• tools you need for your house
    Home Maintenance,  My Projects

    Essential Tools for Homeowners

    Not just for your DIY home improvement project. Essential tools for homeowners to maintain and improve your home. Homeownership comes with a lot of responsibilities, from keeping up with maintenance and repairs to ensuring the safety of your family. To make sure that you can take care of all these tasks efficiently, it is essential to have the right tools in your toolbox. From power drills and hammers to saws and screwdrivers, having the right tools can make all the difference when it comes to taking care of tasks around your home. Some of the links within this blog post are affiliate links. If you purchase or sign up to…

  • Make your house a home with Valerie M
    Home Improvement Tips,  My Projects

    Make Your House a Home like a Professional

    There are so many ways to make your house a home…but what does that really mean? In my world, it means erasing the current owner from the house and inserting you! Have you painted the walls? Changed the curtains? Added pendant lighting over the kitchen island? But still doesn’t feel right? Making a house feel like home is more than just decorating it with furniture, artwork, and plants. It’s about creating a space that reflects your personal style and makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. With the right touches, you can turn your house into a beautiful home that is truly yours. From adding cozy accents to incorporating meaningful pieces,…

  • construction terms, re-design, changing a room into a space you love
    Home Improvement Tips,  My Projects

    Construction and Remodeling Terms

    Dimensional Lumber Dimensional lumber is a type of wood that has been cut to specific sizes and is used in construction projects. A 2 x 4 (two by four) is the most recognized dimensional lumber. Dry Fit After cutting material you put it all in place before fastening it in place. For instance, when tiling a floor, lay all the tile out before putting the mortar under it. Feature Wall The vertical surface in a room that catches your eye and draws you into the space. Feature wall ideas are: follow me Some of the links within this blog post are affiliate links. If you purchase or sign up to…

  • Dimensional lumber size
    Home Improvement Tips,  My Projects

    Dimensional Lumber Sizes

    What is dimensional lumber? Most of us have heard this term before but what does it actually mean? Dimensional lumber is a type of wood that has been cut to specific sizes and is used in construction projects. A 2 x 4 (two by four) is the most recognized dimensional lumber. It is used for framing, flooring, roofing, siding, and other construction projects. What are the actual dimensional lumber sizes? Let’s use a 2 x 4 as an example. You would assume that it is 2 inches by 4 inches and commonly 8 feet long. This stick of wood is actually 1 1/2 inch by 3 1/2 inch!! That’s right!…

  • Your home step by step
    Home Improvement Tips,  My Projects

    Steps to Renovating a House

    Renovating a house can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t know where to start. However, with careful planning and the right tools, you can make the process easier and more enjoyable. From planning to implementation, there are several important steps to take when renovating a house. You’ve finished your inspiration board, put together your budget and have a goal. Now let’s make a plan! What are your steps to renovating your house. Not sure where to start? Download the Room Audit Worksheet to help you prioritize your projects. Need more design tools? Steps to Renovating a House Knowing what these steps are and how to go about them…

  • coffee station @ home
    Bedroom Design Ideas,  My Projects

    Coffee Station

    Have you seen the HGTV show Unsellable Houses? Well, I was literally just watching the newest episode and they stole my design theme LOL They used the term “deep dark fancy”. I used the terms dark, moody and sophisticated. When I started the design for the coffee station in my master bedroom, I wanted to create the ‘coffee in a closet’ version of a speakeasy. My husband gave me that look and chuckled a little. But I think it turned out amazing! Scroll on! Stop in my Coffee Bar Accessories Shop for some more inspiration and shop for your space. Some of the links within this blog post are affiliate…

  • Dark Walnut Stain on Pine
    Finishes,  My Projects

    Dark Walnut Stain on Pine

    Not too long ago I finished a coffee bar station in a Master ensuite. What a great idea, right?! Check out the finished product here. I knew I wanted wallpaper and industrial style shelves in this project. These two can be budget busters. So I had to figure out where I was going to save. The one obvious design item was the wood. I was using a lot of it and the price of wood varies greatly with type and grade. Being a finished product, I had to keep the grade of wood high. That meant building with pine. The most inexpensive wood out there. This posed a challenge. How…

  • Bathroom Design Ideas,  My Projects

    What is a half bathroom?

    Well speaking in real estate terms a half bathroom is the .1 or the bathroom with just a toilet and sink, otherwise known as a powder room. If there is a shower or anything more in the bathroom, it is no longer counted as half but then is a full (in real estate terms). Some may consider a bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower as three quarters. So, long story short, a half bath is a room with a toilet and a sink. The next question has to be how do you make a room with a toilet and a sink feel welcoming and pleasant? I’m about to show…