Our family of four (plus two dogs and a cat) packed up and moved 1,000 miles away to Omaha. Seemingly out of the sky, I got a job offer as Assistant News Director at our sister station and after visiting Omaha, we realized it would be a wonderful place to raise our family.

However, timing is never perfect. As you’ll notice on the blog, we were mid-renovation on our 1930s Craftsman. The upstairs had the old, raw hardwoods that we couldn’t afford to finish. The kitchen still had the yellow linoleum and dark green painted cabinets. Our downstairs bathroom desperately needed an update. We had a month to figure out how we were going to get it ready for market and move across the country with basically no savings. (Remember, I was just a couple months back from maternity leave.)

Welp, with help from my dad, our friends, and a freshly opened Chase Sapphire card (I would have to wait to be reimbursed for relocation) we got to work.

My dad drove from Michigan and stayed for a two-day flooring blitz. He extended the Pergo floors from the dining and living room into the kitchen.

He also helped us get started on the main bath remodel and started to lay the tile for us. I did all the painting though!

Our friends came over and spent their Fourth of July helping us paint the kitchen cabinets and install new hardware which was a great update for under $100. I’m so mad we didn’t do it sooner. It wasn’t hard and made looking at the kitchen way less painful!

Upstairs, we laid carpet throughout. It cost us about $1300 from 中文在线大香蕉 Depot which was labor and materials. I was happy with that. It was an acceptable quick fix to get it listed. We also finished painting the master bedroom to match its 中文成人影视 half-bath reno we had completed a few months before and hung the black and ‘crystal’ glam light fixture.

Then came the time where I had to leave, but Josh had to stay behind. There was still work to be done, but I needed to be in Omaha to start my job. I had a 5-year-old, an 8-month-old, a yorkie and a goldendoodle all with me in the van. Josh packed up what we needed for our new apartment in the U-Haul and we made our way for Omaha.

After getting us settled in, Josh flew back, my mom and cousin flew to Nebraska, and for two weeks they helped me care for the kids while I started my new job.

But Josh had a big job to finish in the main bath so I had to FaceTime in to help with the design. We picked things out over the phone… and luckily, I think we did alright. Check out the before and after.

I love the oil-rubbed bronze finishes and off-center sink! I wish I would’ve had all that extra space for doing my hair and makeup!

We listed the house on the market for a short time, but due to the fact that we were bleeding over $1400 a month in mortgage costs, utilities, you name it… we couldn’t keep it up long enough to sell. Instead, we decided to become landlords! So that’s where this blog is going to pick up next… Stay tuned!

In the meantime, Omaha has been such a welcoming place. If you’ve never visited, you should put it on your list. The food scene is incredible, it’s so easy to get around, and super affordable. We’re living in a lakefront apartment with some high-end finishes (Josh’s favorite is the bidet)– such a big change from the renovation environment.

Annabelle started kindergarten and Hayden celebrated his first birthday. Josh is slaying his new engineering job here, but there still aren’t enough hours in the day. We’re still trying to figure out how to keep our 1,200 square feet here clean and get everyone to where they need to be on time. As the hashtag goes… #AdultingIsHard.

Here is what it looked like when we toured it!

Yes, the 中文在线大香蕉owners painted all the trim green

That light fixture was super 1980s… and who doesn’t love carpet in their formal dining room!?

However, I did love the built-in cabinet! Classic craftsman! And the dining room opens up into the living room to make for easy entertaining.

Changes…

The first change was paint! The new wall color is “Silvermist” by Sherwin Williams.

We painted the built-in and trim white.

We tore out the carpet to find these hardwoods underneath- but it was just not in our budget to refinish them.

See our Pergo Floor Install and review here!

We changed out the light fixture. Props to my husband who picked this one out from Lowe’s.

The Revamp:

Our dining table is from Pier 1. I got a great deal on it- around $500. It was on sale, plus I got more off for having a Pier 1 card and it was my birthday month!

The chairs and bench I bought off Wayfair. I especially love the bench!

I got this hutch off Facebook Marketplace for $75! At first I struggled styling it, but then I shopped around my house for the look below:

I’m really happy with how it turned out now! I especially love how the pinks pop against the wall color and how they jive with the copper mugs from my buddies over at Copper Cure!

My absolute favorite piece is the pink clock from Michaels!

In all, this room may have been my favorite update. I think it’s the most dramatic and honestly, the dining room is maybe my favorite in the house because of all the memories we’ve made in it from dinners to craft time.

(This is an actual photo of the tile after Josh installed and grouted it. This is NOT a stock photo.)

The moment I saw it, it reminded me of my trip to Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland- the most magnificent sight I had ever laid eyes on. The black sand, the blue skies and water, the white snow on the mountains.

[Go back and see my inspiration board and more pictures from our trip here!]

The photo above was the main print I wanted to display.

As for the rest of the bathroom, let’s get something straight, this “master bath” is a glorified closet!

I had no intentions of spending much on the space, so I was hoping to get the most glam & bam out of my buck.

Annabelle of course helped with painting. We went with “Ultra Pure White” by Behr.

Josh demo’ed. I took all of the existing hardware– the brass light sconces, the old toilet paper holder, towel rack and the cabinet that was here when we moved in- and I spray painted everything a matte black.

This saved us a good amount of money… $50-$100 I would estimate and I love how all the pieces turned out:

This may sound weird, but the toilet paper roll holder may be my favorite! I love its detail.

Purchases:

Outside of the tile, I did buy a few things for the space.

I loved this silver geometric votive holder from Walmart. (Under $3!)

I also bought all of the icy blue hand towels and wash cloths at Walmart. I may have purchased this 3-set of masks just because they matched the decor

The Reveal:

Don’t forget to check out our Ceramic Tile Tutorial Here!

We replaced that ugly sink with a new vanity from Lowe’s.

The baroque-style mirror I found at Walmart for just $20! I think it gives the illusion of higher ceilings with its shape compared to the square medicine cabinet that was in there before.

REMINDER: Compared to what it looked like before…

I’d say we added storage and some value all for under $250!

That has me happy dancing all over these new floors!

If you have any questions about this reno, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. Also, add me on 中文毛片基地 @birchtreescoffeebeans for more renovation ideas!

Let me preface this by saying I thought I was a chalkboard wall pro by now. I’ve had them in my coffee shop, prior apartments, there’s one in my daughter’s room and now this… but we still managed to screw it up at first.

So I’m just going to get right down to what I learned and what we messed up:

• DO NOT use one-year-old chalkboard paint. We ended up having to repaint the whole wall after it dried because it was hazy and uneven.
• You MUST break in the wall after it’s been painted by taking a piece of chalk and rubbing it across the whole wall then wiping it down. Also, monitor your 4-year-old because they will mess it up by scraping the chalk along the brand new paint job. *sigh*

That’s pretty much it. Otherwise it’s fairly easy with a big visual impact.

I used Valspar’s black chalkboard paint from Lowe’s.

Also, as you can see, this wall has lots of imperfections and I am the type of person who does not have the patience to sand those down or wait for my husband to sand them down! So instead, I came up with an idea to decorate around  the imperfections with fun pieces. Here’s the finished product:

It’s really hard to get a good photo of this wall in my kitchen so I apologize. For one, this wall is on a weird angle, the lighting is bad, and the kitchen in general is just ugly right now.

See the kitchen in our “before” photo tour!

I’m hoping to start tackling the kitchen this year, and for now this chalkboard wall was a cheap way to get started.

The best part? Almost every piece on the wall is functional like this Threshold clock from Target.

This cute piece of art also from Target serves a purpose!

This spice rack we had lying around. It was actually counter top style, but we just took the saw to the back of it so it would sit flush against the wall and hang. Bonus– it gives us more counter space now!

This Groceries sign from Michaels was the final touch that I really needed for the space. Best part? I got it for 40% off. Love a deal and I love how it fits in the space!

Finally, we threw up a few hooks to hang items like a potholder and these adorable ceramic measuring spoons. They’re either from Michaels or Giant Eagle. I can’t find them online, but I know they are from one of those two stores. 

A few quick pro tips:

• When writing something that you want to standout- dip the chalk in water before writing. It’ll be darker and last longer!
• Buy a chalk marker for writing lists or for nailing a fancy bistro look

How have you used chalk paint in your 中文在线大香蕉? The possibilities are endless! Feel free to share links to your work and ideas below. Or tag me on 中文毛片基地!

For more ideas & inspiration- 中文色情网站 now!

It’s been about 9 years since I quit my job in news to open a coffee shop. A lot of people don’t know the backstory, and knowing where I am today it’s funny how fate works out.

I had been living in Grand Rapids from the time I started college in 2004. I had been in a relationship that was messy (and was only going to get messier) and I set out one weekend by myself to Pittsburgh. I had never been, but when I arrived I knew that was where I wanted to move. When I got back to GR, I told a former boss who was a small biz owner and he begged me not to leave. He said he would fund any venture I wanted- so I said, “Let’s open a 24-hour coffee shop.”

But before we could open the doors of course, we had to find a store front.

We rented out two store fronts, tore out the walls in between and opened it up so that there was room for a kitchen, counters & pay area, and a full dining room.

We even had to put a new subfloor throughout because when we pulled up the flooring there was some rotting and the floors were very uneven.

We had to submit plans to the city for a beam to be installed after tearing out so many walls. That was costly!

That’s looking into the kitchen and where the counters would go. That’s also the very costly beam.

Hands down the coolest feature on this old building was the ceiling.

We took the old metal ceilings from a dirty white to silver.

While I wish I had more photos– this was nearly a decade ago. I had no idea I’d be selling the shop (just for one of the new owners to end up in jail- that’ll have to be a future post ), getting back in news, leading me to meet my husband, just to end up in Pittsburgh- the city that sparked it all!

But– that’s a look at how it turned out! We did baby blue walls in the dining area, with cool track lighting and tiger wood flooring from Menards– the same laminate I ended up using in my Michigan basement 中文成人影视.While poor Wired no longer exists, I learned a lot in the process about laws, taxes, but also about myself. I made friendships that still exist today, and it put me on the path that led me to the wonderful, albeit chaotic, life I have today.

And did I mention we also won “Best New Business” in Grand Rapids that year?

My gameface after winning!

Some risks don’t pay off right away, and I’m glad this one didn’t.

Like this?

Check out 5 Things Coffee Shop Owners and Baristas Wish You Knew!

From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I was designing this baby’s nursery. I knew regardless of sex, I wanted a woodland theme.

Here was my inspiration:

So basically it would’ve incorporated that coral color if the baby turned out to be a girl…

But it turned out, we were having a boy for baby two.

I was very sick from weeks 10-39. I had awful morning sickness, SPD or symphysis pubis disorder where your pelvis basically feels like it’s shattering every time you walk or stand, plus gestational diabetes.

That being said, designing was about the extent of the work I could do. I was very fortunate to have one of my best friends and her awesome fiancé staying with us toward the end of the pregnancy.

Reveal:

All the gray walls were painted by my friends and my husband.

These birch tree wall decals from Amazon took them all day to install. For one, our old 中文在线大香蕉 has textured plaster walls. Also, these are not just peel and stick. You have to use a transfer paper and it comes with a limited amount. So don’t throw any of it away! You’ll need it again and again! However, I loved how they turned out and they are still sticking 3 months later despite the textured wall. If you do have a spot that wants to peel, just use an Elmer’s extreme glue stick.

The little owl lamp and shade came from Walmart. The custom signs came from Old South Design Co on Etsy, but maybe my favorite is the owl plush because it plays Hayden’s actual heartbeat.

This spot features two more signs from Old South Design Co (absolutely love the little man cave one!) and I made a spot for Annabelle’s rocking chair to sit near me so she can enjoy reading time. My mom brought the other tiny rocking chair for Hayden. He will be able to use it and rock with us before too soon.

Accent Wall:

I actually did most of the manual labor here

I ordered this custom mobile off Etsy from Four Glittered Geese. The bedding is by Sweet Jojo Designs.

Finally, the changing table was a find by my dad when I was pregnant with Annabelle. He handcrafted the railing around the top and added it to the upcycled dresser.

My mom found those pictures of the bear and moose at a thrift store, but my fun find was the birch tree laundry bag, another Amazon find.

It’s not a perfect space…

But it’s come a long way from this boring space (for a “before photo tour of our 中文在线大香蕉 click here)…

…And Hayden sure seems to like all the contrasting colors and shapes!

Did you know you can create a baby registry on Amazon? Have one-stop shopping for your family and friends no matter where they live:

Shop Amazon – Create an Amazon Baby Registry

I recall sitting and playing at it for hours- I had tiny thanksgiving dinners, small-scale Victorian furniture, a light up fireplace.

When I had Annabelle, I dreamed she would love it just as much. But move after move took its toll on the decades-old house so I asked my dad to spruce it up… I had no idea he would spend months on its 中文成人影视.

Check it out now! He used reclaimed cedar to create tiny shingles and siding.

He cut every one of those shingles by hand! He built and mortared the chimney using tiny stones.

He created a walkout porch and my stepmom wrote Annabelle’s name on it.

Notice he also gave a higher pitch to the roof and added dormers.

Inside he laid down laminate flooring and even added trim baseboards.

He also painted each room.

She loves playing with it and it’s so beautiful now that I use it sometimes as just part of my decor.

It was already a pass-me-down, but now it’s an extra special heirloom.

Check out our Sunroom Re-Do!

What is your special toy or gift that has been handed down to your children or someone in your family? Comment below!

I keep seeing these photos pop up in my Facebook memories, so it seemed appropriate to share this basement 中文成人影视 on this Throwback Thursday.

When we bought our first house in Allen Park, Michigan (中文在线大香蕉 of the Detroit Lions!) this is what our basement looked like. A classic mid-modern with cinder block walls painted vintage teal and a very ugly vinyl tile floor.

The house itself was a 1,250 square foot brick bungalow so we knew finishing the basement would give us a lot more space and increase the value.

The main problem? We were a newly married couple with a toddler- aka we had no money. I had actually been offered a job in Pittsburgh at that time, but turned it down when my employer matched that  offer and threw in a $5,000 bonus. Guess what we did with that?

Yep. It became our budget for the basement. We had big plans for that $5K. We wanted a bar and a fireplace in addition to new flooring and drywall.

My dad and Josh got to work! They framed out the walls, framed out the bar and then started to spray the ceiling. (Don’t they look like Walt & Jesse in Breaking Bad? )

Originally I had planned to paint the ceiling white thinking it would make the room feel bigger, but my dad had just done a dark ceiling and convinced me it would look cleaner and hide all the wiring since we were leaving the ceiling open.

He was right. It gave it a clean, industrial feeling.

The ceiling was painted, the can lighting installed and they got to work creating the bar. It was huge! I thought it would be the focal point until…

…They started creating the fireplace. The fireplace was by far the most expensive part of the project. About $2k of our $5,000 budget went to it. With every dime counting, I searched around for the fireplace insert and the best deal I found for the box and ventless gas logs was at 中文在线大香蕉 Depot.

The stone was my splurge. I got it from Menards along with the laminate flooring. (This flooring is called “Tiger Wood” and it’s the same flooring I had in my coffee shop so I knew it would hold up to traffic.)

We ended up installing the stone on the bar for a high-end finish and for continuity.

Having some extra space under our stairs, I came up with a last minute design idea to add some storage, seating, and just a fun spot in the room:

And now for the fireplace reveal:

I wish I could tell you we shared so many memories in this space, but we ended up only being here about 10 months after it was finished.

I did celebrate my birthday, Annabelle’s 2nd birthday and we had our first “Friendsgiving” here… but if anything it helped us get more money out of our 中文在线大香蕉 in such a short time of being there.

We owned the house for about a year and a half and made a profit of $20,000 in a not-so-hot market so I definitely call that a win.

Any questions on this renovation, comment below!

It was my worst nightmare, yet I still wanted the house. They told us there were hardwoods under the carpet, so we were hopeful we could afford the refinish. We even had a guy come by and give us a quote. He had said probably $3-4,000 for the downstairs, but there was no way to know for sure until they saw what was really underneath.

Josh finally got motivated to start what would take us months to finish… well technically we’re still not finished.

What we found in the sunroom was promising. It was unfinished and there was some water damage, but it looked like it could be saved.

Check out our “Sunroom

Re-do” here.

But as we moved into the living room and dining room- we found what would make some 中文在线大香蕉owners ecstatic…

Oak hardwood, with a pine inlay. In the dining room, the pine was marred by years of what we believe was likely linoleum glued to it.

There was a lot of detail…

No doubt it was beautiful, but it also was going to make this a much more expensive job. Something that just wasn’t in our budget.

Remember, Josh was still in school full-time at this point and I was the sole breadwinner supporting our family with a second child on the way.

So after much debate, we decided to install Pergo floors for two reasons.

One, it’s much cheaper. But two, it would protect the hardwood underneath until we, or future 中文在线大香蕉owners had the money to restore.

We went with Pergo’s Bainbridge Oak from Lowe’s. Josh had installed laminate flooring in the basement of our first 中文在线大香蕉 so I knew he could handle the job.

[See our Michigan basement 中文成人影视 here.]

I love the realistic look and texture it has! Pictures do not do it justice. The one draw back to the Bainbridge Oak is that it doesn’t have the underlayment attached (that’s what that silver stuff is underneath) so it’s an extra cost and extra step in the process. However, my husband said it didn’t really make installation any more difficult.

Check out our $50 fireplace facelift!

We are very pleased with the finished product. We’ve had people ask if the floor is wood. It’s holding up well to our pets- a cat, a yorkie, and a golden doodle who was being potty trained during all this!

Feel free to comment with questions!

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Second Floor:

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