Cabinet hanging is still underway in the laundry room (more details tomorrow!), and since yesterday’s post included a giveaway (we were blown away that over 25,000 of you took the poll), I wanted to share a quick roundup of three recent redo projects. Sometimes a first try doesn’t stick, and a second pass turns out to be the solution—at least that’s been our experience lately.
Redo #1. Our cork bulletin board in the office. When we built this a few months ago, we used Loctite Spray Adhesive because the label said it was suitable for bonding cork to wood. Over time, though, the cork tiles slowly began to peel away from the backing. In hindsight, the product notes recommended spraying both surfaces, but we avoided spraying the wood backing indoors and only sprayed the cork outside before pressing each tile in place. That may have been a factor; other readers reported similar problems even when they sprayed both sides.
To reinforce the tiles I removed Clara’s artwork, applied Aleene’s Tacky Glue to the back of each square, and used a few tiny finish nails to secure the corners. The nails are so small they sink into the cork and are barely visible.
So far this combo of glue and discrete nails has held up well—through heat and humidity—so we consider this redo a success.
Redo #2. Our red Adirondack chairs outside. A couple of years ago we splurged on professionally painted Adirondack chairs, expecting the polyurethane finish to stand up to sun and weather. They lasted longer than one season, but after two summers the red had faded dramatically. In photos they sometimes looked fine, but without the cushions the color appeared very washed out and tired.
To revive them and add better protection, I gave the chairs three thin coats of Rust-Oleum Gloss Protective Enamel in Regal Red. This product includes primer and is formulated for outdoor wood furniture, so it seemed like a suitable choice. I flipped the chairs and sprayed their undersides first—resting them on the tops of the seats and arms—then turned them upright to finish the rest of the surfaces. The cardboard used underneath clearly shows the spray pattern from that process.
The refreshed chairs now look nearly new, and they match the red stool by the egg chair, which is a nice bonus. Only time will tell whether this will become an every-few-years maintenance routine, but seeing such good results makes me more likely to do this type of upkeep again.
Redo #3. The little light-turned-terrarium. I previously shared how I converted a small light fixture into a terrarium and how the real plants didn’t thrive. After readers suggested using faux succulents, I picked up a few at JoAnn, along with some decorative white aquarium rocks from the pet store when I was buying Burger’s food. Clara and I filled the glass case with the white rocks, arranged the faux succulents, and she insisted a small deer figurine go inside as well. It was a quick, fun project and now the glass case looks fresh and low-maintenance.
I still have a few real houseplants that require watering and attention, but it’s reassuring to have an unkillable faux option displayed alongside them.
Bonus moment: months ago I started painting a door hanger sign while making tiny desserts for Clara’s tea parties and intended it to be a “please don’t ring the bell—the baby is sleeping” style sign. After priming the background white, I stalled on the lettering and eventually used a red Sharpie to write a simple message. Proud of my quick fix, I went to hang the sign and then realized our front door doesn’t have a doorknob.
I laughed so hard I cried. After sitting on the kitchen counter for months, the sign finally found a home when I slipped it over the door knocker. It works beautifully—the delivery drivers leave packages without ringing the bell and waking Burger the Barking Maniac. A simple, slightly ridiculous win.
The takeaway from these projects? If your first attempt doesn’t work, try again—and double-check the details (like whether your front door even has a knob) before you finish a DIY sign. Small maintenance tasks, fresh coats of paint, and creative second tries can make a big difference in how things look and function.
Update – Wanna know where we got items in our house or what paint colors we used? Click this button: