Hello my friends! When do your kids go back to school? Remember when it was always after Labor Day? Ah yes, those were the days. I do love that we are done at the end of May, but the early start is killer when it's still hot and feels like summer. Well…it is summer.
I haven't recapped my monthly projects in some time so I chose to pull them all together in one big post. This includes a couple from the end of spring but mostly from summer. These reviews always make me feel accomplished but especially so after the summer -- it's proof that I am not a complete bump on a log for three straight months.
I gave the guest room a makeover and you have to see the before to really appreciate the after:
I never expected to fall in love with a green color so much but I love it!
I added some useful storage for the laundry room with some simple DIY shelves:
And no, I still haven't painted the cabinets. Sometimes I worry that I'll run out of projects in this house ...and then I LAUGH.
Spray paint is the reason for the season…the summer season that is. If you haven't taken advantage of the temps and sprayed something yet than do it. :) I found a pair of yucky brass lamps at Goodwill and gave them a quick makeover:
The other best thing about summer…hydrangeas. They are up there with peonies and ranunculus for me. I shared this super simple way you can plump up wilted flowers:
It works a few times after you get them home or cut them -- mine will last more than a week with this tip.
I got a ton done outside this year, including some more landscape lighting. I showed you the full tutorial here:
It's one of those projects that seems difficult and really is not at all. It's one of the easiest DIYs I do.
We had our skinny little front steps expanded and it was up there with the top five things we've ever done to this house:
This is another one that you have to see the before to really appreciate them. It has made SUCH a difference for us!
I love sharing simple tips and this is one of them -- my super easy way to remove pet hair from furniture:
I haven't found a simpler or better way to do it!
I finally painted our double doors and it was then that I determined I have a back door curse:
They look SO good but it was the biggest pain in the butt! Never again. These are the. last. doors.
Earlier this summer our living room got a makeover with a new sofa that I love (from Walmart!). Other than the sofa, the biggest changes were just moving things around -- I absolutely love this space now:
A few weeks ago I made another change to the room by building this bookcase from a half wall:
If you follow me on Instagram you saw the new coffee table I've been eyeing for months that I added to this space. I also switched a chair from the family room and it looks even better. :) I'll update you on that soon.
I share a garden/backyard tour every year and this one was in June when things were crazy lush from all the rain we got:
The rain has slowed down but those hydrangea are massive now! I think we'll have blooms for the next couple of months.
Our big project this year was adding that pergola to the deck. I shared more about that here and the awesome outdoor lights we found here. We hope to stain the whole thing next month sometime.
I finally started painting the remaining walls in our master bedroom -- I've been sitting on that project for longer than I care to admit. The walls are big and tall, that's my excuse:
The other walls still aren't painted though, not gonna lie. I love the color so much, at least now I have a fire under me to finish it up.
Last week I shared the cutie state art I made for the basement:
I make most of the art in our house -- or at least add my own touches to it. This is one of my favorites ever. :)
I shared two house tours this summer -- our summer home tour:
And in late spring I shared how some of the rooms in our home looked now compared to eleven years ago when we built the house. It's one of my favorite posts I've ever written. Some of the spaces already look so different a few months later (mainly the guest room and the living room).
I love our home and we are so lucky to call it ours. Nothing makes me happier than a day at home with my family, just putzing around. Must be why I've fallen in love with summers. :)
Speaking of that, I'll be back here again next Monday. I'm stepping away from DIY for the next few days and plan to enjoy the last few days of summer with my boy. Hope your weekend is wonderful!!