

It’s February! Just one more lovey DIY before Valentine’s Day, and I may like this one most because it combines a few of my favorite DIY supplies: cement, copper and candles! It’s been a while since I used cement (remember this and this project) and when I saw this heart mold, I knew they would create the prefect candle holder. This quick dry cement is pretty amazing and honesty so easy to use, I made all these in less than 25 min. I had to add just a little touch of my current favorite metal copper (added it here, here and here). Now I just need a bathtub to put my lit candles around, and some bubbly to relax with…happy place… Steps and supplies after the break! (more…)

This Summer, Apartment Therapy came to do a video shoot at my home (check out the story HERE! and the Video Tour HERE) so I wanted to get every nook and cranny of the house looking it’s best! I made a giant list, and finished all those little things I vowed to do “someday”. For those that are new around here, I “flipped” this house a few Summers ago for a pilot on HGTV. I bought this rundown 125-year-old mess for $24,000 and we fully gutted and rebuild in 4 months. I fell in love with the house, so decided to keep it, and have been making it my own with DIY projects! Since it was looking all shiny for the video shoot, I snapped pics of every room to share with you all in one place with credits and shopping links to the items still available. Welcome to I Spy Abode, hope you like the transformation!

KITCHEN & DINING AREA The kitchen started off as the grossest place in the house…think cockroaches and electrical fires….Once we got it all cleaned out, the design gave me all sorts of headaches, the sloped ceiling made upper cabinets difficult and I kept moving around the fridge because I did not want it to be a focal point. In the end, I got rid of all the uppers for more windows on the back wall, then added open-concept shelving, with a bunch of lower cabinets and a pantry around the fridge for storage. I am so happy with the final look, it’s such a beautiful view from the front to the back of the house. I originally designed the kitchen to have butcher block countertops, but my cabinet guy got me a deal on this snowy quartz, which meant a lot of white in the kitchen. To warm it up, I added wood cutting boards, and the raw wood shelves that I love styling with my vintage finds. We opened up the wall between the dining room and kitchen to create an open concept space, letting you see the kitchen from everywhere on the lower level. The modern fixtures and DIY dining table made with the reclaim wood beams from the house, mixed with the warmth of a rug and organic vase create an inviting dining space where I have potluck dinner with friends! Check out more details & photos in the kitchen before & after post here.




SHOP THE KITCHEN:
Rejuvenation Copper Carson 12″ Wall Sconce
The Tile Shop 2″ Matte White Hexagon Tiles
Kohler Matte Black Purist faucet
Kohler Cairn double bowl sink
GlideRite Hardware Classic Cabinet Bin Pull
Cosmas Flat Black Cabinet Hardware Round Mushroom Knob
CR Light Edison Style Industrial Vintage Creative Pendant Lamp
Cali Bamboo Hardwood flooring-Vintage Moonlight
Minted Leaf in Green Art
Schlage Century Single Cylinder Handleset and Latitude Lever
Snow Quartz Countertop
World Market Extra Large Acacia Wood Paddle Cutting Board
West Elm Pink/Copper Vase
Door painted in Behr Black Evergreen
RugsUSA Berta Native Symbols Rug
Marshall’s stools
World Market White Textured Stoneware Bowls
World Market Stone Gray Mugs
Target Utensil Canister
Chermex Coffeemaker
Better Homes and Gardens Copper Hammered Mule Mug
Hearth & Hand Green Stoneware Pitcher
Vintage Copper canisters
Thrifted Pineapple


SHOP THE DINING ROOM:
Novogratz Chromeo 5-light Pendant
Target Outdoor Chairs
Custom Table
Newgate Cookhouse Clock
Southern Enterprises Elliot Midcentury Modern Bar Cart
World Market Flatweave Jute Kilim Malika Area Rug
Anthropologie Vase (old)
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CRAFT ROOM: This room off the dining room has sliding barndoors that open up to the craft room! This is a space were I can store all my supplies and great creative, then slide the doors shut and hide the mess, ha! I love the cork board wall for hanging all my inspiration and creating moodboards for the next space I am designing.

SHOP THE CRAFT ROOM:
Rejuvenation Cedar & Moss 8″ Semi-Flush Light
Target Monet Sheer Linen Pleated Cabana Stripe Curtain Panel
Plankwise Noir Stickable Wall Wood
Sauder Craft Pro Series
Quartet Cork Tiles 12×12”
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LIVING ROOM & ENTRYWAY: The living room and entryway started out full of wood paneling and dingy carpet which needed to go immediately. We were able to get rid of the drop ceilings (yes plural ceilings) and raise them to 10+ft which makes the room seem so much bigger. Since there was no character to preserve in the house, I wanted to have a built in on the wall to add some interest. The floor-to-ceiling custom shelving unit displays my favorite tchotchkes. Since I used a lot of white, I really used the decor items to bring in the warmth and character to each room. I have always loved thrifting, so adding those unique pieces throughout makes it feel very much like my home. Check out more details and photos in the living room before & after post here and a livingroom update here!



SHOP THE LIVING ROOM:
Custom Coffee Table
Article Nirvana Dakota Tan Sofa
Article Pendula light
Article Tana Wood Stool
World Market Woven Basket
RugsUSA Jubilee Solid Braided Indoor/Outdoor
Hobby Lobby Blanket
Pillows – Mix of Target, Mudcloth, Marshall’s
Items on Shelves: Mix of World Market, West Elm, Amazon and Vintage
Bull Print by Amy Carroll for Minted

SHOP THE ENTRY WAY:
Plankwise Midcentury White Stickable Wall Wood
Home Goods Mirror
Baxton Studio Nelson Wooden Bench
Vintage Rug
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My guest room makeover is done…for now! Ha! It’s funny how when we were shooting the HGTV pilot, I was able to stage this entire house in a day, but now it takes me 2 months to makeover one room. I’m sure it’s because the pressure is off, and I am trying to put things I truly love in the space. For all those that were following the process of putting up the board & batten wall treatment on IG, stay tuned because I will be doing a tutorial in another post AND tomorrow I will be showing you the steps for the faux map drawer dresser. Today, you’ll get all the credits and steps for one of my favorite parts of the room, the barn wood ledge that I made with Minwax! Pretty sure I will restyle that shelf once a week, but I wanted to show you it’s current state…well actually I have restyled it since taking these pictures…but is a room ever really done?! Credit after each picture, if I miss anything, leave me a comment and I’ll get back to you with a source!

SHOP | Wall Color BEHR Hostaleaf – Rejuvenation Pillow – Hobby Lobby Throw – Brooklinen Twill Charcoal stripe sheets/pillow – Target Comforter – Target dish – Old Target Table – Similar Wayfair Bed – World Market Sconce – Vintage books
I had matching night stands, but wanted the room to feel a bit more eclectic, so switched them out for this little side table on one side, and a stump on the other (below). Since it’s a guest room, I was not too conserned with bedside storage.

SHOP | Amazon alarm clock – Target Vase – Amazon Copper outlet plates

SHOP | Target Dresser (DIY coming) – Target Globe – West Elm Candle – H&M Home Vase – Amazon Wall hooks – Target hanging frame – Vintage bottles + Art
First I had a desk in the space, but ultimately need more storage for off-season clothes, so gave a Target dresser a makeover to look like a map drawer (steps coming tomrw). I am super happy with how this corner of the room functions now. And I have a place to display the thrifted art I have been collecting!

And HOW BEAUTIFUL are these flowers! My friend Jamie from Sweven Floral arranged them for me and I wish I could freeze them in time!

SHOP | Colleen O’Connor landscape art – Amazon light switch – Schalge door handle – Hobby Lobby Throw – Coach cream purse – Sole Society bag
The room is tiny, but the ceiling is vaulted, to this wall is SUPER tall, and I thought it would be fun to have a big piece of art to show it off. I worked with Colleen O’Connor, and she cutomized this beautiful work of art for the room. She even used the wall color – BEHR Hostaleaf so it would tie together. I LOVE it!

I have been making a point to shop more at the amazing local boutiques popping up all over Milwaukee! The little pitcher and cup set are from Orange & Blue. You must stop in there!


SHOP | Similar World Market Mirror – Similar Wayfair Bed – World Market Sconce– Pottery from Local shops – Vintage art

I just love seeing the reflection of the art in the mirror when you walk in the room! And the wood I used as a shelf was such an amazing find. It’s an old piece of barnwood, full of nails and holes and so much character! And since the room is so small, I like that it did not stick out too far, and fit perfectly in the 6in brackets. Steps and supplies after the break…
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