Down to Earth Style

Down to Earth Style on Wordpress

2021-08-08T00:01:00.004-04:00

Hello!!!!

If you are here I'd love for you to see the most recent content by following THIS LINK.

In 2019 I moved my blog content from Blogger to Wordpress. It hasn't been a very smooth transition but I think it's time we reconnect.

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Functional & Warm Laundry Room

2019-03-14T11:18:00.000-04:00

Hey Friends!

Can you even believe this post is coming in the same month as our guest room post (HERE)? Well, it's March and that darn sun finally decided to come out and it has given me much needed new energy.

We recently had to get a new washer. Our old one broke, which I was sad about because I used to be able to stack the dryer on top of it because it was a front loader (see post HERE). I was happy because I didn't like the front load so we got a top loader without the agitator in the same brand as the dryer.

THIS is what I had to work with. UGH! How do I make this pretty, first of all and how do I make it functional too? (when the light is on in the day the walls look really pink - Eider White SW)

Want a quick semi-tutorial of where I started? Take a guess what was bugging me the most, besides the wall color.

Yup - all the cords and utility knobs on the wall. I am rolling my eyes so hard. I think contractors build houses for what is convenient to them, not what looks best for the homeowners.

Not to bore you but here is where I started to cover that stuff up. Corner bracket a 1 1/2 inch board above the floor molding to the wall so it will cover the outlet at 48 inches high.

On the other side of the W/D I screwed a few boards into the wall at the same height of 48 inches..

I screwed a shelf board into those (pilot whole first so the wood doesn't split).

I forgot to take a picture but on this side I did add 2 2x4's in an L shape to this corner. The 2x4's are attached to one another with L brackets too. They look like legs, support the shelf and cover the cords.

Here I screwed more common board to the front to hide the plugs and knobs. There is a 2x4 piece behind that corner to keep it in place and it is fastened to the side wall boards too. The dryer is shorter than the washer so the wood lying down will go above it to create a full wood back splash.

Are you noticing that eye sore on the wall here? I asked the plumber to please move it but it had to be accessible for the clean out - or something that didn't make any sense to me. I am trying to work with it. I took the cover off of it so that it didn't stick out as far.

To complete the built in look I put a wood piece on top of the dryer and nailed it with my brad nailer the the back splash and wall board. I put felt stickers on the bottom of it so it doesn't lay directly on the metal top.

Since I used a lot of screws that were visible I covered them with this wood paste and stained over them once dry.

By putting that wood piece there it made the dryer the same height as the washer plus it covers the side spaces to give several more inches of counter top.

I brought in my all time favorite picture of my kids to brighten my laundry days (and to cover up the clean out doo-dah in the wall).

A tip jar is necessary for all the change I wash and green plants make a space come alive.

OK so lets just look again at a BEFORE picture...

BORING! OK, now lets see that same view AFTER...

Awwwww - the natural light is much better too!

Did I mention that I changed out a boob light for a chandy? Yes, and I added a little earthy vine to go around it too.

I eventually want to paint the walls but at this point I have so many projects to do that the paint is just going to have to wait. Remember how I made a terrible mistake in going with Eider White by SW (post HERE) It's pink in most lights in our home. To be honest though, it's a really pretty color, just not perfect for me.

There are built in shelves in here that hold supplies (yeah, you get the real version - I don't always "stage" my photos - if ever).

Everyone gets their own basket for clean clothes to put away in drawers.

It was hard to get a picture of the whole room but to the left is a wooden rack for hanging clothes. Marc and Ben custom made it because everything at the store was too long for our space. You can see a video of this room on Instagram in my highlights. (HERE)

The above picture was taken when I was really doing laundry and the clean clothes hang there ready for everyone to come get their own and put them away.

I think that's pretty much it. A small room and a one day makeover. I can handle that!

Now, who is ready to do laundry? Ugh! I just want to go outside and enjoy the sunshine this lovely morning!

Have a fun week my sweet friends!

Updated Guest Room

2019-03-08T11:58:00.001-05:00

Hello! Come on in! This is our guest room (aka napping room).

I have struggled with what this room should be because it's sort of a free space in the home. It's off of the foyer so it could work as a parlor, den or office but my original intentions were to make it a guest room.

Then I second guessed myself.

It sat all messy for months with nothing in it but after I was 100% sure of the french door color, it got me going in the right direction.

The doors are painted in Sherwin Williams - Urbane Bronze. Same as the dining room doors. It comes across like a soft black only warmer.

Why that color? It's on our exterior too. I just love it!

The foyer has an interesting shape to it and you can see how visible this room is. I saw a bedroom at the front of the main floor many years ago and thought it gave the home such a cozy feel. My gut told me that when we were building this house and now that I have turned this room into a bedroom I believe it makes our house feel cozy too.

After finding this amazing, authentically old mantel, which I did nothing to, I knew that was going to be the focal point.

I only paid $100 for it and it doesn't even smell musty and check out how the paint has chipped so perfectly.

Other than the mantel I kept the decor super simple. A wooden rack above the headboard because you can never have too many hooks (especially for guests).

Since there isn't room for a night stand I put my favorite reading light on the headboard. It's from IKEA. It's an adjustable clip LED so the bulb lasts forever.

For privacy I found some lined curtains at Target that were on clearance for $10 per panel. That was sure meant to be because they were an on line only item that someone had returned to the store. What a steal for 108" long panels.They are creamy, not white, but it works.

Do you love the little bottle light? It's a vintage lamp that was missing it's glass so I secured an over sized jar on top of it. I just plug in the lamp to turn it on and off. I could put it on a timer too since it's a welcoming light for the entry.

The french doors have matching galvanized buckets with twigs and moss in them. The room is painted in pure white by Ben Moore, that is the color of our ceiling and trim. It was the easiest to do and I don't see anymore pink. Remember my paint was Eider White by Sherwin Williams before? It's a super pretty color but definitely has pink undertones.

Right next to the bedroom is a full bathroom and a foyer coat rack that is still chuck full of coats. We are still freezing here in Virginia. Are you too?

I have been meaning to post this for nearly a month. I am slow to pull out my big camera but I am obsessed with Instagram these days. It's like a short version read to my favorite bloggers and designers. You can follow me there @downtoearth.home for more of what you see here.

Have a super fun weekend and check us out on instagram HERE

Wallpaper Accent in the Dining Room

2019-02-01T20:20:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends!

Looks like I am moving at a pace of one project per month here (sigh). I am overwhelmed with the things I want to do to our new house but I am happy to say that this one I am sharing today has been a few months coming.

Remember when I shared our dining room in black and white a while ago? It was before we got the grand piano (HERE). That room is on the other side of the kitchen - opposite this room. But the little room I am sharing today was supposed to be a morning room or maybe a breakfast nook. It sat empty for months or just held junk. With the piano taking up the other dining room now we made this our eating area and there's no formal dining room anymore.

The room is smallish and it lacked personality - so I wanted to do a fun pattern on the walls.

The plan was to wallpaper the whole room but I found out very quickly that, even though I chose peel and stick paper, it was hard to line up the pattern exactly.

So my patience only allowed for one wall (barely) to be completed.

Once I put the room together the one accent wall feels just right.

The other walls are still painted in Eider White SW but the french doors leading to the patio are in here too. They got a coat of the beautiful Urbane Bronze by SW, which is the color they are on the outside.

If you like black interior doors but think black is a little harsh - go with Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams. It's so pretty - not brown but gray - without the blue tone. It would be gorgeous on cabinets too.

The dark doors made a huge difference. I wanted a simple black and white photo next to the doors and so far, no complaints from the boys featured in my chosen photo. It surprises me, to be honest. They are 16 now and one likes to find the negative in most everything. Not to mention the embarrassment factor runs so high these days. Luckily the girls aren't visiting us yet.

Nothing in this room is new so I just through in some accessories that I had around and some pulled from my shop space.

The gold accents dress it up a bit and I like the contrast of the formal gold, the rough bench and soft textures.

I keep meaning to pick up candles for these gold candle holders but they make a sweet statement all on their own.

As much as I love DIY - wallpapering is not my favorite. It might be this geometric pattern because it was tough to line up exactly. I have done others that seem to be easier - like brick or beaded board patterns.

I have so much more to do in this house but I think I am spending too much time scrolling through Instagram to get much done. If you want to stay a little more caught up with my slow but sure projects you can follow me on IG - @downtoearth.home

We are heading into a weekend and I am looking forward to some down time with the boys. It's so cold outside. I know a lot of people have been experiencing super cold temps this week. Hopefully you don't have to go out and can pull out a good book to read. I watched a good show this week. It was on Sundance Now (free 7 day trial with Amazon Prime) The 4 part series was called The Cry. I was so hooked and have watched it twice!

We will all be so thankful for spring when it finally arrives.

Happy Weekend my friends!

Box Planter For Above the TV

2019-01-07T10:59:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Today I am sharing some changes to our family room since taking down all the Christmas decor. You can see this room decorated for Christmas HERE.

You know that I am not a huge fan of wall mounted TV's, especially above the fireplace. However, some rooms are set up best that way, which is the case for our room.

I had garland up above the TV over the holidays and loved it. That sparked an idea.

If you were here last summer you might remember the Tool Box Table Runner that I made for the dining room.

Well, I spray painted it in Dark Walnut Spray Paint by Rustoleum. Then, to let a little green through, I took a razor blade to it. I thought the green color would be too bright against the dark wood. I didn't want it to be that noticeable.

I attached D Rings to the top back of the box. Drilled screws into the wood wall and hung the box up.

The box had real greens in it before but the plants needed to be re potted because their roots were crowded. I cleaned the dirt out and put Spanish moss and faux greenery inside. The greens are two garlands intertwined.

If you don't follow us on Instagram then let me tell you about the other things that are new here.

Notice the two lamps to your left? Yay! I found some that were not too bulky and they give off a soft, direct light. They are from Homegoods and only $60 each.

This might be over kill on the faux greens but I bought these hanging plants for another space in the house but hung them here for now. (pretend you don't see the cords in the background)

Since the planters are light weight they can just hang from our stocking hooks, which are not actually hooks but furniture nails.

There it is! No more Christmas but still a lot of greens.

You can see daily posts by following our Instagram account at downtoearth.home Link HERE

Thanks for dropping by and have a super fun week.

See you next time!

Snow Day 2018

2018-12-12T13:15:00.000-05:00

Snow is a special treat here in southern Virginia. We got 12 inches in one day.

I had to capture the snow surrounding our home because it is rare. I love the contrast of dark and white.

The boys were "game" for a photo, too. An even more rare moment in time!

We live on a hill, which mostly bugs me, but it has been super fun to sled on the last few days.

This is just a short little post to say Happy Winter! It's beautiful when heaven kisses the earth with snow!

Hope you are more prepared for Christmas in two weeks than I am!

Love,

Festive Family Room Reveal 2018

2018-12-06T11:28:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends!

Are you ready for Christmas? This year I have been slow to pull out Christmas decorations but the family room is finally ready for this wonderful season. Want to see?

There's a lot going on in here but honestly, this room can handle it. Sometimes it feels so open, big and white. I told Marc the other day that it was cold in here and he said "because we are trying to heat a warehouse". :) The whole house is normal sized but this room is big.

The plan for Christmas this year was to pick up a real tree but finding an evening when all the teenagers want to go out at the same time is rare - and I only have two. I decided I'd just get started with stuff we had. All of these trees are older and the green on them isn't exactly the same but once I put them together I loved it and so did the boys.

The room is set up so "even Steven" that it needed varied heights and there wasn't just one corner that screamed Christmas tree.

I am so glad I did the wood surround on this bump out. I put little nails in it to hold the garland. The stockings are hung with furniture tacs that aren't pushed in all the way.

The firewood is just tree branches from our backyard. I cut them with a miter saw to get them the same length and rubbed them with a wash cloth in white paint. I even sealed them so they last.

They look like birch branches now. I know I can buy birch branches but if you have followed Down to Earth Style for awhile you know I don't like to interrupt a decorating vibe for a trip to the store.

Do you love that quilt? My sweet Mom made that for me and I was so happy to reunite with it after it sat in storage for so long. I used to hang it on the wall above the couch in our Connecticut house or in our bedroom when the boys were small because I didn't want it to get dirty. I hope Mazi behaves with it here on our sofa.

Do you want to see the other treasures from my Mom?

Above the cabinets is my Christmas village. Every one of these little structures was hand painted by my Mom. (I posted about them several years ago HERE) Over the course of 15 years she gave her kids a house to add to their village on Thanksgiving. Look closer...

At night it's amazing! Aren't they cute?

What an emotional evening that was to open each house and feel the flood of memories and love of my Mom. This is our first Christmas since she passed. I won't go into that or I'll cry all day long.

That flocked wreath is from Walmart. It was $10. Seriously!

The kitchen and the family room are basically the same room. It's convenient and pretty but I might do 9 foot ceilings instead of 10 if I could choose again. Climbing the ladder so high to decorate was scary.

The dining room is set up behind the oven wall and has french doors out to a patio. I haven't decorated in there yet.

We haven't put ornaments on the trees.. I like them plain but are the bulbs sitting in a crate. They look good just where they are.

I brought down some little accessories that I have had for years like these little snowmen.

The coffee table has a runner on it with a Santa, a pine scented candle and some Holly branches from a tree outside. And of course Ms. Mazi is being lazy as ever on the sofa.

She needs her hair cut but I love it all shaggy. She looks like a well loved teddy bear.

Well, that is a picture overload if I ever saw one. But if you'd like to see more Christmas tours of our past homes click the links below..
Connecticut House 2011 HERE and HERE
Virginia House 2012 HERE
Virginia House 2013 HERE
Virginia House 2014 HERE
Utah House 2015 HERE
Utah House 2016 (I was MIA)
Christmas 2017 all I posted on was building this house.

Yes, we like to move a lot!

I post on Instagram if you'd like to follow there. HERE is the link. Or search downtoearth.home

K, thank you for your time today and I hope you enjoyed the tour of our Festive Family Room and Kitchen.

Have a super fun weekend!

An Office for Her

2018-11-05T21:49:00.001-05:00

I have struggled with an idea of what to make of this front room. We had french doors put here because it's just off the foyer. The model home of our builder had one similar to this and I thought it was super pretty.

I liked the option of making it a music room or parlor but mostly I envisioned my parents coming to stay with us and this would be a guest space for them to stay with a bathroom right next to it. No stairs to climb and the kitchen is close by. I planned on putting some curtains on the inside for privacy.

Years ago I saw a home that I fell in love with that had a bedroom near the entry and for some reason it struck me as super cozy.

We tried making it a guest room and it was a great place to take a nap since it gets a lot of natural light. But all we used it for was taking cat naps in the middle of the day. It was so inviting but very unproductive.

Here are some photos that I never got around to sharing while we had it set up as our "napping room".

Of course, if there is a cozy spot in our home you can guarantee Ms. Mazi will be right there.

Once we had the queen bed set up in here it seemed too crowded and a waste of space since we really don't host guests often, if at all.

Since my sweet Momma passed away this year my Dad doesn't want to travel as much and really, this was going to be their room (sigh). It made me too sad.

Plus - I needed a work space to call my own.

So once I decided where all the big furniture was going to go I rallied up my boys to help shift it all around ... again.

Partly what inspired the design of this room were a few new items I picked up. Well, one new and a few old.

This rug is from Ballards, it's new. I love the black and white document print that follows the color scheme of my whole house.

I have my favorite rocking chair in here (mostly for Mazi) and a small round table to place a drink on or my current read.

Just for storage we keep this old dresser here that looks pretty rough, which is a good thing, but the drawers don't slide in and out great so it's not a good bedroom piece.

Across from that rocking chair is a Goodwill find - the arm chair. It looks like it's been recovered but maybe the previous owner had a cat that scratched the lower fabric. I don't care about that. It was $20 and it doesn't stink. I washed it up with Resolve. The linen color was so versatile that I couldn't pass it up.

This little desk was only $28, also from Goodwill. I love the bottom shelf. It's old and needs to be refinished but I like it's authentic old look. The only problem is that I don't love it's authentically old, musty smell so...I just light a candle.

A bit of pumpkin spice covers it right up.

The view from the inside of this room is the foyer hall.

I have switched the Gallery Wall up because with the weather being hot, then cold, then hot again we were messing with the thermostat a lot. It had been hidden behind a mirror. What a dumb place to put a thermostat, right in the center of the main foyer wall. Now you can see it, which I don't like, but at least we can change the temperature more easily.

I skipped a blog post the whole month of October this year. Not really on purpose. It seemed like nothing was put together because we moved not only this room around but the piano and dining table switched up too. I will share those rooms soon. However, just in case you think you are missing something - you can view brief but more frequent views of this house/my life on Instagram HERE.

Thanks for dropping by my sweet friends!

Have a wonderful week!

See HIS Office HERE

New Floor to Ceiling Wood Fireplace Wall

2018-09-15T01:22:00.000-04:00

Guess what?! The boys moved the TV off of our fireplace hearth!

Yay!
Now I can show you what I did to the fireplace wall bump out in our family room.

Let's look back at what it looked like before.

It was fine...meahh! (major TV blockage)

I wanted to bring the same treatment from our kitchen island (HERE) to the family room - which - basically, is the same room with our open concept floor plan.

So here is what a similar view looked like BEFORE.

Then - After!

(I bought Mazi a more comfortable, fluffy rug to lay on from Wayfair - Link)

OK - a little announcement here.

Marc finally got a grand piano!

A dream come true! Let's all say YAY together!!!!

"YAY!!!"

It's amazing to have music back in our house again! I wish I could explain the feeling in words.

In the last couple of years our lives have felt so uprooted with the move to and from Utah, living in an apartment while we built this house and with my sweet mama passing away - things have felt extremely different and quite frankly - sad, bad and just - not quite right.

When the piano came and got set up this week, my husband started playing music that he has played for me for our whole marriage. Ben, one of our sons, joined in with his violin and I was reminded that, though so much has changed, there are many things that are still the same.

The one thing that holds strong now is our little family. The four of us.

I do feel fortunate to have these boys in my life. My husband and I have been together a long time (link HERE). Memories flow through me with the beautiful and familiar music he plays.

I am truly grateful.

I like walking through the foyer into this sun filled living space and seeing that rustic dark wood fireplace accent wall right in the middle and then the formal-ish piano right next to it.

The mix of rustic and refined spells - my style!

I love it!

The gallery wall is still up in the foyer hall and I've added to it a little bit.

I am trying not to decorate with too much. Sometimes the more things you put in a space the more complicated it can feel.

I haven't really gotten anything new for the walls so I am just sticking with ornate mirrors and frames.

I like the mantel this way but, to be honest, I simplified it shortly after I took these pictures.

The black box there on the right end is our Sonos thing. We listen to music and podcasts on it.

Better than having the TV up there, right?

The mantel felt too tall as it was originally built so I removed one cedar 4x6 board and brought the top shelf down a few inches

For extra support I screwed in these iron brackets on each end. The brackets blend with the dark wood.

The weeping figs on either side of the deep colored wall bump out make the space feel homey.

All the sun light in here is a perfect welcome for the living greens. They love the sun.

For now, this is what works for us.

A new home takes a lot of time to figure out how each space works best for living, especially when there are options. My family and I are humbled in knowing we have these options here.

You can follow me on instagram HERE or search downtoearth.home

Thanks for reading!

Much love,

A Little Love Story

2018-08-28T13:15:00.002-04:00

Since today is my wedding anniversary I thought I'd write a quick story about the man behind this blog & me. He makes it possible for me to do the things I love.
Did you know that I was only 15 1/2 years old when I met this guy? (exact same age as our twin boys are right now - OMG!) Marc was 17, we went to the same high school. I fell so in love with him very early and I wanted to marry him right away but he was more level headed and waited until he was nearly done with his bachelors degree before we married. Our families didn't believe in living together before marriage so we honored that.

People who know Marc absolutely love and respect him. So many times in our relationship I felt like I wasn't quite "good enough" for this genuine and talented Genius (yes, he's brainy and beautiful).

But he chose me and I adore him.

After 9 years of marriage we found a way to have our own babies through IVF. That was a hard time prior to getting pregnant. My heart goes out to people who experience infertility.

For us, it actually gave us time to sort out our thoughts on many subjects such as religion, politics, education, family relationships - the deep stuff. None were easy conclusions and these are ever evolving life subjects but at the point when our efforts to become parents came to fruition we were on the same page, so to speak.

So as much agony and pain we experienced, I am always grateful for the time we had to grow up and grow more together.

We had two baby boys who came 9 weeks early. A scary beginning into parenthood. We made it though and have laughed our sides out raising these little stinkers.

We've cried our eyes out too. The joy they brought to our relationship is beyond explainable. Having two babies at once living 2000 miles away from our families was both a blessing and a curse. How I needed my Mom so many times but she always had time to talk me through those days when the kids were sick with fever or I was over tired and making life harder than it had to be.

Fast forward through career changes, re-locations, buying, selling and renting houses. Making a home for these boys has always been so important to us but we also wanted them to experience things we hadn't as children.

Marc and I grew up in the same town our whole life until we were adults. Our idea was to give our kids the benefit of living in different parts of the country in hopes they would appreciate their knowledge and experiences of different places.

We still have feelings of guilt for uprooting them from our Connecticut home but as much as I wish I could do things differently, I believe that there are no coincidences in life. Hopefully the challenges they have had in being the new kids will prepare them for something they will better cope with in their own life journey.

We hope for the best and we have amazing days and days when I think "what the hell?' - but this is our life and we try to embrace the good.

Since I'm on a personal note in this post I feel a need to express credit to my Mom who recently passed. She helped prepare me for marriage and the great task of being a mother. Mostly through her example but also her patience and dedication to teach all of her six children strong values and endurance.

She leaves a legacy of strong families and so much love.

How I miss her.

Not sure why I wrote this post today but I guess it's important to know that behind pretty pictures and my DIY projects there are humans just living the real life. Life is not always pretty but as I get older I believe that this earthly journey isn't meant to be perfect but to give us opportunities to grow spiritually, learn to love unconditionally and strive to bring happiness into this world.

As I was meditating yesterday the phrase "Heart Centered Living" came to me and it made me think - that is what it is all about.

My sweet husband bought us a new beautiful home this year and I told him - I need nothing else for our big TWO-FIVE. I humbly already have it all - and more.

Thanks for reading my abbreviated love story and I hope each of you find and focus on the good things in your own lives...it's there, even if you have to look a little deeper.

Much Love,

Upgrade that Builder Kitchen Island

2018-08-15T20:33:00.001-04:00

You know when you are building a house and you have that thing called "a budget"?

No matter how big or small it is, it never seems to cover everything you want.

What I did before every appointment with our builder was think about the skills I do have and skills I don't have. I went with upgrades on my "don't haves" (tile, appliances, plumbing - etc.)

The following is a picture of what I chose with our builder for our kitchen island.

Meeeeaah!

OK. It's big. (128 inches long - ghak!)

I can cut wood, I have saws, nail guns and an air compressor. I can stain and paint pretty much anything. So none of my money went to the cosmetics of our kitchen island. I only upgraded to a double, extra deep sink because - yeah, I don't do plumbing.

Did I buy "special" wood to match the maple cabinets?

Not a chance!

Friends...this is all wood from Lowe's - in stock. 1x6x6 pine, 1x4x8 premium furring strips (premium only because they are straighter), and 1x3 furring strips along with a few 1x2's in pine.

They vary in widths, depths and in texture.

To make the island deeper so it doesn't look like a "standard" 24 inch depth cabinet I added a 2x4 wall right behind it. Chunkier is better and in my case, I had room to grow my island.

BEFORE...

I had to remove the skimpy moldings before I began.

AFTER...

If you can cut with a miter saw a straight cut and a 45 degree angle you can do this too. I love my nail guns and air compressor but they aren't really necessary if you are willing to hammer or screw the wood together.

After all the vertical slats were put in place then I cut more 1x4 premium furring strips to trim out the bottoms.

There is my kitchen folks.

Some wood slats were given two coats of Dark Walnut stain by Minwax and some were just one coat so it looks varied in color.

I love the rustic vibe. Don't you?

Various wood colors tie in the rest of the wood grains in the house and quite frankly, it's just more "me".

I ordered more bar stools in black to go with my two old white ones and it plays off the black and white theme going on here and there and everywhere around the house.

If you are all detail oriented like my cute hubby, you will notice I added two slats of stained wood behind the stove hood cabinet. I could see the metal frame from the blower before and that bugged me so I covered that up real quick.

Yeah - this DIY makes my "custom" house feel a lot more like my own.

If you have any more questions about this project you can reach me on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE - or if you are a blogger, you are familiar with the comments section below. I also have email that I check when bills aren't due at hbrowning72@gmail.com.

Have a super fun week and just a little advice - don't over think it. It's easy to complicate everything.

Much love,

Custom Sized Foyer Table

2018-08-10T10:59:00.001-04:00

Hello Friends!
Guess what? I made something! Yup! It's been a long time since I have taken on a project but here is why.
I am in love with my nail gun and air compressor for this stuff. We have been reunited after their stay in storage and I couldn't be happier!

I tried making a bench with just my drill and miter saw last year while most of my tools and I were separated and I gave up.

Once you do it the easy way there is no turning back.

To start - I like to measure the space I am making a piece for and cut wood for the frame of the top and go from there.

Then I attach the top. Turn it upside down and start the legs. I don't plan it out too much other than making a wood box in the size that fits the space. I can add decorative molding to it later if I choose.

It ends up super plain looking but I add a bottom shelf and double layer the legs to give them a chunky look.

I don't have a good stash of wood built up in my garage yet so I had to work with what I bought at the store. Of course, I was short and had to go back for more but it worked out (enough).

The picture above is of the bottom interior where I attached a cross beam for the shelf. See the 2x4 holding the horizontal piece in place? I am holding a 1x4 scrap on the outside because that is what will be layered on the 2x4 legs to bulk them up.

I am super rusty at writing tutorials but you can see how simple the construction is. I just needed something to start with.

I love making my own tables for tight spaces because see how it doesn't intrude on the foyer? It's 11 inches deep by 70 inches long and 36 1/2 inches tall. It fit right under the horse picture that was already hanging (by design).

To be honest, it's not the most beautiful piece of furniture I have ever made but it took me about two hours and about $90 in supplies.

It's stained with Minwax - Jacobean.

For an impatient, not too particular kind of girl - it works perfectly.

Not too bad for a warm up.

Thanks for stopping by and have a super fun weekend!

Master Bedroom at the New House 2018

2018-07-25T15:18:00.000-04:00

I have been super excited to get our bedroom put together.

We bought a new bed when we moved in and I tell you - I sleep amazing here. The frame is so sturdy and comfortable.

I love the fabric tufted headboard. At first I thought I wanted grey but I love this canvas color. It made it so that I could use drop cloths for curtains. They match!

I ordered some ticking stripe curtains for this room but after living with it I think I will use those in the guest room instead.

If you notice I layered a couple of frayed ruffles at the tops of the drop cloth window panels. They were easy to do.

The carpet and walls are so neutral - almost too much so. When I got the room going I knew it needed something black.

The two black architectural windows are not really windows but some decor that I found at Kirkland's. Here in the south eastern part of the USA we are super lucky to have Kirkland's (HERE). They have great replicas of old windows, farmhouse decor and even cute greenery that looks real.

The window nook is where I like to meditate (something I have taken up since my Mama passed away HERE). I keep books there on the bench with greens and sometimes I will light candles too. It's relaxing. (the guided meditation app I use on my phone is called Insight - amazing!)

Do you want to hear more about that kind of thing here? Let me know and if you are interested in the books that have helped me deal with grief I'd be super happy to share.

This view of our room is where our closet entrance is. I like that we don't have to go through our bathroom to get to it. It's actually a super cute space but I still have lots of boxes to go through in there so I am not going to give you the full view yet.

The view over the foot of the bed always includes my puppy, Ms. Mazi, and yes, I have a TV in my bedroom.

I live in a house full of boys and our movie interests are completely different. I can sit in here and watch chick shows like the mini series Little Women on Masterpiece and The Affair on Showtime (two of my favs).

If you have read this blog before or toured our House Tour 1 you will recognize the door above our headboard. It was the old door to our basement in our Connecticut home. It has a little bit of sentimental value so I hold on to it. There wasn't really a great place to put it in this house so here it is in the bedroom giving a rustic vibe to this space.

The low down on where I got stuff.

The bedding is from Homegoods (a steal at $39.99 for the spread and two shams). The lamps are from Homegoods ($22 each). The body pillow is from Target ($9.99 - sherpa cover) and the throw pillows are: 1 from Homegoods (16.99) and the other two are covers from Amazon ($-?) over feather inserts from Joann's ($20 each). The small, middle, camel color pillow in front is one that came with my boys bedding from Target last year and I just added a strip of muslin fabric (ripped, of course) tied in a knot on the front so it didn't look so plain.The curtain panels are drop cloths from a paint store - 9'x12' hung with the 12 foot side going horizontal and cut to 97 inches ($24). The small window was dressed in a 4'x12' also cut to 97 inches and in half with the 4 foot side going vertical. The extra drop cloth fabric was frayed and layered to make ruffles and clipped with black drapery hooks to the rods which were also found at Homegoods (rod up 144" - $39.99 and rod up to 72" - $16.99) I already had a ton of curtain clips on hand.

note: I did use some of a third drop cloth to use for ruffle.

The frayed edges look like this:

String by string just pull until you've got the fray you want.

Our dressers are all old or new to me and some are painted in an "oops" paint from Home Depot - it's a soft black-ish paint. (love the color but not my favorite formula to work with).

We chose the builders standard carpet for the bedrooms but we upgraded to wood in the hall. To me, carpet should be replaced every several years anyway and wood is lifetime.

OK - so if you guys/gals have questions you know you can email me at

hbrowning72@gmail.com

or contact me by Facebook HERE or Instagram HERE

Sometimes my comments come to my email but sometimes they don't so if you REALLY want an answer consider the links or email above for a more timely response.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of our bedroom a bit as much as I love living in it.

Until we meet again!

Tool Box Table Runner

2018-07-23T10:38:00.000-04:00

This is a super quick project I did last week to bring some color into the dining room.

We had a couple of 1x4 wood common boards in the garage. This long, narrow box is simply screwed together and painted in Vine Green by Ben Moore.

I filled it with greenery. It took nine small plants to fill it up but candles at different heights would be super pretty too.

The brass handles dress it up a little bit and match the knobs on the buffet.

I wondered if it would be kind of a pain to move at meal time but it's all one piece and that is easier than moving a trio of candles or something like that. Also, it's an accent that can go on the buffet nicely too.

Won't it be beautiful when the greenery grows a little fuller?

I am just loving this green paint. Look what else got a coat of that color.

Here is what that looked like before.

This is a morning room or a breakfast nook but I haven't even given this spot much thought - yet!

Right now it functions as my work space. The green cabinet holds my paints, fabric and glue gun, etc.

I ordered some window coverings for our bedroom and they are taking a long time to get here. I am excited to share the master bedroom with you soon.

Thanks for dropping in.

Happy Monday and see you next time.

The Family Room with a Question for You

2018-07-13T11:50:00.001-04:00

Today I got my camera out to take a few pictures of Mazi. She got a fresh new hair cut yesterday and she looks like she lost 50% of her weight.
Too bad that didn't work for me on my last hair cut.

While I had the camera out I tried my new tripod for the camera. For some reason I had two tripods come in the move but both had missing pieces. Gah!

I took a few pics of the family room to try it out.

I have been waiting to share our family room because we have a great big TV sitting here on the fireplace hearth until we get the gumption to hang it above the mantel. Nobody has that kind of motivation at the moment and honestly it's pretty comfortable watching it from there (and I love my horse taking center stage).

There are books to organize too but stacks of books around looks and feels like people really live here. I have a Pinterest board called We Live Here Style. There are two photos in it and both have stacks and stacks of books in them.

We all love this room. It's open, big and full of natural light all day long.

We don't really need window coverings for privacy and I am loving the simple look of the open, airy windows. We are surrounded by trees so the view is pretty. The trim is nice and thick around the windows too and I don't want to cover that up.

So I am wondering...

Since I hung bold curtains in the dining room - can I get away with not dressing up the windows in the family room?

(Mazi has her questioning look on.)

The rooms open to each other and the color schemes are the same. If you have an opinion let me know in the comments.

I told you in my last post that I would possibly share our bedroom next but guess what the hold up is?

Window coverings!

I don't think I ever minded hanging window panels in the past but now I just dread climbing a ladder and reaching my drill over my head.

Truth be told, Marc hung the ones in the dining room. He's more steady, strong and precise with his leveling. Since he has more opinions for this house I let him help out here and there.

The wall color is still Eider White by SW in this room. It sort of works now that our stuff is here. It's fresh but still not my favorite.

We are getting more and more comfortable as time goes on living in this new place. At first it felt strange but I told my family "We just need to make some memories here".

Mazi's the Queen of Comfort. In this picture you can't tell very well but she is nearly upside down on that pillow. Her bum is up and her head is down. She sleeps awkward like I do.

Before I go - I actually painted a few pieces this week. I shared on Instagram but here is another peek at this cute bench.

BEFORE:

I am loving this green called Green Fields by Ben Moore. I darkened the green with Dark Walnut Stain using THIS technique.

So happy it's a weekend! I love being home with the boys and especially watching Marc tinker around his own house and yard again.

Let me know your thoughts on the window coverings and thanks for coming by today.

Have a super week!

Black and White Dining

2018-07-09T12:36:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday!
I hope you are all enjoying summer. Here in Virginia we are having the best weather. We deserve it after such high humidity for three weeks. We needed a relief.
Over the weekend I painted our dining room.

Here is what it looked like BEFORE:

It was so light and bright that my eyes would just float around and not focus on any particular thing. I knew that I wanted something dramatically different.

So, I painted the room in Dark Olive by Benjamin Moore.

AFTER:

Huge difference!

I love the gold mirror above an old buffet that I painted white. The handles are different metals and it ties in with the Gallery Wall in the foyer.

I put an old basket under the buffet and thought the fabric flowers that I got on clearance at Joann's would look nice stored there.

I like to stock up on floral when it's on clearance so I can buy a whole bunch of one type flower. I stay away from the plastic ones and opt for soft fabric floral that looks more natural.

We have plenty of chairs for the table but I like the look of a bench in a dining room. The metal basket underneath holds tables clothes, a runner and place mats.

Because it is summer I like to add a seasonal accent like these star fish. One sits at the base of each window.

Natural succulents and a mini ficus tree add life to the simple color scheme.

Painting that dark color took some patience. I was going to tape off the edges but to be honest - I think it makes it harder to get a good crisp line. I'd rather freehand nice and slow with a short two inch angled brush. Slow and Steady!

While I was working on this room and feeling quite like myself again, Ms. Mazi lounged around in the nearby family room.

We put in a pet fence to train her to stay in the yard this weekend. So far the beeping noise is keeping her inside the boundaries marked with flags.

Good Girl, May!

Tell me what you think of the dining room in the comment section below.

If you like these posts - you can get little glimpses of them before the blog on Instagram HERE.

I don't know what room comes next - maybe my bedroom.

Have a super fun week and Ms. Mazi and I thank you for dropping in!

Sharing with A Stroll Thru Life

Foyer Gallery Wall

2018-07-02T09:45:00.000-04:00

The entire time while building this house I was imagining this wall with a console table along it with a simple mirror or horse picture above it.

BEFORE:

(sorry it's blurry)

The hall widens up nice here but there's a cold air return, electrical outlet, light switch and temp control on this wall. Ugh! I want to hide all of them!

Once we moved in I placed a buffet table here but it felt a bit cumbersome to go around it. Not natural in traffic flow.

As I unpacked I realized I had a nice collection of mirrors and frames.

To make the utility components dissolve into the wall we painted the wall Extra White (Ben Moore) like the trim but in a satin finish, not semi-gloss.

I like the personality the wall gives our house.

I have wanted a full gallery wall ever since I saw my brother's foyer in THIS post.

On the opposite wall hangs a chippy shutter. Our foyer sets the tone for the style of the rest of our house decor and that is why I like to start there when I decorate.

If you are a regular here you have heard me complain about the pink-ish undertone to the Eider White (Sherwin Williams) walls. I think they are starting to grow on me.

As we add our own pieces to the place it all ends up blending pretty well and I have bigger priorities right now than to repaint the entire house.

...so does Mazi!

Her life is tough here sitting around on down filled pillows.

Next up is our dining room. This is a bold one, my friends! Curtains will be here at the end of the week.

Have a super fun 4th of July and we'll catch up next week. If you are on Instagram you can see glimpses of what we are doing on our updates there in THIS link.

Until then,

Sharing with: A Stroll Thru Life

We Own It & the Office Comes First

2018-06-26T22:49:00.004-04:00

WELCOME to our new home!
Since I checked in with you all last we closed on the house.

Yup! This is a picture of my sweetie signing his life away. Isn't it great that the title company comes to us now?

The move has been a whirlwind! It's coming together though and it's already feeling like home.

My hubby had a confrence yesterday and today so while he was gone one of my sons and I painted his office.

Before...

Before photos are a little unfair because everything looks a mess...but it really was.

Remember how I talked about how the paint really looks? Well, I still don't like the Eider White by SW on the walls but my main man likes it even LESS!

He doesn't want me to make a mess and paint while we are trying to just move in so the minute he left town...I pulled out the paint. We had about 36 hours to pull this together (We being my son and I).

I chose Gray Horse by Benjamin Moore.

Ooooohhhh...that is so much easier on my eyes!

Gray Horse has a greenish undertone to the gray and is a medium depth in color.

After living in a few houses with Marc (the hubby) I know he is so over all the projects I like to do. I think he is ready to "grow up" in our home style .... and to be honest - I am too.

Keeping that in mind this office is simple with some classy, substantial furniture pieces and zero complication. (however, I'd love to mess it up a bit with some old...well, really old something).

These sail boat photographs are about 20 years old but that's not the kind of old I am talking about.

We have had these pictures hanging in our homes for so long. I remember the day we bought them for the first house we built in Utah together. I still love them.

OK..so the mirror is really old but without any memories attached to it. It's just genuinely ancient from a recent purchase at some vintage shop.

The chair and desk are new to us but several years old. A gift from Marc's parents and a hand me down from his sister. When you sit here it feels like an executive's office.

This room is to the right of the foyer and looks out the front windows.

I purchased some beautiful. lined window panels but they were too short. I might have to pull out my sewing machine for the windows in this house - they are very high and stock panels are all too short.

This room reveal isn't super exciting but my man works so hard for our family. He needs his work space in order, especially after using our apartment family room for an office for a whole year!

I have more to share but I feel like I am moving so slow getting the house decorated but even slower to pull out my camera.

I do share little bits on Instagram if you like to use that way of staying connected. HERE is my link to follow.

Speaking of staying connected... check out all of my boys talking and laughing on the front porch tonight. They are growing up and that Marc - he is our hero.

This house is super nice and some days I almost feel guilty for having such a pretty place. Then I think - we have worked for it. Truly.

The last few years have been some of the hardest. I am finally feeling positive and hopeful again. Even though I don't have my Mom here to share my life stories with, I feel like I am growing in different ways through losing her.

I mentioned before that all I do is read books about death, life after death, religious books and others. I am growing to have a bit of peace with this crazy life we live and making a little more sense of the death process.

So far I've learned through my reading - life is all about happiness and love - that is all that counts.

Thanks for reading this post today. I'll be back shortly!

xo,

Let There Be Light

2018-05-15T08:13:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends!

There are lights on but nobody is home (yet)!

All the light fixtures are in. I have to say that I am mostly happy with my choices.

One thing I notice that happens is you think the fixtures are going to be the right size for the room. For the most part I got that right but the lantern on the front porch is smaller than I imagined.

I had a certain criteria for that particular light though. Guess what it was?

It had to be easy to change the bulb. I know that sounds dumb but I do not want to climb high and take apart a fixture every time a bulb is out. Also, there is only one bulb that is very easy to change. So essentially I got what I wanted.

I took these pictures last night as this crazy storm was moving in. Clouds swiftly moved in and the wind took branches off trees and swirled them around in the air. I love storms like that...when I am home, not driving.

I wish I had more to share about the house today. The house doors are kept locked now because the floors are finished.

This week the landscapers start the yard and that will brighten things up.

On the personal front I don't have a whole lot of news because all I can do is read books about what happens to us when we die. I can't get enough of it. I'm not ready to get into that subject here but I want to know where my Mom is. She can't possibly just be gone. We love each other too much! (that story HERE)

Speaking of moms I hope you all had a wonderful Mothers Day. Mine was great in the day time but once evenings come - I am a mess. It's like the "witching hour".

I hope to have more fun posts soon. I have finished a few pieces of furniture. Finally! These are pieces that have been sitting for months in my garage waiting to be done and they go in the new house.

Here's a quick peek at one of them...

A dining table (in my messy garage). You might be surprised at what I chose to do with it, I think.

I share more often on Instagram lately so if you would like to follow along there HERE is the link.

OK! I am going to a birthday lunch for a friend today so I better run.

Have a super fun week and thanks for dropping in!

Linking with: Let's Add Sprinkles

A House in Progress

2018-05-03T10:53:00.002-04:00

Hello friends!

No, the house is not complete....Darn it! But soon.

I was excited when the gutters went up. I chose a bronze color. Also, the trim around the roof line is painted Urbane Bronze by SW. I love it! Maybe you can't tell but here is what it looked like before.

So the lighting is in, the driveway is poured and the hardware is on.

Remember when I wrote about how disappointed we were with all the front steps (link HERE)? Well, we had the walkway raised to cover two of the steps. It took a ton of dirt too but now there are only 8 steps instead of 10. Worth it, even though the front yard slopes a little more.

Much better.

It's starting to look like a home.

The back patio is in.

I am so excited to have a patio and a backyard that is easily accessible, even though the front yard is less so. We've had decks with stairs going to the yard for years and this go around I wanted my backyard closer. (Besides, Mazi is so lazy that in the Winter she would not even go down the stairs to go potty - she went right there on our deck! This will help.)

I rarely share pictures of myself but this is my husband and I --- Hello!

That's the garage side door. I like it white but I think it's supposed to be the same bronze color as the trim. We'll see. Lately we just say - you get what you get. Some requests happen and some don't.

On the inside - the floors are in but not yet stained.

The master bath is just about finished.

I chose the same granite as the kitchen for this room. I like the consistency throughout the house.

All the tile is white in the showers too.

I still don't love the wall color but it will be a good excuse for me to put some personality into each room once I get our things in there. (Eider White by SW - it has a pink hue)

I realize this is sort of a boring post but life feels like it's been turned upside down and I can't seem to find fun words to write. I miss my Mom every single day however, I feel like I am finally adjusting to a new normal - slowly (link to that story HERE).

The house has been a good distraction giving me something to look forward to.

I took a picture of Mazi the other day and it made my boys and I laugh...

She wouldn't look at me because she was watching out for a cute neighborhood kitty that likes to tease her. So, she deserves an un-becoming public picture.

That one isn't really any better but she's so dang fun! We take her with us almost everywhere. I love her.

We still have almost 6 weeks left before the move. I'm looking forward to getting settled and planting a garden.

I post more pictures on Instagram. You can follow my story there too - link HERE.

Hope you are enjoying the change of season. The warm weather refreshes my soul.

Thanks for stopping by!

How the Paint Really Looks

2018-04-05T10:38:00.001-04:00

Are you ready for an update on the house?

Over the last couple of months the house has come pretty far along.

My mind was in a different place for most of that time but it's exciting to see it coming all together now.

See the window box on the garage? I am so glad we chose the colonial molding above the windows, it adds a lot of character.

The wood under the over hangs have been stained too.

Loving the contrast!

The exterior is painted in Cocoon SW6173 (RR 19). I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!

The best and worst surprises are THE PAINT!

The interior has been painted too.

I can't remember the trim color exactly but the wall is Eider White SW7014 by Sherwin Williams.

On the paint chip it was a pretty white color leaning towards grey.

Did I sample it? NO!

I didn't even take my own advice! (gah!)

Honestly, I wish I had done my homework on this color.

It looks super pretty in some lights but watch...

When the western sun comes into the foyer in the afternoon...uhm - I don't like it one bit! I see a pastel almost mauve undertone. I can't stand pink, even when it's trendy.

What am I going to do about it?

Live with it!

Ugh, I am so mad at myself. What was I thinking?

The color changes with whatever is reflecting on it. I think that is common with light colors but I didn't research this one enough. I trusted the builders designer and I had seen it in a house and liked it fine (toured that house on a gloomy rainy day).

I am more familiar with Benjamin Moore Paint and I should have insisted on one I know in that line instead of trying to go with the flow.

I know the builder deals with a lot of difficult customers and I am trying to NOT be one of them. I used to be an agent for a builder and know what a distraction the buyers can be when you're trying to get the job done.

Let's move on to better news....the kitchen.

So far so good.

I love the two tone colors of the cabinetry. I really do.

The counter tops are also very pretty.

They compliment the dark Java stained bottom cabinets and the white uppers.

It's granite in a color called Wiskon White. A white with black running through it.

Making dinner in this kitchen is going to be so fun! There's even a pantry.

Right now I have about 24 inches of counter space at the apartment and it's always full. My dinners consist of casseroles and casseroles. (eye roll)

Remember when I wanted a chimney hood over the cook top? I didn't do it based on price but...

I am so happy with this accent cabinet featuring a little shelf. It's a chunky focal point for the large wall of cabinets.

Also, I am so glad that I didn't go with open shelving. The white uppers blend in great with the walls and provide a ton of storage.

Since the ceilings are 10 feet tall and the room is so very open, it may have felt too bare to have small shelving and may have become cluttered looking.

Small kitchens - YES on open shelving - larger scale? Not so much.

I wasn't sure about the dramatic staggering of the upper cabinets either but I trusted the kitchen designer on this one and he was right, I love it!

Simple lines like shaker style cabinet doors, sleek stainless hardware (goes with the door knobs and plumbing fixtures) and an eased edge on the island are practical, not too fancy so I can decorate in my own way without the house feeling over done.

I kept the hardware the same throughout the house.

This is one of the sink bases in the master bath. It's also Java stained. The floor will be grey tile and Wiskon White granite counter tops are coming soon too.

The hall bath upstairs has the same hardware but a lighter stain. This stain is named Stone. I love that the wood grain still comes through. This bathroom is for the boys.

The tops are a bright white marble in a flat finish and the floor will also be the same grey as the master bath. I kept all of my choices consistent through the whole house so it flows.

Let's see...What else is going on Mazi?

Tile this week. Yay!

Yesterday I started cleaning out my garage. What a messy worker I am. Sadly, I didn't finish a lot of the projects that I had big ideas for so several things went to Goodwill. Several things were thrown out too.

Sorta feeling like keeping the next house clean of all the dust from sanding and cutting wood. If I don't get my creative juices back soon, it might just stay that way.

Hope all is well with you and your families!
(and if you are lucky enough to have your Mom around - squeeze her like crazy!)

Until next time...

Mom...I Miss You!

2018-03-21T21:31:00.000-04:00

I have a sad story to share although some of the pictures you'll see are happy.

It's been one month since I received the dreaded message from my Dad that my Mom had suffered a stroke and was in the hospital.

I immediately found a flight to SLC, Utah.

I have never seen my Mom down, let alone in a hospital bed. She was the healthiest, most strong woman I know. Not to mention that her energy level surpassed mine by a long shot. I only know her to be happy, on the go and doing things for other people. Always giving us the time of our lives every Summer I took my boys on a trip to stay with her.

On my long flight I was thinking about the fun times I have had together with my mom and our family, cherishing every one of them. There are so many.

I thought I might be staying in Utah for a few weeks to help my Mom when she got home from the hospital, cook for her, things like that. I was thinking she'd have some sort of side effect from her stroke that she would need help with. I could do that.

....While trying to be positive, fearing the worst kept a constant stream of tears flowing down my face the whole journey to Salt Lake.

Most of my siblings live close to my parents except for one of my brothers, who also flew in that day to be with Mom. We all kept in communication as best we could through that day as we traveled, hoping for the best.

No one in my family could imagine this beautiful woman, who has kept us close - our relationships strong and loved us unconditionally, would ever leave us.

I had not seen my Mom in six months and looked so forward to that extra long, tight, warm hug that she gives me after months without seeing her.

(I will miss those loving hugs!)

When I arrived at the hospital it was late but my Dad and two of my brothers were there.

I was not prepared for what I saw as I entered her room in the ICU.

....Shock....

I hugged my Mom desperately screaming to her "I'm here, wake up!" ...she held my hand strong to let me know she knew I was there as she lay there on life support.

The next morning after her MRI the doctors gave us news that the damage to the left side of her brain was worse than they first thought and that she must have had several little strokes in her sleep before my Dad found her unresponsive the morning before.

My Dad took in the terrible news with doctors and my siblings gathered around my Mom in her room. He looked to each one of us for a little clue as to what he should do. It was ultimately up to him.

At this point my Mom had not responded to any commands and according to the scan we had been reviewing with the neurologist she would not have been able to respond, let alone breath or swallow on her own.

...but...

Suddenly, at that crucial moment of my Dad searching for our responses, she opened her eyes looking straight at my Dad. Their eyes locked and Mom's face went red as her eyes poured tears. It was only for a second but it was enough for all of us to know what we had to do.

The next several days were filled with prayers, hard decisions, goodbyes along with condolences and so much love.

I found comfort in keeping my Mom's face washed with a warm cloth, her lips moisturized and her hair brushed. I clipped her beautiful finger nails and filed them down, pushed her cuticles back and massaged her hands and feet. I imagined that is what she would be doing for me if we were to switch places. At times in my own life when words didn't come easy she taught me that you can show love in many other ways.

Outside the snow fell and we had beautiful views of the mountains from the hospital windows. The snow seemed to make the mood quiet almost reverent.

I remember a couple of years ago posting on Instagram that "Heaven Kissed the Earth with Snow".

It felt like the snow was there to calm us down and be still.

There was so much comfort having every one of my siblings there at the hospital. We prayed, cried, laughed and shared memories. Mom held on in a deep sleep for a couple of days.

....When her time came we were all around her in the dimly lit room embracing one another and holding on to the faith that she was off to a better place. We silently let her know - It's OK Mom, you can go, we can do this.

I used to think my Mom was silly when she'd say to me "If I die young please don't be sad for me because I don't want to be old".

Some of my family follow the Mormon religion. My Mom led the way with her example, never ending service and faith. Some of her children chose a different path. People have asked me if that was disappointing to my parents. No way! Mom prayed for all of her children, especially through our struggles. When asked upon, her suggested solution to our inquiry was never based on religion but on wise life advice and love.

Now that my Mom passed at the age of 71 I do find comfort in knowing she lived her religion 100% every single day.

If there is a heaven, she is there!

So, while I try to heal I just remember the love she surrounded me with my whole entire life. I am thankful that my children have amazing memories with their Nana.

She gave time and patience to all of the grandchildren by doing crafts with them, taking them to special places and movies, giving a sweet holiday gift to each one - every single holiday! She hemmed dresses for dances and pants for work.

We could count on her for anything!

I am not sure what to make of this but I wanted to mention it. Just this past December I had a terrible dream that my Mom died and when I woke up I felt this panic to go home to comfort my Dad. Like I said, I'm not sure what to make of it but in a previous post I talked about how this past holiday season was so emotional for me and I missed my family terribly - I cried almost every day.

I find myself searching for reasons why this happened but in that searching I find that my Mom left nothing undone. She was very well prepared to go.

I am proud to report that my Dad is handling our loss in such a strong manner. How he must ache when he's alone but still finds joy in talking with us and even shares laughter when hearing about his grand kids.

While we planned the service to honor Mom's life we came across so many happy pictures of her. Isn't her smile so genuine? It's who she really is - bright and happy.

....I will forever remember her smiling.

A traditional Mormon service is to have a viewing one evening for friends and family to pay their respects. The next morning another short viewing and then a funeral service before going to the graveside.

My siblings and I all paid tribute to our Mom by sharing memories of her with our audience at the funeral. It's pretty incredible that we're all so different but were all deeply loved by her. We are tremendously grateful for how she gave of herself her entire life, especially to her family.

Prior to the viewing I wanted to put my personal touch on the display of the photographs and flowers.

I snapped a few photos for keepsake just before all the flower arrangements and guests arrived but you can see that there was love flowing in from friends and family everywhere even early in the day.

We showed off her beautiful hand stitched quilt.

I wrote a post about that one HERE.

The mortuary made a video of some pictures that rotated to music the whole evening.

If you want to see that video it plays at the bottom of her obituary in the following link - turn your sound on. Those songs have played in my head every day since. Some were her favorite and the one from Ed Sheeran was from us, her kids.

My Mom's Obituary

I still cry every single day. There is a weight that feels heavy on my chest and my heart hurts but remembering her legacy of faith, service and love gives me some peace. I'm hoping I can accept the reality of this some day.

One of my dear friends wrote a message to me recently that said... "She was such a beautiful person...I literally left her service vowing to be a better human! It was so touching!!"

I want to be a better person because of her too.

Now she lays in the town where she raised her kids under a little tree.

A Beautiful Mother and a Life Well Lived.

....Mom - I love you - I miss you - Thank you.

This was a hard post to write because it seems no words could be grand enough to describe my love and admiration for my Mom but this is her tribute for today. I'm sure more will come in the way I let her love and example lead me through the rest of my life.

Some of you follow me on Facebook and Instagram. Thank you for all of your support. Your thoughts, prayers, hugs and flowers have lifted my family and I up so that hopefully we really can do this.

With love and sweet memories,

Let Your House Shine & a Glimpse at the 2nd Floor

2018-02-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

As I drove through the neighborhood tonight I noticed some exterior lights that seem to come on automatically at dusk. Some people turned on their porch lights which I think makes a home look like friendly place.

The house above has five hanging pendants on the porch. Wow! They must be extra friendly.

I loved the lit up hanging ball lights at either corner of this porch. Can you see them? It looks super pretty from the street.

A lot of the homes have landscape lighting that illuminate the house itself.

Many homes have some intricate details put into the exterior. What better way to show your homes character than letting it shine bright at night.

Do you have landscape lights?

If your landscaping is already in and you don't want to go to the expense of installing new try these.

Something like this could do the trick. Plug it in with a timer to come on at dusk.

Last Christmas my parents gave us an exterior plug in light that sticks in the ground, kind of like the one above. We haven't used it yet but I love when a front door or an ornamental tree is lit up in the yard. Especially if your street is dark or near the back patio.

The days are getting slightly longer and today was 70 degrees here in Virginia. I love this time of year but I find myself wishing the days away so I can move into my own home.

Do you want to see what's going on at our house?

It still looks pretty rough but I realize there are inspections and lots of internal work that takes place at this stage.

The plumbers and HVAC guys have been here.

I can hardly wait to take a bath in that soaking tub.

Did you know that we bought this house just by seeing it on paper? Only last week were we able to walk through a similar one that has sheet rock up.

I knew our closet had two sections to it but I wasn't sure how that would turn out once built. One part is called the "dressing room".

I am pleasantly surprised. Look how cute the ceiling lines will be and the angled walls look fun to decorate. I imagine it could be an easy and sweet space to dress up but knowing myself - it will be covered in boxes for months or even years.

This is where my boys go every time we come to visit the house. It's the attic...we aren't even finishing that at this point. Pretty sure it will be on our to do list soon. Might be a fun future adventure to build a room with my teenage boys.

Guess I better get to work so I can help pay for it.

Have a super fun weekend!

10 Trends I am Taking Home in 2018

2018-02-11T18:25:00.001-05:00

Let me show you some trends that I have seen around lately that I just have to bring home this year.

1- Light walls with high contrast floors and accents such as the black backing of the shelving area in the picture above.

I have loved dark walls with white trim for so long but I am ready for a fresh change of scenery. Simpler but with some contrast.

2 - Darker wood with white cabinets in the kitchen look super crisp and fresh without looking too sterile. That bit of darkness helps the space look more livable, in my opinion.

This particular cabinet color combination is what I chose for our new home under construction. The difference is all of our bottom cabinets are the dark stain like the island.

See how this kitchen has darker bottoms with white uppers? I like it a lot!

See the granite tops here? That is the same granite we will have with dark bottom cabs and white uppers. It will help blend the two drastic colors...I hope.

3 - Although I love black counter tops, the light tops I see around are fresh and different from what I have lived with before. I am excited to try them out!

The granite is white with black running through it...I think that is a safe and timeless color combo that I can live with for a very long time.

Not white but a white background with black swirls.

4 - In keeping with the high contrast theme - the inside of our front door will be stained dark with white trim. The interior doors will be white but the front door looks more ornamental with a striking dark color.

When you pay extra money for beautiful doors? Show them off! Like in this dining room - let's say WOW! Aren't those sliding glass wood doors a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!!

I don't have that fancy of doors in my future home but I do have a couple sets of french doors that I plan to paint a charcoal or bronze color.

5 - That tub! Actually....no, I am not taking that tub trend home with me but in this photo I love the mirrors. I will be keeping my eye out for some funky mirrors to go above all of our vanities in the house.

I like vintage gold ones in particular. The round shape is beautiful too.

I also love the "he" and "she" signs for bathrooms like the ones above the toilet.

6 - A raised hearth at the fireplace. YES! I am taking home that feature for sure. I don't know that it's a trend, necessarily, or if it's out dated but after living with one - I love it and want it again!

I love a fireplace that makes a statement and how better to do that than raise it high and give it a prominent place in a room. The raised hearth even provides casual seating and a sort of "stage" for little ones to play.

When I was pregnant with my twins I had nightmares of cracked heads on the raised hearth so if you have littles - you may want to get pads that hug the edges for the toddler stage. I am way past that now - no safety pads this time.

8 - A mudroom. Yes, I am going to have a mudroom. How necessary for a family to have a drop spot for shoes, coats and backpacks. This is one thing I have never had. I hope to keep our clutter away from the front door this go around.

I chose not to do pretty white built-ins in our future mudroom because I plan to decorate that space very rustic and more for function than beauty. But I love the one shown.

9 - No microwave above the cook top. I am putting our microwave out of sight in the pantry opting for a staggered decorative cabinet that includes a blower and light above our cook top.

I don't want to see every appliance we use in our main living area. The microwave is the first to go in the closet.

via

The hood is understated but the molding and deeper cabinet give the space a bit of a focal point in the kitchen.

10 - Accent walls! I love the brick accent walls I see in some of the homes I have toured. Real brick? Wonderful! But I can pull off the look with wallpaper too.

The texture reminds me of historic buildings in cities I have been to. Brick can be warm and inviting.

10 trends I am taking home in 2018... You can add most of them to your existing home too.

Want to pin this for future reference?

I hope you like the trends I am loving.

Now, can the builder just hurry? Apartment living is getting very old. Want to know the down side of living in close quarters?

I can hear the lady upstairs going to the bathroom.

When I open my windows I can smell my neighbors cigarette smoke.

If my neighbors argue...I hear every word.

When I try to cook...my kitchen is so limited with space.

I can't have a grill because it's a fire hazard.

I feel restricted!

Winter needs to end now. (Happy Face!)

Hope you have a much better week than I am planning on.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until Next Time,

Linked with: Our Inspired Collection #1

Framing Update with a First Floor Tour

2018-02-02T13:31:00.002-05:00

Does it feel like this house is taking forever to get done or what?

Sigh...

I haven't had much to share about it because it just looks like this.

The roof, windows, plumbing and heating are all in and now the framers are back to fix a few things.

Want to peek inside?

Here's a little guide so you can see the layout.

This may take a little imagination but lets pretend we are walking through the front door...

which is actually sitting in the garage at the moment. (the side lites are supposed to go to the bottom so Mazi can see out, we'll see if the builder catches that one)

Walk into the foyer to a center staircase. To the right is Marc's office which will have doors for privacy.

To the left is the guest room with french doors and a bathroom. When we don't have guests I will be using that space for my office (I think). The french doors aren't private but I thought it will give the room more options to use as a den/parlor or a piano room if we like.

Straight back is the great room.

(mish-mash all over the floor right now - framers are fixing the real coffered ceiling that they built but we did not order - our's is going to be faux coffered. Marc keeps asking me what that means and I just say - you'll see.)

The fireplace hearth is raised. We chose to do this because - well, I love the look but the ceilings are 10 feet high and the fireplace would seem too low for that tall of walls, in my opinion.

From the fireplace looking toward the front of the house is the kitchen area. Right in the center of the house.

A dining room is off the great room and on the opposite side is the breakfast nook.

The breakfast nook has french doors that will go out to a patio.

I am super excited to have a backyard and patio that is easy to get to from the house. This area will be flat and private. Yes!

The main floor has a lot of flexibility, which I am looking forward to.

Next week we do a walk through with the electrician.

It's coming along, right!?

Even though it's fun to watch this all come together, I am really trying to keep calm and hold on to my patience. Our apartment seems noisy and claustrophobic at this point.

The novelty of apartment living has ..... worn off!

The only one that is enjoying our apartment right now is Mazi.

I have been super busy with my shop space and decorating for people. I hope you are doing great and I thank you for stopping by!

Enjoy your weekend!