After taking a family-filled two-week pause from cabin reno work, we’re back at it! And of course, we had our favorite crew member with us!
(If you’re only here to read about Suzi, she’s featured at the end!)
The Bedroom Ceiling Drywall: Do Not Try This at Home, Folks! 📦🧱
We decided it was time to put the ceiling in the main bedroom. Our friend suggested we use 12-foot drywall sheets instead of our usual 8-footers to minimize seams. (He said to do it sometime when he was around to help… spoiler: he wasn’t!).
We rented a drywall lift to help hoist those giant sheets up to the ceiling and hold them in place. There’s no way we could have done this without it and still had any shoulders left! We got it done, but Mike’s shoulder was angry from all of the overhead screwing.
Since we had already installed window trim, window coverings, and their hardware, we had to do some crazy maneuvering to get the drywall around those obstacles. This is why people who know what they are doing put ceilings up first! (We originally thought we were going to paint the rafters and leave them open like in the living room, but changed our minds.)
To add a little extra spice to the bedroom drama, Mike accidentally overcut the drywall opening around the ceiling fan. But every mistake is just an opportunity for a creative solution! I have already ordered a split ceiling medallion to cover the gap. Hopefully, it will look intentional and add a nice vintage touch—so we’re calling it a happy accident!
- My take on 12-foot drywall sheets: I do NOT recommend 🤣
- Renting a drywall lift: Highly recommend ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Slider View & Privacy Dilemma: Input Needed! 🖼️
While we had the bedroom completely cleared out and the original window panels down, I fell in love with the unobstructed view through the sliding glass doors. But we still need privacy off and on throughout the day—and I know us: we don’t want something that’s a hassle to open and close just to pop on a swimsuit!
The light-filtering vertical panels we installed during our first weekend here worked fine, but when opened, they cover a good ¼ of the view. Plus, after being taken down and put back up constantly during painting and drywalling, the brackets are shot, there’s spray foam on them, and… I just don’t LOVE them.
Naturally, I wanted to figure it out and have the new solution installed before bed. LOL… that didn’t happen, but whatever we do will be worth the wait!
I asked for ideas on social media and was blown away by suggestions I never even knew existed:
- Smart film systems / privacy glass: Switches from clear to frosted with the push of a button! (Fell in love until the digital estimate came back around $1,700… 😞)
- Foldable plantation shutters: Look so charming and open easily, but another quote came in right around $1,700.
- Privacy controlled film: I need to look at this some more, but I worry that it will feel creepy changing clothes when my view out is clear-even if no one can see in.
- Horizontal shades: Roll up tight and completely vanish.
- Extra-wide curtain rods: Allow full-length curtains to push completely clear of the slider frame.
I’m thinking I might have to settle on sliding curtains just because they’re more affordable, but we have the old panels back up while we decide. To be continued…
Church Pew Progress ⛪🪵
In between wrestling drywall overhead, Mike made some great headway on our salvaged church pew project!
He made custom cuts from leftover pew pieces and used wood glue mixed with pew sawdust (to perfectly match the wood color) to patch up the old cut gaps. It’s taking shape so nicely! I can’t wait to show you the final finish—and the perfect table we found at a consignment shop to match it!
Suzi’s Reno Life: 15 & Living Her Best Lake Life 🐾💧
Suzi wasn’t originally going to come with us this week so we could power through work. But our son, who usually dogsits, wasn’t available. Work went a bit slower than planned, but honestly? Suzi just turned 15. I never know if she will be around the “next time” we come to the cabin, so I am thoroughly enjoying letting her call the shots!
Her official cabin routine this week consisted of:
- Laying in every single room while we worked (and not minding at all that she was in the way!).
- Demanding multiple walks a day (and leading me straight to the beach so she could take a dip and run around).
- Golf cart rides. She finally warmed up to it, though her riding style is ridiculous: she wedged herself into the floorboard with her head by Mike’s knees and her body right where my feet should be!
- Naps in the grass (and once right in the sand on the beach).
Seeing her enjoy the lake and cabin so much makes every single ounce of sweat worth it. Honestly, if we all had a routine as good as Suzi’s, the world would be a much happier place!
What do you think?
If you had to choose between sleek hidden shades, plantation shutters, or full-length curtains for a bedroom slider, which way would you lean?
And tell me—what’s the biggest DIY “happy accident” you’ve had, and how did you fix it with a clever tweak? Let me know in the comments below!
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