Materials:
Plain lampshade (any size or shape!)
Ribbon
Hot glue gun
Mar 30, 2012
Dress Up a Lamp Shade With Ribbon
This is a super easy project you can do in just 30 minutes with some scrap ribbon. I had an itch to fancy-up a plain beige lampshade I had in our dining room, so I dug around and found some turquoise ric-rac and my hot glue gun. The rest is history!
Materials:
Plain lampshade (any size or shape!)
Ribbon
Hot glue gun
Materials:
Plain lampshade (any size or shape!)
Ribbon
Hot glue gun
Mar 28, 2012
Car Organization 101
Car organization - now that's a topic that gets you excited, huh?!? Sure it's not the most visually interesting thing for us to talk about, but it can be essential to keeping your car space as neat and orderly as possible. Pre-child, I always had a pretty clean interior in my car. I even opted for the seemingly luxurious light beige interior finishes, which I definitely regret now...
Once our babe's toys started taking over the backseat - mind you, they're typically flug from the carseat, ending up on the seats, on the floor, under the seats, you name it - we decided to head over to The Container Store to find an inexpensive solution to our containment problem. We ended up purchasing a flexible plastic tub that fits perfectly under the carseat and nicely holds all the spoils of backseat entertainment attempts.
Now for the useful information. Here are a few great containers I found that may help you meet your own car organization needs, kids or not:
For the floorboard...
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For the trunk...
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Once our babe's toys started taking over the backseat - mind you, they're typically flug from the carseat, ending up on the seats, on the floor, under the seats, you name it - we decided to head over to The Container Store to find an inexpensive solution to our containment problem. We ended up purchasing a flexible plastic tub that fits perfectly under the carseat and nicely holds all the spoils of backseat entertainment attempts.
My little containment inspiration...blatantly ignoring my pleas to say "cheese!"
Now for the useful information. Here are a few great containers I found that may help you meet your own car organization needs, kids or not:
For the floorboard...
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Small Rugby Stripe Bin ($10) from containerstore.com
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Large Tribeca Bin ($12) from containerstore.com
Household Essentials Tapered Bin ($10) from amazon.com
For the trunk...
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Folding Trunk Organizer ($12) from containerstore.com
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Nesting Trunk Trays ($28 for all 3) from containerstore.com
For under the seats...
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Clear Document Cases ($8-$10) from containerstore.com
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Silver Square Mesh Lunch Box ($13) from containerstore.com
Mar 26, 2012
Dining Space Double-Take
If you're like me, you probably love flipping through shelter magazines any time you get a chance. I see so many rooms that I love, at times it's almost overwhelming! Something I wish they would always add to the photo captions is the sources for the items and the prices. I have a feeling they don't always do that because the prices are so exorbitant it would knock our socks off just reading it...
Here is a very warm and welcoming dining space that I came across in Elle Decor last month - I was immediately drawn to the richness of the colors albeit a mostly neutral space and the overall "collected" look.
Isn't it inviting and just eclectically cool? It looks like everything in the room has it's own story, which would surely be welcomed alongside a glass of orange juice or cup of coffee.
Knowing the room belonged to the VP of Jayson Home - a home furniture and accessory website with simply gorgeous (and pricy) items - I knew it probably cost a pretty penny, or at least a decade of antique hunting, to furnish this beautiful space. I set out to find similar items in order to replicate the overall look of the space on a stricter budget. Here is the result in an inspiration board fomat...please tell me what you think. (And, sourcing and pricing can be found below...)
Here is a very warm and welcoming dining space that I came across in Elle Decor last month - I was immediately drawn to the richness of the colors albeit a mostly neutral space and the overall "collected" look.
pic from elledecor
Knowing the room belonged to the VP of Jayson Home - a home furniture and accessory website with simply gorgeous (and pricy) items - I knew it probably cost a pretty penny, or at least a decade of antique hunting, to furnish this beautiful space. I set out to find similar items in order to replicate the overall look of the space on a stricter budget. Here is the result in an inspiration board fomat...please tell me what you think. (And, sourcing and pricing can be found below...)
Mar 23, 2012
Replacing the Boob Light...
Yes, I said "boob", but there really is no better explanation for the builder-basic flush-mount light that you can find in most any track home built in the last 10 years. Does it function well? Yes... Is it inexpensive? Yes... Is it ugly? No, not terribly... But, gosh, it's mighty boring and just begs to be something more.
Our house has at least 5 or 6 of these suckers, so I thought we'd try to change one out to mix it up a bit. My target? The dining room...which in our rental house can also serve as an office. I needed a fixture that wouldn't scream "dining room" to the non-design-savvy renter so I decided a chandelier was out, and set my sights on another flush-mount look that would work for dining room or office.
This was my dream fixture from Overstock.com:
The only problem was that it cost over $100 - $130 to be exact - and it only came in the pictured bronze color. My design dilemma involved the fact that all our other light fixtures (many visible from that room) are brushed nickel. Booooooo! After deciding to begrudgingly move on, I took a spin in our local Home Depot and found a dandy alternative on sale for $89.
Our house has at least 5 or 6 of these suckers, so I thought we'd try to change one out to mix it up a bit. My target? The dining room...which in our rental house can also serve as an office. I needed a fixture that wouldn't scream "dining room" to the non-design-savvy renter so I decided a chandelier was out, and set my sights on another flush-mount look that would work for dining room or office.
This was my dream fixture from Overstock.com:
The only problem was that it cost over $100 - $130 to be exact - and it only came in the pictured bronze color. My design dilemma involved the fact that all our other light fixtures (many visible from that room) are brushed nickel. Booooooo! After deciding to begrudgingly move on, I took a spin in our local Home Depot and found a dandy alternative on sale for $89.
Mar 21, 2012
Creative and Inexpensive Backsplash Ideas
After going through a kitchen transformation myself and seeing my neighbor complete her DIY backspash just last week, I've got backsplashes on my mind. So often it's difficult to come up with an affordable backsplash option that you can DIY with materials from your local hardware store, so I decided to hunt down some creative (i.e. not tiled) and inexpensive backsplash ideas. Here are my top 5 favorite "thinking outside of the box" backsplash ideas:
1. My very favorite, because this is what my neighbor did - Chalkboard Backsplash. We see chalkboard paint used everywhere these days - on furniture, on doors, on walls - but I had never thought of using it for a kitchen backsplash. It looks great and definitely doesn't break the bank, plus you can draw on it to change things up a bit. Because it's just paint, you can even do this in a rental space where you're allowed to paint.
2. Acrylic Backsplash - I saw the first picture below of the fun orange backsplash in a home tour on Apartment Therapy and did some research to see where you can buy sheets of colored acrylic. Both Lowe's and Home Depot sell colored acrylic, which can easily be cut to fit the size of your backsplash. Simply drill holes in the corners of the acrylic and attach it to walls with screws. Just wipe it down with water when splatter happens!
3. Temporary Wallpaper Backsplash - These self-adhesive wall tile decals from Blik are quick to install and can be repositioned as needed. This a great option for renters, as you simply peel them off when you move. Even better, two 24"x48" sheets are only $45. Cut to fit and you could easily do your entire kitchen for less than $100.
See how great a wallpaper backsplash can look? They even make some papers that look like tile...
4. For a great industrial look, ever consider a Corrugated Metal Backsplash? Sounds strange but it looks really cool. You can position it horizontally or vertically depending on how you want the lines to run and attach it to the walls with metal screws.
5. A more traditional-looking metal option is a Tin Ceiling Tile Backsplash. There is a huge variety of colors when it comes to tin ceiling tiles - copper, stainless steel, silver, gold, you name it...and the pattern options are endless. The American Tin Ceiling Co. website will get your creative juices flowing.
pic source unknown
1. My very favorite, because this is what my neighbor did - Chalkboard Backsplash. We see chalkboard paint used everywhere these days - on furniture, on doors, on walls - but I had never thought of using it for a kitchen backsplash. It looks great and definitely doesn't break the bank, plus you can draw on it to change things up a bit. Because it's just paint, you can even do this in a rental space where you're allowed to paint.
pic from design*sponge
They make magnetic chalkboard paint now, too, so that's another great option if you want to hang pictures or notes on it. My neighbor took it to the next level of coolness and used adhesive to glue long ceramic tiles around the edge of her chalkboard to frame the backsplash area - love it!
2. Acrylic Backsplash - I saw the first picture below of the fun orange backsplash in a home tour on Apartment Therapy and did some research to see where you can buy sheets of colored acrylic. Both Lowe's and Home Depot sell colored acrylic, which can easily be cut to fit the size of your backsplash. Simply drill holes in the corners of the acrylic and attach it to walls with screws. Just wipe it down with water when splatter happens!
pic from apartmenttherapy
pic from kitchenbacksplashes
3. Temporary Wallpaper Backsplash - These self-adhesive wall tile decals from Blik are quick to install and can be repositioned as needed. This a great option for renters, as you simply peel them off when you move. Even better, two 24"x48" sheets are only $45. Cut to fit and you could easily do your entire kitchen for less than $100.
pic from Blik
See how great a wallpaper backsplash can look? They even make some papers that look like tile...
pics from manolohome
4. For a great industrial look, ever consider a Corrugated Metal Backsplash? Sounds strange but it looks really cool. You can position it horizontally or vertically depending on how you want the lines to run and attach it to the walls with metal screws.
pic from unioncorrugating
pic from americantinceilings
What do you think? Do you have any other good ideas for a cheap but great-looking kitchen backsplash? -Kristen
Mar 19, 2012
Buffalo Chicken Bites
These buffalo chicken bites are so good! We love buffalo wings but haven't found a good place to have them in Portland, so we've been experimenting with recipes and settled on this one to appease our hot wing craving. The recipe is adapted from What's Cooking Chicago.
Ingredients:
1 package of Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet
1 cup finely diced cooked chicken breast
1/4 cup Hot Wing Sauce (we like Frank's Red Hot Wings, Buffalo flavor)
4 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled a bit
2 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing for dipping sauce
Ingredients:
1 package of Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet
1 cup finely diced cooked chicken breast
1/4 cup Hot Wing Sauce (we like Frank's Red Hot Wings, Buffalo flavor)
4 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled a bit
2 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing for dipping sauce
Mar 16, 2012
A Color Study: Green
In commemoration of St. Patrick's Day I figured it was appropriate to do a brief color study on the color green! Green is a soothing color that reminds us of the great outdoors. Ranging from "lime" to "teal" to "hunter", green is a very complex color - it can take on an invigorating, tranquil, or even mysteriously moody personality depending on which tint, shade, or tone of green is used.
I'd have to say that my favorite greens are bright but saturated - most like a kelly green (or the top middle green above). "Science" aside, green is a great color to use in home decor and can really add a fresh pop to a multitude of interior spaces. Green is also a fun way to liven up an outfit, especially for Spring. I've collected a photo-assortment below of beautiful rooms, fashion, art, and decor items that showcase this multi-faceted and fantastic color....enjoy! (Now, if only I could pipe in a nice faint grass smell to really get your senses awakened...ok, that would be a little creepy)
This time we'll start our color study with some fun green-hued fashion items:
My favorite purse brand - Dooney & Bourke - did it right again...this time in a small kelly green tote with great tassels!
Want just a touch of green? Consider hanging a few dark green pendants above your bed as an alternative to bedside lamps:
pic from ccrds
This time we'll start our color study with some fun green-hued fashion items:
My favorite purse brand - Dooney & Bourke - did it right again...this time in a small kelly green tote with great tassels!
pic from dooney
Such a pretty dress from Oasis:
pic from Oasis
A fab Esty find, these earrings from Designs by Jocelyn are beautiful both dressed-up or dressed-down:
pic from etsy
Add some pep to your step! These Kate Spade flats quintessentially announce "It's Springtime!":
pic from katespade
Look closely...this super cute Anthropologie button-up tank has little ping-pong paddles on it:
pic from Anthropologie
On to art! We'll start with this gorgeous still life oil painting of a pear from Carl Bork on Etsy...simply beautiful:
pic from etsy
For a whimsical flare, how about a wise turquoise owl by Japanese artist Atsushi Hara:
pic from drawn
I love this graphic and girly saying from Kate Spade printed by Amanda Catherine Des on Etsy:
pic from etsy
Shall we enter the stately green doors and walk through some lovely green rooms? Let's go!
pic from fieldstonehilldesign
Why not make a bold green statement in the entry - it's so fresh, literally!
pic from thebuzz
How fun are these bright green cabinets? I love the black, white, and green color scheme of this kitchen:
pic from isabellaandmaxrooms
Typically I'm not drawn to deep foresty or hunter greens, but it was executed so well in this space:
pic from thepaintedhouse
This sitting area is so inviting. A green rug, green vinyl chairs, and natural greenery provide such a breath of fresh air:
pic from hgtv
The green is this kitchen is simply sub{lime}! My favorites are the subway tiles and the fabric on the dining chairs:
pic from bhg
If I lived in a tent, it would have to be this jewel-box of a tent. Have you ever seen a more vivid teal color?
pic from aplaceidliketocallhome
The perfect little patio. I adore the woven bistro chairs and the bird cage.
pic from 2h+k
The most lush and green yard I've ever seen - this one is in Wisconsin:
pic from elledecor
Bookshelves with a bright olive green backdrop really makes the books and decor pop!
A painted stair runner...love that idea! The green of this runner really highlights the space along with those frames, making an otherwise boring space a major focal point:
pic from cococozy
Grass green chairs really brighten up this dining nook - and can be easily repainted to later change the look:
pic from bhg
Want just a touch of green? Consider hanging a few dark green pendants above your bed as an alternative to bedside lamps:
pic from thedesignerpad
pic from houzz
These fair trade baskets are made in Senegal and would be great as a laundry hamper or for toy storage:
pic from sevenhopesunited
These pillow covers by Modern Touch Design on Etsy are super affordable - only $38 for two covers:
pic from etsy
Now we're all seeing green - in a good way of course! What was your favorite green item or space? -Kristen
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