Bathroom remodel

I finished redecorating the downstairs bath, and I'm very happy with how it turned out. I need to remember to take REAL before pictures next time, instead of in the middle of the mess, but I think you get the idea.

I had the hardest time deciding what to do with this space, and it was always a little embarrassing that it was so bland and boring, but I absolutely LOVE it now! (I'll even come downstairs to use it, even though I have 3 bathrooms upstairs!)

before

after

The shower curtain fabric is from IKEA, I used 6 yards, but not really. I cut the center section out of 3 of the yards (I didn't want it too billowy and crowding the toilet) and used that for my kitchen cupboards. The edge pieces left over were sewn to the outside of the other 3 yards. I mounted the rod almost to the ceiling, I hate it that most shower curtains are way too short, like J's jeans. The artwork on the closest wall is a piece of cut stone from Indonesia that Eric brought back from a business trip.

I built the shelves. Well, sort of. Eric had started building me a bookcase for my office when I found the perfect thing somewhere else, (much to his relief) and these were made from the leftover pieces from that project. He had already faced the MDF with mitered birch, I just had to cut them down to size and add a small piece on one end, prime and paint, and then mount to the wall. They turned out great, but it was really hard to get them level from front to back, floating shelves tend to want to sag forward a little, but as long as I don't place eggs or pens on them, it shouldn't be a problem. The glass bottles are from IKEA as well (LOVE that place!) and the little horse is from China (another business trip find).

I moved the mirror downstairs from the master bath, the one that was there previously didn't fit inside the molding, but I think it looks better this way anyway. It's not perfect, but it works for now while I keep my eyes open for something better. The lacquered box is for holding girly items (no cupboards) and if I had remembered I had it I would have made the shelves deeper so it fit on them, but oh well, I think it looks nice on the tank. The towels are also from the master bath, they look better here too. All I need now is a basket for magazines and extra TP and it's perfect.

One thing I love about winter...

I'm not a winter girl. I was born in Minnesota, but have never liked the snow. As a kid, I liked it for about one day, and then was ready for spring. As I've gotten older, it's only gotten worse. I grit my teeth and bundle up if everyone else insists that I come sledding, to be a good sport, but I'm really in agony the whole time. I prefer to stay at home and make hot chocolate for them all.

It didn't help, living in California and Arizona for a combined total of 8 of the 15 years that we've been married. It thinned my blood, and moving to Utah was a hard adjustment. And then we came to Ohio, which Eric claimed was "almost the South" (being across the river from Kentucky).

But there is one thing that I absolutely love about winter. We'll get a big snowfall, and then the next day, vivid sunlight which reflects off of the glittery snow and makes the whole world so bright. These are usually the days when the kids are home for a snow day, and the temperature is in the teens, but inside my house, it is glorious.

My living room faces south, and all that magical sunlight floods in and reflects off the white walls and makes me HAPPY!

I love to just sit and fold laundry, in a clean, bright, quiet house, and bask in all the light.

Kitchen Cabinet makeover

I've always hated how the glass cabinets in my kitchen just didn't seem to have much of a wow factor. So I used some of the leftover fabric from my new shower curtain and made them a little more interesting.

I took out the glass shelves, hot glued the edges of the fabric to the back of the cabinet, and then put the shelves back in (that was the hard part)

I love how they make my kitchen a little more modern and fun!