Painting over wood paneling

07/24/2014

I know some people say you should never paint wood paneling, but I disagree! If you have seen our house tour then you know our house came straight out of the 70's: wood paneling, wallpaper, nasty linoleum, orange countertops, the whole shebang! Now, I'm sorry to any seventies children that might be reading this but orange countertops and wood paneling, not really my thing!

After consulting numerous of my favorite DIY blogs I decided that I would attempt to paint the paneling before going with the more costly option of ripping it out and putting drywall up. 

Many people recommend you sand the walls down prior to painting them. At minimum you need to wash them really well... I did neither. My walls weren't dirty and they are 45 years old so they aren't so glossy anymore! I did buy a really good primer and prime the walls first as well as filling in any holes and remove nails!

I much prefer the white walls personally, it really brightens up the space and makes it look more modern and less dingy! I'm debating on what to do about the fireplace and what colors to paint the doors though. I'm thinking of doing black interior doors to provide contrast like I've seen in these blogs: southernhospitality, houserevivals, chapterthirtyseven, gourleygirlandguy

The fun side of me loves the chapterthirtyseven blogs different color doors but I'm way to ocd for that!

I'm debating between black doors or white... especially since all our doors are plain except two! Vote below in comments! 

For any of you with wood paneling or looking at a house with it, paint really can make a huge difference!

Cons of Carpet

07/19/2014

When I tell people that I'm removing the carpet from my living room and hallway and replacing it with ceramic tile most the reactions are surprised and many people where I live are off-put by this idea; I am off-put by carpet!

As anyone who religiously reads my blog knows... so one person, I have dogs. Right now I actually have 3: two of my own, and a foster.  Dogs are worse than kids about staining carpets, especially if they aren't potty trained or get a UTI which causes them to pee inside! My foster has a UTI and I'm not sure she was potty trained to begin with so the old carpet that was in great condition when we bought our house is now kinda yucky in the living room and hallway!
Con 1: Carpets stain easily
Con 2: Carpets absorb and harbor nastiness like dog pee and vomit
Con 3: Mites, Fleas, Ticks, and Lice all will live in carpet
Con 4: Carpet holds dirt and allergens in its fibers

Those four carpet cons were just the ones I thought of off the top of my head relating to my dogs, but lets continue shall we? How about carpet and our health?
Here is an excerpt from the American Lung Association:

How can carpeting impact health?

Carpets may trap pollutants like dust mites, pet dander, cockroach allergens , particle pollution, lead, mold spores, pesticides, dirt and dust. Toxic gases in the air can adhere to small particles that settle into carpets.1 These pollutants may become airborne when disturbed by renovations, vacuuming or even daily activities like walking across the carpet.  In the home, children are more likely to be exposed to pollution in carpets. They spend time playing on the floor and place their hands in their mouths.  If a large area is covered in carpet, it may be very difficult to remove indoor air pollutants and allergens.2

Chemicals used in some new carpets, carpet pads and the adhesives used to install them can harm your health. Some of these chemicals and glues are made with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which emit odors and pollutants.3 New carpet installation also has been associated with wheezing and coughing in babies in their first year of life.3

Con 5: Carpet is UNHEALTHY

Con 6: Carpet has a relatively short life span, 10 years TOPS often shorter due to stains. 

Hardwood and Tile can last MUCH longer! 

Overall I'm not a fan of carpet after reading how it was unhealthy. I'm not a health nut but after TTC for two years I want to bring our baby into a healthier atmosphere... so we are keeping carpet in bedrooms ONLY and keeping the dogs OUT! We also have a steam cleaner though I may have to invest in a HEPA vaccumm! 

College Fund or Tiny House?

07/18/2014

Which is a better investment in your babies future? Saving up for their college or building them a tiny house? According to MarketWatch the average amount parents save for their child's education is around $15,000... from collegedata.com

1. "According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2013–2014 school year was $30,094 at private colleges, $8,893 for state residents at public colleges, and $22,203 for out-of-state residents attending public universities."

That means that most parents have saved up only enough for a semester at a private college or an associates degree at a public college. Their children will still have to find a way to pay for car expenses and housing unless they are attending a college nearby where they can live at their parents house.

Or instead of saving up for college, you could build them their own tiny house! The tiny house movement is newer but I'm in love with it! Rent across the country averages around $1,200/month, with some places much lower and others MUCH higher! While The average cost of a tiny house seems to be around $23,000 people are proving with some hardwork and thrifty shopping you can do it for much less.

I'm not a parent yet, but when I get there I think that the house might be a better option. It is nice to know your child will never have to worry about being homeless! 

Fun Tiny House Links:

http://homestead-honey.com/2014/03/24/cost-to-build-a-tiny-house/

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/2013/06/tiny_houses_workshop.php

http://tinyhouselistings.com/how-we-paid-cash-for-our-tiny-house/

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/teen-finishes-130-sq-ft-mortgage-free-home.html