The older I’ve gotten, the more simple I like to keep my Christmas decor. In fact, a few years ago I got rid of over half my boxes of decorations and pared it down to 4.

I love having the house festive but I don’t like it to feel cluttered…I also like that it takes a day/few hours to set up and a day/few hours to take down. It keeps me from feeling stressed and helps me enjoy the season more.

All that to say, you might not find my holiday decorating all that inspiring. However, I still enjoy posting it as a way for me to look back. Let’s just pretend I’m letting you see my journal.

Christmas Home Tour 2021

These two follow me around everywhere, so you can probably spot them in several photos!

If you’re interested, you can see more of my past Christmas decorating HERE.

I hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Does anyone else need some gift ideas for the holidays?!? If you’re like me, you could always a few suggestions…either for someone in your life or yourself. I’ve joined a few friends to help you with your list this year.

These are some of my favorite things that would make great gifts, and they range from cheap to pricey (depending on your budget).

1. Made For Living by Amber Lewis : I love this coffee table book. Not only is it pretty to set out as decor, but it’s an amazing resource. Amber is an amazing designer and this book has so many practical ideas. Any home decor enthusist will love it.
2. Plaid Throw Blanket : Can you ever have enough throws? This one is a great weight and simple plaid. I have used this in so many rooms, that I bought it in two colors.
3. Frame TV : I know this one expensive, but you are looking for a big ticket item…this is it! I get SO many compliments on my TV. Most people don’t even know it’s a television until I turn it on. I can’t say enough about this one. It might me be favorite purchase of all time.
4. Martini Accent Table : This table is PERFECT. The size is great for holding just a few items, which makes it so versitle. This is another item that I could have several and find a place for them all.
5. Air Fryer : We use our air fryer almos every day. I actually, gave this to my mom last year for Christmas. This applicance has changed my cooking life. It makes heating up leftovers so much better and cooking “fried” things super easy. Get it for yourself, if you don’t already have it.
6. Installated 30oz Flip Straw Tumbler : I have several of these “Insta-Famous” mugs and this one is my favorite. It keeps my water very cold, can go in the dishwasher, and has a flip straw.
7. Microfiber Hair Towel : This would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone with medium to long hair. It makes such a big difference in my hair texture. Cotton towels have a coarse texture and can cause damage to your hair, but this towel makes my hair a lot smoother. I also love my silk pillowcase (HERE)…you could add this to your gift, as well.

Be sure to check out the other gift guides, and let me know if you try anything I’ve suggested!

You can see what it looked like back in 2013, HERE. Over the years I had added the tongue and groove to the wall and installed some DIY shelving behind the door, next to the shower. I had also updated the shower and made a front panel for the tub.

I changed out the vanity, added more tongue and groove to the ceiling, and replaced the built-in.

I decided to miter the corners to give it a more continuous feel and make the room feel taller.

I wanted to bring in some wood tones with the built-in and hide some our everyday, bathroom items. I’m really happy with how it turned out!

I’m so happy with the new vanity. It not only looks a million times better than the old one, but it’s taller!! I didn’t realize what a “pain in the back” the lower one was until we got the new one.

I was trying to keep this bathroom within a pretty tight budget, so the lighting I wanted was out of the question. I made both lights for around $40 and they look SO much like what I wanted, here.

So the elephant in the room is clearly the “marble” bathtub. Let me just say, we have NEVER used this tub in the 13 years we have lived in this house. If I could rip it out I would, but that isn’t a possibilty right now. So the best solution I could come up with was to make it look as good as I could.

I covered the base with a marble contact paper…because like I said, we don’t use this and it doesn’t get wet. DO NOT try this at home if you actually use your bathtub.

For the backsplash, I used the same trick as the front. I cut masonite in the shape and size I wanted, then covered it. To stick it to the wall, I used clear sticky dots: HERE. They don’t damage the wall but are AMAZING at keeping things in place.

This room stumped me but I’m so happy to have it done! Thanks for following along and if you’d like to see some of my other One Room Challenges, you can find them HERE.

Be sure to check out all the other AMAZING room transformations HERE.

First off, I’ve had a heck of a time picking the right paint color! I really wanted to add a bold color to the walls, but I couldn’t find the right shade. Nothing was working once I got it on the walls.

As you can see there was a lot of testing!! I even painted the entire bathroom in the bottom color on the left…only to realize I didn’t like it AT.ALL.

Here you can see the brown/taupe next to the original color. ↓

I ended up mixing two of the sample paints together to get the final color. It’s a super light beige. It looks like a soft white in the photos but is a little darker in person.

The exciting thing this week is the DIY vanity light that I made! This is the light that I wanted…but it was too small and retailed for $826. So, I decided to try and make a larger version.

It took some trial and error but I figured it out. My version cost me around $20. That’s a savings of over $800…and mine is larger.

I didn’t take enough pictures for a tutorial, but I have plans to make a similar one over the bathtub. I’ll share how I made it soon.

Besides the paint, I was also struggling with the color of the rug. I just didn’t love it as much in person as I did online. I swapped it with the rug from my entry and I like it SO much more. This rug is a tad too big, but I found a similar one online and it’s on its way. (My fingers are crossed that I like this one since they are all one-of-kind!)

I’m still not sure if the mirrors will stay and the artwork will change…BUT, at least there is some progress.

My to-do list is still pretty long:

• Install ceiling treatment
• Make curtains for shower and window
• Add bathtub details
• Decide on artwork
• Build storage

My goal for next week is to get the ceiling installed. Wish me luck!

Be sure to check out all the other ORC guest participants here.

If you didn’t see last weeks post with my mood board, you can check it out here: Week 1

So the old vanity was there when we moved in and had water damage, but I have put off replacing it for TWELVE years! Shortly after we moved in I did update it slightly to hide the water damage. You can find the post about How To Transform A Builder Grade Vanity here.

Here’s what it looked like after the “bandaid” job:

At first glance, it doesn’t look too bad but in person, it was in pretty rough shape.

Another thing that you can’t see in the photos is how short it is. We wanted a taller vanity…my husband is 6’2″.

So here’s the NEW one:

This was the vanity I had initially picked: here. BUT, remember I said I wanted to do this makeover on a budget??

Well, I found this one at Habitat Restore (brand new) for only $800. I saved over $700.

The hardware is even in an aged brass finish, so I don’t need to swap them out!

I also found these vintage-inspired faucets in brushed nickle for only $60 a piece!! They are great quality and I a steal for that price.

A few of the reviews were negative but I haven’t seen any of the problems they complain about. I did have to tighten the handles, but that is easy. Also, I didn’t get a painted-on finish so I’m not worried about it rubbing off.

So let’s talk about mixing metals…I’m ALL about mixing it up!

I think using different finishes creates a more established look. Like the room has been designed over time. It also brings more interest and just looks beautiful.

All the plumbing will all be brushed nickel and the hardware and lighting will have brass accents.

I’m trying to nail down a paint color. I have an idea of what I want but the samples I painted DID NOT work. The mood board has a darker color and that’s what I’d like to try for this room…I’ll keep you updated.

Also, I have a DIY project for our bathtub I’m going to attempt. I have my fingers crossed that it will work, but we shall see. I made the design for the front of the tub several years but it’s time for something new. If you’re interested, you can find that tutorial here.

So that’s all the progress for this week. My vintage rug got delivered a few days ago. It’s a little pinker than I thought, but it’s still beautiful. Any suggestions for desaturating the color?

Be sure to check out all the other rooms in the One Room Challenge: here.

If you’d like to see some of my previous ORC rooms, you can find them here:

Backyard | Guest Bedroom | Kitchen | Primary Bedroom

Let me take you down memory lane for a hot minute. I don’t have a picture of what this space looked like when we moved in, but here’s what it looked like right after we moved in…

Then a few years later I made a few more updates…

Now it’s time to finally replace the vanity and do a few more things to make it more visually appealing.

According to Money Magazine, home improvements have doubled in the past year and a half (we all know why!). Of all the renovations happening right now,  “30% (are) bathroom upgrades, making it the most popular project other than simply repainting walls.”

Well, I’m falling firmly into that ↑ percentage.

My husband and I aren’t planning to sell our home in the near future, but we are thinking ahead. The plan right now is to move after both of our kids graduate in 5 years…so it’s sooner than later. (Time is FLYING right now!)

So here’s what I’m thinking for this space:

To-Do List

• Replace vanity, faucets, and toilet
• Paint ALL the things (walls, ceiling, millwork, and door)
• Purchase new mirrors, rug, and arwork
• DIY lighting
• Update the bathtub area (another DIY project that ,hopefully, works…fingers crossed!)
• Ceiling Treatment
• Build storage
• Sew curtains (for shower and window)

This list is LONG and a lot of these items aren’t things that I can just pick up at the store and install. For the next 8 weeks, I’ll be working my way through these smaller projects and I’ll be sharing my progress as I go.

I hope you’ll follow along! Also, be sure to check all the other amazing projects happening for the One Room Challenge: HERE.

This used to happen every time we would open the closet next to the front door ↓

AND here’s how I fixed it…

Supplies:

• hammer
• flat head screw driver
• painters tape
• spring tool or long nail
• saw (I used a table saw, but any saw will work.)
• framing square or long straight edge

Steps:

1. Start by opening the door and marking where the top of the rug hits. The mark should be right above the rug.

2. Next remove the door by using either a spring loaded hinge pin tool or long nail and hammer to take out the pin in the hinges. The spring loaded tool makes this so easy. If you don’t have one, put a nail in the bottom of the hinge and hit it up with a hammer to loosen it.

3. Measure your mark from the bottom of the door.

4. Then put a painter’s tape along the bottom of the door so the mark you made is somewhere in the middle. The tape will help the wood from splintering and causing the paint to chip when you cut it.

5. Make your measurement on the tape.

6. Use a long straight edge (a framing square works really well) to make a straight line for your cut.

7. Use a saw to cut off the bottom portion of the door. A table saw works great.

TIP: Clamp down a straight edge to get a really straight cut without a table saw. You can see how I did it in this half door tutorial.

8. Put the door back on the hinges, hammer the pins back in place, and your done!

This took me about 20 minutes, but it would have gone even quicker with a second set of hands.

Since we moved into our house 13 years ago, I never liked the concrete. It was just too “flat” and lacked character. I had tried stenciling it several years ago, but it didn’t look the way I wanted…so I painted over it with gray. This is what it looked like:

It’s blah, to say the least! I spent around $20 on patio paint from the craft store and created movement that looks like slate. Here’s how…

Supplies:

• Craft Patio Paint in black, brown, grey, and tan/off-white (I used this brand in these colors: Woodland Brown, Boardwalk and Amber Grey)
• Chip Brush or Sponge Brush
• small broom
• extra paint brushes
• plate for paint (disposable)
• cup of water

Steps

1. Clean the concrete well with a hose or pressure washer. You want debris gone! Then let it completely dry. I did this the day before painting.

2. Using a broom (I like to use a small handheld one.), sweep the area one more time to make sure there isn’t any dust. Then, drizzle and swirl the different color paint onto the concrete.

**This doesn’t have to be pretty! You want a mixture of dark and light colors to give the paint some depth and movement.

3. Use the brush to swirl and mix the paint together, but you don’t want them to completely mix into one color.

*There should be areas that are really light and some that are really dark.

4. Keep doing this in smaller sections so the paint stays wet while you’re working with it.

*I dampened my brush in a little water sometimes to help the paint move around more when it would start to dry. This isn’t recommended by the paint company but worked for me… and has held up for two summers.

The photo above doesn’t look like much, but in the end, turned out great. Don’t give up it starts to look like this! Just keep working the paint and add more if you need to. This is how it turned out once I finished ↓.

The paint has held up really well through 2 summers and 1 winter, but there are a few spots that are starting to fad. The best part about this technique is that it’s VERY easy to touch up. Next year I might try to add a sealer…I’ll let you know how that goes!

To see all the other cabins and find out why I did this project, check out these posts:

Order of the Arrow | Crow | American Eagle | Camp Project | Falcon Part 1

From the kitchen you enter the living room space. We changed the paint color, cleaned up the fireplace, and added new furniture, curtains, a rug.

Here is what it looked like when we started…

To give you perspective, you can see where the kitchen table is in relation to the sitting area.

The two oversized chairs were donated from The Room Place and helped to cozy up the space. I found the round coffee at a thrift store and used a rug I had at home to better define the space (and soften up the concrete floor!).

The photo on the fireplace was an old photo from camp before Timber Pointe took over.

Here you can see the BEFORE, looking into the kitchen.

It feels so much more bright and open now!

There wasn’t enough money or time to tackle the bathrooms, so I made a few simple changes.

Each bathroom got a small dressing area as you walk in. A mirror, rug, a couple of towel hooks, and bench (that I found around camp) add a little more personality to the sterile feel it had before.

The built-ins were here but I removed the uppers and added wallpaper to give them a little more interest.

Here is what they looked like BEFORE…

From the living room, you enter another space that is multipurpose…we started calling it the game room.

There are 2 sets of bunks but the rest of the room is set up for family games!

There is a seating area that was also donated by The Room Place. The coffee table was a second-hand find and is perfect for playing a game or putting together a puzzle.

Next to the sitting area is a table for ping-pong. This room needs to be multipurpose and having a large ping-pong table just wasn’t an option. I found a solid wood folding table that works with a removable net!

This cabin (or lodge) took up the majority of my time because it was so much bigger than the others. However, it was the most rewarding!

I am looking forward to hearing stories about the families who were able to enjoy a little R&R here. This entire project would not have happened without the help from The Room Place. Timber Pointe Outdoor Center and I are very grateful for their support!

Check out the full video walk-through of the cabin below:

The spaces I’m sharing this week are the entry, kitchen, and large bunk room. I’ll take you through the before and after of each room/area separately so you can get a feel for what I did.

For the previous cabins, check out these posts:

Order of the Arrow | Crow | American Eagle

Here’s the BEFORE of the lodge entry…

A new light fixture and a few updates, lead you into the new entry…

I added a bench for two reasons: to cover up a large pipe sticking up from the ground and a place to put your shoes on.

There’s no “coat closet” so hooks are a must! To the left of the entry is large bunk room.

Here is what it looked like before I started the makeover…

This room was storing some extra beds so we removed the ones that didn’t belong and rearranged them a bit.

The biggest impact came from the curtains and rug. They immediately softened up the large room and made it feel cozier.

This room alone has 8 windows, so I found some inexpensive curtains from Ikea and used copper pipe to span the entire length of the wall (I think one side is 28 feet).

The Room Place donated some amazing pieces for this room. The nightstands have built-in USB ports, which make charging very convenient.

I found a hodge podge of lamps from thrift stores to go between each bunk bed. Now the guests will have some ambient lighting in the evening, instead of the harsh overhead incandescence bulbs.

Also, the large ottomans are a great place for the kids to hang out or a place to sit while your getting ready for the day.

Since this cabin is so large and can host so many guests, we have two dining tables. This one from The Room Place is great for games, as well as eating.

My guess is that this room was an add on. You can see in the above photo there is a window to the kitchen…which is our next stop.

Here’s the kitchen BEFORE…

You enter it straight from the front door.

AND here is the AFTER…

I spent almost all my time working on this “room”. We kept the lower cabinets, but that was pretty much it.

I removed the uppers and reconfigured the layout slightly.

The new refrigerator moved to the same wall as the range. This freed up some space by the entry.

It originally felt so crowed when you first walked in and this makes it seem larger.

To give the walls some interest and, somewhat, hide the bulkhead, I installed large-plank shiplap.

An inexpensive hardware store countertop made a HUGE difference, as well. BUT my favorite is the faucet!

The kitchen table was another thrift store find. I stripped the top and painted the base. I bought the director’s chairs because they helped ground the space and are easy to store and move.

Check back in a couple of days for the rest of spaces! Here’s a sneak peek for you…

Again, THANK YOU to The Room Place for their wonderful furniture donations!!!