We finally stained our DIY pergola! It was always our intent to stain it, but once it was finished, we found ourselves just wanting to enjoy it! As the months passed, we noticed the wood splintering and getting gray/weathered and figured it was time. It was a big job best accomplished in the spring before temps hit the 100s (hello North Carolina summers) but if it hadn't been for quarantine, we might have continued putting it off (we're ambitious like that). After trying a million different samples, I have some things to say hence an entire post dedicated to it, plus I haven't shared any patio photos since last July so now is a good time for an update. But first, when you last saw our DIY modern pergola, it looked like this:

You guys! We made it! We've arrived at the end of the One Room Challenge! Air hugs and jazz hands all around! What an eventful 8 weeks (in more ways than one)! I'm excited to show you the final result of the past 8 weeks- and really 8 months since we first began discussing this project. Joe and I knew we needed a place for me to work, a place for a family computer, and though I hope not (please please please), a place for the kids to 'do school,' if remote learning continues in the fall. We decided that the blank wall in the kitchen would be a great place for a DIY office nook. My goals for the office nook included:

I can't believe it's almost time for the final One Room Challenge reveal! Agh! We still have a few things to do and it's down to the wire! If you're new, here's what I've shared so far:

Welcome to Week 6 of the One Room Challenge! Week 5 was canceled (you can read about that here)* but I'm excited to share the next (and a big!) step in the process- making the wall shelves! If you're new, check out weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 to catch up on our Office Nook progress! The biggest challenge we faced with our DIY shelves was finding wood (white oak in this case) wide enough. My ideal width was 10-12" wide. To solve that problem, we decided to join two narrow boards together to make one shelf with a 10 1/2 inch depth. I was concerned that the planked look would lean "farmhouse" but that's not an issue at all. They look clean and simple and we're really happy with them! So here's how we did it!

I can't believe it's week 4 of the One Room Challenge! I also can't believe we finally have a floating desk! But first, if you're new here, let me catch you up. We've been working to make an empty nook in our kitchen into a homework spot for the kids, a place for a family computer, and a place for me to work. I shared my vision in week 1, our conundrum with the shelves in week 2, and a bit more about our plan for the shelves, a round-up of brackets, and my secret weapon for shelf styling in week 3. Getting this floating desk installed was months in the making. Months of going back and forth to the lumber yard. Months of tweaking (and usually simplifying) our plans, and weeks of waiting for the wood to be joined and installed. I'm thrilled that it's finally happened! Keep reading to see it in all its glory, and for a description of how the contractor installed it because it was A LOT more simple than I anticipated!