Finally inspired
Well hello out there!
I know, it’s been a while. And I know I was talking about jewelry a lot (haha), but I’m back to drafting and design projects and am feeling inspired (to blog, too!). I’m finally getting back into the swing of things after having my son…and yes, I know he just turned 6 months old. I have been enjoying my time with him (and my daughter!).
Here are a few peeks of what I’ve been working on lately. Names have been blacked out to protect the innocent, haha.
The last project has been my favorite. Garages are nice and quick and easy (and my clients have been GREAT!), but doing actual INTERIOR design has been a nice change. I hope they love their new, functional kitchen as much as I have enjoyed living in it in my head the past few weeks!
The first one was a HUGE remodel that has taken months and months and months (I started it well before my son was born), then I’ve had a couple garages, and next I hope to start working on that floor plan with the octagonal room. It should be an interesting one!
Okay…back to work!
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Backyard Sneak Peek
We’ve been trying to take advantage of the few sunny days we’ve had this Spring and work on the backyard. Summer 2011 is definitely all about the backyard projects.
Here is a list of what we’ve done so far: rototill up the old grass, plant a Crab-apple tree, put down sod, built a small garden bed, purchased and put together a portable gazebo for some shade and mosquito protection, and fix the graveled areas.
What we still need to do: put down ground covering where the swing-set is (any suggestions…don’t really want wood-chips or gravel so I’m stumped), build a “salad table”, build more garden beds, plant seeds and garden plants/flowers, paint the shop, and build our little deck off the back sliding glass door (we already have most of the lumber for it – woo hoo!).
So here is a video sneak peek at our pretty new lawn! It actually went down a lot easier than we thought it would, and we’ve noticed it’s starting to root (we can’t pull the sod up anymore) so we’re so excited to mow it because it’s getting long!
Instant Lawn from Facebook User on Vimeo.
Instant Lawn from Facebook User on Vimeo.
(Click the link if the video isn’t embedded…ugh, killin’ me! But this is just a sneak peek, I’ll have better pictures in a few short weeks – yay for summer!
Got Water Spots? I’ve Got a Magic Powder
We have 2 large (8 feet wide by 4 feet tall) windows in our living room. Nice, but they’ve actually always been an eyesore since we moved in a year and a half ago because the previous owner apparently ran her sprinkler and let it hit the house. Here in Likely, this causes horrible water spots on the windows and you couldn’t even see through the bottom half of those windows! We’ve tried cleaning them with normal window cleaner and a few other solutions, but those didn’t take it off, and we kind of just gave up for now because we knew we needed something better. This has been driving Glenn’s dad crazy…almost every time he stopped by (he’s a UPS man so that is often!) he would say something about a product he heard about or asking us if we’ve tried something to fix it. Like I said, we pretty much ignored the problem and just kept the blinds closed!
Gross, right? We thought they were ruined and we had to live with them like this!
Now a few weeks ago Randy (Glenn’s dad) dropped off a little white jar of ‘stuff’ to clean windows, and we really didn’t think much of it. He does things like that all the time. We didn’t jump at the chance to try out this product or anything, it pretty much sat on top of our refrigerator for a week or so. So one Friday morning I’m making our bed and I stop to admire the view out of our sparkling-clean brand new bedroom window, wishing it was the same in the living room and then I remembered the little white jar. So I went out to the kitchen and found it, read the directions on the back, grabbed the materials I needed and went outside. I put some water in a stainless bowl, then you dip a sponge in to get it wet, dip that in the jar of white powder, and then go to work on the windows. I scrub a little circle, then grab a damp rag to wipe it off and in my amazement IT WORKED PERFECTLY!
Isn’t that a great view? We were seriously missing out and now we open the blinds every day! Our windows look brand new with very little effort and no harsh chemicals, thanks to a $4 jar of ‘magic’ powder! It’s called ‘Nothin’s Better Water Stain Remover’ (I’m not making this up) and it is worth its weight in gold!!
For you locals you can buy it at Carsten’s! 
Check out these results…before on the left, and after on the right.
See our little jar of the stuff out there? Love it! And to do both of our 8-foot windows and the storm door glass, it didn’t even take the whole 4 oz. jar. Next up is the camp trailer windows! You can use it on all kinds of surfaces (Glass, chrome, porcelain, tile, fiberglass, aluminum and stainless steel will shine and sparkle as new. Removes water, mineral stain, rust, scum, paint overspray, oxidization.)
I promise that I started the job, but as soon as Glenn noticed me out there working on the windows he came out to see how it was going. And took the scrubber from me because he had to try it. And he finished the job. Strangely, he does that a lot. I’m not going to complain.
Magic. Seriously. Go buy some now!
Do you have water spots? Do you have a ‘magic’ cleaning product you’d like to share? Please tell us!!
Read MoreI could live here – could you?
File this post under “Things That Catch My Eye So I’m Going To Share It/Save It Here.” As usual, I just couldn’t help myself.
Because I could totally live here. Exactly how it is. Black paint, cement walls and floors (if they’re heated, of course), giant windows, an amazing patio space, giant beds, built in bunks, a view to die for. We even love that it’s underground. It is located in a little odd place – I’d rather be out all alone in the middle of nowhere, but my husband and I completely agree – we could move into this house just how it is and live perfectly happy. How about you?
Is that a heated outdoor tub I spy? (Above.)
The living room furniture even looks somewhat comfortable, which is a necessity in my house. But where is the TV?
I had to double check for a bathroom picture, just to make sure I liked it all, but it did not disappoint.
If not to live in then to vacation in…right?
I’d love to see a floor plan…
What do you think? Are you attracted to the slightly quirky, modern aesthetic of this Swiss Mountain House, or does this look do nothing for you? What style of design would you categorize yourself as your favorite?
{Images courtesy of Trendir via SeARCH and Christian Muller Architects via Gizmodo, via Abitare}
Read MoreThe Big Reveal
Wow…have you missed me? If you’re reading this, I guess it means you might! I have been working my fanny off, but am able to spend a little more time blogging today, and I finally took all sorts of photos to share! So I have to say that I am LOVING our new set-up. I hope our pool table is enjoying his freezing cold new home in the garage, because I don’t think he can come back. Sorry, dude. Especially now that we have a giant new dining room table that has taken his place! A F-R-E-E table at that. It was just sitting in the barn out at the ranch (my in-law’s ranch). And I hope she loves her new home (yes, she’s a she!), because if so, the feeling is mutual! Plus with the whole house (inside and outside) decorated for Christmas I am finally able to relax in here and enjoy my home! Isn’t that the best?
I haven’t really posted any new updates on my living room in a long time (it was never my favorite room in the house), but we’ve inherited a lot of free furniture (my favorite kind!) and accessories that I get to borrow for now (more on that later) so it is much more pulled together, which makes me happy. Not my dream living room, but definitely one that makes me happy. So here is an old photo of the living room, from last February, which is the last time I took photos of it.
And here it is today, after the big switcheroo and Christmas decorating has been all done! So here are the photos, in their un-edited glory (wayyy too many for me to have enough patience to edit, plus I just want to get them to you!). Enjoy!
This end is where the pool table used to be (hallelujah!), and it is now the living room.
And this end is where the living room furniture used to sit, so it is now the dining room. With a real table that will allow us to have more than 2 guests!
Now with the lights on…(Glenn wouldn’t get out of my shot, hehe). He’s enjoying the new space, too.
Instant dining room!
But now my ‘original’ dining room, which I loved as it was but it was just a little cramped, is now a sad little nook again. Someday we plan to extend the kitchen out there for additional countertop and cabinet space, which will help so much with our tiny little kitchen.
Before…
Today…home to dog beds and high chair.
I can just see an ‘L’ shaped kitchen extension going in there. Okay, back to the living room…husband included.
And the funny thing is, rearranging really breathes new life into furniture for me. I had stuffed my black cheapie coffee table into a corner in the old arrangement (because I didn’t like it) but now it fits here and I like it again. And I was also not too happy with my curtains in the other arrangement, but now I like them again! Before it was because they were stuck behind the sofa and behind a cedar chest on the other window, but now they have space to hang and be shown and just be how they’re meant to be! Not hidden. I like it.
Boy Scout wreath…complete with our little hanging puppet, and bow that is falling apart, hung on a Wal-Mart wreath hanger. It smells very good, though.
Dog’s stockings…hung on the metal sun, which I think is going to be moved to the backyard come spring. I have big plans for that ‘new’ dining room wall!
And our stockings (a la Pottery Barn)…hung on the baby hearth gate.
Did I mention that I love my new table and benches? I do. They just need a little TLC after being out in the barn for a few months.
My house is full of borrowed accessories right now (via my sister-in-law). Her stuff is in storage until they find a new house (they’re staying out at ‘the ranch’ for now), so I get to babysit. And I’m really going to miss them when they’re gone, and by ‘them’ I mean the faux orchids, not my sister-in-law (they’re not going anywhere!).
We’ve even decorated the outside (and have gotten a couple of honks of approval – we live on the highway and are the only house that’s all lit up!). Now, I want to say that we’ve never been on of ‘those people’ with blow-up Christmas characters, but at $20 a piece at Wal-Mart last weekend, we just couldn’t resist. Because Harper would love them, of course.
Maybe tonight I’ll take a night shot for the blog.
And even though it is still technically fall, winter has arrived in Likely. I can’t wait to let Harper go play in it, but she has to get over her cold first! She’s excited!
So I’m dying to know…should we bring the pool table back or is the new living room better? Do tell! And what do you think of our Christmas decor? I always miss it when it’s gone! xo, L.
Read MoreHow Efficient Is Your Home?
Have you ever wondered where those chilly drafts are coming from? If your windows are sealed tightly? How well your walls are insulated? Or if you have a moisture leak somewhere in your home? Maybe you should try having an Infrared Energy Audit done on your home.
‘What is an Infrared Energy Audit?’ you may ask…well, a qualified and trained professional (such as David, shown in the pictures below) comes into your home and uses an infrared camera to capture temperature differences in various areas throughout your home. Throughout their training, they learn the key areas to look at; appliances, corners, windows, etc. He or she will take infrared pictures of your home, compile them, do the research and create a detailed report to send back to you. They’ll give you tips on how you can fix inefficiencies that they find, and make recommendations on the next steps that you should take. It might be as simple as caulking a seal around a window, or they might recommend that you upgrade appliances (only a recommendation, though, but they can really tell how much energy that fridge is draining!).
These first 2 images are both sides of the brochure for the company that David works out of — feel free to download it and check it out. It might answer a few more questions, or it has the contact info. for The Rider Group, who was great to work with. They are based out of Reno, Nevada. Download the PDF of the brochure here. I should be receiving their detailed report any day now, and I’m excited to share those results with you as well!
The overall process took about an hour and a half (our house is approximately 1400 square feet), and he looked at every window, corner, closet, doorway, appliance and wall – and he even went outside to take infrared photos of the exterior, roof, and windows.
He even let me follow him around to take pictures of him and ask questions.
I was very interested to know how much of a difference our new windows were making, how well sealed our doors were, and if there were any leaks around the wood stove that he could see.
This window (in my office) is not new…brr.
Harper’s closet has the trap door to access the crawl space underneath the house, plus it’s back to back with the bathroom, so I wanted to make sure things were nice and clean there.
“What is this stranger doing in MY room?!?!”
Lots of moisture, even on our new windows…but I don’t think it has anything to do with the windows themselves.
The color differences account for temperature changes, and there is a handy little scale on the right side of the screen that can tell you exactly how hot or cold something is.
See the studs in the walls? Very handy (but expensive) stud finder.
He also measured and counted all of our windows to account for the proper ratio of heat loss that we should be having in our house (square footage/area of windows). Again, I’m very excited to see the results that he’s compiled and I’m sure I’ll share them next week. To read more about Infrared Energy Audits, click here.
Have a warm and toasty weekend! And Happy Thanksgiving!
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About Me
I'm an interior designer and a draftsperson, but I live in the country. I like it that way. I'm also a firefighter's wife, mom to 2 cute kids, and a homeowner and I like that even better. But right after that is a pretty and affordable space...and I mean a REALLY affordable space. Because I believe good design can be for EVERYONE!
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