enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Updates

I have a few big and little things on my running list to "finish" this house up. I am not one of those people that likes to always be in progress on home repairs and updates. I totally get that method (sounds fun, actually) but I think I got used to setting up and moving quickly thanks to the military and so I perfer to just get things "squared away" and get down to the business of just living in the house.

Getting that external sliding door up was a huge item. This month we also completed a few more smaller tasks that I thought I'd share.

Kitchenlighting

First up, we finally switched out our kitchen light. I actually didn't hate the look of the previous one (you can see it in this empty house tour) but it was heavily frosted and because our ceilings are dark there was no light bouncing back into the room. Our kitchen was always pretty dim which isn't such a big deal in the summer, but was already getting sad as we enter fall. I found a great globe pendant at West Elm (it's the smaller of the two) that fit the style of the house and didn't scream "look at me! I'm a new light!" and jumped on it.

Our kitchen is crazy bright now thanks to a 100 watt LED light and I am thrilled about it. (You could probably preform surgery – or at least remove a deep splinter – in our kitchen under that light.)

Hangingplant

Next, I accomplished my mission of getting a plant rail hung in the master bath. While in the shower a few months ago I realized we could add a bar from wall to wall and hang a plant on it. Super random. But our bathroom is a small box and it needed "something." This addition doesn't really translate in photos (mostly because the bathroom is too small to get a good angle without renting a better lens), but adding that extra bit of green made a huge difference.

Hangingplant2

We just bought a dowel, trimmed it to size, stained it and added little caps (that screw into the wall).

Ivarcabinet

And lastly, I found a new console table/cupboard system for the entry way. When we moved in we had a mirrored table there. Then I thrifted that dresser which was rad but the goal was always to move it to our bedroom. I have been on the hunt for something new for awhile. I knew after living with the wood dresser for seven months that the entry could support something "heavy" and I knew that I desperately wanted closed storage up there.

When I saw these at Ikea (it's two units, side by side) I bought them and we stained them up. They are not "perfect" but they do work well in the space. I love the hidden storage and height.

Three minor updates closer to a "complete" home. Three months left of 2014 to finish 'er up.

Next up : my bathroom palm tree frame project (#icannotoverhypeitenough), something to fill the hallway, finishing touches on our bedroom and maybe (hopefully?) a hanging chair.

Dottedline

Today on ELISE GETS CRAFTY I am chatting with business consultant, Tara Gentile, about product pricing. Click here to subscribe or stream the episode from your computer here.

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25 responses to “other various house updates.”

  1. Van Avatar
    Van

    I have been following you for over two years & I love reading your posts! I was wondering if you could provide transcribe of the podcasts? I am profoundly Deaf & topics you cover on podcasts is what I am interested in the most so I’m bummed to not being able to access it. I know it is bit of lots work but thought I ll ask & maybe you will have an idea? Thank you for being awesome!

    Like

  2. Carly Friesen Avatar

    This all looks so lovely! The house is seriously coming together.

    Like

  3. Traci Avatar

    I love the new light! West Elm always does it right.

    Like

  4. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    Nice progress! In case it helps, there are a few typos in the post: perfer (prefer), preform (perform), and plan (plant).

    Like

  5. Leona Lane Avatar

    Hanging chairs are the best!! We have an exposed beam ceiling similar to yours with this one gigantic beam going through the middle of the house that you can hang things from . One of the first things after deep cleaning the place was to hang the hammock chair – best nap spot in the house!!

    Like

  6. Kim Avatar

    as fall moves in here, its time to move my plants from the deck into the house & now I must find places well lit enough to hang some of them, this gives me a great idea! thank you!!

    Like

  7. Carolyn Williams Avatar

    I am always so impressed with your creative ideas. The plant rail! Genius!

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  8. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    I am so jealous of your kitchen!

    Like

  9. Meg Avatar

    Hey, Elise –
    The link to the shownotes for the podcast today is pointing to last week’s shownotes. Could you update it when you get a chance?
    Thanks!

    Like

  10. Welcome Home Taylor Avatar

    I love simple updates like this that can really change the feel of a home. What color stain did you use for those cabinets? I’ve been looking for something similar for my own entryway as well.
    xoxo
    Taylor

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  11. elise blaha cripe Avatar

    hi Van, I will have to look into the transcript idea. I imagine there are services that could do this for me. Thank you for your interest. 🙂

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  12. elise blaha cripe Avatar

    yes! fixed it!! thanks!

    Like

  13. Lauren Pittenger Avatar

    Your house is beautiful

    Like

  14. Lizeaton Avatar

    It is so inspiring to see other peoples houses. Thanks for sharing! Love your blog & podcast! Super motivating!

    Like

  15. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    I’m hard of hearing and have a hard time following most radio shows so this is a great idea! 🙂

    Like

  16. Jess Avatar

    Awesome podcast! Great, straightforward advice.

    Like

  17. Sarah M Avatar
    Sarah M

    Plant rail?! Genius!! I live in a rental and our ceilings have that oh-so-lovely speckly plaster so I can’t put plant hooks in. But I can certainly add a rail to the wall. Thanks for the great idea!

    Like

  18. Laura Avatar

    Love your updates. And I’m hanging out to see your palm tree frame project after the sneak peak on Instagram!

    Like

  19. Amanda Avatar

    Hi Elise, just wanted to tell you that these photos are fantastic! The photos on your blog have always been great, but they’re looking even better lately!

    Like

  20. Jennifer @ Brave New Home Avatar

    I love how your home is evolving. I’m sorta new to military life so I always appreciate hearing your perspective. I definitely have my we’re-going-to-move-soon-anyways-what’s-the-point kinda days every once in a while so it’s encouraging to hear the message that making a home is always worth the effort no matter how long you will be stationed. I am definitely starting to adopt the attitude of getting things done upfront so we can just live in and enjoy our home. Great advice!

    Like

  21. Libbi M. (Ashland, Oregon) Avatar
    Libbi M. (Ashland, Oregon)

    did you stain the inside of the cabinets? i love them! great job!!

    Like

  22. Kaelyn Avatar
    Kaelyn

    I love the idea of having plants in your bathroom! It seems like such an obvious place, but I had never thought of it before!

    Like

  23. Casie Avatar

    Ahhhhh you kitchen is amazing!!! Light fixture matches the vibe perfect!

    Like

  24. Lotte Avatar
    Lotte

    Hi Elise, love what you did with the ikea cabinets! How did you manage to stain the wood like that? 🙂

    Like

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