You can go HOME again

You can go HOME again Follow along on our misadventures as we move back to our first-married HOME after 18 years of life as a rental property!

We'll be remodeling and updating with DIY projects and, as always, on a budget!

She’s finished! Love the difference!
06/01/2026

She’s finished! Love the difference!

Started a thing today…before, after, and inspiration pics… Approx 8 sq ft done…LOTS to go!!!😂😂😂
05/03/2026

Started a thing today…before, after, and inspiration pics… Approx 8 sq ft done…LOTS to go!!!😂😂😂

Mortar is done and the mantle beam is ready to go up! I was going for a German schmear style for the mortar, but ended u...
04/19/2026

Mortar is done and the mantle beam is ready to go up! I was going for a German schmear style for the mortar, but ended up leaving more color than originally planned because I loved the color and texture of the brick. These are 1/2 in brick veneers that a brick mason cuts from salvaged materials. The “whole bricks” on the hearth edges are just a pieced 90* with the veneers. I had to color match as close as possible, cut the turn down and then mortar in place. The schmear helps hide the joint and make them look like one piece.

I tested several (leftover from previous projects) stains on an unused piece of beam wood. I ended up going with a natural pine, topped with a grey tone (to counteract the yellow in the pine), and topped with a hint of red. 😊

The leftover of our 12 foot beam will finish out the side supports for the mantle. We had to split the 8x8 in half and trim some width off as well. They will be sanded and stained next, and will be ready to install. We’ll have to do a bit of trimming to leave a recess for the bricks and fit snugly against the wall. Thankful for John who mixed all my mortar, lugged lumber, and made my cuts! We’re making progress! Oh, and look at Daisy hauling lumber! 💪🌼

Primary bedroom transformation..(almost) complete!It’s come a long way from John’s black lacquer furniture with gold acc...
03/24/2026

Primary bedroom transformation..(almost) complete!
It’s come a long way from John’s black lacquer furniture with gold accents! We quickly moved on to a cherry wood, Queen Anne bedroom suite from the Rooms to go outlet. Almost 30 years later, we’ve upgraded to someone’s miss-matched hand-me-downs! A FB chandelier and Dollar General quilt inspired the blue for the furniture up-cycle and black accents. The curtains and sheets are Amazon and lamps are Goodwill. Still need to paint the bi-fold walk in closet doors brown and add the bi-fold sliding barn door rails, rollers and hardware!

Fireplace makeover underway! She still needs grout, a mantle beam and some trim, but we’re making progress! These are cu...
03/14/2026

Fireplace makeover underway! She still needs grout, a mantle beam and some trim, but we’re making progress! These are cut bricks from a local guy (sells them out of a storage unit😂), but they are reclaimed from old buildings. Beautiful weather to use a wet saw! When I cut my backsplash tile, it was in the 40s! 🥶🥶🥶

Slow and steady! We’re completely moved in, but downsizing has its difficulties! You expand into the volume you’re given...
02/22/2026

Slow and steady! We’re completely moved in, but downsizing has its difficulties! You expand into the volume you’re given and, three children later, we’ve got A LOT OF STUFF! Let’s just say over the next year, I’m going to be scanning photographs, getting rid of so many albums! I’m still filling boxes to donate, but we’re close to finding a spot for everything! When unloading the U-haul(s), my most said words were “put it in my office/craft room”. That’s where everything went that didn’t have a specific place! I devoted Fri afternoon and Sat morning to tackling the last lingering boxes, and now that room is not 100%, but fully functional!
Drapes and rod..Goodwill
Chair and light…FB mkt (upholstered the chair)
The desk was my dad‘s and the paintings were done by my mom!

John reminded me that it’s been a minute since I posted any of our projects. I generally try to do a before, during and ...
01/04/2026

John reminded me that it’s been a minute since I posted any of our projects. I generally try to do a before, during and after picture and honestly, I have lots of “during” but not many “after”. Today we checked a big one off the list! We started transforming our 1993 white laminate countertops months ago by cutting a bar height peninsula down to counter height, doing necessary writing and structural changes, reconfiguring the laminate facing to a square edge and removing the backsplash. After Bondo, leveling compound and lots of sanding, we added about 10 coats of white epoxy then gray epoxy tint for marbled veining. We finished with several polyaspartic pours and more sanding! We learned a lot in this process. One thing being that we’ll probably never do a countertop this way again!😂 We ended up with exactly the look I wanted for pennies on the dollar, but in billable hours…we could’ve imported Carrera marble! Stay tuned! Tile is up and grouted, just has to be caulked! The sink is in and faucet is ready to be plumbed! More “after” updates coming soon!

Because I needed a side project! While John was working on the drive gate (no fun and I’m little help) I started refinis...
08/25/2025

Because I needed a side project! While John was working on the drive gate (no fun and I’m little help) I started refinishing our new (old) bedroom pieces! I’m retiring (selling/donating) our heavy, cherry, four poster bed/high boy bedroom suite and starting from scratch. This is the inspiration…a white, shallow, apothecary dresser that I sanded, cleaned, removed and sprayed the hardware black and then did a slate blue wash. (You’ll see that color again soon)! She’s back together now and officially the first piece of furniture in our new/old bedroom!

I’ve been dying to cover my pantry and linen closet wire shelves, but when you don’t have a kitchen sink yet, it’s reall...
07/11/2025

I’ve been dying to cover my pantry and linen closet wire shelves, but when you don’t have a kitchen sink yet, it’s really not a priority! However, we did a total basement clean out in preparation for re-listing our current home and ended up with just enough scrap plywood for my little project. While John worked Wednesday, I borrowed his Skil saw and got to work myself! Yes, I followed all safety protocol, wearing safety glasses and clamping my wood. No workplace injuries! I had drawn out my cut sheet and ended up with just enough plywood for both closets. After cutting and sanding, I brad nailed the facing boards on and used some leftover red mahogany stain. I added some varnish the next day and was able to install them this morning. One step closer! Now back to the kitchen counters, so we can get that sink installed! 

I promise, we’ve still been working on the never-ending renovation! Another bathroom is finished and the kitchen is not ...
06/19/2025

I promise, we’ve still been working on the never-ending renovation! Another bathroom is finished and the kitchen is not far behind! We’re getting close, and yes, we are moving in at some point! This is the hall bath. Border and faux painting stripes were removed, the wall spackled and sanded, and new breadboard and plaid paper hung. The toilet upgraded and a new, wider (both FB mkt pl) vanity was painted, handles sprayed and readied for the countertop. The light junction box was raised and shifted rt (sorry John)and new lighting installed. The poplar slab from a N.Ga saw mill was heat dried for about 6wks, planed, sanded, cut, stained and varnished. The antique porcelain sink (my favorite) was $5, picked up by Aaron out of a man’s shed behind his house! I cut and hung the new trim and trimmed out the frame for the mirror. With the wider vanity, everything had to shift about 6” to the right to be centered so the mirror frame solved that problem. The faucet was FB and the hooks and shower curtain from Amazon. A grey grout pen brought more grey tones out in the flooring. Finally, the little bench from my front porch fit perfectly! The guest bath is ready for visitors!

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Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville, GA
30043

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