Back to touring with built-ins: some white, some black

There are few earthly things that make my cute carpenter husband happier than trim, big screen TVs and saving money by doing something himself. When these three things come together for him it is like the perfect storm, for better or for worse. I will get to the worse later... for now let's look at the better. Oh yeah, and if you are joining over here for the first time, I am on tour with my house and I am honored you are here. I know it sounds strange, and I can promise you we are moving at a snails pace due to my very short attention span...but you can read why I am touring here.

This fireplace surround is a better. It started with only the black stone around the opening of the fireplace, and my cute carpenter added the trim. I love a fire, I prefer a real one, but will settle for gas. This is indeed a real fireplace, but was converted to gas by the previous owners. Unfortunately, when it is lit we all come close to death by carbon monoxide poisoning so I am currently just settling for the glow of candles in the fireplace.

Here is another better, my family room built-in that the hubby designed and built me. It's pretty, efficiently holds some of my favorite things, and is wired for lights...love it.

Some of my favorites...

I own every 50% off Hobby Lobby frame they sell. Caroline in my wedding veil...can. not. deal.

Kevin's grandfather found all of these arrow heads around a lake on his property. He spent his time finding them, he made the frame, and then put it all together...the perfect gift.

The kids books. They must beckon to be pulled from the shelf as rarely a day goes by when they haven't been flung about the floor...just as they should.

I told you we would get to the worse...nothing says quaint and charming like a movie screen in your family room. Who doesn't want to walk into a room and feel they are being overtaken by a television? I'll tell you who, my husband. He loves it. He loves everything about it. He refuses to attempt to hide or draw attention away from unsightly things like TVs. To him, they are not unsightly, so why attempt to mask them?

Here is the shelf before he redid it...

And the "improved" after? I will let you decide...

There you have it, my carpenter's three creations in our family room. Come back tomorrow and I will show you the rest of our family room.

Until then,