• One Thing Leads to Another

    I know. You’ve been wondering when I’m going to get around to doing another big project at my crappy house. It’s all you can think about. (Besides thinking about your own life and stuff.) The problem with the big projects (besides funding…) is that they’re related to other big projects. There’s a chain of events that has to happen before I can get to the really big ones. This post is about that chain. (All about that chain. ‘Bout that chain. No project.)

  • Using an Inspiration Piece to Design a Room

    I suck, but I have a plan.

    I know I promised you I was working on my door and base moldings, but I haven’t gotten very far. That project is stuck in Deliberation. That’s the part of the process where I stare at the project extensively and contemplate doing it. I know. I suck. It’s possible for a project to be caught up in Deliberation for weeks. Or even months. I know this delay is grounds for dissolution of our contract, (You know. The one that says you will keep visiting my blog as long as I keep posting stuff about my crappy house.) but I’d like to offer you this incentive post to ensure your loyalty. It’s my design plan! (Well, one of them, anyway.) I also want to talk to you about using an inspiration piece to design a room. Seriously, guys. This is a trick you really want to know about.

  • Brick Love, Part I

    I see posts on design blogs all the time, written by people complaining about their brick wall “eyesores”. They’re seeking advice on how to remove/cover/disguise their brick. Personally, I think they’re nuts and should just replace those brick walls with padded ones. I love brick walls. Beautiful, vintage, NYC loft kind of brick. The kind of brick that looks like it’s been around the block a few times. (Metaphorically speaking, of course. Brick walls tend to stay put.)  I guess you always want what you don’t have because, while those crazy people are taking brick out, I am putting it in. Like, on purpose…

  • Before and After Floor Plans

    What’s the Plan?

    I have so much I want to share with you, but let’s start at the very beginning. (A very good place to start.) When I first saw My Crappy House, I could tell it had so much potential. Like a diamond in the rough. (OK, maybe not a diamond. Maybe like… a high quality cubic zirconia. In the rough.) It just needed a makeover. Keep reading to see the before and after floor plans of My Crappy House remodel.

    Empty living room with drawing overlay of remodel

    I closed on My Crappy House in mid May and planned to move in mid July, leaving me ample time to renovate. Yes, I seriously thought that the major structural changes I’m about to share with you could be accomplished in two months.

    By me.

    Just… me.

    Because, you know, how hard could it be? Watch a few YouTube videos… Buy some tools… Knock down a couple of walls… Easy peasy.

    This was the first of many delusions.