Juniper Hill Cabin

our newest adventure in the Adirondacks

Sometimes life gives you opportunities. It puts them right in your face and you can't even recall how they got there. Those opportunities may come with a bag of nerves and loads of uncertainty, but that's all part of the process. Over the summer we put an offer in on an adorable new construction cabin in the Adirondack mountains (near Lake Placid, NY). We had no idea what would happen and were so nervous. Within a few days we had made a deal and the concept of Juniper Hill Cabin was born.

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Master Bedroom Makeover

muted grays with some really fun wall art

This summer we set out to makeover our master bedroom with a very teeny tiny budget. We wanted to use our savings for road trips with the kids. So, we rolled up our sleeves and used that good ole' elbow grease to reimagine our retreat and make it feel new again.

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Powder Bath Makeover

a modern twist with floral accents

It's Labor Day weekend, and I sit here before my computer typing and truly understanding the irony of this blog post. The fruits of one's labor are filled with joy, accomplishment, and pride (among many other emotions). Whether sowing the fruits of a garden, the gains of a lucrative career, or the simple joy of small projects you can check off the "to-do" list, there is great closure in what we accomplish through hard work and labor. So as I reflect on the incredible summer we have been afforded, I cannot help but feel that small projects, like this one, define a sense of what this holiday is all about.

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DIY Buffalo Plaid Wallpaper Backsplash

visual interest for only $29 

About a year or so ago we took on the project of a much-needed mudroom makeover. Our mudroom/laundry room gets more action than most of the house and is our smallest space. NOTE TO SELF: If I ever build again this will be a much larger part of the home!

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My Favorite Stencil Projects

high impact design ideas for your home

Hello friends and happy weekend! Today I'm sharing some of my favorite interior design looks created with stencils. We are talking high impact, low cost ideas for totally reinventing your space and making it look incredible! I'll also share with you a great place to shop when looking for stencils and some of my top picks from them. Every image is linked for you so you can read more about the talented people that created these looks!

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First Floor Facelift

using paint to reinvent your space

It's been four years since we built and moved into our home. Our floor plan is open concept and all the first floor rooms bleed together. So when we make a decision on wall paint color, we better be ready to live with it. This can make painting expensive if planning to hire a painter. I estimated that my first floor (based on what I paid several years ago) would have been somewhere around $2,000+. Not wanting to spend the money, I committed to doing it myself and setting aside a few hours each night for about a week or so to get the job done. NOTE: The hubs does not paint - so I was flying solo on this project :)

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$100 DIY Faux Brick Backsplash

adding charm on the cheap

Picking out a tile for backsplash was pretty painful. I love so many different looks and styles and colors. From traditional subway to high glossed clay and everything in between, this was one of the more difficult design decisions I've made for my home.

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Family Room Makeover

Fresh Paint & DIY Wainscoting

Hey friends! I am super excited about all the little projects going on this fall in our home and I can't wait to share them with you. The best part is that I made so many impactful changes and only spent about $300. Woo hoo! 

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Target 'Dollar Bin' Herb Garden

a cute & easy garden project

The concept of 'time' seems to be luxury idea for me these days. I don't recall another point in my life where I've been busier but I don't want to give up on the simple pleasures of life. For me, a full-blown garden this summer seems like it may be out of the question (stay tuned) but a simple little herb garden seemed feasible thanks to the help of Target's dollar-bin.

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Interior 'Board & Batten' Design

This design element is not just for barns and stables

Texture is often the forgotten element of design. Most homes (including mine) consist of painted sheetrock walls and white ceilings. We can thank modern-day designers and builders (like Chip & Joanna Gaines) for bringing back shiplap walls and other textures that you would've found standard in old, historic homes. The craze for custom interior looks has further been fueled by the DIY community on websites such as Pinterest, Houzz, Hometalk, etc. - sharing their tips on simple 'do-it-yourself' projects that have great impact! This is so true of board & batten --- an easy and impactful way to customize any room in your room.

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$750 DIY Mudroom Makeover

Creating a serene space that feels clean and clutter-free

After three years of living in our newly-built home, I still have so many projects and ideas for making our space better. One idea that has been at the top of my list for some time now is our entryway/laundry/mudroom. 

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$50 DIY Outdoor Coffee Table (IKEA hack)

Creating a chic outdoor table from the IKEA 'Lack' series

Hey friends! I'm so excited to share this SUPER DUPER easy and CHEAP project with you! It requires little to no skill (perfect for me) and makes the most adorable outdoor/indoor coffee table. 

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Summertime ~ Outdoor Inspiration

ideas to make you swoon

OUTDOOR LIGHTING --- Source: Etsy

The summer months are magical in any part of the world. Yet in some areas (like Upstate New York where I live) it is a very short magical experience. God's gift of a few short months of warm weather, lots of sunshine, and gardens in bloom.  I always look for simple yet impactful ideas for projects that I can take on that will make this quarter of my year functional and fun, but won't break the bank.

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Nautical Kids Bath Makeover

Bringing cape cod inspiration to our urban farm home

Every summer my husband and I pack up the car and head to the Cape (Wellfleet to be precise). We've been going since we met and now our children get to enjoy the tradition that we started many years ago. The feeling of vacationing in the Cape is one of tranquility, reflection and good eats. We focus SO MUCH on the fresh seafood and summer cocktails. It's truly something I look forward to all year long. So I thought, why not bring the look and feel of the Cape right into our home? Who cares if we live in upstate NY in a farm-style home, let's do it! Plus - my kiddos loved the idea of feeling like they were at the beach :)

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Dollar Bin Desk {Target strikes again}

update your desk for just a few $$$

Heading into Target is typically dangerous territory for me. I enter with good intentions of saving money and getting the necessities, but usually leave with impulse buys galore! Luckily, most of the time these impulse purchases might cost just a few bucks as I really love to rummage through the dollar bins. Today I'm sharing some really cute office stationary with you that I found last week. These Target finds have brightened up my desk space and didn't break the bank.

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Winter Refreshers

adding warmth to the winter home with simple decor 

After all of the holiday decorations are put away my home seems to feel bare and boring. So I take this opportunity each year to buy some new, yet inexpensive, pieces of decor that I can add around the home to breathe some new life into the new year. 

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$60 Coffee Table Makeover

Sanding + Spray Paint + Stain = Whole new look

After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season I was ready to settle down and take on a good home project. You know how you have that list in the back of your head of all the little things you would do around your house if you had the time? Well I actually had some time at home over the holiday break (believe or not) and decided that it was the perfect time to tackle our worn out and dated coffee table.

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Holiday Home Tour ~ 2015

decorating for the joy of it

As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season turns up, and the stresses of it all seems to take over, I find that simply glancing around my home brings about feelings of comfort and joy. After all, isn't that what holiday decor should be? A gentle reminder to celebrate and relish in the moments of peace and happiness within your own home. This is why I take the time and put love in all the little details around our home.

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DIY Coffee Station

How this antique toolbox became a kitchen focal point

A couple weeks ago I discovered a beautiful new artisan co-op shop in my home town (read the full post about The Olde Mercantile here). I left with beautiful finds - some old and some new - but wasn't quite sure of what I would do with any of them, I just knew I had to have the items. Little did I know that an old wooden toolbox, some galvanized metal coasters and a painted mason jar would work perfectly in tandem to inspire a little DIY coffee station in my kitchen.

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$10 Drop Cloth Curtains

Cheap, Easy & Durable Outdoor Solution 

One of the greatest parts of our home is our amazing front porch. I always dreamt of having a large opening porch space to relax and unwind and I'm so blessed to have created that space in our current home. Yet, each day between around 4 o'clock in the afternoon the sun becomes so intense that it makes it difficult to sit out there. I didn't have the budget for large custom roll shades and it didn't want the maintenance or installation costs.

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