The title of this post pretty much sums up the project. It's a super simple, free (if you have grapevine on hand) DIY wreath that I made from oak leaves that fell in my yard. It's a little rustic but it's perfect for the farmhouse.
Hand Painted Vintage Snow Shovels
I'm interrupting fall to bring you a little... winter. Don't be angry, I'm not actually bringing winter...just a little winter themed decorating and truly, when it comes right down to it, it's not just me; it's also my friend Ann from Nellie's barn sale.
Fall Harvest Porch Decor with Reclaimed Wood Sign
In the middle of the renovation, I'm still decorating for fall. In fact, all decorating is in full swing here at the farmhouse. The porch is dressed with mums and pumpkins and a sign that I made from reclaimed paneling that I removed when renovated the fireplace in the dining room. If you cup your hands around your eyes and look only at my front entry (ignoring the fact that there's no other landscaping at all because it has been cut down for construction) you might be tempted to think that the outside of my house is nice.....
....don't believe it. It's all a mirage.
How To Make New Bushel Baskets Look Old
Today I'm going to show you a fast, easy way to age new bushel baskets (and any other light colored basket made from natural materials) using tea, white vinegar and steel wool. In about twenty minutes, you can make brand new baskets look like they've been around for years!
Gold and Orange Fall Pumpkin Urn Planter
Since tomorrow is the first official day of autumn (and since the sun finally decided to pay a visit after about a week long vacation), I snapped a few quick photos of my fall harvest themed urn planter.
French Replica - Limestone Fireplace Mantel Surround
Once upon a time, what seems like a very long time ago (actually, just about nine months ago), I embarked upon the conversion of the ranch house living room to the farm house dining room. To say that there have been a few twists and turns along this road would be an understatement. Thankfully, I had planned for most of them.
Choosing Kitchen and Bathroom Tile
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| Shower display at Floor & Decor |
Choosing tile for the kitchen and bathrooms at the farmhouse has proven to be one of the easiest selections that I've made to date. For me, the wide range of materials that's out there has made the job easier rather than more difficult. Like I did last week, today I'm sharing my choices and showing you what I found at Floor & Decor.
When I began designing the farmhouse, I chose to make the color palette for the floors, tile, counter tops and cabinets completely neutral. Since I tend to like redecorate about every fifteen minutes often, keeping the more permanent parts of my home neutral allows me to introduce color through paint and fabric.
I know myself well enough to know that this is the best way for me to decorate. I also know that I like to use natural materials whenever possible but if the price is right and the quality is good, porcelain that looks like natural stone is a cost effective alternative for some areas of my home.
Since I'll be using hexagonal terracotta tile in the stable hall and the hall to my studio, I feel that it's a good idea to use that same hexagonal shape on the floor of the master bath or in the shower, for continuity. I've found that using larger tiles with just a few accent pieces saves on installation as well as tile cost.
I know myself well enough to know that this is the best way for me to decorate. I also know that I like to use natural materials whenever possible but if the price is right and the quality is good, porcelain that looks like natural stone is a cost effective alternative for some areas of my home.
Since I'll be using hexagonal terracotta tile in the stable hall and the hall to my studio, I feel that it's a good idea to use that same hexagonal shape on the floor of the master bath or in the shower, for continuity. I've found that using larger tiles with just a few accent pieces saves on installation as well as tile cost.
First, let's talk about my new kitchen. It will be a combination of shades of gray and white with dark wood flooring, a natural wood island and open shelves. The the style of my new kitchen is French country farmhouse (with the emphasis on farmhouse, of course!) I'll be using rustic finishes like painted cabinets and honed counter tops. I'm considering poured concrete or soapstone for part of the counter tops but will have Vermont Imperial marble on the island. My kitchen cabinets and shelves will be similar in color and feel to the fabulous kitchen above from Our Vintage Home.
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| Source: Kvanum Kitchens |
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| Photo: Home of Colette of La Brocanteuse |
I think that the tile on the bottom of the display below would work nicely as a kitchen back splash, don't you? Of course, it would be pretty spectacular in the shower i the upstairs bath, too!
There are two and one half baths in our home. The half bath is tiny and is located on the main floor near the family room. The floor in this room will probably be a natural stone like travertine because it's rustic enough to blend well with the dark hardwood that will be in the rooms around it and still sturdy enough to hold up to traffic. I'm adding character to my little bathroom by using a vintage chest as a sink base with a vessel sink and wall mounted faucet similar to this one:
There are two and one half baths in our home. The half bath is tiny and is located on the main floor near the family room. The floor in this room will probably be a natural stone like travertine because it's rustic enough to blend well with the dark hardwood that will be in the rooms around it and still sturdy enough to hold up to traffic. I'm adding character to my little bathroom by using a vintage chest as a sink base with a vessel sink and wall mounted faucet similar to this one:
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| Source: Decorpad.com |
Where was I? Oh yeah, vessel sinks.
I was really pleased to find that Floor & Decor carries what I consider to be a pretty substantial selection of vessel sinks. I'm sure that I'll be find something that will be perfect.
There are two full bathrooms in our home, one in the hall of the second floor and one is a master ensuite. Both will have gray and white tile, both will likely have gray cabinets, both will have white fixtures. Color wise, that may seem boring, but using an interesting tile layout and things like mosaic accents or carved pieces like this one that I found will help to make them simple but beautiful.
There are two full bathrooms in our home, one in the hall of the second floor and one is a master ensuite. Both will have gray and white tile, both will likely have gray cabinets, both will have white fixtures. Color wise, that may seem boring, but using an interesting tile layout and things like mosaic accents or carved pieces like this one that I found will help to make them simple but beautiful.
I haven't made final selections yet... but I'm close. I've still got to find a cabinet for the powder room but then, I'm going to sit down with a F&D designer to choose a sink for the powder room and lay out the patterns for the tile in the bathrooms. I'm still drawn to the mosaic border in this photo...
and that harlequin....maybe just a little?!
However, before I do any of that, either today or tomorrow (September 12th and 13th), I'm going to the Grand opening of the new Floor & Decor at 3300 Oakton in Skokie, IL to check them out! You know that I love to shop and I want to make sure to check out all of the latest options before I purchase.
If you're in the area, here's what's going on at the store this weekend. Maybe I'll see you there.
Friday, Sept 12
9:00 – 11:00 Ribbon cutting
10:00 – 6:00 NASCAR Simulator
11:00 – 2:00 Ice Cream Truck – free to the first 200 customers
Chicago Mix popcorn available
Saturday, Sept 13
Chicago Mix popcorn available
10:00 – 6:00 NASCAR Simulator
11:00 – 2:00 Hot Dog Cart – free to the first 200 customers
11:00 – 3:00 Face Painter/ Balloon Artist
11:00 – 3:00 Inflatable Sports Challenge
12:00 – 2:00 $250,000 Dice Roll Challenge
Disclosure: I was compensated for writing this post. However, my account of my experience with Floor and Decor as well as my opinion of them is my own. I only write about products and services that I use personally in my own home and it is my policy and promise to you, the reader, that all reviews are genuine, 100% honest, and reflect my experience with the product or service being reviewed.
Embroidered Canvas Dropcloth Fall Pillows
It's a little over a week into September. My youngest is back at school, Labor Day is over and
How to Choose Hard Surface Flooring
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| On the cart: Wood grain ceramic, natural stone and marble |
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| Wood look porcelain tile |
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| Wood Look Porcelain. Photos from Floor and Decor |
The requirements for my flooring and floor store "wish list" are as follows:
- Hold up to the traffic of our daily life (as well as that of a certain 65 pound yellow Labrador retriever) without a lot of maintenance.
- First quality materials (no "seconds")
- Last for the lifetime of my home.
- Low Price
- Single source for everything that I need with a staff that can educate me about products that I may not know about
- Eco friendly and able to be installed and maintained with low VOC products.
Flooring materials that I plan to use are these:
- 4 inch Cabin Grade White Oak Hardwood with dark stain (first floor common areas)
- Terracotta Hexagonal tile or natural color slate (Hallways, pantry and laundry)
- Marble Tile in Carrara, Vermont Imperial or other white/gray color (Master Bath)
- Ceramic, Glass, Travertine or Wood Look Porcelain in Gray White and/or Ivory (Powder room and hall bath)
- Bamboo??? Wood-look in a dark color (potential for 2nd floor bedrooms and hall)
While I have chosen flooring for homes several times in the past, it has been ten years since I last made this type of decision and new options have been introduced that I wanted to know more about; specifically, bamboo flooring which is a lower cost alternative to hardwood that I can use on the second floor. It is also much more durable than hardwood and I like the fact that it's a sustainable product.
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| Ceramic and marble bathroom ideas from traditional to contemporary |
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| My favorite: Carrara marble! |
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| Terracotta 4x4 tiles |
I took photos, and notes. Chris K. gave me his business card and told me to call if I thought of other questions. He also offered to schedule a time for me to sit down with one of their designers before I make final selections. I'm excited about this service because although I know what products I want, I'm not always the best at designing the tile layout. I did, however, already get some great ideas from their in-store displays.
As I finished looking around, I realized that I hadn't seen 4-inch white oak in the store. I need to use this material in the kitchen, master bedroom and hearth room since they are connected to each other as well as to the dining room which we just renovated. When I asked Chris about it, I was pleased to learn that they can special order some products so, if you don't see something that you're looking for, just ask!
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| Bamboo flooring; Photo courtesy of Floor & Decor |
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| Ceramic tile bathroom Photo courtesy of Floor and Decor |
P.S. Stop by next week for details on the Skokie Grand Opening and to see what I'm considering for my kitchen back splash and bathrooms. Some of the gorgeous tile in the photo above just may be included!
Disclosure: I was compensated for writing this post. However, my account of how I discovered Floor and Decor as well as my experience and opinion of them is my own. I only write about products and services that I use personally in my own home and it is my policy and promise to you, the reader, that all reviews are genuine, 100% honest, and reflect my experience with the product or service being reviewed.
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Final Drawings French Farmhouse Renovation Phase 2
You may be wondering why I haven't been around much.
Wait, who am I kidding? Even my family probably wouldn't notice if I was absent for a few days so let me rephrase:
Here's what I've been up to lately.
The photos that you see here are the final drawings for what I've been referring to for the last ten months as "Phase 2 of the renovation at the French Farmhouse." In reality, this is the portion of the renovation where the true transformation from "1950's red brick ranch" to "French Farmhouse" will take place.
Over the next several months (probably around ten), 3/4 of the existing foot print of the house will be gutted to the studs and all of the existing rooms (with the exception of the new dining room) will "change places". Through it all, the house will remain a three bedroom, 2.5 bath home and YES, we ARE living here during construction!
Bedrooms will become a kitchen, the kitchen will become a bedroom, current bathrooms make way for a new hearth room. Why? Well, I haven't gone into too much detail until today but this house has a bunch of problems, some of them serious...some, just annoying.
Things like the fact that the windows have been caulked shut for so many years that the wood frames have rotted to the point that they can't be repaired. Or the fact that ice forms on the electric outlets in my bathroom in the winter. Or the fact that condensation runs down the walls in the hall in the summer.
The list goes on...and on...and I've spared you the "really bad" stuff. Trust me, there is NO OTHER choice...well, except tearing it down...which I won't do...because I LOVE this house!
So, I've been working with an incredibly talented architect named Dennis Parsons who has, over the last ten months, "engineered" my vision and found a builder named Dan Roberts who is almost as excited to do this project as I am.
We're currently applying for building permits, and clearing trees...and removing a pond and thirty foot stream that was built against the house and eighteen inches above the top of the foundation...which is a part of the reason why the crawl space filled with water last fall when it rained. Not glamorous stuff...but necessary.
Today, my back yard looks like this. To most people, this is not a pretty sight. To me, after almost twelve months of waiting, it's beautiful!
I hope that you'll stick around for the next few months while things aren't lovely and there's not really any decorating to share. I'll be doing a few projects and I'll also be sharing the process of selecting tile and fixtures and designing the new kitchen and bathrooms. I truly appreciate every single one of you and the fact that you're here.
Bring on the construction fence! Let's DO THIS!
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