Brave

 

 

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You know when a song seems to be talking right to you?  Lately that song has been "Brave" by Sara Bareilles for me.  "I wonder what would happen if you say what you wanna say and let the words fall out.  Honestly, I wanna see you be brave." 

I took the plunge, jumped in headfirst and am saying what I wanna say.  Showing my home to the world (or the few who want to see it) was terrifying to me.  It is my private place.  My sanctuary.  My hobby. How I spend my evenings and weekends when I want some "me time."  But I have a dream to someday re:decorate for others. 

I made up this mock card a long time ago.  It's my dream.  And I'm being brave enough to throw it out there.  See if anyone would ever be interested in hiring me.  Is it a pipe dream?? Is it something that is unrealistic? Or could I really pull it off?  I won't ever know unless I'm brave and say what I wanna say...

It's All About the Name...

When trying to figure out what I should call my blog, I quickly thought of a saying I saw on Pinterest (that addiction is for another day and another post.)  "Just sitting here on the corner of awesome and bombdiggity."  I immediately felt like it expressed me well. My home is on a corner lot and my desk at work had a corner counter top where everyone stopped and tended to congregate (we are moving and the corner is now dismantled.  It was a very sad day for me.)  And I am perpetually positive.  I am a glass is half full kind of gal.  And who doesn't love the word "bombdiggity"??

 

 

The color of house is "Ocean Fog".  It's feels like a sin to admit that it is a Colorplace color from Walmart. Who buys paint from Walmart?  I do sometimes.  I like it.  John built the little deck and we have enjoyed many cups of morning coffee in this spot...until he built the deck in the back.  The grass is patchy, but I don't look forward to the days that there is no longer chalk art on my sidewalk and bikes being ridden over the grass and killing it. 

 

 

 

When we built the playhouse the plan was always to build a deck in that corner.  We built this deck this summer and we have already spent endless hours eating meals, reading, visiting, and enjoying our yard.  Landscaping will be on next summer's to-do list. 

 

Speaking of the playhouse, what little girl wouldn't LOVE this.  I do have to say this was my FAVORITE project ever. 

 

 

Isn't my husband an awesome carpenter?  His dad, Steven, is always willing to give a helping hand so John doesn't get all of the credit ;) And, of course, I enjoyed the painting and decorating.





I Have to Start Somewhere...

I have never been known for my writing skills.  I am a math person.  I like when things add up and there is always an answer.  So blogging scares me.  But I know when I read other home decorating blogs that I barely read what is written.  I love the pictures!  My plan is to use the blog to document my projects.  And if anyone is interested great.  If not, then its my own personal diary of home decorating.

Do you ever obsess about something, think about it when you have nothing else on your mind, or when you should have something else on your mind but you are procrastinating?  I think about my house and what I want to do next.  I'm always planning 10 projects at one time and sometimes it takes many years to even start them.  My kitchen is one of those projects.  Before....

                             

I always felt embarrassed by this kitchen (and why is my kitchen a mess in the before shots??).  The rest of the house (you will see it eventually) has been a labor of love and when we purchased the house it was easy to make the rooms beautiful.  I am always tweeking things and making changes, but overall am happy with the home. 

 

I think the cabinets are from the 1950's.  I have done some research and it was a popular style during that time.  They are solid maple and were still in really good condition.  I am obsessed with reusing and redoing what I already have.  I love to make something old new again. And this kitchen couldn't be a better example.   Two more "before" shots...

 

The kitchen is far from done, but here are some shots of "almost there...

Can you believe that is just molding added to the same cabinet doors??  I have decided that the ceiling will also be the aqua blue color.  Our house is old and I can't get a nice clean paint line where the ceiling and wall meet.

I am hanging a old schoolhouse style light over the window and adding bamboo shades to the windows. Hopefully sooner than later.

 

A chair rail still needs to be added to this wall and the pictures will be hung on the wall to the left.  That is bead board wallpaper.  It was so easy to work with and looks like the real thing.  I bought my at Lowe's.  I noticed that Menards also has it, but the Lowe's paper looks more authentic to me. The back porch door will be painted black and will be on the left side. It remains open most of the time.

 

Still one cabinet to finish.  It needs to be secured to the wall (I bought a fridge that was too tall - my husband loves me enough to rip the cabinet off the wall and shove it further up to make room.

 

Wow, my kitchen table needs a sanding and fresh coat of paint.  It takes a beating.

 

There is still lots of work to do, but it is coming along.  I love it.  I couldn't be happier and can't wait to finish it.  And I have spent under $300 so far, but estimate at least 50 hours of work.