Checking In With Chelsea

DIY ideas, crafts, and tips for your home

subscribe and never miss a thing!

Receive Free Email Updates

  • About
  • Videos
  • Projects
    • Indoor Projects
    • Outdoor Projects
    • Craft Projects
  • House Tour
You are here: Home / Indoor Projects / Just Keep Fixin’

Just Keep Fixin’

March 6, 2012 By Chelsea Lipford Wolf 3 Comments

After Jodi Marks left town, the work at my house slowed a little. As anxious as I was to move in, I guess my lack of attention span made the fixin’ up process quite lengthy. I started by bringing a set of “work” clothes with me to work everyday. First I’d remove everything I knew I didn’t want or need inside the house. I removed old nails from the walls, curtains from the closets, and kitchen wares from the previous owner. Then I got hungry.

I didn’t want to waste money eating on the go when I knew Mom had something warm on the stove at home, so I’d put off puttying the holes and cracks until another day. I’d putty a few rooms, the sun would go down, and I’d get scared being alone in MY house (probably from watching too many cop dramas on TV). Even though I was planning on living in my house by myself one day soon, the lack of exterior lighting to the keep the boogie man away, an empty house, and my vivid imagination kept me from staying to work much past sunset.

Repairing hole in floor.On the days I didn’t let the moon’s appearance bother me, boredom would set in. I couldn’t stand much of the monotony of moving from room to room and doing the same task over and over. But I suffered through until everything (walls, ceilings, and baseboards) were primed, and that’s when I called in the troops.

A few friends were in town to celebrate the Original Mardi Gras (Mobile, Alabama, had the first Mardi Gras celebration in the United States; a fact I’m proud of and will tell anyone who thinks New Orleans has us beat.), so I enlisted them to help me paint!

Whew! Once there was finally color on the walls, everything else started moving a little quicker. Dad and I repaired a hole in the hallway floor after relocating the air return to the hall closet. Then my parents graciously gave me a “housewarming” present that included refinishing the hardwood floors! And since the floors had been covered for several years with worn carpet, it was definitely necessary!

Dad and I also made a small adjustment in the kitchen. There was a stacked washer/dryer located under the attic access, so we moved it into a closet off the sunroom. It didn’t quite fit enough for the door to close, so we removed the door to allow access to the washer and dryer. Since it was in the back of the house in a room I wasn’t planning to use much, I didn’t mind it not having a door.

We also moved the cabinets above the kitchen sink five inches over, to allow the refrigerator to squeeze in next to the sink and out of the doorway from the dining room. It might not have been the prettiest kitchen. But with these few minor adjustments, it functioned enough for me to move in!

I’m moving in in my next blog, so don’t miss it!

Subscribe for Free Updates!

Stay up-to-date on Chelsea's latest projects, tips, useful resources and more.

Previous Post
The One Where I Become a Homeowner
Next Post
Moving On Up

Related Content

Completed Hand Painted Pennant Flag Banner Kid BedroomDIY Pennant Banner for Kids RoomCompleted Girls Bedroom Makeover Pink PanelingPink Girls’ Shared Bedroom EvolutionCompleted Updates in Modern Master BathroomHow to Make a Pink Tub Look CoolBrick Retaining Wall How to Waterproof and PaintWaterproofing Vertical Masonry Wall

Comments

  1. Vern Guest says

    March 17, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    I enjoy your First time homeowner series. I love the father daughter thing have fun, and enjoy your new home.
    I`ll be watching
    Vern

    Reply
  2. Beth McMillan says

    July 16, 2012 at 6:23 pm

    As a newly single 68 y.o., I have just moved into a 64 y.o. 800 sq. ft “bird cage”. I am in love with the necessary updates and renos required, and will follow a game plan as a fixed income will permit.
    I just happened to catch the fourth episode last Sunday, and learned a ton! Though you and I are years apart in age, much of this series is spplicable to both of our circumstances. Wow! Thank you both for sharing the “boogie man” on your blog and the show! You’ve made me realize it can be done.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lipford says

      July 20, 2012 at 1:17 pm

      Beth, I’m so glad you were able to get something useful out of it! The final episode will air this weekend, but you can watch all of the 6-part series online anytime 🙂

      Reply

Please Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

I’m Chelsea. DIY
enthusiast who loves
sharing my victories
and mishaps!
Learn more
here.

CHECK IN WITH CHELSEA ON INSTAGRAM

What else do you use paper plates for besides eati What else do you use paper plates for besides eating?? Spray paint onto a paper plate and dab a small paint brush to do spot touch ups! Life hack when you’re working on a project but don’t need to paint the whole surface!👏🏻
.
.
#lifehack #diyhacks #spraypainting #painttips #paintprep #paintpro #shutters #craftsman #1940style
Didn’t mean for this to be #ASMR but here we are Didn’t mean for this to be #ASMR but here we are!🤷🏼‍♀️ I bought this orchid 15 months ago to use the flowers in our hair for my sister’s wedding. I’ve already repotted it once and it’s bloomed 3-4 times! Time to do it again with a pretty new pot that matches our new kitchen cabinets!🤩
.
.
Steps to repot an orchid:
1-large pot without drainage holes
2-plastic pot slightly smaller with holes
3-trim if needed so plastic pot is at or below outside pot
4-add layer of orchid specific potting mix (it looks like bark!)
5-add orchid, fill in around roots with more bark- don’t forget to add some mix under the leaves!
6-to water, soak bark and fill up outside pot, rinse the leaves too!
7-let sit for 5-10 minutes, then drain and dry the outside of your pot.
8-set in place and enjoy!🌷
New laundry, who dis? Our laundry room was a BLANK New laundry, who dis? Our laundry room was a BLANK slate after the kitchen renovation left it reconfigured too. So Dad and I tackled simple projects that make this space functional and of course visually pleasing too!👏🏻The full project airs this weekend on @todayshomeowner!
.
.
I love that the cabinets and hardware match what we have in the kitchen since the spaces are right next to each other! Synergy!
.
.
What do you love about your laundry room?
So funny the number of people who told us they loo So funny the number of people who told us they looked at our house when it was on the market but didn’t buy. Guess we’re the only suckers🤣🤣We’ve brought her a long way since closing day though! 👏🏻😍🤩
.
.
#ranchrevival #ranchreno #1950shouse #beforeandafter #housereno #pinkgirlroom #girlsbedroom #diningroomdecor #familydining
Exploring new cities is fun but there’s no place Exploring new cities is fun but there’s no place like my hometown! Come visit!💜💛
.
.
#mobilealabama #visitmobile #mardigras #travelbloggervibes #southerncharm
Lookie! It’s a shelf for your bookies! 🤣Build Lookie! It’s a shelf for your bookies! 🤣Building a shelf unit custom for ANY space in your home is so simple and can be done over and over again to add much needed storage aka sanity! The kids were running all over the house at bedtime trying to find a book to read because we had them stashed in baskets and shelves in several different rooms. So I took advantage of this space in the hall next to a closet to create a central location for their books and some of mine too! Plus it adds a little character to an otherwise blah space!🙌🏻
.
.
A full how to video is on checkinginwithchelsea.com! Book nerds can be DIY nerds too!🤓
.
.
#booknerdsunite #diyskills #beginnerdiy #bookshelfie #halldecor #storagesolutions #storageideas #bookstorage #bookstorageideas
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Indoor Projects Outdoor Projects Craft Projects
Facebook Pagelike Widget
  • Contact
  • FAQs
  • Advertise with Chelsea
  • Media
  • Today’s Homeowner

Search This Site

Receive Free Updates Via Email

Copyright © 2023 Checking in With Chelsea • All Rights Reserved