Vinyl floor tiles were the perfect option for our budget bathroom renovation. They were inexpensive, easy to custom cut, and quick to install. And with the added grout, most guests assume it's the real deal! This project has become one of Eric's go-to examples for explaining my DIY "method" to others. I tend to take something really simple and make it wwaaayyy more complicated. In this particular instance I decided to take simple peel-n-stick vinyl tiles, cut them down, and lay them in a herringbone pattern. We can laugh about the process now, but in the moment I was an obnoxious force of perfectionism. … [Read more...] about Budget Bathroom: Custom Vinyl Tile Floors
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Budget Bathroom: Faux Concrete Countertop
Our DIY faux concrete countertops were fortified with a product specifically designed to increase strength and water resistance. The result: gorgeous concrete countertops made to last! There's a lot (A LOT) of tutorials out there on faux concrete countertops using Ardex Feather Finish. You'll learn just as much from the failures as you will from the successes. Our process was not a flawless one but I honestly think the challenges led to a formula for success. This tutorial is no doubt a recipe in the sense that everyone will have varying successes and opinions of the outcome. However, I feel pretty … [Read more...] about Budget Bathroom: Faux Concrete Countertop
Simple Guest Room on a Budget
Our tiny guest room was remodeled on a tight budget by transplanting carpet, furniture, and decor from other areas of our home. We have a pretty tiny basement bedroom in our new home. But with a bathroom next door and overall privacy from the rest of the home, it makes for a great guest room. And while I was super excited to be installing hardwood floors as a part of our upstairs living room remodel, I was a little sad at the idea of parting with the super plush carpet. So when the quote to replace the guest room carpet came in at $900 - we made an easy decision to transplant the living room carpet and … [Read more...] about Simple Guest Room on a Budget
Weekend Love – No. 2
I've been inspired by jasmineraehairco and am currently trying to "train" my hair and stretch out the number of days between hair washes (her record is 30+ days...what?!). "Dry shampoo and push through!" - Jasmine Rae. My commitment to blog more came out of the realization that I should be more true to myself and not hold back. In being more true to myself I've also realized that I shouldn't avoid being nice to strangers because I'm afraid of what they might think. Last week I left a nice comment on a random mom's instagram post, because it felt right. I've been looking for a stylish and functional, … [Read more...] about Weekend Love – No. 2
Ikea Kallax Changing Table
Ikea's Kallax unit makes an amazing changing table. We customized ours by using the Kallax drawer and cubby inserts, and by adding custom trim and legs. Our son's room is not very generous on space so I definitely wanted a changing table that could serve more than one function (and eliminate the need for additional furniture). It didn't take me long to be inspired by the amazing Ikea Kallax changing tables on Pinterest. If you aren't familiar with the Kallax unit, it has a bunch of different inserts you can add to customize your piece. The addition of doors and drawers meant that it could not only be … [Read more...] about Ikea Kallax Changing Table
Weekend Love – No. 1
This is a new kind of post for me. Just a little taste of my thoughts and our life when we aren't wrapped up in house projects! Our friends from Baltimore came to visit this last week and it made me reminisce on all things B-more. And when I saw "all things" I mean the food. Especially grapefruit crushes and cream of crab soup. Speaking of Baltimore...remember that time we lived in row home and overhauled our kitchen with some help from Ikea? While our friends were visiting we took them to the Bavarian-style town of Leavenworth and feasted on pretzels and beer cheese. I picked up the new … [Read more...] about Weekend Love – No. 1
Our Gender-Neutral & Maui-Inspired Nursery
Our nursery was designed to not only be gender-neutral but also a space that mom and dad would enjoy. What better way to do this than use our Maui honeymoon as inspiration?! Spoiler alert...we're parents! I hope that helps to explain my extended absence from blogging. I figured I'd take a little break from the living room remodel updates to reveal our son's nursery. To give you a little background info - we were "team green" and didn't know if we were having a boy or girl until he arrived. That being said - I had the challenge of creating a gender-neutral nursery. To be perfectly clear - I love this type … [Read more...] about Our Gender-Neutral & Maui-Inspired Nursery
Living Room Remodel – Let There be Light!
I'm having bit of deja vu as I'm writing this post. Because I'm basically here to tell you what a game changer recessed lights and new floors are. But if you followed our rowhome basement renovation, you know that this is not the first time I've sung the praises of recessed lights and pretty floors. As a reminder - the "before" space in our new house had a mix of carpet and tile flooring. For lighting - we were fortunate enough that the room did have hardwired lighting - two simple can lights and some rather retro uplighting. With the demolition behind us - the first step towards a … [Read more...] about Living Room Remodel – Let There be Light!
An Effie Row Reunion
Twenty-one. It's been nearly 21 months since I last hit the "publish" button on a blog post. And while I haven't exactly been keeping track, it's been about 20.5 months of thinking to myself *I really need to be better about updating Effie Row!* The more time that has gone by, the more daunting updating has become. Why? Because life and building what we love hasn't slowed down much at all. Getting back into blogging is kind of like reuniting with a long lost friend - where do you even begin to catch up? So why now? Well for starters, I told myself I would. Actually I've been telling myself (and Eric) that I … [Read more...] about An Effie Row Reunion