Homestead's Profile

Display Name: Homestead
Personal URL: http://www.whomadethismess.blogspot.com
Member Since: 4/21/10

Latest Comments...

My husband and I have a deal about this.... If he leaves town I can do whatever project I want as long as it is done before he gets home..... He's wildland fire so he gets dispatched pretty often in the summer. His last trip he came home 3 days early and I hadn't been to the dump yet.... and there were huge piles of nasty pink living room carpet on the porch... oops.

We also had less-than-ideal wood floors.... a coat of primer and a coat of water-based "brownstone" porch paint and they are flawed and perfectly in character with our house.


When the Mood Strikes: Impulse Makeovers & Upgrades
4/25/13 3:41 PM

We bought the Madagascar storage bed from Bedroom Expressions/Furniture Row.

Once I got past my horror over shopping at a chain store (I'm more of a DIY/salvage/vintage person) I really liked it. Big deep drawers and the "top" (under the head) is a cabinet style door that opens with pressure hardware. So we can have bedside tables as long as they are a few inches from the bed. And it was very easy to put together.

We have a very small bedroom and no closet at all so the storage is priceless.

But here's my question.... I recall reading about a storage bed hack that used two narrow bookcases turned on the side as the base. Anyone have a link or know what I'm talking about?? I'd love to do this with the queen-sized bed my daughters share.


Best Storage Beds 2013 Apartment Therapy's Annual Guide
3/15/13 3:36 PM

Mosaicwench.... I'd like to see pictures... without the snow, of course. It sounds like great inspiration. I'm gardening zone 4 and have herds of hungry deer and I require a large greenspace (a rather unruly lawn at this point) and no plantings against the house for fire safety. So many strikes against me but I do keep trying.....


Why Grow That, When You Can Grow This? The Gardenist
3/7/13 2:09 PM

I'm more practical.... have you ever tried to clean a shoulder mount? All that grungy dusty fur. Ew.

We have a European mount elk.... I try to keep a Georgia O'Keeffe-esque feeling about it but it is definitely a compromise for the marriage. I did draw the line about putting it over a bed... one good earthquake and you'd be impaled... that just wouldn't read well in an obit.


Reader Survey: Does Taxidermy Enhance a Space?
10/6/11 6:23 PM

Well.... I don't qualify as an urban mom (or even a suburban mom).... but I do have experience cramming 3 kids, 2 adults, 2 cats, 1 dog, a lot of gear and frequent overnight guests into a very poorly laid-out (all the sq footage is in the bathroom and laundry room) 1700 sq foot home.

I confess to having an 18-month-old child in a crib (earlier in a mini co-sleeper) right next to my bed. Not attractive, but it works. So that might help you with the time frame for how long you can make this work. After that, I'd consider some sort of toddler bed (with storage underneath) fit into the closet next to the linen closet and removing that set of doors.... a little sleeping alcove. Maybe a tension rod with ring clips/curtain if you want to make it cozy.

My 6-year-old sleeps in a Harry Potter style closet over the stairs and he loves it. I don't know if that is encouraging to you or just makes you feel sorry for me... or him..... :)

Skip the changing table... babies can't fall off the floor. And don't buy into the thinking that you have to buy every piece of baby gear out there.... you will do great.... I'd love to see photos of the solutions you figure out.


Carving Out a Nursery Nook in a One Bedroom Condo
Good Questions
2/15/11 2:00 PM

Makes me laugh. The first time we tried to take the kids camping ended up with us camping by the house.... and it was great.... so we do it all the time now. I just re-read the blog posts about it. Funny. http://whomadethismess.blogspot.com/2008/06/camp-happy.html


The Importance of Backyard Camping
8/26/10 2:59 PM

I cut round photos of family and slip them in the underside of milk caps.... in pairs... and we play memory with them. So fun for the littles to find a match to a picture of themself, the dog or a loved one.

Also... the red ones... taped to the inside of a cardboard box... become the blast off button.


Keeping a Bottle Cap Collection | Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh
7/6/10 6:06 PM

Great ideas all! I suggest a night light. Good for checking on the baby, getting ready for bed without waking the baby, and for little ones finding the potty in a strange house.

We visit my mom and dad often... things they provide that are wonderful: pack-n-play, high chair, sippy cups, baby spoons, spare wipes/diapers, bibs. They have a baby gate for the stairs (it is actually for their puppy), a drawer of toys and books, and they've made the effort to baby-proof. They also provides a secure drawer for us to use.... nothing worse than walking into the guest bedroom and seeing a two-year-old playing dress up with my makeup.... well, ok, seeing her eating medications would be worse. They also try to have the kid favorites for food.... juice, crackers, junky cereal.

And, because my mom is the best grandma ever, she plans special snacks for the drive home.... diet pepsi for my husband, gatorade for me, and snack bags of marshmallows, mini-crackers, craisins and m&m's for the kids. How lucky am I?


Making Visiting Children and their Parents Comfortable Good Questions | Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh
7/2/10 2:24 PM

We have a large old trunk on the porch.

We use it to store pellets. For the stove. The giant 40 pound bags.

And in the summer we use it to stash the slip-n-slide, ugly plastic toys and the picnic blanket.


What Do You Keep In Your Trunk? | Apartment Therapy DC
6/24/10 2:46 PM