Dining Room Table & Banquette Seating Area

Happy Thursday!  I hope everyone is finishing up their Christmas shopping and getting things wrapped. :)

Over the past few days, I have shared a hutch to wine bar makeover and a custom coffee table.  This same client needed dining room furniture.  We decided to go with the same rustic, farmhouse feel I created with the coffee table for the dining room table.

Back to this picture.  The dining room table is the second something beautiful I made with these supplies.

I am obsessed with these legs! 

I love this table so much, I am thinking of building myself a new table just like it.  :)

Now there is the issue of seating.  Traditional dining chairs are always an option but her dining space is on the small size and is in a corner.  Also, there is a backdoor to the outside and the entryway to the master that can not be blocked.  Things were going to feel cramped with chairs.  She has two young kids and entertains regularly so plenty of seating was a must.  I suggested an L-shaped bench to wrap around the corner and provide plenty of stationary seating.  This is a great way to provide tons of seating in a small space.


I built two independent benches that fit into the corner to create one large, L-shaped bench.

Also, the space is very neutral and a pop of color was needed to give the space some interest.  There is a huge blank wall so I asked her if she liked the banquette look.  After showing her some examples on Pinterest she said she wanted to try it.  EEEKK!  I love when clients are adventurous.


Here is the back of the banquette.  Yes, that is what this picture was about.  This is fabric was used for the throw pillows in the living room and is where we pulled the colors for the coffee table and wine bar.

I was so excited about all of these peices.  This project is out of the norm for me and I loved seeing everything come together.  I also loved seeing this neutral new house become a home with character and color.

I have had dinner at this table and sat on these benches several times already.  It is comfortable and fits plenty of people.

I want to thank my client for trusting me with all the design suggestions and projects.

Finally an update...

Hey everyone!  It has been a while since I have updated the blog.  Really, I have taken a step away from all social media the past month, not just from the blog.  Things have been busy and I haven't been interested in spending much time on Instagram or Facebook so there have only been a few posts on those, too.

The past month I had several large custom projects and I decided to wait to share those after the projects were completed and in their homes.  Also in the past 4 weeks we celebrated Thanksgiving, my parents were home from Germany for two weeks, celebrated my birthday and now prepping for Christmas.  Needless to say, things have been hectic.

Tomorrow I am going to start sharing my largest custom project to date.  My clients built a new house and asked for some design advice as well as had several pieces made to fit their new spaces.  All the pieces are finished, in the house and look amazing.

Here is the before shot of a hutch that I turned into a wine bar!

Check back tomorrow to see more before pictures and the beautiful after shots.

Cool And Refreshing White Dining Room Design

Living Room Decorating Ideas With Sectional Sofas | Furniture For

Okay, it’s white time. It’s clean, it’s fresh. It could be mold into anything any interior designers want it to go, it’s the mood-shifter canvas of all. You can craft solace but also could compose edgy. It could mixed to be strikingly modern or just calm and traditional. It could be yet another multicolor compositions or just monochromatic and plain effect. White can be anything you want, your limit is just your imagination.

And this round up, is all about dining room. In white. While browse through the internet the other day, admiring some of those awesome-sauce in the kitchen design thingies, I found these 12 dining render below are the most intriguing of others, and worth your time to check them out, so I gather them out just for you.

Some of them are black white dining, some of them are green or lime green white, and some of them just simple and fresh plain white. You feel that lack of color play in them? But that don’t necessarily reflect its awesomeness. It’s just the way it works with white, whatever we add to them, it’s just managed to keep the awesomeness intact. Read more »

A Year Later....

Today marks one year in our waterfront cottage.  June 27, 2013 was the first night we spent in the house and the next day we rented a jack hammer and started the updates.  It has been 12 months of work.  A LOT OF WORK.

Blittle and I were sitting on the dock the other evening baffled by how we did so much in a year.  No wonder I am so tired!  Once I am done with the dock furniture, we are taking a break from DIY for a while.  People have repeatedly said, it doesn't have to all get done right now.  I know this. But I want it done right now.  When I am home there are constant reminders of what needs to be done and I have a hard time ignoring them.  I get anxious.  If I am not crossing things off the to do list, I feel like I am wasting time.  The past month has shown me it is time for a break.  My body is tired, exhausted, drained, done...I can't really find a word to describe the level of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that I am on.  It is time to rest and slow down a little.

The next few months are for working on client furniture and saving money.  There are some HUGE projects on the list for 2015!

What we have left to do:

• Master Bath 
• Guest Bath
• Furnish and set up second guest room 
• New entertainment center for living room
• Curtains for living room
• Add crown moulding to all room without
• New door for laundry closet
• Paint all doors
• New door hardware and knobs
• Update the deck & stair railing 
• Rebuild the stairs
• Close in under the stairs for outdoor storage
• The entire exterior of the house.  We were planning on painting but I don't think that's enough.   The interior is going to be updated and new so I can't leave the outside like it is now.  Even painted a new color.  I want to have Hardi-plank or siding installed.  The exterior needs to look as good as the interior.
• Widen/Extend the driveway
• Widen the patio area next to the house
• Outdoor kitchen
• Add a downstairs bathroom
• And hopefully one day, replace all the windows to more energy efficient ones.

There are tons of little details left but the above list represent the biggies.  Things I want done in the next few years.  The bathrooms are my goal for next year as well as the deck & stairs railings, rebuilding the stairs and closing in under the stairs.  Those are my projects for 2015.  The bathrooms are huge projects.  I am excited and scared about them at the same time.  Bathrooms are expensive and unexpected obstacles can destroy a budget but I have faith that we will be as successful with the bathrooms as we were with the kitchen.

What we are working on now:

• I am building furniture for the dock.  (Adirondack chairs, more planters and umbrella holder)
• Electrician is running electricity to the dock for the boat lift, outlets and lights.
• Electrician is adding exterior lighting. (lights over garage doors, lights on the back of the house and side patio)
• When the electrical work is done, I'll install our new light fixtures.  

What we did over the past year:

• Entire house except bathrooms has new flooring (This is the only thing we did not DIY)

• Fence
• Built privacy and cattle panel fence
• Stained fence

This picture is before stain.

• New sod in backyard

• Master Bedroom
• Ceiling, trim and walls painted
• New ceiling fan
• Used inherited end table and already built headboard
• Refinished a dresser for it

Click here to see more master bedroom makeover pictures.

• Living Room
• Ceiling, trim and walls painted
• New ceiling fan
• Used a current couch and chairs for furnishings
• Bought a $75 Ikea couch on craigslist
• Refinished armoire for dog food storage (LOVE this project)
• Refinished a bookcase
• Built a coffee table
• Used a previously refinished entertainment center

• Dining Room 
• Added crown moulding
• Ceiling, trim and walls painted
• DIY Lantern 
• Built a dining room table
• Used previously refinished dresser as buffet/coffee bar
• Sewed curtains
• Bought dining chairs and other accessories

Click here to see more dining room makeover pictures.

• Kitchen
• Covered fur down
• Added moulding
• Built refrigerator enclosure
• Painted cabinets, ceiling, and trim
• New lighting
• New knobs and chrome plated hardware
• New appliances
• Installed and sealed countertops
• Installed glass backsplash
• Replaced wood under sink and waterproofed the new bottom
• New sink and faucet
• Added trim around window
• Sewed curtain

Click here to see more kitchen makeover pictures.

• Elevator
• Refinished the wood flooring
• Painted the walls and ceiling

Click here to see more elevator makeover pictures.

• Guest Room #1
• Ceiling, trim and walls painted
• New ceiling fan
• Furnished and decorated with previously owned pieces

• Guest Room #2
• Ceiling, trim and walls painted
• New ceiling fan
• Currently used for storage but will be furnished soon

• Hallway
• Ceiling, trim, and walls painted
• New lights

• Laundry Closet
• Ceiling, trim and walls painted
• Installed washer and dryer

Click here to read more about the laundry closet.

• Dock
• Broke up and hauled off old concrete walkway to dock
• Tore out old dock
• Added french drain
• Installed conduit for electricity
• Installed water faucet
• Built new dock
• Installed boat lift
• Stained dock

Click here to see the latest dock update.

• Concrete Extension
• Poured concrete extension to connect back and side porches

Click here to read about concrete extension.

In the past year, we have had numerous projects that were not for the house.  I did countless furniture makeovers.  Some for us but most were actual Fisherman's Wife Furniture work.


Click here to see a few of my furniture makeovers.

Also, BLittle and I built another boat.  Yes, you read that correctly.  It isn't something I think I ever mentioned on the blog but it happened.  We built a custom nano skiff over the winter and it went to its new home last month.  We also have several other exciting and special boat projects going on.  Over the past several months, I have had 4 boats at my house; the nano, the special project, a boat we are updating and fixing, and our personal boat (we built it a few years ago, our second boat to build together).

The blog had a big year too along with my other social medias.   Honestly, I struggle at blogging which most of you know by now.  Writing is not my favorite and it doesn't come easy for me.  I always have 1.374 things going on at once and the blog is usually one of the things put on the back burner.  The blog is a way for me to share and update.  Its not a priority or job so when I have time to sit down and edit photos and type up a post, I do.  If I can't find time or inspiration, things can be quiet for a while.  That's why all of you need to be following me on Facebook or Instagram.  It is so quick and easy for me to post an update and a few pictures.  They are updated almost daily compared to the blog, which only gets updated a few times a week.  I promise that I am trying to be more consistent but some weeks I am working on boats or I don't finish a project and I don't have much to share.

I want to end this post with a special thank you to my husband.  He works so hard everyday for us.  He had faith in me to take my vision for this sad little house and turn it into a reality.  He trusted me to make it a home we could be proud of.  I could not have done most of these projects without his help and free labor.  He loves me even on the days I know its not easy and he has supported me and encouraged me to stay with this little business...apparently I am nicer when I am not teaching.  I appreciate everything he does and for making our dream of life on the water come true years sooner than planned. Thanks, Love!

Photo Credit: Ever & Anon

Sharing at:

Thursday: What To Do Weekends (Crafts ala Mode ), Friday Favorites Link Party  (I’m Not a Trophy Wife),  Thursday S.T.Y.L.E. Linky Party (A Prudent Life, Life in Velvet, Well-Groomed Home, Addicted 2 DIY),  The Best DIY Party at the Handmade Hangout (A Glimpse Inside, Christina’s Adventures, From Gardners to Bergers, Redoux Interiors, Too Much Time on My Hands), Inspire Me Please, (Liz Marie Blog) Catch as Catch Can (My Repurposed Life)

Friday:  Best DIY Projects and Recipes Party (The Idea Room, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry, The 36th Avenue), Furniture Feature Friday (Miss Mustard Seed),  Anything Goes (Bacon Time),  Be. You. Tiful Link Party (Chic California), Creativity Unleashed (Practically Functional, Shaken Together, One Project Closer, The Bold Abode)

DIY Coffee Bar

I have an obsession with coffee.  It could also be called an addiction.  An unhealthy dependency. Whatever.  Point is, in the mornings, I love drinking coffee.

Its not just about the need for caffeine by 8:30 am or my head will explode and I become a not so nice person.  Its about my waking up process.  My routine.

The sun is just rising and the house is quiet.  The birds aren't making tons of noise yet.  The water outside is peaceful.  It is my favorite time of day.  Just me on the couch, with my coffee and sometimes a dog or two, mentally prepping for the day and slowly waking up.

We bought a Keurig 3 years ago and I love it.  The only problem is, ours is one of the bigger models and takes up too much counter space in my small kitchen.  I decided to use my grandparents' dresser I refinished as a buffet and coffee bar in our dining area.

It has tons of storage for baking dishes and other pans I don't use often plus our nice utensils and coffee supplies.  The refrigerator is just opposite of the buffet so it is not a far reach to get the creamers out.

Many of you saw it in the dining room reveal  and saw the buffet but I didn't share any details yet.

Photo Credit: Ever & Anon

This is what my grandparents' dresser used to look like.

I love that I get to see and use this dresser everyday.  My grandparents' are my favorite people.  Although I lost my grandfather several years ago, I think about him and miss him everyday.  I remember this dresser being in their bedroom at the end of the hall on Adams St.  I remember my grandmother's jewelry being in the small drawers in the hutch and my grandfather's old police photo being on the shelves.  It is crazy how the mind can remember little details like that.

Here are some detailed pictures of it now as our coffee bar and storage.

The glass containers have my coffee, Blittle's coffee, green tea and sweet tea.  The fish bowl has sweetener, then we have honey for tea and cream for my coffee.  

I love the large canvas.  Jessica with Ever & Anon took family pictures of us several months ago.  She also took the amazing pictures for the kitchen and dining room reveal.  My goal was to get a picture not too posed and natural looking.  This was the winner for this spot.  If you live in the Houston/Galveston area and are getting married, engaged or need couples pictures taken, consider Ever & Anon.  I had been crazy sick, we had to reschedule due to illness and weather, and the wind was blowing 100 mph day of the shoot, and we were trying to make it work with two dogs.  On top of that, we are the most un-photogenic people ever.  She was able to capture many beautiful pictures of us.  That's talent people.  Click here to see some of the pictures.

Photo Credit: Ever & Anon

I love the blue shutters.  They are from my parents' house they lost to Hurricane Rita.  I salvaged them and they have been decor in all 3 of our homes.

Coffee cup storage.

Extra K-cup storage.

Photo Credit: Ever & Anon

Photo Credit: Ever & Anon

On Friday I am flying to New Orleans to refinish a dresser!  If you don't follow me on Instagram, please do.  Now that I have given in and started an account, I am addicted and I love it.  I don't know why I waited so long to get on there.  I plan to post lots of pictures of the project and the fun stuff we have planned this weekend.  I can't wait!







Sharing at:

Wednesday - Inspire Me Wednesday (Seven Thirty Three & Happiness is Homemade), Wow Us Wednesday (Savvy Southern Style), Little Friday (The Grits Blog), Link'N Blogs (Put A Bird On It, Learning, Creating, Living, Soho Sonnet, Making it in the Mountains, Paper Bag Styling)