Gabby's Home Life

Designing a Life Worth Living

DIY

Home Body by Joanna Gaines

DIY, lifestyleGabby Jacobsen
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A wonderful source of inspiration

I received this as a birthday gift from my brother (he knows me so well). Sometimes I wake up really early - so one morning I sat down with Joanna and a pack of sticky tabs. I spent some time looking around my house and trying to find those rooms that could use a little more thought.

I’m tackling our entry first. It’s painted the same pale grey as the rest of the house, with a semi circle black table, some greenery, a nondescript flat ceiling light and dark stone floors. We also have to consider our home needs to be handicap friendly. The best characteristic of our entry is the set of beautiful double doors! Lots of gorgeous light comes in during the day - but gets sucked into all the darkness.

So I asked, “What would Joanna do?”

Lighten it up! A large new area rug to go over the dark tile will be a pretty greeting for family and friends. A bonus will be that it may stop some of the gravel that makes it’s way into our home on the wheels of our daughter’s equipment. We’ll use carpet tape to hold it’s edges to the stone so it won’t come up when our daughter drags her toes along the floor.

I’ll be on the lookout for an antique bench. Something that can be used more for decoration than anything else. But lighter with a bit of texture would be lovely.

The Jacobsen men are a tall lot … and unfortunately we purchased our home for it’s layout and lack of stairs, not for its ceiling heights. So I can’t do much in the way of a hanging chandelier. There’s a chance I can find something that will put off a bit more light and make it pretty (without someone bumping their head on it).

My search begins! Carpets can be awfully expensive, so while I save up money for that, I’ll run over to Wenatchee next weekend and see if I can find a table or bench in one of the antique shops that will serve the purpose. I think it’s likely that we could find a different lamp at Target or Home Depot, it’ll just take a little creativity.

One room at a time! Next up - the spare bedroom. (We’ll need a little warmer weather to repaint.)

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely!! It begins with a healthy chapter of ways to identify your design style. I am a mix of Farmhouse-Modern.

Farmhouse

Casual - Organic - Inviting - Simple lines - Distressed - Shiplap - Wide planks - Porches

Casual

Midcentury - Retro - Contemporary - Monochromatic - Minimal - Textured

You’re going to have to take a peek in the book to uncover all the variety of home styles, but my current home is The Humble Abode. The soft grey color palette, decorated trim work, and classic light fixtures throughout this house establish it to a traditional style. Accents, such as distressed wall decora nd ticking-stripe upholstery, also give it a nod to a classic farmhouse style.

My dream house? The Eclectic Farmhouse! The farmhouse is rich with original detail. A modern, Moroccan style is incorporated in the form of jewel-toned textiles and distinct patterns for antique combination of charm and authenticity. And a porch … with a swing … my ultimate dream.

Our lives have always centered around comfort and calm. We want people to be welcome in our home. As of late, you all have followed my transition from a more family-centered color scheme to one of soft greys, clean whites and simplicity. So it only seems natural that I’m enlisting the help of Joanna Gaines!

Get Joanna’s book - You’ll love it!

2018 What a ride!

Chloe + Isabel, DIY, lifestyle, Sseko, SunDazeGabby Jacobsen
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Goodbye 2018

It’s been memorable!

It’s coming up on a year ago last February that I started this Blog. My original idea was to combine my family news, Chloe + Isabel sales and our new SunDaze Airbnb rental all in one social media space. It can be exhausting tagging multiple social media outlets as well as getting a newsletter together every week.

A few life changes took my blogging on a weird tangent. Sadly, the business that had saved me from my depression following mom’s death had taken a bit of a turn. The company had been sold by the founder and was following a more traditional “team building” business development. Gone were the days when I could be supported to just run my own business and gain recognition and incentives within the company. I still am in LOVE with the designs and quality, but part of my drive is in hitting goals and attending conventions with the wonderful friends I’d met. So many of whom left the company and left me brokenhearted.

In walked Sseko with it’s gorgeous leather designs and ribbon sandals! The Sseko story is one of a beautiful sisterhood of support here in the US and worldwide. Unfortunately, these big ticket items weren’t a huge hit for my original 300+ customer base.

Despite these negative blips, 2018 was really quite remarkable.

Dave was extremely busy this year with adding new Teamsters to his Tank Haul roster, negotiating first contracts, adding more groups to his plate, renewing old contracts, contemplating strikes … but this also took any big vacation off the table. We just couldn’t come up with a week of uninterrupted work for him. So, the girls and I spent much of our summer east of the mountains at SunDaze. I traveled over nearly weekly, running our Airbnb business and enjoying the summer weather and time with friends. It was the first summer of “no work” and just enjoying our new place. Many of the kids’ friends joined us and filled the bunkhouse with happy sounds. Card games in the carport, movie nights, floating on the river, 6 people in the golf cart, and coming up with new rules like “What happens at CB stays at CB.”

We had some great guests and the Airbnb thing was a big success! Great reviews from our guests and I’ve had about a dozen requests already for next summer. We earned enough to pay for 6 months of our HOA dues - a big relief since my new Golf Wagon was developing a serious relationship with the mountain pass and long drives back and forth from Seattle.

Overall, 2018 was one for the Jacobsen record books:

  • 1 kid graduating college

  • 1 kid graduating high school (and no private school tuition)

  • 1st summer of Airbnb

  • A little forgiveness

  • Lovely new friend groups

  • Leading a healthier life

  • Living my best life in cut offs and Berkenstocks!

  • New job

  • Following the start of my baby’s career in film production

  • Sending a kid away to college

  • Big steps and accolads for my husband in the Teamster union

  • Sseko summit in Portland

  • Trip with my husband to Vegas for Teamster convention

  • OMG - finally putting up railings on the back deck and completing BBQ area

I am forever greatful for my wonderful husband for allowing me time at home with my girls. It was such a joy getting the chance to really be there for my daughter’s last year at our alma mater and enjoying all the “lasts” that she was going through. Getting time to spend with my older daughter as we working on healthy habits and making plans for when it will be just the 3 of us at home again in the fall. Living my best life in casual clothes and optional shower times is really where I lived the dream. My makeup optional, growing out my hair and yes, even braless days are what I look forward to in my retirement years.

So on this, the last day of 2018, the Jacobsens say goodbye to a year of great new beginnings and get ready to set goals for 2019!

More to come soon!!

Hogwarts or Bus

lifestyle, DIYGabby Jacobsen
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Accio Christmas

Because why not?

Last December my husband was sitting with me on the couch and suddenly said “Did you finish decorating for Christmas?” to which I replied “Yes, of course!” I looked around and realized that my new “clean look” Christmas decor wasn’t much and blended right into my already grey/white/beige color scheme. I didn’t have a spot or red or green anywhere but on the tree. Even my new throw pillow were grey plaid.

Understandably, he grew up on a home where every surface was covered with Christmas. Every room had something playing Christmas music when you walked by or pushed a button and the Christmas tree took up the entire room. I realized I had to be somewhere in the middle … but the past 3 years had been spent reducing our overall Christmas decor out of the attic … and I dread purchasing any more Christmas decor. I am now down to 4 Christmas boxes and a tree. (In fact, I send the boxes back up into the attic without even everything being used.)

Part of the problem was losing my mom 5 years ago December 21st. It’s a difficult time of year to lose a parent, but then my mother-in-law also died 6 months later, leaving us without much Christmas spirit.

So, this year, my oldest daughter and I came up with a solution to our humbug Christmas spirit. We would celebrate Christmas this year with a Harry Potter theme! We started combing Pinterest for ideas and ways we could creatively (and inexpensively) turn our home into Hogwarts at Christmas, including Christmas dinner.

We made banners, used her many Harry Potter pieces, created a Quiddich field in the front yard and much more. When Christmas came, we copied the Three Broomsticks family style dinner for our small gathering. We had a great time as a family finding the spirit again and although it’s not likely we will do another Harry Potter theme (because you know … been there done that) I think we’ll make a bigger effort in the future to brighten up our home for the holidays and understand that it helps to clear away the unhappy memories and bring the spirit of Christmas back into our lives again.

Much love to all of you who have lost your childhood Christmas excitement - and I would encourage you to pick up your wand and “Accio Christmas” to find it again.

Sure, we'll do your kitchen remodel

lifestyle, DIYGabby JacobsenComment

Side job #342

Just kidding ...

When you are able to impress your friends and co-workers with the modifications and remodeling in your own home, they start to refer others! So this husband and wife are teaming up in Chip and Joanna style to design and remodel a kitchen for a co-worker!

We've met with this wonderful single lady once already and I look forward to sitting down with her again to discuss details. Thankfully, she's already a fan of Pinterest! I've started combing the site myself for ideas and creative ways to make her little kitchen homey and storage smart. Our second conversation will be planning where she wants to put everything to make her kitchen efficient with more workable services.

Meanwhile, Dave makes everything look so simple. We enjoy working together on projects. We laugh and joke around. He makes fun of me when I ask stupid questions or make impossible requests - but I get him back by pushing forward when he feels like taking a break. I set deadlines and organize the project and he does the heavy lifting. This time it's a family affair! He's hired our youngest to come help!

Dave's a hard worker and he's been a Teamster for nearly 30 years. He's eligible to retire in less than 5 years - he's been looking for a way to supplement his retirement income and give him something fun to do. This little business just might be it!

Stay tuned for more remodeling with "Dave & Gabby". LOL

Graduation party loooming!

DIY, lifestyleGabby Jacobsen

We built our deck about 10 years ago and what started out as something to cover our little concrete patio on the back of the house when we purchased it turned into a massive deck that spans nearly the length of our back yard. (That was my older brother's brilliant idea.)

About 4 years ago, King County Ramp-a-Thon chose our home for installation of ramps and a concrete path to provide emergency access for our physically disabled daughter. Since that time, we'd been trying to work with the State on installation of some deck railings so it would be safe for her use. They've denied our requests for the past 3 years. To that end, she spends little to no time enjoying outside, and neither do we in lieu of spending time with her.

Our baby has decided she wants a party at our house (with a growing guest list of 75+). Well, there's no way that many are going to fit inside, so outside we go! We have 2 months to build the pergola, deck railing, dad's cook area, a double chaise chair, hang a swing and fix up the yard.

I'm proud to say that my husband has rocked the start this weekend! He and Papa bought all the supplies on Saturday night and on Sunday afternoon they installed all of the support beams and enclosed that side of our deck! I was amazed at the progress! He'll be working next weekend to complete the pergola and then wait for a sunny day to paint it white.

Next we'll design the outdoor BBQ area of his dreams (on a budget) and construct the chaise DIY project.

Bunkhouse neeeearly done!

DIY, lifestyle, SunDazeGabby JacobsenComment

Our little group completed 97% of the bunkhouse this past weekend and I'm super excited to see that 8-month project completed. We laughed and laughed and laughed because that's what we do when we work together.

The total cost of renovating the bunk house from a storage shed to a functional room that sleeps 4-5 people/kids was $60. We used recycled wood, wood from under the deck at our Kent home, decking from Papa's neighbor and the useless decorative bridge on our CB property, wood my old employer recycled from his family's Cashmere farm ... you name it. It went to make the bunks a line the walls. It's all been whitewashed and cleaned up for company!

The steps still need a bit of work, but it was a great recycled find by Dave from Second Used in Seattle. He paid $25 for this great chunk of wood! All we need to do is cut some 2X6, stain them dark and screw them to each step. A curtain for the window and some cord maintenance.

I'm so happy it's done.

We only have a door to install, padlock for another door, a little spot painting in the house and we're ready to rock and roll.

Completing the Bunkhouse

SunDaze, lifestyle, DIYGabby JacobsenComment

Sometimes I feel like I’m talking to myself, but looking back will be much more fun with “in the moment” thoughts from our journeys.

This coming weekend we’re headed back for a long Easter weekend at SunDaze. We’ve chosen to take on completion of the bunk house. We ended last year with the bunks made, mattresses and bedding in, and about 1/3 of the raw wood on the walls. Perhaps it would’ve been lots easier to put up Sheetrock and call it a day, but we had all this free wood laying around, and thought it might be more fun to create the shiplap look. We’re moving out the refrigerator and finishing up the walls. So on Dave’s to do list (before he leaves on Monday morning following Easter) is to get the wood up, the ceiling light changed out and the outlet turned around to the outside so we can plug the refrigerator in the space between the house and bunkhouse. 

Here’s our thinking, we have this 4 foot space between the house and bunkhouse. The back side has a screen door, but since we’re going to Airbnb, we need a space to lock up our property and a place to hold some food when we’re not there and expecting company. So we’re adding a door to the front side of the “space in between”, shelves and the refrigerator to the area to lock it up. What’s nice about this is it will also free up the bunkhouse for a chair and shelving. 

Once this is completed this weekend, my daughter, her friend and I will paint everything white! Hopefully get the mattresses and bedding back in before we leave a few days later. 

So that’s our plan of attack for our March SunDaze work. I’ll post before and after pics next week! I’m a bit of a work horse when it comes to getting jobs done, even cutting boards and screwing them in long after the boys have wandered off on breaks. 

I’ll have to come up with something fun to do with my daughter and her friend so it seems a bit more like a REAL spring break. LOL and since my daughter has accepted her invitation to a Eastern Washington university, we’ve discovered there is a incoming freshman day on April 7th, so back over I go next Friday so I can drop her off at the dorms and do a little more painting on Saturday. 

And the hits just keep on coming!