Fall on the Farm | 2015

Fall is in full swing and we're enjoying our second autumn in the farmhouse this year! I absolutely love Christmas time but I'll be so sad to pack up the fall decor after Thanksgiving. It's such a beautiful season. It's been a busy few months for us. We celebrated Baker's 2nd birthday in September and he saw the beach for the very first time in October. There is nothing better than seeing your children experience things for the first time. Everything is magical through their eyes! 

Brett has been super busy with work and he's been out of town quite a bit. Our kitchen is still torn apart, but we're slowly (very slowly) piecing it back together. The truth is I know exactly what I want to do. Knock down a major wall and rearrange the entire kitchen layout. But, that would mean having to install new flooring throughout the entire space. Unfortunately, that's just not an option right now. Lack of time and money are the two biggest contributing factors to the progress. But, if I'm being honest, the idea of not being able to implement my vision is the biggest mental hurdle. We have a plan to do a "band-aide" makeover of sorts. It will be a huge improvement in-and-of itself. But, it's still going to cost money. And there is something that just feels so wrong about spending money on renovations that we know we're going to change all over again. Especially when the budget is already tight! Does that make sense? That's the truth. I'm holding myself back. Which is totally non-instictual for me. Or for us, as a team.

For those who have asked.. Yes, the kitchen is functional! All of our appliances are still intact. We just removed all the large cabinetry and finishes that we knew were going to be pulled out anyways. We raised the ceiling and completed the electrical. We also reframed a new walk-in pantry. Those are all huge components! And as awful as it looks, I actually don't hate it. It's so open now that we've removed the upper cabinets. And it's been a good thing to have all this time in the space to really think about the design, layout and finish materials we want to use. I've already changed my mind about 10 times. A lesson in patience indeed! 

Property maintenance takes up about 90% of our time outside of our jobs! No surprise there. Anytime anyone asks us about our experience with acreage or owning a "fixer upper" or what they need to know to do it themselves - our answer is always the same: Work. You have to be willing to work. Skill set and knowledge are important, but I thoroughly believe if someone wants to learn something they will put forth the effort to do so. If you have the work ethic and you're willing to do the physical labor that comes along with caring for land then you can do it. No matter how many projects we have going on at once - the grass still needs to be mowed. This lifestyle and the responsibility of owning a home like this is certainly not for everyone! Free time seems extra hard to come by. However, it's something that we truly love so we make it a priority to make it work. It comes with many sacrifices but for us the rewards outweigh the cons. Slow project progress and long days but so much pride in ownership! 

Among other things, Brett recently finished a little cedar plant stand for me for the front yard. He always makes time to help me out with my projects and I'm so thankful for that. Every time I see something in our home that I know his hands have touched it makes my heart so happy. I know he works so hard and puts so much love into his work. It means the world to me to he gives so much of himself to our family. 

I wanted to share some fall photos with you to commemorate this season in our home! I love looking back each year to see what's changed from season to season. We can't wait for more fall fun.. trick-or-treating with Baker, Thanksgiving with our families and more evenings around the fire pit. I'm trying not to take this time for granted. Soaking up every little experience with Baker in this season of life! I sincerely hope you're all doing the same with your families, as well! 

(Edited to add.. Shutterfly featured our fall porch in this fun roundup! See it Here!)

Enjoy and Happy Fall from Stillwater Farm!

Nursery Makeover

We knew we wanted to create a fun new room for Baker when we moved and I immediately started brainstorming design ideas that could transition with him as he grows, but also stay true to the farmhouse style of our home. I wanted the bones to be timeless. A space that maybe even by the time he's old enough to move out (cue the waterworks!!!) we could use as an office or something for ourselves. Kid's rooms and play rooms are SO fun! I feel like I can push my own boundaries a little and step outside my comfort zone. I could dream up spaces for children all day long! (Anyone remember Trading Spaces - Kids Edition?!)

So, he's been in his new room for several months, but it took quite a while to find the perfect finishing touches. For me interior design is all about the details and I'll probably tweak this room over and over and over just like I do the rest of our house. We partnered with the adorable East Plum shop who provided some of the cutest accessories. You absolutely have to check them out! If I had to describe the look of the new nursery I would call it industrial farmhouse chic with a touch of vintage school house flair. Is that a thing? Bahaha! Well, I say it is. So, it is.

Do you guys remember looking through the second level before photos? No? Well, here you go. HOLY GREEN CARPET FOR DAYS. Not to mention, this small bedroom had THREE doors and a window crammed in there. Hello, claustrophobia. 

Holy Green Carpet!!!

To break down the major changes, we removed one door completely and added a sliding barn door to the existing closet. We also added tongue and groove to the walls and created a fun chalk board on the inside of the bedroom door. It really transformed the ugly hollow core door (yuck) and saved us some money because I was about to toss it in the trash and purchase a new one!

The coolest thing about this project is that every single piece of custom wood detail in this room came off of our property and was custom built by Brett. The barn door, the closet shelves and bookshelves, the window and door trim, the herringbone deer head mount. Everything! Details like that are super special to me when it comes to design in our home. I want things to have a purpose and a story and I love that I can tell you where it all came from and how we worked as a team to make it all come together!

So, check it out.. We love it. Baker loves it. Or at least he naps well in here which is the real toddler test & seal of approval, amiright! I'll leave a source list at the bottom of the post if you have any questions about materials and things found around the room and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. Take a peek at Baker's little hideaway!..

Link for this deer mount at the bottom of the post!

*Update*

Baker recently got a new "big boy" bed and he absolutely loves it! It was a $40 find from our last trip to the Nashville Flea Market! I won a Pottery Barn gift card on an Instagram giveaway and used it to purchase a few shams. The rest isa mix of old & new and high & low end pieces. Much like the rest of our home. :) Baker man calls it his "clubhouse" and his joy makes me a very happy mama!

Nursery Source List:

Wall paint - Woodlawn Bedroom White by Valspar in flat finish
Crib paint - Gray Silt by Valspar
Galvanized pipe and hardware (used on the bookshelf, tent & curtain rod) - Lowes and Home Depot
Drop cloths (tent and curtain) - Harbor Freight $7
Wooden feathers and "Let's Be Adventurers" wooden art - East Plum
Mini stool, twine and craft paper - Hobby Lobby
"Happy Place" pillow and striped blanket - Seibels Cottage (local)
Shag rug, numbered crate and large grey basket - HomeGoods
Galvanized buckets, buffalo check luggage boxes and lantern - Target
"B" marquee nightlight - Monograms Plus
"I'll Eat You Up" Wooden Art - Scrappy Madison
"Where The Wild Things Are" painted canvas - custom painted by personal friend, Sarah Quinney
Small grain stripe storage bins (closet) - Bed Bath & Beyond
Copper light fixture - Cabela's
Wooden growth chart - local artist (Similar ones found on Etsy!)
Antique Fan - Oak Mountain Emporium (local)
8 Point Buck Deer Head Bust Wall Hanging (I spray painted it!)

9 x 12 All Purpose Canvas Cotton Drop Cloth (Similar to what I used)

Sliding Barn Door Hardware

-Lauren

Spare Bedroom Makeover

Remember this room? This is bedroom number two. It could be another master suite with its large closet and en suite bath. It sits at the very front of the house and gets the most beautiful natural light through its four windows! There's also an additional fireplace that's been covered. We've chosen not to start any major demo on the walls or bathroom yet, so it remains behind the sheet rock for now. 

Spare Bedroom Before 

A few weeks ago I decided to go antiquing on a whim. A favorite past time of mine. :) I came across the most beautiful vintage iron bed for only fifty bucks! Score! It was exactly what I had in mind for this room, but I'd never been able to find one at the right price. I guess it was my lucky day!

When we first moved into the farmhouse we had Baker's nursery temporarily set up in this room. And by "temporarily set up" I mean he had a crib and changing table surrounded by piles of boxes and other random things. And we nailed up some cheap black-out curtains from Walmart over the windows. Yes - nailed. It wasn't pretty. But, we transformed one of the upstairs bedrooms into a really cool nursery and once we moved Baker in I was able to slowly clear out the room and get a clean-slate vision for the space. 

We wanted to make the room feel both comfortable and inviting for our guests by incorporating soft, casual textures and authentic farmhouse style. We were able to complete the room on a tight budget, as well, by recycling pieces we already owned and scouting out the local trade pages. I found a beautiful antique armoire for only $85 and the bed linens were purchased from Ikea and Target. We also made our own curtain rods and hardware and used drop cloths as curtains. All very accessible and affordable if you're feeling inspired! 

Want to come visit? Come check in at The Inn at Stillwater Farm :)

The iron bed was missing a pole right in the middle of the headboard. I used a garland from Hobby Lobby ($7) and a wreath from the Dollar Spot at Target ($3) to make this little guy to take up the space.

The bench against the wall was actually from the old barn on the back of the property! No idea how old it is, but it's definitely "vintage" :) We made the curtain rods by using 10 ft. poplar closet poles ($16) and wooden finials ($2) from Lowes. The curtains are made from 4 ft X 12 ft drop clothes from a local hardware store. They were only $7.99! I just cut them to length and folded the top over to create the ruffle. No sew!

A beautiful aerial photograph of the farm and a very special sketch of the farmhouse. 

Our friends might recognize this old door. We used it as a headboard in our last home. It looks completely different styled in this room!

A closer shot of the drop cloth curtains and some vintage goodies..

Antique paddle boards from the fire station Brett works at! They sort of move around the house, but they've settled in this new room for now.

Of course Daddy's little shadow wanted to help!

Hope you enjoyed the tour. We're really looking forward to Spring weather and friendly visits!

-Lauren

It's Been Awhile

Hello, friends! It's been awhile! 

This picture just about sums up our feelings on winter. We're pretty tired of it. We've been fairly busy here at the farm.. winterizing the farmhouse, trimming lots of trees and plants and spending as much time outside as possible. Although it's been tough considering how cold it's been and how unpredictable Alabama weather can be. We decided to haul in a load of gravel for the path that leads out to the barn and the back of the property. After a few days of heavy rain we were left with a mud-pit-of-a-yard and Brett's truck nearly slid down an embankment and into a fence. We actually need a little bit more, but what we were able to put down has helped tremendously!

Nap time for this farmhand. (Baker 18 mo.)

Gravel to the rescue!

Before the weather turned too frigid, we did get in several beautiful days to explore in the woods and fish to our hearts content! As I've mentioned before, our property is home to the oldest man made lake in Shelby County, Alabama. It has a drainage system and the spillway empties on the backside of the lake's dam. The cascade of the overflow is beautiful to watch after a long rain. So peaceful.. This is definitely our happy place!

It's seems like we're always chopping/cutting/sawing/picking/building with wood in some way around here. We found this old nail right in the middle of a huge log while chopping wood for the fire pit and stove. The tree was from our property. It must have been nailed to the tree when it was young and then the tree grew around it. We're nerds, but we think it's cool!

The barrel stove has been rocking' and rollin' with all this cold weather. Brett built it to keep the barn toasty and warm while we work in the shop this winter!

Shop projects.. Antique bread boards weren't in the budget, so Brett made me some!

Brett spent two weeks in Colorado for work, but before he left our best buddies came to spend some time at the farm with us! Braxton, Cole and Caleb are the sweet boys I nanny for and Baker LOVES having playmates to get in trouble hang out with around here. :) We went fishing, rode Mr. Brett's tractor, went on a nature walk, drove the ATV, and Braxton even got to build a birdhouse in Mr. Brett's workshop. My sweet nanny family just welcomed baby number four - another precious boy! We absolutely cannot wait to watch Baby Banks as he grows and I'm sure these guys will show him the ropes in no time!

Four little monkeys playing on the farm!

To say we were glad Brett was home after his time away traveling would be a HUGE understatement. Between things around the house breaking, stomach bugs, bad weather and a surprise birth, we COULD NOT WAIT to see his face and hug his neck! They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and that rang true for us this month. Not only is he our handy man and provider, but he is the heart of our home and we missed him more than words can say.

Thank you so much for stopping by to catch up. We just finished up a pretty big overhaul on one of our spare bedrooms and we're almost done with Baker's room. I know I keep saying that, but really. It's almost ready for reveal! :)

God Bless and come visit! 

 -Lauren

Christmas on the Farm

Is there anything better than the smell of a live Christmas tree?! Picking out our tree every year was one of my favorite holiday memories as a child. We really wanted to start some new family traditions this year so we ditched our fake tree during The Great Purge right before we moved and never looked back.

Our tradition is to decorate either Thanksgiving evening after dinner or on Black Friday. This year we were scheduled to depart for a Christmas Disney vacation a few days after Thanksgiving & decided to decorate a little early. It was so nice to come home from vacation as see the twinkle of the tree through the front window as we arrived home!

We still have A LOT of work to do on the farmhouse, but there are several areas that I just adore. The front porch and formal living room with its beautiful bay window are just full of simple, imperfect farmhouse beauty. (We can also close the doors to those areas and keep little hands from un-decking the halls!) Baker LOVES the Christmas tree.. and taking all the pretty ornaments ball-balls off to show mommy and daddy.  :)

We've been working on lots of projects since I last posted. Brett ran power out to the barn. He did an excellent job and now has a fully functioning workshop! We've also completely renovated Baker's new big boy room upstairs. We have a few small details I'm finishing up there, but hopefully I can reveal the whole thing soon! We've already moved him in and I think he's really enjoying having his own little space that's just for him.

Here's a peek at how we're spending our Christmas on the farm this year! I've included a really easy "recipe" you can use to help keep your real tree alive longer. Scroll to the bottom for some great tips on Christmas tree preservation!

Wishing you Warmth, Joy and Happiness this Christmas from our family to yours..

Brett made the star tree topper out of old wood from the barn. It feels special and it's one of my favorite pieces this year!

The Christmas tractor.. Baker's favorite Christmas decoration.

You better watch out - You better not cry. You better not POUT - I'm telling you why. (Baker didn't get the message!)  I think he's still on the nice list. :)


....

5 Easy Tips to Preserve Your Christmas tree

I researched several concoctions to help preserve our tree this year. Some swear by the commercial preservatives. Some use sprite, corn syrup or even aspirin. Some just use water. I mixed a solution of 2 quarts of water, 2 cups of light corn syrup, juice from 1 whole lemon, and 2 tbs of bleach. You can mix a large batch and store it in a sealed container to use throughout the holiday season.

Pay attention to the condition of the tree you choose. Look for a tree that appears as fresh as possible. (Are the limbs sagging? Are the needles dry or falling off?)

Make sure to cut the bottom of the tree trunk before you put it in the stand. Tree sap will seal the bottom of the trunk after it's cut and will keep your tree from soaking up water. Experts say this process takes about three hours before the sap hardens. Most tree farms will trim the bottom for you before you leave!

We are also using a timer for our lights. Sometimes I love the glow of the tree when I'm home during the day, but most of the time I leave the timer set to turn on for a few hours in the evening so that the heat won't dry the tree out completely. 

My last tip is just to water, water, water! The best little tool I found this year was a funnel designed JUST to water your Christmas tree! It was only $4 at Home Depot! It has a long, slender tube that slides right into the base so you don't have to crawl under the tree to water it. Genius!

So far, our tree is still alive and kicking'... Hope these tips help you, too! Merry Christmas, friends!

-Lauren