Around here we have been… CELEBRATING {I} and his 9th birthday! It seems like just yesterday this little man entered our lives. He is a kind, gentle and committed friend, a brother who is always willing to lend a helping hand. He is our little inventor and has a very mechanical mind – spending large…
The Makeover Takeover series focuses on helping my readers with bits of their own homes that are giving them challenges. Whether it is a room that they want guidance on styling, a floor plan that needs re-configuring, or they are stumbling with choosing an exterior color palette, I am happy to help. I offer solutions…
Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts after my most recent post. Some of you reached out to offer the benefits of living in a smaller home, and many more commented that they actually prefer our revised/simplified design over the original. I have to say that after a few days of simmering with…
This winter has been brutal. Think freezing or below for months at a time. No, I’m not exaggerating – anyone who lives in the Midwest will agree. As I have mentioned before, our family currently lives in a rental house. As part of our agreement, we pay our own utilities – which includes the propane…
Yes, we are definitely looking into both of those. Probably more likely to have a slightly larger garage than potential finished space above. Our goal (well, my goal anyway) is to minimize the look of the garage from the curb. As such, we probably won’t have attic trusses. Craig is also very hopeful that we can get everything 100% finished during the process so that he doesn’t have any projects. Wishful thinking perhaps? ha!ReplyCancel
Designing a new house is an exciting and exhausting time for homeowners. It seems there are no less than a thousand decisions that will need to be made to create a house that is ‘just right’ for your family. And while each and every decision during the design process is an important one, there are…
When you think of an old house – you may envision rotting siding, squeaky floor boards, and bats in the attic. While these may very well be a reality, there are plenty of merits that old homes have to offer. The seven charming old house details I’m about to share may have you rethinking your…
I add fire place surround to my new addition. It’s 1910 carved with pillars, carving and a mirror. I also replace the Formica counter that were fading with wood counters and bead board backsplash. The house was small and needed a touch of warmth and craftsmanship. Just a note. My ceilings were textured, but it was venician, hand applied, plaster. Which is not blown on popcorn. It’s beautiful, don’t get rid of it! ReplyCancel
Hi Emily! I’m glad you enjoyed the article and found it inspiring! Though I do not have source links for any of the items featured in the article, I did find a light that does look similar to the picture you mention:https://www.barnlight.com/lighting/barn-lights/discount/farm-and-barn-warehouse-pendant/?rebuild=1&o22134=218122&o22129=218072&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzYGGBhCTARIsAHdMTQyKrFQEbPYMsda1SF2imFszP5eyhrUGBbEHXtraRz_nD2A4pMUmQ48aAoElEALw_wcB
You can find more options by doing a search with terms such as (white industrial vintage style pendant light). Happy hunting!
Just found your site😊 I have a question for you the kitchen named “Bedboard ceiling” my question is, over the island lighting did you make it or purchased them. We are going to incorporate a early 1900 soda fountain station for part of our island and was looking for unique overhead lighting. We love reclaiming items last year we reclaimed window molding from an 1840 house and just incorporated in a new addition that we have also tin ceiling for the back of our woodstove and an 1800 parlor stove for that room. Would love to share photos but not sure how to.ReplyCancel
Hi Nancy! Glad you found the site!
The photo that you are referencing has a link below that will take you to the original source. It appears to me that the light fixtures you are asking about are indeed a DIY project. Here is a close up view + write up that I found: https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/kitchens/go-green-with-a-recycled-kitchen-pictures
Your house sounds beautiful! It sounds like you have put a lot of thought and love into it – which is just what a house needs! 🙂ReplyCancel
It’s definitely possible to reclaim many of the materials from an old home. However, the cost and time/patience required can be overwhelming for most people. If I were you I would contact some local contractors in your area and ask them about this endeavor, and get their thoughts. If nothing else, definitely save some of the more prominent details if you can (a stair newel post, fireplace mantle, built in furniture, baseboard trim, etc). Good luck!ReplyCancel
There are bit and pieces of each of the photos that I would love to have in a home – ship-lap, reading nook, chandeliers, bead-board, built-in pieces, herringbone design in the flooring \ showers, a beautiful fireplace, leaded glass windows, to name just a few. There are just soooo many wonderful ideas that it is hard to narrow down my wants in order to fit my budget. How would you suggest that my dream house could be built with my budget in mind ? ReplyCancel
Oh goodness, YES! A person could spend a fortune on all these details. Isn’t it crazy to think that many of these old houses with all their woodwork and special features could be built for just a fraction of the cost that a new home is today?
If you are wanting to incorporate old house details, but budget is a concern (isn’t it for almost everyone?!) I would suggest including the features that are not easy to change later. For example: chandeliers, bead board, and even fireplaces can be more easily added later… whereas planning for a reading nook or a specialty floor would need to happen more upfront during the construction process.ReplyCancel
Queen Anne Victorian Welcome to another installment in the ELEMENTS OF HOME series. Each month I showcase a different residential style here on the blog. It is my hope that this information will not only teach you a little something about the various styles; but also equip you if are designing or searching for a…
What should you do when your child outgrows his/her crib? Consider re-purposing it into an adorable DIY toddler bed, using this simple tutorial. Not many moments spark the same amounts of joy and sadness as when the youngest child of the family finally outgrows the crib. With the celebratory occasion of assembling the ‘big…
