Nesting, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" style...

I have been hardcore nesting over the last few weeks. Most projects start out innocently enough, before morphing into a call for help and asking M to "real quick" move a piece of furniture or McGuyver something that I likely haven't fully thought through before tackling. (And he does it, amazingly, every time. Bless him, Lord.)

But lately, the projects seem to feed off of one another, to the point where entire weekends sail by with much productivity and many To Do list items crossed off...but not nearly enough rest and relaxation. (Mommy fail.) 

If Natty clears out the guest room to reorganize for baby, then she's going to need to Swiffer the hardwoods-sans-furniture two or three times.

And if she Swiffers the hardwoods, she'll notice the baseboards are dirty and need to touch those up with fresh paint.

If she paints the baseboards, she'll notice the walls also need touching up (including those in every other room of the house in the same paint color...because, why not).

If she touches up the paint, she'll notice that the ceiling fan needs cleaning.

And if she dusts the ceiling fan, she'll notice that the fan blades are disgusting and need to be removed and soaked in bleach. (Seriously, who does this?)

And so on for hours upon hours...

Truth. I also want a cookie after making a mess.

Note: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a classic at this point, so I don't feel I need to explain this reference, but in case you are lost at this point, just order it. It's great times.

The good news? We've made great progress on transforming our home to welcome Baby Boy, while still having plenty of time to shop for deals and make better decisions (because we've thought ahead beyond just the next six months, which can be easy to solely focus in on). The crib is assembled and ready for bedding (and, you know, baby), the ginormous rug has been Scotchguarded to an inch of its life, my office has been relocated (to be closer to baby and give M an actual space in the house...four years later), and the daybed has been ordered for mommy naps, the occasional (brave) guests, and eventual slumber parties! Really exciting to see it all start to come together, and almost surreal to walk by and see a crib in our house.

I will now be taking bets on how long it takes before we find Scrappy in the crib...

Eco-Friendly, Non-Slip Rug Pads: Oft-Forgotten but Worth Every Penny

I have, in the last few years, finally come around to understanding that spending money on a good, quality rug makes a huge difference in defining and designing a space. When looking at Pins for inspiration, the presence of a great rug was a consistent element that caught my eye in rounding out a design. There are some great sites and stores to get spacious rugs at a decent price, and I'm really enjoying the benefits of budgeting for some floor decor.

That being said, after I've shelled out a hunny or so for a rug, the often-recommended rug pad is easily overlooked, generally with a well-intended "Maybe later!" What's funny about this response to me is how irritated I can get with a rug that never stays in place, or doesn't feel near a soft as it is stylish, and yet I don't ever actually circle back and pull the trigger on a pad. 

Y'all, I've learned (yet another) lesson.

I recently learned about an awesome US-based company called Rugpadusa.com, and in addition to manufacturing, packing, and shipping right here in good ol' 'Merica, they have a great selection of eco-friendly, non-slip pads at great prices. 

After doing some research, I learned about the harmful side effects of using cheap, chock-full-o-chemical pads, which was especially alarming to us as we absolutely cherish the original hardwood in our bungalow, which was built in 1930. The idea of permanently ruining that with a pad due to outgassing, reactive ingredients, or breakdown of the chemicals into the surface was not worth the perceived discount in price. 

If you've been tracking our kitchen renovation, you probably recall seeing a pretty new runner show up over the tile floor. The tile is hard and very difficult to keep clean (we didn't have it in the budget to rip it out and put in hardwood tile, but we've got our eye on that at some point down the road), so a runner seemed like a great way to cover that mess and make it more warm, anchoring the space with a cozy vibe. 

The Stephanie rug from Loloi was exactly the look we wanted, but...

Rug + Tile = Slippery Cursing

Enter: Super-Lock Natural Rug Pad. Not only does this grippy, mildew-resistant pad stand up to the high traffic it endures, but we were also able to get it in a custom size to accommodate the unique size of the runner we ordered. (It's easy enough to trim this guy if needed, but love that they give no flack to cut to order.) We added a couple of pieces of double-sided tape between the rug backing and the mat to minimize all slip, and it's been wonderful ever since. Doesn't budge a bit when I vacuum, which is often thanks to our furry son.

And speaking of kitten shenanigans, we also had a small rug by the front door that was constantly askew thanks to Scrappy's incessant "dancing," shall we call it. I opted for the plant oil-based Eco-Solid rug, since this area was directly on our stained hardwood. I really like the padding of the Eco-Solid, and we definitely enjoy having the best of both worlds since it's now more cushy, but still lays flat when the door opens.

Each pad on the site has tons of info, so it's really simple to choose the right option for your surface and needs. And I found Customer Service to be super helpful for any additional questions. As simple as it is to overlook, it's amazing what a difference it makes to have something like this to make your life easier, both now and when you decide to redecorate or move (as no one wants to discover at that point that a crappy pad has destroyed your flooring).

Bungalow Kitchen Reno: The Reveal

Thank you for sticking with us over the last month as we've shared the various stages of our kitchen renovation with you! It's been such a neat process, and we're getting to enjoy it all over again as we share it with y'all. We so appreciate all the sweet comments, and have to thank the Lord for providing us with the means and helping hands to make it happen. It's a small thing on the spectrum of importance, but we realize just how rich we are given where God has placed us and the things we're able to do. It's truly a treat and a gift, and we don't take it lightly!

Without further ado, I share with you the finished state of our kitchen...

(Click on photos to enlarge)

 

{Sources}

Butcher Block: IKEA (discontinued*)

Stain: Minwax (Early American)

Sealer: Waterlox

Upper cabinet color: Benjamin Moore (Chantilly Lace) 

Lower cabinet color: Benjamin Moore (October Mist) 

Wall color: Benjamin Moore (London Fog)

Sink: Kraus

Faucet: Moen

Backsplash: Merola Tile (with Delorean Gray grout) 

Pencil trim: Anatolia Tile

Rug: Loloi via Rugs USA

Knife magnet: RSVP via Amazon

To request additional sources, please contact me or leave a comment.

{Revisit the Kitchen Reno Series}

The Before Situation

*Preparing the Ingredients ("The Great Butcher Block Track-Down")

Staining and Sealing the Butcher Block Countertops
Painting Cabinets
The Sink That Started It All

Bungalow Kitchen Reno: The Sink That Started It All

I often chuckle when I look around in our kitchen now, and think that the straw that broke the camel's back to get us to this point was a sink. A white, porcelain, double basin sink, which was shallow as all get out. (Check out the Before post to refresh your memory.) Technically, I guess it was the sink, combined with oh-so-sad water pressure from the meh faucet, and the broken sprayer that straight up disconnected from the sink and left a hole in the counter. Hawt.

We went back and forth on which sink we wanted, and while I do love the look of the big white farmhouse sinks, I honestly didn't dig the idea of cutting into our cabinets. I also didn't see much utility in that design, per se, but I loved the idea of having one big basin. It's a small thing in the grand scheme of things, but it drove me nuts every time I did the dishes that I couldn't lay down flat my bigger pots and pans, and that the divided basin didn't really serve any utility for us. (For other homes, it probably makes perfect sense, which is why I love all the options and styles out there to choose from!) We looked everywhere, and even ventured outside the typical big box haunts by checking out IKEA and Seconds & Surplus. It was really helpful to see some of the options out there in person, to better hone in on what we liked and didn't like (as well as compare scale and size with the measurements of our existing sink), and this served us well as we ultimately ended up ordering a KRAUS sink that M found online. It was hard to image ordering something so critical to the design (and function) without seeing it in person, but it had everything we wanted and we liked knowing that we could take it back to Home Depot locally if it was a fail.
 

Holla!

The good news? It was glorious. Stainless steel, undermount, extra-deep, and even came with a steel grid (that we often use as a drying rack). The packaging made me laugh at first because you would have thought it was a precious relic, packed away in a fabric bag and lots of padding, but as soon as I saw it, I felt like it was totally deserving of the hoopla.

This guy was a strong contender...
Until M put the image of Gonzo in my head.

The next step was to find a faucet. This also proved to be tricky, because we didn't want to OD on stainless (as all of our other appliances--save for the microwave--are stainless steel), and I wanted to embrace this opportunity to create a statement in the design, something unexpected that would be a great anchor for years to come. I gravitated toward oil-rubbed and antique bronzed looks, which I thought would complement the oil-rubbed handles on all the cabinets, as well as hold its own against the butcher block counters and epic stainless sink. We went back and forth between the Moen Wetherly Mediterranean Bronze High-Arc Faucet and the Moen Annabelle Mediterranean Pull-Down Faucet, and after M made a compelling argument for an all-in-one faucet, we picked up the Annabelle model. (We didn't install the soap dispenser, nor did we use the baseplate. Kept it clean and simple.) It was the right choice and accomplished exactly what I hoped it would!

A spur of the moment decision was made after removing the old laminate counters to go ahead and get a consult for backsplash tile. (The counter removal left a few decent sized holes and tears that needed to be patched and re-painted, so we had a candid conversation about doing double work, knowing we would eventually want backsplash anyway, and made the call. Like, the actual call to a tile guy who was recommended by our realtor, a.k.a. our sister-in-law. Best resource EVER.) We found our guy, agreed to the price (which was surprisingly low and quickly made the decision for us in terms of trying to do it ourselves), but now we needed tile. 

We looked at lots of options (yet again), and quickly narrowed down that we wanted a classic subway tile...with a twist. Something that was a little special, but still timeless and age-appropriate for the house. We considered mini subway tile, as well as colored and glass mosaic subway tile options, but ultimately fell in love with a Cobble Subway Mosaic (especially after getting our hands on a sample and seeing the quality). The handmade feel was a perfect compliment for the natural grain of the wood, coupled with the slick modernity of the stainless. 

So how did it all come together? Like dis...

Now that you've seen the bulk of the steps, next time I'll share all the After photos, as well as full list of our sourced materials! 

Other posts in the kitchen reno series:

The Before Situation

Preparing the Ingredients ("The Great Butcher Block Track-Down")

Staining and Sealing the Butcher Block Countertops
Painting Cabinets

Bungalow Kitchen Reno: Painting Cabinets

So here's a free lesson: you say to yourself, "Hey, why don't we paint the cabinets? That should only take a few hours!" You would, however, be totally wrong. TOTES wrong.

Early into our kitchen reno, which I warned in the "before" post unfolded in a very If You Give a Mouse a Cookie fashion (in that this little mouse kept adding "quick projects" along the way), I decided that the buttercream cabinets had to go. Even though the addition of butcher block countertops and a new sink to match the stainless appliances helped the overall look dramatically, the cabinets were still in need of some love to reflect the design we wanted. The kitchen cabinets are a simple shaker style and were installed by the previous owner, so they were in great shape and just needed some superficial help. However, knowing that they were relatively new, we wanted to do the paint job right and not just throw gobs of a new color on top. (If you've owned an older house that shows the tell-tale signs of many, many differing opinions about the right color for any given surface, you feel me on this.)

I have painted more walls than I can count, having started my interior design hobby at an early age. (Blue walls with puffy white clouds painted on them at 13-years-old? Nailed it. Loved them dearly for one whole year, which is like a decade for a teenager. Also, matching valances. Because...valances. #ChildOfThe80s) But cabinets? Horse of a different color. I consulted the experts (i.e. Pinterest search for "paint cabinets"), and decided on a pretty straightforward method: remove, sand, paint. 

As a reminder, buttercream.

We use Benjamin Moore paint for everything*, and I love that they offer paint and primer in one. Not only is their color selection fantastic, but you can get the job done in fewer coats with better coverage and greater longevity than I've seen with others. That being said, I'd recommend opting for primer if you're not using a quality paint to ensure it lasts, especially if your kitchen gets as much play as ours does. We also took the recommendation of our local Ben Moore expert* an opted for their pearl finish, which was the most matte we could go without sacrificing durability.

The most tedious aspect of this job for us was removing all the hardware, as well as the glass inlay in some of the upper cabinets. We drew out a grid on a piece of paper and marked spaces for all the hardware, including: hanging side, location, and top or bottom bracket (the latter was added when I hit a few whammies from not doing that with the first round of cabinets). 

Quick Tip: if I did this again, I'd soak the hardware in paint thinner to remove the previous color that had made its way onto the brackets and handles. By the time I circled back on reassembly, I was battling the screw-its and just put them on as is.

A tub of Clorox wipes came in handy to wipe down every surface and remove any gunk before sanding. (If you skip this step, the gunk can muck up the sander and make a hot mess. Simple, quick job that makes your life easier. Trust.) We used the mouse sander again with 220 grit sandpaper to rough up the surface a bit and ensure good adhesion, as well as smooth out some drip marks from the previous job. (We used 180 grit for areas that had more wear or more prominent drip marks. For older cabinets with a lot of wear, you might need a medium grit for the job, and finish with 220.) We vacuumed up the shavings and busted out our trusty tack cloth to finish the job. (Side note: tack cloths may be the worst feeling on bare hands in the world. Just awful, man.)

We recycled the packing materials from the butcher block once again (adopting the plastic wrap as drop cloths and the long cardboard boxes as sanding and paint surfaces--one for each, of course), which was clutch because we ended up having to do a lot of the work inside due to weather. (In case you haven't heard, Texas is in need of an ark. I can help sand it...) At least the paint was water-based for this step (unlike the epically stinky stain and Waterlox), so that helped tremendously.

Benjamin Moore's October Mist

Picking the colors was not easy. Well, that's half true. I had found some really beautiful source images, and the color Piegon by Farrow and Ball kept coming up over and over again. However, at $100 a gallon, this cheapskate just couldn't take the plunge. After a quick internet search, I found a Benjamin Moore dupe and confidently bought a gallon of October Mist in pearl finish, which is the perfect gray-green that we wanted. I loved the look of lighter uppers with contrasting lower cabinets, and after sharing some inspiration pics with M, we decided on a clean white for the uppers (Chantilly Lace, if you please). Picking the white was the hard part. White is not white, always. Got some help from the good men at Ben Moore to tackle this one too, and we were happy with the choice. (There's a point at which you just have to pick one and move forward, so don't overthink it too much. But at the very least, put the paint samples up in the space and consider how they look together in all the various lights through the day. Then, just go with it.)

Quick Tip: Pinterest and online images are always a big component of any home project that we do, as it's important to me that M be equally on board with the vision (since it's his home too), so this is a key step that I recommend y'all take to keep the project a shared one.

We patiently painted the backs of the cabinets first (the side that faces in when closed) with two coats (to ensure we had nice coverage, especially with the white over the buttercream color, the bleed through of which would make the cabinets look old and grungy), and then flipped and finished the fronts with two coats. The inlays were painted first with a small natural brush, while the faces were done with a small roller (we used rollers that were indicated for--you guessed it--cabinets). We rested drawers against covered surfaces to dry, and they were actually really quick to do since they essentially only had one side (that mattered).

Meanwhile, we gently sanded the cabinet boxes and taped off nearby surfaces (especially our spanky new countertops) before painting the boxes as well. I debated pulling everything out of the shelves before sanding, but I was beat at this point (since this "quick project" was already dragging into a week, squeezed in between all the other life) so I just pushed crap back and mentally made a note to rinse out any dishes and pots before using them. (We survived, y'all. Little sawdust never hurt anyone. Ok, that's probably not true...)

Once everything dried to the recommended duration, we reattached the hardware and returned the cabinets and drawers to where they belonged. 

Quick tip: If I did this project again, I'd probably deal with an exposed kitchen for another 24 hours to let the paint cure even longer. We did experience some sticking when first opening and closing the cabinets and drawers, but that had very little impact to the paint job. They're fine now, but worth another day of kitchen chaos to let it really cure well.

Beat down of a task? Yup. But I'd do it again for the outcome. In a heartbeat. They instantly made the kitchen look so much cleaner and fresh, and seeing the results really helped encourage us to plow through a few more days/weeks of renovation to get to the big finish. We're nearly there...

*This post is not sponsored by Benjamin Moore, by the way. I like what I like, so I'm sharing.

Other posts in the kitchen reno series:

The Before Situation

Preparing the Ingredients ("The Great Butcher Block Track-Down")

Staining and Sealing the Butcher Block Countertops

Bungalow Kitchen Reno: The Before Situation

When we found the spunky 1930s bungalow that would become our first home, we were so excited for all the improvements that the previous owner had made, many of which were right in line with what we would have chosen for ourselves. (Except for the paint colors. Every single room was a different color, which was charming and totally worked with her eclectic decor, but for these neutral-loving folks, it meant calling in the reinforcements--i.e., family--and giving everything a fresh coat.) 

One of the things we respected most about the previous owner's design choices is that everything felt appropriate for the age of the home, often as nods to classic, craftsman style. We wanted to do the same as we made the home our own, and made a lot of progress within the first year, though encouraging one another along the way not to rush it. A home takes a while to establish, after all, and you can't force that cozy feeling that comes when a family really settles into their space. It just takes time.

That being said, tackling the kitchen was a project that we earmarked early on as a "To Do," but given that it was functional, we let it fall down the last of priorities until the time was right. Fast forward three years, and close up on this gal wresting with a broken water sprayer, a shallow, sad kitchen sink, and a bubbling (uggo) laminate countertop for the very last time.

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special message from Natty: 
Look, let me say first that I am insanely grateful for our home. No sarcasm, no pithy comment to follow. We have welcomed countless family and friends into our home, filled it with prayer, love, and laughter, and constantly look around thinking, "Whoa. This is ours." So with that in mind, proceed, and know that I'm being silly, but do not at all want to convey ungratefulness or disapproval if, say, someone looks at these pics and thinks, 'Huh, I like the before better.' Taste is highly subjective, so get on with your bad self!

Also, if you're the type who tends to get steamrolled by comparison, and you struggle with trying to keep up with bloggers and Pinterest, and know another reno feature will make you officially hate your home...Honey, skip these posts. You don't need them. Focus on what is good, what is true, what is lovely, and don't dive head first into what you know makes your heart ache for STUFF. It's just stuff, it's all dust, and your sweet heart is so much more important than that. Kay?

All that being said, I present to you The Before Situation...

If you feel like there's a whole lot of yellow happening, it's not your eyes. It's Buttercream-palooza up in here, made only worse by the warm white bulbs. (I'll share with you later the free lesson my husband gave me on light temperature and how it affects a space. It's cray.) 

So, it's cute overall, right? Not the worst thing ever. And if you're having a hard time orienting yourself to how it's arranged, see the pic below. Essentially, it's a rectangle, two doors on either side. The kitchen is in the center of our home, so the door by the stove leads to living room, den, guest room, etc., and the door by the fridge leads to master, office, utility room, etc., and the wall not shown has a sliding glass door that leads out to the backyard. They made excellent use of space, I have to say. We did paint the walls when we moved in to try to at least give some help to this space, but it was not an easy task to find a suitable color when you're trying to mesh yellowish cabinets with dark gray laminate. (We ended up using Benjamin Moore's Cotswald to bring out the warm tones in the laminate and make the cabinet color look more intentional. Also, the color reminds me of coffee. DONE.)

 

And then...double basin white porcelain sink. Can I tell you how much I dislike a poorly designed double basin sinks? I mean, if you can't fit ANYTHING bigger than a cereal bowl well on either side, the divider just makes no sense. And ours was shallow at that, so I was a hot little potato every time I did the dishes, covered in spatter and wishing for water pressure that didn't rival a squirt gun.

Overall, we knew that this was a space that we wanted to put our stamp on because we spend so much time in here. (See that coffee area over there? Natty likely. I'd move into that corner if I could.) Like many of my projects, it very much unfolded in an If You Give a Mouse a Cookie fashion. "If you give her a new faucet, she's going to want a new sink. And if she gets a new sink, she's going to want new counters. And if you're going to get new counters, you should probably go ahead and install backsplash. And while your kitchen is totally amuck, you'd might as well paint the cabinets..."

 And so we embarked on the journey, adjusting our budget every step of the way, buying the ingredients as we came upon them. (I use the term "ingredients" not because I'm making a clever kitchen pun, but rather, I don't know what you call the crap you need for construction projects. Mise en place? No, still kitchen lingo? Well, I got nothing, y'all.)

Stay tuned for some along-the-way updates, tips I learned along the way (primarily from other awesome DIYers and Bloggers out there), and photos of our new kitchen! 

P.S. It seems moot to share sources for the before stages, but just leave a comment if you have any questions. Will source as I'm able as we move toward final stages.

Inspired by Art

When it comes to playing games, I am one of those very conceptual clue-givers/clue-drawers. Instead of taking the shortest route to get to the answer (such as using opposites as clues to string together otherwise disparate words to come up with a phrase), I explain the thing from the dawn of time, in the grand context of all the life. I don't operate this way on the guessing end, mind you, but when it comes to doling out clues, I think everyone's blood pressure raises slightly when I'm up. Playing games with me is akin to the skill (and patience) it takes to see those Magic Eye images; you have to cross your eyes ever so slightly and relax your brain, and then...sailboat.

Where am I going with this? I think this same "quirk" (makes it sound cuter) is what draws me to certain art pieces. Sometimes, I like a print or painting because it reminds me explicitly of an experience, trip, verse, etc. But more often than not, I am drawn to the overall feel of it because of a visceral liking. Not for any rhyme or reason that I can figure, but something stirs and I dig it.

I was recently asked to come up with an interior design that was inspired by a piece of art, and one piece in particular piqued my interested over and over again. It certainly wasn't the easiest choice to design around, but the weight, texture, and color of it had me toggling back and forth until I finally surrendered and said, "Let's do this!"

Painting: Invaluable.com // Sconces: Wisteria // Chandelier: Z Gallerie // Pillows: Z Gallerie
End Table: Candelabra // Vase: West Elm // Spray: Z Gallerie // Sofa: Wisteria
Hardwood: Seconds & Surplus // Rug: Rugs USA // Paint: Benjamin Moore (Dune White, Simply White trim)

The key for me was trying to design a space that still feels very accessible, yet embraces the intensity of the painting. I went with a neutral wall and sofa in this living room design to let the accessories compliment the colors and textures of the abstract work, which I chose to leave unframed for a modern focus. I've adored these iron sconces from Wisteria for months, and incorporated the round shape of the sconces, chandelier, and side table balance the squared sofa, pillows, and large canvas. Not to OD on neutrals, I pulled out some of that rich warmth from the painting with statement copper and brass elements (side table and chandelier), which is also complimented by the honey-hued hand scraped hardwoods. Loving how all the unique textures of this room bring visual interest, but don't compete with the lovely centerpiece of the painting that started it all.

What inspires your design ideas? Need some help? Visit www.invaluable.com!

{Ikea Hack DIY} How to Add a Drawer Knob

It's almost embarrassing to call this project an Ikea Hack given the simplicity of the change, but I was looking for a quick and easy way to give our Malm dresser a little sumpthin'. We're working on an envelope to add Pier 1's Hayworth Dresser to our master bedroom suite (we have the nightstand and bedside chest already), but in the meantime, our 6-drawer Malm is functional, even if a little clunky. 

I was already in the midst of about five other projects this weekend, so I wouldn't allow myself to chew off any more than simply adding knobs to the drawers. I love the idea of O'verlays and/or adding mirrors or gray grasscloth to the drawer faces, but I opted for easy peasy, knowing we wouldn't be keeping the dresser (and anything too custom might make it tougher to sell on CL when we're ready for the Hayworth piece).

Funny enough, there are tons of awesome posts out there with tips for upgrading various Ikea dressers and nightstands, but they seemed to skip an important detail in their tutorials/DIY recaps: how to add the knobs. They mention that step, but it's not much more than a mention. "Add knobs." Oh...kay. And it may be an intentional omission because the assumption is made that it's too easy to cover, but I had no idea how to go about it, so this little girl needed some help. I Googled and found this awesome video, which helped me knock out this project in a snap. So, dear blogosphere, I offer to you my step-by-step recap, dedicated to those of you who also need the 101 deets.

What you'll need: 

• Painters tape
• Pen/pencil
• Yardstick (or measuring tape)
• Knob and screw* - I used these satin nickel and acrylic knobs
• Drill with appropriate sized bit (I used 3/16 per the recommendation of the dude at Lowe's)
• Screwdriver
• Cloth/rag
• Washer (optional) 

The Drawer {Before}

First, find the center of the drawer using the measuring device of your choice. Apply a strip of painters tape on the drawer face, and mark the crosshairs of the center with your pen/pencil. (If you're doing a handle with two screws, you obviously need to do that math to find the appropriate placement in the center, since it'll depend on the size of the handle. If I were doing a handle, I'd probably make a template to reuse. But center is simple enough to find for a single knob.) 

Enter: power tools. This was the first time I've used a drill, which was probably a little bold given M was away working on set all day, but I was like, "Well, I mowed the lawn, edged, and had a beer today, so maybe it'll all just fall into place." Workin' on my dude skills, y'all. Turns out, not so scary. And I only sacrificed one drill bit. (Yeeeeeah, so the direction of the spinning...matters. Lesson learned, am I right?!) Before drilling, I applied another strip of painters tape on the inside of the drawer (where the drill would come through) to help minimize splintering (in the absence of scrap wood). Then, drill on through at the crosshairs. Confidence is key!

Looky! A hole! Use the rag to wipe away the debris, and remove the painters tape. (I actually saved the strips of painters tape for the subsequent drawers, and pushed the sticky side of the used tape down on the freshly drilled wood shards to minimize mess; then wipe with rag, or in my case, washcloth.)

Now, attach the knob and screw. I added a washer on the inside of the drawer for a cleaner look, but that's totally optional. Use the screwdriver to get it nice and secure.

That's it! It took less than 30 minutes to do all six drawers, and I was so surprised at what a change it made. The addition of the knobs has been great motivation to finish up more of the decor elements in our master, such as adding a tray, catchall, and some objets to style the top of the dresser, hanging curtains, and adding a plant to the corner (behind the dresser). I'm thinking a fiddle leaf fig in a round basket. (Of course I am, right? Blogger, duh.)

Thanks for bearing with the shoddy iPhone photos. And if you're still feeling frisky, check out some of my other DIYs!

*Lil tip: make sure you have the right screw length for the drawer thickness. Neither of the screws that came with my knobs fit, so I had to make another run to Lowe's to find an in-between length. Fun.

Registry Favorites for the Kitchen

When M and I registered for our wedding a few years ago, we had to seriously rein it in on the kitchen gadgets and accessories. We both really enjoy cooking, yet we had a hard time imagining all the items we'd need long-term, but would likely never purchase for ourselves (which, is pretty much the definition of a registry). So we tried to strike a happy medium between uber practical and swoon-worthy lust items.

Having used every single item purchased by our sweet wedding guests within six months of marriage, we were quite pleased with our registry choices. We also felt accomplished for bringing everything out to play, especially some of the fancier goods, like our china (pictured in our tablescape to the left here) and the heavier serviceware. We didn't want to treat anything as "too special," relegating beautiful items to a lifetime tucked away in the dark (though we obviously take care to ensure that guests aren't afraid to actually use said items...which I equate to how I feel about putting out white guest towels, but that's for another post.).

So I wanted to share some of my favorite, must-have kitchen items from our registries (as well as their respective price points for reference), that have stood the test of time and continue to be in regular rotation in our home...

Acacia Salad Bowl and Serving Hands ($50 and $13) - I probably use this set at least once a week...twice, if I really think about it. It's so pretty and lightweight, which if you've ever had to schlep a heavy-as-bricks salad bowl, you hear me on that one. I wasn't sure how a natural material would last with that much use, but it still looks great.

NutriBullet ($100) - This is one of those items that M really wanted, but we both have enjoyed using this handy gadget to make smoothies and other healthy beverages (as well as assisting with other dishes here and there that don't warrant pulling out the big ol' blender). M's Mom & Dad also let us borrow their copy of the NutriBullet Healing Foods Book, which gave us some awesome new ideas when I burned myself out on my beloved soy milk-spinach-almond-strawberry-blueberry concoction. 

Sur La Table Blanc Rectangular Serving Platter ($6-$13) - This item probably seems really simple (and it is relatively inexpensive, which I've found is good practice: to pepper your registry with all price points, especially if you're having multiple showers before the wedding), but I don't go a week without using these sleek platters. I registered for two, but could easily make use of three or four. Bonus: they're dishwasher safe. Even a simple weeknight meal looks like something special served on these platters.

Luna Serving Set (via Pottery Barn)

PB Luna Serving Set ($45) - These match the flatware we picked out to match our china (Waterford's Padova), so this service set was an obvious choice. But given we entertain on an almost-weekly basis, they make an appearance as often. They're lovely and perfectly sized, and I just love the weight of them. Elegant enough to feature on a lavish tablescape, yet equally appropriate for noshing around the coffee table with family and friends.

Breville Smart Oven ($250) - So this was an item we almost didn't include on our registry because of the price, but we knew our kitchen needed this. We use this oven daily, be it to toast, bake, reheat, or broil, and especially on these triple-digit days in the Texas summer, I can't imagine not having this puppy to save us from heating up the whole house with the big oven or sweating like a banshee in front of the grill. 

Reidel Decanter ($50) - Confession: I use this beautiful crystal decanter equally as often as a vase as I do a decanter. (To our wine-drinking guests: I swear, I wash it really, really well!) I think that nothing elevates a delightful pairing like taking the time to properly decant a good bottle of wine and letting it come to room temp (we store our reds in a wine fridge).

Breville YouBrew Coffee Maker ($250) - (OK, I promise, this post wasn't sponsored by Breville, but they make some quality stuff, y'all.) We are quite picky when it comes to our coffee gadgets, and this was a big item for us. (Again, almost didn't include it on the registry, but I about did a backflip in my ladylike lace dress when I opened this package.) It's awesome...built-in burr grinder, single cup and carafe brew settings, pre-infusion, and can be programmed to auto-start. Haven't regretted this selection one day in the past (almost) two years.

Now it's your turn... What are your favorite registry items, or simply your splurge purchases for the kitchen/dining room that you can't imagine being without?

Holiday Decor Inspiration

Last year was our first Christmas in our new home, but a mere month out from our wedding and honeymoon, we were frankly a little short on energy (and funds) to decorate and make the place more festive. (We did get our tree up, of course, and loved having those twinkly lights warm up our den and provide a touch of magic when we cozied up in front of the TV. Even Scrappy got in on the action. I'm pretty sure he thought the tree was a gift for him.)

This year, we're more settled into our little yellow bungalow, and I am definitely looking forward to purchasing some new decor to jazz up a few key spaces for the season. Focusing on two or three areas will help me stay within a reasonable budget and really make those spaces feel special (versus trying to do too much all at once, which will inevitably mean storing bins for eleven months out of the year that house mostly junk because I went for quantity over quality).

{Den/Living Room look}

Burlap Christmas Tree // Antique Hydrangea // Mercury Glass Lantern // Faux Bois Mercury Votives

{Formal Living/Dining Room look}

Mini Metallic Pinecones // Antique Bells // Modern Metal Tapers

{Front Porch}

Eucalyptus and Red Berry Wreath // Lit Boxwood Garland

 

These items will inspire some shopping, some crafting, and some repurposing to accomplish a look that compliments our overall home aesthetic, but still reminds us that it's that sweet season of family, friends, love, and lustre.

 

What's your decor approach this year for the holidays?

The Blessing of Home

M and I just returned from a little getaway to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. (Weren't we just standing at the altar all giddy faced?! P.S. I haven't forgotten that I owe y'all a post on the ceremony. Perhaps by our 10-year I'll get that one up for ya.) We debated where to spend our little vacay (and if we were going anywhere at all), but with the promise of seclusion, romance, and some cold weather, we bundled up and headed to Redstone, Colorado. I almost hesitate to tell y'all how wonderful it was because I don't want to compete for lodging on future stays. (It's a town of about 100 people in the off-season, so my concern is legit, y'all.) But...it was amazing. If you can go to there, do so.

I will share more details on our trip soon (see previous note on epic post delay and laugh, it's OK), but for now, I have to express how blessed I feel to have a home to which I am excited to return. I was just discussing this (via email) with my Mamaw (that's Southern for grandmother), and it really is a gift to be whisked away to a gorgeous locale (see delicately-snow-draped cottage below...silly, right?), to relish the coziness of a place so far from the city that cell service was out of the question and stars appeared to be numbered in the gazillions, yet to still look forward to returning to our humble abode. Our home isn't perfect, and it isn't the most fancy, high-end place we've ever laid eyes on, but it's ours. The walls have heard many laughs, seen plenty of tears (both happy and sad), and absorbed hundreds of prayers in the short year that we've been there. It's home.

Gamekeeper's Cottage

I haven't lived near our childhood home for nearly a decade, and when it sold just prior to my parents' divorce (or maybe after, I can't recall the exact details), my brother and I found ourselves in an unexpected position. If I'm honest, I felt homeless. There were plenty of places where I could still visit and feel that warmth of a safe, secure environment (like Mamaw's house, where hugs and salty snacks were always abundant), but it wasn't my home. It wasn't until I walked in the doors of what is now our nest, our little bungalow in a transitional neighborhood, that I felt my heart swell and my burdens lift. Granted, peace and assurance follow me wherever I go because the Lord is ALWAYS with me. That is not housed in a building or anything temporal in nature. And thank God for that!



Our home, looking lovely in white

But to know where your head will rest, to embrace yet sometimes whine about all the little idiosyncrasies that only you would notice (why, oh why, are there holes drilled into the bottom of the pantry door...were we going for a swiss cheese vibe, people?), to corral memories and love between four walls...that is truly a gem that shines all the more brightly when you step back and get a good look at it.