I'm only going to say this one time...

Okay guys, based on the fact that over 1,300 of you read (or at least clicked on!) my last blog post, but very few have reached out with interest...leads me to believe most of you are sitting at home thinking, 'I wish Mollie could come over to my house and help me but I can't ask her until I have a new house/couch/bed/rug/whatever-that-thing-is-you-think-you-need-in-order-to-decorate.' Or some other kind of nonsense like that.

Listen...it doesn't bother me in the slightest that my phone isn't ringing off the hook. But because I've had SO MANY people in the past few years say, 'I need to have you come over and help me decorate my house!' ......................it just seems like you're all a little gun shy.

The loveseat we used in our living room for the better part of three years, was literally pulled from a curb across the street from our house. And you better believe that didn't stop me from adding a blanket and some throw pillows and pretending it was brand new. It was new to us! So I'm telling you, I can work with ANYTHING you've got.

Please hear me when I say this...I am not here to sell you anything you don't want or need. I am not trying to recruit you for something. I do not make commission on anything you buy from Target or Hobby Lobby (though I really should). This is not a candles/jewelry/skin care/multi-level-marketing trap that I'm going to continually push on you multiple times a day until you're forced to unfollow me.

I just want to help give you the pretty, cozy, unique home you've always wanted but aren't sure where to start.

So if that's you, hiding behind the glow of your phone screen, wishing you had a nicer house worthy of hiring a "decorating consultant" for (it's just me guys)...STOP. Waiting until you've painted a room, or have enough money to buy that piece of furniture, or until you don't live in an apartment anymore...all nonsense. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you're looking at someone who had mauve + baby blue carpet in her entire house for nearly five years. If I would have waited until I had tile floors and nice furniture to decorate and have people over, we wouldn't have any friends.

That's it. That's all I'm going to say about it.

And this is in case you think I'm being dramatic about how 'bad' our first house really was when we moved in. This transformation took about five years and a LOT of hard work but it was obviously worth it.

MmB

Time for a Little Side Hustle

Today is the day I start charging for my decorating services. I held out long enough, not wanting two business owners operating two businesses simultaneously under the same roof because one is our literal livelihood and one is a whole lot of playing...but I just can't do that anymore.

I LOVE helping people with this stuff! Random Instagram friends asking where I found our dining room chandelier; Facebook acquaintances asking endless questions about our farm sink; friends texting pictures of their frames laid out for a possible gallery wall...it brings me LIFE to offer my opinions and encouragement as people turn their spaces into cozy, inviting homes...BUT I'm starting to get more and more requests from people who I don't consider to be in my immediate tribe, some that will require drive-time upwards of an hour and I can't in good conscience steward my time that way if it's not a wise investment for our family's time/resources.

Everything will be on the up-and-up like a 'real' business (meaning I will charge and also pay taxes on this income...and I'll send invoices...it will be a whole thing) because my father-in-law is a CPA and also an evil dictator. So in a strange turn of events, Boersma Enterprises now has a design and decor division. What in the actual. Whatever, I'm pretending our house is a showroom.

So here's a rundown of how I'll operate in order to help people with different needs and budgets:

Remote Consultation: $25 

We can chat via email/text/Facebook message with photos and I can offer input on anything and everything you'd like to show me, whenever it's convenient for us to chat. Text me pictures and questions while you're out shopping if you see something that catches your eye, but aren't sure if it's right. I can work up sketches for room arrangements/feature walls, assign 'homework' for what to buy/paint as budgets allow and we can work through one room at a time or overhaul an entire house. 

*Time spent communicating shouldn't exceed more than one hour, when/if it does, an additional $25 will be charged*

Cottage Consultation: $50

I have always wanted our home to be a calm, clean, inspiring place, and I love when friends come here and find new ideas or discover a way to put their twist on something I've done and then implement it in their own home. So come to my house for an afternoon to snoop through whatever you'd like. Anything from how I organize our closets to what wall colors we've used is open for discussion/imitation. At this point I have quite a bit of experience with what works and what doesn't in small and large spaces, and can offer so much advice from my own attempts/failures until I've gotten it 'right'...I'd love to avoid all those trial-and-error failures for you.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, so if you immediately go out and buy the same wreath from Hobby Lobby to hang on a tobacco basket above your fireplace...I will be right here cheering you on.

*Time spent shouldn't exceed more than one hour, when/if it does, an additional $25 will be charged*

Shopping Consultation: $50

Show me the wall/room/space you need help with and we can head to Hobby Lobby/JB Knacker/TJ Maxx/Target to find some items to make it perfect. I'm not going to baby you through this because it's not my house it's YOURS! ("Would this work on my shelf?" "Do you like it?" "I think so." "THEN SURE.") Decide what you like and go for it. But I am more than willing to come along for a morning of shopping to help you pull together some pieces you love. Text me a picture when you get everything home and hung on the walls for some final encouragement.

*Time spent shopping shouldn't exceed more than one hour, when/if it does, an additional $25 will be charged*

Arranging Consultation: $25

You've gathered everything you love but don't know how to play with it to get it 'right' on your mantle/shelves/counters/etc. I'll come over and offer my ideas and we can work on the arrangement together until it's exactly how you like it! Disclaimer: You're allowed to change ANYTHING you want when I leave!

*Time spent arranging shouldn't exceed more than one hour, when/if it does, an additional $25 will be charged*

Organization Consultation: Hourly

This is not for the faint of heart. If you have junk stored away in the top of your bedroom closet that you haven't touched in 25 years, prepare to say goodbye. We can tackle one closet at a time, one room at a time, or even one DRAWER at a time...it's totally up to you how much or how little assistance you'd like in this department. Just make sure you're prepared with ideas when I come ready to help!

Quick Consultation: $50

Have a grad party (for example) coming up and just need some decorating suggestions fast? I can come over and help clear the clutter, rearrange furniture, and hang all the things you've been meaning to hang forever but haven't had time to. I've done this quite a bit for people when they need a set of fresh eyes in their house or a little update. A lot of times it's just putting useless kitchen counter appliances away in cupboards...creating a new home for the endless piles of mail that seem to build up on the desk or hanging a picture on the wall to fill some blank space. But for those who aren't as confident at accomplishing those things on their own, I can come help.

*Time spent shouldn't exceed more than one hour, when/if it does an additional $50 will be charged*

Everything Consultation: Hourly

This one is my favorite because I get to spend time helping, hands-on, from start to finish. I'll come over to tour the home/room/space you need help with. We will chat through some homework (ie: I will help choose paint colors but I won't be doing the painting...I have done enough painting to last me a lifetime) and I'll be available for texts/emails/messages throughout the process. Once the painting (or any other projects) has been accomplished we will go shopping (in your barn/basement/G'mas/stores) for what you'll need to finish everything. Then I'll spend time arranging and styling the space to pull everything together. This is usually the part most people have trouble with but it's my favorite. We can work through the house room by room, or tackle the whole thing, it's totally up to you!

*If you'd like a little bit of everything from the previous 'packages' I've mentioned, they can all be hustled together and when we're 'finished' I can determine the cost based on how much time we spent together at my hourly rate ($50/hour)*

*Mileage+hourly rate will be charged for anything outside of Ames*

If you have questions, just email me at mollie.boersma@gmail.com or text 515.509.1001. Because I get to decide how I run this little side hustle, please, for the LOVE don't call me and leave voicemails. Email and texts will be our best means of communication. 

MmB

Design Trends I Do Not Support

Heyyyyy! We have dining room floors!

As we've been choosing finishes for our house, I've come across some pretty alarming trends. Trends I'd like to warn my people about before they think "Oh wallpaper is cool again! And taking it off isn't as bad as it used to be! I want to give that a try!" STOP NO STOP RIGHT NOW FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. 

Here is my short list of design felonies that I cannot now, and will not ever support. Pinterest can just shut up about all of these.

1. Patterned Tile

I know it looks fun and it seems like the perfect accent on a small bathroom floor or on a kitchen backsplash...but do you SWEAR you're going to love it forever? Or at least long enough that you won't be the one shelling out $1,000+ for something different in five years when you're tired of it? It's so pretty and Jo does it somewhere in every single episode this season on Fixer Upper...but I just can't support it. I want to, but I can't. Pick something neural and versatile and timeless where you thought you wanted patterned tile and I think you'll be more satisfied in the long-run.

2. Herringbone

This can be done well I think, and then it can also be done...not well. Skinny herringbones seem 'trendier' (so I've stayed far away) than a brick herringbone walkway or bigger tiles laid in a herringbone pattern in a entrance, mudroom, or bathroom...but I would also exercise caution using it in large, 'main' spaces because it's so intense. It's all the rage right now, but I just have this feeling that in five years everyone will look at their crazy zig-zag tile floors and think, "why." Again...pick something neutral, versatile and timeless...even though it's the safer more boring option...you can dress up the bones of your house with fun throw pillows and art...the floors/cupboards/countertops/doors/trim/walls don't need to scream "HEY WE'RE FUN!" at you.

3. "Hip" Wallpaper

I've come up with a rule that I firmly believe EVERYONE should adhere to before choosing to wallpaper ANYTHING EVER. If you are putting wallpaper on a wall, you should be the one removing it...always. No exceptions. I don't care if you're 90. If you put that wallpaper up in the 60's and thought it was the most beautiful thing ever, this rule for humankind means you're the one taking it down with your. bare. hands. I've seen SO MUCH wallpaper this season on Home Town and Fixer Upper, and quite honestly, it has Josh and cursing at our TV. Wallpapering the inside the backs of shelves? Backsplashes? The INSIDES OF MUDROOM LOCKERS?! I literally cannot think of WORSE places to try to remove wallpaper. Just burn the house down and start over.

4. Brass

Because fixtures and hardware are so expensive, I just can't support this trend either. It's a fun one, but metals have a way of cycling in and out of style and brass will be no different. I'm doing mostly brushed nickel throughout our new house (door knobs, ceiling fans, bathroom vanity) and oil rubbed bronze on the kitchen cupboards and a couple light fixtures. I think that breaks up the monotony of having EVERYTHING THE SAME, but also keeps some level of consistency throughout the house.

5. Orb Chandeliers

These are the prettiest. The absolute prettiest things I've ever seen. But they did not have orb chandeliers back when my farmhouse style was REAL...so I couldn't, in good conscience, choose one of these for our house. Now, that's not to say they're 'wrong' for everyone, just choose wisely based on the style and character of the home so the whole thing makes sense. There's a little glam here and there for us (see: bedroom chandelier) but it will be balanced with new and old, rustic and clean, antique and Target all the way though to tie things together. And I would really hate to spend $500 on something that will be totally out of style in 5 (or even 10!) years. Neutral, versatile, timeless...three key words for me right now!


Josh said something interesting to me the other day...he was talking about how many rugs we would need at the new house and where and I said, "I love that you're so excited to talk about decorating with me!" and he said, "It's not decorating, it's just function." BA! GOTCHA. If you NEED a rug for your house, and you go to the store and pick it...you are decorating. That is decorating whether you like it or not...whether you think you're 'good' at it or not. It's part of life! And it just so happens that this 'part of life' is my favorite. Take my advice or don't...but in 10 years I *might* be saying 'I told you so!' when you ask to borrow my wallpaper steamers to remove the wallpaper that you were just SURE would be the perfect feature wall. ;)

MmB

New House Update + BEFORE PICS!

Picture this sweet little cottage ALL WHITE, with black trim, a freshly-stained porch, and eventually a white metal roof.

I've been banished to our 'town house' today while Josh lays tile in our master bathroom and Brent (best-friend's-husband/our-remodel-construction-guy) lays flooring in our dining room at the acreage. Apparently they didn't want to have to work quietly during Mav's 3+ hour nap. Oh, you can't have a quiet construction zone? You can't use a saw quietly? FINE WE WILL NAP AT HOME BUT YOU'RE KILLING ME.

Anyway, I thought I'd check in to say I *believe* we've hit some sort of halfway point. At least in my head we're halfway. We're a month in, and also a month out from moving in...so we're technically halfway whether we like it or not.

Here's just a real quick rundown of what we've accomplished, followed by the amazingly dreadful 'before' pictures I know you've all been craving. Please note, we've had HELP from friends and family members throughout this process so when I say 'we' I mean WE ALL, not just Josh and I. ;)

And when I say 'old part of the house' and 'new part of the house'...it means the original cottage-y house was built in 1934...hence the arched doorways, glass knobs, and hardwood floors. The 'new' part was an addition from 1989 (?) where they 'remodeled' the kitchen, added the vaulted dining room + laundry room + + master bed/bath AND the basement walk-out + family room + bedroom/bathrooms underneath the addition. 

We removed wallpaper in four bedrooms, a bathroom, the kitchen, and the vaulted dining room. We tore carpet out of the entire basement, the dining room, living room, three bedrooms, and a bathroom (yes, GROSS). Removed linoleum + subfloor in the 'new' part of the house. Removed tack strips/staples in the whole house. Took down doors, removed all hardware. Patched holes in the wall, sanded walls, oil-base painted all walls where wallpaper existed, and then Brent came to texture three bedrooms + our master bathroom. Removed countertops from kitchen + master bathroom. Josh cleaned out both of the outbuildings that were semi-full of crap and we threw all of this into a giant dumpster that we never dreamed we would fill all the way (including 20+ bags of pure wallpaper) It's scheduled to be picked up Monday...and it's. full.

All of that qualifies as 'demo' in my mind. The rest of the process has been way more fun because we've started to see the transformation, especially this week with floors going in upstairs!

All of our basement trim was sanded, oil-primed, and then painted twice with my top coat color choice Sherwin Williams, 'Clear Gray.' ALL the ceilings in the basement were trimmed and painted. All basement walls were trimmed and rolled twice (this includes the family room, three bedrooms, a landing area, and a bathroom...so you know what I mean when I say 'all basement'). Colors used were Sherwin Williams 'Stone Isle' and 'Hammered Zinc.'

Brent laid the hardwood laminate flooring in the basement landing walk-out area, and then carpet arrived last Thursday! We chose a super durable carpet from Nebraska Furniture Mart in a warm gray color with a subtle grid pattern...the color is 'Lucid' and I'm SO happy with how it turned out. It's not typical basement carpet (the super plushy, fuzzy kind) because I just have this feeling that the 'frizay' look is on it's way out...I also don't like how it wears in high-traffic areas, specifically stairs.

After we finished the basement we started working our way through the upstairs...our master bedroom/bathroom trim was all oil-primed, then painted twice. Both ceilings were painted. I painted our vanity twice with a Valspar mistint color I found at Lowe's, so I can't tell you what it is, but it's amazing (also painted the guest bedroom built-in while I had the color out). Our bathroom was painted twice Sherwin Williams 'Pure White' followed by our bedroom, painted twice with 'Stone Isle'...the color that's going basically everywhere. I painted our closet ceiling/wall/shelves with 'Pure White' also.

Our laundry room is between the dining room and our bedroom, hidden with a pocket door...again, trim was painted with oil then two coats of 'Clear Gray,' ceilings were painted, and walls were painted 'Pure White'...the 'closet' part of the room where the laundry is hooked up is painted 'Hammered Zinc.' Meanwhile, Josh replaced every light fixture and light bulb in the whole house.

Last weekend we FINALLY moved out to start painting the dining room! And it. was. a. beast. First the ceilings were trimmed and painted. Then all the trim got it's three coats of paint...then we painted the walls twice with 'Stone Isle'. Lots of time spent on ladders. We've officially whipped through TWENTY SIX GALLONS OF PAINT. I fell through a window. Nbd. It's done and Brent is laying the floor in there as I type! But I will never paint that vaulted room again, not as long as I live. It's a good thing I love the color.

Josh will finish laying the tile today and one of us will grout tomorrow. Brent wants to have the laminate-hardwood floors laid in our kitchen/dining/master bed/laundry room by the end of the week! I'm moving in to paint the kitchen tomorrow and living room from there...living room ceilings were painted last weekend, so I can't wait to get my hands on transforming that room. Hopefully by the Super Bowl, it will be DONE also!

It seems like we've done a lot (and we have!) but there is still so much to do. Painting the kitchen cupboards, painting the living room, hallway, two bedrooms, and a bathroom (trim + walls!)...then refinishing all the hardwood floors in those rooms. Dressing up the fireplace with shiplap above the mantle and whitewashing the stone. Brent will do countertops in the kitchen and master bathroom, along with subway tile in the kitchen, replace a few windows...our plumber will replace sinks/fixtures, etc. Josh will put all the trim back...and it will *seem* like we're done...but then I have 14+ doors that need to be painted matte black and re-hung. I am not touching them until the end...I'll just plink off one at a time and be really relaxed about it. If the play room doesn't have a door until June we will live.

Ummm and then also...I'll need to power wash + seal/stain the wraparound deck/porch. And once weather permits, we will be painting the exterior of the house white + black trim. It's a marathon that we're sprinting but it's fine. I'll stop and just give you what you came here for, the BEFORE PICTURES.

Dining Room

Master Bedroom

Living Room

Master Bathroom

Guest Bedroom

Bathroom

Family Room

What's Saving My Life Right Now

I can't fully and accurately describe everything that has transpired in the past six weeks since we offered on our house, came under contract for said house, then closed on that house, and immediately started renovating the house. All in the middle of celebrating Christmas. What is our life. It's six weeks I certainly won't ever want to relive (and the following six will be 100% survival mode as well) but we've half-survived this renovation aaaand at some point I'll recount the whole process for you. But today is not that day.

Anyway, Jen Hatmaker asks this question to all of her guests at the end of every one of her podcasts (more on that later)...'What's the ONE thing that is saving your life right now?' and it can be frivolous or serious or anything you want it to be...I have three. And here they are:

1. Chick-Fil-A.

Are you even surprised. We opened our mail the other day to find that the owners of our Ames CFA had sent us a giant envelope with the 2018 Calendar + a handful of gift cards for meals and desserts and even a catering tray. I almost cried. They were just sending a simple Christmas thank you to all their partners and vendors (Josh does their lawn + irrigation + snow) without having any idea HOW MUCH OF A BLESSING THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR HOME RENOVATION. I immediately saw at least four solid meals I wouldn't have to juggle or 'plan' (or pay for!) for the three of us when we're always on the go and living/working between houses. The timing literally couldn't have been more perfect.

2. Podcasts.

Thank you LORD for the invention of podcasts prior to this home renovation. While we were deep in the throes of renovating the last acreage four years ago (which we still own...it's currently a rental, the plan changed at some point and I didn't updated you all which has led to some confusion...it's a whole thing) all we had was crappy Pandora for hours on end. Now I have an endless choice of episodes and content and really amazing stuff to listen to while I'm painting my life away. I throw in Cornerstone and Village Church sermons here and there to keep things interesting. It's made the time go by SO FAST while I work!

For the Love with Jen Hatmaker
Risen Motherhood
JourneyWomen
The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey (she interviews a lot of celebs who are Christians and I can't get enough of it)

3. Our people.

Our people are the best. My prayer is that I can turn around in March when we're done with our house renovation and be as good of a friend to our people as they've been to us. It's caused quite a bit of self-reflection as I wonder if I've been as quick to serve and help and offer my time selflessly as my friends and family have. When I walk through our house I can point to rooms I've painted and projects that have gotten accomplished already because someone was willing to come help or keep Mav for a morning so we could work...and I love that I'll remember that forever!


More than anything, our heart behind this whole crazy project is to open our home to anyone and everyone. Josh is already brainstorming the best way to sleep the most people under our roof and host giant family gatherings and it's so precious. As I've spent most of my week painting and listening to podcasts I also spend time praying over each room (I'll be honest, this is going to get old...I'll need to paint each room approximately three times before it's all said and done and that's NOT counting the three coats I have to do on all the trim)...that my attitude while I'm doing laundry in our laundry room would always be gracious and grateful..that time spent in the family room with people we love would be Christ-honoring and encouraging...that my time invoicing in the office/sunroom would always be done with a heart that's eager to serve my husband...and that everyone who walks through the farmhouse screen door into our house would find a home that radiates love, hospitality, grace, and creativity.

When I think about the past seven years we spent at our house in Ames...I *think* I can look back and say that we were faithful with little. But now I am honestly so excited and ready for this next season where we get to be faithful with much.

MmB