DIY Projects On Your Summer Bucketlist

DIY Projects

ON YOUR SUMMER BUCKLIST

story by Allis Roark Segars

Hooray to becoming a homeowner! In the midst of building our beautiful farmhouse, the cost of lumber decided to skyrocket putting our dreams of building our forever home on hold. However, a few months into the new year, the cutest little house with a dreamy backyard came on the market, and just like that I could hear Joanna Gaines ask, “Are you ready to see your fixer-upper?”

Since moving in, my alter ego has been Joanna Gaines and a little bit of Chip depending on if the hubby is cooperating or not. My patience likes to challenge me into taking projects into my own hands even if the project requires power tools and a little bit of research.

What about you? Have you been dreaming about giving your house a little facelift on the inside or outside?

I’ve talked with so many people with the same frustration of wanting new furniture but having to wait forever for it to come in. There’s another shortage to add to the list causing my furniture to arrive in December (hopefully). It could be longer. Too bad I’m not a carpenter. However, I have good news. My mom has always taught me to shop in my house—and no, she’s not referring to online shopping. With a little furniture DIY, you can use what you have and make it look brand new. Depending on the style or look you’re going for there are so many paints and stains that will give you that beautiful transformation. Chalk paint is one of my favorites. There are so many colors to choose from, and it’s so easy and dries quickly. I love to distress mine, however, that’s totally optional. Talk about saving money! You can turn something old and dated into something you’d find in a store with a pretty price tag attached. Did I mention that you don’t have to be an artist to do this? It’s seriously that easy. Stain is another secret to transforming something old to looking new. I love the modern farmhouse style with boho vibes. I love how rattan is making its way back to being trendy. My mind was set on having a wooden

front door, but my budget wasn’t showing room for it. Being the impatient girl that I am, I found a way. Who knew that you can forge this look with a little paint and stain. I turned my burgundy door, black shutters, and white garage door into looking like it was oak wood. I didn’t plan on doing these projects myself, but after I learned the technique, I applied it to my garage door and shutters. The house looks so different, and it only cost me about $100 to do all of it. My husband was so proud and so was my bank account.

You can shop locally for your chalk paint. Dixie Belle Paint can be found at Fleur De Lis in Hartsville and Palmetto Peddler in Florence. Annie Sloan chalk paint is sold at Uncommonly Southern in Florence. For my door, garage door, and shutters I used the Color-glazed Pecan mixed at Lowe’s. This was a color they had to look up on the computer. You will need to apply this color first and can be applied using a paintbrush or roller. After drying, I applied stain in the color Aged Oak from Lowe’s. I used a chip brush and a regular paintbrush to apply the stain. I waited about 48 hours and then sealed it with Minwax Helmsman in clear satin. After drying, it was ready to go. I know I’m not JoJo, but we can all have some fun with our own fixer-uppers without breaking the bank. I can’t wait to hear about your projects!

So there you have it. Some DIY inspiration for your summer bucket list. Keep in mind that the heat is real. You may want to get crafty early in the morning or in the evening when the sun goes down. Or you can be like me and take the shutters off and paint them by the pool while catching some rays. It's a It's a win, win!