IKEA MONTERA - Plastic Cord Cover

Make Your Own Drill Bit Template - Saves Time

I was so tired of trying to find the right drill bit size to match the screws. It took less than 5 minutes to create this template and saves time for future projects.

Ikea Rationell Fully-Extending Drawer Install in Other Cabinets

These old cabinets are not my style but they are in good condition. So, to add more storage I added the Ikea Fully Extending Drawers & Lansa handles.

List of Tools I used
1. Right Angle Drill - I have 12" Width Cabinets so the regular drills were too long

2. Drill Bits Various Sizes

3. Rotary Drill - To sand the grey plastics circular hole fill-ins

4. Marker

5. Scotch Tape

6. Screwdriver Phillips

7. Wood Putty - Fill in old holes

8. Business Card

Ikea Cesium Ceiling Spotlight & Lutron Dimmer

Kitchen Ceiling Light Before & After

Dining Room Wall Paint Color

Before : Ralph Lauren Semi-Gloss in Peachtree

After : Benjamin Moore Aura Matte in Simply White

Ikea Udden Cabinets - Dining Room Microwave & Storage

I was lucky that Ikea Udden Cabinets fit my mini microwave perfectly. I

used the lenth of the cord to the outlet to determine the cabinet's best position so I don't have to use extensions. I'll be buying cord covers soon!

Home Depot Commercial Electric Candelabra Chandelier

Dining Room Light Before & After



Oops! According to Home Depot book, the chandelier should be about 30"-34" above the dining table for 8 foot ceiling. Mine is too high! Once I get my new glass table I'll have remove it and add chains.

How to Pick Paint Colors For The Walls

Plan ahead! The process of elimination can take at least a few days!!

Sample cards taped to white board on the wall WITHOUT LIGHT

WITH LIGHT

Sample jars ~$5

THE EFFECT OF WALL COLORS VARIES DEPENDING ON

-THE SIZE OF THE ROOM

-LIGHTING

-FLOOR COLOR

-ACTUAL PAINT COLOR MIGHT BE A SHADE DARKER THAN THE SAMPLE CARD. BUY SAMPLE TESTERS FIRST SINCE MOST STORES DO NOT ALLOW RETURNS.

-THE NEW TREND ARE PAINTS THAT ARE ECO-FRIENDLY WITH NO VOC (NO FUMES), GOES ON SMOOTHER, REQUIRES LESSER PAINT (YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN NEED A PRIMER) AND WASHABLE (EVEN FLAT FINISHES)

1. What is your style? Are you modern or traditional?

Browse various paint manufacturer website and explore their colors with designing your virtual room. www.benjaminmoore.com, www.sherwin-williams.com

Browse through books, magazines, catalogs, look at your favorite paintings.

Go to stores like Ikea, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Macy's Home, Bloomingdale's Home.

What are your favorite places? For example, one of the reason why I love working out at the Equinox is because I love their interior design - modern, calming, earth tones with lots of unique lighting fixtures.

2. What type of effect are you trying to achieve?

Bigger Room = light colors
Smaller Room = darker colors

3. Go to Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams and pick up 10-20 color sample cards.

4. Tape each card on WHITE PAPER and tape the white paper against different walls with the lights on and roll up the blinds for natural sunlight.

5. Cover the windows with a blanket and leave the lights on to see what the colors look like at night.

6. Start eliminating the ones that you don't like till you are left with your TOP 3

7. Go back to the paint store and buy at least 2 samples of your favorite colors. If you don't want to test it on the actual wall you will need white poster board.

8. Paint samples on various walls / poster board. Wait for the paint to dry. Play around with the lighting to make your final decision. It can take about a week.

9. Semi-Gloss (shiny) Bathroom, Kitchen, Doors, Window frames

Eggshell (50/50) Dining Room

Flat (no shine) Living Room, Bedroom

10. Primers are like base coats for nail polish. It helps the paint stick to the wall and provides smoother results. Good quality paints do not require priming but check with the store first if your walls are dark and you want to go lighter.

11. Ceiling Paint have a flat finish, spatter proof, less quality and not as durable. You can use wall paint on the ceiling.