Board and Batten to the Rescue! Wallpaper No More!

Wallpaper removal is a daunting task, especially in an investment property where speed of renovation means money.  So, is there another approach to add interest to a room with tired wallpaper and NOT remove the paper?  Yes! Board and batten! In a recent investment property renovation, the kitchen had 1990’s wallpaper throughout the entire kitchen and to be honest, the prospect of removing the paper was daunting and a huge time suck.  Instead, we invested time in adding some architectural interest to the kitchen walls – and, in the process, covered the wallpaper with board and batten. It’s always fun...

Create Your Own Custom Poster Hanger: A Simple and Stylish DIY in Minutes!

I’ve been gearing up for seasonal decor and wanted something pretty, functional, and affordable that would allow me to easily swap out prints—whether it’s for seasonal changes, travel photos, or special occasions—without the expense of framing. These DIY poster hangers are the perfect solution! They’re super easy to make, fully customizable in size and detail, and offer a stylish way to display prints. Let’s dive in with these simple steps to create your own! materials: Trim pieces (ideally trim from your scrap wood pile, nothing heavy) Stain and/or poly (ideally whatever you have on hand) E6000 adhesive Magnets Washers Picture...

Fall Garden Refresh: 9 Easy to Find Plants That Beat Mums

Ready to refresh your planters for fall but tired of the same old mums that barely last through the season? While the selection of fall plants can seem more limited compared to the abundance in spring, here’s the good news: there are still plenty of easy-to-find plants that transition beautifully from summer to fall. These hardy options not only thrive in cooler weather but also look fantastic together—and are still readily available! Whether you’re sprucing up your porch or updating your garden beds, these alternatives will bring vibrant color and texture to your space with minimal effort. In this post,...

MacKenzie-Childs Inspired Haunted House

You know I love going from “old to gold,” and this project hit the mark! I was inspired by the whimsical charm of a MacKenzie-Childs Haunted House and decided to put my own spin on it. This fun DIY starts with a tired, miniature Christmas house, some black spray paint, and a few miniatures. Here’s how I made it happen! the house I thrifted several miniature houses from estate sales and Goodwill for about $3 each, choosing ones that weren’t overly Christmas-themed. After a couple of coats of black spray paint and primer, I had a solid base to work with. I even painted the wood the house...

Streamline Your Display Stand Build: Essential Tips and a Step-by-Step Tutorial

Ever spent hours building something, only to realize it could have been done in half the time? Don’t let this project drain your energy. Benefit from my “trial and error” to building a stunning, sturdy display stand in record time with these tips and a straightforward tutorial that even beginners can master. These stands were initially used to display children’s outfits and to be used as a centerpiece! So, the stand needed to be pretty as well! MATERIALS base I used a candle pedestal as the base for my display stand. I had 2 at home but found 5 more...

Adorable Baby Shower Attendee Gift: The Perfect Candle

When it comes to baby showers, everyone looks forward to the delightful and thoughtful favors they get to take home. One of the most charming attendee gifts you can offer is a beautiful candle. Here are four elements that make this candle an adorable keepsake: 1. Vessel: A Touch of Elegance The vessel of the candle is the first thing that catches the eye. For this baby shower, we chose an iridescent glass jar. The pastel hues give it movement and interest. The glass sparkles in the light, making it a lovely decorative piece even after the candle is used....

Storybook Style Baby Shower: How ChatGPT Inspired the Theme Name, Invitations & Backdrop

Planning a baby shower is always an exciting endeavor, but it can also be quite challenging to come up with a unique and memorable theme. When we (my sisters and I) started brainstorming ideas for Baby Carmela’s (my grand niece) shower, we wanted something charming, yet memorable. That’s when I decided to turn to ChatGPT for some creative inspiration. The Spark of an Idea We had the initial centerpiece idea, but we weren’t sure what to name the theme of the shower. The aim was to create centerpieces using baby girl clothes on display stands. The outfit themes were initially...

Affordable Lighted Fans!

Whether you are looking to update your home, stage a property to sell or build new, overhead lighted fans can date or update the look of the home. I have sourced fans for all those situations and my ambition is to find fan that affordable, interesting, functional, takes up minimal visual space and is in keeping with the style of the home. I volunteer at a Habitat for Humanity and source many materials for their builds and recently, I was on the hunt for overhead lighted fans for small (about 100 sq ft) bedrooms for a few new builds. Here...

Thoughtful Customized Gift Ideas for Moms of Younger Kids this Mother’s Day

As Mother’s Day draws near, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the incredible moms in our lives, especially those with younger children. While traditional gifts like flowers and chocolates are always appreciated, why not consider something a bit more personalized and heartfelt this year? In this blog post, I’m sharing a few customized gift ideas that I have gifted or just thought is a great idea for the mom of younger kids on her special day. 1. Personalized Jewelry:Give mom a gift she can cherish forever with a piece of personalized jewelry. I gifted these Little Words Project bracelets to...

ReStore Furniture Flip: 4 Key Considerations for Choosing Your Perfect Project Piece

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores are a great source for project pieces. Whether you are looking to revive a piece for your home or to resell, here are 4 considerations that I keep in mind when purchasing. material A solid piece of furniture is a good basis for a project piece. For me, this usually means a piece made from wood (entirely or at least the top and face frame). Below is an example of a piece made from wood that just required some sanding. This sanded down nicely! Check out this blogpost for the “after”. A material with a surface...

Budget-Friendly Front Door Transformation: Achieve a Stunning Look for Just $30!

Looking for a way to refresh the look of the entry to your home? Here are some key tips to consider when giving your front door an uplift with paint! You will be amazed at the difference it makes! And, this is a super quick and affordable project. Which areas to paint In my opinion, it is best to paint not only the door, but if there are other elements to the door package, those should be painted as well. For example, if the door has sidelights, the area around the glass should also be painted including the trim. (In...