Master bathroom windows...FINALLY!!!

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At last!

This isn’t the first master bath reveal and it won’t be the last.

This room is one of those “processes” that will take time, money and a lot of of “humming.”

By that I mean I’m still not sure what i want to do with the cabinets. But I knew from day one I wanted operable windows in this room. Why I didn’t do it when I did the major remodel before we moved in is beyond me.

I had the perfect spot….

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On either side of my vanity mirror. This wall is adjacent to the back yard and over looks the flower garden I put in under the humungus oak trees.

I learned in my last home that an operable window in the master bath is a MUST!

It is the mustiest, stuffiest room in the house and there are just times when you need to throw open a window and let the fresh air in!

Adding a window will entail cutting sheetrock, removing brick, framing and in my case moving both plumbing and electrical.

Like every major project, the best way to start is to just start…and in this case that meant cutting two big ole’ holes in the wall.

That was when I discovered the plumbing in the left opening. Okay, no biggy. I can manage that. I didn’t discover the electrical issues in the right window until I removed the insulation a few days before my windows arrived. CURSES!!!!

Again, no biggy for me. Just a few junction boxes, new wiring , relocate a light fixture…. blah, blah, blah. Fortunately I have a few basic skills (and a SIL electrician on speed dial) so I was able to do what needed to be done. But If I were without those skills and planning a “little remodel” like this, I would certainly budget for professionals. If you don’t need them, kudos…but be financially prepared.

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They let in a ton of natural light!!!! (This is with NO lights)

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I can not even express how much I love these windows.

I thought adding a window in my laundry room was the best decision I made in this house. Hum…may be a tie! The extra light and ventilation in both is a must!

Even through the screens, I love the view of the back flower garden!

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Now on to the next head scratching project. The bathroom cabinets. It may be difficult to tell in the photos but they are kind of a blah off-white.

I have contemplated refacing the fronts and replacing the doors and finishing it all in a light stain. I like the “concept” but when I searched Pinterest I kind of don’t care much for the look.

This is just a few examples of a bazillion I have put in my “inspiration” file….

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I like, but I don’t love.

I kind of like the look of a color…

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Again, liking but not sure I am loving. (And again I can not give proper credit because I stole them from Pinterest and dropped them in my inspiration file…my sincerest apologies!!!)

As much as I dislike the thought of the “sterile” look of all white in this bathroom, I think in reality I would really like it.

So right now I am leaning towards painting the cabinets a brighter white and definitely replacing the hardware.

That is the nice thing about paint… if I eventually find a color that really trips my trigger, it’s just another gallon of paint, a couple of hours of time and a back ache.

Until next week…

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Patriotic Wreath....

PATRIOTIC WREATH

PATRIOTIC WREATH

I saw this wreath on Facebook and loved it…

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But as I have mentioned before, I learned the hard way NOT to order from unknown sites and always pay close attention to reviews….this one got bad reviews on Amazon.

So I decided to make one.

First, I had to create the “bunting.” I decided to sew together three fabrics I found.

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I also picked up all the goodies I wanted to adorn the wreath with…

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….ribbon, floral pics, the wreath. Since Hobby Lobby only has select stuff on sale every other week, this can take some time. For the record, the grapevine wreaths never go on sale, but they are only around $9. For that matter, if you have a wreath you are no longer in love with, deconstruct it and reuse it, or pick up a cheap one at a garage sale!

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I bought two yards of each fabric, cut the widths in thirds, then sewed each together. I actually got three buntings so I made a few extra wreaths. Two yards would be 72” so you could also use a table runner or a long scarf if you want to avoid the whole sewing thing.

I folded the fabric in half and kind of gathered it by hand then laid it onto the grapevine wreath….

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After getting it pulled super tight, I secured it with a zip tie. After adjusting it by hand I hot glued the edges of the bunting at the top just to give it a little bit more security,

Next I made a spray and my funky bow. I have linked to THIS tutorial several times since I discovered it at Christmas. I LOVE how easy she makes this process! I have now made dozens of these decorative sprays for every holiday, big and small, and I just love them.

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I made my floral spray and made sure it was the size and fullness I wanted. Then I made my bow. I chose these three ribbons for my bow…

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These bows may look intimidating, but trust me, the tutorial I linked makes it SUPER simple!

After making the bow, I secured it to the spray with floral wire then attached it to the wreath with small zip ties and floral wire!

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I absolutely love this wreath and it will work perfectly from Memorial Day through July 4th! In a few weeks I will swap out my spring pillows on the porch for my patriotic pillows! I already have my red, white and blue candles on the table and last week I swapped out the little ribbon on my welcome sign….

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All part of my plan to stay festive year round. Who said decorating for the “holidays” is only for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

My bathroom windows are finally installed and the only thing left to do is the brick…but the inside is trimmed and painted and I LOVE IT! Can’t wait to share!

Until next week….

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Twiddling my thumbs...

Sometimes I feel like I am just sitting around twiddling my thumbs…waiting.

Right now I am waiting on the brick guy to come cut the brick so I can install operable windows in the master bath.

Relatively easy project…until I removed the sheetrock and the insulation and discovered that plumbing will have to be moved on one side and a whole bunch of electric wires have to be moved on the other. CURSES!!!!

Always something.

Okay, I’m not really sitting around twiddling my thumbs…while I wait I have been chipping away at a few other little projects, like the little patriotic bow I made for my welcome sign….

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

I shared THIS funky bow tutorial when I shared my Christmas decor. I am going to decorate a tad for every holiday so I made another seasonal “funky bow” for this little Welcome sign.

I also spotted this patriotic wreath online…

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

I really like it but I learned the hard way,..don’t order ANYTHING from an “unknown” online company. And pay attention to the reviews on others…this one got horrible reviews on Amazon.

So I decided to tackle this one myself. I have already started the “bunting”…

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

…which of course entailed by LEAST favorite DIY chore…sewing.

I’ve bought the ribbon and the floral stems and now I am just waiting on Hobby Lobby to have their grapevine wreaths on sale.

Another project is my screened porch. I absolutely LOVE Tasha’s screened in porch! Just stunning!

Mine is much smaller and way less WOW! But that doesn’t mean it has to be a neglected space.

We really only use this space for two purposes…sometimes we sit at the little outdoor table and eat or drink coffee and sometimes I sit out there and read.

I decided to go “fun and funky” and since flamingos are “fun and funky” and all the rage right now, I decided to go with them.

Now keep in mind I think pink flamingos will be kind of like watermelons, burlap and chevron was 5 years ago…EVERYWHERE. Now not so much. So I want to keep that in mind when decorating…don’t spend a lot of money on something that is just a “passing fad.”

Another “funky bow”….

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Some “fun and funky” throw pillows for my reading chairs…

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

We installed a new paddle fan, painted the little metal table and chair, made a wood top for a metal base I am going to use as a side table and I am waiting on cushions and fabric for the lounge chairs.

Nothing as grand as Tasha’s porch but a few little changes that will spruce it up just a tad.

When I get it all done I promise to share…both the porch and the patriotic wreath.

Until then I shall sit and twiddle my thumbs…..

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Adding glass to an interior door...

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As I mentioned before there are certain things that made this house instantly feel like home.

Like my master bath….

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Almost identical to the master bath in my last house.

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Same backsplash, floor tile, vessel sink, shower tile…right down to the same ole’ shower curtain and rugs. And I am waiting on windows that are pretty much identical to the window I had in my old bathroom. Still not sure what I want to do with the cabinets but I have always liked the stained and open shelving look of the last house…

….who knows. I may do a little cabinet makeover at some point.

My black doors….

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Loved them in the old house, love them here…it was one of the first things I did to make this house feel more like my home.

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The entry…

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Same board and batten, same mirror and wreath, same rug…black door…

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I like what I like…and these are just a few of the design elements I really loved in my old house.

Then there are the paint colors, plants, shelving….sooooo much more!

One project I did at the old house that I always loved was the reeded glass door in my laundry room…

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I absolutely loved this project and it was one time I actually posted a pretty good tutorial. Mainly because when I went looking for a tutorial, I couldn’t find one!

I have known from day one I wanted another door like this in my new house. I debated whether to do it with the pantry door or laundry room door.

I finally decided to start with the pantry door….

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Primary because I used the reeded glass in the upper cabinets and I thought it would look good to have matching glass in the pantry door.

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I LOVE it! I love this pantry and the door is just the cherry on top! Eventually I may do the laundry room door as well because then the light from the window in the laundry room can filter into the breakfast room. For now I am perfectly content with the one door.

This is a MUCH less expensive option than purchasing a new glass door…and you get the option to choose the type of glass you want vs. having to get whatever “frosted” glass is in the door you purchase. And it is seriously NOT a difficult project to complete.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

DIY and Cinderella...

At this moment I am sitting in my “all-season” room drinking my coffee and watching it rain.

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Heaven.

There is so much I love about this house and honestly, I can’t t think of a thing I don’t. We have spent a great deal of time the past few weeks working outdoors and many of our neighbors have stopped to tell us how wonderful it is looking. (Probably more a testament to how badly the place looked to begin with.)

Making a home beautiful after years of neglect, for me, is like the Cinderella story. Abused, neglected, mistreated…until someone who cares comes along and waves a magic wand and makes everything beautiful again.

Simple analogy…seriously, who waves a magic wand and makes a home beautiful. Truth is, it takes a lot of work to turn an abused and neglected home or piece of furniture into something beautiful and useful.

My blog friend Cristina shared a chair she recently transformed. Abused, neglected, dated and something no one really wants in their home anymore was completely transformed into a piece of furniture fit for a ball!

A super simple project for someone like her and me and not so difficult that someone with minimal DIY skills couldn’t tackle. The hardest part would be the sanding and staining, but just a simple KSTP treatment (Kilz, sand, tack, paint (search on this site for examples) would completely transform this simple chair. How cute would it be paint lavender for a little girl’s room. Or bright royal blue for a little boy’s room. (Yes I am a “gender snob”…raised 4 kids like that and they are killing it…so get over it)

After sitting and watching it rain for a few hours I finally decided to tackle the trim and cabinets in the laundry room. As I mention I am painting all the trim a whiter-white…BM Chantilly Lace. Not so “yellow”…just a pure white.

I have drug my feet on the laundry room because I really dreaded painting the cabinets. But I did and they are now done. All except the new hardware and that should be here next week. The only other thing I want to do in that room now is replace the dated ceramic tile. That chore is WAAAAY down the bottom of the list.

Still waiting on the master bath windows. Built a dining table and bench for Brandon and Taylor’s new house…just waiting on the legs we ordered. Waiting on a few final touches before I FINALLY share my shop transformation. The glass for the pantry door should be here today. In other words, lots going on to share…just nothing quite ready.

Cinderella may have transformed with the wave of a wand…unfortunately most DIY projects take a little more time and patience. But the result is often the same…magical!

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Mid century chair makeover and the dogwoods...

I originally shared the a makeover of this heirloom chair HERE.

After this little makeover it might not look much different…

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…but it definitely is!

It was my grandmother’s and a “few years ago,” while gathering furniture for her college condo, Katie and I recovered the cushions and stripped and oiled the frame.

When she moved into an apartment her junior year, we found two matching mid century chairs she liked a bit better so this one came back home.

A few months ago I mentioned to Kate that I needed to recover the cushions because the dog had done a number on the white vinyl in the last few years. It was pretty ratty looking…

“Mom…you have had that chair in your house for almost 4 years now…it’s been more than a “few” years.”

Wow, time flies!

So yes, it was time to recover the cushions.

Two minor issues…one, the cushions seriously sucked. I am certain they weren’t the “original” cushions…my grandmother probably replaced the original when she recovered them with the darling blue cotton fabric that was on it when I received it. When Katie and I gave it a little makeover 5 years ago, we just added a little batting to the cushions before we recovered them.

They really weren’t sized properly and they were super uncomfortable.

Second, AS ALWAYS, I really struggled with what fabric to use. It is definitely a “mid century” style chair and so many of this style chair are indeed white and black vinyl. As much as I would have liked to “change it up” a tad, white vinyl really was the best option.

The frame is still in pretty good condition. I could have freshened it up a bit with another coat of tung oil finish, but nah…

New cushions…new fabric. That is all it really needed.

I bought 4” foam, cut it to fit properly and wrapped it in batting.

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TIP: The BEST way to cut foam is with an electric knife!

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The vinyl I used didn’t give me near the issues I had the last time we recovered the cushions. This time it went through my sewing machine just fine and I was able to easily create piping. Piping is a tedious accent to make and truthfully you could easily make cushion covers without it if you want to forgo the detail.

If you are having trouble getting vinyl to go through your machine THIS is a pretty nifty trick….

I have said it before and will say it again…and again…and again. If you do not know how to sew a straight stitch, LEARN. Take lessons from your local craft store, online or county extension. It is a skill that will open up your entire DIY world! On one hand I kind of curse my mom for making me take sewing lessons when I was a teen (because I really dislike sewing), but on the other I am so grateful I can make pillows, cushion covers, and curtains! And don’t think you need a high dollar sewing machine. Mine is a basic model and is AT LEAST 35 years old. The more basic, the easier it is to use!!!

AGAIN, I suck at tutorials so find an instructional video online that makes sense to you!!! Making cushion covers is not hard but there are tips and tricks that will make the process easier!

All in all it was time well spent. The chair now has a fresh new look!

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Thank goodness the dog has now moved on to the big leather chair in the office by the front window. Fits her better and the dirt doesn’t show on the brown leather NEAR as badly!

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We had awesome snow showers Tuesday (seriously a blizzard Tuesday afternoon and by Tuesday evening it was ALL gone!) and a freeze Tuesday nigh.t I had to cover all the hostas with buckets and sheets. Back in the 70s by this weekend. Typical Arkansas weather. This is why I refuse to plant tender annuals even after our “freeze date.” As it is all the beautiful dogwood and azalea blooms may not survive. Sooooo frustrating.

That is one thing I discovered about this house…every single window has an amazing view of the dogwoods! Beautiful.

From the dining room window.

From the dining room window.

From the front porch.

From the front porch.

From the master bedroom window.

From the laundry room window.

From the laundry room window.

From the screened porch.

From the screened porch.

From the back of the house…this will be the view out of my new master bath windows when they FINALLY get here!

From the back of the house…this will be the view out of my new master bath windows when they FINALLY get here!

This past weekend I took a walk around our neighborhood with Cleo and every single yard has dogwoods and azaleas.

Another reason why I love my home!

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Master bedroom reveal....

When we moved into this house in September we basically moved our old bedroom into this new house. Nice fit, but zero thought put into the “design” of the room…I basically just put furniture on the floor and a few pictures on the walls.

A few weeks ago my daughter sent me a picture of a well designed bedroom similar to ours.

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That’s when I realized our current master bedroom has ZERO “design character.” I hadn’t even taken the time to paint all the trim the “new” white.

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Twenty year old lamps, white and brass paddle fan, stacks of pillows in bleach spotted pillow cases, no curtains, scuffed and dinged furniture, clutter…

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The picture was perfect inspiration! The push I needed to work this space to it’s potential.

So last week my goal was to to tackle the room. Paint the trim and furniture, new curtains, throw pillows, a few little touches here and there, and declutter.

I painted my bedroom furniture (HERE) almost 7 years ago and while I still love the pieces, they have gotten quite dingy looking. Remember, whites yellow over time and of course there are chips and scratches from normal wear and tear. So it was time to give them a little paint refresher! And the side table tops…holy crud they have gotten nasty. So it was time to strip and restain the tops as well.

Of course the little “room refresh” became a three day chore!

In the end, worth every minute.

New curtains (I still need to hem them), a little wall art and a plant and new throw pillows.

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I stuck with my tried and true white bedspread…with a big dirty dog I need something I can bleach every week. It covers a down comforter in the cold months.

I have always loved the larger throw pillows in the guest room so I bought new for that room and put the guest pillows on our bed.

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(The giraffes? They were made in Africa from the root of a tree…they are Brian’s…they are different…what can I say!)

I painted the high boy and bedside tables and stripped and restained the tops of the bedside tables. ..the dark java stain has pretty much run its course. New lamps (finally!!!)

I love the look of chandeliers in bedrooms but as I have said before, I HAVE to have a paddle fan above the bed. Brandon gave us a paddle fan he took out of his house and it worked perfectly in our room.

Decluttering is always a must in any room makeover so a lot of stuff was put away.

One thing I loved in the inspiration room picture was the bed bench. My trunk belonged to my grandparents so it has to stay. You can still see my granddad’s name stenciled on the side.

I love the basket and pillows on their bench but our big dog uses this trunk as a spring board so that wouldn’t have worked out well. Sometimes you have to change up a plan to fit YOUR life-style (a.k.a. accommodate animals and kids!)

I still want to do more on the “tv side” of the room. I repainted and stripped and stained the top of THIS little side table…

Maybe add a plant…a little more wall art….a wall leaning mirror.

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It only took me a few decades to style the master bedroom in my last house so again, already working at warp speed here.

My next big project are the master bathroom (reveal HERE) windows…

Oh, it’s happening. I cut big holes in the wall to kind of “force the issue.” Windows are on order and the brick guy is on call.

This was the one thing I neglected to do, and my BIGGEST regret, when I remodeled this house…no operable windows in the master bath. I know from my last house that an operable window in the bathroom is a must. I have ordered two casement windows (the kind that crank out) and hope to have them by the end of the month. I have some plumbing to move (WHY IS NOTHING EASY!!!) and framing to do. These windows will look out at the large flower garden out back…I CAN’T WAIT!!!!

Wait I will though…it has been warm enough to plant a few larger perennials like azaleas and Kimberly ferns, but the threat of a freeze until mid-April prevents me from going all out with the annuals. So I sit…and wait…patiently. Okay, not so patient, but I learned the hard way not to rush the early spring planting! Pay attention to your “last freeze date”….then add a few weeks. Ours is the middle of April, but a few years ago it snowed the first week of May!

Until next week…

A kitchen makeover and painting a refrigerator...YOU CAN DO IT...and sometimes should!

My friends, Tammy and BR, have lived in their home for over 20 years…and like me they are constantly “projecting.” Tammy is the designer ( a.k.a.instigator,) BR is the muscle and craftsman, and usually I am just an advisor and cheerleader.

A few months ago, they started a HUGE project…remodeling their kitchen.

It is a project they have dreamed about and we have discussed and one their 1990s house desperately needed for years!

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This picture was taken after they replaced the head scratching paddle fan over the bar with a thrift store upcycled light fixture. MUCH better but as you can see, there was soooo much more to do.

Remove the funky over-the-cabinet florescent lighting and add can lighting, paint the cabinets, replace dated hardware, a new venthood, new tops and backsplash and replace the ORIGINAL almond stove.

A major list on a tight budget.

During one of our “advisory sessions” (again, my advice and opinions are always free) Tammy mentioned she couldn’t wait for her black refrigerator to go out so they HAD to replace it.

With all the other “must have now” expenses, like replacing the dated almond stove with a stainless, replacing the black refrigerator just wasn’t in the budget. They had already replaced the dishwasher and like most people (including myself) the expense of replacing all our appliances at once is often cost prohibitive.

Light bulb moment.

PAINT IT!!!

I know they have “stainless” spray paint but I seemed to recall a product specifically made for painting refrigerators to look stainless. So I started googling and found this product on Amazon….

The product had good reviews. And like I told Tammy, if it doesn’t turn out great, you can still probably sell the refrigerator on Craiglist for a hundred bucks.

So this is what we started out with…a plain ole’ black refrigerator….

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The first thing I did was read ALL the directions but most importantly, the Amazon reviews. The people who have used the product gave some pretty solid advise.

After reading all the reviews, we went to work. I removed the handles (even if you want to paint them, remove them), cleaned the doors thoroughly, and taped off the water dispenser and inside around the rubber gaskets. One of the sagest pieces of advice was to apply THIN coats…so after the first coat this is what it looked like…

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While this might not instill confidence in one’s ability to do this, I know how important it is to “trust the process.”

The second coat, a tad better….

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By the third coat we were all amazed at how great it looked!

BR did a great job of working Tammy’s list…he removed the over head florescent lighting and capped off the cabinets with crown and installed can lights, painted the cabinets and added new hardware,…

…. removed the old venthood and cabinet above the stove and installed a new stainless vent…

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….and removed the old tile backsplash and installed new.

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Quartz counter tops were a little bit out of the budget but they were able to achieve a very similar look with new formica.

Beautiful!

Tammy LOVES her new kitchen and fortunately she loves her “new stainless” refrigerator.

Would she be happier with a brand new REAL stainless fridge? Wouldn’t we all!!!! But this is a prime example of changing an element in a room that will stop the growling (and the envy and frustration) until you can afford to do what you really want to do. I have done it over the years with furniture and now I can say I have successfully done it with a refrigerator.

If you don’t love it, CHANGE IT!!!!

Board and Batten Entry....

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The entry…the one place in your home EVERY guest will see. They may not see your awesome pantry…or even your darling guest bath or amazing kitchen, but when you open the door they will see your entry.

It is one reason I really stressed about what to do with this space. I wanted it to be warm and welcoming, and while it is a big space, there is very little “wall space” to allow for big credenzas or entry storage. I really don’t need either since we usually enter from the garage into the laundry room…great “drop zone” for our packages, coats, purses, shoes, etc….but I like the look of both in entry spaces!

Of course the first course of business was replacing the dated door, window and light fixture….relatively easy fixes and something I did before we moved in!

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This was after the window was replaced but before the door, light fixture and flooring!

This was after the window was replaced but before the door, light fixture and flooring!

I debated on the board and batten for some time…

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I just felt it needed a little “something.”

It only took me 16 years to get the entry in my last house the way I wanted it…I feel like I am moving at warp speed on this one…lol!

At one point I tried a larger rug…but I didn’t like it…I honestly like the little dinky rug that is probably too small for the space. This is a prime example of doing what I LOVE vs. doing what the “design experts” tell me I am suppose to do.

A hint of trouble came when winter hit and we needed a place for visitors coats…other than putting them in the closet in the office, there really was no place to hang them.

Coat racks are a bit out dated and just hanging a wall mount coat rack didn’t trip my trigger.

Board and batten allowed me to put a few hooks on the wall.

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But that led to a little problem with the table. I LOVED the little walnut table, but you can’t hang coats above a table.

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Again, it is NOT my style HOWEVER it was my grandparent’s and it is walnut…heirloom and walnut…my two favorite elements.

Truthfully I like the look of an entry table…but I really need the hanging space so I went looking for a simple bench.

And I found it….

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I LOVE this bench I found on Etsy. Not the least expensive bench out there (and I paid a tad more for walnut) but the quality and craftsmanship made it worth the investment.

Since the table is a family heirloom I didn’t want to get rid of it. The little wickerish bedside table in the guest room had no sentimental value so it got hauled to the bunk room and the table is now a bedside table in the guest room…perfect!

I love the look and feel of this entry now…warm, inviting, functional.

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I am currently playing around with the dining room table.

When it was set the other way, facing the living room….

….there was no room on the only large wall for a buffet or credenza.

So I have turned the table the “other” way, which gives me room for a buffet or credenza along the wall…

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But I am not sure I like it “that way.” So it will sit while I ponder.

That is just how I roll…sometimes I have to sit and ponder, like whether to put up board and batten or whether I should turn my table a different way. Sometimes I know almost immediately I am not going to like it. Prime example, the “river rock” I put in a flower bed for drainage. I knew immediately I did not like the white rock I put down originally!

So out came the white rock and I found some that I liked better…

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Sometimes it is okay to sit and “ponder.” I have learned that the more I really think about something, the more I tend to like it long term. When I just jump right in and start on a project without really visualizing it, living with it in my mind for a while, I tend to not like it as well. And that is a waste of time, energy and money!

Until next time….

Downspout river bed...

I am SOOOOO bad at posting “before and afters” let alone tutorials. I see something I want to do, go do it and then think “Wow, that would be cool to share.”

This past week we put down mulch in all the flower beds. Then we had a heavy ran and one of the down spouts washed all the new mulch into the yard.

We tried the little rubber mat diverter thingy and that didn’t work. i don’t like those plastic hose things you attach to the end of the downspout…kind of ugly.

Hum…so I did what I usually do. I searched on Pinterest and found this solution….

I love river rock and love what Chelsea did with it to prevent washouts in her flower bed.

I dug out the area that was washing about 4” deep.

I bought two bags of smaller rock for a base and 5 bags of large white rocks. I edged the “river bed” with plastic landscaping edging just to keep everything in its place.

Walla…a simple solution for an annoying problem!!!

I’m not sure I am digging the white rock but that is what they had at Lowes….there is a good chance I will eventually replace it with something a little lest stark. For now I hope it resolves the problem.

The rocks on the left may seem a little out of place but those are my Colorado rocks…every time we drive out there I bring back a rock…one year it was a brick. (It just so happens the story of the brick is on the same post as a tutorial for making cedar planter boxes…perfect project for early spring!)

You may notice too that the daffodils seem a little, well, pathetic. That is because they are ones I just dug up and transplanted. Usually you plant spring bulbs in the fall…but every few years I go out into highway easements or the woods and dig up blooming daffodils in the spring. This year I brought home 3 HUGE buckets of FREE daffodils to fill the new beds…not so hot now, but next year they will be glorious!

One more month until our freeze date…can’t wait!!!!