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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Patio Decor - Summer '18

fresh and affordable looks for outdoor living 

Summer is almost here and that means lots of time for outdoor living and lounging. These warm days are like precious gold in the great northeast. Most of 2018 to date has been spent in wind and rain, snow and sleet and lots of cloud cover. You can feel the energy in the air when the sun shines - - people are out and about and the neighborhood just feels a little lighter. 

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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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Holiday Home Tour ~ 2017

` Tidings of Comfort and Joy `

Well friends, I guess I can officially wish all of you a very 'Happy Holiday' season! It's always crazy to me how quickly it sneaks up and yet - here it is. Ready or not, it's that time of year again. A time that quite frankly can be overly stressful, commercial, materialistic and rushed. As I grow older I truly try and focus on spending time with family and finding the spirit and magic that the season brings. The past few days have been spent decorating, making hot cocoa, blasting Pandora Classical Christmas, and not combing my hair or putting on makeup. Yup - truths!

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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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Our Stamped Concrete Patio Makeover

making room for stylish outdoor living 

When we built our home in 2013 we had our contractor lay a pad of crusher run so we could take the dogs out on what was mainly a mud pit at the time. The pad was temporary (so we thought). But four years later we found that this was a project we never took on and was long overdue. Our goal was to create a large patio space with room for a fire pit area, eating area and seating/hot tub area. 

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Cream & Black Tablescape

Neutral table setting for a spring~country look

Spring is in the air friends! My hens are laying and spending their days in the sunshine (see all those gorgeous eggs on the table). The grass is greening and the trees are budding. It's a magical time of year where everything comes back to life, and one of my personal favorites!

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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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Meet 'Vera Lyn'...

...The newest family member at The Unique Nest

Life just got a little sweeter, and fluffier --- (is that a word?) at our home. On Saturday, October 8th we welcomed the addition of an F1b standard Goldendoodle named 'Vera Lyn'. Vera came into our home and our hearts rather abruptly and brought a little puppy magic to our household.

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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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Bed Linens fit for a king (literally)

not all bedding is created equal 

Like most human beings, I look forward to a good night's rest after a long day. Over the years I have purchased several sheet sets with never giving much thought to my selection other than thread count. I was always told that the higher the number, the better the bedding - right?  WRONG!  There is a lot more that goes into the perfect bed sheet besides thread count.

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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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Tree Farm Tradition

The Official Start to our holiday 

Each year we drive 45 minutes out of the way to a special little tree farm (well, it's actually quite large) called Bob's Trees in Galway, NY. I think this is our 10th year doing so and it's always fun. We lucked out with a 58 degree day in Upstate NY - which is unheard of this time of year. Our traditional photos of getting the tree involve strong winds, snow blowing everywhere and all of us bundled to the point of being unrecognizable. But not this year ---- and it was perfect!

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Magnificent Mugs

Sipping in Style this Thanksgiving

Wow! It's truly been a while since I've brought some fresh content to the blog. Life outside of The Unique Nest has brought some challenging adjustments to my career (moving from teacher to Assistant Principal in a large upstate NY high school) but I am back and ready to write!!! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for continuing to follow along and give me the love that you have. My readers are simply amazing! 

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