Ripping out our stairs seemed like the best idea for us as we try to finish this DIY fixer upper former church camp cabin. See why, how, and what we did to make them functional and attractive!
Category: Renovation Diaries
🪵 The $10 Church Pew (What could possibly go wrong?)
If you’ve been following our cabin renovation journey, you know we’ve been trying to figure out what to do with our stairs. Many of you said we HAD to do something cool under the stairs and we agreed! Our plan: create cozy banquette seating for our space. I have spent hours going down YouTube rabbit… Continue reading 🪵 The $10 Church Pew (What could possibly go wrong?)
From Blueprint Hiccups to Board & Batten: Our Cabin Bathroom is 95% Complete!
The Blueprint Dream When we started drawing up the plans for this cabin, the bathroom was one room I was excited to design. Let's just say our previous bathroom situation left a lot to be desired, so this new space was going to be my ultimate clean slate. We had it perfectly mapped out on… Continue reading From Blueprint Hiccups to Board & Batten: Our Cabin Bathroom is 95% Complete!
✅Lessons Learned From Teachers Who Renovated Completely Backwards
As teachers, we tend to be rule followers. But when it came to our own live-in DIY renovation? We completely failed the Reno 101 assessment. Because we didn’t follow the rules. But wait. We have excuses! If you read any home improvement manual or watch HGTV, the "proper" construction order is simple: work top to… Continue reading ✅Lessons Learned From Teachers Who Renovated Completely Backwards
How to Make a Portrait of Home for Free!
Got to chatgpt.com using this prompt and a photo of your home to get a quick and free portrait.
The ultimate DIY pivot: Why we ditched the wallpaper – twice(and a sneak peek of the pink paint!) 🌸
If you were here last week, you know about the Valentine's Day drywall disaster, the bleeped-out video, and the infamous "Mike Maneuver." I would love to tell you that today we are officially out of the dust and fully into the "Pretty Phase," but let's be real. The drywall isn't completely sealed, the board and… Continue reading The ultimate DIY pivot: Why we ditched the wallpaper – twice(and a sneak peek of the pink paint!) 🌸
Drywall & Dates: Our DIY Valentine’s Day Disaster (The Reality of Living in a Renovation & a Bathroom Update!)
The "Live-In" Renovation Reality Check If you read a construction manual, they’ll tell you to hang drywall first, then install the lights. We did the exact opposite. Because we are actually living in this cabin while we renovate (and we like being able to see in the dark), the lights had to go up early.… Continue reading Drywall & Dates: Our DIY Valentine’s Day Disaster (The Reality of Living in a Renovation & a Bathroom Update!)
One Year and ZERO Finished Rooms (part 1)
To be fair, in that year we literally knocked the cabin down and had it rebuilt. We didn’t even have a structure to start the "actual" renovation until July. So, while we’ve owned the property for a year, the house is technically only seven months old. When you’re living in a construction zone and working… Continue reading One Year and ZERO Finished Rooms (part 1)
365ish Days Later: Things We Never Knew We’d Do
In Year One of our cabin renovation journey, we embraced challenges and developed new skills. Major milestones included installing in-floor heating, siding the house, and electrical work, guided by a supportive community. Our experiences transformed our approach to home improvement, and we're excited for the next phase of our adventure.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Why We Tore Out Our Brand New Shower
We thought we were crossing the finish line. It was right before Christmas. The cabin finally had heat and hot water. We were staying in it as we renovated (a messy choice, but the only way we could keep working). The bathroom was functional, and we were just working on the drywall and trim to… Continue reading The Nightmare Before Christmas: Why We Tore Out Our Brand New Shower