The Outdoor Project!

Our family loves basketball. Of course we have a adjustable hoop on the driveway. We had a hoop that hung on the rail in our great room (23 ft ceiling) but after the boys basketball team come over, I noticed that the wood of the rail was getting bent. So no more basketball in the house. We installed the hoop so that we can play on the large lower deck. (37x15) But no dunking allowed!

Cedar pathway from the grass to the stone patio which leads to the deck (below, left)

 Homemade picnic table and bench from leftover materials. I used leftoever Trex for the tabletop and leftover exterior trim for the trim work. Sanding will smooth the screw holes and the trim can be painted any color. (above, right)

I put up rails along the deck walkway that goes from the bottom of the stairs to the beginning of the lower deck. (left)

Because our drain field is so extensive we can't dig down more than 12 inches in any spot. So we decided to go with a metal play set rather than the wood play set we would have preferred aesthetically. It took 2 days to build and the boys absolutely love it. It comes with a canopy that can be hooked to a hose to produced mist on a hot day.

(Below) One side of the upper deck. We purchased a glider loveseat from Tuesday Morning. The pitch of the umbrella (Bed, Bath, and Beyond) can be adjusted. My color scheme for the upper deck is red and orange. The scheme for the lower deck is blue...and yes, that planter needs to be taken downstairs! (bottom right)

Grass didn't get far for us because our soil was depleted of nutrients and crabgrass took over. We have just begun a 4-6 month process to invigorate and rebuilt our soil. Hopefully we will have the grass of our dreams next Spring!

Plan on Rainy Days

The crew isn't coming today. The forecast declared that. But it's okay cause...

I can still plan!

It's amazing when you can actually walk the architectural plans that you've been drooling over and living within in your head.

So I can put on my rain hat and measure and plan for:

key hooks, mail storage
mudroom coat closet organization:
storage room organization: http://lookiewhatidid.blogspot.ca/2013/06/a-well-organized-utility-closet.html
furniture placement
Kid toy bin

I've found some great websites and of course Houzz and Pinterest help!

Key Hooks/Mail

When carrying in backpacks, groceries, laptop bags, and other daily luggage, the keys and the mail are the first items that I need to be able to quickly put in a place where they'll be found when I need them. I can't tell you the endless amount of times that my keys, despite currenly (in the present house scheme) having a designated hook, end up on a kitchen counter, or on the island, or on a hook under a baseball cap.

Upon entering the mudroom there is a 24-30 inch space of wall. So I will buy (probably from Target or World Market) or make (depending on my DIY energy) a narrow but long rack on which to put keys and mail.

Mudroom Coat Closet Organization

We are a family of eight. Having all of our winter gear mixed up in one bin doesn't work. Been there, done that. So I need eight cubbies (two columns of four) in the middle of the 6' long coat closet with space for coats on either side and shoes at the bottom. This idea may shift depending on the measurements due to the fact that I need room for 2-3 coats per person. (similar to picture)

I don't have enough of a corner area in the mudroom to place a ball bin, however the mud porch has an overhang so I may just use a large plastic bin  with a top, to sit outside the mudroom door.

Some pins on my boards that I'm getting ideas from:
http://www.pinterest.com/tinacwebb/2014-reno-mudroom/

http://www.pinterest.com/tinacwebb/let-s-do-it/

I may make on a smaller scale
for all of the keys.

I like this too,
especially the names
above each hook. #mustdo

I've been saving my Altoids and
Trader Joes Green Tea mint containers.

end of last week

The 2nd story may be finished by the end of this week if the rain goes away.

Countdown

Walk with us as we venture into our 4th and biggest home renovation. Years ago at our townhouse, we finished a basement, turning into a master bedroom suite. Then we moved to this house and put in a great room addition, finished the walk-out basement and renovated the kitchen. 

So why do more?

We are a family of eight and currently the youngest children, ages 4 and 2 share our bedroom...not cool! We put our house on the market 4 years ago when I was pregnant with the 4 year old, but well, our house never sold. This past January we decided to stay put and make this house work for a larger family.

Hopefully this renovation will be done by Christmas, but since I've watched my share of DIY and HGTV I know that anything can happen when it comes to timelines.


 I'll be posting design, decor and organization ideas. With daughters that love aesthetics as much as I do, and little boys that love to makes messes as much as I don't, it'll be an interesting juxtaposition of practicality and artistry.