Happily Ever Before & After Week 13: Living Room Makeover via Southern Revivals

Happy Friday Friends!!

I hope you all have had a great week!!

After taking the week of Thanksgiving off, I thought we'd jump back into our weekly Happily Ever Before & After segment today! I'm SO excited for you to see today's feature!!

It's absolutely FABULOUS!!

This room makeover comes courtesy of Jamie at Southern Revivials. Jamie has a lovely blog & a furniture "Revival" business where she takes old furniture pieces & gives them new life.

And as you are about to see, she also has a knack for decorating! :)

Let's take a look at her Living Room "Before", shall we?!

GREEN. 

That was the color of Jamie's living room, dining room, & foyer when she & her family moved into their house back in 2007. If you read her post, she will tell you that everyone else seemed to like the color, so she decided to live with for a while. Then, last year, she decided she couldn't live with it anymore! She was ready for a change!

So, after deciding on a new paint color & adding a fabulous board & batten treatment to her walls, this is what Jamie's Living Room looks like now.....

16 Christmas Wreaths To Inspire....

Happy Thursday Y'all!!

Just one more working day until the weekend.....Wahoo!!

On Tuesday, I shared a Simple, DIY Christmas Wreath here on the blog and I thought that while we were on the subject of Christmas Wreaths, I would share a few more of my favorite wreaths from around blogland & the web!

So....here are 16 Christmas Wreaths that I hope will inspire you to get busy this weekend & create something pretty for your front door!

Hallway Bathroom Makeover Reveal

Hey Friends!!

I'm so excited to share our new & improved hallway bathroom! 

Come on in....

Well, what do you think?!

One of the first things that I hope you notice in this space is the beadboard wallpaper!! I say that because I'm kinda in LOVE with it!! It was so easy to put up & it seriously looks like the real thing people! I shared a tutorial the beadboard wallpaper & gave my two cents on the quality, etc. in this post in case any of you are interested!

The other thing that you may notice right off the bat is that I changed the wall color! I decided since this was a "makeover", that I might as well switch things up a bit. I'm kind of a go big or go home when it comes to my makeovers, and to be honest, even though the aqua color was pretty....I was kind of over it! I was ready to brightened up this space! I decided to paint the walls "Turtle Dove" by Dutch Boy Paints. I think it works beautifully in this small bathroom!

I told you when this makeover started, that I planned on sticking with the "beachy" theme that I already had going on in this space. You can see from the picture above that I stuck with my plan! :) Yay!! I just adore all of the accessories in this room & wasn't ready to part with them just yet. I think the beadboard wallpaper & the new wall color brings new life to the accessories....and that folks makes me (and my bank account) happy!

This "Beach" sign was a new addition to the room & something that I made myself. I shared the tutorial on the blog last week. In case you missed it, you can view that post HERE. I just love the way it turned out & because I decided to change the wall color, I needed a big pop of aqua on this wall! I think this sign definitely delivered!!

Simple DIY Christmas Wreath Tutorial

Hey Friends!!

Now that Thanksgiving is over are you all ready to dive into Christmas decorating?! I sure hope so!!

I've been busy putting up all of our Christmas decor over the last few days and I plan on sharing every last bit of it on the blog! :)

I absolutely ADORE this time of year & the coziness of our home!  There is just something about the white twinkling lights of the Christmas tree glistening at night that warms my heart!  Don't you agree?!

LOVE it!!

Today I want to share with you this Simple DIY Christmas Wreath that I made for our front door over the weekend......

What do you think?! 

I kinda love the way it turned out!

And the best part about it?!

I had most of the supplies already on hand, so it cost very little to make!!

I started with a simple faux evergreen wreath that I already had on hand....

Black Friday Deals & A Little Sponsor Love...

Hey Friends!

Did you have a good Thanksgiving?!

Did you brave the crowds & get up early to do some Black Friday shopping?!

Well, I wanted to take a break from our regular Happily Ever Before & After feature & instead, tell you about some Black Friday deals my sponsors have going on!!

I figure most people are in the mood to shop today, so why not let you know about some fabulous ideas you can claim from the comfort of your own home! Because everyone knows that shopping online, while sitting at home in your p.j.'s, is so much better than fighting the crowds at the department stores!!

The first sponsor I wanna tell you about is Sharon, from  Shay Designs Jewelry & Accessories.

Shay Designs specializes in personalized {girly-chic} stamped sterling silver & copper jewelry perfect for moms, grandmas, & any other girly girl on your shopping list this Christmas. Here are just a few of my favorites from Sharon's shop....

My "Secret" To Delicious French Onion Soup

Hey friends!

I have "secret" to share with you today!

It's for a super easy, super delicious French Onion Soup....

Can you keep a secret?!

Weathered "Beach" Sign Tutorial

Hey Friends!!

Did you have a great weekend?! I sure hope so!

I told you last week that we finished the hallway bathroom!  I've been trying to put the finishing touches on the room & part of that included making a new sign for the main wall across from the shower.

I told you when I started the bathroom makeover, that I was gonna stick with the beachy theme we already had going on in there. So, in keeping with that theme, I decided to make a "beach" sign to match the decor. Ever since I laid eyes on Karianne's bathroom, I'd been dreaming about it! :)

This is what I came up with....

Happily Ever Before & After Week 12: Guest Bedroom Makeover via Imparting Grace

Happy Friday Y'all!!

Is it just me, or did this week just FLY BY?!

I feel like I JUST posted the last Happily Ever Before & After feature & now it's time to do it again!!

I guess that is what happens when you have short week & you are up to your ears in DIY projects like I've been this week!! I have so many things going on right now, that I am having a hard time staying focused on just one project!! I can't wait to show you guys what we've been up to! :)

The makeover that I am gonna share with you guys today comes from my friend Richella, at Imparting Grace! This makeover won't be as dramatic as makeovers that I've shown in previous weeks for the mere reason that Richella & her family live in a newer home. Let me rephrase that....Richella & her family live in a GORGEOUS newer home!

When you hop on over to her blog (because you really need to), you MUST check out her "Home Tour" page!! Oh my.....the front porch alone is just to die for!! Another room that I am just smitten with is her guest bedroom.....which is the room that I would like to share with you all today! :)

This is how the room first started.....

Let me be clear....there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this room! You can see that Richella had already done a beautiful job in this space. And I don't know what it is, but there is just something about two twin beds in one room that just makes my heart go pitter pat! I know I'm weird, but aren't they cute?!

Anyway....I think Richella would tell you that this room makeover kinda just happened. First she found some fabric that she liked to make new drapes, bedskirts, & Euro shams. Once she had that done, she realized that she probably needed to repaint the room. Once she repainted, she decided that the headboards needed a makeover, then she decided that the nightstand needed some attention too. So one thing led to another & before she knew it, she had an entirely new look....

New Flooring in the Hallway Bathroom

Hey Y'all!

If you read my last post, then you know that we finished the bathroom renovations this past weekend! Yippee!!! I am trying to put some finishing touches on the room before it will be ready for the big reveal! I'm aiming for sometime next week! Fingers crossed!!

If you've been following along with this remodel, then you know that when this project began, I only had plans to hang some beadboard wallpaper & add a chair rail to the room. Then before I knew it, we were giving the shower a makeover & replacing the bathroom floor as well! Funny how one thing leads to several more things! :) I've already shared the shower before & after pictures with you, but I have yet to blog about our new flooring!

So, let's talk flooring....shall we?!

I told you in this post, that when we first bought our home 7 years ago, we had carpet in the bathroom! YUCK!! We were newlyweds & trying to renovate our new home on a budget, so we opted just to rip up the old (nasty) carpet & put down some inexpensive peel & stick tiles. They served the purpose for the time being, but over the years they began to shift & we were starting to see the subfloor peeking though....

NOT cute.....Not cute at all!

Since I had ripped up the baseboards to put up the beadboard wallpaper, we thought there wasn't any sense in putting them back down without replacing the floor first! This task had been on our to-do list for quite sometime & it was time to just GET.IT.DONE!!! 

So, I made a trip to a few of our local home improvement stores & looked through a ton of different ceramic tile options. After much thought, I settled on the Carribean Slate ceramic tile from Lowes.

Style Selections 12-in x 12-in Caribbean Slate Ceramic Floor Tile

Item #: 16286 |  Model #: L301123

This the photo from the Lowes website. It doesn't represent the tile very well. I know it appears very grey in this photo, but I promise it's not that dark in person! (I will show you some pics in just a bit!) 

"Bakery Shoppe" Sign Tutorial & A Peek Into My Mom's New Kitchen!

Hey Everyone!

Did you guys have a nice holiday weekend?! We certainly did!!

It was nice to have some extra time to spend with my hubby & with Parker!  We got a lot accomplished as well! We finished up all the renovations in the hallway bathroom & also started another project in the master bedroom that I'm super excited about!! But, because I'm not quite ready to post on either of those topics, I want to switch gears for a moment & share a little project that my mom just finished up!

She is also in the middle of a room makeover.....imagine that! Now you see where I get it?! :)

She has been busy painting her kitchen & also adding some board & batten to the room. I am gonna do a full before & after post on her kitchen when she is completely done with it. Right now, she is still decorating & putting all the little finishing touches in place. She is going with a "bakery" theme which began with her new Creamy, Dreamy Hutch Display several months back. And because every bakery needs some signage, she was quick to whip one up for her kitchen!

Happily Ever Before & After Week 11: Dining Room Makeover via Our Fifth House

Hey Friends!! TGIF!!

I am so looking forward to this weekend!! The weather is supposed to warm up a bit and as of now....we have NOTHING planned!! Don't you LOVE weekends like that?! They are few & far between for us, but when they come around I try to enjoy every minute!! 

What does this weekend have in store for you?!

I am so excited about today's Happily Ever Before & After Feature! Do y'all remember Carmel from Our Fifth House?! I introduced you to her several weeks ago when I featured her fabulous kitchen makeover. If you visited her blog, & took her "Home Tour", then you noticed that there is lot's more to see over at Carmel's place! 

Another one of my favorite "Carmel Creations" is her FABULOUS dining room!  I just know you are gonna LOVE it too!! 

Let's take a look at the "Before" photo.....

One thing this "Before" photo doesn't show you, is that there used to wallpaper on those walls too! Carmel & her husband took the wallpaper down, ripped up the old carpet,  and actually stained the subfloor - GENIUS!! 

Then, Carmel brought in a new rug & switched out her dining room table for her old kitchen table. She also replaced the dining room chairs, slapped some paint on the wall, replaced the light fixture above the table & brought in all kinds of beautiful accessories. With the exception of the wainscoting & the crown molding, this dining room is pretty much a total overall!

6 Things You Can Do NOW To Improve Your Blog Photos....

Hey Y'all!

It's been a little quiet around these parts wouldn't you say?! I guess I just needed a little bloggy vacation! Sometimes you just have to step away from the computer for a few days, live life, & Be Inspired!!

So, that is exactly what I've been doing! I hope you all understand! We all need a little time off every now & then!

Today, I wanted to talk a little about blog photography & the importance of good blog photos! 

Let's be honest....I think all of us are guilty of visiting our favorite blogs, skimming over the text, & just viewing the pretty photos....Am I Right?! 

We all want to be inspired & let's face it....pretty photos inspire us! That is usually the reason we buy & subscribe to magazines isn't it?! Because we want to see beautiful, inspiring photos!

So, in order to have a successful blog.....especially if your niche is DIY/Home Decorating....

YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR CAMERA!!! 

You are MUCH MORE LIKELY to get featured on those big home decor blogs if you take good photos of your projects! Being featured on those larger blogs will increase your pageviews.  Pageviews will increase your exposure. Exposure will bring new followers/subscribers to your blog! Are you following me? You get why it's important?! 

Okay, let's dig in....shall we?!

Disclaimer: First, I am by NO MEANS claiming to be a photography expert here! I am just taking the time to share with you the things I have learned over the course of my blogging journey with the hope of helping some of you out there who are struggling with their photos! Second, even if you're not a blogger, these tips will help to improve your photography skills! So, if you're just want to take better pictures in general, KEEP READING!

Happily Ever Before & After Week 10: Beach Cottage Family Room via Organizing Made Fun

Good Morning Friends!! And Happy Friday to you all!! 

I hope you guys have had a great week! 

Do you have anything exciting planned for this weekend?!

We have quite a bit going on!! I'm planning on running in a 5K tomorrow morning & taking pictures for an adorable couple afterwards....hopefully I will have time to squeeze in a shower in between...I'm sure they would appreciate that!

My husband's aunt is also here visiting from Florida, so I imagine we will be hanging with her & my in-laws quite a bit this weekend! We also have family pictures this Sunday afternoon!! Praying that the boys cooperate & we manage to get some great shots! We haven't had family pictures taken since Griffin was a baby! 

I also have to figure out what we are wearing for pictures.....I am currently CLUELESS! Maybe I need to go shopping this afternoon! ;)

Have you had family pictures taken this fall?

Well, since it's Friday, it's time for another Happily Ever Before & After feature! This one is courtesy of my friend Becky at Organizing Made Fun. Becky & her family moved into a new home about 6 years ago & when they moved in, this was the current state of their family room....

Lots & lots of wood paneling! 

Becky was determined to turn her family room into a lighter, brighter space for her family. She said she wanted to make it feel like a "beach cottage." So, they painted the space a calm blue color, painted the ceiling & wood beams white, & replaced the floor with a engineered hardwood floor. She also painted the built-in cabinets white.

This is what Becky's family room looks like now.....

WOW!! Can you believe it's the same space?!

If this isn't a perfect example of what paint can do for a room, I don't know what is!! I LOVE that new white ceiling!!

To see more pictures of Becky's beautiful beach cottage family room, CLICK HERE.

Looking for more room makeover inspiration?! 

Be sure to check out my "Happily Ever Before & After" Page.

Gotta makeover that you would like to see featured in this segment?!

Email me: tdiehl2005 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend!!

Don't Miss Out - DIY projects, home decorating, crafts & more by checking out my subscribe page

October Month In Review....

Happy Thursday Y'all!!

Can you believe it's November 1st?! 

Say what?!

Thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away & before you know it, we'll be celebrating Christmas!!

Didn't we JUST celebrate Christmas?! 

Yeah, that's what I thought too!

Anyway....since time seems to be FLYING by (and because I'm still recovering from last night's Halloween events), I thought I would just throw together a quick post for today! 

How about an October Month-In-Review?!

I hope you'll take a minute to look through the picture groupings below to see if you missed any of last month's posts! The links to each post are provided below each picture....

1. A Visit From My Inner Domestic Diva & 10 Beadboard Bathrooms

2. Evolution of Our Hallway Bathrooms, Current Plans, & I Need Your Opinions!

3. HEB&A Week 6: Guest Bathroom Makeover via Thistlewood Farm

4. Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe

5. Beadboard Wallpaper Tutorial

6. The Hallway Bathroom....Flooring & A Shower Demolition

7. HEB&A Week 7: Cottage Dining Room Makeover via 4 Generations One Roof

8. Introducing PinkePromise Boutique

 9. Shower Before & After with Tub Surround Tutorial

10. HEB&A Week 8: Girls' Attic Bedroom Makeover via The Pennington Point

11.  Rustic/Chic Fall Centerpiece Tutorial

 12. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread Recipe

13. Current Obsession: Mustard + Navy {Fall Fashion}

14. HEB&A Week 9: Bathroom Remodel via My Blessed Life

15. Homemade Slow-Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

16. Inexpensive, Last Minute Halloween Decorations

Well, did you miss anything?!

Did you have a favorite post in October?! 

Leave a comment below to tell me which one it was!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

I hope you have a great day!!