updated diy dinning room and living room

My husband and I kicked off the new year with one little and one big diy project. I love the look of picture frame shelves. After searching the internet, I quickly realized that buying the shelves in store in the size that I needed would be costly. My husband made these shelves in one afternoon for about $20. I'm seriously debating about adding one more shelf under the bottom one. 

The wainscoting project was a lot of work. I love how the project turned out. My husband did a beautiful job. However, unless you love to measure and sand for hours, I wouldn't recommend this diy. Also, skip any and all pinterest tutorials that suggest "shortcuts," "getting the real look for less" and "do it in one day." Installing wainscoting correctly takes time. 

In the end, I am in love with both projects. Can't wait (although I'll probably wait a few months before suggesting the next project) to see what else we do in the near future. 

upstairs kids/guest bath refresh

Over the weekend, we did a bathroom refresh. My husband and a close family friend worked together to install the vanity, which was done in one afternoon. The new medicine cabinet shelves were built by the same friend, installed by me. After painting the entire bathroom and cleaning up the light fixture, I think this bathroom is much nicer. The new vanity functional. I can store the kid's things inside the drawers with plenty of space leftover for extra towels and toilet paper.  

big boy room reveal

It feels good to have at least one room in our new house finished. Most of the boxes have been unpacked, however I still have stuff everywhere! It takes time to put a house together. And honestly, I'm not in a hurry. I'd rather find things that I love and can use then fill the house with stuff.

I asked Lucas for input on his room. Apparently, everything "little kid" had to go. His two requests for his room were for one blue wall, one red wall and one green wall, and a map. I vetoed the blue, red and green walls, and opted for one navy blue accent wall and of course I found him a darling map from Hobby Lobby ($7).

I used everything on hand, except for the map. I love how this room turned out. And this will probably be the cleanest this room will ever be. 

Up next will be Alara's room.

door project

Over the summer it was pointed out to me that our front door needed a face lift. The door needed to be sanded, re-stained and sealed. I hate sanding. I hate the feeling of wood dust on my skin, the way it gets in my hair and up my nose. No matter how many times I shower after I sand, I still feel dusty.
But, as much as I hate sanding...I love the look of freshly stained wood. I worked during nap time..slowly sanding by hand.. removing the dust and grim. The after picture is the result of many weeks of hard work and I'm pretty dam proud of how it turned out.

DIY wall rack

After weeks of tripping over Lucas's backpacks I decided it was time to get organize. I won this wood wall rack with shaker pegs when I was about twelve years old at a 4-H horse show. My twelve year old self didn't have a need for a wood wall rack and thought the prize was a waste. I had wanted the camping chair. And honestly I don't blame myself for wanting a camping over a wood wall rack.  

Until about a week ago, the rejected rack sat collecting dust in my Mom's storage shed. After giving it a good sanding, replacing the missing pegs and a couple coats of traffic cone orange paint this wall rack looks as good as new. Lucas was a big help with the sanding and gluing. He took great pride in helping make something for his room. 

I'm happy with how this project turned out. Fingers crossed that it holds up to everyday use and that those backpacks and bow stay off the floor and on the wall. 

labor day project

Happy Labor Day. 

Below I've posted a before and after picture of my latest messy (yet satisfying) project. 

 I'm not sure what Lucas is more excited about..that I'm finished working and now we can play or that he found the ladder to his firetruck.