• DIY

    Stone Entryway

    When we did the addition to our lakehouse for the new mudroom we didn’t have enough room for much of a front porch because the septic is in front of the house and we can’t cover it with concrete.  For those of you who’ve never had a septic system, septic tanks require access for emptying.  There are two access points to the septic, one about 2 feet off the front door and another about 10 foot.  Our temporary solution were some odd shaped pavers we had laying around, which helped keep the entryway free from mud when it rained, but it was not very attractive… Step 1 Remove old stones…

  • DIY

    Pool/ Spa Renovation

    Our twenty year old pool needed a face lift and we were tight on time- so with some new tiles, plaster patching and epoxy pool paint – voile! An old pool is a lot of work, especially with aging plaster which makes an easy home for algae.  So when my daughter was graduating high school and we were expecting a lot of guests at the house, we decided to tackle a portion of our pool remodel.  Our spa was the worst area of the pool because the tiles were actually falling off the front where the water flowed from spa to pool.  We did our research and decided to remove/replace…

  • DIY

    Bedroom Accent Wall with Shelf

    A bedroom accent wall with wall shelf is a great way to update your decor and find a place for all those things that you want to display.  I contemplated how to decorate my master bedroom for a while.  I knew I wanted an accent wall but I needed a way to display my daughters ceramics, art work and items we have picked up during our travels.  Like most projects, I began by removing the large dated armoire that took up way too much space in the room. Before Pic Step 1 Measure wall for shelf and amount of paint needed.  We used magnets to locate the studs and a…

  • DIY

    Bathroom Re-fresh

    We are busy preparing the house for a lot of guests and graduation party for my eldest daughter.  The front bathroom was especially overdue for a little refresh.  Here’s what it looked like originally:   Pretty plain but over time the dried hydrangeas fell apart and the stain on the frame of the mirror gave me a western vibe, which is not the vibe of my house …at all! Step 1 I started by replacing the shower curtain with one made from fabric I had picked up at a remnant/close out sale for $1.  My sewing machine and I are on the outs, so I did a quick no sew…

  • DIY

    Laundry Room Makeover

    Looking for a laundry room make over?  Here’s my latest project, I added a sink, broom closet, shelving, and lots of storage but did NOT sacrifice on style!  Here’s the old laundry room:   This room had become a diasaster, located off my kitchen and right next to the back door, it was a catch all for everything. You can see from this photo that the room wasn’t small but long and narrow with only one cabinet.  I had added those utility shelves a few years ago, but they were in a bad spot and often we bumped our heads. After a lot of consideration on color and materials, I…