Thriifty Decor Chick: popular

Showing posts with label popular. Show all posts

The new kitchen table

Oh my! I am so excited about not only the new space in the family room (after <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/07/tearing-down-wall.html">taking down the wall</a>), but the fact that we have so much more space in our kitchen as well. Because everything shifted down towards the old office our kitchen space has doubled. It is DREAMY. A couple months back (I can’t believe it’s been that long!) I asked your thoughts on <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/07/kitchen-table-to-move-or-not-to.html">moving our table</a> and we did end up moving it between the sectional and the kitchen island. I had the light moved over and we LOVE it this way. Because we have way more space there compared to when it was over by the back door and pantry we were able to consider a new table for the space – I’ve always had to work with a much smaller area so this was pretty exciting for me. I’ve spent the past two months trying to find the perfect table. I went back and forth between buying and building a table. I did a combo of both on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/ikea-table-turned-farmhouse-table.html">previous kitchen table</a> (we are moving that one down to the basement) and this time I was considering building from scratch. I had a definite look in mind and it involved <a href="http://www.osbornewood.com/1190.cfm">these legs</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZo4Dc-fhXGH__ez2pOdc4VYD_cDv6UTZvAdjhZKpPth5Kvc71WYq2GmJgmCU2y41d37IfO08jYWH8WCLSbbUFHn3Xsi5svsHjnB0kfaedyoB6D7wpD0Xz7-bKOzHZRJZyLt2SEPgI5O8/s1600-h/1190%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="1190" border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiol099q4HmGk2OiwX78SmN8aRJDCVYtK3Ycx1WSYS6RVkM5oLKoi5pTvdcibdE567BccrbX5Wr98BD5nj9Yn0jRvuFdsb5XgoQKRSAqwoXYOndN63OtzUzxbM7YeyPnv6KCDSZQXDcZzQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="1190" width="300" /></a> I am obsessed with the curved look of them. I wanted to go a little more “pretty” this time (compared to the more clean lines of our previous farmhouse table). Honestly though, I just couldn’t pull the trigger and start building – sometimes when you DIY a lot you like to just BUY something. :) So that’s what I started looking into next. I stalked Craigslist for solid month and almost drove three hours round trip to pick up an old table I was going to refinish. It was a basic turned leg table and I liked it…but not enough to drive that far, especially for a Craigslist table. What if it wasn’t in great shape or didn’t look like it did in the pictures? So I started looking online but everything I liked was so expensive. It was when I was finally going back to plans of building it when I found THE ONE. I happened upon it one evening and fell in love with the shape and the legs and the size and everything…and the icing on the cake was when I noticed it came unfinished. WHOOT! I couldn’t believe it! I never thought in a million years I’d find the table I wanted for a decent price and unfinished – I guess that’s why it cost less than others I was looking at. Most people probably want a table they don’t have to mess with. ;) But that’s great for me because it’s an empty canvas to work with: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtF0n7A_IfHaYpkd5vPof5ZHwGGvpq1akFawDDZb4NV2gpScKH239t-e8G-ZzptPi53fiS6HTeBUb7vljv8iUQQte7BEV9c_gJEAYLPtsFSmyrBTL5qbqppnYH2lYls2fXZWUzBWJd-w/s1600-h/IMG_98742.jpg"><img alt="rubberwood table" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCaTSOvGRrOQo0MlyLgIXjg_YNvwH-at2hBNxvL8140b1VxeUcWLmvEwIFufVl3OHfh2nQcocMB_sx6mNkGfKfxZ4D-DjxiHk0douboNjV-Xv3nmKw0ZXi6AShJfmxC-uO36jau8f_cg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="rubberwood table" width="500" /></a> This table is a smidge wider than our old one and much longer – about 15 inches longer with the leaf in the middle: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2Zd7hIFupKstLk5klXaxI1eI9TmNQ6GTfz7l0JCdqEDXzeeRrHCtpJOwBb8IpF4_lZX6pF0PlxA29y-xrmLy8YQksJR6JYK-dDUTzOthdnOycXE-LEk0oxygpZMxA_8eqCRt91Jh3b4/s1600-h/IMG_98763.jpg"><img alt="unfinished kitchen table" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit2ub4PNFVdvpaKtojitHwmOWhxPZh7SbQSy_C8c2vKMPr_YJFi89VVL6OGP4Cd-1IDcmlBRDbBbb9o71nRUSOitSXev9F8OwcULlpP7kH04kffhFYuPEhyv74_IDSJCezYRla15QqII/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="unfinished kitchen table" width="550" /></a> We’ll keep the leaf in pretty much all the time – it gives us plenty of room. At the old table the chairs were closer together so this gives us space to spread out. I’m considering chairs for the ends of the table too but not sure about that just yet. The best parts are the details along the apron and the gorgeous legs: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1hC0ximlhbSUDtXCfFECrN2Vt0Uury7RGuCglwDPOvJY5w3BnaN_F-KP7UafrufUFEdeFxfwF_3RVzr499_2vF4uCpHEdliAALKDDf0TlOoiWQyPwaFfjI_pf9zJXP60EZKdpRY_D-Y/s1600-h/IMG_98793.jpg"><img alt="french country table" border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOH-IhzGkVlFd8Y8ZSYWi_fChnU_nXcMIWd563hY0pk7AJ4RFiVzaB2vP_MhEUmdaLPocJ9U-lnt3nhQcT4ggFub1Z18WC-pzxdMxqKeDlUyB0cdDn2SNocmJTzbHrIC-san2SVHdarw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="french country table" width="550" /></a> I adore it. So beautiful. I cannot believe I found exactly what I wanted, seriously. The legs are nice and thick – the whole table is incredibly heavy – 100 percent solid wood. It’s made of rubberwood which has a similar finish and hardness to maple. The difference is the top is made in more of a butcher block look, not full planks. I love that it’s a harder wood so it won’t be an issue when doing homework and writing out bills. Our pine-top table was softer and sometimes the writing would transfer. I was fine with it but would prefer something a little stronger. AND there are no grooves – it’s nice and smooth. I looked at so many tables that had those blasted grooves in the top!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfepQozR_8Geq_lmII3A9KyamSEmb91Rm6IG-026Jm_9uXrHthMsttTTMcfMddJ-lyivXUNi7NhcJ40KS_fEj4ZXfkJTdGXEaJrp0xmSS1SclZrViWu4ilNZqfTqYGK86EuNnM-17n7ho/s1600-h/IMG_98802.jpg"><img alt="french country kitchen table" border="0" height="698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6G-Fvoqkst3ti8G-LVQ-0XgJG4vsrOk9cV9OlnTqQnn0ZQduZbjfayUAFo4CvSlGbqlaLp2XF_Wi_Jzzg_LFm-3wmQCWKT6RKjboop5tXC-PwHot9odJIQg8hwMnx-lZ16Iy1kakqwU/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="french country kitchen table" width="500" /></a> So now I’m trying to figure out what to do with it! I’ve always been a dark top/white leg kind of girl but I have to tell you I’m kind of loving the lighter look. I love the lighter wood against the chair color – and I don’t want dark legs that will match the floor too much: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz7lg-gVaIEaOoJLWG6_SfoO8Dn8IWll2mXveCjoznkMS31pjVpNpLCih-jrIxNBOdfOVpwdwq3hHFOvSp1EGWPl_QcGAGmi_ewcjkfYvLP92R-gFyehEGQpx_-BlwhD20PIZYBlmGgY/s1600-h/IMG_98812.jpg"><img alt="curved leg table" border="0" height="761" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVWtOkpQwW01mma_WINmzyPZoHv69Hgm48vJpzLXZ9vn35hdysNBst8AnHA7wQx0BUneFfbueUIXTACjfSK8ZjbvwSoCKgKGwQfbFBBqAqaJxuQHCLq5Do1hRDD3gSR1GuAx8f9xUHoQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="curved leg table" width="500" /></a> At first I was considering a gray wash on the top and white legs, but we already have so much gray going on in the room. It would match the chairs and the light and the built ins and the fireplace… I did wipe on some dark stain underneath and it looks SO good, but again I think I want to go a different direction with this one. So now I’m leaning toward just waxing it or brushing on some poly to seal it. I am loving the more natural wood look right now, but I’m not sure if I’d like this bare look long term. I think it needs something – a wash perhaps?: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxobFZb3HcczAcL7J0dU6AKRF7kKnP7PbBFDr8UdbVeiKn6IldH8xGd-5LyPIA20lMXbsBHFE3UiVPkgBmRW1y1ytzxB-ksSHpQgcwY-iBiTEtQPuB_HridvU11qVNOhAqgPcbc7QeJk/s1600-h/IMG_9878%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img alt="french country dining table" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqIlSuiT04uekvjhuAyuI2oAgqUdZjLDuk0v9ytqxUKJUE4TD9jFypoxWyXY94Ei0aI4InV7K6cykJx4MTCz7xPtyVq-bbX7AK3Co7BeFyyoCsANZz_5hxmcKtkHxmZBfzgowBaayUS8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="french country dining table" width="500" /></a> As it is now you can really appreciate all the curves and pretty lines on it and I feel like those stand out more in this lighter state. Any ideas for me? It’s a blank slate but I don’t want to do anything that’s going to be a pain to sand down and redo any time soon. I do want to do something soon though – it’s making me nervous to use it without any kind of protection on it. I’m excited about the potential! I think it’s a beauty. :) Oh, by the way, I got it from <a href="http://www.wayfair.com/International-Concepts-French-Country-Dining-Table-T-4060XBF-WI1864.html">Wayfair</a> – my first purchase from there and I was really pleased with it and the delivery process. Plus free shipping! Let me know if you’ve done a lighter or natural finish you love! I’d love tips!

The new kitchen table

Oh my! I am so excited about not only the new space in the family room (after taking down the wall ), but the fact that we have so much mor...

9:01 AM

Tiling a fireplace surround

HELLO! Sorry for such a late post today – I completely forgot I was supposed to help at my son’s school this morning so my day has been a bit behind. ;) This is a big post but I still wanted to share it with you today because I’m SO thrilled with how it turned out. I finally finished up the tile around the fireplace and I luurvvvvve it. Yep, I brought out the lurve for this one. I went with the herringbone tile because a.) I loved it and it was the one that had my heart as soon as I saw it b.) I realized that it wasn’t going to be as hard as I thought to install and c.) my husband picked it immediately between that and the regular marble subway tile. SO. I’ve shown you how I tiled the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/11/fireplace-redo.html">surround years ago</a>, but this is a refresher with a little more detail. That time I didn’t need to grout so this tutorial includes that step. I started by finding the middle of the actual fireplace – not the surround but the firebox: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6ijCNq0CA2m3QiSzTYAKp0hM7UMUpKYVuBLcz3WVm_JKdcgzNkEuHBduxYdWcu_Y9bcxLiFENMgl02ZTxAHERIL03W9VxS_ibhqxSledymWZEgBG6hThVSRDfUoRCpAd4a2cGNKp7PU/s1600-h/IMG_9768%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to tile fireplace surround" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU622pZaIrFJKRjiSDGzIdb4fUzYK1uh_EIGdFC19TqyFirz1jWHTNf2kizROLZ7qKhLXIob1eJqtjKU4wotb5T6ubt8SzEiU-0gUfvDQ6w-OJN1JUyhlUj4BOlmGgIo4SEDE7QNZw9w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to tile fireplace surround" width="500" /></a> This was because the two sides beside the box aren’t exactly the same size. So I wanted everything centered on the firebox part. I borrowed a tile saw from the guys that do work on our house occasionally (they’ve let me borrow it a couple times and it’s a big money saver). I’ve used it before and actually quite love this tool. It looks scary but it’s not hard to use at all. For this marble tile I made my measurements and used a pencil to mark where I needed to cut: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHQezvr6rMDjdiDK_YVDf9dEoMA5Zmw6d_ee6h4TSSQk5Y1aJR47NtyDsyF8YmFrh6VLKL3iOsYXJyR2bccc0r4Ii8gTICCTe9A20u0Aeo6DvZUN4mpVBjSR-qZRynxD3lDItQkvKXY0/s1600-h/IMG_9773%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to use a tile saw" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiG-oQONYz8C41ZTfxhj3EkJmNff5VduG1baHYiFlQZAGh9D4cEa6Qqvpy6vnFUrh2YinyTyTUV2LnlKj_b2upN5WP0HHP2lGbHhelDTJIMRy2dgAGgtw5CCXb9d1-jD0DgpdDdS3sWQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to use a tile saw" width="550" /></a> Pencil is the only thing that would leave a decent mark. Before you do any cutting be sure to check your mark against the saw: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXIMIhBCMipPfgD9pfd7S88BWh5-A1gtlMVuZCJlnZ5aQ2GJXN8ZsnO2Ybu5C7yZ26BiXoLJm2ianaLadKj32RuoTNRja33qDBFbZrQQucrnEBvsY2dpLLkBoYlGrvI25oE2NPIblWnc/s1600-h/IMG_9774%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to use a tile saw" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxfLKa9g1c4lwEnsiJ7i8tyVgkS1gWVi5nFMbvUp68JA6244p4LiR7mD-wODMaDJKjHENWBtvqqNrHifYeNtixZE_nmdeAuddUpE-XMAlRdAihHTJQOvTF5QusSBZDoznMaSDxSe89q4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to use a tile saw" width="500" /></a> Like double and triple check! The saw makes it easy to line everything up – just make sure all the sides are flush against the panel that the tile lays on and then check your line one more time before you start cutting. The tile saw must have a water source – usually a bucket that the pump sits in underneath that runs the water through the machine. Make sure that water is running through before you start cutting: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP73nxJ15FKYQReofuSNRXfbB_FU0I85LMoj8WQS75z3DRAJgnxnEYHe6LtVVTP4ukeCiymLg3TDgm8AUhIFIZHC4zkOqZSRBDMum4OBYxvfzEtsQXe-AqJXl6ykn0kF8f3AsmcbZVEcc/s1600-h/IMG_9775%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cutting tile on tile saw" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yyR4yCPQTlNdD_jQWixnE2S45SWsd1PMCtjTCQwxSxuJxvNhj6wDRScFW19gi3uK0iPX7XWMmj-T6BRN5-OcTKNuhoF9VqWtF7QNeTIVNba9dgVVW-_LBNO5APxZ4gIBf09hfV3sTuE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cutting tile on tile saw" width="500" /></a> Now, tile on the mesh is easy to cut because you’re taking care of such a big piece at a time – but there are some tricks to it that I learned along the way. First of all, GO SLOW. The marble is very soft and will easily chip. You’ll want to hold onto the panel that the tile sits on and control it as it goes through – otherwise the saw will want to push it through really fast. It’s not hard – you just have to be patient. I found that when I was cutting the tile didn’t cut as cleanly on the right side, but the left side was usually a better cut. So I made sure to turn my tile accordingly to get a clean cut each time. Does that make sense? I wanted the “good” side on the left. Also, because the tile is so soft and the pieces on the mesh are so small, I found it helpful to lay something on top of them as I pushed them through: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X0zfI2s6VNrUFN8baD-R7F3_ZBZRnRcpJlop1s8E6ObT8uMWZGc3mCTFM5x8f_Pvk4fbfPqXiVHG3NORNksYn4ua_EHqDVafY20oNsncovYvJeajKWSi-TmrGZSrPlxxjE6F3GAMP-4/s1600-h/IMG_9776%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cutting herringbone tile" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn4lbg2DQOH3G_lom86Sfd17c-MEz_BIqD3bFI7Qu8Nbbo-U58nH7A4RMnygF3m1Yl9gTq7CU8cmxTsBZ3ONocZvTSeMSV2DY7cQd2tJ-PmepFSrwru0IfSgajKf4BlDgC8jEBZvaXYQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cutting herringbone tile" width="500" /></a> If you can apply a little pressure as it goes through it keeps the tiles from moving around as the saw cuts them. (WATCH where your hands are!) It was really helpful when it came to the first and last piece along the mesh. Bottom line though – very few of my cuts were perfect. I realized very quickly that it was going to be next to impossible to get perfectly perfect cuts on every one. Which doesn’t bother me – it adds to the “character.”  ;) I have a LOT of character in this house. I would cut a piece or two and then get them up on the surround – I used this premixed adhesive to do so: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmGgk20dO7mvVou4u__Lz6nVEidxrYNa7XqjAAi153jiE5uIugj2DPp6G3Txdp1gX40X05QcOqg393gsIXY3aDVkNuNo9a4dFZhKY3sBT5IvBwKHwyiccHoQ3aF2KTIwEf7cJSTu6jss/s1600-h/IMG_9834%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="easy tile application" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkZTEvwUq-dPGZylrG4VkuhacyJuhV_6V5SqfzDE55AvOyC5n2KDiNgvkHEuPc2aEz_tRTXdfKsi4NmjQEh06oYCuYJvBZ-Ssdc-XwFKk0ACda9YOrxmQRgYANrdn0awEcCYIaSuFri0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="easy tile application" width="500" /></a> I’ve tiled a few times and the first time I mixed the thinset and grout myself – I didn’t care for it. It’s messy and a pain in the butt, at least to me. Buying it premixed and ready to go costs a little more but was SO worth it. You’ll want a notched trowel to spread it on. I don’t feel like I’m ever good at this part: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSzb-hdbd4YTyqtXCTQkHodDfCP0r9PXsyhnTj6KJOuLn53c_-tXtLGXMnveWthx4-dGyQFDNuW35bwY3REB9d4gRyiq5JZYGyitiTlUgrszX8axQxiVELbyGdQL2Iojng01vTk5mVsg/s1600-h/IMG_9769%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to tile a wall" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8rZCyzvdZ9C_wxIed7S7SvOZfi3-AzW3O3uWosKxUBteDFX8BUrrctaqGEQ5_IMyBzCCGH7HRMNryJr2L8aZayFAyKNwEgZ75z_l26bETPzR_lwLZXFMssL37qH2xkCk-7P8vy3hLUA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to tile a wall" width="500" /></a> I think I use too much – but I’d rather have too much than too little. Spread it as evenly as you can and make sure to get the edges:  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ79kFcvb2-7ZrgfJJr134nRIvEzQIwKKpSNa576SQRIQQjI16tKrxCyGftVj4T5H7wvAPngi5Oro6wCJlkGOJjTS5z9qP4FPyFZC6GUveBskxGF4xIFiaY2to3nSl-iuG7y1U3wZTU2g/s1600-h/IMG_9770%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tiling a backsplash" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjese9Zv18wtZOGTPOY-4zj_LfmKk0-U0FK1M-NIx_xmZn-gc7Ka4B7HOQmo_rhK4LmqJnLTUrjFpdJcEe-CKCxFdJWnn45yP3xGp5OsXYzNboN_EyPd8-OaYnrFcbpsAG7ifbda7qqPDY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="tiling a backsplash" width="500" /></a> Then just push the tile on there and smoosh it around. I didn’t use spacers at all and I didn’t need to do anything to hold the tile up as I went – the thinset grabs it pretty quick and within a few minutes it starts to set. Just adjust it if it starts to move down at all. Also, if the thinset comes up between the tiles you can just use a toothpick to clean it out. Even with my laying it on thick I didn’t have to do that much. I had the gas line run to the  front of the surround when we moved the fireplace so I had to work around that spot – you can just unscrew that metal valve so you know what pieces need to be cut: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTntg826zA2IVpcaz36LI31HMpPFNDYaa-WzvYY0bDsPs4kFyKU4dVgvOrrQM7cn7c89lo17ZKV0F3JzsxvFBGyCtELrjtWXcgRxfNKBw5dh5j1CUDTqtYQ4YNyenWsfIcRmcGfCSRCc/s1600-h/IMG_9772%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tiling fireplace surround" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2A49XEFvLF3CBt9vSshVxfX07FYFaAx-7aR6-tU1wGPoqpcJ3NEhv1NsrXRgBGUM0Hwk6smZ_USTCK1snQGIC3TbNhfxyT9hH9_PZFtNyvJhcj-6cwikx9B6KAfgx4lSZQQrp0uSji9g/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="tiling fireplace surround" width="500" /></a> I thought that area was going to be a lot harder than it was. If a piece was in the way I just took it off the mesh backing and then cut it by itself. You can also get little nippers that will cut smaller pieces like this easily. When you’re done you just “butter” the back of that individual piece with the thinset and then stick it on. I had quite a few pieces that didn’t cut great and I would just take them off the mesh and then find/cut a better one for that spot and stick it on. You never know when it’s done. :) I let it sit for a day or two – I can’t remember how long really but the container will tell you how long. Then it was time to grout – which is usually my least favorite part. It’s MESSY so be prepared for that. I taped off the wood around the surround: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4WDNRuto7U61g21r-rlebhY-mqMWVTORZk_RoV-K78s8U0yQkUg58L2dSg7n-rxJ50oiELbT7iaOxoveK621-8ZkYNHOJuY2Zuv9IahFtICoa6EOXtWoYV7FM0HUqtlhx7AeW8x1F2s/s1600-h/IMG_9794%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="grouting tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE2VOHoPl4UOfi0iKhV3vEes4ZiEqZ4nwrGrDxb6j_p_AvrgNH1TJq9O6qyz2ITYtBhj7mRrXoaO7hIofs4A0KSw2oWIgCHp1FTpLH63KZusRybmY2iSr5ERj1b_JOmfzdmxEzGSPFzI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="grouting tile" width="500" /></a> And then covered the actual fireplace with some tape and a trash bag: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66MFiWnyKSZ43Ms-ibWRAhlPgrlZUz-7-WFlQjFsmhGgOUU0xIwlRLUxTQvWTScp8mXFBDuYU0XPVe1sTM1X3HCTpIz1PXWKAjwSao-zaw6ELFRV-cG0i3G0D-LWUFHT4ts-b0XXtZ-A/s1600-h/IMG_9795%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="grouting tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8vBZ5IWxSsrAHIVHHbeEhPOSEgEe9upmRAQLSSYYTbcOmyyL1B_ji33dfvpVCOQSHXYihLwDWcONGcaxkRvZC921X6sHtlRY6lD1aXWYVM9__hgSlOJLepIhdU7UaMMGB-A4fZdwJoo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="grouting tile" width="500" /></a> I let the trash bag come out to the floor so it caught most of the grout that fell in that area – it made for quick clean up too. Again, I used premixed grout: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8X3iOW4p-jqzPMFZkbBHxj8bDp_FlUa8bmxoalpcx6ZUj0C-2roOwBye23qMbyIq_-CXPoeVzfWZoY6bFAAFm8YHmdYAqRZUY5m2vQR6lY3I_e6vZiFIs3eqBx-mALSKTAmwX42jys4/s1600-h/IMG_9833%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray grout for tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtseNmGVDNivCJ1brpxQIOj5PPYXr70OZ4-S3DXS9rneaYNaoeoG591y3yeLTOVS8_gj_99Q6Nq1A48lYx9J8ZteskFqBoODr4PG1dmI4itoxYBohYaCmsW57bOFKJFesvwi5vwteyqZ8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray grout for tile" width="500" /></a> I picked a color called Delorean Gray – you get more color options when you mix it yourself but I was going for this anyway. So usually if your grout lines are more than 1/8 inch you’ll want to use sanded grout. If they are less you can use unsanded. Most of mine were 1/8 – but some were less, some were more so I used sanded grout. The only thing is, as I mentioned, marble is SOFT. So there are some issues with the sanded grout that I’ll touch on in a minute. You use a float tool to apply the grout – I found it easier to get it out with my little scraper:  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8FANfOsqM_45pEJgfB6GLkE365xTQPbzKADDith4Z6_0Mr8nDb5JK5fJc1VO3ToosKtBRHqtW4Fu4WRS8LehFim0yFRV3ierZhX2iEvDVvSeIdmNyGTyQftmC59pKpQ7ixDNo8MK72c/s1600-h/IMG_9800%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to grout tile" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR5p769TvB5bJtt_-qivi8P0uZ9pmz_Bso9M3AfORuacOEKJkXGFOCk8ZW4CuEO9otQogY3v9PmVLJCihyFru-mIpcR2lRvMvorcW8doqdiSmdZpKxMl9hs9cNI_-5JtSEuyFJdXWl34/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to grout tile" width="500" /></a> And then apply it to the float: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oRnaplA_zHwoXn00MWNTgZy45FEdj5HrIbeaGEC1lKQblDclVLXEFsZRmSsFxJ2lxhKBOTvC-OMaqKzXLbeTAm19xMcYWnn743v0AIHGrbGcb0L8vrO-mgquVj5D0nATI421CvZByCw/s1600-h/IMG_9801%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to grout" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLab6UB6UtXnqY0c_frwMPRMB8m6g9ukwTXRlmkFJsRaj9NJBerFnrzcm7KWnS8tDvKlqbVG3Mw2LVUiq6z1pmNL8VYSkHaTOS6mGE39_8n9-g0D0CcvBtl7Zfdila4Jtolelq3BUowQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to grout" width="500" /></a> In my opinion there’s no right or wrong way to do this part – just do what you need to do to get it all in there: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXSHEsU3QY2-hvRpVdkS3zy8jpU_JIf9nLzbonlB-af9SEhTyvuZkoMUPACu76ZODOICmpSEneCK3yFFlGScel7dijDnlNAHBpAI73MK2EBnw7Qk6HgtIwt3bdLmfj-j26XViOsmw_GY/s1600-h/IMG_9803%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tips for grouting marble tiles" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLDCu8H12nB3DL9dIW9db5yERPf23HdLE3gkl4L1h7ZO_VHsu_K7DfZ6Pb8eJ6zyEdFwAanVp4KhLpK2jhy74k_T8xonUmI2d4yKy_vZuu8_gY5WMw9N8bAxEsI3grwhAtAWRB2ke4z0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="tips for grouting marble tiles" width="500" /></a> Just smoosh (lots of smooshing) it in there as much as you can, making sure to get the edges. I had a gap between the fireplace and the tile that I grouted too (that’s why there’s painters tape there). Then as soon as you can start wiping it all down with a big sponge and a bucket of water. This part always freaks me out because it feels like the grout isn’t going to come off. But just keep at it – wet sponge, wipe, rinse the sponge, repeat: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Iz2mNmg81EcrZk5vanW8N0P0htcez9W3Y25XG69Ag3uiAKOrth5jJZUY3r7Jq0XP18KvcoUoSlU9pqjOsKBaNmmxoWpDgHqBVDNvtp8whfROFCXsoTlxC-CFvP2MjMDdp6-D68VBPOQ/s1600-h/IMG_9804%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="grouting tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wvNapB-qafTByZooUj01hyQPutAkAbMtYsarplCE007tMAeEBRtk3gjjynXb4hx7LvaRyk5yj9Cf4BQ3QQ-5UTcSpaEicEB8GuSyVtkBfBSZhxHh5jl4N_Pb9umEBGTvcC4JQ-m5t_A/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="grouting tile" width="500" /></a> So here’s where the problems with sanded grout come in with this tile – first of all because the tile is so soft the sand kind of wears down the sides of the tile a bit. There’s not much you can do about it though – and honestly between the float and the sponge I think you’d get some of that anyway, even with nonsanded grout. I actually like the “worn” look it gives them. Again with that character. ;) And then the grout kind of etches into the tile as you can see here: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVJBRlgyH9NHQUTb6_SDYw53NkXk1mnlNtBozMN4qqKCP_x6nHOZ7eNW7HXBNM-JA3NHEySEH3Duuh9GEizQ6MKEB4_BuJfx13mmmfDIjAbRD5I9rX_wOxWpx10c694PPqtb3jz3eZ4Y/s1600-h/IMG_9805%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="getting grout off tiles" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sP7z8PjlGVGhhzMRzlmS-JMAqCnY4GhhSVWORFWWKTIq-4uMqzkJg3kmoldUO_MmDY7Ask_VyzigYw7-_Ygjf2ZYbmzTX3DXBHfKAuf9CGxKhffn4TaE0SizAAyaWuPmTgzy2L3ArJ0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="getting grout off tiles" width="500" /></a> It didn’t do it on all of them, but I did have to wipe down a bunch individually. I just used a wet rag: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbfNknBKWwK19USeo5f7vxxqs3nTIWGIs1JwQRamvOywa3I3Z89xFieDCAYgOvw-2mD8jAMfO1SxkJU1dogTPoXEnmWBJEW-fA3BPvsE3w9YbVLjnmnsVeTbPDdBtJDoFAkc7V-2mvYw/s1600-h/IMG_9806%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="getting grout off tiles" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP85TbsCPd2QDfNavTSnLWC656ARfxYkGrqEuEDoKchTTojH9bfT1h-5m2MJ5mSFgx7dhul0IUbWapDZSPDlAgD467wjfa86Bl5iuUxxhmnV0RGXYNaSbgjCsnQIp8mRhXHkDx8UOhr6k/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="getting grout off tiles" width="500" /></a> After that if any had some left I used a (very clean) razor to get any other residue off: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Fk2_kcc6pm2z3LCcwqr-pa9X0YTaN1aEkEZwHLFeRXqjP8CxaHxEyJW-owkIKufiXKomFzm1HzoMdH2atFoFmpPHqXehuvkHhl7VTHDc5IXrHwy1VZfvkkmqF8SMhyphenhyphen4iebqUWXg19M/s1600-h/IMG_9808%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cleaning tiles after grout" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz7261gECgyMcwUFbrwpvbVbBeFeNHAyn4W-8bP7PCz5n_Cf6utAGFcM_Wo3LWvPmEDDUoVz7VEgy4M1WZiFR_pq7yMforb4kb9_is7y4DcPWakLVA11Eq6RLBQkkGRiaD3as8Mz_eLU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cleaning tiles after grout" width="500" /></a> If you were using this on a backsplash where it would be seen closer I’d probably use the non sanded grout – but because I had some bigger areas to fill I’m glad I used the sanded on the surround. After the grout dried I ran a bead of grout around the edges (it comes in a tube, same color) to make all of my not perfect cuts (mostly) disappear. Character! :) And we now have a gorgeous fireplace surround that I’m obsessed with: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqv8D6max7ue1anv10keyH6QdGPeekhRUBpkx3oGsJFes9uEJIf2bA6y6XmYbjEwn1DSVy6GAD9VXQ1G1_77ZMpPBhHjG9AYl_9E7JB6RZZg-_sKj3RFoFKX0gaxp4jgKK_5wgRU_Bv4/s1600-h/IMG_9839%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone gray tile" border="0" height="704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIn0oHO11yZ24M3aYv4SK1N7cmThgKsDfQ7amp-qqi_hCIg4W_uRI6S3I9upquvjo-l_uDzMhhxbYQzgVX8VVmO98bvzbUG0WlqyTnD1Evo6RWGEcXT6uYlKNGzndfE8VKNcWnQqXalOc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="herringbone gray tile" width="532" /></a> I went back and forth between gray and white grout and I’m so glad I went gray – it really makes the design pop even more. I LOVE IT. I love all the colors in the marble too – white, gray and a lot of a tans as well – they tie in perfectly with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-new-wall-color-kind-of.html">new wall color</a> in this room and those tan colors keep it from feeling too cold: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABPVbRYVAtM7GueP0helhXIlwz5gKwwWNNwn9z7GCtlxKaocl_sQLWE-DreDGQw5hN0kQ0ktkJp14ljvIPxpvfdrdS5BcBPeeTn16IeviBhSfUPoKB0MC590QI66dWflYvFRWimz7FYE/s1600-h/IMG_9842%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone tile design" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Jdp4XXIZbHjsvn6PjyjMG_yKZZF9CFTTZ_O42mLD5PYLDE2YBT5BJVXQkWX2AQYoIMXiIIngijUoDSBZPJdymkFzzFyJl5VzAacFmBwwZEM67vEQuzlGgTgKcI8Er3W6gcl1ldIKxvA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="herringbone tile design" width="500" /></a> I love how the the tile looks with the gray paint and the metal doors on the built ins. And I love that they catch the light and almost shimmer: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYjEPMIaFdNEVkzB_kRcjn8yFWBwfbrYjJL4LFylh7dzTM_QmrTVuDXtnUyFwcGy9X6ceQq75gcz_15veJOnLSn6aqgsNxzN-YGG0qkrqjD9-aFrJd_ZWokfRar6vfAwG2jtys5iyrzw/s1600-h/IMG_9844%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone marble tile" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_riRZman9BxeDeBnS_oKAuTvMNngOLxt9iGg_4GiSqWvwWiADxRtrUcVOlWzD5gZVWfJfmHRwtLzI7_grFDdfjdQpJY0pCIDkabXY69FNCzxQmanCeWWR4j5XPknx03ukla_6nDqUCKM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="herringbone marble tile" width="500" /></a> Next up – tackling the wall above the fireplace! It will be the same gray color and will get a treatment. I hope to get that started and maybe done this weekend. And then everything will get one more coat of paint. But for now I’m thrilled with the progress so far!!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3E6P_xv6nweI_jrVawJ5_wYPBc4CyFXayy-ZnfdRUvo1dplUSi8lsB0iaCPHGYFx8XMQP-1mp8yKUF9BYGRIEnt92wnIFGx6U6s93dgdBTX-QfWReLMyEVkvYVt1yhDoGAU5J3CB45s/s1600-h/IMG_9841%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="herringbone tile gray fireplace" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsdFnxoRHaMcA_gRQ64ap0cqR1tVxeIgD0PDI0fj0oW_teJlb_viOvzsUI8ZwU84dDnxqNG6qQanA4GBlyhvbV6LII4WraXnuP2nnUcl9H6nX8m7HSyB5t6NdoyQ4CmrGWKtH3xxBDUo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="herringbone tile gray fireplace" width="500" /></a> I hope I made some sense of the tiling process – if you have any questions let me know! It’s not hard at all, it just takes some patience. Have you attempted a tiling job? Did you find it hard? A small spot like a fireplace surround is a great place to start! Have a great weekend!

Tiling a fireplace surround

HELLO! Sorry for such a late post today – I completely forgot I was supposed to help at my son’s school this morning so my day has been a bi...

10:04 AM

Let’s go RVing!

Hey there all! I have to apologize for the later than usual posts this week – we’ve been traveling and with the time change I was posting later. And we were on vacation, so there’s that. ;) Every summer for the past few years we rent an RV and take a trip up to Wisconsin for hubby’s work with drum corps. Most of our vacations/trips are tied into his work – sometimes it’s because it’s the only way we’ll see him that week and sometimes it’s because it’s a fun spot that we like to visit. We took a four day trip on the RV up north this week and loved it yet again. I grew up camping every weekend and I still love the thought of it – but not sure I could do it now. One word: bugs. More specifically: mosquitoes. Seriously. I guess you could call RVing “glamping” cause you have all the comforts of home and yet you still get to sit by a roaring fire in the evenings and roast marshmallows. It is the perfect combo for me! We LOVE it. It makes travel easy too – lots of room to move around, you can grab what you want to eat out of the fridge whenever you want, HELLO – no potty breaks cause you can just GO, and our favorite part – it’s easy to take this guy along: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZHfP7Aq3uzwQt27eO1pwpmhn9VnfMsv3KMGGjECqMt2TXTPZn0wIvfZYDJGrlUbJWmmu7H0EbibflOaHbLAoT_ik3Wa1K8zsA772MTYS204ApRff6m-ujsqdpwZ9POefDSFNmnRedKfz/s1600-h/bd%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Peanut butter" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqC7Esnblw4MXdIbJL7MUTPREq9g-jkj9ZXsfjK2X4ZBylatr9XFpm4c6Dzqcur99ASgaDoaP5n96qlLU5bXcQzVVpw7oLSGrlMH5jTAxoqRQWl7QphEKwhkWicK7XYLbZkleNfPrKl2_Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Peanut butter" width="450" /></a> The cats are jealous. This year my husband had to work during the day every day, so the kiddo and I took off on various adventures. I find great joy in exploring and finding little local treasures wherever we are. Even the smallest towns have an old little movie theater or a great diner – it’s those kind of places that I love to check out. And the local HomeGoods too, that never hurts. ;) We were based in La Crosse, WI again this year and I wanted to make sure to check out the top of Grandad Bluff this time. The views did not disappoint!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9W5xw8vRIsoN_71MKiLDltAzqqdtykxZlNEBtbuwhIGRolpbVACutUsjq0PT3sBCA0Xkjr320NHymk3ckq6AE1Q5lW2ztiSaLxpbfZGx14u4VbcbcwqV87dEZZzXasThCIcdAm5wXgIi/s1600-h/1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Grandad Bluff Wisconsin" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfas5yht0VUduxO3oo3bq1-G5Ljm2JoFuIgKD4aLpFOisoWgkLowAC66DiEoOGf2vJrvkbhn25CkC_6gr4nTcvVmb5K2WHIxDFd08QPEQd54NKMDwGBgoQzRC62ahL-_-UI8jNUhchNVI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Grandad Bluff Wisconsin" width="500" /></a><img alt="Grandad Bluff Wisconsin" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I8tZsvpIj1cvFjGHM2e07z8FYDqlr2WQ70P3q62-TMoyHNcwE31yaqd7QQRYhVvNhegBXsD7P-WAEmxDdQBSEaQYNs4Fc-3p-12vDsI-zcSpZ0NNA6omYP7PyDu3iR9JRs0RltRTCF95/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Grandad Bluff Wisconsin" width="500" /> It was an easy drive up (it’s actually a mesa) and there’s a small park up there where you can check out the view. I’ve always wondered why this area of Wisconsin wasn’t flat and it turns out it’s a very small chunk of the state that did not have any glaciers go through. I find that stuff fascinating. The city is down in a valley and there are these beautiful hills everywhere around it: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr25tCV89y6Zel82S8uxamwIJBGuq0_y4EXDkoTkzOANbZ8JOqcbJl7X5OqrBT-vUfdNw76IA228rhnhZbC3sN0uDD7PMYyCqq9oHmu_0_BD_v9KSGP4C7D-tjPIW6AUNjwxC_S3yg3s5/s1600-h/5%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Grandad Bluff" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkezgGMGarMYePvzAedZM3hkSaX-5JHUTIDGx30LIcGj6hc9CPi67pClX_bx3mKYDK5QT0GAPq7EpsfGnj7NvPeANeMYrTq_BVTHH5Iz-u96vVc1YsU_NxZ0SFiu5LhWv2JziyXXIk4IBj/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Grandad Bluff" width="500" /></a> The next day we made our way to the Mall of America. I actually wanted to go here: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cHiKAI8cQeP2kejpl7wDBVYWLoGpb5ar5LUbXFXcQ0R4g8bajT94ZdlkK-9RkluaAKb0AFRjoDKjlQnO4774Ev2qsDHYKOWKO6TnwlQ4opTm_uA-KMlds95UX1w1D18f78hHORhfLRZJ/s1600-h/10%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBvO9VaCEz-3A6M1cmUdtaitp8mPn6oq-3yCeIeZXIOzHMmPfUbirIc4_XOO6KeoCAV0dNd87tk1dmc7w663gua3emxUybe8gSYTxcusAeVAdOFKS2rgehHLaF1zblxuKGAQw3KL5PrjN/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a> Young and the Restless fans, hello! But the Bub wasn’t into that (what?) so we headed on: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI8IncaIb8MZ_kfaF4UG7bsTMXfefePSJLxoC1XAkmLFvszjv4LI_mvL-_27trx8kpdSIY8HUn7YauI5ow2n_xchyiNYMJS0IFCzYFLMyF83oyik3Ts6eAlcnkwubChjSlRGZchIv71_I/s1600-h/8%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mall of America amusement park" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVhLkSWujNXrIJemlEZ-5rvCrR0f9U88YMhyUH9jR_J0Jd-odOfjR9AUtpe-UMqMme6QrCq2j2ZyqcqicPUW5jLQGexRD7ocHX3OrIDg-yqoQJ09NGJ76vTurl_Zd5j_-adphwHJmjPm8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Mall of America amusement park" width="500" /></a> The mall is a good two and half hours from where we were but it was worth it – we spent about five hours at the indoor amusement park and then did a little shopping and eating. The park was actually really fun – he could ride everything and it wasn’t busy at all so we had our run of the place:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhMgq5wo6hJlYA_uzDtstbDZKua5dl7wzP4JlPWi0fQOYfN6Dia_mi2PSmFUM67NGcJfDaBeTUt9d4rtrydJ4HMfg7BfW3ZXuTAKKqVvAn7F4pmqzexgBPefQelGipBPWOMbWfNlO65_V/s1600-h/9%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="mall of america" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Mk8EgpBTzr4/U6Rse1zXKLI/AAAAAAAAov8/MjI0C-PbkDA/9_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mall of america" width="500" /></a> The weather was CRAZY up there (and at home too) – but worse there. Two nights of storms and downpours: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RPRRkhRTD9Y/U6Rsf1Sp6yI/AAAAAAAAowE/Oa67W1xZ8pw/s1600-h/7%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="557" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KtSflrNQr4k/U6RsgqREekI/AAAAAAAAowM/mU_uj19Nnyg/7_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a> Our RV was moving a little too much in the wind for our liking and the rain on the metal roof is SO dang loud – so we didn’t get great sleep on the trip. Our bed felt amazing this morning. :) The flooding was unreal – this was our view of the Mississippi from the back of the RV at the campsite: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pOV_MQ9rreo/U6Rshs0GgCI/AAAAAAAAowU/6z1K3yUZ7FM/s1600-h/11%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="RV campgrounds Wisconsin" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1kzhbFwi_wE/U6RsiQVLq0I/AAAAAAAAowc/sIHtb2BPI-g/11_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="RV campgrounds Wisconsin" width="500" /></a> It’s not supposed to be that close. :) Both my husband and I would check out the back window all night both nights because we were so afraid the water would get too high: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mYUF62cFdYA/U6RsjWvBhqI/AAAAAAAAowk/vzj3dmNvCRY/s1600-h/12%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mississippi River" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jf9WkeBb2Pw/U6RskIacMgI/AAAAAAAAows/bjk0b7EribQ/12_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Mississippi River" width="500" /></a> I heard from a reader that there’s terrible flooding in Iowa too – hope everyone is safe and doing OK. Looks like you’re finally getting a break from the rain today! Here’s a look at our ride for the week: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IhBFpv7Y4ho/U6RslAJu4cI/AAAAAAAAow0/9KuhVRLkatc/s1600-h/13%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="RVing" border="0" height="375" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WXnB5Bq0juc/U6RsmI6oK_I/AAAAAAAAow8/x1qfLJvAeh4/13_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="RVing" width="500" /></a> I can drive one this big but prefer not to so we rented a small car for me to use instead. It was SO worth it. The last day we were planning on visiting a water park at the Dells but it was pouring, so instead the kiddo and I took a trip to a cave in Minnesota: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t_scsKYMKxQ/U6RsmqEX2dI/AAAAAAAAoxE/88L8bNW2iDY/s1600-h/14%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cave tours" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tig7ib0qxGY/U6Rsng8yUnI/AAAAAAAAoxM/B1x9UjWGFFo/14_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cave tours" width="500" /></a> This is something I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do so I was so excited I could barely stand it. It’s called Niagara Cave in Harmony, MN and it was literally in the middle of farmland. I kept expecting rolling hills or something, but no – it started from a sinkhole in the ground on a farm: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X76P_bZMABo/U6RsoZUUTCI/AAAAAAAAoxU/fH_3kZn_dB8/s1600-h/15%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Niagara Cave, Minnesota" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HyAh-8njFU0/U6RspYyna4I/AAAAAAAAoxc/UJMlgjai8cE/15_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Niagara Cave, Minnesota" width="500" /></a> The farmer was losing pigs and found them (alive) down there. ;) He discovered the cave in the 1800’s. It was totally awesome:  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LIy7J9QpPXU/U6RsqGCDnwI/AAAAAAAAoxk/C7a1bimYFhg/s1600-h/17%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cave tours" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZMcu3S1lWgM/U6RsrHPJWUI/AAAAAAAAoxs/VsQKV0arjwg/17_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cave tours" width="500" /></a> It was an easy one mile walk and I loved it. It did get pretty tight in a few spaces, but it wasn’t so bad because it was so tall above: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uAwBvfz6_OA/U6Rsr_89Y-I/AAAAAAAAox0/aFb-o6AAfds/s1600-h/19%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Niagara Cave" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KkoLSz-jprQ/U6RssZiWiRI/AAAAAAAAox8/lhuJ7X8tbjM/19_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Niagara Cave" width="500" /></a> I’ve been planning a trip down to the caves in Indiana and Kentucky so it was a cool surprise to visit one up there. I can’t wait to do it again! We had a lovely few days exploring and relaxing – and we got to be with my husband which was the best part. :) It’s SO good to be home though – my goodness I love coming home to our house. Have you ever been RVing? Do you enjoy it? My dream is to take a trip out west to Wyoming soon. I did it as a kid on a girl scout trip and it was the best trip I’ve ever been on. Have a great weekend all!

Let’s go RVing!

Hey there all! I have to apologize for the later than usual posts this week – we’ve been traveling and with the time change I was posting la...

10:17 AM

A glass door, sorta kinda

Hello to you! Hope you had a great weekend! Ours was lovely – lots of time outside, a date night with my hubby and family time as well. So happy that summer is here! So a couple years ago I wrote a post that got a huge response – I never imagined <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/04/glass-doorcould-you-do-it.html" target="_blank">talking about glass doors</a> would be so interesting. :) I spoke of my desire to add some glass to our front door. We have a transom window above the door and five windows in the living room/foyer, but because we face north the foyer especially can feel dark. It got even worse when I painted the inside of the door black years ago: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGbDTlTaUvdtWFklOWd5dCYHzvOfqtbuM7LHxeXAQrr4js8uD05FJUw4tzS_BrNWSKzK3-kZU7Sy5enkQtQx9jGbfJtPA09SUgc_-m8r-7thF8G1w0X1Vuoqop5hdFtkV8m1XYl61GTc/s1600-h/image_thumb%25255B5%25255D%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="black front door" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginaHYJxPhqbfDU5acC26TBGthiyHSn2tiyaPznLTjH9B0igWFk0_xEJad5E14gGPcRAYdiG5Xsva8h10cYj-RxqyRE7213pY9p3UhbeeaXXF2-10xoz9pgaFU6xVaBtSwtGvPCKkmTNI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="black front door" width="326" /></a> I LOVE my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/02/one-more-black-door.html" target="_blank">black doors</a> though, so that was staying. :) So many of you agreed with the desire to have that natural light coming in as well. Those of you who already have glass sidelights or doors were mixed – some loved it and some hated it. Because a lot of you are in the one percent like me: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFIxXG5Os2BjeYHYnFkyVr0NVBpty-rTvOt0eriYWx2huqDnoWvAXXiw249aOuEiCx9DQAiC_Wk2ZgFm0slXj751WUy5-ufoRZL8kGCUd3QqzyeLe4e_lV4UHogew-n64n7Qte3Oxkh8/s1600-h/image_thumb%25255B20%25255D%25255B6%25255D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoMeaRDeSXZzqQ_30SddggOV8itpFvzrXl1FDrU7OyTzwHGOyZVqGX9iiDnp5q5-MGFtMpcETr1D57z3kGVOeymkfKMaKTV7QVtJmyFltqAbnligGV5u3m4NYWo5K3IMtm7Nz9aq1mvc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="410" /></a> Ninjas! So the years passed and I still couldn’t get over how much I wanted some natural light up there. And the boy got older and I really wanted to be able to easily see where he was at outside. One day I realized I was going to just do what I said I would never do – get a storm door: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9n1jBQjsNNFZ_7fEmj4rkfyyvGrdfemntpq1YfAlTdhtcSx4cSjchJQQelTbw1PtUbM1JIUlSQQti_W0fITv4KscSr-kRo9uddtU_0ZzSuEVl-Nm9q84xKmNOsR9YKCVf6rubIS7zbs/s1600-h/IMG_9221%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="glass storm door" border="0" height="756" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtz3TZwbbqX_kA2_ektnQIPkizTClMN-zviUtfNN5qeLUp_umjKXf0SekK_215ERIxzhgB32otpTnCgcgdNPafRf7U9pdbjoqR201bfMjbJ_f94dGkyh4podV7zc4Zsxg-y6xBjpxFMcY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="glass storm door" width="500" /></a> I’m going to be honest here – I used to be a storm door snob. I mean, in my defense, there are some that aren’t great looking. I have just always preferred the look of just the plain door. But my mind changed. It happens. I’m growing, changing, all that stuff. We got it from Lowe’s and it was actually a long wait to get it installed. It was about six weeks, maybe more, from start to finish. The last two weeks were the hardest – it was getting nice out and the Bub was outside all the time and I wanted that glass door so bad! When it was installed I instantly felt very mom-like and very suburban. You know how I feel about <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-style-is-suburban.html" target="_blank">suburban</a> – some think it’s a bad word but it’s me. Proud of it. I’m not totally obsessed with the way it looks from outside, but it’s not horrible at all. I went with a cranberry color (there weren’t a ton of options) because I figured it would work best with our front door. When I got home from ordering it I realized how much more rust our door is than cranberry, but I really don’t mind it: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYPEgWI3kL4tZmdo3xYiTlSYrQSDZlqC_W9fT4qpvMFWXCLwR-m9cE4kvA6wgzfvchCd1cjsivQZZUnNDJm3FLPsBUsm9MdnxtNfkgfeq1zfxx6CsP-kA1pRNEou-R2EcEe_0g6ZJTJ8/s1600-h/IMG_9229%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="glass storm door" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBRRDEbef6xahgfw0Xh6aHqUQKgwJCLx_pDFrvCAPsYUMKbiKue_a5ZqDLIGepGj10cL3JhIzTmPIjgREyg8elSrKoF601uEbV5XpxaRwKQaPU1HK04HimTcn8vSmWRRLqTmYZQaVTDY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="glass storm door" width="500" /></a> For a hot second I thought about painting the door again but I think this is fine as is. We ALL love it. It’s open all day, everyday. LOVE love love. The animals are obsessed: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK99AJ2uqH6Uz5AtxDB4BRmCrcxqY0rjBCW6dYVWQPc853El0kP6ULoJzkz9FfLXs0SFkPhDaupOcXFB7s8n2Z2uSeyHiCyQhLi3u6QJYzIqhewDHMZs06pbE9-jCtL039bzkM6BWVS_A/s1600-h/IMG_9228%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE96YIdSTdo0BAcg4PTi1auk6uuVSecsDWD0X6kzqRhg5__IyeymLmkOg5RL8PlR1aiuaQnkHc4XltBgYfI9MmZPcO9DGiKzMidkxrwQQs61xnq334RdoZLmEhKGnFNRCfJaVv5NjhAms/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a> I do know one thing now though – I could NOT do an all glass regular front door. No way, no how. When darkness hits that baby is closed and I need my privacy. I was so thrilled about the door I figured it was time to update the trim like I’ve been doing all around the house. What a difference!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoYRJu7doECruKCjxjti3nRTcYrirD9ZKXeiFMRQ1lhFweE__ySe0lqRlvMb3oxjMBT9hulsc1BWe0Kz7bJY6dQf99R2r7-IqBfKz-It5DbJhqGt_gg5n6-rm89s_HTUte9cjaAGi83U/s1600-h/IMG_9212%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="black interior doors" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHIYxPcwAu3cSvfRqdy7_rufItyrFFce7_pvMW1OJfOPeHt44cD9g4rro_TMVFDH_FSONiBHTFj6gOrOzRG6U9Gry7iBRtLP9iZzD5ugCbVTQse_EMriIjvmaqSSQ9cWbOYLw1LYYp8g/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="black interior doors" width="500" /></a> You can see how I install my DIY craftsman trim <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-love-chunky-trim.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Now it works great with the new <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/04/diy-craftsman-window-trim.html" target="_blank">window trim</a> up there as well: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsLkWfYtaOL-HFSeyK_b_8B1htPjHrBT5eFGJaE2OiwkhOgzaC1b6Mhnr_pnFYErtM_ltGdZW4RbV2kLn7zgvcXp1tPIWzmaTJ_G3cxm0IVBKoEyfakZiq1BUYfIIUvb_NxEqiIaqCLU/s1600-h/IMG_9236%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="thick window trim DIY" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCkfmmzQ_LGysyioD-zFfcjoIdKKlCbj3CMeUtkn9ULhogELXYX9_P6yXHn0XDv-OUUcYNIbGZ40HgI6PyGjbAM8fSprVgK9wo8T7_yCW7CLNqBjCmdcJHGa1jlXoUC9UpCYqY3f94NQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="thick window trim DIY" width="500" /></a> I still need to do some caulking on the door trim but it’s almost complete. I want to replace that foyer tile even more now! I still need to finish up replacing the chair rail throughout this front area as well. We’re enjoying all the natural light that the new door brings in. I adore it! It makes the whole house brighter. We went with the heavier storm door with great security features, so I feel comfortable leaving it open all day: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvSh7dakDdbogHuLRxbbTJcbFM_roXjAEe2045UPh3UswZHFRKEOznbkGOKZ6N7ehZvSoiPx-unLtUPnlECVWEjd3drWNkqZg8FXHlme3InYIX0l62tYy68vYPgdUPPzJteity847f9A/s1600-h/IMG_9233%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="craftsman diy door trim" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYPiZe_jnEBfDrqlw8S1LxNvxvt50U8VBbtdptDrOgBPMQw_rIIdV2fJemOsswmpxAyXB8cxoRkTM3qV4dEhHB2r67jc398_P06Cnf6lAyD-D3E0GUd_7Qq2rQ6EFiFmOpshQaR5gHg4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="craftsman diy door trim" width="500" /></a> Do you have a storm door? Does it make you feel incredibly suburban? :) Or do you have a glass front door and love it? Either way the natural light is amazing and I’m never going back! Whoot!

A glass door, sorta kinda

Hello to you! Hope you had a great weekend! Ours was lovely – lots of time outside, a date night with my hubby and family time as well. So h...

9:11 AM

The new kitchen table

Tiling a fireplace surround

Let’s go RVing!

A glass door, sorta kinda

Popular Posts

Blog Archive