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Thursday, June 28th, 2012
A Little Paint Goes A Long Way

Last weekend I got my paint on and got two really simple projects done. The first project I did was take an old ampersand symbol I had laying around from our old apartment. It was black in our apartment, but it somehow ended up having white paint on the face of the symbol. Not sure when that happened, or why… anyways. I wanted to display it on our bookcase and since we are going for a blue/grey/wood theme in there, I decided to go with a blue color that I’ve had sitting around for around a year. (Yes, I know our couches are brown, but blue and grey actually look really nice with the chocolate color of our couches, plus I liked to upgrade the couches to a grey sectional in a couple of years. Plus, I can always just repaint the ampersand.) I think the color of the paint is Caribbean Sea.

After painting the ampersand, I put a coat of clear gloss paint over it to protect it from chips. I then stuck it on the bookcase, and used it as a bookend for my few books that I own. (I only keep my favorite books, and yard sale the rest.)

Another quick and easy project I did while painting the ampersand is giving a makeover to Travis’ office trash can. It is a black mesh trash can that I bought off of Amazon when I was still living at my parent’s place. I don’t have an after picture because who really cares about a trash can changing colors, but I do have a picture of before I painted the mesh can, and while it was drying. I just used a silver metallic spray paint, and then did a coat of clear gloss to protect the paint.

Have you done any quick and easy projects lately?


Posted on May 24, 2013 - 18 comments
 Filed Under: Projects



Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
Style Elements: Indoor Edition

Yesterday I covered all of the style’s I love and would want/need in my backyard and around my house. Today I’m moving things indoors and going over all of the elements I’ve always dreamed of having. Here is what made the list:

Window Above The Kitchen Sink
& Hopefully it looks into the backyard.
It’s just so charming, and when I’m washing dishes
I’d much rather look outside, then look at a wall.


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Walk-In Pantry
This is a MUST! We currently have a make-shift walk in pantry at our apartment now,
where we have two huge shelves, which are loaded to the max with food.


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Wooden Pantry Door
And to close off that walk-in pantry, I’d love a door like this one.
I’ve actually been looking for one for months now on Craigslist, but I
haven’t found anything within a reasonable price range.


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Wooden Farmhouse Table In The Dining Room
A table that is country looking & rustic… That’s right down my alley.
Plus, this table sits at least 10 people, which is perfect.


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Greys, Browns, Greens & Blues (+ a little orange)
All of the colors I’m drawn too. All calm and relaxing, yet nature inspired.


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Natural Textures (Raw Wood, Woven Baskets, Jute Rugs, Twine, Twigs, Nuts, Wheat, Flowers… etc)
I believe in bringing the outdoors inside. It just calms me.


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Wire Baskets For Organization
I really love organization baskets that look great.
These wire baskets are really popular at the moment, but I love their rustic charm.


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Stone Fireplace
Travis had a wood burning fireplace growing up, and now we have one in our
apartment that we love to use in the winter time. We both want a stone
fireplace in our future house. This one is gorgeous, but most likely out of
our price range when we do go house hunting. We’ll probably end up with a brick
one, or none at all. I see a DIY stone fireplace makeover in our future…


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Open Concept Stair Way & Second Floor Hallways
I love stairs that are open, and you can see from the first floor.


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Wood Floors
Travis & I both have allergies, so wood floors are a MUST.
The only places we probably wouldn’t have wood floors is in the basement,
the bathrooms and possibly the bedroom/offices. But the living room and
kitchen would have to be wood. Plus, they look great, so no complaints here!


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Stripes! – Somewhere
I’d love stripes somewhere, whether it’s in a hallway, bathroom or future nursery, just somewhere. :)


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Windows, Windows & More Windows
Right now we feel like we live in a dungeon in our basement apartment.
We want tons of windows in our house. Bring in as much natural light as possible.
Light & Bright.


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Grey Sectional
I’m still not giving up on my wish of having a grey sectional.
Our current/new living room set will probably make it’s way to
Travis’ man cave one day, and I will get my grey sectional ;)


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Orange Accented Kitchen
If you’re a regular around here, you know all about my orange accents in the kitchen.
(here, here & here)


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Rustic Basement Bar
This is all for Travis’ Man Cave. Rustic, Country & Booze.


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Brushed Nickel Hardware
I’m not into brass, bronze, gold, oil-rubbed bronze or any of that.
I’m into silver, brushed nickel and stainless steel.


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White Trim & Crown Molding
Going along with that Light & Bright theme.


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What style elements for the indoors are you loving?


Posted on May 24, 2013 - 15 comments
 Filed Under: Goals & Dreams, Inspiration



Tuesday, June 26th, 2012
Style Elements: Outdoors Edition

I’ve daydreamed about what my house would look like since I was probably 6. Seriously. I use to look thru all of my Nanny & PawPaw’s home and gardening magazines when I was really young, and rip out pages of things I like and take them home with me. I’m 23 now and I still daydream about what it will look like, and exactly what I want. So I thought I’d take all of the elements I dream about and document them on the blog. Here are all of the elements I’d want at my dream home:

Craftsman Style Exterior
This is probably the least likely item on this entire list that I will probably NOT get. Craftsman style homes are VERY rare in Pennsylvania. If you want one, you’d have to build it. I’ve always loved these style houses. Maybe there would be a way to make our future home look like a craftsman style home.


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Front Porch Stone Pillars
These are pretty typical in craftsman style homes – aren’t they gorgeous? They make for a very strong entrance statement.


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Pergola Covered Decks & Patio’s
Travis’ Mom & I were just talking about these on Sunday, we both would love to have a pergola over our decks one day.


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String Lights Wrapped Around Trees, Decks and Umbrella’s During the Summertime
There is something about white string lights in the summertime that just draw me in. I’d wrap them around the trees in the backyard, around the deck rails, over the pergola and even under the umbrella. Let’s light up the night.


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Window Boxes filled with Blooms
I love being surrounded by nature, and what better way to do that then have window boxes on all of your first floor windows.


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Backyard Fire Pit
You all should know by now how much I love camping, and one of the elements I cherish most from camping, is the camp fire. For all of those weekends that I’m not camping, I’d be sitting around this instead. Get the s’mores ready!


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Fenced In Backyard For Privacy
I really want a lot of privacy in my backyard and the security of a fence. I want to be able to let the dogs out and not have to worry about them taking off and never finding them again, or Coco accidentally getting out. They will all be “locked” in, in the backyard… and free to roam. Plus there are so many things you can do to a fence, like hang potted plants or herb gardens.


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Cottage Gardens & Wildflowers
I absolutely love cottage gardens. Love, love, love. Some people go way over board with these, but if they are done correctly they are gorgeous. My Paw Paw had a wildflower garden in his backyard and I love it. You can’t look at a cottage garden filled with flowers and charm and not smile.


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Simple DIY Bar Space
It’s no secret that Travis & I like to have a drink or two. Heck he brews his own beer, and I go on wine tours during the Fall. Not only will Travis end up with a bar in his “Man Cave” basement for the winter time, but he will probably have a nice little DIY bar outside too for those hot summer days. This simple DIY bar is PERFECT!


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Outdoor Dining Area
I’ve always wanted a space outside to sit and read, or drink my morning umm… coffee smoothie. Or to hang out with my girlfriends on an afternoon. (Apparently in my dream world, I don’t work and I have friends.)


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So there it is, everything I’d want in my backyard, home exterior… etc. Everything outdoors.
What style elements do you dream about?


Posted on May 24, 2013 - 19 comments
 Filed Under: Goals & Dreams, Inspiration



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