Kitchen Set Equipment

Although we took on quite a few large projects in our recent living room renovation, one of my favorites ended up being a last minute mirror update.


Since the start of the living room update, I thought the mirror above the shoe cabinet was too small to scale (I have also been wanting to steal it to use in our bathroom).  But finding anything that wasn't also too big, was proving difficult.  I was looking for something square or round, wood finish and between 24" and 30" tall/wide.  Weeks of popping into shops and Internet searches and I was coming up short.  I found many I loved, but they were always too tall or wide.  And then I found "the one" at CB2.  It was nothing over-the-top amazing, but I appreciated the wood color, size and simplicity.

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At $129 it wasn't the cheapest option, but it definitely wasn't the most expensive I had found in my searching.  Thinking I had finally found what I had been digging for, I added it to my online shopping cart.  And then the "back-ordered until May" punch in the gut happened.  OK then. 

While doing some local shopping I decided to head into an actual CB2 store just to see if it would be a different story.  Then, I spotted it!  Hanging right smack dab in the center of the store.  I ran over to it like a kid running to that furry little puppy in a pet store window.  I was so hopeful and then so suddenly disappointed when I was told the store wouldn't be getting any more in until June.  Gah!  Such teases.

So we started looking into a few DIY options and even began researching how to bend wood.  And then the universe aligned in my favor and there it was buried in a HomeGoods aisle... a drop dead gorgeous acacia wood tray.

Measuring in at just over 24", I knew it was everything I was looking for in a mirror, minus the mirror itself.  Thanks to a handy tape measure in my handbag, I determined I needed to find a 22" mirror insert STAT.  A quick Google search later showed that IKEA sells a 22" frameless mirror, and I just knew it was all meant to be.  I sighed in relief and crossed my fingers that the mirror would be in stock at IKEA and would truly fit as planned.  Lucky for me, it all worked out. 

To affix the new mirror to the tray, we started with a Mirror, Marble & Granite Loctite adhesive.  I wanted to go right for stuff meant for these types of projects to reduce the risk of the mirror detaching and falling from the frame.


We were generous with the application of the glue....


And as excited as I was to see it up on the wall, we waited a full 48 hours for the glue to cure to the mirror (which fit the frame like a glove).  The adhesion seems very solid, the mirror isn't going anywhere anytime soon.


The tray came with some rubber feet attached, which we left on the back to keep it cushioned against the wall.  To hang the mirror, we went with our trusted picture hanging system consisting of screws, hooks and wire rated to handle the weight of the mirror and tray (similar).


Just be sure to select a screw that is not as thick as the tray, or add a washer or two to make up the difference.


And that was it!  One of the easiest projects in the space, yet one of my absolute favorites.  I just love the warmth it adds, and that I was able to get the look of the CB2 option for half of the cost!


And I thought the handles might bother me, but they don't at all.  In fact, I sort of love the quirkiness that they add.


Knowing that every HomeGoods stocks and offers different products, it may be hard to track down this exact tray.  However, I still wanted to share in case you had one on hand, see one when you are out or use the powers of Google to track down something similar.  Also, the odds that IKEA happened to sell a frameless round mirror that fit perfectly was all about luck.  In my searches I did notice that both Lowes and Home Depot offer a giant variety of frameless mirror options; round, oval, square and rectangular.  And if all else fails, you may be able to find a home improvement or glass shop that could cut one for you.


There has been a lot of tray talk around here lately!  I guess it just goes to show how versatile they really are.  Not only do they rock for storage all over the home, they also make a pretty amazing framed mirror!

I use trays all over the house to organize and corral goodies.  They are fabulous and versatile and functional.  And they can also be expensive!  So why not DIY one for a fraction of the cost?  I promise it won't be hard.  In fact, it will allow you to customize it and personalize it for your space and needs.  Jen, of The House of Wood blog, is my brilliant building friend who is always creating something amazing.  Today she is here to share how she made her own coffee table tray to add a little decorative and organizational touch to her also DIY'd coffee table.  I am so excited about how simple she makes it look, I may be making myself new trays all afternoon now!



Hi friends! Jen Woodhouse here, back with another DIY organizing project for you! I'm thrilled to be hanging out with y'all today, sharing how I style and organize my coffee table so that it's the perfect marriage between form and function. This also helps with my actual marriage. My husband is the type of guy who wonders why we need curtains when we have blinds. Bless his heart, he clearly understands function, but form is completely lost on him.

I love all the surface space on our coffee table - it gives me a lot of real estate to play with when it comes to styling it. And it keeps my husband happy because he still has room to kick up his feet after a long day, even after I put a bunch of stuff on it, all in the name of 'styling.' So you see, a well-styled and organized coffee table is the key to a happy marriage. Now if only I can convince him that beanbags are NOT acceptable adult furniture, we'll be golden.

By the way, that's a DIY coffee table - the full tutorial is here and it's totally a beginner project, I promise. I built my coffee table because I am way too picky resourceful and crafty. But that's the beauty of DIY, isn't it? I was able to build it according to my exact measurements and needs.


When styling my coffee table, I like to start with a tray of some sort. It breaks up the surface space and helps contain various items. Since my pile of scrap wood is slowly overtaking my garage, I made this little DIY tray to keep things organized. This project was super easy and fast. It took less than an hour to complete, including the time it took for the paint to dry!

You can alter the measurements to fit your needs; I made mine this size because that's the piece of plywood I had on-hand.


First, I cut the 1x2 boards down to size, to frame out the plywood bottom. Then I drilled 3/4" pocket holes into the bottom of the plywood. If you don't have a pocket hole jig, you can just as easily use wood screws or nails to attach the 1x2s to the plywood. I prefer using pocket hole joinery because the screw holes are hidden underneath.


Then I glued and clamped the 1x2s like so:


And hammered a few brad nails in from the side to hold the frame together while it dried.


The nails aren't necessary, but they certainly helped hold everything in place so that I could flip the whole thing over and drive in the 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.


Then after a quick sanding to get rid of the rough edges, I spray painted it pink:


Then I added four of these round felt thingies to the bottom. You can also use vinyl bumpers if you want to give the tray little 'feet.'


Super simple, right? Yeah, it's not rocket surgery.

I do love trays though. They're beautiful, yet so useful. They're like your perfect, gorgeous friend who you'd love to hate but can't because she is so sweet, thoughtful, and will watch your kids while you run to the grocery store. Bah.

Speaking of perfect and gorgeous, do you ever look at those picture perfect homes in magazines and wonder, 'yeah, but who actually lives like that? I mean, where are the remote controls? Where are the Cheerio crumbs that have been permanently embedded into the carpet?

Yes, folks, I Photoshop because I care.

Okay, so maybe vacuuming isn't my thing, but surprise! I did hide away those less-than-stylish remotes by stashing them in a pretty box.


And because I am always, always cold (because my husband keeps the thermostat set to ALASKA), I keep a few blankets in one of the baskets, which is stored on the bottom shelf.


The other basket holds magazines and other miscellaneous clutter.


Just to keep this little vignette interesting, I added a few coffee table books, something sculptural (coral), something living (plant), and something that smells good (candle). And just like that, form meets function and they live happily ever after.


Seriously, I'm like the marriage-whisperer up in here.

You're welcome.


Hello friends! I’m Jen Woodhouse, the author of The House of Wood blog, my creative outlet for all things DIY and design. By trade, I am a performing songwriter based in Nashville, TN - I’ve released three albums, toured the world, and licensed my music to national television shows and films - but more recently, I've added ‘DIY Blogger’ to my eclectic resume. The House of Wood is where I document my adventures in woodworking, interior design, and life as a musician, military wife, and mother of two unbearably adorable babies. When I’m not writing, recording, or touring, you’ll usually find me in the garage building furniture! I’m pretty freakin’ excited to join the iHeart Organizing team and I can’t wait to share a few organizing DIY projects with y’all!

Welcome to Week 6 of the One Room Challenge being hosted by Linda of Calling it Home.  You can see our plans here and follow all of the progress here.  Today my friends, is REVEAL day!

It is here!  The moment I have been building up for the past five weeks.  Yes, if you do the math, I shared our plans just five speedy weeks ago, and today we are kicking our feet up and enjoying our new living space!  Oh the difference five weeks makes! 


Heck, such a dramatic difference just in the last week!

I can honestly say that this challenge pushed me in endless new ways.  I appreciate you hanging in there through my indecision, my meltdowns, my highs and lows... This has been by far the biggest transformation we have tackled in the shortest amount of time!


Are there things we didn't check off the list?  Sure, about fifty of them.  And not everything turned out as planned either.  But I couldn't be more excited or thrilled about how far we have come.


In fact, this room is filled with project after project and hour after hour of our hearts.  That is what we love most, so much DIY to make this space our own.


What did we tackle ourselves you ask?  Everything from installing new floors and trim to building a giant fireplace surround to painting the chairs (multiple times) to constructing and tufting an ottoman.  Oh, and we also DIY'd the mirror, reupholstered a chair, installed all of the hardware and new lighting and painted the shoe cabinet.  Hot dang!  Labor of love is an understatement! 


As I mentioned, the outcome and direction of the room shifted over the course of the weeks, yet the ultimate goal remained the same.  We strived to create a space that is family friendly yet stylish, bold and colorful with a side of traditional, playful yet mature, unique and a bit unexpected, all while being filled with pieces that speak to us.  Nothing in the space is too precious for family living, yet there are moments that feel like we have grown up a bit.


I think what I love most about this process is that it allowed me to show how a space evolves over time (even if that time is only a few weeks).  The middle really made no sense, even to me, but after everything started layering in, it really came together beautifully.  Textiles and accessories really made all of the difference, everything from the stunning black-banded pleated curtains (thank you Tonic Living!) to the pillow and chair patterns to the neutral rug and sofa.    

Although someday we hope to add a formal entryway to the front of our home, for now we are stuck with the smallest landing in this history of landings.  And we are front door people (the garage is used for projects, not parking), so we didn't want to mess with the long lasting system that works hard for us.  Right inside the door lives a slim shoe storage cabinet, which we painted a beautiful gray, as well as a credenza which functions as storage cubbies for the boys.


I really enjoy taking photos so I selected a slew of my favorites and had them printed and framed on the stairway wall.  I love that they bring a splash of color to the entry area and tell some of our favorite stories.


The painted shoe cabinet is holding up beautifully and is a prime spot to drop keys and a wallet while also providing a place to hold blank stationery and pens.



The room is long and narrow, so we used a large area rug to divide the space into two functions.  It really allows us to create an "entryway" where there was none, and to also define a cozy living area.


I had beautiful peonies the first day I shot photos... they died overnight. #sadfacedflowerkiller  Day two I was saved by a bunch of beautiful blooms clipped from shrubs in the front of our home.  Both days our living area smelled divine!

The entire project started off with a floral fabric as my inspiration, and to my dismay, I was unable to get my paws on it in time because it was back-ordered.  The new plan was to use an alternate fabric that had all of the same colors (our home's signature palette), so that when the floral option arrives someday, I can swap things with the seasons.  I landed on Schumacher's Jade Chiang Mai (which I found on eBay), and it really provides a beautiful, colorful moment in the space.


It has a matching friend across the room on my Craigslist chair.


Speaking of chairs....


I am a sucker for pretty white painted furniture and I appreciate that it typically cleans up nicely, even with kids.  And even though I initially held our chair fabric up to both a black piece of wood and a white piece of wood, and we voted on the black combo, my gut went with what it knew and selected white.  I thought black would look too "fancy", while white is more casual.  But the chair and I got in a fight and I admitted I was wrong so we hugged and made up just after it received two fresh coats of black paint.  The black turned out to be a gorgeous contrast, yet still remains unique and playful.  Being a bold pattern lover, this chair makes my grinning cheeks sore.  We selected so many neutral elements throughout, that I needed one bold moment and that was it!

There is no doubt that the biggest change to the space was the addition of the fireplace and built-ins.


This major moment was just finished up on Saturday!  But boy-oh-boy are we going to love every last bit of having a nice warm fire and a TV we can see from anywhere in the kitchen, living and dining areas.


The room needed layers and our personal touches, and the shelves offer a place for special pieces to land.


Everything from books to crayons to portraits, each shelf tells a story and provides both open and concealed storage for living room essentials.



And the tile had me at hello!  It literally grabbed me as I was walking the aisles at Home Depot.  Although we had already purchased something else, and when I spotted the herringbone marble, I knew it would be mine.  Thank goodness stores take returns.


Although there were things that didn't go right, that we made mistakes and course corrected, that we worked up to the absolute last minute and stayed up way past our bedtime too many nights to count, that I may have hit up seventeen different HomeGoods stores and gotten a flat tire in the process... We are gosh darn proud of how much we accomplished in such a short period of time!


The room is cozy and friendly and functions just as we hoped it would.  And although we have only lived with it for a few days now, we love that it offers flexibility and that we all have a place to plop down with a good book or to catch up on our favorite sitcom while chatting with the folks in the nearby kitchen.  I can't wait to continue to make this space feel like "home" for many years to come.


Other than shoes in the cabinet by the door, we haven't officially "moved in" to any of the other storage spaces yet.  You can imagine I am super excited to do that over the next few weeks, although, my youngest already claimed the baskets by the fireplace for his toys and books.  But first, I need a small break and just plan to enjoy the space for the next few days before taking on any more projects.


As I mentioned, we DIY'd our hearts out in this space.  So. Many. Projects.  I am working on the fireplace built-in tutorial and also hope to share how we made the ottoman and created the beautiful acacia wood mirror.  In the meantime, here are the sources for many of the items and colors found throughout the space:



Being such a large space to transform, I could ramble on about every last moment for hours.  I apologize if my mush brain forgot to touch on anything, but I will be back with more details over the next few weeks.  I am just grateful that for now we can say we completed the challenge with goofy smiles and huge high fives.  And low fives.  And on the side fives.  And too slow fives.  Are you ready to hop on down the line and oooh and ahhh over the rest of the One Room Challenge spaces?  I hope you have a dentist visit scheduled because today is sure to be one sweet source of room eye candy!



Chair fabric, custom sewn curtain panels and window hardware provided by Tonic Living / Floor lamp provided by Wayfair.  Art provided by Minted.  Styling Accessories provided by Waiting on Martha.  IHeart Organizing is extremely grateful to have the help of special sponsors to finish this room in just a few short weeks!

During a recent visit to a friend's home, I noticed she was working on the fun project of painting some old built-ins.  I was so excited about what she was up to, and I loved her quick solution to avoid painting pane after pane in the cabinet doors.


The thing with these types of projects, whether old doors, windows or cabinets, is that they can be a literal pane in the glass.  Using painters tape is not fool-proof.  Paint still tends to seep and can tear away all of your hard work when being peeled away.  Not to mention, the hours upon hours it would take to tape each pane both front and back.

So she just painted.  And painted some more... both inside and out.  In fact, she started with primer, then followed up with a couple of coats of paint. 


And just like many of us, she is busy and let it sit for a few weeks before finishing up her project.  But that was still OK.  When it came time to finally fix those panes, it was easy as pie.

She started by laying down some plastic on the floor below the built-ins to catch the falling paint.  That's right, the paint is about to fall off those glass panes!

Next, she mixed vinegar and water into a spray bottle (heavy on the vinegar) and generously sprayed down the glass.


Using a small blade from the local hardware store (similar), she scored along the edge of the pane and then just scraped the paint right off.


It really seemed to just fall off, even after sitting for weeks and curing.  I was really impressed at the lack of effort needed.  Definitely easier than taping everything off and then messing with that aftermath.


Just put on your favorite Netflix show or some Pandora music and moments later you will have paint-free panes.


This may be the oldest painting trick in the books, but I felt it was my duty to share my excitement with y'all.  This just changed my painting future!


Looking for more quick tips?  Check out the entire series here!