{wood wall}!!!

This weekend we completed a project I've been wanting to do since we've moved in!! One thing we noticed when house shopping is a lot of Texas homes have these "tv niches". The sellers of this house painted the niche brown. Not terrible but not a color I would choose. When looking at the house I thought it would be fun to stencil that niche but the walls are textured and since doing the stripe wall in the entry (what a challenge!) we quickly through that idea out. After looking on Pinterest I found some ideas on a "reclaimed wood wall".  The one below would be our "inspiration" piece.

LINK

But where to find the wood? Pallets? Reclaimed? We loved the look but still weren't sure how to get the look on the cheap so we mulled it over. One day I found THIS tutorial and we loved the look. They used fence boards to achieve the look so we looked into it and that's what we ended up doing.

The hardest part was the stain choice. Oh my goodness. You know you are pregnant when you cry over stain. I thought a dark walnut would give us a good look and just putting a sample on the edge of the wood we loved it. Until I did a few boards. ummm. NO. Looking more like 70's paneling :(.

 So, I did what any girl would do...call her dad for help!!! HELP!!! haha! We talked over all the stains and then he sent me pictures of real barnwood so I could see exactly what colors I needed. Who knew gray would be the color I actually needed. 

We ended up using Minwax Classic Gray. 

But it was still looking just "okay". That's when I added paint I had lying around to some boards and then applied the stain.  That helped to break it up and add some variation. This was a fun project. Each board I did was just enough different and it was fun to see how the next board would turn out.

After the boards were done, it was time to hand the project back over to Kit to install it and bring the dream to life! This took him only a few hours to complete and we couldn't be happier with this new look! It has started to bring or family room together. I have a few more projects I want to do in here but glad to this room going. It's been like a vanilla cave for 4 months!! :)

Before:

The only reason we were able to get all this done this past weekend was because the boys all had colds. They were miserable at times but thankfully all they wanted to do was lay around. That helped with crowd control to make it a movie day! After laying around all weekend, they are in much better spirits....as you can tell by the pictures below :). 

(For the record. Porter said I could not take his picture. He was "spiderman" and spiderman doesn't take pictures. nice one dude). 

Here are some close up pictures of the wall...

 Gisele thinks it makes the room feel cozy! haha!

 I put up a new collage too on the stair wall. What other initial will be adding?? :) 

 love it. love it. Kit outdid himself!!

(don't you love the fingerprints...haha!!)

{before & after}::necklace holder

Porter's {aka BIG BROTHER} vintage red room {Sneak Peek}...

Here are some quick pictures of Porter's new room! I really think this turned out pretty cute! When first thinking about his room, I thought I'd bring his name cards over from the nursery and a couple of pictures, and we'd just move him in. But, let's be honest. Yes, they are both boys but they are very different so I felt like I needed to make the room different! I LOVE the way this turned out. There is absolutely no cost involved in this room. Every single thing we already had (except for his pillow!). It's pretty much his first birthday theme (which of course I adored) and has all things vintage-y (is that a word?) red in it....red airplane, red wagon, red lanterns. I hung his newborn onesie and blue checked hat from his first birthday with frames I already had. And, like I wrote yesterday...I'll have to do more pictures later BUT I have a {liTTle brother} room to work on right now ;)

PLUS,

HaPpY AnNiVeRsArY tO MaMaW & PaPaW! 

Love,

Grace & The Boys :)

Henry's {aka BIGGEST BROTHER} tractor room {Sneak Peek}...

Okay, here are some quick pictures walking around Henry's new room! I think it has come together quite nicely! But, it really doesn't matter what Kit or I think because to one little boy this room is AWESOME. He tells me multiple days a day how proud he is of me for putting together his new room and that it's very, very cool :). I worked in here a lot this morning so I think we might be good to go for him to sleep in it tonight...? We'll see. 

He would be THRILLED!

Still waiting on some pictures to arrive for his collage wall and I need Kit's help hanging one more thing but here it is...

super simple. but one 3 year old is VERY excited about it :)

I'll have to do more pictures later BUT... I have another {BIG BROTHER} room to work on right now :)

PLUS,

HaPpY AnNiVeRsArY tO GrAmMy & GrAmPie!!

Love,

Grace & The Boys :)

Before & After:: {Master Bedroom Windows}

The last post about our bedroom that I can find is HERE. Before that, it was when we moved in HERE. Wow. I feel like we've been here forever! That move seems SO long ago!
Anywho... I want to give our bedroom a makeover, or 'a spruce up' but for the smallest amount of $$ as possible. The paint isn't changing. Our room is a decent size and it was a big undertaking so that stays, we still love all our furniture so that stays, trying to find some nice lamps...anyone have a suggestions? From goodwill to hobby lobby, pier 1 and everywhere in between I can't find one I like that isn't $250! ha!
We moved around our bedroom a while ago. Our bed is under the windows and the chaise more towards our door but I can't find any pictures so I guess I'll do it this way...

 BEFORE

AFTER

(sorry, I'm shooting into the light...hard to see!)

 Those curtains pack a nice punch, don't ya think? I saw this idea on another blog and my mom and Kit helped out with these! I bought a canvas drop cloth from Lowe's ($20.00) and my mom sewed them into curtains for me! Then, Kit measured out the stripes (bless him! bless him!) otherwise I can guarantee the stripes would be running downhill! ha!

Then, I used paint I already had and painted them!

So, for $20, I have new curtains!

The bedding I bought ended up being a ridiculously good deal. I've stared at them forever at JcPenny. I thought it kinda looked a little 'pottery barn-ish' but it was still pretty pricey! I went in one day and it was 60% off plus another amount at checkout (it was father's day weekend). Oh yeah, it was a gooood deal! :)

So, there are still a handful of other ideas I'd like to do but thought I'd post this before I forgot!

Before & After :: {Mailbox} & {The Front Flower Beds}

It's so hard to believe that this fall we will have been in Georgia for 3 years. And for 3 years we've worked on the inside of our home but not the outside. So, it's time to pay attention and add a little curb appeal! I started this weekend off Friday at naptime with a little before and after: the mailbox. Poor, pitiful mailbox.

 Spray paint can sure do wonders! She looks like new again!

 So, here is our before on the front flower beds. They held those unattractive bushes that I pretty much loathed! So not cute! BUT, we are still going back and forth on what to put back IN there. Anyone want to offer input? We'd like perennials, something with some color...thinking pinks, oranges...I'll get to that in a minute...We are not adding any flower beds now...maybe in the spring around the mailbox, etc

 Here is the after. We worked ALL day on this on Saturday and it's amazing I can move today! The front beds had rocks in them and Kit and I do not care for rocks. oh the fun of hauling wheel barrel full after wheel barrel full out of there!

 This is the play room side. We took out the rocks and pulled two bushes out. We didn't mind the shape of these just the far left bush (that was dead) and the one all the way to the right we removed. Plus, since we are still trying to develop "a look" we decided to leave 4 of these.

 This was the tough side. We had 5 bushes to remove. And like any true project, 4 out of the 5 weren't bad. The fifth was a challenge...that's when we got the john deere out! ;)

 Finally all the bushes and rock removed...pine straw time! :)

 Here I am with the boys! This was about 7 in the evening and we were DONE. After the tractor helped us pull out the last bush, we were lazy and Kit rigged up tying the bushes to the john deere so I could just drive them around back.

We are blistered, sunburned and sore but SO glad to have gotten that done!
So, anyone want to offer what to plant back in there? AND, here's another question...any thoughts on paint color of the house? Leave us a comment!
Have a great week!!

Shower, What He made, History Made, still picking up the pieces & 3 more sleeps!

Yes, that's a long title! ha! There is much to say and not alot of time to be able to blog lately! We had a fun little shower for my friend Amie and we can't wait to meet baby Jack! Her daughter, Abigail, is Henry's friend and she is going to make a great BIG sister! Tate took more pictures that I hope to get but this is the only one I snapped with my phone. It was a fun afternoon!

 So, ya'll remember that post from here? Well, ever since I put that picture collage up, I've been thinking I needed a bench by the back door. That door gets ALOT of use and that's where we put on shoes and I'm always having Henry sit on the floor so I suggested to my husband that he could make me a bench. A couple months went by and I tried a couple other options but nothing like what I wanted. Long story short...I got a call from Pottery Barn Outlet aboutt a bench I'd been wanting but that one ended up being damaged and I wouldn't want one with a corner smashed in. Kit could tell I was pretty bummed so Friday night we got supplies, stayed up late building it together and sanding it. We went to bed before any neighbors started complaining of noise around midnight:). Saturday morning my little guys slept in until 9AM! I woke up to a text from my husband (oh technology!) that coffee and donuts were waiting on me downstairs and he was already in the garage putting the finishing touches on it together! Then, when it was completed it was turned over to me to paint and distress! I wasn't sure we could get it done but yes, in 24 hours it was completed and sitting right where I've been wanting it! It's funny. We'd love to run together and we've tried but that doesn't happen regularly, we try lots of things other couples "do together" and I think, this is "our thing". We don't run marathons together, we don't read the same book and aren't into that many movies and can't stand being around large crowds. This is what we do. Put the kids to bed, head out to the garage, turn on some music, talk and work. We talk. We laugh. We smell of sawdust and say we can't believe what a mess we are making. My main job is holding things while Kit does the whole mathematical cuts and angles, etc. I just tell him if it looks "cute" or not and what I want it to look like overall. Then he hands it over to me. I paint and in between layers he helps me sand. He's very detailed like that.That's what we do. and I LOVE it.

Does anyone want to know how to "distress" furniture? I took step by step pictures this time and I'd be happy to do a tutorial on it if you are interested. It's fun and it is easy just a step by step process. We ended up letting Henry help with "distressing" the furniture. Oh my. I sure hope he heard us when we told him this is a "one time only" thing. We don't normally "beat" furniture. He had alot of fun and this was his contribution to it. It ended up being my favorite part of the bench and makes me smile when I see it!

My sister texted me last night and said, "Have tv on? pres making speech..."

I quickly turned the tv on to find Osama Bin Laden is dead. What a moment for watching history being made. So so so so thankful for all the military men and women serving our country. Thank you for your bravery! After hearing the speech by Mr. President (which I thought was a good speech!), I turned off the TV and just had to thank God that HE is the Ultimate King, He is on the throne and He reigns...forever! It's so easy to get caught up in retaliation, unknown circumstances, what have you, but he has the ultimate authority and I'm so thankful!

We are still seeing the effects of last weeks tornado. It hits closer to home as we learned of 3 Caterpillar families who lost. everything. EVERYTHING. We has a Caterpillar community our embracing these 3 and will continue to help! We continue to pray for the families throughout the south who are still trying to pick up the pieces of their lives and move on. I just can't help but think how it wasn't my house, it wasn't my family, we were spared.

We are thankful.

On an extreme happy note....ONLY THREE MORE SLEEPS until we FLY OUT to SAN ANTONIO to see and I repeat as Henry says...

"Nant Mame, Uncle Todt, Robbie, Malberry, Kint, & Air-ka."

We can't wait.

:)

Couple cute things H has said the past couple of days...

While watching bits and pieces of the royal wedding...He stopped playing beside me, looked up and said, "Oh Momma, sooo pretty! She is soooo pretty!"

And last night before bed. Henry kissed Porter and said, "night night buddy. I wuv you, see you in the morning!"

Melt. my. heart.

I've been on here WAY to long...have a great week!

Entry Way {Before & After}

So...those who know me really well know i've been looking for a piece for my entry way since...well...since we moved here 2 1/2 years ago! I've had several things in that spot and the most recent is from the picture below (I forgot to take a 'before' of the area) but saw this picture and I think it gives you a good idea. When we were first married I liked to be matchy-matchy. That is no longer the case. Now, I'm about deals, bargains and thrifting to furnish my home. I'd rather take a chance on something for cheap and if it doesn't work out, sell it than thinking I have to hold onto it for a lifetime because of how much I paid for it. Anyway.... I've been looking for a while! :)

Last Friday the boys and I were planning to stay home but it was such a beautiful day out, I decided to head over to church and let Henry play on our churchs' playground. Leaving the neighborhood, I noticed one of my neighbors was having a garage sale. I spotted this piece but we were on our way out. Well, when we came back in, I still saw the piece sitting in the driveway. I hopped out and asked how much. Long story short...I bought this table for $10.00.

A little removal of the hardware, a little sanding, and it was time to paint...

First coat...

Ta-DAH!!

New Paint & New Hardware.

Added some letters to the wall...everything else I had.

I love THIS BLOG. Ever since I saw THIS POST, I've been wanting something in my house that color. It was a perfect piece to try it out on, and I LOVE IT!!

I'm learning the secret...being patient and waiting for that good deal to come along. Unfortunately, that is the hardest part for me! But, so rewarding when it does finally come along!

Overall Cost:
Table $10.00
Paint: $4.00
Hardware: $9.00
Letters: $9.00
= $32.00 and a totally new feeling when you walk into our house
LOVE IT!!
:)

{Making the most of what you got!}

So...I am definately NOT the most organized person but boy, we sure try to be...and, I feel like we are getting there...somedays...

Our house is definately not large by any means but we are thankful for it! I'm trying to utilize every inch we have because we have added two little ones since we moved in! :)

So...it all works better when there is a place for everything. It's as simple and as hard, as that!

Anywho...

Kit put this up for me last spring and it's the best little project we could have done! This is right after you walk through our laundry room...this in on the left, the pantry is on the right and the kitchen is the next thing you walk into. Keys, sunglasses, out-going mail, purse, hats, little jackets...all have a place! And, Henry knows it has a place so we can hang his little backpack up, too! It's hidden, too, which I like so visitors don't see and it's convenient as we are walking out the door/ coming back in....

This is what I actually wanted to show. Something we've had that we just weren't utilizing. This barrister was upstairs in our bedroom. Holding books. that we never read. So...we brought it down here. This area is "suppose to be" a eat-in kitchen...ha!! There is just really no room so we always eat in the dining room. Which I love having a dining room so it's not a big deal. Anyway...we brought the barrister down here...I bought some baskets (same ones we use in the toy room) and we each have one. Love. LOVE. LOVE!! Simplest thing ever. BIG help and GREAT change. Since all the bedrooms are upstairs but we LIVE on the mainlevel...it's nice to put burp rags, bibs in Porter's baskets and socks, hats, etc in Henry's baskets.  That saves me many trips upstairs and also doesn't take up my kitchen drawer space. Kit can throw his wallets and papers in his and I keep receipts and journal, etc in mine. We also have a church basket for our studies and lesson plans. It's great. I love it. Wish I would have thought of it sooner!

I think the total cost was: $35 for baskets