Old Girl, New Gig?

I am so excited, ya'll! (No, not from the south but love that word sometimes!)

At the end of our school year a friend and home-school mom asked me for some help with her kid's bathroom. She would do it, she said, but she is a little busy with her three teens, a pre-schooler and a baby they are doing foster care for. Think about it, she said. One of her teenage daughters, who I will call Sweet B, would be helping me and they would PAY ME, of course. They wanted me to tell them what I thought was fair. ??? I have no idea! I have helped friends over the years with different projects but had never considered it something I would charge for. Yes.... little happy dances started happening in every single appendage. I was flattered that she would ask me and I am thrilled at the thought of working in someone else's home. 

More information was coming in. This was not going to be a difficult project.  I need to tell my husband! Honestly, that was my first coherent thought that I can recollect. Oh, "You can use this to write about for your blog", she said! "Siri, call my husband!" 

They want to replace the pink-esque corian counter top, sinks, fixtures, ect. They had a picture they had seen on Hometalk they liked-more on that next time. A new paint color would be chosen and I was to facilitate all of it. That was a little more than I had done for friends before. I would have to channel my inner Joanna Gaines, Sarah Richardson or Candice Olson. I had seen this done a million times on HGTV. I can do this, can't I? I did source everything and help install our new kitchen and bathroom/laundry room. "Lord, give me what I need to do this in a way that honors you and blesses my friend."

That builder mirror is not going to look like that for long! 

I set up a date to come look at the bathroom, take some pictures, measurements and ask questions. I was handed a paper with a budget amount. I did what I came to do, left and "Siri, call my husband!". Then, I told my dad. He said he was calling HGTV to get us a show. Always joking, that one. 

With our conversation in mind I scoured the internet, Home Depot, Lowes and multiple paint stores. My friend's style is more contemporary than mine so I really had to focus on their needs and likes. I started a Pinterest board for the project and invited my friend as a co-contributor. A week after our first visit I went back with a detailed expense list including estimates. They loved everything. But here is where it got a bit iffy. Their budget and my detailed list were not the same. My first job was over budget! I needed to be honest, though and for what they wanted it was going to cost more than they had allotted. We picked a paint color and off I went. 

After speaking with her husband, my friend said they wanted to proceed even though it was over budget. 

I sent a follow up email that contained links to the lights, sinks, fixtures, ect. My friend ordered everything from my email and had it shipped directly to her home. She has Amazon Prime so no shipping charges and no running around to stores and I could not beat the prices in a brick-n-mortar.

I'm not showing you everything, yet.

In the meantime I needed to nail down a more definite idea for the counter top. I got estimates on a few different pieces of granite and quartz and went back to my friend and Sweet B for a final go-ahead. The lady at the marble and granite store gave me a discount due to the fact that I had ordered from her before (when we did our kitchen island) and the fact that this was my first "job". She wants repeat business! As she filled in the order information she asked me for the address of my client. CLIENT!? Oh, of course, client.... happy dancing, again! I have a client! 

So, all that happened. Sweet B and I started cleaning the trim (which does not need to be painted!) and removed hardware and light fixtures. That was a new one to me as Mister usually handles all that. We got the walls cut in with paint. I went back and finished fixing holes that were left when I removed fixtures and I rolled out the walls. The counter top was installed Monday but the back splash will come later. 

This a wordy blog post, friends. I am so excited to be sharing it with you! Who'dah thunk it? 

So, this is what I have learned so far from this project: a) don't under estimate yourself or God, b) present the facts and don't be afraid, c) this old girl (52) is not too old to start something new and d) watching and re-watching Fixer Upper has NOT been a complete waste of my time.

Go forth! Oh, but stop back soon to see how it turns out. I can't wait to see either!



*This is NOT a sponsored post.

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Newlywed Pilgrimage, DIY Crush, Imparting Grace, Shabby Art Boutique, The Charm of Home, Joyful Homemaking, A Cup of Mrs. Olson, Up To Date Interiors, McCall Manor, Life With Lorelai

Our Changing Home-Part 2

See Our Changing Home-Part 1 for a bigger picture.

When we repainted the walls a few years ago we also painted all the trim and wainscoting my go-to white- December Starlight by Valspar. It is not a bright white; a little warm but not ecru or beige. Next to any other color it just looks white. I have used it all over my downstairs to lend cohesiveness to the spaces. No small task when you consider the fact that I had my husband paint all the trim to match individual rooms! What was I thinking!

When I changed colors I also changed the things I wanted to decorate with. Back then my decorating style was a product of too many 1980's Home Interior parties!

My home was filled with things that my mom liked. I always admired that her home looked put together so my purchases reflected her style. There were rules to follow to make proper wall and table-scape arrangements that my mom taught me. It was how you were supposed to do things but it wasn't me, at least not anymore.


What do I love, what things do I take joy in.... What pictures and images had I clipped from magazines and stored in my binder (pre-Pinterest years)... What decor style makes me stop and look longer at each detail...These were questions I started asking myself. And if you have been following along for any amount of time you know the answer is anything that includes the beach, summer, or sun.... So I painted the walls to resemble sand.

I bought a new rug to add some coastal color.

I had to work with an existing (and not long before purchased) leather couch and love seat. I shopped Craigslist and painted furniture purchases found there.

I used hand-me-down pieces from my great-grandmother and grandmother and the chest my grandfather built for my mother when she was born; the last of nine children . (The next youngest sibling was 12 years older than my mom and everybody was surprised when she arrived!) The little chest was just made from scrap lumber my grandfather had lying around from different projects. He was a finish carpenter by trade. My mom painted it about 25+ years ago. It is simple but to me it is a treasure.

I am constantly tweaking and moving things. I transition things in and out seasonally. I pack things away for long periods of time and find joy in rediscovering them when the right time rolls around again. Tastes change and styles change. I try to not spend too much time, energy or money on doing what is current but I do enjoy keeping watch for different style trends. I like to focus my style on what I really love; some Shabby Chic, traditional, beachy/coastal, cottage-ish, vintage, upcycled, ... oh, I think I am adding to the list from a previous post! Maybe "eclectic" should cover it? I can't make up my mind and I don't know why I should have to! I like a lot of different things.

That being said, I want our home to be welcoming and comfortable. I want people to not feel inhibited about kicking off their shoes and curling up on the couch. I can't think of anything more complimentary than when someone comments that our home is cozy and comfortable. I believe that happens when your home is a curated, eclectic journey that reflects the people who live there. It beckons friends to a cushion on our couch with a strategically placed pillow, a cup of tea or glass of lemonade and a warm conversation. That is when I love our home the most; when we are allowed to use it to minister to and share with others.

Our home is 1400+ square feet; not huge by American standards and not large compared to many blogs I follow but enormous compared to the rest of the world. To more than 3/4 of the world's population (a figure I am guessing at) we live like kings. I am aware that there are families in our own country that would think our home was a palace. I don't want to take that for granted, though I do confess that many times I compare myself to others. I am reminded to be content. God has given me abundantly more than I could ask or think (Eph.3:20-21) and He does not do this so that I may be boastful or greedy.  I find that a hard fence to straddle at times as I blog about the different things we are working on in our home. God has blessed us so that we may lavish it upon others; using our home as a means of grace.

Whether your home is a 120 square foot tiny home or a palace filled with marble and gold, a rented space or borrowed abode,  may you give thanks to God above for your home and use it for his glory as you minister to the needs of others in it. May you always be able to put your feet up at the end of a day-or kneel- and thank God for the home he has blessed you with.

The Ornament of a House is the Friends Who Frequent It ~

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Stone Gable

Our Changing Home-Part 1

Recently, I was thumbing through old photos to run as a slide show during our daughter's graduation party. I have tons of pictures that have never made it into albums; photos taken long before I ever thought of writing a blog and long before I even knew there was a home decor/diy blog village out there! Looking at pictures taken of our home when we first moved in made me wonder "What were we thinking?!" Wanna step back in time with me?

For many years I have worked to make the limited wall space in the living room make sense.  When we purchased the home the room was hideous. (Probably the reason I found my mom crying the day we bought it.) The walls were covered in colonial looking wallpaper and cheap paneling for wainscoting.   The squeaky floor was adorned with a dirty indoor/outdoor carpet and under it was another layer of shag carpeting and under that .... some seriously messed up wood floors marred by bad patches where a fireplace used to sit.

Money was tight and cosmetic fixes would have to do. Fortunately, I have a very handy, hard working husband. We stripped the wallpaper, many layers, and repaired the crumbling horse-hair plaster and added crown molding.

Between this photo and the next two you can see about five layers of wallpaper. 

Normally, I like toile but....

I love color! A coat of paint in a flat finish took the attention away from wavy walls. To make them even less obvious I stenciled a damask pattern in a color one shade darker than the base coat. This is not an easy task and because I was trying to parent my three and five year olds at the same time so this project took days! All the walls were wonky: nothing is level and no corner is 90 degrees. I had to fudge that stencil all over the place! That left the room looking like this.

Pay no attention to the date stamps. I don't think I ever got them set right! This photo was taken in 2004 (maybe).

I was all about painting my trim (Mister did the actual painting) to match the decor of the room. 

The couch was my first attempt at making a slip cover. I found some canvas at Walmart for very little money. I got the main piece sewn and it was okay. I never got around to sewing the cushion covers and ended up wrapping an old matelasse cover over them.  The room looks so spacious!

At first, we left the wainscoting alone. As time progressed we painted the it this dark raspberry chocolate color. Looking back at photos now I cannot believe I ever thought I could live with that long term! It looks so dated to me now...well, sort of. There is a familiar homeyness to it for me.

Our living space was like this for about ten years but you know me...it didn't stay that way. I'm going to reminisce some more and I hope you come back to see more of the changes in Our Changing Home-Part 2.

My Summer Kitchen

No matter how hard I try my kitchen counters are always filled with things that really should be put away. I have to remind myself that I live in a house with others and not in a museum. Sadly, at time I just move quickly through the room trying to not notice the clutter but occasionally I have that "I've had enough" moment and clean everything off. The change of season was a good reason to do that and as long as everything was cleaned off I snapped some photos!

Never underestimate the power of a bunch of grocery store blooms~! 

I love the color and life they bring to the kitchen. They make me smile when I walk in. 

This three tiered stand was something I had my eye on for a while but every time I saw if for sale on one of the sites I follow it would sell out before I could make the purchase. Very sad. I managed to find one on Home Depot's site (of all places?!) and couldn't be happier about the addition to my kitchen. It holds summer necessities; melamine plates, plastic cups, straws, and extra lemons and limes to add to a cool glass of ice water or selzter.

My chalkboard got some love from a chalk paint pen. After many trials and errors and having to repaint the chalk board (ugh!), because I couldn't get the chalk paint pen off, I have discovered that I can use a chalk pen and clean it off with Mr. Clean Eraser. Yay! 

Remember the colander I used as a planter early spring?

And my fabulous find of a scale that I purchased last month on the Cape holds a bowl from my grandmother filled with some bright lemons.

 I decided I should change the beachy sign to a more sunny sentiment.

 

On the other side of the room all was cleaned up and the feeling of space and freshness made me breathe easier. 

I am pretty sure it does not look like this now!

The kitchen is enjoying summer and so am I. I think I will grab some lemonade, a book and enjoy the day and the idea of my kitchen being in order. 

I'm going to these parties;
Have a Cup of Mrs.Olson, Savvy Southern Style, The Blissful Bee, DIY By Design, Imparting Grace, The Vintage Nest, Joyful Homemaking, A Delightsome Life, The Charm of Home, Up To Date Interiors, A Vision To Remember, McCall Manor, Shabby Art Boutique, Olives & Okra, French Country Cottage, Chic On A Shoestring, The Cottage Market, DIY Vintage Chic, A Tray of Bliss, Pieced Pastimes, One More Time Events, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Blooming Homestead, I Heart Nap Time, Finding Silver Pennies, Nifty thrifty Things, Love of Home, Create With Joy, Inside the Fox Den, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Coastal Charm, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Sand and Sisal, Creatively Living, The Dedicated House, A Stroll Thru Life, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Our Home Away From Home

Caught Up In The Moment

Well, the unofficial start to summer (June !st) started with a very happy event for us. Daughter #2 graduated from high school! The Christian homeschooling community in our state puts on a lovely graduation ceremony. We were so very pleased at how beautifully it all went. There were between sixty and seventy students that participated this year. I was quite impressed as I heard the accomplishments and plans of each student. It surprised me even more as I sat down a few weeks before to list my child's achievements over the past twelve years. Usually, I can barely focus on the year, month, week or even day in front of me. How did so much time pass? And, wow! She did a lot in that time!

My father flew out and spent the week with us to celebrate. It was nice having him here and just doing a whole lot of not-a-lot. We spent one whole day going through photos that we would be using for her party. The party date was two weeks after the graduation and dad wouldn't be here for that so we put him to work sifting through eighteen years of photos. Once we selected a few (120!), I put them together in a slide show to play during the party. Setting it on a loop allowed for people to come in middle and still get to see them all.

The weather was perfect and our guests came ready to play volleyball, bocci, corn hole, ect. In the back corner of our yard we have a grape arbor that was turned into a photo booth. I hung picture frames and tissue flowers. No, I did not make the flowers. I bought them at the dollar store-two for a dollar. Hung at different heights, they provided a pretty setting. I made a sign and suspended it inside an empty frame listing her Instagram hashtag. The sign was made from a piece of black cardstock and a chalk pen. Easy! I made a smaller sign that read Photo Props and I tied it with twine to a basket. The basket was filled with hats, garlands, glasses, masks, leis, beads, ect all purchased from the dollar store. All total, I think it cost me about $20. Adults and young ones alike were donning hats and phones were snapping photos!

I took all these before the party. Notice the Instagram sign hanging on the left? 

A simple sign using card stock and a chalk pen.

Downstairs, in our basement, I have a hoarded stash of furniture waiting for me to paint, repair, get rid of... anyway, I brought a vanity up to the yard. After cleaning it off and wiping out the drawers we were ready to turn it into our drink station. I lined the drawers with old linens and filled them with plastic cups. Two drink dispensers (borrowed from a friend) were to sit on top to hold lemon water.

A little sign hung on the mirror was made with my handy-dandy chalk paint pen and chipboard chalkboard from A.C. Moore at 50% off. Under the vanity was a galvanized tin barrel to hold juices.

Next up we pulled an old baker's rack out of the shed. I cleaned it up and gave it quick coat of Rustoleum in black. I made a banner sign from pages of an old book and free-handed the lettering with a Sharpie. A dear friend provided the iced coffee and fixings for the station. Another galvanized tin sat between the vanity and the baker's rack to hold sodas.

Of course, the only picture I got has one of the letters turned over! 

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it so smart that I made one for our party.

As you can see everything was relatively easy and very inexpensive. Many friends brought salads and dishes to share. Don't be intimidated by perfect Pinterest party pictures. Use what you have, enlist help and have fun!

My girl wore the most beautiful smile the entire day. It was pure joy to see her have such a fun day set aside to celebrate her hard work and the Lord's faithfulness in our homeschooling adventure. I was so distracted with all the fun that I never did get finished pictures of the stations set up-I got caught up in the moment-and I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world.

I will try to do better the next time....

Party Time:
Lambert's Lately, The Blissful Bee, Savvy Southern Style, Up To Date Interiors