I have a love-hate relationship with DIY projects. Well, maybe more of a tolerate-hate relationship with them. I love the idea of doing something myself, saving some money, and feeling proud of my accomplishments. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.
When Matt and I got married and moved into our first home, much of my decorating was do-it-myself. I sponged painted the powder room royal blue, then changed my mind and painted it red with gold fleur-de-lis stamps. I made my own valance over the bay window, and I created a fabric frame thingy around my hall mirror. If it sounds atrocious that is because it was. But I didn’t think so at the time. My taste has improved with age.
Fast forward fifteen years or so, and I still tackle the occasional DIY project. Some are successful, like my alphabet photography made from photos I took in New Orleans:
I blurred out my last name, but you get the idea!
And the upholstered headboard I made for my daughter’s room:
Two in the past year, however, have been huge fails. After half-assedly (I just invented that word) slapping paint on my stair banisters without sanding them, the paint was peeling and looked like crap. I tried to sand off all the paint to reapply correctly, but I just couldn’t get it all off. Enter the professionals. DIY turned into writing a check for someone else to fix my mess.
Most recently, I have spent at least twelve hours sanding the paint off our front door. Why? Because ten years ago I painted it with the wrong kind of paint, and it was drippy and icky looking.
I sanded the whole thing except for the beveled parts, and I just couldn’t do anymore. Matt tried too, and then resigned himself to once again call in a professional. Home Depot is coming this week to measure for a new door. Of course, we can’t just replace the door – we have to replace the sidelights too. Fabulous.
I am very lucky that Matt is being such a good sport, and that we can afford to pay for my DIY mistakes. I started with good intentions, and he knows that. But as we are browsing the door selections in the store on Saturday, he gazed at me lovingly and said, “Dana, I don’t ever want you to attempt to sand anything ever again.”
You got it, honey.
Are you a DIYer, or do you bring in the professionals?
Dana, these DIY projects are great. You are a real handy woman. Thanks for sharing!!!!!! My favorite is the bed upholstery.
That’s my favorite, too. I’m handy to a point; the problem is I don’t always know where that point is!
Bring in the professionals! I first go to my husband as he is pretty good with a lot of stuff – but I am terrible with most projects and so don’t waste my time attempting them!
I like the way you think, Leah!
We got one of the name things for our wedding and I love it–never thought about making my own. And I’m with you on the sanding, I hate it and I almost never do enough.
I got a alphabet art sign as a gift that said “LOVE,” so when we went to New Orleans I took tons of pictures to make one with our last name. I love it – and no sanding involved 🙂
I am a DIY nightmare. #1 I hate it #2 I suck at it #3 See numbers 1 & 2
I admire your for trying and the first two were VERY good. Two outta three ‘aint bad, right? Plus, you get a new doors AND lights. WIN!
Good way to look at it, Allie! Yes, two out of three ain’t bad. I’m going to be singing that song all day (an old Meatloaf song…have I dated myself by referencing that?)
omigosh, you are like that show tool time. i am not a DIY person. i always bring in other people to do things for me. the only thing i’m good at is studying and reading books!
I’m good at reading books too; I should stick with that and save myself the aggravation!
I’ve been trying to get all the painting done around here. Trim, patching areas that my boys have “personalized”, doors. It’s been a long, slow process.
I bet. It’s such a pain to get out all the supplies and clean up when you are done. And that doesn’t even count the time painting. Yuck.
Dana, we are a DIY family. It’s a pretty big part of my blog actually…however. However, I am into very simple DIY. Things that are quick and easy, like slapping a sticker on a wooden board to make a sign. I am not stripping banisters or front doors! That would be my husband’s thing. He is a total DIY nut and he can do everything…except I will not let him touch the electrical box or the gas line. And yes. He has tried.
Ha! At least he lived to tell about it. I’m sticking with simple DIY from now on!
LOL! My husband would never let me paint a door. I wouldn’t be brave enough to mess with anything that anyone would be able to see but us. I’m not a DIYer persay. I’ve done it though and messed up, and called a professional but my husband wasn’t here. Mine was a paintastrophe – I made that one up.
Love that word – paintastrophe! Mine was a sandastrophe – times two.
Oh do I know that feeling…my guy is at our house all the time fixing something. I use to say “How hard can it be?” – the answer, very.
You think I would have learned that by now. But yet I still answer with “Yeah, I think I can do it.” I can’t.
I am so NOT a DIY. I don’t have a creative bone in my body, and I’m still struggling to finish my youngest’s first year scrapbook. She’s almost 18 months. Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t like to spend money on things we can do ourselves, so… either he does it or it doesn’t get done. Ahhhhh. And so goes the endless debate in our house about why we really can afford someone to clean our house (me, the one who scrubs the toilets) and why would we hire someone to do something we can do (him). Sigh!
I hear you, Nicole. But my husband isn’t much handier than I am, so he’s often the first to suggest calling someone – score!
Sorry the door project didn’t turn out well! You should have called me – it could have been DIY rescue. And then Matt could have bought me a beer.
It’s not too late – you can come look at the door and see if it can be salvaged. Matt said there’s a whole case of beer in it for you!
You are so not alone in this! I think it’s maybe 50/50 for how my DIY projects turn out, and my husband and I working on one together is almost the perfect recipe for an argument. I love the alphabet photos though, that’s going on my to-do list!
Thanks, Angela – I love my alphabet art and it was so fun to do!
Hats off to you for trying the sanding, Dana. That I would not touch.
I have done painting of the inside of the house, along with a few friends, and a few weeks ago I painted the garage door and put up curtain rods. Small potatoes, but I didn’t have to pay someone to do those tasks!
I can handle painting – I’ve painted almost every room in my house. I just took on projects that were beyond my abilities – never again!
Dana – I can actually hear Matt saying that to you in Home Depot! Please send over the name of the contractors who actually did your sanding and/or painting of the stair railings. I really don’t like our honey oak color and I’ve been thinking it would look much better either stained darker or white/with stained darker railings. Thanks.
Michelle – they replaced the entire banister and railings – there was no salvaging the mess. I’ll message you more info.
I’m totally a “try it yourself-er” and most times I’m reminded why I don’t do it myself. My hubs is a huge DIY-er and I always end up calling in the reinforcements (the professionals). I think you’re a DIY-er because you’re great at it. The headboard and the alphabet photography (from what i can see) looks great.
Thanks, Hope. I can do smaller projects, but I am staying away from the sander from now on!
It’s the thought that counts! 😀 I do this too, wholeheartedly tackling a job that proved to require skills way beyond mine. Unfortunately, we can’t afford the pros so we have to learn to love my “achievements” 🙂
At least you finish the project! I guess I could try to sand for another half a day, but I was relieved when Matt told me to just give up.
In my head, I’m a do-it-yourselfer but in reality, I’m a call in the pros gal…Honestly, every time I try to do things that I saw on TV (and it looked so easy!) I mess it up…and then it costs money to fix it. We currently have no pictures on our walls b/c my husband knows I’m no good at finding the studs–though I try–and he prefers to pretend he doesn’t know where the tools are…I’m following you on Facebbook now!
Thanks, Bonnie! We seem to be very similar – diy in our heads but writing a check in reality!
I don’t try a lot of DIY projects unless they include photos or mod podge. I love mod podge. The rest of it, forget it. I think if I had more time I might do it…because I love the creative ideas, but I have so little free time as it is right now, and I’m a perfectionist too, I can only imagine what I would do to the house. My husband starts a gazillion projects, gets them 90% done, and then doesn’t finish. Our upstairs doors are still not painted in our addition…done 12 years ago. LOL
Ha – that makes me feel better, Michelle – thanks!
What I love is your alphabet photography! We got one as a wedding gift with out last name and I love it, but I didn’t take the photos myself. I think this has that special meaning. Kudos to you!
When I have a home, I’ll probably bring in the professionals. I am not crafty or handy at all!
That last name thing is adorable! I’m totally copying you.
You totally should. You’d pay a lot to buy one, but they are so easy to make on your own.
Total bring in the professionals over here…but they are pricey, which is why my house looks the way it looks! My hubby is actually very handy, but not necessarily running on my timeline, if you know what I mean! ;)-Ashley
I do know what you mean. Have I told you about the ceiling fan light in my sunroom that doesn’t work? That’s been on Matt’s to-do list for months. Ugh.
doors are actually pretty easy, more or less, to replace yourself (unless your house is like mine, old and crooked).
Oh, I have proven that easy to do does not apply to me. That’s what got me in trouble in the first place – thinking it was so easy!
I’m right there with you. I love the idea of DIY projects (I also sponge painted our first powder room when we got married LOL) it’s just I lose interest at some point, or get a new idea, or don’t see it going in the direction I envisioned, etc.
I enjoyed your post and look forward to seeing the new door! 😉
Thanks – me too! I guess we’re both more idea gals than action gals. I should have figured that out before I started these projects!
We are DIYers over here!!
Chris is all about it and on some things I’m OK with it – others not so much. In the past few years we have built 2 decks (one was small and easyish the other was huge with stairs and took 3 weeks of my life), we have built a shed, painted, tiled…..A lot of times when Chris is on a trip I do a project while he is gone – some come out better than others!!
Impressive, Kim. Matt and I are clearly not DIYers; we are better at using a pen to write checks. I’m not proud of it, but that’s the way it is!
Here is where I give you such props and credit for trying to tackle these jobs yourself. Seriously so not handy here and neither is my husband. My kid brother is and usually I will hire him to help when all else fails! But seriously, you rock for even trying!!
Thanks, Janine. Unfortunately Home Depot won’t discount the price of the door because I tried 🙂 They totally should though.
Dana this is cute and funny! At least you tried! I just recently stumbled on the DIY network. I’m more into craft and smaller scale home decor DIY and not things like furniture or doors. I’d be happy doing frames, center pieces and things along those lines and my homemade natural recipes. I guess as the years go by we shall see if I’m ever in the mood to be as brave as you and try these larger projects. 🙂
I wouldn’t suggest it, Brittnei- I bit off more than I can chew. I’m sticking to smaller projects from now on!