Design Portfolio Project 1 – Suite Thyme

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Helloooo, DIYShowOff friends! It’s been a minute. Or longer! Long overdue for an update! I’ve missed you. What’s been going on with you? All good? Around here? Continuing to embark on my whimsical journey of DIY, decorating and domestic wonders along with hosting amazing guests at Suite Thyme and continuing a passion for well-being at Wellness Inspired Living. I recently drafted a design portfolio. And since it documents my decorating and DIY journey to date, thought you’d like a glimpse and update too.

Design Projects

Here’s a showcase of my flair for creating a snug and charming space, paired with my love for crafting a peaceful environment in our short term rental, AirBnb.com/h/SuiteThyme. This design project was absolutely a labor of love. From empty rooms to luxury lodging, Suite Thyme has over 100 five star reviews! Guests include wedding couples, business travelers, family reunion guests, festival go-ers, self care retreats, weekend getaways with friends or for romantic escapes. I enjoy hosting and making guest stays special.

Before and After Transformation

Most of the before and after design for Suite Thyme has been shared in the #helloredreno series but there’s also new windows and a brand new look to the property’s exterior. It doesn’t show in photos, but the red (not original) was very weathered and peeling. And if you’re like me, when the expense is large…I want to be “wow-ed” so changing the color was important to me. Finding a color was a challenge but I am over the moon thrilled with my decision to go with Benjamin Moore’s Black Forest Green. It is stunning! Don’t you think?

This late 1800 property has a lot of history. We purchased it in 2017 from a lawyer who made it his long standing office for over 45 years. I’ve heard there was an antique shop there at one time and a previous deed found on the property shows a purchase back in 1912. I’d love to find out more information. It’s so charming and prominent on a corner city lot.

The transformation has been a lot of work but so worth it!

Design Update

What’s next for Suite Thyme? This year there’s a plan to purchase (judicial sale) an adjoining property to expand the backyard and parking. You may have seen the demo of the abandoned house next door. Fingers crossed it happens! Also on the list is a new metal roof, a concrete patio, some landscaping TLC. And for inside, there’s a few things I’d like to update including a kitchen backsplash and bedroom refresh. It’s hard to believe it’s been providing special lodging for travelers.

Stay tuned for detailed Design Project #2.

DIY Halloween Floral Skeleton

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DIY Halloween Floral Skeleton tutorial

I am so in love this decadent and decay theme for adding a touch of Halloween class to the front porch! It’s a skeleton with beauty and style and solar fairy lights!

What I gathered:

Supplies:

  • artificial fall florals
  • 36″ skeleton
  • clip on butterflies
  • hot glue
  • solar fairy lights

Tools: hot glue gun, wire cutters

What I did:

Using wire cutters, I separated some of the florals and removed stems if needed. Then simply secured fall floral pieces and arrangements and accents onto my skeleton using hot glue. A flower crown, some florals over the rib cage and a few tucked within, a wrist and ankle corsage. I added a few butterflies too.

Once that was complete and all of my florals were securely in place, I started at the bottom of one leg and worked my way up the skeleton (there is a LOT of wire so be generous with wrapping and even going back over an area) then back down to the other leg with the string of solar fairy lights.

I used a shepherd’s hook to display in a planter where I could also easily tuck in the solar panel.

Decadence and decay!

Do you decorate for Halloween? Spooky? Creepy? Fun and cute?

Source List:

JoAnn Fabrics: florals and skeleton (after the fact, I also saw the same size skeleton at Family Dollar)

Amazon (affiliate links) ~ make your own kit with everything you need:

Easy DIY halloween floral skeleton decor tutorial

Farmhouse Exterior Makeover

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Hello, DIYShowOff friends! If you’ve been a DIYShowOff follower, you’ll remember our farmhouse from back in the day. Ready for a farmhouse before & after exterior update and makeover? It’s undergone the biggest before and after exterior makeover to date. It’s hard to believe it’s the same farmhouse. Of course there are still projects on the list (porch railing, landscaping, etc.) but our property has never looked better! The exterior is so pretty and the yard is now an oasis, our personal retreat.

diyshowoff exterior farmhouse makeover

Farmhouse Before

Before…old windows, faded siding, back doors with awnings, sidewalks and a lack of landscaping. An old dilapidated grape arbor.

BEFORE:

farmhouse before

We definitely got the side eye when purchasing this fixer upper but my Mr. DIY and I saw the potential.

After: French doors, new windows, new siding, a new metal roof, concrete patio, concrete stairs and a stamped stained concrete pool deck and walkways were added, grape arbor rebuild. Years in the making!

AFTER:

farmhouse exterior makeover

Early Makeover Projects

One of the first projects was installing French doors where the single back doors were and removing the awning. Then came a patio and some landscaping.

back exterior farmhouse before

And a grape arbor gazebo makeover. Here’s the before:

grape arbor before

Pool Party

Then last year…a major update starting with an in-ground pool installation, stained & stamped concrete pool deck and patio. Check out our complete in-ground pool installation!

in-ground fiberglass pool patio

Welcome guests!

We have a new front door and porch! Our home didn’t have a front door (original was enclosed to create a ‘sun porch’) which we opened up into a home office when we got new windows. Original front door is in the wood sided addition shown below…

farmhouse addition

Here it is inside…

DIY fall autumn dreamcatcher door decor wreath @diyshowoff

Other side of the front yard…

farmhouse before makeover

BEFORE:

exterior door install

So we added a new front entry door and front porch leading into our family room. It’s still a work in progress with the need for railing and extending the sidewalk from bottom of stairs to the driveway but looking good!

dark home exterior front door

New Siding

Then new board and batten, cedar shake and ledge-stone (vinyl) siding for an amazing transformation for the biggest “wow”.

BEFORE:

exterior siding makeover before

AFTER:

board and batten siding

Siding is from CVS. Board and Batten color: Carbon Designer. Trim: Linen. Ledge stone siding is Arizona Sandstone and cedar shakes: Rustic Cedar Designer.

BEFORE AND AFTER different view:

carbon color board and batten siding before and after

Metal Roof

And a new metal roof on additions (keeping the original slate which is still in good condition in a copper color.

After (the transformation)

So, it’s been a minute. Okay, it’s been way longer. But I’m back! I’ve missed our connection. It’s so easy to get lost in the everyday, especially with how blogging has changed over the years and with losing my Facebook page to a hacker leaving me feeling defeated with the disappearance of years of hard work. Time to get back on the horse, ya know?! Time to catch up! I have so much more to share!

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Roeshel (@diyshowoff)

What do you think? Big change, right?