How to be content with your home when you can't change it!

7.07.2020

How to be content with your home when you can't change it!

We all struggle with contentment and the need/want to do more, make more, and buy more. How to combat that in the home decor world? 

Tune in to the Your Home Story podcast this week as we give practical tips for how to be content even while being inundated with beautiful spaces, amazing renovations and more.

Mentioned this week:

1. I mentioned inspiration from Molly Galbraith of Girls Gone Strong, who believes you can love your body exactly as it is right now, while wanting it to look or perform differently. (Check out her free 7-day Love Your Body Challenge!)
2. Get practical tips for 12 ways to love your home (almost) exactly how it is and how to redecorate with pieces you already own.
3. Ashley refreshed her old bedroom and shared a how-to change your decor without spending money.

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:
@suzannahstanley
@biggerthanthethreeofus
@yourhomestorypodcast

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Listen here or in your podcast player!

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Affordable blackout curtains: tips, round-up, and best sources

7.06.2020

Affordable blackout curtains: tips, round-up, and best sources

I shared last summer how we keep our home cooler in the summer using blackout curtains. It means the AC doesn't have to work as hard, and we avoid hot spots near windows! Check out that post for the process/tips we use. I also shared in that post how I hacked some affordable blackout curtains to custom length and a higher-end look.

Well, I've been developing my opinions (and knowledge) about curtains a lot recently and have even more tips to share now, plus the best sources for affordable blackout curtains, and my fave styles!

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Our fireplace getting closer and closer to living up to its potential: no-wiring sconces!

7.02.2020

Our fireplace getting closer and closer to living up to its potential: no-wiring sconces!

I've been updating our fireplace little bit by little bit the past two years we've lived here. It's original to our home and I'm not considering any huge changes (see all its iterations here), but it has felt a little plain for the huge, long wall of the living room it stands on.

I debated sconces for a long, long time but finally added some (fully functional, no wiring!) and am very happy with it!

No-wiring sconces on our historic fireplace

I thought about more modern versions because I love our modern dining room light fixture and it might be nice to modernize a bit, but didn't find anything right. Then we got this chandelier for this room, which really added a lot, and I found some simple sconces that were a similar style. Then I just had to commit, and decide where to put them!

These are $70 for a set of two which is pretty hard to pass up. Rather than wire them through our lath and plaster walls, I did the Magic Light Trick (LED puck lights with a remote, affixed inside the sconce). A very similar sconce also comes as a plug-in version.

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34 weeks! Third trimester pregnancy update

7.01.2020

34 weeks! Third trimester pregnancy update

34 weeks along! Baby will be here before we know it. We are so, so grateful and excited to meet her and become a family of four.

But, the third trimester of pregnancy has been a lot harder the second time around. At least, from what I can remember!

Second pregnancy third trimester update

I can't believe how big my belly is, and still going to get bigger! I've gained 28 pounds, which I think is a little more than I had gained last pregnancy at this point, but still pretty normal. Thankfully, I'm healthy this pregnancy too, no gestational diabetes or other issues the midwives need to watch. I do have a few issues--a varicose vein behind my left knee and spider veins on my left leg (had both with Otto, too), sometimes painful, so I have to wear thigh-high compression socks all day, every day, except when showering and sleeping. (It was 90 degrees here the other day--this is not fun.) The leg thing is a little scary as it can mean deep vein thrombosis or blood clots, though the midwives aren't concerned about my case but do recommend the compression socks all the time. I took them off for these photos, felt like a vacation. :P

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Behind the scenes: ORC guest room makeover

6.30.2020

Behind the scenes: ORC guest room makeover

From bland to guest-ready in just 8 weeks! Have you wondered how much money and time it really takes to make a guest room look nice? I am sharing it all this week on the Your Home Story podcast!

In today’s show, we chatted about:

1. Decorating with Heirlooms
2. Spy the original sewing chair look in Ashley’s Vintage Dining Room Reveal
3. How to do an ORC
4. All my ORC posts
5. See the full Updated Midcentury Modern Guest Bedroom Reveal!

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:
@suzannahstanley
@biggerthanthethreeofus
@yourhomestorypodcast

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Listen here or in your podcast player!

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Favorite Spring 2020 One Room Challenge makeovers

6.29.2020

Favorite Spring 2020 One Room Challenge makeovers

The spring 2020 One Room Challenge season is about wrapped up, and there were some fabulous projects as usual!! I went through and saved a handful of favorites you should definitely check out! There are so many good ones, it's hard to choose, but...

You can see all the guest designer projects here (here's mine) and featured designer projects here. Honestly so many of them are fantastic. I admire everyone who put their efforts into a room/space/rooms these past 8 weeks and transformed!! Some incredible before/afters, great DIY projects, great ways people added character and personality... really inspiring. A lot of the faves on this list also featured great photography which makes it easier for me to see the whole space true to life. Seriously, check out all the rooms linked above for more inspo! But moving on to my faves...

Favorite modern traditional One Room Challenge reveals

I'll start with the master suites, then the rest are not in any intentional order. (I love bedroom design and there were some really beautiful master bedroom/bathrooms!)

Renovation Husbands did this classically inspired bedroom and bathroom. These images below are just peeks--you have to check out the whole thing, and the before! Really incredible design for this special older home.

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