Sunday Family Dinner

This past Sunday I hosted the usual Sunday family dinner. Nice to take the stress off my parents from time to time plus we wanted to do a meet and greet of sorts with a possible new furry addition to the family. I had a beautiful fall arrangement from the Black Tie event the night prior I was able to use which really made the table.

 

Essentially just whipped out some of the pretty china, decided to mix and match patterns, added in some fun funky anthropologie napkins, candles, painted antlers, and pumpkins and we were good to go with a fun fallish table.

I love the purple mason jars I nabbed a few weeks ago. I think they do different colors every year and it's fun to have a mix of options. Something about drinking out of a mason jar that intrigues me.

 

The whole back patio got a little fall sprucing. Plants that were looking a little haggard were replaced with fresh new mums, pretty pumpkins were added, and the dirt and grime swept away. Can't wait to enjoy several more dinners al fresco during this perfect weather time of year.

 

 We initially had planned to eat before it was pitch dark, but with fall approaching and it getting dark so fast that just didn't happen. So we dinned by candlelight which actually turned out quite fun. I really really need some of those fancy string outdoor lights!

 

Patio Sprucing and Table Refinishing

Here are a few before pictures of my back patio, it's looked like this for probably 8 years or so. I need to paint that garage wall and add something pretty to help camouflage the brick.

 

 

 

Not awful and use able, I just didn't love it anymore. Especially as the cushions had seen better days and some of the paint was peeling. I found a few sets I "liked" but didn't love and I wasn't ready to spend $1,000's on new stuff I wasn't head over heels for. I decided on a whim to see what I could find at my favorite goodwill and I hit the jackpot. For less than $50 I walked away with six chairs and a way sturdy table.

 

 

I threw on the trusty painter/project clothes and set to work cleaning, polying like crazy, painting, and refinishing.

 I also finally tacked the cute potting bench that was also a thrift find a few years ago. It is now party ready. I have since added a few extra flowers for color and still need to figure out what I want for a new top.

I actually really liked the natural stain on the chairs so just added outdoor poly and recovered the seats with outdoor fabric.

 

The table received several coats of white outdoor paint. It is already chipping a little as the weather just wasn't cooperating when I painted it. But I'm letting it go as I want it to look somewhat worn and weathered. I will re-evaluate and touch up as needed at the end of the summer.

A few candles, pots, and a fun galvanized tray and I'm ready for dinner parties.

 

Last year the neighbors almost threw these gorgeous chairs away. I rescued them from the curb and love the weathered/worn look. This is how I want the table eventually. A few fun SAMs pillows, a thrifted afghan, and it's ready for s'more making.

I wish I would have taken more pictures of the whole patio blooming with flowers and herbs but this is as good as it gets for now. Amazing what a small investment and a lot of elbow grease can do to warm up a space and make it feel fun and new again. I for sure spent less than $150 total on the table project. Excited to set the table and host a dinner party.

My Bedroom Needs Refresh

My bedroom is in desperate need of a little pick me up. A little botox of sorts. It's not awful (well if you discount the color samples on the wall) by any means. I actually still love the bedding. It's just way too heavy for spring/summer so I have come to terms I need to use it int he fall/winter and the something lighter the other times.

 

 These pictures were all snapped quick when I was home and we actually had a tad bit of sun. I did zero staging obviously and it's slightly messy. Mostly just wanted a few before. I want to strip the woodwork as it's peeling in several places. I also want the walls more of a dark charcoal color. I am open to any perfect charcoal color suggestions. I like dark dramatic bedrooms.

The biggest issue is what you see here. A HUGE armoire that I love and it's pretty but it's huge, and a after the fact closet that is way useful but not pretty at all and takes up a ton of space. There is another closet in the room so tearing this out won't ruin the only storage. As useful as it is I really think I need to tear it out so back to the original room shape and move the armoire to it's location. Thoughts?

 

Then I could put a pretty mirrored dresser on the other side of the bed as well. More uniform and much more open feeling. I need to switch up the art arrangement some also. I like both pieces but the one is too small. Maybe move the location or make it more of a gallery style wall.

 

Spring Front Porch

 

I love this front porch, for some reason I think big front porches are so inviting. Only thing better would be if I was located out in the country with no neighbors just fields and cows. Luckily it is set back far enough from the street and neighbors that it's oddly private. It was filthy though from a few years of just a quick hosing off. So I finally bit the bullet yesterday and moved everything off the porch and scrubbed away. Even the floors by hand. Now it feels fresh clean and ready for lots of summer cocktails and book reading.

Who am I kidding? I will probably sit here a handful of times at best as I do a horrible job of sitting and relaxing at home. But I do need to work on that! I don't always have to be "busy" and I also don't always have to shop or go out to relax. I could enjoy my house and my own company right?!? Maybe???

I need a more summery wreath but I love this spring one so much tempted to leave it up for the duration. I also need a better mat but haven't found a new one I love yet.

 I did stay in Friday night and enjoy a nice fancy pizza hut pizza on china and a delic glass of wine. Of course this was pre-cleaning when everything felt like layers of dust. It was still enjoyable though and fun sitting there protected from the elements as the rain crashed down outside.

The porch swing was my grandparents, the cute little rustic bench my grandpa made years ago, and the bright rug is from Mali (mission trip). Such fun memories in each special piece.

Fun Bright Before and After's of Las Iguanas

We are making slow but steady progress on our little beach shack. It's nothing fancy but honestly I am in LOVEEEEEE with it. Especially now that it is brighter thanks to paint and windows. I love seeing it progress and become more "ours". Figured I would show a few before and afters. We still have curtains to hang in some rooms, art to add to the walls, and rugs but we are getting there.

 

Living room Before:

 

Living room After: (New paint, windows, slipcovers for the sofa (which I painstakenly sewed the day before we left until after midnight lol), added a chair from a different room (also gave it a facelift with new material), new coffee table,  new art from one of our favorite local artists (only seen in one picture) and a fun new dresser. Still need a few more pillows, curtains, and maybe a rug.

 

Dinning Room Before:

 

 Dinning Room After: Again new paint and windows, a new table from Woodstock a fun local woodworking shop, a fun bright colored rug, and new linens from Guatemala. Need curtains, art, and two chairs.

My Bedroom Before:

 

My Bedroom After: New paint, windows, curtains, and linens. Still needs art, and possibly a new rug.

 

 

 My Parents Bedroom Before:

Parents Bedroom After: New paint, windows, linens, and a fun headboard also from Woodstock. We also put the footstool deals form the living room in here. Still needs art, a ceiling fan, and a rug.

Hallway Before:

Hallway After (taken the opposite direction though sorry). New paint and light. Needs a fun colorful runner and art.

Niobrara Cabin Living/Dinning Room Updates

I am always amazed what some sweat, paint, furniture, and decorations can do to transform a space! The cabin is no exception. Here we have the added bonus of new flooring which is a game changer as well. This is the living/dinning area the day we bought it. Fancy lattice work on the windows and all.

Here it is a few weeks ago. I honestly can't believe how different it looks. We still need molding and baseboards but it's a huge improvement. A few more decorative pillows would be a bonus as well.

I just can't get over how much better it looks! My dad and brothers did the flooring themselves and it made such an impact. The curtains were leftover from my townhouse in Kuwait. Maybe not my first choice but they actually added some fun color to the rooms.

This is the dinning area before. I am still torn on if we need to do something more with the lower cabinet portion.

For now it's new paint, light fixture, flooring, switching out handles, and accessories. The below picture was snapped quick right before we left so not overly styled (hello no plant or flowers in the bucket). We need a new light for that hallway and I have different material for the chairs. In a perfect world my brothers would make me an awesome farm table for this area with wood from the hog shed at the land. Hint Hint....

Adding a Little Christmas Cheer to the Country Shack

 

My dad and brothers actually built this adorable country shack years ago as a “playhouse” of sorts. Now that it’s all fixed up and habitable we thought it would be fun to spend Christmas eve cozied up inside by the fire watching movies.

 

I decided this warranted a few decorations to make the shack more festive. Luckily there are an abundance of cedar trees growing wild that I was able to snip some branches off, plenty of pines to gather cones from, and discounted poinsettias at the store.

I might still add a tree or string of lights but we are close to ready for a snuggly Christmas Eve movie night after the Christmas Service.