our fifth house

Framing Children's Artwork

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:13:00 +0000

I was sifting through a pile of my children's artwork, looking for something to frame in my daughter's room, when I found a painting my son made for me when he was three. As soon as I found it I gasped. I thought I had lost this piece in our last move, so I was thrilled to come across it again. I knew it needed to be framed and hung immediately. I found the perfect spot in our family room.

Although, obviously I had already put the Christmas decor away months ago. Anyhow, I decided to replace the horse photograph (it will surely reappear in another room) with my son's masterpiece. The only problem was the painting was smaller than the opening in the matte. To make up for that I used a piece of fabric as a backdrop.

I love the graphic punch the fabric adds.

This whole display with the ornate gold frame framing the black frame feels very "artsy" to me. I love the fresh new look but mainly I just love seeing my son's three year old masterpiece framed in a place where I can enjoy it every day (especially because he's almost 8 now - tear).

Just to freshen up the entire look, I also added a little ribbon trim to the lampshades with some double-sided tape.

My mornings blogging from the couch just got a little brighter. It's hard to not feel inspired when you're looking at the creativity of a child.

Truly wonderful the mind of a child is - Yoda was right!

What do you like to hang on your walls? For all you parents out there- what do you do with your children's artwork?

The winners of the Fish Foam Giveaway: Gretchen, Suzi, & Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads. Congrats ladies! Please contact me at Carmelraye@yahoo.com to claim your prize.

Happy Weekend! What are your plans?

Girlfriends

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:24:00 +0000

I watched every episode of Sex and The City.

I've seen the movies, but in my opinion there's no comparison.

I also liked Carrie's first apartment so much more than her new place with Big. It had more soul to me, but wow, I'm already getting really off track here.

The point is the reason I watched the show was because I loved the essence of what it was about - 4 girlfriends that love each other, cheer for each other, keep each other in check. The kind of friendship that isn't built overnight, but that stands the test of time. I think it reminded me a lot of another group of four friends I know.

That picture was taken a few years ago at a bachelorette party in Vegas. You know what they say about Vegas. ;) From left to right - Purple dress: she's a Samantha but also a Carrie - Turquoise dress: another Carrie and Samantha mix - Me: a total half breed of Charlotte and Miranda - and then there's the other Black dress: she's a Carrie Charlotte mix. We've been friends since 1997. They're my first loves. The girl in the black dress is the one I mentioned a few weeks ago that told my hub (before he was my hub) that I had a crush on him. You can say a lot of things about sorority girls, but my sisters have hearts. of. gold! I cherish them!

Last weekend I flew back home to California to visit my girlfriends. I spent the first night at the house of the girl in turquoise. Her home is AMAZING! It's a mid century modern home; here's a peek at her awesome entry.

Yes, I said that is her entry. You literally walk in her front door (which is turquoise by the way) and you see this open atrium patio area to the right. It's so beautiful! It feels so breezy; I LOVE it!

Anyhow, the first night was wine night. The girls I went to college with get together once a month to catch up with each other to drink wine and have dinner; and this was the first time I've ever been able to join in the fun. I never got a picture of the whole group of us, but there was like 11 of us or something. Many girls I hadn't seen in years! It was kind of like a little reunion, and I enjoyed every minute. I have to give a little shout out to my friend Jenny - who was telling everyone about my blog. She's so supportive and encouraging! I'm not much for self promotion; but I should probably hire her to promote my blog. ;) She was so so sweet - thanks Jenny!

Then three of us woke up (fairly early) and headed out to Palm Springs. One of the four couldn't make it - boo! We missed her - but we still had lots of fun. ;) Sorry girl! We stayed at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa.

Honestly though we could have stayed at a Holiday Inn - so long as it had a pool. All we really cared about was getting away to hang out with each other.

Arriving at the hotel we had a little dance par- tay in the room.

Then it was time for sun and fun by the pool.

I had the best weekend with my girlies! I'm so blessed to have them in my life, and I treasure the times we get to spend together!

I'm ready to start planning the next girls weekend! I love spending time with the people that really get you. Like when you bust out your camera to get a close-up shot of the flower boxes - they don't even think twice.

I think I was mumbling something about how amazing the pink and red look together against the turquoise blue of the water. They were looking at me like I was totally normal. Like duh - of course Carmel would want to take a picture of something so completely random. It just feels so good to be with people that really get you! You know?

Okay- so tomorrow I'll be back to my regularly scheduled random-design-inspired programming. I know this week was a little cray-zay. Thanks for bearing with me as I slowly get back into the swing of things. At 33, it takes longer than it used to. Thank goodness it's almost time for another weekend!

Lost Mojo & Spring Fever

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:31:00 +0000

You would think after having a glorious, long girls weekend by the pool under the wonderfully hot sun of Palm Springs that I would come home feeling refreshed and ready to tackle lots of projects. Well, it's raining today. It's raining, it's pouring; and I just feel like snoring. Or rather I feel like curling up on my couch to finish reading this book.

Source: suzannecollinsbooks.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I resisted the bandwagon as long as I could, but you know what they say about curiosity right? You probably caught a glimpse of the first book - The Hunger Games - in yesterday's post. I bought the book to read on the plane and finished it in three days. I bought the second at the airport for my return flight, and I've been devouring it almost as fast as the first.

I'm up to my eyeballs in unfinished projects right now. I just can't seem to find my mojo. Have you seen it anywhere? Apparently I lost it in the air somewhere between Kentucky and California? Or maybe I left it out by the pool? The warm weekend weather and the relatively mild winter we've had here in Kentucky has made me yearn for spring. I'm ready! Who's with me?! Maybe these pins will help me find my mojo or at the very least help to put a little spring in my step.

Source: marthastewart.com via Charlotta on Pinterest

A watering can as a vase! Once again - leave it to Martha!

Source: crazyjayzplace.blogspot.com via Momma on Pinterest

I'm all about butterflies for spring this year!

Source: dosfamily.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Spray paint + soup cans = cuteness!

Do you ever just feel completely unmotivated? What inspires you to get moving again? Instead of picturing me in my sweat pants making a permanent indention in my couch, think of me like this today.

Source: 500px.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Poolside

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:08:00 +0000

I got home late last night from a fun girls weekend in Palm Springs. Spending a couple of days poolside with my besties was so much fun, but the older I get the longer it takes to recuperate. ;) I'll be back with a trip recap and hopefully a project or two before the end of the week. That is if I ever get finished cleaning my house. By the looks of things you'd think I was gone for a month not just a long weekend. HA! Doesn't matter - it. was. TOTALLY. worth. it! Okay- gotta get back to vacuuming before someone calls the health department.

Leave it to Martha

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:35:00 +0000

So just when I was all set to buy the materials to diy a sunburst mirror for the guest bedroom, I came across this little number at none other than The Home Depot.

The price was right at $34.97! It took me all of 5 minutes (maybe) to hang it up above the bed.

Leave it to Martha to bring good design to the people. ;) I still have lots to do in this room - slow and steady wins the race - right?

I'm on my back home from spending the weekend with my girlfriends in Palm Springs! What did you do this weekend?!

What the Heck is Fish Foam? (Giveaway!)

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:29:00 +0000

****THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED******

So, when I received the e-mail with the words "Fish Foam" in the subject line I thought maybe it was a spam e-mail. I had never heard of it before. It didn't go to my spam folder though, and I have a pretty descent filter. So, I went ahead and opened the e-mail. The offer to try out a new glass cleaner (for free), especially one that is ammonia-free seemed too good to pass up, so I quickly replied, "Sure, I'd love to put your glass cleaner to the test!"

I had the perfect test subject too! Case in point, the soap scum on the glass shower door in our master bathroom.

I'll admit that in the above photo it's sort of hard to see the soap scum, so let's get a closer look at the hideousness shall we?

EWWWW! Glass shower doors only look good when they're clean, but keeping them clean can be a major pain. I've tried many cleaners but all of them only worked "okay"; and they all required some major scrubbing action on my part. As soon as the Fish Foam arrived, I put that stuff to the test.

It doesn't drip which is awesome! But the best part is all I did was wipe it off - no scrubbing at all - and the soap scum came off completely!

Hooray! What used to take me about 30 minutes to get it looking fairly clean only took me about 5 minutes! Now, that is cleaning that I can handle doing more than about once a month. ;) In fact, now it's so easy to clean the door that I keep the can of Fish Foam under the bathroom sink, so it's easy to wipe down the door every couple of days.

Here's a little more info straight from the Fish Foam people.

Fish Foam is an all-weather, ammonia-free glass cleaner and when sprayed, the professional grade cleaner immediately goes to work to make your glass sparkling clean. It does not leave streaks or a haze. Thousands of home and business owners across the country have tried and seen the improvement Fish Foam makes...even on the sunroofs of their cars. Your windows, mirrors, winshields, and glass surfaces will shine and cleaning them has never been easier.

Okay, so now that you know what this stuff is and you've seen how awesome it is, do you want to win some?!

FISH FOAM

is giving away THREE 3-packs of FISH FOAM CLEANER

to THREE Our Fifth House readers!

(US Residents only)

To enter this giveaway:

1. Leave a comment telling me what glass surface in your home you struggle to keep clean.

For additional entries:

2. Tweet about this giveaway.

This giveaway closes on Thursday March 1st, and winners will be announced Friday, March 2nd.

Even if you don't win, you can easily place an order by clicking here. It only costs about $4 a can if you order the 3-pack which is really great considering how well this stuff works!

A Kitchen in a Closet

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:16:00 +0000

I'm not the only girl in the house with a fresh new space for cooking.

My little girlfriend's kitchen got a makeover too!

She has a big double closet in her bedroom, so I decided to use one side for clothes and the other for toys. Santa delivered this pink play kitchen when she was 2, and it is still in perfect condition. Good thing Santa got a little help from a Pottery Barn rebate and a friends & family discount otherwise I don't think she would have been so lucky. ;)

She's 5 1/2 and still loves to play with her kitchen, so I wanted to give her a dedicated kitchen space. Setting it up in the closet works well for both of us - she loves that it feels like a "playhouse" and I love that the "playhouse" has doors to contain the mess. ;)

I can't believe how perfectly this little stove fits in here. It's like this closet was meant to be a kitchen!

She even has open shelving! (Target) She's a big fan of the command hooks for her teacups.

My favorite part is the flower pendant over the stove. It's a lampshade that I made for her nursery.

How cute is this little salt and pepper shaker that I picked up for $3 at a thrift shop?!

I also love the gallery wall.

I just used things that I already had to make it feels less like a closet and more like a playroom, or ummm....a playhouse is what my daughter would like me to say. This owl print is actually a note card that I layered over some fun wrapping paper.

The little mirrored butterfly hooks are also leftover nursery decor items. I found them at TJ Maxx (obviously years ago).

The girl loves the chalkboard which is just some plain old chalkboard paint on the wall.

I had so much fun turning this closet into a playhouse. The very best part was the look on the girl's face when I revealed it to her.

This was followed by her saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" while jumping up and down.

It's amazing what a little paint and a few accessories can do! I just love that girl and her beautiful pictures!

Are you using any of your closets for something other than the usual clothes and shoes?

* Linking up at Thrifty Decor Chick , At The Picket Fence, Beneath My Heart

Choosing Paint Colors......

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:30:00 +0000

can be frustrating. Walking into the paint department of any home improvement store can be overwhelming. I, for one, am always amazed at how many different shades of white there are!
I don't typically start a room design by choosing the paint colors first. I almost always start by thinking about how I want the room to feel, and then I go from there. I also look to my wardrobe for color inspiration. I've found that to be an easy way to see what colors I'm most drawn to, and in my case, it's lots of neutrals with pops of red.

Who's surprised?

It can take me quite a while to find the "right" color. If you're anything like me you will be excited to learn about a new site dedicated to help you take the headache out of selecting paint colors. Glidden Paint has recently launched My Colortopia, where you'll find content from design bloggers (many of whom you'll probably recognize) that will guide you through the painting process - from finding the right color to getting it on the wall.

In addition Glidden has also developed a fun quiz that can help you find the colors that best suit your personality and lifestyle.

You can take the "My Life, My Colors Quiz" right here:

What were your results? How do you find color inspiration?

*I have been sponsored by Glidden brand paint to write this post but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Just Do It Already

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Happy Monday! I had a nice relaxing weekend. How was yours? I got my hub to snap a new head shot for me. I really don't like having my picture taken, but I felt like I needed a better photo (one that is little more clear) for the blog. Ugh - here I am.

I'd much rather be on the other side of the camera. I got a DSLR camera for Christmas. I've been a photographing fool since New Years Day. Guess what? I've been shooting in manual mode! I don't know anything about photography, but blogging has definitely peaked an interest that I didn't even know I had. While I want to learn how to take better photos for my blog, I am even more interested in learning how to photograph my kids. Childhood is temporary and these sweet days are flying by. I feel like I can stop time, even if just for second, when I take a picture.

My best advice for shooting in manual mode - just do it already! Don't be afraid of what you don't know. The best way to learn is on the job training. Why bother dipping your toes in the water, when you can do a canon-ball? Trust me - I'm living it - I'm learning as I go - and I'm having so much fun playing with my big girl camera! I've read my camera manual like three or four times now, and I've also found these two posts to be very helpful for a beginner- Bower Power (tips for better outdoor photography) & Centsational Girl (basic photography tips).

My girl doesn't mind when I hassle her to pose for me. She's my most willing model.

Clearly I have a lot to learn still, but it's so much fun learning as I go! Speaking of just doing it already, I bought my ticket to the Haven Conference this weekend!

Are you going? I was actually given a little nudge by a new friend. I've been online friends with Traci from Beneath My Heart for a little while now. Last week we met for lunch. It turns out we only live like maybe 10 minutes from each other! We had such a fun time talking! Her sister Cyndi joined us as well, and we all had a great time.

Me and Traci

Cyndi and Me

Traci was so sweet to answer all of my "newbie" blogging questions and not make me feel like a complete moron for asking them. She's truly a beautiful person - both inside and out! I'm so blessed to have been able to meet her in person and turn an online friend into a real life friend!

Funny that this post is about photography because I actually forgot to bring my camera with me to this lunch, so I had to borrow the above pictures from Traci. ;)

Now to announce the winner of the sneakpeeq giveaway - Kristie Hagney! Congrats! I'll be sending you an e-mail with the details. Thanks to everyone who entered.

And The Tag Goes On......

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:04:00 +0000

Lisa from Shine Your Light tagged me in this fun little game where you ask 11 bloggers 11 questions and then they turn around and ask 11 bloggers 11 questions and on and on - you get the picture. So here we go yo!

1. What's your favorite place in the United States?
I really don't have a favorite place. I love different areas of the country at different times of year. New York City is really pretty at Christmas time. Charleston, South Carolina is a beautiful place to vacation in the summer. The most beautiful fall leaves you'll ever see are in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

2. Where would you love to visit that you've never been before?
Napa Valley - Have any of you been? I'd love to go there - just me and the hubs - someday.

Source: google.com via Jason on Pinterest

3. Favorite song you're loving right now?
I am so embarrassed to admit this but I have to tell the truth. I'm loving the song I Love You Like A Love Song by Selena Gomez. I can't even believe I just shared that with you all. My girl and I belt it out every time that song comes on the radio!

4. Good book recommendation?
I hate to admit it, but I'm a bit behind with my reading. Last book I tried to read was The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It was so intense that I only got 2/3 of the way through and stopped. I keep trying to force myself to finish it before moving on to another book.

5. What's your best quality?
I'm a bright side kind of person - it's always half full. Some people find this quality annoying, but I really believe that even the bad stuff happens for a reason.

Source: stumbleupon.com via Eugene on Pinterest

6. What is something about yourself you'd like to change?
Just one thing? I'd like to change a million things. I guess my number one would be to do a better job of managing my time. I'm always running late. It makes my hub furious. I try. I guess I need to try harder. I just always think I'll be able to get more done in a certain amount of time than is actually possible. This is when my positive outlook can sometimes get me into trouble.

7. What is the number one thing you hope to accomplish in 2012?
I want to learn (like really really learn) how to use my new camera.

8. What is your favorite project that you've ever accomplished?
So far I would have to say that my magnetic, chalkboard wall in my entry foyer is my most favorite.

It makes me smile every time I walk through the door. I love doing what I love in my home without regard for what anyone else might think (except for my hub - I guess). It's totally not what you would expect to find in an entry, especially paired with the wainscoting; but this is why I love it so much. I think mixing things that you wouldn't typically put together just runs in the blood - I am after all, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Japanese. ;)

9. What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
One of my very best friends spilled the beans and told my hub (before he was my hub) that I had a crush on him. If she hadn't done this, he might not have had the courage to ask me to go out with him. So, I guess it's kind of odd that the nicest thing anyone ever did for me was to break my trust, but really sometimes your besties know what's best for you!

10. Favorite kitchen or home improvement tool?
I'm not sure that this counts as a tool, but I'm a big fan of a foam paint roller. I use them on furniture, trim, and to paint ceilings.

11. What do you enjoy about blogging?
I enjoy so much about blogging. I love connecting with other people that are just as passionate about decorating and creating as I am. I find inspiration in the blog world daily, and I'm beyond thrilled to be a small part of such an awesome community!

Thanks so much for tagging me Lisa! I'm planning to be at Haven too, so she and I will get to meet each other in person!

Now, I'm tagging these awesome bloggers with some new questions, and I hope they play along!

1. Aubrey - All Things Bright & Beautiful
2. Courtney - A Thoughtful Place
3. Cassie - Hi Sugarplum!
4. Megan - Honey We're Home
5. Danielle - Danielle Oakey Interiors
6. Abby - A Delightful Design
7. Sherry - Design Indulgence
8. Michelle - Ten June
9. Michaela - Michaela Noelle Designs
10. Rene - Cottage and Vine
11. Tiffany - Living Savvy

These are your questions should you choose to play along! Come on - all the cool kids are doing it - peer pressure doesn't end in middle school.

1. If you had a time machine, where or rather when would you go?
2. Diamonds or Pearls?
3. What's your favorite movie?
4. When you were a kid, what was your favorite television show?
5. Let's pretend you found $50 in your couch cushions, what would you run out and buy?
6. What is your favorite color?
7. Why did you start your blog?
8. What is your favorite home decor store?
9. Name one thing in your make-up bag you can not live without?
10. Do you watch Revenge?
11. Will you still be my friend even though I made you suffer through this little game of tag?

Here are the rules:
**You must post the rules
**Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you; then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged
**Tag 11 people and link them in your post
**Let them know you have tagged them

Well we made it to the end! I believe we've all earned a round of applause!

Happy Weekend!

Accessorizing the Kitchen - 2 Cheap, Easy & Fast Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:30:00 +0000

I'm a fan of details. I think accessories are a big part of the overall design of any room. That being said I don't typically like to spend too much of the budget in that area because I'm always changing/switching the accessories around.

Two of my favorite kitchen accessories/ decor items were simple and easy diy projects. One is the EAT letters over the window above the sink.

I picked up these paper mache letters from Hobby Lobby. They were very inexpensive and although I can't remember the exact price I paid, I know for certain that they were 50% off when I bought them. To give them a nice shiny finish making them look more like resin than paper mache, I used a fabric paint writer in red. To get very specific I used Tulip Slick Dimensional Fabric Paint.

I already had the paint on hand. I applied 2 coats with a brush. Spray paint probably would have given a similar end result but in the middle of winter the temps weren't high enough to use spray paint. The fabric paint writer worked great and gave them a nice shiny finish. I hung them with command strips.

The second project that took all of maybe 15 minutes (not counting the drying time) only cost $3. I found this gold tray at the Goodwill and decided to turn it into a message board.

All it took was a little primer and a little chalkboard paint. Both of which I already had on hand. I used a sponge brush for a nice, smooth application.

I love cheap, easy, and fast ......projects that is. ;) They're not only fun to work on, but they add so much interest to a space. And the best part is with such little time and money invested you don't feel bad when you're ready for a change.

Have you done any cheap, easy, and fast projects lately?

P.S. Many of you have asked where I bought this little, white elephant. She was 25 cents at Goodwill, and she's worth more than 25 tons of gold in my book! I adore her but I've yet to give her a name. Hmmmm......what should we call her?

Loving

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:20:00 +0000

First of all, I just want to say thank you! Thanks so much for all of your kind words yesterday on my kitchen reveal. I still can hardly believe it's finally done, and I appreciate so much that you all are just as excited about that as I am! Seriously, I love you guys........

almost as much as I love breakfast for dinner.

So, I know that yesterday was the official day of love, but why can't everyday be a lovefest?! I'm loving so many things lately. I just had to share!

West Elm has got me ready for spring with their new line of table accessories.

These plates are so fun and whimsical! I'm not huge on pastels so these plates are perfect for me. And I think they could even work throughout the summer months as well.

Do not even get me started on this beehive cake stand!

I can't even handle the cuteness.

Speaking of bees, this Anthro dress has inspired me to get serious about working/toning my arms.

It's hard to tell from this picture but it has little bees all over. I love the vintage look. Now if I can just get my arms into better shape, I would be completely sold. Sometimes we need a little motivation to get our sweat on - you know?!

With slim, tone arms on the brain, I am also loving the new cinnamon and apple oatmeal from McDonald's. It's nice to have a healthy option when you're on the go, and not to get too cheesy - but for real - I'm lovin' it! ;)

But I'm not just loving food and stuff, I'm also loving this post from Jones Design Company on being a mother. If you're a mom, you need to read that post, and if you aren't you still need to read that post. We as women really need to do a better job of uplifting one another. I also love Lakeitha's post on this subject as well. Being a mother, stay/work at home or not, is hard! I love these real and honest posts on this subject as in my own experience as a mother I have had many ups and downs. Everyday isn't tied up nice and funny like an episode of The Cosby Show.

Bill Cosby was such a big part of my childhood and I remember watching that show with my dad every week. I love this quote from him.

Source: designeriphone.tumblr.com via Jean on Pinterest

There's so much truth to that statement! I love all the random and inspiring stuff you can find on Pinterest!

So, that's what I'm loving lately. What about you? What are you loving at the moment?

A Labor of Love - Kitchen Reveal!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I'll bet those of you who have been along for the ride thought this day would never come. To bring the new peeps up to speed, the mini-kitchen renovation started a year ago (yes, that's right - a whole entire year) when we had to replace our hardwood floor. To say this transformation was a labor of love is quite the understatement. This is what our kitchen looked like when we first moved in almost two years ago.

Then a few months after moving in we gave it a little face lift with plantation shutters, curtains, and some new light fixtures.

Last February when we were faced with having to replace our hardwood floor, we took it as a sign to go ahead and begin project "mini-kitchen renovation". We had always dreamed of having a range hood and a tile back splash. We really wanted to give our kitchen a custom look that felt more like us without the custom kitchen price tag. We had our contractor (the same person that laid the new floors) add some molding to our builder-basic-painted-white-by-the-previous-owners cabinets, and then we distressed/glazed them for a custom look.

This molding completely changed the look of our cabinets. It was a very cost effective way to get a custom look at a fraction of the price of what new cabinetry would have cost. By painting the molding and glazing ourselves we were able to spread our budget to cover some of the other costs.

The marble back splash and range hood were also installed by our contractor.

Bringing in a hood over the stove meant having to find a new home for the microwave. We took the doors off of a rarely used cabinet and had the microwave fitted inside. This also gave us the perfect spot for a wine cooler and a shelf for wine glasses.

I'm amazed at what a difference just a few key changes made in our kitchen. We took our time obviously. We did and had things done as we had the money and time to complete each project. It feels like a brand new kitchen, and I'm completely head over heels! Ready for the full reveal?!

Picture overload - be warned!

I made a faux roman shade for the window over the sink. The EAT letters are paper mache letters from Hobby Lobby that I painted.

Check here and here for the deets on this table transformation.

Added some black grosgrain ribbon trim to these white cotton Target panels with the help of my hot glue gun.

I'm so happy that this project is finally finished, and I'm beyond thrilled with the final results! It took a whole year to get it done, but it was definitely worthwhile. Now it feels like "our" kitchen and not just one that we inherited from the previous owners.

The wall color is Macadamia by Martha Stewart. It reminds me of butter cream frosting.

The little details are some of my favorites - kind of like the cherry on top of my sweet kitchen cupcake!

I warned you about the overload of pictures. I can't help it - I heart my kitchen almost more than I heart guacamole - which is a lot - like a whole lot!

*Linking up at Home Stories A to Z, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, At the Picket Fence

sneakpeeq Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:47:00 +0000

Have you heard of sneakpeeq?

Sneakpeeq is the largest and fastest growing social shopping company on Facebook. They have partnered with over 600 brands in the fashion/home decor/ gourmet food categories to bring you new daily discoveries and great deals! Every day, they put a new set of amazing products from new brands on the site. The products offered are always changing, but to give you an example of something I'm itching to make mine, here's an adorable tote that has me ready for beach towels and sunscreen weather!

Not only are the prices already great, but by playing around on the site, sharing, peeking, and buying items you can unlock badges. Some badges have the power to lower the prices even further!

Needless to say, when sneakpeeq contacted me about offering a giveaway I was super excited! The best part is with this giveaway everybody wins! They are giving you 20% off your next purchase just for entering,

plus a chance at the Grand Prize: one winner will receive a $30 gift card to use on your favorite food, style and home products - that goes a long way in sneakpeeq's amazingly low-priced boutiques.

Go check out all the things you love but have yet to discover!

To enter this giveaway you must click HERE and join sneakpeeq. You do not enter this giveaway by leaving a comment here on my blog. You must click on the word here above and join the site to enter for a chance to win a $30 sneakpeeq gift card and to receive your 20% off discount.

****This giveaway and discount is only open to new sneakpeeq users. It is also limited to the U.S.

Good Luck! This giveaway will be open until Thursday February 16th, and the winner will be announced Friday the 17th.

A Little Blogization

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Blog + Organization = Blogization

Thanks to a tip from Cassie at Hi Sugarplum, I've started organizing the ol' blog. It was long overdue, and I have a lot more to do. It's so easy to use InLinkz to create these picture boards.

Home Improvement/Projects:

Distressing Cabinets	Ikat Stencil Tutorial	Whitewashing Brick	Painting A Ceiling (tips)
Painting Trimwork (tips)	Kitchen Backsplash	Rub N Buffed Sconces	Chalkboard Paint
Staircase Art	Staining A Subfloor	New Bamboo Floors	Ceiling Mural
Kitchen Menu Board	Potting Bench	Paver Patio

InLinkz.com

Under the project gallery tab you will find the above list, and I also plan to put two other lists together - window dressing and craft projects. I also plan to list organization and holiday projects under their own separate tabs. So hopefully when I'm done it will make things a lot easier to find.

Oh yeah, and you may have already noticed but Our Fifth House is now a .com - as in minus the blogspot.com! I purchased my own domain. I guess that means I'm not moving anytime soon. ;) Our Sixth House doesn't exactly have the same ring to it, now does it?

Hope you all had a great weekend! The hubs and I took the kids to see Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D! My son LOVED every minute of the big screen action!

Be back later with a really fun giveaway!

The Best Design Advice

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:52:00 +0000

Source: joanarc.tumblr.com via Carmel (@ Our Fifth House) on Pinterest

That's the only design rule I follow. Probably because it doesn't feel like a rule; it feels like freedom. DESIGN FREEEEEEDOM! Yelled like Mel Gibson in Braveheart. ;)

It's Friday yo - make it a good one!

The Ghosts of DIYs Past

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:12:00 +0000

First of all, thank you all so very much for all of your comments yesterday! I knew I could count on you! I've yet to make a lighting decision, but when you plan on living in a house for, oh, say about the next 30 years or so, what's another day or two right?!

Anyhow, I've had other things to occupy my time and energy anyway. You already know that we inherited white painted cabinets from the previous owners of our home. They looked like this when we moved in almost two years ago.

You also know that we made a change to these cabinets by adding molding, changing the hardware, and distressing/glazing them.

We've also had new floors, a back splash, and hood installed. The kitchen looks really different now, and I'll soon be doing the big before and after mini-renovation reveal.

You've seen mostly the progress and pretty pictures, but what you don't know is that the owners that painted these light oak cabinets white left traces of evidence that this paint job was a diy project with a less than perfect result. I mean I seriously doubt that this was the work of a professional painter.

Believe me when I say, that I am not the best diy'er. I am in no way criticizing the efforts put forth by the previous owners, as I am sure that I left behind a ghost or two in my old home. However, this was a pretty simple fix. I kept putting it off, but it really didn't take too long to deal with the ghosts of diys past. It wasn't fun, but I couldn't handle it any longer. I had to do something about all the nasty paint drips. They were in every drawer! I cleared the contents of each drawer, sanded, primed (with Zinnser), and then painted 2 coats of our white cabinet paint. And now, when I open these drawers in front of company I won't feel completely embarrassed or totally disgusted.

My paint job isn't perfect, but it is drip less! Getting rid of the ghosts (either the ones you inherited or the ones you created) can be such a tedious job, but it's always worth it when the job is done. Have you had to deal with any ghosts of diys past lately?

Second Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I'm in the home stretch with the boy's room. There are a just a few more things I need to diy and buy to call this room done. The problem is I'm having trouble in the "buy department". I'm in hesitation mode. I just can't seem to make a decision and move forward. I really wish I was the type of person that just bought things without all the second guessing and changing my mind a million times. I mean that is the exact reason why I put this inspiration board together in the first place.

I thought it would help me get over all that wavering and just make decisions. Unfortunately, when it comes to the lighting I originally picked out for this room, I am not 100% sure that this is what I want for this room. As you can see in the board above I chose the Fillsta Pendant from Ikea.

I think this fixture will look good in the room with the current design plan. Although I'm not sure that this will work if the design of the room changes as I'm sure it will as he gets older. While the price is certainly reasonable at $29.99, I wonder if I wouldn't be better off choosing something that will work long term as well. In addition, as the room is starting to really take shape with many of the Star Wars elements (he requested a Star Wars room) in place, I think that maybe something not so space-agey (yes, that's a word) would be a better fit. This room has a theme, but I don't want it to get too theme-y.

I've found a few other options to consider.

Lamps Plus

Ikea

West Elm

So what do you think? Which light fixture would you choose? Or is there another one out there that I need to think about? HELP ME! I seriously need to just make a decision already!

Simple Valentine's Day Wreath

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

It took fifteen minutes (not counting the drying time of the spray paint) and cost zero dollars (I had all of the supplies). I embellished this wreath by up-cycling a dress my daughter outgrew and personalized with our song - Let My Love Open the Door by Pete Townsend. It's simple and sweet. Almost too sweet, but if you can't go sweet on Valentine's Day when can you?!

*Linking up to the CSI Project

*Linking up at Tip Junkie, Vintage Wanna Bee

Handmade Valentines

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:01:00 +0000

Somehow I managed to squeeze in some crafting time with my kids this weekend in between episodes of Revenge. Do you watch that show?! Oh. my. word! My sister-in-law told me that I needed to start watching it, so I took her advice. I watched the premier show on Friday night and got hooked. I then proceeded to watch all 13 episodes on hulu. I'm just that crazy! My house is a mess, my laundry isn't done, but I'm ready for a new episode this Wednesday night. ;) I did do Valentine crafts as planned with my kiddos, so it's all good.

I decided to go with handmade Valentines this year, and the kids were totally on board with the idea. I also made the executive decision that we would not be giving out any sugar this year. Instead we're giving pencils. I know it's like being the house that gives raisins on Halloween, but in my defense both kids will be having sugar-filled class parties. I figured we didn't need to add to the hype - or hyper - if you know what I mean.

The boy is crazy for origami so we made these fun pencil toppers.

For the girls.

For the boys.

Be still my geek heart! I want to keep this Yoda bouquet for myself!

To make these origami characters we used the tutorials from these books that my son loves - The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back. The author of those books also made an instructional video.

Here are the instructions for how to make an origami Yoda.

You can find the Darth Vader tutorial on you tube as well.

The girl, while she loves Star Wars too, wanted something a little sweeter. So, we made butterfly pencil toppers for her classmates.

I showed you the pin that inspired this here. These were so simple to make. I just free handed some butterfly wings on card stock and used them as a pattern to cut the rest. I folded them in half and cut 2 small slits to hold the pencil. Then I just used a pipe cleaner for the antennae. Simple and fun.

All of the pencils were found in the dollar spot at Target.

I love a handmade Valentine. Especially when made by little hands! So what did you do this weekend?

*Linking up at Home Stories A to Z, Tip Junkie, Vintage Wanna Bee

February's List & Weekend Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I finally sat down with my notebook today.

I made this list with many things in mind - jury duty (boo), Valentine's Day festivities, and a fun girls weekend I have coming up at the end of the month!

I think this is do-able. We'll see. At the very least it will give me some direction and hopefully keep me from running around like a dog after a squirrel. ;) That's how I typically operate when it comes to projects in my home.

This weekend I hope to at least get the doors primed, but I also have some fun Valentine projects to work on with my kids. I love crafting with them! We're taking inspiration from Mr. Origami Yoda......

and also from Pinterest. Where else?

Source: skiptomylou.org via Carmel (@ Our Fifth House) on Pinterest

I'll be back Monday to show you what we made. Happy Weekend! What are your plans?

What The Faux?

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:35:00 +0000

First, I want to thank you so much for laughing with me yesterday. It's not always easy to put your-hot-mess-of-a-self out there. You all make it easy for me to just be me, and for that I'm seriously thankful. I never want to pretend to be something I'm not - not in life - not on this blog. I believe in real - real life - real beauty. And the real truth of the matter is, well, it's not always coming up roses around here.

Now on to the real topic of the day. What the faux is up with this window?

The previous owners used this faux stained glass vinyl to cover up one of the windows in the master bathroom. To be honest, when we toured the house I was actually relieved to find that this was faux and not the real thing. It seemed like a pretty easy fix for something that wasn't my style. (No offense to anyone that may like this look, but faux stained glass isn't for me.) I mean I like faux stuff - bois - sometimes pearls - heck even faux copper is okay in my book, but faux stained glass?! Ummmm.......no, not so much.

While this faux stained glass vinyl is not so cute, the real faux pas here is that it took me over a year and a half to do something about it! I know! What the faux took me so long to take that faux glass down?! ;) There are no words. Seriously, I'm fresh out of excuses. The good news is I finally kicked that vinyl to the curb.

The neighbors house really isn't that close even though it looks that way in this picture.

Ummmmm........so that's why they covered this window. Privacy in a master bathroom is kind of a good thing isn't it? Not to worry, I bought some etched glass at Home Depot.

See that wall space to the right? The previous owners used flat paint in here. NEVER use flat paint in a bathroom.

This is the same vinyl as the stained glass; it's just a plain frosted look rather than a faux stained glass. It was about $19 I think. I bought it a while ago and I tossed the receipt - sorry. I didn't want to block the light in here, but I did want to block the view. This etched glass was the perfect solution. I just cut it down to size, sprayed the window with a water bottle, and then smoothed out the vinyl over the window.

Yay! I actually completed this minor project three days before Christmas and I forgot to blog about it - oops. It makes such a huge difference in my bathroom. Not having to look at the faux stained glass window any longer was such a great Christmas present to myself. The funny thing is the hubs totally didn't even notice for like days! Really?! How do you not notice the fauxtastic stained glass window is gone?! MEN!

Anyhow, there are a TON of projects that still need to be addressed in here, but you know how it goes. One step at a time. One small step for this window, one giant step for the master bathroom.

Do you have any little projects around your house that need to be done that just keep getting pushed to the bottom of your priority list? This little switch-a-roo only took about 20 minutes, so why did it take me so long to get it done?! It feels so good to cross this off my to-do list! It's only been on the list since March of 2010!

Challenge: Take 20 minutes today to do something you've been meaning to do but haven't. I promise it will make you feel so good!

A Beautiful Mess

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:30:00 +0000

What you mean you don't want to pin this? ;)

I'm in this season of life where the things I have/want to do far out number the hours I have to make them happen. Plain and simple, my life is messy.

However, it's a beautiful mess, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Number one on my to-do list is hanging out with the crazies.

The most important thing you can do in life is - LOVE ONE ANOTHER. If you've loved on your people today, then you've done enough!

xoxo,

Checking In and More Star Wars Related Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Is it just me or did this month fly by? Seriously, I feel like I just put my Christmas tree away and now it's BAM February! Since today is the last day of the month, I figured it would be a good day to check in on my monthly list and see how I did.

This is what I had planned to accomplish during the month of January.

1. Paint the boy's room. Done - Check

2. Paint the girl's built-ins. Fail

3. Bring in a rug for the eating area of the kitchen. Changed my mind on this one.

I didn't do too bad. I give myself a B+ because even if number three was technically scratched off the list, there was still some decision making involved. This monthly list idea has been really helpful for me in the "stay focused" department, which is an area that I struggle with when it comes to decorating projects in my home. I think I'll keep this monthly list making thing going. I'll be back tomorrow with the list for February which will obviously include number two - paint the girl's built-ins.

While I didn't make any progress at all in the girl's room, I did get a lot more accomplished besides painting in the boy's room. In fact, I'm very close to calling it a wrap on this little Star Wars saga. I've been working on artwork for his room. Here's a peek at the gallery wall.

Sorry for the weird angle. I took the pictures from the side to avoid the glare on the glass. Anyhow, I wanted to create a little gallery wall in his room that was filled with art and pictures that are really meaningful.

This was my hubs comic book. I framed it over a piece of fabric. Want to know something crazy? This comic book is dated October 1978. That's the year and month that I was born! So, my hub who is 7 years my senior was reading this comic book when I made my appearance in the world. HA! I love little things like that, and I love seeing this comic book that my hub was reading when he was 7 framed in our 7 year old son's room.

Now, I'd like to introduce to you Mr. Darth Paper........

and Mr. Origami Yoda.

They were made by my son and his friend.

My son also drew this dragon picture. I love it! I don't want every single thing in this room to be Star Wars related, and I like the way this picture works with the colors in the room.

I used some left over fabric from the curtain panels I made to create a matte/background for this picture.

Before we were four, we were three. This is one of the only family pictures I have of the three of us. I used a scrap of fabric to fill this frame.

Last but not least, you may not have known this, but my boy has graduated from the Jedi Training Academy. You need proof?

How do you like the backwards hat and flip flops?! He's such a cool little Jedi! The force is strong with him. ;)

So this room is coming along, slowly but surely. This little gallery wall makes me smile. I'm seriously in love with these two.

Gallery wall - Check.

Now on to the diy headboard I keep putting off to the next day.

How do you fill your gallery walls? Personal pictures, art, keepsakes, or a mix of everything you hold near and dear? Anyone else making a monthly list? I think I've finally figured out how to conquer my design ADD.

Master Closet Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (Carmel @ Our Fifth House) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Last January I organized our master closet. It went from this.

Shield your eyes!

to this.

Then just one week after, I made a minor tweak (at the hubs request), and it went to this.

I used electrical tape for the chevron stripes. You can read all about where the inspiration for that project came from in the original post here.

Well, it's been a year since I whipped this closet into shape, and it has stayed relatively organized except for this hot mess.

So, I decided, what with January being the official "get organized" month, to clean up this hot mess. I took out one shelf, moved the hubs jeans/khakis to the wardrobe in our bedroom, claimed another shelf as my own to use for my frequently used handbags, and refolded the hubs sweaters. When I was done cleaning/folding/rearranging I was left with this.

Better right? Well, I have a hard time walking away once I get started. I was in organize mode, and I just couldn't stop myself. I decided to organize my jewelry. Instead of keeping it all tangled up in a jewelry box in my bedroom, I would rather have all of my accessories displayed in the closet. I want to be able to grab them in a hurry. I ran to Home Depot and picked up a gold cafe rod and some cup hooks to use as jewelry organizers.

The cafe rod works great for cuffs and bracelets. Cup hooks and twine are perfect for earrings.

I also replaced the silver knobs....

with some glass knobs I already had.

Do you notice anything else "new" in the above picture? See that fabric on the wall to the right? Well, call me crazy, but I decided to cover up the chevron stripes with some fabric scraps I already had. I wanted to create the look of wallpaper using what I already had on hand. Since I didn't have enough of any one fabric to do this whole wall, I created a "quilted" or "patch-work" wall treatment. I LOVE IT! Seriously, my closet is now my favorite place in the house! It's fun and wild and random - just like me! ;)

I figure what better place to let your imagination run wild with lots of different patterns than in your closet!

This was so easy to do. I just ironed the scraps of fabric and used thumb tacks to pin them up on the wall. It's all upholstery fabric. There's no pattern; it's completely random.

I layered on my burlap board for more jewelry storage.

I also turned an old cork board into a jewelry organizer with some fabric, ribbon, and thumb tacks. Then I hung it on the back of the door.

To hold belts, I'm using a plain old nail that I rubbed and buffed gold.

My closet is little in size.

It's not outfitted with fancy shelving ( I wish!).

I have to share it with a man.

Let's face it; it's the definition of Carrie Bradshaw's worst nightmare.

But it works for me! And, I think it proves that you can do a lot with a little if you challenge yourself to think outside the box (or ummmm......wire shelving).

I'm not exactly a Manolo girl anyway. (someday - maybe) ;)

How was your weekend? Did anyone else do any closet reorganizing?

*Linking up here
Home Stories A to Z
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Savvy Southern Style
It All Started With Paint
Thrifty Decor Chick