Catching Up & Spring Home Updates

Once again, the (new) year seems to be flying by! It feels like just yesterday I peeked out the windows to see winter grey, and today, the view is filled with blue skies, green buds, birds, bees, butterflies, and flowers! I truly love this time of year, and especially now living in a place where you can really see, feel, and appreciate the change of seasons. And with the change of seasons, comes a few in home changes over the past three months, including:
  
January - Winter Paint Projects (objects)
- Mirror Makeovers
- Trunk Revamp to Stripes
- Ebonized Dining Table
- Chandelier Update
- Emerald Buffet Makeover


I'd like to add ribbon trim to the shade, but in the meantime, the white candlesticks are painted antique gold.





February - Spring Cleaning Began
- Window Cleaning
- Window panel updates (DR, MBR, LR)
 - Wall Decor updates - Created an Abstract Painting
- Changed air filters
 - Kitchen & Bathrooms deep cleaning
- Closet purge = donations + consignment
- Closet organizing
 - Home Office purge & cleaning














March - Pre-Spring Projects
- Outdoor wicker cleaned & painted
 - Phase 1 outdoor living spaces - after winter clean-up
- Front Door Re-Painted (black gloss)
- Interior black door & white moldings (+fireplace) repainted 
 - Finished basement primed & painted
- Layering of Spring florals + greens (both faux and real)
- Guest Den Refresh - New daybed refinished
- Sheets & Towels renewed
- Brass & Silver polished
- Created New Spring Tablescapes




The satin black door was already fading - refreshed with two coats of (Glidden)  high gloss. 


The key to a crisp edge paint job is an angled brush.


The finished basement & bathroom were blah-builder-beige (since 2005!!) Easily  updated with Behr Gentle Rain - same color we used in our Master Bed / Bath and Guest bathrooms - keeps house cohesive, updated neutral, and still light enough for a basically windowless space. 


The metal Daybed I ordered was Oil Rubbed Brown - it wasn't available in black (but I really liked its style being vintage-like) - I built some sections, painted them, and I finished building bed inside, in the upstairs guest space. 


HomeGoods gift cards came in handy to replenish guest towels, along with create a welcoming Spa Tray in the Guest Room.


The daybed is actually a trundle bed, but rather than build the low trundle, the space came in handy for guest luggage storage. The arm-less sofa bed is being consigned.


Fresh flowers last so much longer here in NC than they did in AZ - and houseplants have been a great means of fresh greens all year long...



Good 'ol toothpaste works like a charm to polish silver I've collected over time (mostly from thrifting!)


 I'll post a few other tablescapes next - this was just a quick Spring - Easter brunch alfresco set outside on the deck - The table I refinished last year.The black wicker chairs I thrifted in AZ.

Hope you enjoyed a happy Easter weekend!

Along with these projects, all done within a small budget - reusing & refinishing existing items paired with a few new additions, we've also had guests over for a get-together in February, my family visited (just last week), taking in Spring around town, Jeff's family too will be coming this Summer - and we're going to have neighbors over for grilling season - plus also get the neighborhood together to have a Summer block party. Although I don't go out thrifting as much here as I did when I lived in Florida or Arizona, I've still managed to keep turning Harmon House into a home with a few shifts plus reselling items no longer in use via two local consignment shops.

My mom & aunt visiting for the week.


Chef Jeff preparing our good Friday fish meal...

Since I've taken a little break from blogging, most of my sharing has been with project updates via Facebook, Instagram, and Flickr (just quicker to still keep in touch). I need to share more details about some of the makeovers & paint projects here on the blog - but I really just needed a break from blogging. Of all the social media channels I share on (FB, TW, IG, G+, Houzz, Flickr, Pinterest), blogging by far takes the most time, has changed so much since Pinterest, and I was seeing the least return for the time invested. After spending so much time online, I started to get, RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury (hand, forearm, neck), and weight gain from not moving around as much as I used to. After being 115lbs. for most of my life, I shot up to 144lbs. Thankfully, now I've dropped down to 133, but being only 5'2", for me - that's still too high - not to mention, my blood pressure was some ridiculous sky-high numbers). I'm sure moving (to AZ and now to NC) has also placed on strain on motivation (major life change), but after now living back east for a little over a year, I'm starting to feel more settled &  grounded again.

Sitting IS the new smoking - GET UP and move around.

With Spring in full swing and April just around the corner, I'm so looking forward to getting back to being and living outdoors - especially gardening (hubs is too!) and taking walks after dinner. There are also several flea, antique and the furniture markets coming up to get out and explore - plus I made a list of local parks to experience on the weekends. Regardless of my back not being quite the same as it used to be, and as fun as blogging was when I started (back in late '09) - I can't stand sitting still anymore.

Old Winston in Spring Bloom!

Jeff's Raised Box - Vegetable Garden

I'm so ready to get back outdoors!! How about you?

Happy Spring!
Thanks for stopping by!






10 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed the update. Your house is just so perfect! I just followed you on Instagram so I can see all of your inspiring restyles. I've been following you all the way back from Rate my Space. I feel your struggle on moving and weight gain... i just moved from Florida to Texas and the struggle is real. Your honesty is so refreshing.

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  2. Really have missed your blog and inspiration. Far more important obviously is your health, so certainly that comes first.
    Your home is coming along fabulously! And really who's surprised.....:)
    Loved everything you have done and look forward to your next post...always makes me want to jump up and get started....THANKS!!!!

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  3. I love to see all the beautiful projects you do and your ability to do so much! You amaze me! I'm not creative in this area at all, but everything you do is so beautiful! I can't create but I most surely love!

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  4. Glad to see you back adn may I recommend the whole30 cleanse for easy and fast and permanent weight loss...worked for my 63 year old self...down 34 pounds in less than 6 months and with very little effort. Hope things begin to settle down for you and we hear more.

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  5. So glad to see you again! Blogging does take a hellacious amount of time for very little return. I don't post as much as I used to, but I like having a place to write when I want. You are so creative, and it is always a pleasure to see what you have done. I do understand about that RSI and weight gain. To quote Angele Parlange "Ain't time a wrecker?"

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  6. Hi Lynda, I didn't realize you were working so hard on your home I thought you were taking a break. I'm going to have to figure out which social media i'm going to join so I can check out what you're up to. You're
    the best out there in the blogging world I love to see the before and afters. Thank you for all you do.

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  7. Loved the update -- but I concur wholeheartedly on the blog thoughts. Love your home !

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  8. Hello Lynda...i am always following you on Instagram and I am a huge fan of Pinterest. So glad to see your post in my email. I wanted to say so good to hear that you are doing better health wise and continue to keep moving. I received a FitBit for Christmas and love it. I love reaching my goal thru this device and i never realized how sedentary my life had become too (office job in front of computer) so this new little device reminds me "to move". I now park my car at the end of parking lots and walk to work or stores...more steps!!! I love all that you have done to your new home and I am looking forward to seeing the vegetable garden!!

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  9. How I love the blue motif in the dining table. I love color blue and you don't ask about my home is all color blue decorations, from the curtain, to the chairs, and even table cloth are all in color blue. I love also to order cheap and affordable home essentials only at https://www.boutiqueken.com/cat/bed-bath-duvet-covers.

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  10. The change of colors with each upgrade was really interesting to watch (especially liked those green tones from January)!

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