{Giveaway is Closed}
The winner is #164: Lee in Ky! Congrats, Lee!
One of the last things Dad and I did before my move in date, was change out the ceiling tiles in the den. Well, most of them anyway. We still have to fix the ones where the light fixtures are attached and the ceiling vents, so there’s a little more to finish out before they are completely done. But, it’s amazing the transformation of just changing out the saggy old ceiling that was there since probably 1979, when the house was built. It was a mess up there.
Here’s the old, saggy ceiling tiles, which were very yellowed and just plain disgusting. I’m so glad I was able to change them out, they feel so fresh and clean now. Thanks to being part of Lowes Creative Bloggers team this month, we were given a giftcard to do any project we wanted to. Bingo! This was at the top of my list and I’m so grateful that I had enough to cover this. Cost for the ceiling tiles was just under $250.  I think it was worth it to change them out, makes a huge difference.
I did go in and roll white ceiling paint over all the gridlines to freshen them up too.
Then, one by one, I popped out the ceiling tiles. They were very brittle from age and lots of gunk was on top of them. I wore my safety glasses to keep stuff from flying in my eyes.
My dad is a pro at giving directions, as you can imagine. 
I took them down and he toted them out of the house and stacked them up.
Me and my safety glasses.
And pretty soon we had a bare ceiling with all the duct work showing. We left up the light fixtures for now and will get those changed out soon. If the ceiling just had open wood up there, I would have considered painting it, but all the duct work is up there too, so I’d rather keep the drop ceiling for now.
There was so much debris up there that fell out every time I pulled out another one. Lots of vacuuming going on afterward.
And one by one, those ceiling tiles went back up. It’s a matter of just inserting them back into the empty space and letting them settle into place. Not hard, but takes some patience to get them all in place, since there are wires on many of the ends of the grids that you have to work around. And the ceiling tiles are a little bit fragile, so you have to take care of the edges of them.
We went back after all the big tiles went in and cut these smaller pieces. I took out the old ones and drew a template for the new ones from those. We ended up getting out the table saw and it worked well for cutting these partial tiles nice and straight. I popped them all back in one at a time.
And now I have a fresh new ceiling that looks tons better than the old. No more sagging and yellow color.
We will fill in those holes very soon and it will all be finished with clean new tiles. So glad I decided to tackle this one now instead of later. It will feel so much better. You can see the difference in color on that one to the left of the vent where the light fixture is now. Much more drab and dirty.
I love the new clean ceiling that I got with these Armstrong commercial ceiling tiles. These are just regular commercial grade 2×4’ ceiling tiles, #933 if you’re looking at the store. They were $37.00 for 5 boxes or more (contractor pricing). We used 6 boxes to complete this project.
Thanks to Lowes for supplying the giftcard for October for this updating project. It was the perfect finishing touch for my new den furniture. It will feel so much better in there now. I love being a part of Lowe’s Creative Ideas blogger team.
Here’s some great news too! Lowe’s is giving away to ONE of my readers a $100 giftcard, so you can get busy on a project of your own. Just leave a comment telling me what needs doing at your house. I’ll choose one winner at random in a few days.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Giveaway is sponsored by Lowe’s. U.S. resident addresses only, please.  I received a giftcard for my project, but was not compensated for this post and all ideas and opinions are my own.Â
I would buy a new kitchen sink! We need one badly!
Your improvements look amazing! If I were to win the gift card from Lowe’s, I would probably use it to purchase more bale’s of pinestraw, as we never seem to have enough 🙂
Just moved into our “vintage” 1980’s home 4 months ago. Since it had never been updated we have been working ourselves silly! And loving every minute…well, most of it. Lowe’s is my second home lately, glad they are close by.
I have gotten so many great ideas from your blog, but my next project is Board and Batten in the front foyer and a gift card would sure help out!
Congrats on getting moved in…will be looking forward to updates!
I have SO many projects that I need/want to do, I’m not sure! Tile, paint, new back door…..
I need to work on making my basement a nicer space (organized and brighter) so that doing laundry is more fun! Thanks for the opportunity!
Oh Rhoda, your home is looking so cozy and beautiful!!! I am so happy for you to finally be able to go HOME and have your own sanctuary again. I rejoice with you over God’s provision for you to have your dream come true. You have done a marvelous job with it all and your parents are so wonderful. If I won the giveaway, I would replace a bathroom light and or maybe the fan light in there. Would love to win. Thanks for sharing. Linda
We purchased a foreclosed home that had never been finished. No doors to rooms or trim was ever installed. there is just wood laid on cabinets in kitchen for counters. I am overwhelmed with all tha needs done. unfortunately we are living in it while having to do the work. the lowes card would definitly help with all the exspenses. You are such an insperation, your home has turned out beautiful.
Rhoda, I have been following your whole house remodel. What an amazing job you and your parents have done! I’m so happy you now have a space to truly call your own……from floor to ceiling…..literally!
My next project is to refinish my front door and I could use a new hardware set so the gift card would come in handy! I love Lowes, got a closeout on a brand new, never purchased Kohler sink (reg $250) for only $42!!! Check those endcaps!
Hey Rhoda,
Love the ceiling tiles. They do look so fresh and clean! 🙂 If I were to win a Lowes giftcard, I would paint our bedroom and finish all the unpainted trimwork upstairs. It’s been like this for 9 years! I’d be soooo happy to be able to do that! Thanks for the opportunity.
Take care,
Cindy
wow, how blessed to have such great opportunities to blog about products & have products to use in your new home. love hanging out in lowes planning out some new project:) would love to pull up carpet on stairs & have wood planks…that gift card would be my green light to get it started. have a great day
sheila b
Oh Rhoda, it would be easier to tell you what DOESN’T need to be done at our house! I really would love to strip some old wallpaper out of our guest bath, and paint!
Congratulations on your move in! The ceiling tiles are a great update.
We just bought a short sale, and the list of updates is long. We want to paint the kitchen cabinets next, so we’ d love a Lowe’s gift certificate to get our paint and the hardware we want to add to the cabinets 🙂
Thank you for hosting the give away!
Paula
We really, really need to gut our entire bathroom. If I could set it on fire without burning the rest of my house down, I would! It’s bad! But, then I wouldn’t have a bathroom, cause it’s our only one. So, bathroom remodel is next on our to-do.
I would update some outdoor light fixtures and purchase cabinet hardware if I won the Lowe’s gift card. Ceiling tiles look really good.
Thanks!
Patty
Sure could use a new sink for my laundry room 🙂
I have been following the transformation of your home and love what you have done. We have been working on our new to us home for the last year I wish I would of had the oppportunity to have most of the work done before moving in like you, but my motto has always been make do with what you have. Right now we are in the middle of updating the kitchen and the certificate to Lowe’s would help with either lighting or a new range hood. Thanks for sharing what you have done in your home and your life I find it inspiring!
The ceiling tiles look great! Working in the bath now and I need a new faucet and light fixture.
Rhoda – as usual, GREAT JOB! Thrilled at all you’ve been able to get done – your Mom and Dad are treasures! If I were lucky enough to win the $100 Lowes Gift Card, I would purchase two tall classic Allen & Roth fiberglass black pots (they are regularly $100 each) to repot our Sago Palms. They sit on either corner of our new 18 x 14 paver patio that we did on our “staycation” and would almost complete that “look” (we still have a little flower bed clean up to do – but a wall of Gardenias and a wall of White JFK roses against red/charcoal/black brick is looking mighty fine!). Thanks for this opportunity.
Love watching the transformation of your home. It’s absolutely gorgeous! This time last year I purchased a fixer upper from 1971 (imagine green shag carpet throughout the dining room and living room, mustard yellow kitchen walls and avocado green vinyl kitchen flooring). My husband is quite handy and we’ve done a lot of improvements. We can’t afford new cabinetry for the kitchen or countertops but we’d love to try the rustoleum product you used in your bathroom. Lowe’s is our favorite store and we love it that they offer a 10% discount for military Vets (my husband and I are both Veterans).
Wow, Rhoda! Your den ceiling looks terrific as does the entire house. I truly admire your hard work and talent. Wow, with a Lowe’s giftcard, I would like to add new light fixtures to my bathrooms. Thanks!