May 18, 2016 by: Michelle

DIY Cedar Monogram Planter Box

UPDATE 2017: PURCHASE OUR NEW AND IMPROVED, SMALLER MONOGRAM PLANTER HERE.

Our DIY Monogram Planter has had such a positive response on Instagram and I’m so excited to share the details with you today. This initial is HUGE! 4 ft x 4.5 ft x 5 inches deep to be exact. My hubby built this and came up with the fantastic idea all on his own – yay for handy hubbies and creative minds! I cannot wait for the blooms to start growing to see this baby fill out! The options are endless – I can’t wait to decorate it with mini pumpkins and fake cobwebs for fall and have some fun things planned for Christmas. We used cedar since it is ideal for exterior projects and has great weather resistance.

Materials:

-Cedar purchased at Menards

1×12 cedar for the back of the letter.
1×4 cedar for the sides
1×3 cedar for the front
1×6 cedar for the planter slats

–18 gauge 1 3/4 brad nails (and nail gun)

–Gorilla Wood Glue (Used on all of the joints with the brads)

-Compound Miter Saw

–Miracle Gro Potting Mix

-Flowers (We used impatiens since this is a shaded area)

Obviously the materials will vary depending on how large your initial is and what letter you will be building. Like I mentioned earlier, our K is really large so it wasn’t a cheap project. First, he built the base/backside of the K – no, he didn’t trace anything just kind of created it as he went. Some letters will obviously be more intrusive than others.

First, he made the base of the K using 1×12’s.

He used his kreg jig to piece this together as seen below.

Next, he used the 1×4 pieces of cedar to complete the sides. Yes, it’s a lot of cuts and patience. He used his compound miter saw to cut everything.

After the sides are complete, next are 1×3’s for the front pieces. Again, a lot more cuts!

Next, he completed the inside planter slats using 1×6 cedar, using brad nails to secure in place. Once the slats were complete, he drilled small holes on the bottom of each one to allow for water to drain properly.

Lastly, he hung it up by screwing it directly into the siding using extra long screws.

Next it was time to plant this baby! Since this is a fully shaded area, my options were limited as to which flowers would work in shade only. One thing I learned is don’t overpack with dirt – less is more. The first time you water them it was a bit of a mess with access dirt pouring out but they seem to be doing well so far! We only water about every three days or so since these flowers are very easy to keep alive.

And that’s it!! I know, it’s a bit complicated if you’re not comfortable using saw’s and intricate cuts but I’m beyond happy with how this turned out! And it was 100% Ryan’s idea and the best part, a new and unique idea! Like I said, your options are endless! I have been brainstorming different ideas and how cool would this monogram be displayed at a wedding filled with real or fake flowers?! Also, since this is made of cedar and our siding is vinyl so we don’t need to worry about any damage.

And here’s a little before and after….what a difference a DIY makes!

We hope you love it as much as we do! If you give it a try, be sure to share and tag me on Instagram so I can see! Username is @ellerydesigns. Happy planting!!

UPDATE JULY: This planter is growing even better than expected and here is an updated photo!

Linking up to: Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Nap Time, Lil’ Luna, Somewhat Simple, The 36th Avenue

May 11, 2016 by: Michelle

Our DIY Kitchen Remodel – The Full Reveal

UPDATE: Our Kitchen has been featured on Shutterfly.com’s 100 Creative Kitchens! Yay! View the inspiration here.

Alright, this is my favorite post EVER. Our Modern Industrial DIY Farmhouse Kitchen Makeover. I’m doing things a little different and doing the FULL REVEAL post now and will have all the other posts (like all the tips and tricks on how to paint your cabinets white – yay!) in days to come.

The before and after photos sort of speak for themselves! The best part of this remodel is my handy hubby and I did everything ourselves. Whew! I think we need a vacation. It was a lot of work but BEYOND worth it! We are in LOVE with our new kitchen. It seriously feels like a brand new home. I love the modern industrial farmhouse feel with a touch of rustic glam. I can’t believe how much stuff I thought was acceptable to decorate with above the cabinets in our before pictures, yowsa! I am loving the fresh, clean feel it brings and the painted white cabinets really brighten up this room and feels much more spacious.

Here’s everything we updated:

Custom Crown on Ceiling and Top of Cabinets
Trim on Bottom of Cabinets
Bead board/Chair Rail/Trim on Adjacent Walls and in Dining Room
Handmade Breakfast Bar
Painted Cabinets
New Cabinet Hardware
Subway Tile Backsplash
Added Seeded Glass to Corner Display Cabinet and Glass Shelf
Upper and Lower Cabinet Lighting
Updated Outlet Covers
New Light Fixtures
Updated Counter Top Appliances by Kitchen Aid
New Fridge

Now, for the details and some progress photos along the way. Gosh, was it messy but you can’t appreciate the after photos without seeing some of the progress, right?! Here’s our first materials haul from Menards – we were probably at Menards three times a week during our five week renovation. Yep, we finished it all within five weeks! Felt much longer, but that’s another story….;)

The first thing we completed was the upper crown on the wall above the cabinets – you wouldn’t believe it but it’s three separate pieces all nailed together to make that beautiful crown! My hubby did most of the work I just used the nail gun 😉 P.S. Filling and sanding nail holes is the worst!! Never knew how long that takes but WOW. Time consuming but worth it!

We then added crown and trim above and below the cabinets, as seen in the last photo above. Next up, he added the beadboard and custom chair rail and base trim around the mini wall in the kitchen as well as the adjoining walls in the dining room to tie everything together. I can’t get over how detailed the trim work is – the hubby is quite the craftsman! You can see in this photo the detail work of this – it’s not just one piece of trim my friends. It’s pretty fab and I’m amazed at the process it takes to make your trim really stand out!

The added breakfast bar is my favorite addition to this room. Not only does it add additional seating, but the details are amazing! He laid acacia wood for the bar top, which is the same type of wood on our dining room table, which ties in perfectly with our pallet wall. Win, win!

After all the woodworking was complete, we filled alllllll the nail holes, sanded and it was ready for paint!! Yay for white and bright! We painted the cabinets using General Finishes Water Based Milk Paint Snow White Gallon.

I’ll be sharing ALL the details of our painted cabinets next week. It’s AMAZING what a coat of paint (or three) does to this room! I’m in LOVE! It is a very time consuming process, but as you’ll see soon – it is SO worth it!

I’m so glad we took the corner cabinet to our local glass shop. They added seeded glass to the door and made a matching glass shelf. I love display cabinets and the hubby added a light and it’s one of my favorite parts of the room! It really breaks up the white and love that it’s a spot I can decorate and change up from season to season. It wasn’t cheap, but really glad we spent the extra money to do this.

Once everything was painted, he completed the breakfast bar top and moved on to the backsplash. I’m in love with subway tile! We used white grout as well to keep with the light and bright theme of the renovation. We removed the small granite piece that went all the way across the bottom to ensure the new subway tile would be flush with the counters. Ryan was adamant about removing this and I’m glad he did! He’s always right…well, most of the time! 😉 You can see in the above photos where we removed it.

After that was installed, it was really just touching up our walls and installing the light fixtures. He also added LED Cabinet Strip Lighting above and below the cabinets that really highlight the crown and subway tiles when turned on at night. It’s all controlled by a remote and you can pick the percentage of lighting – so worth the extra dollars! More on the lighting coming in a future post. The cabinet hardware I picked out from Menards are gorgeous! It’s a matte black almost dark grey color that really makes the cabinets pop and goes great with our black and galvanized accents throughout the room.

OK, enough with the boring photos! I’m so excited to bring you the FULL REVEAL!! Enjoy….!!

You made it! Yay! 🙂 I would love to know – what is your favorite part of our kitchen remodel? Let me know in the comments! There are many more detailed posts to come regarding this project but hope you are left inspired! It’s amazing what a little time, paint and patience does to a room transformation! Our kitchen has gone from drab to glam and can’t believe it’s mine!

SOURCES LIST:

Lighting: Menards

All wood/beadboard/trim: Menards

Subway Tile Backsplash: Menards

Cabinet Hardware: Menards

Acacia Wood seen on breakfast bar: Lumber Liquidators

White Paint: General Finishes Milk Paint & HP Top Coat in Satin Finish

Pub Stools: World Market

Knife Set, Stand Mixer: Kitchen Aid

The Knox Kitchen Cutting Board: Our Board Boutique

Bread Box: Painted Fox

White Milk Bottle Tray & Faux Succulent Stems: World Market

Fork & Knife Food Sign: Barn Owl Primitives

Chalkboard on Wall: World Market

Chalkboard Canisters: Kohls

Placemats: HomeGoods

3 Tiered Farmhouse Tray: Olde Farm Creek

May 5, 2016 by: Michelle

Toddler Girl Room & Gallery Wall

I had the pleasure of putting together this cute gallery wall in my favorite little client’s room who is almost two. The room was painted a pretty cotton candy pink that is the perfect accent for the adorable Carousel bedding purchased at The Land of Nod along with the matching canopy. The darling gray tufted panel bed was purchased at Wayfair.com. I love the girly touches but especially adore the black and white stripes throughout the room that will grow perfectly as she gets older. I’m obsessed with this aqua lattice patterned rug from PB Teen.

Here are a few of the things I picked out from Hobby Lobby and brought in. You can see we didn’t use everything but I like to have a bigger selection to choose from when designing a gallery wall. I am obsessed with that pennant banner but the colors were too bold for the room so unfortunately had to pass on that.

Her mom ordered the darling carousel canvases on the wall that fits perfectly with the theme. The Dream Big, Be Little and Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti prints are from These Bare Walls. Mirror was from HomeGoods and Humble & Kind sign is from etsy.

My personal favorite piece on the gallery wall is the Hello Love sign I found at Hobby Lobby. I also found the ombre clipboard and XOXO sign there. Hot Pink Glitter Heart is from Just Add Sunshine Inc. Love how it all turned out and just can’t get over that rug!! With a mix of things her mom already purchased and a few things I brought in, the gallery wall is complete and the little customer is more than pleased! Her mom told me she says “Wow!” every time she walks in! How cute is that?! Hope you’re left inspired – what piece is your favorite on the gallery wall?

May 4, 2016 by: Michelle

Put a Little Spring on Your Step

Michele here with Sweet Threads! Spring is finally here which means sunnier skies, fresh blooms and new front porch decor. Ditch the winter blues and add a bit of spring to your front porch with these quick few tips!

1. Dress up your front door with a new wreath ~ Out with the old and in with the new is a great motto for spring! A bright and cheery wreath adds a touch of color to your front door and welcomes guests in a warm way!

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2. Spring for a new welcome mat ~ Welcome your guests with a new door mat! Let’s face it, they get the brunt of winter with snow, mud and more.

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3. Add some greenery or fresh blooms ~ Add a pop of color to your front step with some fresh greenery. Be sure and pick some flowers that are hardy enough for your climate zone during April and May.

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4. Secure a spot to stash those rain boots ~ April showers do bring May flowers! Have a spot on your front porch to store rain boots and umbrellas. No one wants mud tracked through their house and this is a great excuse to get your DIY on.

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Thanks so much for sharing Michele, so many inspiring ideas!! Now I need to get my front porch Spring ready!

April 21, 2016 by: Michelle

Scroll Without Comparing

THIS. This phrase is a tough one to swallow but so true. Do you find yourself sometimes feeling down when scrolling instagram, facebook, pinterest? Well, DON’T! It’s so easy to compare these tiny squares we see in the blink of an eye. I have made some awesome friendships on social media but in all reality most of you really don’t know me and I don’t really know you. I don’t know about your busy ass day where you didn’t even sit down once, I don’t know about your health issues, I don’t know about your infertility….I don’t know about your bills….the list is endless.

My life IS busy, but come on…who’s isn’t? I’m tired! I’m busy! Life is hard! Yes, those words are all so true for everyone but those words are taking a toll on the path of our lives. Those ugly words we whisper to ourselves. What if we just stopped that? The words BE HAPPY are so small but so hard to truly BE. I smile when I think back to when our parents were our age – they didn’t have cell phones and texting to see what their besties are doing. Now it’s like in one little button you can see what everyone did that day.

I am by far no expert on this but my advice is to take a break….take a breather. I no longer scroll on the weekends. I feel like I miss out on a lot but who cares? Does anyone even notice I’m not liking their photo? NO. I could ramble on this subject for hours but let’s stop comparing and just simply like what other people are doing. Don’t judge them for it, don’t compare what they have to what you have or don’t have. I DREAM of having a 5 acre lot with a wrap around porch and a red front door but in reality I live in a small town home that barely even has a yard and I can’t pull my car in the garage…..BUT, I LOVE it and wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s great to like what you see or be inspired but DO NOT COMPARE. Love YOUR life. Let’s stop the glorification of perfection, b/c it’s just not reality.

The Jake Owen Song, We All Want What We Ain’t Got, really hits home.

“We ain’t happy where we are, there’s greener grass in the neighbors yard. A bigger house and a faster car, we ain’t happy where we are.”

How sad, am I right? Let’s all be happy with what we HAVE. We only HAVE one life and if we spend most of it comparing, it couldn’t be more wasted. Easier said than done, I know but let’s all try to fix this area in our lives. Be kind, choose joy, and don’t compare! The end. 🙂

The weekend is almost here you guys and I’m so excited!! XOXO, m

April 19, 2016 by: Michelle

DIY Wall Art for less than $5

Hello! Katy here with some DIY to spruce up your walls! I’m making a gallery wall in our office space. Although I am terrible about deciding a color scheme and will probably change it soon after, I’m currently going with black, gold, and white! I would love to buy everything I see in stores to decorate my home. But the reality is I can’t always afford brand new items and I like the feeling of hanging something I made on the wall.

So here is a DIY project for adding some handmade items to your walls!

First I bought 3 small clipboards from Walmart. They were about $1.30 each. I hand painted them with gold metallic and black paint. (already had from other projects)

I am no perfectionist and like the more relaxed look. But you could definitely use some painters tape or a stencil for straighter lines. I plan to re-paint one line again because it is a little wonky the more I look at it….but that’s the joy of DIY!

Next, I was searching Hobby Lobby one day for any Easter decorations left and found their St. Patrick’s decor was 90% off. So I got this little block for $0.50! Not a huge Patrick’s Day decorator so I decided to re-use it.

I sanded off the glitter and re-painted it and added a simple printable with Mod Podge matte to the front.

So now I have 4 items to begin my gallery wall! I’m still in the process of collecting more items to hang, but now I have 4 items to begin with for less than $5! Also if I decide to change color schemes down the road, it will be inexpensive to switch things up!

Happy DIY’ing!!

April 6, 2016 by: Michelle

How to make your grout look and STAY new!

Raise of hands who has dirty looking grout? Come on, we all do! Go look around I bet you never thought it was “that bad” until you really looked at it. Well, guess what? I have a solution for you! I’ve tried everything from grout cleaners to using foam carpet cleaner to all of the suggestions I’m sure you’ve seen online and nothing seemed to keep my grout lines clean for long. I came across the product Grout Renew by Polyblend and the rest is history. Here is the exact product I purchased: Grout Renew (Snow White). Grout Renew by Polyblend is a colorant AND sealer so you can recolor your grout lines and it’s stain and fade resistant! BOOM!

There are many colors to choose from, I went with a traditional white b/c I like the clean lines and wanted a clean, fresh look. Our tile is pretty almond-like so wanted something that brightened up the space. I bought two bottles and still have some left! It goes a long way!

Now, here’s the deets. The bottle says to apply the paint using a toothbrush and to wipe away the left over on the tile as you go. I found this not to be possible, for me at least. As I would wipe away the access grout renew as I went, if I even moved a little it would wipe it off the grout lines and then I would have to start over or keep going back to fix which was sooo time consuming. After trying many things here is what I did and recommend for a clean finish:

I used a paintbrush. Just a tiny little paintbrush I had laying around from my daughter’s paint book. Seriously. Nothing fancy. I used one that had a neutral bristles, as I used one that was black but it was shedding and obviously that wasn’t a good mix with my new white grout. Towards the end I did get a bit bigger brush which worked way faster but it did waste more of the grout renew.
Disclaimer: I did not pre-clean my grout very well. I would probably advise to do what it tells you on the back of the bottle but I’m just letting you know I didn’t do much besides mop and vacuum before I started and it’s holding up great.
I used painter’s tape to tape all of my grout lines. I know this seems super tedious but it is what worked best for me. You can wipe away the excess paint as you go along, like the directions on the bottle says but it just didn’t work that well for me. I’m a perfectionist and that may have been most of my problem. Taping is like anything else, once you figure it out on how to do it quickly and most efficiently, it goes by super fast. It took me several times to get the hang of it and just be sure not to tape any part of our grout lines or you’ll have to go back and touch up a lot). I taped all of my lines in one direction, painted the lines, then removed the tape after about 20 minutes and then started taping going in the other direction about a half hour later.
This stuff dries FAST. Don’t worry if you have some grout renew on the tile, I just used the other end of my paintbrush to chip away the areas that left excess grout renew and voila!

Here are some before and after photos that really show what a difference this product made! The best part is, if I spill something on the grout it easily wipes up! YAY!!

We did the whole first floor. I still need to tackle the closets and pantry but I figure no one really sees that except me, so I can give myself a little break. My hard work paid off and I’m so happy with the outcome! It’s a long process but well worth it, don’t you think?! My dear friend came over and helped me finish the dining room and it is amazing how quickly it goes with a little help! Grout painting party anyone?!

It’s a game changer!! My husband wasn’t sure how the white would look but now agrees it looks great and seriously makes our tile look brand new! While this post does contain affiliate links, I was not given this product for review. I just love it so much and highly recommend. Happy grout painting!

April 4, 2016 by: Michelle

DIY Copper Planter

Hello Ellery Designs readers! It’s me again, Laura, from the blog Monograms and Moscato. It’s officially spring and Iowa has been slacking on the sunshine and warm temperatures but I’m determined to get ready for spring anyways! Do any of you have a green thumb? I do not BUT I’m determined to try! I’m starting out small… I would love to have a garden some day but I’m worried nothing would survive. Today I’m sharing with you a fun little DIY so if you’re like me you can take baby steps to get something to grow! Also, I have a slight obsession with copper right now, which is why I chose the copper spray paint but you could use any color of spray paint! Disclaimer: I did not grow this cilantro plant from a seed 😔 ….but a picture of dirt would not have been as pretty. 😉 #realtalk

Supplies:

Tin can(s) (I used one from leftover pasta sauce!)
if you want to make more then one planter you’ll need more then one can!
Copper spray paint (My favorite brands are Krylon or Valspar)
Twine (or string, or yarn!)
Tag/Label (wooden, or paper – I used wooden.)
Chalk paint (optional)
Chalk (optional)
Soil
Seeds (cilantro, oregano, basil)

To get started you’ll want to spray paint your can(s). I spray painted my can with 3 layers.

While your spray paint is drying, make a tag so you know which plant is which! If you’re going to use tags of some sort, like I did….paint it with chalk paint or you could use regular paint too and write on it with paint pens! I had chalk paint in the closet so that’s what I used.

Next, tie on your twine, write on your chalk and ta-da….easy peasy! Now, I cheated because I didn’t have soil or seeds but I am planning to make more so I can actually plant some spices! 🙌🏽 You could fill your can with dirt and seeds and wait for those babies to grow!!

I would love to see yours if you try it! Find me on Facebook, Instragram, or Twitter and use the hashtag #monogramsandmoscato to share and see what else I’m up to! Happy planting!!

xo,
Laura

March 18, 2016 by: Michelle

Five Entertaining Ideas for Easter

Hi, Michele here with Sweet Threads. Whether hosting a meal for 20 or a small intimate gathering, nothing says welcome like a few simple gestures to make your guests feel right at home. This Easter give your guests a warm welcome with these five simple inspiring tips. Click on the photos below for more details!

Have a cocktail on hand for their arrival ~ Get the party started with a themed cocktail {or mocktail} for the occasion. I just love this simple Easter cocktail made with fresh carrot juice.

Frank the Rabbit Cocktail by 10th Kitchen

A simple and charming centerpiece for your table that will get your guests talking ~ Skip the traditional bouquet of flowers in a vase and add a bit of charm to your tablescape. I love the simplicity of this wire basket filled with eggs and some baby’s breath.

Easter Floral Arrangment by The Casual Craftlete

Guide them to their seats ~ Nothing dulls the sparkle out of a party than figuring out where to sit. Help your guests out by doing seating arrangements ahead of time. How cute is this mini basket place setting with chocolate candies.

Mini Basket Place Setting by The House That Lars Built

Take the guess out of what’s for dinner ~ Create menu cards for the table treating your guests to a sneak peek of what’s to come. Place one at each setting or frame a few for the table.

Place Setting from Matthew Mead at Miss Mustard Seed

Send them home with a treat ~ Don’t let them leave the gathering empty handed! Send them home with a simple treat to remind them of the beautiful holiday you shared together. I love this charming burlap bag that can be filled with candy or even a seed packet for the spring.

Easter Table Idea by Our Vintage Home Love

Happy Easter everyone!

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Thanks so much for sharing, Michele! This has definitely inspired me to get my Easter Entertaining in gear! Read more about Michele below and follow her on Instagram @sweetthreadsco.

March 14, 2016 by: Michelle

Easter & Spring Free Printables

Easter Free Printables by Katy Carter Design for ElleryDesigns.com

Hey! I’m Katy with Katy Carter Design contributing today. Easter is Sunday, March 27^th and I am giving away a few free printables!

Printable wall decor is such an easy, inexpensive way to decorate for holidays! My family has moved frequently in the last few years and my favorite part is that printable wall art takes up minimal space and is not breakable. So when the next holiday comes around, I can pull out my printable artwork and slip them in a frame, on a decorative clipboard, or cork board.