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    Home

    About

    Hi, I’m Rachel!

    Rachel Beach sitting down with head to the side.

    Inspiration is my morning coffee. With a heaping cup of inspiration, I feel empowered to tackle anything and I hope you do too!

    A Little About Me

    I’ve had a vivid imagination since childhood. In fact, there are many stories of me crafting toys with the likes of twigs, hair ties, bed sheets, and a vacuum hose.

    Obviously, I grew up and wanted to expand on that ingenuity. Really, it all started with a little vision and a lot of elbow grease. And, importantly, the support of my husband who love woodworking. Boy, am I lucky!!! Now we even have a very active son who loves to join in on our adventures too.

    And thus, Craving Some Creativity was born… Welcome to my wonderful world!

    What you’ll find on Craving Some Creativity

    Here you’ll find tips, techniques, and inspiration to tackle your own projects with confidence.

    HOME REMODELING

    My husband and I share a passion for home remodeling and makeovers. We’ve honed our skills over 15 years of repairing homes.

    Our current home was in an overwhelming state of disrepair when we purchased it. There was no running water. Many of the rooms needed to be completely gutted. Our kitchen “before” picture is featured below:

    Kitchen renovation before with cherry cabinets and brown floors.

    And here is the stunning kitchen remodel reveal.

    Traditional Kitchen Remodel with grey floors, white granite, brown cabinets, marble backsplash, and a two-level island.

    Since then, we have taken on clients and our community to save homes. We do almost EVERYTHING ourselves. Quality is important to us; no band-aid repairs here!

    I am the creativity and hubby is the functionality but we both share a passion for creating that brings us together as a family. We are a lot like the average couple – we bicker, we have different visions, and we get the job done.

    Colorful craft room with white walls and white cabinets with craft supplies on the wall and a pegboard.

    Join us in the magical mayhem of our home renovation and decorating projects!

    You can browse our home improvement projects or take a tour of our home makeover progress. There’s always something else up my sleeve! If you’d like to keep up with our adventure, subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of this page.

    DIY & HOME DECOR

    You’ll find holiday decorating, DIY furniture makeovers, printables, and helpful in-depth tutorials. Step-by-step instructions make it easy to recreate anything found on this site. If we can do it, you can too! 

    Here are some reader favorites (click on photo to go to the tutorial):

    • Completed oak painted stair railing with black handrail and white balusters.
      How to Paint Stair Railings that Last
    • Midnight blue vanity with brass handles in a grey and white bathroom.
      How to Paint a Bathroom Cabinet the Easy Way
    • Painting cabinets without sanding or priming in a white kitchen.
      How To Paint Oak Kitchen Cabinets
    • Man holding up baseboards for a corner.
      How To Caulk Baseboards like a Pro

    Recipes

    The recipes on this site are thoroughly researched and tested by multiple taste testers! Some of the top requested recipes have reached nearly legendary status.

    • Reliable Recipes. All recipes are developed and tested in my home kitchen, often with the aid of my sister and husband, a former chef. I’ve made and thoroughly tested most of the recipes for years. I share substitutions and many tips.
    • A wealth of information. I worked in restaurants for a decade, from high-end dining to sports bars, learning culinary techniques and palate pleasing approaches. I draw on that experience to guide you with step-by-step photos and detailed instructions.
    • Easy Family Meals. I create a variety of meals for busy families and simple weeknight supper solutions like quick soups, salads, and pasta.

    Here are some of our Best Rated Recipes by Readers:

    • Batch of crispy chocolate chip pecan cookies freshly baked from the oven and stacked with a glass of milk.
      Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
    • Skewered steak kabobs with peppers, mushrooms, and onions on a long serving platter.
      Steak Kabobs
    • Slice of homemade carrot cake on a plate with walnuts sprinkled on top
      Carrot Cake with Pineapple
    • Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Sausage makes an easy italian meal for the whole family!
      The BEST Sausage Stuffed Shells

    More about Rachel & Craving Some Creativity

    How did you get into home remodeling?

    Blame it on my independent nature, but I have always been a “if you want something done right…” kind of person. Starting with a small home and an even smaller wallet is a big motivator! As I gained skills with smaller projects, I gained confidence. Having a husband who’s passionate about woodworking is also great support.

    What is your design style?

    My style is ever evolving but I like clean lines, graphic prints, and soft, natural touches. I like a balance of color and my desire is to create a home that showcases elegance and encourages curiosity. Most importantly, I want to cultivate an environment where you feel welcome enough to just put your feet up.

    What home improvement projects do you recommend for a beginner?

    I love enthusiastic beginners! Painting is one of the most budget friendly and easy ways to make a big impact. I recommend learning about choosing the correct paint color or reading my beginner’s guide to painting furniture. Both are very detailed and nearly foolproof. Other good places to find easy projects is under home organization and DIY home décor.

    Why do you do recipes and home remodeling?

    One-dimensional characters are boring. I originally started this site with scrapbooking as the focus! My life experience has ignited several passions, but I try to keep it simple, whether that be vibrant dishes for busy families or simple tips to create a beautiful, restful home.

    What camera and photography gear do you use?

    I currently have a Nikon D810. My go-to lenses for both home projects and recipes are Nikon 50mm f/1.4G, Nikon 20mm f/1.8G (overhead shots and full rooms), and a Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX Macro Lens (closeups). I shoot videos mostly on a Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E VR Lens. I have had great luck purchasing used equipment.

    Thank you for stopping by. I’m so honored to have you here.

    Weekend DIY project. A pegboard organizer in the craft room above the desk workspace.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. yvonne says

      August 19, 2022 at 6:36 pm

      can I mix bar keepers powder into a thick paste leave overnight brush softly with a toothbrush or soft cloth, wash in warm soapy water and then polish with powdered bar keepers friend with a dampened clean soft clot sprinkled with BFK

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        August 19, 2022 at 6:58 pm

        I have not specifically tried to leave it on overnight, so I cannot speak to that. Barkeepers’ friend and other products like Brasso have oxalic acid in it which is much stronger than the acetic acid from vinegar. I haven’t found it necessary to leave barkeeper’s friend on overnight.

        Reply
    2. I says

      May 07, 2022 at 12:23 pm

      I have a question. If I pack the bowl in ice can it withstand a 4 hour trip to a graduation? Thank you

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        May 07, 2022 at 9:01 pm

        I am not sure exactly which recipe you are referring to in order to answer. Most that I can think of, such as punchbowl cake or broccoli apple salad are fine for travel in a cooler.

        Reply
    3. Nicole says

      January 29, 2022 at 1:14 pm

      I love your design. Our kitchen cabinets are the same color and we are wanting to keep them as well. Is the front of your island still the original cherry color? We are thinking of doing 3/4 of the island but would love to see how it looks.

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        January 29, 2022 at 3:38 pm

        Yes, the side facing the cabinets is still a brown-cherry color and has drawers and hides the trash can. We built and painted the outward 3 sides. We decided that since we cook daily, it would be best to leave it darker to hide dirt and it looks cohesive that way.

        Reply
    4. Betty Nielsen says

      January 16, 2022 at 10:31 pm

      Hi Rachael,
      When did You purchase your custom vanity top from Lowes? I asked someone at my Lowes that said they didn’t do custom bathroom vanities. The Home Depot near me does but the review I’ve read were not good.
      Thanks,
      Betty

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        January 25, 2022 at 7:23 am

        I have done 4 in the last 3 years from different stores and in 2 different states. While I can’t say that every store does offer this, and it may be true that this particular store does not. However, I know from experience that my own mother was told they didn’t offer vanity tops so I went in and ordered it. Unfortunately, the Lowes employees often leave a lot to be desired in their knowledge and training. I usually ask who the manager for that department is and when they are working and come back.

        Reply
    5. Laurie says

      July 18, 2021 at 11:05 am

      I work hybrid and my husband entirely at home. I’m salivating at the photo of your home office/craft site.

      Reply
    6. Nancy Beach says

      December 28, 2013 at 8:59 pm

      Rachel, I think you are very talented. I have enjoyed your web page and I love the card that you make. I don’t do Facebook so I can follow you here and I love to.
      Gma Beach

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Headshot of Rachel Beach, the author of Craving Some Creativity.

    Hi, I'm Rachel!

    Creativity makes me energized and fearless. My husband and I have been renovating homes for over a decade and love to share our passion for all things home. Follow along for remodeling tutorials, recipes, and entertaining ideas sure to inspire!

    More about me →


    Popular Projects

    • Midnight blue vanity with brass handles in a grey and white bathroom.
      How to Paint a Bathroom Cabinet the Easy Way
    • Man holding up baseboards for a corner.
      How To Caulk Baseboards like a Pro
    • Behr Midnight blue painted cabinets in a classic old world kitchen with modern white accents and backsplash. Wicker chairs, copper light fixtures, and wood floors add warmth.
      The Best Blue and Navy Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors
    • Organized linen closet with white towels and grey bins on wire shelves.
      How To Beautifully Organize Your Linen Closet
    • White painted kitchen cabinets with stainless drawer pulls.
      How To Paint Cabinets with a Sprayer
    • Completed oak painted stair railing with black handrail and white balusters.
      How to Paint Stair Railings that Last

    Featured On

    Collection of Expert Features including Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, Apartment Therapy, Angie's List, This Old House Magazine, The Huffington Post, Delish, Wayfair, and Real Simple Magazine.

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Restaurant style Mexican white Cheese Dip with pico de gallo topping in wooden bowl on dish cloth with chips.
      Mexican White Cheese Dip {Queso Blanco}
    • Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Sausage makes an easy italian meal for the whole family!
      The BEST Sausage Stuffed Shells
    • Strawberry Poppyseed salad on a platter with blueberries, mandarin oranges, pecans, red onions, and grilled chicken.
      Strawberry Poppyseed Salad (Panera Copycat)
    • Closeup of blueberry muffins on a table.
      Ultimate Lemon Blueberry Muffins
    • Shrimp etouffee in a bowl on a table.
      Shrimp Etouffee {My Louisiana Family Recipe}
    • Two glasses of blackberry sangria with straws on a wood background.
      Blackberry Sangria – Amazing Summer Cocktail Recipe

    Sweet Spring Recipes

    • Stack of lemon bars on parchment paper with top lemon shortbread having a bite removed.
      Lemon Bars
    • Slice of homemade carrot cake on a plate with walnuts sprinkled on top
      Carrot Cake with Pineapple
    • Top down view of Southern Punch Bowl Cake in a trifle bowl.
      Southern Punch Bowl Cake (Potluck Dessert)
    • Key lime pie on blue plate with a slice cut out to show texture.
      Key Lime Pie
    • Strawberries on top of cheesecake layer and rice krispies crust.
      Cheesecake Rice Krispies Bars
    • Banana Chocolate chip muffins in a muffin tin with one muffin broken open to show texture.
      Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

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