Hello Holiday season, FINALLY! Is it just me or has this year been the longest year of our lives?! 2020 threw us all the curveball of a lifetime, and while we all handled it in our own ways, I think one thing we can all agree on is that we need some holiday cheer. This year has been, well, tough to say the least but also extremely long.  To help get that going a little earlier this season, we have rounded up some of our favorite holiday decor options to brighten up your home this Christmas!

Holiday shopping may look a little different this year but that doesn't mean your gift giving has to! I have rounded up some of my most favorite gift ideas for all the different types of people in your life. From your entertainer mother in law, to your lounger of a best friend, this gift guide has got you covered! 

PIE TIME!! The very best part of Thanksgiving dinner. With so many delicious options it's hard to pick a favorite holiday favorite, but I promise you no other flavor comes close to a homemade apple pie and I want you to try my recipe for yourself! Impress your family this holiday with hand made crust, sweet apple filling, and stunning top crust designs!  

Kara’s Homemade Apple Pie Recipe  
​

• 4 pounds apples, peeled, cored and cut into slices (I like to mix red and green Granny Smith and Honeycrsip) 
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch 
• 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons cold butter cut into 1/2 inch  pieces 
• 1 egg white, beaten with 1 teaspoon water (this is your egg-wash)
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

​Directions:

• In a large pot stir together apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt nutmeg and cornstarch. 
• Set apple mixture over medium heat, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until the apples are tender but not mushy - about 15 minutes. Uncover and look until the liquid has thickened 5-7 minutes more. Remove from heat, stir In lemon juice and let cool for 30 minutes. 
• Heat oven to 400 degrees
• Transfer filling to your lines pie dish, scatter butter pieces on top and gently start your  top design.

Top Design Ideas: 

• cut various sizes of pie crust strips and create a basketweave design
• braid smaller strips of dough to weave with flat pieces of dough
• cut out shapes with pie cutters 
• have fun and get creative here!

 

• Once you complete your top design, brush the entire top crust with egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar
• Place the pie dish on a baking sheet (the filling will sometimes bubble over). Bake for 1 hour and cover the edges with aluminum foil if they become too dark before your 1 hour cook time. 
• Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let cool for at least an 1-2 hours before serving. You can make this 1-2 days in advance. 
• Ps. don't forget to try my homemade pie crust recipe below for the yummiest results!

Weather you're making a basic pie or creating intricate crust art, every great pie begins with great tools!
Click the item to shop my personal favorite baking tools that I can't live without in the kitchen.

Holiday decor is easily our favorite kind of decor. What other season allows a little glitter of every shape, size, and color?! We want to show you how easy and inexpensive it can be to add a little holiday spirit to your home, and what better part of your house to play with than your fireplace mantel?
Well, Christmas is right around the corner so let's get decorating!

First things first, you must decide your color scheme and theme of your decor. One of the many ways holiday decorating is so fun is because you can make it whatever you want. From classic red and green, to glitzy gold and silver, all the way to crazy neon colors, your decor can be as wild or simple as you want it to be. We chose to go with a little glam this season, using green, with, gold, and silver. 

Depending on the size of your mantel, find a few pieces of large garlands to be the base for your styling. Garland can be simple and green or it can be wild with crazy colors and glitter, what ever you choose, make sure it is a good base that compliments your other elements incorporated throughout.
​We went with a classic pine garland with a sprinkle of snow on the leaves and some pinecones as accents. We purchased  two of the same 6ft garland and overlapped them to appear fuller and to eliminate any seams between the two separate pieces. Make sure you fluff as needed to make the garland more realistic and full.

A statement piece is a must when it comes to mantles, it immediately draws the eye to your special piece and sets the tone for the rest of your decor.  We decided to go with artwork with lots of glitz to dress up our simple garland and begin our glam theme. Having a larger piece in the middle, like artwork or a sign, allows you to add smaller pieces around it, we suggest stacking like items of different sizes on top of each other for added depth as shown.

On each end of the mantel, we chose items with different  heights in groups of three to add dimension on the sides without going overboard. We kept it simple, sticking with neutral colors and even adding in some decor elements we use year-round like candlesticks, white vase, and jute basket. Repurposing decor not only fun to give items a different feel and purpose, it is also very cost effective!

We had so much fun styling this beautiful space, there is something about the holidays that just puts a smile on our face and we wanted to bring that to everyone's home by giving simple decorating tips!

For more ideas and tips, follow along on Instagram @beckmannhouse and tag us in your projects.
Happy Holidays!

In a world of muted colors and clean, bright white spaces, we aren't afraid of a little boldness.
This easy DIY tile stencil project was not only so satisfying to see come to life, but it gave the entry way the POP it needed! 
​
Follow along as we break down each step for you to tackle this proejct on your own!

Stencil
​Concrete prep
Concrete sealer
Behr (or any brand) exterior paint
Painting set (roller, small roller, paint pan)
Paint brush extender
Deck brush
Tape ​

To prep your surface, use a deck brush and a concrete prep solution, depending on the surface you are working on, the solution needed may vary. I used 1 part solution to 3 parts water and then let the solution sit for about 10 minutes for best results. Now it's time to brush away any old residue (dirt, rocks, etc.). 
​Put some muscle into it to ensure a clean and smooth surface to work with!

​*Let the tile completely dry before moving on to step two!

Paint all of the grout lines with your exterior paint using a thick paint brush to map out the squares for your template. It is easier to get the grout lines with a paintbrush than the large roller. 

With your paint pan, roller, and extender, start applying the concrete paint to all of the tiles. Make sure to start from the back and move your way towards the front, this is so you don’t get stuck!
 Depending on your coverage, you may need to apply 2 to 3 coats to your surface letting the paint dry for about 30 minutes between each coat.

​*Let the final coat of paint dry for several hours or overnight before applying the stencil.

Tape the stencil down onto one square of tile at a time, making sure the stencil is straight and centered. The key to good stenciling is applying very little paint over the stencil, this prevents the paint from seeping under the stencil and bleeding onto the tile. A small foam roller works best for this.
After rolling your roller into the paint pan, be sure to roll off any excess paint onto a piece of paper before applying it to your stencil. The great thing about concrete paint is if you happen to mess up your stencil, you most likely will be able to wipe it off right away so keep a damp paper towel or cloth nearby!

*Once you have completed stenciling, allow the paint to dry for several hours.

​Pro Tip: make sure you do not tape your stencil onto the very next tile adjacent to where you just painted, otherwise your paint may still be wet and could mess up your design! I found it helped to jump around in a pattern giving myself plenty of room while I was letting the stenciled tiles dry.

With a new paint pan and roller, apply the concrete sealer. This will seal in the color and eliminate chipping, peeling, and overall wear and tear.

Voila! Your hard work and patience has left you with a unique and bold statement to enjoy
for years on end! We hope you love your finished product and would love to see your new addition!
Tag us on Instagram @beckmannhouse to share your results with us.

​Happy Stenciling friends!

​Traditional Mortgage: ​I was able to qualify for a traditional mortgage when I was still working full time (side note- I used my day job to fund my side hustle).  I then had to hold these properties for a minimum of 4 months.  I was able to purchase 3 flips along with my first rental with this type of financing. If you are not able to qualify for a traditional mortgage, the next examples for financing might be for you.  

Private Money: This is one of my favorite ways to finance. I can have little to no money in the deal and bring in family or friends who know my track record and will let me use their money to invest. I then pay them back with interest when the deal sells, if I choose to refinance. With private money, you are able to negotiate your own terms with these lenders, they are usually significantly lower than hard money loans. I have purchased 4 flips and my second rental property with this type of financing. 

Hard Money: Hard money can scare some people because it can be expensive and you usually have to pay the loan back, in full, in under a year (my lender requires the loan to be paid back in 8 months). Your personal rate will largely depend on your experience and credit score. You will have to pay 1-2 "points" upfront (this is 1-2% of the amount borrowed) and then your interest rate can range from 8-18%. I have learned that, yes, although this is an expensive way to get money, it is cheaper than a 50/50 split partnership. I have purchased 2 flips and my third rental with this strategy.

Cash: Although this can take a while to build up, if you are consistently turning your profits into another flip and continuing this process, you will eventually build up enough cash to finance your own deals. Bringing cash to a deal allows you to have a quicker close, avoid lending fees, and investor terms. Whenever possible, I try to fund the rehab with cash.

Partners or Other Investors: Maybe you have the time and knowhow to run the job-site, manage the budgets, do the design and find the deals. There are investors who have money to invest, however they do not have the time to look for the deals and then execute the remodels. This would make for a great partnership. A partnership can look different for every deal depending on what each partner is bringing to the table. This usually results in a profit split. 

When I started investing, the only strategy that I knew was traditional funding. Learning and using different ways to finance deals allow you to have multiple projects at once or possibly larger projects that you would not be able to fund on your own. The type of funding that I structure my deals with now largely depends on how much of my own money I want to use, how risky the deal is, and how many properties I am currently working on at that moment.

I don't have the money, I don't have the time, and I don't know how. 
I am proof that this CAN be done!

Excuse 1: I don't have time. I flipped 2 houses, purchased and renovated a rental and started on my 3rd flip all while working 40+hours a week at a full time retail job. If you want something bad enough, you will find ways to make the time. 

Excuse 2: I don't have money. I do suggest saving enough money for a down payment before you dive right in. I saved for many years before I was able to have enough for my down payment. With that being said, I now know that there are many different ways for you to get money if you do not have the money yourself to start (Private money and hard money are great examples of this.) There are also investors who might be willing to partner with you. They bring the money to the deal where you bring your time and expertise. 

Excuse 3: I don't know how. I didn't either! I knew nothing about real estate or flipping houses when I started. I went to the job site as much as I could and asked questions... a lot of questions! On my third flip, I hired all subcontractors to teach me how to do everything they were doing. I was still working full time so I would work at my job site before and after my full time job. I learned how to demo walls, demo tile, remove carpet and cabinets. I painted all of the baseboards throughout the house, installed all the light fixtures, learned how to wire can lights, and how to switch out receptacles just to name a few. Having this knowledge was so beneficial to my future projects.  We all start out not knowing how to do something knew, but you learn and grown throughout the process. One of the best ways that I learned was by doing the work, trying out new designs and by trial and error. 

Who says a neutral palette can't be fun and unique?! We love to play up simple color schemes by laying tiles in different patterns paired with a bold statement tile to really make a BIG impact.  Our client wanted a modern feel in their newly spacious master bathroom so we chose to these amazing tiles by Floor and Decor to give them a design truly unique to their home. We incorporated all matte black lighting and plumbing fixtures to pop against the white walls and gorgeous Quartz countertops. 

We more than doubled the square footage of our client's bathroom so we needed a flooring that could handle the new length of the bathroom without taking away from the other design elements. A concrete-look porcelain tile set the tone of the modern design we were trying to incorporate in this space. We chose to lay the tile in a straight stack bond pattern, however this beautiful tile can be laid in a number of different ways to change the feel of the space and really make it your own!

This simple yet beautiful shower consisted of 3 different tiles and 4 different patterns! Getting creative and having fun with your tiles, even if they are the same tile, will add so much character to your space.
The top of the shower featured a double herringbone created with the 3 x 12 Meringue Ceramic Tile from ​Floor & Decor, continued on the bottom half of the shower in a simple brick lay.
The matte black fixtures tie everything together and we could not be more happy with how this simple tile made such a big impact in this shower. 

The best part of this baby is the absolutely stunning, black 2 x 8 straight lay tile we used as a decorative band along the perimeter of the shower. This simple addition adds so much character along with separating the Meringue tile allowing them to shine on their own in different patterns. 

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!! This shower floor pan is to die for, pictures just do not do it justice people.
Soap niches and shower floors are both great options for more of a bold tile without going overboard or taking away from the rest of the design. We lined this black and white marble mosaic with the same black tile used in the decorative band to really tie it all together. 

In your next project, don't be afraid to try something new and spice up that neutral pallet.
Our partners at Floor and Decor have new, amazing tile options being added constantly at affordable price points for you to choose from sparking creativity project after project!

It's cooling down a bit here in Arizona which means we are ready to finally get outside and work on some exterior projects! Whether it be revamping your exterior paint color, adding planters to your entryway, or sprucing up your outdoor furniture and decor, who doesn't love a little curb appeal update?! 
​Remember, you only get to make a first impression once!

One of our newest completed projects required a little love on the outside and we couldn't wait to do so! Although we opted for a smooth stucco finish, changing the paint color from this dated beige to a crisp, clean white made all of the difference along with adding a little POP by painting the trim and front door black. Cleaning up the unruly vines added to the new, clean look of this front yard, and we topped off this exterior with an all-weather,
​​boho conversation set to welcome the new owners home. 

Believe it or not, something as small as light fixtures can make a big impact to the exterior of your home. It's easy for fixtures to become dirty, damaged, and dated because we tend to look past them and focus on bigger pieces but trust us, you're gonna want to move those lights up on your priority list! 

There’s nothings a fresh new coat of paint can’t fix! Even better, try a pop of color on your front door. It creates a new focal point for the exterior of your home along with adding some fun color. Add some of the same color pillows to outdoor furniture or another accent piece to tie in your new color!

Let's be honest, accessorizing is always the most fun when updating a space and unlike inside your home, these items get to be seen by everyone, so why not go all out!
Want something low maintenance and worry free? Faux plants are going to be your best friend, adding lots of color and organic goodness to your new space.  Accent lighting, rugs, and pillows will bring the comfort of indoors outside for you to enjoy during these upcoming Fall nights.

Treat yourself to some new decor, you deserve it!

We hope you have found some inspiration to get outside and love your exterior as much as the rest of your home. For more ideas and tips, follow along on Instagram @beckmannhouse and tag us in your projects! 
​

Still not over subway tile? Good, we aren't either! Here are three different ways to lay a classic
​3 x 6 subway tile that will give your a space a whole new look! ​

This is a fun twist on how to lay subway tile. It's called straight herringbone and we loved it so much we did it twice! Both of these guest bathrooms had pattern floors that we didn't want to compete with so we gave the showers a fun pattern with all white subway tile that complimented the space. 

 A little more of a modern feel with clean lines in both directions. This pattern is called stack bond. We went with a beveled 3x6 subway tile for this design to give more dimension between each tile. 

In this guest bathroom we combined two patterns to create a unique look. We laid the tile in a classic brick lay pattern for the shower surround and added a large focal point of subway tiles laid in a herringbone pattern. This is a great way to add a fun design to an all white shower. We also took the herringbone pattern into the shampoo niche... because it's all of the small details that matter!   

As you can see, each of the projects above feature simple, white subway tiles that made a big impact in these showers.
​Subway tiles also come in a variety of colors so don't limit yourself to white.
Whether you change up the pattern, tile color, or even grout color, there are multiple ways to make a simple tile POP. 

Sometimes no matter how hard we look, we just cannot find that perfect something to add to our home! Price, finish, and size are always factors that can keep us from finding our vision, so why not just MAKE exactly what you dreamt up?

With our latest project, that is exactly what we did. We were looking for a 7' long wood mantel that was the perfect grey but also wasn't over stained. Those were our non-negotiables and it made a lot more sense to just do it ourselves!
​
Below are four easy steps to follow to create your dream mantel. 

Using your saw horses, place your piece of wood balanced on the two, in a place where saw dust won't hurt anything (it's messy) and start your sanders! Make sure to sand down all sides of your raw wood, including the ends, until all of the rough spots and edges are smooth.
​This may take a couple of go's! 

After sanding there will be lots of little wood particles hanging out on your mantel's surface, this is where your tack cloths come in handy! These little guys are SUPER sticky, annoying for your hands, but amazing at getting off all of the saw dust for a smooth surface. Run your tack cloth over every bit of your mantel to make sure no wood pieces get left behind. 

I find that using a wood conditioner helps the stain adhere to the wood MUCH better than times I have not used a conditioner. Use one of your stain cloths and dip it into your pre-stain, (don't forget to wear gloves) and apply a generous coat to all sides of your mantel, again, don't forget the ends and edges.
This dries pretty quickly, so no waiting period necessary before step four.   

 The last step to staining your mantel is of course, staining! Use a fresh stain cloth and dip it into your stain  (don't forget to stir it) completely covering the mantel one coat at a time. The more coats you apply, the darker your stain will be and the less natural wood grain will show. 
For this mantel, I only applied two coats of stain to maintain visibility of the wood grain, adding a very light grey tint. ​Wait at least 30 minutes between coats of stain to allow the wood to accept the stain and to see an accurate stain color.

Tip: After deciding what side of your mantel is going to be the back (touching the fireplace), test out your stain here first to make sure you love the color!

TA - DA ~  You have stained your own mantel!
​After allowing it to dry for several hours, you are ready to hang that beauty. This project is a great way to save money and create a one-of-a kind focal point for your home. Enjoy your custom addition to your fireplace friend, tag us on Instagram so we can see your take on this DIY mantel stain tutorial! 
​
Stay tuned to see the finished fireplace and how we stage our new mantel!

A front door should set the tone for the rest of your home before you walk in the door! Whether you choose to keep your existing door and add a pop of color, or change it out for a statement door, we have you covered. We are sharing a few of our favorite doors from our past remodels for a little exterior inspiration!

For the Modern French Remodel project, we chose a beautiful pivot door to really set the tone for the modern design elements also found within the home.  In addition to replacing the original green door, we widened the opening to accommodate for this new statement of a front door. We love that you can see the French reclaimed limestone floors in the Foyer and the glow of a modern crystal chandelier as soon as you walk up the porch. 

This completely original home from 1955 had a pop of color on everything but the front door ~ the whole house was turquoise! We fell in love with the charm of this old home but wanted to give it a modern update while keeping a little bit of color to honor the original home. This rich hunter green was the perfect choice to compliment the now white home with black trim!
​Definitely one of our most transformational projects to date.

We loved this color so much, we brought it on the inside of the home too!  Typically we paint the inside of the front door a semi gloss white, but not this time. This is our favorite shade of blue. We jokingly refer to it as "Beckmann Blue" because we want to use it in every project, and would if we could! This blue is soft and makes for such a calming and inviting space, yet also adds a nice pop next to white walls. This is the perfect example of what the right choice of paint can do for a home, and how you can make something old look new again!

One of our first front door transformations was at our McLellan project. This entryway was dark, closed off, and very uninviting, so we set out to make it the opposite! The gate was the first thing to go, followed by painting the exterior of the home the perfect shade of white to brighten everything up. We kept the red brick border for contrast and chose a true navy blue  for a pop of color on the original double doors. It completely transformed before our eyes, and became a very inviting entryway! 

We hope this gives you inspiration for any upcoming projects! Don't be afraid of a little color in a world full of neutrals, it will only make your neutrals more beautiful. We are sure the pop of color will put a smile on your face every time you see it, it does for us!