Picture Wall!!

My photo wall is finally done.   

There is so much I want to say about this wall I just don't know where to start.  Do you ever have that feeling?!  

I didn't buy anything new for this wall {except for the prints}.  Most of the frames I actually made back in the day! Once I laid everything out I picked my colors I wanted them to be.  I wanted just a hint of blue to carry your eye along the wall, I spray painted the black frames and lucky for me the cream frames were already  painted when I first made them!!  I also really really wanted subway art on the wall to kind of mix things up, I made them as well {Tutorial here}!  The mirror I also made and put the hooks on to give it a little more character.  I love that this wall is the first thing you see when you walk in the door!  It makes me smile!

Here is another picture of my living room turned office!  I am not a fan of living rooms, I always feel as though they are wasted space for us, as we NEVER use it.  I needed an office for my photography so here it is!  I LOVE IT!!  I can't decide if I want a rug though.  I like the way the desk looks on the floor all though a rug could make it look warmer.  I am also on the search for 2 chairs to go at the front of the desk!  It never ends .... but that is the beauty of it .... got to keep us busy!

 HAPPY SPRING!!

Brooke

Linking here:

Monday:Mod Vintage Life*C.R.A.F.T*Mad In Crafts*Lines Across My Face*DIY Home Sweet Home*Singing Three Little Birds*Crafts Keep Me Sane*Its So Very Cheri*Made with love monday*Making monday marvelous*Pink hippo party*The DIY showoff*Motivate me monday*Craftastic monday*Mad Skills*Making the World Cuter*Made by you mondays*Just something I whipped up mondays*Market yourself monday*Show it of Monday*A Round Tuit*Meet Me Monday*Whats in the Gunny Sack*More the Merrier Monday*Do it ya Self*Creative Me Monday*Craft O ManiacTuesday:Anti-Procrastination*Tuesday Tutorial*Sew Cute Tuesday*Anything Related*Anything goes*Crafty Lassie*Take a Look TuesdayWednesday: Grateful Belly DIY by Design*Rae Gun Ramblings*Blue Cricket Design*Domestically Speaking*The Trendy Treehouse*Savvy Southern Style*Southern Lovely*Oopsey Daisy*Creative Share*Sugar and Spice*We did it!*Show & Tell*Be Inspired*Whatever goes Wednesday*Upcycled Awesome*Lil Luna link PARTAY*ReCreate Thursday: The Shabby Creek Cottage*Somewhat Simple*The Charm of Home*Strut your Stuff*Transformation Thursday*Show off your Stuff*Giveaway Directory*A crafty soiree*We can do it cheaper*Hooking up with HoH*Make it Wear it*It's stinkin' cute crafts*DIY Diva Thursdays*Crazy Cute Thursdays*Thingamajig Thursday  Friday: The Shady Porch*At the Picket Fence*French Country Cottage*2805 - Potpourri Friday*Common Ground*LaurieAnna's Vintage Home*Stuff and Nonsense*The Shabby Nest*Miss Mustard Seed*Finding Fabulous*Jillify It*Thirty Handmade Days*504 Main*Fancy this Fridays*Finding fabulous*It's a hodge podge Friday*Look at me I'm so crafty*Creation Corner*Friday Flair*Show and Tell Friday*Creative Genius*Shine on Fridays*Free for All Fridays Saturday:Weekend Wrap up Party*Saturday nite special*Show and Tell Saturdays*Weekend Soiree*Scrappy Saturdays*Six Sisters Stuff*Funky Junk Interiors*Be Different Act Normal*Candace Creations*Nutmeg Place Sunday:Think Pink Sundays*Under the Table and Dreaming*I Heart Nap Time*The DIY Showoff*Nifty Thrifty Things

ME!!! {blog tagging game}

I am so glad Patty over at Patty's Pretty Things tagged me in the "Blog Tagging Game"

I was actually thinking the other day I don't even have an "about me" on my page.  I always enjoy learning about the person behind the blog so I thought this was the perfect way to introduce myself.  

 This is me and my hubby!!  We have been married for almost 8 years!  WOW!  We have 2 beautiful girls ages 3 and 9 months.  I am so honored to be their Mommy, even when I have to leave the room and count to 10 :)  I am also honored to have the privilege of being able to be a Stay at Home Mom!  My husband works so hard to make this possible, and I am incredibly grateful.

I love to decorate, craft, take pictures and of course blog!  This blog has been so fun for me.  It has been a way to express myself and incorporate all my hobbies.  I love to read everyones feed back and get to know people I wouldn't if it weren't for blogging!

Okay so enough of that on the questions Patty asked me! 

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started this blog as a way to keep track of the progress of our home.  Blogging motivates me to finish a project, you can't take pictures of an unfinished project, right?  

2. How did you come up with a name for your blog?

Start at Home was not my first choice for my blog title, my first choice was taken, I don't even remember what I originally wanted (It must not have been too important)  I just wanted something with the word home in it.  As we have embarked on this journey to remodel our main goal was to make this house our HOME, where we could gather as a family and enjoy one anothers company.  

3. How did you learn how to blog?

When I had my first baby girl my cousin talked me into blogging so we could better keep in touch.  (I was actually way against it LOL!)  I picked my URL and my cousin helped me get it up and running.  Look what it has turned into.  I believe at one point I had 5 blogs going!  I am officially a BLOG addict.

4. What do you like to blog about?

I love to blog before and after, probably because these are my favorite blog posts to read and I love to look back at my blog and see how far we have come, it gives me motivation to keep going.

5. How do you come up with ideas to blog about?

Hmmm, I am not sure.  This question is stumping me.  I guess I ....... like to blog about things that will inspire others.  I am not one of those people who is worried about someone else copying me.  I find it a complement if someone is inspired by something I have done.  

6. How did you decide which blog hosting service to use?  (Blogger or Word Press or...)

Honestly when I started blogging back in 2008 I didn't know word press existed.

7. What kind of camera do you use for your photos in your blog?

THIS IS MY FAVORITE QUESTION!  I LOVE photography!!  I shoot with a Nikon D90.  My 35mm Prime lense is my favorite to shoot with.  However to shoot pictures in my house I usually use my wide angle lens as it helps to capture the whole space.  I actually do some photography on the side.   Here is my photography blog Brooke Larsen Photography. 

8. Does your family mind if they are included in your blog posts?

No they don't mind.  My girls are only 3 and 9 months so they don't really know the difference and  I think secretly my husband likes when I include him.  I would feel guilty if I left him out as he has been a huge support and help of remodeling this house.  I couldn't have gotten this far with out him!

9. How do you feel about having ads on your blog?

I had ads on another blog I had, they didn't bother me, but well you don't really make anything from them.  

10.  How often do you blog?

I try to blog at least 2 times a week!  

11. What advice would you give to new bloggers?

Have fun.  The blogging world is so much fun.  I have met some people through blogging that are some of my good friends now!  If you want to get your blog out there, join link parties, which I love.  Most importantly don't forget to be you.  I love to read blogs where the write shows their personality.  

Here are the rules to this little blogging game:

1. You must post the rules!

2. Answer the 11 questions the tagger posted for you and then create 11 new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

3. Tag 11 bloggers and link them to your post.

4. Let them know you've tagged them.

Nats Knap Sack

Boerman Ramblings

Candace Creations

Nutmeg Place 

Jillify It

Grateful Belly

Lakeshore Cottage Living

Visual Eye Candy

Blue Clear Skies

Imperfect Patina

Simply Simplisticated 4

My questions for these bloggers.....

1.Why did you start blogging?

2.What is your favorite thing about blogging?

3.What do you do to make your blog stand out?

4.How have you marketed your blog?

5.What is the hardest thing for you about blogging?

6.How do you decide what to blog about?

7.What is your favorite post, and why?

8.When do you blog (time of day)

9.What kind of camera and gear do you use for your photos?

10.What is the best piece of advice you can give me as a new blogger?

11.What is one funny thing about you?

The outside progress!

This is what our house looked like when we bought it.  I know some people love the overgrown look but it isn't my favorite!  It attracted too many bugs and yes it attracts snakes too YIKES!  I HATE SNAKES!!

 So....It all came down.....with a little help from the family and my brother's chain saw.

Under the flowers was this cool dry scape pattern with gravel, river rock and flagstone.  I liked the pattern and the way it was laid out but with 2 little girls we need grass!

We had to tear the railing down, because the vines that were growing on the house ruined it.  And yes we are still working on getting it put back up!  

I love the curbing, and the flagstone planter my husband made me up by the house!  I LOVE flowers, so I made sure I had lots of room for them!

The first of December we had a HORRIBLE wind storm with wind gusts of over 100 mph.  The flying objects cracked and broke our siding so we are in the process of replacing the siding. 

                    My daughter tells me she really likes having a pink house!

 I have never put colors together for an outside and once all the vines came off of the house we noticed the shingles don't match the brick.  So trying to make everything come together and looks good has added a few gray hairs.  

We are doing Hardy Board and Shakes, I am so excited to see it done and hopefully it is how I am picturing it in my head!  

TTFN

Brooke

An Award and Winner

Let's not beat around the bush!  I love to talk, maybe that is why I got the name, Babbling Brooke and possibly why I have a blog!  But tonight I am ALMOST speechless.  To get an award is AWESOME but to get a blog award from 4 different blogs is well why I am speechless.

A huge thanks to:
Jennifer from Crevistons I love her refinished furniture!
Beth from Make Me Pretty Again I also love how she refinishes furniture!
Elyse from Shabby Sweet Tea I love all her accessories!
Kristin from Grateful Belly Her blog makes my mouth water with all that delicious food!

Head over and check out their fun, creative blogs!

Now to pass it on to up and coming blogs.....

I am so in LOVE with Coral and Coast.
I love her photography and her decorating and really just everything so I must pass it on to her.

I also found this fun blog today August Magnolia.
I love how she writes and she even has a free printable up today.


Rules:

1. Choose five up and coming blogs to pass the award to. They must have less than 200 followers.

2. Show a big thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog. List the blogs you are giving the award to with links to their sites.

I am a little slow at this but the winner of the vinyl Give Away is....

Natassia @ Nat's Knapsack

Thank you everyone for entering and for all your kind words and support.  I have loved visiting all your blogs and getting to know you better!!!

Brooke

Dining Area and Chalk Paint Table

Before:

After

 

 I didn't really have a plan in mind for this area, I knew the feel I was going for but I didn't really know how to achieve exactly what I wanted.  Luckily things just kind of fell into place as we were working on the rest of the main level.  

My husband hung all the crown molding, as well as the molding on the back wall.  I really wanted a buffet table along the back wall but, with the moldings I don't believe it needs one! 

I painted the walls Tequilla by Kwal, I love the color, it brings a brightness to the room but is still dark enough to make the moldings stand out!   

The rug is a painted drop cloth.  This was probably the only thought out part of the whole area.  I had seen several painted drop cloths and I wanted to attempt one for this space.  If you want to read more about my drop cloth I wrote a post complete with tutorial here! 

I was not planning on getting a new table, however, one day my husband called me from DI, our local thrift store, and told me he had found an awesome table and asked if I could take the truck over there and pick it up.  You can't even imagine how happy I was when I saw this table...not to mention it was $40 and came with the leaf.   

I painted it with Annie Sloan's Old White Chalk Paint, sanded some of the edges and finished it off with Annie Sloan's soft wax.  I am so in LOVE with this table.  
( I have since refinished this table as the chalk paint didn't hold up as well as I had hoped with children, you can see the full post here)

I have always loved set tables so I finally got my own.  HOORAY!!  We will see how long it lasts, since I have a 3 year old and a 9 month old ;).

Brooke

Linking here:

Monday:Mod Vintage Life*C.R.A.F.T*Mad In Crafts*Lines Across My Face*DIY Home Sweet Home*Singing Three Little Birds*Crafts Keep Me Sane*Its So Very Cheri*Made with love monday*Making monday marvelous*Pink hippo party*The DIY showoff*Motivate me monday*Craftastic monday*Mad Skills*Making the World Cuter*Made by you mondays*Just something I whipped up mondays*Market yourself monday*Show it of Monday*A Round Tuit*Meet Me Monday*Whats in the Gunny Sack*More the Merrier Monday*Do it ya Self*Creative Me Monday*Craft O ManiacTuesday:Anti-Procrastination*Tuesday Tutorial*Sew Cute Tuesday*Anything Related*Anything goes*Crafty Lassie*Take a Look TuesdayWednesday:DIY by Design*Rae Gun Ramblings*Blue Cricket Design*Domestically Speaking*The Trendy Treehouse*Savvy Southern Style*Southern Lovely*Oopsey Daisy*Creative Share*Sugar and Spice*We did it!*Show & Tell*Be Inspired*Whatever goes Wednesday*Upcycled Awesome*Lil Luna link PARTAY*ReCreate Thursday: The Shabby Creek Cottage*Somewhat Simple*The Charm of Home*Strut your Stuff*Transformation Thursday*Show off your Stuff*Giveaway Directory*A crafty soiree*We can do it cheaper*Hooking up with HoH*Make it Wear it*It's stinkin' cute crafts*DIY Diva Thursdays*Crazy Cute Thursdays*Thingamajig Thursday  Friday: The Shady Porch*At the Picket Fence*French Country Cottage*2805 - Potpourri Friday*Common Ground*LaurieAnna's Vintage Home*Stuff and Nonsense*The Shabby Nest*Miss Mustard Seed*Finding Fabulous*Jillify It*Thirty Handmade Days*504 Main*Fancy this Fridays*Finding fabulous*It's a hodge podge Friday*Look at me I'm so crafty*Creation Corner*Friday Flair*Show and Tell Friday*Creative Genius*Shine on Fridays*Free for All Fridays Saturday:Weekend Wrap up Party*Saturday nite special*Show and Tell Saturdays*Weekend Soiree*Scrappy Saturdays*Six Sisters Stuff*Funky Junk Interiors*Be Different Act Normal*Candace Creations*Nutmeg Place Sunday:Think Pink Sundays*Under the Table and Dreaming*I Heart Nap Time*The DIY Showoff*Nifty Thrifty Things

Vinyl Subway Art GIVE AWAY!!!!

   

First I cut out an 11 x 11 piece of wood and painted it the color I wanted my letters.


After it was good and dry I transferred the vinyl on to the wood.  You could leave it like this if you wanted too! But I wanted a more rustic look...

so I spray painted over the vinyl with black spray paint {sorry it is blurry}

 Once the spray paint was dry I pulled the letters off and sanded it!

And you have a beautiful piece of subway art!!

TTFN

Brooke

DIY Drop Cloth Rug

Here is a sneak peak at my dining area {it isn't actually a room}

I could not be happier with how this drop cloth rug turned out.  

I love the old look and I love how it wrinkles!

One of the best parts about this rug is if it gets dirty you just throw it in the washer...I have already had to do that twice!
This rug does move a lot.  I would suggest either taping it to the floor...I believe they have a rug tape or gluing the rubber pads to the bottom just so it stays in place better.  It is perfect for under the table as the table and chairs help to hold it in place.

I LOVE THIS RUG I would make one again!

Want to make your own?

I took pictures of me making it...but do you think I can find them?  Of course not so I will try to explain it very well!

First you need a drop cloth.  I bought mine at Home Depot it is 6ft x 9ft I think it was about $10.
Next I laid it out on the floor and made a template.  To make my template I used cardboard and cut a long 3 inch wide strip.

I taped off my corner with blue tape and then I placed the cardboard right next to the outside edge of the blue tape and then ran blue tape down the other side of the cardboard to create my strips.

Once the whole rug was taped out I painted with latex paint (Dansbury Downs by Pratt and Lambert) every other strip!

Once it was dried I threw it in the washer and TA DA!!  You have a beautiful unique rug!  For only about $10!

Built In Shelf {the easy way} & tutorial

Before

I got this shelf at RC Willey's, a local furniture store, in their scratch and dent department.  It has actually been with us through 3 moves and always found itself in some odd corner or the basement if there wasn't a corner.  But I have always loved this piece, so I hung on to it and I am so glad I did.  When we moved I shoved it in this corner but it just looked out of place, like it was calling for a little attention.....

After

I love the look of ANYTHING built it.  I think it is the custom look that just makes my mouth water.   This is the easiest built it ever!!!

First I put it up on the base boards and my husband screwed it in to the studs.

 Second I framed in the bottom.

 The shelf didn't fit perfectly against the wall....it is a good thing we have caulk!

Third I caulked all the spaces and filled all the screw hole.  When caulking make sure you us acrylic painters caulk, if it has silicone in it your paint will NOT stick!
Once everything was dry I sanded, primed and painted it the same color as my moldings!  I am IN LOVE!

Here are some more pictures of the fun decor items!

TTFN

Brooke

Laundry Room

Our laundry room plays many roles in this house.... a mud room, a hallway out to the garage, and really just a catch all room.  It is not a very big room either so EVERY ounce of space is important.  

Last Saturday my husband decided to stack our washer and dryer.

{most front loading washers and dryers can be stack you just have to have the stacking kit, check with your manufacture}

And this is what came next!

This project has probably been one of my favorites!  We only bought 3 2x4's, the rest came from our garage.  Our goal for this project was to reuse materials we had already torn out of the house.  

The hard part was achieving my wish list:

*Pedestal for Laundry Baskets

*Bench

*Baskets for the girls clean clothes

*Storage

*Place for hanging things

 *STYLISH

You can imagine the look on my Husbands face when I told him everything I wanted!  

After stacking the Washer and Dryer we built the pedestal {which doubles as a bench} and continued to work up.  I had drawn up a few plans, but nothing was going according to plan so we just started "winging it".  

The hooks have been so nice!  I LOVE HOOKS...they are everywhere in my house.  Can you have too many?

The baskets for my girls clean clothes have been so wonderful, and has made folding much easier.  I love the texture the wicker brings to the space.

I painted the built in with Annie Sloan's Duck Egg Blue, I then glazed with it with Burnt Umber.  I love the color.  

 I love the end product and I got everything on my wish list.

I am so glad I have a husband that enjoys remodeling too.  It was fun to experiment.


Check out my Give Away here before you leave!