Its so good to meet you!
Find out more about me, how I renovated my Grandparents’ 100 year old farm house and how I am a total DIY fanatic by checking out The story behind my Storyhardt Farm. Or, you might also like my weekly DIY newsletter to keep up to date on all my recent projects and tutorials.
What's been happening this week
Should You Sleep on an Organic Mattress?
Considering how much time we spend in our beds a good mattress should be a serious priority. We spend like 1/3rd of our lives in it! With a family history of back problems I’ve actually never slept on a spring mattress and, every time I have, I’ve regretted it lol I was spoiled as a kid. I had a sleep number bed for YEARS until it finally bit the dust on me. Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #105)
Well on Sunday it was 91 degrees and then on Monday it was 42 when I got up to go to work! The temperature dropped so fast all the windows fogged up in my house lol. The forecast is nothing above 60 from now on so I guess fall is officially here! Welcome to Link Party #105 at Grandma’s House! This link party is all about homemade, homemaking, DIY, recycling, upcycling, before and afters (of rooms, furniture, whatever), build projects, vintage, any kind of creative, frugal, time saving, money saving or green advice, canning and old fashioned recipes. Going back to simpler times, simpler days where we used all that we had and never bought new until there was absolutely no choice. Read More »
Top Stove Top Espresso Makers that Every Coffee Lover Should Consider
I admit it: I read this article and my first thought was, “What the heck is a Moka Pot?” Now I know lol and I’m actually really considering buying one. Currently I am making do with a VERY old Kuerig that is literally on its last legs and has been making below average coffee for me for the past six months. I use the little reusable K-cups (which I love) but my maker just isn’t getting the water hot enough any more which is also kinda scary. Read More »
Office Design – How I planned out a Functional and Beautiful Space!
One thing I think you guys already know about me is that functionality rules in my household. So, when it came to working on my office design that was totally #1. My office had to FUNCTION and function WELL because I was going to be spending a lot of my time in it. So to me the first thing of course is the desk. I needed something to put my computer on lol Read More »
My NEW Office Reveal: how to create designated spaces in an open plan
Making a new office, creating spaces in an open plan. With my becoming a single gal I went back to my old plan of putting a rental suite in my basement. But then I needed to figure out where my workshop was going to go! So I moved it to my biggest bedroom on my main floor but then I needed a guest bedroom so I lost my office lol. Read More »
Ways to remodel your kitchen on a budget
What’s wonderful about the age we live in right now is that we can truly update our spaces not just by doing it ourselves but also really inexpensively! My mom’s little place was in dire need of an update, it felt dark, dirty, dingy and basically made me hate every surface. On a wing and a prayer we decided to simply paint EVERYTHING and we than see how we felt about the big things (the floors, counter tops etc.) once the paint dried. Read More »
Refinishing an old Storage Bench – How to make a No-sew Tufted Cushion
My grandparents’ built this bench YEARS ago along with two others that I have. (Check out the cedar-lined beauty I keep at the end of my bed.) This one has taken the biggest beating over the years and has needed to be fixed and refinished for awhile now. Every month the group I’m a part of (the Farmhouse Hens Decorate) has a theme. This month’s theme turned out to be for benches so I knew exactly the piece I would be using! Read More »
Most recent from Do It Yourself
The Death of BoardBooster – 5 million views in one month with Tailwind!
So, I don’t know about any of you other bloggers out there but when BoardBooster bit the dust at the end of June this year I literally lost days off my life in total panic. (Pinterest is a HUGE part of this blog’s world – I get over 50% of my traffic from Pinterest!) It all started with a great peak I had to over 2 million views a month on Pinterest back in April to a constant, ridiculous, steady decline that I could not stop no matter what I did. Read More »
When Someone We Love is in Heaven sign – Wood and a Vinyl Decal
How to build a sign, distressed in gray and yellow paint, to remember someone we’ve lost. Building a sign is such an easy and simple project. For anyone just starting out in wood working this would be a perfect project to start with. It required just a few cuts, six screws, wood putty, paint and a wall decal to create something beautiful that holds a ton meaning! Read More »
How to make a Two Tiered Stand out of Thrift Store Items
Ever since I began work on the refresh of the master floor of my house I’ve been considering something different for on my master bathroom sink. My little tooth brush holder had seen better days and then I saw this lovely project by Chas (one of my To Grandma’s house we go link party gals) and thought: I can make a two tiered stand for my master bathroom! Read More »
Most recent from Before & Afters
My NEW Office Reveal: how to create designated spaces in an open plan
Making a new office, creating spaces in an open plan. With my becoming a single gal I went back to my old plan of putting a rental suite in my basement. But then I needed to figure out where my workshop was going to go! So I moved it to my biggest bedroom on my main floor but then I needed a guest bedroom so I lost my office lol. 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 Farmhouse Hens Decorate
Refinishing an old Storage Bench – How to make a No-sew Tufted Cushion
My grandparents’ built this bench YEARS ago along with two others that I have. (Check out the cedar-lined beauty I keep at the end of my bed.) This one has taken the biggest beating over the years and has needed to be fixed and refinished for awhile now. Every month the group I’m a part of (the Farmhouse Hens Decorate) has a theme. This month’s theme turned out to be for benches so I knew exactly the piece I would be using! Read More »
Broken clock goes Country with twine and rope
I absolutely loved this clock when I spotted it on Amazon. It hung on my wall for years until, one day, it just took a dive for the floor. So my beloved clock was now a broken clock. I’ve kept it for months now planning on doing something with it but hadn’t quite figured out one the creative angle how to make it great again. I wanted to frame it out with wood but, honestly, I can build a bench no problem because its square lol not ROUND. Read More »
How to Make an Outdoor planter using Chicken Wire & Landscape Fabric
Custom outdoor planter made with chicken wire and landscape fabric over a shepherds hook hummingbird feeder carousal. When I moved and then spray painted my grandma’s shepherds hook plant hanger it just screamed for me to add a plant to the middle of it. But no pots would work in this instance so I set out to make my own! Read More »
Most recent from the Blog
My horses moved into their new shed and I finally fixed my garage!
My horses are moved in and I also got my garage fixed finally! I had four things on my list that I HAD to get finished before winter and I officially have three of them checked off. Early this spring I got my horses’ water tank moved into the barn and wrapped in insulation, I have a new way to heat my home and I now just hauled mfinaly leftover hay bales down from the barn and covered my septic line that ran under my deck. Read More »
Pellet Stove: A Final decision on how I’m going to heat my home (I am SO Excited!!)
Why a pellet stove turned out to be the answer to all of my worries. Well, it happened, we are well past the halfway point of summer and everyone I know (including my chipmunks, birds and especially myself) are flying into a panic screaming, “WINTER IS COMING!!!!” I still have one heckuva long list to complete by the time the snow flies but one of the only things that HAD to be done is in the works! Read More »
FINALLY finished cleaning up my yard and I did some serious closet organization
A huge empty closet and a clean yard! OMG I was beginning to think I would never get here lol! Last update I posted I had only one last pile of crap my ex left for me around my old “tack shack” which is now my new wood shed. Well, I finally got it all hauled off and thrown away! Ugh my poor back is SO sore, why is it that everything I do turns me into a pack mule?! 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 »
Most recent from Home Tour
Master Bathroom Refresh – Bohemiam meets Farmhouse
Master bathroom refresh for a newly single gal, how I’m making myself my own luxury retreat on the second floor of my home. If you’ve ever checked out any of my Inspiration Boards then you know I am in love with the natural look and textures of bohemian interior design. With both my master bedroom, and now my bathroom, my challenge was: how could I give myself the bohemian look while still staying true to my 100 year old farmhouse? Read More »
New look for my master bedroom and a Rug Pad USA review and giveaway!
I drooled over this rug for MONTHS before I finally decided to spoil myself by buying it! I lived with it without a rug pad for several weeks, putting off the purchase. But then Rug Pad USA contacted me and asked if I would like to do a review of one of their rug pads and it was perfect timing! (Thanks to everyone who participated the giveaway is now over!) With a new rug, two “new” lamps and a new comforter it was WAY beyond time to share with you my newest refresh of my master bedroom! Read More »
Home Tour: Guest bedroom and library! Country girl style and comfiness!
My new guest bedroom and library! A lot has been going on around here at Grandma’s house. Lots of changes. With the divorce final and so many hard days behind me, my cousin said, “I know you’ll be fine because you’re Stubborn and Busy.” We’ve decided that that’s going to be on my tombstone, “Here lies Tarah who was stubborn and busy.” And we have all agreed that my two grandmas would be very proud as they too, were VERY stubborn and busy women. So, on to the first of the big changes that I’ve been working on: here is my BRAND NEW guest bedroom and library! Read More »
Most recent from Link Parties
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #105)
Well on Sunday it was 91 degrees and then on Monday it was 42 when I got up to go to work! The temperature dropped so fast all the windows fogged up in my house lol. The forecast is nothing above 60 from now on so I guess fall is officially here! Welcome to Link Party #105 at Grandma’s House! This link party is all about homemade, homemaking, DIY, recycling, upcycling, before and afters (of rooms, furniture, whatever), build projects, vintage, any kind of creative, frugal, time saving, money saving or green advice, canning and old fashioned recipes. Going back to simpler times, simpler days where we used all that we had and never bought new until there was absolutely no choice. Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #104)
OMYGOODNESS Pumpkins everywhere! Welcome to Link Party #104 at Grandma’s House! This link party is all about homemade, homemaking, DIY, recycling, upcycling, before and afters (of rooms, furniture, whatever), build projects, vintage, any kind of creative, frugal, time saving, money saving or green advice, canning and old fashioned recipes. Going back to simpler times, simpler days where we used all that we had and never bought new until there was absolutely no choice. Read More »
To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #103)
I just returned from four days of camping and 4 wheeling fun. It felt great to getaway for awhile and it also felt wonderful to be back in my quiet little home! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! Welcome to Link Party #103 at Grandma’s House! This link party is all about homemade, homemaking, DIY, recycling, upcycling, before and afters (of rooms, furniture, whatever), build projects, vintage, any kind of creative, frugal, time saving, money saving or green advice, canning and old fashioned recipes. Going back to simpler times, simpler days where we used all that we had and never bought new until there was absolutely no choice. Read More »
Most recent from Free House Plans
Free House Plan: Open home plan utilizing less then 1,100 square feet
They’re voting right now on the best Home Improvement blog over on Renoviso and I am SO excited to see Grandma’s House DIY on the list. There are some really fabulous blogs on there – make sure and go vote for your favorite! Now, on to the free house plan: I love the decks on this plan! And there’s even a little nook right where you walk from the garage to the house that provides cover from weather and some really great storage. Being a person that heats with wood myself I just drool over that much outside storage so close to home! Of course, this home has a great fire place in the middle of the living room. Despite that this place is less then 1,100 square feet I think it feels spacious and remarkably still private. (I hate those house designs that have the bedroom doors facing each other: its like EEK!) In this plan I managed to give each of the two bedrooms their own real space and bathroom. Read More »
Free House Plan: Little Lake Cabin!
When it comes to my specific spot on the map in Minnesota when folks talk about going “up north” or to their “lake cabin” or up “to the woods” well, that’s where we live. There really isn’t any “going up to the cabin” for me, that would just be silly, I literally live where a lot of people think of as a “vacation destination” of course it rarely feels like that! But, it is the truth, everywhere from me and north is pretty much tourist central and national forests. I live close to a little town of only about 3,000 people but, in the summertime, it is estimated our population here explodes to over 10,000!! A lot of folks don’t live here year around and there are even some businesses here that aren’t even OPEN year around. A lot of people who work in “the cities” dream of moving up to where I am someday and that’s what this little free house plan is devoted to: The Lake Cabin! Read More »
Free House Plan: A two story single family country home
This plan pushed me out of the themes I’d been focusing on in the past. I decided to try a slightly large plan with two stories that would fit a small family better then the retired couple I had been designing for in my head. Still though, like all of my plans, this one boasts an incredible master suite with a huge walk through closet and a shower and separate soaker tub in a spacious master bathroom. At nearly 1,400 square feet this is definitely a larger free house plan than those I have been doing that also includes a cute front porch and a massive breezeway that runs down the entire length of the garage and home. Read More »
Most recent from Contributed
Should You Sleep on an Organic Mattress?
Considering how much time we spend in our beds a good mattress should be a serious priority. We spend like 1/3rd of our lives in it! With a family history of back problems I’ve actually never slept on a spring mattress and, every time I have, I’ve regretted it lol I was spoiled as a kid. I had a sleep number bed for YEARS until it finally bit the dust on me. Read More »
Top Stove Top Espresso Makers that Every Coffee Lover Should Consider
I admit it: I read this article and my first thought was, “What the heck is a Moka Pot?” Now I know lol and I’m actually really considering buying one. Currently I am making do with a VERY old Kuerig that is literally on its last legs and has been making below average coffee for me for the past six months. I use the little reusable K-cups (which I love) but my maker just isn’t getting the water hot enough any more which is also kinda scary. Read More »
Office Design – How I planned out a Functional and Beautiful Space!
One thing I think you guys already know about me is that functionality rules in my household. So, when it came to working on my office design that was totally #1. My office had to FUNCTION and function WELL because I was going to be spending a lot of my time in it. So to me the first thing of course is the desk. I needed something to put my computer on lol Read More »
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Everything you see here on this blog the author has chosen to do so entirely at her own risk. And that is: risk to herself and risk to whatever she may be working on/her home and her own wallet. The author assumes absolutely no liability if you choose to follow in her foot steps and attempt anything you see on this website yourself. The author strongly urges you to do your due dilligence before attempting anything of a diy nature at home.Disclosure and Privacy Policy
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