Our little family of four lives happily in Suburbia aka Kansas City. Although, we’ve done many projects around the house, this blog was born out of our kitchen remodel. It all started over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2011 and is still going as I begin this blog today, March 24, 2012.

My Swanky Sidekick joins in almost every step of the way.  He does kind of let me take over when there’s a paint brush involved. That’s mostly because I tend to obsess over every detail. Does perfectionism just go with creativity or what? There’s always just one more thing that could be more perfect. So, he’s pretty wise to just stay out of that department! I also tend to obsess over the planning details and he’s not afraid to tackle things that I am – like electricity, for example. We plan, we discuss, we bicker a bit, and then we go to big blue and big orange three or four times (or more) and then we go to little red too. Eventually, it gets done. Then we look at the room next to that . . . and the process begins again.

As for me, I can remember decorating my room as early as seven years old. I asked for furniture and decorations for my room instead of toys or clothes. I remember when my mom painted a rainbow on my wall one year while we were away visiting relatives. I loved sleeping at the end of the rainbow for many years. While I was growing up, my parents wallpapered, painted, scraped and rehabbed every house and every room – and then did it again (or moved). Looking back now, I wonder why I never aspired to become an interior designer. Well, we can just chalk that up to youth and unfortunate decisions made at an early age. Now I know that was what I should have done for my career.

Unfortunately, I just don’t have the budget to always create what I see in my mind, nor can I afford the nifty downtown loft where they would be appropriate . . .

So, we entertain ourselves here in Swanky Suburbia. And hopefully I can increase my home’s value when that anxiously awaited day that when can put this baby on the market arrives. Until then, I hope you find my posts useful and inspire you to swank things up in your house too!

For the curious who really need to put a face to things, here’s a photo of me and my Swanky Sidekick on our wedding day. Maybe someday we’ll update our photo to something more current. I prefer to be on the other side of the lens.