Before and After: Dining Room Reveal

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

I hope you are somewhere cozy, and soon-to-be- surrounded by family and friends. If you are a Michigander, you may be hoping for a White Christmas, like myself. Wherever this week brings you, I hope it is a blessed one, gathered with loved ones and centered around Jesus' birth.

Before I shut down from the inter webs for the week, I wanted to leave you with our Dining room transformation.  Chase and I have spent much of the last month wearing out paint brushes, and paint clothes. I wouldn't change these days for anything though! Savoring these moments, creating memories and striving to choose gratitude daily.

Amidst trying to conquer several house projects as of late, there certainly have been moments of exhaustion and lack of patience; but there has been no lack of love from my servant of a husband. He has been most diligent in making things happen around here.

I'm so thankful for him.

His love for me and others is woven in and through him. I'm so thankful we have a Savior who is the greatest example of Love. To see the love of Jesus pouring out of my husband in tangible ways is just beyond beautiful to me!

 Jesus, we give you ALONE the glory for all the blessings!





BEFORE:

This was taken mid repair this November. When we originally bought our house, this was a bedroom. We had the french doors installed to make it our dining room. 

AFTER:

                     

Notice my cutie model in the background. If you know her at all, she was happy to smile for the picture:)

 Merry Christmas my friend, from our home to yours!

Before and Afters- Full Bathroom

Twas the week before Christmas and the weekend is here!

What a week it has been, here on 24th street. Nothing short of miracles taking place around me this advent season. It has been one of those seasons, where you just sit in awe of all that God is doing in your midst.

I truly hope this season has been a sweet one for you too! Wherever God has you tonight, my prayer is that you and I would rest in Him completely. Let's soak up the moments around the table, fireplace, and christmas tree together; as we gather with the ones we love. Let's relish in the gift of moments unhurried with spirits of thanks.

My gift to you, as promised, is our bathroom makeover. This transformation was runner up to the Kitchen as far as our house renovations go and I think the pictures speak it quite well!

Hope you enjoy!


BEFORE:

On the left of the bathroom as you walked in, was a built in shelf cabinet which made the entrance rather tight...needless to say we took care of that with a little demo.  

Two spots for soap, but no outlet...this was a problem!

The pink tiles were rather difficult to chip off the wall, and didn't compliment the flooring all that well. 

The pedestal sink was a gem, but no room to get ready in the morning...so we had to say good-bye. 

 Now for what our bathroom looks like today...




AFTER:

New tile flooring that we found discounted cheap! When you only need a very limited amount, you can find inexpensive yet good quality product easier. See, there ARE perks to smaller spaces!

   

No more built in that squishes you on your way in. Also notice that our shower has white tile (compliments of my dad) 

 Well, there you have it!

I am a firm believer that most every space has the potential of radical transformation. Typical bathroom renovations can add up in a hurry. Although we replaced practically everything but the tub in this room, we didn't break the bank. Get creative with the resources you have, ask around and jump into the mess yourself as much as you can.

I'd be happy to share ideas of what that looks like, all the way down to purchasing the mirror/medicine cabinet off the display floor ( Disclaimer: displays AREN'T always better, but sometimes they are.)

More to come on this home tour, but for now, MERRY CHRISTMAS to you!

Have a very blessed week of Christmas!

The Christmas Cross

It was late as we drove home last Saturday evening, Chase and I tired from a full day spent with our sweet friends who live out of town. We were nearly to our street, when we both spotted it. I mean how could we possibly miss it? High up in what must be the neighborhoods tallest tree, were white christmas lights strung to perfection in the shape of a cross.

I can't seem to let go of that simple, yet profound image.

 A Christmas Cross. 

A paradox of sorts, representing Christ's birth and death, but going beyond that, believing that He overcame the cross, glorifying the Father and creating a rebirth of life within those who choose to receive it. Life, death, death defeated, life everlasting. 

One simple image, yet beyond the depth of understanding.

Isn't the Christmas cross the very crux of how we live? Isn't this not only what the season of Advent is all about, but also what our very lives are to proclaim? Shouldn't we always be living with anticipation of what is to come? I don't mean the anticipation of later on today, or tomorrow or even next year, I mean the longing and excitement for eternity. 

 Christmas is a celebration, a remembering, a thanksgiving of Jesus, who came to us as a baby. A gift that can NOT be compared to anything else. A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger; who was and is and will continue to be the greatest sacrifice of all time, who laid down His life on a cross, but then overcame the grave! Through His death on the cross, He provided the means for new life, a gift to all mankind! The greatest gift of all!

Would you do me a favor and re read the previous paragraph at least once more? As believers it is all too easy to speed read over the truths, but this post would be useless if it weren't for the very truths that lay in the sentences above. Read it slowly and let it sink deep into your core, you won't regret it, I'm certain. 

 This truly is a wonderful time of year! I'm grateful for extra time to spend with family and the opportunity to make new memories. But while the bustling world around me continues to scurry in a hurry; I'm here, asking my sweet Savior to reorient my focus moment by moment. This year I have been no less busy in terms of commitments, projects, and relationship building, but I am trying to take moments like this to refocus and remember who my heart is truly celebrating this season. Every season. Join me?

When I intentionally slow down in my heart, it is amazing to see the joy that comes out of it.

Jesus.

 There is power in that name!

"So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
(Philippians 2:10) ESV

Would you join with me today, and bow before our Savior and surrender your moments to Him? So that we might live with the Christmas cross in visible sight. Life is a gift and true everlasting life is the real deal. We are living for so much more than our wish lists and agendas. We are living for the One true King who came to us as a baby.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (Isaiah 60:1-3) ESV

Before and Afters- The Kitchen

Welcome to Friday my friends. I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that December is nearly a week over already! Trying even harder to find the quiet, while the world around me is in a flurry of hurry. Savoring my Saviors birth story as much as possible and working towards less crazy and more calm. You know, because sometimes less truly is MORE.

Which leads me to the next room on our Before and After tour. 

Our Kitchen. 

As you will soon see the before pictures of our kitchen are a tad on the outdated side. We introduced a little bit of color into the finished space, but for the most part, I wanted clean lines, and a fresh welcoming feel. Like I said before, less is more, at least in my opinion as far as the cupboards go...

ENJOY!

BEFORE:

Notice the scary flooring. 

He couldn't wait to start pulling the floor up! This was taken the night we closed on the house! Lots of work to be done. BUT After a couple months of renovations including: new counters, painted cupboards ( new hardware),  new lighting,  more paint, refinished wood floors (which were under layers of who knows what), new ceiling and many many hours spent mostly by our family and friends. (THANK YOU, you know who you are!)  we had our new kitchen!

 AFTER:

The island is one of our many Ikea purchases, and its center piece is ever changing