Bee in my Bonnet!

Ever have one of those, a bee in your bonnet!  I just couldn't take the closet under the stairs anymore!

As I have said before we have a small tract house in So Cal.  There are only 3 doors downstairs, it is an open concept house.  The door on the left is the closet, under the stairs.  The door in the center left goes to the garage, and the door on the right is the powder room, I have talked about it here.  Please forgive the mess in the foreground, I was still cleaning up from the redo!

 
It is the closet that is giving me fits.  Here it is before.  It is the only closet downstairs so it houses the vaccum, wrapping paper and gift bags, coats, backpacks, TV trays and a few holiday items.  A lot for a little closet.  But for 23 years it has only had one small shelf, yeah not so much loving that.

So I decided to put in some shelves, DH wanted to know why today, but I said just help me cut and I will do the rest!  So he cut the boards and I measured and nailed them in, love the nail gun!

 Painted it the same color as the kitchen, Not sure the color but it is Ralph Lauren paint and we did the kitchen 6 years ago!  Painted the shelves white and then went to HomeGoods and found some cute baskets and bins for all my goodies!

Love how everything is organized, now I just have to put up the hooks for the coats and backpacks!

I can see the floor! I know it still has a lot in it, but it is organized and I know where everything is.  Now I just have to get some cute labels!  

Have a great day,

Laura

Summer Lanterns

I am loving all the lanterns seen around blogland.  So I have been on the hunt for them the past few months.  I found these two at Home Goods.  Sorry I don't have a before shot, they were a pewter gray and on clearance for about $4 each.  I took out the glass and spray painted them a fun turquoise!  I decided to only put every other glass panel back for easy lighting!






Next I found this tall black one at a garage sale for $1, yes $1. Just needed a new coat of fresh black to make it new again.  We used a chain from an old hanging plant and presto, a lantern chandelier!

Our backyard is one long patio.  This is a little seating alcove we have created.  Can't wait to sit out their and light them.  Been a little cool in So Cal in the evenings so may have to wait till the June Gloom makes way for July heat!

Have a great week,

Laura

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I have batten no board! Lurve it anyway!

Well finally I finished painting and spackling and caulking and sanding, etc.  Geesh my arm and hands are sore.  And here is the finished product!

Here is the before:  Yes I am being honest here.  This is from last fall. 

I love how it turned out.  We didn't do the board portion of the board and batten, so I guess you could say it was 'faux' board and batten.  But it really lightens up the room.  This room doesn't get much natural light, and until we add the light to the ceiling fan, which is purchased, just waiting.  Here are a few more shots:

I need to find a few more crosses for my cross wall and we still need to figure out what to put on the back wall. 

 This was taken last night.  I have our collection of old prints of mountains and lakes on the back wall.  Still need to find a few more.  The pic on the far left is of our favorite place, Silver Lake, in the California High Sierras. 

Hope you like it.

Toodles,

Laura

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Happy Birthday to DD!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!  DD is 18 today, her golden birthday!
Can't believe that 18 years have passed!  Time flies when you are having fun.

I always say we get better as the kids get older!

Have a great day!

Laura

A little sneak peek!

So here is a little sneak of how we spent the weekend.  The project isn't quite finished yet, but should be in a few days.

This is the back wall of the family room.  Door leads to the powder room. 

Here it is a few hours later.

Discovered that our walls aren't level and that the stud finder isn't always right!  Probably has to do with the thermostat and it was framed differently.

Before - back wall

After - back wall.  This was the end of Saturday.  Sunday dawned rainy and cool.  After church stopped off to get trim and caulk.  Fun, Fun.

Before trim. 

 With top shelf and trim added.  After DH nailed these in, spent the rest of the day caulking and sanding.  Now I get to spend today priming and maybe getting a first coat of paint on.  It did really go up easy, and I got to use the nail gun!  ( It was my bday present 2 years ago, but never got to use it!)  I really love how it turned out, finished pics, forthcoming!

Toodles,

Laura