How To Easily DIY A Stone Backsplash

When we were building our new home I knew I wanted a rock backsplash but I didn't want the standard mosaic tiles, I wanted the full profile of the rocks, with all their flaws and oddities. I fell in love with these rocks at Old Time Pottery and bought enough to finish off my project.
 
My husband was leery, to say the least, so he made plywood backs for me to work on instead of putting it directly on the wall. That was fine with me because I had enough work to do at the house (tiling, painting, countertops, etc) this I was able to work on in front of the T.V. and get a break from the craziness of building the house.

How to Update Your 50's Kitchen On A Budget

I've been helping a friend update her 50's ranch.   Our goal, major impact without breaking the bank.  One of the first areas that needed tackled was the kitchen.  A complete overhaul would be wonderful but that was not our plan.  We opted for some paint and elbow grease.  What an amazing transformation to such a dingy old kitchen.

To subscribe to our Cheat Sheet Postcard Series and get today's postcard, a free printable with ten different ways to update and add some flair to your kitchen, please click here:

10 Ways To Update Your Kitchen On A Budget

How To Make A Unique Piece of Furniture With Concrete

 I am completely infatuated with concrete, call me weird, (that's alright you won't hurt my feelings) but the incredible things that people are doing with concrete keeps me excited and inspired to do more.

My love affair with concrete prompted me to add a new postcard to my Cheat Sheet Postcard Series, a collection of postcards to collect and reference on a variety of topics.   For your free Subscription to the series, click here:  10 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Concrete. 

This is a conference table my husband and I made for his work.  Here it is all framed up.  You can see the edge liner we used and the veining that was added with caulk.  We will be using Buddy Rhodes Countertop Mix for this project.  After mixing you place it by the handful, gently twisting as you put it in the bottom of the framing and work it up the edges.  As you add handfuls you will be forming crevices that you'll fill in later with a contrasting color, makes for a great texture.  This technique is done upside down, so the bottom of your form will be the top of your table.

How To Easily Fix The Hole In A Furniture Top With BarnWood

I bought this adorable desk at an estate sale for next to nothing. I have never seen a desk quite like it.  From the bottom where it rests on the floor to the way the handles line up down the front, I was in love from the moment I saw it and had to have it.

One of my favorite finds are furniture pieces that have great bones but need a little personalization and TLC. 

This piece had really only one problem, there's quite a hole in the top of the desk,  a "make it work" moment.

One Really Cool Way We Used Concrete to Finish A Fireplace

I really love the many ways concrete is now being used.  From counter tops and tabletops to light fixtures (yes, I said light fixtures) and decorative floors.

I'm always surprised and totally inspired by the creative uses people come up with for such a common product.  I've added a new postcard to my Cheat Sheet Postcard Series, a collection of postcards to collect and reference on a variety of topics.   For your free Subscription to the series, click here:  10 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Concrete.

We had done quite a few concrete projects around the house but this is the first project I've done inside. It's messy, so lots of prep-work is involved, but well worth the effort. You can personalize it and get as creative as you want.

We built this house a couple years ago (the Spec House) adding a concrete hearth and mantle with a carved vertical concrete fireplace surround, very fun project!

The Wonderful World of Vintage Textiles

I find myself drawn to particular things when walking through an antique mall or thrift shop.  Very near the top of my list is textiles, of any kind.  From old clothing to napkins and tablecloths or a beautiful quilt will have me drooling.  I just love them. 

Here's a sampling of great things, within the textile realm, I found at a local antique shop:

How To Give New Life To Worn Out Wood Furniture

I love to look for quality wood furniture pieces at garage sales and thrift stores.  If you are persistent and keep at it you can find some really great stuff.  

For a quick reference quide of my top 10 Items to Grab for Unique Home Decor subscribe to my Postcard Cheat Sheet Series, today's postcard is entitled Thrift Store Gold.

I am working on some furniture pieces and playing with decoupage, I'm having way too much fun!  I love the two-tone furniture that is painted white and the drawers/door fronts are left natural wood.  I have been wanting to do a piece like that for a while and finally found a couple great pieces to play with.

Memoirs of Building Our Home- Part 6

We started building our home in the Spring of 2007 and moved in the end of January 2008.  My husband works in the construction industry so he managed the build and we did quite a bit of the work ourselves.  Lots of sweat, time and energy went into our home and for me, even after seven years, there's not much I'd change.

Have you ever built a home?  Any regrets or things you'd do differently?  Would you ever do it again?  I'd love to take you through our experience and give you a look at our finished product, definately a lot of work but so worth it!

Here are some links to get you caught up if you'd like:

Part 1- the basement is poured and the beams are in, time for framing to begin.

Part 2- framing is nearly done

Part 3- Windows and doors and a few small concrete projects

Part 4- Lots and lots of wiring and plumbing.  The guts of the project, and the drywall is up and painted.

Part 5- Three main projects with lots of "behind the scenes" work getting completed; the fireplace, the staircase and I started tiling in the master bathroom.

For me, the tile work has just begun.  Kitchen cabinetry is going in and the hardwood floors are being installed.  Electrical is pretty well done, plumbing is a work in progress, the carpenter is working hard right now and things are really starting to come together.

How To Make A Fringed Memory Pillow

When we lost my grandfather a couple years ago I asked grandma to keep his clothes for me so I could make a quilt, now what to do with all the leftovers?  I decided pillows were the perfect solution.  I have enough material to make lots of pillows vs. only one more quilt.  Pillows it is!

How To Get More Bang For Your Buck With A Back-Splash

If you're looking for a relatively easy, inexpensive way to add some pizzazz to your space and give it an update, how about a back-splash.  

If you're considering updating your kitchen check out my Cheat Sheet Postcard Series, today's postcard, 10 Ways To Update Your Kitchen On A Budget.

Here's a few of my favorite projects.

Fun With Concrete- How We Made A Unique Vanity Base For Our Bathroom

After a trip to World Of Concrete I was soooo inspired to use concrete in as many ways as possible in our new home. I told my husband I wanted an oval shaped vanity base in the little hallway bathroom. He thought I was crazy, as usual, but proceeded to frame it up for me and "make it work." We used Buddy Rhodes Concrete Mixes. If you haven't seen his stuff you should take a look-amazing stuff!

We've used concrete in many varying ways around the house.  Have you done any creative work with concrete?  I'm always surprised and totally inspired by the creative uses people come up with for concrete.  I've added a new postcard to my Cheat Sheet Postcard Series, a collection of postcards to collect and reference on a variety of topics.   For your free Subscription to the series, click here:  10 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Concrete.

How To Make Simple Updates To a Dark, Dreary Kitchen on a Budget

When the boys were in High School, over Spring Break I took a trip to my moms while they visited the in-laws. Mom and I spent an extended weekend (roughly 5 days) busting our butts getting her kitchen overhauled. The plan was to spend as little as possible and just freshen it up. It's such a small, dark space so automatically we knew the cabinets had to be painted. We also opted to put down a new floor and add a backsplash. Mom ended up changing out the countertops and sink as well. It really turned out great and we got to spend some quality time together. It was lots of hard work but we had a blast!

To subscribe to our Cheat Sheet Postcard Series and get today's postcard, please click here:

10 Ways To Update Your Kitchen On A Budget