Teen Bedroom Redo
So, I’ve mentioned that this new-to-us old house is in pretty ugly shape and that we have been redoing all the rooms bit by bit. One of the rooms that hadn’t gotten any love since we moved in was Jordin’s room. Check out these dingy, bland, old lady looking photos:
We hadn’t even hung anything on the walls because we knew we wanted to paint. Poor girl! Plus, the rooms all need to have more outlets put in (how is one outlet nearly enough?!) and overhead lights with switches added (hello?!). Needless to say, she was not thrilled in her set up. But, enter her 16th birthday, and we had the perfect excuse to make ourselves get the room beautified and surprise her with completely glammed out digs. Annnd… after:
Ta da! Total teen girl. Her jaw dropped. Win!
This was the mint turquoise color she had picked for her bedroom at our previous house and she was really wanting it again. It is super pretty, and not quite as bright in person. She also loves pink and peach. I added some navy to calm and tie the colors in and some gold hints for glam factor. Sounds busy. Totally goes.
Some old, some new, plenty of Hobby Lobby help. She wanted a little girly and a little rustic. She also wanted “fairy lights” so fairy lights she got.
We can’t change the brown furniture (it was her grandmas), and new carpet isn’t going to happen just yet, so working with what you’ve got sometimes has to just work… but…
Truly I love how it turned out. Dont tell her but Santa is thinking about a rug and a chandelier, along with new knobs for the drawers. 😍
Where Have You Been, Girl?!
Hi all! Yes, yes. It’s been forever. BUT, I am back. And with lots to share.
One more kiddo and a new (to us) house have kept us very, very busy. But this new house has also given us a TON of new projects to show you while we go. So, I’m back and full of fun stuff to document.
The house. If you have been following along here for very long, you know I love me some old houses. And old projects. And old antiques. Everything with a story. Let me tell you, this house had lots of stories. Built in 1860, and sadly remodeled in the 70’s, we have our hands full, both with old stories and new ideas.
So, here she is. All potential and boring right now.
Pretty cool, right?! And a ton of work, a few headaches, blood, sweat, tears… and love. I’m excited to be getting all creative again. As the new little one allows, of course. 😂
As many of you know, this space was created years ago when I got my first house to document and share all of my remodeling and decorating ideas, trials, errors, and adventures. This is where a plan to keep most of my focus now that I am back with plenty to keep sharing. But, I also plan to share some family, kids, health, and even personal stuff. Let me know if there’s something you would like to see!
And finally, I haven’t shared about myself in a very long time. So, my name is Jessica. I am a social worker with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology. I love to be outdoors, camp, and travel, decorate, refinish and repurpose furniture, and and hunt for bargains and hidden gems. I live in Iowa with my significant other, Jason, my 15 year old step-daughter, Jordin, my 5 year old son, Brantley, and my 4 month old son, Barrett. Oh, and our little growing crew of pets. Every farm needs chickens and goats, right? We not only love making our new old house a home, but we also love trying out new things along the way. I hope we can inspire you!
Glad you are here! It should be fun, and a little new, so stick around!
DIY Wreath
Winter makes me a little stir crazy. Luckily Pinterest has many many cures for that! Enter my new wreath project. Bonus: I love a project that has quick and easy payoff! 😉
I picked up a wire wreath form at Joann craft store for a few dollars. I also grabbed a remnant of burgundy fabric and a pack of colored leaf print fabric squares. I cut tons and tons and tons of fabric strips about 5 inches long. Then I tied the oodles of strips in knots around the wire wreath form. I also added some strips of burlap to give a rustic look. Simple.
Here is a close up of my strips of fabric.
I also painted a wood letter T to hang in the center if I choose.
And for the winter season I hung a seasons greetings basket in the center that I already had. Cute, no? 🙂
Yellow Chair Love
Maybe it’s because yellow is so pretty. Or maybe it’s because I am already itching for spring. Either way, I am loving these bits of yellow…
Coffee Table Fix Up
It’s taken me over a year. But it’s finally done. I have a coffee table that I love, finally.
Before:
Perfect shape to hold lots of treasures, but outdated color and in rough shape.
After:
I sanded the table and then painted I’m gray (shock!) And then roughed it up. The top got a coat of a darker gray, and the whole table was finished with paste wax to protect it. I had to fix the drawer, but ended up keeping the old knobs. What do you think?
New Old Dresser
This old house has plenty of character, but really lacks storage. I get by because no one is using the spare bedroom currently, so outgrown baby items, my vacuum, and luggage all live in there. The bathroom, however, is still in desperate need of storage. I still use my old quilt rack to hang towels. I love this, but not so much when towels have to be stacked 7 high because there is no cupboard for the extras. So, I set out to buy a large old dresser to refinish, in hopes that it could serve as storage in the bathroom.
I started with this guy for $40 on a garage sale:
Great vintage bones, ugly paint job. So I sanded, patched one spot, and painted him gray.
He was already looking gorgeous. Then I added some charcoal tinted furniture paste wax.
I was loving it. The hardest part was picking hardware. I didn’t want the hardware to pull too much attention, so I ended up choosing twisted iron pulls that reminded me of the Threshers, and little black knobs for the top. Now he’s finished and gorgeous. Oh, and one more dilemma. Do I really put it in the barhroom, or do I give it to Brantley as he transitions to his big boy furniture? OR, do I sell it? 😉
What do you think?! ♡
Cozy Nook Inspiration
So calm, clean, and cozy. I’d love to work from this spot for the afternoon. Via House Beautiful.
Quick Paint Job
Winter is always my dreary time. Usually I don’t seem to get much done. But lately, I have been on a roll of projects! Last week I whipped out a tiny and speedy paint project. I used the same charcoal chalk paint from the small wall in the kitchen and painted the opposite facing wall in the dining room. I didn’t like the green, but love this dark, fresh color now! Here is the (messy) before:
Check out the after (forgive the Christmas decor that wouldn’t normally be there :)) :
And I just adore the new canvas of B! I’m even thinking about painting the small chunk of wall going up the stairs behind this wall. I think that will balance everything out well. Small bits at a time. After all, I have to paint after little man goes to bed 🙂 What do you think?!
Piano Bench Project
I’m in love. I really don’t want to sell this project. My house is going to overflow.
I found this old piano bench, beat up and sad, left behind in the basement of the rental property we own.
After filling, sanding, painting, stenciling, and waxing, this is what she looks like now:
I love how the waxing turns out. The finish is protected and it is more wipable now. I used regular paste furniture wax and then tinted it with a charcoal paint. I am so excited to keep perfecting this technique. What do you think?
Make Mine Eclectic 