House & Bounty October 8, 2021

The Laundry Room Design Plan

October 8, 2021

It’s week 2 of the ORC and I am so excited to share the laundry room design plan with you. A quick recap if you are new here: The ORC is a biannual event that celebrates and encourages bloggers, DIYS, designers, and influencers to complete a room over eight weeks. Last spring, I renovated our office and this time around, I’ll be designing my mother-in-law’s (Darla) laundry room. Last week, I talked about the process I used to design the room with Darla. This week I’ll show you what we are actually doing.

The Concept Boards

As I mentioned last week, I started by creating three concept boards for Darla’s laundry room, each with a different feel and collection of elements. The first concept board is feminine and traditional. It has lots of warm tones and emphasized floral prints.

The second concept board is textural and natural. It focuses on casual living with a strong inspiration from the outdoors (gardening and animals). It has a vinyl grass-cloth wallpaper which would be subtle but elegant.

The last concept board was fresh and modern. It focused on geometric patterns and light colors. The furnishing/accessories are streamlined, but it feels playful with a capiz light and gemstone hardware.

Darla quickly decided that she liked board number 3 best. She specifically wanted the geometric wallpaper (more modern), nickel hardware (to match the rest of the house), and the light/bright interior. She prefers green to blue and likes natural woven materials, like wicker.

Armed with that knowledge and after a few more meetings to pick each element, we created a design board with the final selections.

Laundry Room Design Board – Final

Wallpaper | Beadoard | Light | Trim | Flooring (already installed) | Rug | Cabinet Handles | Baskets with lids

Ta-da! Here she is! I know the design board feels a little underwhelming since none of the styling accessories are included. But this is the foundational layer of the room and I think it’s charming. I’ll go through the plan for all the elements so you can understand how they will be used.

We plan on installing beadboard at ~3/4 wall height with a thick decorative chair rail on top. I originally wanted to use a chair rail with a braided pattern (like the one above), but I’m not convinced. I am worried that it’ll feel a little out of place with the more modern aesthetic of the room (although good contrast never hurt anyone!) So we’ll see where we end up. The green geometric trellis wallpaper will be installed on the upper 1/4 of the walls. All the millwork will be painted a bright white, the same color as Darla’s current baseboards/moldings.

We’ll switch out her builder-grade boob light for this sophisticated semi-flush mount one. This light is very affordable but feels really nice. The bottom diffuser is glass and the extra decorative arms connecting the drum to the base create a nice moment. Darla has 9 foot high ceilings, so having a little space between the ceiling and the light is doable.

Her cabinets will get a couple of minor updates, too. First, we’ll install gorgeous handles on all the doors. Seriously, these thick nickel handles are heavy-duty and feel very nice in your hand. They are a little expensive ($12/pull) but worth the splurge. In addition, we’ll place large wicker baskets with lids on top of the cabinets to create extra storage and make that additional space feel intentional. The baskets are the one thing we did not order ahead of time. I was hoping to find some options locally. Darla and I plan on going on a bit of a shopping trip to (fingers crossed) find the perfect ones. However, the color tone of the wicker in the design board is ideal. It corresponds well to the floor and brings warmth since the room is on the cooler side with white paint and green patterned wallpaper.

The last element of the room is an indoor/outdoor green braided rug. The rug is durable enough to be used on a patio and should be easy to clean with a pressure washer. Remember, Darla’s laundry room is also her main entrance from the garage, so this rug will see a lot of action throughout the years. I particularly love that it has white, beige, and green fibers in the weave. We ended up ordering the larger size (2′ x 4′), so it would cover most of the floor.

I mocked up the room with the final elements, so Darla could visualize it. I ended up creating two versions, one with the wallpaper Darla picked (on the left) and one with a maze-like wallpaper (right). Darla really liked the maze wallpaper and wavered for a minute on how she wanted to move forward. In the end, she ordered both wallpapers, but the maze wallpaper will be installed in her dining room.

Laundry Room – Week 1 Progress

Our main goal for week 1 was to demo and prep the room for the wallpaper and beadboard. The first task at hand was removing the chair rail. We slid a small pry bar under the rail and gently pulled it away from the wall. Within a minute or two, the chair rail was down.

The trickier part of the demo was removing the peel and stick tiles Darla installed. As I mentioned last week, some were falling off the wall. That gave me a false sense of confidence. I thought, oh, I’ll just pull those babies right off. No harm to the wall. Easy Peasy.

Well, I was wrong in a big way! Some of the tiles, like the ones that kept falling off, were a piece of cake. But most of the other ones were, well, more difficult. We ended up using the mini pry bars on many of them to separate them from the wall and gently pull them off. About 50% of the tiles came off in pieces and around 75% damaged the drywall, usually just bubbling or pulling up the paper layer of the drywall.

Small Laundry Room Make Over — Laundry Room Before

The demoed room definitely did not look like much progress. With all the drywall damage, it was pretty ugly! We debated fixing the drywall but decided that it would ultimately be covered by beadboard and it didn’t make much sense. However, we offered to fix it in the future if Darla ever wanted to take down the beadboard.

The last task was to prep the walls for the wallpaper. Based on everything I read, I did not think we needed to prime the walls (the wallpaper directions never mentioned any type of primer). However, since this wallpaper is in the laundry room and it’s not my house, I decided that we’d prime the walls. Better safe than sorry!

We ended up using the Zinsser Shieldz Universal Wallpaper primer. We used a standard roller and nylon brush to apply it. The paint definitely felt sticky and had a slight odor (nothing too noxious). It only took ~30 minutes to complete the whole room.

Next week we’ll talk about wallpaper installation. And if you remember my wallpaper debacle from last spring, you may be wondering, did I order enough wallpaper? Will I ever learn from my mistakes? Come back next Thursday to find out!

Don’t forget to check out the other ORC designers and participants.

Designing a Small Laundry Room

September 30, 2021

We’re back again. This time we’re renovating and designing a small laundry room!

It’s that time of year, another One-Room Challenge (aka ORC). The ORC is a biannual event that encourages bloggers/designers/Instagrammers to transform a space in a relatively short time frame (the current ORC is eight weeks long). For the spring ORC, we gutted and revamped our home office (you can see the result here).

This time, we’re doing something a little different. We’re renovating a space outside of our house and working with a “client.” Okay, that person is just my mother-in-law, Darla. Designing a room for (and really with) another person was a learning experience. It helped to refine my process! Darla was very easy to work with and made me feel comfortable during the process when I felt kind of silly, like when I requested “design meetings” and asked her tons of questions about her preferences. If you’re interested in hearing about this experience, let me know, and I’ll write a blog post about it.

The Laundry Room – Before Pictures & Background

Enough of the back story; let’s get to the fun design part. We are renovating my MIL’s laundry room. Darla lives in a new house that she and her late husband built a few years ago. They downsized from their large two-story family home to a modest-sized ranch when they became empty-nesters.

The house style is transitional. It has some traditional colonial elements with modern touches and an open floor plan. The house’s interior is neutral and bright.

The laundry room is a “pass-through.” The garage entrance is on one side of the room and a door to the main foyer of the house is on the other side. It’s a small room (approximately 6′ x 6′) with tall ceilings (9 feet high). There is laminate wood flooring throughout the house and it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen! The wood color is on the light side with a warm tone. The laminate is textured, so it has great dimension.

Darla wanted to jazz up the laundry room and applied peel and stick tiles to the wall about a year ago. However, no matter how she applied them, a couple kept falling off the wall. Finally, after getting frustrated with continuously re-attaching the tiles, she asked if we could install beadboard. That’s when I offered to design the room. Darla, being gracious and generous, agreed.

Over the last year or so, I’ve been refining and optimizing my design process. I’ve only used it for my projects, so this was an excellent opportunity to try it out with a “client.” I’ll take you through the different steps and how we designed the laundry room.

Step 1: Consider the Function

When designing a room, I always start with the function and ask myself the following questions:

Who lives here?
What activities happen in this room?
What type of things need to be stored here?
Are there any problems?
What is working well in the room?

When going through these questions for Darla’s project, I made note of relevant information:

Darla lives alone but has a dog and a cat. Both animals are older and less active, but prone to accidents at times. They have limited access to the laundry room as most times the door is closed.
The main purpose of the room is laundry but it also serves as a thoroughfare from the garage to the rest of the house.
This room stores laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and overflow blankets. *Plenty of cabinet space.
Darla is very organized and has routines for her household chores. Because of that, there really are no problems to solve here.
The room is functioning great. No major changes to the lay out are needed. Her appliances are new and function great.

After reviewing the function, I listed the things I needed to keep in mind (based on the notes above) when designing the room:

All elements need to be durable and wipeable.
The wallpaper must hold up in warm temperatures and changing humidity.
Organizational systems are not needed since things are running fine.
The focus of the project is decorative.

Step 2: Outlining the Scope Of The Project

After determining the function and key takeaways from step 1, I started nailing down the full scope of the project. This included determining what stays in the room, what needs to be purchased, what labor is required, and the expected time frame.

I started Darla’s outline by listing the things that were staying:

Wall Cabinets (white, great shape, brand new)
Flooring (warm wood tone)
Appliances (top load washing machine and dryer)
Door hardware
Baseboards & shoe molding

During this process, I also made a mental note of some things I knew about Darla which would impact the project. For example, Darla really likes cohesiveness. This means she’ll want to keep the trim, doors, and finishes consistent throughout the house (which she confirmed during our design meetings).

Darla is also pretty minimal with wall decor and doesn’t want to damage wallpaper by hanging pictures or accessories. The styling will therefore be minimal and non-invasive.

Based on this information, I made a list of the final elements that need to be purchased for the room:

Beadboard
Chair rail trim
Wallpaper
Cabinet Pulls
Baskets
Rug

I then listed the labor required to complete the project and I estimated the order of events. Since Jeremy and I are doing all the work, things are more flexible. However, if you are hiring contractors to do all or part of the work, this may be more strict.

Demo: Remove wall tiles and current chair rail (Week 1)
Prepping: Paint walls with wallpaper primer (Week 1)
Wallpaper Installation: Use wallpaper kit (Week 2)
Millwork: Install beadboard & chair rail trim (Week 3)
Painting: Caulking, filling, sanding and painting (Darla has paint) (Week 4)
Electrical: Install light fixture (Week 5)
Finishing: Install cabinet pulls and accessories (rug/baskets) (Week 5)

As you can see, I’m estimating about five weeks of work. The one-room challenge is for eight weeks. I purposely wanted a project this fall that was easier and less time-consuming since it’s such a busy time of year for our family. I outlined some of this in my tips and tricks post that I wrote earlier this year.

Step 3: Create Three Concept Boards

After I had a general idea of what to include in the project, I created three concept boards. Each board had a different feeling and overall direction. I use a specific formula when putting together the concept boards. First, I always have seven pictures. By limiting the number of photos, it forces me to be picky about what images are included. This helps to define the direction of the plan.

Of the seven, two are “lifestyle” pictures. This is a pretty broad term, but the lifestyle images help to bring attention to something the person likes or values. The visual aesthetic of it matters, too – it should go along with the theme of the concept board.

It’s also essential to have at least one or two “detail” shots to highlight some of the key finishes or features that define that concept board. For example, the concept board below highlights brass accents and a capiz light.

When creating the concept boards, I don’t focus on the exact room. The images are taken from a wide variety of sources and room types. That’s why you see a sofa in the laundry room board above. I don’t plan on using a sofa or throw pillows in the laundry room. Still, the general finishes communicate the types of things that would go into the final design (i.e., floral patterns, traditional elements). The primary considerations are the overall feeling and the concept (which considers style, colors, finishes, etc.).

Step 4: Review Concept Boards & Create Your Final Board

After I had three concept boards, Darla and I met to review each option. I emphasized that she would never hurt my feelings and encouraged her to share her honest opinions. We started by looking at each of the boards and I asked Darla which one was her favorite. She liked concept #3 the best.

From there, I asked several questions:

Is there anything you don’t like?
What do you like about this?
What type of finishes do you like?
What type of textures do you like?
Is there anything you would change?
Should we mix and match any components from the other concept boards?

At that point, I felt pretty confident about what Darla wanted and liked. I recorded her answers and went to work sourcing the objects.

Step 5: Sourcing Options, Create Floor Plan and Elevations

With Darla’s feedback and the scope project details in hand, I began sourcing materials. For each item, I gathered at least 3-5 options, sometimes more. I approached this by collecting all the options I liked and that fit within the parameters of Darla’s preferences. From there, I whittled down the choices to a more reasonable number.

For example, I found over 15 wallpaper options (I actually rounded them up here!). However, that would be too overwhelming, so I narrowed it down to 6 and ordered samples.

After I had options for each category, I made the floor plan and created some basic elevations. There was very little space planning for this room since the layout was already in place (and there weren’t many other options!). In other rooms, like living rooms or bedrooms, space planning is more critical and more time-consuming. So, plan accordingly!

Step 6: Present Options & Finalize Choices

Darla and I met again at this point to review her options and to finalize her choices. Darla is very decisive and quickly identified what she liked in each category (light fixture, rug, wallpaper). We spent the most time talking about the wallpaper samples. If you’ve ever gotten samples, you know that the swatch may not show the most critical parts of the pattern. We also looked at each wallpaper option online to get a better feel of the scale and see the entire pattern. Our meeting was pretty short (maybe 20 minutes).

At this time, I also showed Darla a couple of elevations. I made these to visualize the wallpaper (and make sure I actually liked them before showing them to her). Darla found this helpful. (Spoiler: She liked another one of the wallpapers so much we’re installing it in her dining room later this year).

Step 7: Create Final Design Board & Detailed Budget

Creating the final design board was easy. I just pulled together all of Darla’s choices and updated the elevation to reflect the final design. These were put into a PDF document so we could quickly refer to it if needed.

At this time, I created a detailed budget for the project. I put together a spreadsheet that had the price, source, quantity, and a link to the item online. Then, I totaled the cost and sent that to Darla in an email.

Step 8: Final Approval & Ordering Materials

Darla and I met one last time. We reviewed her design choices once again and I made sure she was still happy with her decisions (she was). We also reviewed the budget, line by line. On that day, we ordered everything. Luckily, all the materials were received before the ORC started, so there should be no delays in our schedule this time!

Whew! All of those words and I haven’t shown the final design! Don’t worry – next week, I’ll review all of Darla’s choices and show the official plan for the room. I’ll also show you some progress that we’ve already made.

Don’t forget to check out the featured designers and guest participants on the ORC’s website.

Your Guide to Witchcore & How To Get the Look at Home

September 23, 2021

You may be wondering what Witchcore is. Well, so was I until I took a deep dive into this topic a couple of days ago. I’ll get into the specifics below, but first, let’s talk about Tiktok aesthetics. Like you probably know, aesthetic means the ways something looks. But when we talk about TikTok aesthetics, it’s a group of specific looks that usually have a strong theme or source of inspiration. The aesthetics are broken down into their core elements but often go beyond how something looks and evokes a whole lifestyle. This can include fashion, make-up, interior decor, hobbies, and even values.

For example, cottagecore (inspired by cottages) is huge on Tiktok, but they have more obscure ones too, like fairycore, goblincore, neoncore, dark academia, light academia, and many more. I really enjoyed researching all the different aesthetics and was impressed by how the elements were broken down so clearly (the design decomposition was top notch!). Plus, the spaces felt so unique and interesting, with so much personality (you already know how I think personality is essential for interior design!).

I bet you won’t be surprised to hear that Witchcore is one of these aesthetics. Since we’re nearing Halloween, I thought it would be fun to talk about this aesthetic and even touch on how to incorporate a little bit of the witchy vibe in your house during the holiday or maybe beyond if that resonates with you.

What is Witchcore & Where did it come from?

Alright, let’s start with the basics. Witchcore is an aesthetic inspired by witches and witchcraft (I bet you aren’t surprised!). The look is a mix of Halloween and Victorian gothic elements. There is a focus on dark colors, gem/crystals, herbs/plants (I guess for spell making?), tarot cards, apothecary, astrology books, potions, incense, palm reading, and some general spookiness (like skulls, smoke, taxidermy).

It also shares some aspects to another popular aesthetic, cottagecore. Both witchcore and cottagecore have natural elements interwoven into the general look. This includes natural woods, dried flowers, and the use of plants.

Witchcore fashion is all about dark hues, natural elements, lace, wide-brim hats, and goth-like components. There’s also a fair amount of vintage clothing, including old wedding dresses and nightgowns, homemade flower crowns, and capes. Witchcore emphasizes comfy shoes, velvet fabrics, and long maxi skirts or dresses. Victorian-gothic vibes like ruffles and corsets can also add to the Witchcore wardrobe.

So, where did Witchcore start? The origin of Witchcore is hard to identify. Part of it comes from TikTokers who self-identify as witches and have created a community (#WitchTikTok) on the app. Other roots may come from movies, television shows, and books that most GenZers are probably familiar with. This includes Harry Potter (although some may argue that it is a whole aesthetic on its own), Hocus Pocus, The Craft, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, The Witches (Anne Hathaway movie), Fantastical Beasts, and Bewitched.

Witchcore For Interior Design & Decor

Some people bring the Witchcore aesthetic into the home year-round, and others embrace it during Halloween. Some take inspiration from their favorite witchy movies, like Practical Magic, a 1998 Sandra Bullock movie, or Hocus Pocus.

An adorable cottage – Perfect for a witch!

However, it would be expensive to recreate the Practical Magic house or the Hocus Pocus Cottage. Hence, an easier way to incorporate this into your home is by focusing on some core elements of the Witchcore aesthetic. This would be especially relevant if you’re just decorating for a season, like me. I’ll review 6 elements that you can use to create this vibe in your home.

Jars/Glass Bottles

Glass jars filled with spices, dried flowers, or other “spell” ingredients can make a big impact on any shelf or wall. My favorite bottles have cork tops. I also like when they are labeled. It would be so fun to name them for Halloween, especially gross things, like toenails or toad tongues. For a Harry Potter theme, you could take inspiration from some of the spell components in the books, like dragon hairs, beetle eyes, or frog brains (check out this website for lots more inspiration).

Achieving this look is super affordable, especially if you use smaller bottles. However, Amazon sells any size or shape that you can imagine, so you can display whatever potion ingredient strikes your fancy. I love the round bottles (#2). They feel very sciency. Also, the large jars with sphere corks (#6) are really cute and modern. I would use those things year-round for sugar, flour, and other cooking supplies I need to grab quickly.

Gemstones and Crystals

All good witchcore homes need to have gemstones and crystals. You’ll never know when you’ll need to heal or protect yourself. People in history believed that rocks had energy and vibrations that could be transferred to people. The different types of stones had different vibrations and were therefore used for different problems. For example, there are stones to bring opportunity, peace, wisdom, or courage.

Luckily, gemstones and crystals are widely available today because they are so beautiful! Above I rounded up 6 of my favorite ones I found on Amazon. I love the ones with the pointy tops and flat bottoms (#3). They feel especially witch-like, and they seem easy to display in a bowl or standing up. I also love the quartz logs (#6). They would give a little glitz and glam to a space and are an unusual shape/size that you often don’t see in the stores. These could easily be stacked on a shelf, fireplace, or, maybe, even a cauldron.

Dried Flowers

Dried flowers are another popular element of the Witchcore aesthetic. While I just love the look of dried flowers, witches believe that some flowers have magical powers. For example, they believe rose petals are good luck and ward off evil. In addition, lavender, one of my favorite flowers, is thought to attract people and is often used for love spells.

The flowers are often displayed in bunches hung upside down. I’m sure this is part of the drying process, but it can also be a design decision if you want to evoke the witchcore feel at your house. Of course, you can dry your own flowers, and this website walks you through a couple of different ways to do it. But if you don’t have the time or flowers, you could always purchase dried flowers available on Amazon. I rounded up my five favorite varieties below. For me, dried flowers are the perfect fall decor. Drop a handful of stems in a vase, and suddenly your interiors are a prettier version of what is happening with nature outside.

Of course, I especially love the lavender (#2), but the baby breath (#4) is also really good. I love that it has some volume, and the monochrome color can even make it look chic!

Accessories

Technically, everything we’ve talked about thus far is considered accessories for your house, but I needed a general category for all the witchcore items I didn’t include in other lists. These include essentials like sage, tarot cards, and even crystal balls.

I really like when there is a large display of lit candles at night. It creates a warm mood but can also feel spooky with suitable candles and the right arrangement. I think these black candles (#1) will go along with any witchcore room (although white would totally work, too!)—the more candles, the better, in my opinion. I also think leaning into taxidermy, like the beetles (#5), would be fun too. While real taxidermy is fine if that is your thing, you could use paper beetles and bugs displayed like taxidermy for Halloween (or just as cool art). This Etsy store sells paper beetle assembly kits. It could be such a fun DIY!

Witchcore Wall Art

If you have a blank wall, you may want to hang art related to witchcore. Popular themes to pick from are tarot cards, phases of the moon, palm reading charts, spell guides, or botanical charts. I particularly like tapestries because they are so large and can make a significant impact on a large empty wall. A good alternative is a collection of smaller prints with the same topic and color scheme. This will make the room feel cohesive.

My favorite ones on Amazon are the botanical mushroom tapestry (left, #2) and the Charms and Spells (right, #5) poster. Although, the phases of the moon (right #1) would definitely be the most on theme. For Halloween, the Witchcraft Knowledge poster (right #4) would be a good one. If you have kids, it may generate a lot of laughter and curiosity.

Bed Canopies

Okay, this last witchcore item is for the bedroom. A bed canopy, especially a dark one, will create an eerie mood. Harry Potter inspired me for this item. The movies showed the students’ dormitory with four-poster beds and thick velvet curtains surrounding them. It created privacy for the students in the film but is a fun way to make a bedroom feel a little magical at home.

Luckily, there are tons of affordable and easy options. I particularly like the grey velvet canopy (#2). It’s on the smaller side but creates a luxurious feel with the thick fabric. I also really like the large round canopy with ruffles (#5). It has a little bit of that Victorian/Gothic vibe that goes so well with the witchcore aesthetic.

Alright, there you have my exhaustive list of ideas to make your home feel more witch-like. I’ve already started planning what I want to include in my house for Halloween (hello jars with spooky ingredients and paper beetles taxidermy). I’m also really into the dried flowers. That might be a future DIY. Is there anything on this list that you want to incorporate into your home for Halloween or permanently? Or is there some other witchcore element that I missed and speaks to you? I hope you have a spooky day!

Pop Culture Halloween Costumes 2021

September 14, 2021

I’m back with my annual Halloween costume post (check out 2019 and 2020 here). I usually pick 4 women and recreate their looks using everyday clothes that you may have in your closet already or that can easily be purchased. It’s great because you can wear 80% of the outfit in your everyday life, so it doesn’t feel wasteful.

Earrings | Brown Wig | Riding Blazer | Skinny Jeans | Color Deck | Sneakers

Long Wig | Hoop Earrings | Microphone | Sparkly Cup | Sunglasses | Cropped Sweater | Sweatpants

Since I love interior design, every year I pick a famous designer to dress up as. In the past, I’ve done Joanna Gaines and Shea McGee. This year is the iconic Sarah Richardson. Sarah’s style is so approachable and easy to recreate. All you need are skinny jeans, a fitted riding blazer (she likes Smythe blazers, but we are trying to be budget-conscious!), white tennis shoes, and some simple dangly earrings. Add a short brown wig and a color deck, and you have a convincing Sarah Richardson.

One person that has been all over the media this year (and for the last, oh, 20 years) is Jennifer Lopez. First, I just want to talk about how she doesn’t age. Legit. I need to know all of her secrets! Anyways, there are so many iconic Jennifer Lopez looks that you could recreate. For me, I went with a general JLO feel. She likes matching outfits, cropped shirts, and comfortable clothes. I took a lot of inspiration from recent pictures of her and Ben out on a stroll. She wore a casual matching cream suit. So I found a cream-cropped sweater and paired it with matching sweatpants. JLO is known for her large hoop earrings, so those are essential for the costume. She also tends to prefer metal-framed sunglasses with brownish transparent lenses. Add a long brunette wig, a microphone, and a bedazzled water cup to complete the look.

Blonde Wig | Button Up | Bucket Hat | Pleated Skirt | Leg Warmers | Toy Microphone | White Goth Boots

Gold Medal | Cropped USA Shirt | Leotard | Athletic Pants

This next person, Billy Eilish, is more of a wildcard, at least for me, a mid 30s woman. For the last 6+ months, Billie has been rocking bleach blonde hair. She’s always had a 90’s vibe, so those were fun trends for me to revisit. I recreated her outfit from her Teleroma magazine cover (link here). First, I found a blonde wig with bangs. It should be paired with a baby-blue boxy button-up and matching pleated skirt (a little oversized is preferred). Add white knee-high leg warmers and platform/goth boots. Top it off with a matching bucket hat and microphone.

The last outfit can be a range of women, basically anyone from the US women’s gymnastic team, including Suni Lee, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum, Mykayla Skinner, or Jade Carey. The outfit is so simple – a long sleeve leotard with red athletic pants and a cropped USA top. Add the gold medal, and boom, you’re an Olympic gymnast.

Dining Room Progress

September 9, 2021

The dining room renovation is officially done. Jeremy and I worked steadily to get the board and batten just right, making this project longer than anticipated. In the end, the hard work was worth it, and I’m delighted with how it turned out. While preparing this post, I took a peek at the original listing photos. It’s always fun to take inventory of how much has changed. I had almost forgotten about the original light fixture and the chair rail.

I’ll quickly recap everything we did in this room and the timeline. Not long after we moved into the house, we updated the light fixture to the current long black fixture. It was a welcomed change from the tiny traditional chandelier. For a while, we lived with the white walls and orangey wood. At the end of last year, Jeremy and I decided to start on the massive job of installing hardwood floors throughout our first floor. We decided the dining room and attached living room would be the best place to start (I briefly talked about it here). As is common during renovations, the project’s scope grew as Jeremy and I decided to tackle the board and batten at the same time.

So, not only did we rip out the old carpet and baseboards, but we removed the chair rail, repaired the drywall, and painted the room (upper half Asiago – Valspar, bottom – Ultra White – Behr). Below is a grainy cell phone picture of some of the progress.

There was a lot of planning that went into the board and batten. We had to figure out the spacing, determined the material, and Jeremy spent a few hours cutting MDF down to the right size boards. We installed the top portion of the board and batten before the hardwood flooring was installed. The room sat untouched for a month or two while we figured out some of the remaining questions for the board and batten, like should we install the baseboards first and then the remaining stiles? (this is what we did). Can we use standard baseboards or do we need to use MDF? (MDF) How can we ensure that everything is lined up? (Laser level).

After we had a plan in place, it only took a day to install the rest of the board and batten. You know that saying: Victory loves preparation? Well, that is how we felt because the install was quick and relatively easy.

With all the boards installed, we had to complete one of the most important parts of the project – filling, sanding, caulking, and painting. When we started our DIY journey, I wouldn’t say I liked this part of any project. However, I’ve grown to love it over the years because it makes such a huge difference. Those relatively small and tedious steps can transform things from good to great.

Once the room construction was finished, we moved all our furniture back into the room and styled it (which was relatively minor). So, now we get to the fun part – the after pictures.

The dining room is in the corner of the house and has a large opening to our small living room. Our house faces east, and the dining room’s window is open to the west. When looking into the dining room from the living room, you get a full view of the whole room. The room is grounded with a large 8’6″ x 13′ blue and white plaid rug. It’s actually an outdoor rug, so it’s very easy to clean. Surprisingly, it’s soft underfoot, which is not always the case for outdoor rugs.

The dining room table and chairs are from 10+ years ago. Jeremy and I purchased the set when we bought our first home. It’s a beautiful solid wood set from a collection by Cindy Crawford (yes, the supermodel). I love the Chippendale-style chair backs and the slight curve on the table’s legs. Each of those things makes this traditional table feel modern and updated. It comes with a leaf, but we left it out since we’re not hosting very many dinners at this time. And honestly, I’m more likely to have a couple of people over rather than a whole group, so it works out just fine.

The white dining room hutch belonged to Jeremy’s grandmother. While it’s not my style, I embrace the sentimentality of it. It was originally stained wood, but I painted it white a few years ago. The back wall has green curtains hung high and wide. Actually, looking at the photos reminds me I need to get a longer curtain rod. Not to mention the curtains would do well with some pleats (and training).

My absolute favorite view is from the kitchen. It has the perfect combination of almost all the elements in the room and looks well styled and put together. On the table is a wooden vessel from Target and a glass vase filled with faux fall stems. I kept the styling minimal as this is generally how it looks and operates on a day-to-day basis.

I don’t have a great shot looking into the living room from the dining room. The one above is probably the best. Maybe next time, I’ll try to shoot from outside the window to capture the whole room.

Well, there you have an update on the renovated dining room. This room will continue to evolve, and I’ll slowly change the room up over time. I’ve already mentioned that I want to get a longer curtain rod and train the curtains. I also want to recover our chair cushions with a Crypton fabric (this fabric is super durable for kids). Right now, they are covered in microfiber, which is also a great fabric for kids. However, after 11 years (7 with a baby/child), they could definitely use a refresh. The rug will eventually be replaced. Maybe when my son B is a little older, and there are fewer spills. I’m not in a rush, though, and I plan on enjoying this version of the dining room for some time.

Affordable Geometric Green Wallpaper

September 7, 2021

Green has been a trending color for several years now, and I couldn’t be happier. It is my favorite color, after all. Recently, I went on a hunt to find affordable green geometric wallpaper for a project I’m working on. I definitely found a lot of fun ones that could go in a variety of different rooms. For practical reasons, all of these are non-woven and paste-the-wall application-style (installation is pretty easy for this type of paper, see my tips here).

Some feel modern and simple, and others feel more classic and complex. Which ones are your favorites?

Top: Left, Center, Right | Bottom: Left, Center, Right

September Link Up

September 3, 2021

When fall arrives, I think of bonfires, football games, and high school. What about you?

Julian Fellowes Presents Doctor Thorne: This Amazon Prime show is several years old (2016!) and was created by the person behind Downton Abbey. It’s set in England in the 1800s and shows how love, family, money, and class intersect. I’m halfway through the series and enjoying it immensely (I was very late to this party). You’ll definitely get some Bridgerton vibes.

A traditional home with a very fun exterior color: WOW! This is how you do a pink house.

Have you ever seen the short video Inner Workings?

10 Ways to Infuse Personality Into Your Home

August 20, 2021

Have you ever looked at a home, and it felt generic? Maybe it had a hotel vibe. The design is appealing. Each piece is in the right proportion, and the fabrics are coordinating, but something is just missing. For me, the missing piece is usually a person’s personality! I recently watched a home tour on Architectural Digest, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the art. It seemed so generic, especially for the owner’s personality. It felt like the art was picked and placed because the wall needed something and not because it fit the person.

Not long after, I watched another home tour (also on AD). The home struck me as so fun and personal. The personality of the space instantly made it feel warmer and more interesting. I kept thinking about that space and wished that AD would feature more homes like that one. I also asked myself–Does my home feel like my personality? Am I showing who I am?

For the most part, yes! I definitely think the rooms are me (some more than others). So I’ve been thinking about easy ways to infuse personality into a space. Here are 10 ways to make your home feel more like you.

1. Color Palette

This is a fun one if you love the color. Why hide it in your house? Try to incorporate your favorite colors into the space. Don’t think colorful interiors can be sophisticated? I challenge you to prove yourself wrong.

2. Art

I’m finding that I have strong opinions about art. Not necessarily in the, you should like this type art, but more in the, I don’t know if you can outsource the art selection for your house. I know that sounds strict, but everything about art is so personal. What attracts you, what makes you happy, what is interesting or important to you.

3. Textiles

I think textiles are magical, and I am somewhat obsessed with them. (I am seriously looking for a book or online class to learn more about textiles- please recommend a few to me if you know of any!) Textiles can bring so much personality into the room by picking different textures, prints, and types. I particularly think mixing textiles and patterns level up rooms in both the design sense but in the personal/personality way, too. It’s also a skill that takes time to perfect but 100% worth the effort.

4. Unique Items

Pick up that weird picture frame or odd-looking crane sculpture. Those unique items will let people see who you are. My wood snail is one of my weird things. It’s probably not everyone, but that’s also the fun part of it.

5. Collections

Collections can instantly make a room feel personal and give a glimpse into who you are and what you like. I absolutely adore the image above, where they have a collection of dog prints on the wall. I can guarantee that person likes dogs!

6. Books

I guess it’s a thing to buy books only because they have a pretty spine and will look nice in pictures… It seems like a waste to me, but books are a great way to incorporate what you love. For example, do you love military history? Pick up a coffee table book or two that you enjoy looking at and use that as your coffee table decor. Sarah Johnson styled the above coffee table with stacks and stacks of books.

7. Unexpected Touches

It’s funny how something little can totally transform an object. For example, a standard throw pillow can instantly be elevated by adding the right piping or trim. These small touches can also convey personality. Bonus points if the person does it themself and it’s executed well. I particularly love the hand-painted armoire above.

8. Wallpaper (or stenciling)

It’s hard not to show personality when picking a wallpaper. There are a million different options out there, so covering all the walls in a print/pattern can’t help but give a little glimpse into who you are.

9. Statement Furniture

A bold chair, table, or sofa can go a long way. It could have a unique shape, pattern, or both. It will probably be memorable, and people will never forget it! Just make sure you love it, and don’t just go bold for bold sake. Kelly Wearstler may be the queen of bold statement-furniture. Sometimes I look at her stuff, and I think it’s pure craziness, but it always works.

10. Family Photos

Oh, the controversial family photos. Some people hate them, and other people love them. For me, I think thoughtful family photos add warmth and happiness to a house. I’m all for it and like when I visit people’s homes that celebrate their loved ones.

Living Room Before & After Progress

August 14, 2021

I’m finally sharing my living room progress. I’ve been dragging my feet because, well, I’m still working on my photography skills. The room feels so good in person, but I can’t seem to capture the right images. I’m trying to be patient with myself as I learn the right height, exposure, and settings. I used a wide-angle lens for all the shots, which I think contributed to some of my problems (some of the images look a little distorted – like the proportions are off). I also think I should have tried to capture photos on an overcast day, as I was battling bright light for some of the pictures. Nevertheless, let’s talk about and celebrate the progress of this room. It makes me very happy, and I just like spending time here.

Let’s start with the before pictures because it’s always fun to see how things have changed. This first photo is from the real estate listing. The room was bright, painted white, and had wood trim. This room is not large by any account. It opens up into the dining room and has a doorway into the entryway (you’ll see that in some of the photos below).

Right before we started demo, I snapped some quick photos on my phone. They are dark (it was a cloudy day), but it gives a good sense of the overall room size. The first photo looks into the dining room, and the second one looks into the living room from the dining room.

Here is a quick shot after we removed the carpet and prepped it for the hardwood flooring installation. I had also painted the walls (Asiago by Valspar) and trim (Ultra Pure White by Behr). These small changes started to make it feel like a different room.

We installed the white oak hardwood flooring, and I was over the moon excited. Sadly, this is how it sat for a couple of months while we worked on the dining room and all the trim work.

After some delay, we finished it off by installing larger baseboard trim and quarter round around the perimeter.

And now the official after photos – all furnished!

We had all the furniture and accessories before the demo, so we just put everything back into place. These two chairs are from HomeGoods (one is Charlotte style by La Z Boy, and the other is from a manufacturer I’ve never heard of). I had the two chairs flank the window and put a small table between them. I searched for months for the right table because I needed something relatively short as I didn’t want to block the window. The floor lamp is from Target (years ago), and the wicker basket under the table stores some board games.

You can also see the doorway to the entry at this angle. Don’t mind our shoes (hey, this is real life!). You’ll also see that the entry has old hardwood floors and unpainted wood trim. We are installing the hardwoods room-by-room, so the entry will eventually get the new floorings/trim, but for now, it’s in an in-between phase.

Here is looking into the living room from the entry. Our XL DIY art is on full display here. The coffee table is from Hayneedle (no longer available), and it’s topped with a large blue woven tray. Of course, it’s full of magazines. They seem to be taking over the house these days. The rug is from Overstock.com, and I love it. It’s textured, soft, and has two different weaves that create a nice striped pattern. Quick disclaimer – I ordered an 8′ x 10,’ but the dimensions are slightly smaller. I ordered the “bleach” color.

Looking into the living room from the dining room, you see an old console table (I think it’s 10 years old!). We bought it for our first house, and it has moved with us everywhere. It’s starting to show its age, so I may replace it or do a DIY makeover. I use it to display a bunch of family photos. I’ve talked about this before, but I’ll repeat it. Kate Spade’s home tour really inspired me. She had a table just crammed full of family photos, and I thought it was so sweet. It’s not necessarily the most “beautiful” thing, but it’s probably one of the happiest moments in the room. We also have some baskets which store my son’s craft supplies. I threw blankets on top for a little more grown-up look.

As I said, the living room is pretty small. With a different layout, I could have included a full-size sofa but decided to use a loveseat (also a HomeGoods find) instead, so it could float in the middle of the room and face the chairs. I wanted this space to feel intimate and be an area for people to have conversations and play games.

It’s always fun to take a few detailed shots. I love snails (you’ll see them throughout the house). This little wood snail is from Target (many years ago now).

I really like the piping and texture on this blue pillow.

This room is done for now. Eventually, I’ll change out the blinds for a bamboo shade, replace or refinish the console table, and layer in more art on the walls (I already have a ton that I just need to frame and hang). Also, let’s do a sneak peek of the dining room because it’s almost done, too! EEK!

5 Family-Friendly Things To Do At Myrtle Beach

August 10, 2021

My family and I visited Myrtle Beach for the first time this year. It’s such a great, affordable beach vacation with lots of things to do nearby. I wanted to write down our favorite sites, so others could check them out if they are looking for something to do.

1. The Beach

Obviously, we need to start with the beach. It’s clean and super easy to get to. There is consistent and easy access every block or two. Likewise, they have showers and foot spigots at every entry/exit point (at least of the ones I visited). The only thing I wished I knew before is that there is a layer of shells when you walk into the ocean, and it can hurt your feet. You can get past it if you go out far enough, but I recommend swim shoes. In addition, you will get bits and pieces of seashells everywhere, and some seem embedded into your skin! It’s a wonderful place to take a walk, and people are out there all hours of the day.

2. Broadway At The Beach

Broadway at the Beach is a short drive from the beach boardwalk and has basically everything you need to stay busy. They have shopping, entertainment, and many great places to eat (We really liked the Dave & Busters and Yamato Habachi). Most entertainment venues are indoors, so it’s a great place if you need a break from the sun. In addition, they have fun shops, like Broadway Magic or It’s Sugar, that kids will enjoy.

3. Ripley’s Aquarium

While visiting the boardwalk, check out Ripley’s Aquarium. It can be a nice break from the sun or something fun to do when it’s raining. It’s a compact aquarium but has show stoppers like the stingray tank and shark tunnel. The ticket line can grow quickly, so I recommend purchasing the tickets on your phone. It saves you so some time!

4. Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Golf

Like many tourism destinations, Mrytle Beach has a wide array of mini-golf options. There were tons to choose from, but we decided to go to Mt. Atlanticus, and I was very impressed! It has two courses (you can do both for a reasonable price). The course is easy enough for kids but still fun for adults. It’s designed to keep you moving, which is helpful since it’s hot outside and usually bustling. We did the “Caves” course and appreciated the opportunity to be out of the sun for many of the holes. Lots of fun and you get some beautiful views of the ocean. It’s hard to see, but the picture above has the ocean in the back.

5. Brookgreen Gardens & Zoo

This botanical garden and zoo are located 30-45 minutes away from Mrytle but worth the drive. You pay a single price to access the gardens and zoo, which are on the same property. Also, the tickets are good for 7 days. It’s a nice retreat from the hectic atmosphere of the beach. You can stroll through the gardens and grounds, take in the beautiful landscapes, and even view some art. They have the largest collection of sculptures. The zoo is small and houses animals local to the area. Like the gardens, the zoo has a meandering path, so it feels peaceful.