We love our IKEA KUNSBACKA cabinets. Read all about our full review of IKEA cabinets in this post, where I detail all of the pros and cons of going with IKEA for your next kitchen. We were entirely skeptical, but I couldn't find the right matte black cabinet front elsewhere (at the right price), so we decided to give IKEA a try. We learned a lot doing our first kitchen with IKEA. Next time, we will be more efficient since we have done it once before. Today, I'm sharing our experience, along with some tips for ordering IKEA cabinets! 

I don't love hunting for light fixtures. I have no trouble selecting plumbing, flooring, paint, etc....but finding lighting can be so frustrating. Generally, the biggest issue is finding fixtures that give off a soft light, versus harsh. Many of the fixtures that are "trending" incorporate exposed bulbs, which Ty and I both find hard on the eyes. We were very specific about what we wanted - here were our parameters while shopping for lighting :

With summer in full bloom, there's no better time to explore northern Michigan. Not only will you find cute, quaint towns, you'll also find some of the best weather in the country (during the summer!). Of the many small towns we absolutely love in Michigan, Petoskey, and nearby Harbor Springs, are our favorites.

Floating vanities allow for a continuous floor, making a bathroom feel larger. When designing our bathroom renovations, I fell for IKEA's floating vanities. They are available in a myriad of colors, including a gorgeous light oak. Beyond a well rounded collection, you can't beat the PRICE! Although, we had to get creative when installing the under-mount sinks.

As we sat on the beach on 30A, I mentioned to Hannah that once my friend Justin and I had driven to NOLA for one day in college. She wasn't altogether surprised, I've always had a penchant for doing things on a whim, but then she stopped and paused: Isn't that like 7 hours away? When I told her it was only 4.5 hours, I saw the wheels turning. Then, she said she might like to see it sometime. Two days later, we were in the car heading to NOLA for a one day getaway. 

MPLS is a city much larger, and more exciting than I had perceived it would be. We traveled to western Minnesota for a wedding and decided to schedule an extra day to explore the twin cities. In the twin cities, we found a few consistent things: good eats, better coffee, and friendly Minnesotans!

We are so happy with our wrapped exhaust hood! It is minimal, yet dramatic. We love that it is versatile - we could paint it any color, tile it, or wrap it in wood! We are enjoyed the matte black for now, but may install a tile like this when we are ready for a change! Our followers are often asking what material we used for our hood. It's just drywall! Today, we are sharing how we designed and crated this piece.