DIY Shutters for the Bathroom

My "Impossibilities Challenge" continues!  I've been renovating this bathroom of mine for the last 2 years... TWO YEARS!  Sigh.  The finish line is in view, I'm so very happy to say.

This bathroom had no window and I hate rooms with no windows.  I really, really wanted a window but this room is all my own work and I'm not a carpenter, so I was a little intimidated at the thought of installing a window myself.  Lucky for me, when I ripped down the wall covering I discovered that someone had taken out a window somewhere along the way so all I had to do was cut through the wall and install a new window.  Easy peasy - well, sort of...

Here is what I began with:

And I installed the window and trim with only a few minor bumps along the way.  

Here is the finished and trimmed out window:

I installed a deep ledge so I could put plants on it and I was planning to install roman blinds but decided instead that I wanted shutters.  I couldn't find any inexpensive shutters and none turned up at yard sales so I opted to build my own out of one 10' 1x8" board.

The window is 28" wide and the 8" boards are 7 1/4" wide (I ask myself why???).  I had to rip the boards down by 1/4 inch each to make them fit properly in the opening.  They're just a smidgen uneven, but it worked!!

So you measure the height and width of your window and allow 1/8th of an inch on all sides so that the shutters can move freely and you have space for your hinges.  I used T-hinges to attach the shutters to the window frame and butt hinges to attach the panels together.  Easy peasy & worked like a charm!!!

 I wanted the shutters to open and frame the window without blocking any of the light from the window.  Don't ask me how I lucked out on choosing my hinges, I managed to pick out just the right ones.  The whole thing came together perfectly.  Love it when that happens.  Total bill for my new shutters $40 (including taxes, hinges and knobs).  By the way, you can get away with spending way less than what I spent, I splurged on pre-primed pine boards.  MDF is not a good choice for bathrooms, but un-primed boards can be bought for much cheaper!

YAHOO!!!

Yet another step in the bathroom reno is complete.  Onto the next!

To see all the posts in the Impossibilities Challenge series, click HERE

To see the final reveal, click HERE

Cheers!

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 Creative Things Thursday

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I'm so loving all the Christmas inspiration I'm finding on Pinterest!!  I thought I'd share my faves with you, enjoy!

Jen Rizzo posted this inspiration this morning on her blog and I love it!  It's warm and understated and elegant but shabby.  Mmmmmmmmmmmm. (from Veranda Magazine)

How freakin' adorable is this???  

Finding Home Online Blog

http://serramarina.blogspot.ca/2011/12/una-navidad-para-ninos.html

Christmas, fireplace, stockings hung with care...

I'm so putting my tree in a basket this year...

from 

Casa Tres Chic

Gorgeously lit and oh so pretty!

from 

Creative Mommas

a pretty and simple wreath from

Spirit of Christmas Fair

a little outdoor inspiration

from Vita Ranunkler

Alternative Christmas tree - love, love, LOVE!!!

source unknown

Cute idea to use regular socks for Christmas stockings

source unknown

A little light on the subject

from 

Nelly Vintage Home

an alternative to the standard wreath

from 

Elderberry Street

Adorable snowman from

Precious Sister

Sigh, I love Christmas.  Get out there and do your Christmas thing!  

and if you'd like more inspiration, visit my Pinterest Holiday Decorating board

Happy Decorating!!

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It's Party Time Features From Last Week's Party

Hello everyone!  Thanks so much for supporting me while I dipped my toe into the Linky Party pond.  After three weeks it has become blatantly obvious that I just don't have enough time to be the hostess I want to be.  You don't have to miss out on the party, though, you can keep linking up at these fantastic blogs:

Its So Very Cheri

Cupcakes and Crinoline

Three Mango Seeds

Setting for Four

But before you go, check out these AMAZING projects from last week's party:

Anne from White Lace Cottage showed us her beautiful milk paint table makeover:

If you're looking for ideas for Christmas gifts (or for yourself!), 

Heather at Setting for Four has the perfect solution

super simple DIY jewelry:

The ever-inspirational Mimi from Blue Roof Cabin showed us how to build 

a gorgeous hall tree:

Clydia at Three Mango Seeds does her thing again with yet another set

of fabulous tables:

Check out  this super cool decoupaged bottle from 

Villa from Villa Erikson Creations:

If you've been around my blog for any length of time, you know about my

love affair with aqua/teal/turquoise.

Here are a gorgeous couple of nightstands from 

Titia at Crafty in Canada:

And for the piece de resistance, it's back to

Anne at White Lace Cottage

for this fabulous chair makeover - WOW!

Thanks again for sticking with me through my linky party adventure!  And please keep linking up with my girls at:

Its So Very Cheri

Cupcakes and Crinoline

Three Mango Seeds

Setting for Four

Have a happy weekend!

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Easy Antique Paint Finish

One of my best projects from this summer was building a headboard from a vintage 5 panel door I picked up at a garage sale.  The only thing I did wrong was to paint it in a semi-gloss bone white.  It looked weird.

The semi-gloss was overkill and the bone white did nothing to make the headboard look special.

Hmmm, what to do... Let's add more layers of paint in different colours!!

I got out my latex paints - a grey-blue, a grey-beige, white and the Lenox Tan paint that matches my walls.  And I played.  I painted a mix of the grey-blue and grey-beige on with a sponge roller, I wiped the tan paint over the top with a paper towel.  I added more of the white to the panel edges.  You get the picture.  I just kept layering paint on until I got a finish that I actually liked.

It looks so awesome in person now!!

I added a blue jewelry box and a tone on tone striped linen bedskirt in the same blue/greys as the headboard to tie everything together.

So much happier with this room now.  The only project left is to paint the wood trim.

Have a great week!

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Junkin' Joe
Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Friday
Catch as Catch Can
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Frugalicious Friday
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Rustic Restorations
Fabulously Creative Fridays