Casual Friday: Beams, Leanne Ford, Paranormal Activity, Beauty Counter & More!
February 21, 2020
It’s been the most productive week around the house. With less than 3 weeks until the video shoot, it seems like everything is so close and every day we’re seeing more and more progress. The latter half of this week Demo Dave (seen above) and Finisher Dave started installing the beams in the dining room. (Side note: There are actually THREE contractors that are named Dave working on our house. We got to know Demo Dave first as he was here every day for months, mostly on his own. Polly loves to say an enthusiastic “Hi! Daveeee!!!!” every time she sees him, and now she says it to all the contractors because I think she thinks they’re ALL named Dave–she gets it right often. Haha).
These beams are made from primed mdf and attached to 2×6’s. They’ll be painted Alabaster like the walls and ceiling in here and I love the depth they add so much here. One suggestion came in to paint the beams the same color as the trim, but the huge drum pendants that will be hanging over the table are kind of an oatmeal color, so I think that will really tie it all together. Can’t wait to uncover these flooorrrss!!!!
More fun things this week!
• Yesterday, Leanne Ford’s line for Crate & Barrel dropped and my jaw hit the floor. Like, was this made for me? Was every single item specifically designed for this house? Hahaha. You can check it all out right here, but I rounded up a few favs below.
1. Cortez Charcoal Floating Nightstand: $599
2. Fields Natural Storage Cabinet: $2199
3. Willy White Plaster Pedestal Side Table: $299
4. Pacific Natural Wood Oval Coffee Table: $1599
5. Plain Weave Sand Lumbar Pillow: $129
6. Tom Charcoal Three-Legged Coffee Table: $1599
7. White Wabi Floor Vase: $99
8. Riki Black Footed Bowl: $79
9. Meechelle Large White Candle: $99
10. Canyon Arched Canopy Bed with Upholstered Headboard: $1799
11. Ever Slipcovered Sofa: $2299
12. Fields Cane Back White Accent Chair: $999
• We haven’t had ANY more paranormal activity in months! (Thank goodness–our house truly feels like our own now and I don’t even have a feeling that there’s something there like I used to.) But the comments on this REALLY made me laugh.
• This long sleeved pocket tee I wore earlier this week is on sale and is CARRYING me through until Spring. (Okay, it was -1 when I wore it.) But I paired with my favorite white sneakers and it felt like Spring TO ME!!!!!
• This office by Gray Apple Design has me rethinking my entire office. (jk) But seriously, standing ovation!!!!
• This Overnight Resurfacing Peel is magic! (After 3 weeks my skin is, in a word, radiant! I use it 3x a week at night, right before my moisturizer.
• We are headed to Scottsdale, Arizona on Monday with the Makerista for the Lowe’s Bedroom Makeover!!!! I can’t believe it’s already here!! We’ll be sharing live stories on Instagram all week, so be sure to follow along in real time! I don’t think we’ll have a ton of down time, but we’ll for sure need to eat, so if you’re familiar with the area–would love any recs!!
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Julia, where did you order your mdf beams from
Phoenix restaurant recommendation: T Cooks
Love Leanne Ford and especially love that she works in Pittsburgh, one of my favorite cities. My husband is from there and I keep wanting to move there but he keeps saying…no…to much snow. Ha! I know you are from there originally. Anyway, I can see a lot of similarities in your’s and Leanne Ford’s designs and the way you each stay true to your own vision. So, I am not at all surprised that you love her line at Crate and Barrel.
Check out Taco Guild in Phoenix. It’s in a restored church and it is fabulous, both space and food (and margaritas!). You won’t be disappointed.
Scottsdale has great restaurants & the weather is perfect right now. Here’s a list of really good restaurants we’ve found: culinary dropout, Nobu, citizen public house, bourbon and bones, Eddie V’s, Mastro’s Ocean club. There’s also Shake Shack ????
Flower Child has great healthy food and lots of GF and vegan options!
Whatever bed you ordered should probably be returned so you can get this one from Crate & Barrel!! Holy moly it’s stunning!
That is also my favourite in the roundup of Julia’s favourites.
We love Scottsdale!! Some of our favorite places are La Grande Orange, The Mission for amazing Mexican food, Olive and Ivy, The Greene House, and Andreoli Italian Grocer – all SO GOOD!!! Have a fun trip!!
I think you need that bed!!! It goes with all your arches!!
I’m so thrilled you joined our Beautycounter community! The more voices sharing safer beauty = more awareness to the lack of regulation for products we put on our skin every day. The Cleansing Balm forever changed by acne prone skin, I never go a day without our lipgloss, the skincare is phenomenal, the blushes, the eye shadows, and we have used the shampoo/conditioner for almost 5 years and still love it. Thank you for using your voice in this mission, we are grateful for you sharing safer. xo
The room looks great! I had to share this:Growing up, we had several neighbors named Dave. My parents read us the silly Dr. Seuss poem “Too Many Daves.” :)
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/too-many-daves/comments/
I love Alabaster in your house so, so much! We went and got a sample for our home and it painted on our walls completely yellow toned. Just goes to show how much lighting, floors, trim, etc make sure a difference in colors. In love with all the things going on lately!
True Food is amazing for healthy, gluten free, dairy free, whatever you need! they do it all!
Buck and Ryder in Phoenix!! If you like seafood and patios :)
Love how the beams are coming along!! Curious your steps before painting (if any). Sand first or not? Is the primed mdf glossy? We have a glossy mdf mantel that I’d love to paint and I’m not sure how to tackle it.
Postino in Scottsdale is a must! They have the best bruschetta ever and have gluten free options :D
https://www.postinowinecafe.com/
I lived in Phoenix for several years and moved in 2015 and visited again recently and it’s grown SO.MUCH. Scottsdale is great (and has awesome hiking if you’re into that kind of thing), but make sure you also visit Downtown Phoenix for some awesome shops and restaurants.
Shops you’ll love:
– Phoenix General
– Local Nomad
– Frances
– Retro Ranch (and several vintage shops around it in the Melrose district)
– Made Art Boutique
Can’t miss food & drink:
– Luxe (super cute cafe/bar with vegan options and mac&cheese I still dream about)
– The Churchill (open air food hall)
– Vovomeena (best brunch)
– Nami (the most amazing vegan soft serve)
Both Phoenix and Scottsdale also have large and very cute farmers markets! Enjoy
How wide were the mdf boards you used? 6″?
It makes me think of the Dr Seuss story “Too Many Daves” Maybe one of them should be named Bodkin Van Horn. ????
Loving the beams!! Check out Farm & Craft in Scottsdale. Not sure how allergy friendly it is but it’s such a cute spot with lots of fresh ingredients. Seems like somewhere you guys would love!
If you are near Kierland Commons, the Green House is great. There is a True Food there and The Henry is fun too.
Hi there! Is the primed mdf the cheapest and lightest way to achieve the beams?
Pizzeria Bianco and Lux Coffee are my Phoenix favs. Also there is so much good vintage shopping in PHX!
I bet Polly makes all the contractors’ days saying hi to them! :) What a cutie. The beams look great and I’m sure it feels good to be getting so close to the finish line!
Eat at the farm at South Mountain if you are wanting to get out and get some fresh air. It is absolutely delightful.
https://www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com/the-farm-kitchen/#
We just will be leaving Scottsdale on Saturday! Try:
Original ChopShop
Picazzos (gluten free dog pizza is SO GOOD)
Virtu Honest Craft
Love Scottsdale! Three food recommendations:
Sel in old town Scottsdale
FnB on 5th Ave
Rancho Pinot on N. Scottsdale Road
I’m a consultant too. I don’t make an effort to actively sell it currently, but it does still predominately fill my cosmetic bag.
I love honest beauty or thrive causemetics mascara though. RMS beauty living luminizer for highlight. Every other makeup item I use is BC. ????
For skincare I’m all about cleansing balm, overnight resurfacing peel, no 1 oil, and Countermatch moisturizer, but I also love biossance rose + vitamin c oil.
Those beams look lovely! I can’t wait for the whole reveal. I’ve been also moving towards clean beauty and have replaced just about all my products and my children’s body care products, but it’s been a process. The peel you mentioned has great reviews, but is still getting a 5 on think dirty for ingredients :( If you haven’t tried 100% pure, I’d highly recommend you do. Their water foundation , fruit pigmented mascara, and vitamin c mask are a few of my faves!
I’m disappointed that you mentioned BeautyCounter. I’m firmly against supporting MLM business structure and more than 90% of consultants lose money instead of making a profit
Beautycounter is not an MLM. I’m not required to sign people up under me at all. It is considered “direct retail” because you don’t even HAVE to buy the products through a consultant. They are also sold on their site or retailers like Goop, J. Crew And Target. I became a consultant for the 25% off all products because I love them.
i’ll definitely be trying these.. with a little girl who loves to do what mommy does having safe beauty products in the house are. must.
thank you!
When I saw the beams I had the same thought.. I can’t wait to see you uncover those floors!!
Love the way your home is coming together! A fantastic place to eat in Scottsdale is Cafe Monarch. It’s expensive (make a reservation), but the food is absolutely phenomenal.
I just started using a couple BeautyCounter products at Christmas and, like you, am excited to try out more of their stuff. I have the resurfacing peel and my skin has never felt so smooth – it’s amazing! I also have the cleansing balm and honest to goodness it is the best thing I have ever put in my face, period. If you haven’t ordered, it yet, I promise you will love it. It’s a game changer.
Eat at La Grande Orange for sure. Everything is delicious!
Hit up The Herb Box in Scottsdale for allergy-friendly and DELICIOUS meals in a cute setting. And get ready to experience SPRINGTIME! The weather is amazing here right now. :)
I ADORE the resurfacing peel!!