Clever Re-purposing

Check out this cool laundry center!

It used to be this:

Meet Lexi from

Sexy Lexi\
Lexi is a clever DIY’er and thinks outside of the box.  (Awe dachshunds!!!!)  Here are a few more of her creative projects…

Old suitcase
becomes a doxie’s princess bed…
This flea market find…
has a new life as a ribbon holder!
Lexi’s a new blogger.  I know she’d love a big welcome to blogging from the DIY blogging community.  Pop over, say ‘hi’ and meet Dottie & Hershey.  You can see more of Lexi’s creativity at 

Enjoy the weekend! Do you have DIY plans?

For Whom The Bell Told to DIY….

DIY Show Off reader, meet:  Katie from For Whom The Bell Told.  “My husband is an accountant and I am a social work major turned stay-at-home mom….not great recommendations for buying a 100+ old house that has seen better years. It breaks down to my husband doing all of the math and me doing all of the painting, and trying to trick blogger into turning my pictures right side up….”

I love the character in old homes!  Let’s take a peek at what Katie’s been doing:

I’d LOVE to have French doors opening to a sun room (two sets!).  This space is going to be beautiful when it’s finished!
Sun room before:
I love all of the windows and the plank walls!
Sun room in progress, after the painted floor…
Lots more to come as Katie’s been collecting furniture including a pedestal table and day bed and decor for warmer temps.   What a lovely area to snuggle up with a good book or munch on a delicious breakfast, to start the day.
A little sprucing up in the kitchen (while 9-months-pregnant)….
Kitchen in progress
See the full kitchen post HERE (details of Katie’s obstacles and more pictures).
Kitchen now…
Progress in the laundry room
I love all of the charm – those walls!
And a peek at her beautiful, rustic dining room:
You have a gorgeous home, Katie! All of the beautiful trim and French doors.  So much pretty character!  I can’t wait to see more!  You’re doing a beautiful job!  I just love your old home and look forward to your updates!  Good luck!

Thinking Ahead to My Next DIY Room Transformation

Once the kitchen is done – I’m going to rearrange two of the spare bedrooms.  The first floor bedroom is right off of the dining room.  It’s going to be my next project.  Right now that room is a craft/office area.  It’s always a mess.  It may or may not currently only have a path to the desk.  Okay, seriously…if I was sitting at the desk and you walked in, it’d take days to find me.  
It used to look like this.  Then the twin bed became my niece’s big girl bed and a tornado (not literally) went through and it doesn’t resemble this anymore except that the mirror with the broken scroll and curtains are still there.
We have a smaller extra bedroom upstairs with this beautiful poster bed in ivory…
That bed is getting moved to the bigger room on the first floor but I’m keeping my office there too.  It’s a blank slate.  Plywood subfloor.  Four unframed windows.  Tiny closet. A French door with sliding barn door hardware lead to the dining room…the door in the background shown here:
and there are doors leading to the laundry room and this bathroom:
Both the bathroom and laundry room open to the family room.

This room will be my first attempt at DIY wainscoting and framing the windows.  I can also either paint the floor like I did in the bathroom pictured above but depending on budget, I’d love to go ahead and get the dark distressed, wide planked bamboo we’re installing in the kitchen, dining room and pantry (2 more weeks!) and eventually the entire first floor..
Antique Java Wide Plank Fossilized Strand™ Bamboo Flooring
I snagged a beautiful lantern type pendant from Habitat Restore last year that’s going in here too! It’s similar to this PB version except a beautiful antique gold…

Gothic Outdoor Lantern, Bronze finish
What’s the color scheme you ask? (You were going to!) I know I’m using a creamy white and antiqued gold.  Other than that, I’m still gathering inspiration. I’d love to maybe use navy.  But I’m also leaning towards rustic reclaimed wood tones paired with the ivory and gold.   
Most of my other furniture will be from thrift shops, Craigs List or estate sales but for a desk I’m considering something along these lines…
Hooker Furniture Mélange Bennett X-Base Writing Desk
I love pairing rustic/vintage with sophisticated…it may not be everyone’s decorating choice, but I do what I love. 
Something like this is pretty…
American Drew Camden White Drop Lid Work Station
A desk armoire is a great choice too, especially to keep all of the ugly desk top computer components hidden when not in use. 
Home Styles Furniture Homestead Cabinet with Hutch in Distressed Warm Oak
This is the look I’d love to have…
Printmaker's Desk
Do you have a home office combined with another area?  Any advice or pictures to share?  I’d love to see how it works for you!