Remodelaholic in Review, August 2013
August was another full month for us! September always seems to sneak up on me… What did you do and/or share in August? I love seeing what you’ve been doing at our weekend link parties! Click on the individual links or the photos to be taken to the original post for all the details.
Backyard Planning and Projects: Garden Boxes and DIY Concrete Patio
Most of what we shared in August was all the hard work we’ve been putting into our big backyard. First we showed you what we started with and our plans to change it…
And then we showed what we actually did, starting with our raised garden boxes tutorial.
The biggest project was our HUGE concrete patio that we decided to DIY. Because that’s just how we roll!
We gave you tips and showed you how we prepped the area…
And then we shared more tips for installing a concrete patio, plus our finished patio that we LOVE!
Chunky Frame for a Mirror or Chalkboard
Inside the house, we showed you how we used scrap wood to build an awesome chunky frame for a huge chalkboard. It was supposed to be for a mirror, but Mother Nature intervened so now we have a chalkboard! And this chalkboard has a secret, which I’ll be sharing the details for soon, but head over to the post to see her hidden potential…
Camping Kitchen Box Checklist
We’ve done a lot of camping this summer! One essential piece of equipment is our kitchen box, so we are always ready for the next meal. I shared a checklist of what I can’t live without, plus some fun camping gear that we love!
Get This Look Room Inspiration
I am loving our Get This Look series! It’s so fun to look at all the different styles and choose which ones I’d love to bring into my home. (If you have an image that you own that you’d like to see featured as a Get This Look post, drop me a line at hello@remodelaholic.com.) This month we talked about mixing patterns in kids’ rooms, creating a casual and colorful living room, organizing the garage, and designing a built-in banquette bench that is both classic and still comfortable.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Guest Appearances
We host a lot of wonderful guests at Remodelaholic, but this month *I* was the guest, for the Homes.com blog and Wayfair’s Idea Lounge blog. Love working with them! Head on over and check out the tips and ideas I shared there:
5 Tips for Creating an Outdoor Room
Maximize Your Kitchen Space with 5 Simple Tips
Create Luxury in Your Small Laundry Room
5 Tips for Dorm Living Without the Drama
Giveaways and Design Ideas
We had two big giveaways this month: another choose-your-color KitchenAid giveaway and a Back To School Giveaway for a new iMac and a trip to San Diego. Congratulations to the winners! I was also so excited to be a judge for the Olioboard and Land of Nod room competition — so many great entries to choose between!
Shelving and wainscoting are two of my favorite ways to transform a space! Pop over and get 25 creative DIY shelving ideas and read our Ultimate Guide to Wainscoting where you can see all the different styles of wainscoting (over 25!) we’ve loved and figure out which one is right for you and your home.
 |
 |
Top Ten and Link Parties
It is so fun to find great topics and projects to feature for our Top Ten round-ups to go along with our weekend Remodelaholics Anonymous link parties. A huge thanks to all of you who link up and browse the other links to make the party successful! Check out all the great partygoers’ links, and remember our favorites that we shared this month: inspiring organized mudrooms, concrete projects for your home and garden, Remodelaholic’s best kitchen remodel ideas, back-to-school homework stations, and real-life school lunch tips and ideas.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Contributors and Guests
Yet again, we love our contributors and guests here at Remodelaholic! Our guest Tali Wee of Zillow shared 4 features that can date a kitchen, and our lovely contributor Tracie from Cleverly Inspired shared how she updated her vinyl shutters:
And a big thanks to all of our wonderful guests — click over and check out their projects, and then head to their blogs to see the other creative projects they are doing in their homes!
White Kitchen Remodel Using Secondhand Cabinets by Liz of CREATE
Self-Serve Coffee Bar by Sarah of An Inviting Home
Art Deco Apartment in NYC’s El Dorado by Chip Brian and Mike Daddio, Design Development NYC
Modern Floating Mantel Shelf by Kendra of Pots, Pans and Paintbrushes
Build a Mudroom Bench from an Old Dresser by Karen of The Weekend Country Girl
Painted Wood Stair Remodel by Jennifer of Classic Style Home
Reclaimed Wood Kitchen Backsplash by Marty of Marty’s Musings
Now that August is over, we still have some plans to work a bit more in our yard, but I am so excited for fall! Are you sad to see summer go or do you love the change of seasons?
Lorene has been behind the scenes here at Remodelaholic for more than a decade! She believes that planning projects and actually completing them are two different hobbies, but that doesn't stop her from planning at least a dozen projects at any given time. She spends her free time creating memories with her husband and 5 kids, traveling as far as she can afford, and partaking of books in any form available.
