My "life quandary"and FINALLY the shop reveal....

Occasionally I go back and reread some of my posts from the last eight years. Man i have transformed some awesome pieces of furniture and spaces!!!

Now that I am “semi-retired” I have been trying to decide what I want to do “when I grow up.” After a year of binge watching “Gilmore Girls” and finishing the little projects around this house, I desperately need something to do.

I still haven’t decided what.

I love refurbishing furniture but honestly my body isn’t exactly cooperating these days. After just one day of projecting, I am usually hobbled for at least two days.

I don’t like to golf, I don’t knit, sewing is NO WAY JOSE, I raised four kids so while I will eventually help with my future local grand kiddos, I don’t think I want to take them on full time.

Volunteer…an option, but where. I love animals but if I volunteered at a shelter I would have a house full of critters. I would love to work at a zoo, but sadly we don’t have one!

Sick kids…they make me sad. I just don’t know if that is something I could do.

Old people. Hum….to close for comfort?

A real job? Nice idea but I don’t want to work nights, weekends or holidays. Brian and I like to take little vacations so I need lots of flexibility. Not exactly an ideal employee.

Besides I have NO idea what I want to do and I don’t want to spend 20 hours a week doing something I don’t enjoy.

I am blessed. I was blessed to own a business for 23 years that darn near killed me but allowed me to care for my family and “semi-retire” at a relatively young age.

So what do I do?

This blog is a wealth of information and I am sure there is a way I could turn it into a “business.” But truthfully, I like sharing my experiences with those who need the guidance. And I don’t want to make people pay for that help.

Which bring me back to my first love….building, creating, repairing, helping, sharing, instructing…my blog logo says it all….I hope I can share with you a passion and desire to easily create a home you will love!

All this whining and moaning to finally share one of my favorite things about this house…the shop. A space I have wanted for decades, finally got, and now really can’t use to it’s full potential!

For YEARS I worked out of my garage…what a mess. When I saw this house had an amazing shop I was stoked! A place to keep all my tools and work on a few small projects and I would still be able to park my car in the garage.

It is insulated, it has electricity, large doors, windows….the only downside was it was SERIOUSLY ugly!
Like baaaaad ugly.

As with every inch of this house, I could see the potential.

I knew I had to make it pretty!

The windows were old aluminum windows so those had to be replaced. I even moved the front one to the left to make it more “aesthetically pleasing.” New light fixtures inside and out were a must. The doors were aluminum and vinyl siding and not real attractive so I did just enough to make them look a little better. New cedar posts, some shutters…

And the biggy,,…brick. No I am not a brick layers so I was super fortunate to find someone who would take on a few small projects. Finding brick to match the brick on this 22 year old house was dang near impossible, but I was able to find one that was close enough and it made all the difference in the world.

We went from having a big ugly vinyl shed in the yard to having a super cute building.

The inside…it’s a storage shed in spite of what it looks like from the outside. Lawnmowers, tools, yard stuff…nothing fancy. I love the workshops that are all perfect and spotless….but it is a shop/storage shed, plain and simple. (Note Brian’s big fancy grill/smoker….God forbid it sit on the patio and get wet like a normal grill)

As I shared HERE when I spruced up the storage shed at our old house, I firmly believe storage sheds should enhance your space…not just be a big eye sore where you store you mower and shovel.

GET CREATIVE…make it pretty. Take a little time to doll it up and make it something that is aesthetically pleasing rather than just a huge eye sore in your back yard. Pinterest (my “go to” inspiration") is full of outdoor buildings that have been transformed into something other than just big ole’ eye sores!

No, you do not have to do something as fancy (or expensive) as mine…but a Pinterest search and a little “oops paint” can really make a difference.

Do a little “storage shed” search, then let your imagination run wild. Remember, we have lived in this house almost a year and I am just now sharing…transformations don’t happen over night!

Lessons in DIY....

One of the things I love about this house is the irrigation system…no more dragging hoses and sprinklers around the yard all summer.

In theory.

The system has been severely neglect for years so it has been a total rework. We finally got the two zones (there are four) working for the bulk of the front and back yard.

As usual, I did what I always do when I want to learn something new. I hover. Followed the irrigation guy around watching every move he made (for a $100 an hour I figure I should get a lesson).

I googled how irrigation systems work and how to repair and replace malfunctioning and broken heads.

I installed the Zone 3 drip system for the flower beds. Yay me!

Now I think I am an expert and thought I could tackle Zone 2 which wasn’t working at all.

Zone 2, the zone on the north side of the yard, has been a total bust. I knew there HAD to be a break in the main water line some where, I just couldn’t find it.

I am tenacious…the darn thing was broken and come hell or high water I was going to fix it.

After WEEKS of digging around and tracing lines, I found not ONE, not TWO, but THREE breaks in the water lines…..curses!

Needless to say my newly sodded yard looks like it has been hit with mortar shells.

The first two breaks were relatively easy fixes….the third has been a total booger. It took three full days and at least 6 or 7 trips to Lowe’s…I repaired the same spot SIX times before I finally got it right…I think…I hope…unless one of the connections broke loose again when I covered it with dirt.

Today’s lesson on DIY. As I have said before, my daddy didn’t have time to teach me EVERYTHING I need to know about DIY. But what he did teach me was a valuable lesson. If you want something fixed, repaired, built, or changed, be willing to do the research and put in the time and muscle to do what needs to be done.

I didn’t have a clue about irrigation systems. Zip, zero, zilch. But I am not about to pay someone $100 an hour to do something as simple as change out busted heads. So I learned…and am still learning

The water line repairs….that’s another story. This was one of those times when after 3 days of crawling around in the mud and AT LEAST six trips to Lowe’s, I began to wonder if it was time to call in a professional.

I suspect it would take them all of about an hour to do what took me three days!

DIY lesson number two….know your limitations.

That’s a tough one for me.

I do get to share one little project I managed to complete while I was waiting on water line repairs to dry.

Years ago I bought these old metal wheels at an auction. Thought I might sell them but never have so they just sat in the yard with no real purpose.

This is the picture I took to post on Facebook Marketplace eons ago….

I’m not really a “yard ornament” kinda person so the fact that I had these big ole metal wheels just sitting in my yard was, well, just not my jamb.

I moved them to the new house and set them in the back corner of the yard and thought MAYBE I could find something to do with them…..eventually.

Now I do like “sitting” areas….and the more I looked at these wheels, the more I thought, “Hum, just MAYBE I can figure out a way to turn this into some kind of bench or something.”

So last week Brian and I went out to this ratty little old “hobby mill” and picked up a live edge board, brought it home, power washed it and made a bench…I really like how it looks tucked away in the back corner of the flower garden.

(The concrete “bench” in the forefront of the photo was there when we bought the house…we were told it was part of the old farmhouse that sat here originally…that sucker isn’t going anywhere! Makes a great place for squirrel food in the winter!)

Presto, bingo! Now instead of having some big ole’ honkin’ metal wheels in my yard that cause me confusion and grief, I have this nifty one of a kind bench in my back flower garden.

I haven’t decided whether to seal it or leave it natural.

LOVE!

We picked up another piece of milled wood just in case we needed another piece…I decided to use it to make a another bench. The concrete bases were from a bench in my Mother’s yard. It use to have a concrete top but someone (who I shall not name since it might embarrass my oldest daughter) sat on it and busted it. So these bases have just been sitting around waiting for inspiration.

I think I will seal these boards. I love how you can see the mill marks and a sealant will really make those “pop” like it did on this old wood I used to make a table.

Irrigation system is (fingers crossed) fixed and I managed to get a few little projects complete.

Makes for a good week!

Painted bathroom cabinets...

As I mentioned in the first two reveals of my master bathroom (HERE and HERE), it is one of those ever evolving rooms.

This is where we last left off…

…the addition of the operable windows. I can not express how much I love these.

The cabinets….not so much. They are actually kind of an off-white-yellowed-ick kind of color. And the hardware was pretty blah and cheapo. Cheapo is great if it has just a tiny bit of character, but these didn’t.

I debated changing out the drawers and doors to mission style doors but honestly I don’t want to spend the money on them right now. Someday I may do some major magic on these cabinets but for right now I just want to give the room a more “polished” look.

Paint…hum. An inexpensive way to give a space a little facelift.

So the debate raged…white or color…and if color, what color.

You would think as much as I do this kind of thing paint color would be no big deal for me.

WRONG!

This is just a few of the paint samples I brought home.

This is the trick to finding the right paint color. Go to the store and pick up every sample you THINK you might like…then take them home and look at them in your light. You would be surprised at how much a paint color can change in different lighting. If you still find yourself drawn to 2-3 colors, buy sample pots…they are well worth the investment. Also, if you are torn between a light color and just a tad darker, go light. First, the bigger the area, the darker a paint will look. Second, if you still think you want darker you can always go back and have them mix it the darker shade. Once you have the darker shade mixed, you really can’t do much more than buy another gallon.

I finally landed on one I think I kinda sorta like. I ordered simple brushed nickel hexagon hardware…inexpensive but with a tiny bit of character.

The two vanities took all of about 1/10th of a gallon of paint. I should have bought a quart but custom colors tend to be a smidge off in the quarts.

All in all I’m not UNHAPPY with it, but not sure I am over the moon thrilled. For the time and money you can’t beat slapping a coat of paint on a wall or a piece of furniture or cabinets to change the entire look.

Now, I want to share my latest “find.” I am, as I have said before, “old school.” Primer and oil-based on furniture, trim and cabinets and latex on walls.

I have experimented with a relatively new (to me) product and I have decided I kind of like it.

It is a “hybrid” paint….will go over latex OR oil-based without the need to strip or prime. I do knock off the shine and any rough spots just a tad with 220 grit sandpaper and wipe it all down with tack cloth, but other than that it takes very little prep. And the super cool thing is it doesn’t matter if the old paint is oil-based or latex…usually that matters A LOT. This hybrid paint needs no additive, brushes on super easy, “levels” beautifully (which is great if you are brushing or rolling on wood), cleans up with soap and water and so far seems super durable.

The only problem I have with it is it seems to be a tad thinner than most paints and you need to watch carefully for drips and runs…but because it levels so nicely they are easy to manage!

Both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore carry it and I have used both…with great results.

So if you are not sure what type of paint your trim/cabinet/furniture is and you don’t want to go to all the trouble of priming, try this product. So far, so good.

So that’s that for this bathroom…for now. I really don’t have any more MAJOR changes I want to make in there. But knowing me, I’ll find something. This week my project has been my utility room. A necessary change that I will share next time….

Screened porch reveal...

SO. MUCH. RAIN! But that is spring in the Ozarks. We are again fortunate that we haven’t had severe weather…just some flooding here and there.

So much rain my poor plants are screaming ENOUGH ALREADY! They are really struggling. But soon the summer heat and dry will set in and I will be watering every day. This amazing house had an irrigation system but it had been severely neglected for years. It took a bit of time and money but I have 2/3 of the system up and running so HOPEFULLY when it is time to water I can do most of it with a flip of a switch. I still have a few porch plants that will need to be watered but its waaaay better than dragging a hose and sprinkler around the yard.

Totally off subject other than to say I have been forced to work on a few indoor projects. Those usually entail my LEAST favorite DIY chore, sewing, but if you want pretty (without a serious financial payout), it is an evil necessity!

The screened porch was no exception…there were a few sewing projects. Pooh.

So my inspiration (okay, kick in the rear) came from another blogger…Tasha. LOVE her screened porch she revealed HERE. Awesome space and if I had a large screened porch and a large family, it would be perfect. But I have a small space and it’s just us and the critters. We often joke….we have this huge house but usually all three cats and the dog manage to crowd in…we can literally take up 10 square feet.

Regardless of the space, you want it comfortable and inviting….this space was neither. It was basically where we “threw” a bunch of overflow outdoor stuff when we moved in and have neglected it since. Other than eating out here at the little table on nice evenings, it had been pretty neglected.

The little table and chairs were an auction score and over the years they sat outside and the black paint chipped. Pretty sad looking. It may be kind of “old fashion” looking, but we really do enjoying sitting at this little table for dinner and in the mornings drinking coffee.

The wicker chairs were on our porch at the old house…I think they were originally rockers but over the years the wood rotted and I removed the rocker part.

The round rug was originally my son’s and he didn’t want it so we put it out here.

My intent has been to turn the iron frame between the chairs into an outdoor side table. I think it is an old aquarium stand I salvaged from an apartment years ago.

You may notice the fan and light were pretty pathetic…so that replacement is a MUST

The “kitty corner.” They LOVE the old wicker chair that use to be my smoking chair on my back porch. I haven’t smoked in almost 10 years if that gives you an idea of how long that thing has been around. It was pretty nasty and honestly needed to go!

Even in a small space, it is important to “make a plan.” Tasha gives some excellent tips for designing a space like this, or any space for that matter.

1) If you have a large space, create zones. I didn’t really have a large space, but I do want it to serve several purposes. Eating, reading, and cat lounging (they are indoor kitties so they LOVE this outdoor space)

2) Make your space USEABLE! That was the motivation for this makeover…useable and comfortable.

3) Add as much ambient light as possible. New fan and light and I do want to eventually add a lamp on the little side table but honestly we rarely sit out there after dark so I’m in no hurry to find a suitable lamp.

4) Add plants! Unfortunately I don’t do well with indoor plants. I did have a HUGE peace lily in the all season room I divided so I put that in here…I tried adding a fuchsia but it took all of about three days for all the pretty pink blooms to drop so it went outside and I ended up adding a little potted planter of outdoor flowers. Maybe they will fair better since I am a master of most outdoor plants!

5) Bring in pops of color! Now that I can do…although if you look around you may notice I don’t do that on a large scale in my decor. But in my plan for this space I knew exactly what I wanted to do,

Pink flamingos.

Okay, so here is how that all started. Years ago Brian bought two vintage pink flamingo knick-knacks at an auction.

For some reason that has become a “thing” in our house…possibly because it is so rare for him to buy something other than guns, pocket knives and coins…lol! One Christmas Mom bought him a pink flamingo ornament. Somehow we ended up with pink flamingo metal ornaments in our yard. I bought him some flamingo socks…it just went on and on.

And honestly, I like pink and green.

So my plan for this space…

1) New cushions and pillows for the chairs. Perfect way to bring in the flamingos and A LOT of color.

2) FINALLY paint the ratty iron aquarium frame and make a top for it.

3) Paint the little table and chairs.

4) Years ago I acquired the iron frame to an old train bench from my mom. It had sat on their front porch for YEARS. Eventually the wood rotted and my intent was to rebuild it with new wood. This little porch is the perfect place for it…and it is time!

5) Add some plants here and there.

The reading area…

I made new cushions and pillows for the chairs.

A new “funky bow” for the Home Sweet Home sign that hangs on the wood frame that use to hang in our old guest bath.

I painted the little iron base and made a wood top out of some scraps I had on hand.

A few little knick knacks. The driftwood is a piece we picked up off a frozen pond in Georgetown, CO almost twenty years ago! A picture of my precious kiddos.

A new paddle fan and light…a must!

I painted the little chair and table. I had to sand it a bit to remove a bunch of chipping paint, primed it all with metal primer, then sprayed it with spray paint.

I had this old pewter compote for years and really didn’t have a clue what to do with it.

I saw a picture on Pinterest where someone had turned one into a little flower thingy….

...gives it a purpose.

I bought little vintage flamingo salt and pepper shakers off Ebay.

I bought a little rug off Etsy…

…and a little flamingo flag….(note the pathetic fuchsia)

Hopefully the impatiens will fair better…..

My favorite project was the railroad bench. Primarily because it was a family heirloom and partly because the darn thing has been sitting around for years! It was time…

New wood and good for another few decades.

Somewhere there is a picture of four of my parent’s grandsons sitting on this bench when it was on their front porch. My boys were preschoolers then. Crazy.

All in all I am pretty pleased with how it turned out.

It certainly isn’t anything as elaborate as Tasha’s but it serves our purposes!

I really didn’t spend a ton of money but the investment was worth every penny. It has been the perfect place to sit and read during the rainy, dreary days.

And of course the cats LOVE it!!!

Another rainy day project…swapping out the front porch decor for Memorial day and 4th of July.

Just a few patriotic pillows and the wreath I shared HERE.

We are officially ready for summer. If it ever stops raining……

Master bathroom windows...FINALLY!!!

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….

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.

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

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!

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….

I like, but I don’t love.

I kind of like the look of a color…

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…

Patriotic Wreath....

PATRIOTIC WREATH

I saw this wreath on Facebook and loved it…

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.

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

….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!

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….

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.

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…

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!

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….

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….

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….

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…

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”…

…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”….

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

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…..

Adding glass to an interior door...

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

Like my master bath….

Almost identical to the master bath in my last house.

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….

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.

The entry…

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

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…

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….

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.

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.

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!

SOURCE

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!

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.

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.

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

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!!!)

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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.

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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.

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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…

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

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…

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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…