Month: July 2016

The Journey to a Cozy Tiny House

The idea of living in a tiny house had always fascinated me. It was about simplifying life, reducing clutter, and embracing a more sustainable way of living. So, I embarked on the thrilling journey of building my tiny dream home. Here’s a glimpse into what it took to make it a reality. Planning and Research: The first step was extensive planning and research. I scoured books, blogs, and forums to understand the intricacies of tiny house construction, e.g., roofing (learn more here), HVAC, electrical, etc. I knew I had to carefully design every square inch to maximize space efficiency. Budgeting: Creating a realistic budget was essential. While building a tiny house is often more cost-effective than a traditional home, expenses can add up quickly. I factored in costs for materials, labor (if needed), permits, and unexpected surprises. Finding the Perfect Location: Location is paramount when building a tiny house. I … Read more

DIY Pot Rack – Pendant Lights or Industrial Wood?

Caution: This is a really looonnng post – first the background story of a win/loss/win, 2 sets of before and afters and a detailed description of the final DIY project! It all started with a giveaway… I Won a Pendant Light! Back in January C.D. Loken at CD’s Country Living had a giveaway and I won: “In honor of CD’s Country Living’s blogging anniversary, Parrot Uncle generously agreed to send one lucky winner this LARGE (18.11 x 9.06) Retro-Industrial Light with Pot cover shade ($45 value)!” Best Laid Plans Today I can finally tell you about it. It was a long time in coming… Parrot Uncle asked me if I’d like to have a second pendant light for my kitchen to go along with the one I won in CD’s giveaway. After a few back and forth emails, we settled on the pair of lights that were just like C.D.s … Read more

Leslie Stocker Fireplace {Love My DIY Home}

Brick Fireplace Update by Leslie Stocker

  Does no one know what bricks are? We were looking for bricks at the local home improvement stores and none of the clerks knew what bricks were. They kept sending me to their pile of pavers. Apparently the newest generation of home improvers doesn’t use brick any more. As a matter of fact, if you do an online search for bricks, this is what you come up with: pavers, concrete blocks, bullnoses…Bullnoses? What’s bullnose? I finally found a clerk at Home Depot that knew what an actual brick was (without me having to describe them and getting the blank deer caught in your headlights kind of look). She said you have to order them because no one carries them anymore. Um, OK. I guess the world is changing in many ways, including the most basic ways. A brick? I just can’t believe someone wouldn’t know what a brick is. … Read more

Twin End Tables & Wise Owl Chalk Synthesis Paint

Sponsored Post: I found a pair of end tables at a garage sale – outdated and in need of repair. You see it everywhere. Furniture that is chipped, stained, damaged with water rings, cracks, or maybe they are just plain outdated. Too often folks just go out and buy new when there is a better, cheaper, and easier fix. We can save money and save the the landfill by taking them home and flipping them… BEFORE In this case all they needed was a bit of glue (the center piece had come apart), a bit of patching, and a new finish. Karen at Wise Owl Paint offered to give me paint and glaze for a project to try out and review. The paint is free of harsh chemicals and solvents and is zero VOC – a great way to paint without compromising health or the environment. She also carries other … Read more

Love My DIY Home