bathroom remodel, Decorating, Home Improvement

The light of all lights!

No Comments

This post is sponsored by Blueprint Lighting 

Ever since we finished our bathroom at the beginning of the summer, the most frequently asked question that I get is; Where did you get the light above the vanity? I knew it was the ONE as soon as soon as I laid eyes on it! See what I mean…

This particular light is the Monarch Articulating Wall lamp in the Greece color from Blueprint Lighting. If you aren’t familiar with Blueprint Lighting, they are an NYC based company that produces quality, boutique wall/ceiling lamps, as well as chandeliers at a palatable price. Easier said than done! I love them (well, for many reasons really) but, especially because they produce handcrafted lighting, without the crazy lead times that you see from other custom lighting companies… I have seen anywhere from 8 to 24 weeks from other places! And with all of the color and metal options they offer, they really have something for everyone!

The Monarch light is perfect for a vanity light as it adjusts in two different spots so you can direct light in any direction that you prefer, but also disperses the light beautifully in a way that lights up the entire bathroom. The glossy blue and brass combination is so funky and adds just a little bit of personality and sass to the bathroom. It’s really the perfect combination of form and function.

Our kitchen is also outfitted in Blueprint Lighting lights. For our flushmount, we went with their Model 130 Strobus in unlaquered brass. It is a show piece and definitely acts as the star of the kitchen!

The sconces are their Campana Wall Sconce in stark white. I love them! Just like the bathroom fixture, they are fully adjustable and make a statement without overpowering the overall design of a room.

If you are in the market for some quality, handmade lighting, you’ll definitely want to check out Blueprint Lighting. I have a feeling you guys will love their selection of beautiful fixtures. AND OMG I just saw on their site that many of their wall lamps are BOGO right now! SERIOUSLY, RUN!!! Happy Shopping, friends!

 

Home Improvement, one room challenge, Renovating

One Room Challenge – Modern Rustic Office – The Reveal

83 Comments

Today is the day – it’s reveal day for the One Room Challenge! It feels like Christmas morning when you’re six and it’s snowing outside and you walk down the stairs to see the bike you’ve been wishing for with a big bow on it! Ok…back on track now, and I will try my hardest to keep from adding an ! at the end of every sentence.

And if you’re new here, here are links back to Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, and Week Five, so you can catch up on all the details throughout the entire process.

I am dyyyyyying to show you all the after’s but first, let’s take a walk down memory lane and have a look at where we started. Here is the mood board from which I planned the space. Also, check out these before shots…it was so bad.

I know what you’re thinking…it was UGLY. Well, here is how we are looking now!

And now for the good stuff…the inside…

Whew….I’m so in love with this cutie little office now, that I’m thinking about kicking my hubs out of there and keeping this space for myself…jk. I’m loving the textures and all of the wood makes it feel homey and cozy. We’ve even had family stake claim on the space for their next overnight visit, so that just gives me all the warm fuzzies. Remember at the very beginning, I said that my goal was to create a comfortable space where you actually wanted to hang and spend time. Mission accomplished.

The biggest task for this project was that we were starting from nothing. There were no walls, floors, or ceilings. So that’s what we focused on for the majority of the six weeks. Everything was covered in pine. Tongue and groove for the walls and ceilings and pine 1×6’s for the floors. Then, everything was stained antique white by varathane to give it that Scandi look and keep those yellow and orange tones at a minimum.

The dark accent wall was painted Black Jack by Benjamin Moore. A color that I haven’t used before, but will definitely use again. I loved it so much that I ended up using it on the exterior, and gave the outside a new look. I have been playing around with the idea of painting our house a dark color like this, so it was fun to experiment. I also love how the trim is the same color as the siding.

When it was time to furniture shop, I knew I wanted a leather sofa for its durability since my hubs will be using this space the most. Anyone else have a husband that spills everything? No….just me?? I selected this sofa from American Leather and it is a treat for the senses. It is buttery soft and now when you walk into the office, you are hit with the most incredible leather smell. It is definitely the most beautiful and luxe piece of furniture I’ve ever owned. It is a beauty!

The chandelier was the starting point for the whole space because I knew I wanted a modern chandelier to juxtapose the firewood that would be lining the loft space. The Mitzi collection from Hudson Valley Lighting had so many good contenders but as soon as I saw the Astrid Chandelier, I knew she was THE ONE. This chandy is the centerpiece for the whole space and that black and brass combo has my heart forever.

The rug is from the Skye collection from Loloi Rugs. It is gorgeous and goes with everything…seriously, everything. I love the golds and greens but my favorite part about this rug was that it allowed me to sneak a little bit of pink into this manly office space. My hubs is color blind and thinks it’s more of a red. It’s our little secret….mmmmkay?

The art above the sofa is from Minted. Minted has such an amazing selection of art and really has something for everyone. My prints arrived framed and ready to hang…couldn’t be easier. And if you need yet another reason to love Minted, they support independent artists.

The gray chair and ottoman are both from Homepop and really help the space to feel balanced and complete. Plus, the ottoman doubles as a storage spot, and I love pieces that serve dual purposes (especially for small spaces).

So that’s about it! What do you guys think? Did you think I was nuts when I showed you this space six weeks ago?

I can’t believe we made it! We worked on this almost every free moment we had for the last six weeks which included one snowy weekend and several rainy weekends, but we are done and I’m feeling pretty proud of us.

Also, thank you so much to all of you who sent messages of encouragement, cheered us on, and followed along throughout this process. Your kindness and support really means the world to me. A big hug and kiss goes out to my dad who came to our house THREE weekends in a row to help…love you, Dad. Finally, an ENORMOUS thank you goes out to all of the sponsors who put their faith in me and this project. We couldn’t have done it without you…really! XOXO

 

 

Decorating, DIY, Home Improvement, one room challenge

One Room Challenge – Rustic Modern Office Space – Week Two

5 Comments

Hi guys! It’s week two already, and things are happening over here! Last week, I let you in on my exciting plans to completely revamp my husbands shack of an office as part of the One Room Challenge. And just a refresher, here’s a look at the mood board from which I’m using to plan the space.

1./2./3./4./5./6.

So this week was all about the floors and walls…as in, we needed both. When the shed arrived, it had just plywood for both so I was excited to get started and get some walls and floors down. For the floors, we went with pine 1×6 boards. Originally, I was just going to leave them as-is, and add a poly for a protective coat, but then a reader informed me (you guys are SO helpful…keep sending me all your tips) that if I went that route, the floors would darken over time leaving us with a 1950’s cabin vibe (a look that I love, actually), but not the Scandi look I am going for for this project. So…in order to keep these floors from darkening, I am going to use a white stain that I’m hoping will keep them light and bright. I considered a lime wash, but was discouraged when I started researching the process. Seems so complicated! For now, the plan is to stain with a transparent white stain and then lots of poly to protect and seal them.

 

For the walls, we are going to use the same tongue and groove pine planking that we used for our stair well project that we completed this winter. I’m a big fan of the texture that it brings to a space. Also, it lends itself to a more casual look and I’m all about casual, comfortable spaces.

Because the floors are going to be so bright and natural light isn’t an issue for this office space, I am thinking about painting the long wall (the one that doesn’t have a window) a deep, matte black. Originally, I was contemplating trying the shou sugi ban technique, where you actually singe and burn the wood for a dark and dramatic effect. But, since the paneling is already installed and I don’t want to burn the shed down, paint will have to do!

See how much lighter the paneling is (on the left) versus the old plywood (on the right)??? The plywood has a lot of orange and pink undertones that I am just not feeling. This project is really making me get creative because I LOVE a rustic look, but for the shed, if I go too rustic, then it starts to resemble that murder shack look that I am desperately trying to avoid. So balance is the key here, folks.

So that’s the skinny on our progress for our second week! Guys, I cannot wait to get to the pretty stuff…furniture, lighting, accessories….ya know, the fun part! Have any questions for me? Hit me up! Until next week!

Decorating, DIY, Home Improvement, one room challenge

rustic modern office space – one room challenge: week one

21 Comments

Well….here we go again! It’s time start another round of the One Room Challenge…only this time, spring edition 2019. Last fall, was my first stab at the ORC and I had so much fun transforming a boring little half bath into a rad, ostrich filled powder room. So, I’m back again, but with a whole new game plan! Here’s what I’m thinking!

1./2./3./4./5./6.

Now, as some of you know, my hubs works from home full-time. When we first moved into our house, we made the loft area at the top of the stairs (the space that I now lovingly refer to as the mom loft) into his office. Well, it didn’t take us long to figure out that that space was not going to work…think screaming toddlers, barking puppies, and a constant flow of kids coming and going with their friends. My hubs needed a quiet place to work so we had to come up with a solution that would better suit the needs of our very busy, and very LOUD family. After some research, we found a local place where you design your own shed online and they bring your designs to life and build it on site. The whole process only takes a few weeks and then they come and deliver your new shed in the spot of your choice. It took some convincing by the hubs, but eventually I caved and here we are!

THE BEFORE

Okay, here’s our starting point. A truly blank slate.

We added the window boxes that you see but they didn’t make it through the winter…but that’s another story (insert eye roll here). We also added electricity, cable/internet and have also wired it for two exterior lights that will flank the front door. The outside is cute….but wait until you see the inside…gulp.

GENERAL DIRECTION I’M HEADING

Ok…so the goal for this project is to transform this murder shack into a cozy, rustic office; heavy on the PNW vibes. The walls will be shiplap all the way around and the long wall without any windows is going to get the shou sugi ban treatment. Can’t wait to try that! If I can find one that is the right size, a wood stove for the corner and a built-in to house some stacked wood. His desk will stay in the same location but we have a new desk picked. There will also be a seating area to hang out for when one of the kids or myself go out to deliver a hot coffee or a sandwich for lunch. This is just a quick run-down and meant to give you an overall and very general idea of the direction that I’m heading. That’s it for now!

And stay tuned because I have a few surprises up my sleeve too! See ya next week!

 

Decorating, Home Improvement, Living Room

Spring refresh for the living room with Barn & Willow

No Comments

This post is sponsored by Barn & Willow

Hiya guys! Long time, no see…errrrr blog?? Anyways, I’m writing today to talk curtains. And to admit that I am guilty of committing a big faux pas when it came to hanging curtains in my living room. I know, I am ashamed. I now see the error of my ways, and am trying to redeem myself. Wait until you guys see how some new curtains DRAMATICALLY changed the look and feel of my living room!

Having nice curtains somehow makes me feel very adult. I liken it to spending a Saturday shopping for a new refrigerator or getting excited at the checkout line at the grocery store because the checker offers up a coupon for one of your items. Both things I love! Anyways, back to business…curtain business!

Here is my old curtain situation and a perfect example of how NOT to hang your curtains. I was making a couple of mistakes that are often made when hanging curtains. The panels were too short which forced me to hang the rod just slightly above the window frame. It leaves you with a very blah effect, and nobody wants blah! Let this be a lesson to you, and learn from my mistakes. If you lift the rod, it lifts the eye which makes your ceilings look higher and your space bigger. Another common mistake is not having the rod wide enough (also guilty of this), on both sides of the window, so that your curtains are forced to be hanging partially over the window, blocking light and making the window look smaller (windows look small = room looks small). Extend the rod at least 6-10″ on either side of the window frame so that when the curtains are pushed totally open you can see almost all of the window.

I partnered with Barn & Willow and replaced these tired, old panels with the most beautiful drapes…notice how I used the word drapes instead of curtain? It’s because I’m fancy like that, now. But seriously, it was such a fun process to choose my new panels because they allow you to get the exact look that you have in mind. I wanted my new panels to look light and bright, so I chose their organic cotton panels in the ivory color. They even allow you to decide how you want the tops to look with pleats, the style of pleats, or a soft top. Yes, really! I didn’t realize that I had a preference until I went through the options and studied the differences between all the different looks. Isn’t that such a cool option?!

This is my panel with the soft top option that lends itself to a more casual look, which I love!

I chose these panels, and am so impressed with the texture and weight of the fabric. They definitely look and feel like a quality product. And as a bonus, they are fully lined and have drapery weights at the bottom of each panel. Why weights, you ask??? Well, they make your curtains look better! The weights keep your pleats in place and make it so they don’t flap about. A little detail that makes them feel so special, ya know?

Now, on to the pretty pictures.

What do you guys think? Isn’t it amazing how different my living room feels? And did anyone notice how much bigger my windows appear? My living room feels so fresh and bright now! A BIG thank you goes out to Barn & Willow for sponsoring this post, and for being so helpful and patient! Thank you for reading and Happy Spring…only one more day!!!

DIY, Home Improvement, one room challenge, Renovating

one room challenge: week 5 – wainscoting

17 Comments

It’s week Five of the One Room Challenge! This is also the week where I realize there is only one week left to finish up – everything! Well, you know what they say, time really does fly when you’re having fun…errrrrr renovating a bathroom. Last week, for Week Four, we finished the wallpaper but we still don’t have ya know, a toilet, a sink or anything else that makes this space a proper bathroom. And just in case you need to do some catching up, here are links to Week Three, Week Two, and Week One. Also, here is my mood board that has been serving as a blue print and as sort of my inspiration for the space.

And now that we’re on the subject of the moodboard, I have made a few modifications since we are so close to finishing this thing up! The first change is small but the light that I originally had picked was actually more of a bronze in color and after I saw the black, black faucet and some other finishes in person, I knew it needed to be black. So the new one is black and just a single light, instead of the double that is pictured above. The other change is the rug. I had been eyeing a vintage rug for weeks and I finally went ahead and pulled the trigger. I am so excited to show you guys but I think I am going to save it for the reveal. Gotta have a couple surprises, right? And the third and final change is the mirror. I started feeling like the space needed some warmth in all that matte black so I changed my mind and went with a wood mirror. Again, you’re gonna have to wait to see that until next week!

Ok – now back to business. This week we focused on the wainscoting! Remember the inspiration photo I showed you all a couple weeks ago?

We’ve made a few modifications to the design, mostly just with the angles of the wood and a few pieces of trim that we added. I’m really proud of this wainscoting and really think it’s going to give the space some serious pizzazz.

My husband and I both thought that this process was going to be a lot more difficult than it actually was. We found this material at Lowe’s and we love it! We are going to be using it for another project in the future, I’m just not sure what, yet.

The first thing we decided on was how high we wanted the wainscoting to go up the wall. For us, we wanted it a bit higher than traditional wainscoting and opted for 54″ from the floor. We snapped a horizontal chalk line around the room at that 54″ mark. Next, we snapped a vertical chalk line at the mid-point of each wall. This would mark where we wanted the planking to meet. After those two things were done, we had another decision to make: at what angle do we want the planks? Once we held a few pieces up on the wall so that I could visually see the angles (cause I’m a visual person and that’s what makes it easiest for me to make decisions) we pretty quickly landed on a good ol’45 degree angle for the win! And then it’s slow and steady progress from there…plank by plank and cut by cut.

Since the wainscoting was going up, this meant that it was time for us to make the plumbing modifications for our new wall mount faucet. But, we are the luckiest people around because our neighbor happens to be a plumber! I know, I know, don’t be jealous. So, he was nice enough to donate his time and showed my husband the ropes and they got that new faucet installed and looking GOOD. Thank you, Phil!!

The wainscoting is almost completely done and that means that I’m going to be filling ALL those nail holes and then painting it. I can’t wait to see this all painted! Here’s a progress shot so you can see exactly just how many nail holes are in the planks. Holy moly…there’s a lot.

Also, I found a paint color and here’s a sneak peak for ya!

So that’s our progress report for this week! Can you believe we only have one week left??? I’m so excited to finish this project and I’m also giddy to see some of the other makeovers. I’ve been poking around on some other blogs to see how the progress is coming along and it’s looking like some pretty fabulous projects are in the works. Can’t wait!

Oh and here’s my final to-do list so I can finish this baby up:

  1. trim out wainscoting
  2. fill all nail holes and caulk and sand wainscoting
  3. paint wainscoting
  4. install toilet
  5. install sink
  6. clean the whole space – all that construction dust and mess
  7. accessory time – install mirror, toilet paper holder, and towel hook. Hang art!

So much to do in so little time! Think I can do it???

 

Decorating, Home Improvement

Mission accomplished: the perfect entryway rug

2 Comments

This post is sponsored by Magic Rugs

Hi guys! It’s Monday and the sun is out in Oregon! Seems like the perfect time to show you a little refresh that I’ve been working on to give my house some more fall vibes. First of all, does anyone else decorate for the Holidays? I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about decorating in a more subtle way (i.e. introducing rich colors with pillows and layering up cozy throws for added texture) rather than flooding your house with pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins. I’m kind of riding the fence on this because I love a good excuse to add a pillow or a throw, but I also enjoy the occasional corny decoration. All in moderation, right? And why not? Anyways…feast your eyes on my fall entryway!

I have been searching and searching for the right vintage rug and I finally found her, ain’t she a beaut? I was sold on a vintage rug for this space as its a high traffic zone and vintage rugs are made to LAST. I have purchased many a rug from big box stores and always found myself replacing them once a year (or even a couple times a year). WHAAAAAA? Eventually, I began to realize that with all the money I was spending on disposable rugs, I could buy a better quality rug and clean them myself or take them to have them cleaned when needed. With all this being said, I am not opposed to buying a rug from a big box store, but I really appreciate a rug that’s made with materials that are meant to last, year after year.

For my entryway, I was lucky enough to work with Magic Rugs and am so excited to share this source with all of you because if you are like me, and cannot resist the charms of a vintage rug, I gotcha covered. Magic Rugs has over four thousand rugs in stock and you can call them any time with questions that they will be happy to answer for you. And….wanna know the best part? Their prices are actually affordable! So let’s go shopping! I thought I would share a few of my favorites that I found on their site. The first and second rugs would be perfect in a kitchen or a bathroom (adds tons of patina and warmth to a room full of hard surfaces) and I like the third one for a living/family room type situation…maybe layered on top of a jute rug if you’re feeling fancy. Ps. If you like any of these rugs, just click the images for links to see each rug in closer detail.

                 

The rug that I chose for my entryway is so beautiful and I am SO happy with the quality. It is soft underfoot and fits my entryway like a glove. It was exactly as pictured on their website which I think is really important. There’s nothing worse than ordering something online, only to be disappointed that the pictures didn’t accurately represent what you thought you were buying. amiright? The colors are perfect for my house with deep reds (I can’t seem to stop using reds lately. Who am I???), blues, and pops of orange. I’m in love!

I think it really makes a big impact to my entryway while adding lots of texture. And I am getting all the cozy vibes now!

So there you have it! My entryway is looking all Fall-y and cozy with its beautiful new rug! We are busy planning Halloween costumes over here and as of right now, I have a zombie, a vampire, and a bumblebee! Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Oh and I’ll be back on Wednesday with my One Room Challenge update for week three…gulp.

 

 

 

Decorating, DIY, Home Improvement, Renovating

tiny funky half bath – one room challenge: week one

11 Comments

I’m coming at ya today with some very exciting news! I’m officially taking part in my first One Room Challenge! What’s that, you ask? Well….lemme fill you in. The One Room Challenge is a bi-annual design event where participants completely renovate a room in six weeks. Everyone checks in once a week with a progress report (or lack thereof) and spills the beans about the good, the bad, and the ugly. This event is designed to encourage and inspire, which is totally my cup of tea.

The space that I’m going to focus on is our teeny tiny downstairs half-bath. It’s small and since this is my first go-around with the ORC – I figured it was kinda the perfect fit. So, here’s my vision. And I’m going to give myself permission to change my mind at any point. Mmmmmmkay?

1. // 2. // 3. // 4. // 5. // 6.

This lil’baby of a bathroom is located just off of our front entrway. Soooooo, it makes sense to me that it should be pretty as guests see this room right as they walk into the house. Also, weighing in at just 23 square feet, I feel like I can manage her.

As far as the game plan goes, it’s pretty simple. The floors will stay the same as they are the same wood that carries throughout the entire lower level. I’m thinking about some kind of wainscoting to wrap around the entire room – but modern. Still working out the details on that so we’ll see what I can come up with. And then my crown jewel of the entire room is going to be my ostrich wallpaper from Milton & King. It’s so fun and quirky and I’m in love. I think I’m going to give it a big hug when it’s finally installed.

Alright!!! Here we go! I will be back next week with all the updates!!!!

 

Decorating, DIY, Home Improvement, kitchen remodel, kitchen remodel, Paint

Six months and three faucets later…the true story of a diy kitchen remodel

8 Comments

This post is sponsored by Inmod

I’m so excited to share our finished kitchen with you guys today! It was a long, long process and it feels BEYOND good to be all finished up! Our kitchen was a diy through and through and has me feeling some major pride. We were newbies to some of the projects (tiling) but also old hats at others (painting the kitchen cabs). But, this story has a happy ending and we are thrilled with how it came out!

Let’s take a look back at where we began, shall we?

Although we kept the original footprint of the kitchen, we changed almost everything else. There wasn’t really anything wrong with the kitchen before, but it wasn’t our style and just kinda fell flat. That feeling of blah.

Our first task was removing the old upper cabinets and the vent hood. I hated how the original cabinets were floating in the middle of the wall. Our ceilings are high at nine feet and that area above the cabinets didn’t seem like a good use of space. Our kitchen is small so wasted space is a no no. This seemed like an opportunity for tile all the way up to the ceiling and some open shelving.

For tile, we chose the 2×6 weathered white zellige from Cle Tile. I have been in love with this tile ever since Emily Henderson used it in her kitchen last year. I have never tiled anything of this scale before and I was actually pretty nervous about tackling this project, but it turned out to be kinda fun! My sister and her husband came for the weekend to help us and we made a party out of it! I definitely recommend drinking cocktails while tiling…as long as you can keep your lines straight. The tile came out beautifully and I LOVE it. It’s my favorite part of the kitchen. And let me tell ya…it’s even better in person.

For the open shelves, we tracked down a local who sells wood slabs of all kinds. All we had to do was decide on a type of wood and he cut it down to size for us. We ended up going with a couple of slabs of maple. I wanted a light colored wood with some grain and the maple fit the bill. It’s a hardwood too so that’s another bonus. After they were hung, I sealed the shelves with wax.

Our countertops are concrete and we poured them ourselves. I’ve actually been getting so many questions about them and the process that I am going to dedicate an entire post just to the countertops. Coming soon! It was a BIG job but they are perfectly imperfect and just what I was envisioning for the kitchen! A big thank you to Jimmy and Dani for coming from Idaho and showing us the ropes.

Deciding on the faucet for the kitchen sink was a tough one for me. I don’t know why exactly, but I ended up ordering three before I settled on this matte black guy. My husband wanted to kill me (not really…but, kinda) but my folks ended up adopting the first one for their kitchen and the second one is living out its days in the box in the garage. I’m confident we will find it a new home though! Maybe Facebook marketplace or craigslist?

For our cabinets, we painted them Hidden Falls by Benjamin Moore and added new brass hardware from Cb2. The new color is a deep green with some blue undertones and I love the moody vibe it gives the kitchen.

And just when we were putting the finishing touches on the kitchen, Inmod approached me and asked if I would be interested in working together. I jumped at the shot. You see, I couldn’t decide on bar stools for the new kitchen and after the whole faucet debacle, I knew I needed to be sure of my decision (i.e. not order online and then hate them in person). Inmod is famous for their crazy big selection of modern, mid-century, industrial, and Scandinavian furniture. They also sell styles from world revered designers such as Eames, Wegner, and Saarinen, just to name a few! So knowing this, I knew I could pick some bar stools that would function well and look beautiful in the new kitchen.

I ended up choosing their Sigfred Barstools in the tobacco color and I’m. In. Love. They have a beautiful leather padded seat with the most lovely stitching detail. The legs are a black metal and I love how it plays so well with my matte black faucet. Aren’t they the perfect pair? Putting them together was a breeze, and I assembled them by myself one evening while my husband gave the baby a bath. I finished before he had his jams on!

And because we eat all of our meals at the bar in these barstools, I can attest to their comfort. We spend a lot of time in this area because we don’t have a dining room (but this is a whole different story, for another time). Also, it is worth mentioning that there may have been a spaghetti supper on their first night in the house and they wipe up beautifully. I’m a big fan, can you tell?

So there you have it! The kitchen is done! What do you think? Does anyone have any DIY tales where something went horribly awry?? Did anyone order multiple kitchen faucets? I want all the details. Leave me a comment…I’d love to hear!

 

DIY, Home Improvement, Installing wood floors, Renovating

Carpet’s out, wood’s in

4 Comments

Hi guys! It’s been a million years since I’ve posted on here! Lately, it just seems more convenient to keep everybody updated with all of our house projects on Instagram versus writing out a long blog post. But I’ve been feeling guilty about ignoring my blog because it’s such a great, creative outlet for me and I love documenting our house projects. So I’m going to do a better job. The good news is that we have endless amounts of projects going on around the house which equals tons of content. House projects have been plentiful, blog posts not so much.

It would make sense for me to start with giving you guys a full house tour so you can see where we are at in terms of progress. And I will do that, but for now, we are just gonna skip ahead to the most exciting project ever! Wood floors! If you follow me on Instagram, then you already know that we started installing our new floors. We started upstairs, and the plan is to divide the house into three sections because we are doing the install ourselves and tackling one section at a time feels less daunting. So upstairs goes first, next is the stairs and its two landings, and lastly, the main level.

In our last house, we had our wood floors installed and that was great. But there is something to be said for doing the work yourselves and the most obvious bonus of all is that you don’t have to shell out the extra money to pay for the labor, which we learned was the most expensive part of replacing flooring. If you have been following along since we did our Texas renovation, we loved our wood floors from that house so much that we went ahead and ordered the same ones for this house. I know, I know, we like to live on the edge.

Even though this is a big project and tons of work, the work itself isn’t terribly complicated. So I’m confident saying that, if we can figure this out, anybody can do this! Isn’t that so exciting?

My brother and his family came to help for the weekend along with my mom and dad. We were so grateful for the help and are all set to return the favor and spend a weekend at my brothers house when his wood floors are ready to go down. Thank you Aaron and Audra! Thank you mom and dad! Like I said above, we started upstairs and first thing we did was remove the baseboards and then out came the old, nasty, dirty, shag carpet. YUCK. I got the heebeejeebee’s when we started rolling up the old carpet and I could see just how dirty it was. I won’t go into details but there were some suspect looking stains that I would like to never think about again. K – moving on.

 

We ordered the flooring way back in November and had moved it upstairs in March so we didn’t have to worry about it acclimating but I think the rule is that the boxes of flooring should live in the space prior to installation for three to five days. Next up was rolling out some underlayment, which acts as a vapor barrier and prevents the squeaking of wood flooring against the plywood subfloor under it.

The first row is the most crucial row as it will ensure that you have a straight line going forward. Also, the wood needed to start with a 1/2” gap from the wall since that is the thickness of our wood planks. This gap allows the wood to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. But once those two things were done and right, we picked up the pace and even started to find a rhythm.

This is the biggest room upstairs so I’m so happy to have this beast of a room checked off the list. Moving forward, Nate and I will be doing piece by piece(see what I did there?) as time allows so we are hoping to be done with the upstairs sometime in the year 2021…just kidding…kind of.

Now that the new floors are going down, I started thinking about rug pads for my area rugs. I’m bad about choosing the pretty and forgoing the things that are practical, but aren’t seen. In the past, I tried those cheap waffle-like pads with a chemical smell and my rugs still slide around. So when RugPadUSA asked if I wanted to partner up, I was so excited! If my new floors could thank them, I think they would.

I chose their Contour Lock style because it’s well-suited to flat-woven rugs and my vintage rugs with a low pile. If you love vintage rugs like I do, then you know that they almost always come in an unusual, wonky size. RugPadUSA cuts their pads to fit any rug size, so no size is too weird!

I love how they make our rugs feel so cushy and comfortable now. The pads are thick and feel soft underfoot. As a mom with a baby who just learned how to walk, I appreciate the extra cushion.

RugPadUSA uses recycled felt and a natural rubber to make their pads so there is no toxic smell and that makes me feel good about bringing it into our home with our kids. On the reverse side is a natural rubber bottom that keep your rugs in place and they seriously do not budge, even with rowdy kids and toddling babies. I love these pads and am going to need more in the future! A big thanks to RugPadUSA for introducing me to these. I’m hooked.

This post is sponsored by RugPadUSA Opinions expressed are 100% my own