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My Deadline for the Primary Bathroom Renovation

A much overdue update on an overdue project: the primary bathroom renovation. I’ll be the first to admit that my setback with the countertop company took the momentum out of this project, and if I’m being honest, I needed to step away from it for a little bit because it was making me quite sad. […]

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I’m Allison.
Design obsessed and self-taught DIYer, I'm so excited to share my journey with you, and be a source of inspiration as well as a resource.
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click-for-common-myths-about-color-drenching-and-how-to-do-it-right

When I decided to makeover my primary bedroom last summer, I knew I wanted to go green—but not just any green. I was looking for that perfect moody, soft-but-rich, earthy green that felt calm and cozy without turning too cold. I swatched no less than 12 different greens and finally narrowed it down to five […]

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click-for-renter-friendly-diy-upgrades

Here’s a little-known fact about me: for the past seven years, I’ve been a landlord. So while I spend most of my time inspiring women to take on DIY projects in their own homes, I also have a unique perspective from the other side of the lease. And I’m here to tell you—yes, there are […]

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click-for-primary-bathroom-renovation-week-8

The bathroom renovation hummed along this week and and I’m getting one step closer to finishing the custom wainscoting. This week it was all about the crown molding, as well as deciding on some of the remaining box sizes. I also dabbled in a little bit of electrical, which I’m quite proud of. Lets dive […]

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click-for-primary-bathroom-renovation-weeks-6-7

I think there are two types of people when it comes to design: those that have a design in their head and those that need to sketch everything out in advance. I’m of the former type, not the latter. In fact the main reason I create mood boards is to showcase my vision to all […]

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click-to-read-primary-bathroom-one-room-challenge-week-5

This week was a huge turning point for the primary bathroom renovation because I finally started to see some real changes. I gave you a little sneak peek in last week’s post, but a pallet (594 lbs!) of custom trim arrived and I could not wait to get it on my walls. As eager as […]

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tap-for-primary-bathroom-renovation-week-4

Technically, from a calendar perspective, this is the bathroom renovation halfway point. But from an actual implementation standpoint maybe not so much. However, progress is progress, so I’m happy to share what I accomplished over this past week, as well as what I learned. I taught myself a crash course in how to skim coat […]

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click-for-the-primary-bathroom-design-plans

It’s week two of the Spring One Room Challenge and I can say without a doubt, this is my favorite week other than the reveal week! Why? Because it’s design week! I’m so excited to share the primary bathroom design plans with you today. Someone commented last week that the primary bathroom has “great bones.” […]

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click to see how I'm updating my primary bathroom

This week kicked off the 2025 Spring One Room Challenge and I’m so excited to be participating again! If you were here last year, you might remember I decided to renovate my kitchen for my first ever One Room Challenge. While it seemed like a lofty endeavor, especially before the holidays, I couldn’t be happier […]

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click-for-common-myths-about-color-drenching-and-how-to-do-it-right

Color drenching has been making waves in the interior design world, and for good reason. This bold, immersive technique—where walls, ceilings, trim, and even furniture are painted in the same hue—creates a cohesive, dramatic, and deeply atmospheric look. But despite its growing popularity, many people hesitate to try it, often due to common misconceptions.   Let’s […]

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all-about-my-new-motorized-shades-in-the-bedroom

Have you ever seen the movie The Holiday? It’s that one where Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz switch houses over the holidays, trying to escape from the reality of their love lives falling apart. There’s this one moment in the movie where Kate Winslet enters Cameron Diaz’s bedroom for the first time, and she notices […]

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2025-project-list-house-exterior-makeover-phase-1

This has been spinning in my head for months, but I’ve finally taken the time to put pen to paper, and think about my 2025 project list. I also went back and reviewed my 2024 project list, did an assessment of dreaming vs reality, and publicly checked myself with my 2024 project recap. There’s nothing […]

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learn-more-about-my-budget-friendly-kitchen-renovation

I’ve been dreaming of having the ability to write this post for what feels like years…so I’m SO excited to reveal my One Room Challenge Budget Friendly Kitchen Renovation with you today! I shared a video walk through shortly before Christmas, but I wanted to reset the space with fresh styling before snapping more photos. […]

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click-for-my-2024-project-recap

I remember sitting down last year to plan out my 2024 project list, and thinking to myself “this is unrealistic, but I’m going to write it down anyhow.” There were some big ticket items on that list, including a few I couldn’t manage without hiring out. Then by the time summer rolled around and I […]

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tap-to-learn-more-about-installing-soft-close-drawer-slides

While there’s still a long list of things to do in the budget friendly kitchen renovation, I’m one step closer to having the core of my kitchen back. After painting the counter tops to look like faux carrara marble (still can’t get over this transformation by the way! – this is the kit I used), […]

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transforming-my-granite-counters-to-a-faux-carrara-marble-finish

Recently I teased on socials that this kitchen is a vicious cycle of painting, sanding, cleaning and sawing. It was a joke but it’s really quite accurate! So naturally I’m back into a painting phase for week 6 of the budget friendly kitchen renovation: transforming the countertops. Yes that’s right, I’m aiming to DIY my […]

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click for budget friendly kitchen renovation wood paneling installation

The budget friendly kitchen renovation is humming right along and this week it was all about the backsplash. Well, technically last week was too (did you see the removal process?), but this week we’re making it pretty! The transformation is about to ramp up as we enter Week 5 of the One Room Challenge, but […]

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budget-friendly-kitchen-renovation-removing-tile-glass-backsplash

This is my first ever kitchen renovation and I think it’s fair to say that this week might have been the breaking point. While I had a little extra pep in my step last week from the new paint that went on the cabinet boxes, the wave of excitement came crashing down this week as […]

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click-for-budget-friendly-kitchen-renovation

We are two full weeks into the 2024 Fall One Room Challenge and this is the week where I finally felt I could see my vision taking shape. That’s the power of paint after all – it’s transformative! (did you see my exterior reveal? Say less.) But before we could get into the fun part, […]

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click-for-budget-friendly-kitchen-renovation-week-2-progress

It’s the end of week one of the fall 2024 One Room Challenge and I feel like I’ve already lived 5 months in 5 days. All kidding aside, I knew when I picked the kitchen for my renovation project, that it would be no easy task. These first few days getting started have reminded me […]

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budget-friendly-kitchen-renovation

Are you ready for the grand finale of 2024? We’re going out with a bang, and we’re doing it in good company as I join the 2024 Fall One Room Challenge. If you’re not already familiar, the One Room Challenge takes place twice a year and is a way for designers to collaborate and foster […]

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click-to-learn-how-to-measure-and-install-custom-draperies

Recently I installed custom draperies in the dining room, and I have to say, the room feels all grown up now. I’ve always planned on removing the venetian blinds that came with the house, but with this room facing the road, having no privacy was not an option. I also just wasn’t in a rush. […]

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Not too long ago, a type of paint called “chalk paint” was all the rage. I don’t know if it was the look of the finish that attracted people, or the ease of application, but everywhere you turned, something was being refinished with chalk paint. As with most things, what comes around goes around and […]

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click-to-read-how-the-2024-project-list-is-going

Can you believe we’re nearing the end of July?! Me either! This year has truly flown by and I know (as always) it’s going to speed up as we get closer to the holidays. As I’ve had my head down and deep into projects, I thought it would be a great time for a 2024 […]

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click-to-learn-how-to-design-custom-trim

A couple months ago when I installed picture frame molding in the dining room, I had a sneaking suspicion that it was going to be addicting. I just didn’t know how addicting! All of a sudden, I wanted it in every room in the house. However, I’m a firm believer that there can be too […]

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click-for-bathroom-before-and-after

Today we’re taking a jaunt down memory lane, as I share the one of the first things I decided to do after buying this house: a primary bathroom renovation. There’s nothing quite like biting off more than you can chew, and I can say I confidently achieved that by renovating the primary bathroom with little […]

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2024-project-list-kitchen

It’s funny how cyclical life can be sometimes. Every year, I get so excited about the holidays for many reasons, but deep down I think I’m welcoming a break from renovating and DIY-ing. I’ve always made myself stop house projects to enjoy the holidays with family, savor the holiday décor and get out of the […]

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how-i-transformed-my-dining-room-table-from-black-to-wood-for-less-than-$100

The dining room flip has been one of my most exciting projects to date in this house, however I truly reached a sticking point when it came time to make decisions about the furniture. If you remember, I got a bit tripped up with the design plans for the dining room because of this black […]

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click to learn how to paint trim

Today, I’ve got a fantastic project that will instantly elevate the look of your space: painting interior trim. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY pro or just starting your home improvement journey, this step-by-step interior trim painting guide will help you achieve a polished and professional finish. Let’s dive in! Why Paint Your Interior Trim? Before […]

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click to learn how to paint a ceiling tips tricks

This one’s for my DIY enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into a topic that often gets overlooked in the world of home renovation and design: ceiling painting. Sure, we all love a beautifully painted wall, but what about the fifth wall—the ceiling? Trust me, it’s a game-changer when done right. So, grab your paintbrushes and let’s […]

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how to paint a wall

Are you ready to paint?! Follow along below as I guide you through how to paint a wall like a professional. Speaking of professionals, I’ll share the cost savings you can anticipate by choosing to DIY this project. Get excited – we’re about to transform your space! Getting Set Up After you’ve decided on your […]

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click for powder room before and after

Reveal days are my favorite days! I’m so excited about how the powder room redesign turned out and I’m even more excited to share the full room reveal with you today. How we got here If you remember, I realized the pedestal sink wasn’t properly secured to the powder room wall, and after calling my […]

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A couple weeks ago I shared my vision for the Powder Room Makeover, including three moodboards – all featuring different wallpaper designs. In addition to the moodboards, I ordered samples of each which helped narrow down the decision between Moodboard #2 and Moodboard #3. In the end, I decided to move forward with Woodchip & […]

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click-to-learn-about-paint-sheens-colors

Paint is one of the most instantaneous and easiest ways to transform a space, but sometimes all the choices can be a bit overwhelming. Today, I’m going to break it all down for you and arm you with everything you need before heading into the paint store. We’ll go over the basics which include an […]

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Recently, I noticed that the pedestal sink in the powder room was wobbly, and after further investigation I realized it wasn’t connected to the wall! After calling the plumber we came to the unfortunate truth that the sink wasn’t connected to any studs in the wall, but was simply drilled into drywall. The plumber had […]

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white oak plank paired against swiss coffee painted walls

If you’ve been following along, you’re up to speed on how a small leak has changed my entire house (seemingly overnight). After I had a minute to process what was happening and just how much damage it caused, I decided to lean into the situation and look at it as a blessing. In truth I’ve […]

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Yes, I bought a house with popcorn ceilings and yes I scraped every square inch of them off, all by myself. 3,222 square feet to be exact. When I bought this house, there was no question that these ceilings were going to get fixed, but it was something I planned to hire out for. I […]

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best-paint-supplies-interior-painting

When preparing to tackle an interior painting project, taking the time to prepare the space as well as using the right painting supplies can make your DIY job look like a professional one. Here’s a list of the seven best paint supplies – as well as some additional ones – to make sure you have […]

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cozy-room-refresh

When I first toured this house, I was so amazed that there were TWO living rooms! Not to mention they were both double the size of my previous and only living room. Before my offer was finalized, I was planning what existing furniture would go where and since “living room” meant two spaces in this […]

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mitigation kitchen leak

It’s an ugly picture, isn’t it? I think so too. This is a cautionary tale about how a refrigerator leak turned my house upside down, what mitigation really looks like and my options for the restoration. It happened while my parents were visiting. While leaving for work one morning I spotted a puddle of water […]

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