Throwing Fisticuffs–It’s That Time Of Year When I Duke It Out With The Mattress! Ha!

November 20, 2023 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 773rd Metamorphosis Monday! Or, maybe it's more like a wrestling match! It was past time--normally I swap out my summer bedding for my winter bedding around the first week of October. I think I'm late this year because it really hasn't felt that fallish. We've been having some wonderfully warm days. The leaves have really started falling now, though--so it was time, past time! My biannual … [Read more...]

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



Porch Decorated for Autumn With Hints Of Halloween

October 9, 2023 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 767th Metamorphosis Monday! I had a bit of fun out on the front porch this weekend.   Having just purchased these black and white striped bench cushions this past summer, this is their first autumn here on the porch.   The cushions are currently on sale in several colors/ patterns here: Bench Cushions and here: Bench Cushions.   Since were only a … [Read more...]

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



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 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



How NOT to Have a Microwave Installed!

August 9, 2023 by 63 Comments

This is the state of my kitchen right now, after multiple attempts to purchase and have a microwave installed. When it comes to buying appliances, I'm snakebit and starting to develop a case of ASPTSD--Appliance Shopping Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If that's not an actual medical diagnosis, it may be time to suggest it.   In June, my microwave started making bizarre noises, like a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Kitchen & Breakfast Area



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: , , ,



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 New Washer Has Me Yearning For A Laundry Room-Butler’s Pantry Renovation

June 21, 2023 by 40 Comments

The time was June 1979 and we had just graduated from college. During that final year of school, we lived on campus in a tiny apartment in what was referred to as "married student housing." With our studies now completed, we loaded up a small U-haul and headed off to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland for Officer Basic Training. Four months later, with that commitment completed, it was time to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Laundry Room 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: , , , , , , ,



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: , , , , ,



Have You Ever Been Inspired By The Decor You Saw In A Great Movie House?

March 1, 2023 by 44 Comments

Not sure what got me thinking about this, but a few days ago I was thinking again about how much I loved the home in the movie, Home Alone, and how it had made such an impression on me when I first began buying furniture and decorating my own home. That sent me down another rabbit trail wondering what else have I done in my home that was the direct influence of something I had noticed in a movie … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, My Nest Tagged With: , , ,



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



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



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



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



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)



New Tablescaping Goodies, Attractive Storage Idea & the Room I’m Renovating Next

October 15, 2022 by 30 Comments

I'm headed over to Home Depot today. I have a project I'm working on in both the unfinished, the semi-finished, and the storage area of my basement. I will share a lot more about that on Monday for Metamorphosis Monday. In the meantime, I wanted to share a couple of table purchases I just made recently, as well as a few photos of the semi-finished part of the basement at the end of this post. The fall … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, My Nest



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



What’s Inside All Those Storage Cabinets? I’m Throwing Back the Doors!

September 1, 2022 by 50 Comments

Welcome to the 727th Tablescape Thursday! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, we're taking a peek inside the nine storage cabinets I have here in my garage to see what's stored inside and how it's all organized. I hope this little storage tour offers up a few ideas for your storage needs.   Let's start with the cabinets here on this side wall of the garage. Before we throw back the doors … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Garage, Tablescape Thursday



Is it True? Will LED Light Fixtures Cause Your Garage Door Opener to Malfunction?

August 31, 2022 by 16 Comments

Over the past few weeks as I've shared the updates I've been making here in the garage, one question I've been asked in the comments a couple of times was if the new LED lighting I had installed would create any issue with my garage door opener.   During the renovation process, one of the things I had done was the replacement of the original seal on the garage door. Sometime over the past 40 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Garage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



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: , , , ,



Where Did You Store All Those Cabinets & Beautiful New Flatware for a Bargain

August 11, 2022 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 724th Tablescape Thursday! Before we get into today's Tablescape Thursday, for those who have asked for it, I've added a printable version of the recipe I shared recently for these delicious Crunch Wraps to that recipe post. You'll find that post here and the printable version of the recipe is right at the end of the post: Crunch Wrap Recipe.   Soooo, though the garage is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Garage, Tablescape Thursday 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: , , , , , ,



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



Garage Sneak Peek & My Favorites from the Talbots and the Amazon Prime Sale

July 12, 2022 by 15 Comments

There are so many great sales going on right now! Talbots has a huge sale going on and here are some of my favorites. I love, love, love their linen tunics and have quite a few. They are perfect for wearing on super hot days since they keep the sun off of your arms, yet are so airy, light, and breathable. This beautiful aqua-colored tunic is on sale 40% off. It was originally $89.50, was marked down to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, 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



Garage Flooring Has Been Chosen & A Back-Saving, Step-Saving New Purchase

July 6, 2022 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 719th Tablescape Thursday! A few days ago I shared plans to have my garage's concrete floor prettied up. I was trying to choose between two flooring systems: Epoxy vs Polyaspartic Polyurea.   After getting estimates for both methods, I've decided to go with the Epoxy system which is also finished off with a topcoat of Polyaspartic. I know several of you asked that I share in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Garage, Tablescape Thursday



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: , , ,



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



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: , , , , ,



March Favorites & New “Forever” Furniture for Both Decks

April 16, 2022 by 32 Comments

Before I share my March favorites, I have to share this awesome surge protector that I had my computer plugged into when a huge lightning strike happened right outside my office recently. That strike caused a surge that took out my cable modem, my speakers, and my garage door opener, but my computer and printer survived the strike completely unscathed. They were both plugged into this surge protector. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Monthly Favorites, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , ,



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



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: , , , ,



I Listened to You and Went Back for Them!

February 23, 2022 by 110 Comments

Okay, this is all y'all's fault! Ha! Since so many of you left comments and emailed saying I needed to go back for the vintage birdie prints I saw while antiquing a few days ago, I decided to take your advice and go back and get 'em. I was shocked by how heavy they were when I removed them from the wall in the antique shop to take them up to the register. I noticed that the frames were real wood, I could … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Living Room (Downstairs) Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Changing All My A/C-Heating Ceiling Vents for Better Airflow

February 7, 2022 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 680th Metamorphosis Monday! Not the most exciting Before and After but I am currently in the process of changing out all the air vent covers throughout the upstairs part of my home. I've been meaning to do this for a while. My home is almost 40 years old and some of the original vent covers are looking very tired. I've started with these two here in my bedroom. It has always bugged me … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes



A New Addition for My Home Office

January 24, 2022 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 678th Metamorphosis Monday! There's a new addition here in my office. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing piece that I've added to this room, but I'm definitely enjoying it. Recently, I was thinking how nice it would be if I had a smallish treadmill here in the office so when I was in the mood to watch a YouTube video or anything online, I could also be "out for a walk" at the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , , , , ,



IKEA Hemnes Bookcase Review & Sharing Its One Design Flaw

January 17, 2022 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 677th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had an awesome weekend! We had a mini-snow storm on Sunday. It was short-lived but pretty while it was coming down. Did you see any snow in your area over the weekend?   In a previous post a few months back, I mentioned the bowing issue I was having with the Ikea Billy bookshelves in my home office. Two lovely BNOTP readers suggested I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Before & After, BNOTP Library, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , ,



Planning Another Big Change for My Bedroom, the Hallway, Too!

December 27, 2021 by 105 Comments

Welcome to the 674th Metamorphosis Monday! I hope you're having a great holiday season. I feel like this period between Christmas and New Years is just one long, extended holiday, a time for slowing down a bit and making plans for the coming year. Today I'm sharing one more change I have in mind for my bedroom for 2022--actually, I started planning this change last May but it's just taken me a while to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After Tagged With: , , , ,



Wow! Amazing the Transformation Curtains/Drapes Can Make in a Room!

December 13, 2021 by 45 Comments

Welcome to the 672nd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday Morning! I hope your weekend was amazing! This past week I've been working here in the bedroom.   After adding this Charles Pinson Giclee painting over the bed recently and seeing the way it really transformed how this room looked and felt, it got me motivated to make another change in this space that I've thought about doing for many … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After Tagged With: , , , ,



New Drapes for the Bedroom, What Do You Think?

December 4, 2021 by 54 Comments

A few weeks ago I shared this Chuck Pinson Giclee painting that I added above my bed. Not sure how it comes across in the photos but in person it completely transforms the feel of this room. It adds so much beauty and warmth to this space and I love seeing it every time I walk into the room.   As I mentioned in that previous post, if a painting can do that to a room, maybe it was time I got … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master)



A Painting Completely Changed The Feel of This Room + A New Purchase for the Bed

November 22, 2021 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 669th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was great! Mine was productive as I got a few things done here in the house that I've been hoping to do for a long time. Around this time last year, you may remember that I was shopping for the perfect frame for this beautiful Chuck Pinson giclee canvas print/painting. I ended up not getting it framed because after finally … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



I Think I Finally Found the Perfect Frame, What Do You Think?

November 17, 2021 by 28 Comments

Last November, now a full year ago, I was hot on the pursuit of a frame for this beautiful Chuck Pinson painting named, The Governor's Party. The painting depicts the Governor's Palace just as guests are arriving for a Christmas party. I remember touring the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg many years ago. It was a wonderful experience and I would love to visit again and see it dressed this way … [Read more...]

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



How Have I Not Ever Noticed This Before?!

November 15, 2021 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 668th Metamorphosis Monday! Last night I finally got around to changing from my spring/summer bedding...   ...to my tartan fall/winter bedding. I'm slow getting it done this year, normally try to make the switch in early October. I think I delayed this year because I was still really enjoying the summer bedding--but it was time. One of the things that always drives me … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , ,



All This Furniture Moving–What Has Happened to Me?!

November 8, 2021 by 50 Comments

Welcome to the 667th Metamorphosis Monday! I've never been one to move furniture around but I've done that more in the last couple of years than all the previous years combined. Many, many years ago, 1994 to be exact, I fell in love with the soft colors in this room featured in Traditional Home. I love old clocks so the beautiful Bornholm tall-case clock in this room definitely caught my … [Read more...]

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



Another New Lamp for the Upstairs Living Room

September 13, 2021 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 659th Metamorphosis Monday! Looking at this older photo of the upstairs living room/bonus room/frog makes me want to move the grandfather clock back to this room. I may do that today, I miss seeing it here. But that's not why we're in this room today. Notice the large brass lamp at the end of the sofa.   Here's one more photo taken from the opposite end where you can see the … [Read more...]

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



A New Bookcase (and Bookcase/Picture Light) for the Guest Room

September 11, 2021 by 19 Comments

And just when you thought there wasn't room for one more thing in my guest room... A few weeks back I mentioned in a post about a sagging/bowing issue I've had with the Ikea Billy Bookcases here in my home office.   In the comments of that post, a few BNOTP readers mentioned that Ikea had come out with an all-wood bookcase that was quite similar to the Billy. Thanks, Magdy and Kim for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , ,



The Painting Arrived & I Found the Perfect Place for It!

September 8, 2021 by 34 Comments

I can't quit playing in this room. lol Recently I added some cabinets down the left wall of this guest bedroom that's quickly become my "woman cave." lol   I love handbags and have been really wishing for a long time to gather them all together in one spot where I could see and access them more easily. This wall in the guest room was the only wall big enough and the guest room is very rarely … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Musical Lamps

August 30, 2021 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 657th Metamorphosis Monday! Did you ever play the game, Musical Chairs, when you were little? Well, it's been like musical lamps around here lately. lol I may end up with one odd lamp out in the end, not sure at this point. Last week I shared a new lamp I had purchased to use in my home office. It turned out to be much larger than I had expected so not a good fit for the office. Lesson … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Lighting, Living Room (Downstairs) Tagged With: ,



Going Waaay Outside My Comfort Zone

August 29, 2021 by 27 Comments

So I did something a little crazy today. See that white shelf on the right wall of the guest room? I ordered a new picture for that spot.   I also moved the trunk out of this room that had gotten shoved over onto that wall when I added cabinets down the opposite wall. I moved my vintage dress form from the office back to that spot, although it's not visible in this photo except for a small … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), DIY Decorating



2 Beautiful, New Lamps–Unique in Color and Size, Crazy About Both!

August 23, 2021 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 656th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your input on Friday's post! Appreciate all of your suggestions so much! After three weeks in Ohio, I'm back home now. The weekend was spent unpacking, going through mail, washing clothes, and all the catch-up stuff that usually needs to be done after a few weeks away from home. The two lamps I ordered prior to my trip arrived and I'm … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Lighting, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs)



When I Move One Day, These Are Going With Me

August 18, 2021 by 46 Comments

Many years ago when I used to go out antiquing almost every weekend, I ran into a good friend in a local antique shop. I was so surprised to see someone I knew in this large, but kinda off-the-beaten-path shop. She was headed out the door with a big brass chandelier in her hands. I complimented her on her awesome find, it was a beautiful chandelier! As she made her way toward the door, she shared that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dining Room, DIY Decorating, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



New Lamp for the Guest Room & Contemplating a Change

July 19, 2021 by 55 Comments

Welcome to the 651st Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope you had a wonderful one! Last week I shared a lamp I had ordered for my guest room. I've had the same lamp here in the guest room for many years and had been hoping to eventually replace it with something that better suited the colors/fabrics in this space.   You may remember this photo of the lamp from that previous … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Before & After, Blue & White Design & Decor Tagged With: , , , , ,



A New Lamp for the Guest Room–Love All the Designs!

July 12, 2021 by 39 Comments

Welcome to the 650th Metamorphosis Monday! We're playing in the guest room for this week's Metamorphosis Monday. The guest room doesn't see a lot of use, just the occasional friend visiting. Even when family is here, they usually prefer to sleep in another room that has "Queen size" sleeping accommodations.   These photos were taken early this morning so the room is still filled with that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Before & After, Blue & White Design & Decor Tagged With: , , , ,



A Comfortable and Very Functional, “Forest-Themed” Desk Update

June 23, 2021 by 7 Comments

Several years ago, I had this fabulous, extra-large mouse pad on my desk. I love a super large mousepad because you never run your mouse off the pad, plus, it provides extra cushion for the arms and wrists.   When I shared this photo in a recent post, a BNOTP reader asked about that mousepad. I chose one with a large world map design back then because I had just started traveling a good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Office/Craft/Sewing Room



How I Use 3 Monitors to Work and Play in My Home Office

June 14, 2021 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 646th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Over the years, my monitor/desktop setup has changed several times. I've been using two monitors for many years. When I'm traveling and working from my laptop, I really, really miss having two monitors. Many years ago when I had cable TV, I purchased a Smart TV to place above my monitors thinking it would give … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , , ,



So, How Did That Metamorphosis Work Out?

June 7, 2021 by 26 Comments

Welcome to the 645th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Still very badly missing my main computer. You get spoiled quickly when you normally work with two large monitors.  Once I get my new computer, I should have three monitors--looking forward to that. In the meantime, I'm still working from my small travel laptop.   So, I got an idea last night. I was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Kitchen & Breakfast Area



Would You Do This? A Big Change for the Upstairs Living-Bonus Room!

May 17, 2021 by 67 Comments

Welcome to the 642nd Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! In Saturday's post, I mentioned that I was contemplating making a pretty big change here in my upstairs living/bonus room.   This room is a bright, airy room with four windows: two windows at the end and two dormer windows that face the front of the house.   One … [Read more...]

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



Problem Solved: Hide Those Not-So-Attractive Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

May 11, 2021 by 25 Comments

Earlier this week I shared some new additions to my master bath. I'm hoping to fully renovate at least one of my baths next year but in the meantime, I'm appeasing myself by adding little improvements and touches that make my heart happy. For example, I ordered this adorable birdie-themed tissue holder for the counter here in my master bath. Apparently, it's my favorite tissue holder since this is the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , ,



Two Small Bath Updates to Appease My Bath Renovation Yearning

May 5, 2021 by 17 Comments

I had a little eye scare recently--it started a couple of days ago. I had something floating across my vision and was seeing flashes occasionally at the top right corner of my right eye. The first time it happened, I thought it was sunlight glinting off my glasses, but then I noticed it happened when I didn't have my glasses on. I called the eye doctor today and they had me come in right away. They … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After



Changing Out My Winter Bedding for Spring-Summer

May 3, 2021 by 68 Comments

Welcome to the 640th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Changing out the bedding from fall-winter to spring-summer is not for the faint of heart. lol  Usually I wait until someone (like my son) is here to help me. My previous mattress was sooo much lighter and stiffer than my current one and changing the bedding was pretty easy. But my current mattress purchased a few … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After



Creating a Pretty, Little Beverage Station for My Home Office

April 17, 2021 by 45 Comments

Do you ever read blogs on the weekends or do you mainly just read doing the week? I often post on the weekend so was just wondering if you like to get a blog post in your Inbox on the weekend.  (Pssst: If you haven't already, subscribe to get an email whenever I post here: Subscribe for Post Updates. It's completely free and will let you know when a new post is up with a link to the blog.) A few months … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Office/Craft/Sewing Room, Seasonal Decor, Spring & Summer Tablescapes



2 Great Ways to Hide Those Unattractive, Metal Swing Chains

April 14, 2021 by 5 Comments

Recently when I shared how I've decorated the porch for spring, I received an email asking about the covers I have over the chains of the porch swing.   You got a closer view of them in this photo showing the large egg wreath I hung on the porch for Easter.   I've written a couple of posts over the years sharing in more detail about these covers which are really just electrical … [Read more...]

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



Making My Bed Like a Pottery Barn Bed

January 18, 2021 by 52 Comments

Welcome to the 625th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Over the past month, I've been getting regular emails from Pottery Barn reminding me that I have a $25 credit that's soon to expire. There's nothing that I particularly need right now but after about the 3rd time that email arrived, I decided to click over and check out their spring goodies. The first thing I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After Tagged With:



So Whatever Happened to Those Peeling, Bubbling Columns…

December 28, 2020 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 622nd Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Last October, I shared some photos of my front porch columns and the developing issue I've had with them over the past year. It has been quite a few years since the porch was last painted. Trying to remember--I think I may have had it painted once since it was added on in 2008, but maybe it was just pressure … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Porches, Porches & Decks



Sometimes Small Changes Can Make Your Heart Happy

December 11, 2020 by 37 Comments

A few weeks ago I shared a little addition to my office space. If you look closely, you can just see it there to the side of my left monitor.   I'm not sure how, but I came across this clear tissue holder online and loved it. I liked how modern it looked, which is surprising since I normally don't care for modern decor pieces. I liked that it didn't fight the other patterns/colors in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Living Room (Downstairs), Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs), Office/Craft/Sewing Room



Which Frame Do You Like Best with The Governor’s Party by Chuck Pinson?

November 23, 2020 by 61 Comments

Welcome to the 617th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! I had planned to share some holiday decorating on the porch today, but I didn't finish the decorating since I stopped to wash the swing covers. That's an older photo below from a previous summer when I removed the covers for washing.   So instead of a decorated porch, how about looking at some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After



Bringing Out the Cozy: Fave Flannel Sheets & New Art for My Bedroom

November 2, 2020 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 614th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! This post is going up a bit late because I changed horses midstream. lol When I awoke this morning, all I could think about was how much I wanted to put my flannel sheets on the bed. I'm definitely in the mood for some autumn/fall decorating. Time to cozy up the house before the cold weather arrives! Though I'm … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods