Backyard Renovation: Floating Deck (Phase 6)
Phase 6 was supposed to be the final step in our backyard renovation plan. Our garage was supposed to be done in early May and I'd have all summer to…
Deck Refresh
During our kitchen renovation in 2019, we also built a new deck off the back of the house. Our contractor built the structure, but I then spent many weekends with…
Building a Planter Box
Little by little, we've been trying to make our backyard a bit nicer. While perusing the internet at all hours of the night, I came across a really nice planter…
New Basement Stairs: Part 4 – Bookshelf
When we rebuilt the basement stairs, we wanted them to be against a new wall that hid the fact that we did not have a straight or flush wall going…
New Basement Stairs: Part 2 – Building the Stairs
Once the stair opening was ready, it was time to install the stringers and build the stairs. Substairs Our contractor was originally supposed to only install the stair stringers, but…
Fauxdenza Revisited
Four years ago I made an amazing Ikea hack. Using the Besta storage system, I made a beautiful, not-Ikea-looking fauxdenza that I hung on our dining room wall. Well, now…
Replacing Hardwood Upstairs: Part 4 – Installation and Finishing
We waited until the middle of October to start installing the hardwood on the second floor. Not only is the humidity level great in the Fall (somewhere between the extreme…
Hallway Closet Renovation
We have a tiny little closet on the second floor and we wanted to turn it into a linen closet. It's a very narrow but deep space, measuring only 20½"…
Fauxdenza
Now that Alex and I are done most of our major construction projects, we are working on updating some of our furniture - particularly those old Ikea pieces that we're…