Homey Touches

Does anyone else watch HGTV every day, like I do? Since I have had a house of my own, interior decorating has become a slight obsession of mine. Now, while I only have enough money to by a new candle once a month to bring any feng shui to a room in my house, I still like to dream about what I COULD do.

My Pinterest page may reflect a lot of gorgeous homes with amazing style and decor, but again this is me dreaming. As much as I watch HGTV, more specifically Fixer Upper, because who doesn't love the Gaines', I feel Joanna Gains has been teaching me through their 5 seasons and that I basically am her. Hahaha!! Yeah right..I could NEVER be.

But I'd like to think I have acquired some knowledge from watching for so long. I LOVE being creative and I LOVE home decor, so I could be an armature Joanna Gaines, who just doesn't have the money to do what she does. Only in my head I do!

Anyway, I am writing about this because I know a lot of people like to decorate their homes but don't know where to start or feel they aren't creative enough to make it look how they want. Well, I think we are all like that to an extent. And while I don't have these drop dead gorgeous, breath taking, newly remodeled rooms to show you or tell you about, I do have a couple small projects that we've done in our home that I am very proud of how they turned out.

Fun and simple things you can do in your own homes, without breaking the bank.

I also think taking on a home project is a great way to get your mind off of other things. For example, one of these projects I started working on when I was struggling with infertility. I wanted to find something I could do, on my own, in my own time. And it was something I really looked forward to. It would help distract me from other things going on in my life at the time and now I am even more proud of it. It is an every day reminder of something I put together during a dark period of life, that actually turned out beautifully. And that makes me smile!

So home projects can mean a lot more to people than you think. You can really put your heart and soul in to some or you can do a quick little project and the end result is still an amazing feeling. Because you did something you wanted to do, the way you wanted to do it and now you get to see that in your home every day. It could also be something that is a great conversation piece for your guests.

I don't know about you, but when I change something to my house, add a new paint color, or even move a piece of furniture, it immediately makes you feel like your room should be featured in the Architectural Digest. Ok maybe not to that extreme, but doesn't it make you like your home more? And doesn't it make you feel like a badass? Like, yeah, I put that candle there, no one else would have thought to put that candle there! #nailedit

Anyway, I guess you are wanting to see what these "Joanna Gaines worthy" projects are that we did, right? Or maybe you don't, I don't care. If you don't like homey stuff, then stop reading this? = )

Okay, here is one of the smaller projects we did. And I say, WE, because I couldn't do any of these projects without the help of my husband...my Chip! I come up with the cool ideas/design aspect and he helps me execute them. He is way better with power tools than me...aaaaannd he won't let me touch them, so there's that.

BEFORE and AFTER of guest bathroom mirror!

You may be thinking, really, that's it? But guys, you seriously have no idea how big of a difference this made. Such an affordable and easy project that makes this mirror look 1,000 times better! And check out my candle, my Magnolia candle at that! This literally only took, the wood planks obviously, a few washers and screws and liquid nails glue. This mirror gives our bathroom the perfect touch I was looking for. And of course the paint color makes a huge difference, as well. I am so happy with the result!

CLOSE UP!

Now for the other project....

This one is the one I was talking about that I worked on while I was struggling with infertility issues. When I say, worked on, I mean literally worked on this for about 4 months. The image I had for this wall was very specific and I wasn't going to settle for anything that was not matching up with this image.

Over the 4 months, I was slowly piecing together this collage for our living room wall. This wall is a main wall in our home, so it would be seen every day and by anyone that entered into our home. Even more of the reason why I wanted it to be perfect.

I wouldn't search for anything online for this project because I wanted to be able to see it in person first. So anytime I was out and about, running errands, or at any stores where I could potentially find pieces for this wall, I was constantly looking. I even bought some pieces a few times and ended up returning them because I decided after trying to piece them together, I didn't like the flow. So it definitely was a process, but I enjoyed it. It was a fun distraction that makes me feel very happy when looking at it every day!

And here it is...

This picture of this project was taken a while ago and I have made one minor change, which was the bottom left hand picture. It is now a black and white photo of our daughter from when she was just a couple days old. But everything else remains as is.

The 5 symbolizes the day we got married "October 5th," and this number has always been mine and my husbands favorite number. Hence why we wanted to get married on the 5th. But since Rowan was born, it holds an even bigger meaning because her birthday is 05/05/17. The wooden heart besides the 5 is for love, of course. I added a little paint to it and that key. The cliche, "Key to My Heart."

The photograph in the upper right hand corner is a photo I took of a very old house, that is holding on by a pieces of wood. It sits on a main road in Brooks, KY and every time I would pass it, I would think, it isn't going to be standing anymore. But it has yet to completely fall. Even though it is extremely old, broken beyond belief, non livable, I still thought of it as beautiful. Thinking of the history that place probably holds, and to be strong enough to still stand after so many years, it intrigued me to photograph it. It is one of my favorite photos I have ever taken, too.

The "Let it be" and "Be grateful" signs were sentimental to me because of what I was going through at the time. Not only did these sayings reflect a lot on my situation then, but they were great sayings for life in general. You have to let things be as they are, and not stress about what you cannot control. This is something I struggle with, so it is a good reminder for me. Also, its an amazing classic Beatles song! I think BE GRATEFUL speaks for itself. While I was angry with the world at a certain time in my life, I still had so much to be grateful for. And you should not ever loose sight of the blessings you have in your life. Big or small.

This wall is very special to me. Everything else just fell into place. The places I got these pieces were from, Target, T J Maxx, Kirklands, Michael's and Hobby Lobby.

Home projects are good for the soul! What will be your next project?

That is all!