Planning To Reality: Our New Shed

I told you earlier this year about our hopes of building a shed in our backyard. I'm happy to say, the building is up!

In order to get that building up, we've had to do lots and lots of planning.

First we had to decide on the type of shed we wanted. We decided to go with TuffShed based on great recommendations from several friends. We went to visit our local TuffShed retail location and worked with a great salesman, who gave us some discounts and worked with us to customize it exactly as we wanted.

Second we had to figure out just exactly where we wanted the shed and how it should be positioned. This is where Brent and I disagreed (for a little while). But I won and the shed now sits how I envisioned from the beginning.

Next we had to find out where our sprinkler lines where. The last thing I wanted was to put this building down over the top of lines that we may need to move or fix some day.  So I started digging around the perimeter I'd outlined above.

Once we determined that our chosen location was "safe," we had the shed built. These guys were quick! The space went from nothing to done (sort of) in just over two hours.

 

 

 

 

NOW, you may notice that the shed is a different color than our house. No, we didn't chose that as our final palate. We are just trying to save money. So we're planning to paint it once the weather warms up to match the house. (We have leftover over paint from last summer's painting)

We also have plans to move the fence line forward a bit. Once that is done, we'll have a new cement pad and sidewalk laid down leading from the front of the house to the shed in the back.

And this spring, I'm going to plant some perennials on the side of the shed in a small bed for some added color.

Lots left to do, but we're already so happy to have the extra storage space--the freedom to move around in our garage now.

Here's to SPACE!!
~Karli

Saturday Shed Dreams

I blame my mom for this. Early this morning she sent me a pin from Pinterest of this...

Source

Now all I can think about is spring time and the fun plans we have for our beloved backyard.

First thing we want to do is get a shed. We really need to utilize the space in our garage more efficiently and right now lawn and garden tools (like the mower) are eating up precious space.

Here are a few inspirations I gathered on Pinterest this morning.

If we're dreaming big, I'd really love to be able to have a small greenhouse area within the shed for spring seedlings.


Source


The area of the yard where we're thinking about putting the shed is near the back of our brick fireplace. I think it might be fun to make it a secondary sitting area...maybe a little outdoor fire pit built around the back of the chimney??

Source

If we're being more realistic, then I bet we'll end up with something a bit more like these two. They are functional with just enough style. We can paint them to match the house and get some similar shingles. I really love the windows on each of these options. (Though I bet that will add cost, so who knows if we'll actually have the funds for that.)

Source unknown

 

Source unknown

And finally, I found this great source for information about the foundation. I think if we pour a concrete pad, then we have to get a permit and more approvals from the city. However, if we level and build a foundation like this one, I think we can avoid the permits.

Love this site for tips! Source 

More to come later in the spring!

~Karli

How to Hide Entertainment Center Wires

Remember that old thrift store buffet that my mom repurposed into an entertainment center for us? We love the style and storage it offers us, but the challenge was hiding all the wires (and wires and more wires) since the lower portion is "open." I seriously wish I had a before picture of the MESS of wires you could see under the buffet. I did get a picture of the back so you can see the sheer mass I had to deal with.



Look at all those wires! You can see the start of my organization here (and Porter's tennis ball).

In come the zip ties, thumb tacks, a few finishing nails and patience (a virtue I really do try to possess). First I had to straighten all the wires and figure out what wire was leading to what component. I bundled everything together with zip ties and then started tacking them along the back of the buffet.



Here you can see how I used the zip ties to keep the cords bundled and attached to the back of the buffet.

 I also put two small finishing nails in the back of the buffet to hold the power strip up off the floor. In case you've never noticed, most power strips have holes on the back so you can easily do this!

Now I can sit on the couch and relax instead of feeling anxious about the mess of cords and wires right in front of my face. (Does anyone else feel anxious if they are surrounded by any sort of mess? I hope it's not just me.)


If you look closely you can still see the one cable cord coming out of the floor. I can live with that!

~Karli

Thrift Store Buffet Turns into Entertainment Center

Karli and Brent needed a home for their big screen TV, but not anything boring or the usual entertainment center from a "big box store." I found the perfect piece at a Thrift Store in town. It was an antique buffet c. 1930's -1940's. It did have some real problems and the finish was beyond horrible, but it had style and the price was right...$25.00. The clerk informed me that it was marked so cheap because "it was haunted" and they wanted it out of the store! I told her I was not afraid of it...I would probably be praying the entire time I refinished it, anyway.

Here is the "Haunted Buffet." It doesn't look too scary, does it?

It definitely had issues with the doors. Someone had tried to repair them with wood putty, but I was planning to remove them anyway. In fact I didn't even need the drawers since the Karli and Brent would be using that area to store the electronics. I sanded the piece and added a floor to one drawer area. I then spray painted the buffet with Krylon Flat Black (2 coats), distressed it with a sanding sponge, dusted it well, and finished with Minwax Spray Polyurathane in Semi Gloss (2 coats.)



The finished beauty! (You can also see Karli's ladder for blankets in this picture. Learn more about that here)



An up-close of the drawer floor I added



Here you can see that I painted the inside since the doors were removed.

  I proudly delivered it to Brent and Karli. "Look what Mom brought you...a stylish entertainment center that is supposedly haunted."  Now, Karli takes over with the rest of the story.

"We really love using this as our entertainment center. It houses all the components as well as magazines and some baskets for more junk. We often joke with people that it's haunted. It is all fun and games until we hear someone walking around in the bedroom above the family room (when we're all downstairs). Eerie, right?"  

~Kandy

From Trash to Treasure...Salvaged Closet Becomes Entertainment Armoire

I don't know if I am all alone out there, but, I really don't like the T.V., speakers and electronics to be the main focal point of my living room. Of course, it is "in style" now to have the big screen exposed and husbands are especially proud to show theirs off!!!  Nevertheless, I prefer all of that stuff to be hidden away. You see, my husband plays an electric bass guitar (was in a rock band in a previous life) and has a large bass amplifer as well as speakers and an assortment of components. 

The above reasons lead me on a search for the perfect, huge entertainment center which could accomodate and conceal all of the pre-mentioned items. For years I searched but to no avail. I knew with my husband's help we could probably build it, but I really wanted something older with character. Finally I found what I believed to be the perfect piece...an old beadboard closet salvaged from the dump. It was outside leaning against the wall of an Antique Store. It had great bones, great crown moulding on the top, and the right measurements to accomodate all that stuff. It came out of a home in the area, probably around the 1920's. I knew we could make it work...we only had to "tweak" on it.

It was a closet, made of fir beadboard and had a center support, a rod inside and two doors. It was a little wobbly but we were able to remove the center support and widen one door by adding a piece of wood trim so the doors would meet. We replaced the hinges and added old door knobs and plates.

I don't have a before picture. I wasn't thinking about ever wanting to see it in that shape again, but this shows the hinges and old door knobs we added.

We also added square wood feet that I ordered from VanDykes Catalog. We built shelves to accomodate the components, amp and speakers and made drawers to house the CD collection.

Just look at all this storage....

We made drawers to house the CD collection.

Since the closet had never been painted, refinishing was a snap...after sanding and cleaning the old wood I applied a coat of Briwax in Tudor Brown. With the doors closed, the old closet gives you no clue as to what it holds.

Getting this huge beast up stairs to our living room was no small feat (we had to get the help of two strong male friends, plus me and hubby). After all the trouble, we decided this piece will never leave...it will be sold with the house.

This project just shows what thinking outside the box (or closet) can get you!!!

~Kandy

Family Room Blanket Storage

I saw this idea on Pinterest and knew I had to do it in our family room. We have quite a bit of black furniture in the room, so I started by looking for ladders that had a "used" look.

Brent and I took a stroll through downtown Littleton one afternoon and found a great antique store with several old painter's ladders. I didn't need the 12 foot length since our ceilings are only 8 feet. The owner agreed to cut it down to the size I needed.

We got it home and I gave it a little sanding on the really rough spots so it wouldn't snag the blankets. I left all the paint drips and raw wood. Then it went in the house and the blankets were hung. Viola! Easy.

Our fun blankets are easy to access and displayed prominently now. I love how the ladder draws the eye up in the room since it almost reaches the ceiling.

~Karli

Karli's Home Office Inspiration Board

As we were finishing up the last bit of flooring in the office, I put this inspiration board together. We have a similar rug already as well as the table, desk chairs and the desk accessories. I had a small side table, very similar to the one below, that I already spray painted teal.

I can't seem to find anywhere to source the curtains I have in my mind, but these are close. I may just have to make them or order them from someone on etsy. I'll post about the finished product (soon, I hope!)

~Karli

Home Office by mrsmillspaugh on Polyvore

IKEA Expedit
ikea.com

Ariana Dhurrie Rug - Flame
zgallerie.com

IKEA Torsby
ikea.com

Library Desktop File
containerstore.com

CB2 Knitted Blood Orange Pouf
cb2.com

Lealand White and Chrome Low Back Desk Chair
lampsplus.com

Library Magazine File
containerstore.com

Industrial Task Table Lamp
westelm.com

Reed Bamboo Rollup Blind (Price Varies by Size)-3370728 at The Home...
homedepot.com

Tufted Chair Gray
target.com

The Container Store > Matte Toss Can by Umbra®
containerstore.com

The Container Store > Bright Stockholm Divided Pencil Cup
containerstore.com

Tara's Front Room Makeover

My very first stab at officially helping a friend design a room! How exciting! Thank you, Tara, for giving me this chance. I hope you're happy with how the room is shaping up.

Tara's front room was sort of a blank slate except for the blue curtains that were made by her mother-in-law. They had to stay in the room, so we designed the rest of the room around them. The room is open to the entry, dining room and front hall. It has beautiful wood floors and a window that lets in lots of light.

Tara had a wood armoire that we moved into the room from the basement. It will serve as storage for her daughter's toys. She also had a black leather storage ottoman for her daughter's shoes. It will serve as a coffee table.

We started with a stroll through a furniture store, so we could discuss scale and colors. We settled on a loveseat in a natural linen color. Tara found the one shown below at Cost Plus World Market for a great price. We also determined that two small-ish chairs would be nice in the space. Because the curtains had such a striking color, the chairs needed to incorporate the bright blue. She purchased two of the chairs below from Cost Plus as well.

So far, we've got the chairs, loveseat, armoire and ottoman in place. Now we're just hunting for the finishing touches like a sofa table, pillows, a throw and a rug. I'm going to spray paint some lamps she already had and get some new lamp shades. I'll share the finished product when the room is ready. For now, here's the inspiration!

Tara's Living Room by mrsmillspaugh featuring circle shades

~Karli

Unique Recipe Storage

I realize that in this modern day and age most young cooks, my daughter included, merely pull up a recipe from online, but I, and probably anyone else born around the 1950's or before, still love their old recipe cards and cookbooks. I have numerous recipes I love. Some are so covered with smudges and stains that I can hardly read them. Some were neatly printed on cards as a new bride in the 1970's. Some came from a family member, neighbor, or church friend. They are all precious and take up a lot of room.

My storage solution is an old oak four drawer file cabinet. It actually holds more 3 x 5 recipe cards than I have. It sits on my kitchen countertop, holding all those old tried and true recipes just waiting for my next culinary adventure.

How do you store all your treasured recipes?

~Kandy

The Traveling Suitcases

I admit that I have a "thing" for suitcases. I can't seem to ever have enough. I have them in almost every room in my home, but they do more than look good--they hold stuff. Someday I would love to have a matched set that would stack as tall as I am! Until that time, I guess it could be said that I must have aspirations of traveling!

In the living room stacked high on top of the entertainment center.

On top of bookcases.

On the armoire in the bedroom.

On the dresser in the guest bedroom.

All of my suitcases are vintage and in good shape. I've picked them up through the years at auctions or flea markets. If they smell musty inside you can put a couple of dryer sheets (Bounce) in and leave for several days or sprinkling baking soda inside can also help.

~Kandy