Mackinaw Road

Travel-Inspired Design, One Trip at a Time

  • Travel
    • A 2-to-4-day Vancouver Itinerary
    • 6 Kid-Friendly Christmas Activities in Chicago
    • 6 Kid-Friendly, Rainy Day Activities in Boston
    • Banff: Something for Everyone
    • Chicago with Kids: Can’t Miss Places and Restaurants
    • Islands
      • 007 in the Bahamas
      • Island Travel Interveiws- Australia, Take 1 (Sydney)
      • Island Travel Interviews, Australia (Gold Cost)
      • Island Travel Interviews- Caribbean Islands, Take 10 (St. Barts)
      • MUST SEE Grand Cayman
      • Top 5 Hilton Head Activities with Kids
      • What to do on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
      • A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • The Cloisters on Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • Where to Eat When Visiting Paradise Island
    • Michigan
      • 24 Hours in West Michigan
      • An Afternoon in Grand Rapids
      • A Long Weekend in Northern Michigan
      • A Few Hours in Saugatuck
      • Global Christmas and Holiday Traditions in 2 hours or Less
      • Leland Gal
      • Places You MUST SEE in Northern Michigan
      • Traverse City Wineries
      • What to Do in Charlevoix, Michigan
      • What to do in Leland, Michigan
      • What to do in Petoskey, Michigan
      • Where to Eat in Traverse City, Michigan
      • Where to Stay in Saugatuck: Judson Heath Colonial Inn
    • Midwest Christmas Tour
    • NOLA in 2 days
    • Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg Blue, and How They are Related
    • Top 6 activities in D.C. with Small Children
    • Top 5 Delhi Attractions
    • Top 4 Best Spring Break Beaches
    • To Plan or Not to Plan
    • A Weekend in New York City
    • Wandering in NYC
    • NYC in 48 Hours
    • What to do in Asheville, North Carolina (in 24 hours)
    • What to do in Monterey, California
    • What to do in New Orleans
    • What to do in San Antonio, Texas
    • What to do in Savannah, Georgia (in 3 hours)
    • What to do in Washington D.C.
    • What to do in Winter Park, Florida
    • Where to Eat in Chicago: Restaurants for Every Kind of Getaway
    • Where to Eat in Denver
    • Where to Stay in Denver: Hotel Teatro
  • Beach Cabin & Home
    • A Hotel-Inspired Guest Room Makeover
    • An Airbnb-Inspired Fridge Obsession
    • Christmas House Tour 2016
    • Cottage Kitchen Nook | ORC Week 8
    • Cozy Autumn Living Room
    • Decorating with Travel Trinkets
    • DIY Design: Cane Console Makeover Look for Less
    • DIY Ottoman for the Beach Cabin
    • Easy, Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Flooring
    • Entryway Wallpaper : Serena and Lily Wallpaper
    • How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!
    • Inexpensive Backyard Patio Ideas
    • Inexpensive Flooring: How to Stencil Concrete Floors
    • Kitchen Styling: Spring Shelves 3 Ways
    • Kitchen Shelf Styling- Autumn Decor
    • Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options
    • Modern Traditional Laundry Room Makeover
    • Thanksgiving: At Home and Abroad
    • Travel-Inspired Shared Bedroom
  • SHOP OUR HOME & BEACH CABIN
  • SHOP MY CLOSET
  • About Me
    • Let’s Chat
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, and Privacy
  • Travel
    • A 2-to-4-day Vancouver Itinerary
    • 6 Kid-Friendly Christmas Activities in Chicago
    • 6 Kid-Friendly, Rainy Day Activities in Boston
    • Banff: Something for Everyone
    • Chicago with Kids: Can’t Miss Places and Restaurants
    • Islands
      • 007 in the Bahamas
      • Island Travel Interveiws- Australia, Take 1 (Sydney)
      • Island Travel Interviews, Australia (Gold Cost)
      • Island Travel Interviews- Caribbean Islands, Take 10 (St. Barts)
      • MUST SEE Grand Cayman
      • Top 5 Hilton Head Activities with Kids
      • What to do on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
      • A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • The Cloisters on Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • Where to Eat When Visiting Paradise Island
    • Michigan
      • 24 Hours in West Michigan
      • An Afternoon in Grand Rapids
      • A Long Weekend in Northern Michigan
      • A Few Hours in Saugatuck
      • Global Christmas and Holiday Traditions in 2 hours or Less
      • Leland Gal
      • Places You MUST SEE in Northern Michigan
      • Traverse City Wineries
      • What to Do in Charlevoix, Michigan
      • What to do in Leland, Michigan
      • What to do in Petoskey, Michigan
      • Where to Eat in Traverse City, Michigan
      • Where to Stay in Saugatuck: Judson Heath Colonial Inn
    • Midwest Christmas Tour
    • NOLA in 2 days
    • Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg Blue, and How They are Related
    • Top 6 activities in D.C. with Small Children
    • Top 5 Delhi Attractions
    • Top 4 Best Spring Break Beaches
    • To Plan or Not to Plan
    • A Weekend in New York City
    • Wandering in NYC
    • NYC in 48 Hours
    • What to do in Asheville, North Carolina (in 24 hours)
    • What to do in Monterey, California
    • What to do in New Orleans
    • What to do in San Antonio, Texas
    • What to do in Savannah, Georgia (in 3 hours)
    • What to do in Washington D.C.
    • What to do in Winter Park, Florida
    • Where to Eat in Chicago: Restaurants for Every Kind of Getaway
    • Where to Eat in Denver
    • Where to Stay in Denver: Hotel Teatro
  • Beach Cabin & Home
    • A Hotel-Inspired Guest Room Makeover
    • An Airbnb-Inspired Fridge Obsession
    • Christmas House Tour 2016
    • Cottage Kitchen Nook | ORC Week 8
    • Cozy Autumn Living Room
    • Decorating with Travel Trinkets
    • DIY Design: Cane Console Makeover Look for Less
    • DIY Ottoman for the Beach Cabin
    • Easy, Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Flooring
    • Entryway Wallpaper : Serena and Lily Wallpaper
    • How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!
    • Inexpensive Backyard Patio Ideas
    • Inexpensive Flooring: How to Stencil Concrete Floors
    • Kitchen Styling: Spring Shelves 3 Ways
    • Kitchen Shelf Styling- Autumn Decor
    • Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options
    • Modern Traditional Laundry Room Makeover
    • Thanksgiving: At Home and Abroad
    • Travel-Inspired Shared Bedroom
  • SHOP OUR HOME & BEACH CABIN
  • SHOP MY CLOSET
  • About Me
    • Let’s Chat
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, and Privacy

No Widgets found in the Sidebar Alt!

Interior Design

Elegant Dining Room Refresh

Well.. we made it to Week 6 of the One Room Challenge! It was touch-and-go for awhile there. (It always is with me- haha!) But, I am so SO excited…

read more
November 9, 2019
Styling

A Simple and Cozy Christmas

Happy Holidays! This year, I kept it fairly easy using decorations that I already had stored away, making for a Simple and Cozy Christmas. Well… not entirely simple. It took…

read more
December 16, 2022
Gifts, Uncategorized

Gift Guide for the Traveler in Your Life

The Lake Effect snow is on it’s way, and I am finally realizing that Christmas is just over a month away. It’s time to get shopping. Fortunately, there are many,…

read more
November 19, 2016
  • Gifts,  Uncategorized

    Friday Finds on Mackinaw Road: Graduation Gifts and More!

    May 23, 2019 /

    Spring is in full swing with all of the fun activities and last minute school events! That includes graduation gifts! I can’t believe how many kids are graduating this year. It seems like they were just in second grade! Don’t blink. We’ve also had Mother’s Day, so many birthdays, teacher gifts, and Father’s Day right around the corner. You can check out the Father’s Day gift guide by clicking here. Below are some more (random) gift suggestions for all your gift giving needs. (This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click and purchase, I may receive some compensation- thank you!)

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Gift Guide: 9 Year Old Boy Gifts

    Gift Guide: 9 Year Old Boy Gifts

    November 11, 2022
    8 Year Old Gifts

    Gift Guide: 8 Year Old Gifts

    November 6, 2021
    Gift Ideas for Teen Girls

    Gift Ideas for Teen Girls

    November 14, 2025
  • Decorating,  Uncategorized

    Beach Cabin Screened in Porch: ORC, Week 6

    May 9, 2019 /

    The Beach Cabin Screened In Porch is finished! Sort of. I could blame it on the rain. Or a busy spring. Or training for a 25k. I could… Anyway, the porch is mostly finished. I’d love to add a new wall light. It has been purchased but needs to be installed. I also had grand plans of adding some curtains out there. We’ll see. The sailing line plans are also on a brief hold. (You can read all about them in last week’s post here.) In fact, if you are new here and want to catch up on the topsy turvy Beach Cabin Screened In Porch plans, you can click on…

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Living Room Accent Chair Options

    Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options

    October 19, 2020
    Inexpensive Tiling: How to Stencil Your Fireplace

    How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!

    September 24, 2018
    Winter Decorating | Silver Dollar Eucalyptus

    Floor Lamp Round Up and Winter Decorating

    January 14, 2021
  • Decorating,  Uncategorized

    Beach Cabin Porch, ORC Week 5

    May 4, 2019 /

    Hi there! It has been raining almost all week (and even snowed last Saturday!) which made painting the Beach Cabin Porch difficult to say the least. The rain finally cleared on Friday and our family is spending the weekend enjoying the nice spring weather. I may have even asked/begged for a little help getting the porch ready.

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Living Room Tv | TV artwork

    Mackinaw Road Mondays: Springtime, Sunglasses, Flowers, and More

    March 17, 2020
    Inexpensive Tiling: How to Stencil Your Fireplace

    How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!

    September 24, 2018
    Halloween Kitchen Decor

    Day-to-Night Kitchen Halloween Decorations

    October 22, 2021
  • Decorating,  US Travel

    Boys Bedroom Dinosaur Edition

    May 1, 2019 /

    Boys Bedroom Dinosaur Edition Good morning! I was planning on giving an update on our Boys Bedroom Dinosaur Edition earlier but then the middle drawer in our son’s dresser was stuck… and then broken… and then it sat on the bedroom floor for a good month while we tried to figure out how to fix it. Our son’s dinosaur bedroom has been a work in progress, taking several months to finish, but I think it was worth the wait. (Of course, about a week before it was finished, he informed me that he no longer is interested in dinosaurs and now is into LEGO Ninjago…. haha!)

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Living Room Accent Chair Options

    Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options

    October 19, 2020
    Green Kitchen Cabinets and Custom Hood

    Simple Spring Kitchen for Staying Home

    March 31, 2020
    Inexpensive Tiling: How to Stencil Your Fireplace

    How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!

    September 24, 2018
  • Decorating,  Uncategorized

    A Change of Porch Plans Again.. and Nantucket Green! ORC, Week 4

    April 25, 2019 /

    Hi! I hope that your week is going well!! I am currently on my 3rd change of porch plans at the Beach Cabin. But, things are actually starting to happen this week. Due to some other projects that we have in the works, the budget got a major cut. Also…. This.

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Thanksgiving Dining Table | Centerpiece

    A Thanksgiving Table for 4 (and More)

    November 22, 2020
    Winter Decorating | Silver Dollar Eucalyptus

    Floor Lamp Round Up and Winter Decorating

    January 14, 2021
    Coastal Boy Bedroom

    Coastal Boy Bedroom

    March 6, 2020
  • Decorating,  Uncategorized

    5 Plants To Buy Now

    April 18, 2019 /

    The Intro Spring is here!!! And, my non-green thumb is in plant mode. As an attempt avoid being too overwhelming, I’ve narrowed it down to 5 Plants To Buy Now. A recap of what happened last Sunday… But, I have to believe that we are good to go from here on out (with the occasional need to cover for frost). I love, love, love Kelly from The Lilypad Cottage‘s idea of buying plants for planters that you can later transfer to your yard. (She has so, so may good tips! Here are some fabulous ideas for flower boxes!) It’s nice to be able to get multiple uses out of plant…

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Living Room Accent Chair Options

    Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options

    October 19, 2020
    Halloween Kitchen Decor

    Day-to-Night Kitchen Halloween Decorations

    October 22, 2021
    Green Kitchen Cabinets and Custom Hood

    Simple Spring Kitchen for Staying Home

    March 31, 2020
  • Decorating,  Uncategorized

    How to Update a Porch in 10 Steps, A Beach Cabin Update (ORC Week 3)

    April 18, 2019 /

    Why am I always surprised when it snows in April? It seems like it always snows in April in Michigan. So, I’m just going to use the snow as my excuse for minimal progress on the Beach Cabin Porch. As such, a good old list is in order to get me organized and motivated. Keep reading for my plan on How to Update a Porch in 10 Steps.

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Halloween Kitchen Decor

    Day-to-Night Kitchen Halloween Decorations

    October 22, 2021
    Green Kitchen Cabinets & A Simple Salad with Avocado

    Favorite Blue and Green Paint Colors

    January 30, 2020
    Green Kitchen Cabinets and Custom Hood

    Simple Spring Kitchen for Staying Home

    March 31, 2020
  • Decorating,  Uncategorized

    Porch Furniture Options: ORC Week 2

    April 10, 2019 /

    Porch Plans Hi there! The plan for this week was to prep the porch for some new paint but I didn’t make it out to the Beach Cabin when the weather was nice earlier this week and now we are expected to get an ice storm tonight. So those plans will have to wait. In the meantime, I thought I’d give you a quick round up of our porch furniture options.

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Thanksgiving Dining Table | Centerpiece

    A Thanksgiving Table for 4 (and More)

    November 22, 2020
    Green Kitchen Cabinets and Custom Hood

    Simple Spring Kitchen for Staying Home

    March 31, 2020
    Coastal Boy Bedroom

    Coastal Boy Bedroom

    March 6, 2020
  • Decorating,  Uncategorized

    Screened in Porch Plans: ORC Week 1

    April 5, 2019 /

    Hi there- I hope you all are having a wonderful Spring! I’ve decided to participate as a guest participant in the One Room Challenge with Media Partner Better Homes & Gardens again! (Check out all of the wonderful design plans from the other participants here!) It was just what I needed this past fall to finally finish the Beach Cabin Sleeper Attic. (You can check out the finished room here.) I was trying to decide between our Master Bedroom at our house (it needs a ton of work!) and the screened in porch at the Beach Cabin. Given that summer is almost here (fingers crossed, fingers crossed), it made more…

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Thanksgiving Dining Table | Centerpiece

    A Thanksgiving Table for 4 (and More)

    November 22, 2020
    Green Kitchen Cabinets and Custom Hood

    Simple Spring Kitchen for Staying Home

    March 31, 2020
    Living Room Accent Chair Options

    Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options

    October 19, 2020
  • Necessities,  Uncategorized

    5 Swimsuits under $100 (and 2 Splurges)

    March 28, 2019 /

    Hi and Welcome Back! We just returned from our beach vacation and of course I didn’t have it together enough to update my swimsuits before the trip. At least the kids had new travel outfits. Of course, their favorite swimsuits were from last year’s list. (You can check that out here.) I guess swimsuits are sort of like vegetables… If you put them in front of the kids for long enough, they’ll grow to love them- haha!

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Mackinaw Road | Original Watercolor Paintings

    Mackinaw Road Mondays: On turning 40, a Circus, Jeans, and a Salad

    March 1, 2020
    Cozy Winter Living Room

    Mackinaw Road: Five February Favorites

    February 28, 2022
 Older Posts
Newer Posts 
Ashe Theme by WP Royal.