In the Home Stretch...I think?

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For the past few several months we have been slowly renovating our 80s basement. Several years I go I did a tiny upgrade (mostly by painting, adding pictures, area rugs, etc.) but have lived with the acoustic white drop ceiling panels for waaay too long.

I had wanted to tackle this basement for the longest time but knew it would be a big project. So I waited. Why? Because I knew that if it were to be done right it would mean pulling down that awful ceiling. That. was. expensive. More than that? It would be time consuming.

But one day, to my surprise, my husband started yanking down the ceiling tiles and metal framing. Well there was no turning back at the point. That said, we lived with no ceiling, exposed ductwork and drooping insulation for more months than I want to count. Mainly because we just didn't know what to do.

But finally we had a plan. Well sort of a plan. At least we had a plan for the ceiling. We decided to use 6" pine car siding for the ceiling leaving the ductwork exposed. Sort of going for the industrial look.

It was still expensive and it was slow. But in the end, my husband did a fabulous job! Since this was the main part of the project I feel like we are in the home stretch. But then there's the flooring...sigh.

Up close look at the bolt/washer combo that my hubby added.

Exposed duct work with the plank ceiling. We actually did nothing to the ductwork, leaving it 'vintage' and original! Well that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

New light fixtures are a welcome replacement to the fluorescent tube lighting from before!

We left the planking natural. No poly, no stain. Nothing and we love it.

It is amazing how taking out the drop ceiling and putting in the planking added about 3" of height which makes the basement so so much bigger and more open.

Now on to the flooring and stairs.


Linking up this week to:

Grace at Home
Feathered Nest Friday  
Pretty Pintastic Party

The Look of Sprinter

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You know that time. The couple of months after all the Christmas decorations come down but it is too early for spring. The season of Sprinter...between winter and spring.

I tend to go for the neutral look of pine cones, branches, fake greenery and such.

Branches, twigs, and anything 'nature' is a great way to showcase sprinter.

Pine cones can be gathered right from your yard or a field. Throw them in a basket for a great natural look.

But come early March the birds come out. The bird houses and flowers and anything spring. Cause even though our weather in Michigan may not be spring-like, the days are noticably longer, the birds are singing more and we may even get robin sighting! All signs that spring is not far. Usually, by that time, I am more than ready to get out the spring decor.

These are actually Christmas decorations. I remove the red ribbons and ornaments and they become a great look for sprinter.

More natural elements with rocks are season-neutral.

I always prefer real plants but, alas, I am not a horticulturalist! I grow great plants outside but have never done well with indoor plants.

This ivy topiary is my newest purchase and, yes, a REAL plant! Note how healthy it is now, we shall see what a month brings. Cross your fingers.

Neutrals and hardscapes are a great way to keep things season-neutral.

How do you decorate for those weeks between Christmas and Spring?

Linking up to:
Feathered Nest Friday
Inspire Me Tuesday
Inspire Me Monday  

Don't pass it up, seriously.

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I don't know about you but I always have a list of little things that I need to shop for to complete one project or another. Always.

The problem is when I get the chance to stop into my favorite consignment shops, or HomeGoods I oftentimes get overwhelmed cause there is so much cool stuff! And my mind. goes. blank. Seriously. This especially happens when I go to big flea markets and places where there is row upon row of great stuff. I just can't focus.

Both the mirror and the gold wall decor were random buys because I loved them. Now they hang together and make a great wall grouping!

The blue plate I purchased at a consignment shop for 1.50. Couldn't exactly pass that up!

So I decided to take a different approach several years ago. I made up my mind if I saw something that I just loved I was gonna buy it. Even if I didn't know what I was gonna do with it. So that's what I've done. Which sometimes means that I have stuff that sits in my basement. Sometimes for a couple years. But always, if I wait long enough, the opportunity arises where that piece I have been saving is just what I need to complete a project!

These two little black frames I grabbed at a garage sale, removed the pictures inside, and have had the frames for about 6 months. Finally I found a place to use them! Just couldn't get them in focus!

These two little wreaths I couldn't pass up

This mason jar full of buttons was only $6.00! Why did I get them? Because I have had a project in my head that requires lots of buttons. Have you seen the price of buttons in the fabric stores? Crazy expensive Will I get to the project? I hope so but in the meantime, they sit on a shelf and look pretty.

So there you have it, my dirty little secret! I mean, come on, we all have them.

Linking up to:
Pretty Pintastic Link Party
Inspire Me Monday
Inspire Me Tuesday

Half Bath Remodel and New Year's Musings

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It's been awhile hasn't it? Life has been a bit crazy as I am now working full time again. Now, you would think that having two young adult sons in college and a 17 year old in college that life would be simpler and easier. Not. so. much. Yeah, that is exactly what I expected as we started this school year and boy was I surprised! I am not sure how life keeps getting busier but it sure does.

But despite the business of everyday life, I have still been working on projects in our home. Just takes me twice as long as it used to!

I recently finished a slight upgrade to our 1/2 bath that was totally not part of my plan or even on the radar. Does that ever happen to you? Seriously we are in the middle of a HUGE basement remodel and one day I decide to start tearing up the bathroom. Don't ask! The good news? I started and finished the project before the basement was completed. I hope you enjoy the remodel.

Let's start with the ceiling. I used Evertrue pine planking, stained with a watered down brown paint to give the ceiling some character.

New vanity with granite top, new towel bar and toilet paper holder.

Added a mosaic tile chair rail around the walls and trimmed out, top and bottom, with chair rail trim.

Used picture frame molding to add character to the wainscoting. This was the hardest part of the whole project! Each wall measures slightly different and the are bowed as well. Very frustrating to get the boxes straight.

Used the same paint color as what I used in the basement stairway. It looks almost a dark, dark grey most of the time but has a definite purple tone. Love the color!

A bad picture of the new vanity. Could not get a good picture because of how small the bathroom is.

Found this beauty at a salvage store that I thought could be used for the mirror. Turns out that didn't work but I just loved the frame so much I hung it up for wall art.

The bathroom is small enough that it is impossible to get a picture of the whole bathroom but I hope these pictures show enough that you can get a good idea of the change. To see older versions of the bathroom, go here.

Linking up this week to:
Amaze Me Monday
Top Projects of 2015 Party

Ahhh, the taste of Fall

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So, yeah by the title you might be led to believe that this post is about fall food, right? Nope. It is about the gloriousness of the fall season. Can't you just feel it and taste it? When they say that fall is in the air, there is just something about it.  I. totally. love. it.

Simple baskets with pumpkins and gourds is my preferred fall style.

But, despite my love of fall I really don't pull out all the stops to decorate for it. In fact, I am just coming indoors (so to speak) from spending the summer outside enjoying our pool and gardening. Oh and vacations! So I am just not ready to spend a ton of time decorating but I do like to have touches of fall in my house.

I love osage oranges, don't you! They are cheap and smell great.

But back to the cooking. Fall makes me want to cook. There I said it!
Seriously don't tell anyone though. Fall is a busy time in our household, mostly with outdoor work. Lots of leaves, winterizing the lawn, closing the pool, pulling all my garden decor and storing it. You know the drill. Between that and the trips to the apple orchard, making apple sauce, I don't have time to spend it decorating inside when I can be outside.

Simple switch from the plate that normally hangs here and adding the fall leaf art contributes to the overall fall appeal.

Baskets of fall flowers in simple crates is my look.

Love the simple, rustic look.

So yeah, I still love decorating but I love fall more and I cherish the time enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Besides God is a much better decorator than I could ever be!

Enjoy your fall, Christmas is coming!

And More Garden Tours...

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Can you ever see too many beautiful gardens? I say no. After all, in Michigan, we are lucky to get 4-5 good months of gardening so I say enjoy them while you can!

The first house we went to on the garden tour had a beautiful waterfall landscaped backyard, with a big patio, a 60" screen tv and a sectional couch. To. die. for. That is until I saw his sign and realized he was a professional landscaper that owned his own business. Then I felt much better.

Had to catch this butterfly!

Great use of sculpture in this garden!

Loved, loved, loved this pool. Waterfall into the end of the pool a small log cabin to change clothes in and use the bathroom, or just hang out. Very sweet!

I don't usually go in for the cutesy type stuff but I seriously thought this was a great drain for eavestroughing.

Very cool sculpture from cut tree stumps. Great way to use them!

I love anything unique and this totally caught my eye. Great way to use rocks! Now I'm not sure exactly how they did it but from what we could tell, they drilled a hole up the center of the rocks and put a rod through. Probably glued them as well. May have to try this.

This home was amazing and had so many cool sculptures mixed into her garden. Like the homeowner said "I decorated all I could on the inside and I love it so I had to come outside." I totally get that.

Finally is this cute wine bottle sculpture. Not sure if the wrought iron base was something put together by the homeowner as I've never seen anything like it. But regardless, very cool!

That's all for now. Check in soon for my summer project updates.

Linking up this week to:

Feathered Nest Friday

Ducks'n a Row Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

Idea Box Thursday

Garden Tours Galore!

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My favorite time of summer, by far, is garden tour time. Always beautiful, always inspirational, our area garden tours are fabulous and really get your mind going.

I love snapping pictures of the things that inspire me most to take home and keep only my favorites as an idea file for 'some day'.

Enjoy.

This was a garage that was gorgeous and beautifully landscaped!.

Loved these iron figures standing guard over this homeowners garden.

What a cool stepping stone that wasn't a stepping stone. Instead it was mounted on the top of a fence post as a sort of 'pillar'. Can't wait to make some of these and use up all the stained glass pieces I have.

Couldn't resist taking a picture of this gorgeous pool area. Jealous for sure!

This homeowner had these cute and simple little plant boxes. Why didn't I think of that? Great way to use up that extra wood!

The inside of this 'tool shed' was simple yet elegant.

Beautiful hardscaping around this house.

Beautiful window boxes. Add this to my list for sure.

Loved the statue and sun dial here.

This house used lots of pots and planters out of just about anything that could hold a plant!

Beautiful waterfall. Definitely on my list!

Simple yet makes a statement. Great way to use an old wine bottle and candle holder!

Loved this little squirty fountain! Okay, I love any kind of water feature.

This beautiful wall surrounded a tennis court.

 Hope you enjoyed this week's garden tour. Next week: garden tour number 2. I can't wait!

Linking up this week to:
Idea Box Thursday
Sunday's Best Link Up
Sunday's Down Under