Building a Bedroom - Guest Room Edition

With a wedding in my near future, I've been spending a lot of quality time with department stores and home decor websites. Trying to combine the style preferences of two people and narrow things down to create one (at least somewhat) cohesive list is proving to be quite the task!

Maybe that's why I've been focusing a lot of my attention on the guest bedroom. Since it's not a space where Brandon or I will be spending a significant amount of time, I can get away with a few things that otherwise might not "jive" with his manly sensibilities.

Here's what I've got so far...

IKEA Vivan Curtains in Grey

IKEA Vift Block Candle

Pinzon 160g Yarn-Dye Flannel Duvet Cover

Pinzon Velvet Plush Throw

5 Pc. Canvas Wall Art Set

Like it? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Creating a Sense of "Home"

House (noun) :

1. a building in which people live; residence for human beings.

Home (noun) :

1. a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household.

2. the place in which one's domestic affections are centered.

If there's one thing I've learned to accept as a new homeowner, it's that I can't create my dream house in just a few days. Homemaking, like most things in life, is a process. I just have to deal with the fact that my house will go through several different "versions" of itself before it becomes my dream home. You know what? That's okay! I tend to think of houses like people - we all change a little over time, and we're never truly finished.

Sometimes, I have to remind myself to take a step back and appreciate that this is MY house. (It's mine, all mine! Muahaha! ...Ahem.) After almost a decade of living in temporary housing during college and law school, I've never really had the chance to build a space that feels like home. So what if I still have no idea what I want to do about these buy-me-beige walls? I'll figure it out eventually. 

Right now, I'm treating my house like a new friend. I want to know all of her charming quirks and inevitable flaws. I'm spending a lot of time around the house, both indoors and out, and developing a feel for what works for me and what doesn't. For example, I LOVE to fling open the French doors that lead to my screened in balcony and let in fresh air and sunlight each morning. I would love it even more if the balcony extended out to a larger seating area that would be better for entertaining.

I'd love to go from this:

Please excuse the wood pile! We are gradually removing dead or severely damaged trees.

to something like this:

Source: Better Homes & Gardens

Once I've identified an area that I could love better, I feel more empowered to start brainstorming ideas to make it my own. For some spaces, that might mean just a couple of little changes. For others, such as revamping the backyard, I might need to get a contractor involved. Whatever the case, breaking down each project into smaller, easier-to-tackle chunks keeps me from feeling completely overwhelmed.

The (Ever Changing) DIY To-Do List

As a first-time homeowner on a just-finished-law-school budget, I'm always looking for ways to get a whole lot of bang for just a little cash. Luckily, Pinterest is chock full of DIY projects that can help me stretch my home decorating budget. Here are just a few of the projects I'm hoping to complete this year:

Install Kitchen Backsplash

Budget: $150

Materials Needed:

• Smart Tiles in "Bellagio"
• Craft Knife

Build Outdoor Fire Pit

Budget: $75

Materials Needed

• 30 12"x8"x4" Concrete Wall Blocks
• Play Sand

Stain Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets (Builder Grade to Mahogany)

Budget: $45

Materials Needed

• Minwax Gel Stain, 2 Qt.
• Soft Cloth (Old T-shirt)
• Rubber Gloves
• Painter's Triangles
• Painter's Tape
• Butcher Paper (To Protect Floors)

Custom "Built-In" Bookshelves in Living Room

Budget: $250

Materials Needed

• 3/4"x4'x8' Plywood
• Birch Stripping
• Crown Molding
• L Brackets
• Primer
• White Paint

Come On In!

Take off your shoes, pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, and stay a while. My name is Lauren, and I'm so glad you've come to visit!

Home is a little slice of farmland somewhere north of Chattanooga, where people still believe in front porch hospitality and there isn't a stop light for miles. Generations of my family have lived and died here, farming the land and building an enduring legacy of people who aren't afraid to work hard and get their hands dirty. For as long as I can remember, I've done my fair share of work by slopping hogs, sorting cattle, and mending fences, and I've loved every minute of it. Even though my career has taken me away from the farm most of the day, nothing makes me happier than coming home to two beautiful horses and pastures full of newly weaned calves.

As we get to know each other better, you'll learn that I'm something of a "Jane of All Trades." I am curious and creative, which means that I'm always up for tackling a DIY project or coming up with a clever solution to everyday problems. Hopefully, I'll inspire you to do a little creating of your own!