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*2021 Update- Wow! My style has changed! Check out the post below for a current look at our house now and the projects we’re done.*
My French Country Cottage Inspired Exterior Reveal!
I did not put in shiplap because it’s what’s popular. I repeat: I did not put in shiplap because it’s what’s popular. 😉
With Fixer Upper farmhouse style continually on the rise (anyone check out Joanna Gaines’ new Target line yet?), I can pretty much sum up a Fixer Upper episode into taking down a wall, adding hardwood floors, installing beams, and putting shiplap somewhere.
I’m a fan of the rustic style, but at times I like to stay away from what everyone else is doing. But when I installed shiplap willingly, I knew I had joined the packs of her millions of devoted followers. I can just hear my husband now- dramatic much?
We’ve been trying to tie up some loose projects before we keep starting new ones, and something that was bothering me was our unfinished entryway. I still want a new floor there but that’s beside the point.
When we first moved in, it was just a rusty, leaning metal staircase that was no way safe.
After much thought, we replaced it with a half wall and built-in bookcases which I LOVED.
However, the wall didn’t look as seamless as I wanted (up close). You see, both hubby and I HATE mudding and probably didn’t spend as much time on it as we could. After recently spending an extended weekend taping and mudding, taping and mudding, taping and mudding (you get the picture), poor Titus was fed up with this messy and not-so-fun job and I didn’t blame him (seeing as he was actually the one doing it).
I spent a quick Pinterest search moment to see what people did in their entryway to add a “wow” factor. I barely got through my sentence of “Hey, you know, instead of doing the mudding we could just plank it” before Titus jumped in with a “YES” and was off to Lowes within the hour.
Adding Shiplap to a Split Level Entryway
It was a fairly easy process of installation (said through observation, not actually doing it). We had the planks cut 8″ by Lowes. You pretty much just nail it up and paint it. Finding pieces that go together and cutting around stairs were the longest/hardest parts, but it’s easily a 1-2 day project and under $100. We painted it white because that’s just what you do with shiplap, right?
After…
The boards weren’t cut as nicely as I would have hoped, so there is a little bit of an uneven gap in some spots that I don’t love. We should have scratched those boards. Also, in hindsight, we should have tried to make the gaps more even with a spacer.
But even though the project was originally a “fix”, I really do love the outcome. The white brightens up the entryway and the wood planks add a cool “oomph”. We added trim around the bookcase and that helped to make it feel more put together.
Now if I were truly going all farmhouse I would add a cotton wreath at the end wall. I think I may just leave it blank…out of defiance. 😉 #notstubbornatall
So there you have it! Our easy and inexpensive wood planking/ shiplap entryway project. If there’s anything I’m learning in DIY projects it’s that ya win some and ya lose some. Sometimes you have to go back and fix your mistakes and sometimes you can just cover them up and act like it was your plan all along. 🙂
*Update- We sold this house!*
