My name is Tarah and its really great to meet you!
Around here we really do it all: refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces or build it from scratch. Lodi and I have some serious plans for this old farm. For the first time I have a real partner! I can't wait to see what the two of us can do together - this is gonna be so much fun!
BEFORE AND AFTERS
DO IT YOURSELF
THE BLOG
HOME TOURWhat's been happening this week
October 2020 – Our Fall Photo Gallery
October 2020 – This time of the year in Minnesota can either be Heaven on earth or a great big ball of suck. (Usually it takes turns being both which is exactly what it did this year.) We’ve had snow storms throughout October some years and have also seen highs in the 80s other years. This year it was cool but a pretty much lovely month minus the snow storm we got hit by at the end of it! We had many of those perfect, shiny, fall days where the sunshine feels like liquid silver and the shadows are long and dark and the trees get to take their time turning in for the winter… And then a foot of snow landed on us… I have some catching up to do as I didn’t recap on all of the projects we completed throughout September in my last post. Read More »
5 DIY Ideas to Improve Your Home
There are so many great DIY ideas out there to improve your home from novice remodelers to veteran DIYers there really isn’t any end to what we can do ourselves and save a ton of money along the way. You guys know that literally my favorite thing is coming up with ways to DIY just about any project or situation in my home. I hate paying anyone if I can do it myself lol. Here are five great ideas for projects that can save you money and will also be a lot of fun to accomplish. Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #214)
Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #214. Well it happened hard and fast: winter is here. Snow is on the ground and we’re staring down maybe getting up to a foot this weekend! WTH! Hopefully *crosses fingers* this is not the end of our fall weather and may still see some highs in the upper 30s and 40s once this cold front and winter storm moves through. We tackled some pretty hard core projects this weekend right in the nick of time and actually managed to get a new door in! How are you guys fairing? Now, on to the Party! Read More »
Rust-Oleum RockSolid Flooring Kit – Doing our Basement Floors
How we completed our Basement floors using a Rust-Oleum RockSolid Flooring Kit. The last major basement project (the spray painting job from hell to complete the ceilings) I couldn’t take any credit for, Lodi was tackling this space without me. But once he moved to the floors (and I finished a few of my own projects) we combined forces. This floor is over 100 years old so we went into this figuring whatever the result it would at least be better than what we started with. Read More »
From your house to your clothing: how to get things clean
Our grandma’s really did know how to get this clean! Cleaning with just a few basic ingredients they knew how to do it right and taught me the few ingredients I use to this day for making dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, hardwood floor cleaning and all purpose cleaner. I like keeping it simple around here and hate bringing commercial products its with hundreds of ingredients that I know nothing about. Read More »
Why Go For A DIY Kitchen?
I think a DIY Kitchen is a great idea! Kitchens can put a huge blow in a homeowners budget and even doing a few of the parts yourself can save a ton of money! Cabinets can be ordered nowadays and even modified before installing. Specialty cabinet hardware can then be added. A DIY Kitchen can be entirely customized by you for a lot less cost. Read More »
Most recent from Do It Yourself
Rust-Oleum RockSolid Flooring Kit – Doing our Basement Floors
How we completed our Basement floors using a Rust-Oleum RockSolid Flooring Kit. The last major basement project (the spray painting job from hell to complete the ceilings) I couldn’t take any credit for, Lodi was tackling this space without me. But once he moved to the floors (and I finished a few of my own projects) we combined forces. This floor is over 100 years old so we went into this figuring whatever the result it would at least be better than what we started with. Read More »
Tiny Bathroom Paint – So long overdue that its Embarrassing!
Tiny Bathroom Paint choices and cheating a little… The main floor bathroom has so many issues that I’ve just been ignoring it since I finished the renovation and moved in in 2015. Ok to be fair “issues” is an over statement. Basically this little space works totally fine its just so tiny its hard for me to take it that seriously. It doesn’t have any natural light either so that also makes it a nightmare to photograph. One thing it needed beyond all else though was a fresh coat of paint! Read More »
Creating Hidden Storage in our Entryway
Creating some much needed hidden storage for boots and our boot dryers in our entryway. One thing that is an absolute certainty in northern MN in serious mud and snow on our boots ALL winter long. We have a long rug in front of the door and last winter I added a rubber (hardcore) rug for a landing place for us when we come in wet from outside. Conveniently its right in front of our bench too. That’s all great but we were still seriously lacking a place for our boot dryers and boot storage. Read More »
Deck Coffee Table out of Treated Lumber – Replacing a Rotting Spool
A simple deck coffee table build! I had grown to totally despise the spool that was sitting in this corner. There are a lot of reasons why but the most practical reason is because it was literally rotting the deck out beneath it. I had plenty of lumber on hand from when I replaced the table top out here so I quickly grabbed what I needed to make a simple deck coffee table. Read More »
Master Bathroom Organization, small space ideas that helped a lot!
Some small space organization for our bathroom essentials! A LOT Has changed in our master bathroom since I last tackled it for a new reveal here on the blog. I find it amazing how everything is always just such an evolution! Most particularly the changes we’ve made have given us a lot more bathroom organization and storage that were simple, easy to do and REALLY improved how the space worked. Starting with changing the furniture in here! Read More »
Outdoor Table Top – Replacing Our Demolished Barn Door Table
Building a lasting outdoor table top. Last winter we had an unprecedented amount of ice on our roof, I have NEVER seen icicles like that before either on my home or on any of the homes in my neighborhood. (Normally it would be a sign of heat loss but not last year, last year it was EVERYONE’S house.) A combination of a lot of moisture and just enough (but not enough) melting created one crazy amount of ice. I’m adding a pic of the front of the house for reference because it was just unbelievable. Read More »
Most recent from Before and After
Adding Tufted Upholstery to an old Coffee Table
Adding a tufted top and a new paint job to an old coffee table. I’ve been working on the refresh of my living room for awhile now. It started when I decided I hated my sofa and was ready for a new one! That worked out perfect because I really needed my old sofa to complete my seating area out in my garage. Following my old sofa to the garage was my coffee table and one of my end tables too! That left my living room pretty barren: the perfect time to do a makeover! Read More »
Three Legged Stool Makeover: Paint and stain combo with dipped legs
Teaming up with Chas in our DIY blog hop this month with projects for our bathrooms! (Make sure and check out all of the bathroom projects following this post and feel free to join in!) This little stool has a fun story behind it. My Grandparents’ were wood workers and made and sold lots of these along with many other pieces of furniture. One of my neighbors is an avid follower of my blog and felt she simply had to return it to me so this milking stool came home after being gone for over 30 years! Read More »
Lace Doily Upcycling on my Radio Stand Kitchen Island
Lace doily upcycling across the front of my kitchen island that I made out of my great grandpa’s radio stand. This piece remains one of my ALL TIME favorite transformations that I’ve created. Some projects just work! It was like this old radio stand had been waiting 100 years to be made into a kitchen island. It looks great from the front and the shelves in the back house all my recipe books too. During my recent kitchen remodel I did some surgery on it to work even better for me. Read More »
Thrift Store Lamp gets a Country Makeover with the Farmhouse Hens
So, a few months ago, I went to my local thrift store to get myself a sweater to make mug koozies for my Christmas in a Jar post. I left the thrift store with two sweaters, some shop rags, a mirror tray and a lamp! To be fair I still only spent $8 and no one really believed I was just gonna be able to get one sweater right? Read More »
Lamp gets a country girl makeover using license plates! Before and After!
My new guest bedroom and library needed a reading lamp for the bedside table so, of course, I went thrifting! I found this little dude for only $6 and then went directly to walmart and found what I decided was the perfect burlap lamp shade. From there it was time to decide just how I was going to transform this little lamp into something country and fun! Using two old MN license plates I got to work! Read More »
A little end table gets a full on adult country girl redo!
There are a lot of changes taking place here at my Grandma’s old farmhouse. You guys know now that I got divorced and that means new and very different plans for the whole house. My old office is now going to become my guest bedroom and library and it felt really important to refinish all of the furniture that will be going in there. So, I got to work! Read More »
Most recent from The Blog
October 2020 – Our Fall Photo Gallery
October 2020 – This time of the year in Minnesota can either be Heaven on earth or a great big ball of suck. (Usually it takes turns being both which is exactly what it did this year.) We’ve had snow storms throughout October some years and have also seen highs in the 80s other years. This year it was cool but a pretty much lovely month minus the snow storm we got hit by at the end of it! We had many of those perfect, shiny, fall days where the sunshine feels like liquid silver and the shadows are long and dark and the trees get to take their time turning in for the winter… And then a foot of snow landed on us… I have some catching up to do as I didn’t recap on all of the projects we completed throughout September in my last post. Read More »
September 2020 – Leaving the Emerald City
September 2020 started off quite tragically for all of us here in north country Minnesota. It FROZE two nights in a row. I know we weren’t the only ones hit by the deep freeze but wow did that come on hard and fast. Fortunately we did return to “normal” temps but, of course, summer was just over after that. The constant joke I saw on Facebook was, “The temperature went from 90 to 50 like it saw a state trooper!” And it REALLY did. I’ve seen that meme just about every year on Facebook that I can remember but it has never been more accurate than THIS year. I guess it is 2020 so nobody is exactly surprised… maybe a little disappointed though! Read More »
Barn Photo Gallery – Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder
My old barn did not quite make it through our winter of 2018-2019 – its back fell in. (As most of you know, we were heart broken. This is where my aunt and mom grew up. This was my grandparents’ dairy barn.) It was built in 1929 and it was already many years too late to save the roof/hay mow when I came along and purchased my Grandparents’ farm in 2015. Living up on the Hubbard prairie in northern Minnesota I am very familiar with the suddenly empty space of a barn that was finally removed after it had fallen. (SO MANY.) Read More »
August 2020 – Actually getting in reach of ALL of our summer goals!
August 2020 went by far too quickly for my liking which is always true. I’m a total summer person and August is my favorite month. I promised myself last month that I would kick my ass in gear and get some things done this month and, lo and behold, I actually did! Lodi started us off by taking it upon himself to do something that’s been on my list for the last two years. Remember that pile of dirt I had dropped off so I could use it to hand shovel in a very dangerous dried up well out in the barn? Also remember I didn’t use all of it so its just been a sitting eye sore ever since? Not anymore! Read More »
July 2020 starting with a heat wave that totally BROKE me
July 2020. Every. Single. Year. I panic right now. Whether its because we hit the longest day of the year in late June. Or that the year is suddenly HALF over or its because I just got a flier in the mail about purchasing pellets for this winter. OR, the fact that we just put up the hay for the horses also FOR THIS WINTER. Every. Single. Year. I panic about everything that isn’t done yet that needs to be done before the snow flies. As if, suddenly, two days passed June, the count down begins. I lose my damn mind. Read More »
June 2020 Gardens – For the Love of Dirt and the Spring Photo Gallery!
2020 Gardens – June blog post. One of my favorite moments of every year is when I open the windows in the master bedroom and know I probably won’t have to close them again for several months. After closed doors, no fresh air, cooped up and freezing outside its absolute Heaven to me. Fortunately Lodi is a lot like me and opens all our doors if he gets home before I do. I hate air conditioning. This house stays really cool most of the time but this June pushed us to our limit! Read More »
Most recent from Home Tour
Bedroom Reveal – Completing the New Guest Bedroom Unisex Redesign!
I’m so excited to finish the new guest bedroom reveal! My old country girl design and library just wasn’t right anymore and this room needed attention badly. It needed to grow up,l become more unisex and also become a lot more comfortable for any guests or friends that might stay. It all started with a new far more grown up paint color called Flannel Gray by Valspar. From there I tackled the challenging furniture layout and now moved on to the final touches, design and completion. Read More »
Living Room Reveal – Farm Houses can be Classy, Fun & Practical!
Farmhouse living room reveal! OMG you guys this room took me over 5 months to finish – UGH Finally though, we have arrived at the new living room. It probably seems strange and even silly but buying a new sofa meant something to me. Throughout the entire home almost every single piece of furniture here I’ve either inherited or I built. The few other pieces besides I picked up at either thrift stores or garage sales. I literally only have one “new” thing and its my dining room chairs which my mom bought for me as a gift MANY years ago! Read More »
DIY Farmhouse Kitchen Reveal! A Bigger Closet and a Bigger Kitchen!
DIY Farmhouse Kitchen Reveal, somehow I took space AWAY from my kitchen and yet I ended up with MORE storage and a bigger feeling space! In this kitchen I will always think of my amazing Grandma Charlotte who lived in this home for over fifty years before me. I was thrilled that this old farmhouse could become mine and ecstatic at the notion of creating my very own farmhouse kitchen. This space was a VERY long time coming for me. I had no idea it would take me from early spring of 2014 until right now, to finally create and finish the kitchen of my dreams. But, ya know what? It was worth it! Read More »
A Farmhouse Entryway, Office and Dining Room Reveal
I should have posted a reveal of my entry way back when I first “completed” it in 2016. But, honestly, it never felt truly “done” until now. The wood stove happened and the entire room needed to be repainted because of smoke damage and then, because I had it cleared out I went ahead and gave my floors some TLC too. Finally though I was able to take my time and put it all back together again! Read More »
My Laundry Room Reveal – How one gorgeous table cloth started it all!
Finally we have come to the reveal of my new laundry room! Yep, I am no longer calling it a closet – I believe this space deserves to be labeled a real room now. First I tackled the heavy lifting, recycling my old kitchen pantry here in several places, building custom shelves, trimming it all out and painting the whole room. From there I added some color and then, finally, I was able to put it all together with some serious organization. Read More »
My New Workshop Reveal – Fancy, Fun and Organized!
Well I finally made it – here is my finished brand new workshop reveal! This was a LONG time coming: My first post about moving my workshop out of my basement came out in MAY OF LAST YEAR. I lived in a constant state of digging through boxes, looking for one tool or another, and going absolutely bat shit crazy lol. Read More »
Most recent from Link Party
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #214)
Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #214. Well it happened hard and fast: winter is here. Snow is on the ground and we’re staring down maybe getting up to a foot this weekend! WTH! Hopefully *crosses fingers* this is not the end of our fall weather and may still see some highs in the upper 30s and 40s once this cold front and winter storm moves through. We tackled some pretty hard core projects this weekend right in the nick of time and actually managed to get a new door in! How are you guys fairing? Now, on to the Party! Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #213)
Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #213. We got the majority of our “before winter” work done though it does seem like an endless list… Probably because we keep adding to it! I want to replace the door on the south side of our house and move it into my workshop. This will accomplish a couple of things. Firstly: It’ll be awesome to have an exterior door in the workshop and secondly the current door is total crap and was letting out a lot of heat last winter. The workshop can be the coldest room in the house, so this will work out perfect. Now we just need to get it done lol On to the Party! Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #212)
Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #212. So far October has been chilly but quite lovely for us with few rainy days and many shiny sunny fall days that are just glorious. I’m going to try to take some time off from my day job this week to get a couple of photo projects done. I want so bad to get some decent fall photos of the farm but also, coming out in November, I want to share all the updates we did to our deck before it snows! Now, on to the Party! Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #211)
Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #211. I fear I may have already missed our last “nice” fall day to get some decent fall pictures for my blog post next month. *Loud Sigh* To be fair, I think I only had all of two days when the tree color was good and it was actually nice outside before all the leaves hit the ground. Nice (and warm) weather is surely coming so whether or not our trees have leaves I’m just gonna have to make due! Strangely most of our leaf trees are in full color and dropping their leaves right now but not ALL of them. None of our maples are showing much (if any color) maybe they’re just a bit tougher then the rest? Now, on to the Party! Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #210)
Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #210. WOW is the weather crazy this year or what!? Below freezing temps totally annihilated my garden and then yesterday it was 80 degrees – WTH!? I’m not complaining, the heat is always welcome this time of year because, lets be honest, it could totally be snowing. A long hot fall I think we all deserve especially this year! Now, on to the Party! Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #209)
Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #209. Its that time of the year again and I just HAD to make chili. Fortunately Lodi loved my Minnesota chili 🙂 I call it that because I’ve spent enough time in southern states to know that its basically unrecognizable to their own form of chili! Here’s the recipe: 1lb ground beef, 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped bell pepper, 1 can hot chili beans, 1 can navy beans (rinsed), 1 can tomato sauce and 1 can chopped tomatoes. I always brown and caramelize the first three ingredients first together before adding the tomato sauce and chopped tomatoes. Then I simmer that for a good half hour before adding the beans so they don’t get mushy. Its perfect with grilled cheese and for a cold fall day! I add garlic salt, black pepper, chili powder, paprika, cumin and red pepper to give it more of a kick too! What are your staple fall recipes? Read More »
Most recent from Inspiration Board
OMG Pumpkins everywhere! Hometalk Fall Decor Inspiration board
Hometalk Fall Decor Inspiration board! Summer is absolutely my favorite time of the year – you will NEVER hear me complaining about the heat lol But I honestly think that’s a fact simply because fall and spring are such short seasons here in northern MN. Fall for us could truly last all of three weeks like our spring did this year! And that’s just depressing lol because that means we’re settling into at least four months of some serious cold and snow. Read More »
Hometalk’s Outdoor Projects I Can’t Wait to Build! Do it Yourself!
Inspiration Board of the Outdoor projects on Hometalk that I’ve been drooling over! I received a comment on my outdoor bench saying, “You’re SO crafty, that’s amazing!” And I admittedly got a bit offended, eventually I just laughed about it but I’m not sure how I can build a wrap around bench for my deck and still be called “crafty”. I could’t help but think that if I was a guy she certainly wouldn’t have looked at that bench and called him crafty! I am a builder at heart and I spend most of my time building things in my head or drooling over outdoor projects like these: Read More »
Let’s build some swings! Pinterest Do It Yourself Inspiration Board!
Well now that spring has FINALLY arrived, my dreaming has turned to swings! Let’s build some! These are some of my favorites I’ve found on Pinterest and stashed away for a later time because, seriously, who doesn’t want to swing away a beautiful summer day? Contrary to popular belief, I do NOT feel that swings are for kids in any way. Many of these are very grown up swings for us “adults” lol Read More »
Nooks and Getaway Places: Pinterest Inspiration Board
Nooks, crannies, special getaway places, some of my favorite escapes via Pinterest Inspiration board. It has been a very difficult few weeks here at Grandma’s House, tailing the end of a very, very hard year. I will tell you guys why and what’s been going on when I’m able to get my feet back under me again. To say the least though I have found myself on Pinterest, looking longingly at getaway places and nooks that promise quiet and PEACE. Read More »
Inspiration Board: Six more Summer Projects I can’t wait to build!
Six more summer projects I can’t wait to build for us outside and out on our deck! Some DIYs and things just have to wait for some nice weather not only for us to enjoy them but for us to build them as well. Currently I’m sitting here in late October and we have a winter storm warning 🙁 So, hears to dreaming about next summer and all the things to look forward to building. I posted earlier this year a few summer projects I just can’t wait to build but I’ve seen so many build projects on Pinterest I had to share a few more that I can’t wait to build next summer! Read More »
Inspiration Board: Gorgeous Bedrooms to swoon over!
I spend a certain amount of time on Pinterest gazing with my mouth open at some of the gorgeous bedrooms people have. As far as Inspiration Boards go I’ve published quite a few over the years but I think this one might take the cake. I am absolutely in awe of a few of these. Considering how much time we spend in our bedrooms (albeit it is with our eyes closed) I am a firm believer that they are a VERY important part of our homes. So, without further adieu here’s some gorgeous bedrooms via Pinterest!! Read More »
Most recent from Contributed
5 DIY Ideas to Improve Your Home
There are so many great DIY ideas out there to improve your home from novice remodelers to veteran DIYers there really isn’t any end to what we can do ourselves and save a ton of money along the way. You guys know that literally my favorite thing is coming up with ways to DIY just about any project or situation in my home. I hate paying anyone if I can do it myself lol. Here are five great ideas for projects that can save you money and will also be a lot of fun to accomplish. Read More »
From your house to your clothing: how to get things clean
Our grandma’s really did know how to get this clean! Cleaning with just a few basic ingredients they knew how to do it right and taught me the few ingredients I use to this day for making dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, hardwood floor cleaning and all purpose cleaner. I like keeping it simple around here and hate bringing commercial products its with hundreds of ingredients that I know nothing about. Read More »
Why Go For A DIY Kitchen?
I think a DIY Kitchen is a great idea! Kitchens can put a huge blow in a homeowners budget and even doing a few of the parts yourself can save a ton of money! Cabinets can be ordered nowadays and even modified before installing. Specialty cabinet hardware can then be added. A DIY Kitchen can be entirely customized by you for a lot less cost. Read More »
Simple Fall Decor Projects That Are Perfect For Autumn
I’m not huge on decorating but I would say if there was ever a time I could really get into it would definitely be fall decor! I just LOVE this time of the year where porches are covered with squash and pumpkins. Hot cocoa and apple cider become one of our favorite after work comforts and the gardens have been put to bed for the winter. Fall decor can be really simple to put together with the purchase of some pumpkins and just a little creativity! Read More »
Tips to Prepare Your Concrete Subflooring for New Flooring Installation
Preparing concrete subflooring (especially an OLD concrete subfloor) is not always for the faint of heart. Depending on what was on it to begin with etc. It can require some serious manual labor. We’ve just tackled our basement floors and let me tell you: 100 year old concrete requires some serious time. It will all be worth it in the end though, new flooring can majorly improve a space for not a lot of money! Read More »
From Bland To Beautiful: How To Create A Unique Bedroom
I love uniqueness in spaces and a unique bedroom is probably my favorite place to really go for it. What’s really great about our bedrooms is it really is our own PRIVATE space that no one ever has to see except for us. Which means we can tailor it to our total and unique personalities in every way! I’ve got lots of plans for our own bedroom even though it is already beautiful I’m totally ready to make it totally US in every way. Its going to be a unique bedroom with boho touches as well as farmhouse love and a little bit of glam too! Read More »
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