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North Country Nest

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The Beverage Cart Makeover

DIY Projects· Furniture

25 Apr

We’re sharing how we took this thrift store beverage cart find from drab to fab in this simple, budget-friendly makeover. When I am bored (haha, like that ever happens) or rather, when I am procrastinating and avoiding some other activity, I enjoy perusing various home décor websites and blogs to get some inspiration of my … Read More about The Beverage Cart Makeover

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Thrift Store Makeover: Metal Basket

DIY Projects· Home Decor

20 Apr

Making Over a Thrift Store Metal Basket I love thrift stores. I love browsing the aisles, looking for that one treasure that needs a new home. Brett always asks me, “What do we need that for?” or “Where are you going to put that?” Both very logical questions. However, when I go thrifting I do … Read More about Thrift Store Makeover: Metal Basket

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How to Glaze Kitchen Cabinets

DIY Projects· Renovations· The Kitchen

18 Apr

We’re sharing two different techniques on how to glaze kitchen cabinets for the perfect antique look! [this post contains affiliate links, which means we may make a small commission if a purchase is made. see the full disclosure here.] Redoing the kitchen cabinets was one of the first items on my to-do list once we … Read More about How to Glaze Kitchen Cabinets

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11 Kitchen Islands That Steal the Show

Home Decor· The Kitchen

15 Apr

For this week’s Friday Inspiration, we’re sharing a roundup of rustic and industrial kitchen islands that are sure to inspire. Friday Inspiration: Kitchen Islands There is something about a kitchen island that just screams, “Gather around me, drink and be merry.” I don’t know what it is about them, but in my family, that is … Read More about 11 Kitchen Islands That Steal the Show

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The Kitchen Cabinet Makeover

DIY Projects· Renovations· The Kitchen

13 Apr

If you’re craving a new kitchen but don’t have the budget, try a low-cost makeover and paint them! Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to paint kitchen cabinets. [this post contains affiliate links, which means we may make a small commission if a purchase is made. see the full disclosure here.] Approximately 33 days ago I started … Read More about The Kitchen Cabinet Makeover

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The Knockdown Part Two

Renovations· The Guest Bedroom #1· The Guest Bedroom #2

11 Apr

Knocking down walls, part two. It’s become apparent that Brett and I love taking down walls. Maybe it’s because it gives you almost instant gratification. Or maybe it’s because it doesn’t require any money. Or maybe we like opening up space to see what we have to work with. Regardless of the reasoning behind this love … Read More about The Knockdown Part Two

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Friday Inspiration: Patio Edition

Home Decor· Landscaping

8 Apr

It’s that time of the week again and this Friday’s inspiration features some amazing patio decorations. Here in Minnesota, we’re actually heading back into winter. So, why not think warm thoughts and take a look at these beautiful additions to any patio? Just imagine yourself lounging in a chair, sipping a beer and taking in … Read More about Friday Inspiration: Patio Edition

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Troubleshooting: Peeling and Crackling Paint

DIY Projects

4 Apr

Peeling and Crackling Paint It has taken me more than a decade, but I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy painting. For me, it’s very therapeutic and calming. I can crank up the music and get lost in the rhythm of the paint brush. It doesn’t take a huge amount of skill and it’s … Read More about Troubleshooting: Peeling and Crackling Paint

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mudroom inspiration

Top Seven Mudrooms for Inspiration

Home Decor

1 Apr

Happy April Fools Day! I was thinking about throwing out some lame joke, but I’ll spare you all the headache 🙂 Here at North Country Nest we’re in full-on home renovation mode. I thought it would be fun to offer a weekly home inspiration roundup to get you all geared up and motivated for those … Read More about Top Seven Mudrooms for Inspiration

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We’ve Added a Fence

DIY Projects· Landscaping

30 Mar

We’ve Added a Fence Having a dog without a fence is not the most enjoyable situation. Especially when you live on a lake and said dog loves swimming. Or when said dog loves wandering off into the neighbors yard, crossing streets without looking both ways or chasing cats up trees. These reasons, along with the fact … Read More about We’ve Added a Fence

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The Thirty-Five Day Check-In

Renovations

28 Mar

Our First Home Renovation: Thirty-Five Day Check-In It’s been thirty-five days since we closed on the house. Thirty-five days. That doesn’t sound like much. And it’s not really. We’ve got a never-ending to-do list and it’s only been a month. However, when I look back at what we have accomplished so far, I realize that … Read More about The Thirty-Five Day Check-In

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Removing the Ramps

Renovations· The Exterior

23 Mar

Removing the Outside Ramps Staying on trend with this house’s ridiculous need to have multiples of everything (four water heaters, three outside electrical meters, two furnaces, etc.) it would only make sense that there would be two outside ramps – one at each main entrance. The ramps left a lot to be desired, to say … Read More about Removing the Ramps

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We’re Brett and Kelly! A husband and wife team tackling our first complete home renovation. We love all things DIY, our two furbabes and lazy summer days out on the lake. Our mission? To share the journey of turning a house into a home.

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Who doesn't love a good before and after?!? Who doesn't love a good before and after?!?
Last summer, Brett and I didn’t get out on the w Last summer, Brett and I didn’t get out on the water at all – not once did we take the boat out.

Given the fact that we live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I felt like the worst Minnesotan. How could we not enjoy the water when there’s three within five miles of our house?

This year? We've been able to get out on some body of water at least once per week - how cool is that?!

What’s been really great about these last few months is that we’ve seemed to have found a nice “balance” between go-go-go and taking time to enjoy whatever it may be.

While this season of relaxed work is probably not the norm, it's been a pleasant surprise that we'll be enjoying for as long as we can!

Enjoy the week, friends!
If you need me, I'll be here gazing lovingly at ou If you need me, I'll be here gazing lovingly at our newly trimmed windows and painted walls 😍

We have to add trim to the slider, install the baseboards and frame up + install the pantry door.

And then...

This kitchen will be DONE! 🙌
Yesterday, #ontheblog we did a mid-year check in o Yesterday, #ontheblog we did a mid-year check in on our renovation list and shared two new projects we're adding (of course!)

The second addition? Giving a little refresh to this laundry room by pushing back the washer, dryer and cabinets.

We finished it wayyyy back in 2017 but there was a small frustration: the washer and dryer cover the window.

Every few months we'd circle back to the space and see how we could make it work. It was one of those little issues that might not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but here's the thing - you deserve to LOVE your home.

After four and a half years of constant projects, I often find myself wondering why in the hell we are doing this and I keep coming back to this idea that a home is meant to be loved, to share a story, to work for you, to be a space that you can relax in and enjoy.

So while the washer and dryer covering a window might be insignificant to a visitor, for us, it's something we see every day. And, after three years of brainstorming, we finally found a solution that felt good.

I guess that's the bonus of being four years into a reno - the idea of knocking down a wall seems like an easy project nowadays 😂😂
Just in case you missed it - new last Thursday #on Just in case you missed it - new last Thursday #ontheblog is a tour of our front porch and a few summer decorating ideas!

Hope you all had a safe and happy Fourth of July! 🧨
Sometimes, it's not all rainbows and butterflies.. Sometimes, it's not all rainbows and butterflies... especially when it comes to neighbors.

New post #ontheblog today all about the lawsuit we've been in with our neighbor for the last year. And it started all because of our garage.

In short: three years ago the county required us to get a survey done on our property in order to build the garage. The results showed that the easement our neighbor was using to access her property was not in the right place - it was inside our property lines instead of outside.

Fast forward to July 2, 2019 when we were served lawsuit paperwork from said neighbor, claiming the rights to the easement location - and it's been a long, stressful process since then.

But, we received the good news last week from our lawyer - everything is finalized and we can finally put this whole mess behind us!

Cheers to starting the week off on a high note!
One more coat of mud on the walls and then it'll b One more coat of mud on the walls and then it'll be time for paint in the kitchen!

In other news, Brett scored big time and found a giant rug for our living room - it was half off and arrived last week. Now we're patiently waiting until we get the new floors down until we roll it out. Check the stories if you want to get a sneak peak!😁😁 Enjoy the day, my friends!
Spent the evening at my parent's with two of my si Spent the evening at my parent's with two of my siblings and their kiddos.

Brett showed up around dinner time and proceeded to spend the next hour in a water + cake fight with six kids under 10.

Yup, I'm married to an adult child. 😂😂 Kidding aside - I had one of those 'I love summer' moments, watching them all run around outside, laughing their heads off.

Hope you're enjoying the start to your week, friends! 🙌
So, here's the deal. The kitchen tile project was So, here's the deal. The kitchen tile project was not all sunshine and roses.

Two words: dried grout.

On the plus side, you can in fact clean dried grout from tile. On the negative, it's a complete pain in the ass... And doesn't get you back too 100%. #ontheblog today, I'm diving into all the details on how we cleaned the tile... And the (now funny?) story on how it even happened in the first place (hint: renovating with your husband on an empty stomach never has a positive outcome) 😂
The last four years have been a constant experimen The last four years have been a constant experiment of finding the balance between function and design.

We started this entryway with white built-ins and light walls. Damn it looked good in pictures but real life? With two black dogs and a lake... Well let's just say the functionality of the design choices were at an all time low.

So, we overhauled the space and darkened the walls and built-ins. While I was a little nervous to go so dark, I have to admit Brett's instincts were right one this one.

So, here's to continuing to find that balance of function and design - and I'd love hear, have you compromised anything because it just didn't fit with how your family lives in your home?!?

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