This Waterfront View Could be Yours! Enter for Your Chance to Win the HGTV® Dream Home 2018

This post is sponsored by HGTV® Dream Home 2018, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.  

If you follow me on Pinterest you might have noticed me filling up my boards with photos from the HGTV® Dream Home 2018.  This year's HGTV Dream Home Giveaway® 2018 is unbelievable: you can enter for a chance to win a beautifully furnished home located in Gig Harbor, Washington (overlooking the Puget Sound), plus an all new Honda Accord and $250,000 from national mortgage lender Quicken Loans®. 

I hope you all enter for a chance to win but even though only one person can win this stunning waterfront home, we can all pick up a few design ideas.  I'm aching with envy but I'm also so inspired by the modern architecture and the subtly coastal vibe.  The airy design boasts a lot of white, but it's kept interesting with layered textures, pretty pastels, and a collection of quirky accessories and art.  I'm sharing a few of my favorite photos (taken by Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography) below, but you can catch the whole tour here.

The kitchen might be my favorite room because it has really classic and timeless, all white cabinetry that's accessorized with pretty turquoise pieces.  I continually waffle between walnut cabinets and classic white cabinets in my own kitchen renovation planning, and this kitchen has me seriously leaning toward an all white design again.

Although the white on white design combined with stainless steel appliances and turquoises accessories (yes!) is a very cool palette, the touches of wood add a lot of warmth.  People sometimes encourage me to break up my turquoise, blue, and white decor with contrasting colors like orange or red, but I am just too committed to blues and greens.  I have a little orange and pink, here and there, but I consider warm wood tones to be enough of a contrast with cool colors.

These photos are my proof; I rest my case.

Just look at that stunning view!  

In the living room, the decor is very soft, which lets the incredible view steal the show.  I am so envious of that stunning wall of windows!  The placement of the fireplace is really unusual but it solves the classic waterfront dilemma when a fireplace is placed anywhere else: do I face the windows and enjoy the view, or face the fire and enjoy the warmth?  The fire or the view?  The view or the fire?  Problem solved!

I like how the decor incorporates subtle coastal touches.  There's nary a red + navy, nautical print to be found in the open concept kitchen/living/dining but many of the textures lend a beachy vibe to the space, like the beautiful rug in the living room and the baskets hung on the wall for clever storage.  The driftwood end table and soft blue hues play up the coastal location a little more, but the overall look is still soft and modern.

In the dining room, those pink chairs complement the blues and white so nicely.  I love the massive scale of the artwork and the unique way it incorporates a classic nautical motif: fish!

You can get a better sense of the open floor plan from these photos.

I'm 100% behind the trend forecast of modern pastels!  I am (already) done with winter, done with seeing moody hues, done with anything that feels dark and heavy.  I am so ready for uplifting, spring-inspired colors and lighter decor that feels more minimal and spacious.  Seeing these photos makes me realize that it might be time for me to de-clutter my lakehouse a little and infuse some more pastels and whites so my own decor feels airier and beachier...

I won't lie: this decor makes me want to tear down and start from scratch and this is just a small sampling of photos, there are so many other gorgeous spaces to tour - be sure to take a look.  I just want to share one more area:  the exterior, along with the stunning view (that could be yours!):

What's your favorite space or design idea from the HGTV® Dream Home 2018?

Good luck everyone!  If one of you wins, I'm going to have to insist that you let me visit.  I promise I won't steal that turquoise stand mixer from you...

No purchase necessary.  Open to legal residents of the U.S., age 21 or older.  Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes starts at 9 a.m. ET on 12/27/17 and ends at 5 p.m. ET on 2/16/18.  Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.  For full official rules, visit HGTV.com/HGTVDreamHome or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: “HGTV Dream Home Giveaway” RR, P.O. Box 53013, Knoxville, TN 37950.  Main Sponsor: Scripps Networks, LLC d/b/a Home & Garden Television.

HGTV, HGTV Dream Home, HGTV Dream Home Giveaway and their associated logos are trademarks of Scripps Networks, LLC. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

A New Plan for the House Exterior

Over the years, for various reasons, our plans for painting the lakehouse exterior kept getting waylaid but I'm actually kind of grateful because it gave me time to change my mind!  I originally envisioned all-black siding and stonework but then I started to ponder other options - especially after spotting that gorgeous grey structure (pictured above) in a recent enRoute mag.

Jessica Helgerson

Yes, dark charcoal and black houses (like the one above) still get me drooling - especially when paired with a teak or walnut-toned wood.  Sigh.  But honestly, it seems a waste to paint our vinyl siding when it's in such rough shape.  Eventually we decided that perhaps replacing it would be the best option, but quotes for a charcoal grey vinyl siding with a more modern look rang in at about $15,000!  That's why, instead of putting lipstick on a pig - or spending a million dollars are new vinyl - I've been eyeing up my father-in-law's siding, a DIY wood board and batten style that has been allowed to weather beautifully with age.  Between his siding and that grey house in the first photo, we're really toying with the idea DIY wood siding, using a wood that will grey for a beach-appropriate vibe. 

Desire to Inspire

Muller Design Company

Every now and then, though, I find a gorgeous warm wood siding that piques my interest too.

My Domaine

But I love the idea of natural wood for a low maintenance result.  I'm still researching how exactly to install wood siding (although my father-in-law will definitely have some excellent advice).  I've also been considering aesthetic options for installation, because once you decide to DIY it opens up a whole world of cool options.  Every time I see a new idea, I'm convinced that it is the one:

Contemporist

One Kind Design

And yes, every now and then I dream about a house with a turquoise exterior.  But there's always the garage!  It can sport a gorgeous turquoise hue one day...

House of Turquoise

Camille Styles

We were planning to address the house exterior this year but the summer is already whipping by and we really want to spend as much time on the boat as possible, so we're thinking about doing all of the house work we need done next year in one shot: new siding, new roof, new deck stain, so everything is fresh at once. 

It gives me time to change my mind, haha!

Right now I'm leaning toward grey wood siding, a teal stained deck (YES!) and a metal roof - I saw a copper one in town I'm drooling over.



Decisions, decisions, decisions...

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12 Summer DIY Projects You HAVE to Make

I was teased with some blisteringly hot days when I was in Ottawa last week, so I'm definitely ready for summer.  Spring is still a little blah and brown here, but I can see little green buds!  I'm looking forward to crystal clear water, brightly colored flowers, and long hot days in light, summery dresses.  To get prepped for the season, I rounded up 12 can't miss summer DIY projects.

A Fun Embroidered Straw Sun Hat:

There are SO many variations of this embroidered straw hat DIY around and each one is really cute.  Use anything from ribbon to embroidery floss or sequins to create a sweet message.  Here's the perfect straw hat - with a wide floppy brim, tons of room for a quippy message! 

A Graphic Beach Towel:

No one will steal your beach towel when it's so personalized!  Or maybe this will be too cute and no one will be able to resist a little thievery.  Either way, it's a snap to make these graphic beach towels: all you need is a solid beach towel (the brighter the better) and some bleach!

An Adorable Straw Bag with Pom Poms:

I love the idea of adding some sweet pom poms to an old straw bag to give it a fresh new look for summer.  Pom poms are easy enough to make, but you can also pick them up for pretty cheap!

A Tassel Trimmed Tote:

Pom poms not your thing?  You're going to hate some of these summer crafts because poms poms and summer seem to go hand in hand.  But tassels have just as summery a vibe.  This turquoise straw tote - with it's 60s vibe - is begging for a little tassel action.

A Bug-Deflecting Citronella Candle:

Oh hey, this project looks familiar!  Keep those pesky bugs at bay and keep the party going long after sunset with these pretty DIY citronella candles.  They're easy to make and a clever way to re-use old china or dishes - I scooped this pair from the landfill!

A Pretty Embroidered Fan:

A little embroidered gives a basic straw fan some visual interest and is a fabulously stylish way to keep cool when the temperature sky rockets.

A Sweet Bathing Suit Cover Up:

How sweet is this adorable DIY bathing suit cover up?  I pinned this and totally planned on making this before our trip to Punta Cana but then I got lazy and ordered this cute strapless cover up (it's the BEST) instead.  I might just add pom poms to it for the summer and call it a day.  If you're not lazy like me, this turquoise pom pom trim would be so cute!

A Pom Pom Trimmed Beach Tote:

You know what looks perfect with that pom pom bathing suit cover up?  My easy peasy pom pom trimmed DIY beach tote!  This turquoise jute fabric would look especially summery.

A Chic Straw Clutch:

For those hot summer nights, a cute pom pom trim clutch made from - of all things! - a circular place mat, how clever.

A Pom Pom Trimmed Bikini:

So, is a pom pom trim bikini under a pom pom trim cover up with a pom pom trim beach tote too many pom poms?  I didn't think so either.  You can buy a pre-pommed bikini but it's pretty pricey - it's probably way cheaper to DIY this, plus then you can focus on finding the best fit. 

A Pretty Clothespin Holder:

Now, to hand wash, de-sand, and line dry all of those pom pom pretties: my DIY fabric clothespin holder.  I still love this handy little thing - and what says summer more than line dried clothes?

A Pair of Glitter Sunglasses:

The tutorial is a bit more complicated than it might seem at first glance, but it's worth it to get these glittery shades - imagine them sparkle in the sun!  Oooohhhh, aaaaaahhhh.  

What's your favorite summer DIY?  Are you tackling anything beachy, or just excited for those long, warm spray painting days?

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Lake Life Lately: Take Me Back to Punta Cana...

We're back (kicking and screaming) from Punta Cana! 

Hubby and I had never stayed at an all-inclusive resort before and it was such a bizarre experience.  Normally we holiday by traipsing through Europe in the rain, trying to take in every last castle and museum.  This was different because we never left the resort - and our wallets never left the safe.  It was weird to walk up to the bar or coffee shop and not pay.  But wow, was it nice!
 

We had such a fun time vacationing in the sun with our friends!  We unplugged, we read.  We drank too much, ate too much.  We fell asleep on the beach and developed bizarre sun burns.  It was incredibly relaxing - especially because we stayed at Breathless, an adults-only resort.  We toured the neighboring family-friendly resort and it was such a different energy.  The only bummer was that the weather was unseasonably chilly and we had a few windy and rainy a couple of days - the beach was even closed for a bit.  But we still had fun just hanging out (remember, the drinks are free!), plus we found the tennis court, which helped warm us up.  Even when it was too cold to swim, we strolled the beach and just enjoyed our toes in the sand.

I was deeply committed to fully relaxing on this trip.  I didn't bring my laptop, I barely looked at my phone, and I let my brain slip into neutral.  I also wanted to put down the camera.  I wanted to live in the moment, instead of frantically trying to capture it on camera.  So much of blogging is about always getting things in pictures and it really changes my experience of thing.  There were a lot of people doing incredibly in depth, sexy "photo shoots" in the waves - for social media, I'm betting.  One woman was completely taken out by a wave while she posed for the 100th angle, with her poor Instagram husband snapping away.  Meanwhile, I was down the beach like...

In hindsight, I wish I had more photos of the four of us - especially because I seemed to be wearing the exact same dress in the few photos we did take (despite dropping a ton of money on six new bathing suits and summer dresses!)  But in the moment, it felt so freeing to leave my camera and cell phone in the room safe.  On a particularly cold and windy day, Hubby and I did stroll around the resort and I snapped a few photos to remember how beautiful it was.

We were upgraded for free to a swim up room, which was AMAZING!  There was a squiggly shaped pool right outside our rooms and because the pool was hardly ever used, it felt like like a private pool just for us.  We were across from the "party pool" so we could hear the music and feel the vibes, without having to fight for a sought after deck chair.  I loved this little luxury so much. 

The party pool was just incredible - there was a swim up bar, too.  The whole resort had lots of places to swim and sunbathe.  The grounds were impeccably maintained, too - such beautiful plants!  

The resort rooms were gorgeous, with a little open air courtyard to greet us.  I never snapped a photo of the inside of our room because we made a mess of it in seconds, madly flinging on our swim suits for a (prohibited) evening swim our first night.  After that we put up a travel clothesline so we could wash and dry stuff, and from then on it was gotch-city in our room.  But there are some great photos on the website - the rooms really are that pretty in real life.

Sick of this dress yet?  I swear, I also bought this white eyelet one, this pretty green ikat one, this strapless maxi, this watercolor inspired one... There was even a pair of turquoise wedge sandals I have no proof existed.

To be honest, we only gussied up for dinner because during the day we tried to squeeze in as much time in the water as possible!  The resort was right on the ocean so it was a two second stroll through the resort pools, bars, and restaurants to reach the beach.  We've heard other resorts are larger and some even require a bus to reach the water.  This was so close we could hear the waves from our room.  We spent a LOT of time on the beach - you know me and being by the water!  There were a few "red flag" days, which meant swimming was prohibited due to waves, but we recklessly jumped in anyway and logged long hours in the ocean.

The ocean was GORGEOUS!  Crystal clear and surprisingly warm (as long as the weather cooperated)!  Our friends did some snorkeling close to the coral reefs but I was too scared of cutting myself on the coral.

I'm a little bummed we didn't have the nicest weather - resort staff kept apologizing for the bizarre cold front.  After spending weeks carefully buying a summer wardrobe, I spent a couple of nights wrapped up in Hubby's hoodie or under a blanket.  Although we had a few perfect days, I definitely could have been warmer, but that's just the story of my life.  Some day someone will surely engrave that on my tombstone: "Daughter, wife, feminist. She led a full life, but she could have been warmer".

Luckily the restaurants and bars were so chic (and the food was delicious), so we didn't mind lingering over breakfast or lunch while we watched for better weather.  One section of the main restaurant had a wood, green and teal theme - with cactus sculptures that I need to make right now! - that quickly became my favorite (I already shared a peek on Instagram because I was so smitten):

I left feeling inspired and I am definitely going to be adding some more beachy accents to the lakehouse, that's for sure - something to tide me over until we can go somewhere warm again!  Any suggestions for where we can escape winter next year? 



I swear, I really brought other clothes.

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