Definitely leave the shelves wooden, you could even get a water-based poly-in-one top coat to protect and seal the wood so that its protected from scratches overtime. The water-based/poly-in-one finishes are safe to apply indoors, non-smelly and safe for kids and pets, so don't get anything oil based as its the opposite, one tiny can is enough for those shelves. Hope that helps!
Jessica is one of the only people whose eyes sparkle almost every time she smiles. There is so much love within her that I can feel it through the screen. I envy you! But more so than that I adore your shine.
A little painting tip for future projects: Remove switch plates and outlet covers before painting a room because it will ensure that the finished paint job will have a clean look. It also makes painting those areas so much easier.
Just a screw or two each and looks SO much better. Maybe keep that task to Jake or Chris but they could do that in no time at all and good chance to learn about the electricity inside...basically, hands off! That was my only thought maybe they would leave the outlet covers on for the majority of the work then remove, paint beneath & replace for minimal exposed electrical outlet time. Remember, safety third!
My guess, with the young kids helping, they didn't want exposed live wires they might accidentally touch. But I agree, much better to remove them. Probably could have just saved that for after the kids went to bed.
Duncan’s Acomplishments: “I got to paint, and pour cereal”. I wish my acomplishments were as simple as that. 😂 Gosh you’re kids are so funny and cute. I love your family! 💛
For the shelves- Get a nice stain that matches the shade of white (warm, neutral,cool) the stain will emphasise the grain and give that space more purpose rather than having white shelves and then blending in/ getting lost in the corner 😁
Lukey is a beam of light every time the camera turns to him! Nothing makes me happier than the noises he makes! The "DAHHHH" in the intro song is so fitting for his sweet personality.
The shelves look great, and a sealant or stain plus sealant would indeed be beneficial because it will help prevent warping from humidity and scratches, dinks, and splintering from general use. The wood angles not lining up perfectly will come in handy for running the electrical cords for Santa's Village.
Wood worker here! I love the contrast of the wood vs the white walls. If you don't paint them you can seal them in polyurethane (smells and takes a long time to dry) or shellac which is quick drying and doesn't smell as bad. I suggest clear shellac, sand lightly between coats, and do 2-3 coats of it, only because it dries fast. Polycrylic is a water based sealer you can use too. Let it cure overnight before putting things on it. 🖤
A stain would be nice and warm but before you do anything, remove the shelves from the walls and stain them outside and then bring them in so you don't have to worry about getting stain on the walls. Also, in the future remove the face plates and outlet covers before painting.
Christopher - instead of a metal plate you could join the shelves with a dowel pin joint. Drill aligning holes, pop the dowel pins in and slot them together just like Swedish flat pack. Joining them this way should decrease the movement of the join from the wood warping as well.
Every time my family moved when I was a kid, my dad would paint my brother's and my room any color we wanted. It was so fun to see him paint. The paint looks great, I know it had to be a lot of fun for Chris, Jacob, Parker, and Duncan!
I love how far Lukey has come.. from having a bit of a tougher battle learning to talk to being so happy and eager to say just anything at all! He is so sweet :)
Hey guys - home schooling question for you. I do not have children currently, and i was not home schooled, but i have heard it’s expensive and seeing as you guys have a sport team sized family ;) i was curious how you guys keep your costs managable for the kids and balance cost with quality/resources for them? Would love to see a video of you guys discussing logistics of this.
home schooling isn't expensive and a lot of the resources and things that the kids need to do are free and a ton of stuff they do on their outings can be used for different school activities and needs. You can make it as expensive or inexpensive as you want. get creative, if you choose to homeschool after you have kids
Jessica was especially adorable and hilarious in this vlog (she always is… but I her “this is the house” and “designer people tell me what’s right and wrong” slayed me)
Ditto to the comment on Jessica's eyes. So much sparkle spunk and so much love. Your a wonderful person and strong. Caring sincere which is a good thing to live by. All your children are so caring, loving too. Fantastic parenting. God bless you and your family. Thank you for sharing the videos
its kinda amazing how many talents chris has. woodworking,guitar maker, magician, comedy writer/producer,master video editor, extremely fertile, also super nice.
I love this entire family so much, and Duncan just makes my freaking day. Duncan is the definition of someone who marches to the beat of his own drum. Like, Duncan is living in his own little world and it’s full of light and happiness. 😂🙌🏼
I think the wood looks good. Don't know about stains and such but I think the wood makes the cabinett underneath look better. If it was all white it would feel "unballanced" to me
Hey advice from a carpenter! The reason your shelf is not stable is due to the type of brackets you’re using and the placement of said brackets. You should put one of the brackets directly in the corner of the room so it is holding broth pcs of wood. Also the type of brackets should be as long as or close to as long as the wood being installed, also should be a 90 degree bend rather than the curved corner.
Love this family, they are amazing parents and I have no idea how you do it all but you do an amazing job, all of your children are a absolute credit to you both 💖💖 xxxxxxxx
Hello life can stop a lot of projects and process of things I do understand. Small and steady. Plus you've got tons of wonderful children who are fantastic super helpers. Good luck.
The shelves natural bring in such a beautiful warmth to the room and don’t wash it out too much with all the white. I am a paint rep and I would definitely recommend trying out the minwax poly shades to stain the shelves. It’s super easy to use and will really highlight the wood and make it look finished. I love the classic oak color. So natural and warm!
Wow!! I like the look of the natural wood as well. Painting them white might make it look more uniform, but leaving them is a bit more eclectic and fun. Also, I love that the kids are so excited about projects like that- less pushback as they get older(maybe)
Natural looks great! You can get a pocket hole jig by Kreg (and some wood glue) to attach those pieces together which should help them stay together over time as wood often shrinks/moves over time since it's live and not manufactured
I like the natural wood but maybe oiled or stained slightly darker :) But everything is looking amazing! You have a great construction crew there with Parker, Duncan and Jacob.... oh and Christopher too haha
Jessica, you can definitely leave the shelves as they are. It is beautiful. You can put a stain or just a top coat to seal it. I love that you want help deciding, but you know what you want and know what you like. You have a great eye for things too. You all did so great on the painting and shelves.
Team natural wood!! I would NOT even stain the wood a different color, I love that light cool tone wood! Very Scandinavian! I would maybe add a touch of clear polyurethane finish to protect the wood, give a slight shine (not as dull or flat), and most importantly easy to clean/dust!
The bottom shelf would be good for a desk area too like you could buy a small stall with the lid lifts up for storage but other then that it can be turned in a desk or back to holding items but thr stall with just look natural in the house so u can go back and forth using it as that space randomly thought lol
I like the natural wood. You all did great! I didn't mind the patchwork paint though, made me feel like I wouldn't have to be embarrassed if you randomly showed up at my house. 🤣
It looks great!! I know the feelings of having unfinished projects around the house for months at a time so I'm happy for you guys that you went for it. This makes me want to work on some of my unfinished house projects We currently have some white spots in our doorway at my home right now too ahah
I believe your children are being better educated than many in the system. 1st of all, you have a personal interest in it for them, are being creative in tailoring it to how each of them learn, as well as, feeling JOY & accomplishment in learning. Bravo 👏
Hey guys! I'm a Painter by trade, the shelves look great as is, but if you do not paint them you should stain them and/or put a clear coat to seal the wood to make it easier to clean and it will protect the wood. Also another cool thing about velvet paint is it touches up really easily, if you ever need to, without alot of "flashing" (being able to tell the spot where you painted). It looks great guys!
The wood on the shelf is definitely the way to go! It ties perfectly with your couch and the table underneath. Jessica definitely has a keen eye for design, we love to see it 🥰
I’m in love with that little, green stand!! Maybe you could do like a white wash on the shelves? Something where you could still see the grain, but there isn’t as much contrast between the white and wood.
I'd definitely leave them natural colored! It looks really good and it makes a nice contrast with the all-white walls. Also, if you would put bright colored accesoires on them it will make them pop more against the white and the wood :)
It’s amazing how much you were able to get done in one day wow!!! It feels so good to cross off little projects like that, I have quite a few of my own that you’ve motivated me to make some headway on!
Jessica is so cute! She is me trying to show those shelves off! They look lovely natural. Just be sure to seal them with something OUTSIDE to protect them. Outside bc most options stink! Christopher is a rock star building those shelves! Love them. My husband just built a new 7' dining table. His first time wood working. (He is a welder/fabricator/maintainer). He redid our existing table by sanding, painting, sealing the legs white and then covered up the table top which was cherry laminate to now be natural pine with white trim. Then sealed and trimmed feet down a bit. Saved us about 1k! It looks lovely. Handy people are a blessing! So great that the kids helped paint too. I use to help my dad paint, roof etc. Great life experience! Hugs from Florida!
I love the natural color and grain of that wood! it would definitely need a coat or two of varnish, but i'm sure Chris could do a fantastic job of that too!
It already looks great, andI love the wood's natural look and grain! I would definitely seal/finish it, and maybe stain it a natural color to bring out the grain and make the colors pop a little more. If those brackets can take the same paint you used on the wall, I'd paint them as well to bring it all together!
I love the natural wood color of the shelves and I think it complements tan from the couch nicely! That being said if you guys decide to paint it white, I think it would look nice too. Wish you the best with the house projects! The walls look great!
Someone needs to make a compilation at the end of vlogmas of luke wanting to say hi and then duncan popping in to say good morning everyone!! Because it is just the best!
The shelves are so pretty! I would say if you like the natural look to find a stain that is really close to the natural color of the wood so that they have a sealed feel and look.
yes i think the natural wood color looks really nice with the white walls! I am not an expert in interior design but I absolutely ADORE interior design haha.
Do a white stain on the shelves and then a polyurethane seal! The white will blend in with the wall and look like built-ins while still being able to see the wood grain, which will give it some interest. It's gonna be great!
Definitely leave the shelves wooden, you could even get a water-based poly-in-one top coat to protect and seal the wood so that its protected from scratches overtime. The water-based/poly-in-one finishes are safe to apply indoors, non-smelly and safe for kids and pets, so don't get anything oil based as its the opposite, one tiny can is enough for those shelves. Hope that helps!
I AGREE!! That’s what I was going to tell them
Agreed!
I agree the natural look will give a small contrast against the white and makes the shelves pop
yes! poly coat to protect it from crayons 🤣
Yes stain the shelves. I like the wooden look too.:)
Jessica is one of the only people whose eyes sparkle almost every time she smiles. There is so much love within her that I can feel it through the screen. I envy you! But more so than that I adore your shine.
Facts!!!
Her eyes just glisten!!!!!🥺💖
She is such a beauty Omg
Yes!! 👏🏼
Agreed her smile radiates like a Disney princess lol. She has such a natural beauty
A little painting tip for future projects: Remove switch plates and outlet covers before painting a room because it will ensure that the finished paint job will have a clean look. It also makes painting those areas so much easier.
I was wondering why they didnt remove those too, hehe
Just a screw or two each and looks SO much better. Maybe keep that task to Jake or Chris but they could do that in no time at all and good chance to learn about the electricity inside...basically, hands off!
That was my only thought maybe they would leave the outlet covers on for the majority of the work then remove, paint beneath & replace for minimal exposed electrical outlet time. Remember, safety third!
My guess, with the young kids helping, they didn't want exposed live wires they might accidentally touch. But I agree, much better to remove them. Probably could have just saved that for after the kids went to bed.
I think the wood shelf looks great against the new white walls! It makes them stand out more if you leave them as is 😊
I would even go so far to say maybe they can stain the shelves a little darker so they stand out even more.
yeah or just a lightly tinted wood oil/conditioner, like Howard's feed-n-wax
or a nice stain!
If it were me, I would stain the shelves a little darker, but you'd still have the natural wood feel. Love you all! 💜
I suggested the same!
Yess
I agree
Duncan’s Acomplishments: “I got to paint, and pour cereal”. I wish my acomplishments were as simple as that. 😂 Gosh you’re kids are so funny and cute. I love your family! 💛
For the shelves- Get a nice stain that matches the shade of white (warm, neutral,cool) the stain will emphasise the grain and give that space more purpose rather than having white shelves and then blending in/ getting lost in the corner 😁
Yess
I would do a light stain and then seal them. The cabinet/side table below the shelves really pops as it is right now, so something to compliment it.
Lukey is a beam of light every time the camera turns to him! Nothing makes me happier than the noises he makes! The "DAHHHH" in the intro song is so fitting for his sweet personality.
The shelves look great, and a sealant or stain plus sealant would indeed be beneficial because it will help prevent warping from humidity and scratches, dinks, and splintering from general use. The wood angles not lining up perfectly will come in handy for running the electrical cords for Santa's Village.
WHEN DUNCAN WINKS MY HEART MELTS. SO GLAD TO SEE WHAT WE LEARNED IS BACK!!!!
Wood worker here! I love the contrast of the wood vs the white walls. If you don't paint them you can seal them in polyurethane (smells and takes a long time to dry) or shellac which is quick drying and doesn't smell as bad. I suggest clear shellac, sand lightly between coats, and do 2-3 coats of it, only because it dries fast. Polycrylic is a water based sealer you can use too. Let it cure overnight before putting things on it. 🖤
Duncan: "This is the best day ever! I got to paint, AND my first time pouring cereal." That's the most wholesome thing I've ever heard.
A stain would be nice and warm but before you do anything, remove the shelves from the walls and stain them outside and then bring them in so you don't have to worry about getting stain on the walls. Also, in the future remove the face plates and outlet covers before painting.
Christopher - instead of a metal plate you could join the shelves with a dowel pin joint. Drill aligning holes, pop the dowel pins in and slot them together just like Swedish flat pack. Joining them this way should decrease the movement of the join from the wood warping as well.
Omg Duncan being so thrilled about pouring cereal for the first time. That was so pure.
Every time my family moved when I was a kid, my dad would paint my brother's and my room any color we wanted. It was so fun to see him paint. The paint looks great, I know it had to be a lot of fun for Chris, Jacob, Parker, and Duncan!
luke stealing all of jessica’s food is hysterical!!
I love how far Lukey has come.. from having a bit of a tougher battle learning to talk to being so happy and eager to say just anything at all! He is so sweet :)
Hey guys - home schooling question for you. I do not have children currently, and i was not home schooled, but i have heard it’s expensive and seeing as you guys have a sport team sized family ;) i was curious how you guys keep your costs managable for the kids and balance cost with quality/resources for them? Would love to see a video of you guys discussing logistics of this.
home schooling isn't expensive and a lot of the resources and things that the kids need to do are free and a ton of stuff they do on their outings can be used for different school activities and needs. You can make it as expensive or inexpensive as you want. get creative, if you choose to homeschool after you have kids
Huh I never thought homeschooling seemed expensive, but maybe it depends on what state people are in
You guys are just parenting goals. 6 smart, respectful, responsible, creative kids. Amazing.
Jessica was especially adorable and hilarious in this vlog (she always is… but I her “this is the house” and “designer people tell me what’s right and wrong” slayed me)
The wood is pretty! If anything I would sealnor stain it so you can see the grain!🤩🤩
Stain the wood! Stain would show the grain of the wood even more. Love the shape of the shelves. Really cool.
Ditto to the comment on Jessica's eyes. So much sparkle spunk and so much love. Your a wonderful person and strong. Caring sincere which is a good thing to live by. All your children are so caring, loving too. Fantastic parenting. God bless you and your family. Thank you for sharing the videos
Thank you for bringing back “let’s talk about what we learned today” I love it!!
its kinda amazing how many talents chris has. woodworking,guitar maker, magician, comedy writer/producer,master video editor, extremely fertile, also super nice.
Lmfaooooo
"extremely fertile" caught me off guard and made me laugh lol
Duncan being excited about pouting his own milk for the first time warms my heart so 💕
The new color brightens up the house nicely!
The natural wood adds color and texture so the walls not boring
I love this entire family so much, and Duncan just makes my freaking day. Duncan is the definition of someone who marches to the beat of his own drum. Like, Duncan is living in his own little world and it’s full of light and happiness. 😂🙌🏼
Jessica is so funny, I just love her energy so much!!
I love that gorgeous wood and think it looks great with the green furniture underneath.
I like the natural wood look, plus white will show up every scratch, mark and nick. They look great the way they are!
Chris’ quick, “cause I never sleep!” statement cracked me up 😂
Reminds me of Colleen 😂
Love the natural wood shelves against the white walls xx
I think the wood looks good. Don't know about stains and such but I think the wood makes the cabinett underneath look better. If it was all white it would feel "unballanced" to me
Hey advice from a carpenter! The reason your shelf is not stable is due to the type of brackets you’re using and the placement of said brackets. You should put one of the brackets directly in the corner of the room so it is holding broth pcs of wood. Also the type of brackets should be as long as or close to as long as the wood being installed, also should be a 90 degree bend rather than the curved corner.
i swear duncan says the cutest things ever. im dying!
It's been a tough year, and it's still a ways to go till it's over. Vlogmas is more needed than ever this year
I love the wooden shelves as they are! You’ve transformed that corner of your living space, it looks gorgeous!❤️
Love this family, they are amazing parents and I have no idea how you do it all but you do an amazing job, all of your children are a absolute credit to you both 💖💖 xxxxxxxx
Hello life can stop a lot of projects and process of things
I do understand. Small and steady. Plus you've got tons of wonderful children who are fantastic super helpers. Good luck.
Natural Wood all the way for the shelves!
Duncan makes me laugh so hard he is such a natural comedian
You guys are so genuine and just love each other so much, I love you guys!
You are such a handy dad. You teach your kids so much!
I think the new paint looks great! The white is fresh and makes your space look bigger and less cluttered.
Definitely natural color for the shelves. They match while also standing out in a good way in my opinion
Those shelves are beautiful! Awesome work, Christopher and kids!
The shelves natural bring in such a beautiful warmth to the room and don’t wash it out too much with all the white. I am a paint rep and I would definitely recommend trying out the minwax poly shades to stain the shelves. It’s super easy to use and will really highlight the wood and make it look finished. I love the classic oak color. So natural and warm!
the natural look it brings the wood to a whole different level.
Wow!! I like the look of the natural wood as well. Painting them white might make it look more uniform, but leaving them is a bit more eclectic and fun. Also, I love that the kids are so excited about projects like that- less pushback as they get older(maybe)
Natural looks great! You can get a pocket hole jig by Kreg (and some wood glue) to attach those pieces together which should help them stay together over time as wood often shrinks/moves over time since it's live and not manufactured
I like the natural wood but maybe oiled or stained slightly darker :) But everything is looking amazing! You have a great construction crew there with Parker, Duncan and Jacob.... oh and Christopher too haha
Jessica, you can definitely leave the shelves as they are. It is beautiful. You can put a stain or just a top coat to seal it. I love that you want help deciding, but you know what you want and know what you like. You have a great eye for things too. You all did so great on the painting and shelves.
For the shelves, I like the natural finish. It gives it a nice contrast against the walls. If it were white, I think it might blend in too much.
Team natural wood!! I would NOT even stain the wood a different color, I love that light cool tone wood! Very Scandinavian! I would maybe add a touch of clear polyurethane finish to protect the wood, give a slight shine (not as dull or flat), and most importantly easy to clean/dust!
The bottom shelf would be good for a desk area too like you could buy a small stall with the lid lifts up for storage but other then that it can be turned in a desk or back to holding items but thr stall with just look natural in the house so u can go back and forth using it as that space randomly thought lol
I like the natural wood. You all did great! I didn't mind the patchwork paint though, made me feel like I wouldn't have to be embarrassed if you randomly showed up at my house. 🤣
It looks great!! I know the feelings of having unfinished projects around the house for months at a time so I'm happy for you guys that you went for it. This makes me want to work on some of my unfinished house projects
We currently have some white spots in our doorway at my home right now too ahah
I believe your children are being better educated than many in the system. 1st of all, you have a personal interest in it for them, are being creative in tailoring it to how each of them learn, as well as, feeling JOY & accomplishment in learning. Bravo 👏
Hey guys! I'm a Painter by trade, the shelves look great as is, but if you do not paint them you should stain them and/or put a clear coat to seal the wood to make it easier to clean and it will protect the wood. Also another cool thing about velvet paint is it touches up really easily, if you ever need to, without alot of "flashing" (being able to tell the spot where you painted). It looks great guys!
I work as an architect, so I love the before and after of houses get painted and this video it's very satisfaying to me haha!
That painting time lapse was SOOOOO satisfying 😚
The wood on the shelf is definitely the way to go! It ties perfectly with your couch and the table underneath. Jessica definitely has a keen eye for design, we love to see it 🥰
I’m in love with that little, green stand!! Maybe you could do like a white wash on the shelves? Something where you could still see the grain, but there isn’t as much contrast between the white and wood.
I'd definitely leave them natural colored! It looks really good and it makes a nice contrast with the all-white walls. Also, if you would put bright colored accesoires on them it will make them pop more against the white and the wood :)
It’s amazing how much you were able to get done in one day wow!!! It feels so good to cross off little projects like that, I have quite a few of my own that you’ve motivated me to make some headway on!
I like the natural color for the shelves!
Natural wood looks gorgeous on that white wall. 😍😍
I think the natural wood look is great!!
I personally love the look of natural wood, however, if you paint it then you can caulk the gap and paint over it.
Yes agreed
The wrap up is.always my favourite. You guys did amazing work today. I am inspired to tackle my way. Seems overwhelming to choose and just begin!
Jessica is so cute! She is me trying to show those shelves off! They look lovely natural. Just be sure to seal them with something OUTSIDE to protect them. Outside bc most options stink! Christopher is a rock star building those shelves! Love them. My husband just built a new 7' dining table. His first time wood working. (He is a welder/fabricator/maintainer). He redid our existing table by sanding, painting, sealing the legs white and then covered up the table top which was cherry laminate to now be natural pine with white trim. Then sealed and trimmed feet down a bit. Saved us about 1k! It looks lovely. Handy people are a blessing! So great that the kids helped paint too. I use to help my dad paint, roof etc. Great life experience! Hugs from Florida!
I love the natural color and grain of that wood! it would definitely need a coat or two of varnish, but i'm sure Chris could do a fantastic job of that too!
It already looks great, andI love the wood's natural look and grain! I would definitely seal/finish it, and maybe stain it a natural color to bring out the grain and make the colors pop a little more. If those brackets can take the same paint you used on the wall, I'd paint them as well to bring it all together!
I still remember painting my families kitchen and bathrooms as a kid and always a fun time great memories
When Duncan squints his eyes being serious, that right there makes any bad day turn around. Tell him he is the coolest guy ever!
I love the natural wood color of the shelves and I think it complements tan from the couch nicely! That being said if you guys decide to paint it white, I think it would look nice too. Wish you the best with the house projects! The walls look great!
Someone needs to make a compilation at the end of vlogmas of luke wanting to say hi and then duncan popping in to say good morning everyone!! Because it is just the best!
Semi-gloss. As someone who has remodeled homes we always did the walls before the floor in case paint got on the floor it was being replaced anyway.
In my opinion I love the plain wood shelves.😀😀
Your videos are just so happy and it makes my day even happier when I watch you and because of vlogmas it’s going to be even better
I love the shelves as the wood, seal them with a warm stain the wood stands out lovely however they would also look great white
Natural color!! Gives an IKEA feel
I would make the one shelf hot pink and the other a bright orange to match the side storage table but also add a pop of color to the room.
Wood looks good! I would use a very light stain and seal it! Natural is always best!!
I like the natural wood really well. It’s so pretty.
The shelves are so pretty! I would say if you like the natural look to find a stain that is really close to the natural color of the wood so that they have a sealed feel and look.
I love this family!! 🥰
Yes, natural wood definitely!
yes i think the natural wood color looks really nice with the white walls! I am not an expert in interior design but I absolutely ADORE interior design haha.
I love the natural wood.
I love the shelves! Definitely loving the natural wood look - maybe with a slight stain to bring out the grain!!
I like to the natural wood color for the shelves because it goes really well with the walls and green table. It gives it like a natural look, I think!
Natural wood against the white wall looks so good!
looks great lovelies!! so much fun and a great memory💝
Do a white stain on the shelves and then a polyurethane seal! The white will blend in with the wall and look like built-ins while still being able to see the wood grain, which will give it some interest. It's gonna be great!
I've always loved your house, the old one too. The vibe is so comfy and kind and happy