House & Bounty

An Old Hobby

I love to dream up new designs for houses but redecorating my house wasn’t enough for me, so I got into the habit of putting my spin on real estate listings.

Every Saturday morning, I would wake up and noodle around with different ideas until my family woke up. I would occasionally request that my husband look at the real estate ad, my re-imagined design and try to convince him that we should purchasing it. He never bit but I found a hobby that was fun, rewarding and functioned as a stress relief. Anyway, life got busier and I stopped doing it. While cleaning up my old computer files, I came across some of these little nuggets and was pleasantly surprised by how much I still love them. I thought it would be fun to share them on here.

I only found two files but you can see that I have a very specific aesthetic– I love brick, flower boxes, black roofs and big windows. You can also tell that I am into small houses. I looooove small homes and wished that we, as a society, could give them more attention and love. Let me be clear- I’m not talking about tiny houses, although those are fun too. I am talking about houses that range from 800-1500 square feet.

The first house, as you see above, looks like the quintessential house that every kid draws. It is basically exactly what I draw when I am trying to communicate “house” to anyone. I think the outside of this house is plain but has so much potential to be adorable.

I would add grills to the existing windows and change out the white louvered shutters for new raised panel black ones which I think gives the house a more refined look and plays well with the new portico that has a metal roof and round columns. The front stoop area was expanded and brick was added to the stair risers. Add a few black window boxes to the house and some landscaping complete with hydrangeas and black mulch to give this exterior a fresh new look.

This next house is one of my favorites not only because it reminds of me of a classic doll house but because it’s a great size for a small family. In my redesign of the house, I would replace the siding with a white shaker hardie board and put on a new roof with black dimensional shingles. The house would get new windows with black frames and grills which I think gives it both a modern but classic look.

I would open up the porch by removing that half wall (is there another name for this?) that surrounds it and just have the porch be completely open. All the columns would be replaced with simple square ones and the floor would get a new finish. It could be painted or some type of wood composite material could be laid on top to warm up the entry way and also tie into my omnipresent flower boxes. The front door would be replaced with a large, wood, 2-panel door with sidelights. Lastly, the foundation of the house would be covered in a brick facade. I ended with a simple landscape of black mulch and several boxwood shrubs around the front of the house.

Okay, this last one is the house I imagine living in when I am a grandmother. It’s a white, single story, adorable house that just needs some love and attention. I would replace the roof with a black, dimension shingle which creates a nice contrast to the white exterior of the house. To really add some interest, I would add a single faux dormer. I am usually a big proponent of symmetry but because the door is not centered and the tree is on the left side, it feels like this house could get away with one dormer.

I would add new windows that were larger and had bulkier trim around them. I would eliminate the shutters to make the house feel updated and more modern. I, of course, need wood window boxes to give the house some life. I would use the same wood, 2 panel front door to tie into the wood window boxes. I would complete the look of the house by replacing the front cement walkway with a new brick one and plant some creeping phlox in that stone flower bed.

I have a few more to share but I’ll do that in another post. Maybe I’ll revive this hobby?

The First Project: The Half Bath

I have big plans for our current house but big plans often move very slow when you’re fitting them in between full-time jobs and a kid. Over the last 2.5 years, my husband and I decorated and renovated a few different spaces but the house is definitely still a work in progress. The first project that we tackled was the powder room. It’s located on the first floor, gets a lot of use and is very small, so it seemed like the perfect starting place. 

The great thing about this room (and the rest of the house, really) is it was just fine. It functioned great and it looked okay, so I could take my time to decide what to do with it. When I started to evaluate the room I found that I didn’t really want to change out the toilet or the pedestal sink. I liked both of those things. The mirror is a standard octagon builder-grade mirror that is glued to the wall. I wasn’t too thrilled about the mirror at first. Although I liked the Octagon shape, I hated that it didn’t have a frame. I contemplated removing the mirror but was terrified that in the process of removing it I would create a huge hole in the wall. So I put the mirror on the back burner and put off deciding on what to do with it. 

The flooring was a sheet vinyl and I knew I wanted to change it*. Initially, I thought we could put hardwoods (or some variant) in the bathroom. But I wanted the hardwoods to match the rest of the house and we just were not in a position to do the entire first floor at that time. So, we moved onto tile options. I played with several different ideas but I knew I wanted something that would be classic and stand the test of time. I ultimately landed on a white honeycomb mosaic tile. It feels versatile and traditional. 

The room was painted a neutral beige. Now, I am actually a fan of beige as you’ll probably see in other parts of the house. I enjoy having light, neutral colors in the main living spaces. But I see small spaces, like the powder room, as an opportunity to do something fun. For me, that means dark walls. I debated between two main wall colors: Sherwin Williams Domino and Sherwin Williams Caviar. Either color would have been fine and I can’t even remember why I decided on Domino, but I did. No regrets on the color. 

Final Mood Board

The light fixture, faucet, and accessories (towel bar, toilet paper holder) all felt dated. The original towel bar perplexed me. Why in the world would I need such a large towel bar in this little bathroom? Perhaps I would one day try to bath myself in the pedestal sink when all the other bathrooms were occupied? Maybe it was so large to allow each family member to have their own hand towel displayed on the bar. I don’t know but I quickly told my husband we were getting rid of it and putting in a small hand towel ring near the sink. Now, after living with it for a while I can’t even imagine walking into the bathroom and having it any other way.

A crappy phone photo before we painted. This gives you a good view of that 90’s light and basic faucet. As you can see in the picture, the humongous towel bar was removed and the towel ring was installed.

The light fixture was a 2-light brass number that reminded me of the ’90s. It looked like every light we had in the house I grew up in, so you know that meant I needed to change it**. I always loved schoolhouse light fixtures, so I found a bathroom version that would fit in the space. I considered several options – three-light versions (too big), some with slightly different globe shapes, some frosted and some clear. I ultimately chose a classic frosted 2-light version. Again, since I’m writing this so long after I bought the thing I can’t remember exactly why I choose this exact fixture. 

The faucet was a spur of the moment purchase. At that time, I had already put together some rudimentary mood boards and had a general idea of what type I wanted. My husband and I were strolling around Lowe’s looking for something to buy, as one does, and he suggested a new faucet for the bathroom. I quickly agreed and pursued all their options. I landed on a one-handle, single hole brushed nickel faucet. It was pretty and it would do the job. Honestly, it was a great upgrade. It feels sturdy, heavy and works like perfection. It was exactly what the sink needed. 

The one bogey in the room was the cabinet above the toilet. I liked the function but wasn’t sure about the aesthetic. Wouldn’t a pretty picture be better? I huffed and puffed a little bit about the cabinet but ultimately I couldn’t get rid of it especially after living with glorious storage for several months. I played with the idea of getting a newer, prettier version of the cabinet. I looked around but nothing really caught my eye. I decided to just update the hardware. I’m open to replacing it one day but I have to say I’ve grown to appreciate that little cabinet. 

1.Tile: American Olean Sausalito White White Ceramic Honeycomb Mosaic Floor and Wall Tile | Source 2. Wall Color: Sherwin Williams Domino, Color Matched Behr Paint | Source 3. Trim: Behr Ultra Pure White  4. Mirror (inspiration): Octagon Mirror | Source  5. Door Handle: Schlage F40 V Lat 622 Latitude, Privacy lock Lever, Matte Black | Source 6. Light Fixture: Schoolhouse Bathroom Light Satin Nickle 2 Light | Source  7. Woven Box: Small Water Hyacinth Storage Box with Hinged Lid | Source 8. Woven Trashcan: Seagrass Waste Basket (similar) | Source  9. Cabinet Pulls: Black Square T Bar Cabinet Pull | Source 10. Faucet:  Moen Boardwalk Bathroom Faucet | Source 11. Frame: Wood Gallery Single Opening Frame | Source  12. Print: Whale Print | Source  13. Hand Towels: Herringbone Turkish Hand Towels, Gray | Source  14. Cabinet (similar): Over the toilet bathroom storage wall cabinet | Source 15. Pedestal Sink (Similar): Retrospect Pedestal Combo Bathroom Sink | Source  16. Toilet (Similar): Reliant 2-Piece Flush Round Toilet | Source  17. Soap Dispenser: Oil Can Soap Dispenser | Source

After slowly making all the changes described above, I realized that the bathroom felt a little stark. It needed some warmth and I am a huge fan of natural textures and elements.  If I could, I would put wicker, rattan or sea-grass in every room (it will probably happen). Anyway, I decided a little wicker box on the toilet would give the room some warmth and matched a woven trash can to it. I thought a nice wood frame would also help tie the natural elements together. This is also about the time that I decided that the bathroom mirror, the one I had put on the back burner, would need a wood frame. I found a walnut trimmed octagon mirror on Houzz.com and love it, but I was/am still scared of creating huge holes in the walls, so I’ve told my husband we will frame the mirror out to make it resemble my inspiration mirror. We have yet to do this but we’ve purchased the materials and plan on doing it soon. I’m excited to see how it turns out.  

Hopefully, in the next week, I’ll write up and take pictures of the final bathroom (and complete the mirror). I’ll then tell you the riveting story of the toilet and how a two-day project turned into a two-week nightmare. It’s a little sensationalized but the broad strokes are correct. 

* I like vinyl sheets and have lots of thoughts on them. I have a proposal for the vinyl sheet designers/manufacturers–One day I’ll write that up.

**I have a theory that the decor/styles that we grew up with as children influence our design choices as adults.  It’s probably a very-self reflective theory but may hold true for others.

This post contains affiliated links. If you purchase anything through an affiliated link, I earn a small portion of the sales. This helps support the website. Thanks for your support!

Welcome to November

Just like any good Midwesterner, my favorite season is fall and I relish in the beautiful foliage and perfect hiking weather. I get my pumpkin candles out and burn them all day. But it’s all going by too damn fast this year and Christmas feels like it’s just a few moments away. I always viewed November as the “Welcoming to the Holidays” month. It’s like the opening act before the big show. When I was younger, I tried to rush it away and fast forward to the good stuff. Now I’m the opposite– I just want to make it last as long as possible.

Enough of the sentimentality. All I wanted to do is share some interesting things that have caught my attention this past week.

The China Connection: How One DEA Agent Cracked a Global Fentanyl Ring: As a mom, the opening story scares the shit out of me. As you continue to read, you’ll learn how easy the internet has made drug trafficking, the rampant/crazy business of shell companies in China and why Fentanyl is such a dangerous drug.

Why Teachers Are So Excited About the Power of SketchNoting: I didn’t even know SketchNoting was a thing but I instantly connected with the idea. It makes perfect sense to me and my visual brain. I can’t wait to read more about it. This article is a good introduction. Don’t skip the embedded video.

Life Will Be the Death of Me, By Chelsea Handler: I’ve read her other books but this is by far my favorite. If you want to read about someone coming to terms with their “shit”, opening up to new possibilities and laughing a little than this would be great book for you. Her other books were always funny but this makes her more human, likable and soft. I also started following her Instagram because of this book. I highly recommend her family meeting videos.

4 Easy Pop Culture Halloween Costumes

Happy Halloween! If you’re like me and don’t want to buy a costume that you’ll wear exactly once for Halloween then consider dressing up like a pop culture icon using clothes/accessories that you can use time and time again.

I chose 4 women that I admire to inspire my Halloween costumes. Not only are they women I respect but each has their own personal style that could easily be translated into costumes. Another huge bonus, all of these can be made into couple costumes!

Joanna Gaines: Magnolia Hat, Leather Earrings, Plaid Shirt, Jeans, Sketch Book
Duchess of Sussex: Black Fascinator, Midi Dress (similar, similar), Black Pump, Black Thin Belt, Clutch

First, we have Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper. I chose a plaid button-up shirt to pair with skinny jeans. Throw in some key accessories like the Magnolia Hat (or any distressed baseball hat), leather earrings and a sketchbook to really drive home the look. Dress your hubby in jeans, a demo day t-shirt and tool belt and the couple costume is complete.

Next is Meghan Markle or the Duchess of Sussex. Man, she’s had a rough year with continuous attacks from the press, but that doesn’t stop her from looking fabulous. For her, I recreated the Givenchy dress outfit that she wore to the opening of The Mersey Gateway. I found a dress in blush pink with an adorable capelet that gives the same silhouette. Add a skinny black belt, black pumps and, just for fun, a fascinator to emphasize the British-ness of the costume. Add a man in a slim-fitted suit and a baby for the perfect look.

Mindy Kaling: Earrings, Dress, Clutch, Neon Pumps
Elizabeth Warren: Gold Studs, Rimless Glasses, Black T-Shirt, Black Dress Pants, Blazer

Mindy Kaling is one of my favorite people, not only because she is hilarious, but she has such a fun, colorful approach to fashion. She loves bright colors and doesn’t shy away from patterns. For her costume, I chose a neon yellow, black and pink striped dress with neon yellow shoes and a chevron clutch. Finish the outfit with some hoop earrings and you’re set. Big bonus to anyone who can have their husband dress like BJ Novak and gaze at you with pure love at every chance he gets.

Last, we have Elizabeth Warren. Her look is easy and each piece can be worn in your everyday life. She always wears black dress pants, a black t-shirt and a jewel tone blazer. Add some classic round gold stud earrings and rimless glasses and you’ve got Elizabeth Warren. I think an important accessory for you to include would be your phone. Just walk around with the phone to your mouth calling donors, get all giddy and talk policy with them. If you’re interested in a couple costume, consider her bff Bernie Sanders. His crazy hair and big hands could be fun to recreate.

This post contains some affiliated links. If you choose to purchase anything that is an affiliated link, I earn a small portion of the sales. This helps support the website. Thanks for your support!

(Re)Starting Something New

 

I’ve had a series of starts and stops with online blogs over the last 10 years. Each time I would start excited but it wouldn’t be long until I began to feel apprehensive and doubt that I had anything to offer the internet. Ultimately, I would abandon many of my (internet) projects because I convinced myself that those things had no value to others. In the instances where I felt really good about the ideas, they were interesting and unique enough, I soon became worried that others would criticize or ostracize them, call me stupid, a poor writer or one of the other 100 things I was insecure about. 

However, each time my vision would get a little clearer. I would find my voice a little better and my perseverance would be a little stronger. Starting something new has rarely been a problem for me. The excitement surrounding the new idea or project often propels me forward but what becomes my failing is my own criticism and fear. The flame of excitement can easily be extinguished by our own thoughts. It took me a long time to learn how to calm that negative voice in my head. 

How will this blog be different? I’m not sure yet. I just know that for the first time I am more myself rather than pretending to be what I think others want me to be. Maybe that is the elusive confidence women report to find in their 30’s or maybe I know and trust myself more than I had done each of those other times. Maybe my desired to do something is stronger or maybe my expectations are a little different. The reason doesn’t really matter– I’m just happy to be doing it.

I simultaneously feel no pressure and lots of pressure. The caliber of content being created in the home blog space is high. Without any formal training, I’m only going by instincts. I also don’t have a huge budget. So in many ways, I make the best of situations instead of just throwing money at the problems. Due to this, I worry I will not be able to compete with someone with deeper pockets, more sponsorships, and more experience. However, it pushes me to want to be better and create excellent content. It makes me study all my photographs to make sure they feel professional. It makes me curate what I put on the website more than I may have in the past. However, I also feel that this is just for me. It’s for me to have fun and be creative, something I don’t get to do at my day job. It’s a way to think about things I care about and chronicle different parts of my life. When I put it in that context, it makes me feel free to just do what I want with little pressure. 

Never the less, I love the fresh start of a new beginning. It reminds me of college freshman so full of hope, ambition, and dreams. Dreams that haven’t been chipped away by setbacks, negativity, and bad luck. Their dreams and ambitions are pure, fresh and invigorating. Yes, that is how many beginnings start and I’m glad to say that’s how this feels for me too.