$5,000 To Fix A Rare, Intermittent Issue–The End Of The Perfect Storm

September 25, 2023 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 765th Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever had a repair made to your home that you were dreading, thinking it was going to be a lot more involved and more expensive than it actually turned out to be? When I first moved into my home over 30 years ago, I noticed on very rare occasions (like every 4-5 years) a small amount of water would come in near this little jutted-out spot called a knee … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes



Cabinetgate Continues, It’s The Never-Ending Drama

September 18, 2023 by 23 Comments

Welcome to the 764th Metamorphosis Monday! If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you may remember that back in the day when I first started ordering storage cabinets for the garage (and now for the basement) the cabinets were often arriving very badly damaged.   They would often arrive with big chips and dents in various parts. During that period, I had so many returns and reorders, only … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After



A New Method For Storing The 13 Christmas Wreaths I Hang On My Exterior Windows

September 11, 2023 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 763rd Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you had a great one! Mine was busy and turned out to be quite productive. I started pulling out all of the holiday decor I had stored under the attic eaves, hauling it all two flights of stairs down to the basement.   There was a lot stored here on the Christma-storage side. In addition to what you see, there were around … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , , ,



A New Carry-on Bag–Plus, Some Home Renovation Updates In The Works

September 4, 2023 by 18 Comments

Welcome to the 762nd Metamorphosis Monday! I hope you've been having a relaxing Labor Day weekend. I'm running a tad behind due to computer issues. My computer this morning suddenly decided it didn't want to let me access any of the photos, including the ones I needed for this post. I finally got it to work, hope it stays working. Computers are always a love/hate relationship, aren't they? Before we get … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,



A Successful Microwave Installation & Protecting The Top of My New Washer

August 28, 2023 by 18 Comments

Welcome to the 761st Metamorphosis Monday! I have two quick updates to share for this week's Met Monday. I finally have a working microwave again. The Home Depot installation went great and was handled professionally--they even arrived during the time frame of the appointment. Also, the microwave actually works! So happy to have this completed after two previously failed attempts from another … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Laundry Room



Make Seashell Napkin Rings For Your Summer, Beach-Themed Table Settings

August 21, 2023 by 8 Comments

Welcome to the 760th Metamorphosis Monday! One of the things I love most about blogging is hearing from you and all the wonderful crafts and projects that you're working on. Elena, a lovely BNOTP reader, recently set a fun, beach-themed table for family that included these wonderful shell napkin rings that she hand-crafted herself.   I've made shell chargers before--tutorial for those is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Crafts & Sewing, Spring & Summer Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Favorite Frozen Pizza That Doesn’t Taste Like Frozen + Silicone Liners for Air Fryers

August 14, 2023 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 759th Metamorphosis Monday! I hope you had a fun, relaxing weekend! I had four things that I wanted to share today, and I swear, as soon as one of those things entered my brain, it exited right out the other side. I don't know what's wrong with me but sometimes I'll think of something that I need to purchase at the grocery store and seconds later I've had 5 more thoughts and can't even recall … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Recipes Tagged With: , ,



For Sinus Sufferers: I Finally Found Something That Works

August 7, 2023 by 31 Comments

Welcome to the 758th Metamorphosis Monday! I hope you had an awesome weekend! For this week's Met Monday, I wanted to share a recent discovery I made that has really helped so much with my never-ending sinus issues. I've had sinus problems for many years, so long I can't even remember when they first started. If I catch a cold, I'm guaranteed a sinus infection will follow, but even when I don't have a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , , ,



Will The Garage Ever Be Done? Plus, A Foxtail Fern Flower Reveal

July 31, 2023 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 757th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Mine was very relaxing, something I really needed after the long drive home from Ohio, but things are starting to get busy this week. I'm having a new microwave installed tomorrow, mine started making bizarre noises a few weeks ago. I ordered a new one but it ended up being backordered and will finally be installed tomorrow. Since I use my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garage Tagged With: , , ,



Attractive, Waterproof, Patio-Deck Storage For Outdoor Cushions, Toys, Gardening & Grilling Tools

July 24, 2023 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 756th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Well, it has been a process spanning several years, but I have finally managed to move all the toys I saved from my son's childhood--to my son's home in Ohio for his children to enjoy. Of course, I didn't save every toy from his childhood, but I did try to save the best ones that I felt were perennial and would never be outdated. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,



How Do I Like My Speed Queen Washer & Would I Recommend It

July 17, 2023 by 62 Comments

Welcome to the 755th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you had a great one! If you've been following along with my recent washing machine saga, you may remember my 43-1/2-year-old GE washing machine recently started having issues. The appliance repairman I've used in the past when my icemaker acted up, confirmed that parts are no longer available, so it was time to go washing machine … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Laundry Room Tagged With: , , , ,



Why I Returned My Brand New Washer And The Washer I’ve Chosen To Replace It

July 10, 2023 by 112 Comments

Welcome to the 754th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I mentioned that my beloved 43-1/2-year-old washing machine, the only one I've ever owned, had to be replaced. The washer I purchased to replace it was delivered on June 21st and within 24 hours I was calling the store from which I purchased it, asking them to please come pick it back up.   The Speed Queen washing machine you see on the left … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Laundry Room Tagged With: , , ,



Sometimes It’s the Little Things That Can Make Life A Lot Better!

July 3, 2023 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 753rd Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever had something annoy you for a long time, then one day that final straw hits and you realize you have to do something to fix it, or at least find something that works better? That's what finally happened to me with these super annoying tape dispensers I've been using for ages. The red one normally lives in the basement and I have another one just like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Garage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , , ,



Sharing 4 (Actually 5) New Updates For This Week’s Metamorphosis Monday!

June 26, 2023 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 752nd Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was an awesome one! If you saw Saturday's post where I shared Norma's recipe for making this beautiful Tarte Soleil, you may want to revisit that post and print the recipe out again. Norma provided some additional details/corrections so I made a few changes, so definitely take a moment to print it out again if you would like a copy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, Garage Tagged With: , , , , ,



A Beautiful Addition To The Front Porch, Can You Guess What It Is?

June 19, 2023 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 751st Metamorphosis Monday! Quite a few years back I added two benches to my front porch.   If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you may remember this porch below. I came across this home/porch many years ago in a Southern Homes magazine and it was the inspiration for the front porch that I had added to my home back in 2008. Notice the benches on the inspiration porch. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , , , , ,



Finally Did It–Had The Roof Cleaned! What Do You Think?

June 12, 2023 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 750th Metamorphosis Monday! Two years ago, in June 2021, I shared a post where I mentioned I had noticed the roof on my home was looking kinda dirty. In this older 2012 photo, here's how the roof looked when it was still relatively new. It was around 5 years old at that time.   Looking back at older photos like the one below, I can see now that over the years a bit of staining … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gardening & Birding Tagged With: , , ,



Easy Solution For “Fixing” & Hiding Beige Outlets In A Room With White Trim

June 5, 2023 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 749th Metamorphosis Monday! Last year I had the "almost finished" side of the basement painted. The walls were painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove and the trim was painted in Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. Chantilly Lace is a bright white with an LRV of 92.2.   Though this basement is a daylight basement with 5 good-size windows and two French doors, I wanted to keep the room … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Lighting



So…How Do You Feel About Purple?

May 29, 2023 by 58 Comments

Welcome to the 748th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a restful Memorial Day weekend and are enjoying some additional time off today. When I last shared the basement storage/work room, the painting was mostly finished except for the windows and some areas that needed a bit of touch-up. Before I share how it looks now, here's a photo of where we started. This side of the basement was functional for storage … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , , ,



So Close Now–Almost Done!

May 22, 2023 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 747th Metamorphosis Monday! The basement storage room is so close to being finished now. When I last shared this space, this is how it looked.   Here's a quick update on where things are as of this morning. Baseboard was installed and the walls and baseboard have been painted. I went with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for the walls and the trim--semi-gloss for the trim and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After Tagged With: , , , , ,



When Things Go Sideways–Literally! Never Had This Happen Before!

May 15, 2023 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 746th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! I hope you had a fabulous weekend! Mine was great except for one mind-numbing incident. lol So you know how I've put together a gazillion of these white storage cabinets for use here in the garage? I have 9 here in the garage--five along the side wall and four on the front wall.   I decided to order two for the basement storage room … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , ,



New Lighting For The Upstairs Hall & This Lighting Has A Surprise, Unique Feature

May 9, 2023 by 14 Comments

When I had an electrician here on Friday to add recessed lighting to the storage/utility room in the basement, I also had him change out the three lights in my upstairs hallway to recessed lighting, recessed lighting with a special, built-in feature. This was the lighting that was in the long, upstairs hallway.   Two of the three lights are visible in this previous photo from when I was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Lighting, Upstairs Hall Tagged With: , , , , ,



Wow! What a Difference New Lighting Can Make–The Basement Is Almost Done Now

May 8, 2023 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 745th Metamorphosis Monday! One week ago I shared an update on the storage/workroom part of my basement. I had just had flooring installed...the same type of epoxy flooring seen here in the garage.   I was surprised and a little disappointed when I saw how it looked here in the basement. It seemed a lot darker in this room than it had in the garage.   Ummm. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After Tagged With: , , ,



Such a Big Improvement–Love This Spice Rack Organizer!

May 2, 2023 by 31 Comments

My spice organization left a lot to be desired. The only place I have near my stove to store spices is inside this relatively narrow cabinet next to the stove. To try and make it more functional, I have a lot of my spices on a little turntable. It's not a great system because when I need a particular spice, I have to spin it around and around searching for the one that I need. Often, the smaller spice … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Kitchen & Breakfast Area Tagged With: , ,



How The Epoxy Flooring In The Basement Turned Out & Lighting Is Next!

May 1, 2023 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 744th Metamorphosis Monday! The flooring in the unfinished area of the basement is done and it looks a bit different from how I had imagined it would look. You may remember this is how it looked before its makeover.   A previous owner of my home had it painted white at some point. It was pretty scraped up and had some impossible-to-remove stains, so I decided to give it the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After Tagged With: , , , ,



What Do You Think About This Shelving & A Sneak Peak At The New Flooring

April 29, 2023 by 25 Comments

Happy Weekend! I hope you are having a great one! Just wanted to pop in with a brief update. The guys from Granite Garage just finished up with the flooring in the unfinished part of the basement today. You may remember the floor in that part of the basement looked like this. (This photo was taken before I had the drywall added.)   A previous homeowner apparently had it painted at one time. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After Tagged With: , ,



How The Solar Fountain Is Working & An Exciting Basement Update Coming Soon

April 24, 2023 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 743rd Metamorphosis Monday! A few days ago I shared an addition I had purchased for the heated bird bath I keep out year around on my deck.   I had ordered a solar fountain for the bird bath. This bird bath see a lot of visitors throughout the day so I thought it would be something the birds would enjoy.   The solar fountain arrived yesterday and I pretty quickly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, Gardening & Birding Tagged With: , , ,



An Appliance Slider Tray For My Kitchen, Love How It Works!

April 17, 2023 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 742nd Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope it was a great one! Last Monday I shared a full, down-to-the-studs kitchen renovation my son and daughter-in-law just recently completed in their home. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: This 1970s Kitchen Just Got a Dramatic, Down-to-the-Studs Renovation.   As part of a yay-we-have-a-new-kitchen and early, joint … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Kitchen & Breakfast Area Tagged With: , , , , ,



This 1970s Kitchen Just Got a Dramatic, Down-to-the-Studs, Beautiful Renovation!

April 10, 2023 by 39 Comments

Welcome to the 741st Metamorphosis Monday! If you love a dramatic Before and After, you're going to love today's reveal! My son and daughter-in-law live in an older neighborhood where many of the homes were built in the early 1900s. I think their home was built in the early 1920s, if I'm remembering correctly. The previous owners did a kitchen update at some point, we're guessing in the 1970s based on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes



2 Before And Afters: 1 For Plant Lovers And 1 For The Puzzlers

April 3, 2023 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 740th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was great! I have two little updates to share for this week's Met Monday. You may remember last winter, I attempted to winter over the geraniums I usually have out on one of my decks during the spring/summer instead of just letting them freeze and purchasing more the next spring. Last year was so successful, I decided to try it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Puzzles Tagged With: , , ,



I Found A Solution, But You May Not Want To Read This Post! Spoiler Alert!

March 20, 2023 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 738th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, I mentioned I had purchased The Happy Isles puzzle from the Magic Puzzle Company. I didn't know a lot about their puzzles, or this particular puzzle, when I purchased it, only that there's a bit of a magic trick at the end that reveals a surprise twist to the story of  The Happy Isles. Before we go any further into today's post, if you've purchased … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Puzzles Tagged With: , , , ,



Trust Your Intuition, Don’t Hesitate To Get A Second Opinion

March 13, 2023 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 737th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I had a situation come up that truly brought home how important it is to trust your instincts and that little voice inside that tells you when something doesn't seem quite right. I wanted to share an experience I had recently, in case you find it helpful in a similar situation in the future. I've been going to the same dental practice for approximately … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Inspire



Spring Porch Dreaming

March 5, 2023 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 736th Metamorphosis Monday! I was super toying with the idea of giving my screen porch a good scrub down this weekend, but pollen season is ahead so I'm trying to decide if I should just wait. Knowing me, I won't be able to stand not cleaning it, especially since today it was 71° out, and over the next two days, the temps will hit 78 degrees.   I had a dental issue pop up this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches Tagged With: , , , , ,



A Puzzling Before & After For Lovers Of Classic Fiction

February 26, 2023 by 10 Comments

Welcome to the 735th Metamorphosis Monday! If you're a lover of classic fiction like the novels of Jane Austen or the wonderful books written by the Bronte sisters, you will love working these puzzles! The first puzzle I came across in this collection was The World of Shakespeare. I enjoyed it so much, I couldn't wait to do more.   I don't think I ever took a photo of The World of Shakespeare … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Puzzles



Changing Up My Lipstick Game–Had No Idea These Even Existed!

February 19, 2023 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 734th Metamorphosis Monday! I wish I was a make-up kinda girl sometimes. About half the time I run around completely bare-faced. I never wear foundation because it literally makes any wrinkles I have a million times more noticeable. Mostly I just use a bit of mascara (so I actually look like I have eyelashes) and lipstick. Lipstick is my favorite thing to wear on a daily basis, well, behind … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Epoxy Flooring In The Garage: Would I Do It Again? A 6-Month Update!

February 6, 2023 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 732nd Metamorphosis Monday! A few months back, my garage got a really substantial makeover. The walls, ceiling and the garage door badly needed painting, the original builder-grade lighting was not the greatest, and the garage floor was your typical concrete floor and very stained after 40+ years of use.   Here's how the garage looked after its makeover, definitely an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After Tagged With: , , , , ,



Ditching the Eyeglasses When I’m Out and About + New Workspace Glasses!

January 30, 2023 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 731st Metamorphosis Monday! Do you wear glasses or contacts? Back in May 2017, the progressive glasses I had been wearing for quite a few years, broke apart right in the center. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it led me to a local eyeglass retailer/optometrist where for the first time ever I learned about "workstation" glasses.   To say my workstation (or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty



2 Electrical Updates: A Practical One For The Basement & A Bit Of Luxury For The Bath

January 17, 2023 by 19 Comments

This would make a great Metamorphosis Monday post, but I'm eager to share how the electrical work I had done yesterday turned out so let's just dive right on in. It was a good day for getting stuff done! So, remember when the unfinished side of the basement looked like this with insulation visible in the walls between the finished and unfinished side?   When I had the whole house surge … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baths, Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



Have You Ever Tried Freezing Eggs?

January 16, 2023 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 729th Metamorphosis Monday! A few months back, I had the electrician who added lights to my basement stairway, install a whole-house surge protector. Unfortunately, when a drywall guy gave me a quote for drywall a few weeks ago, he told me that the surge protector had to be moved, otherwise, it would get covered up by the drywall. When I first had the surge protector installed, I told my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After



A Happy, Bright Update for the Basement and Storage Room!

January 9, 2023 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 728th Metamorphosis Monday! How is 2023 treating you so far? I hope it's going well! I'm feeling a lot better now after having caught a bug at Christmastime. I have a basement update for this week's Met Monday. Here's a quick recap if you're new to the basement updates I've been making--I added stair lighting along the right side of the stairway going down.   I also added … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After



Sometimes It’s The Little Tweaks That Make Life Better

January 2, 2023 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 727th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Year to you! I hope your 2023 is off to an awesome start! Apparently, I'm trying to repeat the start of 2018 as I began the year with a yucky virus. I came down sick on Saturday and I think I'm finally past the body ache and fever stage. Unfortunately, I had to postpone the drywall work that was supposed to start in the basement tomorrow. So I don't have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



Touring 2 Homes Beautifully Decorated For The Christmas Holidays

December 26, 2022 by 10 Comments

Welcome to the 726th Metamorphosis Monday! I hope as I write this, you are enjoying a warm, relaxing, cozy time wherever you are. It's been super cold here in Ohio over the past few days. I've never lived where I saw negative temps! Notice the "feels like" temp: -31°! That's scary cold! As I type this, it's 17° outside and feels like 8° per the weather app on my phone, plus, more snow is expected today. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor Tagged With: , , , ,



Planning for More Storage in the Basement, Do You Recognize This Ikea Cabinet?

December 19, 2022 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 725th Metamorphosis Monday! A couple of months ago I shared this photo of the semi-finished side of my basement prior to having it painted. Everything seen in the photo below was moved over to the unfinished side during the painting process.   In January, the walls on the unfinished side will be dry-walled/sheetrocked.   After talking with several drywall … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After



Building An Enchanting Book Nook

December 12, 2022 by 26 Comments

Welcome to the 724th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! I got a bit of disappointing news on Friday--the drywall company that was supposed to start the drywall process in the unfinished side of the basement this week is putting me off for a couple of weeks. At the last minute, he had a huge job come in, a customer who is having him smooth out all the ceilings throughout her whole home. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, BNOTP Library, DIY Crafts & Sewing



A Few Updates For The Guest Room

December 5, 2022 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 723rd Metamorphosis Monday! It's dark and rainy out so I had a tough time getting some decent photos this morning. Yellow walls seem to completely freak out my camera. The walls in my guest room are a pale yellow, not the dark yellow they appear below.   This photo is a bit more accurate, but still too dark. The yellow you see above the secretary is a bit more accurate. I am … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Before & After



Lots of Fun Updates from Decorating to Organizing to Filling Up a New Freezer

November 28, 2022 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 722nd Metamorphosis Monday! Have you started or completed your holiday decorating? I got my wreaths up a few days before Thanksgiving, but that's about as far as I've gotten. If you would like more info about how I hang my wreaths each year, you'll find a post where I share the details here: How to Hang Wreaths on Exterior Windows.     So, it took me a while but I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , ,



Buying My First Freezer, Crazy About This Rail-Basket Organizing System!

November 21, 2022 by 61 Comments

Welcome to the 721st Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you had a fabulous fall weekend! I was busy making the most out of my recently updated storage room. I brought down more centerpieces/decorative pieces that had been stored in my laundry room cabinets so they would all be together in one spot.   I still had so much available space on the floor below the shelves, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , ,



A Basement-Terrace Level Reveal, Sharing All 3 Spaces and How They Look Now!

November 14, 2022 by 50 Comments

Welcome to the 720th Metamorphosis Monday! I am so excited to give you an update reveal on the basement area. As you look at these pictures, please keep in mind that the basement is still not complete--I have many more plans for this space! You may remember when I first started this process a few weeks ago, the basement stairs looked like this. Not sure why, but when this home was built in 1982-83, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,



Painting Starts Today! Also, Progress Has Been Made in the Crawl Space Storage

November 7, 2022 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 719th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was great! I spent it working here in the crawl space area of the basement. My muscles are spent! When I last shared this area, I had just started priming shelves in this space for painting. I also planned to use Drylock on the walls since it's what I found recommended when I did a search for the best paint for basement … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After



Entering Into the World of James Bond for Halloween This Year, Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2022 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 718th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Halloween! Did you go to any great Halloween parties this year? Jackie, a lovely BNOTP reader who has become a friend over the years, hosts an amazing Halloween party each year! She always chooses a theme for the party, then completely transforms her home around that theme. You may remember last year's theme which was Star Trek.     If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Halloween Crafts, Halloween Decor, Halloween Movies, TV & Movie House Fun Tagged With: , , , , ,



Take a Tour of This Beautiful Home Decorated with Lots of Halloween Whimsy!

October 24, 2022 by 11 Comments

Welcome to the 717th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, my friend, Teresa, who lives in the great state of Texas, was invited to tour a beautiful home that was all decked out for Halloween. Teresa asked the lovely homeowner, Ann, if she could take photos of her fun decorations and Ann graciously agreed. Thanks so much to Teresa and Ann for sharing this wonderful tour!   Ohhh, I think I see a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Halloween Decor Tagged With: , ,



New Lighting–the Basement Staircase Is Transformed! Lots of Updates!

October 19, 2022 by 37 Comments

Yesterday was another busy day with the basement renovation. I managed to get a final coat of paint on the wall in the unfinished area and got the shelves fully primed in the smaller storage area. I need to buy paint for those and will do that today or tomorrow. The electrician was here for most of the day doing all kinds of good stuff! At my request, he installed dimmer switches for all the recessed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After



Renovating 4 Spaces In My Home, And It’s Happening All A Once! Yikes!

October 17, 2022 by 56 Comments

Welcome to the 716th Metamorphosis Monday! The next few weeks are going to be pretty busy around here. I just had a new hot water heater installed and this week I have two different electrical companies coming out to give me estimates on adding additional lighting for the staircase that leads down to my basement/terrace level.  Hard to believe when this home was built around 1982, the only lighting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs)



Decorate Your Home for Autumn with Whimsical Touches of Halloween!

October 10, 2022 by 13 Comments

Welcome to the 715th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Week! I have a delightful fall decor makeover to share for this week's Met Monday! Jillian is all ready for Halloween and Autumn and the fun starts right here at the front door.   Please note: This area is designated for "Broom Parking Only, Violators Will Be Toad!" Ha!   Eeek! Bats everywhere! Love the cattail … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Halloween Decor, Seasonal Decor, Thanksgiving Decor Tagged With: , , , , , , ,



Where Would You Love to Live–Beach, City, Mountains–or Somewhere In Between?

October 3, 2022 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 714th Metamorphosis Monday! I guess I've always been a city girl, not "hard-core city" like living in Atlanta, but more low-key city living, life in the burbs 25-30 minutes outside a big city. That lifestyle has worked well over the years, especially when my son was in elementary, middle, and high school. Back then, schools were the most important factor in choosing where to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Home Tours



The Garage is Finally Done, Landscapers Who Hide Things & Very Hungry Bees!

September 24, 2022 by 26 Comments

How is your weekend going? I've been tidying up lots of odds and ends around here. The painter came back today to finish painting the plantation shutters in the garage. The first painter really botched them with drips and runs everywhere. The painter that came today had previously been out and sanded off all the drips and today he came back to paint them. They are once again in the windows of the garage and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes



My 10 August Favorites–Definite Lifestyle Improvements!

September 21, 2022 by 22 Comments

We're 2/3rds through September and I've never gotten around to sharing my August favorites. A lot of my favorites are those things related to the major garage overall I completed recently, but a few fall outside that renovation--like my new desk chair. I'm pretty crazy about the new desk chair that I bought in August when the gas lift cylinder failed on my previous chair and I was unable to repair it after … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Monthly Favorites



A Colorful Upgrade–I’m In Love With This Beautiful Weather Station!

September 19, 2022 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 712th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was restful and fun! For this week's Met Monday, I have a small Before/After that makes me smile from ear-to-ear each time I see it--which just so happens to be multiple times per day. It's a small addition here in the kitchen. I've been enjoying it so much, I ended up purchasing another one for my office. What has me grinning ear … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , ,



Fortnum & Mason Hamper As a Side Table, Great Place to Hide Throws & Pillows

September 12, 2022 by 44 Comments

Welcome to the 711th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! I hope your week is off to a fabulous start! A week or so ago I shared the arrival of a Fortnum and Mason Hamper I had purchased, along with the goodies that I chose to go inside. I ended up creating my own bespoke hamper to get the size hamper and the contents I really wanted.   When I first placed my order for one of their hampers, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs) Tagged With: , , ,



Garage Art, Easy Way to Level Cabinets & Such a Cool Tool–I Bought it Twice!

September 5, 2022 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 710th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope your Labor Day weekend is going amazing! I've been goofing off and relaxing a bit, something I find hard to do. lol I always feel a bit guilty if I'm not being productive. Anyone else have that problem? There was one thing that I got done here in the garage, something that's been bugging me since the garage makeover was completed.   See that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garage



It’s Done! The Cabinets are Back and All Systems are GO!

August 29, 2022 by 53 Comments

Welcome to the 709th Metamorphosis Monday! It was a long time coming but I finally have all the cabinets back in the garage and filled back up. Before I share the "After" here's a little reminder of where we started. The garage walls were in need of a fresh coat of paint and much better lighting than the builder-grade lights that had been here for 40 years.   Previously, I had 6 dish … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Garage Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,



Garage Storage Cabinets, Progress Has Been Made But There’s Been a Few Glitches

August 22, 2022 by 36 Comments

Welcome to the 708th Metamorphosis Monday! As I type this, I'm waiting for the second garage door repairman to arrive. Hopefully, I can get this post up before he arrives. I will have to create a post sharing all the things that have had to be done and redone multiple times so you'll know life isn't all rainbows and unicorns up in here. Ha! Seems like every project I embark on has had a major glitch (or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Garage Tagged With: , , , , ,



Not Again! Unfortunately, yes! Again! Plus, Sharing a Handy DIY Hack

August 20, 2022 by 12 Comments

So remember when the garage looked like this?   Well, it looks like this again. Arggh! :( I'll explain more on Monday but basically, the original painter the company sent out did a terrible job of fixing a couple of places on the ceiling where the sheetrock tape that was used 40 years ago was starting to loosen in places. He really botched it. So the painting company has sent out a much more … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Garage



A New Addition for the Office & How I Track Down Studs

August 17, 2022 by 13 Comments

Back around 2010 when I put my home office together and purchased an office desk chair, one of my top priorities in choosing a chair was its appearance. Of course, I wanted it to be comfortable and great for day-to-day use, but I also wanted it to be pretty and to work with my home office interior. Over the years and many desk chairs later, I have pretty much given up on worrying about how it looks and if … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



A Small Addition to the Garage That I’m Absolutely Loving

August 15, 2022 by 44 Comments

Welcome to the 707th Metamorphosis Monday! Over the last week, I've been sharing the dramatic makeover my garage went through recently. (See that makeover in full here: Dramatic Garage Makeover with New Lighting, Fresh Paint, and New Flooring.) This weekend I shared over two posts, the 2-day process of how the flooring was installed. A painter will be coming out to complete a few touchups on the back … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Garage Tagged With: , , ,



Garage Flooring Installation, Day 2–All Done and So Worth It!

August 14, 2022 by 22 Comments

In yesterday's post, I shared the first day's process of having a new floor installed here in my garage. You may remember we ended here with the garage door left a few inches open to prevent the door from damaging the newly installed floor. The flooring was left to dry and set up overnight during which time the colorful flakes that had been broadcast out over the floor, would have time to meld with the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Garage, My Nest Tagged With: , , ,



Garage Flooring Installation, Day 1–Here’s How They Did It!

August 13, 2022 by 17 Comments

Imagine that you regularly visit a gym for a full workout, but for some reason, you don't go for 3 months. After a 3-month break, you go back, but instead of starting back slowly, you dive full-in doing your old routine as if you've never missed a day. That's how I feel today, every muscle in my body feels like it's had a full workout to the max! I don't think there's a single muscle that's not feeling the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Garage Tagged With: , , , ,



Dramatic Garage Makeover with New Lighting, Fresh Paint and New Flooring!

August 8, 2022 by 109 Comments

Welcome to the 706th Metamorphosis Monday! There are so many things I would love to share in this post but if I share everything that's happened through this garage renovation, this post would be a million miles long--and ain't nobody got time for that! Today we'll just enjoy the transformation which is pretty darn dramatic! A little back story: Does something ever needle at you and then one day you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garage Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Crunch Wraps You Can Make at Home, Super Easy Recipe

July 31, 2022 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 705th Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever had a Crunch Wrap? I had not until a few visits back when my daughter-in-law made them for lunch one day They were really tasty so I thought for today's Met Monday I'd share the super easy process for making these. You'll need some ground beef, taco seasoning mix, small flour tortillas, large flour tortillas, and small corn … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , ,



Three Days That Felt Like a Week

July 25, 2022 by 65 Comments

Welcome to the 704th Metamorphosis Monday! Choosing paint, at least for me, is one of the most stressful tasks ever! I hate it, I really, really hate it. Here was my thinking for the garage: I wanted a neutral color for the walls, definitely no red, blue, green, yellow, purple, etc... just something neutral and light, but dark enough that it would contrast with the white cabinets here in the garage. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garage



How’s That Garage Makeover Going? Big Things Are Happening This Week!

July 18, 2022 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 703rd Metamorphosis Monday! My home was built around 1982-83 so it's 40 years old now. I've lived here for 32 of those 40 years. Many, many years ago, sometime around the 2001-2002 time frame, I painted the walls of the garage. I don't remember now why I did that, I guess I thought they needed it. In 2010, I turned my son's childhood bedroom into a home office. At that time, I moved all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garage



Lots of New Upgrades, Plus I’ve Chosen New Lighting for the Garage

July 10, 2022 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 702nd Metamorphosis Monday! Are you familiar with the children's book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? In the book, the cute little mouse asks for a cookie. The cookie makes him thirsty, so then he asks for a glass of milk. I've forgotten now what the glass of milk leads to, but each request leads to another and another and another.   This garage project I've embarked on is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Garage



Planning a Garage Makeover, Here’s the “Before” and the Plan!

July 4, 2022 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 701st Metamorphosis Monday! For many, many years I've been itching to spiffy up my garage. I've always hated this concrete floor. It's so depressing to look at and never really feels clean.   Last week I got a quote for having Epoxy flooring installed. Tomorrow I'll be getting a quote for another type of flooring that is also very popular called Polyaspartic Polyurea. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Garage Tagged With: , , ,



Answering Your Questions & A Big 40% Off Summer Sale

June 28, 2022 by 2 Comments

Thanks so much for all the lovely comments you left on yesterday's post sharing Mary Anne's porch addition. She appreciated your sweet comment so much! A few of you were asking how Mary Anne's new screened porch attaches to her home so she took some additional photos trying to capture that for you. Mary Anne said, "Below is the front of a typical Saltbox style house, which I made a little bit atypical by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches



Deck Becomes Screened Porch with Seating and Space for Dining/Entertaining

June 27, 2022 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 700th Metamorphosis Monday! This porch-loving woman sure does love it when you share your beautiful porches and outdoor spaces with me! I get so excited when I get an email from a lovely BNOTP reader with photos of a wonderful, relaxing, outdoor space they've created for their home. Recently I received an email from Mary Anne who said, "A few months ago I mentioned to you what an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches Tagged With: , , , , , ,



How Did Those Plant Watering Spikes Work Out? Did My Plants Survive?

June 19, 2022 by 8 Comments

Welcome to the 699th Metamorphosis Monday! Thank You! I want to say Thank You to the lovely blogs who link up to the Metamorphosis Monday Party each week. I hope you see a lot of new and returning visitors to your blog. Important: Please be sure to reciprocate and show appreciation for your fellow Bloggers who link up each week by including a sentence in your post saying that you're participating in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Gardening & Birding



We Saw the Before & Now Here’s the After…Plus, Bunnies and Birds

June 13, 2022 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 698th Metamorphosis Monday! A few months ago I shared a historical home here in Ohio that was in the process of being stripped of its old paint. It was the first time I had seen an older home taken back to the bare wood before painting. So often old homes just get painted over and over and over since it's expensive to remove the many layers of old paint and start fresh. I was so impressed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After Tagged With: , , ,



Sneaky Squirrels and Rascally Raccoons–Hoping This Will Be the Solution!

June 8, 2022 by 40 Comments

Ever since my son and daughter-in-love moved into their home several years ago, they've been in an ongoing, full-scale battle to keep the critters with whom they share their yard, out of their trash cans. Regular trash cans didn't even slow down the raccoons who visited their home and their neighbor's homes every single night. It's not a great way to start the day--walking out the door dressed up nicely for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



Keeping Potted Plants Watered While Away On Vacation

June 6, 2022 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 697th Metamorphosis Monday! Wow, what a week it's been here in Birthday Land! Things are beginning to wind down a bit, but the partying isn't over quite yet--we still have one more birthday to celebrate. Speaking of birthdays, you may remember last year I gave my son a Yeti Cooler. I can't remember now if that was a birthday gift or an early Christmas gift, but it was still … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After



It’s Been Almost 4 Years Now, So How Did It Work?

May 30, 2022 by 9 Comments

Welcome to the 696th Metamorphosis Monday! How do you store your silver jewelry? Over the years I've purchased a few Tiffany & Co. silver necklaces, bracelets, and rings They are inexpensive, as jewelry goes, and always so sparkly and beautiful. I especially love their enamel and silver pieces. Of course, Tiffany jewelry always comes in their signature blue jewelry pouch that helps prevent … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty Tagged With: ,



Peloton Bike: Add a Handlebars Adjuster to Move the Handlebars Closer

May 15, 2022 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 694th Metamorphosis Monday! I have a dressing room right off of my master bedroom. Many years ago that room was a 5th bedroom but the first owners of my home walled off the door in the hallway to that room and cut a big opening in the master bedroom wall into that bedroom next door.   I sometimes wonder if when I move one day, if the future owners of this home will turn that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , , ,



Will the Green Drapes and The Governor’s Party Painting Still Work for Summer?

May 9, 2022 by 66 Comments

Welcome to the 693rd Metamorphosis Monday! Last year I got a bug in my bustle and decided to finally add some art to the wall behind my bed.   Adding this beautiful Chuck Pinson Giclee made such a dramatic difference to the room, I decided to keep going and finally added some beautiful "worn velvet" drapes to the windows. They aren't heavy-looking in person, as velvet drapes could … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Decorating



My Favorite Snack and An Awesome Kitchen Tool for Making It

May 2, 2022 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 692nd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend! If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you know cooking is not one of my fave activities. Love to eat, but not so much to cook. I do like it when I come across something that's healthy, tastes great, and that I can prepare quickly. I've always liked roasted Brussels sprouts and sometimes buy them already cooked in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Recipes Tagged With: , ,



New Screen Doors with a Whimsical Dragonfly & Moon-Stars Design

April 18, 2022 by 52 Comments

Welcome to the 690th Metamorphosis Monday! These screened doors have been tucked away in my garage, patiently waiting to be installed for two years now.   They were built to replace the doors you see on either side of the screened porch below.   Naughty mice (rats?) made their own door one cold winter when they decided to homestead inside my large gas grill. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , , ,



1950s Bathroom Gets a Beautiful, Luxe Makeover! It’s Wonderful!

April 11, 2022 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 689th Metamorphosis Monday! In a post a few weeks back, I mentioned that I was starting to think more about renovating my two upstairs bathrooms.  I was finding it difficult to motivate myself to begin the planning process. Bathrooms typically don't excite me, at least not like travel and handbags! Ha! Then I received an email that definitely upped my level of excitement ten-fold! Sam, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Garage Nesting Doves, An Albino Squirrel and So Many Spring Goodies

April 4, 2022 by 24 Comments

Welcome to the 688th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Week! I hope your week is off to a great start! I just returned from visiting family in Ohio. It was a wonderful visit, so wish we didn't live so far away from each other. While I was there, we had some return visitors. Every year, a pair of Mourning Doves return to nest on the top shelf of a storage shelf in the garage. This is their 3rd year … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, For the Love of Birds



Coming Updates for the Screened Porch, Along with the Master & Hall Baths

March 27, 2022 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 687th Metamorphosis Monday! I was hoping for this week's Met Monday, I'd be able to share the two screened doors I had custom-made a couple of years back, installed out on the porch. Unfortunately, when the contractor and his crew arrived to install the doors, we discovered the doors were a tiny bit too snug for the openings.     When I ordered the doors, I had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baths, Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Porches



An Easy Way to Store and Display Your Summer and Winter Scarves

March 21, 2022 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 686th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you love wearing a scarf--a woolly warm scarf for winter, or an airy, bright scarf in the spring or summer? My winter scarves tend to get worn a lot more than my summer ones, probably because this girl can't stand being cold for even a minute. lol I think I would wear my summer scarves a lot more if I had them displayed in my closet where I could actually see … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Art for the Upstairs Hallway: The Beach Girls by Hilarie Lambert

March 7, 2022 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 684th Metamorphosis Monday! A few years back I added a little blue chest to this corner of my upstairs living room.   This room has a beachy/nautical feel because of how it's decorated with lighthouse prints and shells collected while vacationing in Captiva, Sanibel, and Hilton Head Island many years ago. Though I loved the chest here, I eventually moved it to the hallway … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs) Tagged With: , , , ,



Tempting Finds, May Go Back for a Few Things

February 21, 2022 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 682nd Metamorphosis Monday! No big "Before and After" happening around here for today but I did get some inspiration from antiquing this weekend. The first place I visited was The Market in Woodstock, Georgia.   Saw this big guy just inside the front door.   I don't know why I'm always drawn to sleds and toboggans since I absolutely can't stand cold weather. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Spring Temptations & Should I Spray These Before Baking In Them?

February 14, 2022 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 681st Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Valentine's Day! I hope this Valentine's Day finds you feeling much loved and appreciated! I probably should have waited and shared the display case today instead of on Saturday, but I was too excited to share how it turned out to wait. lol So, I don't have a Before/After to share but I do have a few ideas for spring and Easter from a recent shopping … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , , ,