As if we didn’t have enough projects going on around here between the hall bathroom remodel and the Alma project we decided last week to start yet another home improvement project, otherwise known as Operation Window Seat. 

We’re making some changes to the kids’ playroom space, turning it into a library/study instead since they’re getting older now and in elementary school.  The space is narrow measuring 9 feet wide and I’ve always loved the idea of building a window seat in here and pulling up a table in front of it for homework, reading, games, art, etc. 

I thought about adding bookshelves around the windows but that felt too cramped so we’re going with just a basic window seat + cushion + pillows combo along the bottom that will add some extra seating and storage up against this wall. 

And let’s face it.  What’s better than a casual and cozy built in window seat with throw pillows galore, I ask you. 

New England Home Magazine

House Beautiful

Read the rest of this entry »

A few weeks ago I was asked by Home Depot to shop their store and come up with a few new ideas for planters (you’ve seen the other two here and here).  I had this idea in my head that I wanted to wrap a metal bucket in river rocks to turn it into a coastal inspired planter with crazy cool texture.  I wasn’t 100% sure the idea would work but it actually did.

Here’s the quick play by play on how I made this rock covered bucket!

Read the rest of this entry »

Hey there, hope you had a great weekend!  We did some organizing and gardening and had a big birthday party for both the kids at the local park – it was a lot of fun and also relaxing too!  I can feel summer coming with the warmer weather and everything in bloom, and we’re loving spending more time outdoors in the sunshine, aren’t you?

Last week I mentioned I came up with a few creative ideas for container gardening for a Home Depot workshop, the first was the wood shim planter, the second was this mosaic tile window planter box seen below.  I’ve got a third project to share with you later this month, but before I do, here’s an example of how you can use mosaic tile to dress up an ordinary redwood planter.

Any small scale mosaic tile you find will do and there are so many available to choose from.  This project can be done without the use of a tile cutting saw if you stick to the mesh grid square mosaics like the one seen above instead of an offset or brick pattern tile.  I chose white because the planter was destined to be part of a raffle at the Home Depot presentation and because basic white would be at home in any backyard.

If you’ve never tiled anything before, this is a good place to start!  It’s a small enough project for you to get your feet wet with a tiling, and you’ll be so excited you did it!   To recreate your own mosaic tile planter, here are the basic supplies: wood planter box, thin set mortar, mosaic tile of choice, grout, stain or outdoor latex paint (optional), polyurethane (if staining), sponge brush, large sponge, grout float or spackle/putty knife, and painter’s tape.

Read the rest of this entry »

Okay friends, time for the project breakdown on the playroom reveal earlier this week.  I’ll tackle the four projects from easiest to most challenging, here we go!

The Play Table:

After shopping around online and finding only plastic tables in my budget, I spied this ad on Craigslist the weekend before the install and literally jumped for joy.  It was a used Pottery Barn Kids chalkboard table with a storage center in the middle for crayons, art supplies, etc. and four solid wood chairs.  It was perfect!  I quickly emailed the owner and drove over to grab it mere moments after she replied to my email telling me it was still available.  $45 buckaroos was a total score!

The chalkboard surface was worn and scratched but the rest of the table was in great condition, so I sanded the surface with the orbital to get it nice and smooth. Next I taped off the wood and primed the surface, and followed it up with two coats of teal paint to bring it back to life.

Such a cute addition to the space with plenty of space for arts and crafts.

Read the rest of this entry »