Girly Office Makeover

I was contacted in April by a client who had moved into her home and desperately needed help decorating it.

The first room she wanted to tackle was her personal home office. The client wanted a room that she could work in, that had girly/ feminine feel, was organized and most importantly finished!

We had a tight budget but I really enjoyed the challenge of finding fabulous things on a dime, reusing items that my client already had in her home and because she was so hands on the client worked on DIY projects that really added to the space.

Here are the before pics of the room:

and the after pics:

The book case built-in and valance was custom made and installed by Mr.RSH. Wrapping the valance in fabric, the bulletin board and adding ribbon detail to the side table lamp were DIY projects completed by the client and her friend. Pillows for the wing back chair were sent away to be made however they were not completed when these pics were taken.

The side table was an item the client had bought at a yard sale and had intended to use in another room but it worked in this space so we used it! I has lots of surface room for her lamp, books and a glass of water if she so desires. The lamp was originally in another room in her house but it was perfect for her office so we used it there instead.

The desk is actually a vanity that the client really liked and although it doesn't have a lot of storage for big items, she has a closet in the room in which we added a shelf, several co-ordinating baskets and a filing cabinet for storing her bulkier things such as files and paper.

This office makeover shows that you can have a space that you want without spending a ton of cash. This room was finished a head of schedule and on budget. Where we spent a bit of dough on custom touches such as the bookcase, we saved by shopping the house and buying accessories and furniture at discount stores. You simply have to be willing to trade off, get your hands a little dirty, and use your creativity.

If you like what you see and have a space that you would like my help with please contact me, I'd love to help!

Painting/Staining 101

Hi Friends, I hope the sunshine has found you! Isn't Spring fab?

As you may know, last year we re-shingled the exterior of The Rustic School House and began staining it however, the colder weather set in before we could finish. Now that the warmer weather is back (yay!), I have whipped out the 'ol stain brush and started staining again.

I have hated painting/staining for a long time. I always had to tape everything off and I would still manage to get paint where it doesn't belong including all over me! When I started my decorating business last year, and as we were doing more sprucing up of The Rustic School House, I decided that there must be an easier way to paint. A way to enjoy myself while painting and not make a huge mess in the process- I mean there are many people that actually enjoy painting.

After much research and trial and error, I have compiled a list of tips to help you if you find yourself with the same aversion to painting as I had.

1. Get rid of the edger gizmo's and painters tape.

Using as steady of a hand as possible makes a better finish than any of those edger products. The edgers are great at first until the rollers get paint on them or you apply too much paint and you end up with paint bleed all over your ceiling. Any painters tape I have ever used I have had paint bleed. There is a new painters tape on the market called Frog Tape that is supposed to have paint blocking technology, however I have yet to use it.

2. Use the best tools you can afford.

I have used all kinds of paint brushes and rollers in the past and I have learned the mantra "you get what you pay for" definitely applies here. I use a 2.5" Purdy Paint brush and I love it. Purdy brushes are handcrafted and are pricier than other brushes but the quality is worth every penny. Wash your brush out thoroughly after each use and if you do so, your brushes should last a long time. When using a roller to apply paint on a large surface area such as a wall, the higher the quality roller refill you purchase the better because it will hold the paint, and help ensure a more even coverage. Along with a good quality refill, a good quality extension and cage(what the roller refill goes onto) is worth its weight in gold. An extension pole simply twists into the base of the roller cage and helps you get the higher areas such as the top half of a wall or the ceiling in a room.

3. Keep your eyes on where you are going, not where you've been.

When painting always look slightly ahead to where you are going to be applying paint next instead of behind or at your brush. I find this tip has helped me tremendously with cutting around trim and baseboards so I no longer have to tape everything off.

4. Make sure you have a lot of paint on your brush.

Dip your paint brush no higher than 1/2 on the bristles. Scrape a little bit of paint off as to not have an overload of paint on your brush, and keep the brush wet with paint throughout the entire painting process.

5. Cleaning up is always a pain.

Do a little bit of work before hand so that it minimizes the work you have to do later. Always gather all of your supplies that you will need to complete the task or project and this includes any materials to aide in the cleaning up process. I like to use paint tray liners so that if I am using several colors of paint or stain I can save time by dedicating one tray to each color and when I am finished I can either wash and reuse them or throw them out if necessary. Use latex based paints and stains so all you need to clean up with is soap and water. Make sure that your rollers and brushes are cleaned thoroughly so next time you are ready to paint you have all your tools ready and are in good, clean condition.

I hope that these few tips will help you with your next painting or staining project and if you have any tips of your own please share them with me! I'd love to hear 'em!

It's Curb Appeal Month!

Okay, so I am a little late since May is curb appeal month and here I am at the end of May writing this post. Oh well. It happens.

Anyway, at The Rustic School House we have been busy sprucing up our home and property and enjoying every sliver of sun we can get because it has been one rainy, dreary spring so far in Nova Scotia!

I wanted to share a few tips for improving the curb appeal of your home.

1. Use pre-finished, matience-free material whenever possible. These materials save time and money. When we were discussing a railing system for our deck we chose a vinyl system due to its affordability and matience free properties. Who wants to be painting their deck railing every couple of years? Not Me!

2. Mow/ Maintain your grass regularly. Our lawn is Mr.RSH's obsession. He mows it at least once a week and is a fertilizer, lime and lawn seed junkie (is there such a thing as Lawn Obsessives Anonymous?) Mowing your lawn regularly keeps it healthy and strong. If you have issues with your soil such as moss or bald patches ask a professional how to remedy these issues.

3. Weed/Maintain garden beds. A well groomed garden bed is a huge step in adding curb appeal to your property. After much reflection I have decided that with the exception of a new bed we are building in the front of our home and our veggie garden that will be it for the garden beds around The Rustic School House. One must know their weeding limits. I would rather have no garden beds than several that are over run with weed and look like a tangled mess because I cannot find the time to maintain them. Low matience shrubs and trees are always a great option for those that want to add color and variety to their property with out all the hassle of weeding and grooming.

4. Ensure drainage around your home is working properly and that your windows, doors and roof are keeping out the elements. Nothing is more damaging to a home than water .

5. Maintain the exterior of your home. If your home needs painting, staining or cleaning -do it! Nothing makes a home and property lack curb appeal than a house with flaking paint or dirty vinyl siding. Also, when choosing accents or accessories for the exterior of your home, keep in mind the style. For example if your house is of a Victorian era, choose your house numbers, lighting fixtures, entrance system, mailbox, etc. that is in keeping with this style.

6. Take your neighbours into consideration. When choosing a new color scheme for the exterior of your home, consider the color schemes of your neighbourhood. If your neighbourhood homes consist of mostly natural color schemes and you want to paint your house purple with green trim, that may be an issue. If you live in an attached home, speak with your neighbour about what changes you are thinking of making so that both homes look unified and in turn will increase the value of both properties.

7. Keep any outbuildings the same as or similar in color palette as your home. For example our home is yellow as is our shed and I even stained our dog Macgyver's house yellow! By doing this it gives the property a sense of continuity with no particular building standing out.

Pantry Makeover!

Hi Friends,

This past week has been a busy one at The Rustic School House as I have been busy freshening up our kitchen pantry. I wanted to update the pantry as inexpensively as possible, it needed a couple coats of paint and some serious organization!

Before

After

We are really happy with the results! I love how fresh and clean it feels.

I put a lot of thought into storage and purchased containers for cereal, pasta, etc. Everything is organised so that I can easily see what items I have in my pantry, what I am getting low on, and what I need to pick up at the grocery store.

My goal with this project was to update on a budget and I achieved that. The grand total of this kitchen pantry redo was $125.53 taxes included!

Pretty good huh? For that money I purchased paint, paint brushes, (I treated myself to a brand spankin' new Prudy brush - I am in lurve!) baskets and containers for storage.

If you have a small project in mind I hope you decide to complete soon. This pantry update shows that you don't have to break the bank to improve your space, one step at a time, one room at a time.

Have a great week!

Spring Cleaning - The Natural Way!

The temperatures are getting milder, the snow is melting and spring is on its way- yay! Although Fall is hands down my favorite season, spring is a close second. I love the first signs of spring- robins, tulips and daffodils.

With spring comes spring cleaning. I really enjoy spring cleaning- no I am not running a fever :)  I just love a clean, fresh home - I mean, who doesn't?

Since becoming a mom I am far more conscious of what cleaning products I use in our home. I don't want to expose my family or myself to toxic fumes and products unnecessarily. So here's a few natural products that you can use today to make your spring cleaning and everyday cleaning a much more pleasant experience.

Vinegar- works like an all purpose cleaner is super cheap and naturally disinfects. Mix with water and you have a cleaner that works on windows, floors, counters, and fixtures in the bathroom. Worried that your house is gonna smell like vinegar? Don't be - the smell goes away as it dries.

Lemon Juice- hard water and soap scum doesn't stand a chance with lemon juice. It also works great to shine brass and copper. You can throw the peels down your garbage disposal to freshen the kitchen or combine lemon juice with a bit of baking soda to create a cleaning paste.

Baking Soda- absorbs odors in your fridge or freezer. I use baking soda as I would any commerical abrasive product. It always gets my kitchen sink sparkling!

Olive Oil- makes a great furniture polish when combined with lemon juice.

Borax- combine with lemon juice to use as a toilet bowl cleaner. It's great for removing stains.

Baby Oil- Use for shining your stainless steel appliances. I find that not only does it shine my appliances, it seems to repel a lot of the finger prints and grime. And that scent-wonderful!

If you are not a fan of mixing and measuring there are many natural commerical cleaners on the market now. The only commerical natural product I use is Murphy's oil soap (which I love by the way), so I am not sure if the other products are effective but if you have or do use 'em I would love to hear your opinion!

Do you have any natural cleaners that you use that I have not included? I am always looking for new tips and tricks- please share!

Happy Spring Cleaning!

BTW, stop by on Monday- I have a great before and after planned of something I have been working on all this week!

Counter top Selections

There are so many choices for counter top materials on the market today so I thought it would be a bit of fun to decipher a few of the most popular.

Laminate - very popular and great for the budget conscious. Laminate is available in a wide range of  patterns, colors and textures.

houzz

Granite - pretty much indestructible, granite is resistant to heat, acid and scratches. Because granite is porous it requires sealing.

houzz

Corian - non porous therefore will not stain or attract mould and mildew. Comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

houzz

Butcher Block - high maintenance is involved with this material. Butcher block counter tops require a monthly application of mineral oil to keep its good looks.

Houzz

Stainless steel - Sanitary and very modern choice. Dents and scratches easily.

houzz

Concrete - once sealed, concrete counters are stain and scratch resistant. Concrete counters come with a heftier price tag than other choices but are custom made to your design requirements.

houzz

What are your thoughts on the topic? Personally I am a laminate girl. The counters at The Rustic School House are laminate but look like granite. I love 'em !

Laundry Rooms

Laundry rooms were once utilitarian spaces with no character or life to them - that ship has sailed! Quite often there is a room or space devoted exclusively to laundry with room to sort, iron and fold. Many laundry rooms are even equipped with televisions, chairs or stools and are a place of relaxation for some.

A well designed laundry room serves it purpose well with room to hang delicates, sort dirty clothes, as well as room to fold and iron clean clothes. A sink to clean those hand wash only garments is a definite bonus. Ample storage for laundry soaps, detergents as well as extra household items like towels and face cloths, toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning products. Not all storage has to be closed, many laundry spaces utilize open storage by using baskets and decanting detergents into beautiful jars.

I am a big fan of white laundry rooms. This room has a gorgeous deep sink, lots of storage space and a large island to fold clothing on.

You don't have a room to dedicate to laundry? This niche is a wonderful alternative and by making horizontal lines on the walls it helps to visually widen and lengthen the space.

This laundry room also serves as an entrance. I like this room because it shows how one can make a space serve more than one purpose through thoughtful design.

Often times the laundry room is a space to experiment with bold color or pattern that one would not use in any other space in their home.

                 (All photos by Houzz)


Do you have a laundry room or a space dedicated to laundry? What features do you like or wish you had in a laundry room?