Thursday, September 12, 2013

Treasure Hunt Thursday #123 & Highlights

Oh my gosh, I do not know where my head has been today!! All day today I was thinking about Treasure Hunt Thursday tomorrow and well duh today is the day. I apologize for being behind. From hereon out every Wednesday starting at 4 p.m. I promise to have THT up for y'all!

On to this weeks highlights. 

Far Above Rubies- New Countertop
Dixie Delights- Living Room Makeover 
Oasis in the Desert- Fall Vignette
Rustic Peach- Honey Madeline
Thank you ladies so much for joining the party! I can not wait to see all the fabulous links this week.

Common Courtesies


1. Please only link up new links that you have not shared before. 

 

2. Please link up only 3 times. If you have more you would like to share save the share till the next THT so it will be just as awesome.

 

3. Please do not link up items you are trying to sell or other linky parties.

 

4. Please be sure to link back to THT. Hint hint I will only feature those who have the link back. 

 

5. Disable Word Verification to encourage more comments from your visitors!:)


 

I would love to have you follow along with me if you do not already!

 

Can't wait to see what you have to share this week.


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Inexpensive DIY Wainscoting

Today I was able to finish fixing up the bead board wallpaper snafu from last week.
The wallpaper was a great idea since I already had it on hand but it went way wrong. If you missed that post you can see it here.
Over the weekend we were at HomeDepot looking around and I decided to bring home some 3x4 1/4 inch thick pine boards to create real Wainscoting in the guest hallway. They were $2.75 each and I used 4 of them so it was an inexpensive fix at just $11 plus tax.
I was fearful of how the wallpaper would behave.
Thankfully it all came down without a fight.
It took 5 coats of white paint but it was well worth it.
The barn wood topper is wood that I had on hand out in the garage that Littliest and I actually saved from the neighbors trash back in the winter. They must have been fixing their fence because there were three stacks of the wood and I knew I would eventually find a use for it. It already had a grey tint to it from being outside for several years but I did dry brush some white paint on it and some stain to make it look a bit more aged.

Here is the new light. I actually had this boxed up and on my website but nobody was wanting just one. They all wanted a pair so I decided to keep it for myself!;)

Tex also came in  to play with the hallway make over. He had been sitting on our kitchen counter for months just waiting for a home.
The Hubster suggested that he should go above the arch into the guest hallway. 
The little table got a makeover as well with some Old Ochre. I adore the little alphabet stamps I found at Michaels not too long ago.
It is amazing how little changes can make such a big impact! Now I can not wait to do the hallway into our master. If you want to see just how far this little hallway has come since we first bought our home 4 years ago you can click here.

Linking up to the following linky parties:

Its Party Time
Amaze Me Monday
Make The Scene Monday
Give Me The Goods MondayMasterpiece Monday
Tuesdays TreasuresInspire Me Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

The Scoop
Wow Us Wednesdays




Sunday, September 8, 2013

How I Found My Style Sundays- Our Prairie Home


Good Sunday morning, From My Front Porch To Yours readers!

I am so excited to be here with you today for Pamela's
"How I Found My Style Sunday"!

Pamela was one of the very first bloggy friends I made in this great big world of blogging
and she never ceases to amaze and inspire me.

It's so great to be here!

My name is Laura and I live and love with my wonderful husband and our younger
five crazy kiddos in the great state of Iowa.

The heart of our home is divided between Iowa and North Carolina, where our oldest daughter is stationed with her Marine Corps hubby and our 3 month old grandbaby.


Most of the time you can find me over at:




I must admit when Pamela asked me if I would be interested in sharing with her readers 
I was equally part excited and part scared to death!

That's one thing you'll find on my blog...

I don't pretend to have all the answers because I'm still learning myself!

I'm just a mom who wants to make my house a welcoming home and
I use my blog as my motivation to get up and do it!

I always keep it very real.

:)

We live in a rambling old Victorian on 4 acres that was built in 1905.


When we bought our home 6 years ago, the outside had fallen into disrepair, the yard was a landscaper's worst nightmare, and it was far from being the grand home it had been.


It needed A LOT of work inside and out!

(And still does!)

But something about it still called to me.


We slowly tamed the jungle of a yard and went through our "Has to be Done" List
 for the first few years.

After that, we turned our attention to the inside.

Room by room, we've been working slowly to make this house our home.

There are still several rooms that we haven't gotten around to yet,
but, c'mon in and I'll give you a tour of what we have been able accomplish...

Welcome to our home on the prairie!


If I had to describe my style today (which I do, since I'm here LOL!),
I'd say it's definitely...

Vintage Prairie Farmhouse


And even now, it's still evolving.


If it's chippy, I love it.

I like, as my 8 year old says,
"Making things look old."


And I really like blues, greens, and whites.

I find that I am drawn to colors that are bright and cheerful.

A splash of aqua here or a pop of seafoam there.

Probably a throw back to my southern coastal roots.


I have to admit, it took me a couple of years to figure out what "Me" was.

I tried the "Out of the Box" look with everything; what I now call, "Matchy-Matchy".

I shopped brand new and whatever was the current trend.

But nothing seemed to fit who I was, and I quickly grew tired of the decor I was buying 
and was constantly changing it.


One of the truest things I've ever read in a decorating magazine is:

"Buy what you love and it will always work."

And cannot emphasize how right that is!



My style is different.

I only buy what I like and I find a spot where it fits.

And if it doesn't fit, I stash it in the attic knowing I'll find some place for it eventually.

My style is frugal.

I shop thrift stores, garage sales, and auctions.

There's never been a sale I didn't like.

;)


I am a HUGE fan of taking what you have and repurposing it in new and unexpected ways.

Like these $3.00 thrift store shutters that I painted for our daughter's room...


or her homemade window treatments:


I have learned over the last couple of years that...


Beautiful doesn't have to mean expensive.

And I admit that even now I struggle with that.

I've learned to pair items that I've accumulated over the years
with priceless family heirlooms and thrift store scores.

Honestly, I just find things I love and somehow it all comes together.


What I love most about my style is that it can be achieved by anyone,
no matter what their budget.

It's definitely not a style that is unattainable for anyone.

I have learned to do a lot with a little.


Many things in our home, I make myself.

Like the no-sew duvet cover for our bed...


or these no-sew owl pillows for our living room.


I've even been known to pick up a paint brush a time or two.

Like this Fresh Milk Sign in our dining room...


and this inspirational quote on old barn wood in our bathroom:


And this from a person who always swore she "wasn't crafty".

LOL!

Never ever underestimate what you're capable of!

The biggest goal I have for our home is to make it a place you want to come home to.

I want visitors to feel like they can relax and prop their feet up.

I don't want anything in our home that says,
"Don't touch!"

I want our home lived in.

Loved.


And I really feel like my style reflects that.

Pamela asked me to pin-point my most treasured find in my home...

And I really thought hard about it.

My answer will probably surprise you.

My treasure isn't a material thing, but the people who live here.

My husband.

Our children.


Finding your style in decorating your home isn't only about what you put in it.

It's about the people who live there.

Living...

Laughing...

Loving...

Making memories.

My biggest piece of advice I can give you about decorating your home
and finding your unique style is:

If you make your home the place your family would rather be, 
then you'll know you're on the right track.

:)

I hope you'll join us on our journey as we complete the renovation and
making over of the rest of our home.

There's always something new going on around this old place perched on a hill
in the middle of the cornfields of Iowa.

You can find me on my blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram.

Thank you so much for having me Pamela, and I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!

It was so great to visit with y'all!




Laura thank you so very much for sharing your charming home with us! You are living a lot of girls dreams restoring such a wonderful house.