The Dedicated House

Some Updates and An Adoption

2013-05-18T18:54:00.000-05:00

Hello World! Today I'm sharing a couple of collages that I made of some of the entryway fluffing I've been doing. I'll also share a couple of single pictures as well as tell you an adoption story...one that was quick in the making.

The first collage consists of the little pail, fern, and plant stand that I got on my recent shopping spree. Hopefully, my quirky little fern will grow and get a little bigger.

Next up is one of the little plants I picked up from Lowe's as well as a planter that a friend gave us.

Below is the little table that I painted for my very first post as well as this pretty little cloche.

For the adoption story. This little sweetie adopted us a couple of nights ago. We are guessing she is around 10 months old. Berlioz (the soon to be 17yr old cat) could care less about this new addition. Camille is not too happy, but is adjusting slowly. May I introduce Colette.

Isn't she pretty? She is so affectionate.

The entryway is slowly coming along. Next, on the list is to sand and paint the baseboards, and decorate above the china hutch. Then I'll be working on the voice studio as well as looking at new couches. Anyhoo, thank you for popping in to take a look. Have a great evening and remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!

Toodles,
Kathryn

Sharing this at these lovely parties:

InLinkz.com
Between Naps on the Porch, Savvy Southern Style, My Repurposed Life, Crafts a la Mode, and Coastal Charm.

Anything Blue Friday - Week 9

2013-05-17T07:35:00.000-05:00

Hello World! Question: Do you like that I open the parties up at 8:00am CDT on the day of the party, or would you prefer the night before? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Welcome to Week 9 of:

Anything Blue Friday

My Favorite

The ever creative Ellya transformed her vintage plates and cups into a lovely way to hold some of her crafting supplies. Pop on over to Curiosita Ellya to see more beautiful pics.

Anything Blue Friday

Your Favorite

This week, the fan favorite was the French Country Kitchen Tour that the lovely Christy took us on in her beautiful home. Head on over to Our Southern Home to see more beautiful details in this fantastic kitchen.

Anything Blue Friday

Blue Goodness #1

The talented and fun Karen worked wonders on this little secretary with some blueish/greenish paint. For the before pics and of course, more after, scoot on over to Redoux Interiors.

Anything Blue Friday

Blue Goodness #2

Sweet Kitty shared her cinnamon twist recipe with us as well as her pretty gnome garden. Skip on over to Kitty's Kozy Kitchen to get the recipe.

Anything Blue Friday

Blue Goodness #3

Inspired Anne has been playing creating this whimsical fairy garden. You must pop on over to A Little Fur in the Paint to see more pretty little houses and gorgeous flowers as well.

If you were featured, please grab a feature button for your blog.

Here are a few guidelines to follow:
1. Link up anything (family friendly) blue. 2. Follow The Dedicated House. 3. Please grab my button below, or have a link back to my blog so everyone can enjoy the party! No Link Back, No Feature. Boo.
4. Be a social butterfly and have fun. Let me know my sweets about the party time starting the night before. Have a lovely weekend and remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!
Toodles,
Kathryn

Before and After Wednesday

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello World! Get ready to be wowed with today's Before and After spotlight. The spotlight today is on Patti from Old Things New. Patti has this now adorable guest cottage that she and her husband worked to bring to life again. I do believe this would qualify as a labor of love. Let's start out with a pretty, shall we?

Ah, pretty! She's a tiny one...400 square feet. She may be little, but she makes a big impact. Now, let's take a look at a couple of the before pictures and you will see how amazing she is now.

Most people would have not even touched it. But, not Patti and her man, they took the bull by the horns and got to work.

Okay, my heart raced a little (not in a good way) when I first saw the before pictures. I don't know if I would have been so brave. Let's take a look at what all of those steps of faith and work (faith without works is dead...couldn't resist) brought them to.

They kept the original beadboard ceiling opting to paint it white to brighten up the space.

Look at the faux tin tile backsplash. New countertops, new handles, and a pretty yellow paint color for the walls.

New flooring throughout.

Bathroom with limestone countertop and shutters to hide the water heater.

A look into the bedroom. The iron trundle bed converts into a queen sized bed.

Lovely deck area to take in the view.

Patti and her husband did such an amazing job renovating this little spot. The decor is lovely and really creates a space that is inviting, pretty, and comfortable.

Please pop on over to Old Things New and give Patti a huge high five and a hug. There are also more pictures of the before as well as more after pictures that you really, really must see.

If you have any before and after projects that you would love to get featured, email them to thededicatedhouse@gmail.com and in the subject line, please put Before and After Wednesday. It can be any before and after: gardening, furniture redo, room makeover, complete renovation, sewing repurpose. Anything with a before and after.
***Also, start sending all of your holiday before and afters. For example: wreath creations, centerpieces, decor. Just make sure there is a before pic of the "naked piece" (naked table to fabulous tablescape, naked Christmas tree to decked out beauty, naked wreath to beautiful filled in wreath)...you get the picture. I'm compiling a file for the upcoming holidays so that we have a ton of inspiration to see us through the seasons on Before and After Wednesday.***

Make it Pretty Monday has some great inspiration. Click here to go check it out. And, don't forget about the Anything Blue Friday party. Any shade of blue and it doesn't have to be in every picture.

And, so sorry about all of the review posts. It really seems that they come in bunches and then I won't have any for months.

Thanks for popping in to take a look at Patti's place. Have a beautiful day and remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!

Toodles,
Kathryn

Sharing this at these lovely parties:

InLinkz.com
Between Naps on the Porch, Savvy Southern Style, My Repurposed Life, Two Succulent Sisters, and Coastal Charm.

Same Day Carpet Cleaning

2013-05-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hello World! Sorry for all the reviews. When it rains, it pours. This post is a review of Same Day Carpet Cleaners. Remember back in 2008 the bed bug problem in New York? Well, the complaints for dust mites, pollen and other allergy or disease causing organisms were also at an all-time high.

These microorganisms, allergens and bacteria usually hide in mattresses, carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture. The problem with them is they’re not easy to get rid of. Regular vacuuming and washing isn’t enough to thoroughly clean our houses.

To keep your family from getting sick and to prolong the life of your furniture, Same Day Carpet Cleaners offers green cleaning services in New York that can rid your house of all these harmful elements. They have a cutting edge green cleaning process that works quickly and efficiently. Their team is committed to being green, all the way.

At Same Day Carpet Cleaners, they also provide tailored green cleaning services that will not damage your belongings in any way. Their experienced technicians will inspect your carpet or furniture to identify the fabric and stains they are dealing with to identify the best cleaning method to use. This way, your furniture or carpet will get the best cleaning possible. They also offer stain removal and odor removal green cleaning services in New York.

Thanks for popping in for a visit. Have a great day and remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!

Toodles,
Kathryn

***The Dedicated House was compensated for this review.***

How To Use Colour in The Bathroom

2013-05-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello World! I hope all are well this fine day. Today, I have a guest post from this wonderful company that helps all of my friends across the pond get some wonderful ideas for their bathrooms.

The bathroom is the one room in your house that every member of the family, and even your visitors, are bound to visit at least once a day. It is usually a place where you can relax and de-stress at the end of a busy day or hard working week. In order to be a calm, peaceful environment, it should be decorated in a style you love. One way to do this is by using colours, particularly your favourite ones, to put you in a good mood and reflect your personality to your guests.

There are a number of different ways that you can add colour to your bathroom, from full on brightly coloured walls to accents of colour dotted around the room. It is entirely up to you how you want your bathroom to look and feel, but here are some tips on how to make the best out of yours.

If your bathroom is fairly large and spacious, you can get away with using more colour and bolder hues. If the bathroom is small, bolder colours or large areas in a solid colour can make it appear even smaller and more cramped. For that large bathroom, try using a statement colour on your walls, but keep all your appliances in a plain single colour, such as a stylish Vitra suite. The white fixtures will contrast the bright colours, being easy on the eye but very stylish.

If your bathroom is a little on the smaller side, use one wall as the statement wall. Cover this in a patterned wallpaper, a single brightly coloured paint, or even mosaic tiles. Keep the rest of the walls in a single shade to draw the eye towards the statement piece.

Monochrome is very fashionable at the moment, particularly in bathrooms. The contrasting black and white have a minimalistic and very stylish feeling that makes the room look much more expensive. Many of these type of rooms can hide personality though, so to brighten them up a little, try installing some colourful accessories: anything from a colourful or patterned shower curtain to brightly hued towels will do. Just make sure that the accessories are all in complementary colours to avoid your once stylish bathroom looking overly cluttered.

So pick your favourite colours and have fun! If you’re having problems getting colours and shades to match, use a colour wheel or pop into your local home ware or DIY store for some personal advice. Just remember not to go over the top with multiple colours and patterns, and use mirrors and lighting to open up your space even more.

Such good information! I have a small bath that I need to paint and decorate so I'm taking this one to heart! Thank you for popping in for a visit and remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!

Toodles,
Kathryn

Martel Express

2013-05-13T21:00:00.000-05:00

Hello World! Today's post is a review of Martel Express. Who is Martel Express? Well, Martel Express is part of Canada's number one van line company: United Van Lines.

As a result, Martel Express is able to pool the resources of United Van Lines. They have over 1600 agents in North America and 100+ agents overseas, to provide high quality service at reasonable prices. Whether moving within the same province or across Canada, to the U.S.A. or any point on the globe, Martel Express can provide you with door to door service; or fit its quotation to your specifications. They can also help you with all necessary customs information for U.S.A. and overseas moves. In addition they will provide destination information services for moves within Canada or the U.S.A. at no extra cost to you.

Déménagement Montréal specializes in Long Distance Moving, Residential Relocation, and Commercial Moves. They also have container services available as well. And, if your move is overseas, Martel Express Montreal Inc. is a member of the Household

Goods Forwarders Association of America (HHGFAA). This association allows them to offer a door-to-door service across

the world.

We all know that moving can be extremely stressful, so why not let Martel Express help you move with ease and efficiency.

Thanks for stopping in for a little visit. Have a wonderful evening and remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!

Toodles,
Kathryn

***The Dedicated House was compensated for this review.***

Make it Pretty Monday - Week 49

2013-05-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello World! How is everyone today? Did all the sweet MIP moms have a wonderful Mother's Day? The Dedicated Husband and Daughter went out of their way as usual. I'll have to share a picture of the planter my little sweetie painted for me for Mother's Day. She is a much better artist than I was at that age.

On to the party! Welcome to Week 49 of:

Make it Pretty Monday
My Favorite

Pretty Deb changed up her cupboard to welcome Spring by adding my favorite color combination; blue and white. Deb and her dishes can be found at Just Cats.

Make it Pretty Monday
Craft Queen

Pretty Kim shared with us a tutorial to create our very own Spanish Moss Mat. Looks super easy to make. To get the tutorial, head on over to Curtain Queen Creates.

Make it Pretty Monday
Shopping Queen

Pretty Cindy took us along on a shopping trip. There were so many great pictures of pretties that I had a hard time choosing. Pop on over to Dwellings to take a look at all the loveliness.

Make it Pretty Monday
Furniture Transformation Queen

Pretty Biljana transformed this armoire into the beauty you see here. Seeing the before is a must! To do so, skip on over to Biljana Shabby.

Make it Pretty Monday
Sewing Queen

Pretty Gloria refashioned her pullover sweater into this happy little cardigan. To get the tutorial, scoot on over to
The Resourceful Gals.

Make it Pretty Monday
Culinary Delight Queen
Pretty Shannah made these delectable Turkey Cilantro Burgers with Tomatillo Sauce. I've bookmarked this one for sure. To get your copy of the recipe, head on over to Just Us Four.

Make it Pretty Monday
Dessert Queen

Pretty Lyuba...oh, sweet goodness! I've bookmarked this one as well. I have a serious love for coconut. To get the recipe for the Almond Joy Bites, scoot on over to
Will Cook for Smiles.

Make it Pretty Monday
DIY Queen

Pretty Jamie turned this regular old closet into this gorgeous butler's pantry! Jamie and her pantry can be found at
So Much Better with Age.

Make it Pretty Monday
Tablescape Queen

Pretty Fabby set this festive table for Cinco de Mayo table. What a colorful and happy table. Scoot on over to Fabby's Living to see this marvel.

Make it Pretty Monday
Home Decor Queen

Pretty Wanda shared her Living and Dining space with us. Looks so welcoming and comfortable. For more views of the room, skip on over to No Place Like Home.

Make it Pretty Monday
Spring Decor Queen

Pretty Eileen shared with us the beauty of seasonal living as well as these beautiful tulips. Pop on over to Beauty Does Matter to find out more.

Make it Pretty Monday
Gardening Queen

Pretty D shared with us her pretty garden that is bursting into bloom. To see more blooms, head on over to The Shady Porch.

If you were featured, please grab a feature button for your blog.

Here are a few guidelines to follow:
1. Link up anything Family friendly...DIY, decor, crafts, recipes, gardening, shopping finds, sewing, furniture transformations. inspirational stories, and beautiful photography. 2. If you are participating in Make it Pretty Monday, be sure to link up your "permalink" post and not your general blog address. 3. No etsy shops, giveaways and no sponsor pages. I might have a separate party for those when I see how well this one goes. 4. Please grab my button below, or have a link back to my blog so everyone can enjoy the party! No Link Back, No Feature. Boo.
5. Please become a follower of The Dedicated House.
6. Be sure to visit at least two of the other pretties at the party. Show them some love and let them know you popped in for a visit. You know how we all love comments. If you missed the Sunday Showcase from last week's Make it Pretty Monday party click here to go see the top 4 views.
***Keep those Before and After projects coming to me. You lovelies are so talented. You can email your Before and After projects to thededicatedhouse@gmail.com and be sure to put Before and After in the subject line.***
Have a beautiful day and remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!
Toodles,
Kathryn

Sunday Showcase from Make it Pretty Monday

2013-05-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello World! You were a visiting bunch last week. Almost everyone had visitors from the Make it Pretty Monday party goers. This week the top themes were organization and home decor. Welcome to the:

4th Place for the Most Views

at Make it Pretty Monday

Pretty Carol shared some great organizational tips for all of our magazines that we have been hoarding...I mean keeping. To get Carol's 12 Step Program for getting our magazines in order, pop on over to An Oasis in the Desert.

3rd Place for the Most Views

at Make it Pretty Monday

Pretty Luisa shared some simple tips to spruce up our outdoor living spaces. Scoot on over to Living and Learning with Luisa to get her simple yet high impact tips.

2nd Place for the Most Views

at Make it Pretty Monday

Pretty Jeannie gave us a tour of her pretty living room. You know, I'm loving that pillow. To see more views, drop by
The French Hen's Nest for a visit.

1st Place for the Most Views

at Make it Pretty Monday

Pretty Dru from The Country Farm Home has been a favorite of you party goers for quite some time. She has done it yet again with her lovely post on sprucing up the space in front of her fireplace in the keeping room. Just lovely!

Congratulations on being the top 4 views from last week's Make it Pretty Monday party. Feel free to grab a feature button.

You sweet, little lovelies will be on my Sunday Showcase Pinterest board; pinned from your site of course. In addition, you will be on my Facebook page and Hometalk page with credit given to you under each photo with a link back to your blog!
Speaking of Hometalk; if you are not on it, I highly recommend it. Not only can you build boards, but it is informative and interactive. If you need help with a project, Hometalk would be the place to go for step by step instructions and to ask questions. I would love it if you would follow me as well on Hometalk. Click the pretty blue button below to head on over.

Anything Blue Friday is still live. Pop on over if you are in need of some blue inspiration. Click here to go to Anything Blue.

See you tomorrow for Make it Pretty Monday. Have a lovely rest of your Sunday and remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!

Toodles,
Kathryn

My Little Shopping Spree

2013-05-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello World! This past week I went on a little shopping spree. A lot of the items are for the entryway and the voice studio. Want to see my haul?

Great plant stand that I picked up from Home Goods. Look at my baseboards. There's another project that is on my to do list.

A close-up of the basket portion.

Look at this fantastic basket. I have no idea what I'm going to use it for, but I just couldn't pass it up.

Home Goods again for this pretty ironwork. The white is the cardboard backing. I think this will look so pretty hanging on the wall.

I know, right? Isn't it darling?

Couldn't pass this one up either! Check out the rope handles.

A little trio of plants I picked up. Two are real, one is fake.

My little fakie from Home Goods.

My quirky little fern I purchased from Lowe's.

My pretty little pail.

Look at this happy little thing. A little basket with a strap. I'll probably tuck the strap in when I decide where she is going to live.

I hope to have a post up next week once they have all found their place in the entryway and voice studio.

Anyhoo, thanks for popping in to take a look. Anything Blue Friday is live. So if you are itching for some pretty blue inspiration, this is the party for you. Click here to go to the party.

Click the pretty blue button below to follow me on Hometalk and get some great information and inspiration from all the other great bloggers who are in love with the site just as much as I am.

Have a pretty day and remember to be kind to one another!

Fear Not!

Toodles,

Kathryn

Sharing this at these lovely parties:

InLinkz.com
Between Naps on the Porch, Savvy Southern Style, My Repurposed Life, Two Succulent Sisters, and Coastal Charm.

Anything Blue Friday - Week 8

2013-05-10T08:20:00.000-05:00

Hello World! Yes, she did it! The Dedicated Daughter "graduated" yesterday from preschool! She did such a good job in the graduation ceremony. I was so proud of her, but a little sad all at the same time! My treasure is growing up.

Okay, I'm starting to tear up, so we will just continue on to Week 8 of:

Anything Blue Friday

My Favorite

Look at those sweet little bird plates. Judith from Botanic Bleu picked up these lovelies at Home Goods. Blast, I was in Home Goods twice this week and completely missed them. Well then, I must go back! Beautiful tablescape, Judith!

Anything Blue Friday

Your Favorite

You lovelies certainly have good taste! Your favorite was Lisa's beautiful Wedgewood Landscape. I'm swooning and sighing. Lisa and her Wedgewood reside at Helene's Legacy.

Anything Blue Friday

Blue Goodness #1

Beautiful sweater and lovely young lady. Kristen from Knitionary made this absolutely gorgeous sweater for her granddaughter. The detail is exquisite as is the perfect fit; and let's not forget the dreamy color. Just beautiful!

Anything Blue Friday

Blue Goodness #2

How flippin' cute is this? I see some visits to the thrift stores and dollar store to find some cast off tiered trays. Amber from SaltTree is the mastermind behind this creation.

Anything Blue Friday

Blue Goodness #3

My good friend, Jemma shared some pictures of lovely places to rest. We all need time to rest and relax. And, what better place to do that than in our own beautiful homes and outdoor spaces. Thank you, Jemma for reminding us to sit a while. Jemma, the Queen of her domain, can be found At Home With Jemma.

If you were featured, please grab a feature button for your blog.

Here are a few guidelines to follow.
1. Link up anything (family friendly) blue. 2. Follow The Dedicated House. 3. Please grab my button below, or have a link back to my blog so everyone can enjoy the party! No Link Back, No Feature. Boo.
4. Be a social butterfly and have fun. My sweet friends, please have a lovely weekend! You know, you are my treasures too! Remember to be kind to one another! Fear Not!
Toodles,
Kathryn