Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Lowe’s. Although we were compensated to write this post, all opinions and content are our own, and we stand behind and use all brands and products we endorse on our site.
If you guys caught our last post and had been following our stories on our Instagram the last few weeks, then you know we’ve been busy sharing all about the fun we’ve been having on The UpSkill Project with Lowe’s.
The UpSkill Project has been traveling around the U.S. throughout the year teaching and empowering homeowners with the skills needed to complete their DIY projects.
We were so excited when they made their way to Minnesota! Five local Twin Cities residents were chosen from their contest earlier this spring and the winners received side-by-side skill instructions from Lowe’s DIY experts and local Red Vest employees. We were so excited when they invited us to be part of the fun and document one of these local’s transformations.
Homeowners were asked to submit videos of the project they wanted to complete in their home and talk through why learning those home improvement skills were important. A lot of you guys shared your videos with us also and they were all SO awesome, we had some good laughs and we have no clue how Lowe’s ever decided on the winners. I can’t imagine how tough of a decision it was for them!
So if you saw this van driving around the U.S., this was the Lowe’s crew live in action! Jamie is now adamant we need to get a work van instead of a truck…
We got the privilege of hanging out with this adorable newlywed couple in their quaint South Minneapolis home to watch them transform their entryway. I mean how adorable is this home?! I told them they better not ever re-paint those blue shutters.
Right after the purchase of their home they did a lot of slight refreshes to the home and walked us through what they had done. They did such a great job! One space that weighed on their mind that they wanted to spice up was their entryway.They wanted to update the space to give it a more modern look by adding in new tile flooring, a shiplap accent wall, and updated lighting fixtures.
They said those skills were a little over their head, so they were very grateful when Lowe’s chose them as one of the lucky participants and came out to teach them just how to DIY. The couple had been wanting to learn more home improvement skills of their own and said they learned a ton throughout this process. By the end, they feel more prepared and confident to take on additional DIY projects in their home.
So first let’s rewind to the fun part…
The before…
Under Construction…
The homeowners said the demo wasn’t the easiest and took a lot of work, which we know from experience that tile can be tricky to remove. A lot of times we’re forced to use jackhammers to break it all up.
Ensuring you have the right tools to do your project will also make for an easier demo and installation process. If you’re ever questioning what tools you need or even how to work them, ask a Red Vest employee at your local Lowe’s and they will be happy to point you in the right direction.
The homeowners wanted to lay out the floor in a herringbone pattern design, which is a timeless look and one we love. It also is not the simplest of installations, but with the help of the Lowe’s crew, they were able to learn how to install it and felt confident they’d be able to take on a tiling project on their own next time. When doing a more intricate design starting with a smaller space is a great idea before you tackle a larger project. Regardless of the size of project, we always recommend doing a dry practice run when it comes to tiling.
Day one we spent most of the day just prepping before getting to work. Prep work, such as getting the materials, getting them measured, cut, laid out, and of course rounding up all the tools you need, always takes the longest. However, if you take the time to do the prep, the actual work and install go a lot smoother! We always recommend to homeowners to plan more time to design, prep and demo than you think. Because that is what always takes the longest. It helped the homeowners to be involved in the prep, as they saw the amount of work that needed to go into it, and helped them plan out the projects from the materials down to the tools.
Did you know when that when you’re reusing your old trim you have to pull each of the old nails out before you rehanging? Simple steps like this can be tedious, but with the right tips, it can be an easy process. The homeowner was initially trying to individually hammer the nails out from the back. Then Jamie quickly showed the homeowner his top tip which is to take a pliers and bend the nail quickly back and forth and it will easily snap off. Simple tips like make a world of a difference not only for physical labor but time.
After day two we asked the homeowners what they were most surprised about during this DIY process and they said they had no idea how much time prepping and demoing went into projects. The planning and the preparation always takes longer than the actual work, but it’s worth it to avoid mistakes! It can be intimidating taking on a new project, but by learning simple DIY skills, you’ll find that you can actually do it yourself quite easily.
After all the tips these homeowners learned when it came to the preparation and physical labor, they were feeling way more comfortable and prepared for their next DIY project.
And the after…
The Lowe’s team showed them step-by-step how to measure, cut, tile and hang shiplap. The homeowners did such an awesome job; we were so impressed with the final result that they DIY’d. It always feels so good to know that you had a part in transforming your home and these homeowners definitely felt that!
How great of a job for a first-time tile installer is this?!
And look how inviting their newly remodeled entryway is now! And these homeowners did this all with the help of The UpSkill Project team and the Rest Vest’s from a local Twin Citie’s Lowe’s within just a few days.
We got a lot of questions on this light fixture and yes, you can find all the materials that they used in this space from Lowe’s.
Honestly, that is one of our favorite things about shopping at Lowe’s, their tile and lighting selections. We’re always amazed at the selections they have and how similar they look to high-end retailers.
It was such a fun experience to be involved with The UpSkill Project! We absolutely loved getting to know this couple and watch them transform their dream home. The best part is that they are planning to use their new DIY skills to tackle their kitchen next.
