A Tootsie Original

hey all! I have had a lot of people ask me to re-post this...so here I go!

Hello!!! WELCOME!!! I am so glad you popped by today! Before we get this post going too far, I would like to warn you …this is going to be a LONG visit…so grab a coffee and a snack…get comfy and we will get started!

I’ll wait here till you are ready.

Okay…you’re good now??? Great!!! I can’t wait to share this!

I was in the sunroom, installing sheets of styrofoam insulation to the ceiling to help ensure that my fireplace would keep it warm enough, when I got to looking at something. (for a look at how I made the fireplace…click here) Here…let me show you…

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This is a photo of the ugliest part of the main floor of my house. I am referring to the door frame. This doorway used to be the outside door to my house. After having the deck transformed into a sunroom filled with glorious windows…(which currently need desperately to be cleaned) …I removed the french doors in an effort to create space and a feeling of unity. Well…it just looks unfinished and doesn’t fit with the rest of the house anymore.

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There is an ugly fabric blind that slides from one side to the other…and when pulled…reminds me of a teenager using a bed sheet to block out the sun…it HAS GOT TO GO!! (I never ever used it anyways)

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The door frame still holds all the hardware for locking a window…

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The crank to the window/door is still there (and it hurts when you run into it by accident)

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The scars from where the hinges were holding the doors up are there and are just as obvious as a zit on a pale kid’s face. SO…I HAD to do SOMETHING…but what?

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I have it!!!! I know what I am going to do!!! I started by removing the large blind and valence that came with it.

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A quick trip to the hardware store rendered me some concrete forms… I had originally picked up 8” and 12 “ forms, but returned the 12” for two 10’s, as 12 inches was too much. I also picked up two pine fence boards, 6 brackets, two bags of foam draft stop piping, a roll of embossed wall paper, a 2x8’ sheet of 1” styrofoam insulation, 4 strips of plastic plexi glass edging, some glue and some rubber baseboard stuff (like you see in office buildings etc.) In total my project would cost me just under $80.00 and a little imagination fueled energy.

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This is a closer look at the concrete forms.

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I quickly ran home to get started…I measured the height of the door frame on the inside…then cut directly down the length of each one to create an opening that I could fit around the door frame. On the center one, I just simply taped it closed to hold it in place, but the two side pieces were good to just be pulled open over the side frame. I then proceeded to wallpaper the forms, and cut squares of 1 pieces out of the styrofoam insulation sheet to go around the forms, glued the draft stop foam around the bottom to hide the spaces where it was imperfectly cut and to add some interest.

Next I installed the fence boards on each side of the top of the door frame with the brackets. This would give me something to glue the rest onto and would also offer me some display space in the end. (hey, a girl’s gotta accessorize!)

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I cut squares out of the foam insulation sheets and notched out for the door frame’s working parts and uneven wood…cut out for the round of the forms, glued them up…filled a little with dry wall filler, and used a couple of screws to make sure all was nice and secure. Then…I primed…three coats of primer…to ensure that the latex paint I would use wouldn’t eat the styrofoam…and would stick nice and even.

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I then used the rubber baseboard stuff around the bottoms of the ‘pillars’ to finish that off for now..(one day soon the door stop part will be transformed as well…but for today I am doing just the tops and sides). This stuff was difficult to notch out…and the glue would not hold it in a small circle shape so I had to use a couple small screws for this part too.

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All the priming is done! I so wish I hadn’t gotten so excited…and had taken more of the step by step photos that I need to show you how I did this! It really is simple!

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The glue held…the screws were barely visible anymore…and I decided NOT to sand or file the styrofoam anymore than I had to as I would like a little bit of a ‘ruins’ effect or a crumbling plaster look to some of it. (sometimes imperfect is the best way to go)

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Here is a closer look at the before…or the during. The ceiling behind the pillar, is also done up in the styrofoam sheets…it still needs to be painted. It will help hold the heat in the sunroom during the winter months. It might be difficult to see the beginning and end of the framework, due to the ceiling in the sunroom…sorry!

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Next…I whipped out the paint that I used to do the walls in the living and dining rooms. It is called “heart of bronze”. I just put it on…pushed it into the cracks and dimples of the whole thing…and rubbed it off for a weathered look. I did not want a solid color on these…I wanted them to blend with the house, yet stand out just enough…ya know??? I know …you know! :)

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TA-DA!!! I am waiting impatiently for the paint to dry…so I could install the 4 small pieces of plastic plexi edging that I needed to put along the sides of the end pillars…to finish them off. I just cut them to size, and glued them on. They gave a smooth finish to the sides that are butted up against the walls.

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Paint’s dry….lets decorate!

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A few faux ivy’s and some ‘junk’ and we are cookin with gas!!!

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VOILA!

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It looks much much better if you ask me! This is the view from the dining room and kitchen area.

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This is the view from inside the sunroom

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I do like this…much much better…and the best part is…I didn’t have to remove the old door frame or any of the mechanics of it. It is all still there so that if I ever decide I want to have the french doors back on…all I have to do is go out to the garage and get them…take down the pillars and put them back on!

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This is the underside of the doorframe that I put the styrofoam on…I did different levels to add some interest.

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I am quite happy with the overall look…

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It is hard to tell that it is all just a mish- mash of different foam pieces all glued, and painted to make one piece.

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And that is all I have to show! I love it…what do you think? Would you ever try something like this? If I were to have purchased actual columns in the hardware store…this project would have cost me upwards of about $900.00! I think for the cost…it looks damned good! Oh…and for those who keep asking where I get these ideas…They just happen!

I have linked this project to the following parties:

Well…that is all from me for today. I think it is enough don’t you? haha. Thanks for reading…and I hope you enjoyed your visit! I am off to paint the ceiling in the sunroom…I can’t stand the ugly greenish color of the styrofoam…my sunroom is going to be so warm now that I finished it properly. woo hoo!!! go me!

Until next time hugs and smiles to you all *)*)*) to my very special three winks… and to one wink in particular…(you know who you are) I feel bad about your attempt to ‘flaunt’ on Friday…I didn’t acknowledge it because I was stunned at how LARGE your flower has gotten…tsk tsk…(some things just don’t need fertilizer ‘cuz bigger is not always better) But thanks for the ‘boost’ and the giggles.

See you next time!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

Comments

Tootsie said…
I am a total ding bat and deleted a few comments that I meant to moderate...should have deleted the spam...but instead did it backwards!!! I am copying and pasting those that I goofed on! sorry guys!
Tootsie said…
Terra has left a new comment on your post "A Tootsie Original":

The pillars and transformation look like a million dollars. I am very impressed, way to much work and craftiness for me to consider, but wow, you did great.



Posted by Terra to TOOTSIE TIME at Sunday, October 17, 2010 2:38:00 PM
Tootsie said…
Pinky has left a new comment on your post "A Tootsie Original":

Holy maceral!!!!!!!!! I am amazed at your creativity and ability to DO IT!!!!! It looks awesome! I had no idea where you were going when you listed what you had bought and the first picture of the columns I gasped! Fabulous!!!! You should hook up to Susan's Metamorphisis Monday too at Between naps on the porch! XO, Pinky


Posted by Pinky to TOOTSIE TIME at Sunday, October 17, 2010 3:19:00 PM
Tootsie said…
marty (A Stroll Thru Life) has left a new comment on your post "A Tootsie Original":

My word. You are so clever, this is such an ingenius idea. Love the pillars and the shelf on top is perfect. You are just tooooooooo smart and talented. Hugs, Marty



Posted by marty (A Stroll Thru Life) to TOOTSIE TIME at Sunday, October 17, 2010 3:09:00 PM
Anonymous said…
You are simply amazing friend!! this is an awesome solution to your doorway!!

I think you really need to come down and come up with some ingenious solutions to my home dilemmas!!

bee blessed
mary
Unknown said…
Love it, I have no ideal where you get your ideals or inspiration. but I need a little! As usual you did a bang up job and I'm sure I will be back to take a few more looks. Love that sun room. I am trying to get hubby to let me turn our deck into a sunroom. It's really just wasted space, we seldom use it. You and Gloria have such wonderful sunrooms, I never get enough of looking at them. Thanks for sharing.

Sandy
onlymehere said…
My goodness sakes Toots! I swear there is absolutely nothing you can't do, imagine, or just plain and simply make stunning! Love it beyond measure!
Me
GARAGE SALE GAL said…
Hi Tootsie
LOVE
LOVE
LOVE it !!! PLEASE come to my house and help me with my sunroon/porch! and maybe the living room too!
You amaze me! Just so awesome.
Warmly,
deb :)
momstheword said…
Girl, I hope you don't ever get tired of hearing me say "You rock" because "YOU ROCK!!!!"

That is awesome and I love it. Thanks for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday!
Tamara Jansen said…
What an amazing project! Really, you are quite something, lady!
Darla said…
Looks like you've out done yourself again...very nice.
Karen said…
Tootsie, you never fail to amaze me. I wish I had an ounce of the creativity and gumption you have. I started making curtains for the living room in April (yes, April) and they're still not done...and you do a room transformation in the blink of an eye. What a beautiful renovation, truly a masterpiece!
The JR said…
Tootsie, just when I think "what else", "BAM, you what else us".

Great job. You are the most creative and amazing woman that I know.
Becca's Dirt said…
You amaze me woman! Is there anything you can't do. It is so beautiful and looks expensive. The transformation is awesome and to think that is styrofoam. Hard to believe. When will you be making the 'deco tour' down to our area. LOL You are going on tour aren't you? tehehe
Every time I come here you blow me away. Amazing!!
TexasBobbi said…
Girl, that is some awesome creativity and problem solving.

Stopping by from Making my home sing.
Bobbi Babbles http://bit.ly/9GzrG8
KimMalk said…
Of course, this is wonderful. It makes the entire space open and elegant. I liked them when they were white, too. What great thinking.
Alea Milham said…
I love this! You are so talented and creative! I have a hole in my living room wall, where the last owner putt ehir big screen t.v. that I need you to address! :)
Tootsie..I think you are just plain brilliant! I remember not long ago you decided to redo your front yard look and with help of a hose to mark it out..you were on your way.
It looks wonderful...but to be honest..I do not think I would be able to pull off such a thing. Not and have it turn out so cute.
You...are just one of those rare talented ladies I love to learn from.
9405018--Pat said…
Wow!!!! you rock....what a wonderful job!!!Thanks for sharing...Pat H
Unknown said…
WOW..what a transformation! I love this new look :)

Blessings!
Gail

P.S. Pop pver and enter in for my Mikasa giveaway!
I am just so impressed with how creative you are. Thanks so much for linking to TTT. Hugs, Marty
Nutty Gnome said…
You've done a great job here Tootsie - and on your fireplace too! I'm not quite sure where your ideas come from - but keep 'em coming! :)
Hanna said…
HI there! I am your newest follower.. I found you on the Tuesday linky:) I love finding new blogs and your is lovely. You can find me at www.bouffeebambini.blogspot.com
Patty Sumner said…
wow, very impressive and such creativity! Found your blog through another blog. Be blessed!
Roeshel said…
Wow, Tootsie! It's awesome! What a change! Foam, huh? No way! I wouldn't believe it if you hadn't said it. So, think I can do something similar but with a reclaimed barn wood beam look? lol Thank so much for linking your hard work to the DIY Project Parade!

Roeshel
Verde Farm said…
First of all, I LOVE the name Tootsie. We have a dear friend named Tootsie and my sis named her chihuahua after her as well.
Second, You are da woman! How on earth you came up with this pillar idea is mind blowing. Seriously, I would never ever think of something like that much less pull it off but it looks amazing. You are really good lady and your garden header--amazing. I love to garden too --it makes me happy :)
Amy
You are amazing!!! Looks fabulous!
Glenda/MidSouth said…
Looks great! I would have never thought to do something like that - great idea.
Enjoy your evening.
deb said…
OMG!!! I bow to you oh mighty creator!! I can't believe how great it looks!! No one would be able to tell uless you told them.

YOU ARE AMAZING!!!

*hugs*Deb
Unknown said…
Holy Moly, Girl! It is Sensational! You make it sound so easy. Easy for you!

A long time ago I used those tubes to make pillars for a floral trade fair display. Shoot, I just covered them in stucco and slapped a wood round on top & bottom. They didn't look half as good as yours!

Would love for you to stop by this weekend and link up to Passion for Paint.
Alberta said…
I am way behind in reading your favorite blogs, but I'm so happy I decided to start with your first!!!! Wow, when you set your mind on something you go BIG!

Beautiful transformation!
Unknown said…
Thanks so much for linking up to Passion for Paint! Hope you'll drop by again soon!
siteseer said…
you never fail to amaze me. Beautiful. What I think I really find amazing is that as I am looking at pictures I think that's as long as it took you. lol Please tell me it took at least a weekend or two lol. And the idea, you just thought of it, but did that come in waves as well? Please say yes so I know you really are 'human' lol Beautiful
This is such a clever, pretty, and economical idea--I really like it! Well done!