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Amy | Adventures of a Rookie Renovator

@amyrenovates

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I can almost certainly figure this out.
Chronicling my attempts at DIY home renos🏡🔨🪚
+ Goth Gardening🖤🪴
📍 Vermont

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So… we did a thing.

This week has been crazy with the moving and painting that we want to do. So far… we have 1 room almost done 😂

Since I want to do a bunch of updates to this townhouse and make it my (our) own, I created @amyrenovates to document my hopefully successful attempts at doing those renovations all by myself. Thank the gods for Google and YouTube 😉

Stay tuned for the fun and probably not-so-fun projects that will surely never end!

#newhome #newhomeowner #homeowner #condo #townhouse #paint #renovate #homeimprovement #diy #handygal #homeprojects #homesweethome taken in South Burlington, Vermont by @amyrenovates

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2 years ago

What’s up everyone?? Intro post here!

I’m Amy: CSI by day, homebody by night.

I grew up watching my dad absolutely crush all the around-the-house projects, from fixing everything from minor fixtures to big appliances, to replacing shingles and siding and floors, to building an entire deck and stone patio. At the time I never cared to jump in and help, especially because I thought I’d be in the way. But now…. Hooo boy, look out world!

Grateful for my dad for showing me that with the right tools, a little common sense, and a lot of patience, you can do just about anything yourself.

Also thankful for YouTube and Google.

So far we are just painting before furniture gets moved in, but I plan to document every update I do to this new-to-us townhouse and show before, after, and during each project.

Here I am resting after fighting with the white paint, desperately trying to figure out why it’s taking 3+ coats to cover the color of the rooms.

Stay tuned, and thanks for following along!

#newhome #newhouse #homeowner #homeprojects #homerenovation #diy #girlsthatrenovate #handygal #painter #icandoit #doityourself #renovation #townhouse #townhome by @amyrenovates

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2 years ago

TL;DR

We call this space “The Portal” because it’s a tiny space that makes no sense but takes you to different places.

It’s 4’X3’, with stairs down on one side, a door to the garage on another, extra high ceiling, and no light switch until you get all the way into the house.

I’m working on making the space useable with a “mudroom” bench and shelving. Unfortunately, the tight space is going to make this build a challenge.

But hey, when has that ever stopped me?

Stay tuned. Suggestions welcome.

#ladieswhodiy #mudroomrenovation #rookierenovator #portal #homereno by @amyrenovates

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24 days ago

Weekend project!

Eric made a good point - we need a place to put parents and other guests when they come in. A bench sounded like a good solution.

Found some inspo online, considered the copious amount of scrap I had in the garage from the original pantry demo, and got to work. I had pre-stained the plywood for a previous failed shelf situation so I just had those sitting around.

The part that took the longest was waiting for the paint to dry. Otherwise, easy peasy.

Cut list:

8 - 2x4s cut to desired height (I did 18”)
2 - 1x6s cut to desired length (I did 36”)
2 - 2x4s cut to desired separation width (I did 6”)
Enough scrap boards for the top to cover your bench length and leave some overhang on the sides (I did 6 pieces of 3/4” plywood at 12 9/16”x6” rectangles)

Sandwich the 1x6 pieces between 4 of the longer 2x4s to create sawhorse-looking things using glue and screws. Make 2 of them. Then use the shorter 2x4s as separators to attach the sawhorses together. This is the base. Paint or stain the base, then glue and nail the top boards on. Touch up the paint and you’re good to go!

Definitely put felt pieces on the bottom and back side so it doesn’t scrape the floor or damage the wall.

Yay utilitarianism!

#ladieswhodiy #entrywaybench #handygal #scrapwoodproject #icandoit by @amyrenovates

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25 days ago

I didn’t need the snarky comments that added to my already healthy self-doubt, but I pushed through anyway because I had a vision that I knew I could make real.

And you know what? I did.

So a hearty fck off to everyone who decided to waste moments of both our lives being mean. 🖕🏼

#getfucked #ididit #hatersgonhate #ladieswhodiy #rookierenovator by @amyrenovates

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a month ago

IT IS FINISHED 🤩🤩

Did I build this entire thing myself? Yes.
Did it take way too long? Yes.
Did I shed blood, sweat, and tears about it? Yes.
Could it be a little better? Also yes.

But I’m proud of myself for figuring it all out, and ultimately happy with how it turned out. Plus, it’s all functional 😅

On to the next thing!

#diymurphydoor #ladieswhodiy #pantrymakeover #murphydoor #hiddenbookshelfdoor by @amyrenovates

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a month ago

TRIM 🚪🤍

By far the most difficult part of this project was getting the door to swing correctly in the opening.

Part of that is making sure the trim does not hinder the swing while still covering the gaps and ugly bits.

Most of the stress had about this project was because of this. Thankfully, I just said fck it one day and started doing it.

Not exactly perfect but it’s functional. Now I’m going to see if I should add a piece to the bottom… 🤔

#murphydoor #diymurphydoor #hiddenbookshelfdoor #pantryremodel #ladieswhodiy by @amyrenovates

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a month ago

I NEED EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING 🫣

But progress is being made.

I can also confirm that Dexter does not care one bit.

ONWARD

#ladieswhodiy #pantryremodel #renovations #pantryrenovation #murphydoor by @amyrenovates

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2 months ago

🫠 🫠

My few-week-long winter project has turned into a many- months-long headache, and I haven’t found the motivation to work inside when it’s so beautiful outside during the summer months.

But, I have a couple updates that I didn’t film so I wanted to share.

Seriously though, if anyone has any ideas of both how to fix the door, leaning outward and how to install trim so that everything swings… I would be eternally grateful.

@murphydoor any ideas??

#pantryremodel #ladieswhodiy #diypantry #murphydoor by @amyrenovates

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2 months ago

Anyone else have some overly dramatic plants?

This nerve plant has really been a trip. One day it’s fine and the next day… 💀 💀 💀

Not to fear, some water will make it right as rain 💦

Using 6.0pH water is ideal for plants because it’s close to the pH of rain water. All my plants absolutely love it!

Happy goth planting 🖤🪴

#gothgardening #darkplants #nerveplant #dehydrated #houseplant by @amyrenovates

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3 months ago

A few spare 1x3s are just what this shelf needed to display my spices and better fill the vertical space in the shelf. The part that took the most time was waiting for the paint and glue to dry!

To build:
🪵 Scrap 1x3s in whatever length fits your shelf, and as many pieces as you want tiers
🪚 cut an additional piece of 1x3 into matching pieces that will be your vertical lengths to elevate the long pieces. I did 2x 9/4” and 2x 15/4” (yes I counted all the 1/4”s)
🔨 I glued the feet on, then Brad nailed them for good measure. Then glued the levels together so they looked like bleachers
🎨 paint if desired!

I also put felt stickers on the bottom so my shelf paint wouldn’t be damaged.

🫙Jars are EDELHAUS Glass Spice Jars with Adjustable Rotating Lids from Amazon

#diy #pantryorganization #spicerack #hiddendoor #ladieswhodiy by @amyrenovates

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3 months ago

Me wondering for weeks why the tops of all my lilies were broken off right before they flowered…

Little bastards 🐇

🤬🤬🤬 RIP 🌺

#cottontailrabbit #lily #pests #dammit #iwaslookingforwardtothose by @amyrenovates

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3 months ago