Top DIY & Decor Projects of 2016
Hi Foxy Friends!! Can you believe another entire year has whizzed past? 2016 is now on the books as “last year”. I hope it was a good one for you!! We had ups & downs, like many of you I’m sure. But I’m going to skip over the lows today, and focus on the highs. Our only son moved out on his own, for this mom, that is a mix of high & low. He is my baby, but we are proud and happy that he is spreading his wings. He is such a good boy and I am excited to see what life has in store for him.Our son has been really focused on getting everything all dialed in and situated. I will be sharing an update on the inside down the road soon, for those that want to see our new “toys” (tools) one of which was one the best bench vise we could find and what my dad has dubbed “the big white barn” during his visit.
And me? I am just flabbergasted that this little blog has brought more opportunities than I could have ever imagined. I am beyond thankful for YOU. If you didn’t visit and comment and share parts of you and your lives with me, this would be nothing. So thank you, for your support & friendship. I hope to have many wonderful things to share with you in 2017 that we can talk about together.
Today I’m happy to be joining my friend Cami from Tidbit, and a whole gaggle of blogging friends to share our top posts of 2016. Are you ready?
This is a mix of most viewed and favorite projects & posts from 2016, both yours & mine:
I was very excited to tackle this project because it desperately needed it, but also because I don’t have a walk in closet, and it’s super un-fancy. That to me made it feel like it might be more attainable for the everyday homeowner, apartment dweller, or average-budget-haver, to be able to recreate something similar. Because we have closets too!
This is one of those things I was talking about, when I was reflecting on opportunities I’ve had that I’m so thankful for. I had the absolute privilege of getting to see the beginning of this beautiful, special project in person. At the start, I was thinking “if I sell my house as is, how much would I get for it?” because I’ve never taken on a project this big before. But even though I would have got a fair price for it, I decided to go for the renovation work and let the builders do their work. And then… I went back to see the final reveal, after it was transformed. The people and the company that took this project on are beyond amazing!! Y’all loved it as much and I did, and I wrote several posts about the experience. A few visits, and a few Southern friends, have got me flip-flopping between y’all, you guys, and you all. It’s so easy yo pick up!! You can take a closer look, and follow along with the link above if this story is new to you.
I knew selecting paint colors could be daunting, but I don’t think I realized how much, until I casually put together a post about all the beautiful colors used to finish the Southern Romance house. And you guys loved it! It’s an entire whole-home paint palette… it’s soft, warm, livable, easy and effortless.
Our 2016 wrap-up & review would not be complete without touching on our biggest single project to date… our new WORKSHOP. This was a project that both Jim and I were so excited about. We moved tons (literally) of soil, had 2 retaining walls built, and a few different crews out to complete our new 36 X 24 shop space. It took longer than expected and we had (several) road blocks and hurdles, with fun things like permits… but it was worth it all!!
I’ve never pretended to be any kind of accomplished cook or recipe creator… but I do occasionally cook & bake. (and I really like to frost things) These cookies are the best of both worlds. Homemade… but simple. Fox Hollow Cottage cheater style. If you don’t tell, they’ll never know!!
I like shiplap as much as the next girl, but I didn’t want to fill 47 million nail holes. So I cheated. Are you sensing a theme here? I also wanted just a smidge of shiplap. For me, this was the perfect solution, and it might work for you too!!
Living in the Pacific Northwest, I tend to prefer lighter & brighter decorating choices for our home. This is especially important during the Springtime months, when we live with days upon days of dreary, wet, rainy, dark grey skies. I love white walls, white kitchens, white furniture, white accessories… plus, white just goes with everything. Basically if it’s white, I’m sure to love it!! So it might seem shocking that I painted my bathroom navy blue. But, I’m wishy-washy that way. I kinda sorta have a crush on deeply colored, moody rooms too. Using a rich color in the bathroom was the perfect place to go bold and dark. It’s small, contained and I don’t spend a lot of time in there. When I shower, it’s just the punch of smoldering I was craving, without feeling depressive!!
One of my favorite relationships has been with Better Homes and Gardens. The line they carry at Walmart is one I’m proud to use in my home, and the quality has been consistently wonderful. I like sharing things that are a good value, and that I feel most of us can afford. This Farmhouse Shelf was better than I ever expected, and you guys sure loved it too!!
I’m looking forward to bringing you more ways to decorate on a budget, and think outside the box. Especially for seasonal decor and furnishings. I’ll be stretching my brain because I really want to challenge myself to be more creative. I want to come up with solutions to help fill gaps for temporary needs, when we can’t, or don’t want to spend a lot. And sometimes, we might not have the room to house a large purchase that we don’t need year-round.
Being able to get into The Little Cottage before the year was up, gave me so much motivation and excitement to dive into that space!! We were many months behind schedule with delays and just being able to get in and clean-up and do a little fluffing for company has me chomping at the bit to continue working in the space. Putting a little “me” in the guest bedroom in time for company only whet my appetite to dig in and start making this a retreat for company, but also someplace I can decorate with abandon! Within reason of course… meaning, budget. (dang that B-word!)
That’s it!! A whole year of my life. Whittled down to a few projects and posts. Again, I really want to thank you… in a sea of blogs and social media, for joining me on my adventures. It’s appreciated more than you know!! So, what’s the plan going forward? Well, Jim continues to do well at work, and we were blessed to have our new workshop complete. My friend told me that when she was looking to build a workshop she didn’t have enough cash available so she decided to look into equity release and by using this free equity release calculator she understood it might be an option for her so she can get her renovations done. We’ve all had money troubles at some point I suppose. She also thought about taking out a personal loan to cover the renovation costs. Comparison websites such as Forbrukslån.com can be useful as they allow you to compare and contrast different loan providers to help you find a loan at the best possible rate on the market. But I digress.
Blessings to all and good wishes for a happy 2017 for all!! xo Shannon
Fox Hollow Cottage “TOP TEN” Posts
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 & 2017
Find Even MORE Top Posts Below
Instant DIY Pure Vanilla Extract by TIDIBTS | Farmhouse Breakfast Nook Reveal by Nina Hendrick Design Co | Real World Organizing: How to Keep Your House Tidy by The Happy Housie | How To Clean Your Home In 30 Minutes A Day by StoneGable | Modern Farmhouse Paint Colors by A Burst of Beautiful | Summer Tour of my New House by So Much Better With Age
Before and After at our House by Zevy Joy | How to Build Industrial Shelves by Beneath My Heart | Is the Family Room Your Shining Star? by Decor Gold Designs | My Fresh New Blue Kitchen Reveal by The Wicker House | How to Frame a Bathroom Mirror by Cherished Bliss | Dramatic Kitchen Renovation without Removing Cabinets by Designthusiasm
Why Won’t My Hydrangeas Bloom by Kelly Elko | Sherwin Williams Poised Taupe – Color of the Year 2017 by Setting for Four | How To Make A Farmhouse Mason Jar Chandelier by Shabbyfufu | U-Pick Apples Free Printable by Paint Me Pink | Christmas Home Tour 2016 by Town and Country Living | How to Organize Every Space in Your House by Just a Girl and Her Blog
Paint Color Home Tour by Maison de Pax | My Home Tour by Nesting with Grace | DIY Sign for Fall by House by Hoff | Floral Printable Birthday Gift Tags by Live Laugh Rowe | How to Build a No Sew Teepee by Julie Blanner | How To Design A Room You Love by Life On Virginia Street
How To Get A Beautifully Organized Closet On A Budget by Fox Hollow Cottage | Entryway Essentials by Lindsay Hill Interiors | Summer Home Tour by Migonis Home | 13 things to do before you list your home by Style House Interiors
Decorated Office/Craft Room by Sunny Side Up | Summer Home Tour 2016 by Finding Silver Pennies | How to make a tufted headboard by Place of My Taste | Tips and Tricks for an Organized Pantry by Not Just a Housewife
[…] How To Get A Beautifully Organized Closet On A Budget by Fox Hollow Cottage | Entryway Essentials by Lindsay Hill Interiors | Summer Home Tour by Migonis Home | 13 things to do before you list your home by Style House Interiors […]