Ah Storybook Cottage. Such an apt name for this charmer. I’ve now learned that the word “charm” can cover a multitude of housing sins. At times, as I roam from room to room, I feel a bit like “The Crooked Man” from Mother Goose. Except that I don’t have a crooked cat but my doxie, Rudi, does have a crooked ear that never lays flat. Recently, we put in new countertops and a subway tile backsplash in the kitchen. (More photos to be shared shortly.) In our short time living here we have ... View the Post

Room by room Storybook Cottage is being transformed into the lovely beauty she once was. The laundry room had been particularly abused. Way back in October Mr. Decor ripped up the rotted linoleum and treated the moldy floors. Once clean he laid a new tile floor.Strangely enough only two of the four 1/2 walls still had the original bead board. The remaining bare walls had large circular holes that we still have yet to figure out what the heck the previous owners did. #alien crop circles on the ... View the Post

Generally the laundry room is one of the hardest working spaces in a home. But there is no reason that it can't also be pretty.The laundry room at Storybook Cottage has generous storage in the form of two sets of cabinets. However, they are placed fairly high up on the wall. The height combined with the width of the washing machine and dryer makes it a bit difficult to reach.Since I do laundry about every other day I wanted easy access to the soap, bleach and softener I use. I found this tray at ... View the Post

So many of you have left such lovely and caring emails, facebook and blogging messages inquiring if we are ok I thought it would be easiest to respond here. As I write this post on Saturday morning we are once again under imminent severe flash flood warning. That sounds a bit worse than it actually is. Although our backyard is indeed currently one large pond. My cute rainboots are truly getting a workout. It would be so much worse if Mr. Decor hadn't spent two weeks installing French drains and ... View the Post

It’s been somewhat of a symphony of crickets here on the DTA blog. After making it through finals I knew I had just 2 weeks before my next semester started. So I made a huge “to do” list and have been furiously making my way through it. On the top of the list was addressing the issue of our kitchen countertops. Most experts say that when you first move into a home you should live in it for a few months to a year before making any major structural or remodeling changes. I agree. Now as a ... View the Post

It has truly been a busy and amazing six short weeks. To tackle not one, not two but THREE areas in such a short time borders on cuckoo. Add in three accelerated university classes taken at the same time and well, it’s official… I am completely crazy! First the good news: I earned straight A’s. Now the not so good news: As you may have heard the weather here in Texas has been extremely wet and windy. This meant that getting the chairs painted was slow going so this led to a delay in ... View the Post