New eye candy: French chair & ottoman

Let me just first say that I've missing blogging over the past few weeks while we have been doing things to our new home. Just this past weekend alone, we tackled painting the entire exterior of the home, the front door, tore out a whole yard full of overgrown bushes, hung shutters, painted trim, installed a new mailbox and all in all, added a great bit of curb appeal to our little beach side Florida home. I can't wait to reveal it but my mom is coming to Florida to help me landscape it. After that and when I buy my rocking chairs, (signature southern, right there)... I will reveal it! So stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled! 

I've been on Craigslist for awhile now just scooping out new odds and ends, including furniture and specifically here lately, a guest bed and a master bed. Insert late night Craigslist wandering and a search for antique chairs... and I discovered this lovely. 

Enter beautiful french style Broyhill chair. I adore this style of chair and always search for them but with no luck of finding any in my price range. This is a re-production of sorts made to look like the antique, fine by me and more comfortable! What I would really like to do since many of you know my style is more neutral, muted tones is to have it recovered or do it myself. I'm a little nervous to DIY this with all the piping so I may enlist a few great friends to help me sew the cushions. Unless someone on here knows someone great and affordable for reupholstery around here, please pass along their information to my email address!

I adore the legs. In the original Craigslist add, I could not tell how much detail they had. The legs are wood with a red tone of paint blended in... Red really isn't my color so gasp... I might paint it. Or I may strip it and do a white washed wood look or a nice dark walnut stain for contrast. Oh the ideas.

Can I get a whistle already?

I adore the ottoman with it and how the curves of the chair and ottoman fit into each other. Such a classic and timeless look that will never go out of style. I have thought about doing a slipcover as well but one that will strap on so that it won't cover the wood... again, the ideas...

The puppies seem to love it already. The lady I purchased it from was such a sweetheart and had a home FULL of antiques. I just about died. Literally. But since we are downsizing, I only took home the chair. Patting myself on the back now!

Their lives are so hard...

So what do you think of my new chair? I loveeeeeeee it. Can you hear me saying it? Yeah. That much.

DIY: Under sink tile and how to keep it clean & organized!

If you're anything like me, you're OCD, stress way too much and constantly worry about everything. Don't be like me.

With that being said, I am also an organizational freak. I just love it. I know, freak right? It bothers me every time we both under bathroom and kitchen sinks where you keep your cleaning supplies, your liquids and soaps, etc... when they LEAK and get all over your nice, clean bottom of your cabinet. So, while browsing through Pinterest one day, I came across the idea to use tile under your kitchen cabinet. Brilliant. And I knew just the tile that would be CHEAP and easy to install. 

I wanted the whole organization thing to be cheap in general, especially for such a small area. Totaling just under $20, I think I hit the nail on the head with this one.

Enter Lowes Home Improvement and their peel and stick tiles that are meant to look a lot like marble. Except they are super light and have sticky backs. At just over $1.00 a piece, I only need 6 for this project and somehow had one left over. But this may not be the case for everyone. We also got an extra 10% for my husbands military service, always a nice thing every time we check out. Thank you Lowes! They have a variety to choose from and choosing a darker tile probably would be the smarter route as you won't see as many messes IF you have any. I am stubborn and choose the luxurious faux marble. Yep, so what.

You can see how thin they are below so literally speaking, they do not take up much space or take away from your under cabinet storage in any way.

Here is a BEFORE shot of under the kitchen sink. The usual... the thrown in, messy look where no one looks because it doesn't matter. Yep, that cabinet. 

Ok, so what you'll need to get started with this SUPER simple project are the following:

Tape Measure

Pen/Pencil

Utility Knife, Box cutter, whatever you call it.

Calculator (Maybe.) ;-)

I started in the center and laid the first two tiles to make it easy. I only had to trim up for the top part of the back tile because I hadn't done the sides yet. All that you have to do through out the entire laying of the tiles is to just measure the length and width of the open space, measure it on the tile and mark it. Then cut it with your knife. Yes, that easy.

This whole project only took me literally 10 minutes to do and I'm already loving it! I literally can WIPE it clean now and it gives it new life. Not that it needed it because its under the sink but hey, it's the little things people. We also purchased a grocery bag holder at around $8.00 and paper towel mountable holder from Walmart for around $6.00 or $7.00, I believe. To add additional storage and de-clutter on tops of the counter tops, we mounted the paper towel rack on the inside of the cabinet door. People, this was one of the best things I've ever done. I hate things being on the counter, especially appliances and stupid paper towel things. The plastic bag holder I actually did not screw in. I used 3M strips that I already had on hand to hang it. Have I mentioned how much I love those? I use them everywhere... they are seriously life savers. Yay 3M!

Here's a peek up close. What do you think? In case you are wondering why we don't have anything under our sink, we also found a full door basket system that we installed on the inside of our linen closet door that is right near the kitchen to hold most of our cleaning supplies, trash bags, etc.

And here's a close up of the paper towel holder. If you go to any store, be sure to check out their storage solutions. I use to tend to overlook them but now, I want to add as much storage as possible to this home to fully make use of the space that we have. And I think, I hope, somewhere down the line when we sell, a buyer will appreciate all of these small, storage solutions.

Well there ya go! I'm off to bed, I can't wait to reveal to you what my friend and I came across tonight. We were so lucky to have found what we did! Goodnight!

XO,

Ally

A tiny peek at the new house!!!

So I've had a lot of feedback with my Instagram {@HomebyAlly} sneak peeks and some on Facebook as well about our new house! So I decided to do something a little different and something I've never actually done. Join me today as we *FINALLY* get to take a small tour of our new, adorable little beach cottage in Florida.

Day 1: New house tour & plans

I haven't posted a very good photo of the outside yet because it is going to be changing drastically in the next few months. It looks like a cute little beach cottage right now but I want it to be the prettiest house on the block. Or in the city. So it has to change.

Here's look from right inside the dining room to the front door. We loved the plaster walls, cove ceilings and real hardwoods. Oh, by the way, our house is beachside and was built in 1957. We could not find a "historic" home in our budget that let us do a total gut job or we would find one that would be over our price range. This home was a great compromise because it is beach side like my husband wanted and I got some charming details that I was after.

I want to paint the walls a nice, more contrasting color such as a grey or warmer beige. This is a very light, almost yellowish beige. We also already changed out the chandelier. This one was a little small for our table so we bought a beautiful new one from the Allen & Roth collection at Lowes Home Improvement. I adore the floors, they are a nice warm finish that really keep the space light and bright.

Here's the view from the new Florida room, aka the sunroom! This is one of the things that sold us on this cute little house. I plan to add thick trim and faux cased out columns on either side of the opening of the sunroom. Everything is mostly open concept which I loved and our dogs seem too. As seen below. This little dog cracks me up! They have been loving having the long space to chase each other!

Here's the view below from in the living area. The couch is getting a slipcover. And I scored a few antique, lovely, chippy end tables for each side. My mama is giving us a super nice electric fireplace to go in the sunroom as well. It provides light from the fire AND/OR provides heat if needed. I think it'll be a really nice feature in the sunroom although we may not use the heat setting a lot ;)

To the right, you see a little part of the kitchen and the hallway to the bedrooms and bathroom sitting before that. We have all real hardwood floors except in the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. 

This was another selling feature for us. Have the appliances already updated. I adore the cabinet space. As you can see, the cabinets go all the way to the ceiling and I'm so happy that they decided to finish them off with coordinating crown molding. There is ample storage and I'm a little overwhelmed that we have space left! My goal in this house since it is a smaller home is to add as much storage as we can possibly squeeze into the space without taking away function and appeal. Sadly, these will be painted. Although this kitchen is beautiful as is, I have always wanted a white kitchen. And I will have one. End of story.

We also are on the hunt for a stainless steel microwave. I'm not sure why they choose black except that it provides a nice contrast to the cabinets. There's also a small open space next to the cabinets to the right where my camera bag is sitting. We either want to have a custom pantry cabinet built for that wall or do open shelving to display china, baskets, fresh flowers, etc. I also picked up another Allen & Roth lantern to put in this space instead of the flush mounted boring light. We think once the cabinets are a nice antique white, that black granite will really pop. I also want to add feet to the cabinets to make them feel even more custom. The subway tile backsplash was also a favorite of mine and something I had already planned to do, so that worked in my favor. We would also love to have a french door stainless fridge. Hopefully that will happen one day but not anytime soon.

Here's a peek at the hallway. There's a deep linen closet to the right. We added additional storage by buying a shelving system that fits from the top of the door to the bottom for additional storage for cleaning products, odds and ends, etc. It has already helped us tremendously.

Here's the guest bathroom. It is the first door to the left in the hallway. Slate is such a nice and expensive feature that we were not expecting this house to have. I've never decorated with it but I'm always up for a challenge. We want to purchase a new sink light because this is just to modern for the space and my taste so it'll be for sale too. We will do something fun with a shower curtain and I also have a small white cupboard I will put across from the sink for additional storage. I've been on the hunt for inexpensive glass shelving as well to put above the toilet. Any suggestions would be great! The mirror is ok. If I find something that I like better, I might change it. But it's not broken, so I may not even touch that thing. We will see... and a nice plush rug for the floor might I add!

Here's a peek at our master on suite. Though small, I see tons of untapped potential. I like the added crown moulding which is something that I would have probably done myself. The vanity is also from Lowes Home Improvement. I may or may not keep it this color depending on what I want to do with this space. We also have an all tiled walk in shower with a rain head shower head. I am in LOVE with it already. Another small detail that sold us. We would potentially also like to change out this light feature and move the dang hand towel thing because it is totally in the wrong place. It will go to the left of the mirror near the window. We also are going to add more glass shelves above this toilet for additional storage as well. And I really would like to take down the world's smallest backsplash above the sink but we'll probably leave it anyways. And again, a nice plush rug for our toes. :) The color will also be changing in here to perhaps a nice, cool light grey or light blue-ish-grey.

And here's an update on "Milo" and since he doesn't know his name, we might as well refer to him as his nickname, "Little dog." He is totally excited about the new house! So here's your peek! Are you excited as I am? I'll be back tomorrow with another post! 

Participating in the 31 days from The Nester: 31 Day Series

Sponsored Video: The C word.

This is a sponsored video and post. All opinions are 100% my own. 

 The "C" word.

 Cancer.

 Just hearing the word can make me cringe and send chills down my spine. Why? Directly in my life, I have had friends, co-workers and family who have been directly effected by the c word. In of last year, I received a phone call from my dad telling me the news that my mom had thyroid cancer. She did not want to tell me because she knew I would worry. Um, yeah? I immediately became frantic and wanted to know as many details as possible. What kind it was, about how long had it been there, could it be removed, what stage was it and every other "C" word question that I could think of. It was terrifying to hear those words. An instant amount of gratitude and humbling appreciation for my mother came over me. All I could think about was how hard and long she has worked for years to care for our family along with my dad. They always made sure we had the best of things, putting the children before themselves always. What would I do without my mom? My mom is my best friend. I call her everyday, sometimes multiple times a day to cry, to laugh, to vent because I know she is the best and only person I want to share those conversations with. What would I do without my best friend and more importantly, my mother? Who would hold my hand when I delivered our first baby and who would pick up the phone to answer the world's most random questions about life, cooking, house problems and babies? 

Thankfully, although still a type of cancer, my mom was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, the cancer known as the "cancer you want to have." It is fully treatable and when caught in the early stages can be just a bump in the road for you instead of a road block. Mom continue to visit the doctor and had a surgery scheduled the ONLY week that I could NOT make it home to North Carolina. Of course, right? Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck that week! But I prayed about it...as much I could pray, until I couldn't pray anymore...and then I prayed some more! I prayed for mom and for her doctors and the nurses. I prayed for my dad and I prayed for everyone else that I knew was just as worried as me about my mom. The amazing doctors worked their magic. She had surgery to remove the cancer and they successfully did in fact remove 100% of it. They also had to check her lymph nodes to ensure that the cancer cells had not spread. They ensured also through a biopsy pre-surgery that the cells had not spread but eventually took out the lymph nodes while in surgery anyways to be 100% sure. Then, they set my mom up for radiation. After mom's first visit back to the doctor, a post biopsy revealed that she would not even need radiation! Talk about a blessing! 

 You see, I have had friends who have lost their mothers and lost their fathers to the "C" word. Some who have lost aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandparents and friends to the "C" word. In somehow, shape or form, everyone has known someone who has been effected by this disease... I could never live without my mom. Through the process of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery, my appreciation and love grew immensely and more than I ever thought it could for my mom. I would go to the end of the Earth to do anything to help my mom and now hope to become an avid donator and supporter for all types of cancer and the people it directly effects. 

 For 100 years, the American Cancer Society has led the fight against cancer finding cures, giving support, and saving lives. 60 years ago, 1 out of 3 people diagnosed with cancer survived at least 5 years. Today, thanks in part to the work of the American Cancer Society, 2 out of 3 will survive. We won't stop until we make it 3 out of 3. The American Cancer Society has a proven track record of supporting the best ideas of the brightest cancer researchers. We've been part of nearly every major cancer breakthrough in recent history, and have 46 Nobel Laureates to show for it. There's still more work to be done - 100's of research studies went unfunded while 577,000 Americans died of cancer this year. Cancer thrives on silence, complacency, and business as usual. Only action will finish the fight. Let's make some noise and let your voices be heard!

 "This post is sponsored by the American Cancer Society"

  Help to continue the fight and DONATE HERE to the American Cancer Society!

Downstairs home tour

This will be a quick post because I need to get to bed. A few of you on the Home by Ally Facebook page have been asking for a home tour for SO long. And since I announced a few days ago that we BOUGHT a house here in Florida, why not be better late than never and show you our full down stairs in our rental. Hehe.

Below is the kitchen that you have seen before I'm sure. We worked with what we had and added as much character as we possibly could fit into this builder grade, boring, yawn kitchen. :)

I always stare in this kitchen and think about how amazing it would have been with just a few minor tweaks like a chandelier, hardwood floors, stainless appliances and coveted white cabinets. Bead board ceilings and a farmhouse sink... seriously, what were they thinking, am I right?

Below is the empire dresser I got a month or two ago? It has been a few different colors already. I really wanna do a unique hand painted front to it but I'm waiting until we move to decide since I will probably use this beauty in our guest bedroom.

Here's a close up on the knobs. I loved these so much at Hobby Lobby, I had to get them! And sure enough, I found the perfect piece for them. For now, at least.

We had friends over this past weekend so Ryan treated me to some fresh hydrangeas from our local market. You would have thought I won a million dollars when I saw them.

The gates were purchased at HomeGoods a few months back. I knew instantly I wanted them because of their height. My lovely boxwood wreathes flank each one.

Oh this shaker style buffet... oh what a beauty! And in amazing condition. And sadly, will not fit in our next house. So... I've got to enjoy her or him...all of three weeks and sadly have to sell! But oh my goodness, someone is going to get soooooo lucky getting this beauty! All original and in excellent condition, oh my! If you are interested, please email me through homebyally{at}yahoo.com

Don't mind my crooked shot here. Or my naked picture frames hung horizontal instead of vertical. Don't judge me, mkay!

Just purchased this at our local antique mall where I have a booth! Come visit at 1240 Sarno Road, Melbourne, FL. I PROMISE you won't be disappointed. I pinky promise!

I'm also going to be selling this chandelier. Again, email me if you are interested. I'll be posting everything on Facebook as well.

I love a sweet little vignette including this one in our powder room off of the dining room. 

Nothing too special. I did have a boxwood wreath hanging on this but took it down.

The essentials, good magazines and the paper! Nice.

I feel like our living room is so bare bones and always has been. I added the mirror a few months back too. I love it and all of it's chunkiness. And I still love my lamps. And I'm looking for more just like them. I am officially obsessed, darn it. Or perhaps that was my husband that just said darn it ;)

Little dog apparently didn't wanna be in the photo. Yes, I watermarked that.

Such a dork. He told me he was obsessed with bones. And his mini stairs.

This beauty of a tv stand went very fast on Facebook. I hope it went to a good home :) We enjoyed her while we had her and it's such a gorgeous, functional piece of furniture!

Told you it would be short. Hope you enjoy a small peek into this house... but I really can't wait to show y'all pictures of the new house! Hubby and I looked at a few and walked into this one and I knew. I was DEAD set on GETTING a fixer. But we didn't. And I'll tell you more about that later. Oh! And it's a semi-historic house? Built in 1957, haha! Just like my grandmothers old house in North Carolina that my mom now has and will be hubby and I's when we move back home... I think that's why we fell in love with this one so much...yada, yada... until next time.

XO,

Ally