our house

The best way for us to decorate our home is in phases – not always well-planned out, carefully calculated steps – more of a fluid figure-it-out-as-we-go type of decorating. Like you, we’re constrained by budget and thoughts of resale value and functionality for our young… Continue Reading…our living room with the finished shingled fireplace

Last time we left off with the fireplace makeover progress looking like this: Cedar shingles along the top portion of the fireplace, a new chunkier mantle, decisions to be made for the fireplace surround. What probably would have looked best is something really simple and… Continue Reading…fireplace makeover {part two}

I’ve been holding out on you. Last November we finally tackled our fireplace and gave it a makeover. I completely love it. Except like with most projects we do, indecision on the final detail set in and then life just kept going. Which brings us… Continue Reading…a fireplace makeover {part one}

Like most large households, ours produces a massive amount of laundry. And like most moms, doing that laundry is far from my favorite task. I have found in my limited research that most laundry-doers fall into one of these categories: 1. you are forced to… Continue Reading…laundry room idea board

Like most homes built in the last 10 years, every single ceiling light fixture in our house looked like this when we moved in: Admittedly, it’s not the worst light fixture in the history of light fixtures, but it’s pretty boring. One simple way to… Continue Reading…how switching out lights can make a big difference

It’s one of the most unique {and coolest, if you ask me} things in our house: this oversize salvaged window hanging from a barn door track that separates the entry from the dining room.

I’ve never really blogged about it. What?! Sorry for the oversight.

Adding the window to the opening between the rooms accomplished exactly what we wanted … it created a definition of spaces, but also keeps things bright and open. Plus it adds personality to our ordinary home. That’s our favorite part.

From the front door, you can still see through into the dining room and beyond.

We found the perfect window at our favorite local salvage yard {Second Use – for you local Seattle-ites} for about $80.

Continue Reading…details of the giant hanging window in our entry/dining room

Remember when I asked for help with this problem wall?

You all came through. Great suggestions. My talented friend Darlene even did a little mock-up of her suggestion:

Isn’t it lovely?

I sat on the ideas for a bit – none of them feeling just right.

Until one day, I started moving furniture around and – what do you know – the L wall moved across the hall to its new home.

Hidden in there are the thermostat and light switch that before stuck out so obviously.

A good before and after is always fun, so here you go:

Continue Reading…the wall of l’s moved across the street

Sometimes you buy furniture from inexpensive sources and you end up with a flimsy particle board table that never quite stands level. Other times, you order a bookshelf and hope that it will turn out to be more like the online photos than what past… Continue Reading…pleasantly surprised {a new dining room display shelf}

One year in college my best friend {and roommate} made fun of me because I brought with me a few of my favorite children’s picture books.  Not only did I travel with them from Seattle to LA, but I proudly displayed them on our coffee… Continue Reading…displaying books in the playroom