small space, big impact

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If you’re going to try something bold or bright or unique, sometimes it’s easier to try it in small spaces. That way if it doesn’t look great, it’s only a small loss in time and effort compared to what can feel like years off your life when updating a huge room. Trust me, I know. Plus, shapes and designs can help make the room appear bigger. Bonus!

I’m still trying to convince Paul that a wallpapered wall in the guest room and/or dining room would make for an amazing wall, but he’s not convinced… okay, and I’m a little scared myself.

Examples from Pinterest:

I took my own advice for my half bath and added some wide strips! A renovation blog called young house love had done stripes in their old house and since then, I’ve wanted to try, what seemed like a simple technique. Here is their tutorial for their bathroom strips.

Here is our half bath before my updates. It’s a really small bathroom, so it was rather difficult to get good photos of the space.

I started by painting the entire room one color. I started with the lighter strip color just because we had more of that paint left over from painting the hallways. Darker colors are actually easier to paint over than white walls or lighter colors. If you have the same amount of paint, start with the darker paint color, it’s easier to cover. I painted the whole bathroom with Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45 in eggshell.

I then waited a couple of hours for the paint to dry.  During the down time, I did some intense math and thinking… how many strips do I want?  How wide?  Which color do I want to start and end with?

Answers: I decided on 6 dark strips, 7.9 inches, and dark on the bottom and top, the dark paint against the white baseboards and soon-to-be-white crown molding will make for a more dramatic effect.

I’m not going to lie, measuring out 7.9 inches was difficult, realizing the wall and floor were not exactly straight, was extremely irritating!  All I want is 6 stupid stripes on the wall! Ahhh!  At this point, I wanted to throw my pencil and hit the wall with the level… so I walked away.

I took a shower. A very long, hot, shower.

I told myself: I’m not stupid, life isn’t going to end, all of my efforts will not look like DIY amateur work. I went back to the project with a new attitude.

I marked a line every 7.9 inches down one side of the bathroom starting at the baseboards and then used  a level to mark along the wall and applied blue painters tape accordingly! I won the battle! It actually wasn’t that bad, once I realize the world wasn’t against me.

This may have been emphasized by my choice of listening material.  I like to listen to books on audible.com when I paint, and this time I was listening to the The Girl Who Played with Fire.  I tend to become the character I’m reading/listening to, so when realizing my measurements weren’t coming out right, I wanted to take my boxing skills to the wall and assumed the government was after me. Yep, this is me. (I recommend the whole series; dark, but fun and suspenseful.)

Next, I applied two coats of Benjamin Moore Halo OC-46 in semi-gloss. I was really nervous with the high sheen of the semi-gloss vs. eggshell, so I sampled it on an extra piece of drywall in our garage . It was a fun combination.

The thing is, I ordered the paint on my lunch hour, over-the-phone, and picked it up that evening. I thought I had asked for satin or eggshell over the phone?!? But ended up with an already mixed semi-gloss… so it will have to work! No returns on mixed paint.

Once you are 100% done with the second coat of stripes, make sure to take off the painters tape before it completely dries; this is something a lot of people forget to do.  If you wait until the paint it completely dry you may chip your straight-line-work, making for more frustration than satisfaction. Also, make sure you press your painter’s tape down hard, especially on the edges that will touch the paint; it will be less likely to bleed.

I waited 24 hours and washed all the walls for any residual pencil marks, then touched up any other imperfections in my paint job.

Now, it’s time to put in the new gear!  I went to Lowe’s and got a new medicine cabinet door (but the mirror was smaller, and I decided against it), toilet paper holder, towel rack and knobs.  The white framed picture has a piece of the vintage wallpaper in the kitchen; yes, I kept a piece!

I hope you all explore a bold design option in your spaces.

third time’s a charm, right!

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So, I feel like I’m Picasso in the many periods of his painting and sculpture career. Except my work is within one canvas, and my periods have taken months not years to produce. Ha.  I’m comparing myself to Picasso? Sorry.

With the new installation of the wood flooring, the chocolate-brown kitchen made the room really dark, so I decided to change the kitchen color… again. We went from navy wallpaper (and 4 layers underneath) to bird-egg blue to chocolate brown and now a grayish with green/yellow undertones. Benjamin Moore calls it Stingray 1529, in eggshell… I’m not painting this kitchen again! Because it’s perfect!

Below is the progression of the kitchen.

The Original ~ Again, I wish I took more pictures of the original, but oh well!

Blue Period

Brown Period – with Laminate floors

Brown Period – Wood Floors

The Present

Just envision some white subway tiles, grayish granite counter tops, farmers sink, new appliances and can lighting… I can see it! I get really excited imagining what it could look like… something like this:

or this.

Our BIG, fun reveal is our new entry into the kitchen!! We had dated columns between the kitchen and family room which I struggled with. I wanted to keep the character and old charm of the house but some things had to go, and this was one of them. I wanted a more open feeling in the kitchen and a little more space for four chairs and table in our kitchen nook, so we decided to do it!  We also took down the wainscoting and took care of the weird mold (surprise!) growing behind the window. Yay!

I’m thinking of this kitchen set from west elm for our kitchen!! I would also like to frame out the window and put in crown molding throughout the kitchen! I think it would look fabulous!

Poof it’s gone…

We’re really excited about the progress, and I’m sure you can see we’re doing something to the family room?!? I’m so excited!!  Stay tuned!

it’s like a yellow brick road

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I’ve never thought I would love baseboards more than I do now, HIGH baseboards, as much as I do, NOW. I’ve been walking around the house these days, just following the trail of baseboards from room-to-room… they just keep going, and it’s awesome.

First, it was finding the right fit for the space. 3″? 4″? 5″? then wood or mdf?

Turns out we should not have worried our pretty little heads over baseboards. One call to our fine brother-in-law, and he knew exactly what we needed! At a great price, too. Score! He is a builder in Missouri so we had them shipped down via uship.com; its like priceline.com for shipping. They showed up one Wednesday morning at 4:30 am, and the van was also carrying a lawnmower going to Tulsa, and a yellow labrador heading to Phoenix. I tried to take their Phoenix cargo with no success. I digress.

We got the beautiful baseboards in the house and ooh’d and aah’d over how amazing they are going to look installed. Over the weekend, we painted two coats of Benjamin Moore semi-gloss paint to an already primed wood baseboard. I color matched them to a baseboard sample we had at the house.

They were ready for the party!!

Then, we went to work. Actually, we went to our actual work, while two meticulous installers measured, cut, and nailed those white shiny boards into place! It was so fun thinking of what was happening at home while I was working. Coming home to such a wonderful prize was even better!!

Here are a couple photos of the our new baseboards!

Entry

Before

Wood floors

Baseboards – This photo was taken at night, hence the color variation. Also, note a new chandelier in the entryway!! 

Living Room

Before

Wood Floors

Baseboards

We put new baseboards throughout the house but I only could reveal these two rooms as the others are undergoing more fun renovations! The only exception for baseboards are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. We have dreams of some day installing new carpet in the bedrooms and doing a total renovation to the bathrooms. A girl can dream!

i’ve been busy… i promise.

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I’ve been working on a collection of things that have been keeping me away from blog world… I miss it and promise there will be a couple of posts soon.

hint… two coats Benjamin Moore semi-gloss colored-matched to my liking!  Bam!

hard-boiled eggs

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Ever since I discovered how easy it is to make hard-boiled eggs, these little gems have become such a staple in our household for a healthy meal or snack! Sure, everyone can boil water, but this technique is the best way (I have found) to make them the best-they-can-be! The shells fall off easier and the insides are bright yellow (no greenish insides)! I found this technique on Greenlitebites. She’s an adventurous healthy foodie with really fun ideas.

Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil on high.

Then drop each egg individually into the water. I use a slotted spoon to gently get them to the bottom of the pot. I usually look over the eggs prior to dropping them into the water for any major cracks. It’s totally fine if there are a couple of cracks; it’s just a little messy! They are usually the first to be eaten, too! You can see in the picture there is one cracked egg (on the left); I cracked it trying to take the picture and hold the spoon at the same time! Oops!

Once all the eggs are in the water (continue boiling – that’s the key!), let them sit for 15 minutes.

Prepare an ice bath, a bowl with cold water and ice cubes.

After the 15 minutes are up, put them directly into the ice bath for an hour! I think this is what makes the eggshells fall off!

After an hour, dry them off, and place them in the refrigerator to enjoy! I used to put them in a bowl or place them in the same grocery egg crate they came in.  I would advise marking them with a marker, as I used to do, so you’ll know it’s a hard-boiled egg, but NOW I have this fabulous ceramic egg crate for hard-boiled eggs!  They sell them here and here, if you want your own. So fun. I wish I would have known about the blue crate, I would have got that one! 

Now it’s time to enjoy!  I usually get a paper towel or plate out and roll the egg on its side. The shell falls off in two halves and you’re ready to eat it!!

Add salt and pepper…

Or mustard and pepper (my favorite) …

Enjoy!!

the art of framing

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I’ve been working on mini-projects throughout the house while we figure out which baseboards look the best. In the living room with the walls painted and the floors in, I really wanted a fun frame arrangement to look at, especially when people walk in the front door. I picture this arrangement with an antique buffet table under it. But the antique buffet table has yet to be found!

For about two weeks now, I’ve walked around the living room with frames on the floor, adding and taking away pictures to figure out the right mix for the space. I try to have a theme to my arrangements. I think it’s fun and a neat conversation piece to the curious eye. There’s a lot of fun themes you can do: family, landscape, color, world, travel, type of medium, etc…  this is my “travel” wall. I have two meaningful Wisconsin locations, Missouri, France, Africa, and two pieces of wisdom. I’ve been adding and taking away all week and finally found a a great combo for the space.

Once I figured out the right arrangement of photos and the amount of photos/frames needed for the space, I started arranging them. I like disorganized or asymmetry in terms of frames design. One day, I’ll have an arrangement that are more symmetric, but not this one. These are some ideas of framing techniques and design.

Tight framing.

Symmetric framing.

Diamond/Mirrored framing. 

An illusion of a mirrored image. (I really want to do something like this with my entry way!)

Ledge framing.

Once the arrangement looks the way I want, I cut out pieces of paper or newspaper the size of the frames, so I can arrange them on the wall.  Believe me, this is a little time-consuming but worth it when you don’t have to make five or fifteen different holes in the wall for one frame!  Also, you’ll see a line of blue painter’s tape below my frames – this is the anticipated height of my future buffet table.

Then, all you have left is the measurements to align the nail hole with the back of the frame. This step is the best! Once you get all the holes in the wall start putting up the goods! Finished product!

It’s always fun to hang up old frames and photos in new spaces. Oh, and I don’t believe you need to have all black or all gold or all white or all wood frames; the array of colors work most of the time. Like in my kitchen for example, I would be more likely just to place gold or white frame on my brown walls as opposed to dark woods and blacks.

sausage souffle

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I’m really liking this blogging-baking bit. I have always had love for baking and have since discovered my love for taking pictures of food, so this seems like a perfect fit! Plus, it’s fun to share ideas and recipes. Today, I’m presenting a family favorite. My mother always made this dish whenever we came home; we had it Christmas morning, weekends we were all home, and even at my brunch after my wedding. It’s a fan favorite, and I’m pleased to share it with you. Plus, you can sound fancy saying “I made sausage soufflé!”, even though its super easy, hearty, and it gets better every morning!

Recipe

  • 8 – 10 slices of bread (cubed)
  • 3/4 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 lb Jimmy Dean Mild pork sausage
  • 1 lb Lean hamburger (or venison)
  • 1/4 tsp dry mustard
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 teas salt & pepper
  • 2 3/4 cups of milk, divided
  • 1 can (16 oz) cream of mushroom soup

I start by cubing the bread. I usually use 10 slices and cut the bread using kitchen shears. Place cubed bread into a sprayed 13 x 9 baking pan.

Then, add cheddar cheese to bread.

Fry sausage and hamburger (or venison). I use venison as my hamburger meat, as my husband is a hunter and we have venison available to us all year. It’s a super lean meat and really good. Plus, I feel like at least the deer had a good life running free in the wild; I can’t say the same for the sausage or hamburger. I should really be a vegetarian, I know.

Drain and arrange meat over cheese. The haze on the top corner of the picture is steam!

Once that’s done, beat eggs, add 2 1/4 cups of milk, dry mustard, salt and pepper together in the bowl. The mixture didn’t look that cool, so I took a picture of 4 eggs in my ceramic egg crate! Necessity? Yes.

Pour over sausage and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Just before baking, mix cream of mushroom soup and 1/2 cup of milk. Pour this mixture over the top of the dish.

Bake for one hour! (Start the coffee!)

Enjoy! It will keep for a couple days, and it gets even better each morning!

wood floors & baseboards

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Wow! With the holidays over we are excited to reveal some major goodness in the Snitker household! We’ve been working through the holidays and beyond to have our whole house transformed!

First we had to pick the wood – hickory or birch?

Then we had to prepare the whole house for the installers, which meant taking out all of the carpet and baseboard! Paul actually did most of this while I was in Chicago! Smart planning on my part!

Then we left it to the professionals! First, they set down plywood!

The plywood made everything feel real! We were excited to see the wood, too… but first we got a sneak peek of the wood. Hickory.

After the installers left, we were still in need of some baseboards before the big reveal… We still haven’t picked out “the one” but here are some options.

Otherwise, Here’s a mini-reveal or a “progress reveal” of the wood, because I know there have been people REALLY wanting to see these results! Okay, just my dad. It’s been a big transformation!

Entry – Before

Entry – After

Living Room – Before

Living – After

Kitchen – Before

Kitchen – After

Office – Before

Office – After  (Please disregard the mess! I wanted to get this post up and it shows I’m human.)

Hall – Before

Hall ~ After

We have both been so pleased with the results.  It really brings cohesiveness to the entire house and adds some luxury in our standard ranch style home. I’m in love with the floors and cannot wait for the baseboards to get here!

bbq pizza

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Since moving to Texas, this northern girl has had to make a lot of adjustments … Macintosh Apples are rare, the Friday night fish fry is not a special, there are no Spotted Cows (beer or actual), and you feel the need to at least like Mexican food (Tex-Mex), Barbecue, and Ahi Tuna Towers.  I honestly was told in clinic, after telling a patient I don’t really like barbecue, to never to say I don’t like BBQ to a patient – he may not respect my opinion on his dermatologic issues either. So, I set my heights on trying, and at least learning to like (I was wishing to enjoy) prepared styles of bbq. It’s all in the sauce, and I found one! Austin’s finest BBQ and Pizza.

I love pizza, so to start my barbecue adventure this way, was a safe-er bet.  I actually found this recipe on my friend’s website, A Food Driven Life, and decided to try it out!  Let me tell you, it was a little work, more waiting for the yeast to rise and chicken to cook, than actual work but I would recommend it to everyone! Hence, me repeating the post.

Recipe

Pizza Dough
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 package yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 cup bread flour
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
Pizza
  • 2 skinless chicken breasts, bone-in
  • 1/2 onion, sliced
  • BBQ sauce
  • corn
  • Fresh Mozzarella

Start by mixing the pizza dough. In a liquid measuring cup, mix one cup of warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it stand there for a few minutes to get all foamy.  In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Pour in the warm water and mix. Add the honey and oil. Knead together until combined. If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour. Cover the bowl and let rise for about an hour and a half.

Now, cook the chicken.  Preheat the oven to 300. Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a dutch oven  over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts, browning all sides. Then, add onions and bbq sauce (1 cup or so) and a little more olive oil. Cover the pot and place in the oven. Bake for an hour and a half, and remove from the oven.  Simple!
After taking out the chicken, increase the oven temperature to 450.  Place the pizza stone/baking sheet in the oven to heat it up.
Now it’s time to roll out the dough.
Make it as thin as possible (you won’t go wrong), about 1/4 inch thick or so! Then, brush the top with olive oil and a little salt.  I brushed my baking sheet with olive oil and a little flour. Then bake crust at 450 degrees for 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, pull chicken off the bone (it will fall off).  You’ll have extra chicken for sandwiches tomorrow, too! So yummy!
Take the pizza dough out of the oven.
And add toppings!
BBQ Sauce
Chicken
Corn & Mozzarella
Bake the pizza at 450 for about 10-12 minutes, until the crust looks crisp and the cheese is slightly browned. It’s so fun to watch the cheese bubble!   It tastes as good as it looks! Delicious! Maybe this will give me the courage to wear my cowboy boots (which I bought in September and haven’t worn yet) out in public while yelling – I love barbecue!
Also, I don’t suggest starting this recipe after work. Which I did. Twice. We ate at 8 and 8:30, respectively. But it was worth the wait each time!

pashmina, what?!

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I figured it was time for some house love! I’ve been wanting to post this simple example of paint color for a while… but other things have been on my plate. Literally! Banana Bread, yes!?

My husband and I finally finished painting all the major rooms in the house.  It was a rather huge accomplishment! And I’m looking forward to the last rooms; the laundry room (yes, still searching for “the” color) and two bathrooms left, but that’s it! Yay!

We finished “Guest Room #1” a couple weeks ago and were blown away by the results.  We used the same, yes, the same-exact-color as we used in “Guest Room #2” but were amazed with the contrasting results.  I had purchased an extra gallon but only really needed a little to touch up “Guest Room #2” and figured it was a great color to paint the other bedroom.  What we’re really pleased with, and I shouldn’t be that surprised, is that the color in each room feels so different!

This is why you always take the color home, put it up in the room, and walk around, walk around A LOT… at night, during the day, midday, midnight, lights on, lights off, you get the idea… to make sure you like it. It will always look different in the room you’re painting than in the paint store. Luckily, we had “Guest Room #2” to make sure we liked the color, but it looks SO, I mean sooooo different in each room! This is a fun way, especially if you’re scared of color, to paint several rooms the same. It’s okay! Sometimes with different lighting, amount of windows, etc, it can make for a dramatic difference!

Okay, have I made you wait long enough!? First the progress of guest room #1.

Guest Room #1 – Before

Guest Room #1 – After

Alright, now we’re excited to load up the room and make people come down and stay a couple nights!! But first I’ll refresh your memory of “Guest Room #2” (geez I need to get another name for these two rooms)!  I made them a little small so you can see them in the same screen and the contrast of the same color.

Benjamin Moore AF – 100 Pashmina

vs.

Maybe I should go look at the paint cans again?!? …just in case. He he.