My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-01-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

~Happy Tuesday~

I wanted to say THANK YOU for all of the positive thoughts and prayers for Bailey, they worked!

She is like a new dog.

Although she will be a diabetic for the rest of her life she is responding really wonderfully to the insulin shots we give her twice a day. She has so much more energy, sleeps through the night (which means I do too) and has lost 2 pounds. Because she has a torn ACL the weight loss is so important and for the first time in months she jumped on our bed.

Thank you!

Ready for last weeks eye candy?

Sophia's Decor has slowly been adding elements to her rustic great room and fireplace with stunning results!!

Creatively Living shows us her bedroom progress and gives us tips on decorating inexpensively.

Savvy Southern Style shares her beautiful powder room transformation.

I love Cottage in the Oaks winter front porch.

#29 Design gives a tutorial on how to make a Pelmet Box.

The Simple Things shows us her beautiful and fun DIY table place mats.

Saving For Six shows us her very organized craft room!

How fabulous is the mudroom transformation from the At The Picket Fence.

Cre8iv Motives made this adorable love button heart picture out of buttons. She is a brand new blogger so go show her some blogger love!

Check out The Old Post Road's $5, 30 minute kitchen makeover!

How beautiful is the pewter color A Place to Call Home added to her art turn headboard.

Can't wait to see this weeks links!

Please grab a button from here so everyone can get in on the fun.

Please do not add links that promote giveaways or something you are trying to sell.

2 links per person please.

By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a feature or facebook. (Proper credit and links will be given to you)

My friend Jenny from Evolution of Style is having her first link party Tuesday! I hope you will join me in linking up your projects!

Beautiful Bathrooms

2012-01-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

After going through the process of re-doing our guest bathroom, I was left with so many inspirational images of beautiful bathrooms. So, of course, I just had to share them with you!

Nothing says “relax” like a giant claw foot bathtub. Just the idea of taking a nice long soak with a glass of champagne and my favorite bath salts is enough to send me to the moon! I just love the bright and airy feel of this bathroom with the sparkle of the chandelier dangling over the gorgeous tub!

Soka Hem

Kitchen and Bath Ideas

Storage can sometimes be such a challenge in the bathroom. Finding an organized yet pretty way to store all of the towels, soaps, products and everyday necessities of life really helps to keep your bathroom looking and feeling serene. Having the light reflecting and space enhancing element of glass doors behind which to display fluffy towels and pretty bath products is so appealing. The clean look of the boxed storage is an ideal solution for hiding all of the not-so-pretty things that help to make us feel beautiful!

Soka Hem

Google

In this day and age, I really feel it is important to “reduce, re-use and recycle.” That being said, I think that using vintage accessories in the bathroom alongside more modern fixtures creates a perfect balance of then and now. The contrast between the shabby chic medicine cabinet door and the more modern sink area makes this bathroom elegant and charming.

Decorology

When talking about complementing natural materials, nothing beats the breathtaking combination of dark hardwoods and cool creamy marble accents in modern bathroom suites. Throw in some gorgeous patterned wallpaper and lots of crisp, white trim and voila...Paradise in the bathroom!

Taylor Hann Aharchitect

I love bathroom fitted furniture like this cozy little tufted chair that is just right for primping! The location of the vanity by the window makes for great use of all of the natural light that floods this bathroom. I can’t imagine ever wanting to get out of the deep, elegant soaking tub and the muted floral patterned wallpaper is so soothing and relaxing. Pour me a glass of chardonnay and I am home!

Houzz

All of these breathtaking bathrooms remind me of how much work our master bathroom needs. I want to make our bathroom the spa-like retreat the hubby and I deserve! Someday, hopefully sooner than later, my dreams of transforming the master bathroom will become a reality and I can sneak off to my own personal oasis.

Until then, I remain inspired!

~See you for Tuesday's Treasures~

New blogger on the block

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

I love it when I receive e-mails from new bloggers, especially ones that completely knock my socks off.

I've being following your blog for well over a year. I first discovered you at Rate my Space, where I fell in love with your kitchen! I was trying to get ideas for my own kitchen re-do and, oh boy! You were my inspiration! The post I liked the most about your kitchen was the Island Update, it was a turning point for me to get to work on mine! Thank You!

I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't share Remodelando La Casa with you!

~Enjoy~

Her kitchen remodel is stunning, the backslash divine!

Before

On her last post she showed us how to add visual interest to a fireplace, I am loving the crown!

Before

Thanks for writing to me Cristina, can't wait to see what project you tackle next!

~Have a wonderful Sunday~

XOXO

$20 Media Console

2012-01-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

My fabulous hubby brought home a $20 media console he found on Craigslist. It was the perfect size for the loft, just needed a little TLC.

Mixed 3 Annie Sloan Colors to achieve a beautiful grey.

French Linen

Coco

Graphite

Almost forgot to take a before shot,

I was so excited to get started.

I gave it two coats of paint using a brush,

no sanding, no priming.

I didn't bother to paint the inside grey, I figured the black would blend all the boys obnoxious gaming equipment better.

I followed it up with the clear and dark wax with a little distressing to give it a aged look.

Look what arrived at my front door, so pretty!

Still trying to figure out how to distract from the flatscreen.

~Have a fabulous weekend friends~

Linking up

Evolution of Style

Ready for a blog makeover?

2012-01-27T03:30:00.000-08:00

~Happy Friday~

Do I have an amazing giveaway for you today!

First I wanted to say THANK YOU

for all your kind, sweet and fabulous comments on the bookshelves. You truly have humbled me.

~Thank you~

So how is that blog of yours lookin’ these days? Still have the same style from last year? Ready for a new look?

You are in luck!

Melanie from

Elegant Custom Blogs

is giving away $100 credit towards a

blog overhaul or E Book Cover !

~Lucky you~

This includes the following for the blog redesign:

~ Blog header and template design

~ Color coordination of links

~ Matching background

~Up to 15 stock credits with the design

~ Installation

The eBook Cover Design will include:

~1 button to be used in advertising

~Up to 15 stock credits with the design

Take a look at some of her recent work:

You have up to five chances to win. Just leave a separate comment for each entry.

~Good Luck~

Leave a comment on this post.

Follow Elegant Custom Blogs on Facebook.

Follow Elegant Custom Blogs on Twitter .

Share this giveaway on a social networking site.

Follow her personal blog, she is giving away $100 CASH right now!

The winner will be chosen by random number.

Giveaway will end Thursday February 2nd at midnight.

Thank you Melanie for this awesome giveaway!

Bookshelves are dressed!

2012-01-25T13:01:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to have the "office side" of the loft complete.

The sun is shinning so I was able to

snap some pictures today.

It still amazes me when paint completely transforms a space. Although you heard me complaining a little, OK a lot, it was worth every moan and groan.

~Let's take a look back~

Painted the backs using Annie Sloan paint,
you can find the post and color combo here.
I found this project to have a big impact
and was the perfect solution to add
a pop of color to the room.

First coat of oil based primer.

This is after the first and second coat of
Swiss coffee in latex semi gloss.

I then Buffed out drips and added a third coat in
certain areas.

Next part was styling the bookshelves, boy do I struggle with this area especially since I was on a strict budget.

I purged the office, shopped the house and went for it, I wanted the look to be clean and simple, no clutter.

The only item purchased was the pottery on the top which I found at Home Goods.

The best advice I can give on styling your bookshelves is to step back and assess the overall balance of your arrangement. If it doesn't look right, place certain items off-center or try an item that is larger or smaller, stand back and assess again. Take things away if it's to busy, keep doing this until you are happy with the look.

The chair was purchased awhile back at Marshall's it was my inspiration piece.

Soon enough the whole space will be complete, just need to

complete the "TV Side" of the loft.

Winner of the $100 credit to Boutique de la Mer

Lucky #38

Art By Karena

Congrat's Karina

~Thanks for stopping in~

For more detailed instruction on painting furniture please take a look at our kitchen post.

I am linking up to Lisa before and after party!

Miss Mustard Seed

Blue Cricket Design

Primp

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-01-24T03:30:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for some serious eye candy
from last weeks party?

Love of Family and Home turned her ordinary walk in closet into a dream space.

I love 11 Magnolia Lane's open shelving she installed in the kitchen, makes the space so much more open!

The Reading Girl shows us how to make these beautiful and exquisite place setting cards.

Involving Color shows us her brand new fabulous granite!

Twigs Studios shows us how to transfer a print onto this beautiful tray!

Loving the combination of stripes and floral wallpaper in the Harrison's Home newly transformed hallway.

Vintage Restyled transformed her dresser, you won't believe the before.

Days of Chalk and Chocolate gives us a tutorial on how to make this adorable slip cover!

I wasn't kidding....pretty fabulous links last week which makes me super excited for this weeks links!

Grab a button so everyone can get in on the fun.

Please do not add links that promote other giveaways or something you are trying to sell.

2 links per person please.

By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a feature or facebook. (Proper credit and links will be given to you)

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Hiding a flat screen

2012-01-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

Before flat screens, we hid our televisions in a functional piece of furniture that was beautiful.

As much as I love our flat screens it has been a challenge to decorate around them, especially in our loft transformation.

I decided in order to take the focus off of the flat screen I must draw attention to something else and decided a art wall would look best.

Although the screen won't be invisible, I am hoping it will detract from the large black rectangle!

Here is a set of inspirational pictures that will help guide me in decorating the wall.

Using custom frames the television blends amazingly well on the wall.

Color Me Happy

Apartment Therapy

One of my ultimate favorites is from the very talented Emily Clark. I like how the console below grounds the grouping.

I really like how they Framed the flat screen

with fun pops of color.

Real Living

With a black wall and black frames the TV virtually disappears.

Lonny Mag

This is a neat idea, hide the TV behind a piece of art that slides.

Room To Grow

How do you decorate around your flat screens?

~Thanks for stopping in~

Valentines crafts

2012-01-22T15:06:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend!

With Valentines day around the corner I thought I would share some of my favorite crafts from around the web.

Tissue Rosette Ball

The Idea Room

I absolutely love this idea of a book of love cards for the person you love!

Paper Vine

Make your own Valentines cards

Martha Stewart

Paper Flowers

Today's Fabulous Finds

This paper plate basket would be so cute to hold

all the sweet treats!

Sarah Hearts

Cupcake wrapper wreath

Catch My Party

DIY welcome sign

Then She Made

Gumdrop Wreath

Sweet and Lovely

I can't wait to give some of these a try!

XOXO

Styling the bookshelves

2012-01-21T04:13:00.000-08:00

~Hi friends~

Did I mention I am done styling the bookshelves?

The best part is I only had to purchase one item
to pull it all together.

I haven't had a minute to snap some pictures so I though it would be fun to show you where my inspiration came from. Each and every one of these beautiful pictures played a part.

Loved the pottery displayed on top

Display of books and magazines

Source: greigedesign.blogspot.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Source: goldcage.blogspot.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Source: vintageindie.typepad.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Neutral color pallet

Source: ballarddesigns.com via Kristin on Pinterest

With a pop of color

Source: biggirlhouse.tumblr.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Source: robesondesign.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Hopefully by next week I will have a few pictures to share of the space.

Enjoy your weekend!

XOXO

organizing the loft

2012-01-20T04:27:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions for the new year was to

SIMPLIFY.

Slowly, room by room we have been purging and organizing.

In the end I want everything in this house to have a place.

If I haven't used it in a year it goes.

If I haven't worn it in a year it goes.

If it's collecting dust it goes.

If I have no need for it and there is no sentimental value it goes.

Needless to say there will be a HUGE garage sale in a few weeks and a big drop to good will.

As I have been redesigning the loft I have gone through every inch of this space and thrown out trashcans full of stuff.

It feels great!

~Here is a peek~

It seems as though anything and everything electronic gets shoved in a drawer or cabinet.

Solution?

~Grandparents antique suitcase~

The best part, I can close it!

I purchased rolls of paper at Michael's a few months back in the dollar bin.

They lined the drawers perfectly and everything has a spot.

Next up was the cabinet, I labeled everything, let's see how long that lasts.

Lastly I organized the filing drawers.

I still had files on cars we sold 10 years ago and appliances that bit the dust long ago.

Oh it feels so good to be organized!

How about you, have you been purging or organizing lately?

Kristin From A Simply Classic Home

I am linking up to

She is starting up her very first linky party . Link up home projects, crafts, tips, DIYs, makeovers, recipes, etc.

Thanks for stopping in, have a wonderful Friday!

$100 Boutique Giveaway

2012-01-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

Giveaway Closed

Happy Wednesday friends!

Thank you for all the warm wishes for Bailey, she has wagged her tail at each and every one of them. She is doing better but it has been stressful for the family.

So in honor of Bailey lets have a fabulous giveaway.

Marie from Sally Lee By the Sea has launched a brand new store;

Boutique de la Mer.

All of her items are absolutely amazing with a reflection of the beautiful French Seaside Cottage.

She is generously giving away one very lucky person a

$100 store credit!

~WOW~

You will find a fabulous collection of cast iron items, totes perfect to hold all of your goodies from the farmers market, gorgeous hand crafted furniture and everything in between

~Here is a little peak~

I think this French Country Perpetual Calendar would look fabulous in our loft when it is finished!

Giveaway Information.....

To enter the giveaway please leave a comment on this post after you have visited

Boutique de la Mer

let me know what your favorite item is.

For additional entries you may:

~Follow Boutique de la Mer on Facebook.

~Follow on Twitter.

~Post the giveaway to any of your social networking sites.

You must leave a separate comment for each entry.

~Good luck~

The winner will be chosen by random number.

Giveaway will end Tuesday January 24th at midnight.

Thank you Marie!

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-01-17T04:47:00.000-08:00

~Hi Friends~

I have some great highlights to share with you from last week!

First I wanted to thank everyone for your sweet notes on the bookshelves. I am sorry for not getting back with anyone. Bailey (our Jack Russel) has become very ill and they have spent all day Monday stabilizing her. Thoughts and prayers are appreciated, she is our first baby.

Classic Casual Home gives us a tour of her renovated beach cottage remodel. I could easily take a vacation in her beautiful home!

Fleur Cottage shows us her brand new dream kitchen, isn't it beautiful!

Freckle Face Girl transformed her laundry room, I could actually enjoy folding clothes in here.

Gold Shoe Girl transformed their kitchen island, the results are beautiful!

The Turqoise Piano gives us a tutorial on how to make Anthro bedding knockoff, so pretty.

Design Dinning and Diapers gives us a board and batten tutorial, this is on my someday list.

Maple and Magnolia turned her mantel into a winter wonderland.

Isn't Beaux R'eves winter white buffet just gorgeous!

Domestically Speaking Valentines Day burlap project is adorable!

I feel a little strange about this but starting this week I have started to add a few rules, thank you for understanding.

Grab a button so everyone can get in on the fun.

Please do not add links that promote other giveaways or something you are trying to sell.

2 links per person please.

By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a feature or facebook. (Proper credit and links will be given to you)

Bookshelves transformed

2012-01-16T04:38:00.000-08:00

The bookshelves are DONE!!!

I'm going to be 100% honest with you,

there was nothing enjoyable about this project

other then painting the backing blue.

I hated it....really I did.

I should have started a yoga months ago to prep my body for all the strange Contortions I went through to get into every inch of this desk/bookshelf.

via

It was so worth it though, If I do say so myself!

(keeping the top of the desk stained dark)

Remember the before?

And during....

I really am thrilled you just won't see me taking on anything this massive for awhile.

I purchased this throw rug on overstock since all the rugs went on sale and I had a 10% coupon.

Can't wait for it to be delivered!

Today we will put all the shelves back, I will let them cure for about a week before I start to style them. Hopefully in a few more weeks and this space will be complete, the hardest part is done.

See you for Tuesday's Treasures,

have a fabulous day.

XOXO

Linking up today:

Rustic Glam

2012-01-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

It is so easy to feel overwhelmed

by all of the interior design trends.

With so many wonderful blogs and design sites you can get sucked into a style that may not fit your home or reflect your own personality.

I could go out and change everything based on a picture I found in a magazine. However, I would risk having a home that wouldn't feel like our space or reflect whom we are as a family.

Oh and I guess I would need that money tree again.

As our tastes have changed and the years have gone by I still love simple, rustic and elegance mixed with white, vintage and glam. Is there even a word for that?

Rustic Glam?

Rustic Elegance?

Not sure.....

Here is some Rustic Elegant Glam

to start your weekend off right.

~Enjoy~

Source: tumblr.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Country Living

Skona Hem

Apartment Therapy

For The Love Of A House

design sponge

~Thanks for stopping in~

Garage Overhaul

2012-01-13T20:25:00.000-08:00

As I paint the bookshelves I have been purging each and every room except for the garage.

I leave that one for my hubby. Here are a few tips to get you started!

If we made a list of all the spaces in our homes we use it’s probably safe to say the garage gets a lot of traffic but is given very little tender loving care. After all, it’s a strange place that isn’t quite inside but isn’t outside either so there’s no real priority there when it comes to household chores and cleaning.

As a result garages end up becoming everything from storage facilities to messy workshops. This often occurs so much so that in some cases they can’t fulfill their basic function as a roof over our vehicles and when the situation deteriorates to such levels finding solutions can be very overwhelming.

Nevertheless, a little extra effort can go a long way towards returning it to that catalog friendly picturesque reality it once was and even if it always looked a little drab it can be turned around in no time.

The big question is where to start.

For the sake of doing things in an orderly fashion the first order of business should be the following: to clean out every inch of the garage and get rid of clutter, sweep and wash down the floors and walls, and reorganize things like tools, the lawn mower and garbage cans.

The goal of this overhaul is to open up the space into a more user-friendly environment and allow you to make a further assessment regarding what to do next.

For example, now that things are in order you could call it a day and keep up with the garage’s weekly maintenance. On the other hand it may be time to go all out and transform the entire setting.

If the latter sounds appealing here are a few things to consider that will spruce up the garage nicely. The novice DIYer can mange these jobs easily when done systematically, though he may from time to time require some advice from a friendly expert.

Fixing cracks:

If there are cracks in any part of the garage it’s always a good idea to try and seal them because they are likely to get larger over time. Keep in mind that one of the top reasons cracks occur is because of moisture so it’s important to figure out the source and stop it up. Others may simply be from the ground settling or erosion. Either way, some cracks aren’t hard to seal but others may necessitate an experienced mason.

Inspect the garage door:

While searching for cracks inspect the garage door to see if it needs repairs because when the door has issues it will affect the state of everything inside. Also, if there is a direct entrance from the home to the garage check that it has proper weather stripping and that drafts aren’t disturbing home heating.

Removing stains:

Stains, especially those from oil, are common in garages and on the driveway pavement. Two of the most common natural cleaners like kitty litter and baking soda are keys to uprooting these annoying blotches.

When using litter pour it on the oil rubbing it in if it’s a tough old stain, wait an hour or so, and then sweep it up. When using baking soda apply, sprinkle hot water on it making a paste, and then scrub it with a non abrasive brush.

Painting the interior

Paint is an amazing thing in that a new coat can completely change a room’s energy and this is no less true for the garage. Depending on the materials your garage was built from you may want to power wash the interior before starting and special primers and paint may be needed so consult your local hardware store.

Meanwhile, since you’re already going to paint the walls and maybe the ceiling you may want to consider doing the floor or at least rolling on a sealer. This adds a different kind of flare and could help when trying to sop up future spills.

Painting the exterior

While outward appearances are what catches people’s eyes first, unless you are planning to sell your home soon this is the job I would leave for last. Why? Because if interior problems exist they may require exterior work. That being the case there’s no sense in painting the outside if you might have to knock out part of the wall afterwards.

Once the interior has been renewed you’ve accomplished what you set out to do and painting the exterior, including the door, will be the icing on the cake.

Just remember whatever renovations and remodeling you do consider the environmental impact and when possible use eco-friendly materials.

Thank you Jakob Barry for all the tips! Jakob is a home improvement journalist, covering topics from garage door makeovers to green home remodeling.

Installing wood floors

2012-01-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

Hello. My name is Jordan, and I write a blog with my mother called The 2 Seasons.

I am a newly wed fixing up my first home with my husband in upstate New York.
My mother and dad have been married 39 years, live in the south, and just down-sized from the family home in the burbs to a townhouse in the city.

We are at two stages of our lives and thought sharing a lifestyles blog about our house projects, travels, and recipes would be a great way to keep us close, even though we live so far apart. We hope you enjoy our guest post today and want to thank Kristin for the opportunity to be here.

*****

Another one of our DIY projects is finally finished. After tackling our back yard and building a patio (here), replacing the windows in our Florida room (here), and having the outside of our house repainted (here), we got up the nerve and stamina to take on another biggy.

(Before)

The floor in the room was a huge eyesore. I noticed it the moment we walked in the front door when we looked at this house over a year ago. We waited till this winter to take on the project because the last thing we want to do is be inside when it is nice out.

To our surprise we found the original hardwood underneath all the tile. You can read about it and see pictures here.

We asked for your opinion on if we should work with or replace the old floors. Thanks for all your input. We loved reading what you had to say. But, after discussing the pros and cons of both choices, we decided to rip it up and put down new pre-finished Bruce flooring. We matched our existing floors as closely as as we could, but it’s impossible to replicate the patina of the existing floors.

This is what the 1928 subfloor looked like after ripping up all of the old hardwood. The blue tape was for us to know where the beams were located.

After removing the old hardwood and paper, we discovered a few things that made it take a little longer than expected. There were two large holes that were covered with the tile. It is part of the return for the duct work. However, part of it was missing. This was right up Mr. Spring’s alley so he went to town fixing it. On the other side of the room there was a box that made the floor a little raised and we knew that wasn’t going to work with our flooring plan. Mr. Spring went to town again and rerouted the duct work from the basement to the Florida room.

Here is an overhead shot of part of the duct work he repaired. However, we still had a hole in the floor since only one side was the return.

Mr. Spring cut a piece of wood to fit into the section we would not need. After that we were finally ready to put down the new floor.

Decked out in my work gear, I stapled down the paper. I LOVE this staple tool. This whole process to staple down the paper took less than five minutes.

We opened all the boxes of the flooring and mixed them up because the colors were slightly different between each box. We used 3/4 inch Bruce Hardwood that we purchased from Home Depot. It cost us $2.99 a square foot. Not bad for real hardwood!

The floor hung out in our house for two weeks before it was installed. The directions said to let it acclimate for at least 72 hours, so meanwhile we decided to head off to Utah for a week-long ski vacation to let the wood adjust. Not a bad life….

Once we started actually installing, we had a great system. I was laying out the pieces and knocking them into place, and Mr. Spring came behind me with the nail tool we rented. It was safety first with the eye and ear protection. I didn’t really need the eye glasses since Mr. Spring was doing the cutting, but I forgot they were on. Besides, the photo makes me look really official.

Mr. Spring nailed floor with the blind nailer, which we rented from Home Depot. He used his nail gun when he was by the wall, because this wouldn’t work.

The floor is down at this point. Mr. Spring marked out where the return will be and made a cut. You can see the old floor and new floor matched up perfectly so we had a smooth transition and didn’t need to add a wood piece for the connection.

Now the floor return is installed, and the duct work is correct.

I am thrilled with the results. We still need to paint the bottom trim and add a little piece of wood but overall I love the look.

To go from this…….

.....to this is amazing. I am so happy. Our house feels like we added square footage because it is no longer a random room. There is a good flow from the living room to the sunroom now. Overall, the actual part of installing the floor was a lot easier than we thought. So, if you want to attempt this in your own place, do not hesitate. Stay tuned as we add furniture and eventually build some pieces for the room.

To follow more of my mom's and my household projects click Here!

Cheers!!!

Thank you so much for posting today Jordan, the floors are just beautiful! I will be busy painting again today once all the kids are all in school. To be honest I am getting a little tired of it already but it will be so worth it.

Happy Friday!

How to create a mood board

2012-01-12T05:08:00.000-08:00

I'm almost done priming the bookshelves,

they look better already.

I have been posting pictures on facebook if you are so inclined to have a

sneak peek.

Since I have started making mood boards, I have been asked how it works. Today I thought I thought it would be fun to give a quick little tutorial.

I will admit, at first I was a little intimidated but I learned as I went along.

There are a lot of sites that give you free software so you can begin creating. I have only used

My Deco but am excited to start trying out a few others to see which one is the most user friendly.

~Onto The Tutorial~

Log onto My Deco site and register.

Click on Create a New Mood Board

and you will come to a screen that looks like this:

Here is where the fun begins.

You begin by grabbing pictures from items you have clipped from the Internet (Very much like pinning) by downloading their clipper and adding it to your toolbar.

You simply drag and drop your items into the white cloud.

Click here to learn how to download their clipper.

You can also grab items from from their store. Search for items by color, brand, category, etc.

Drag & drop those items into the "white cloud."

I continue to drag and drop until I have all my items, not worrying too much about arrangement.

Start to arrange the elements by decreasing or increasing the size.

Once you have all your elements you can start dragging them around the cloud to create your vision.

If there is something you don't like simply delete it or drag it back.

Save your moodboard and categorize it.

You are all done, not too bad, right?

Here are the two mood boards I made for the loft....

And one for the pumpkin mask.

Do you have a favorite site to create your moodboard?

Thanks for stopping in today!

XOXO

The back of the book shelves

2012-01-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

Last minute I decided to paint the backings of the bookshelves

to add a pop of color.

I started mixing a few Annie Sloan paints together, I felt a little like a scientist for a minute in my kitchen.

I wasn't sure about mixing the colors but after a little research I was relieved to find I was on the right path.

Annie Sloan Quote

"Provençe is based on all those beautiful shuuters and doors you see in the South of France. They are all a bit like this - sometimes a little more green ( add Antibes) or sometimes a little more blue ( add Duck Egg) or paler ( add Old White ) or a little more muted ( add Country Grey) "

Before

I mixed equal parts of Provence and old white with a dash of Aubusson Blue and began cutting in.

As the first coat dried it looked too sky blue for the room.

This is why I LOVE Annie Sloan Chalk paint.

Using the same jar with a little paint left in the jar, I added equal parts of Duck Egg and Old Orchre to achieve the perfect color.

I can't wait to start painting the rest of the shelves white!

I also wanted to share a
Cieruelo Interiors blog with you.

She has done a fabulous job at showing us how to create a huge range of colors by mixing in old white.

~Here are a few examples~

~Thanks for stopping in~

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-01-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday!

Hope you had a great weekend, we had a busy and fabulous weekend. Just trying to play catch up.

Make sure you stop by

Cottage Living From Beach to Burbs

for your chance to win some items from my etsy shop!

What an amazing link party last week!

I am blown away by all the talent out in blogland, wow!

Camera's and Chaos finally has the kitchen she has always dreamt of. New flooring, painted cabinets and lots of before, during and after pictures.
Fabulous job!

It All Started With Paint blew my socks off with her entry transformation.

And the before

A Sort of Fairytale shows us that painting the inside of your cabinets can really bring a wonderful pop of color into your kitchen!

Creatively Living transformed her gallery wall, I love the green and white combo!

Dixie Delights shows us her favorites of 2011 and I love her basement overhaul just as much as the first day I saw it!

The Dressing Room painted their oak cabinets white, be still my heart! You have to check out the before!

Cottage In The Oaks

gives us her favorites of 2011 and I am absolutely in love with her distressed kitchen island!

How to Nest For Less uses scrapbook paper to make these adorable pencil holders.

I am so excited to see what you link up this week!

Please grab a button so others can find you and have fun exploring all the eye candy!

Happy Sunday

2012-01-08T04:17:00.000-08:00

~Wishing you a beautiful day~

Via

Via

Something about drapes puddled on the floor......

Pumpkin Mask

2012-01-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

I was surprised to see how popular

this post

was last month.

So I thought it would be fun to throw in some of my DIY at home skin tips every now and then if it's OK with you.

Back in my "working days", before kids, steady income and me time I used to go in for a quarterly facial. (nice)

The esthetician would always treat me in the end with a pumpkin mask, it was wonderful. I can't even remember the last time I had a facial in a spa but that's OK.

There are so many fabulous ingredients in our cupboard to get the same results.

Pumpkin is loaded with natural exfoliating acids vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, zinc, beta carotene, and antioxidants. The mask always brightens my face and calms my dreadful breakouts. (yup, almost 40 and I still break out, no fair)

Pumpkin Face Mask

•1/2 cup fresh pumpkin pulp or canned pureed pumpkin

•2 eggs

•2 teaspoons almond milk

•1 teaspoon honey

Preparation:

If you are starting with a real pumpkin, puree the pulp into a thick paste, then start mixing the rest of the ingredients in.

If you are using the pulp from the can, just start mixing in the egg, stir in the almond milk and the honey.

Apply the mask, leaving it on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

~Enjoy your brighter skin~

Happy Birthday to the love of my life, Ray. The most amazing dad and husband and he's pretty handy with his tools.
XOXO

Keeping it real

2012-01-06T04:34:00.000-08:00

Did you hear Lisa from Shine Your Light is having her first before and after party?

I thought I would join in and show you
the loft that is in the process of a being transformed.
I didn't even try to clean up the area for a photo,
real life here with three boys and two dogs.

All those bookshelves are going to be so pretty painted white along with the desk. The green chair has already been given to my sister and that huge armoire, anyone in San Diego want it? Can you imagine it all painted?

Since you can see the loft as you enter the front door,
it is in need of
some lightening up and pops of color.

Funny how Bailey (the dog) follows me around all day long.

This is my mood board for the office side of the loft.

The couch side

Now that I see the two boards together I will have to make a few small changes.

The kids start school next week and my paintbrush is coming out, so excited!

~Linking up~

On the first Friday of the month you link up a new project .
On the last Friday of each month you can show off how your project came out.
So fun, thank you Lisa for hosting.

XOXO

Mood Board phase 1

2012-01-05T03:23:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to say I finished my first mood board!

After completing the room in 3D and being able to better visualize what colors would work, we purchased the grey sectional couch from Cost Plus.

The couch will be one of the very few items that will be purchased new.

I just couldn't buy the couch used, trust me I looked,

kind of like buying a used mattress. ew.....

Anyhoo...

this mood board is for the right hand side of the loft
where the couch and TV will be.

I am still working on the second mood board
for the left hand side where the desk is.

I like the idea of spending a little bit of time on developing my visual thoughts rather then jumping into it blindly and not enjoying the outcome.

It is allowing me to bring my visions to life and for me that is a good thing.

To see the room is 3D click here.

To see my inspiration photo's click here.

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-01-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

~Hi Friends~

Am I so glad I had Tuesday's Treasures last week, The links were incredible.

Cozy Cottage Cute made the trip to Ikea and purchased fabulous open shelving for her kitchen. The results are stunning!

Did you see The DIY Showoff's script curtains made out of drop cloths? Can I tell you how much I love this project and am hoping to give it a try this year! (she has a tutorial too)

Shabby Love has a beautiful collection of mirrors, I love how she has displayed them.

Do Not Disturb This Groove gave her kitchen an update with gorgeous molding!

Picked and Painted, transformed this chest of drawers, you have to see the before!

I know Christmas is over but I would be cheating you if I didn't share this beautifully decorated room from Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. Can I just say this girl has style!

Please grab a button so others can find you, link up and have fun!

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tuesday's Treasures

Beautiful Bathrooms

New blogger on the block

$20 Media Console

Ready for a blog makeover?

Bookshelves are dressed!

Tuesday's Treasures

Hiding a flat screen

Valentines crafts

Styling the bookshelves

organizing the loft

$100 Boutique Giveaway

Tuesday's Treasures

Bookshelves transformed

Rustic Glam

Garage Overhaul

Installing wood floors

(Before)

The floor in the room was a huge eyesore. I noticed it the moment we walked in the front door when we looked at this house over a year ago. We waited till this winter to take on the project because the last thing we want to do is be inside when it is nice out.

To our surprise we found the original hardwood underneath all the tile. You can read about it and see pictures here.

This is what the 1928 subfloor looked like after ripping up all of the old hardwood. The blue tape was for us to know where the beams were located.

Here is an overhead shot of part of the duct work he repaired. However, we still had a hole in the floor since only one side was the return.

Mr. Spring cut a piece of wood to fit into the section we would not need. After that we were finally ready to put down the new floor. Decked out in my work gear, I stapled down the paper. I LOVE this staple tool. This whole process to staple down the paper took less than five minutes.

Mr. Spring nailed floor with the blind nailer, which we rented from Home Depot. He used his nail gun when he was by the wall, because this wouldn’t work.

The floor is down at this point. Mr. Spring marked out where the return will be and made a cut. You can see the old floor and new floor matched up perfectly so we had a smooth transition and didn’t need to add a wood piece for the connection.

Now the floor return is installed, and the duct work is correct.

I am thrilled with the results. We still need to paint the bottom trim and add a little piece of wood but overall I love the look.

To go from this…….

To follow more of my mom's and my household projects click Here!

Cheers!!!

Thank you so much for posting today Jordan, the floors are just beautiful! I will be busy painting again today once all the kids are all in school. To be honest I am getting a little tired of it already but it will be so worth it.

Happy Friday!

How to create a mood board

The back of the book shelves

Tuesday's Treasures

Happy Sunday

Pumpkin Mask

Keeping it real

Mood Board phase 1

Tuesday's Treasures

Mr. Spring cut a piece of wood to fit into the section we would not need. After that we were finally ready to put down the new floor.

Decked out in my work gear, I stapled down the paper. I LOVE this staple tool. This whole process to staple down the paper took less than five minutes.