Yo yo! So once upon a time there was this girl. And her name was Mandilicious. She was buying her first home and looked and looked for just the right one. Finally she found it. Nasty carpet, dead cockroaches and all. But aside from all of that there was one thing she thought was super intriguing, these beams in the doorways. (Yes, this is the REAL MLS listing on my house.)
She, I mean, I had never seen something like that so I thought it was out of this world cool. I have thought and thought about things that I could do to that little space, but everything I came up with just made the doorway seem so low and tiny on the high walls.
This little beam was the reason I decided to stripe my hallway, because it emphasized it.
Fast forward to now.
I hate the beam.
The beam had turned into a jungle gym, because of the beam there are wall footprints.
The beam was dead to me.
It had to go. So it did. And here is how we did it.
Start by getting the right safety gear for the job. You need an eye protectant and a mask for starters. Doing simple safe things like wearing a mask will prevent things that are not fun down the road. Have you ever had spray paint boogers? Case closed.
3MDIY.comis a great tool to know exactly what is available and what safety gear you need for the job.
is a great tool to know exactly what is available and what safety gear you need for the job.
Then you call in the brains of the operation to help you. If you are as lucky as me it would be your husband.
Make sure you check out the video at the end of the post to see the whole process time lapsed into about 5 seconds. Because he may be the brains of the operation, but I am the muscle.
Once your beam is safely demo’ed the fun part kicks in. Time to make it pretty.
Casing out a doorway is SIMPLE. I PROMISE!
We use preprimed 1×6’s (the wood kind, not the MDF kind).
Start by lining the inside of your doorway with the wood. Make sure that it is the same thickness as your doorway (or it could get a little awkward for ya.)
Once the inside of your doorways is framed, its time to take the operation to the outside. I LOVE the custom look that you can get just by pulling your frame back an inch from the edge of your inner casing. We used preprimed 1×4’s for the sides and 1×6 for the top apron. Also remember this post where I told you my ceiling wasn’t painted all the way? Good. So don’t judge.
Once everything is cased in its time to caulk, putty and paint!
Normally I use the kind of putty that starts pink and then dries white. Which is fine. But on this project I used Patch Plus Primer and I LOVED it. The reason? With the primer already in it you don’t get the variation in sheen the way you do with regular spackle. It was really easy to use (a little bit dryer than normal putty) and I was super impressed with how there was no pitting/sinking when it dried.
I used Sherwin Williams Pro Classic Enamel in Tricorn Black (satin) to finish it off.
Bet you didn’t think the ENTIRE hallway was getting a makeover did ya? Tutorials to follow!!
No one can believe that it is the same height doorway because it is SO much taller. Finally I feel like you can sense the height of the ceiling and the best part?! NO MORE FOOTY WALLS!!
Oh wait. HERE is the best part. And awesome video where you get to see me being strong, getting interrupted, and dancing. Pretty much a match made in DIY video heaven. And while you are over there subscribe to my YouTube channel
I hope this post inspires you to realize that your house and the design of it is only limited by yourself. If you have something like this that you hate, don’t be afraid to tackle it yourself. Just make sure you are doing it the safe way!
Love Your Guts, Mandi
I teamed up with 3M DIY Starts Here for this post. All ideas, opinions, and video of me yelling at my children are 10000% mandilicious.
I know this post is about your door way – but the planking looks awesome on the diagonal! i cant get enough of that planking, im still looking for more rooms in my house that i can do it in!
I love how you showed your unfinished paint on the ceiling. We painted our walls about 6 years ago, and I still have a corner above the stairs that never got finished! Someday…
I love it! ~ The real life moment in the video was awesome too ~
Love, love, love! I love that you used black trim instead of white. Gorgeous.
Hi Mandi!
LOVIN’ the whole hallway make over! Well done!
The little space that used to be over your doorway is called a Transom.
They are traditionally used, with a window installed in that space (but not always) that can be open and shut, to help with light and air flow. The hot air that pools at the top of the ceiling escapes out the transom and the cool air from other rooms enters in below. They are also used to give the illusion of higher ceilings. Which of course you did not need any help with 😉
I thought this was a cool idea for a transom space https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kochi_Castle_05.JPG
That being said, if my transom was causing footy walls, I would get out my saw too!
I loved you husband’s reaction when you told him not to throw the old beam away. Hilarious! 🙂
I’m so glad you posted this! I’ve been trying to tell people all along that, if you don’t like it, get rid of it! I know I did.
We have a plant ledge in our living room and had flat arches.
Couldn’t stand them.
Got rid of them (check it out here https://www.ladygoats.com/2012/07/my-pinteresting-living-room.html).
And totally jazzed up my plant ledge, but I still have no idea what I’m going to do.
Oh! I’m in Chandler! Did you think of a time/place for Saturday?!
Haha, favourite part of the video –
“Don’t throw that away, I need that.”
“For what?”
🙂
I love the sneak peak to the living room/hallway makeover!! I didn’t realize you are re-doing or have re-done them! I can’t wait to see the new reveal!!!!
Yay, I’ve been dying to paint my trim black but what do you think about leaving the doors white?
Cool, now you can invite NBA players over to see your pretty house!
Looks awesome Mandi!!
Wow, what a difference! I love that you painted the trim black instead of white and I LOVE what you’ve done with your hallway 🙂
FREAKIN awesome woman!
You are the best. I love this! Could you please just come to Summer Camp at my house?! We could have all sorts of fun DIY adventures.
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It looks awesome! I am in love with your diagonal planked wall! I can’t wait to see more of it!!
AH! Awesome hallway treatment. Love how bright it looks now.
Seriously Mandy, you are a GENIUS. I’m so bummed that Epic Room Makeover is already selected for this year, because we literally JUST bought a house and it has these crazy timber beams in what we’re calling the Den. I have no idea what to do with them! One part of me finds them charming and rustic, but the other part of me thinks they’re dated and janky looking. I would love love love to see what you’d do with the room… it’s got so much potential – a HUGE fireplace, a wet bar flanked by built-in bookshelves, a bay window, and original 1970’s brick floors!
It’s so unique, but I’m afraid I’ll never figure out how to make it feel like MINE. Maybe I’ll just leave it alone for a year and try again next year 🙂
I LOVE your blog! You’ve got the most creative design ideas!
Can I please tell you how much I love the style you’re switching to!? I’ve been following your blog for a long time now but these are some of the first pictures I’ve seen that I’m actually anxious for the tutorial and excited to find a place to do it in my own house! So, whatever bug bit you in the middle of the night, it can stay!
diagonal paneling? what the what? who even thinks of these things? that looks completely fetch. (mean girls reference. If you got it, we are officially friends)
Stop trying to make “fetch” happen.
This was my fav video you made. I love that you shared a real life mom moment, this is my life. (i just had to stop and change a poopy diaper in the middle of typing this ha ha). My other fav is how you are all decked out in safety gear and Court is like “what ev”. 😉 I love your style and how sophisticated it has become. I swear that the shot of your finished door frame looks like what it could be in House Beautiful.
It looks awesome!! I just hope other DIYers don’t just cut down any old beam they don’t like. As the blogger, please remind them that, in some homes, the beam may be structural….whether it’s an eye sore, makes “footy walls”, or not! 🙂 They could end up with REAL problems, and not just an eye sore, if they take out something and it’s structural. Have.fun in AZ!
It looks awesome!! I just hope other DIYers don’t just cut down any old beam they don’t like. As the blogger, please remind them that, in some homes, the beam may be structural….whether it’s an eye sore, makes “footy walls”, or not! 🙂 They could end up with REAL problems, and not just an eye sore, if they take out something and it’s structural. Have.fun in AZ!
It looks awesome!! I just hope other DIYers don’t just cut down any old beam they don’t like. As the blogger, please remind them that, in some homes, the beam may be structural….whether it’s an eye sore, makes “footy walls”, or not! 🙂 They could end up with REAL problems, and not just an eye sore, if they take out something and it’s structural. Have.fun in AZ!
that looks awesome!!! i just freaking love your style!! question- will the base boards and crown be in black or white???
and poor little dylan, she just wanted some paper!!! lol, kids are so funny!!!
Your timing is incredibly. I did the exact opposite this week, and put in a transom! https://www.storefrontlife.com/cutting-a-hole-in-the-wall/
You’re killing me. I want a house bad enough already, but you make me feel like I need a house. Patience Amanda, patience.
That looks awesome!!!
Awesome!! Looks sooo much better! And I’m excited to see the hallway!
I want to be Ivie’s favorite too! Ha ha. That was so cute. Thanks for the fun video & for sharing your project with us. It looks great.
Warmly, Michelle
One word: LOVE!~!~! SOOOO much better!
Unbelievably super crazy awesome cool!! Wow. It has been awhile since a project got me this excited. Note to self, come back here often.
xo,
Johnnie
That mask photo collage is the coolest thing I’ve seen since forever. I have no other choice but to share it on my Facebook page. xo
I seriously can NOT wait to see how you did youra planked wall. I am SO doing that in my living room this winter! I love it!!!
Mandi, I think you are amazing. One thought/question for you. Would you ever consider doing an “Ask Mandi” segment on your blog or through FB? I have a few features in my home that I hate, but I can’t figure out what to do with them and I’m sure you would think of something awesome.