 
Oh my heavens. This project. This. This is why I love my job.
It was a pretty, sunny day in early May when I first met with this unbelievably sweet client. We toured her beautiful home, and then she showed me the project. The master bedroom. She expressed that she wanted it to be lighter and brighter, and have the feel of a nice hotel. A retreat. Ummm, yes. I loved what she said and the feel she was wanting. I was excited to get started!
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Here’s how it looked “before,” just as you enter the room. It wasn’t giving us that “retreat” feeling just yet.
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Aaaaand, “after.” The walls were painted Valspar “Coconut Milk,” which instantly achieved our goal of “lighter and brighter.” We changed out the light fixture (you can find the fixture here), added some window treatments, and then…the fun stuff!
Here’s another “before” shot of the bed…It was a beautiful bed, but the size of the bed, along with wider nightstands, wouldn’t fit on the wall. The tall footboard also blocked the view of the fireplace from the bed. Not ideal. Hey, if you’re lucky enough to have a FIREPLACE in your room, you might as well see it! 😉
And the same view, “after.” Guys. Pictures don’t even do it justice. So fresh and yes, that upscale “hotel” feel we were going for! By choosing smaller end tables, we were able to fit everything on this wall…and the new upholstered bed? STOP. So gorgeous (find it here). Oh but wait. This rug. It’s EVERYTHING! It really brightened up the dark hardwood floor, added a soft luxurious feel underfoot, and reinforces the posh theme, all while delivering a HIT of amazing pattern. Can you tell I have a thing for area rugs? This one is from Rugs USA, and you can find it here.
This little area to the right of the fireplace (before) used to hold the other end table, since there wasn’t another place for it. We were thinking this would be a great spot for a chair…wanna see?
Love this little spot! And at night, it’s the perfect place to toss the pillows from the bed. The client sent me a picture of their cat enjoying this new chair…I’m just glad the whole family is happy. 😉
Here’s a “before” of the room, looking back toward the entrance. Get a good look at that dreamy sofa…It was just waiting for the perfect pillows!
Ahhhh. That’s more like it.
Ok, here’s the last “before” pic…the dresser and mirror stayed in exactly the same spot…but here’s how they look now:
A few simple accessories on the dresser really did the trick. Decorated. But not over the top.
And there you have it. A bedroom-turned-retreat. And a super fun project.
Are you ready for an update in your master bedroom? Take a look at these 3 areas.
1. The walls. How’s the paint color working for you? Too dark? Too light? You were trying for grey and got purple? Bite the bullet. Block out a weekend and paint. You’ll be so happy you did! (Or better yet, HIRE someone to do it!)
2. The corners. What in the world is in the corner? A dusty old ficus tree? That sewing machine you’ll never use? A mountain of laundry? Do yourself a favor. Don’t let your bedroom be the cast-off zone for every piece of furniture that doesn’t have a home. Block out 30 minutes, fold the laundry, and take anything not necessary to the garage. Let those corners be free! You’ll be amazed at the difference.
3. The nightstands. Clear those bad boys off and treat yourself to some new lamps. Wander down the aisle at Target…they have some great options. Or TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, or Marshalls…always a great spot to find lighting at a bargain price! Along with your lamps, your nightstand could also hold a cherished photo or a little succulent…but keep it simple. We’re going for “retreat”, not “hoarders gone wild.” 😉
Soooo? What do you think? I bet you can tackle those 3 little things…and I can’t wait to hear about it!
Summer. A change of pace. Sun-kissed faces, vacation, being outside, bbq-ing on the back patio, staying up late, and DECORATING? I know. Call me crazy, but for me, summer is inspiring. And guess what? There’s homework. But it’s the really, REALLY fun kind. And only if you want to. Sound good? Who’s still on board?
Oh good! You’re still here. What if there were 3 easy ways to grow your decorating skills this summer? Fun fact: studies show that we learn better when we’re having fun…and if you already ENJOY decorating, trust me. This will be fun.
Here’s my theory. When we allow our minds to shift into neutral (vacation, a hike, or just by putting our phones away for awhile!), we unlock something pretty special. A clear head! Hitting the reset button once in awhile is just the ticket for creativity. This leads me to the first step:
First Way to grow your decorating skills this summer. Step away from the crazy.
I know. You thought the first tip was going to be a shopping trip to HomeGoods, right? 😉 That comes later. The first step is all about a break. Is that revolutionary or WHAT? It doesn’t have to be a week’s vacation in Hawaii (but MAHALO if you’re offering, haha). It could be something as simple as a walk around your neighborhood. A drive in the country. A pedicure. Just take a minute, set down your phone, disconnect, and HANG LOOSE. Do we even know how to do that any more?
I had lunch with a dear friend today, and we were talking about how “being busy” has become a badge of honor in our culture. What is that getting us? More stress? More anxiety? It definitely doesn’t encourage creativity.
Every summer we vacation at our favorite place in Central Oregon. Some time away with our family to ride bikes, hike, enjoy the great outdoors, and relax. Over the years I’ve noticed something peculiar when we arrive home. A BOOST of creativity. A crazy increase in ideas, the ability to see things from a new and different perspective, and a fresh wind in my sails. Coincidence? Nope.
Last weekend we headed to a local lake and floated around on our old raft for a few hours. No phones, no email, no work. On the way home, same thing. Inspiration struck. New ideas. New dreams. Fresh perspective.
Sooooo? What can you do to step away? Make it easy, make it fun…but don’t take your phone. Ok, you can take your phone (for safety) but keep it in your back pocket. Promise?
Second Way to grow your decorating skills this summer. Research.
Don’t let that word scare you. It’s going to be SO. STINKING. ENJOYABLE. You’ve got this. Ready? I want you to shop. Ok, husbands…calm down. Don’t actually SHOP, just LOOK (but if you find something so-super-cute-you-can-hardly-stand-it, you better buy it). What I mean by that is…find out where your fun local vintage sales are happening this summer. (Google it. Go ahead, I’ll wait) If you happen to be an Oregonian like me, I’ve got a few ideas for you below.
When you go to the sale (or a favorite antique shop, etc.), this is what you must do. NOTICE. The people who put these sales together are amazing. They will not only have great stuff, but their styling/decorating skills are on-point. NOTICE how they put their displays together. What looks so good about it? What makes it a pretty combination of items? What colors are they using? NOTICE! Ask if you can take a picture of their display so you have a reference when you get home. Now go to the next booth/vendor and do the same…is this a great classroom or WHAT? See? Are you having fun? I am! Let’s go get a soft pretzel and a Diet Coke.
Here’s a little peak at the items we had at our last pop-up shop…come see us at the next one! Saturday, August 20, 10am-noon at Garden Gallery Iron Works in Hubbard, Oregon. 🙂
If you’re local (Oregon), here’s a list of some fun upcoming sales!
Barnstormer’s Vintage Fair, Aug. 5 & 6, Jackson County Fairgrounds, Central Point, Oregon
Molly Mo’s Antique Faire, Aug 12 & 13, Union Hill Grange, 15755 Grange Rd. SE, Sublimity, Oregon
Junk Refunk Street Market 2016, Sat. Aug. 20, 10am-5pm, downtown Canby, Oregon
Yellow Prairie Interiors/Signs of Serendipity Pop-Up Shop, Sat. Aug. 20, 10am-noon, at Garden Gallery Iron Works, 2967 Industrial Ave, Hubbard, Oregon
Third Way to grow your decorating skills this summer. Practice makes perfect. (Ok, no it doesn’t. Nobody’s perfect. But you get the picture.)
If I never go to the gym, but expect to have rockin’ abs, I’m expecting a little much, don’t you think? (Side note: I will never have rockin’ abs and I’m ok with that. Pass the donuts.) What I’m saying is, you have to USE a muscle to build it/strengthen it. So here you go…tough love time. I’m taking off your training wheels. But it’s ok. You can do it! This is where the rubber meets the road. Ready? Go decorate something.
Are you still reading this? You’re supposed to be clearing off your mantel right now…and getting ready to re-decorate! Go! Roll up your sleeves and go!
This homework. I’m telling you…this is gonna be ONE FUN SUMMER. Pick an afternoon when the kids are napping, you’re fresh off a caffeinated beverage, and you’ve recently had a few minutes of down time (see # 1). Now do it. If it isn’t AMAZING, who cares? No one will know except you! And this is PRACTICE! Remember that stuff about exercising the muscle? Ya, me either…all I can think about is that donut. But your mantel. Ya, it’s gonna be fun!
EXTRA CREDIT: Ok, you over-achievers…if you’re up for a major challenge, I’ve got a great one for you. And it’s fun. And rewarding. And challenging.
Clear. Out. Your. Living. Room.
All of it. Take the stuff off the walls, pull the sofa out of the room, throw the pillows/baskets/blankets/legos/stray cherrios into the hall. You might want to vacuum while it’s all cleared out, and then….imagine you just moved in. Fresh perspective. If you HATE something, don’t allow it back into the space. Or maybe you’ll see your end table in a new way…what if you paint it? Freshen it up a bit? Maybe a new area rug would breathe some new life into the area? What about a new arrangement of furniture? Oooooh, this is gonna be fun! But only if you want extra credit. 🙂
Well? What do you think? Will you be attending Yellow Prairie Summer School this year? 😉 I can’t wait to see what you do!
What a fun week! Last September I started working with Mike & Christie on the renovation of their home via e-design. On Memorial Day, I flew down to their place in Texas for all the finishing touches and styling. Not only was it exciting to see all of the changes in real-life, but it was a total blessing to hang out with this sweet family, live the farm life for a few days, and decorate like crazy. What a privilege! Are you up for some pics? Oh good, because I have TONS!
Night one. Got to meet the farm animals on a beautiful evening, before the thunderstorms of the week rolled in (Ummm, WOW, Texas! Those thunderstorms!). We then walked through the house and made a list of everything we’d need to pick up the next day, on our designated “Shopping Day.” We made a pretty good list, but you should have seen the room that was waiting for me when I arrived. I’m kicking myself that I don’t have a picture. Christie had been working hard to fill an entire room with fun home decor, antiques, vintage finds, old books (my request), miles of jute, signs, trays, baskets, boxwood everything, etc. etc. ETC!!! I shopped from this room the entire week and sprinkled her finds all over the house. We ate some delicious ribs (Thanks Mike!), and headed off to bed to rest up for the big adventure.
Day two. Shopping day. We headed out with our list in hand, and made our first strategic stop, a darling shop in Denton called “Vintage Bleu.”
We found some total treasures here, and it was so much fun to meet the sweet shop owners, Thera & Debbie. Next stop? HomeGoods. I had quite a few things on the list for that stop, so I had my fingers crossed that we’d have good success…
Ya, I guess you could say we found a few things! (Ha!) 4 or 5 carts later, we were trying to squeeze it all into the car. 🙂
We loaded it all in, and had to take a lot of it out to reconfigure once we finished our other 2 stops. We all had bags and decor on our laps, but we made it home and unloaded!
Day 3 & 4 were similar: Diet Coke (check!), country music (check!), and DECORATING (yes, please!). I can’t wait to show you the result! Ready for some before & afters?
Here’s the fireplace wall in the living room, “before.” Working through e-design, we decided to do new stone, new built-ins that would go all the way to the ceiling, and shiplap over the fireplace. The clients also had the carpet removed and added gorgeous new hardwood floors.
Aaaand after. Can you even? I am so in love with this room. The windmill on the shiplap was a local find, and the perfect focal point for this space. The rug is from Ballard Designs, and blends the camel color of the sofa they already had with the gray wall color (Sherwin Williams “Repose Gray) just beautifully. The drapery panels (from Overstock, although they are no longer available in this length) were the perfect find to add interest at the window. All of these components were important foundational picks to support the final look and styling that was achieved this week. It’s so rewarding to see it all come together!
Here’s another view, looking back toward the sofa. The clients opted to forgo a coffee table, so their girls have more room to play and hang out. When I first suggested moving the sofa out and away from the back wall, Christie wasn’t so sure. Now she says she LOVES it, and I appreciate her trust! See that amazing antique pie hutch in the corner? Let’s take a closer look…
Christie found the pie safe at a local antique shop. It’s absolutely stunning in real life. Those copper tin inserts in the doors? Gorgeous! I moved it to the corner, angled it, and created a fun basket vignette on top. And the antique iron headboard on the wall? I’m in love! Perfect spot for a magnolia wreath, and don’t worry…Mike is an expert decor-hanger and that thing isn’t going anywhere. 🙂
This angle looks back toward the front door, the music room (formerly the formal dining room), and demonstrates how having one type of flooring throughout can really create a nice flow.
Ok, one more before pic of this area, because it’s just so much fun to see the progress.
And after. 🙂 What a difference!
Ok, let’s move into the kitchen! Here’s the before. The tile floors were then removed and replaced with hardwood, a new kitchen island and range hood was built, cabinets painted, backsplash & lighting added, and new granite countertops installed.
LOVE this farmhouse kitchen. Light, bright, and simple.
This little hutch area needed some love as well. The glass was removed from the upper doors, and replaced with square mesh chicken wire type material. (Does that sound like the professional term? You get the picture.) 🙂
Here’s the after. We also decided to make this the coffee bar area. So fun!
Here’s the before of the eat-in area. It was such a long wall, it needed something. Hmmm…SHIPLAP? Yes! Perfect place to add some interest with this favorite material. And a new light fixture for sure. In the window area to the right, we decided to create a “Keeping Room,” a cozy spot to gather, chat with whoever is cooking in the kitchen, or read. It’s become a favorite!
Here’s a close-up of the Keeping Room area.
Ok, another before shot. This wall houses the pantry door on the left, and the laundry room door on the right. The laundry room door was a nightmare, because when you opened it into the laundry room, you covered up the entire sink area, making it really inconvenient. Perfect spot for a barn door. And the client wanted a pantry door with a little more character.
So much more fun!
This open cabinet used to hold a wine rack, and we repurposed it to hold a cute plate rack, and some fun decor. The view out this window is just perfect. Wide open pasture.
Let’s go back to the entry. I don’t want you to miss this little welcoming spot. The rug is from Dash & Albert, and the amazing mirror is just an old window Christie found, and had a mirror added to the back. The lamps are from World Market, and their simple lines are just right.
We added some fun pillows and a striped throw to the chairs in the music room to add interest. The little mirrored table is a HomeGoods find.
This little vignette is found on top of the piano. Rustic, simple, farmhouse.
Ok! Let’s tour the bedrooms, shall we? This is the darling bedroom of the client’s two daughters. My sister, Julie (@signsofserendipity on Instagram), made the custom initials to go over the beds, the sweet lamp is from Hobby Lobby, and the ladder is from Magnolia Market! The ladder is everything in this room. It brings the warmth of the burlap bedskirts right up onto the wall. We had 18″ stripes added to the focal wall to create interest, and boy did it ever. I. Love. This room.
This is a guest room/sewing room, and was the room that held all of the fun decor all week. Needless to say, it was looking a bit disastrous a few days ago! It’s nice to see it looking like a bedroom again, and it’s all ready for guests.
This was my bedroom this week (and will forever be known as “Janna’s Room”, right Mike & Christie?). 😉 We had purchased the bulletin board for another area, but then decided it needed some cute stenciled words, and it would be the perfect focal point over the bed. That’s one of the things I love most about design, the unexpected things that happen along the way!
Aaaand the master bedroom. Neutral, with a pop of coral.
We created a cozy little seating area in the window, complete with a step-ladder repurposed as a table in the middle. One of my favorite things. So fun to think outside the box! And this gorgeous old mantel? Per. Fec. Tion.
The mirror is from Wayfair, and bounces light around the room so gloriously. Yep, GLORIOUSLY.
Oh! One room I almost forgot to include, the upstairs bonus room/play room. This room started out almost completely empty, except for a few toys, and the TV, but it almost became the biggest problem. Christie had been calling all over town to find a sofa that would work, that we could purchase right away (we wanted to see it complete before I left on Thursday night!). She was able to locate one, Mike picked it up, and when it arrived, it didn’t fit up the stairs. IT DIDN’T FIT UP THE STAIRS. No, no, no. We were not going to be detoured that easily. After all, we had the perfect rug, the perfect curtains, and the perfect pillows waiting upstairs, and we needed the perfect sofa to join the party. It just so happened that the sofa in the Keeping Room was very similar, but slightly smaller that the new sofa. The guys tried moving THAT one upstairs, and VOILA! It fit! Ok, it BARELY fit, the feet had to removed, the door had to be removed, but hey! It FIT!!! The new sofa is happily living in the Keeping Room, and the upstairs bonus room is complete.
This called for a celebratory Diet Coke, and Christie showed me how to apply some fun Jamberry nail wraps before I had to be on my way. (Hard to see, but these are a cute swiss cross pattern! Love!)
Thanks for having me, Mike & Christie. It was a blast, and your southern hospitality was amazing. We stayed up late, we got to hang 27,000 things on the wall, we ate delicious food, and we worked hard. We “might could” do this, and we “might could” do that. We endured crazy thunderstorms with even crazier rain, ate ribs without napkins, and I feel so blessed to have lived every single second of it. You guys are the best!
Just over 2 weeks ago, Magnolia House was NOT on my radar. I mean, of COURSE I would want to go at some point, but I’ve looked it up. It’s booked. For ages.
And then. Two weeks ago, my sweet Instagram friend Jamie (@threetwentyco) contacted me and said she had unexpectedly been able to book Magnolia House for 1 night, and wondered if I’d like to come down to join the fun. Dilemma. I was already scheduled to be in Texas about a week later for a sweet client’s project. Should I REALLY go twice in a row? Answer: OH HECK YES. Magnolia House? This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To join 7 other Instagram friends…most of them being girls I had never even met…for an incredible experience.
I knew it would be fun to stay at Magnolia House. I knew it would be fun to shop at Magnolia Market and see the sights. But, SURPRISE. It was so much more than that. What I DIDN’T know, is that God was orchestrating an incredible experience that we would never forget. That He was gathering 8 girls who really needed a time of refreshing. 8 girls who would unexpectedly become friends for life. *Ahem*…pass the tissues!
Here’s the 3 of us that traveled from Oregon. Jayme (@fridleyhomes_design on Instagram), Anne (@anneenash on Instagram) and myself. As we sat in the airport and waited for our flight on Friday morning, the anticipation was killing us. Did we REALLY just drop everything to go on this wild and crazy adventure? Answer: OH HECK YES.
Saturday morning, the 3 of us got up early, checked out of our Dallas, Texas hotel, and drove down to Waco to join the rest of our crew.
And yes. Of COURSE we made a quick stop at McDonald’s for some Egg White Delights and LARGE Diet Cokes. I mean, let’s get this party STARTED, right??
Ahhhh!!! Here we are at Magnolia Market! We arrived just before opening, waited in line, and couldn’t wait to meet up with the other girls.
Can we just stop and talk about Magnolia Market for a sec? Having been before for the grand opening “Silobration”, I wondered how different it would be this time. Ummm…it was amazing. It’s incredible how they continue to grow and change their inventory. The displays are stunning, the merchandise is drool-inducing, and the whole atmosphere is inspiring. We excitedly met up with our travel buddies inside the store, and kicked off our fun weekend with some great shopping.
Thank. You. Joanna. Gaines.
We wandered the grounds, and checked out the soon-to-open Magnolia Seed + Supply. Uhhh, could this place get ANY more dreamy?
Next up, we were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Magnolia Market, given by Brock, head of public relations for Magnolia.
One of our first stops on the tour, the conference room. I mean, can you EVEN? The shiplap. The beams. The lighting. The table. The hutch. We couldn’t resist the chance to sit at the table and pretend like we were takin’ care of some BIZ-NASS. Thanks for taking our pic, Brock!
Do you know what this is? Ohhh, it’s Chip’s office. No big deal. 😉
This is the view from Chip’s window…so fun to see lots of families enjoying the grounds.
This is a little staff kitchen…a lunch room with subway tile, concrete counters, and open shelving? Yes, please!
Here we are on the rooftop. By this time, we were all pretty much beside ourselves. So. Fun.
The view from the roof was just…ya. Amazing. We chatted with Brock about how awesome it is to see Chip & Joanna bring new life to this little block of Waco, and to see families enjoying every square inch of the property. We were just so thankful to be standing on this hot rooftop, taking it all in.
We said goodbye to Brock, and headed over to the food trucks for lunch.
Pretty striped shade covers have been added to the picnic tables in preparation for the hot summer, and boy, that was a genius idea. We Oregon girls were melting. 😉
After a delicious lunch, we headed over to check out Harp Design Co. (If you’re a Fixer Upper fan, you already know Clint Harp makes all of Joanna’s beautiful tables on the show). Here I am with my sweet friend Caroline (@vineandbranchestx on Instagram and one of the beautiful ladies in our crew this weekend).
Bonus! The Pokey O’s truck was at Harp Design Co. that afternoon, and we had the MOST delicious ice cream sandwiches! My pick was chocolate chip cookies with a mint chocolate chip ice cream center. To. Die. For.
Next stop, Jimmy Don’s workshop! Jimmy Don makes all of the beautiful custom metal signs for Magnolia Market, and he is just the sweetest. We chatted for quite awhile, and he had us all laughing like crazy.
We were fascinated to see these high-tech machines cutting out gorgeous signs. What a treat to be there. And Jimmy Don, thank you for taking time to chat with us. It was a highlight!
And the moment we’d all been waiting for…we arrived at Magnolia House just after 4pm on Saturday. We literally screamed when we drove around the corner and saw it for the first time. Don’t judge. That’s what a bunch of silly girls do. 🙂 As pretty as it is on the outside, it is a million times prettier on the inside…buckle. up.
Just inside, and tucked under the stairs, is this reading nook…just the beginning of gorgeousness. It was absolutely surreal to step into a real-life Fixer Upper. Watching the episode on TV was one thing. But seeing it in real life, whoa. How. Could. It. Be. So. Much. Better?
The living room is so cozy and inviting. There’s thought in every detail…lots of cozy throws, perfect for those late night chat sessions between friends, extra comfortable furniture, a stunning rug that had us searching for a tag so we’d know where to source it (hey, it was a house-full of designers, after all! Oh, and it’s from West Elm, in case you wondered too!), and shiplap for days. We’re talking shiplap on every wall AND the ceiling. Pretty much perfection.
The main level bathroom is nothing short of dreamy. Gorgeous cement floor tiles, fresh & bright white subway tile in the shower, shiplap, a wood chandelier, and a free-standing tub that will call your name, even if you’re not a bath-taker.
The formal dining room…no words. Just beyond beautiful. (Oh, the gasping and exclaiming that was going on as we toured the house and took pictures!)
The kitchen…Ummm, I’m afraid I’m out of adjectives. So amazing, and stocked with everything you might need. It made me wish we were staying for 2 weeks, not just a night! But hey, no time to be sad about that…there was so much more house to see!
The casual feel of the kitchen table just makes you want to gather with your friends, eat a good meal, and stay up MUCH too late.
A little close-up of the floating shelves in the kitchen, because they’re just SO good.
Here’s a room I never knew about…the laundry room! Complete with stunning floating shelves and phone charging cables. Seriously, they thought of everything. Oh, and good news. If your clothes are wrinkled from travel, there’s an amazing steamer just behind me.
Ok, back through the kitchen, and let’s go see the rest!
The guest rooms are straight from heaven. Not only beautiful, but the beds were ultra-comfy and the linens were giving us heart eyes.
This amazing piece sits in the front master bedroom, the room I shared with my sweet friend Anne.
This little desk area is in the same room…that memo board? I die.
The second floor master is a wow-factor when you come up the stairs, to put it mildly. *gasp* Go ahead, take a second and catch your breath before we continue. 😉
I love this little kitchenette tucked away upstairs…the perfect place to make a cup of coffee (or 4. Right, Caroline?) 😉
Just when we thought our hearts couldn’t take any more, we were invited to tour the beautiful home of the Magnolia House caretakers, Rob & Marianne. You’ll remember this house from the end of season 3, Fixer Upper.
Marianne is a treasure and she definitely has the gift of hospitality. She made us feel so at home.
We decided to stay close-by for dinner so we could enjoy the house as much as possible. We walked a block or two to Luigi’s…the most amazing Italian food, located in good old downtown McGregor. If you go, it’s a MUST. Oh my word. The bread. The alfredo. The pasta. Luigi’s was the backdrop for some amazing conversation. It was such an honor to sit around the table with these amazing women, and hear their hearts. I must say, there wasn’t a SINGLE negative thing about the weekend. These girls uplift, affirm, and cheer for each other. Talk about refreshing. We all talked about how God had blessed our day, from beginning to end, and how we knew He was using it to refresh some weary souls. And man, did He ever.
Sunday morning started with some delicious cinnamon rolls and fresh squeezed orange juice, compliments of Magnolia. I’m not gonna lie, this pastry-loving girl was in her happy place.
After breakfast, we were blessed to have Teresa (@innocencethriving on Instagram) and her beautiful daughter, Tristan, come and share a devotional with us. I’m so thankful for Teresa and her heart for women. We laughed, we cried (like full-on UGLY cried), we shared, and we bonded. God refreshed and uplifted our hearts in an absolutely powerful way. We sat in awe of the way He brought us all together, and cleared each of our calendars to allow us the opportunity to partake in an amazing weekend.
You might recognize Teresa (front row, middle) as Joanna Gaines’ sister. She has an amazing ministry and the second you meet her, you feel like you’ve known her forever. It’s just occurred to me that I don’t think I’ve introduced you to the rest of the crew yet! So here ya go: (back row) Julie (@juliecwarnock), Gwen (@gwen_solis), Tiffany (@joyfully.rooted), (middle row) Jayme (@fridleyhomes_design), Caroline (@vineandbranchestx), Jamie (@threetwentyco), (front row) me, Teresa (@innocencethriving), and Anne (@anneenash). These ladies. Oh, my heart. LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!
Caroline (who also happens to be one of my all-time FAVORITE sign makers) gave us the most beautiful “grateful” signs. The perfect word to capture how we were feeling. So very grateful. For the experience, for the friendships, but most of all, for the work God did in our lives.
Just before check-out, Jamie surprised us with these darling “swag bags”, complete with all kinds of goodies from her favorite Instagram accounts. Jamie, you blessed our socks off. Thank you for dreaming up this weekend, praying over it, preparing for it, and surprising us with so much fun.
After we touched up our makeup from all the happy tears, we took a quick pic with Marianne, the caretaker, on her porch. What a sweet soul! Although our stay at Magnolia House was over, we still had some fun planned for the day!
The very sweet Val (@rubyandlucyframes on Instagram) was on season 3 of Fixer Upper and invited us to come see her gorgeous home! She and her sister, Vanessa, blew us away with their Southern hospitality. They greeted us with warm smiles and open arms on the porch, and welcomed us in like old friends. Side note: just look at our shoes. Are we meant to be friends or WHAT?? #isenseatheme
Oh my. So absolutely beautiful. And Val has a special place in my heart…because, LOOK. Donuts on the counter. Girl, you GET me! 😉
Val is quite the crafty DIY-er herself…just look at this planked headboard she MADE! We were in LOVE!
Best part about hanging with these girls? Always ready to ham it up for the camera.
Last stop of the day, David’s house. You probably remember him as the “Waco Bachelor” from season 3 of Fixer Upper. David was so gracious to invite us over to his home, and to share a little about his upcoming venture, a tour company (you can find him on Instagram @wacotours). The thing that really struck us about David was his love for the Lord, and his love for gathering people. Now, can we just take a minute to ADORE the front of this house?
The two islands, the reclaimed wood, the concrete counters, the sleek backsplash…so perfect.
The master has 2 barn doors, and the same open feel as the rest of the house.
What a way to wrap our adventure. Thanks for having us, David! If you’re ever in Waco, be sure to check out his tour company!
And now, to the sweet friends who shared this experience. Thank you. Your smiles, your laughter, your encouragement…dare I say it was a life-changing weekend? That was the biggest surprise of all. Turns out it wasn’t about the location or the shopping or the decor. God showed up and reminded us that we are His daughters. He knows our hearts, He knows our needs. And He is a good, good Father.
See even more pics from the weekend by searching #magnoliabucketlist on Instagram.
Oh my goodness, I am so excited about this fun makeover project! I’ve been looking for a great multi-functional piece for the garage. You know, something to hold shoes, coats, my bag full of odds and ends that goes with me on every install, my little tool box…basically a (super cute) garage caddy! *Newsflash* This does not exist in the store. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it. I mean, who DOESN’T want to see something clean, fresh, darling, and organized when they open their garage at the end of a busy day? Yep, I was all in.
The search was on. Have you heard of Close5? It’s an awesome app that you can use to search for tons of items in your local area. I downloaded the app, set the search area (I wanted to stay within 25 miles of my home), and started shopping. I stumbled on this little diamond in the rough…an oak entertainment center. I snagged it for $40 and the owners even delivered it for me. Here’s what it looked like when I got it:
Mmmm Hmmm. Not the cutest. But it had potential. LOADS of it.
We added some larger casters to the bottom, to raise it up a little bit and give it an industrial look. I busted out the remaining backing on the top section (I felt like Chip Gaines on demo day), and removed the bottom drawer and the shelf on the left side (to be used later). I gave it a quick sanding with medium grit sand paper, and then hunted down some old paint in the garage. Here’s what it looked like when it was all ready to paint:
We had a quart of interior satin paint on hand (white) that I thought would work just fine. Using a foam roller, I gave it 3 coats of fresh white paint, and distressed the edges once dry, using medium grit sand paper. My hubby added 4 coat hooks to the inside, and put a nice chunky industrial pull on the drawer. And then, my favorite part. The part that really added some personality. Remember that swiss cross stencil I recently used in my upstairs hall? Well, I’ve been itching to incorporate it somewhere else, and bingo! This was just the ticket. We got a big piece of thin pressboard at Home Depot, and had it cut to size in the store. Using the side that was already white, I quickly stenciled dark gray swiss crosses using acrylic craft paint (from my VERY messy craft closet…that needs some attention soon). We let it dry for about 20 minutes, and nailed it to the back of our new “garage caddy.” Uhhh, I’m not gonna lie. I stood back and yelled like I always do, “Ahhh! That is so CUTE!”
We rolled our caddy into its new home, and well, one thing led to another. We sorted through 20 pairs of shoes that no longer fit anyone in this family, sifted through a few piles of junk, and then, since I was in a total stenciling mood, I made a quick sign to go above the new caddy on an old piece of barn wood (the sign says “Oh Hello” but when I had only painted “Oh Hel” my hubby walked by, and said “Janna! What are you PAINTING??” ha ha).
Well, what do you think? Could you use something similar in your garage? Good news, I’m pretty sure there’s a healthy population of 80’s oak media cabinets out there! 😉 Let’s repurpose them, one at a time. And hey, be sure to check out Close5! You never know what kinds of treasures you’ll find! Download the app here:
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Charlotte - This is very pretty. Where did you get the sign on the dresser?
yellowprairieint - Thank you Charlotte! The sign is from Hobby Lobby.😊
Jennifer - So light and dreamy… Ahhhhh!! 😌
Mary jo - And the bedside tables, where did they come from?
Once again,Beautiful work!
yellowprairieint - Hi Mary Jo! Yes, night stands are from Wayfair.😊Thanks for stopping by!
Kim - I love your bedroom design! Where do you find the bedding?
Thanks!
yellowprairieint - Thank you Kim! The comforter is from macys.com, and the pillows were from Homegoods (except euro shams, which were from Bed Bath & Beyond). Have a great afternoon!
Kim S. - Love to wall color. What color and brand is it.
yellowprairieint - The wall color is Valspar “Coconut Milk”. Have a great weekend!
Shelly - Such a beautiful job. Would you mind telling me where you got the wispy topiary? Having a very difficult time finding them. Thank you.
yellowprairieint - Hi Shelly! Yes! The topiary is from Wayfair. It’s called “Conservatory Olive Tree in Pot”. 🙂
Whitley - Love the rug! Where did you find it?
yellowprairieint - Hi Whitley! The rug is from rugsusa.com 🙂
Dawn - I am building a new home and I love coming to your website for inspiration!