Monthly Archives: March 2025

Pergola And Gazebo Installations

Pergola And Gazebo Installations – If you’re anything like me, you love to be outdoors I’ve shared before how our historic home didn’t come with a porch so we built a patio and added a pergola to have an outdoor space. Last month, I freshened up my patio by painting the floor and making outdoor furniture We decided not to stop there! After about 2 years of not really enjoying this space due to the weather, we decided to add a roof Thankfully, its an easy enough project that anyone can do with the right instructions and the right tools!

I still wanted to enjoy the sunlight while having shade so we chose to go with solar gray roof panels. The hottest time of day is when it makes a difference! It’s become my outdoor office most days and I can’t complain

Pergola And Gazebo Installations

Because our pergola already … Read the rest

Coastal Cottage Refresh

Coastal Cottage Refresh – Today I’m excited to finally reveal the blue and white checkerboard pattern I painted on my kitchen floor, as well as the little update it inspired! Here are all the details and how to!

Our kitchen is only about 5 years old and I love it. With its two-tone cabinets, blue tile backsplash, large BlueStar range, and of course the water views, this is my happy place.

Coastal Cottage Refresh

When we were building the house, however, I had to make a lot of decisions. A LOT of decisions. Many of them are based on a budget.

Easy Breezy Coastal Maine Style: Our Summer Living Room

You can read all about our home building story in my post Chasing a Dream: Our Coastal Maine House Story, Part 2.

Even though our house is fairly new, I wanted the feel of an old coastal Maine home to … Read the rest

Understanding Electrical System Components

Understanding Electrical System Components – Basic layout of electrical networks. Voltages and line patterns are typical for German and other European systems.

A power grid (or power grid) is an interconnected network for delivering electricity from producers to consumers. Power grids consist of power plants, power substations to step up or step down voltage, power transmission to move power over long distances, and finally distribution of power to customers. In that final step, the voltage is again stepped down to the required service voltage. Power plants are usually built close to energy sources and away from populated areas. Power grids vary in size and can span entire countries or parts of the world. From small to large, there are microgrids, wide area synchronous networks, and supergrids.

Understanding Electrical System Components

Grids are almost always synchronous, meaning that all distribution areas operate in sync with the three-phase alternating current (AC) frequency … Read the rest

Designer Window Treatments

Designer Window Treatments – By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you consent to the storage of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site use, and assist in our marketing efforts.

They say the eyes are the window to the soul. If that’s the case, we’re inclined to believe that the windows are the eyes of the house – and don’t they deserve a little something to help them stand out?

Designer Window Treatments

Window treatments may be something of an afterthought for some, but they don’t have to be – after all, what has the potential to transform a space better than a breathtaking view, or a flood of mid-morning light? Not much. So naturally, how you dress your windows matters.

Custom Window Treatments Created & Installed By Our Drapery Artisan

Dialing in what a space needs from its window treatments isn’t always easy. Combine a directional light … Read the rest

Designing A Family-friendly Yard

Designing A Family-friendly Yard – In Napavine there is something for everyone. This gorgeous backyard includes a fireplace lounge, a gunite pool and spa with a water slide, and a custom pavilion over the outdoor living room with a TV and all-season lounge.

Creating a backyard that meets the needs and wants of the entire family can be challenging. A well-designed and family-friendly backyard should be a haven for relaxation, play and memorable gatherings. You want an aesthetic that matches your home and taste, while incorporating whimsical and fun elements to entertain the kids. It also needs to have longevity – you don’t want to invest in a dream yard for your 2 and 5 year olds only to have them grow old in a few years. Incorporating elements that will be fun from childhood to adolescence requires foresight and planning. Whether you have children, teenagers, or are still planning … Read the rest

Chic Nursery Ideas

Chic Nursery Ideas – By clicking “Accept all cookies” you agree to the storage of cookies on your device to improve website navigation, analyze website usage and assist with our marketing efforts.

Melissa Epifano is an expert home decor writer for . She has written for many other outlets, covering everything from interior design to plant care and has written nearly 70 articles on home design.

Chic Nursery Ideas

With a little one on the way, you may be itching to get your soon-to-be sleeping situation right. It’s such an exciting time, and while you may have a long to-do list, the design part is one of the most fun. There are so many exciting components to sort through, be it peaceful wallpapers, elegant changing tables or cozy nursing chairs.

Chic Nursery Decor

There has never been a better time to design a nursery. If your baby-to-be happens to be … Read the rest

Wall Treatments And Textures

Wall Treatments And Textures – We live in an old house and most of the rooms don’t have overhead lights. This makes choosing the right lighting essential for function, in addition to being beautiful.

First Step: Start with a very boring box in a room that you are tired of looking at ? Seriously though we don’t know how badly this room needs this decorative molding wall until it is done. Night and day! Since we added it we have been requested a ton for this tutorial so here it is… finally! Sorry I took a hot minute.

Wall Treatments And Textures

Now, before I get into this. I want to say, we have textured walls and we didn’t smooth coat or hide the texture of the walls under plywood (like we did in the master bedroom). We added the molding directly above our textured walls and thought it looked … Read the rest

Cozy Reading Nooks

Cozy Reading Nooks – Redecorating and organizing my home is one of my favorite ways to beat the winter blues. When you feel stuck at home this time of year, I do my best to make my place comfortable and cozy and try to fight off room fever.

The concept of creating a special place to read and relax. Having a desk chair by the window in my house will one day be a dream come true. This winter I want to work with what I have now (small apartment) to create my own little reading nook.

Cozy Reading Nooks

When living in an apartment with limited space (and funds), remodeling a window or installing custom siding may not be possible. But the good news is if you want to get creative and rearrange some of the furniture; You can make a free reading hook out of things around the … Read the rest

Electrical Work For Home Expansion

Electrical Work For Home Expansion – I’ve had a couple of emails asking how we converted a wall socket to an extension socket for our TV room coffee table. This socket, built into the front of the table, allows us to use the electrical socket behind the sofa – without having to move the sofa out of the way. I managed to catch Tom long enough to get him to show me what he was doing.

I shouldn’t have to mention this, but if you’re not comfortable/savvy working around electricity and outlets, don’t try to install this yourself.

Electrical Work For Home Expansion

Update: We recently upgraded to an outlet with built-in USB ports, and I asked Tom to switch to a grounded cable at that time. The instructions are the same – see additional steps for attaching the third (ground) wire below.

Nec 2023 Code Changes

For this reconstruction … Read the rest

Plumbing Solutions For Low Water Flow

Plumbing Solutions For Low Water Flow – Water pressure, although often overlooked, is a crucial aspect of our daily lives. From the refreshing showers we take in the morning to the efficient washing of dishes and laundry, optimal water pressure plays an important role in ensuring the functionality of our home and our comfort. Imagine trying to rinse the shampoo out of your hair with just a trickle of water, or waiting endlessly for a pot to fill up at the sink. It’s not just about convenience; persistently low water pressure may signal more significant underlying plumbing problems.

For Illinois residents, fluctuating water pressure can be a common concern for a variety of reasons, ranging from municipal supply issues to individual household plumbing challenges. This is where King Heating, Cooling & Plumbing steps in. With a reputation built on trust and experience, they have been the go-to experts for many … Read the rest