As part of my staircase makeover, I made a last minute decision to paint the banister. The orange tone in the wood didn’t bother me until we updated our flooring a few years ago. Ever since then, the tones have clashed with all of the other wood tones throughout our house and changing that felt … Continue reading How I Painted my Banister
I don’t think I’ve ever been more wrong about the timeframe of a project! What I thought would take me two weeks took me almost two months. To say I am relieved that this project is over would be an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, I’m super happy with how it turned out and would … Continue reading Staircase Makeover Reveal
I have had grand plans for this staircase for a few years now and even though I can’t do all of it right now (things like removing walls and tearing out carpet are going to have to wait for a bit…), I am finally getting around to starting the process! Traditional picture frame moulding, box … Continue reading Staircase Moulding Plan
A hint of snow is in the air mixed with the warm aroma of some baked good wafting in from the kitchen... ahhh. It's Christmas time! My favorite time of year. You'll find me with hot cocoa, a cozy blanket, and a Christmas movie playing at every chance I get during this time of year. … Continue reading Holiday Gift Guide 2022
I've said it before and I'll say it again - there's nothing quite as relaxing as having a primary bedroom that you love. Having that cozy retreat to look forward to at the end of the day is a game changer and, in my opinion, is one of the biggest things you can do to … Continue reading Installing LVP Floors in our Primary Bedroom
This is going to be my biggest project to date. In full transparency, I’m completely terrified to take this on. But you know what they say, do it scared. So that’s what I’m doing! Let me show you the before of the house. Brown. Very, very brown. Last time I painted (lime washed) a house … Continue reading Exterior Moodboard
After I shared my embarrassing coat closet on Instagram, my inbox flooded with DMs from people who have a closet (or two) just like it. You know the one, it's the shove-everything-in-here-and-close-the-door closet. The Monica closet. The previous owners used this closet as a second pantry, so when we moved in it had five or … Continue reading An Easy Closet Update You Can Do This Weekend
I have been so excited to show this room all put together! We have Jordan has also been super excited to have this room put back together. Our bedroom was so very, very brown before. Literally from floor to ceiling we had varying shades of beige and zero personal touches. Even the little furniture I … Continue reading Primary Bedroom Reveal
Touchstone Home Products gifted the insert for this project. As always, all opinions are my own. I never thought I would have a TV in my bedroom. My parents never did and I never understood the appeal. Now, one of my absolute favorite things to do is curl up in bed and watch a show … Continue reading DIY Bedroom Fireplace part 2
I love the look of a full upholstered bed - the warmth, softness, and (you guessed it) coziness is everything I want for our primary bedroom. But do you want to know what I don’t like about upholstered beds? The price tag! This one is beautiful and my inspiration…but it’s definitely above my budget! Source … Continue reading Upholstered Bed for less than $150
For years, I have been wanting to learn how to build and install faux ceiling beams. They just seem to inject an amazing amount of character! We were actually going to add beams in our last living room, but we moved before I could get around to it. When we moved into this house, this … Continue reading DIY Faux Ceiling Beams
Adding a fireplace to our primary bedroom has been on my dream wish list since we moved into this house. Something about the vaulted ceilings just made me feel like a fireplace belonged in here. I say my dream wish list because for some reason I didn’t think it would ever be realistic to install … Continue reading DIY Bedroom Fireplace Build Part 1
I’m gearing up for the transition from summer to autumn. It’s one of my favorite seasonal transitions. By the time August hits, my northern blood (I grew up in northern Michigan) is more than ready to put the hot days of summer behind me and trade them for cool, crisp autumn nights. Looking for more … Continue reading Fall Florals from Amazon
“But Mercedes, what are you going to do when you run out of projects?” Run out of projects. Ha. HA! Never. We lived in our first home for three years and by the time we moved, I still had so many projects I wanted to do. We have lived in this home now for almost … Continue reading What’s on my project list?
Finally!!! It's time for me to work on the primary bedroom. I honestly don't know how I haven't done this space yet. I can still remember how it felt in our last home to have a fully finished and happy space to relax in at the end of the day and how peaceful that felt … Continue reading Primary Bedroom Moodboard & Plans
Our backyard is currently still in an it has to get worse before it can get better phase, but this corner has made HUGE progress in the last few weeks. It wasn’t really that bad when we bought our house, but stylistically it just didn’t do anything for me and I’ve been slowly working on … Continue reading Cedar Planter Boxes for My Corner Garden
And by flip I mean makeover, we’re not actually flipping tables over here, haha! Over the last few weeks I’ve had several of you reach out to me and ask me how to paint furniture. So whether you want to paint a piece to make it work in your home or so you can sell … Continue reading How to flip furniture!
I painted this striped design on the walls and ceiling of the water closet in the kids’ bathroom and I won’t lie, it was quite the time consuming project. Especially for someone like me who would trade a limb (okay so maybe not a limb but perhaps a kidney? Half a liver?) if it meant … Continue reading Faux Striped Wallpaper : A Not-So-Quick Accent Wall
Cutting Edge Stencils supplied the stencil & brushes for this project. As always, all opinions are my own. A few months ago, I had never painted a floor. Imagine almost anything else and chances are I had painted it, but my she-shed floors were my first painted ones and it totally got me hooked! I … Continue reading A Quick Floor Update in The Bathroom
This bathroom was a whirlwind of a project! 3 weeks and a whole lot of paint later, this brown bathroom completely transformed into the light and airy kids’ bathroom of my dreams and I’m over the moon about it. Want to see what projects I’m working on now? Follow me on Instagram! Before, this bathroom … Continue reading Kids’ Bathroom Reveal
I love these types of updates. This only took me a couple of hours (most of that was dry time) and the results are killer! An on trend, black framed mirror of similar size retails for around $700 but this hack does a pretty good job replicating it for a fraction of the price. Want … Continue reading How I Upgraded My Builder Grade Mirror for Less than $40
I know, I know. Painting over granite is controversial. And I promise you that I am not going make you to paint over your granite, but if you don't love it... I'll totally be your hype girl! The thing about updating your home is that you should do what you love. Not what someone else … Continue reading Epoxy Countertop in the Bathroom
Operation “de-brown” this bathroom is underway! This week I got almost all of the brown out of here. Is there anything better than a fresh coat of paint on the walls? I think not. And the vanity…can we talk about the vanity? Want to see an update? I epoxied the counters here! I’m in love … Continue reading I Painted the Vanity in the Kids’ Bathroom!
I love a big, intense room transformation - don’t get me wrong! My last several projects have been big, beastly ones and the time invested into them is evident in the result, but I’ve been craving a quick flip! Something that doesn’t take weeks and weeks to finish, but still yields a satisfying result. So … Continue reading Kids’ Bathroom Plans
Although they were quite the labor of love, these built-ins really make this room. Don’t you agree? I love the depth and character they add to what was previously a pretty boring bedroom. The bigger cabinet has become Elliott’s favorite hiding spot for hide and go seek and he has started collecting his treasures to … Continue reading How to Build Built-in Shelving Units
As I was searching for inspiration for my workbench design, I couldn’t find anything that I really loved. Everything was either too simple - like a frame built out of 2x4s that offered a good amount of storage, but not much for organizing smaller items - or was a dresser that had been up cycled … Continue reading How to Build a Workbench from IKEA Drawers
There are so many great Memorial Day Weekend sales this weekend! I’ll be updating this post throughout the weekend, so be sure to check back in! Want to see what projects I’m working on now? Follow me on Instagram! Elliott’s bed is 40% off and Theia’s crib is 51% off on Wayfair. Our living room … Continue reading Memorial Day Sales!
This post is sponsored by HomeRight. As always, any opinions reflected in this post are my own. My she shed is officially done! When we were first looking at this house, the shed was a big selling point for me. I have never had a dedicated workshop before but with my never ending project list, … Continue reading She Shed/Workshop Reveal | One Room Challenge Week 8
This is the last she-shed progress update you’ll see from me - next week is reveal week! I can’t wait for you to see everything all put together, and I can’t wait to finally have a functioning and organized workshop space. Want to see what projects I’m working on now? Follow me on Instagram! It … Continue reading Exterior Glow Up | One Room Challenge Week 7
One of the best parts of any project (for me at least) is getting to put a space back together. There’s something so satisfying about getting to take a space that has been nonfunctional and start making it functional again! While I’m not quite at the end of this shed makeover - I haven’t even … Continue reading Pegboard and Workbench Progress | One Room Challenge Week 6
With all of the projects I’ve done, a have more than a couple half full paint cans lying around. I needed an easy storage solution that would allow me to see what I have and keep them organized. Want to see what projects I’m working on now? Follow me on Instagram! I didn’t really plan … Continue reading Easy Paint Can Storage | One Room Challenge Week 5
I have found a new obsession. If you have never painted floors before, go find yourself a floor to paint! Why is it so fun? I don’t know. Maybe it's the soothing feeling of painting walls but without the achy shoulders the next day. Maybe it’s the thrill of painting on the floor, a spot … Continue reading DIY Painted Floors | One Room Challenge Week 4
Finally! Some serious progress has happened in my she-shed and it has me so excited for what’s to come! These walls and ceiling used to be exactly how you would imagine the inside of a shed - raw OSB and wood. So of course I had to paint it! Want to see what projects I’m … Continue reading She’s Painted! (mostly) | One Room Challenge Week 3
It’s week 2 and the shed looks the same as it did last week. Whoops! I actually did have plans to clean it out and get it prepped for painting next week - eek! - but then we had a freak snow storm and I did not want to clean it out in the cold, … Continue reading More Workshop Planning in the She-Shed | One Room Challenge Week 2
I. Built. This. There is nothing that compares to the high of finishing a project after pouring hours upon hours into it. I guess that is what keeps bringing me back to DIY. The sense of accomplishment after taking something that I dreamed up, designed, and then built with my own two hands is addicting, … Continue reading Elliott’s Preppy Toddler Room
Brewster Home Fashions supplied the wallpaper for this project. As always, all opinions are my own. When I created the mood board for Elliott’s room, it was anchored on two elements - blue paint (by his request) and modern plaid wallpaper. Well, the wallpaper is installed and exactly what I was hoping for! Doesn’t it … Continue reading Elliott’s Wallpaper is Up and I’m in Love
Recently, I have felt the pull to slow down and be more intentional about enjoying the process of my projects. I love a grand reveal as much as the next person, but life quickly becomes exhausting for me when I forget to take a breath and enjoy the process. So with Elliott's room, I decided … Continue reading PROGRESS ON ELLIOTT’S BUILT-INS
I am always shocked by the difference trimming out a window makes. Like, every time. I never notice how boring my windows look until I start adding trim, then I want to go around trimming out every window in the house! Not only does it make them look more custom, but it also makes them … Continue reading EASY DIY WINDOW TRIM
I am in the middle of creating my 3 year old's big boy room. He has been asking to paint his room "light blue" for over 6 months now, so it's been really fun to do this project with him. Want to see what projects I’m working on now? Follow me on Instagram! Not really … Continue reading MY FAVORITE PAINT COLORS FOR KIDS ROOMS
This beautiful fireplace is just what my living room needed, and this DIY project is probably easier than you’re expecting! Find my tutorial and finished project here.
This is the first year that I have used holiday themed artwork in my home and can I just say, I love it! After building my fireplace (more on that soon), I had a fresh slate that needed decorating and I figured what better time to find some holiday prints than now. Here are some … Continue reading holiday art roundup
Having a pantry is somewhat of a luxury, but having a dream pantry, wow. I smile every time I walk in there now, which is a far cry from what it was a month ago. When we bought our house, the pantry had wire shelves, which are standard and they were fine. Want to see … Continue reading HOW I DIYed MY DREAM PANTRY!
The holiday season is my absolute favorite time of year. I'll take a snowstorm, hot cocoa, and Hallmark movies over a summer BBQ any day! And while gifts are definitely not the center of the Christmas season for us, I still have so much fun picking out gifts that I hope my loved ones will … Continue reading Holiday Gift Guide 2021
Last Christmas I rolled up 6 certificates, tied them with a ribbon, and put them in a box under my parent's Christmas tree. I love to give meaningful gifts, but this one probably takes the cake. Both of my parents are very busy people who have been wanting to update their very orange kitchen for … Continue reading THE GREEN KITCHEN
When we had our floors redone this past spring, we had to remove the wire shelving that was in our pantry and I made the decision not to reinstall it because I didn’t love it. So, yes, it’s been about 4 months now that we haven’t had a functional pantry. We’ve been using a bookcase … Continue reading PANTRIES THAT ARE INSPIRING ME
Fast Growing Trees supplied the trees for this project. As always, all opinions are my own. I grew up in Northern Michigan where our home was nestled in the middle of the woods and you had to drive 30 minutes to get anywhere. I loved going out in that forest and building forts with my … Continue reading It’s Tree Planting Season!
Painted countertops - whaaat? That’s basically the reaction Jordan had when I told him my idea for my parents’ countertops. Their counters were a dated, gray laminate with wood trim that matched the cabinets and they desperately wanted something that would breathe a little life into the kitchen. Want to see what projects I’m working … Continue reading DIY FAUX MARBLE COUNTERTOPS
Three years ago (almost exactly) I painted the cabinets in our Arkansas home. I did more than just paint the cabinets in that kitchen but holy cow - transforming those dated oak cabinets to a clean, white color was incredibly impactful. I still remember the feeling I had after just the primer went on because … Continue reading HOW TO PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS THE RIGHT WAY
What started out as a "quick" bathroom makeover due to project creep (we redid all of our floors on the main level) has turned into one of my favorite spaces I have ever done! I really stretched myself creatively in this space and I feel like every time I take those risks, it just makes … Continue reading POWDER ROOM REVEAL
While you're busy prepping for Christmas, don't forget about the stockings! Order things for stockings now so you aren't panicked and buying random junk on Christmas Eve. For the most part I try to keep our stockings nice and simple, but I love to mix in a few small gifts among the candy and toothbrush. … Continue reading Holiday Gift Guide Stocking Stuffers | 2022
With Love, Mercedes 