Happy New Year!
Hope you had a wonderful holiday season.
For some reason the Christmas spirit came to me a little late this year. I didn’t even feel like decorating until mid-December. But now I want the warm glow of my holiday lights to last just a little longer.
If you’re like me, right about now you’re wondering where 2016 went and trying to remember what you did all year. It’s fun to take a look back before moving forward.
So it’s become my tradition each New Year to review my blog posts from the previous year and share my top posts with you. If you’ve missed anything, it’s a great way to catch up.
My Top 10 Posts of 2016
This time I’m going in chronological order. It’s just more fun. My most-viewed posts of 2016 were:
1. A DIY Chandelier Upgrade
Sometimes it’s not the size of the project that matters. For this little project, I took a piece a fabric I got for under $1 and turned it into an elegant chandelier sleeve. No more plain chain!
This chandelier sleeve made our master bathroom complete. To read posts about our master bathroom, the room we carved essentially out of thin air, check out this page.
2. Three Easter Decor Ideas
I had a lot of fun creating these little shatter-resistant eggshell planters. And I shared a couple of Easter gift ideas in the same post.
3. Improvements in the Garden
This was my most popular post of the year. What started as a small repair to a walkway evolved into a major landscape improvement project. Our backyard is more beautiful – and practical – since this bluestone path installation.
But to me, the project still didn’t seem complete. So I installed some simple DIY garden edging.
4. A Lapse in Judgment Becomes Garden Art
Is there a support group for people who can’t resist curbside finds? Almost immediately after I picked up this chair, I regretted doing so. Too icky to bring into the house, I turned it into garden art.
5. A Makeover for a Vintage Airstream
Our 17-foot Airstream Caravel, the June Bug, turned 50 last year. So to celebrate, we treated her to an exterior makeover. Also in this post, I share tips for camping in a tiny trailer.
In my subsequent post, The June Bug Heads to Yosemite, I share a couple of minor interior upgrades – plus some beautiful photos from Yosemite.
Look for the return of the June Bug in 2017. After all, she is our tiny vacation cabin on wheels.
6. My Three-Season Greenhouse
Here I share the many uses I have for my greenhouse over the changing seasons.
More posts about our greenhouse can be found on our greenhouse page.
And speaking of the greenhouse . . .
7. Fun with Brick and Mortar
The final piece (at least for now) of our garden improvement puzzle was to add a brick foundation to the greenhouse. The brick makes the greenhouse look more permanent, more old-world, and more cohesive with the new hardscaping.
This project only took us a couple of days, but what a difference it made.
8. A Plumbing Leak Becomes an Opportunity
A plumbing issue in our main floor bathroom led to a much-needed aesthetic upgrade.
9. Saving Four Innocent Chairs from the Dumpster
Not having learned my lesson with my previous curbside rescue (see number 4 above), I found four weathered rattan chairs that needed me.
10. A DIY Doll Bed for My Favorite Little Girl
My final post of 2016 was all about the little Christmas gift that I made for my niece. It was fun to transform this vintage magazine rack into something so sweet.
My Personal Favorites of 2016
Two of my favorite posts that almost made the Top 10 were:
Making an Entrance
My Mom took her mid century rambler from bland to beautiful by adding a portico and larger windows. It’s exactly what her house needed.
Be sure to check out the “before” photos in this post.
An Old Stereo Cabinet is Transformed
Here my husband shows us that paint isn’t always the answer when rehabbing a vintage furniture piece. His repurpose of this tired mid century stereo cabinet is elegant and practical.
How to Browse My Posts
For clickable photos of every post on my blog, in chronological order, check out my photo gallery. (But keep in mind that, in the beginning, I was struggling to take halfway decent photos with a lesser camera.)
My very first post, Saying Goodbye to a Special Lady, was about my mother-in-law’s celebration of life party. Writing it was therapy for me since I got to share with my readers Betty’s wonderful sense of style.
What’s Going on in 2017?
Our 1927 cottage turns 90 this year. We have been slowly and respectfully improving this house for years, but of course there is always more to do.
Like most old houses, it has its “sore spots” – rooms or areas that don’t flow right, don’t look their best, and could be put to better use. This year I want to focus on getting those spaces upgraded and organized so that they really work with our lifestyle.
I want these areas to look fresh but retain the character and charm of an old house. Which might mean a few trips to the salvage shops. In fact, it already has.
So no more excuses for me. It’s time to get cracking!
Oh, I remember so many of these. A great look back at 2016! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Jann, thanks for hosting SYC!