Beautiful friends, welcome back! I had a few days of downtime last week since completing my biggest thrifty haul ever, and I started a new house project! Ya’ll know I’m dangerous with time on my hands!
We also have a project that has been a year in the making (that one requires the hubby, hence the yearlong saga!) And, we have a new project coming in the near future. I also have a more personal project that I want to share, so today, I am going to share what we are working on and what we have planned, and then I have an oldie but goodie to give y’all your makeover fix for today!
Project #1
Let’s start with what I decided to take on when I had a few free days.
We redid our front landscaping two Summers ago. Our home had been a rental for several years before we bought it, and it had become quite overgrown:
See more about it here: Front Landscape Reveal
At the time, I wanted to focus mostly on foundation shrubs and plants, and over the last couple of years, much has grown, but some things have not thrived at all. Admittedly, I haven’t been the loving caretaker that I was for our previous garden.
You can see our previous front yard here: Front Yard Garden Tour.
The first Spring after planting was a particularly dry one and that didn’t help matters, so a few things kicked the bucket also. I knew I needed to get out there and move some things around and replace others.
So that is what I have been working on! I also had wanted to add a tree and surrounding flower bed to this left side of our yard:
So I had all the utilities marked and then got started!
I used a garden hose to get an idea of the shape I wanted, and then started digging out the border of the new bed:
If you’ve followed me through our previous home’s garden adventures, you know that we created our entire landscape without digging up all that old grass…game changer!
You can see how we did that here: How to Create a Landscape from Scratch.
That does require a more raised garden bed, and because our other beds weren’t raised in our current landscape, we painstakingly removed all the existing sod instead.
And here it is while I was planting everything:
You can also see in the background that I swapped out shrubs, moved a few things, and added a few new things to our existing beds closer to the house!
That’s all I have to share for now with this project, but it is pretty much done now…just waiting on mulch to be delivered on Friday! I’m also playing around with the front porch, but I’ll share it all when I’m done in another post!
Project #2
Let’s talk about the old, yearlong project, shall we? When we redid our staircase, we had to replace all the treads, and we learned that there was a lot of empty space under our stairs that was not being utilized. Our kitchen pantry sits partly under the stairs, but my hubby took it upon himself to bust out the remaining space to give us a larger pantry:
It was a great size before, in my opinion.
Here is where we are at today:
Once the walls and back of the stairs area all done, I’m going to build in the shelving, and I’ll share that.
And that leads us to our future project!
Project #3
If you look at the pantry photos above, you’ll notice the tile doesn’t go past where the original back wall was. We went in search of matching tile to finish that small area and came up empty. Then, I suggested looking for a coordinating tile that we could tile the whole pantry in that would still work with the rest of the tile in our kitchen. (This same tile.)
And so back to the tile store I went. I just wasn’t in love with the options I found.
And then I spied this:
Ya’ll, that is tile!!
Does it coordinate with the rest of our ugly kitchen floor? No, it does not. I loved it though! After talking it over with the hubby, we decided we would replace all of the tile in our kitchen with this tile in this gorgeous herringbone pattern. That will also include the laundry room, hallway, and downstairs bath, since they have the same tile as the kitchen. I am SO excited!
We never have loved our current tile, and we struggled with the decision whether or not to replace it with the same hardwood we put in the rest of our house. In the end, we knew the tile was a durable option and decided to live with it.
But no more!! We will NOT, however, be taking on this project ourselves.
We are letting the professionals handle this one, and we already have all the supplies:
There is another pallet behind the first two, so it’s hard to move in the garage at the moment. Demo and installation is set to begin in two weeks on May 17th and I cannot wait! I’ll share that when it is complete also!
Project #4
Project number four is a more personal project. If you’ve seen my videos, y’all know I have some crooked teeth. They have never bothered me at all and are just part of who I am.
Last Fall, I had a dental check up and learned that I needed a root canal on one of my front, bottom teeth. I hit black ice one early morning on my way to the hospital when I was still working as a RN, and my car slammed into a guard rail. I did not have my seatbelt on and I hit my mouth on the steering wheel, pushing my bottom teeth through the skin beneath my lower lip. I had to have several stitches, but it healed without incident leaving only a small scar. That trauma to my bottom teeth is likely the reason I needed a root canal.
I went for a consultation and was told that after the root canal, it would probably need to be capped also. Then the Dr. said it was either that or have it pulled.
Because my bottom teeth were very overcrowded, I knew I could lose one with no worries, and I preferred that option. I then met with an orthodontist to talk about the possibility of having them correct my teeth after having that one pulled and the decision was made!
In November, I got braces!
Here’s my brace face:
My smile still has a lot of work coming and you can still see where the space was where my tooth was pulled that hasn’t quite closed yet. I think I might have another year of this. I am happy I finally did it though as now that my teeth are straightening, I see all the trauma my overlapped teeth were causing one another!
Brennan is almost done with elementary school, and in two weeks, we’ll be road tripping to bring Jack home from his first year at college. Didn’t that go by so fast??
And that is what we currently have going on at the James house!
Now for your makeover fix!
I originally shared this piece for Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday, and it was perfect for it!!
This sad antique side table once belonged to my Hubby’s Grandma:
This was the first piece I tackled in this thrifty haul:
I had ALL of this stashed in my storage room. I ended up calling it the Storage Room Haul of Shame!
This one really was the most “trashed” item in the pile. Here’s a closer look at the top:
It appeared as though it was stained, then painted brown on top of the stain, and then the elements from being stored in the shed didn’t help matters any.
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
A quick sanding with my sander and it actually all came off really easily:
The paint on the legs was intact, so they just got a good wipe down. I did find a split in the wood at the bottom that I had to repair with a little wood glue…
Pretty simple prep for such a tired looking piece to start!
Then I busted out my medium spray shelter and gave it a couple of coats of spray primer to get a quick coat on it:
And of course, a little paint magic goes a long way!
So bright and fresh now!
For this project, I used Cotton and this perfect for Summer color, Farmhouse Green!
Such a pretty color to welcome Summer, don’t you think?
I love the way the Cotton plays up those spindly legs…
I stole these beautiful hydrangeas from my sister’s yard.
I sanded all over with 220 grit sandpaper, a little more on the legs than the top. I sealed the legs with Dixie Belle’s clear wax and sealed the top with Gator Hide using Dixie Belle’s applicator sponge to apply.
Sweet and simple!
This pretty color made it a great reshare for today! I hope you enjoyed it also!
I’ll be back next time with my brand new thrifty haul!! It’s a big one!!
UPDATE: See it all HERE now, and see what I paid for everything!!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Mary Kaiser says
Wow girl you have a lot going on! I love your new landscape bed, it sure adds to your house, WOW! How exciting that your getting new floors, I love that tile you picked out. You made a good decision to have someone else install all that tile for you, That is a lot. I can’t believe that Jack is almost done with his 1st year of college, WOWZA!! I think it is great that you have braces and doing some thing for your self, I think you are a beautiful lady, crooked teeth or not. I think you make such great decisions and I am so happy for you! Looking forward to seeing it all done!
Christy says
I do ha ha! The beds are almost done, and I am SO excited about the new floors! There was a bit of an internal struggle with whether or not we should tackle them ourselves, but I’m glad we let this one go. Yes, Jack is almost a sophomore and I can hardly believe it! Thank you, my friend! I never wanted the braces to be about vanity, but for the health of my teeth…that I could do! Thank you for always being so encouraging…it is so appreciated! XOXO
Teresa Farrell says
Well I am totally exhausted and they weren’t even my projects. The yard is absolutely beautiful. I love working in my yard and redoing and adding etc. It’s my type of meditation. Your braces, oh my gosh you look like a teenager. Such a great post.
Christy says
Oh ha ha! Thank you, Teresa! I really missed playing in my old yard, so I’ve really enjoyed playing in my new one this year. I totally know what you mean about it being your type of meditation! And you are the sweetest…not quite a teenager lol, but I’ll take it! Have a fantastic weekend! XOXO
Petra says
Gosh you’ve had a lot going on in your neck of the woods 🙂 Your braces look fabulous tho’ – very cute! And your home is lovely – I just love American architecture. And I just LOVE the little table and the colours you’ve used. I’ve been painting my first piece (an old tallboy) using DixieBelle Cotton and I just LOVE it! I’m going to buy that colour you’ve used Farmhouse Green – it’s so cute! Have a great weekend xo
Christy says
Ha ha always, Petra! Thank you…the good thing about getting braces in a pandemic is that no one sees them with the masks ha ha! And yay! I’m so glad you got to try Dixie Belle paint! It is awesome!! Enjoy your weekend too!! XOXO
Christina says
Holy smokes you have been busy!!! Congratulations on getting your teeth fixed! Your yard is looking gorgeous!! Love the new tile! Where did the HVAC ducting go? lol This quite a haul! Whatcha gonna do with all the space left behind. 🙂 Wow Jack’s first year at college went fast!
Love this little table makeover… it shines now! It is staged beautifully with the baskets, books and hydrangeas!
Have a great rest of the week and weekend!!
Christy says
Yes I have, Christina! You know I’m not happy unless I’m buried knee deep in projects lol. Thank you…the yard is almost done and I’m so glad we finally took the time to do it. The HVAC was moved back further into the pantry. My husband’s business is HVAC and I asked him if it was weird that the intake vent was in the pantry and he said yes, but did it anyway. It was vented to the dining room and we left a grate on the right wall there also, so technically, it’s still pulling air from there also. Have a great weekend too! XOXO
Deb says
Wow, you’ve been very busy! Love the table makeover and that green is indeed gorgeous. Can’t wait to see the tile “after” pics. Just love that herringbone. And I’m also looking forward to the “after” yard pics, too! I don’t know how you do it all! And braces, too? Good for you! Your smile will be even more beautiful.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Deb! I’ve never been so excited about mulch being delivered lol…looking forward to seeing the beds done too! And it’s hard having to wait on the tile installation, but I know it will be worth it. I hope I can say the same for my braces lol! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
GOOD FOR YOU!! I had a similar situation when I was mid-fifties and even though it was a painful-ugly-expensive decision…I have not regretted having braces one second. My son got Invisalign and that has been wonderful too. No wonder your back is hurting!! All that digging? Ya think? Take care—can’t wait to see the completed flooring project!!
Christy says
Oh my gosh…yes!! Painful * Ugly * Expensive!! That is it right there! I keep asking my oldest why he never complained about the pain?? The good thing about getting them in a pandemic though is that the masks cover them in public, so that is awesome! I’m so glad to hear you had no regrets. I took on this landscaping project post back incident…not too smart I guess lol, but the hubby has been doing a lot of the hard digging, thankfully. Have a great weekend! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
Thank you for sharing the “works in progress.” Love the new landscaping. Your yard could qualify for “yard of the month!” The tile in the herringbone pattern is lovely as well. I love the gray in the design! Your makeover of the antique table is just perfect for summer and could be used anywhere. Thank you as always for sharing your wonderful makeovers and details on how you achieve them. Have a great week and enjoy your weekend.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sue! Our yard was really struggling, so I am so happy we finally found the time to give it some attention. The tile is really going to make such a difference in our kitchen…so looking forward to that! Have a great weekend, my friend! XOXO
Sheila says
I just love the colors you select. All your pieces look so fresh and beautiful. Could you tell me where that carved white mirror wall art is from?Thanks!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sheila! I found the mirror at HomeGoods a while ago, but they get more in here and there! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
You’ve been busy! So have I; FINALLY got my kitchen cupboards painted, and reorganized, yay! Now I too have to find new flooring and I’m definitely leaving that to the pro’s, also. LOL
Christy says
I sure have, Sharon! Yay and congratulations on getting your cupboards painted! I’m sure it looks like a brand new kitchen! Yes, I struggled with turning the tiling project over to the pros, but I know it was the right decision! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
It really does look completely different and I love it! Plus I added hardware, when I never had any before……Yay!!!
Christy says
Oh yes…hardware goes a long way!! 😀
Cecilia says
You have been busy! The flowerbeds will be beautiful and grown in, in no time! Love your tile choice! We have wood look tile in our bathroom snd it’s amazing! Wish I could do the whole house in it! And good for you for taking care of you! Lastly, I adore the table…the green color is so fresh looking! Have a good week!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! We have been busy around here for sure! I’m so glad to hear that you love your wood-look tile…I am SO excited about it! Enjoy the rest of your week! XOXO
Jeanne says
I’d love how you reuse old furniture but would love to see furniture done insomerhing other than white
Do you ever do anything like that?
Thank you
Christy says
Thank you, Jeanne! I do paint a lot of white because it is what I personally love, but you can take a quick peek at my project gallery here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/diy-gallery/ and see that I do use color also, but I do mostly stick to a lighter palette. XOXO
Lilly Thomas says
Loving all your projects Christy!! You were beautiful before and are still beautiful inside and out.
Can’t wait to see all the projects when done. Love following you!
Christy says
Awww you are the sweetest, Lilly! Thank you! XOXO
Fran Blunt says
Christy, you will love the floor when you do it. We used a wood look like this when we remodeled our bathroom. So Versatile and doesn’t show the ‘dirt’. Love the table too! Fran
Christy says
Thank you, Fran! I am so glad to hear that you love your floor! It’s hard to decide when you only see a small sample done! XOXO
Toby Peplow says
Cute cute cute!! Christy–we have so much in common! I JUST got my braces off!! After almost 4 YEARS!!! They took them off after 3 and without a permanent retainer on my bottoms (they did put one on my uppers) they moved! So back in I went…and had them on for 8 months or so. Anyway, it is such a pain–but you certainly will be so glad you did it!! ( I am 47 for the record!) Anyway–love your beautiful landscape and seeing your projects! And the new haul looks awesome! Have a great weekend!
Christy says
Thank you, Toby! And that is awesome!! Not that it took so long or that you had to get them put back on, but I love that I’m not alone! I know I will be glad I did it when it’s finally done! Have a great weekend too!! XOXO
Sherrie Berry says
Beautiful as always. Quick question, do you glue the sewing table top down? Or do you keep it original?
Christy says
Thank you, Sherrie! I just keep it as is. 🙂 XOXO
Sharon says
I will be 80 in a few weeks. When I married in 1962, one of the things I wanted was to have my teeth straightened. Now that was unheard of back then; but my hubby said to find a dentist to get those braces on. I did and wore braces for quite awhile and I loved my teeth!! Most people could not understand why I did it! Now adults have their teeth straightened all the time. I liked being a “trend” setter and I love all your posts.
Christy says
Oh I love that story, Sharon! Way to go after what you want! I am really looking forward to loving my teeth! Thank you!! XOXO
Jackie C says
Oh the joy of being young and energetic. I used to be, once. lol
Thanks so much for sharing all your projects. Your plate is full for sure. I am IN LOVE with the tile. While I adore wood floors (Growing up, I didn’t love helping Mama clean them in our old farm house), this is such a better option for areas where water is located (kitchen, bath). I’m most excited for your teeth! Time passes quickly and you will be so glad you decided to do this. Hugs sweet girl.
Christy says
Oh girl, I am feeling it for sure lol! The yard is just about done though and yes, isn’t that tile the coolest?? I can’t wait for that! I’m excited about my new smile too woohoo! XOXO
Ashley says
And, the little table was happy. #lovely
Christy says
Aww yes… love that!! XOXO
Addie says
What’s your sister’s address?…..I gotta steal me some of those hydrangeas!!! Boy!!! they REALLY grow in Virginia!!!
After reading ALL of this…..it seems you are slacking….AGAIN!!!!
LOVE the new tile!!! Love the table makeover!!! The braces will make your bite better!!! The yard is coming along nicely!!!….Get busy Slacker!!!
Oh!!! Why as a nurse were you Not wearing your seatbelt!!!! BAD!!!!!
Christy says
Ha ha…no way…I get them first lol! They do really grow here, and the one bush I brought from our old house that started as a clipping from my Hubby’s grandmother’s hydrangeas has really taken off this year, so I’ll finally have my own blooms woohoo! I always wear my seatbelt, but I was so bundled up because of the weather that it felt like I was strapped in already lol…never made that mistake again!! XOXO
Carolyn Price says
Christy!!! Where do you get your energy? Is that on a shelf somewhere … next to the great products you sell?
I got braces at 50-ish before our last child headed off to college. So glad I did!You are going to love your new smile!!
Congrats on all of your projects!! I can’t wait to see them all completed … especially the floor!
I am still in awe from your previous home’s backyard landscaping and closet redo!!
You are a marvel, my dear! ❤️
Christy says
Oh ha ha! I feel it at the end of the day for sure, but it is so nice to be back out there working the yard! And that is awesome that you got braces as an adult too…I am finding that I’m not alone at all! Thank you, my friend!! XOXO
Jennifer says
Thank you for sharing! I sometimes feel like I’m the only person with so many projects going on at the same time! It’s crazy sometimes but I love it anyway. I just bought some Nautical Silk paint from you and can’t wait to try it! Good luck with all your projects. You have impeccable taste!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Jennifer!! I do love to say busy too!! Being bored is the worst lol. Have fun with your new paint! XOXO
Karen Cofield says
Wow, where do you get the energy?!! I admire your ambition.
I love that tile, can’t wait to see it. Installed. Your yard looks beautiful…can I hire you ; )
Congrats on the braces! I am almost 67 and I just got Invisalign braces this past November. I mostly got them because my teeth were so crowded that it was causing all kinds of problems. But, I’ll admit that I also wanted straighter teeth. After paying for 4 sets of braces for my kids, I decided it was my turn! 5 months down, 13 to go. 😊
Christy says
Thank you, Karen!! I am so happy to see the yard coming together! I’m really looking forward to the tile installation too but glad we hired that one out lol. Good for you taking care of you this time too…I wasn’t a candidate for Invisalign since mine were so crowded, but how exciting that we are both on a journey to better smiles! As my teeth are shifting, I am really seeing the trauma the overcrowding was causing some of my teeth, so I’m glad I took the plunge! XOXO
Karen H says
Wow, Christy! So many projects going on! I love the front bed and I really love that tile! It is beautiful and will look just gorgeous in your home… it is such a lovely home! And I am excited for you about your teeth! Sounds like you made good decisions all the way around about that issue! And when it is all done, I think you will love it! You know what they say… everything happens for a reason!
I can’t wait to see the finished landscape and especially the finished tile! Oh, and your beautiful new teeth! <3 xo
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! I am loving how the yard is looking and cannot wait for the new tile! But I am especially excited about my new smile! And yes, who knew a possible root canal could lead to something so awesome lol! XOXO
Karen Thompson says
What a beautiful post! I love all that you do and I envy your new flooring tile coming up! That is beautiful. I’ve heard having tile removed/replaced is such a dusty mess, that is what has put me off doing ours for so long. LOL I can’t bear the thought of possibly having to dust my walls and ceilings! Your yard is looking beautiful too. My home is more of a country home and the deer roam and eat everything in sight….sigh…..Looking forward to seeing the rest of your treasure stash and your completed pantry/flooring 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing what we have going on. I fell in love with that tile the minute I spied it at the tile store! The contractor suggested we buy clear plastic sheeting and hang it at all the doorways and across the all the cabinets to cut down on the dust mess, but I am so not looking forward to that part. What a bummer about the deer. We have actually seen some behind our house, but only once or twice. XOXO