Can we still be friends if I tell you I think I’m usually, almost always, pretty good chance, inevitably….

….right.

99.9999999 % of the time.

Just ask my family.

But every now and then?

Every so often?

Once in a blue moon….

….a little wrong shows up and surprises me.

Are you ready for true confessions?

Are you ready for a little story about a girl who thought she knew it all?

Grab some refreshment.

I’m eating humble pie.

Several weeks ago at a thrift store we found this.

A cabinet that needed a little TLC and some paint and a makeover so we took it home and dusted it off (literally) and changed it up.

And now?

It looks like this.

It’s in the corner of my office and I came up with the brilliant idea to use it to organize all the office supplies that were downstairs and in the closet.

So we changed up the inside a little and now?

It looks like this.

See those cork panels?

I came up with the idea of adding cork to the inside of the doors to have a place to help me organize my thoughts.

You know.

The ones that are always chasing rabbits.

The cork panels came in a kit from Walmart with stickers and adhesive and instructions for applying them to any surface.

I tore open the package and ripped off the plastic and added a few adhesive tabs to the back and marched over to the cabinet and tossed open the doors.

My husband stared at me from across the room with an anxious look.

“Aren’t you going to read the instructions? Aren’t you going to measure? Don’t you need to figure out where the middle of the door is?” he said as the panic crept into his voice.

Measuring?

Instructions?

What in the world was he talking about?

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Who has time for all that?” I said turning around to the doors clutching the tile piece in my hand.

I eyeballed the door and squinted to make sure I was close and promptly stuck the tile onto the door.

And then another and then another and another.

Five minutes and all the cork was in place on the inside of the doors.

HE ALMOST HAD A COME APART.

He looked at me in disbelief.

“Just like that?” he said incredulously. “You are literally sticking the tiles on the door just like that? What if they fall off? What if they are crooked? What if they don’t stick?”

“Yep. Just like that,” I replied. “It’s so much easier that way.”

And then I smiled and laughed and said these famous last words, “After all? Instructions are overrated.”

Then I organized the rest of the cabinet and shut the doors and walked away.

And thought to myself.

“KariAnne. You. Are. Amazing.”

“And right.”

The next day we bought the cutest push pins and this tape to hang things up on our newly installed cork tiles.

I had notes from the twins.

And inspirational quotes.

And photos of projects that I want to work on.

All ready to hang up on the inside of the doors.

I walked up to the doors and stood in front of them with a note in one hand and a handful of tacks in the other.

Slowly I opened one door.

And then the other.

From inside the cabinet, something drifted down and fell on my toes.

You know.

You guessed it.

After all, you are brilliant and intelligent and are probably right more times than I am.

Yep.

It was the tiles.

They weren’t stuck any more. They weren’t attached to the inside of the cabinet. They weren’t on the doors.

Not. A. Single. One.

Instead? They were all over the floor.

I looked at my husband.

And he looked at me.

To his credit? He didn’t say a single word.

Instead?

He went and got his drill and tiny screws and measured the doors.

And installed the tiles so they look like this.

Every tile perfectly installed.

Perfectly in place.

Perfectly in line.

Perfection on every door.

The moral of this cork-laden tale?

Instructions are there for a reason.

Measuring is good for the soul.

No one is ever right as much as they think they are.

And the best decision I ever made….

….was to fall in love with a spreadsheet. 🙂

PS Most of the photos in this post were taken by the incredible Kenna Lyn Photography.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

  1. Image for Lori Lori

    So nice for him not to say anything...that actually says a thousand words in silence..if that's a thing:0) I did the same thing with the Command strips. You really do have to clean the area with alcohol before they will stay stuck. Your makeover cabinet looks awesome!!

  2. Image for Kim Waldorf Kim Waldorf

    This was a great story for Monday morning! The cabinet looks fantastic and perfect in the room! Don't feel bad about being wrong. It only happens about .01% of the time! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Image for DeMarie Ingrahan DeMarie Ingrahan

    Hahaha. Gosh I hate it when my hubby is right about things like this ! Your guy is one in a million for being tight-lipped and so accommodating. He’s a keeper. This piece looks smashing and so very functional. And might I say, you look fabulous. ❤️

  4. Image for Cindi Kinsey Cindi Kinsey

    Ahhh, giving credit where credit is due is such a good thing. And being right all of the time is over-rated. Don't you think?😊

  5. Image for Robbin Robbin

    But it was just a LITTLE mistake HAHAHA!!! Hubby to the rescue!!!!And by the way, I don't know what looks prettier . . you or that cabinet!!! Great job girl!!!!

  6. Image for Jackie Jackie

    I did the same thing several years ago. Mine remained stuck BUT I neglected to notice that the cork was too thin. Stuck on the wood panel I could barely push a push pin in. Sadly never use them. Yours look great and am seriously thinking of painting my armoire from it’s dark mahogany color to lighter. You always give me so many ideas.

  7. Image for Kim Kim

    Directions are good, but innovations are made by those who don't read them. Sounds like you have a perfect balance in your household. Beautiful job!

  8. Image for Constance Bordelon Constance Bordelon

    LOVE the cabinet! Wish I could find awesome pieces of furniture in our thrift stores. By the way... You look so good. Please share your weight loss secret... I am a girl struggling to look and feel amazing... Thanks

  9. Image for margo margo

    Thank you for making me laugh out loud! I'm not a reader of instructions either. All's well that ends well, right?! Look at that fabulous way to organize your supplies....and look at you! Both amazing. XOXO

  10. Image for Debbie Debbie

    love the cabinet. I had the EXACT same thing happen with cork tiles. I think the adhesive doesn't stick to the finish....but now I know to use screws....because my tiles are still waiting to be used after MULTIPLE tries to get them to stick. Thanks for the idea. (what size screws were used?)

    1. Image for Kris Kris

      Me too! I almost commented the first time KariAnne posted about the cabinet but then decided that perhaps the adhesive has been improved over the years. I think her husband hit on the best solution. My tiles are in a closet somewhere. Haha. In other news ... KariAnne came out from behind a visual barrier and she looks mah-velous, dahling!

  11. Image for Rita Grisetti Rita Grisetti

    You have brought a smile to my face yet again! I love your attitude and honesty. And God bless your husband.

  12. Image for Jayne McLeod Jayne McLeod

    Instructions Smuchkins ... who needs them .... These are the things that happen in life that make it so interesting each day !!! What a very smart man YOU married, a very smart man to not say anything ... although I bet if you had checked real close you would have seen his shoulders going up and down and heard a wee bit of a "chuckling smile" as he left to get the screwdriver, Really, who could have helped themselves ..... I'm chuckling right now, and I think you're brillant ! Thanks for the giggles , Jayne

  13. Image for Cathie Collins Cathie Collins

    Great story, thanks for the laugh on this tired Monday!! It reminds me of when I was in 8th grade and we had a test and the teacher said be careful and read all the instructions. I thinks half the class didn't read the instructions which were to just fill in your name and date at the top of the sheet. Needless to say after that I always read the instructions.

  14. Image for JC JC

    I have absolutely no idea why your approach didn't hold. I would have done the same thing! 😊 The final result looks great!

  15. Image for Renee Renee

    Thank you for my chuckle of the day! On a cold and breezy Virginia morning, I needed a pick me up. You are too funny! And good for your husband—- some things are better left unsaid...

  16. Image for Beth Beth

    This made me chuckle - it sounds just like what I would do! I always love your stories and your hair. Please share deets on that top - the color is stunning on you!

  17. Image for Kristy Kristy

    Girl, you are looking SO good!! Good job with the weight loss! Would love to hear how your doing it and where did you get that cute shirt?? :-)

  18. Image for Deedra Deedra

    Love the armoire but had to tell you that you look great!! Please do tell us your weight loss secret or program. I need a plan...... seriously!

  19. Image for Tammy Tammy

    Too funny, KariAnne! I remember you tell me about the install of the cork. We all have to eat humble pie sometimes. LOL The important thing, the project turned out amazing!

  20. Image for maureen maureen

    At least you came clean! I have the impatience bug too on occasion. You are looking amazing! Isn't it fun to shop for new clothes and feeling good in them! Keep up being honest and doing what you are doing in the healthy eating department.

  21. Image for Marlene Stephenson Marlene Stephenson

    Humble pie, you ate it with a smile, knowing there's one thing you did perfect, married your sweet husband. Laughing at you knowing I never read instructions,lol!!

  22. Image for Barbara Barbara

    yes! I agree with your weight loss, how did you lose the tummy (if that was an issue). My upper torso is bigger than the bottom half. Now if I can just get them to match (lower half is the goal)

  23. Image for Nita Nita

    When all else fails.....read the directions! lol I think we've all done that at one time or another and thankfully it's not a big deal. You do look marvelous with your weight loss. Congratulations!

  24. Image for Donna Marie Donna Marie

    You look sooooo good!!! I just look at the pictures!Lol And if all else fails; Go back and read the directions!!! Lol

  25. Image for Terie Terie

    Love this so much and sounds exactly like something I would do which would throw my Engineer into fits 😳 Glad it worked out and that you aren’t right 100% because then you would be perfect and perfect is boring ! I heard once that “ Instructions limit Creativity” in my case that is true - I’m always trying to come up with creative solutions for making things work when I didn’t read the instructions 😂

  26. Image for MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!)

    KariAnne, what a sweet story! So nice that your wonderful hubby came to the rescue! I think that most of us don't bother to take the time to read the instructions as most times, things look so easy to do! You look so cute in your outfit! I'm sure you are very proud of your achievement thus far! You are doing great! So happy for you! Have a great week!

  27. Image for Lisa Lisa

    Karianne You look just incredibly lovely! Please oh please, tell me where you got your top and jeans,I want to get them as a surprise birthday gift for one of my sisters.she adores you and has been ill, want to cheer her up ,thank you so much! That cabinet is awesome, enjoy!

  28. Image for Anna Anna

    Great story , and yes we all need a ‘ spreadsheet chap’ to get us out of a fix . Great cabinet but how I long for some colour, a bit too virginal for me I’m afraid !!

  29. Image for Denise Denise

    I had to do a double take. I thought it was one of your girls in the photo! You look amazing. That top is very flattering on your new body. Please send me the source if you can for it. Maybe it could do the same for me!

  30. Image for Carolyn Carolyn

    I have followed your blog for years. I love your style, both decorating and clothing! Where did you get that beautiful top? Could you do a blog post on where you shop for your clothing?

Comments are closed.