Garden Explosion!

My oh my how the plantings of June pay dividends in September?! Pepper and tomato party at Casa de Nenonen.

Nenonen Project Time: Geometric Accent Wall

We have always allowed our boys creative-control of their own bedrooms, and our youngest has been busy this week. 

Give a teenage boy quarantine orders, creative freedom, and three weeks to kill before he leaves for college and what do you get? 

A fun bedroom makeover! I love the funky freestyle geometric wall design that Reed created. He was going for visually-interesting without being too loud.  I think he nailed it and managed powerful visual impact without the commitment of wallpaper or bold colors.  Now on to final touch-ups, new baseboards, area rug, and furnishings✨

Base Color:  "Simply White" (OC- 117) by Benjamin Moore
Top Color:    "On The Rocks" (SW-7671) by Sherwin Williams

While the bulk of our ongoing home projects can be found on my Instagram (in stories and highlights), see a few of our other Casa de Nenonen projects HERE.

How does your garden grow?

Exciting things are happening in the garden...

I’ve always heard “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow” and how true?! There has been no greater test of my patience, faith, and hope than this fun backyard project. The progress is astounding. What a difference six weeks makes 🥦🥕🥬...

Spring shenanigans in Casa de Nenonen...

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. 

To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.”🌱💚

- Alfred Austin

Spreading Smiles During Quarantine...

Without a doubt, tough times always bring out the best in mankind.  This week, the Internet has been flooded with lovely random acts of neighborhood kindness from across the nation...  

As Americans quarantine and spend extra time outside near home, their neighbors are flooding them with random acts of kindness delivering the smiles!  How are you spreading joy?  The Nenonens gave our whimsical sidewalk surprises an adorable Spring makeover...

Tis the Season, pay it forward!

Don’t forget to treat your delivery drivers to a little act of holiday gratitude, Homeowners!🎄❤️

Winter Curb Appeal matters!

With Thanksgiving so late this year, I have been admittedly slow to shifting our curb appeal to Winter mode.  I am happy to report that as of this afternoon, Winter has officially kissed the front porch of Casa de Nenonen...

Nothing punches up drab winter curb appeal like the warm touch of birch and pine?! As a member of Team WhyOverComplicate, I prefer to steer clear of holiday-specific themes in lieu of items of longevity that can appropriately remain up throughout the season until we are blessed with Spring.  

Spooky home invasion at Casa de Nenonen! ☠️

When witches go riding and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers...

... “Tis near Halloween”!

Pretty in pink!

Seen the projected local St. Louis weekend forecast yet? 

I am filling every vase in my house with the last gorgeous blooms of Summer, before they are taken by the Autumn frost.

Just for Fun: Sweet September!

Tis the season! Farewell begonias, hello pumpkins...

I took advantage of the lovely weekend forecast to acknowledge September with a little touch of Fall curb appeal at Casa de Nenonen.🍁

Spring has Sprung: A May Checklist For Homeowners

Due to cooler temperatures and an incredible amount of rain, St. Louis has been slow to switch focus to our outdoor living spaces.  It has been a busy week here in Casa de Nenonen as we too play catch-up and continue to slowly prepare our yard for warmer weather between bouts of rain.  Parallel to that, we have had a rotating door of contractors visiting this week to do everything from power wash the exterior to aerate and fertilize the lawn.  

While I take a lot of pleasure in the planting and garden aspect of the process (my herb starters-hurray!)...

The money and time-management of the other projects?  Yeah, not-so-fun.  That being said, I have learned over 20+ years of home ownership that being proactive in the Spring almost always reduces an enormous amount of headache in the Summer and Fall.  I will also note that my weekend showings served as a terrific reminder (aka a serious kick-in-the-pants) to get started as 5 of the 11 properties that I showed in the rain this weekend had wet basements.  ALL FIVE OF THEM HAD GUTTERS OVERFLOWING WITH LEAVES.  Not a coincidence, friends. Read more about preventing water in your home HERE.

As we get periodic breaks in the rain, place your focus here Homeowners:

Clean Home Exterior:               

_ Clear all gutters, downspouts, and exterior drains of debris

_ Clean siding (TIP: if you have this professionally done like we do every other year, generously spray your plants with the hose right before the power washers arrive to protect your landscape from absorbing the chemicals.)

_ Decks and Porches: Clean, make repairs,stain

_ Patios: Clean and repair as needed

_ Windows and Screens: Clean and make repairs

Landscape:

_ Rake Leaves

_ Aerate, fertilize, and seed lawn

_ Prune shrubs (tip for pruning grasses HERE)

_ Remove weeds

_ Mulch garden beds 

Miscellaneous:

_ Check Sprinkler system

_ Schedule termite and pest inspection

_ Service your mower, have blades sharpened 

_ Check fences and gates

_ Seal driveway

_ Test outdoor lighting 

_ Inspect concrete for patching needs

_ Inspect brick for tuck pointing needs

_ Check roof for damage

_ Repair peeling paint 

_ Stain or reseal exterior wood 

How does your garden grow?

Even if you lack garden space (and a green thumb), you can grow your own veggies!

Our organic salad greens container is loving all of this St. Louis rain. 🌱🌦

Pantry Before and After

If you follow me on Instagram, you are aware that it has been a busy winter of renovation here in Casa de Nenonen.  The tail end of our massive kitchen gut, was a redesign of our pantry.  As of this morning, the project is officially complete with the installation of the final trim and new motion sensor lighting...

All lit up like a Christmas tree, just in time for holiday baking. 🎄⭐️ 

Our favorite feature?

The sliding shelf mechanism, which helped us to maximize the storage!  

A warm thank you to Teresa Voyles and the team at NewSpace for transforming an awkward closet over the stairs in to something incredibly functional for our family.  NewSpace was not only terrific to work with, but our gorgeous new closet has a lifetime warranty.

If you have a space in your home that isn't working for you, do NOT be afraid to rethink it, friends.  My only regret?  Not doing it sooner.

NITTY GRITTY:

1960 Innerbelt Business Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63114

Phone: (314) 423-3200

Showroom Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30 – 5:30
Saturday 10:00 – 4:00

Just for Fun: Artistic view at everyday life

Do you have a favorite search hashtag on Instagram? Mine is, hands down, #nenonenyardfollies as it is a collection of the simple pleasures I have adored most living in our home over the years. Nothing beats the seasonal ebb and flow of Mama Nature in our neighborhood and yard. 🌱🌸🍂❄️

I celebrate my love for this in my latest home project for our cozy family room with a little help from Walgreens...  

... a wood print collage grid of my favorites, creating a micro-journey through the seasons in Casa de Nenonen. I firmly believe you that should surround yourself by things that make you feel good in your home! This wall makes me smile every time I look at it and serves as a daily reminder to stop and smell the roses!💞

TIP: Walgreens is hyperlinked above.  I used the 12x12 square print and an amazing coupon code that took off 50%.

Follow me on Instagram HERE.

Getting Close!

They say that the devil is in the details. If loving this natural marble mosaic leaf shaped backsplash is wrong... 

...then I don’t want to be right, friends! It has been a while since my last kitchen update and we have finally hit the fun part of this remodel. This week we incorporate the special touches that will set the space apart and make it distinctly ours. 😍✨

Silestone “Lagoon” on the new Quartz countertop, for the win.

Kitchen Renovation progress...

Same exact angle of our ongoing kitchen project, 4 weeks apart...

Soffits removed and the sliding glass door was replaced with a smaller one to allow the dishwasher to be moved and the cabinets to round the corner. Progress!

#RethinkYourSpace

Got chills, St. Louis? Check Your Insulation!

Got the chills, St. Louis?  Slippers, warm coffee, and a steamy shower this morning!  Just 3 days ago, The Nenonens hiked (and waded) our way 5 miles through Castlewood.  In fact, we managed to hike 20+ miles over the past week thanks to lovely 80-90 degree temperatures!

Yesterday, however, in true Midwest fashion...

...Mama Nature surprised us all by taking a tumble in to brisk autumnal temperatures, abruptly ending the unseasonable Fall warm streak we have enjoyed thus far.

I have always said that my blog mimics my life, and this post is no different.  My goal here on CDN and the City is to yes, share my adventures but also educate the public on matters of the home.  Often times, that means learning from my mistakes.

I pose a question to you, friends: When was the last time that you peeked in to your attic and checked the level of the insulation?  Answer honestly, judgement-free zone here. 

Apparently in Casa de Nenonen, it has been too long! Way too long, if ever, since closing on our house.  Let's face it: Life is busy.  Homeowners tend to deal with what is directly in front of them: the garage door that needs adjusting, the lawn that needs mowing, the laundry and dishes and messy kitchen floor.  The mundane daily Homeowner tasks, sprinkled with the occasional crisis or voluntary weekend project, keeps us busy!  Am I right?

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that we are currently under kitchen renovation...

In fact, a full gut! When our contractor descended from our attic this week after installing our new recessed lighting, he urged us to add more attic insulation ASAP.  Truthfully, Steve and I rarely even open the attic hatch in this house, as we have plentiful basement storage and it simply is not easily accessible.  

When I popped my head up there this week, however, I was horrified. I have been through enough career building inspections to know the importance of insulation.  I understand R-value.  Yet, I popped my head up in my own attic this week to find this...

Yep.  I am trying not to turn this in to an ashamed Homeowner confession post, but I have no excuse.  To the average person, this photo may mean little to nothing.  To put things in to perspective for you, however, this is the reality thanks to Energy Star...

Insulation's resistance to conductive heat flow is measured in terms of its thermal resistance or "R-value".  Kindergarten terms: the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density.  Over time, insulation shifts or compacts and becomes less effective.   In fact, when insulation compacts, it acts more as a conductor than an insulator.

Our attic, MAYBE, is R-21 right now.  Again, no excuses people. Most local insulation companies recommend an R-49. The US Department of Energy recommends between R-38 and R-60 for the St. Louis area.

St. Louis County requires a minimum of R-30 on new construction and industry-wide, but that is considered RIDICULOUSLY and INSANELY low for our extreme Midwest temperatures.

So these are the facts: Beefing up insulation and caulking/sealing air leaks is one of the best ways to improve energy efficiency in your home. It is a simple home project that a Homeowner can do on their own and it can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to a whopping 30%!

In addition, per Remodeling Magazine, it has one of the best ROIs (return on investment) of all home improvement projects.

In other words, THIS HOME IMPROVEMENT PAYS FOR ITSELF while keeping your family warmer on chilly days like today!  Win/win.

Our contractor has graciously agreed to bring Casa de Nenonen to an R-60 once our project is complete...

While I am thankful that he alerted us to his discovery, we should have done our due-diligence and checked it prior to this renovation.  We should have done our due-diligence and checked it years ago.

Learn from my mistake, friends.  The cost of the project is nominal compared to the money saved.  Before temps plummet any further, walk around your home and pay special attention to these areas...

Your pocketbook will thank you!  

Just for Fun: Journey in to Fall at Casa de Nenonen

Thanks to the arrival of the fantasy pumpkins at Trader Joe's... 

I began the process of giving Summer the big "heave-ho" from my garden this week. Tired summer blooms out, mums and pumpkins in! 

My loyal sidekick and project supervisor, Miss Willow, approved.🎃🍂

TIP:  The fantasy pumpkins at Trader Joe's are an incredible deal at only $6.95 a piece but they DO NOT LAST LONG, friends!  If interested, get there quickly.  My pumpkin topiary almost always stays in tact until after Thanksgiving!  I love their interesting shapes/textures and creamy, warm colors.

Double Layered Welcome Mats For the Curb Appeal Win!

TIP: Add a little warmth, visual interest, and pop of color to your front porch curb appeal by layering a fresh welcome mat over a flat weave outdoor rug!

In fact, Casa de Nenonen got a little front porch spruce-up this week!

FYI: The standard size doormat I purchased (at Homegoods) is 18x29.  The buffalo checked rug (from Amazon) is 2x3.

St. Louis Hidden Gem: Custom Stone Interiors

Some posts are better late than never, particularly when you have adored the end-result of a project as much as we have this one.  Last year, Steve and I embarked upon a long-overdue makeover of our already-finished basement. After a decade in this house with 2 sons and 2 dogs, the finishes had taken quite a hit.

The plan for the main party room, aka "teenager heaven":  durable new Pergo flooring throughout, new stair treads after removing carpet, new 4" baseboards, barn doors to replace the 1968 swing-in doors, fresh paint, a new work space, and a makeover of the existing dated wet bar to improve the look and function.  Some of it was DIY, some of it was contracted. Mission accomplished...

Note: this is a real-life quick cell phone panoramic photo, not Realtor-staged, complete with my son watching a movie and freshly mopped floors after his friends spent the night and had an epic spill. My reality, friends.  Ha! 

After living with the "makeover" for several months now, our favorite change has been to the wet bar, by far.  We updated the cabinets, added a sizable mobile island, replaced the worn laminate counter top with granite, and finished off the project with a marble subway tile (Steve's gorgeous handiwork)...

Again, real life photo taken this morning -not staged.  We still need to get around to adding the cabinet hardware and yes, "this kitchen is for dancing". 😉  

As we have no plans in the near future to move, our focus was not as much on return-on-investment as it was look and function.  On any given weekend, we can have 5-20 teenagers down there until the wee-hours if not all night.  Durability is key.  That being said, we had massive sticker shock when bids for a natural stone 90" wet bar counter came in WELL above $1400 installed at big box stores for the creamy stones we preferred. A fellow Realtor mentioned that we may have luck at a remnant yard due to size, and suggested visiting Custom Stone Interiors near SLU and IKEA...

Note: since taking these photos, Custom Stone has moved to a new location in Overland.  Updated address will be at the bottom of the post.

Regardless, we had a terrific experience and I feel compelled to share.  The staff was incredibly helpful and they have everything you could ever want or wish for as far as stone goes for a kitchen, laundry, bath, or furniture project...

Where we had the most luck, however?

At their in-house remnant yard!  In this area, they offer stone remnants left over from other projects at a deep discount, including mis-cuts and leftover pieces of granite, marble, limestone, onyx, travertine, and quartz. It is a terrific solution for a small countertop for a bathroom, laundry room, vanity top, or wet bar. It allows you to examine the actual slab IN PERSON (stone varies a LOT ) and the staff will point you to remnants that will work.

Low and behold, we got lucky and found the perfect one...

Within days, they came out to our house to accurately measure the space for cuts, we provided them with our preferences (eased edge), a previously-purchased undermount sink from IKEA, and everything was fabricated and polished in house...

The price installed was HUNDREDS less than all of the other bids we received...

... and the result?  Perfection.  We love it...

Thank you for helping us to transform our space affordably, Custom Stone!  If planning a new project, consider giving them a call for a bid or dropping by to check out their inventory. 

NITTY GRITTY:

Custom Stone Interiors
1950 Walton Road
Overland, MO 63114

Office: 314-533-1282
Fax: 314-427-2001

Monday - Friday
Saturdays
7AM - 5PM 

WEB: http://www.customstonestl.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/customstonestl

See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.