Dream Kitchens
Are you lucky enough to have your dream kitchen? When my husband and I moved into our new home, the kitchen was perfectly adequate but pretty boring. We definitely didn’t have it in our budget to do a complete remodel, so we painted the cabinets, changed out the stained, blue Formica countertops for some butcher block and called it good. Sometimes, though, when I’m cooking I imagine my dream kitchen. It’s amazing and awesome and I’ll probably never get everything I think up, but to quote my mom, “A girl’s gotta have a dream!”
Here are some of the kitchens that have inspired my dream kitchen.
via Traditional Home
via Studio McGee
via One Kindesign
via The 11 Best
The first thing I've got to do in my kitchen before anything else is to get new appliances. Ours are OLD. Like, almost 20 years old. Every time I walk past the refrigerator I just think about how much energy it's wasting and how much money it's costing me to run them. Oh well. We'll get them swapped out eventually! It's the first step to the kitchen of my dreams.
If the sky was the limit, what would you include in your dream kitchen?
Your Secret Design Weapon: Area Rugs
Now that winter is over, do your interiors need a little rejuvination? If the answer is yes, I've got an easy solution for you! And it doesn't even involve getting rid of your furniture, painting your walls, or selling your house on a whim! One of the best interior design weapons out there is to simply.......
switch out your area rugs.
There is something about a bright & cheery area rug that just brings an added dose of energy and life to a room! For something that just lays on the floor all of the time, it can be a pretty powerful statement piece! A good area rug serves as an anchor to the rest of your furnishings, and it can literally change the color scheme and style of your entire room! Take a look at the photos below, and try to imagine what the rooms would look like with a plain brown area rug in place of the one shown..... very different, right?
apartment therapy via pinterest
What are your area rugs doing for your rooms? Are they helping or hurting the design situation?
Make sure you are investing in area rugs that can help maximize design potential!!
Check out our great selection of area rugs!
Extra Mile: Makeovers from the Heart - The Scharman Family
Along with Citywide Home Loans, we were able to have the chance to do a home makeover for the Scharman family in Kearns, Utah. Cindy Scharman nominated her son and daughter-in-law for this makeover after their three-year-old daughter recently received a heart transplant. Their daughter was born with a heart condition, and most of their money has gone towards doctor appointments and medications. They needed a clean, safe home for their daughter and thought that they would only be getting a new kitchen from this experience. Instead, they were surprised to see their entire house was new! Here are some of the before and after pictures. Check out their story here and scroll through below for some before and after pictures.
We are so happy we were able to help the Scharman family!
Easter Egg Ideas
It’s amazing how creative some people can be with their Easter egg ideas! Being completely honest, I have not mastered the skill of dying Easter eggs. Sometimes I try to be creative but usually it ends up being a huge mess with more dye on my hands than the eggs and fingerprints all over the finished product. This year I’ve been looking at inspiring Easter egg ideas so that I can impress my family with my artistic skills and I think I’ll actually be able to do some of these!
via Unsophisticook
How cool are these two-toned eggs? They look super easy too! Instructions here.
via Obviously Sweet
These look so cool. The best part? No dye, just sharpies! I think it would look great to blow the eggs out before decorating and display them in a glass bowl somewhere. Instructions here.
via Girl Inspired
I like how they kept the natural color of the eggs and just added glitter. Instructions here.
via Craftberry Bush
I'm pretty sure these are out of my skill level but don't they make you think of spring? They've watercolored right onto the eggs, which is a good idea if you're good with a paint brush. Instructions here.
Good luck with your Easter eggs this year! Do you think you'll use any of these ideas? Any other brilliant ways you've found to dye eggs? Let me know!
Frames for Pictures
If you’re planning on displaying your photographs in your home, make sure you have cool frames to put them in! Picking the right frame for your pictures can really make the photos stand out and get noticed. Whether you have all different colors and styles of frames in your home, or you’re like me and stick with the same general idea for everything (simple, straight lined black frames), putting a little thought into the frame you used makes a big difference.
I love that this frame could go rustic or industrial depending on where you put it.
via RC Willey
I love how graphic and geometric this frame is. It would look awesome with a black and white picture in it.
There's something about this super simple frame that I love.
via AlyseStudios
I'm obsessed with all the frames in this shop! Isn't it amazing?
Which one of these is your favorite? Do you have any other place you love to get picture frames?
Small Backyard Landscaping Ideas
Knowing how to landscape small backyards can be tricky. If you don’t have a lot of space, it’s hard to know how to fit a patio table, chairs, a fire pit, or a garden in without feeling claustrophobic. Fortunately, there are ways you can do it! You’ll be able to create the perfect oasis whatever size or location of your backyard by using some of these ideas.
Use perspective to your advantage. Long straight lines pointing towards a focal point will make your yard feel bigger than it actually is.
Even though separating your small space into specific “zones” may seem like you’re making a small space feel even smaller, it will help it feel planned out and cozy. The size of your yard will determine the number of “zones” but think about including an eating, seating, and garden space.
Include a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures of plants, pots, and furniture. The visual interest will help distract from the size of your yard.
Don’t limit yourself to just using the ground - think about incorporating a vertical garden to create more planting space and cover up a blank wall.
Having a variety of heights - whether they’re your planters or a deck - will help keep things interesting and cozy.
via Hack the Hut
Cut out all the clutter to make your backyard feel more open.
via Style Me Pretty
In some cases, you may want to ditch the grass altogether and create a backyard patio with pavers and deck.
Do you have a small backyard that you've landscaped? What did you do to make it feel cozy and not overcrowded?
Curb Appeal
Adding curb appeal to your home will boost the value and charm of your home significantly. You’ll be shocked at what a difference a little elbow grease can do if you follow these tips to increase your home’s curb appeal.
via Laura Trevey
Think about your front door. Whether you choose to go bold or stick with more traditional colors, making sure your front door is free of scratches and smudges will help your whole home look fresh.
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via DIY Network
Use outdoor lighting to brighten up your home. Having lights follow pathways and illuminate doorways will make your home look cared for and inviting. Try using a spotlight from below to shine on trees for a beautiful, dramatic look.
Fix up your planter boxes, add pots of flowers, or install window boxes to add color to your home. Flowers are an eye-catching addition that adds curb appeal to any home.
via Home Bunch
Add shutters and make sure to keep the siding and trim looking nice. Add a fresh coat of paint if needed to keep your home in good repair. My husband and I went a little crazy with this suggestion and spent an entire afternoon painting all the pink mortar of our red brick house white. It was miserable, but our house looks so much better!
via Nalle's House
Get some unique and interesting house numbers that match the style of your home. It's an easy and quick way to add a lot of personality.
via 99 Architecture
Keep your lawn mowed and well kept. It doesn't matter what the rest of your house looks like if you have a weed patch or a jungle of grass in front of your home, no one will notice what you've actually done to the house.
Good luck upping your curb appeal this summer! Let me know how it goes and if you have anything to add to this list!
How to Make Braided Bread
I'm always a sucker for a cool braid, and fresh homemade bread is my love language.... so this braided bread recipe is GOLD! Yes, you read right- it turns out braids aren't just for hair! A few of the best things about this recipe:
1. It's absolutely delicious. Especially with a heaping helping of strawberry freezer jam.
2. It looks so pretty! Almost too pretty to cut and dig into! I took it to a dinner party a couple of weeks ago and everyone died over it.
3. Looks can be very deceiving....It's actually really easy to make, and doesn't take a lot of time! Start to finish (including rising) is only about 2.5 hours.
Here is the recipe...
Braided Bread
4 cups hot water
3 Tablespoons yeast
4 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
10-11 cups flour
Mix and let dough raise until doubled in size. Divide into two equal parts. (This recipe will make two loaves). Set one part of dough aside as you work on the first loaf. To begin the first loaf, divide into 6 parts (3 of the parts should be slightly larger than the other three). Roll out the three bigger parts of dough into long ropes. Briad the ropes together. Next, roll out the three smaller parts of dough into long ropes, then braid these together as well. Place the smaller braid directly on top of the large braid, folding both ends underneath the braids. Move to greased jelly roll pan and let raise (about an hour). Repeat the process with the first ball of dough to make your second loaf. Before baking, brush with beaten egg and water. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
And now, if you're a visual person like me, here are some photos of the process:
Now, go get baking!
DIY Bird Feeders
All growing up I loved seeing the birds flock to our bird feeder on our deck. It was so exciting to see the hummingbirds and chickadees up close, and yesterday when I woke up and heard birds singing, I knew that it was time to put out a bird feeder. If you’re interested in making your own feeder, I’ve found some different ideas that I thought I’d share.
via All Things Heart and Home
I love how you could change the seed dispenser holes into whatever design you'd like. Instructions here.
via DIY Network
I actually really like how this looks. It's almost like a festive banner for the birds! Instructions here.
via Fun Crafts Kids
There's no real pattern for this, but how fun would this be to build this lego bird feeder together? I love it!
Where have you gotten your bird feeders? Do you know any fun recipes for homemade bird feed? Let me know and have fun bird watching this spring!
Fire Pits
via RC Willey
There is nothing like having a fire pit in your backyard. I don’t think you could find anyone who doesn’t love summer evenings sitting around the fire, talking, telling stories, and making smores. My parents have a fire pit in their backyard and I’ve realized that lighting a fire after dinner makes even the most normal evening feel like a party. Now that my husband and I are fixing up our backyard, I’m on the hunt for our own fire pit. Here are some of my favorite fire pit options.
I like these wood fueled fire pits that I could make on my own.
via House and Fig
via Jamie Sanders
But I am seriously considering getting a propane fueled fire pit. Easier cleanup and no fire smell lingering for days? Sound good to me!
via RC Willey
via RC Willey
Do you have a fire pit in your yard? Did you make your own or buy one? Let me know and check out all of RC Willey's fire pits here!
