our otherwise neutral bathroom.  Some friends worried it would be tough to keep clean… I was willing to take the risk. Only time will tell…

Tile choice number two is a safe choice if you’re going the black hex route. It’s small enough to have that mosaic look. Plus it has a nice matte finish. And I just love that picture of it, because, again… black on black tile and grout!!!

The third tile is subtly different from the other larger format hexagons because it has a gloss finish. So if you prefer your floors to shine and like a bit of glam in your loo, then this is the tile for you!

What is better than large format black hexagon tiles? Large format black MARBLE hexagon tile! This is what you get with option four. I think this elevates the look for a more luxury-style bathroom.  Some of the other hexagon tiles can lend towards a more industrial feel, but not this one, thanks to that beautiful white veining that screams high-end.

Option number five… where to begin?? When I saw this tile, my jaw dropped. How unbelievable stunning is that?? It would create the coolest high impact flooring ever.  Seriously, now I want it in our master bath. So, funky and fresh!

Tile number six is what I like to call elongated hexagon. Is that really what it is? I don’t know, I’ve also seen it called picket style. Either way, it’s a fresh take on the black hexagon floor that I seriously considered for our bathroom.

Similarly to the large format marble hex, the seventh tile above is a mosaic version.  I think the mosaic hexagon tiles can be a little more neutral in your space.  If you’re worried that a 9″ black marble hexagon will take over your bathroom, opt for the smaller format hex mosaics instead.

So, I know option eight doesn’t totally fit in the black hexagon tile category. But, it’s so fun, and pretty close… I think if you like the black hexagon flooring but are worried that it will be too dark and heavy in your space, this tile will get you that fun shape and add some bright pattern at the same time!

And finally, the ninth tile is your classic black hexagon large format tile. Because sometimes the simpler the better.

What do you think? Are you digging this look?  I really think we are going to see more and more of it in the coming years.  Which tile is your fave?

MAIN BATHROOM POSTS

Hoarder House Bathroom Situation
Main Bath Design
Tile Trend – Black Hexagon Tile Floors
Main Bathroom Reveal
Main Bathroom Sources
Main Bathroom Budget

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When we first moved in we took down all the doors in our house… and our home remained in that sad state for over a year.  When we moved into our home year we knew that something had to give with those doors.  They were that awful faux wood grain, hollow core, and overall in a very bad state.

My original plan (always trying to save a buck) was to somehow paint them and add some trim… but we quickly realized that approach is akin to putting lipstick on a pig.  The faux grain had to go…

So, a month into our door-less state we found some hollow core pre-hung doors at Menards for $20 a pop!  A steal, right?  And they were smooth so I could paint and trim them out.  We installed them (which was no easy feat) and began painting the door frame.

Turns out our uber cheap doors had laminate door frames that could not, would not, should not be painted.  They turned out to be a hot mess, and suddenly we realized we spent $150 to buy doors just as crappy as the originals.

At this point we are frustrated at the whole process and let it sit (still door-less, since we had painted the frames and hadn’t bothered to rehang the doors) for another two months.

We shopped around for a more quality alternative, but found that the solid core pre-hung doors start at $200, each!  Spending over a grand on new doors did not sit well with us, so we procrastinated some more.

Enter my dreamin’ schemin’ mind… I tend towards over-confidence in our abilities and am a total can-do kinda person (or at least ‘Jake can-do’ ). My heart was set on having vintage doors with character!

I knew from prior visits that the Habitat Restore had oodles of gorgeous doors ripe for the picking! Why not save a buck and get all our doors there?!? Well, because – as Jake explained to me – they are not pre-hung.  Meaning that unless you have a pre-existing frame that is not faux-wood-grain or horrible laminate, you have to make your own.

Well… how hard could that be right?  Jake did not resonate with that sentiment, but he amused me and we visited my favorite store on earth.  The Restore!!!

Wouldn’t you know it… there were ten beautiful solid core oak doors in our perfect sizes.  (They even had some scratches and dents in them!! call me crazy, but I love a lived in look, a nice patina!) At only $15 a door, Jake was convinced.  He may have later regretted it, but none the less we had found our doors and stayed in budget.

We attempted to pick out the correct doors for left side hinges vs. right side hinges. (Turns out we were wrong on two of them.. so double, triple, quadruple check which type you need!).

So we had our doors finally, but now we had to figure out how to build door frames.  For the longest time we couldn’t find a frame kit and were thinking we’d have to build our own.  That caused another month of procrastination because we would need a table saw..

Finally we gave in, bought a table saw, then out of the blue found this kit.  It was a huge relief and was the push we needed to actually get started hanging our doors.

I’ve created this step by step of how we got our doors up, and some tips and tricks we learned along the way.

Just a little warning, this project is not for the faint of heart or inexperienced DIYer.  It’s tricky work and every detail needs to be spot on, so a LOT of patience is required! But, maybe you’re as crazy as us and just really need that beautiful old door in your home too

How to Build a Door Frame and Hang a Door

Materials Needed

• A door (preferably one with the hinges facing the correct direction)
• Door Jamb Set (love this kit as it’s primed and solid wood)
• Shims
• Nail gun & air compressor (ours was came in a set and has been great)
• Hinges
• Door knob
• 3″ screws
• Screw gun
• Chop saw (we ADORE ours, find it here)
• Door Hinge Kit
• Router
• Chisel

1. First you need to cut your jamb set header to size (presumably you have normal height doorways and you will not need to cut the sides).  If there was a previous frame in place, use those dimensions to measure and cut the header piece.  If not, then measure the amount the side frame pieces are inset at the top, add that to width of the door, and add 1/4″ inch to accommodate 1/8″ space on each side of the door.
2. Secure the header to the sides from the frame kit with your nail gun. Now you should have a free standing frame
3. Attach the hinges to the free standing frame while it is laying flat on the ground.  Only attach 2 at most. If there are three holes leave the middle one off; it’s too difficult to place all three at once. And lay the door inside the frame.
4. Place a paint stick between the top of the door and the header of the frame to ensure you have adequate spacing at the top.
5. Make sure that the door and the frame are flush with the pin-side of the hinge sticking down below. To do this, you’ll need to prop up the door and frame equally. Then mark on the frame where the hinges need to go.
6. Next, use your hinge mortising kit to router out matching mortises on the door jamb.  Pre-drill and screw the hinge to the frame and at this point you have a pre-hung door (minus the stop and some other pieces..)
7. Since actually hanging the door is the hardest part, we did this next to make sure everything worked before finishing the jamb with a door stop and a latch hole.
8. When hanging a door you’ll really need two people.  Set the door and frame up in the doorway.
9. Use some scrap wood or shims to prop the edge of the door up until the top gap between the door and the header is even.  Double check that the header and door are both level horizontally.
10. You’ll first attach the frame on the top hing side and it’s very important that you check all your gaps before securing anything. Insert shims (one on each side) between the doorway and the outside of the frame just above the top door hinge, making sure that the gap between the door and the frame appears the same and that the door is vertically level.
11. Once you are satisfied with the levelness and spacing, nail the frame to the doorway.  We tried to keep our nails in the middle so that the stop will cover them.
12. At this point we removed the middle screw securing the top hinge to the frame and replaced it with a 3″ screw that went all the way through to the door-frame. This makes the door hang more securely.
13. Check your gaps again and make sure that screw didn’t over-tighten the top corner.  If it did, just back it out a little bit.
14. Insert shims on the non-hinge side just above where the latch will go.  Again, adjust shims in or out to make sure you have an even 1/8″ gap between the door and frame. Once your gap is even, check that everything is still level.  If you are having issues at this step see my trouble shooting guide below.  DON’T just try to force it, I can’t tell you how many times we ripped out and re-did our door frames because we didn’t stop and troubleshoot.
15. Nail the frame and shims into place and repeat the above steps until you have shimmed and secured the top, middle and bottom of each side.
16. Hooray! Now check that you’ve successfully hung your door by stepping back and making sure the gaps are even and 1/8″ wide.  Open your door to the middle and see if it stays (if it swings, it’s not level).  Shut the door and make sure it doesn’t catch (if it catches your door frame might be twisted). Hopefully, everything works properly, but if you have issues with the above test, see the trouble shooting section below.
17. Remove the shims that are extending beyond the frame by running a utility knife along the edge and hammering until they snap off.

Troubleshooting

My door has the wrong hinge mortises

When we realized that we had bought the wrong doors and need our hinges to swing the opposite direction, there was a moment of utter panic.  We ended up resolving this issue by switching this hinges and using square cornered ones to cover the old mortise.

To successfully do this, you will need to chisel or router out the new correct hing mortise.  Additionally, you should drill out the existing screw holes and fill them with thin wood dowel pieces.  If you leave them and create new screw holes, the door could crack and you do not want that to happen.

By using square hinges set flush to the face of the door, we were able to hide the old mortise, hang the door on the correct side, and no one is the wiser.

My gaps aren’t even / My door swings / My door catches on the frame

There could be many reasons this is happening.  Instead of calling it ‘close enough’ and trying to force it how you want, stop and evaluate the source of the issue.

Possible causes:

• the doorway and studs could be twisted or not level, to straighten out the frame use a little more shim on the twisted side
• the frame is twisted (we found the above listed frame kit to be very good, but it is possible that your frame side pieces are not all the way straight), to straighten use the shims to ‘force’ the frame piece to level out
• the 3″ screw in the top hinge over-tightened and pulled the door up, re-secure the screw without using as much force
• the floor is not level, it’s possible that your floor isn’t level causing one side to be higher than the other, to even it out trim the bottom of the taller frame side piece

I hope this guide has been helpful for you in your brave quest to frame and hang your own doors.  Or perhaps it’s led you to learn from our mistakes and just buy pre-hung doors…

Happy DIYing!

The post How to Frame and Hang a Door appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

If you are looking for free art printables I recommend the following resources:

Remodelaholic’s Art Print Collection

New York Public Library Images

11 Prints from Organic Authority

17 Printables from Brit + Co

A Painted Hive’s Collection of Printable Resources

*contains affiliate links*

The post Free Printables appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

Despite the stress and inconvenience of this whole renovation, I have thoroughly enjoyed one aspect… picking all the new things!!!  I mean whose favorite part isn’t shopping??

Finding all new fixtures for a bathroom refresh is fun but can also be painful on the wallet. So, in order to indulge myself in the more fanciful side of this trying time, I’ve assembled these affordable bathroom fixtures for different looks. Sometimes all you need for a totally new bathroom is refreshed fixtures!

Industrial Chic

Shower/Tub | Vanity Light | Faucet

Oil rubbed bronze is so hot right now.  Not only does it lend an industrial vibe to your bath, it’s virtually stainless. I personally love the more modern sleek bronze fixtures, like these.  They have the clean lines that contrast them with the ornate traditional bronze fixtures tending towards French Country that were previously popular.

Elegant Sophistication

Shower/Tub | Vanity Light | Faucet

Can’t you feel the sophistication? This collection features shiny chromes and polished nickels all lending towards that, is-this-the-Hilton feel.  It definitely has a contemporary leaning, but the regal light fixture pulls in a hint of traditional making the whole look a little more transitional.

Effortlessly Modern

Shower / Faucet | Vanity Light | Faucet

You’ve got to love a nice brushed nickel finish.  I mean it’s totally family friendly with it brushed metal that repels water spots and stains.  I especially adore that light fixture, how urbane and chic!

Which style is your favorite?  The ‘Elegant Sophistication’ grouping is what we chose for our bathroom.. I’m a sucker for shiny chrome and polished nickel

*Some of these links may be affiliate links*

The post Affordable Bath Fixtures appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

Although I haven’t personally tried any of these, they are all on my art bucket list.  So maybe one day I will have tutorials.  But for now, I will share my inspiration.  If any of you brave souls try some of these ideas I’d love to know!

The Over-Sized Animal Head Print

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Taxidermy is all the rage these days.  Change it up and with some framed animal head art. There is an abundance of free vintage animal prints, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a quality sketch of your favorite animal.  Kristine from the Painted Hive offers tips on how to increase the size of your image for print.

Then just take it to Staples and ask for an engineer print (they are super cheap), and frame.  Voila! Over-sized animal head art.

Paint Over Thrift Store Art

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Spice up that boring old oil painting with some color blocking and neon!  The sky is the limit with this one, I mean seriously google this because there are some crazy awesome things people have done.

I personally would stick with the bright neons on a flower painting to start with.  What a totally awesome, completely funk piece of art that marries old with new.

Brushed Silhouette Art

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I just love this painting and I think it’s definitely DIY-able.  Cut a silhouette out of a piece of paper and use temporary adhesive to stick it on your canvas. Then take a large brush and use zig-zag/wavy strokes to paint down your canvas.

Peel off the paper and zoila! Instant designer-worthy art.  You could even use different paint methods like splatter or color blocking.  I really need to try this one…

‘Dipped’ Art

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Another awesome way to bring new life to those thrift store pieces.  Use different colors or all the same.  I personally love the mystique of the paint ending just below the eyes.

You could play around with this idea and do other geometric shapes over the old art for a fun and modern gallery!

Pixel Painting

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Recreate a favorite picture with watercolors.  You can find a full tutorial at Wit & Whistle. This is basically as easy as those paint-by-number pieces we did as kids.

Make it sentimental by using a photo from your favorite vacation or first home.  The sky is the limit here. I’d even like to see someone try it with even smaller pixels so the original image is more recognizable.  Or, instead of watercolor, use paint chips!

Stone Mosaics

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Wishing for a bit more marble in your life, but not up for a tile job?  Create a wall mosaic out of your favorite stones.  You get the look of luxury for a lot less money and upkeep than if you got new countertops.

My local Habitat for Humanity Restore stocks tons and tons of tiles. Find the ones that really speak to you, then invest in a tile cutter and arrange away!

Blob Paintings

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Ok, so I guess they are called abstract.  But if this painting is thousands of dollars and ultimately couture, why not make a blob painting of your own.

It can’t be that hard, right?  Antique the paper a little bit, then paint away. Heck, have your five-year-old do it for you.  Then tell all your friends you bought it at an art gallery in France.  I bet they won’t even bat an eye.

Inverted Color Blocking

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This one couldn’t be simpler.  Just pick your favorite colors and frame with a white backdrop, and frame a matching white paper with the colored backdrop.

It’s fun take on color blocking, looks chic, and can easier be made to fit your color scheme.  Think of the variations you could try!

I’m hoping some of these projects are in my near future. Have you ever tried to DIY a designer piece? I’ve tried once, it was fun and I’m itching to surf West Elm for more inspo.

The post 8 Off-the-Wall Wall Art Projects appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

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