when life hands you a wood slat wall {paint stripping tips included}

Strip it. Then whitewash it. Then strip it again. Ok, maybe that strategy isn’t the best approach.  ;) You’ve all seen the whole mood board concept, right?!?!  Where people put pretty images all in one spot and use it as inspiration to design and decorate a room.  And then the room ends up looking eerily similar to the original mood board. I honestly have no idea how people do it. I think I have more “mood moments”.  And they can be fleeting.  :) To take you back to when we moved into this house in the beginning of April and there was paneling Ev. Ry. Where. We got busy tearing down all of the paneling only to find drywall (painted pink in spots!) so we took a leap of faith and started tearing down the drywall, knowing there was a chance we would need to just re-install new drywall.  I definitely prayed to the DIY Gods about our work not being a waste of time and money and energy and potentially my sanity. But it was the best decision ever!  Like ever ever, even. We uncovered beautiful wood slat wall after wood slat wall.  And their paint colors even made me a little giddy. I can’t even tell you how many different design places my mind has wandered with these planked walls. How fun would it be to salvage the original colors? But how cool would it be to strip a couple to expose the beautiful wood? What about a dark stain for contrast against light painted walls? Or what about a whitewash for a more nautical/beachy look? And when my mind is shifting through these ideas faster than Kim K is getting press over another questionable pregnancy outfit … I’m just sitting in the middle of the madness. Do you do … continue reading

how to install board and batten {and what’s next for the living room}

OK, where did we leave off?  Oh right, we have a high board and batten wall!!! Have I mentioned we love it?!?  Yes, it is the only finished wall in this place, but we are still in love. To get all of the background on this wall and how we learned that part of it used to be a hallway and how this board and batten (some call it wainscoting) is the perfect solution to cover up all her imperfection go here. This is going to be a full rundown of how you, too, can design and create your own accent wall that can serve the purpose to cover up an unsightly wall.

diy {striped and painted} rug

You know when your husband goes away on a business trip. And you’re just itching to get a project or two done around the house. And you have about a half a dozen projects already in mid-stream. But then you can’t seem to take your eyes off a little eye sore that’s been pulling at the back of your brain for a few months now.

diy door turned coffee table

We’re blogging without borders here today.  If you’ve missed my first few attempts at updating our living room you can get all caught up here, here and here. And today … she’s here … the old door I pulled out of a dumpster on the way to meet friends at the pool one day has transformed into a coffee table!! And here’s how it happened.

decorating ideas {autumn mantle} fall mantel

I’m here today following my dreams.  :) Remember the dream?  The one for this blog to be in print.  I talk all about it here. And, since I’m one to follow my dreams, and I just happen to have a new shelf ready for some new decorations, and I wasn’t blogging last fall … I present to you now a little fall decor.  :) Fall in July … it’s sure to be the new Christmas in July.  I’m sure of it.  ;) But, really, what’s a girl to do?!?!  The call to action came …