Do You DIY?
by habituallychic
09 . 20 . 08
I’ve spent the weekend so far hitting Home Depot, Gracious Home and Janovic Plaza for the supplies to makeover my apartment and now I can’t wait to get started! I love getting my hands dirty and doing things myself, probably because I’m a perfectionist and an Aries. I also grew up in a house with parents who stripped and hung wallpaper, painted and renovated all by themselves so I know what I’m doing. The Bachelor was amazed that I could repair the hole under the tv myself when all it took was a little spackle, sanding and painting. But then he grew up in Manhattan with maids so that might be why.
Oh, and I choose Benjamin Moore Cedar Key (OC-16) the top left color for my living room walls. It was actually one of the colors I almost chose for the Bachelor Pad. I liked some of the others but they were either too grey or too dark or looked like liquid make-up. The space is small so it needed to be a little lighter. First though, I have to strip the yucky trim. Not really sure I am excited to do that myself but it will be worth it in the end! So how many of you DIY (do it yourself)?
34 Comments
I only DIY. I love it, and I’m almost always a little broke. We’ve stripped all the trim from our home and have replaced about half of it over the last couple of weeks. It looks amazing! Little things make such a big difference, and it’s so satisfying think of all the money you save by doing it yourself!
LOVE diy! It is not only fun, but economical too!
LOVE diy! No only fun, but economical too!
I try not to DIY but I end up doing some simple things like painting, etc. I do my best and thankfully my wife is not a harsh critic of the end result. I would rather just pay someone to do whatever the decor project de jure is so it is done when I get home and it looks so much better than when I do it!!!
I really enjoy your blog. I hope you can visit mine some time as well.
M.Lane
mlanesepic.blogspot.com
I DIY because I am a little OCD. No painter can cut in a corner like I can. Besides, it is like therapy.
mb
I have yet to DIY, but after finding Eddie’s blog I am definitely less afraid to try it once something compes up! I will probably start with transforming found furniture pieces and see how that goes! Are you planning to paint your apartment yourself as well? That color you picked is so pretty…it looks really warm and like the light will bounce off of it beautifully!
You are multitasking champion. Designing, shoping, DIYing, bloging…and motivating us to go to do something useful.Big Thanks
(I am off to do some gardening)
Will check on you latter.
Good luck! It’s very inspiring!
DIY
I’m going to be repainting my living room/kitchen/hallway (all open to each other), too. It has become a bit grubby over the years. Thought I’d be there 2 years max, but now it has been 6 (that was FAST)!
Anyhow, Cedar Key happens to be one the swatches on my wall right now, too. My place is currently painted in mostly Pale Oak (Benjamin Moore, but I don’t have swatch book near me to give number. It’s OC-…) and Pismo Dunes behind the bookshelves. It’s subtle. I still like Pale Oak, but do bookshelves wall and two other walls. Your apt makeover is keeping me motivated!
The last time I stripped paint I used a heat gun. Boy what a difference. The chemicals usually used smell toxic and it takes forever. This gun made it a breeze. Hope you’re doing that…or perhaps you have a better method to tell me about.
I am totally a DIYer. I just can’t turn over control to someone else. I’m also, getting ready to paint my bedroom and bath…Haven’t picked a color yet. I can’t wait to get started though.
I like to paint. I find it therapeutic.
GREAT color choice! Very warm. My husband and I DIO (do it ourselves). Some of our favorite memories since we’ve been married have been the quality time spent talking and painting our living and dining rooms, or sanding furniture, or otherwise making a mess of our tiny apartment. Wonderful times.
GREAT color choice! Very warm. My husband and I DIO (do it ourselves). Some of our favorite memories since we’ve been married have been the quality time spent talking and painting our living and dining rooms, or sanding furniture, or otherwise making a mess of our tiny apartment. Wonderful times.
DIY all the way! I’m too controlling and it saves money for a rainy day.
Love the paint color – great choice! I think DIY is the best way, especially as a designer. It puts you in contact with the profession more. Also, it gives you such a sense of satisfaction when it’s complete -can’t compare with anything else!
i am a total diy-er. i love looking at things and seeing the potential. there’s such satisfaction in transforming a piece – whether its with fabric, paint, elbow grease…
DIY is the best way to do something because it affirms oneself instead of always allocating tasks for others. The idea of even doing anything for most people is often shocking! That said, there are many things that possibly one cannot do, or do well without a good deal of training and experience. Nonetheless, give it a try! DIY is fun and really rewarding.
Oh, I wish I could DIY! I recently tried to paint 2 side tables and they looked terrible (had to pay a fortune for someone to paint them…I live in Manhattan). BTW -anyone know of a good, affordable painter in Manhattan? Great choice on the color! Can’t wait to see your progress…
Hi Heather – just wanted to give you the heads up that I’ve bestowed the “I love your blog” award to you that was given to me by Laura over at World in a Pan in Paris. I do check your posts out every day, so I thought it was only fitting. Not sure if you have the time to participate or not but if you’d like the general idea is to award it to 7 of your favorite blogs. Hope you’re having a great weekend!
After purchasing our first house a little over a year ago, my husband and I definately DIY (or DIO?)It has saved us tons of money, however we leave the big stuff (plumbing, AC, etc.) to the pros.
diy is a great way to do things, especially if you are on a budget (and if you are too impatient to wait for someone). I always schedule a pro to DIY with me so that it is done quick and fast. What would we call that? DIYWP-do it yourself with pro?
i just renovated my LA store and am overhauling our No. Cal lake house.
check out my blog:
shipwreckedinparadise.blogspot.com
Best,
Melissa
I’ll paint, but plumbing, tile installation and construction are jobs for the professionals. I’ve seen too many half-finished and badly done DIY jobs (which end up requiring a pro to come in and fix them). I know I just don’t have the necessary ability.
Liquid makeup–funny. Love the color you chose.
My patience for big do-it-yourself projects is inversely proportionate to the amount of extra money I have in my pocket, but I enjoy the small ones.
I DIY too! I feel so happy when I manage to do everything for myself and I feel so proud later seeing the results… (even if a professional would do it better, this is MY home, isn’t it?)
i live in L.A. and refuse to pay someone $500 to paint one room….so painting i definitely diy. anything more than that and i’ll call in a professional!
My husband and I definitely DIY! We painted out living room and used cedar key. It looks great – I think you’ll be happy with the choice. Such a great neutral but it has a nice warmth to it. Good luck!
I wish my husband liked to help but all DIY projects (and power tool usage) fall(s) to me. And because I am a control freak and total perfectionist, FEW contractors ever live up to my expectations. However, I have a great plaster guy and carpenter and I will always hire out for plumbing and electrical. I am much too impatient usually to wait for a painter so I usually do it myself – I love witnessing the transformation. But I can’t do ceilings anymore. And won’t strip and hang wallpaper (anymore).
Great color, btw. I’m curious – what finish did you choose?
I’m so glad so many other people out there love to do their own projects. I do agree that it’s best to leave the big jobs to professionals. I would love to figure out how to install a dimmer or rewire a map but the thought of electrocuting myself scares me. I would love to learn how to upholster furniture though. That would save a lot of money!
P.S. I choose Satin finish since New York apartments like mine tend to be dark so the shiny finish is great for reflecting light and brightening up the space. I choose high gloss for the front door although it doesn’t look that glossy to me. And the White Dove trim is of course semi gloss. It’s the most perfect off white color ever created!
definitely DIY! especially things like painting and wallpaper. I get so much more satisfaction that way!
Yes to DIY, which we refer to as “Sweat Equity” – I find that most people that you hire to do things do not do it as well as one can and then you have to call them to come back and re-do what they missed or messed up.
3 cheers for DIY!
We use Benjamin Moore quite a bit, but most of the House was done with C2. Are you familiar with this paint line?
oh haven’t visited you for a while and arrived right on time: looking forward to seeing what you do! Am such a DIYer – started my blog about my house renos and projects. am particularly brilliant at painting, putting furniture together and getting crafty when pregnant. not sure if it’s out of necessity or the baby is somehow stimulating my creative side!
http://www.renovateanddecorate.blogspot.com
http://www.minimeez.blogspot.com
How often do I DIY? That would be never. I have a large list of the most reasonably priced workmen in town (except for electricians, and I am willing to pay for a good one).