One of the most common questions I get is how to choose the best paint colors for your home. Often it is from readers who are moving into a new home and don't know where to start in terms of paint colors.…
Planning a home project and want your paint color to be on-trend? This is the perfect post for you! I love following the paint and decor trends expected for the new year because it helps steer some of my design decisions for the year.…
For week 5 of the Better Homes & Gardens One Room Challenge, I focused on the design details. I have all of the furniture purchased and in place and I was excited to add our personality to the space. After living in our home…
Week 4 of the One Room Challenge was spent customizing our current IKEA Hemnes dresser. In my week 2 update, I shared that I had purchased a pricey new dresser only to discover that it was way too small for our clothing storage needs.…
With the walls finally painted, I spent week 3 of the One Room Challenge installing closet organization systems and assembling our new bed frame. Our master bedroom has three huge closets and we were definitely not maximizing their functionality. Along with giving our closets…
Week 2 of the One Room Challenge was dominated by painting the bedroom. Six weeks can really fly by so when I didn’t have a paintbrush in my hand, I was ordering furniture. Like all renovations, we already ran into a few surprises that…
Is it just me or does it feel like we just wrapped up the Spring One Room Challenge? Either way, my home is never lacking a space that needs a little TLC and I love participating in this challenge to get me motivated to…
If you own a home built in the 50’s or 60’s, there is a good chance you have at least one retro bathroom. Our home was built in the late 60’s and we have 3 original bathrooms! This month I am excited to tackle…
My favorite Spring One Room Challenge Transformations | Building Bluebird #orc #bhgorc…
Week 7 of the One Room Challenge and I am looking forward to wrapping up this project. There are definitely some challenges that come along with renovating a child’s bedroom for 8 weeks! Luckily we have a guest bedroom where I could send Thomas…
We are in the final weeks of the One Room Challenge and I am FEELING it! Last week was heavy and to be honest, the Challenge felt a little trivial. I am grateful that we were able to take Week 5 to reflect on…
I have been hard at work creating my English Garden and the beds are starting to fill up! All of the perennials that I have put in my garden were given to me or transferred from another spot in my yard. …
The Better Homes & Gardens Spring One Room Challenge is here and I am so excited to participate again! Over the next 8 weeks, I will be transforming my boy’s bedroom into a modern and functional space for a growing dude. If you are…
Designing and building an English garden in my backyard | Building Bluebird #landscaping #gardening #greenthumb…
I have always loved the look of an English garden! Since moving into our home last summer, I envisioned creating an English garden in our yard. I have spent hours researching features and flowers found in these gardens and have started the beginnings of…
The Toledo flip house is COMPLETE and sold to its new owners! I am so proud that we successfully and profitably flipped our first home. I can’t wait to share all of the before and after images of our first flip house in Toledo.…
With Earth Day approaching, I wanted to share 5 easy ways to make your laundry room a little more green! These simple changes can save energy and reduce plastic while doing laundry every day. 5 Tips to Make Your Laundry Room Green 1 |…
My budget-friendly laundry room makeover is finally complete! A few months ago I shared my laundry room inspiration and I can't wait to show you how I brought that vision to life. …
Steve and Jan wanted a home that functioned for their family today while also fitting in with the period when the home was built in 1875. Unfortunately, because the roof had been removed for 6 years, there wasn't much to salvage in terms of…
I am so excited to take you through my favorite project of our third house, the master bathroom renovation! Our previous house had an amazing master closet and master bathroom, so when we moved into our new house, the outdated and small master bath…
The first project at our third flip house was to build a legal bedroom in the basement with an attached bathroom. I was pregnant with my second child and Chris and I had made the decision to hire an au pair once our daughter…
Today I am excited to take you through one of the most popular Airbnb listings in Toledo, OH – The Gas Lantern Cottage. This beauty is 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and within walking distance of downtown Sylvania. If you drove by this house a…
As I slowly furnish our living room in our new home, I am on the hunt for a round table under $500. I would like to put a table in the bay window nook to serve as a place to do puzzles or play…
Today I am sharing 10 ways to make your bathroom more green today. Bathroom renovations have been on my mind because the bathrooms in our new home are original to when the house was built in the 1970s. This means that they are very…
We painted the dated, rock fireplace in our kids' playroom! Our third home had a great garden-level space that we used for the kid's playroom, but the giant rock wall made the room feel dark.…
Living in a flip house is a great strategy for beginner investors and offers many benefits. One big challenge that new real estate investors encounter is capital. This strategy is beneficial for investors who are just starting out and can only afford one property.…
If you have followed me for a while, you know by now my love for the book Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee. I was so inspired after reading this book, I share it with everyone! I passionately believe that everyone should live in a…
When you buy a fixer-upper, it is imperative that you prioritize your home renovation projects! Renovating a home can be overwhelming and I have learned quite a bit living through renovations these last 10 years. Today I am sharing my tips for how Chris…
If you are looking to sell your home, one of the easiest ways to maximize its value is to create a blank slate with neutral paint colors on your walls. …
Renovation costs can add up quickly and today I am sharing my top 5 money saving tips for your next big home project. After flipping four houses and renovating our current home, Chris and I have learned lots of ways to save money with…
I love to find one of a kind treasures at thrift stores and vintage & antique shops. As we work to renovate our new home, my goal is to mix in old and new decor. While I love everything at stores like Target, it…
The first big project in 2020 will be my laundry room! I am excited to take you through my laundry room design plans today and give you a tour of the current space. The plan is to incorporate big design into this space on…
Laundry rooms are one of my favorite projects to makeover because they are often left as boring and uninspiring spaces. It is so refreshing to do a not-so-fun task like laundry in a beautiful space. While kitchens and bathrooms often sell the home, I…
We purchased this old bed frame off of Craigslist almost 8 years ago for $100. When I bought it, I had every intention of painting it right away, but it never happened! When we moved into our new home 6 months ago, we planned…
LED light bulbs are the easiest and quickest way to make your home more energy-efficient. If you haven’t made the switch to LEDs yet, add this to your 2020 New Year’s resolution list right now! LED light bulbs have become much more affordable than…
Modern families today want that open concept design in their home. The kitchen is the most common place where homeowners want that open concept feel. It is the heart of the home where everyone wants to gather. An open kitchen with a large island…
Organizing your kitchen cabinets efficiently is often overlooked when first moving into a new home. Today I am sharing 8 time-saving tips to organize your kitchen. When a kitchen is organized well, valuable time is given back to the homeowner. In the last 10…
Have you ever noticed that Victorian style homes can look wildly different from each other? That’s because Victorian style homes actually refers to a time period and not one specific style of home. There were many architectural styles that became popular in the United…
Choosing the right paint sheen for your project is almost as important as getting the right paint color – ALMOST. 🙂 Paint comes in a variety of sheens ranging from no shine at all to very shiny paint. As a general rule of thumb,…
It has been three years since I started the Building Bluebird blog and dang, there is still so much to learn! Today I am sharing 5 tips for all beginner bloggers so they can avoid my mistakes. Starting a blog is hard and scary.…
If you haven’t guessed it already, I LOVE setting resolutions and goals! Today I am going to share some of my 2020 goals and resolutions with you as we head into the new decade! Some years are more extreme than others, but entering a…
Are you someone who follows the anticipated paint color trends each year? I love when big paint brands choose a color of the year and find it fascinating the thought that is put into each decision. Last year there were mixed reviews with the…
At the end of every year, Instagrammers from all around use the Top Nine app to pull a list of their 9 most liked Instagram posts. Along with being a fun visual of your most liked content, it gives businesses insight into what their…
2019 was a big year for me personally and professionally. As I prepare to enter a new year (and decade!), I wanted to share some of my favorite projects and moments of 2019. I would recommend this exercise for everyone, especially those of you…
Looking for the next good book? I have put together a long list of the best self-improvement books to read or listen to this year! I am a big reader and love peppering in self-improvement books throughout the year. …
The DIY picture ledge in our dining room has been a huge hit! I have had so many positive responses to this piece, someone even asked if it was from Pottery Barn! How’s that for a compliment?! Building this ledge is super easy, it…
When decorating for the holidays, I like to keep it simple. I am excited to share my home with you today and give you a full tour of my simple, holiday decor. Even more exciting, all of my House to Home Haven ladies are…
The dollhouse makeover is complete! In the words of Pinkalicious (my daughter’s favorite show), “it’s pinkatastic!” This was such a fun project for me. I loved designing this house with my daughter in mind, you will quickly realize that she LOVES the color pink…
Today I am sharing my step by step tutorial on how to install your kitchen backsplash. With this tutorial, you will get all of the tips and tricks I wish I had when I tackled my first tiling project!…
My goal for our kitchen renovation was to create an open concept that complimented the traditional style of the home while also adding that modern vibe for our family today. …
For the final week of this challenge, I am sharing the reveal of the dining room transformation AND a festive table setting designed for the holidays.…
I say this all the time, but paint is so transformative! On the blog today, I am sharing a step by step tutorial on how to paint a room like a pro.…
Today I am sharing 4 ways to add an element of surprise to your design to really make a statement. Adding something unexpected to a space can breathe new life into a room and create conversation with guests. …
We are so close to the finish line for the One Room Challenge! This week we are getting art and decor up on the walls in our dining room. …
The dining room was in need of a buffet and week 4 of the One Room Challenge was all about finding the perfect piece. When I couldn’t find the perfect buffet online, I decided to go thrifting and refinish a piece myself. We blew…
Week 3 of the One Room Challenge brought on the biggest transformation yet. I say this all the time and I will say it again…PAINT IS SO TRANSFORMATIVE! I spent this last week wrapping up wall prep (filling holes, sanding the walls, etc), making…
Week 2 of the One Room Challenge is all about dining room prep! This week is all about prepping the room – making it ugly so it can look so beautiful at the end of this 6 week challenge! Specifically I am focusing on…
Mood & modern dining room design…
Create the perfect Christmas scene under your tree with perfectly wrapped presents - Tutorial on the perfect Christmas bow…
Tips from moving experts! Check out our 5 best tips to get your new home organized fast.…
I am excited to share the playroom progress and our design plans! We are in the process of decluttering the entire space and coming up with storage solutions for the toys in this room. Playroom Before Here is a fun reminder of what it…
I have decided it is finally time to finish organizing and updating the kids playroom! This room is the garden level of our home and we have lovingly nicknamed it the “rock room”. When we first moved in, we decided that this would be…
With one dedicated weekend, we flexed our DIY skills and created a focal point and massive storage in our basement.…
Our first backyard project at Flip 2 was building a swing set for Thomas. Throughout the two years living at our second flip house, our backyard completely transformed. Today we are sharing the swing set installation and the new fence that gave our backyard…
Week 1 has come and gone for this half bath challenge, and while it may not look like it, we have accomplished quite a bit! Half Bath Wallpaper Removal The first task that we had to tackle in this bathroom was removing the wallpaper.…
I am so excited to show you how we doubled our outdoor living space at our second flip house. This is by far one of my favorite renovations we have done and one that I am most proud of. Last week I showed you…
Week 3 of the Half Bath Renovation Challenge and we are making some good progress! First, I want to apologize for missing the update post last week! Work got crazy and then I jetted off to Tulum for my friends bachelorette party where there…
Today I am so excited to share how my friend created a photography studio in her basement. Sarah is a small business owner (Sarah Renee Photography) and also a crafty DIYer who transformed her basement into a fabulous photography studio. She wanted a space…
It was extremely important to nail the kitchen layout at the Drummond Flip House. The kitchen is the heart of the home and can make or break the sale of a property, so we needed to get it right. We had three design options…
Today I am sharing our phase 1 kitchen renovation plans at Flip 3! When we first moved into this house, I was amazed by the size of the kitchen! It had been updated by the previous owners, but unfortunately it did not reflect our…
Our second house had a tiny, closed off kitchen. By removing half a wall in the kitchen and installing a breakfast bar, we were able to achieve an open concept design without gutting the entire thing! Experts say that when you go to sell…
I am excited to announce that I am participating in a half bath renovation challenge with my friend, Christie, from The Denverette! Christie and I both share a passion for DIY and wanted a little kick in the butt to finally start our renovation…
Drum roll please! My tiny, dingy, dated half bathroom has had a major makeover! We extended the challenge by a week to complete the finishing touches and it was well worth it. Check out the results! Half Bathroom Makeover Vanity Updates The vanity base…
Today I am sharing our next big project – installing a new roof and painting the exterior of our home to improve the curb appeal! I have mentioned this before, but Chris and I are planning to sell our home once we hit the…
Phase 2 of our kitchen renovation at Flip 3 is complete just in time for Friendsgiving! I don’t know about you, but hosting an event always gives me that push I need to complete lingering home projects. I love our kitchen updates in this…
Our office needed a little love but we weren’t going to break the bank fixing it up. Today I am going to share with you our affordable office updates we completed last week! We also completed another lingering project last weekend that I wanted…
If you have kids, you are familiar with the never ending challenge of keeping the playroom organized! Here are five easy tricks to organize your playroom and keep your sanity! 1. Trash Broken/Cheap Toys Let’s be real. Kids have WAY too much stuff! Every…
Today I am sharing with you a few easy tips to declutter and organize your playroom! Having a dedicated place for your kids to play in your house is a luxury in itself, but adding these organization ideas to the space will make it…
This beautiful Victorian-style home was built in the late 1800s and is located in Toledo's Historic Old West End. If you are a fan of architecture and old homes, touring the Old West End is a MUST! …
Welcome to our new, temporary home for the next year in Toledo, Ohio! For our first year in Ohio, we will be living with my in-laws. Our boxes are all unpacked and we are settling into our new routine in Ohio. We want to take…
Today Debbie, an Interior Decorator, will be taking us through her home and sharing all of her amazing home staging tips! Debbie lives in a charming Tudor house in the Sylvania neighborhood of St. James Woods and is getting ready to put it on…
Are you ready for this super simple tutorial for how to wallpaper your staircase?! I am excited to share this fun wallpaper project with you and the best part is that it took less than 3 hours to install!…
Today I am sharing the four steps you need to take once you get your flip house under contract. There is a lot of work that goes into flipping a house and it starts right after the offer is accepted. It generally takes 30-45…
Today I am sharing my tips on how to stage a small home to sell fast! When selling a small home, staging the house to sell is extremely important! I helped my parents stage their 650 square foot cottage to appeal to the most…
I am excited to take you on a tour of the Drummond Flip house before our renovations began. This is our fourth flip house and our first investment in Toledo, Ohio. House Tour If you follow me on Instagram you have seen that big…
It’s demo day at the Drummond Flip House! This flip is a bigger beast than my previous 3 flips. When we lived in Denver, we were living in the homes we flipped for two years and completed projects room by room. For this project…
Meet Woody – our first rental property in Toledo, Ohio! This is our first buy and hold investment property and we can’t wait to buy more. Today I am sharing why we chose this home and taking your on a home tour! Why We…
Today I am sharing all of our exterior renovation plans for Flip 4! We have checked off quite a few projects on our list but still have a few remaining. There were a few mild days (40+ degrees) this month and we took full…
On episode 5, Chris and I share our secret to renovating homes with full time jobs and two kids. The key to our success is by focusing on “bite sized” projects each week and working our way through the home. We will take you…
On today’s episode of From the Nest Podcast, Chris and I discuss the three common fears that homeowners face when deciding to tackle a bathroom remodel. Are you considering a bathroom renovation? I am sure you have experienced at least one of these common…
Thanks for tuning in to episode 12 of From the Nest Podcast! On today’s episode, Chris and I are discussing the kitchen design at the Drummond Flip House. Designing the kitchen at the Drummond Flip House has been a monumental task and we played…
Today I am excited to share my fantastic conversation with a gardening expert, Deb Unverferth, where she shared all of her tips for planning your flower beds. …
I am excited to take you through a before and after tour of our first flip house! Along with being our first flip house, it was also our first home! I recently realized that I never created a good before and after post of…
Choosing the type of flooring for your home is a BIG decision! It has to hold up to the wear and tear of your family, and not all flooring is created equally. On episode 24 of From the Nest Podcast, Chris and I review…
Our first flip house in Toledo, OH was a success and we are sharing all of the before and after shots today!…
Welcome to our new home, our Cape Cottage! It is still a little surreal that we now own our own home in Toledo, Ohio. It’s also a little crazy that we own a pool! We bought this home from really lovely previous owners who…
Today I am taking a note from one of my favorite blogs, chrislovesjulia.com, and breaking down the 6 renovation projects we plan to complete in the next 6 months. We have some BIG projects ahead of us at our new home! It is going…
Today I am sharing the full transformation after renovation our second flip house in Denver! We made some major improvements to this house that paid off big when we sold it after 2 years. How we Found Our Second Flip House When we found…
In our third flip house, we turned what was once the formal living room into the adult family room. I am a firm believer that you should design your house to fit the way you use it every day. The previous owners used the…
This weekend I gave the utility room a makeover while Chris was out of town! It was the first weekend where Chris was away and I was home alone with the two kids. I just finished reading the book, The Magnolia Story (the…