I’m all about simplifying the holidays this year, and today I’ve got a double dose of holiday hacks to make your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other holiday dinner warm, welcoming, and less hassle for the host! My mom loves to entertain guests and over the years she has taught me everything I know about entertaining as an art form and the gift of hospitality. Today I’d like to pass on some of her wisdom, mostly so I don’t forget to teach my own children someday. How to Set a Simple Elegant Table Before I get into the larger subject of entertaining, let’s start with a smaller piece of the pie… Keep Reading
Affordable Kitchen Lighting Options
Recently one of my favorite readers (and best friends) asked if I could share some ideas for affordable kitchen lighting. Happy to oblige, I’ve put together a little roundup of my favorite modern industrial farmhouse lighting options. Picking the right lighting for a room can be one of those design challenges that you don’t think about until you find yourself overwhelmed with thousands of choices, wondering how you could have paid so little attention all your life to the lights you use every day in your home. Affordable kitchen lighting has been on my mind lately, because when we recently replaced the floor in our kitchen and breakfast nook, we… Keep Reading
DIY Gold Hexagon Backsplash
This DIY gold hex stencil project is an easy, cheap and on-trend way to give your backsplash, or really any space, a quick makeover. I had so much fun making over my camper for last month’s $100 Room Challenge, but the time flew by so fast I’m just now getting around to writing a proper tutorial for this fun backsplash project. Attempt #1: Removable Wallpaper When I started my camper makeover, I had big plans to redo the kitchen backsplash area with removable wallpaper. I was inspired by this wallpaper project from Amy at Delineate Your Dwelling. But when I went to try it myself, it turned into a big… Keep Reading
Back to School Grownup Bedroom Refresh
Now that my kids are back in school, I get to take time to work on my own projects again! I thought I’d start by giving my master bedroom a little makeover This grownup bedroom refresh is all about the details, clean lines, and soft colors. We recently sold our latest flip house, that did double duty for a while as an AirBNB property, and had a few items left over from staging it. I enjoyed them so much in the flip house that I wanted to bring them home and find a place for them in my house. And I didn’t have to look far. A few months ago,… Keep Reading
How to Repair Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring is one of the best things since sliced bread. It comes in amazing colors, styles and finishes. You can get commercial grade versions for high-traffic areas. It’s waterproof and virtually indestructible. And it’s affordable. What more could you ask for in a flooring product?! We put luxury vinyl plank (LVP) in our latest flip house, which also functioned as an AirBNB property, and it performed amazingly well. The only problem was a few pieces were not installed correctly, and they started lifting up after several months of wear and tear. So naturally I wanted to know how to fix it myself rather than calling our handyman…. Keep Reading
ModPodge and Cocktail Napkin Easy Candle Makeover
I love this easy and fun candle makeover that takes cheap glass candles, and turns them into colorful centerpieces, for about $1 a piece! OK, show of hands, who else is obsessed with Dollar Store crafts? Whenever my daughters ask to go to the Dollar Store, I secretly jump for joy with anticipation of slowly walking the aisles, looking for crafty inspiration one dollar at a time. Also, on a related note, why is it that I can never seem to spend less than $25 at the Dollar Store? This project first debuted as part of my Patio Makeover series, where I updated our backyard for summer. I whipped these… Keep Reading
Summer Patio Makeover Reveal
Our Summer Patio Makeover is finally finished! We started a month ago, and I’m so glad we finished all our projects before the weather got too hot. Now we can sit back and enjoy our patio in the shade all summer long. As with any big project, this Summer patio makeover was made up of several smaller projects, so I’m breaking this down into all the pieces and parts. Hopefully you’ll get some ideas along the way for your own outdoor oasis! ~ This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. ~ Summer Patio Makeover The… Keep Reading
Bring the Indoors Out with an Outdoor Rug
Designing a comfortable patio starts with function, but it doesn’t have to end there. To truly create an outdoor living space, you need to add a few touches of comfort, like an outdoor rug. And I’ve got just the place to find one! This month marks the beginning of outdoor living in our part of the world, and I’m jumping on that bandwagon by making over my back patio, just in time for summer. Last week we painted our concrete block wall, which made the whole space feel more inviting and lived in, and now we’re moving on to decorating the space under our gazebo. I want my outdoor dining… Keep Reading
How to Hang Curtains the Easy Way with a Laser Level
When it’s time to hang curtains, make your life tons easier with this simple inexpensive hack. You’ll never hang curtains without a laser level again! This is the third in my Back to Basics series, where I’m covering all the basics on things like making art from color palettes, tools that make it easier to paint a room, and now hanging curtains with a laser level. Hanging fresh curtains is a great way to change the look of your room. It may not be the most fun job but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be frustrating. First I have a confession. This post is difficult for me… Keep Reading
How to Make Painting Simple With the Right Tools
Painting a room doesn’t have to be difficult or intimidating. Make painting simple with the right tools, and a few insider tricks. I’ve been meaning to write this post for years, but I always assumed I’d be telling you something you already knew. That changed this week when I stopped by a friend’s house as she was painting her living room. Watching her try to do the job with only a roller and a paintbrush made me realize it’s time to share what I’ve learned over many years of painting rooms. (Hint: the right tools make all the difference!) Some folks are intimidated by painting rooms, since it’s such a… Keep Reading