I am such a fan of the classic look of a peg rail, and they are so simple to DIY! You all have been asking for a tutorial since I installed one in the Barnhouse pantry, so I made sure to work a peg rail into the DIY Duplex design so we could document the process! Plus, we partnered up with BLACK+DECKER, and used their 20V MAX* Lithium Ion Drill/Driver + 68 Piece Project Kit, which has all the tools to get you started on this project! Head over to the video on IGTV for real time steps as we built it!
What you will Need:
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* Drill/Driver 20V MAX* Lithium Ion Battery Tape Measure 12 oz. Hammer Screwdriver Bits Drilling Bits Spade Bits (All found in BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* Lithium Ion Drill/Driver + 68 Piece Project Kit) Ikea Bracket Stud Finder -OR- Wall Anchors for brackets 1×10 Common Boards Bullet Level Speed Square Shaker Pegs Caulk Wood filler Wood glue Screws Miter Saw (or you can take measurements beforehand and have the wood cut to size at the hardware store.) Table Saw (Optional. In case you want a specific board width not available in stores)
Step 1: Mount the brackets
Use a stud finder to figure out where the studs are in the wall. If you can screw the brackets into the studs, wonderful! If not, use wall anchors to install brackets so they can handle the weight of the shelf. I wanted ours centered on the sink/light, so we used anchors on one and drilled into studs for the other two using the drill/driver. In order for step 2 to work, it’s important for the brackets to be plumb (straight up and down). I found it easiest to set both screws in the wall to secure the bracket, but not tightened all the way. Use the bullet level to find plumb, hold the bracket in place and tighten the screws down 100%.
I’m excited to share the kitchen makeover at the DIY Duplex! This is my favorite space in the downstairs unit. We were on a tight budget for this DIY renovation, and found a bunch of cost savings ways to make a fun and functional kitchen for our Airbnb guests!
Cabinets
During the process of picking out supplies for this kitchen (see more on the “DUPLEX KITCHEN” highlight on @ISPYDIY Instagram) you all were most interested in the cabinets. We designed kitchens at both Ikea and Menards using their online kitchen design programs – check out the Menards Kitchen Designer here and the Ikea one here. You can also go into the store and work with a designer (which can be a lot quicker then learning the program). The price was pretty comparable between the two, with Menards being a little better of a deal if you order during Menards 11% rebate event, which amounted to a couple hundred dollars in store credit back. The big reason we went with the Menards kitchen is that the cabinet bases come already assembled, whereas the Ikea ones come in flat boxes and need to be built from scratch. Having the cabinets delivered already put together is a HUGE time saver. Mr. Yolo could just set them in place, and then just add the doors and base. Unfortunately, Menards stores are not everywhere in the US, but I asked if they would deliver, and they said to contact the nearest store and ask for shipping options. We are really happy with the quality! I picked the KLËARVŪE Cabinetry in Varsta Canyon, which is a wood laminate finish. They have not got a ton of use yet (the real test will be after the Summer season of Airbnb guests), but they seem solid so we feel confident they will withstand heavy use.
COST Cabinets/trim = $1400 and then took advantage of the 11% rebate at Menards.
Table/Island
I bought this antique table awhile back, and when we were looking for an island for this kitchen, this ended up being the exact size needed to fit the space! Just had to do a couple clear coats on the top to seal it, and add casters on the bottom of each leg. Now guests can roll it around the space and use it as a table or prep space for cooking. Best thing is that we repurposed things we already had so the cost was minimal!
Pantry
Durning demo, we uncovered a stairway to nowhere behind the kitchen wall! We turned the unused space into a pantry and put a stacked washer/dryer on the back wall. We installed shelves for all the cleaning supplies, plus another peg rail for coat storage. Bonus space well used!
Peg rail
We saved a bunch of money by not doing upper cabinets which works great for an Airbnb because short-term guests do not need the storage. Stay tuned, because later this week I will have a tutorial for the peg rail!
Tile
When I got a sneak peek at this tile by Annie Selke for The Tile Shop, I knew I wanted to use it in my next project! You all know that I have put The Tile Shop tile in all my home renovations, so I was so excited when they agreed to sponsor the tile in this kitchen. I love putting statement tile in our houses, because they stand out to potential renters on Airbnb. This tile is not “budget”, but as a designer I love the opportunity to show you all how it looks in a space, so you know if a statement tile is right for you! I am so in love with the floor tile, and can see it in a mudroom or laundry room if it is too bold for a kitchen. And this subway tile has a handmade look, with aging around the edges and a crackle finish, giving it a softer feel than traditional subway tile. I love it so much that we used it in the bathroom and the upstairs kitchen, and have plans to use it for the backsplash in another house.
To save money on countertops, we chose butcher block, and only spent $220! In general, you sacrifice durability for the low cost, and add some routine maintenance that the higher cost countertops, like Quartz, do not require. But, we have butcher block countertops in another house where the kitchen gets used a ton, and have not had any major problems. For any stains, scuffs, or water marks we buff out with 220 grit sandpaper and recoat with butcher block oil. Since the cabinets are wood color in this kitchen, we tried something new, and perhaps a little risky, and white washed the countertops with 3 coats of Antique White stain and then used a Butcher Block Oil & Finish to seal them. So far, this combo has repelled stains, but we have not done any major cooking (or wine pouring) in the kitchen. The nice thing is, we can always sand them down and re-stain darker if the upkeep of the white is too tough. I’ll do a follow-up on these countertops once we have more guests cooking in the kitchen!
We made sure to shop for appliances during the Labor Day sales at Home Depot, and got great deals on Frigidaire! (Fun tip: If Menards is running their 11% rebate, Home Depot also honors it. So use that as a time to shop the prices of each store, knowing that you’ll get 11% store credit with whichever one you choose. With a Home Depot receipt in hand, go to homdepotrebates11percent.com. One caveat is that we are not sure the geographical restrictions that Home Depot, since they are national and Menards is midwest.)
COST Fridge = $998 Dishwasher = $298 Range = $300 (purchased from a friend)
Exposed Brick
We were so excited when we found the original chimney behind the drywall. It’s Cream City Brick, which is native to Milwaukee. To clean the brick we sprayed it with diluted vinegar and scrubbed with a firm bristle brush, cleaned off with a sponge, and repeat. We thought about sealing it, but were super happy with how it cleaned up!
We finished the nursery just in time for Baby Girls Yolo’s arrival!!! And I am excited to share it with you! We actually had 3/4 of it finished this Summer for a photoshoot with Country Living Magazine’s March 2020 issue (on newsstands now). I knew the angle they wanted to shoot, so we painted and wallpapered it, and set up the crib…but got busy so the other side of the room was left unfinished, ha! Since Baby Girl was 12 days late, we thankfully had a bunch of time to finish up!
The key with this space is efficiency. The room is not all that big (9 x 10.5 ft plus a 5×2 closet) and I wanted to make sure we fit in a crib, a changing station, storage for clothing, and a comfy slider for nursing. I am happy to say that after a couple weeks of having Baby Girl home, the nursery is functioning amazingly, and there is just enough floor space for the pups to lay around the chair during each feeding!
The Concept
Let’s start with the concept for the room. After thrifting the big chalkboard, I knew I wanted a schoolhouse vibe in the nursery. And remember a while back when I was wallpapering the downstairs bathroom? I had gotten the “Around Campus” school building wallpaper from Chasing Paper for the bathroom, but it did not quite fit the vibe, so I switched to a tree wallpaper. When I was brainstorming the nursery, I measured the room, and had the exact amount of Around Campus paper needed to cover the top half of the nursery! Meant to be!
Color Palette
Even though we knew Baby Girl’s sex early on, I wanted the room to be neutral colors. If you have been following for a while, you know my love for Behr’s Silver Celadon. Note: Silver Celadon is chalk paint color that I ask to have turned into a matte paint. All the doors on the second level are painted this color, so I could get a little sense of what it would look like in the room. It is just prettiest, most calming color, so it was a no brainer to continue it on the bottom half of the walls. It reads a lot more sage in this room compared to the hallway, which I really liked, because it feels like a different color in the room (reminder, make sure to test paint in the room you are painting because light can really affect the color!)
The Trim
I knew I wanted a chair rail to separate the bottom paint from the top wall paper. So we measured the height of one wall paper panel, marked that distance from the ceiling, and set our trim to that elevation. We used two pieces of wood for the chair rail; a standard chair rail profile for the top and a decorative band below. By combining two standard pieces, you essentially create your own, custom trim. It’s such a simple DIY; just cut the trim with a 45 degree angle at the corners, and use a brad nailer to tack it to the wall. Use a little caulk and wood filler to infill seams and cover nail holes, then paint. It’s a big impact upgrade for a low cost! Once the chair rail was up, we painted the base, wall, and chair rail with Behr’s Silver Celadon in a matte finish. Once dry, I hung Chasing Paper’s “Around Campus” wallpaper above.
The Crib
The moment I saw this crib, I knew it was perfect for the room! The brass frame was exactly what I was looking for, plus it converts into a toddler bed so we can use it for a few years!
The Chair
I am SO in love with the slider! When DucDuc reached out and offered to make me a custom piece for the nursery, I was so excited, because this linen buffalo check is gorgeous and perfect for the room. Yes, the Sully slider is pricey, but if it’s in your budget, the quality is impeccable. The pattern lines up perfectly from piece to piece, the craftsmanship is stunning, and the chair is beyond comfortable. Baby Girl and I have spent hours sitting in the slider and we just melt right in. The ottoman slides as well, which I wonderful when you need to put your feet up! Plus, it doubles as storage, so I can put my pump in there, so it’s out of sight, but within arm’s reach.
The Rug
You know how much I love Loloi rugs! And this one was perfect for the nursery. Its so soft, and the colors tie together the room, while adding just a dash of peachy pink. I also love that the pattern plays well with the patten on the chair!
I can’t wait for Baby Girl to get creative drawing on this thrifted chalkboard! In the meantime, I chalked some of her stats on the board for her to sleepily pose in front of 🙂
Closet Changing Station
We maximized space by turning the closet into a changing station. Mr. Yolo and I were looking for a dresser at Goodwill to paint and convert into a changing table, and then we spotted this actual changing table for $25! It’s not an antique, but it was the perfect size so we could not pass it up. I covered up the faux mahogany “wood” by painting it with chalk paint (I mixed a few colors to get this dark blue/gray), then changed out the hardware to these brass handles. The changing basket I got fit perfectly in the top.
Hanging rack
The Hanging rack was a quick DIY using a galvanized pipe and hanging brackets. Before hanging I used Rub & Buff to turn them gold! Supplies are in my Amazon Nursery Shop!
Sponged Alphabet Wall
Baby Girl came 12 days after her due date, so I was filling my days with random projects while we waited. I was walking around the hardware store one afternoon, and the idea hit me to cut the letters of the alphabet out of sponges, dip them in paint, and sponge the ABC’s onto the closet wall. It was the perfect busy work to channel my nesting energy into. It definitely took longer than I thought, ha! First, I cut out one letter per sponge. I just freehanded it, but you could use a Sharpie to draw the letter on the sponge before cutting it. Then, set aside a chunk of time for the painting part. Once you start, you are going to want to finish because you will need to reuse each letter, and you don’t want the paint to dry on the sponge. I dipped each letter in paint, blotted it off, and then pressed it on the wall.
