Barn Door

Who else besides me has fallen 

in love with all of the

sliding barn doors you've

been seeing in homes?

We have been looking for

a way to "dress" up a 

door way in our house...

it is the entrance to the

children's room and bathroom.

So I showed sweet husband

a few of the pictures I liked...

begged him to go on a 

pallet hunting run...

and here is what he created...

Let me show you how

he did it...

He dismantled two pallets
and laid out the 
frame of a door 
(customized to fit our space) 

Then he made two cross pieces
for the look and support

After that we discussed what type
of pattern we would like..
then he cut the pallet boards 
to fit the frame.
 

If you look closely you can
see the molding he used 
to attach the boards to...
and to keep them straight
because pallet boards
have a mind of their own
 

After hours and I do mean
HOURS...of sanding...
we stained the door.
 

 

 Now I wish I could be more helpful here...
but this is what I can tell you about the
instillation...
 he went to his shop and created something...
 yep that's the best I can do for ya.

I know he took aluminum and created
brackets and a track.....
and then he attached rollers 
that came off an old glass sliding door...

I am so not kidding...
he is like MacGyver when he
rigs things...

We both love how it turned out...
even though he is threatening to
remove Pinterest from my computer

 
Now I just need to find the
right door pull for it...
good thing there is
an antique show this weekend!

We've also been very busy working
on fixing up the back porch...
here's a sneak peek! 

Thanks for stopping by to 
see our new "old" barn door...

P.S
To anonymous who left me a comment....
I don't know how to send you a reply so hopefully
you will see this...

You asked how sweet husband built the glass house....
specifically how he managed to attach all the windows together.

I will try and find out specifics for you...
but I can tell you that he built a
box like frame out of sturdy metal post...
If you would like to email me
I can have him give you more specific information!
Thanks!
Amy

Decked out for the 4th of July

I love holidays...

and while I would

 be hard pressed

to pick a favorite

there is just something

about the 4th of July

that gets me every time...

maybe cause it's summer

and it's just a relaxing kinda 

holiday!

 The saying goes that

"Necessity is the mother of all invention"

well in my case

Necessity is the mother of all crafting!

I wanted to spend my money 

on a well made American Flag

and bunting....

so that left very little $$ for 

other things.

But I did have

2 buckets of baseballs.....

an old pallet....

and yards of burlap

A quick search on Pinterest...

and here is what I put together.

Chalkboard with the pledge of allegiance

written on it.

Two painted burlap flags tied onto

a Y shaped piece of driftwood 

Sweet Husband found....

tucked into a garden urn filled

with coral...

I think it turned out right cute! 

  

old baseballs painted 

red, white and blue

burlap pendant flags

I just painted the burlap

(inspired by Pottery Barn's)

And our favorite project....

A pallet flag!

I LOVE IT!! 

Sweet husband likes it

so much he wants

it to stay up all year..

And I kinda do too!

Another view of the bunting..

 The mailbox had to have a little something

One more picture of the flag...

I hope everyone is enjoying

their summer...and gearing

up to celebrate the 4th! 

Joining up with....

Southern Inspired Front Porch

This summer I plan to 

work

work

work!

On the house that is....

First order of business was to

fix up the front porch!

 

I am a Georgia girl and the place I LOVE

most is Savannah, Georgia

So I wanted my front porch to

have a southern feel and maybe if

I closed my eyes for just a second 

I could pretend I was in Savannah!

We took the previous white and rusted 

cast iron urn along with the pedestals 

that were gray and painted everything

a semi-gloss black. Sat one on

top of the other to make it look 

like one tall piece.

 

I have been dying to paint the porch

ceiling in a haint blue color.

Now I will admit that when 

sweet husband painted the first

section I had a few moments (hour)

of oh no what have we done...

but I stuck with my gut and 

we went for it...and I LOVE IT.

Only after it was done did

sweet husband admit that

even he was doubting it 

till it was finished....

what a good guy....

painting and letting me

have my way without saying a word!

Sweet husband's job comes with a few perks

one of which is he occasionally comes

across architectural salvage!

He made a porch "railing" out

of window gates. 

You can see the garden statue 

through the gates as you come 

up the walk

A better view of the blue ceiling

For those of you who aren't familiar

with a Haint Blue ceiling... it is a common

practice in the south to paint your porch

ceiling a blue color.

Way back when they use to believe that

it would keep the evil spirts away 

and from entering your home.

Another theory is that it keeps the bugs

away because they will think it's the sky

and move along.

One of my favorite descriptions of a 

"haint" blue ceiling is because

it "haint" blue and it "haint" green!

Anyway you choose to view it 

I love it.....and strangely enough

since we did it we have had less

bugs at our front door!

 

 

 We finally painted the old white screen door 

to match the front door.

Now why in the world I haven't done

this sooner is beyond me...cause

it has made a HUGE difference!

View looking in

I found this awesome foam relief of 3 angels

at one of our local thrift stores....it is

perfect for outside 

The aluminum scrolls I had picked

up awhile ago at our Habitat for Humanity

thrift store....I only paid $3 or $4 dollars a piece

for them. They have been sitting in the garage for 

almost a year now because I had no idea

what to even due with them.

Then as sweet husband was painting the

ceiling I thought...well DUH I could

use them to hold the lanterns!

And that progressed into using

the remaining ones as corbels 

in the corners!

Much to my son's dismay I dug this bamboo

rug out of my neighbors trash...

what can I say I needed a rug...

it was the right price and I didn't

want to get cleaned up and dressed 

to run to the store!

Nothing a little Murphy's Oil Soap 

and a beeswax polish couldn't clean up!

Now it's perfect again...

and he will actually step on it 

now cause it's been cleaned! 

Now i'm on to the back porch...

wish me luck...it's a BIG job!

Curtains and Lanterns from

Ikea

Green Pillow from

Walmart

Front Door Paint

Valspar:  

Dark as night

Ceiling Paint

Valspar: 

Grand Hotel Mackinac Blue

The Guest Wing

My Mother and Sister

were over this weekend

reading my magazines...

drinking wine

I mean "helping " out

with pre-Easter things

So Mom as she

was taking a well

deserved break from

all the hard work...

was flipping through

one of the magazines 

and she came across

this beautiful porch swing...

She mentioned that she would love 

something similar out back...

but maybe a bit bigger.

Well that got me to thinking...

I think we need a guest room

(don't ask me how I went from porch swing to guest wing)

But fast forward 24 hours and here is the

new and improved glass house...

 

I was able to decorate it with 

items from my stock room..

AKA...cluttered, out of control,

someone may just possible be 

a hoarder of a garage.  

It's been killing me to use these shutters

behind a bed somewhere...

but it would be way to much

color in my house.

However it's perfect in the garden!

 

A sweet little Audubon bird print!

I think the planter needs a few

comfy blankets....

or more books to read

 

 Botanical prints....perfect for a garden guest room

 

Now the question is...

who is brave enough 

to camp outside?

 

 I think I may give it a test try...

well that is if the oak trees 

would ever stop shedding...

AAHHHH CCCHHHHOOO

In defense of Mom and Sis...

they really were here to just 

hang out!

 

The true worker of the day 

was my Dad.

He was here to help 

sweet husband

with a little project!

 

 So here is a little

pre-paint job...pre-new seat covers

look at my...

I mean our new toy!

Meet Betsy...our new to us...

Golf Cart!

She just needs a little love 

and she is gonna be a beauty!

Thanks Dad for helping 

to fix her up!

 

Valentine's Eve

Twas the eve before Valentines

and all through the house...

sweet husband was sleeping

because he had the flu!

The pink and red hearts

were hung all over the house

with care...

in hopes that cupid

soon would be there.

The valentines were signed

and placed into backpacks

with care...

and Mommy....

well she was really hoping

to be tucked into bed for a long

Valentines nap...

Anywhooooo...

you see where my Valentines is headed!

Just praying that no one else in this house gets sick!

 

Thankfully germs can not spread through blog post...

so I thought maybe I would share our little touches 

around the house for Valentines!

 

Front Porch...

The mantle....

one day I swear

I will explain the swans! 

 

 

I finally made one of those pendant

things....

 

The little ones Valentines

for her class....

And only one Valentine required for

the oldest....

guess his special Valentine has braces

and can not have candy...so juice boxes 

is how we roll??????

Really?? A Valentine??

I am either too young for this...

or too tired...

not sure which one...

Either way...

he's happy!

 

 

 Hope you all have a very

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY