In The Red - Just a Touch

 
Since Spring has arrived we've been busy sprucing up the place and making the small repairs that we can . This home is a never ending project or should we say journey. The back steps definitely needed a little tlc. Finally got my hands on the red paint that is always out of stock.

   

We put up new Mariner porch lights for both the front and back porch. The steps are painted Phoenix Fossil and the doors are Colonial Red. Blocking the doggy door was a must so the wildlife wouldn't use it as well . Imagine raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, rats and such just chilling in there. They do eat the dog food out the bowls already.

 We have been integrating more red into the decor within and without in 2021. Seems to be the new power punch of color, now if we could just bring more luck with it!

Literally wore out the welcome mat. A lil red revival to go with the Rosemary & Lavender.

  Hard to believe in two weeks it will be summer vacation for the kids. Time to make a summery vibe wreath to put on the door, even though I'm quite proud of my Eastery Hydrangeas wreath crafted on a whim for the season.

Hoping to stay tuned and in touch at Celestial Pines Sanctuary with a Gypsy Spirit Rising.

The Color of Change

We have grown tired of looking at oatmeal colored walls streaked with hand prints and such other marks left behind which could not be scrubbed off. A weekend date to The Home Depot (when me and the Hubby run errands :) resulted in the purchase of Glidden Blue Forest. Elated to renovate and refresh our space we knocked it out the next day. But then...........

I got depressed. The rooms were so much darker and depending on the time of day really dungeon-ess . The Hubby loved it, it's a very masculine color and I'm used to light bright and beachy. Perusing Pinterest and a trip to the Thrift Stores was the remedy to my mental dilemma.

Enter the Zen Zone. A peaceful, tranquil space in which I unwind  and find space to join my mat and immerse myself back into yoga again. Without change we cannot transition, ain't that the truth! So you can say the Blue Forest is growing on me. We still have our bedroom and bathroom coastal to escape to. I'm in love with the coral orange accents throughout the room, very Autumnal. Look out for my Hallowed Home update soon.

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Speaking of weather, Imelda dropped a wrath load of rain upon us. By some miraculous looping of the storm we escaped mass flooding. Many counties around us are putting back the pieces again. We had moved here in 2017 right after Hurricane Harvey had hit and yet here we are in Texas enduring everything this bipolar weather brings. I can honestly say most Texans have hearts as big as there state. How's the weather in your corner of the globe? Calender says October but its still hot as hell over here.

Bedroom Renovations

- Girls Room Before -

- And After -

- Boy Room Before -

- And After -

- Our Room -

No long descriptions on the renovations just the before and after pics. As of yesterday we have been living in Texas for 10 months, it honestly doesn't seem that we have been here that long already. Now that the inside is mostly done, I daydream about painting the house and creating outdoor living spaces. All in due time.

Kitchen Renovation

BEFORE

This kitchen was in need of an extreme bleach scrub down after the home's two sides were seamed together. It came with previous appliances that hadn't been used in awhile, imagine the stench when we opened the moldy fridge. If you haven't been following our home story, this was a repoed trailer we purchased and had set on our land. The middle picture shows laminate faux wood floor connecting to the dining room with no flooring but base boards. I wasn't digging the homemade island /table combo in the middle of the kitchen so that had to go.

AFTER 

Our kitchen renovation started by painting the preexisting blue walls Nova White. All major appliances were replaced with a stainless steel matching set. The island was removed and the hubby laid down Silver Oak hardwood laminate flooring. This kitchen has many cabinets and drawers, the rustic door opens to a pantry. So much space!

Here's my view from the kitchen into the dining room and living room. I can work in the kitchen and interact with family when they visit and fill up the rooms. The open space is pretty fluid flow with no obstructing walls, and I enjoy the unique peek a boo opening.

And then there's the view out of the kitchen window. Birds and nature abound outside the frame as I wash dishes and tend to my indoor garden starters. I hope you enjoyed the first installment of our home improvement projects. More room renovation will follow in the week.

Out with the old ... In with the new

 So long old appliances, you've served me well. They don't look to shabby from their outer appearances but let me tell you the truth. The fridge was our first purchased fridge when we moved from an apartment to our first rented house. Over the years the condiment holders broke off, veggie bins were replaced with random plastic bins, and the over all stainage...yuck. The freezer section had many years of beverages left in overnight and explosion aftermath. Truly we are lucky it lasted 13 years. Next a gas stove that my husband acquired from my Suegra's backyard claiming it could be fixed. The thermostat was off and you had to guess the temp, it took forever to bake or burn. The stove top was missing a knob and only two burners worked. We have a saying around here "ride it till the wheels fall off".

Enter the new stove and fridge ..ohh so shiny, and they match. In my last post I wrote about how I manifested free couches and had exactly the right amount of cash to purchase these appliances on spot. Once in place, we decided it's time to do an upgrade to our kitchen. It has been 7 years since we first slapped "Crisp Autumn Leaves" paint over the wallpaper that lined the walls when we moved in.

When I say I have a cozy little kitchen, I mean it. The square footage is small but the warmth from the heart of the home is definitely felt.

We are currently here at this phase where the avocado ceiling is being painted crisp white, and the fluorescent lighting has got to go. I wouldn't budge on my wall paint color so were patching it up and slapping on a fresh coat. Good thing I'm not hosting Thanksgiving because of right now the cabinets are off the hinges and being transformed. Hint hint... I love me some chocolate!

If I don't post later on in the week I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a weekend filled with leftovers & laughter.

The Welcome Mat

Dear Home,

   It has come to my attention that the back door should be treated with as much love and respect as the front. Entryways into the pulsating heart of the humble abode should be inviting and also fashioned in such a bold and fierce red. In fresh new hues the welcome mat is placed in it's rightful place. Once your portals are open the magic of Casa Sol y Luna entrances though who are lucky enough to enter. Such is a sanctuary...my home.

Prompt from  April Love 2016

Dear Love

~   A Love Poem To Love   ~

You are the hardest emotion to feel yet necessary to thrive

When emanating at your fullest I'm truly alive with a strive to survive

A main component  in which to lead my tribe

Yet

When your presence is absent all is a miss

Plunging off a cliff into a whirlwind spiral to a dark abyss

To not feel loved, feels like this

But

Love is love no matter the gain

Whether it be filled with pain or in vain

One things for sure love, you drive me insane

Prompt from April Love Challenge 2016

                                                               

Recent Paint Project : Love Seat 

Paint & Pillows

It sure feels like Spring around here which means cleaning , organizing, and projects! The front of the house got a little face lift with black faux shutters added to the windows and fresh paint to the front door.

Door Before

And After

Since painting the door red the living color pallet seemed a little off to me. I found this painting that had nice coastal hues and red tones so I used it as a base for accent colors. We are forgoing Santa Cruz season passes this year but I can enjoy the Coastal vibes in my everyday decor.

I purchased a few pillow sets for the couches. A coral set for this couch and light sea blue for the other tan couch ( not pictured).

 The mandala pillow is from Ross at a sale price of $2.45 and little one a slip cover for 99 cents from the Goodwill.

 A few more additions to what I call my "Cali Coastal Vibe". I love this hanging planter for our Wandering Jew plant. I felt a money tree would be a nice addition to our red door and I just realized we did this the weekend of Chinese New Year and I'm a Lucky Fire Monkey. Talk about synchronicity. The VW van beach print is from my recent thrifting trip. Say hello to our new member of the family "Frankie Blue" short for Frankenstein the blue beta.

 I wish everyone a Valentine's weekend full of love.

Beach House Welcome

I've slowly been transitioning my house from hum drum to coastal beach house flare. Little disclaimer " I am nowhere near the beach and live in the hot dry Sacramento Valley" , but hey a girl can dream. Paint lately has been my means of fun and expression now that crazy mercury retrograde has left the building.

So lets start off with this paint that has been sitting around in storage for about 2 years. It was originally purchased for our beachy bathroom makeover but was a little to dark for my taste. I finally popped the top and added it to a piece of plywood I rescued from the fire pit.

I used stencils from Walmart craft section to do the lettering & hot glued the shells on. Twine was added for hanging.

Welcome to Casa Sol Y Luna . I found this lovely rocking chair at the Goodwill for $8.00 (score). Stay tuned for more paint and home improvement projects.