Counting the Days...181

What do I miss most about not being settled in at Betty?  The hosting and decorating!  I LOVED decorating Olin for the holidays and it's a little sad to drive around during this season, especially up here in New England.  All of our entertainment dishware and decor are still boxed and in storage!

I'm not trying to give DH a massive heart attack, but there are only 181 days until move in!!

Easter 2014 @ Dolce Olin

Curtain Call Update

I wish I could claim responsibility for picking out the winter/holiday curtains, but, I can't.  DH was all over this decision.  I've gotta give it to him, the fabric and color were perfect for Dolce Olin.  

Our grommet curtains were a little bit too perfect.  When the buyers put in an offer on our home, they added a contingency that the sale include our curtains! Do you think they knew they were DIY? 

In the end, I convinced DH to let the curtains go, but I can't say, 10 months later, that I don't miss them!  

I won't bore with you the DIY-details, you can find the directions here.  

DIY All The Way! 

The Perfect Winter Curtains

Dollars and Cents: 

10 panels took 3 days to sew and I ordered the panels at separate times in order to maximize the discount. 

Hardware: same

Fabric: Panels- 30 yards, with a coupon for a total $871.50 (No liner--Fabric is thick and keeps its shape.)

Sewing Machine: Already own one!

Misc: Thread and Grommets $80.00 after 50% off coupon
Savings: $1,298.50; Based on the quote we received for our Spring/Summer curtains, this project would likely have cost us an estimated $450 a window--labor and the heavy fabric.  Winner! 

Curtain Call

A great DIY way to change the feel of a room is by changing wall color.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to paint, but I'm not ready to part with our Benjamin Moore Santa Monica Blue.  In the spirit of full disclosure, I also have lingering paint-TSD and I don't want to see a paint brush until May!!

So what's another easy way to change a room?  Change the drapes!

My current DIY drapes are perfect for the warmer months so I'm thinking we need the perfect fabric for the winter holiday season.    I've narrowed it down to three of my favorites.

Duralee Danda in Saffron

LIDO A/JRU 02 In 04 Color

Mill Creek Bombolo Rally in Grenadine

Time to dust off the sewing machine!   Which one do you love?

Happy Easter: 2013

From Our Family to Yours, Happy Easter!

We're ready for Easter brunch!

Spring Garden 2013

Daylight hours are getting longer.  You are probably wearing a lighter coat on your way in to work.  And finally, color and plants are back.  It must be spring!!  As DH and I prepare to get back to DIYing, I wanted to share our planting schedule!

What will you plant this spring?

Bathroom Update: Part 2

Yep, we are still at it with our bathroom!  I know, I know.  I have been absolutely horrible with providing progress updates!  It's true, you really can't give your best to a 12hr-day job, philanthropy activities, a happy marriage, friends, family, and a blog all at the same time.

But I hope you can forgive me and enjoy the pictures below!!  I am so excited with how all the moving pieces that go into the design and construction of a major bathroom renovation are coming together!!

Let me remind you what the bathroom use to look like—

Band-aid Solution—

From demo to the finish carpentry—less plumbing and electric—this is all because of DH's amazing handywork.

Halfway Through—

We splurged a little on our fixtures, but don't you wish this was your shower?

Sneak Peak: Upstairs Bathroom

A week into our slower-than-a-hare bathroom remodel and our AMAZING plumber just came over and installed our new right out of the box tub!

Here's a sneak peak!

Long baths ahead