SNEAK PEEK - METAL CHAIRS

Having these chairs and table painted white has been on my wishlist for a while, so I was absolutely delighted that I was going to get that wish this weekend.

BEFORE

AFTER

1.  I'm thankful my husband chose this project for my Mother's Day present.
2.  White paint makes me so happy!
3.  I can't stop smiling when I look outside at them.

GLOW IN THE DARK DRIVEWAY

When I saw this post on A Cup of Joe, my heart went pitter-patter.  Can I even tell you how much I want this done to our driveway?  Glow stones in gravel is my new favorite thing.

SNEAK PEEK - STAIRS

Our two week project for the older boys' room is turning into months and months.  Not because anything is hard or too time consuming, it's just, lately, we aren't ever home.

The cubbies are built, they just need to be stained and have doors put on.  These deep cubbies are the stairs up to the hanging beds.

Next on the list, the back wall, window treatment and desks.  One of these days, this room is going to be amazing.

SNEAK PEEK - HANGING BEDS

I thought you'd like to have a look at how our bedroom project is coming along.Here is how the room began. Plain and boring and after three years, they still didn't have baseboards. Actually, none of the bedrooms do, YET, but that's another story...
The older boys cleared their room out, we painted the fan and ceiling and the walls.Larry made the boys hanging beds - they are so cool!

The wee ones are now complaining how boring their beds are. It's hilarious.

Crown molding was put up.

And the next part of the room involves these. I'll show you another looksee when there is something fun to see.

The finished room is going to be amazing!

SNEAK PEEK - BEDROOM 1

We've been talking for over a year about re-doing the room for the older boys. Talking is over.

We got to work Friday night and hopefully it will be completed by next weekend.

One of the first things on the to-do list was the ceiling. With all we have planned to do, getting a new bedroom fan wasn't in the budget, so we took the one that was in the room and painted it.

BEFORE - kiddie rainbow

AFTER - sophisticated silver

Here it is with the other sneak peek - the newly painted dark grey ceiling. We love it!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER?

I love it. It is the same color as my front door. The shed will be painted the same color as our house trim. It will be an unfinished project for awhile because we have a lot going on.
I was too excited to wait for the door, and that however, will not be on the unfinished project list.

WE ARE WORKING ON A

project. It's not fun yet, but it will be.I can't wait to show you.

IT'S GROWING A LITTLE AT AT TIME

We are looking forward to enjoying the fruits of our labors.

What's in your garden?

BATHROOM UPDATES ON A BUDGET

We used Textile Grey on the walls and Brilliant White on the ceiling and molding. We had white paint left over from the baseboard project, so paint was 24.95. It would have been less, but I wasn't thinking and got a gallon.

The tub we took out was 28" wide and was replaced with a 30" wide. We would have loved to go wider and WAY deeper, but the super deep ones start at 32" and the tub space we had to work with couldn't go wider than 30".

We saved and purchased our tub last summer at 40% off. It's one that feels like cast iron but it isn't. The great thing about this tub is that it is insulated and keeps the bath water super warm for a long time. It also has a slanted back for a relaxing soak.

The new shower curtain was 26.99 and we installed our curved shower rod that we already had.
Larry changed out the plumbing so we wouldn't get scalded when someone flushes the toilet while you're showering. We got the new faucet/shower (and all the inside necessities) at 40% off.

We were thrilled to find subway tile at Lowes for .23 a tile. We tiled the surround up to the ceiling for 113.46.

Our floor was on sale for 1.58 a tile and was completed for 56.88.

A big expense was the behind the scene items needed to complete the projects: hardie backer, cement board, thin set, grout, sealer, caulk, etc... The 'etc..' came to just over 300.

Left on the bathroom TO-DO list:

-repaint the existing vanity brilliant white - cost .00

-paint and install baseboards - cost .00

-purchase and install new hardware

-make a new counter top (if this turns out like I hope, it will be rad!)

-purchase and install new sink

-purchase and install new sink faucet

-purchase a new bathroom door

When all the projects are complete, we will have transformed the bathroom, sub-floor to ceiling, for well under 1500.00

SNEAK PEEK - BATHROOM

After much frustration and deliberation over the color grey, Vintage Grey is forever gone and the new grey color is Textile. I love the color; it's what Vintage Grey was supposed to look like to begin with.Window and door moldings have been painted and the baseboards are next. Now that paint is officially permanent on the wall, the toilet was installed. Oh happy day!

SNEAK PEEK - BATHROOM

I love my tub.
I love my white subway tile.
I love my shiny tub fixtures.
I love my white with grey vein floor tile.
I love my "brilliant white" ceiling.
I'm not loving my "vintage grey" walls. They look blue and it isn't growing on me.
The walls are going to have a take 2.

SNEAK PEEK - BATHROOM

Kevin the Incredible and Deb the Great are still helping us with the bathroom. And thank heavens! I think it's safe to say that we would have added another week to completion time.

The surround is grouted and we get to seal it tonight.

The floor was laid last night and we will be grouting it tonight. We're really excited for the finished product. Stay tuned.....

PS - she makes me laugh.

SNEAK PEEK - BATHROOM

Last night we got off to a slow start - we tiled wrong and had to take it down and start over. Luckily for us, one of my bestest friends, Deb the Great, came over to help.
I'll keep you posted on the bathroom progress.

WE OPENED A CAN OF WORMS!

I wanted a new tub. We saved and this summer we purchased one that would fit the bathroom space. It's been sitting in our garage for 6 months. With a few pleadings and batting of the eyes, I requested the bathtub switcheroo be our first house project of the new year.
Taking out this tub and surround wasn't as difficult as we had thought, BUT THEN we realized we opened an expensive can of worms. We discovered a leak behind the wall and black mold on two of the walls.
Larry took care of the wall situation immediately, BUT THEN we discovered the leak had caused a lot of floor damage. While Larry was removing the floor and sub floor I was looking for in the deep holes between the joists for a time capsule or long forgotten hidden money from the original owners.
This "time consuming but not too difficult" tub installation has turned into bathroom drama and our lair is stressed. Hopefully it gets put back together quickly - we need that shower!

WHEN I SAW THIS GARDEN BENCH

turned into a coffee table last summer, I knew I wanted a coffee table inspired after it.
Larry made me one and brought it home last night.

He attached the top with piano hinges and made the base deeper so we would have extra storage.

My favorite part of the coffee table is the top is made from old barn wood that is at least 100 years old. I love how the bolt holes were not filled in - you can see right through to the floor.
Larry knows me so well.

I DIDN'T KNOW THEY COULD GET SO TALL

We had 6 sunflower plants grow ginormous...

We have the flower heads drying in the shed.

The seeds taste great raw, I can't wait to taste them dried!

AMPERSAND

From my shop, which will be back up and running in a couple weeks....

TRIM, TRIM, TRIM

I asked Larry to paint our chimney the trim color and wow what a difference!
We're almost done with the finishing touches - we should be finished with all the painting business next weekend......

OUR GARAGE DOORS

are receiving an update with the same Gila Privacy Frosted Window Film treatment that we used for our laundry room window.....I'm thrilled with how this simple procedure is making such a huge impact.
Still on the wish list are the stainless steel garage doors .....

HOUSE PAINTING

while being serenaded by a garage paint drum band is the best!
1!,2!, 3!,4!, bang, bangity, bang, bang!!
Painting our house was a family affair full of laughter, hard work, sibling bickering, sweat and sunburns....

We should be done this week with the trim and frosting the garage door glass.

We have also brought soil in for the front yard and have started adding few flowers.

We are really happy with how it's turning out.

Here's a sneak peek of our progress...

Drive by next weekend and we should be finished with this project and onto another.

We're having so much fun....