Hey there!
It was nice and sunny out today, (yay!) so I was able to snap some pics of our progress in the master bedroom.
You may remember how it looked BEFORE…
…well, this is where we’re at CURRENTLY…
Keep in mind, we’ve still got LOTS of nail holes to fill, outlets to re-cover, base boards and crown molding to cut & attach (the base boards are just laying against the wall in the photo above), corner trim to attach (to make for a nice, smooth transition where the wood wall meets the “Blue Hubbard”-painted wall), and 144 square feet of planks to paint (the boards in this photo are just primed- not painted)- not to mention, we’re gonna clad the wall next to this one in wood too. But man does it feel good to have some of those suckers up off the floor and attached to the wall!
We’re using 1″x6″ planks of MDF we got at True Value. They’re smooth and straight, and thanks to our new, high-powered nail gun- they’re a cinch to put up, too!
We started by breaking up the window wall into three sections…
Obviously, we worked on section 2 first. Kevin used our laser level/stud finder to mark where each stud was within that section…
Next, he drew a vertical line where he found each of the studs…
Then he used a measuring tape to determine how long each plank should be…
(I made the line a little darker so you could see it better)
Here’s a little video we shot right after we had finished working on section 2…
(Click here to watch it on YouTube)
Once we got all the boards up in sections 1 and 3, we added a little schmarchitectural interest (that’s schmancy, as in “fancy schmancy”, architectural interest) by using a 1×2″ in the gap created by the window sill…
(Section 1)
(Section 3)
It looks sorta chair rail-ish. I dig it.
We intentionally planned for the “seams” between sections 1, 2 and 3 to hide behind where the curtains would fall- so it’ll look like the boards stretch from one side of the room to the other. Move your cursor back and forth over the photo below to see what I mean…
(If you’re reading in Google Reader, you’ll have to come over to our site to see it!)
As for the rest of the room, well, this is the old view from the doorway, into the room…
Ya see that weird “bump out” thing at the back of that picture?
That’s actually the end of our front porch…
Two feet of the living room and the entire master bedroom were added on to the house in 2003. The red line in the photo below shows where the old house and the new part of the house meet…
(They had to use a different type of decorative cinderblock on the addition. Apparently you can’t get the other kind anymore. Boo. We’ll have to do something about that eventually.)
Anywho, we’ve decided to embrace the bump out, so we’re gonna attempt to build some kind of built-in bookcase to the right of it. Sort of like this:
I’m not sure exactly what it’ll look like, or if it’ll have doors or not have doors, or if it’ll have five shelves or six shelves, etc. etc.- but I think it’ll be nice to have a little extra storage/display space in the room.
And it won’t take up any valuable floor space either- yesssss! Â Plus, the cable hook up is already right there on that wall. Double yesssss!
I’m really happy with how it’s all turning out.
So happy, I’m including another presto chango…you know the drill:
I love presto chango’s.
And True Value MDF.
*We were selected by True Value to work on the DIY Blog Squad. We’ve been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as for the materials needed to complete our DIY Blog Squad projects. That being said, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.
Karen
It’s starting to look amazing—I love the presto-chango photos. What a great idea to have the wall color dark so that if any gaps showed the wall you wouldn’t notice. I would have been so thrilled to cover the paint I would have just put it up over the old paint. You guys have taught me so much! Thank you.
Karen
Bernie
Did you leave a small gap between the planks?
Layla & Kevin
Yep!
We used pennies between every board. 🙂
Layla
Beth Perry
awesome design! I can tell it’s going to look amazing! love the “gap”! hahaha
Amy R.
I love the look of those wood planks! I have been wanting to do this in our bedroom and now I know how. Thanks for the tutorial! Can’t wait to see more!
Amy
Andrea
That’s so funny!
I just installed the boards in my master bedroom, too.
It’s just one wall though. 🙂
Love it! Love it! Love it!
You blog is awesome!
So inspiring! 🙂
Thanks, Layla!
Rosanna
that room is ador’s!! great handy work… wish I had one of them there guys w/ a tool belt around. LOL
Sarah Teske
Looks great! Will you use planks on 2 or 3 of your walls? I’m also anxious to see what you do with the windows/window treatments!
Missy
Did you guys switch web hosts without me paying attention? I just realized I haven’t seen any of your posts in my Reader for a looong time and have been going through withdrawal! Probably my fault, but I just got to wondering. 🙂
Laura
Great solution for the “bump out.” And sooo glad you explained about the curtains hiding the seams! ‘Cause I wasn’t liking it with those seams and I didn’t think it looked much like your typical work. So I was wonderin’… Then you said the curtains would hide it and I thought, “well, of course.” Duh! 🙂 It’s gonna look great!!
Sandra
Layla,
It is already looking great. The finished product will be even better. Looking forward to seeing more on the room!
Sandra
maggie
Looks really good! I wish I had the nerve to tackle something like that. Have you considered putting beadboard ceilings in? My friend did that in her kitchen and I love it! 🙂
Layla & Kevin
Yes…we will probably do that. At some point! 🙂
Layla
Cookie
Layla,
The room looks wonderful!! You guys are awesome! I am very sorry to hear of your loss…What a blessing I know you were for your GrandFather as it sounds like he was to you guys too….We recently lost our Uncle and last time we were at his house to visit his our Aunt his widow she had the neatest sign on the wall that said this….”To have a little piece of heaven in your house is to have someone you love in heaven”…Isnt that neat! I hope I got the saying right I think its beautiful….Hugs, Cookie
teresa
I really like what you have done so far…clever putting the seam by the window. It has been fun watching it come together step by step.
Happy Day
Holly
Love this! Another reason I really want to buy a house….
And Kevin is so handy! My husband wouldn’t even know what a nail gun was!! I’m so jealous!!
Cookie
Hey I found the saying I was a bit off here it is….”Because someone we love is in Heaven,
We feel a little bit of Heaven in our home.”
reader
Love the look of your walls, but not convinced MDF is safe enough for my family – might be worth checking around on health concerns related to it (treated w/ formaldehyde, other toxins) before committing to it. Everything I’m seeing urges caution, and especially when cutting it – masks advised since the dust can be hazardous. Just don’t want tons of your faithful readers doing this w/o researching first, especially if kids are in the picture. Wonder what alternatives would work in terms of cost and final look?
Layla
Hmmm…that’s a good question!
I found this info online tonight:
“MDF has a reputation of being a questionably safe building material, so we hear from concerned moms and dads all the time asking us to clarify its merits. In short, yes, it is 100% safe once it is used to construct a finished piece of furniture, but it does require care if you decide to do a DIY project with MDF where there will be sawdust flying about. (Wear a mask!) The main issue perceived with MDF is that its production involves a resin containing formaldehyde which is a known toxin and carcinogen in high concentrations. In the process of cutting and working with MDF in building, sawdust and formaldehyde are released. Both of these are bad to inhale (particularly the formaldehyde), there are very strict health and safety regulations in place around the world governing MDF dust and its extraction and disposal to ensure a safe working environment in the workshops. During the ‘machining’ process, is the only time that MDF poses any kind of health risk. The reality is that once the MDF is cut and finished with sealant or paint, it is no more harmful than a tomato. In fact, weight for weight, MDF and tomatoes have the same percentage of formaldehyde content. I am quite sure no one would be tempted to eat a lethal dose of 56 pounds of the fruit in one sitting, just as no one would sit in a room of MDF saw dust all day every day for years and years!”
Good to know!
But just in case, I think we’ll invest in some of this: Safe Seal.
Unless, I find out that painting it with low VOC paint will do the same thing.
I’ll keep you posted!
Thanks so much for the heads up!
Layla
Meredith Starrett
Looks awesome so far!!! Can’t wait to see the finished product!! What program do you use for the 3D rendered view? I would love to use it with my clients at Ethan Allen. Thanks!!!
Love reading along,
Meredith
Layla & Kevin
Plan3D. I love it! 🙂
Layla
AnNicole - your old friend :)
Hey darlin’ – I’m lurking. I have to say, visiting your site is like eating a Reese’s peanut butter cup…decadent…perfect…soooo yummy (however that translates into interior design). It just tickles me watching your new room take shape and seeing how your brilliant mind works. Thanks for the inspiration! Hope all is well with you guys
paperkite
So inspiring! 🙂
paperkite
!! Layla!!! I just followed your Safe Seal link! I’ve been looking for the “Hard Seal” Product forever! I didn’t know it’s name, so I couldn’t find it. I’ve asked people at paint stores all over town and no leads! You just solved my problem!! “I love you, man.” 😉 Thank you! 🙂
sherri
So lovely! I am considering this treatment for one wall of a small powder room as well as the ceiling of my kitchen. Bad drywall and a need for more lighting mean we’ll have to make swiss cheese of our current ceiling. This looks easier than new drywall.
My question… I know you’re going for a more “authentic” look using inch thick boards but do you think you could achieve the same look with a thinner profile product? I was thinking of lauan since it’s so light and cheap. I’d like to rip “planks” out of a 4×8′ sheet and install just as you did here. Since the boards will be butt jointed together (penny spacing between the long stretches), will the causal observer be able to tell that they aren’t a full inch thick? Thanks for all the inspiration Layla!
Layla & Kevin
Hey Sherri!
I think it’ll look just as “authentic”. My friend Miss Mustard Seed did it here: http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2010/04/exposed-board-wall-tutorial.html
We don’t own a table saw, so we went with the 1″ boards- otherwise we probably would’ve gone that route too! 🙂
Layla
Kiki
What about an electric fireplace with a concealed tv above in the bump-out space? I saw that done on devine design the other day, and it looked fabulous. It was actually in a dining room, though. You could still flank it with bookshelves but have the added romance and warmth of an electric fireplace.
Desiree @ Chic Coastal Living
Looking great! Can’t wait to see the final project!
Michelle
I love this and think I can do that’s how easy you make it look. Pennies as spacers and sand after you painted to get the worn look??? Just asking this chicken is going to do this …hmmmmm what room??
Emily
So, in your opinion, would you say to put up beadboard horizontally or get the 1″x6″ planks of MDF? I’m just wondering which would be easier…but I also don’t want to sacrifice the final outcome by going the easy route if it’s not going to look great.
🙂
Layla
Hey Em! I think it depends on which look you’d like to go with! Which room are you thinking about paneling/planking?
Emily
I’m wanting to do the 3 walls on the eat-in side of the kitchen (french door wall, 3 windows wall, and the wall with our laundry room, but stopping before the dining room door). The walls are just too damaged and my spackling isn’t THAT great (although, it worked good enough in the dining room! wahoo!). Patrick planted the idea in my head about beadboard, but I’m liking the wider planks more I think.
On a side not, I look forward to 11/11 🙂
Jenna Arkin
wow! that looks awesome. It adds so much interest to the wall and gives your home more “old world charm.” Love this look and I am going to attempt this on our living room wall. thanks for the inspiration!