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Category: Decor

5 Tips to Create Your Perfect Master Bath Retreat

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elegant master bath

Who else loves to stalk Zillow and realtor.com for home listings? It can’t be just me! For years now, we’ve talked about buying land and having “land and horses.” We were always held back with nothing for sale or reasonably priced in our excellent school district. We loved our house and we loved our neighborhood too, and didn’t want to leave the community.

For 2 years of that time, this house on 15 acres that we live in now sat for sale and empty for at least 6 months of that time. It said “well-maintained” but I beg to differ! It has “good bones” seems more appropriate. I saw it for sale in the perfect location- right outside the neighborhood in our growing area where large tracts of land are becoming rare. Every time I saw it, though, I prayed, “please, God, no!” because it needed SOOO much work. I am not kidding, and long story short, we got that house after 2 years of watching it sit on the market! We set out to create the perfect master retreat before we moved in.

Gracious Space

I wake up thankful every day! It still needs so much work to bring it up to date and the exterior is not pretty (yet!), but these woods and trails on these 15 acres, the pasture we are building out front for the horses, and all of the beautiful nature and peace and SPACE we have now to move around- it definitely has my heart.

How to Create Your Perfect Master Bath Retreat

Before, I shared the master bedroom remodel– you can read about it here. Today I want to share with you our elegant master bath remodel. We took elements we liked from our last home’s bathroom remodel and used it again, because we moved before we could really enjoy that room. Here are 5 Tips to creating your perfect master bath retreat!

Find bathroom faucets here

5 Tips

  1. Incorporate Items From Places You’ve Been Together – It really does bring back good memories of times we spent in different places. You should try it in your home! We added a tile rug like we saw in a hotel in North Carolina, and a chandelier we found in Florida. You can try to recreate what you saw or buy an item while you are there.
  2. Choose Calming Colors and Décor – For the bathroom, we opted for no signs that we have to read or intricate photos of people. Instead, calming artwork, elegant sconces and mirrors, and muted colors.
  3. Collect Design Ideas and Plan in Detail First – I love to look at designer magazines, pinterest and Instagram. Find styles you like and follow them. Mom’s Priority has a full board of décor pictures on Pinterest from talented designers.
  4. Find thick, micro-wicking towels, rugs, and robes for luxury and clean. Some of my favorite towels are from Macys- Hotel Collection. I also like TJ Maxx and HomeGoods for these items.
  5. Choose Easy to Clean Materials – My idea of a calming, elegant master bath is one that feels clean most of the time. The grey and white is so calming and clean-looking. Since we went with

Before…

First, here are pictures from before. The house was built in 1985 and I think this pink tile is original! We weren’t huge fans of the fan, the sky lights, not having a separate room for the toilet or really any of the tile. But, the space was great for a master bath and it was a fun project!

master bath remodel

Demolition and Remodel

It was quite a process to tear everything out to the studs, create new walls, level out the floor, smooth the ceiling and walls, move plumbing and electrical some, tile, and paint walls. The demolition was such an incredible mess!

After…

We absolutely love this cost- effective master bathroom! In our previous home, we used grey and white marble, which I absolutely love! But, this room was much larger than our other master and with all of the projects we were doing in order to move in here, we couldn’t justify the marble in this room. Instead, we used basket weave marble in a small space in the middle of the floor as a tile rug, and ceramic tile throughout.

The basket weave marble tile reminds me of the gracious bathrooms at the Old Edwards Inn’s Half Mile Farm in Highlands, NC. An absolutely beautiful and peaceful place to visit as a couple, I think of that place (and their amazing breakfasts!) every time I look at it!

elegant master bath

Throughout the rest of the room, we used ceramic grey and white tile, and grey grout. The free standing soaker tub is a favorite, and combining oil rubbed bronze and vintage gold fixtures make me happy! The large double vanity is from Home Depot- it is a solid piece of furniture with marble top that they delivered while we were away and we had to get a crew of guys to get it to the master bathroom space! Incredibly heavy!! I spray painted the pulls oil rubbed bronze to match everything else. I would definitely recommend this version of Rust-Oleum. The coverage is great and it dries quickly and smooth.

master bath remodel

The vanity was a solid piece of furniture at a great price, except that the handles were chrome. Easy fix!

Master Bath Tub

We love the simple monogrammed towels, and the ladder towel rack my son and dad made! The curtains are stand-ins until I make or buy something with better movement, but I like that they are black out, so we are using them for now. This tub is just perfect, and we saved money by buying one with an internal faucet. Many of the free standing tubs require a separate free standing mount filler, which added significantly to the cost of the remodel. We were thankful for this economical tub option.

The vintage gold sconces and gold mirrors add that elegance and are a good fit for the high ceiling. The hanging chandelier was a purchase of ours on a trip to Seaside, FL. One of our favorite places to go, we remember the beach and our many trips there when we look up at it!

Master Bath Overall

Overall, we are pleased with how this bathroom remodel turned out. I appreciate the calming affect of this room and its simple elegance. I can’t wait to share with you the before and after of the other 2 main level bathrooms that we renovated.

Taking on a fixer upper of this magnitude is not for the faint of heart. We are just crazy enough to do it, and love it most of the time! In fact, we often say these days that all of this work is keeping us from going crazy during the quarantine! There is always a project to do! Now you may want to create your master bath retreat! I seriously doubt you will ever regret it. Send me your thoughts/projects at [email protected].

Our Farmhouse Remodel Master Bedroom

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I’m finally ready to share a few stories and pictures of our farmhouse remodel master bedroom project, because there is finally something to show for all the work we’ve put in! Let me tell you, buying an almost 7,000 foot home that is severely dated on almost 15 acres of land is not for the faint of heart! We have had a good experience so far, for the most part, with only a few snags (!), but only because we are managing expectations (i.e., keeping them LOW for the time being at least!) We are doing some of the work ourselves but we have used set aside funds to be able to hire people to do some things.  You can look at a previous post to see more of the “before!”

farmhouse remodel master bedroom

Our Farmhouse Master Bedroom Remodel

 

 

 

Remodel Project

Mud Pie Home Spring 2020 New ArrivalsBefore moving in, we were fortunate to be able to stay in our previous home (2 miles away, thank goodness) and have the 3 main level bathrooms remodeled, as well as fresh paint, new hardwood floors, popcorn ceiling scraped, sanded, and painted, all new electrical, and fresh white paint on the exterior brick.  Our timeline for all of this was 2 months, and it was done!  There is plenty we still have not addressed, but this was basic and we are thankful to know some amazing contractors to do this work!  It was a great experience, as few can probably say.  Only because we are in this industry (owning a residential electrical business) and work with great builders who have great subcontractors, is my reasoning- we have been fortunate.   They worked so hard to stay on schedule and exceed our expectations, and I am so thankful.  It’s incredibly important to find those good contractors who really care, if you ever do a project like this.  Stressful still, of course, but fun and doable with a great team!  

rest in the shadow of the almighty

Farmhouse Master Bedroom Remodel

The master bedroom was basic remodeling, but isn’t it amazing what a good paint job can do?!  The painters were spectacular.  We initially thought we could do paint ourselves, but quickly learned, after trying to prime and paint all of the wood-stained trim, doors, windows, and pocket doors, that our painting ability was outmatched by the work required.  WELL worth the cost to have it professionally done in this case.  We’d still be painting!  Also the electrical:  Adam and his team did an amazing job adding recessed lighting, removing the outdated cable and phone wires, and installing a fan.  I love the hardwood floors, and how easy they are to maintain.  This master as well as the master bath and closet are spacious, especially for a 1985 ranch.  I am loving this room, and just wish I could get the others together as quickly as this one.   

Here are a few before pictures…

Yes, Adam tried to prime the trim with a paint sprayer before we decided to hire painters.  It was a mess!  We needed professionals who would take the time to tape everything and take the multiple steps necessary for a good paint job!  But look at the popcorn ceiling!  I am loving the smooth ceilings in this house!  

farmhouse remodel master before    

Here is the master bedroom after. 

I love this room.  It is so calming.  This is furniture we’ve had for years and I love it.  The desk is an heirloom that we recently received and is sentimental.  I hope to find a chair for it soon!  I love to bring in fresh flowers or herbs from outside, and the bay window lets me see out into the shade garden I am working on out there.  It’s a work in progress, but this is one room that I feel is almost put together.  

farmhouse remodel master bedroom after

farmhouse remodel master bedroom after 2

farmhouse remodel master bedroom after

Bringing the outside in is something that just make a room comfortable to me, so I love to bring in flowers, herbs, have a few potted plants scattered around, and a wreath or two. 

Sources

The preserved boxwood wreath above is several years old and you cannot tell!  I take it off the wall probably once or twice a year to spray it with water and it could probably be done more often but it doesn’t seem to need it.  This wreath came from amazon.  

The mattress has been transformational for us.  We used to commonly have back aches and I can confidently say the Purple mattress has been the difference for us.  Purple mattresses are expensive, but so worth it for the sake of our health- our sleep and our backs!  You can learn more about them here.  Now, owning a horse farm with so much physical work required, we cannot imagine not having this Purple mattress!!  

Purple ogo

The wingback chairs were economical and are from walmart.com if you can believe it!  Walmart.com has an amazing selection of items through the online network or retailers, in home goods and clothing.  

If you’re like me, you love to see a remodel to get ideas and inspiration for you own house!  You can follow Mom’s Priority’s pinterest board named “Décor” for tons of collected ideas!  I’d love to know what you think and if you have any tips, please send them my way.  You can email me at [email protected].  I’d love to hear from you!  

What’s Happening with Our Farmhouse Remodel 1.5 Weeks In

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We closed on the farmhouse last Monday, and if you are reading about our farmhouse remodel for the first time, you may want to read here first. Even though some are tiring of the farmhouse style, I love it simply for practical, functional reasons. We are buying this property for our friends and family to enjoy and live in well, and that means casual, comfortable, and inviting. See older posts about farmhouse decor and farmhouse wreaths at these Mom’s Priority links. Specifically, we want to enjoy the outdoors and the land most, so the interior, while important and necessary initially, is going to take a back seat to the outside eventually.

Demo and Farmhouse Remodel

By today, Wednesday, the entire main floor is just subfloor and ready for the real floors to go down! We’ve updated the electrical and installed at least 50 can lights throughout to brighten up the space. Technology has changed immensely over the years, so updates were necessary. In addition, we’ve demo’d 3 bathrooms, and hardibacker board is going up. The outside is pressure-washed clean!

Tile and Bathroom Fixtures

All supplies for the bathrooms have been purchased, and are ready to be installed! The tile guys are working on that as we speak! I cannot wait to share with you the before and afters!! This farmhouse was built in 1985, and with these updates, it will look so much more current!

Paint Selection

The entire inside trim was primed, so the stained wood trim is no more, and fresh white paint can adhere easily, hopefully. The drywall team is smoothing the ceilings and removing the popcorn ceiling (woo-hoo!). The outside brick will be painted white tomorrow. I chose Sherwin-Williams Snowbound as the main color, with Elite Gray as the trim accent and Jogging Path for the doors. I cannot wait to show you- and see it for myself!!

For now, here are a few pictures of the demo. We have completely filled one dumpster of old, tired materials. Out with the old! This house is getting a facelift!!

Our Farmhouse Remodel- Demo Day!

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Everyone loves a good remodel, right? Since friends have been asking for details and pictures, and Mom’s Priority promotes décor items, I am going to do my best to share details on here.  We have just purchased a 1985 farmhouse and are excited to share with you the transformation!

Remodeling stories go much deeper than the surface, though. So, I must tell you that this is an answer to many years of prayer. Just the fact that we could financially be able to stay in our current home while we remodel this “new” home (to us) is absolutely mind-blowing to me. We started a new business 3 years ago, and it took our savings (which was supposed to be to buy land) to fund the business in the first years. God tested and strengthened my faith in that time, but I am the first to admit my anxiety during that time was ridiculous and I did not feel full of faith! I am finally stabilizing (ha!) and here we go again. All the time, God is making us more like Him, and He grows our faith through trials. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to rebuild this home and make it a refreshing place to live and share with others!

We call it our “farmhouse remodel” because it sits on 15 acres of land and we plan to add horses and its the style I resonate most with. The house is honestly more like a mid century ranch on a basement that all needs a major refresh!  As we go along I will use affiliate links to show you exactly where you can find the materials that we are using.  I am so incredibly excited to see the transformation that is going to take place.

Demo Day

We closed on it yesterday, and here we are today, ripping up floors and pulling out old brass lights, fluorescent lamps and getting it all torn apart!  We’ve been planning the renovations for the past month and drawing out floor plans the old fashioned way.  This house has quite a bit of work to be done.  It sat on the market over 2 years, I believe, because the amount needed to get it back up to date is overwhelming to some.  But, thank goodness demo started today so we can start looking forward to what it will be!  My friend called us “ambitious,” aka crazy!!  But, we bought it at a good price, especially considering the land in a great area, and we feel like we’re ready to tackle this project!  Our goal is to finish the main floor work within the next 1 to 2 months and then move in.  Let me share a few pictures of the “before:”

Farmhouse Remodel before master bath

Above, you can see the marble tiled front foyer.  People say to not get rid of the marble with green marble inset pattern, but it doesn’t go with our look.  So, here we are today!  Lots of jack hammering!

The carpet is coming up, as well as leftover vinyl flooring.  Hardwoods are going down soon!

5 Proven Quality Bargain Farmhouse Wreaths

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In order to achieve farmhouse style, a casual farmhouse wreath or two- or five!- is a must! Wreaths are a casual way to decorate your home in farmhouse style.

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5 proven quality bargain farmhouse wreaths

5 Farmhouse Wreath Styles

Olive branch Farmhouse wreath

I love this wreath because it looks real and it’s affordable!  This particular one is from Amazon, and we now have it hanging on a side exterior door.  For the price, you can’t beat it.  It still looks great and has held up for many years in all types of weather.

Magnolia Farmhouse Wreath

A magnolia wreath is the quintessential southern farmhouse wreath!  We planted a magnolia tree years ago when we moved in, and I am proud to say it finally has an abundance of beautifully fragrant flowers.  It seemed like it would never produce flowers!  I absolutely love it in the corner of our yard and so do the bus stop kids (including our own); they love to climb on the tree’s sturdy branches!  I haven’t mastered preserving the leaves and flowers long term, though, so I still depend on a purchased wreath.  This magnolia wreath from Hobby Lobby is a great alternative to last for years to come. (wait until it’s 50% off or use a coupon on our Deals page for 40% off!)
magnolia wreath

Boxwood Wreath

I have this preserved boxwood wreath hanging over our Kohler sink in the kitchen, and I love it!  It is very well-made, arrived perfectly, and is lasting.  I am spraying it weekly with water, because it is made of real boxwood cuttings.  The boxwood wreath is perfect for farmhouse décor.  This particular wreath is from Mud pie.

boxwood wreath

Moss Letter

This moss letter is not exactly a farmhouse wreath, but it still fits into the same category.   I list it because it is perfect for farmhouse style and would be an elegant addition to your home!

Moss Monogram Letters ~Direct wedding and shower guests to your event with pretty moss monogram letters. Available in an ampersand option and your choice of letters

Cotton Wreath

Finally, the cotton wreath is definitely farmhouse style.  It is relaxed farmhouse décor and perfect in a bedroom or on a gallery wall.  Ours has held up for several years now.

farmhouse wreath cotton

Whether you are looking to adorn a front door or a gallery wall, these farmhouse wreaths are all beautiful, yet timeless styles that you can enjoy for years to come.  These particular wreaths are proven to last, make a statement, and are at great prices.

Perfect Hostess Gift: Southern Tea Towels

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Nothing says warm and inviting like a tea towel.  They may or may not be originally “southern,” but the cute and sometimes bold sayings on the towels, say welcome to my home!  You can’t have too many tea towels, or so we say.  I have a confession: I have an obsession for tea towels. The words make me smile or reminisce and they are so practical and handy! If you’re headed over to someone’s house, wrap up a tea towel in some ribbon and a cute note, and you will make your hostess’s day.  Tea towels are the perfect inexpensive hostess gift.  Here are a few favorites:

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tea towel

Primitives by Kathy has a ton of entertaining options

Mud pie has adorable tea towels as well, like this one.

mud pie tea towel hostess gift

I love this custom printed recipe tea towel from Etsy!  Take your grandmother’s signature recipe and create a custom tea towel for a unique keepsake gift that will remind you of sweet times.

custom recipe tea towel

I also love this “home” tea towel that can be customized with the recipient’s state and name.  Perfect for a hostess or housewarming gift!

home tea towel

These tea towels from Etsy are funny, and super affordable at $5 each!

funny tea towels

Last, but not least, check out this adorable monogram tea towel.  Customize a towel with name and date!

monogram tea towel

 

 

 

 

9 Must-Haves for Farmhouse Decor

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Farmhouse Decor is relaxed, inviting, and inexpensive to achieve.  While it started out as a style only seen in rustic, rural farmhouses, the style has evolved to be achievable for anyone.  If you are looking to make small updates to your home, farmhouse decor items are fun and easy to include in your rooms.  Here are 9 must-haves for farmhouse décor.

9 Must haves for farmhouse decor

  1. Inspirational quotes on simple signs

Make your home feel warm and inviting with simple reminders.  This sign from Walmart is perfect for farmhouse décor.love grows best in houses like this

2.  Monogrammed family name signs

Etsy has a great selection of homemade and custom signs for custom farmhouse décor.

family name sign  Custom Wood Monogram Etsy

3.  Casual throw pillows

These throw pillow covers were super inexpensive and an easy way to change out décor for the seasons.  If you have the pillow inserts already, you can order this 4-pack on Amazon for cheap and have a new farmhouse look in several days.

                                                         farmhouse decor pillow

4.  Wooden ladder

We were fortunate to have my son and dad build a ladder just like this one for our basement farmhouse bathroom, but you can buy this one on Amazon.  Hang towels or blankets over the rungs to make it useful for your space.

                                      

5.  Galvanized olive bucket

I just love this olive bucket set It is so versatile and farmhouse style.

olive bucket set

6.  Your family initial

Anything galvanized is perfect for farmhouse décor, and this letter would go great on a collage wall.

galvanized letter

7.  Natural boxwood wreath or magnolia wreath

Natural wreaths are a great way to bring the outdoors in without the mess.  This particular one is made from preserved boxwood, so it needs to be misted every couple of weeks with water to stay looking fresh.  We have this one and it is holding up beautifully.

8.  Buffalo check napkins and tea towels

Buffalo check is so farmhouse chic, and I love the casual style, especially for Spring.

                                                     farmhouse decor buffalo check

9.  Farmhouse Décor Tobacco basket

Perfect for a mantle, hung on the wall, or set on the coffee table, this tobacco basket is definitely farmhouse style.

Tobacco basket farmhouse decor                                                    farmhouse decor tobacco basket hobby lobby

Farmhouse décor is about living simply, and more than anything, being grateful for what you have every day.  Make your space beautiful with your own touch.  Add some of these or none at all, but just enjoy your home and time with family.  For special offers from the retailers mentioned above and others, check out our deals page.