It's been another week of Home Improvement projects here in Tracie's World. Earlier this week it was all-new handles for the kitchen cabinets and drawers. At $4 per handle and 30 handles, this was a bit of an expensive undertaking. But I must say they really jazz up my kitchen and my totally tacky cabinets.
Once I had the handles done, I thought it was time to upgrade the ridiculously old hinges. Not only are they old and tacky, but they're totally busted on the back. So I took a photo of the existing ones and set off for the Home Depot, only to find that they're so old and tacky they're impossible to match.
If I were to get new hinges right now, I'd have to putty in all the existing holes and drill new ones. All this for totally tacky cabinets? Not hardly. So I decided that much as I hate to let it go, I'll be waiting until next year so that I can fund all new hinges, and a refacing of my cabinets. If I play my cards right and weep enough, maybe I could "crowd fund" my new cabinets! Do you think Mike Holmes would be available?
I also finally finished for the most part the "doorknob project". There is still the deadbolt on the front door to go, which is another story in itself. And of course, with all new satin nickel doorknobs, I couldn't just leave the existing painted-over brass hinges. So I kicked off the "door hinge project". I got most of the upstairs done before I ran out of hinges. So it will be off to the Home Depot again for more hinges to finish off the downstairs. Now, let me just say that replacing hinges on doors, on one's own, is not an easy undertaking. It's mighty hard work, and entails lots of coordination, which does not necessarily come easily to someone with a balance disorder. But nevertheless, new hinges are on, I've become intimately acquainted with my cordless drill, and minus a few bits of skin and fingernails, the doors close correctly.
And in a continuation of upgrading the bathroom fixtures, I ordered and replaced the existing toilet paper dispenser and installed a new toilet seat with matching hinges. Go me!
Still to come - last weekend Awesome Sister-in-Law #1 went with me to pick out new curtains and a curtain rod, to replace the dumb vertical blinds that cover my sliding glass door. The curtain rod had to be special ordered, but as soon as it arrives and I can schedule with her and the brother, the blinds will come down and the curtain rod will go up. I think it will really jazz up the Holladay Inn.
I feel like I've gotten so good at this DIY stuff, that I ought to start another blog. I'd call it "The Single Girl's Guide to DIY", and talk all about tools, Home Depot, and Mike Holmes. It could really be a hit!
Once I had the handles done, I thought it was time to upgrade the ridiculously old hinges. Not only are they old and tacky, but they're totally busted on the back. So I took a photo of the existing ones and set off for the Home Depot, only to find that they're so old and tacky they're impossible to match.
If I were to get new hinges right now, I'd have to putty in all the existing holes and drill new ones. All this for totally tacky cabinets? Not hardly. So I decided that much as I hate to let it go, I'll be waiting until next year so that I can fund all new hinges, and a refacing of my cabinets. If I play my cards right and weep enough, maybe I could "crowd fund" my new cabinets! Do you think Mike Holmes would be available?
I also finally finished for the most part the "doorknob project". There is still the deadbolt on the front door to go, which is another story in itself. And of course, with all new satin nickel doorknobs, I couldn't just leave the existing painted-over brass hinges. So I kicked off the "door hinge project". I got most of the upstairs done before I ran out of hinges. So it will be off to the Home Depot again for more hinges to finish off the downstairs. Now, let me just say that replacing hinges on doors, on one's own, is not an easy undertaking. It's mighty hard work, and entails lots of coordination, which does not necessarily come easily to someone with a balance disorder. But nevertheless, new hinges are on, I've become intimately acquainted with my cordless drill, and minus a few bits of skin and fingernails, the doors close correctly.
And in a continuation of upgrading the bathroom fixtures, I ordered and replaced the existing toilet paper dispenser and installed a new toilet seat with matching hinges. Go me!
Still to come - last weekend Awesome Sister-in-Law #1 went with me to pick out new curtains and a curtain rod, to replace the dumb vertical blinds that cover my sliding glass door. The curtain rod had to be special ordered, but as soon as it arrives and I can schedule with her and the brother, the blinds will come down and the curtain rod will go up. I think it will really jazz up the Holladay Inn.
I feel like I've gotten so good at this DIY stuff, that I ought to start another blog. I'd call it "The Single Girl's Guide to DIY", and talk all about tools, Home Depot, and Mike Holmes. It could really be a hit!
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