Large Indoor Trees

Large indoor trees give a space visual interest. They are good at filling awkward corners. Plus, if you have a large tree, that means you get to shop for cute large pots!

Source: Galerie Provenance 

I am currently on the hunt for a large olive tree. I love their foliage!

Source: Brown Design Group

I love how this tree drapes over the sitting area so you feel like you are reading your book outside!

Source: Hydrangea Treehouse

A sunny entryway is the perfect spot for a tree.

Source: House Beautiful

My fiddle leaf fig in the living room is one of my favorite plants. It is already touching my ceiling (again!) even though I recently cut the top off to propagate.

Source: Stacy Risenmay

Here's another cozy nook where I wouldn't mind snuggling up with the book, Secret Garden.

Source: Elle Decor

One time when I was a teenager, my boss asked me to deliver something to someone in a neighboring town. The house was the coolest 70's style home with a tree growing out of the ground in the entryway. It brought back my childhood memories and made me even more determined to have one one day. So the next couple of examples are probably my fave!

Source: Arch Daily

Here's another stunning example.

Source: Design Boom

I'm currently obsessed with rubber trees and this one is #goals.

Source: Freundevonfreuenden

I love the full, draping trees and tall & bushy trees, but I also dig the rounded topiary shape of this one.

Source: Bolig

So I am curious... How do you feel about large indoor trees?  Give me all the big tree? Or too much commitment? Do you have any in your homes? If so, what are your favorite kinds?

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When I was in high school and college I loved ivy. I even had white bedding with pillows that had an ivy print on them and forrest green carpet. When Shane and I married I was determined to have ivy plants all over our apartment. You guys, I could have paid the rent at least one month with the amount of money I spent on buying those poor plants. I researched and found out they needed filtered light so I bought sheer curtains so the light would be just right. I am not sure why, but I can not keep an ivy plant alive! But I kept trying for the first 3 or so years. It was like the really hot guy you date but he is dumber than a box of rocks. You want it to work out so bad because he's so pretty, but you just can't do it. Once I gave up on the ivy fixation, I had more success which gave me more confidence.

After almost 17 years of buying and having house plants, here are my favorites that are also easy to care for.

Bird's Nest Ferns

This is probably my all time favorite house plant. The first time I saw one I didn't know what it was called and there wasn't a tag with it so I bought it on a whim and hoped for the best. I nicknamed it the lasagna plant since the leaves curl on the edges like lasagna noodles. I later looked up online and found out the name. Luckily for me, they are easy to care for. I am obsessed with ferns, but they are hard to grow here in dry 'ole Utah. This one requires less watering and is okay with the low humidity.

There is another variety that doesn't have as skinny or as ruffley of leaves but it is still awesome. With both plants I love watching new leaves uncurl from the center. Speaking of the center, when you water these plants, avoid watering directly on the center part (the rosette) since it could cause it to rot. Water the edges of the pot instead.

Pothos

Pothos are an excellent starter plant. I have never killed one, even in my newly married days. I am a serial plant relocator. I like to move them around as I rearrange other home decor accessories and even when I move one and forget where I put it  for a month or more, it is still kicking. It may look a little limp, but I water it and it perks right up.

The other cool thing is that if you accidentally break off part of it or you just want another one of these plants, if you stick the cut part off in water, it will grow new roots. Plant it in a new pot and keep it watered well while the roots take hold and you have yourself a whole new plant! I usually wait until the new roots are a few inches long before repotting.

There are different variations of the pothos plant. I have a spotted one and a golden yellow one. Both are growing in my wall planter in the hall.

Philodendron

This is the other plant I recommend for beginners. It is often confused with the pothos above, but has a more heart shaped leaf. It is just as easy to care for as the pothos.  Both are vines and will eventually drape or climb if given something to climb up. I like how it hangs in this beaded planter!

Believe it or not this is also a philodendron. It's lacey leaves may throw you, but it really is! It will eventually need to be staked as it gets taller.  My kids call this the dinosaur plant because they leaves are pretty big and it looks like something they would have eaten long ago.

This is my newest houseplant addition so I have had it less than a year. So far so good!

Bamboo

I do not currently have any bamboo but it was one of the first plants I bought after my ivy phase. I had a neighbor in our second apartment that was obsessed with them and got me on the bamboo bandwagon. It is SUPER easy to care for and is commonly sold. We moved a lot in those early years so not all my plants made it in all our moves. I had to give some away. I need to go on the hunt and find a big plant like the one pictured here.

(Photo Source)

Cactus

Again, I had some early on but ended up getting rid of them as we started having curious toddlers. The kids and I were just talking the other day about how we can finally get some as long as we put them up on tall surfaces or in tall planters so Kevin, our dog, won't get poked. There are so many variations that it would be fun to get several and group them like this picture!

(Photo Source)

Dracaena

I have two of these. One is all green and one has white stripes. One I have had in my hallway for a few years and one was a gift from this past summer.  The one I got as a  gift, I put it on my office prop shelves and  forgot I had it. I think I spaced it because I didn't lovingly pick it out, buy it myself, and name it (kidding...). I "found" it later, much later, and it has a few brown crunchy leaves at the base but all in all, it looked pretty darn good.

When they are young they are bush and as they get bigger some variations can get woody trunks and resemble a ponytail palm.

Spider Plant

I threw this one in here even though I have never had this plant because growing up I swear everyone had one! They were the "it" plant of the 70's and 80's. They were (and are) popular because of how easy they are to care for and because they are non-toxic unlike most other houseplants. The little baby plants at the end of the vines can even be repotted for new plants!

(Photo Source)

Aloe Vera

It wasn't until the last 5 years or so that I could appreciate the more architectural plants like the aloe vera. I had been more drawn to the more full and lush plants.  I think it is good to have a mix of styles not just in home decor, but also in plants. This is a plant that is recommended by many as a good plant to have in your bedroom since it puts off so much oxygen. It is suppose to help you sleep better.  Plus, this one comes in hand if you get a burn!

Plant stand tutorial

Norfolk Island Pine

I bought this one several years ago because my kids thought it looked like a mini Christmas tree. They wanted it in their room. You guys, if you want to talk about forgetting a plant, THIS guy right here get neglected more than any other plant we own. My boys never water it. I never even remember we have it since it's usually at least partially covered in dirty laundry. This little guy is a trooper. He only gets watered about once a month and he is still going strong. He has not had a lot of growth. He would probably grow more if we actually took care of him.

Succulents

As I have gone around speaking at home shows or at events promoting my book, Natural Accents, I have heard more than once that people buy succulents because people say they are fail proof, and then they end up killing them. I will admit to killing some myself. There are certain types I can not keep a live. See the spiky one in the white bowl? I have bought three and the longest one lasted was 6 months. I do better with thicker ones.

I have found through talking with people that the common problem is over watering. Water it enough that the soil gets wet and don't water it again until the soil dries out.

They need a lot of sun. Try putting them in a sunny spot (south facing away from the window or right by the window east facing).

There are SO MANY varieties and they are all so different! That is what is so fun about them.

Z Z Plant

Z Z, easy peasy. I know this whole list is "easy to care for plants" but some are even easier than others. This one, my friends, can withstand neglect and very low light. If you have a room that doesn't get a ton of light, this is your plant. It is so shiny and rubbery that it almost looks fake. Some say this is a slow growing plant but I have found that they grow pretty fast. In this photo by the typewriter I had only had it about a year. Now, a few year later, it is 2 ½ feet tall.

Remember the laundry room I did for my friend? I bought her a ZZ plant because the laundry room only gets natural light when the garage door is open. This was back in July and it is so tall now that it doesn't fit on her shelf. It is on her table and has about doubled in size. And for the record, my friend swore she had a black thumb.

Swedish Ivy

This was another plant I bought on a whim because I had never seen one before and I thought it was pretty. I lucked out again because it is very easy to care for. It resided in my laundry room for about 3 years and I always forgot to water it. It would occasionally drop some leaves but it always remained bushy and pretty. This is another plant that you can propagate (cut off and put in water to grow new roots).

Snake Plant

This guy is in the same category as the ZZ plant as far as neglect and low light. I swear it is indestructible!  I have had two of these guys for several years and just bought two more for my office closet. Yep, a closet. You can put these guys just about anywhere!

 Tree Stump Planter

Air Plant

Such a fun and funky plant! I had not tried one out until a couple of years ago but love them! They literally do not need any soil. I just soak them in lukewarm water every couple of weeks for about 20 minutes. If you live where it is humid you could get away with soaking them in water every 3 or 4 weeks.  The downside is that your kids will want to play with it and they may lose it. I still can't find one of mine! He is probably still alive....

Hanging air plant

Air plant bookend

Ficus

Remember in the movie, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days when they had a love fern? Well, Shane and I had a love ficus. Even before the first ivy plant, we had a ficus tree. I can't even remember if we bought it or if it was a gift, but it was our first plant together. We had it for seven years. It survived grabby toddlers who constantly picked off leaves and tipped it over. Buy sadly, it did not survive our move in the back of a moving truck across the desert. I should have packed it in the minivan, but hey, we had a lot of good years. I really need to get another one!

(Photo Source)

I would love to hear what plants you have had luck with! Are any of your favorites not on the list? List them off in the comments :)

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Leather Sofas

I love the buttery smooth texture of real leather. It is so soft and cozy. This sofa is perfection in this rustic space!

Source: Maison De Pax

This is my second leather sofa that I have owned and I love the clean lines and low profile. It works well in our small living room.

Source: Stacy Risenmay

Plush enough to lounge on but easy to clean!

Source: The Love Designed Life

Leather Poufs & Coffee Tables

I love this oversized pouf that act as a foot rest and coffee table. Perfect for a family room!

Source: Red City Crafts

This stunning leather tufted coffee table is paired with metal. I love the soft mixed with soft materials.

Source: Scout & Thimble

This round leather coffee table elevates the whole room!

Source: The Glitter Guide

Leather Beds & Headboards

I love this masculine, modern take on a headboard!

Source: Amazon

Reading in bed would be comfy with this padded leather headboard.

Source: Ideal Home

While it might be a bit masculine on its own, if needed, you can easily add feminine touches with bedding and pillows to balance it out.

Source: Horchow

Leather Benches

I love the metal frame of this bench. It goes well with the leather and keeps the space feeling open.

Source: Horchow

How fun is this leather woven bench? It reminds me of the woven leather pillow I made. I bet this could be a pretty simple DIY.

Source: Neiman Marcus

I think this bench looks cozy enough to be in a living room. But it makes a cute entryway bench too.

Source: Anthropologie

Leather Bar Stools & Dining Chairs

I am OBSESSED with these leather bar stools! If I had a bar in my house, I would do something similar to this.

Source: Studio McGee

These leather dining chairs really warm up this space.

Source: Jean Stoffer Design

I bet these are comfortable too :)

Source: Barnaby Lane

Leather Chairs

Aside from the traditional leather armchairs, there are lots of other styles that would look great in your living room, like this!

Source: Williams Sonoma

I love the buckle detail on these campaign chairs!

Source: Emily Henderson

And this take on a traditional wingback chairs is making me swoon.

Source: Mathis Brothers

Do you have leather (real or faux) in your home? What do you love about it? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below :)

Just as a reminder, this is what the bathroom looked like before.

I liked the blue. I just wanted something warmer. Plus, I always knew the shibori wallpaper was temporary. It was time for something new!

The Reveal!

If you follow me on Instagram and watch my stories, you saw me unwrap my new wallpaper. I saw it on etsy and instantly fell in love. I love nature and as a mother of all boys, this was perfect for us. I grew up collecting insects, rocks, leaves, and everything else I could find outside. My kids have been the same. When I showed my kids they all agreed, we needed this wallpaper.

While I know not everyone wants bugs on their wall, it makes me smile. It was a little darker than it showed on Etsy but I actually liked the more muted colors in real life.

I painted the blue boxes a pretty olive green that was slightly darker than the new wall color.

P.S. I'm OBSESSED with this Juniper counter spray and soap from the Joanna Gaines line Magnolia Home at Target. I can't find it anymore in Utah and I'm kicking myself for not buying more of it the first time. It only ships to certain zip codes and mine isn't one of them. If you see some at your Target, I will buy it from you! Seriously....

I painted the walls green and at first I didn't like it. I have a rule though. I have to live with it for at least a few days before making a final decision. Sometimes it is such a big change that it is kind of a shock to the system. After a bit I loved it. It helped when I added in all the other elements.

I previously has pressed ferns in some blue frames and I added the ferns to the new wood frames. While it was nice, it was a bit too matchy matchy sime I have potted ferns in the space. I made these prints by painting the backside of leaves and stamping them onto cardstock. If you follow me on TikTok or instagram you can see a video of me making them. It was really fun!

It is hard to see, but I kept the same saying in the hooks - Hang up your dang towel

This shot. It is the one that made me put off the photoshoot for so long. It is so hard for me to shoot directly at a window (with a mirror reflecting that light) and not have the image be hazy. I finally gave up and turned on the lights. It is frustrating because it doesn't do the room justice. It doesn't show how well the rug goes with the wall color. But at least you can get an idea. I wish I had better photography skills. Either than or that you could come see it for yourself :)

Aside from the arch over the tub, the sliding mirror is probably my favorite thing. If you remember from the bathroom reno a couple of years ago, I really wanted a round mirror, but didn;t want to give up the storage space of a medicine cabinet. Especially since it is such a small space. I came up with this idea and am so glad it has worked so well these past years.

So what do you think? Am I nuts for having bug wallpaper? Is the green too much? I'd love to hear what you think of the space now.

Also, did you get the itch to change things in your home while in quarantine or was than just me?

This post was sponsored by HomeRight. All project ideas and opinions are 100% my own.

Wood Burned Chargers

Some links are affiliate links :)

Supplies:

1x12 boards

Wood Conditioner

Wood Stain

Foam Brushes

Paper Towels

Wood Burner

Lettering Set

HomeRight Quick Finish Sprayer

Polyacrylic 

I used a sis foot 1x12 board but this would be a perfect way to use up scrap wood. If you do not have a table saw or a sliding miter saw, you can have Home Depot make the cuts for you in the store. Since 1x12s are actually 11.25" I cut them to 11.25" long to create a square.

Once they were cut, I sanded them really well. Sanding helps open the pores so it will accept stain better as well as softens the edges.

After I wiped off the dust, I applied some wood conditioner. If you are using a water-based stain, use a water-based conditioner. Same goes for oil based. The conditioner makes it so the stain will go on more evenly. Pine tends to be super blotchy so you can use all the help you can get!

Staining

Let the condition sink in for a bit and then wipe off any excess. You are now ready to stain! I chose this nice warm color that would be slightly darker than my table but still light enough that the wood burning would show. I used a foam brush for these but did you know you can also use a sprayer to apply stain? It is especially helpful on larger stain projects!

I let the stain sit for about 10 minutes before wiping off the excess with paper towels. If it is not as dark as you would like, apply a second coat once it has dried to the touch.

Wood Burning

When the stain is dry, it is time to wood burn! You can pick up a wood burner at any craft store or on Amazon. They are very inexpensive and I use mine quite often. They would make a great gift for the crafter in your life. I bought the lettering set as well and have used that more than the regular tips. I made wood reusable name tags last year for Christmas!

I couldn't decide if I wanted to personalize them or have a holiday themed word so I did both! Why not make them reversible?! Then you can use them all year.

Sealing

I sealed them with a polyacrylic sealer. Did you know you can use polyurethane and polyacrylic in the HomeRight Sprayers? You will get the perfect finish every time.

I am about to use the sprayer to seal our new kitchen door...eeek! That will be coming to the blog soon.

I love the satin sheen!

Instead of bless(ed) & Thank(ful), you could also do Christmas words like joy and noel for these wood burned chargers. I kind of like the idea of white washing them too so the letters stand out even more. What do you think?

Instead of name card, you could have personalized chargers!

It is such an easy DIY and one that your kids could help with. You could whips out a ton of them in no time. I only had one board on hand but I will be making some for my whole family this weekend (since it will be warming up again)!

What are your Thanksgiving plans this year?

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This post is sponsored by Rug Pad USA but all opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

Create A Home Office

I think the best home offices have a nice desk area that is kept clean of clutter, lots of storage, a great view (natural light baby!), and is cozy. If you are going to spend HOURS of each day in that space, you want it to look nice and be comfortable.

The layout of the home office is pretty much the same as before. I offered my desk to Shane but he didn't want it. He has a small laptop and said he would prefer to have something else. Since my computer is large, it made sense to keep it on the bigger desk.

I am still in love with the olive green color I chose for the filing cabinets!

Since Shane wanted a smaller desk for his home office , I bought up the the hairpin leg desk I made that was being used for the keyboard in the boys' music themed room.

Shane's view from the window is the Secret Garden.

Part of the makeover was choosing a new rug. The previous rug got moved downstairs so we have been without one for a while. I found one I really liked on Home Depot's website. It is the perfect warm gray and has a fun pattern. The one thing I didn't have, was a rug pad.

RugPadUSA offered to send one over that would fit my new rug perfectly. It is called Superior Lock and is made from recycled felt and natural rubber. I actually bought one for my living room room rug several months ago from RugPadUSA before they contacted me so I already knew I liked this type of rug pad.

In the past I had a very cheap, thin rug pad that left a dull, sticky residue on my old floors. When we got new flooring last year, I knew I wanted to get a nice, soft, quality rug pad. I did some research and decided to go with the Superior Lock 7/16". It is great for medium to large rugs, helps soundproof, and is non-slip for high traffic areas. It is so cushy too!

Kevin takes most of his naps in here while we work and it is definitely Kevin approved :)

If you use the promocode STACYLOVES, it is good for $50 off orders of $200 or more, which you can also apply on top of their existing 20% Overstock Sale that they are running now through the weekend.

My wall of shelves got a refresh as well. I painted some of the boxes to better match the green cabinets. I used three different shades of green from sage to olive.

It is my prop shelf and storage for all the random things that don't have a home. Things like cloth napkins, candlesticks, small home decor items, vases, and other things I use to stage photoshoots.

It was a challenge to store as much as humanly possible without it looking too cluttered or busy. If I had styled these shelves to just be pretty, they would look different. But these shelves really need to function as storage since we have such a small house.

I painted all the doors in our house a new color recently. Instead of charcoal gray, I went with a lighter gray this time. It is called Barnwood and is by Behr.

This space also functions as a mudroom, so the crates hold shoes and the hooks behind the door are for jackets and backpacks. My kids were at school the other day when I did the photoshoot, so it is a bit sparse, but normally it is filled with things.

The boys wanted the bench I built to go in their room so they confiscated it for their space. But I may just bring it back up!

The barn wood shelves I built years ago do help with storage but I don't feel like I have to fill them to capacity and can style them for fun.

How has this year affected your or your spouse's work situation? Any tips for Shane that might make working from home a bit easier?

Like I said in my instagram stories, I was torn between going all out like it was a room in my house and also realizing that this is a BOYS' FORT in a garage. It was hard to reign in sometimes and I probably did more than was necessary, but it was a fun project that the kids got to help with and I am happy with how it all turned out.

BEFORE

There were some loose boards that were laid out across the ceiling joists that had a tarp over them. It did not cover the whole area, but it was enough to store a few things up there. Things we rarely used.

The roof on the north side was in okay shape but the south side was Swiss cheese. Because of the holes, wasps had taken residence for years. Luckily it was March when we cleaned it out so the 50-ish nests were empty.

This is the view from below looking up at the loose boards acting as the floor.

The first thing we did was to re-enforce the ceiling joists so we could add OSB boards for a floor. The existing joists were 2x6s so we might have been okay to leave it as is, but it wasn't a big deal to add more support just in case. After the OBS boards were added and an opening for the stairway, I went to work patching the holes in the roof.

Once the patch work was done, we covered the roofing tar with hardboard. After the panels were done we caulked along the edges. This process took so long!

On either end, there were gaps between the boards. I lost count of how many tubes of caulk we went through, but it was a lot!

Shane also added a window to one end. It is a window that was original to our house. I like that we could reuse it :)

Lots of light coming through the gaps!

I used a sprayer to prime and paint the walls and ceiling. Originally I was going to do black or gray so that if there were any water leaks, you wouldn't see brown water stains. But there is limited natural light in this space so I didn't want it to be too dark. After priming it and seeing it all white, I decided to go with a bright white paint.

We have had a few big rainstorms and so far, no leaks!

We decided to go with sheet vinyl for the flooring. It was the cheapest option and would be pretty fast to install. The pieces were large, heavy, and a bit awkward to move into place once the glue was down, so Shane helped out with that. It took all afternoon, but looked like an actual livable space after it was all down.

I had an idea as we were adding the OSB boards down for the floor. Instead of a skylight (I didn't dare cut into the fragile roof) I added cutouts in the floor right above the garage windows. This allows light to come up into the attic from below. Since they are along the edge, you would have to lay down and scoot or roll over to even lay on them. Even though it would be very hard to hurt the thick plexiglass windows because of their location, I added a "bumper" along the edge for safety. A 1x3 on its edge all around the perimeter to stop toys or little scooting bums :)

The opening for the floor window. You can see the garage window below.

Let's start the tour of the finished space!

The Reveal of the Garage Attic Makeover

Fun facts: The attic space is 17 feet by 21 feet. The highest point it 5 foot 8 inches so my youngest 2 and I can stand but the others in our family can't. The garage is 82 years old.

The stairs! I didn't want my kids (and the neighborhood kids) to have to climb a ladder to access their new fort. I wanted nice, sturdy stairs. I spent extra to get metal stringers. I ordered them online at Home Depot and had them delivered along with the other building materials. In order to have it so you entered the attic at its highest point (and avoid hitting your head) We needed to split up the stairs and add a landing. It took a bit to figure out since the cement garage floor is cracked and anything but level. But these stairs are very sturdy! We do need to add a little hand rail for safety still, but other than that, we are good to go!

I told the boys they were be responsible for cleaning the fort so it was up to them to decide if they wanted to take shoes off before they went up. They hate sweeping so they opted for it to be a shoe free zone. I made a mat to serve as a reminder. I spray painted a plain doormat.

Remember those metal card catalog drawers I painted this spring? This is where they were meant to be! Filled with all sorts of boy treasures.

The one thing my boys asked for was a small desk where they could draw or tie flies for fly fishing (which is their latest hobby). I made a VERY simple desk out of the old attic floor boards.

This darling green chair was Shane's grandma's office chair. When she passed, this is one of the items we picked. It is perfect for this colorful space.

Here is the main area!

You can see the floor windows along the edges

They mostly play games and read up there. I like that it is an electronic free space. We even do family scripture study up here occasionally.

Because heat rises, and it gets really hot here in the summer, I bought a small AC unit that is on wheels so they can move it where they need it most. Now that it is cooling off for Fall, they can probably get away with a fan.

Recycled Furnishings

I went over my (small) budget when building the space so I really wanted to make sure I didn't spend much on decorating it. The storage bench used to be in our office, the yellow love seat was free and once went in our living room, the chairs we use inside and out as needed when we have guests, the rug was in our living room at one point, and the coffee table/game table is the old dining room table top that we out grew. Remember I built a new top?

The only things I ended up buying for the space were the string lights, a couple of faux plants from the local online garage sale site, hairpin legs, and 2 IKEA pillow covers.

It has been very rainy here so it was tough to get a good bright photo, but luckily the string lights help. Aren't string lights so fun?

It has been a big hit with the kids. They even had a small party with neighbor kids. We also have an air hokey table the kids bought with lawn mowing money for the space that gets stored along the edge where you can't sit or walk. We take the legs off and it is completely out of the way!

I think my favorite thing about the garage attic makeover was the work involved in actually doing it. The kids learned new DIY skills and we had a lot of fun working on it together. I think our quarantine project was a success!

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BEFORE:

Remember about a year ago when I took the forest green carpet off the stairs and found this green marble looking vinyl from the 1930's? It was fun and funky but very uncomfortable to walk on! It stayed that while I re-textured the walls and then tried to pick out a carpet color I liked that would go with our new flooring upstairs.

The previous owners had added a texture to the stair walls that was different than anywhere else in the house. The walls were a weird sharp texture with spikes that stuck out. I sanded down the worst of it and added drywall mud to the wall in a way that made the wall smooth to match the original texture in the rest of the house.

AFTER:

There's a new wall texture, paint, hand rail, carpet, and rug at the bottom! I also have never had anything hanging on the walls. The new frames filled with family photos are my favorite!

We also added a new light to the top of the stairs. It used to hang in my living room as part of a matched pair. When I broke one of them, and found that they had been discontinued, I was devastated. But them I had the idea to hang the good one here!

Shane is actually (not so secretly) happy how things turned out because he always hit his head on these light when they were in the family room.

There is a big window at the bottom of the stairs which made photographing the actual photos in the frames difficult, but in real life there is not a glare. I love looking at the photos when I go up and down the stairs. Especially as my kids are getting older, the photos of them tiny make me smile.

Both hallways got a bit of a makeover too. At the bottom of the stairs, I added a plant and some artwork by an artist I recently discovered.  I have two of her pieces. One is a print and this one, is an original.

I love art. I appreciate the talent and work that goes into every type of art and media. But I have never had such a physical reaction to seeing a piece of art. I knew I needed this piece in my home. The artist is named Kate Lee.

I added both of her pieces (this one titled  Never Forgotten ) and the other print called  Atonement  in my hallways because they are each the middle of our homes and I thought it was appropriate since Christ is the center of our lives, for the paintings of him to be at the center of our home.

We went with a carpet that had specks of light, medium, and dark. It looks like it is all one color in the photos, but it is more speckled in real life. It also perfectly matched the color of both the flooring down and upstairs even though they are different types. Even though we don't have carpet anywhere else in our home, we chose carpet for the stairs for two reasons.

Our stairs are steep! I felt that for safely reasons, it would be better if they were soft. Carpet would be less slippery and if you fell, it would be better to land of cushy carpet than hard laminate.

Second of all, we have two different flooring types (vinyl and laminate) so the carpet is like a buffer between the two.

Here is the other Kate Lee piece. I was drawn to the simplicity of it. You can find all her work HERE. I bought the print and then added it to a frame from Hobby Lobby.

One of the things I have struggled with is our old dog gate. Dog gates are ugly. We have had the cheap adjustable "baby" gates for years and I hate them with every fiber of my being. I have always wanted one that I could mount on the wall and just pull out when needed. I couldn't find one that matched the image in my head so I finally just modified one.

I found an accordion style one on Amazon. It was the same unfinished wood as other baby gates and it had a huge plastic piece across the top that really didn't allow it to collapse very much. I pried off the plastic top part and painted the gate. The I screwed it into the wall where it was hidden when not in use!

When someone knocks on the front door, Kevin (our Frenchie) goes nuts. He barks until he realizes it is someone he knows and will keep barking if it is a stranger. It is nice to quickly pull the gate out so we can answer the front door without him yapping at our feet trying to sniff the person.

So there you have it! While not a jaw dropping change or dramatic reveal, I am so happy to finally have the spaces that get the most traffic, complete and functioning well.

Here are the items from the space:

Some links are affiliate links

Rug      *        Frames      *      Gate      *      Art

You can't go wrong with blue, in my opinion. And adding it just to the shower nook is a good option if your nervous about pulling the trigger on the whole space.

Source: RemodelWorks

But man! If you do pull the trigger, it pays off! Look at that gorgeous, shiny blue! I love that it is applied in a vertical way instead of the traditional horizontal subway look.

Source: The Style Index

Yellow is one of my favorite colors. Can you imagine waking up and showering in here each morning? How could you be in a bad mood?

Source: The Style Index

This bold pattern gives this space such personality. I'd feel like I was on vacation each day!

Source: Decor Lovin 

Black and white are a classic combo. This modern take on herringbone is gorgeous!

Source: Decor Lovin

This green tile makes me think of clovers. You know me, I love anything green!

Source: BHG

Reminiscent of vintage pink bathrooms of the past, this one is a bit updated with hexagon tiles and a stunning bath tub.

Source: Domino

I love the slightly distressed look of these tiles! I think these might be my favorite...

Source: The Home Depot

My house has its fair share of arches and I have a weakness for them. This arched shower is STUNNING. The tile makes it perfect.

Source: Palm Springs Life

While I don't think I could pull the trigger myself on these colors, I love the look! It is such a fun, chic space.

Source: Pohio Adams

This has a similar feel and I'm loving it.

Source: Unknown

If my bathroom had more natural light, I would consider a dark green like this. I love the unique shape as well.

Source: Domus Group

With so many tile color, shape, and material choices, how do you pick? I'm curious if you would choose a bole tile or if you stick to neutrals. If you did pick a bold color or pattern, do you still like it? SPILL :)

Some links in the post are affiliate links.

White Bedding Ideas

If you have white bedding, you can go with a dark, dramatic wall color. The lighter bedding will keep the room from feeling dark.

Image Source: The Jess Style

This bedding looks great with this saturated blue, but it could be easily changed out for another color with our the expense of all new bedding.

Image Source: Adore Magazine

White bedding looks equally as good with muted colors.

Image Source: Kiruhat Printables - Etsy

White bedding can be elegant, but it can also be whimsical and fun like this bead spread with pom poms!

Image Source: Amazon

I love the texture of this bedding! It looks so soft and inviting.

Image Source: Anthropologie

This mostly white bedding is perfect for a neutral setting.

Image Source: Ink & Ivy

Having all white bedding sets the stage for you to add cozy throws that tie the color scheme for the room together.

Image Source: Lexington Company

Or you can add several throws :) Who wouldn't want to read all day in this bed?!

Source: Unknown

White, fluffy bedding helps soften hard edges.

Image Source: Unknown

I have a vintage blanket with raised dots like these so I was instantly drawn to these next two examples. Such a fun texture!

Image Source: Amazon

Image Source: Amazon

I have a lot of friends who swear by the luxurious feel of linen sheets. I love the natural feel this bedding brings to the space.

Image Source: Magic Linen

For years I had this same pick stitch bedding in a pale green color in in my bedroom. I really liked it and used it clear up until it had large worm spots all over. I am tempted to get the white version for our new bedroom space.

Image Source: Pottery Barn

So what do you think of these white bedding ideas? Does white bedding get the thumbs up from you? I would love to hear your thoughts. Share in the comments below!

Image Source: Anthropologie 

Inexpensive Wall Art

I used to have photos I had taken on our various hikes and vacations hanging above the couch, but when I decorated the boys' mountain themed room, I moved the prints down there. I still wanted to have earthy colors and a nature inspired feel so I went with painted landscape prints.

I would love to have original oil painting hanging in this space, however, most that I found that I loved were very expensive. I decided to opt for prints. You can either get a digital download and print it however big or small you need, or you can order an actual print. The best places to look for digital downloads and prints are etsy and Society6.

Most of the prints, including my favorite print, (which is the largest) came from an etsy shop called Shop Vintage Art. 

I ordered a print from my blogging friend Marian from Society6 that I love so much I am going to order some more. I think my book shelves could use one and my office of course!

I tried my hand at painting too. It had been years since I had tried my hand at painting landscapes and I didn't have the "right" supplies, but a couple of these pieces are mine. Very amateur for sure but it will be fun to keep trying and improving. I can switch them out as I go.

I didn't pay more than $15 for a print and a couple were as cheap as $5. While I have splurged on a couple of original pieces for other parts of my house recently, I don't have enough to splurge on a ton of artwork. Downloadable prints are a great way to create your own art gallery!

Whether you order photographs, water colors, or oil paintings, I think every house could use some more art. Prints are a great inexpensive wall art option.

Do you have art in your house that you love? Where is your favorite place to get your artwork?

Here are my goals from 2019. Let's see how I did!

#1 The basement. More specifically, structural beam added, concrete cut for windows, windows added, floor leveled, & walls added to unfinished basement for the Master Bedroom 

I was going to save this one for last, but seeing as it is the elephant in the room so to speak, and I get asked all the time about it, I will just get this one out of the way. The short answer is a big fat NOPE. But, there was progress made. Bear with me as I explain. I will try to make it as short as possible.

The windows needed to be the first thing done. They were ordered, paid for and delivered. The concrete cutter showed up to cut the holes and said he didn't feel comfortable cutting them until a structural engineer could have a look. He was worried there wouldn't be enough concrete left at the top to support the weight of the house. After much back and forth between the contractor, myself, and the engineer, I finally had plans for a custom steel frame of sorts, which will be like really a beefy lentil, for those familiar with terms (that makes me think of soup). My contractor didn't have a steel fabricator on his team so I started looking for someone to give me a bid. And that is where I am currently at. All that has taken MONTHS and months. I have come to terms with always being the bottom of the priority list because my project is so small and I live out in the middle of nowhere. It is fine. We will get there eventually. Sigh The important thing is to do it right and I appreciate the contractor and his team wanting to be careful instead of just pushing through so they can get paid.

I did get all the can lights, electrical outlets, and switches added though! Or rather my electrician did.  #lettherebelight

I decided to wait until after the holidays to start bugging the steel fabricators about my quote. Meanwhile the budget for this basement project keeps growing and my bank account is shrinking...

#2 Re-landscape the front of the house.

YES! It feels good to say that after having started off with a big fat fail. I transplanted the flowers from the front of the house to the backyard and gave some away. (You can read about why I wanted/needed to re-landscape in the original post) The new landscaping looks great and will only get better as the plants get more mature. I can't wait for spring to see it again!

#3 Finish the stairway makeover.

YES! Although I have not shared it on the blog yet. I'm not sure why I have been dragging my feet on photographing it. It is a stairway so it is always clean so I don't have that excuse. It will be one of the first projects I share with you this year though!

#4 Living room refresh

YES! I finished it this Fall and shared a Fall Home Tour but have not specifically shared a full reveal. I ordered new lights (after I broke one of the old ones), bought a new bench, redid the gallery wall, changed the art above the white cabinet and other little changes. It made it feel fresh for not very much money :)

#5 Dining room refresh

I'd call this one a 75%er. I finally found something to go above the vent, changed out what went on the shelves, built a door for the broom closet, and have plans to fix the tabletop (It got left outside when we got new flooring and got damaged). I might add a rug. I think it would look good, I just don't know if I want to have to vacuum it. I'd love thoughts on if a rug under a table is worth it. Let me know what you think!

Because of the holidays, it has not been photographed yet. Coming soon!

#6 Office refresh

YES! I painted the cabinets green earlier this year and painted some of the boxes and bins green as well and restyled the shelves (there are a lot in there!) I shared it styled as our temporary bedroom but would love to move the bed out and photograph it with the new flooring as just my office. I got a new rug that I love too! That is actually what I am currently working on this week. Coming soon!

Downstairs Shower.

Partly... Since the day we moved in I have loathed the down shower. It was a rounded acrylic shower surround that was stained orange when we moved in and I could never fully get it clean. The base has concrete splatter on the outside and it makes it look dingy all the time. The surround constantly comes apart from the base. I think I have caulked it 837 times. We finally quit using it when we finished the up bath. The plan is to tile it. We have demoed it (no black mold YAY!!!) and have the supplies to tile. We just demoed it over Christmas break so we squeaked it in at the last minute.

Upstairs flooring.

YES! This has been on our to-do list since we moved in. FINALLY we got new flooring in the whole upstairs and I am obsessed with the water resistant laminate we chose. It really looks like real wood and feels so good when you walk on it. I love the color and how it looks with everything in our home. We also got new baseboards and they were the perfect finishing touch. Well worth the wait!

More projects for other people.

YES! They all happened to be for my sister, but I did get to do some makeovers and projects and I loved it. She had been in her new home for a couple of years and had lived with it for a bit so she knew for sure what she wanted done. I refinished her dining table, painted her kitchen cabinets, made over her fireplace, and decorated her daughters two bedrooms. One of my first big projects of 2020 will be her son's room.

I did get a lot over other projects done that were not on my lists too. The raised garden being my favorite. I can't wait to see what projects crop up this year!

So what is in store for 2020? Here are my goals for this year!

#1. Gardening Shed

This might a lofty goal since most of our savings will get dumped into the basement and the shed I want is large, but I am going to add it to the list anyway. With as many gardening tools and supplies as I have, I would love to have a shed close to the garden so I don't have to trek to the garage every time. It would also free up so much room in my garage so I can actually set it up like a wood shop.

#2. Add Storage to Our Attic

I would love to add a pull down ladder to the attic opening, plywood as a subfloor, and some shelves. When we finish the basement, we will need a place for all the miscellaneous things to go that are currently being stored there. Our attic is HUGE so even if we just "finished" off half of it, we would increase our storage by so much.

#3. Turn the Garage Attic into a Playhouse/Fort

While not a top priority or a need, we have told the kids we would build them a playhouse for years. It has never happened and I have always felt guilty. Our garage attic currently is acting as storage for camping gear and old furniture. If we get a shed and add storage to our (house) attic, we could clear out the garage attic, add some paint, and voila! A place for the kids to hang a "no girls allowed" sign :)

#4. Finish the Garage Curb Appeal Project

I repaired and painted the garage door and Shane painted the eaves but I still have one more project to complete before the garage is finally done on the outside.

#5. The Basement....

Ugh. Third time's a charm, right?

#6. Finish Down Bathroom

Even though we have supplies, we haven't started because we are still hammering out details like where the niche should go and the color of grout and if we should extend the tile to cover the whole wall. Small design details but things that need to be decided on before we dive head first. The shower is not a huge project and pending any big surprises, should be done soon. The ceiling was damaged when we had the water damage from the sink upstairs so we are going to move a pipe before adding new drywall. Hopefully in the next couple of months the whole down bath will be beautiful and finished.

#7. Refresh up Bath

While I have loved the shibori wallpaper, I knew when I put it up that is was somewhat temporary since it was such a trendy pattern. A few years later and I am itching to change it up. I may even paint the vanity wall! I'm still in the planning phase where I change my mind every two seconds.

#8. More Room Makeovers for Others

I really do love going into someone's home and making over one of their spaces. The perfect scenario is that they let me do whatever I want (he he), but even if they have specific ideas already, it is still fun to transform the room and make them happy. If you are local, hit me up!

Raised Herb Garden

This was all time favorite project from 2019. It was something I had wanted to do for a few years and I was thrilled with how it all came together. You can see the before and the full reveal in the post from this past June.

Dining Room Table Makeover

Apparently lots of people have veneer table tops because the tutorial on how to refinish a veneer table was my most pinned post from last year. My sister's table that I refinished a year ago still looks like new! It has held up so well.

40 Ways to Use Your Steam Cleaner

Another top pinned post was all about steam cleaning! Does anyone else get the itch to deep clean after taking down their Christmas decor? I have already done my bathrooms and floors. The kitchen is next...

Boho Room

My niece showed me a picture of a boho space she wanted me to recreate for her. This budget friendly makeover only took the weekend and she was thrilled. Head over to see how close we were able to get it to the inspiration pic! It was my second most pinned project from 2019.

Tips For Painting Kitchen Cabinets

My sister's new home had plenty of projects for me to tackle this year. The biggest one was painting her kitchen cabinets. I shared my tips to make such a large job less daunting!

DIY Bench

This DIY Modern bench was so fun to make! And it has been really handy to have on our "mudroom" (aka the office).

15 Easy To Grow Perennials

This post about perennial flowers took off like wildfire! It was pinned like crazy which made me happy because gardening posts are some of my favorite.  This year I'll be sharing my favorite annuals :)

New Flooring & Baseboards

Earlier in the year we discovered some water damage in the kitchen when the floor was suddenly squishy near the sink. After fixing the leak, and ripping out the floors in the kitchen area, we took a few months to decide on not only the color of flooring, but the type. We settled on these! For more details and to see how the new flooring looks in the whole upstairs, check out the full post.

New landscaping in the  Front Yard

I really wanted to like the flowers I had planted in the front but I didn't. They made my house look even more orange. So after 12 years of not loving the front landscaping, I changed it! Come see how I edge the flowerbeds like a professional!

Fireplace Makeover

This fireplace was an orange-y wood with ugly beige tile. With a little paint and some peel and stick tile, I had a complete fireplace overhaul and it only took the weekend!

Chicken Coop

Our previously red chicken coop was in pretty sad shape. It not only got a new coat of paint, but some much needed upgrades!

I would LOVE to hear about your projects from 2019 that you are most proud of! Please share in the comments :)

Cane Furniture

This is one of my favorite pieces. I love the openness of the base and the modern hardware. It's a perfect piece to store your dishes, candlesticks and chargers.

Source:  Cup of Jo 

This sideboard matches perfectly with the light wood in the home. The clean lines make me happy and the cane fronts give so much texture to this space.

Source: Lulu & Georgia

This cane dresser is just what this boho space needs! But really, it would go well with many other different styles.

Urban Outfitters

This room divider that doubles as a pegboard type storage is genius!

Source: IKEA

Be still my green loving heart! I love the tone of these cane pieces and how well they go with the neutrals and green in this room.

Source: London Painting Group

I like this mix of painted wood with the caning. What a sweet little chair!

Source: CB2

There is so much to love about this space. The light fixture, natural light, that gorgeous sofa tucked in the window to make a darling banquet. I like how the backs of the chairs goes so well witht he light fixture.

Source: Domino 

I'm pretty sure I need to find a spot in my house for this bench STAT. It could be styled in a variety of ways from farmhouse to modern.

Source: Joss & Main

A cane sofa? I love it!

Source: CB2

As someone who currently does not have a bedroom (construction is still stalled), I am especially drawn to these next two spaces. I'd happily crawl into that bed and read all afternoon! It's easily one of the most beautiful bedrooms I have ever seen.

Source: Design:Amanda Barnes Photography:Alyssa Rosenheck

Another stunning example of a cane bed. I love the gray tone!

Source: Pottery Barn

So what do you think? Is anyone else having flashbacks to their childhood? Would you bring cane furniture back into your home? Or maybe it never left! I'd love to hear your thoughts on cane furniture. 

PIN For Later:

Confession time... After taking down my Christmas gallery wall in MARCH, I patched the holes and had plans to create a new gallery wall. It ended up being blank all spring and summer. It feels good to have frames back up on the wall!

We got family pictures taken last Fall so I added those as well as some printables and framed leaves.

I like to keep things simple on the mantel since out television is behind the art in the frame. My family get annoyed if there are too many decoration covering the TV. I have about 6 or 7 different options of art that I can pop in and out of the frame to hide the TV when we aren't using it.

Pinecones, pumpkins, and more leaves adorn the shelves.

I have a tutorial for the woven leather pillow coming soon! The boys think it needs to go in their room :)

What are you favorite Fall touches to add to your home? 

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Your next stop on this home tour is Hallstrom Home! You can see the full line up below :)

This week is Fall Home tour week! All week long talented bloggers are sharing their homes dressed and ready for fall to help inspire you with all kinds of ideas for your own fall decor. Just click on the links below the images to see more...

Sharing with me today...

Thursday

Sincerely, Marie Designs // Rooms FOR Rent // Shades of Blue Interiors
Stacy Risenmay // Hallstrom Home

Place of My Taste // Twelve on Main // Zevy Joy
The Turquoise Home // Doreen Corrigan

And sharing the rest of this week...

Monday

The Happy Housie // Modern Glam // She Gave it a Go
Inspiration for Moms // In My Own Style

Cherished Bliss // Grace in My Space
My Sweet Savannah // All Things With Purpose // Just a Girl and Her Blog

Tuesday

Clean & Scentsible // Two Twenty One // Love Create Celebrate
Rambling Renovators // Life is a Party

Lemon Thistle // Cassie Bustamante // So Much Better With Age
The DIY Mommy // Taryn Whiteaker

Wednesday

Home Made Lovely // Craftberry Bush // The Tattered Pew
Town and Country Living // Shabyfufu

A Pretty Life // Amber Tysl // Jenna Kate at Home
Kim Power Style // Summer Adams Designs

Supplies for the Braided Fabric Basket:

Cotton Fabric (approximately 2 yards)

Iron & Ironing Board

Scissors(affiliate link)

Needle & Thread

Safety Pin

Step 1:

Cut a slit and then rip the fabric into strips about 1 ½ inches wide. Do this to all the fabric until you have a big pile of strips of fabric.

Step 3:

Fold the edges in to the center and iron them so they stay folded. This will give a nice clean edge.

Step 4:

Use the safety pin to secure three strips of fabric to your pant leg or something that will stay stationary while you braid. Braid the fabric, and when done, use a tiny stitch to keep it together until you are ready for the next step.

Step 5:

Hand stitch each braid to each other to form a long rope. Use sharp scissors to trim the extra fabric off so you have a clean edge at the seam. Once done, roll into a ball.

Step 6:

To create the bottom of the basket, start sewing the braided fabric into a circle. I used a basic whip stitch to connect the braids. I made my bottom about 8 inches across but you can customize it to any size you want.

Step 7:

Once the bottom is complete, start adding braids to form the wall of the basket. I used a whip stitch here as well. I am a terrible seamstress and my stitches are far from even. I didn't stress about it because the stitches are only visible on the inside.

*TIP* Don't pull on the fabric while sewing or you could distort the basket and it will look wonky when you are done. Keep the braids loose.

Continue until the basket is as tall as you want it. Mine ended up being about 10 inches tall.

My braided fabric basket fit perfectly on my prop shelf in my office. It is my "small miscellaneous" basket. All small things that don't have a home go in here. At least that is what it is for now. I could change it up later.

I wish I had a little girl because I think ream, coral and yellow would look so cute! Really, the possibilities are endless on the colors and textures of fabric you could use!

Have you ever done a braided fabric project before? I love to hear about it in the comments!

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