Although the lawn mower almost brand-spanking new -  we only bought it back in March and it has less than 10 riding hours on it – we’ve had to return it to the manufacturer to have it worked on.  Rick started using the mower and after a bit it stopped cutting.  When he inspected underneath, he noticed that the transaxle has a bunch of stress fractures.  Not good.  So while our lovely new mower is having plastic surgery, the dog run in our back yard currently look this:

and this

Don’t judge.  Luckily, it’s just the dog part of the yard that looks like this – we managed to get most of the lawn (the main bits that the neighbors can see) done before it conked out. We’re working on getting a loaner mower whilst ours is being repaired, so hopefully soon we’ll have a less “junglified” yard for the dogs.  In the meantime, I guess Rick is just going to have to get his wacker out.  Weed wacker, peeps.  Keep it clean

What I didn’t mention in detail in the video is the steps we took to make sure that the 20 feet expanse of wall was properly supported.  We installed a double header to fully ensure the attic floor boards above (which in turn support the roof) were being held in check.  Each header was made by sandwiching 2×8’s with wafer board. Both headers were joined together using these 1/2″ x 6″ hex bolts, secured with 1/2″ washers and nuts.

One of our future renovation plans is to convert the attic space into a guest suite (bedroom + bathroom).  So we wanted to be 200% sure that both spaces would be properly supported. When we performed the “stress test”, i.e. Rick and I both vigorously jumping up and down on the attic floor, there was a slight bit of movement on the library header.  After much discussion, we decided it would be better for the long term structural safety of the library and future attic-conversion that the long 20 foot expanse was a bit more supported.  So, we installed a support post… 

Next up was sheetrocking all the wood.  It didn’t take all that long to measure and cut the sheetrock and attach it to the walls with screws (we find screws better than nails as they are less likely to pop back out and damage the sheetrock). The sheetrock was mudded, left to set for a day or so…

and then sanded.  Hehe…

No, Rick doesn’t have a psoriasis problem, nor a cocaine habit.  He is also not trying out for the part of “Ghost of Christmas Past” in the local adaption of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”.  Don’t you just love getting down and dirty.  For the sake of DIY, I mean .

Firstly, in terms of design and style, it won’t really go with the (2nd) makeover I have in mind.  Secondly, it annoys me that the magazines don’t really stand up properly.  They kind of list over to one side, meaning that when you do eventually pick up a magazine to read, the bottom edges are all curled over.  Lastly, it is difficult to see the full range of magazines that are on offer in this delectable hotel hole home.  So, I started looking for a replacement that would be sleek in design, store the magazines without damaging them, and let people see the full array on offer. Hello my beauty…

I spied this one from Crate & Barrel.  It ticks all the boxes.  ‘Cept it’s a little to pricey for me.  As lovely as it is, almost 50 bucks for a magazine rack seems a little steep.  For me, anyway. 

I then stumbled across a slightly less expensive version from Umbra…

I love how this one is wall-mounted, which can save valuable space in a small downstairs bathroom.  You can see all the magazines on offer, and when all the racks are being used, it appears as though the magazines are free-floating. And at 33 bucks, it’s a slightly less wallet-stretching price.

Which of the magazine racks do you prefer? Do you have other unique or fun ways to display magazines in your home?

Linking this post up to Show and Tell Saturday:

I’m tellin’ ya. I should be on HGTV.

Not.

Last year, we rented the scaffold to help us install our foyer chandelier, paint the two-storey foyer walls, change out our master  bedroom ceiling fan, and help Rick get onto the roof  (well, almost). 

We’ve rented it again to help us finish removing the wall in our soon-to-be library and install the supporting header.

Once the header is in place, we’ll also use the scaffolding to install sheetrock, prime and paint, then finally install crown molding in the two-storey entry way.  While we’re at it, we’ll probably paint the ceiling, and dust off the foyer chandelier.  Check back next week for an update on our progress.  Have a great weekend!

Mmmm, english chocolate.  How I love thee.  Oh, and not to forget our other finest export…

There’s nothing like a good cuppa tea.  It solves all problems. Well, according to most English soap operas.

In addition to the case load of chocolate and tea I brought back, I did manage to squeeze in a few home decor related items. Like a pair of these crystal pineapple lights:

Although it is designed as a pendant lamp, I’m planning on using it as a wall sconce in the spare bedroom. I also had that makeover in mind when I bought these curtains:

The duck-egg blue, cream and chocolate brown work well with the color scheme I had in mind.  However, I’m not sure I’m actually going use these as curtains.  I might use the fabric to make a pelmet instead, and use the leftovers to make some coordinating pillows for the bed.  I’ll be posting an updated moodboard and inspiration photo for the bedroom makeover shortly.

I also brought back a candlestick very similar to the one below – it was a lovely surprise gift from my mum.

In case I had an extra square inch of room that was not being used up in my suitcase, I brought back a duvet set for our master bedroom (very similar to the one below):

I LOVE that teal color.  So much so that I got a table runner for the dining room in the same palette:

The last items I managed to pack into my overstuffed suitcases were this modern chrome clock, and these wooden letters (actually in white), both of which will live in the dining room.

In fact, the only thing I didn’t manage to bring back was my brother’s adorable spaniel puppy, Ginger…

If I could’ve, I would’ve.  So, that’s the tale of how I managed to double my baggage coming back from the UK.  Let’s not get into how much it cost me in excess baggage charges.  I’m sure it will be all worth it when I see these items in place. What items have you brought back from vacation to use in your home?

How about this concrete vanity in the shape of an ammonite, which is the sea creature that when fossilized creates this unique design:

Or how about these table lamp-inspired wall lamps? These cute lights are expressed in silhouette form, featuring the shape of a shaded lamp atop a real shelf – perfect for placing your glasses or other reading accoutrements – all as a one-piece that’s mountable to your wall…

Lamps not your thing? How about having a rolling fireplace? This ultra modern fireplace can easily face any direction to turn any room into a comfy cocoon for the winter. Just roll it where you want some warmth:

Lastly, this is a more modern take on the wall boxes commonly found in most home decor stores. Instead of the traditional rectangular design, how about funking things up with asymmetrical storage?

Could you see any of these designs in your home?  I really love the sea-shell sink in the first photo, but would worry that this look could date very quickly (after all, we have the 80’s version of sea-shell sinks in blue cultured marble in one  of our upstairs bathrooms).  I could also see building a version of those asymmetrical boxes to install on our walls – but again, are they too cool for school?

Image sources:    sink  |  lamps  |  fireplace  |  boxes

Over the past few days as I become adjusted to my new time zone, I have spent some time perusing the Interwebs searching for some design inspiration.  I like to think of it as a way to kick-start my motivation to get working on our massive house renovation project again.

But my dear blog readers, searching the Internet can be a very dangerous thing.  The endless sources of design and inspiration offer a vast array of possibilities for creating (and recreating) our living spaces. So even when you think you have finished a space, you might get the proverbial itch to change it all over again. The saying goes, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind (along with a few other things).  But it takes a strong husband not to murder his wife when she says she has “a few small ideas to change things” in their recently renovated bathroom.  Yes, I’m that woman. 

After posting about our newly madeover bathroom, I realized that there were two things that I wasn’t feeling anymore. 

The tile.  And the vanity.  Oh, and not to mention that the glass vessel sink and faucet have to go because they have impossible-to-remove water stains. But that was from before.  It’s not a new thing.  So it doesn’t count.

It’s not that I dislike the tile and the vanity.  It’s just that after perusing the Interwebs, I have found design elements that I like better.  For example, I much prefer the style of these open-base vanities (with a white-and-much-easier-to-keep-clean vessel sink):

And I also seem to be gravitating towards the simple lines of the board and batten look:

While the tile on the walls could easily be covered with the board and batten, the tile on the bathroom floor would be replaced with the wood floors we will be installing (eventually), giving it a seamless look between the living rooms and the bathroom.

So, help a girl out here…. I am not usually so fickle when it comes to design choices.  I am entering new territory wanting to change things up. What do you think?  Am I crazy to want to redo our recently madeover bathroom?  Are you feeling the potential new looks or do you prefer it the way it is now?

Here are a few pics taken by Rick to document the progress he is making.  The one dark stair tread was a test run on a replacement stain color. Check out those doggy footprints in the dust!

In this pic, Rick has totally removed the stair railing and all the spindles in order to finish the sanding.  It looks so open and airy without stair railing – it’s a shame it’s such a death trap!

I love that there is so much dust in the air that even the camera has little specks of dust in the lens.

You can really see the difference between the sanded stair treads and the original orangey color of the floor.  I think that using a rich chocolate brown on the stairs will add depth and sophistication, and hopefully the “wow-factor”, to the entryway.

The next decision we have to make is what to do with the stair risers.  Keep them white as a nice contrast to the darker stain on the treads?  Or stain them for a cohesive look?  Or do something daring such as paint them a different color, add wallpaper, or even tiles?  What do you think?

Yummy. During my stay in the UK, I’ve been buying a popular DIY magazine to get some British-based decor inspiration (in fact, one of the magazine issues has given me an idea for the spare bedroom – more on that later). Whilst perusing their website, I came across this recipe.  And started drooling.  This looks L.U.S.H.  And so easy to do. 

How great would this be for dessert on a summer’s eve, sitting out on your dream deck?  I think I’m gonna have to make these soon!  Here’s the recipe…

You will need (serves 4):

For the towers
150ml whipping cream
8 shortbread biscuits (cookies in the US)
350g hulled and halved strawberries
4 tsp strawberry jam (not jelly)

For the raspberry sauce
350g raspberries
25g icing sugar (powdered sugar in the US)
1 tbsp lemon juice

Directions

First make the raspberry sauce, sprinkle the sugar over the raspberries and lemon juice and leave for 20 minutes. Then force the mix through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

When ready to serve, whip the cream to a soft peak stage. Place a biscuit on each plate and spoon a heaped tablespoon of cream onto the centre of each. Take 4-6 strawberry halves of roughly the same size and arrange in a circle, cut side out, around the rim of each biscuit, pressing into the cream to hold them in place.

Add a teaspoon of strawberry jam in the centre of the strawberries, spoon a little more whipped cream on top, and crown with another biscuit, pressing down gently to make sure the cream and strawberries merge together – but not so hard that the cream comes out the sides. 

Top with a little dollop of cream, and a half strawberry, arrange more strawberry halves around the outside of the plate, and drizzle with raspberry sauce.

Linking this post up to Show and Tell Saturday: