Anyone who visits around here knows I’m a pretty big enthusiast for anything related to home improvement.   Recently, I was introduced to a website called DiggersList.  As much as I pride myself in scoring good deals, I confess I was unaware of this new online resource.  That’s the thing I love about the internet ~  there is always an innovative new site popping up that’s oh-so-helpful to folks like you and me. 

DiggersList is the new online construction classifieds ~ in essence, the ‘Craigslist’ for DIYers searching for discount home improvement supplies.  At DiggersList you can browse for tools, materials, heavy equipment, and list what you’re looking for too, all at less than retail prices. 

For those of us needing to save a buck or two, DiggersList is worthy of your visit. 

I did a little *digging* myself and sent over a few questions to founder Matthew Knox. 

Q:  Tell us how you came up with the idea for DiggersList.  What’s your company’s philosophy?

I used to be an insurance broker for contractors and would hear them say all the time that they would have excess building materials left over after every project, and not just bricks & lumber …but also tile, fixtures, cabinetry, etc., and they did not have a good place to sell it.  

So, they would either store it or throw it away contributing to the 160 million tons of construction related waste each year.

The same goes for most DIY projects, we all usually end up with more than we need. So, I teamed up with my brother Johnnie and we created DiggersList.com, a home improvement classifieds.   We are DIYers ourselves, so if we can save money on some great improvement items and have a have a positive environmental impact, we are in.

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There’s this skinny little piece of wall in between my pantry and microwave that I thought was desperately in need of a memo board.  I’ve always wanted a little chalkboard right there so I could remind myself of what I needed to pick up at the grocery store that week. 

My problem was that I couldn’t find anything tall and skinny with character to fit that narrow patch of wall.   Also, there’s a meddlesome electrical panel inside the pantry, which restricts any decor in this space.  But then I spied an old wood framed mirror with chipped paint at the local salvage yard.  I decided to give it a makeover, and repurpose it as a little chalkboard in my kitchen!

Here’s my sweet little salvaged mirror turned memo board !

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Greetings friends, announcement announcement !  There’s a new weekly series around these parts called “Fan-tastic Feature”.   That’s where one of YOU gets to be in the spotlight with one of your original articles or creations! 

Hear ye, hear ye, now accepting submissions for your most fantabulous most fan-tastic projects !  Got a spectacular before and after?  A pretty table or mantelscape ?  A spruced up space?  A nifty gardening tip?  A scrumptious recipe worthy of showcasing?   A suuuuuper cute holiday craft?  A tour of your local town that would make us want to visit?  Well, why don’t you email me with your submission! 

If you read this blog, you know I love to write about many things beyond DIY projects.  I adore a decadent dessert, I’m always looking for new places to visit, and I can never get enough of a great before and after.   One of the things I’ve learned about blogging over the last year is that there is a lot of talent out there and I’d like to be one of the several sites to showcase it. 

Here are the requirements:  originality, creativity, & high quality, high resolution photographs and a clear tutorial and/or interesting article.  Your project, craft, space, or recipe cannot have been featured on any larger sites (Design*Sponge, Apartment Therapy, etc.).  I’m looking for the fresh, fabulous, and the inspiring to be featured once a week!

So let’s kick it off with Sarah’s ingenious idea ~  a hand dyed Chevron rug.  This is something I never would have dared to do, and yet, after seeing Sarah’s tutorial, it seems very simple.

Sarah’s Hand Dyed Chevron Rug

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I began this transition from baby room to big boy space several months ago, but I hit a few road blocks along the way.  One of the challenges was finding a proper dresser for my little guy ~ one that provided plenty of storage, complemented the style of his room, and was the proper scale for the wall where it sits.

For months, I’ve had my eye on the IKEA Hemnes dresser in white.  I delayed purchasing it because it’s a two hour round trip to the closest IKEA, and it’s $300 buckaroos, plus California state tax, plus assembly.  Grrrr.  Delay. Delay. Delay. 

So when I spied a listing for an Hemnes dresser on Craiglist last week for sale by a couple in my hometown for half the retail price, I scooped it up.  Only problem ~ it was black.  Not that I don’t like black furniture, but it was too dark for the little lad’s room. 

So I painted it.  Then added some blue stripey trim around the drawers just for fun. 

Before:

After:

Perfect !

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