Empty Nest Syndrome

Once again, some robins snuck in and made a nest on the porch. But no matter how annoyed I get when this happens (because of the mess & not being able to use that part of the porch until they leave) . . .

I still get a little sad when they all finally grow up and fly away.

Turning a Negative into a Positive - The Garden Shed

The property had several ugly unfinished structures - this "shed" was one of them. Apparently it was originally just some plywood pieces to cover the previous owner's boat. Over time, he added on to it and finally enclosed it with old pieces of misc. wood, fiberglass garage doors as walls and plastic sheeting for a roof. It was quite hideous - inside & out.

We ripped down about 1/3 of the front of the structure (since it impeded on the garage entrance), rebuilt the front and added some recycled old windows and doors purchased at a Habitat for Humanity store. We also added a small entry deck and then shingled the roof and added vinyl siding to coordinate with the house.

What a dramatic difference! A cute garden shed to add much needed charm to the property.

Water Lily

Beautiful pink and yellow water lily's are blooming in the fish pond.

Guest Powder Room

Since there was no guest bath or coat closet (which is a MUST in Michigan) on the first floor, I decided that needed to be one of the first interior construction projects. The original blue print for the house included a 1/2 bath on the first floor but the previous owners did not include it. I needed to fit the new powder room & closet into the foyer area (the only space available) so it would flow with the rest of the space and not make the foyer seem tight and awkward.

I added bead board wainscoting (I used a prepackaged kit) to give the room some architectural detail. To get the wainscoting to the needed height - higher than the sink, I needed to double the bottom trim. I used the prepackaged kit since I thought it would be quicker to install than individual boards. I would only recommend boards/kits that look like real individual bead boards and not the paneling that just has grooves cut into it.

Let the sunshine in . . .

When the house was purchased, the living room only had 2 small windows up high and 1 glass door - it was a very dark room. We immediately put in a window to the left of the fireplace, which helped a lot, but we knew we would still need more windows. So, finally, this summer we decided it was time. We hired out the work since we knew it was beyond our comfort level of diy projects.

I use to turn on lights in the living room during the day because it was just too dark and dreary in that room. What a difference the 2 new windows have made! Because the chimney runs up the middle of the wall, a window could not be installed in that area. That blank area will need to be dressed with artwork to make the wall and windows work together as a cohesive space.

The window project did have a glitch: the pitch of the interior ceiling was not the same as the pitch of the exterior roof line. Since all measurements were taken from the outside, when the windows arrived, they matched the exterior roofline but NOT the interior. So I have to come up with a clever way to disguise this unforeseen problem. I'll let you know.

And then there was light . . .

Since the backsplash walls were opened to the studs after the removal of the old tile, I decided it was the perfect time to research under cabinet lighting. Lighting also helps to bring out the depth & movement of granite. I originally wanted puck lights but after doing a ton of research, I decided to go with xenon under-cabinet lights that could be hard-wired into the existing wiring/walls. I was able to pull power from an existing switch and I added another light switch with a dimmer. A dimmer allows them to be adjusted to a soft glow during a dinner party for ambiance or turned high for task lighting. The first time I threw the switch - angels started to sing and I was in awe!!! What a difference!!

If the lighting in your kitchen is not adequate, definitely consider adding some under-cabinet lights. Low voltage lights can be added to existing cabinets without the need for hard wiring. They sell low voltage kits in the big box stores or you can go to a local lighting store and check out their selection. I decided on xenon bulbs instead of halogen because they are suppose to run cooler. I also didn't want the harsh light of florescents and I wanted to use a dimmer. So make sure you consider all the lighting options before making a final choice.

Tip: Take pictures (or use a labeling system) of your wiring before you change it so you can remember how to put it back together! Also: TURN OFF THE POWER BEFORE STARTING ANY WIRING PROJECT!! Always call a professional if you are unsure or have any questions.

Changing paint colors, one room at a time . . .

One of the more unappealing rooms in the house, and therefore first to be changed, was an upstairs bedroom. It was a hideous bright teal & purple color and, apparently, the previous owners must have let their 5 year old physically paint the room. It was a bad, bad paint job with bad colors.

Since green is one of my favorite colors, I chose a beautiful moss color (Valspar Signature Oakmoss) to showcase the white trim. The room still needs some finishing touches but it's already quite the transformation.

Decorative knobs on the closets - this one is from Mackenzie-Childs - can add a custom touch.