📱 Control from Anywhere: The Mini-Splits are Live!
Last 4th of July weekend was our first time sleeping in the cabin. We had no power or water, we borrowed a generator to run a small window air conditioner, and stapled sheets to the studs in our bedroom so we could have a bit of cool when we slept. But this week marks a massive renovation milestone: our Mr. Cool mini-splits are officially up, running, and fully functional! We can even control them directly from our phones. Being able to monitor and adjust the temperatures of both the downstairs and upstairs brings such a peace of mind.Â
Having the upstairs cooled down has been an absolute game-changer, especially because we’ve been spending all our time up there framing, hammering, and working on the ceiling and walls of one of the bedrooms. Working in a comfortably cooled space makes the work so much nicer.
🪵 Shiplap with a Twist
For the upstairs ceilings, we wanted something that felt clean and classic but still honored the cabin’s roots. We ended up finding the perfect primed pine shiplap planks at Menards, and they are looking incredible.
One of the coolest things about this specific wood is its versatility. The boards are actually reversible: you can use one side if you want a traditional beadboard finish, or flip them over for a smooth, modern shiplap look. Because I’m aiming for a bright and simple, we chose the wider, smooth planks. Watching those lines come together on the peaked ceiling is finally making this room look like a home instead of a construction zone.
🎆 Section 3: A Very Different 4th of July
As we head into the holiday weekend, we will continue to work, but we are setting a goal of NO WORK on the 4th. (we’ll see how that goes…😉) There’s a neighborhood parade featuring kiddos and their decorated scooters, bikes, and wagons. This brings back great memories of a similar parade from when our boys were little. The city hosts street vendors, live concerts, and fireworks right over the lake. Suzi is along for the fun and I can’t wait to have her try the floating life vest we bought her.
From sweating in the dark to celebrating in comfort—we’ve come a long way, and we are so ready to enjoy it. We hope you enjoy your weekend as well-no matter how you choose to celebrate!
What’s your favorite 4th of July tradition—the parades, the lake days, or the fireworks? And more importantly… do you think Suzi is going to love her life vest or absolutely hate it? Let me know in the comments below!
