Web Analytics

Deuce Cities Henhouse

Progress in the Sunroom

Fauxdenza in progress
Yo, Dawgz! Just wanted to check in and give you guys an update on the sunroom project. First of all, I am totally stoked about the progress on this little room, so forgive me, I’m pretty eager to share the tiniest changes with you.

I told you guys a few weeks ago, that along with upholstering the little sofa, that I also wanted to add a “Fauxdenza” to the narrow wall in the sunroom. The floor is sloped (the sunroom used to be an open air porch, and the sloped floor allowed for drainage) and I needed to add a very functional piece of furniture that didn’t take up a lot of visual weight. Duh, Fauxdenza = the ideal solution.

In case you haven’t been getting the play-by-play over on Instagram here is the story. On Monday night I took a trip to Ikea, purchasing a handful of things including; 2 of the Akurum 36″ x 15″ cabinet boxes and 4 of the Applåd cabinet doors. This is my 3rd time installing Ikea cabinets, so the whole process comes pretty easily to me, and you know I ruled it like a bawse. Ikea really does make it simple. Finn (my 5 year old) and I started assembling the two box cabinets around 9am, we had the rail mounting system installed by 9:45 and the cabinet doors were on by 10:30! Talk about a big transformation in a little bit of time, at least I think so.

If you want to get your fauxdenza on, and need a few more details, check out Morgan’s process over at The Brick House.

This little room is quickly becoming one of my favorite rooms in the house and I think I’m going to try and make a habit out of spending at least an hour a day in this sunny space. It makes me super happy to sit in the sun and enjoy all of my green things – hopefully it won’t be long before I can crack the windows too.

Fauxdenza in progress

Fauxdenza in progress
We have a small TV that my parents borrowed to me a year ago (whoops) that I put in the sunroom, I connected it to a Roku and an attena and now I can watch Kathie Lee and Hoda to my hearts content – what who doesn’t need a little KLG and Hoda in the morning? We also have plans of purchasing a portable turntable or radio so we can listen to jamz during the spring nights when we are hiding from the kids. Seriously friends, it all feels so great in here!

Everything is looking really good but now is where all the unfun detail work comes into play. Anyone wanna start taking bets as to how long this whole process will take me? It’s easy for me to avoid painting projects, and this one is especially daunting.

Ikea Trendig Chair
Yes, I have been hiding the other side of the porch from you. I just got rid of some ugly old curtains replacing them with the Enje roller blinds. I really adore the diffused light coming through the shades and it adds a bit of privacy too.

I also replaced the orange chair (which I still love but needs an upholstery job) with this Trendig chair from Ikea. You guys, I love this chair but am so totally disappointed with the quality. First of all, I am the queen of Ikea assemblage, and this was by far the most difficult piece of Ikea anything I’ve ever had the displeasure of putting together. Let’s just say if Finn didn’t know the “eff bomb” before, he knows it now. Secondly, the last step was to screw the chair together using pre-drilled holes, and guess what? The screws spit the wood on both sides of the arm rests, and they weren’t even tightened all the way! I’m going to take it back, and am on the fence as to whether or not I will replace it with a new one. I love the look of the chair and most of the Trendig collection, so I’m sure I’ll probably give it another go, be come on Ikea, seriously? I only hope Ikea refunds me on this thing – I’ve never had to return anything to Ikea because of subpar quality.

Anyway, this total depth of this sunroom is about 6.5′! I know, small! The new fauxdenza situation sits opposite this side of the room and because of that, I just need to keep it simple over here. I think a small arm chair like this is the way to go.

Light fixture needs to be replaced
Now that I’ve share the good stuff, on to all the bad stuff, you know what I’m talking about… the ever mounting the to-do list.

The Fauxdenza needs a top, I need to get to the hardware store this weekend, get a piece of lumber and stain it. Easy. I also need to wrangle all the cords and hide them away somewhere inside that fauxdenza.

The light fixture needs to be replaced which I have a feeling will be a little tricky. Right now there is one of those gross flush mounted fixtures in the room. The room isn’t super tall, and anything but a flush mounted fixture wouldn’t work. I also need to navigate that acoustic tile with the tin-ceiling look. I can’t be mad at the tile, it actually doesn’t look half bad in real life. I am worried however, that there is a gaping hole in the tile behind this light fixture and I need to replace it with a fixture that will cover it. I’m thinking this Vanadin fixture from Ikea would do the job nicely.

I need to purchase and install three more Enje roller shades – my budget only allowed me to grab four during my last Ikea trip.

I need some lighting besides the ceiling fixture. All I want to do is keep buying anything from the Ranarp line. Must. Resist. Ranarp.

Bookhou Sack
The biggest job by far though is the painting and the caulking. This room has been neglected for awhile, possibly even since it was turned into a sunroom way before my time. There are lots of cracks around the window casings that would appreciate a good caulking. Also, all the paneling seams around the bottom third of the room needs to be caulked. The caulking will lead to painting, which will lead to painting clapboard siding with a brush, which will lead to painting nine windows and a door, which will lead to panting the paneling. There is not a lot of roller work here, and I’m afraid this job will not go quickly.

Gotta keep my eye on the prize.

Psst: PLEASE VOTE FOR ME AT THE HOMIES – THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!

34 comments
in Around the House, DIY, Porch, Sunroom
33 comments… add one
  • Anne@PotatoCakeVintage February 19, 2014

    You are a machine. Everything looks so good!

  • Laura February 19, 2014

    Looks amazing! Love feauxdenzas. And I miss regular Brick House posts so much! Morgan! Blog again! I want to see how your back yard is coming along!

    Ok, now seems like the perfect time for me to use YOUR expertise in return: I see you have a Boston Fern in there and I’ve been meaning to ask you for awhile: how do they do here? Are they super finicky? I need some more green in my life, but I have a blaaaaaaack thumb. I want a hanging plant and I love the lushness of Boston Ferns. Will I kill it? With MPLS kill it? Bachmans has huge ones for $20 and I’m so tempted!

    • Scoops February 19, 2014

      Laura! This thing is seriously indestructible. My husband has tried. I’ve had it for 3 years and even gave it a hair cut last year because it was growing out of control. I generously water it once a week and it loves hanging out in this sunroom. I bring it out to the front porch in the summer and it’s super happy there too.

      • Laura February 19, 2014

        YES. I WANT IT TO BE HUGE AND AMAZING.

        Generously water once a week. I will set a repeating alarm on my phone. I CAN DO THIS.

        • teresa February 19, 2014

          I have a black thumb and live out West in Portland. I’ll join you in ferning. I want something to hang in my living room :)

  • Elizabeth February 19, 2014

    It’s so good!!! You are so lucky to have this little space off of your bedroom. OMG, I’d hide in there all the time!!! We just emptied out our tiny sunroom last weekend (ours is off the side of the living room though) and started the process of skim coating and replacing nasty trim. I can HARDLY WAIT to get to the decorating part! We are turning it into a lovely little office/studio for me…and I already bought a Renarp pendant light for the ceiling ;) Your photos are making me crazy excited and inspired!! Oh, and your fig trees look super happy in there!

    • Scoops February 19, 2014

      Elizabeth! That sounds like it will be an amazing place for you to hang out and work! I love porches so GD much. Stop! You’re gonna make me wanna go buy a Ranarp too, I already have two.

      Yes the fig trees love it in here, unfortunately they don’t love it anywhere else in the house ;(

      Thanks for your nice comment!

  • angela February 19, 2014

    It’s all looking amazing! Your upholstery skills rock & I love the cabinets & all your amazing plants. :)

    Angela @ Number Fifty-Three

    • Scoops February 21, 2014

      Thanks Angela! I’m really loving the results too!

  • Stacey February 19, 2014

    I pretty much just want to hang at your place. That sunroom looks so awesome! I’ll bring the wine.

  • AnnMarie February 19, 2014

    This is all coming together so well — and I’m seriously so jealous at how bright and sunshiny it looks in there. We just had a short stretch of spring-like weather (seriously, it was almost 60F on Monday!) but not fifteen minutes ago it started snowing like whoa. :(

    Btw, I wanted to mention that after I saw your guestroom post (https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2014/01/a-no-cost-guest-room.html) I grabbed that gray Helmer cabinet for my bedroom on my next Ikea run. Putting it together made me feel super accomplished and I LOVE it in my room. I finally have somewhere to put all those random odds and ends, which is doubly important since I rent and have three other roommates in a small house. So I wanted to say thanks for the inspiration!

    • Scoops February 21, 2014

      So jealous of your 60º earlier this week! We hit 40º and it felt great. It’s all distant memories though, just spent an hour digging out the car from a snow pile.

      So glad that the cabinet worked for you! It’s so utilitarian you’ll be able to use it in future spaces down the road.

  • emily @ go haus go February 19, 2014

    It looks awesome and it came together so quickly! I can totally understand the dread of painting. But you can do it! And the feeling of accomplishment when you’re all done will be so worth it. You’ve got skillz lady!

    • Scoops February 21, 2014

      Thanks Emily! I think I’m doing it all wrong. I should’ve done the hard stuff first and the pretty stuff later but I was in desperate need of instant gratification. Your bathroom is looking lovely btw, you did it the right way, hard stuff first – fun stuff later.

  • caroline [the diy nurse] February 19, 2014

    I’m absolutely loving it. Sunrooms are my biggest must have for when we settle down. What a perfect spot to have a coffee in the morning. And a fauxdenza? It’s like you put too things I love the most together!

    • Scoops February 21, 2014

      Yes! That is totally what I am doing right now! Drinking coffee and feeling unaffected by the new foot of snow outside in the backyard. The sunroom makes everything better.

  • Sabrina February 19, 2014

    With days like today and yesterday, I bet your sunroom was definitely put to good use!
    I think I would take a giant nap in there!
    It looks beautiful and light and relaxing. Well done!

    • Scoops February 21, 2014

      Thanks Sabrina! It is all of those things. I feel bad for neglecting it for so long.

  • Dana February 19, 2014

    Your lil’ sunroom is shaping up! Love all the living green things. I have to say, I’m so bummed to hear your take on the Trendig chair. I was thinking of adding one to my living room. It’s such a purrrrrty thang. Why’s it gotta be all low quality and stuff? Ugh. Maybe it was just this one? (Fingers crossed for both of us, right?)

    • Scoops February 21, 2014

      Yes for sure! I love it too. If Ikea will replace it for me with a new one I will give it another go, but I seriously can’t imagine putting together 6 of them. I am usually really good with Ikea stuff, it comes naturally and this was the hardest piece I’ve ever put together. I get the feeling that the design came first and figuring out how to flat pack it and assembly came second. I will let you guys know how I feel if Ikea replaces it for me and I get a second shot at it. I love the look so much, I want it to work.

  • Morgan February 20, 2014

    Amazing! It looks so amazing! Really, really digging that Trendig chair – I’ve had my eyes on it for a while for our dining room. Looks great!

  • Morgan February 20, 2014

    I meant to add that after your terrible report of the Trendig chair – doubt I’ll be considering them any longer. It does look great in that spot, though. :)

    • Scoops February 21, 2014

      I know! I want it to work so badly! Gonna give it a second go and I’ll let you know how it turns out.

  • Joni February 20, 2014

    Simply love it!

  • jessica February 21, 2014

    Yeah the VANADIN would be perfect! I just bought three for my big’ol house and I love them. Love the room. I sigh when I think of all the panelling that I’ve painted. I swear my hands still hurt. But, it’ll look great! Keep on keepin’ on!

    • Scoops February 25, 2014

      Hey Jessica! Just picked up and installed the Vanadin on your recommendation. It looks great, I totally loving it. Still avoiding painting ;)

  • ashley February 21, 2014

    Love it! Bummer about the chair though. I’m heading up to the twin cities next weekend and may die if I don’t get my hands on more Ranarp. It’s so good.

    • Scoops February 25, 2014

      Hey Ashley, hope you got ALL the Ranarp lamps last weekend! I was able to return my chair, but I had the same problems with the new one I replaced it with. Such a bummer.

  • Melinda November 17, 2014

    I’m really loving this entire room! Curious about a couple of things, if you wouldn’t mind answering a few questions…how sheer are the roller blinds? I’m installing a fauxdenza under a window in my living room and your window treatments with it are the best that I’ve seen. Also, where did you get that beautiful black and white patterned plant holder that your fern is in? Thanks in advance and you’ve definitely got a new regular reader here!

    • Scoops November 20, 2014

      Hey Melinda, The roller blinds are somewhat sheer from the interior, you can make-out shapes outside the windows. But looking in from the outside you can barely see anything, especially during the daytime. During the evening you can see recognizable shapes, but nothing specific. I like them because they diffuse the light and make everything feel nice. I got the plant holder from Boohkou, you should check out her shop and her bags, totally amazing. Hope to see you around the blog again :)

Leave a Comment