From humble beginnings
WHERE IT ALL STARTED…
When Brandon and I bought our home in 2014 we were totally clueless about what we were getting into. I remember Brandon naively telling his grandfather that we would be done with the construction in a “few months.” 5 years later we were finally hanging the kitchen cabinets on the wall. You might remember the days of us living upstairs of the house we resentfully- er, I mean, affectionately called our studio apartment, complete with our closet kitchen.
Both of us have always loved doing projects. For me, I first got my hands dirty refurbishing old furniture at our first apartment. I have always had this creative side to me that I loved expressing through art and decor. I fell in love with the process while transforming a piece of furniture. So when this opportunity to buy a fixer-upper on the river came along, of course, I jumped on board.
During the process of our renovation, I decided to get my real estate license. I thought, “Hey, if Chip and Joanna can do it, we can too!” My business took off, but not in the way I had imagined. We weren’t flipping houses like I initially dreamed we would do. I was helping my friends and their friends find houses in a real estate market that was shifting faster than you could say: “Sold!”
Brandon and I have taken what we’ve learned over those 5 years of rebuilding our home from the inside out and are now applying that knowledge to the 450 sq/ft addition we are building onto our little river cottage. We already have some important takeaways from the process. I hope you enjoy reading along and learning with us as we go along.
the latest from the blog
Spring Flower Pots
I am so happy it's finally beginning to FEEL like Spring! I have been waiting to plant my flowers for what seems like weeks now. But before I planted the seeds, of course I...
No Sew Pillow Covers
I don't know about you, but I love finding a quick and easy way to update a room with as little effort as possible. With Spring right around the corner, I needed a change...
Game on! DIY Checkers Table
I don't play games when it comes to refinishing furniture. But in this case, playing games is perfectly acceptable! For the past couple weeknights and weekends I have been...
Duvet Dye Job
I recently purchased a duvet cover online at Urban Outfitters. Of course the duvet cover looked super cute in the photo, but when I brought it home, washed it and put it on...
5 Items to Always Have on Hand
I am a big believer in the motto: "Always be prepared." I try to keep certain items on hand in my home so I am always prepared when the right moment comes. More often than...
Credenza Therapy
I have had an incredibly long summer. Without getting into the nitty gritty details, I went through a very difficult season which sort of spun me into a minor depression....
What to Put on Your Coffee Table
Yesterday I did some rearranging in my living room. Nothing too crazy, but as I was putting the room in order- "jooshing" it, as one of my favorite stylists Carson Kressley...
Make Your Own Candles!
It's Springtime here in the Northeast! The weather is beginning to get warmer and we will be spending lots of time outdoors with pesky bugs like mosquitos, moths and flies...
Side Table Makeover
Do you like color? I really enjoy creating something for the home that adds a pop of a bright color to a room, especially if you live in a space that has neutral walls....
Curtains: 101
Believe it or not, curtains say a lot about a room. They add character, color, value, and texture to any room. Not only are they important stylistically, but they are...
DIY Accessory Tree
I have many hair accessories. Actually, I have many accessories period. Some of you might have a similar problem- er- I mean hobby like me. Too many cuff links, or...
Simple DIY Lace Tray
I really enjoy taking something "ordinary" looking and turning it into something sophisticated. Usually, I take an object that is plain and use elements like spray paint,...
Inspiring Flower Lanterns
I'm so excited about this DIY project! It's suuuper easy and adds color and texture to any room instantly. I really enjoy these because they look so complicated, but they...
Organizing in a Small Space
I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to work in an unorganized cluttered space. In fact, I get so distracted by the disorganization that I tend to focus on that...
Sprucing Up an Old Frame.
I really enjoy taking something plain, and turning it into something that really adds a "wow" factor. There's an old mirror hanging in my living room, and it could really...
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House Update: All the Projects Downstairs
The number one question I am asked besides “How’s the market?” is: “How’s the house coming along?” It’s crazy how so many people have been following along on this journey...
What is a Short Sale vs. Foreclosure?
What’s the difference, & how does it impact the purchase? * From time to time, a buyer client will ask me if they can see a property that is one of two things. It’s...
Do I Really Need a Buyer’s Agent?
Work with someone who has your best interests in mind. There is a big misconception many buyers have about a listing agent.* The listing agent is the Seller's Agent, AKA,...

















