Today’s guest post Feature Friday is my friend, Beth, who I met up with at the Nate Show last year. We had so much fun and then met up in Nashville again this year in January. She is a wonderful bloggy friend who has been so supportive to me and I’m happy to share her with all of you, just in case you haven’t met Beth before. You are in for a treat!
I was a huge fan of Rhoda’s long before I could call her friend. Rhoda was one of the first home bloggers I followed and one of the first to feature my creations. I think I still get traffic from the time she featured my Chicken Alouette recipe back in ’09….
…and my boy’s raingutter bookshelf bedroom (with Rhoda’s infamous beadboard wallpaper of course)!
For those of you who don’t know me, I am Beth from The Stories of A to Z soon to be Home Stories A to Z. I live in Pennsylvania with my hubs, two little boys, and pomeranian pup. We live in the city in a 100 year old rehabbed “twin”. Unfortunately, I don’t have any before pictures of our place but it was atrocious!
You can get the general idea of what our home looked like by seeing the before and afters of our neighbor’s home which I helped redesign. I would do things so differently today! It’s amazing how much one’s style can change in just three years. Speaking of which, this year I have been on a mission to redecorate much of our home.
It began with a complete overhaul of my master bedroom and then spread from there!
I am a thrifty girl so everything in this makeover was done on a very strict budget.
My style is traditional cottage with a love for the coast. I grew up on the beach and have collected shells since birth. I love incorporating some of the sea in each room!
Back in January, we installed board and batten and I have been methodically working my way through the level with redecorating. I created this cute “mudroom” in February and will be working on our main entryway this weekend.
We have exposed brick running everywhere throughout our home. It adds a ton of charm and character but is difficult to decorate. Drilling into brick takes masonry bits and careful planning!
My kitchen area has given me some major grief! I have dark reddish toned wood cabinets that I’m trying to work with. Rhoda suggested I use Sea Salt in this area and she was spot on! I think it looks fantastic in here.
I like to change my lighting on a whim and use inexpensive materials to create new looks. Here I have used a drum shade and some inexpensive lanterns to recreate my lighting.
My most recent kitchen project has been the completion of my garden stone backsplash. This was a very inexpensive way to create a unique backsplash with character!
Thanks so much Rhoda for allowing me to share my home and blog with your readers! I hope you’ll stop on by A2Z and follow along! During the month of June, I’m hosting a fantastic series entitled How to Decorate for the DIY’er. Top home and design bloggers will be posting all month their very best decorating tips! Stop by to see the calendar line-up! You won’t want to miss it!
Thanks again, Beth! It was fun bloggy swapping with you today. I’ll be over at Beth’s today, sharing some of my projects and rooms. Go on over and check out Beth’s beautiful blog!
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I have been following Beth since she started her infamous Mantel Parties. From there on she has always inspired me to look beyond the ordinary and go with my heart when it comes to decorating and projects. It is never a dull moment at her blog. Thanks, Rhoda, for having Beth over on your blog!
XO,
Jane
Jane,
You are such a sweetheart! Thank you dear :).
Beth
Beth’s home is beautiful! Love the exposed brick walls. Looking forward to the series.
Rhoda, the porch makeover turned out lovely!
Beth, I love your home, what an elegant look you have while still being cottage – y! I’m a coastal girl too, and don’t think I could ever live anywhere else, so I like that you use those touches in every room. And, exposed brick, who wouldn’t like to decorate around that. I have seen similar homes to yours being decorated on HGTV, but it was nice to see a more intimate look into your home, thanks Rhoda.
Thank you Paula!
What a beautiful home! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I’ve been following Beth for several months now since I started my blog, and she is how I found you! She is absolutely darling and it seems Rhoda that birds of a feather really do flock together! So delighted to find you, and I’m not even all that far from you in real life…just a couple of short hours right up I-85! Can’t wait to come back more and find out more about you and your fantastic endeavors!
I think I discovered Beth by seeing her blog button on your “A+ blogs” page. She is now a daily read! Beth is very creative and genuine. It’s easy to understand how you two became friends. You have much in common.
Your Friend,
Deborah
Love this home! Especially the entryway and that exposed brick wall… stunning!
its just lovely! makes me want to stop over for a cup of tea and just chat decor! and my sister (Lauren Giles) is ever so grateful for Beth b/c she recently had a bed bug invasion and Beth was soooo sweet to walk her through what to do. LOL So not only does she have a beautiful home she’s quite resourceful. LOL
Love Beth’s style. And hooray, I finally have a name for what I like: Traditional Cottage.
Thanks for sharing Beth with us today Rhoda.
I’m such a fan of Rhoda’s blog, and looks like I’ll have another to follow! Great post today, Beth!
I love Beth’s home. It looks so inviting and comfortable. And that brick! Wow. I’d love to have that in my home!!
Rhoda, it is so fun to see Beth’s home on your blog. she is a wonderful blogger and I enjoy my visits to her blog!!! Love her eating area and sea salt is definitely the perfect color there!! Happy weekend, Kathysue
Such a beautiful home!
I am especially excited to read this blog today. I just love the garden stone backsplash. I recently have been thinking about how I can make our backsplash unique, now you’ve inspired me! Thank you for sharing!
Nice place Beth. I love what you did with the living room. I too love decorating and redecorating my house something with the sea on it – because I’m a proud Pisces. I incorporate shells and fish figurines to my designs. But I’ve been having a hard time finding some good corals. Some say it’s illegal to take out corals (even the small ones) from the sea. I’m not so sure about this.
Last summer, I applied a sun-beach wallpaper to my kids’ playroom. I love the sea and the ocean.
I recently started following Beth. I love her style.
I also absolutely love exposed brick. So jealous she has that in her place. It might be a pain to hang things on, but it sure does look purty 😉
Love Beth…..I have been following her for quite awhile, and her chicken dish is one of my family’s fave !!!!
All the best,
Kathy 🙂