Back yard transformations

To say that our backyard has been transformed would be an understatement. The back part of our backyard was full of 70 years of car mats, broken vases, pottery, shutters, scraps of wood. You name it! But look at it now! Three years of hard work has paid off!

            So much work cutting out sucker trees and digging out trash.

Adding 'no dig' edging (love this stuff) and planting arborvitae bushes

Next summer project is the path that goes around the
'secret garden' area, have the supplies and a plan!

 

 

Definitely have more to do but super happy with what has already transpired.

Hope you enjoy a little bit of garden inspiration!

A #1951renovation

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Two and a half years ago we downsized from our 1970s traditional two story and moved into a single story ranch built in 1951. We have updated and updated and updated in those two years! But I am loving how it is turning out! This house is in a historic neighborhood called Merritt Woods and is a beautiful area with the best neighbors right in the heart of our city.

Check out some of these projects.

Main bathroom Refresh

Basement Half Bath

Master Bedroom

Bedroom turned office.

Coming soon: Dining Room/Kitchen, Basement Remodel, Family Room projects, and more.

When your plan really isn't your plan after all.

I don't know about you but before I start a project, I start the vision for the project. Sometimes way before the project starts! But often, that vision changes multiple times before the project is finished. Heck sometimes I don't really even have a plan I just start painting or tearing out stuff and sometimes I just change my mind. But most times, it is because what I really want to do, for one reason or another, I can't. Take our basement bathroom for example. In this case I had a basic plan and everything that could go wrong, went wrong.

As I was thinking about the bathroom I realized I hated it in the furnace room to begin with. I also hated the sauna and shower the previous owners had installed at the other end of the basement (which we never use). So I put plans in motion to get rid of the sauna. This would free up a big chunk of space and my plan was to make it a full bath at that end of the basement as it already had a shower. Several months later, and multiple failed attempts to have sauna removed, I decided to tackle the 1/2 bath again. 

Original bathroom.

I was hoping to be able to move new sink to this wall to open up more space in the bathroom. But, was major issue so we decided against it.

Dark and dreary did not even begin to describe this room. So one day, with no particular plan in mind, I grabbed a gallon of paint and started painting. The whole time I was painting I didn't like it but kept going because I knew that everything was going to change and I might like it eventually.

First pass was painting. Didn't like color so repainted later but
used the first color on cinderblock as base coat for German Shmear.

After I finished painting the walls, I painted the shelves and put peel and stick wallpaper in the back. In both cases using leftover supplies. I loved the shelves but didn't like the beige color so painted it again using leftover Repose Grey paint. However was still debating over what to do with the cinder block wall and finally decided on a German shmear (which I had never tried before). I kept the beige color on the cinder block for the base and, used plaster spackling to create the shmear.

Painted shelves white and added wallpaper to line the back.

Added white to the beige as step 1

Second pass was a burgundy, using some leftover craft paint.

After adding black. 

Final look after adding 'shmear'

On the sink wall I used Palisades vinyl wall tile to cover that wall and somewhat to cover some of the wood panel since it is everywhere in this basement. 

Adding the vinyl wall tile.

Palisades vinyl wall tile is super easy to install. Measure, cut with utility knife, add Liquid Nails on the back and install.

Full view that captures the new sink, restyled shelves, 

After adding the groutless wall tile, I had my husband mount a mirror I purchased off of Marketplace. Then, since electrical has been crazy in this house, had an electrician install vanity light and hanging drum light.

$10 mirror from Facebook Marketplace.

Final cinder block after adding the texture for the shmear.

Purchased this drum light from Facebook Marketplace and I love it!
Reflects soft light all over the walls. 

I would love to have you follow me on Hometalk or Pinterest for more inspiring ideas!

Thank you for stopping by. 

Cyndi, the Decorating Chica

An office refresh

A year and a half ago, when we moved into our empty nester house, I decided to use the middle (aka smallest) bedroom for an office. Little did I know that four months later we were in lock down! 

In the process, I painted the walls with some leftover paint, used a rug from our other house, set up my computer and was good to go. However, a few months later I was ready for a little personality! Easiest method was to make a focal wall. Since only one wall in the room was a solid wall, this was not a hard choice! I decided on a stencil as it was quick and cheap. Found a great stencil at Hobby Lobby and, since I wanted a subtle look, decided to use the darker shade of the room wall color and added some clear gloss to make it shiny.

Started stencil working left to right. 

Alternated every other row.

This is what I used to add the 'shine'

Finished!

Added a quick wall arrangement using the black shelf from before, two tin ceiling tiles I took from my work office, plus wreath and cool wood thing I found at a vintage store.

Thanks for visiting!

Linking up to:
Inspire Me Tuesday

What to do with old wine bottles? An Upcycled Wine Bottle Project

At the start of our second summer at our #1951renovation found me removing wine/liquor bottles from a rock wall the surrounded the pond. Although I didn't dislike them, I was finding so much broken glass that I knew I had to take them out as I was worried about my dog cutting her paws.

Securing the posts and frame with quick set foam.

I had no idea how many bottles were buried in the wall, it was crazy! I kept pulling more and more out!

Built and installed the frame.

After I rebuilt the rock wall surrounding the pond I pondered what to do with all the bottles. What I really wanted was one of those cool bottle walls but I knew I didn't have the time or resources to build one. As I was researching other ideas I had no idea my husband was planning the bottle wall. So, while it took a couple months to get completed, my husband built me a beautiful bottle wall!

Adding the bottles one row at a time.

My husband built the frame (didn't take pictures) and after we installed the frame he started adding the bottles one row at a time. This was quite time consuming. First he power washed the bottles as they were full of mold and dirt from being in the ground. Then he used a glass drill bit and drilled hole in the bottom. Added hooks to the top and bottom of frame where he wanted the rows of bottles then ran cable thru the bottles and hung on hooks. He used a kind of clamping thing in between each bottle so they won't slide around.

Added pavers and secured with Paver Set from Lowes

Added some landscaping. Since it was end of September, choices were limited for perennials.

Plants and mulch added. Reusing limestone from an old retainer wall for behind the bottle wall.

Upon completion, I decided to lay some patio stones and landscape the area better. While not 100% finished as I have a couple of stumps behind the wall to remove and will then landscape that area.

Patio area and bottle wall finished. 

The dirt area in back needs a couple stumps removed. 
Will then add more limestones and mulch.

After I remove the two stumps behind the bottle wall, I will finish with more lime stones and mulch. Additionally I have a large mirror that I will hang on the fence in back to reflect the bottles and light.

Linking up to:

Home Style Saturday 263

New Upcycled Projects at Funky Junk

Grace at Home No. 440

Easy Chair Reupholstery

Finally got to my dining room chairs to replace the fabric on the seat cushions. After about 10 years of use, the fabric was worn and getting dirty. Never have been a fan of white/light upholstery! It's too hard to keep looking nice.

Original chair covers were getting pretty worn out after 10 years of use.

Found the perfect fabric at Hobby Lobby but they did not carry enough. So had to place and order that ended up being a better price when it arrived as it was then 40% off! 

After removing the seats from the chair, I used one seat as a template to cut the fabric. Then, using a staple gun, I stapled the fabric to the underside of the seat. Then I reattached the seat to the chair. Such an easy project! Not sure why it took me so long to complete!

Upholstery fabric from Hobby Lobby.

Scissors and staple gun are all the supplies needed.

Removed the seat from the frame for easier access.

Finished product!

Linking up to

Inspire Me Tuesday

Home Style Saturday

Master Bedroom of a #1951renovation

A year and a half into our new #1951renovation and I finally have some time to share. We have been so busy with updates and remodeling! What a crazy journey but we are super close to having the major upgrades completed. But for anyone who knows me, it is never done! The projects in my mind are ever changing and usually 4-5 projects ahead of what we are currently working on.

This photo is how the bedroom looked when we moved in. The pendant lights were removed. NOT because we didn't light having a light there but the switch for the light in on the side wall near the floor. Lived with it for a short time but it was super inconvenient to use!

Removed the cupboard doors and the trim underneath (found a couple cool things in the cupboards.) Hard to understand how anyone could use these as you have to be on a step ladder to access. My original hope was to tear the whole thing down but we could not make that happen. Not sure if it was original to the house but whoever installed it did a great job!

I ran into so many obstacles with this project which affected my vision vs. the reality! But, I think it ended up well and looks much better than before.

Linking up to:

Grace at Home

#1951renovation

#oldhouses

#1951midcenturyranch

House #3 Home Tour

After fifteen years living in a 1970s traditional style house in a older neighborhood, we decided to downsize. (More on that later.) This house represented 15 years of blood, sweat, and tears. Renovating and remodeling and making it our own. Along the way we raised three amazing young men who are making lives of their own with our youngest recently married.

These pictures were taken in about 5 minutes on my phone to sell our house. We were already under contract with our new house and had to sell this quick. The house across the street was having an open house in three days and we wanted it listed and open for that. Whew! House sold in less than a week and the roller coaster ride began!

Typical of a 1970s traditional two story ranch house. Not much was changed in the front that is visible to the eye. We added new porch columns, new garage door, all new windows, shutters, and painted the aluminum siding.

Eating area off of kitchen. Many refreshes over the years. Mostly via paint and a new patio door.

This kitchen. Has gone through several updates, mostly cosmetic. Always wanted to do a total gut but couldn't afford it or have the time. Read the original post On My Way to a Dream Kitchen as well as the Country Wasn't Cool.

Let's be honest, this house had a large but awkward living room. Every. single. wall. had a window or a door or a pony wall. Made it difficult to arrange furniture.

View of the 'family room' a.k.a. my homes office.

View from kitchen into living room and dining room. Note all the doorways!

Master Bathroom (Jack and Jill style). Read about the last refresh Master bath update.

Dining Room. Added Board and Batten several years ago, new porcelain tile floor, ceiling medallion and crown plus paint of course.

My biggest challenge is to learn how to take better pictures!

Thanks for stopping by.