Life has been busy lately with unworthy blog projects like weeding, fixing pool equipment, and cleaning sheds and garages (really, who wants to read about that?) I have also been overwhelmed by end of school projects and festivities. I am bracing myself for summertime. I love the kids at home, but I love them productively busy too. Usually by the time school is over we are all ready for the schedule again!
Wherever you are out in blog land, may I introduce my beloved CRAB SHACK. (This is the moment that I swallow all my pride and show you amazingly messy pictures)
This room is an add on to our master bedroom and if you have always dreamed of having a room with FOUR sliding glass doors, well look no further! This room features four sliding glass doors (one indoors), old yucky carpet, a random layout, and tons of potential. It would make an awesome sun room, den, or work out space… but since we moved in almost two years ago it has been a dumping ground and computer graveyard. It’s name was coined when my husband literally wanted to hang fishnet and plastic fish in the room to accompany his beloved singing bass.
Yes, the above beautiful creation has a motion sensor that sparks up the songs “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and “Take Me to the River” as it’s freakishly real-looking head and tail swing to the beat. It was funny the first 50 times, but now it just startles me in the middle of the night.
So, this is my next BIG project. What to do with the random add-on crab shack? Really there are only three things that must stay:
- Big Mouth Billy Bass. It’s our compromise, he literally said “do what you want, but you’re not touching my fish!”
- The tree. It’s probably the only thing I LOVE in the room. It was my grandma’s and the moment I put it in the room I knew the space had potential. Trees make everything better.
- The furniture. It’s big and bulky and I like it. Plus, new furniture is not in the budget.
So, stay tuned as I *hopefully* transform the crab shack into something functional and awesome!
Happy Creating!
Clearly mother nature missed the memo on my epic curb appeal week.
I’m pretty bummed out. I will have to post the finished pictures later than I had hoped… both the shutters and the exterior lights are done, I just have to put them on the house, and as anxious as I am to finish project curb appeal, I’ll pass on electrocution in the rain, it’s really not my thing.
Here’s a sneak preview of the shutters mid-build:
And the removing exterior lights to update them:
Don’t fret fair ones, soon the rain clouds will part and the sun will shine in blog land again soon. Until then,
Happy Creating!
Have I ever confessed that we bought our current home without ever seeing it? I don’t buy jeans without trying them on, yet in 2012 we had just moved to town (I’m talking U-haul in front of our would-be house) and our rental fell through! We moved in with my parents for a couple months. The market here was warming up and after NINETEEN offers on different homes our realtor called and said, “I think I might have something” I replied, “go over asking price and buy it.” I was sooooo pregnancy pukey and sooooo ready to have a home we made the offer sight unseen. The home was a short sale and I guess I didn’t think it would actually go through, so when we received a call that it was working out we hopped into the car to take a look. What we saw was a little less than inspiring:
But when I saw the pool I didn’t care what the home looked like. I care now though, and it is about to change. This week is going to be epic. IT’S CURB APPEAL WEEK! Last year I refinished the front door, and the house has begging for more ever since. Here is the plan:
- Paint the garage doors
- Build new shutters
- Repaint exterior lights
Stay tuned, it’s going to be fun!
Happy Creating!
The table is done! Check it out here.
I spend more time in the kitchen than any other room in the house. Not only do I cook and clean for my family of six, but the table is the hub of homework, projects and my laptop. I’m thinking I am not alone in feeling like I live in my kitchen. I was given a solid oak table from my aunt nine years ago that although not my personal style it was in great condition and I was always grateful for it:
After years of beating (and three boys) I decided to refinish the table:
I wanted to try to refinish it without sanding too much, so I used Polyshades. I had used this product on other projects like my blessed frame and super cool train table. I was happy with the result but have discovered that the finish should not be used for high traffic, abused areas like our kitchen table. The wood doesn’t drink it in and in the end chips and peels. This is what it currently looks like:
No esta bueno. I just don’t have it in me to drop thousands on a table when I have solid oak right at my fingertips. Project for this week (and on my 2014 list) is giving this never-say-die table a facelift. I found a great tutorial on Centsational Girl and I plan to paint the table. After trying to talk myself out of it for a few days (because I can’t exactly figure out why I chose this color) I can’t shake the urge to paint this beauty YELLOW.
Maybe it’s the winter. Maybe it’s my latest chair project. Maybe it’s a thirties-age-crisis that is emerging. Or maybe it’s because I am swimming in blue and brown. Whatever it is, stay tuned for an old table that is disguised as an early spring.
Happy Creating!