This week, we’re speaking about methods to make the exterior of your own home feel and look as cozy as the within of your own home. Plus, we have now a listener query about methods to deal with a contractor who isn’t doing the job proper.
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Present Notes:
Portray:
Entrance Door:
Home windows:
Porch Concepts:
- Wraparound porch
- Get a swing or daybed swing
- Put out somewhat desk and chairs
- Use string lights
- Put in a fire
- Add a TV
Walkway:
Landscaping:
- See what blooms your first yr
- Perform a little bit at a time
Again patio:
Yard:
Mailbox:
- Have it match the character of your own home
- Take a look at Emma’s mailbox magnet
Holidays:
- Plan forward
- Everlasting Christmas lights
- Print out an image of the outside of your home and draw out your plans
Listener Query:
What are your ideas, methods, experiences, and concepts for coping with contractor points, particularly as ladies?
- Learn Elsie’s weblog about Ideas for Hiring a Contractor
- Hold bothering them
- Give your self a pep discuss afterward
- Ask your loved ones and pals for his or her opinions
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Episode 184 Transcript:
Elsie: You’re listening to The Stunning Mess Podcast, your cozy consolation pay attention. This week we’re speaking about methods to make the skin of your own home feel and look as cozy as the within of your own home. Plus, we have now a listener query about methods to deal with a contractor who isn’t doing their job proper. My favourite topic. Okay, so somebody DMed me and so they stated, that is so cute. I can’t cease occupied with it. So at our new home in Missouri, they stated that they used to reside type of subsequent door to it or one thing. And that at one level within the Nineties, they noticed an enormous marriage ceremony hosted there within the yard. It was proper after our Father of the Bride episode got here out. And so they simply needed to inform me and so they stated it was actually magical. It had lights, it had tents, it had all of the issues and I want I may see it. I really like the thought of nonetheless throwing some type of, it doesn’t must be a marriage, however some type of large get together there. Possibly a marriage, possibly one thing else sometime, however it made my coronary heart really feel so many issues.
Emma: That’s so cute. That’s the sweetest DM ever. You additionally haven’t proven the home very a lot so I completely imagine that they did reside subsequent door cuz to ensure that them to have the ability to like, acknowledge it from what you’ve shared they need to actually know this home.
Elsie: Yeah. The neighborhood, everybody type of is aware of after I was strolling across the neighborhood final time, I used to be there, Each single person who talked to me was like, so that you’re shifting into that home?
Emma: It’s a close-knit space.
Elsie: Yeah. So anyway, this episode is all about adorning the outside of your own home. I’m so excited to do ours. So I like the best way that exterior appears, however I believe it has much more potential that may be unlocked. And I positively assume yours as nicely. So Emma’s home, she’s at the moment doing her exteriors, like portray, renovation, and stuff. And he or she has an enormous yard that she’s saving for later, so I can’t wait to see what you bounce into that ultimately, like what you do of it.
Emma: Yeah, so we are able to discuss paint as a result of truly as we’re recording this, we had been speculated to get our brick lime washed this week, however it didn’t work out as a result of they must have three days of no rain in order that the paint can treatment correctly. And this week it was type of on and off within the forecast of somewhat little bit of rain. So we’re hoping for subsequent week, however this time of yr it rains on and off pretty regularly, so it may even be one other month, who is aware of? However I’m very excited when it does occur as a result of we have now a largely white, home, however then we have now somewhat little bit of brick, and so we’re gonna get that lime washed. So lime wash, it will possibly imply quite a lot of various things. So for us, what we’re wanting is the place you type of see the brick somewhat bit. You continue to see that there’s purple brick underneath there. It’s virtually type of like a cloudy look. It’s very cottage core, shabby stylish, it’s type of that type of factor. And for us, we don’t have tons of brick. It’s not the entire home, so it’s type of gonna be an accent. So I really feel prefer it’s gonna be a pleasant juxtaposition with the white siding we have now, which appears fairly plain and boring, simply being trustworthy. It’s like fairly boring. So I really feel like this may give it type of one thing. In the intervening time, it’s similar to very purple brick and it’s just a bit an excessive amount of visible distinction for my eyes, and likewise let you know it simply doesn’t actually appear to have any model. So I’m very excited for this lime washing. However once more, may have occurred this week, didn’t occur due to the climate. We’ll see. I’m hoping for subsequent week. Might even be a month although. Who is aware of?
Elsie: So portray brick, it’s positively a regional factor. So the place I grew up in Missouri, I believe individuals are type of beginning to do it now somewhat bit extra, however folks used to essentially villainize and it’s positively a cold and hot matter, however there’s lots of people who assume that it’s like actually dangerous to color a brick dwelling.
However after I moved to Nashville, I used to be seeing it all over the place. Simply everybody paints their brick properties right here, it’s very extraordinarily widespread. In order that was what gave me the braveness to do it for the primary time. After which after that, I by no means turned again, I paint a brick dwelling on a regular basis now. On my first two homes, I painted them with standard latex paint. Within the final home that we painted, we used Roman bio paint, which is a non-toxic, environmentally pleasant mineral paint. And the factor that’s cool about it’s that lots of people will say you shouldn’t paint homes as a result of then the brick can’t breathe, and with this paint, it’s like portray brick with a layer of white brick. So it’s the identical materials and your home can nonetheless breathe. So it lasts longer, it’s extra sustainable. The factor that’s robust about it although, is it’s tougher to discover a painter who desires to make use of that materials as a result of it’s not as widespread. So anyway, I’ll hyperlink that within the weblog, if anybody’s curious. However yeah, I believe that portray a home is among the finest issues you are able to do for curb attraction, I like to recommend it. So the pink home is a wooden home, possibly it’s wooden siding, I’m undecided, after which our new dwelling is sort of a clapboard home, so it’s wooden. In order that they’re each painted already and part of proudly owning these homes is that you need to preserve them painted and sustain with it. It’s an essential a part of the upkeep of proudly owning a woodhouse. So with our pink home, we determined to do an announcement shade as a result of initially, it suits into the neighborhood. There have been already quite a lot of homes within the neighborhood that had somewhat little bit of shade. It’s not like Charleston, however it’s positively much more than some other neighborhood in our hometown. Similar to homes with somewhat little bit of shade, somewhat bit extra risk-taking is the appropriate phrase, however just a bit bit extra of an open-minded vibe. Individuals all the time ask me if the neighbors hated it. I by no means heard of anybody who hated it, however I’m certain somebody in all probability didn’t prefer it. I don’t know as a result of it’s pink. It’s a pink home, however it’s not the one pink home, I don’t assume, is it?
Emma: I don’t assume it’s. No. It’s the one one in every of that exact pink, however no, I can consider one different that’s like a pink home and it’s the one which’s in heavy disrepair anyway. Anyway, there’s not less than one different pink one which I may consider.
Elsie: And likewise pink is a historic dwelling shade. It’s a extra widespread dwelling shade from the times of previous, that’s additionally why I needed to do it. So anyway, I assumed it was enjoyable. It was simply a chance as a result of it’s very small. What do you name it? Like a bungalow-style home. So it simply type of made sense. It match prefer it felt good for our new dwelling since it’s the clapboard and it’s already white, I actually simply can’t think about it some other shade. So I believe that I’m fairly certain it that may all the time preserve it white. However who is aware of? By no means say by no means. However a chance for portray on the outside is unquestionably the porch in the intervening time. The porch must be repainted actually badly. It’s across the entrance steps space, whenever you first stroll up, it’s like actually chipping off. So I do know that’s one in every of our first initiatives that we have to do. So I discovered this primary shade referred to as Dorian Grey, so I used to be occupied with utilizing that. You recognize, I’ve my Dorian Grey factor. If I wanna do a impartial shade, or I may do some extra of a enjoyable shade, I don’t know.
Emma: Yeah. Didn’t you say lots of people advised you to color it blue, to inform the ghost to go away?
Elsie: Okay. So it’s, it’s a Southern factor that when you paint your porch ceiling blue. So whenever you look on Pinterest at porches, wraparound porches, and porch decorations, you’ll see a number of porches with a painted blue ceiling, and now I type of know why. I don’t know if that’s the one motive, or if some folks possibly simply see it and so they’re like, oh, that’s a cute shade, I’ll do mine that manner too. Yeah, however I initially don’t actually desire a blue ceiling. However second of all, I’m probably not afraid of ghosts. So when you see me portray my porch ceiling blue although, now you’ll know that one thing actually bizarre occurred. You’d be like, we have to ship her some flowers.
Emma: She’d be like, it was between this and an exorcism. So I’m portray it blue.
Elsie: Yeah. Our solar porch was truly, the ceiling was painted a teal blue once we moved in. However we painted over it white simply to, I don’t know, I simply needed it to be all white. I simply didn’t wanna have an announcement ceiling in there. Yeah. Anyway, let’s keep targeted on the outside trigger that’s what this episode is about.
Emma: Yeah. Effectively, alongside portray exteriors, let’s discuss one other essential exterior factor that you simply paint generally, entrance doorways.
Elsie: Okay. So the assertion entrance door is such a enjoyable matter, and I’m excited to speak about this. So, initially, I really like assertion entrance doorways, I’ve had them in virtually all of my properties. I believe on my first dwelling we did a traditional black entrance door. After which after that, I used to be like we had a pink door after which we had a blue door, after which now we have now one other pink door after which we had a inexperienced door. So I really like the assertion entrance door. I believe it’s very enjoyable. I simply assume it’s good. However the one factor I’ll say is there’s this one home in our neighborhood proper now the place after I all the time attempt to battle, I’m like, oh, the assertion door doesn’t match the home although. You recognize what I imply? So that you do must mix it with what your home already is. For those who’re not gonna paint the entire home, you do must type of settle for your home for what it’s and choose a shade that’s cohesive with that, I believe.
Emma: That’s what I believe too. I’ll say if it’s your home and you don’t have any HOA in your again, do no matter you need. If it makes you content to color it, that one teal that you simply actually love, though it doesn’t go together with the remainder of the home, that’s advantageous. Go for it. Yeah, to me it’s like type of a missed alternative after I see one which simply doesn’t, as a result of I’m like, there’s so many colours that may work and also you picked the one which doesn’t actually match. So it seems like this door doesn’t belong to this home, which is okay. It’s your home, no matter. However I’m gonna go on my stroll and I’m gonna decide your entrance door. So simply know that’s occurring.
Elsie: In our new home, we have now a display door, so I would paint the entrance door, however I really feel prefer it gained’t actually be as a lot of a factor to have a look at from the skin due to the, it’s like a wooden display door, it’s like a really traditional, like a southern door. I like it, I believe it’s sensible as a result of it’s like mosquito land and stuff. I’m occupied with portray the within of the entrance door. However yeah, I believe if I wanna have like a enjoyable assertion door, I would do like our little pottery shed within the yard. I would do a aspect door, I would do one thing else, I believe.
Emma: Yeah, and we’ve had painted entrance doorways prior to now too. In all probability my favourite was we had this yellow door on the primary dwelling that Tray and I lived in collectively. And I painted it with my pals in the future and it was actually enjoyable. So at the moment we simply have this type of trendy wooden door that has frosted panels and we simply bought it from Lowe’s. It’s probably not something all that particular, to be trustworthy, however it appears very nice. Our door earlier than had an enormous crack in it, the door that got here with the home and we simply weren’t actually in love with the model of it anyway. And like I stated, the window was tremendous cracked so we changed it with that. And I’m having them, every time they do the outside of the home, we’re type of matching the wooden. We’re including panels of wooden underneath a few of the home windows. Virtually like a planter field, however it’s not truly a planter field cuz I’ve no inexperienced thumb in any respect. And I’ll by no means put crops in them as a result of they are going to simply die as a result of I don’t know what I’m doing. So it’s similar to a chunk of wooden, however visually I believe it should learn type of like a planter field with out flowers and it simply matches the entrance door. Due to that, I’ve no plan to color our entrance door ever. I simply plan to maintain it the wooden that it’s and it appears actually fairly. It’s like a very nice wooden and it’s been sealed so you possibly can actually see all of the wooden grain and it’s actually fairly.
Elsie: However yeah, only for the document, we’re pro-statement door. Do choose one thing that likes vibes with your home, however I believe it’s magical. I believe it’s a type of enjoyable moments in life like one of many issues that householders get to try this’s actually particular.
Emma: Yeah. And when you’re a seasonal wreath particular person, which I’m, then you definitely do have to think about your entrance door because the backdrop for all of your seasonal wreaths. So I might assume that by means of. So guarantee that it’s gonna go nicely along with your Halloween wreath and your Christmas wreath. Possibly you don’t care, however I do.
Elsie: That’s how I make all of my dwelling selections. I by no means decide with out pondering of the way it will look throughout Halloween and Christmas as a result of it’s so essential to me and I stretch them out for not less than an additional month every. Okay, the opposite factor I really like for entrance doorways is selecting a classic knocker, I’ve talked about this earlier than. I selected one for my new home already. I select one for each dwelling, and so they’re all type of not humorous, however they’ve a character to them as a result of there are classic brass, titties. There are such a lot of totally different ones yow will discover. I believe our first one was a pineapple after which we had a butterfly at one in every of our BMBs and I bear in mind at Casey’s home I did a horseshoe and at my new home, I’m doing the bat. I’m doing a brass bat, it’s magical. It’s type of a enjoyable custom that I like to do like choosing the door knocker.
Emma: Yeah, at my Harry Potter home in Florida, which we not personal, however there may be an owl brass knocker as a result of you realize, Harry Potter.
Elsie: Okay, so for home windows, initially, do you want shutters? Are you a shutter particular person?
Emma: I really like shutters. We don’t have them and I don’t actually need them, however I really like taking a look at them.
Elsie: Lots of people have requested me if I might add shutters to our new home as a result of it type of appears just like the film homes that I all the time put, that it type of appears like each have black shutters. However I truly assume our home just isn’t meant to have shutters the scale of the home windows is I believe it’s larger than you assume. So from what I’ve learn, the one approach to do shutters is to have them be like actual shutters that might actually shut and so they have correct {hardware} and so they’re not like only a ornament, they’re an actual working factor. With a view to do this, they’d be enormous. So I simply don’t assume that our home wants it or desires it. So right now, I’m nobody shutters, however I do love how they appear and throughout our neighborhood, there are such a lot of homes with fairly shutters and I believe it’s magical.
Emma: And you are feeling they must be actual since you would need to use them such as you would need to pull them closed generally.
Elsie: I imply, you realize, I really like my Finish of the World books, so sure. But additionally I believe it’s simply kind of like an authenticity factor for like individuals who like previous homes, it’s such as you wanna do it the best way it could’ve been completed in that period.
Emma: Yeah, I get that. Effectively, as much as you.
Elsie: I may let you know it’s silly.
Emma: Yeah, I do. I don’t have to say it, however of word on the vacation home, the shutters on the entrance of the home, and on the entrance porch had been positively not actual. They had been positively simply nailed in place and I assumed they regarded fairly good.
Elsie: I’m simply saying if I had been gonna do them I might wanna make them actual functioning shutters.
Emma: Okay. Effectively, that’s as much as you however I do assume they’d look fairly cool. So if the one approach to do it was faux ones, I’m voting in opposition to you, however it’s your home. So clearly do no matter you need.
Elsie: Take a look at it another time in an image, as a result of on the entrance window within the heart to the highest, there’s an oddly formed window and I’m simply undecided how it could work, like when you simply wouldn’t put the shutters on all of the home windows or it simply type of seems like it could be somewhat bit, I don’t know.
Emma: I’m pondering of it extra as purely an aesthetic factor and never you’re going to make use of them in any respect. That’s so we’re in all probability simply not pondering like we’re not on the identical web page since you like need to use them. In order that’s very totally different as a result of it’s like then they could must be like enormous or oddly formed relying in your home windows and yeah, that sounds in all probability much more costly and probably problematic, however I’m simply pondering like cool ones that possibly have like moons carved in ’em or one thing. I don’t know. Or simply black wines.
Elsie: So that you assume I ought to put shutters on the entrance of the home?
Emma: Yeah, I do, faux ones.
Elsie: Subsequent time I discuss to somebody in regards to the exterior I’ll ask some questions, I’m curious now. All proper, let’s discuss porches. Porches are every thing to me. So I’ve already talked about this like 85 instances, however I promise you it’s gonna be 85 extra. At our new home, my dream is to make a porch which you can stroll all the best way round. A literal, all-the-way stroll across the porch. What do you name it, wraparound porch and you may truly stroll all the best way round it, a few of it should have doorways, a few of it gained’t and a few of it will likely be sunrooms. One in all it’s gonna be like an artwork room, a few of it will likely be porches. It’s so magical to me. So, yeah I really like porches. In our first Nashville home, we had a sunroom and it was positively one of the crucial lovely rooms in the home. It was very photogenic and it was very enjoyable to brighten. However because it was a 3 seasons room and also you couldn’t use it within the winter, it was type of a bummer a few of the years. So I realized from that have that I might relatively have similar to all the best way a porch, only a porch as you go on the market, you sit within the recent air, or if it’s a sunroom that’s closed in with home windows, I would like it to be like heated and cooled and be like part of the house. In order that’s a giant precedence for me now. Enjoyable issues about porches, so you are able to do swings, you are able to do somewhat desk and chairs. You are able to do the daybed swing. What are a few of your favourite decorations for porches?
Emma: Yeah. I really like a swing. I really like a daybed swing. Our porch is type of unusual in a manner. It’s a correct porch however it’s quite a lot of poured cement with a few bushes, like area the place the tree is rising out. It’s like a bonsai tree or one thing, I don’t actually know. And there’s probably not a spot to place a swing, however we used to all the time sit and swing with Oscar when he was a child at our final home. So I type of miss it, however I don’t even know if he would get pleasure from it anymore. Now he desires to be strolling, we have now his little bike out on the entrance porch, it’s tucked beneath the awning. And this little cozy coop automobile, he likes to get in that and stuff. So I don’t know if we’re gonna do much more to our entrance porch simply because there isn’t actually, it’s not quite a lot of it’s coated. There’s only a small area that’s coated and it’s type of taken up by Oscar’s automobile and bike proper now. However we sit on the market loads proper now and eat dinner, Oscar loves being exterior usually. And so we’ll make dinner and take all of it exterior after daycare and simply sit on the market and eat and he’ll watch vehicles go by. And he likes to level out if it’s a automobile or a truck or no matter. At some point a trash truck honked at us as a result of he was waving and that was, I believe, probably the most thrilling second of his life, he was so into it.
Elsie: Oh my gosh, how cute. Yeah. I really like porches. So within the neighborhood, we’re shifting in Springfield, there are quite a lot of porches which have string lights and I believe that’s actually charming. It’s not like Christmas lights, it’s all yr spherical. If you stroll round at evening, there’s simply quite a lot of porches which might be lit up with string lights and so I assumed that was actually candy. When you’ve got an opportunity to place a fire in your porch, I believe that’s epic. Really a porch with a fire it’s epic, it’s superb. I might like to do like a eating desk porch ultimately. I believe that’s actually thrilling for just like the again of the home.
Emma: What do you consider, well-designed and putting TVs on porches? What are your ideas?
Elsie: I’m professional TV on a porch as a result of I simply assume if it makes you employ it extra, then it’s good. And I believe that there might need been a time in my life after I was snobby about TVs, however it isn’t now.
Emma: Yeah, I just about agree. We now have no place for one, however I might completely put one simply to observe an episode of one thing and eat breakfast on our porch or one thing. Actually within the night, in the summertime it may be type of mosquito land, so then you need to actually determine your plan for that. However in the course of the day, within the morning, it tends to be fairly good.
Elsie: I believe it’s a good suggestion truly. If this area requires it and it really works, possibly it could make you employ your porch extra. I believe that’s an important factor as a result of I’ve had porches that we use continuously, and I’ve had ones that we by no means used in any respect. And so I believe simply creating routines that make you persistently use it’s actually essential. Particularly proper whenever you first transfer in. So the following half is walkways. So I believe if in case you have an opportunity to replace walkways, driveways, issues like that, that may be an enormous improve. Currently, it’s springtime proper now, in order I’ve been driving round, I’ve seen so many individuals pouring driveways and I’m like, oh, good for you, it’s so cute. So my dream is to have a brick pathway, for the pathway that goes as much as the home after which the pathways that kind of lead round within the again. I simply assume that brick pathways are so cute.
Emma: Oh yeah. A brick pathway is a really magical, very secret backyard. So we have now a couple of walkways, I suppose I’ve two issues. One is principally we have now these actually large, pretty lavender bushes on our again, in between the way you enter our yard and the place the storage is, and final yr they weren’t completely blooming but, however final yr they smelled superb. We didn’t reside in the home but, however we might come to verify it loads. And yeah, they only smelled superb, I don’t know if it’s like edible lavender or not, I’m probably not certain. I’m certain I may determine that out. However I did discover final yr that it had tons of bees and so I’m occupied with that this yr. I’m somewhat uncertain if we’re gonna preserve them as a result of I do assume they odor superior. However Oscar is rather like, that’s a spot he’s at loads as a result of we go out and in of the yard on a regular basis as a result of he’ll wanna play within the yard after which we go within the entrance yard, after which you realize, backwards and forwards fairly a bit. So I’m just a bit involved in regards to the variety of bees I noticed. I don’t know if there’s one thing I ought to do for there to be much less bees. I believe bees are essential, so I don’t actually need to do something that essentially deters them as a result of clearly, they’re simply doing what bees do, however I don’t know, so I’m type of occupied with that. I’m undecided what we’re gonna do that yr. They’re simply beginning to bloom, so we’ll see. But when Oscar and I each get stung an entire bunch, I’ll be like, okay, the place you’ve gotta do one thing.
Elsie: Possibly there are different crops or I guess our listeners will be capable to offer you some recommendation on that. That fascinating.
Emma: Yeah, as a result of I don’t wanna do something to kill the bees or something like that. I’m simply pondering we might transfer the bushes. Really, a contractor we labored with I already talked about, would completely take them and plant them at his home if we needed. So I used to be like, okay, I have already got somebody, they wouldn’t go to waste, however I’m like, nicely, I don’t know, we’ll see. One other factor I needed to say, that is considerably associated, however it’s simply an exterior factor, are we bought somewhat free library put in, we had a useless tree in our entrance yard and once we bought it minimize down, we advised them to go away like a four-foot stump and since you will get them to chop it manner down and even grind the stump and I stated, no, depart it 4 foot as a result of I’m gonna put somewhat free library on prime of it. So we have now somewhat free library and I’ve seen that folks within the neighborhood are utilizing it fairly a bit. I’ve gotten a variety of books out of there for Oscar. Each time I put in books, I all the time discover how shortly they go and it’s all the time the romance novels that go the quickest and I like it. And I’ve loads to place in there so heads up neighborhood and proper by our little free library we’ve additionally began to make what I name a fairy backyard, however it’s principally little ceramic animals that I discover at thrift shops and Oscar and I put them on the market and he simply likes to play with them once we’re on the market and so they’re very breakable. He’s damaged one earlier than as a result of he threw it onto the sidewalk and it cracked and broke and it’s advantageous as a result of we’re exterior. So it’s not like inside when glass breaks or one thing, they’re not glass, they’re ceramic. However we have now a monkey and a few canine and a cat and a fish and an owl and when he sees the owl he’ll go, who, who and it’s actually cute. In order that’s our little fairy backyard, I’d actually prefer to make it much more aesthetic and cute sooner or later. However in the intervening time it’s similar to stuff that Oscar likes and he strikes them round and performs with them whereas we’re on the market and it’s simply enjoyable. Simply makes it somewhat vacation spot the place we are able to stroll on the market and play with him somewhat after which go do one thing else and at his age that’s nice.
Elsie: Magical. Okay, let’s discuss landscaping for a second, as a result of I really feel like that may be a actually essential a part of curb attraction, it may be a giant improve. So on our final dwelling we in all probability did probably the most landscaping we’ve completed as a result of I do know this story earlier than, however after we bought our home painted I used to be like, this appears nice. When ought to we take images? And the home painter was like, nicely, I believe it’s essential get rid of the entire landscaping and do all new, and I used to be like, What, I had by no means been advised such a giant process earlier than and it seems he was proper once we did do this job. I bear in mind on the time it felt like such a giant change. It turned out actually cute. There’s like quite a lot of little tiny boxwood-looking bushes after which we did hydrangeas and we did panes for spring after which we had a spot to do one new tree, so we did like a ginkgo tree as a result of I really like the yellow leaves at fall time and it was a really magical expertise and I can’t wait to do it once more. I believe it opened up my thoughts loads to how worthwhile it landscaping will be as a result of it feels type of daunting and it feels very costly and it is rather costly. However when you’ve completed it and seen what a giant improve it may be, I believe it felt much more value it to me.
Emma: I truthfully felt that manner even about portray the outside of your home. After I was youthful, I assumed, oh, I wouldn’t spend the cash on that I’d relatively spend the cash I’ve to repair up my home on the within as a result of I’m all the time inside. And I believe when you’re on a good funds, like yeah, that is sensible, I get it. However after you’ve painted the outside or no matter you’ve completed, after you’ve completed one thing to the outside, then you definitely see what a giant distinction it makes and the sensation it offers you whenever you pull as much as your home. And likewise when you spend quite a lot of time in your entrance porch or your yard or no matter, then yeah, you simply type of come to worth it otherwise, or I’ve, possibly not everybody, however I do. So I may positively see that with landscaping, we type of have current stuff from the earlier proprietor, a number of bushes and bushes which might be coming again to life now and we’re hibernating all this winter. This yr is actually similar to seeing if every thing comes again, what it’s prefer to attempt to keep it if we’re not capable of, like what are we gonna do in a different way to verify it’s nonetheless enticing, like are we gonna substitute this or that? In order that’s actually all we’re doing this yr is attempting to determine like, what is that this deal with? What are these bushes? Will they keep alive this summer season? I don’t know. So we’re simply gonna do our greatest and see.
Elsie: Completely. Yeah. I believe giving it somewhat little bit of time to similar to see what blooms your first spring is actually good as a result of it might be shocking. For those who first see it when every thing’s useless, there may be quite a lot of perennials that you simply don’t even find out about. Yeah. It’s very enjoyable although, I believe when you’ve by no means completed it earlier than and also you’re gonna do it on your first time, my recommendation is to simply be inspired, and do some bit at a time. It’s value it for me, at first it felt prefer it was within the boring money-to-spend class for home stuff. However ultimately, I type of got here to understand it and like it, so now I’m excited to do extra. The following one is the again patio. So I believe that your again porch can actually be the guts of your own home. My favourite manner to make use of it or the best way for it to be is that if your kitchen will set free into your backspace. I believe that’s like superb. That’s the way it’s been at our dwelling in Tennessee and it simply made it actually cozy as a result of it’s your outside kitchen is subsequent to your indoor kitchen and your outside eating is subsequent to your kitchen and it simply all type of suits collectively very well. So when you’re planning an area from scratch, I might actually suggest that. Clearly not each home is gonna have that. Our first home in Tennessee had this, it’s so random, however the kitchen was within the very entrance of the home. There was no potential manner that it may ever join in any manner and it was all the time behind my thoughts after I lived there. Anyway, let’s discuss a few concepts for how one can improve your again patio. So I simply bought new porch furnishings for our new home and I didn’t know, so have you learnt the model Trex, they make like decking that you simply by no means have to exchange. So I came upon that they make tables and I bought a type of tables. I’m actually enthusiastic about it as a result of I don’t know what number of instances prior to now, which is my very own fault, however I might get a really cheap wooden desk from Goal or one thing the place I might put a desk on the market that actually shouldn’t be on the market after which a season or two later it’s like utterly trashed.
Emma: I would purchase a type of then as a result of we at the moment don’t have a again patio and we don’t actually have any coated space in our yard in any respect. And we simply don’t actually have the cash to do like an enormous pour cement and massive awning and we don’t actually have the funds for that proper now. However I might actually like to put a desk again there as a result of Oscar and I’ll sit again there and eat dinner and Trey too, it’s not like Trey’s not round. The routine is I choose him up from college, so we eat probably not even dinner, however like snacks and it’s simply me and him after which Trey comes dwelling. However anyway, this in all probability appears like my husband’s by no means dwelling. I’m like, no, he’s. He simply comes dwelling about an hour later than me. However yeah, possibly I’ll get a type of tables now that you simply’re mentioning it as a result of I’m like, I would like one thing that may sit out within the solar and the climate and gained’t get utterly ruined as a result of I simply haven’t been motivated to purchase one thing. So I’m like, it’s gonna get utterly ruined in a single season as a result of there’s simply no cowl for it, in order that’s an thought.
Elsie: I’m type of on the level in my life the place I’m like, I’m not shopping for outside furnishings if it’s not weatherproof and I’m excited to see, I suppose I’ll must see it for a few seasons to see how nicely it wears and like how it’s to wash up within the spring and issues like that. However yeah, it’s value it to me. I really like outside furnishings, however when you don’t have a coated area, then I believe you need to be much more intentional in regards to the stuff you select to place out.
Emma: You wanna hear our humorous factor about our yard? Again patio. We don’t have a patio as I discussed, we’re getting one for Oscar’s birthday in June, we’re getting him a sandbox as a result of he loves enjoying within the filth and I’m somewhat bored with it. So we’re getting the sandbox so he can play in that sandbox as a lot as he desires. And I’m gonna get the type that has a canopy as a result of we don’t have any cowl again there, so it may be coated up once we’re not enjoying with it. However I’m actually excited. I believe he’s gonna like it. So I’m actually enthusiastic about it.
Elsie: That’s a enjoyable thought. I really like that. Let’s discuss in regards to the yard for somewhat bit. Oh my gosh. Yard. So I’ve realized a lot, I really feel like, so our first home in Tennessee had this large yard. All it had in it was playhouses. So it was just about like an acre of yard that you simply simply mow and I realized from that have that I needed a extra concise yard, that was helpful. It’s nice to have a giant yard if it’s helpful, however I didn’t wanna simply have an enormous yard that was similar to a garden mowing invoice or no matter. After which in our present dwelling, we have now truly a reasonably small yard, our Tennessee dwelling, feels prefer it’s largely the swimming pool. Yeah. After which there are a few aspect yards which might be somewhat bit awkward to get to. In order that they actually don’t get used a lot, they don’t get performed a lot. So if our children play exterior, they normally play within the entrance of the home, like within the driveway and stuff, and within the again within the pool space. In all probability one of many smallest yards we’ve had. Not quite a lot of play area. I felt like we bought a lot out of it as a result of it was well-planned. It had an outside eating desk. We had the cornhole recreation, which our children love. We had a fireplace pit, which they love. It was very helpful and practical. So it taught me that we don’t really want a giant yard, we simply want a very well-planned yard. So with our new dwelling, I’m attempting to be very cautious within the planning. So yeah, I’ve been getting my swimming pool quote. Everybody, cross your fingers for me as a result of I’m terrified. I simply assume that whenever you reside in the course of the nation, swimming swimming pools are dearer as a result of they’re simply not as widespread and there are usually not as many corporations to select from and it’s simply not as aggressive. However yeah, we’re planning for that. A fireplace pit, I’d prefer to have some type of play area, however I wanna make certain it’s gonna get used loads. And I’d prefer to have some type of yard that’s open to run in, however not loads, similar to the correct amount. So yeah, that’s my plan in the intervening time. I’ve redrawn it like 100 instances so simply to encourage anybody who’s shifting to a brand new area or planning your yard, you possibly can’t overthink it. Actually, actually take into consideration like how every thing can join collectively as a result of it’s so significantly better to plan it again and again earlier than you’ve spent any cash than to start out doing it and have regrets.
Emma: Oh yeah, I agree. And yeah, we don’t have any enormous plans for our yard in the intervening time. We type of have to get our fence changed, however it’s gonna be like 20 to $30,000. So, we’ve type of been placing it off. We now have a fence and it’s advantageous, however our canine retains discovering methods to flee and he by no means runs away. He similar to waits on the entrance door however he’ll type of terrorize different people who find themselves strolling with their canine as a result of he’s not nice with different canine, that’s not good. So we’re simply attempting to assume that by means of. We even have his dream, I might like to get a golf cart. Our neighborhood’s very windy and it’s an awesome place for teenagers to experience their bikes and stuff. Individuals don’t actually drive by means of tremendous quick, it’s simply very windy. So anyway, you might positively drive a golf cart round our neighborhood and get to the neighborhood pool from our home. You might positively stroll, however it could take some time and when you’re with somewhat child and you’ve got a bunch of stuff like pool stuff, you’re not gonna do this. So I type of thought the golf cart might be nice for going to the pool in the summertime with Oscar. I even have this dream with the golf cart that possibly I may do some type of spooky hay experience or some type of spooky, everybody hops on the little prepare, we’re going trick-or-treating across the neighborhood with the golf cart and it may seem like a monster. I may embellish, I don’t know. I don’t precisely know, however I simply really feel like there’s one thing there that might be enjoyable however our drawback is we don’t know the place to retailer the golf cart. We now have a two-car storage and we every have a automobile. So our storage just isn’t actually large enough that we may put the golf cart in there.
So we don’t actually know the place it could go, as a result of we wouldn’t need it to simply be sitting out on a regular basis. So it must go within the yard someplace, however it must be one thing not less than coated, if not somewhat construction. In order that’s kind of the place we cease is we’re like, we don’t know the way the golf cart’s gonna get taken care of, be saved when it’s not in use. So then we simply type of dunno what to do with that. I’ll determine it out sometime. I’m gonna be driving round and the golf cart’s gonna be dressed like a monster for Halloween. I don’t know. In order that we are able to trick or deal with.
Elsie: Hold pondering in that route. I positively assume it’s a cute thought. The very last thing is a mailbox. So I had a mid-century mailbox in one in every of our homes, and I bear in mind, I felt prefer it was such a splurge on the time. And now we have now an antiquey trying mailbox at our new home. I simply assume mailboxes, like why not make them match the character of your own home? I believe that’s very candy.
Emma: Oh yeah, I agree. Ours is this type of metallic and swings open proper exterior our entrance door and I like it. I don’t plan to exchange it in the intervening time, however I’ll say although, you understand how whenever you put mail in on your mail service pickup, you flip up a flag normally. A typical mailbox has a flag.
Elsie: Do you need to use an in depth pin on the skin or one thing?
Emma: Yeah, it has to have one thing like that. So I went on-line and I used to be like, nicely there’s gotta be some answer for this, I’ve seen mailboxes like this earlier than. I’ve by no means had one, however there’s one thing and so I regarded round and principally what it has proper now could be this little tiny plastic flag which you can push out or shut and it’s on the mailbox with a command strip and it’s labored. But it surely requires you to very rigorously open and shut it and the mail service is closing it and I don’t know her or him, however they’re doing nothing unsuitable, it’s not nice. It’s not an awesome answer, the command strip, as a result of it’s additionally like instructions strips are nice. For those who’ve heard me say it when you’ve heard it a thousand instances. I really like command strips. However they’re not all the time nice open air. It could actually get very chilly right here, with freezing temperatures. It’s additionally very moist at instances. And this summer season it’ll get actually sizzling. So I’m simply looking for one other answer and principally on Amazon, I noticed these little magnets that like say, oh, cute, choose up the mail. And so that you simply put the magnet on the skin. Of the metallic after which they’ll simply put it on the within as soon as they’ve picked up the mail. And so I purchased a type of and it hasn’t are available in but, however I’m actually enthusiastic about it. It has somewhat image of a mail truck on it. It’s a tiny bit tacky, however I simply really feel prefer it’s gonna be a very good answer for the kind of mailbox we have now as a result of there’s been a variety of instances I wanted one thing to exit and the mail service didn’t understand I had one thing within the field and it didn’t exit and that’s type of a bummer.
Elsie: That’s tremendous annoying. That’s a cute thought. Okay, nicely good. We’ll must hyperlink that within the present notes as a result of I guess there’s somebody on the market, that’s additionally the right answer.
Emma: Yeah, somebody ought to begin promoting his on Etsy in the event that they haven’t already as a result of they’re actually cute and so they’re similar to magnets.
Elsie: Okay. The final a part of adorning the outside of your own home that I needed to speak about is Halloween and Christmas. I believe that planning forward for that is important. I’ve stated this many instances when you’re landscaping your home or no matter you’re doing, you need to take into consideration how the Christmas lights are gonna work together with that and the skeletons and all of that. So one thing fascinating, our buddy Sarah from the Hen’s Papaya, bought everlasting Christmas lights placed on her home. Like that keep on all yr spherical. Did you see that?
Emma: That’s what I’ve.
Elsie: Oh my gosh. Do you’ve them too?
Emma: I simply don’t flip ’em on all yr.
Elsie: That’s cool. Are you able to see them?
Emma: Yeah, you possibly can see them like so far as like when you’re standing exterior of my home like they’re not turned on, you simply see there are bulbs.
Elsie: You simply don’t care?
Emma: No, why would I care?
Elsie: That’s actually interesting to me as a result of I simply don’t wanna pay somebody to place them up and down yearly. However I do need them yearly.
Emma: Ours just isn’t very elaborate. I really feel like I can flip them on all winter. They don’t spell out Merry Christmas or Ho Ho Ho or something like that. So when you needed one thing actually elaborate, possibly it wouldn’t be pretty much as good of an answer. Yeah. I believe most individuals depart their Christmas lights up all yr. They only don’t flip ’em on.
Elsie: What, what actually?
Emma: If it’s not like a coloured factor. They don’t depart like Santa Sleigh up on the roof all yr, however different issues.
Elsie: I’ve by no means needed to do a ballot greater than I do proper now as a result of I assumed that everybody simply took them down.
Emma: Possibly we should always do a ballot. Possibly I’m unsuitable. I don’t know. I may completely be unsuitable.
Elsie: I’m very to listen to now, I wanna hear. Please write into us at podcastabeautifulmess.com if in case you have sturdy emotions or experiences about everlasting Christmas lights. Is there a manner that I can depart my Christmas lights up eternally? But it surely gained’t look dangerous in the summertime. That’s what I wanna know. I’m very inquisitive about this topic. Okay, so that is how I plan Halloween and Christmas. I print off somewhat image. You might additionally simply do that in your telephone, an image of your exterior, after which I simply draw on it. I simply draw on it as many instances as I would like and simply type of plan out like what are all of the alternative ways we may put up the decorations? There are many alternative ways you are able to do it, it’s so enjoyable. One in all my favourite issues is driving round at Christmas and like taking a look at how everybody else does all their Christmas lights, the magic of planning it out, and being inventive. It’s a lot enjoyable.
Emma: Think about driving round on a golf cart with sizzling chocolate, taking a look at all of the neighbor’s Christmas lights.
Elsie: Cease it. Okay, so I’ve to simply say in Jessica Simpson’s memoir, she was speaking about trick or coaching with golf carts, and now I simply assume that you simply’re like so fancy.
Emma: Doesn’t it sound like a celeb factor? I used to be simply complaining about how a lot cash we have to substitute our canine fence after which I’m like, however we’re gonna get this golf cart. You’ll be able to’t inform my priorities are in every single place.
Elsie: Okay. Do you wanna learn the listener’s query?
Emma: Sure, this query was emailed to us from Janie. She says, not too long ago the pipes burst in my New York Metropolis condo. I’m younger, single, and reside alone. The development firm employed by the condo administration firm was attempting to simply paint over mould and water injury. I needed to frequently battle for the job to be completed accurately, for sheetrock to get replaced, and I felt dangerous about it, like responsible for asking for the job to be completed accurately. So what are your ideas, methods, experiences, and concepts for coping with points like this, particularly as a younger girl?
Elsie: All proper, I wanna begin off by saying, I simply wrote a put up not too long ago about methods to rent a contractor on A Stunning Mess. So we’ll hyperlink to that, and it has an entire part about coping with sexism as a result of coping with sexism and folks speaking right down to you, sadly, on this trade, on this state of affairs is actually dangerous. And I believe that your expertise is quite common. Actually, it’s unhappy, however not shocking to listen to that. So yeah, I believe that studying methods to get up for your self and to claim your self and likewise get what you need completed, most significantly are all actually good expertise. Simply coping with the preliminary shock that folks simply don’t pay attention or attempt to discuss you out of what you’re asking for or attempt to discuss right down to you, it’s irritating. So do you’ve any good ideas Em?
Emma: Effectively, it appears like Janie did precisely what she wanted to do, which was preserve bothering them till it will get completed the best way it must get completed and whenever you’re speaking about mould, that’s not a joke. That may mess along with your well being, so this isn’t similar to, oh, the colour’s barely totally different than I assumed and I would like you to repaint it totally free. It’s like, no, no, no, no, no mould is a critical concern. And likewise you probably did an enormous favor to whoever owns your constructing as a result of now there’s not gonna be mould rising eternally. Seems like she did what she wanted to do, however it appears like for Janie and positively, for me, I virtually have to simply give myself somewhat pep discuss after I’ve moments like that the place I’m like, hey, it was okay that you simply did that. It was okay that you simply stored asking them it was okay that you simply advised them no. Typically I actually do must virtually discuss out loud to myself and be like, it’s advantageous that you simply referred to as them again and stated this isn’t acceptable, you weren’t unkind. You weren’t imply, you simply stated what wanted to be stated and that’s okay. Typically I believe that must be one thing in your routine when you’re the type of one that feels actually responsible advocating for your self, which I really feel at instances, so I positively get that. After which when you’re ever like uncertain, ask your pals, ask your dad and mom, whoever you’re shut with, when you’re like, am I being an excessive amount of right here? Examine-in as a result of your pals will let you know immediately. If I had a buddy be like, do you assume it’s okay for them to color over mould? I’d be like, no, it’s essential name them right this moment since you can’t be dwelling in a home with mould like that. You recognize that it’s there. Typically we reside with mould and we don’t realize it, however you realize. If I had a buddy ask me, I’d be like, no, you completely ought to name, it’s good that you simply’re calling. It’s good that you simply’re checking in. Handle your self. That is essential on your well being. So possibly attain out to pals, members of the family, or whoever it’s essential simply be reassured that the factor you’re asking for is totally applicable to ask for, and so long as you’re not being unkind, like calling somebody a reputation, or threatening them indirectly. These are issues that aren’t applicable, however asking for what you want even a number of instances or considerably forcefully, not yelling, however considerably forcefully is completely applicable and a really grownup and really regular factor to do.
Elsie: Yep. And truthfully, if you wish to do quite a lot of renovations in your life, it’s one thing that it is best to hone as a ability as a result of it’s one thing that you simply’ll come again to over and over. All righty. It’s time for our favourite half, A joke or a reality. All proper. Right here’s gold. Gold. Do you’ve a joke for us right this moment?
Goldie: The place does a ghost like to buy? A boooo-tique.
Elsie: Good job. You probably did nice. Okay, thanks a lot for listening. When you’ve got any questions or podcast requests for future episodes. E-mail us anytime at podcast@abeautifulmess.com, or you possibly can name our voicemail and depart us a message at 417-893-0011. We’ll be again subsequent week with a deep dive into hobbies.
