Charming, Trendy Small Town AirBnB Apartment

Posted on February 13, 2020 by Roeshel

Ready for a ‘Suite Thyme’? There’s a new place to stay in downtown Butler, PA. Suite Thyme (AirBnB) is officially open for guests!

Welcome!

Suite Thyme

Created with the help DIYShowOff partnerships, the second story of this 1890s home boasts a trendy newly renovated efficiency apartment loaded with charm, located just steps from the main thoroughfare of downtown Butler’s best eateries, antique shops, breweries and more. Perfect for festival-goers and travelers looking to enjoy a small town vibe just approximately 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA.

1st story…

Located on the main floor, Wellness Inspired Living is a quiet, by-appointment-only wellness workshop providing Aroma Freedom Technique, small chemical free living/healthy lifestyle events, reiki, relaxation sessions, iTovic scans and more. We’ll always let you know if there’s something scheduled during your stay and you’re always welcome to join in, free of charge, if interested.

2nd story…

This 2nd floor eclectic space is the efficiency apartment “Suite Thyme”. It’s loaded with personality and beautiful style. Inviting, warm and welcoming, all ready for your next trip to Butler!

One bedroom, two beds!

Sleeping arrangements include 2 queen beds in the bedroom + a queen sleeper sofa (officially sleeps 6) in the living room for peaceful night’s rest and sweet dreams,

a lunar retreat…

and a boho beauty…

Time to eat!

Cook up your favorite meal with local veggies from the farm market in a beautiful fully equipped modern kitchen area.

Coffee (tea, hot cocoa), anyone? Help yourself to the complimentary coffee bar. You may even find snacks in the pantry area. Open the cupboards. Get familiar. Make yourself at home!

Dine…

Downtown Butler is home to multiple restaurants with an eclectic menu ranging from your favorite comfort foods to gourmet dining. Ask about our favorites! But there’s room for 4 at the dining table, with additional seating for 3 at the breakfast bar if you’re staying in and whipping up a meal or ordering delivery.

Unwind!

Kick back on the comfy sofa with the tv remote. Choose your subscription and favorite shows utilizing the Smart TV feature or browse the limited selection on a very basic cable package. Or connect your phone to the blue tooth speaker and pump up the volume!

Quiet time!

Curl up in the cozy egg chair on the landing nook with a good book or your tablet and favorite game.

Soak your worries away!

Bathroom updates include the original but refinished vintage clawfoot tub for soaking away the tension. Escape! When was the last time you had a relaxing bath? It also offers up the traditional or handheld shower option. Bath bomb, fresh fluffy towels and bath essentials provided. PLUS! Suite Thyme has a la carte options including several ritual baths – baths with intention, herbs and essential oils. Coming soon!

Get to work!

Traveling to Butler for business? Connect your laptop at the USB charging station at the breakfast bar aka workstation and catch up on your work.

Seasonal:

…just a little gazebo/outdoor seating area.

Local Favorites:

Plus, it’s just a short stroll to Butler’s charming Main Street district!

Social Media:

Instagram: @SuiteThyme
Facebook: @ButlerSuiteThyme
#suitethyme
#suitethymeinbutlerexperience
#butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountypa

Suite Thyme amenities:

* Sleeping for up to 6 guests (2 queen beds, 1 queen sleeper sofa)
* Full kitchen: electric range, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, coffee maker
* Coffee, tea, sugar/sweetener, creamer
* Small outdoor patio area in back
* Free wi-fi
* Free parking for 1 (maybe 2 if vehicles are small)
* Smart TV
* Bluetooth speaker
* USB charging station
* Clawfoot tub/shower
* Heating // Central A/C
* Self check in//keyless entry
* Hair dyer
* Bathroom Essentials
* Iron
* Essential oils diffuser and oils

Discounts:

Suite Thyme offers 20% off a weekly stay. Yay!

Around the Area:

30 mi. north of Pittsburgh, PA
Local breweries – walking distance
Restaurants – walking distance
Antique & boutique shops – walking distance
Brushes & Barstools painting studio – walking distance
Escape Room – walking distance
YMCA, library – walking distance
Talk of the Town Nail Salon – walking distance
The Art Center – walking distance
Maridon Museum- walking distance
Moraine State Park – Butler County
McConnell’s Mill – Butler County
Trampoline Park – Clearview Mall
Butler Freeport Trail – Butler County
Festivals (Jeep Fest, Italian Festival, Fall Festival and more, holiday parades) – walking distance
Butler Fair – Butler County
Butler Farmshow – Butler County
Saxonburg Carnival – Butler County

and more!

A la Carte Menu!

Coming soon! In an effort to familarize out of town guests with the downtown Butler, PA area, we’re partnering up with other local businesses by adding an a la carte menu with upgrades including a wedding weekend package, a romance bundle, photography sessions, reiki appointments, mani-pedi pampering, beer tasting, florist services and more – all from locally owned small businesses within walking distance to Suite Thyme.

Ready to make a reservation?

We are dedicated to ensuring you have a five star stay and look forward to hosting your “home away from home”.

BOOK SUITE THYME HERE!

What guests are saying:

“Beautiful Butler City Apartment is indeed a beautiful apartment. Everything was very nice, and the apartment was a beautiful, cozy place. The couch and beds were very comfortable, and the kitchen was very modern, with high quality, modern cooking utensils. Roeshel obviously takes a lot of pride in this apartment, and it shows. I was very pleased with my experience there.”

~Robert

“Beautiful apartment next to a cute down town! Our first Airbnb fell threw last minute and Roeshel was on top of getting back to us and having us stay with such short notice! So many extra touches to ensure a great stay! Lists of local places to eat and a calendar of things to do! If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Definitely recommend.”

~Brittany

“Roeshel’s place was simply spectacular!! Luxury surrounded us in every detail of her space. The kitchen was a dream…I enjoyed cooking up local vegetables. The beds were super comfortable with fabulous linens. And the decor was right out of a magazine! Roeshel’s special touches made this my favorite all-time AirBnB experience. We felt so at home and didn’t want to leave. If you’re lucky enough to get to stay here, I’m certain you’ll feel the same way.”

~Cathy

Holiday stays:

“My husband and I stayed at Roeshel’s for a trip home over the holidays and absolutely loved it! Roeshel met us for a quick tour when we arrived. The whole place is filled with cute little touches and smells amazing (all essential oils). She even had it decorated for Christmas and it looked incredible! The bed was super comfy and there are throw blankets to keep warm under and a full kitchen should you need it. We would definitely stay again!”

~Shannon

“This place had everything you need and more. I mentioned to the host that I was visiting my 2 1/2 yr old granddaughter for the holidays and I found a basket of perfect toys that were placed to share with her in the space. The house is sparkling clean and the atmosphere so inviting. Everything you need to have a nice getaway! I highly recommend staying here!”

~Christine

Wedding weekend:

“My husband and I booked Roeshel’s place for our wedding weekend. We used the space to get ready in and as a retreat after our long exciting wedding day. Her space is decorated beautifully with many amenities for her guests to use. One feature my make-up artist loved was the long table/desk with built in charging station – convenient!

Not only did she go above and beyond with her communication and little touches but she also surprised us, not once but twice! When we arrived the morning of our wedding she had laid out a little welcome platter of fruits and drinks with a congratulations sign hung on the fire place mantle. She also drew up a cute little note on the calendar on the refrigerator!

When we arrived back to the space late that night after having the most perfect wedding day, we were greeted with another surprise. The entry way and stairs leading up to the AirBnB had been decorated with rose petals and electric candles. This led to a decorated romantic set up outside the apartment door along with chocolates, drinks and chilled glasses. We cried. It was the most perfect ending to the beautiful day we had just shared. It meant the world to us.

Her thoughtful touches, ultra clean + super hip space and her timely communication make this easily the best place to stay in the Butler area. If you are in town or just want a little stay-cation I can’t encourage you enough to book Roeshel’s space!”

~Lizi

Project Diary #19 Bathroom Before & After Makeover Reveal

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Roeshel

The bathroom before and after is the biggest transformation of the #helloredreno series. A lot of hard work, sweat, (thanks, Steve!), tears and love went into this space. Ready for the bathroom before and after makeover reveal? Check it out!

The before: A caving ceiling was the first project to receive some attention. There were paneled walls, boxed in pedestal sink and clawfoot tub (didn’t know that until we started the demo), blue industrial carpeting…the best plan of action was to gut it.

After:

The floor – nothing is square or level but I insisted on installing tile. So, the floor was completely removed and a new level subfloor installed. You can see more about the gorgeous Shaw Floors tile I chose and installation here –> Bathroom Flooring

And the walls? That paneling. Gone! Down to the studs and very dirty ‘shiplap’. I just couldn’t cover up the beautiful back wall (Sealing a Wood Plank Wall) and the rest of the walls and ceiling was covered with drywall. I decided to leave the brick chimney exposed and sealed it (more on that with this post: Sealing Brick). I love that kind of original charm!

The tub. Oh man. I can’t believe it was boxed in! I did hire out refinishing the inside (David Gunn). Russ sanded the outside for me and I applied a couple of coats of primer and paint and gave those beautiful feet a fresh new look. Can you believe it was all originally hidden? it’s gorgeous!

Before:

Before: Before: Before: Demo time: A work in progress: Pretty original wood plank wall becomes a feature: Time for new tile floor!!!

Before: Before: Demo time: A work in progress: Keeping the brick exposed and sealed… Beautiful new tile floor and vanity…

Before:Time for demo: Cleaning up:New hexagon tile flooring spills into the hardwood from bathroom to bedroom. LOVE the creative freedom to do something different so much! Vintage clawfoot before:

Whew! What a LONG hard job! But what a beautiful transformation! I have yet to soak in that tub but it’s on my list of things to do this weekend!

Share your thoughts!

What do you think? Quite a difference from before to after, right? Ready for a relaxing get-away?

Next up:

Things left to do: build a shed door for out back (I did create a beautiful small seating area … I’ll share a few pictures of that next). I also need to build a door for a sliding barn style door between the bedroom and kitchen/dining/livingroom area. But other than that, it’s pretty much done! All decorated and furnished from dishes to bed linens, great amenities and attention to detail. I’m so proud of how my vision came together and look forward to hosting LOTS of guests! Let the bookings begin!

More about #helloredreno

You can book Suite Thyme if you’re traveling to the western PA area! I’d love to meet you! The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There’s an antique shop nearby. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, come and check it out in person!

Ready to book a stay away at a home-suite-home for a Suite Thyme? Book Suite Thyme! Mention DIYShowOff and we’ll include a special gift with your stay.

So subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

#helloredreno and #suitethyme

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision!

The #helloredreno project diary:

Project Diary Entry #1 – Hello Red Reno!

Project Diary Entry #2 – Efficiency Apartment

Project Diary Entry #3 Color Passive Paint

Project Diary Entry #4 – Full Bathroom Demo Day

Project Diary Entry #5 – Sealing A Wood Plank / Shiplap Wall

Project Diary Entry #6: Bathroom Flooring

Project Diary Entry #7: Sealing Brick

Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors

Project Diary #9: Carpeted Stairs

Project Diary #10 Vinyl Floor Tiles

Project Diary #11 – Living Room Before & After

Project Diary #12 – Christmas at the Studio

Project Diary #13 – Wallpaper Mural

Project Diary #14 – Entryway, Stairs & Landing Before & After

Project Diary #15 – Apartment Living Room Before & After Reveal

Project Diary #16 – Dining Nook & Coffee Bar

Project Diary #17 – Apartment Kitchen Reveal

Project Diary #18 – Boho AirBnB Bedroom

Project Diary #19 – Bathroom Before & After Makeover

Project Diary #10 Vinyl Floor Tiles

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Roeshel

Finally! I know. It’s been a while since the last update. Lots of work! There is something to report in the #helloredreno series, a bit of progress that includes beautiful new vinyl floor tiles and walls in a back entry and main floor restroom area for the workshop. I’m still working on final details like getting a sink/vanity installed, trim work, some fun DIY projects and decor but I just can’t wait to show you this beautiful flooring!

Back Story // Before:

Real quick: the “painted cardboard” walls were removed to reveal very dirty lathe? I’m not sure but it was filthy. Oh and the ceiling tiles are gone as well! We installed some insulation and my sweet Mr. DIY guy put up some fresh new drywall. Side note: It was a very verbally colorful experience since nothing is square in this 100 year old building but thank goodness it’s done! Now Let’s get the the before shots from when it just changed hands from the previous owner to us…

back entryway – everything was so dirty

back entryway looking into the main {half} bathroom area

back entryway and what we call the hobbit door (watch your head!) leading to the basement stairs, front door and staircase

bathroom before

bathroom before ownership

bathroom before – those cabinets were from the original kitchen over 100 years ago!

Okay, the floor before had blue industrial carpeting (in.a.bathroom!, you guys!). ::gag:: That definitely had to come out! Good bye flimsy walls. Good bye ceiling tiles. Good bye carpet! Good bye!

Demo day:

Behind those walls? SO much black sooty dirt. It was everywhere! Fingerprints for months!

We kept the original pine floors throughout the rest of the main floor.

Product Choice:

I chose these gorgeous grouted vinyl tiles for their durability, beauty and warmth – a perfect choice for this space. It’s a product from the Shaw Fairmount collection. Design is “Sweetbriar”.

Fairmount Sweetbriar

From the Shaw inspiration gallery:

Fairmount is a 12×24 rectangle vinyl tile. I love the color variation and that it’s super resilient! And boy can we ever attest to that!

Installation:

Mike, a subcontractor with A&S Carpet in Allison Park, PA utilized a glue-down installation in a brickwork pattern. The fun part? This product can be installed with or without grout! How cool is that? I went with the grouted installation.

See how the flooring was installed before the walls? When I say this floor is durable, I speak from experience! More on that below.

Progress // After:

Since it’s not fully completed, I don’t have true reveal photos just yet but here are some sneak peeks. This space is a back entryway which will also house a small beverage station, built in wine storage and a place to hang coats.

view through the back door

back room

And this is the main floor restroom for the studio/office/workshop. I love the durability and warmth of the vinyl tile, especially since we may be working with glass…a harder surface wouldn’t have been as forgiving or functional in that case so this softer surface was a pretty and wise choice.

So, what do you think? Isn’t it gorgeous? If you’re choosing a vinyl flooring for it’s warmth, durability and beauty, you’re going to want to add this to your list of options for sure!

Stay tuned for a completed reveal of these two spaces!

Care and Maintenance:

How do I know this floor is durable and the right choice? Because of timing, the flooring was installed prior to the walls, so you can just image the mess (drywall mud and dust, caulk, paint, dirty shoes, tools, renovation, etc.). It stood the test of time and workers! All of that grime and dirt, dragging ladders, tools, supplies and drywall, all that comes along with renovating, the behind the scenes not so pretty stuff. And despite my warnings, I didn’t see a drop cloth in sight!

No worries! When I reached out to Shaw, they provided me with some great vinyl floor cleaning tips:

Proper care will help protect and maintain the appearance and performance of your Shaw resilient floor!. A care program consists of key areas: 1) Preventive maintenance; 2) routine maintenance; and 3) spot and spill removal.

1) Preventative Maintenance

Always protect floors when moving heavy objects to prevent permanent scratches and tears.
Walk-off mats should be used at all externally facing entrances to absorb soil and moisture.

2) Routine Maintenance:

Daily removal of dirt and dust is important to prevent particles from abrading the surface of resilient floors.

Sweeping, dust mopping and vacuuming are recommendations to remove soil particles that can result in scratches and worn appearances. IMPORTANT: Do not use vacuums with rotating beater bars on hard surfaces.

Periodic wet cleaning will be necessary to help maintain the floors appearance.

3) Spot and Spill Removal

Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by white paper or cloth towels.

Recommended by Shaw: Use Shaw’s R2X® Hard Surface cleaning products or products formulated for vinyl floor cleaning.

Remember: The most effective part of any floor maintenance program is the simplest: sweep, dust mop, or vacuum your Shaw resilient flooring daily, or more frequently if needed.

Next up on the renovation:

Baseboards and door trim, a fun door DIY to dress up the cheap hollow bathroom door, light fixtures, sealing brick, a wine cubby and beverage station, decorating and then the reveal! Then we’ll be back in business!

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #7: Sealing Brick

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Roeshel

Project Diary Entry #7: The bathroom makeover continues! We’re sealing an old original ‘decorative’ vintage brick chimney today!

The full bathroom at the studio property I’m working on was completely covered in paneling or what my husband refers to painted cardboard. For real. What is that stuff?! Even the claw foot tub and pedestal sink was boxed in with the same material! Why?!

Follow the before and after makeover journey —> #helloredreno

Before:

Yikes! (And no worries, we did repair the roof. It was top priority and the very first project.) But seriously. That paneling. What the….?!

Recap:

We tore it all away! Oh my! You guys…I know it’s dirty but do you see the potential?

Included was this bump out beside a built in cabinet (another feature I love!)…

which revealed an original brick chimney…

Rustic! Texture! A buried treasure! And just like making one of the gorgeous wood plank walls a feature of the bathroom by leaving it exposed…

I couldn’t bear to cover up all that gorgeous old brick. Know what I mean? It’s completely decorative and not functional but the texture and pretty color variations! Oh man! The old gas register is staying as well.

But it did have a dirty dull finish. Blah!

What I did:

We gave it a good scrubbing with a wire brush to remove all of the filth and crumbles.
And after talking with the professionals at Rust-Oleum, I used the RockSolid Natural Look Concrete Sealer (low gloss clear).
I simply applied it with a brush, making sure to get into all of the nooks and crannies. And watching for drips. I gave it one thorough coat and plan to do another. It’ll have dried several days by the time I get around to the second coat. It goes on white but dries clear.
This product sealed it all in and provided a beautiful low gloss finish (nothing TOO shiny, not a high gloss or lacquered finish) that brought out the various vibrant colors and gave it a clean surface. It reminds me of an eggshell or satin finish.

Conclusion:

So, this 114 square foot bathroom has a lot going on but I am in LOVE with all of the original charm.

That floor though too! ::drool:: ::heart eyes::

More on that here—> Shaw SanFrancisco Hexagon Tile Flooring.

What are your thoughts?

Do you embrace and work with the original old character or prefer removing or covering it for a clean slate?

Next up on the bathroom remodel:

Paint, baseboards, {possible} vintage cast iron tub re-finishing, installing the toilet, vanity, sconce lights and my favorite part…decorating and the reveal! Oh. And probably cutting down 6 doors since re-doing the floors raised them. Not looking forward to that part but things are moving along. Stay tuned!

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #6: Bathroom Flooring

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Roeshel

It feels as if it’s been a while since I shared an update on the studio renovation. Most recent progress is the beautiful tile floors have been installed in the upstairs bathroom. As a member of the Shaw StyleBoard, I had the opportunity to choose some flooring for the studio.

My Choice:

For the upstairs bathroom, I chose Presidio (whites) and Lombard (grays) from the same San Francisco design style. It’s a rustic and beautiful hexagon glazed porcelain tile from Shaw Floors with a reclaimed brick texture. And it’s absolutely gorgeous! My most favorite flooring to date!

You guys, it was love at first sight! The kind where you see it then continue to shop but always go back to it. Nothing compares. Nothing else will work. It’s this or nothing. I love when that happens! The alternative is so many choices and a hard time narrowing it down to one but this time around, I knew “THIS IS IT”! And for the record, this tile is versaTILE and can be used on floors, showers, patios, backslashes…just about anywhere. Since this is that the studio, it may show up somewhere in my house as well.

Let’s revisit the scary “before” picture. It’s a good thing I can see potential past the nasty, right?

Before:

The original old hardwood floors had to be removed.

A plywood subfloor was installed and leveled to prepare a base for the cement board which then is the base for the actual mortar and tile.

The seems were taped and sealed.

Flooring was installed by Rege, Mike and Tyler, subcontractors from A&S Carpet in Allison Park, PA. They did a beautiful job!

Installation:

The white and gray hexagon tiles were placed randomly. I usually do prefer the symmetry of a planned and arranged design – stripes or checkerboard and even considered a flower-type design but this time because of the transition of flowing over into the hardwood, I really liked the random placement.

Rather than the traditional ‘hump’ or straight cut line in the threshold where tile meets hardwood, we continued the tile across the threshold and into the next room. It reminds me of a glacier…moving/reaching into the bedroom. It’s SO cool and so different and it’s amazing! You can see the links to inspiration for this idea on my studio Pinterest board.

Transition:

Just wait until you see the hardwood next to it! You’ll drool!

You may remember me asking about grout colors. I originally chose “Iron” at the store but after some thought changed my mind to “Charcoal”. Frank at A&S was very accommodating with my request! No problem!

Grout:

Perfection!

Reveal:

What do you think? Do you prefer the standard transition piece dividing tile and hardwood in the doorway or would you consider a smooth transition and design feature?

A BIG thanks to A&S for the installation. I’m THRILLED with the end result!

Here’s a sneak peek of the vanity with the floor…I can’t wait for the finishing touches!

So pretty! And all three features: that gorgeous floor, the beautiful vanity against that original wood plank wall…

Next up on the bathroom remodel:

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #5 – Sealing a Wood Plank / Shiplap Wall

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Roeshel

::Snooze:: Okay, not much to report as work and progress on the studio renovation has been slow the past month. The renovation has sort of been on hold for a few weeks while we await our turn on a possible tile installation schedule after we leveled the floor (as you can kind of see in the progress photos below). In the meantime, I sealed the wood plank shiplap wall.

Bathroom before:

Once we removed all of the wall panels (something that was kind of like paneling without the fake wood look), we revealed the original shiplap.

Most of which was recovered with drywall but you guys! I couldn’t bear to cover up the original beauty of the back wall. Look at that beautiful wood and all of it’s pretty shades.

And it’s filthy! It got a REALLY good scrubbing with SEVERAL buckets of water!

I consulted my friends at Rust-Oleum who recommended sealing with Zinsser BIN Clear Coat Shellac and sent me a can to give it a go. So it after drying from the thorough scrubbing, I simply applied the shellac with a brush.

Time lapse just for fun!

It goes on with a blue/white color but dries to a pretty clear coat.

I always thought shellac had a high gloss look which I didn’t want. This finish has a very subtle sheen with very little shine, enough to seal the wood wall for the bathroom and to make it easy to clean.

Before:

After:

Beautiful!

Progress!

Before:

After:

Next up – ceiling and wall paint! And hopefully tile soon! Stay tuned!

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno !