Laminate Floor B&A

Next month will mark one year that we began our laminate journey and I have shown some of the before and afters,  but I thought that I would put them all in one post.  I am still in love with the floors! We have had a few nicks and scratches, but nothing a Crayola won't fix! 

Adding laminate has been my favorite change since we moved here and I believe has made the most impact.  I get lots of compliments on the floor and most people are surprised to hear that it is laminate and that it is from Sam's Club.  I hope that when we have some cash to spare that we can add this to the upstairs hallway.  

Free Photo Collage {Summer Display}

Walgreens is offering a free photo collage until the 15th for Father's Day {DADCOLLAGE}.  I needed a new print for my frame and loved this one from The Rubber Punkin.  This is the first time that I have taken advantage of the free collage using only one picture.  I did not know that you could get away with only one!  I decided to add a coordinating border to the free print.  This is my quick and easy summer vignette.  Bright metal lanterns, a little chevron paper around the candle,  and I called it a day!

Usually this time of year I am taking pictures of the kids for their yearly Dad's Day picture, but since we are going to the beach later this summer I am saving my photo credits for a beach shoot.

Vertical Hanging Buckets

My bucket project is finished!  

I told you that I had something up my sleeve last Wednesday that involved this:

It is hard to tell in the picture below, but my Family Rules wood sign has a white washed distressed look and I wanted to mimic it on the cabinet door that I was using.  Madeline and I were stranded with Grandma P at a custom cabinet shop this past summer and we walked away with a cabinet door and some pretty glass knobs.  The door has been sitting in the garage waiting for a new home and it was the perfect size for this project.  Back to the paint,  I diluted some white paint that I already had and painted a light coat on the door.  I added three inexpensive hooks on the front and a sawtooth hanger on the back.  I have wanted something for this side of the window and I am pleased with the balanced look.  Even more exciting are all possibilities to switch out the faux plants with seasonal decor!

SOURCES

Faux Plants

Hooks

Vinyl Numbers

Buckets: Target One Spot

Something Up My Sleeve

These are the components of my next project minus the paint.  On our little excursion to Ikea I picked up three faux plants for my numbered buckets that used to live on top of the fridge.  They need a new home and a lightbulb went off!  Here are the materials I am using. I am sure that you can see what direction I am going in.  IF I finish my résumé I will allow myself to work on this today.

Feature, Feature

We have been featured on two blogs recently and I thought I would share and pass on the love.  I love checking in at Better After.  This was one of the first makeover blogs I had ever read and I still love reading!

Thank you Lindsey for the blog love!

Source: betterafter.net via Stephanie on Pinterest

Jena featured the family room paint color on her blog, Involving Color.  This is a great site to search paint colors in real life. This is my new go to site for color ideas!

Source: involvingcolor.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Framed Chalkboard Wall

Awhile back I saw this pin and was immediately obsessed with the desire for an over sized chalkboard.  

SOURCE

My search ended a week ago when I came across a five foot leaner mirror at Home Depot for $34 dollars.  The mirror was cracked and I asked for a discount.  I walked away with the mirror for $20 plus tax and spent $10 on the chalkboard paint. Little dough for big impact! 

 This is how I created my framed chalkboard wall:

1.  Find a great deal on a mirror!

2. Safely remove and dispose of mirror.

3. Prime and paint the frame.  I used a sample from my stash that is a lighter shade than my powder and laundry room.  Easy coordination!  We hung the frame on studs and made sure that it was level.

4. Painted three coats of Rust-oleum Chalkboard Paint with a foam roller and waited the three days before priming and writing on the wall (so hard to wait).

5.  Here is the final product- all nice and clean.

6.  Here it is in action! My little brother turned 18... boy I feel old!

Edited to add these additions:

The Family Room- Updated

When I was taking pictures of the kitchen I shot some of the adjoining family room.  Although the flooring has been installed since this past summer I have yet to post an updated house tour.  Here is an obnoxious amount of photos of our family room.  

Here is the the view of the kitchen from the family room.  

And the family room from the kitchen.

 No room is complete without a bird pillow!

Valentine Vignette

I am not usually a Valentine type of girl, but for some reason I want to rock the love this winter.  Here is a simple, bright display to try to get over the winter blahs now that the hype of Christmas is over.

I thought that the winter word art was still appropriate and adding the suit of hearts was a fun touch.

 I needed a filler for the bowl and these felt hearts were perfect and easy!  A little red ric rac trim and this ode to love is complete!

Christmas Family Room

Our family room is the hub of the home and that is where our Christmas tree and stockings are located.  We like sitting on the couch and gazing at the tree. Doesn't everyone?  Our tree is an "everything goes" tree. There is little rhyme or reason, we are going for the eclectic look.  This year Rudolph got a snazzy collar and silver bell and looks right at home with the deer head prints.

I love the new fireplace tile!  We still have not moved the cable outlet hence the annoying cord. 

2011

2012

Here is my favorite ornament that my sister-in-law gave us last Christmas.

And this corner of the room got a little refresher.  The table needed repainted and I decided to use my Benjamin Moore sample that I had purchased for the cabinets.  I did not sand or prime and I used a brush, but surprisingly no brush strokes because I added some Flotrol (my new BFF) to the paint.  

Little black table

Little gray table

So that is my family room! Every Christmas my side of the family gathers here to celebrate and this room easily accommodates us all.  I am a little sad that we will be five short this Christmas. My sister and her family currently live in Malta as missionaries and they will be sorely missed!