Saturday, August 28, 2010

More Sara's House - Down on the Farm

I spent the summer watching season 3 of Sarah's House, where she remodeled, added on to and completely decorated an old farmhouse in the country. My favorite part? The bathroom with the yellow antique tub, soft muted greys and buttery yellows and oh my those curtains! I found a similar fabric, except with blue accents instead of grey, and wish I had an excuse and a good room to use it in.


Photos via HGTV

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Bench Me

This bench has brought up some very good questions, like: "Can I please have this fantastic bench?" and "Could World Market be any more fabulous?" and "How is this bench only $130???"
Lattice-Back Garden Bench from World Market, $129.99

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Patio Inspiration

Summer is just around the corner, and I have been trying to think of ways to spruce up our little patio. I'm feeling really inspired by this patio I saw in last month's Sunset magazine. And the best part? Everything was done for under $600 by stylist Jennifer Barguiarena. Instead of a metal door for the table like Jennifer used, I'm trying to find an antique door and put a piece of glass on the top. Or this Ikea table with some mismatched chairs.


Materials:
4 ceramic pots (30 inches) on sale from Jackalope Pottery – $334
4 bamboo poles and plastic pipe from a hardware store – $31
Canvas drop cloth and tent hardware from the Home Depot – $30
Sheet metal top from a supply company – $33
Folding chairs from eBay – $64
Old door (table top) – $0
Pipe table legs from a hardware store – $76

A dropcloth with a grommet at each corner forms the top; it’s attached with S-hooks to lag screw eyes at the top of each pole. Each pole is inserted into a 2-ft.-long plumbing pipe (2 inches in diameter), secured in the pot with gravel.
Total: $568



Artificially “age” pieces: An old table with nicks and patina has character; it sets the stage for a relaxed space. “I wanted to create the beautifully aged look of an old zinc bar on the cheap,” says Barguiarena, who nailed sheet metal onto an old door and aged the metal with salt and vinegar.

Shop in hardware stores: A painter’s drop cloth makes strong, durable tent fabric. And plumbing pipes plus a part called a bell reducer make convincing table legs.

Keep it flexible: All but the pots are lightweight and can be moved easily, clearing the deck for another look or a different kind of party.

All photos via Sunset Magazine

Monday, March 8, 2010

Love this show: Sarah's House

This weekend I discovered the awesome show Sarah's House on HGTV. Designer Sarah Richardson and her hilarious and talented "design sidekick" Tommy Smythe redo old houses and transform them into move-in ready, fully decorated masterpieces, with each episode showing them working on a different room. Here were the results of a mid-century split back style home they worked on. Can I move in now please?

Living room
Kitchen
Master Bathroom
Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom
Guest Bedroom
Tween Room

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

DIY - Pretty framed corkboard project

Um, I am so doing this for my office. Which is my new little pet project right now. DIY corkboard project by Emily @ Timeless Paper.

From Emily: "This weekend I handmade a cork board for my office studio space. I used the Ung Drill decorative frame from Ikea with paint left over from my kitchen."

• background paint color: Slate from Restoration Hardware

• pattern paint color: Graphite from Restoration Hardware

• cork roll from Staples

• foam board recycled from previous project


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

From the personal library of Me

When I was younger, I adored going to the library (still do). I always wished I could have my own library due date cards for my books at home, and tried several times to make them. Due date cards inside library books have died along with the card catalog, and its one thing I will sorely miss. When I saw this Personal Library Kit from Paper Source, the little wannabe librarian in me rejoiced. Pockets, cards, a date stamp, an ink pad and a pencil - what more could a bibliophile ask for?


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Craft Room Inspiration

So I can't really have a whole craft room (more like a 'craft corner' or a 'craft closet'), but these photos are great inspiration for my little project. In fact, after seeing this craft closet, I've decided that doing this in my office/guest room will be the best use of space and storage. Where/how do you store all your crafts? Where do you do your crafting?





Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Can this be my office? Please?!

My dream office - not too stuffy, still functional, so adorable, and I'd still able to have the room as a guest room!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

I ♥ these Valentine's Treats and DIY's

I am a macaron fan (addict?). I tried pretty desperately to incorporate them into our wedding, but no one else got it - "You mean macaroons? With coconut??". Now they are a huge wedding trend. Sigh. But I digress... I still have a huge spot in my heart for them, and these Heart Macarons from Williams Sonoma are the cutest, sweetest confection a girl like me could receive for Valentine's Day (are you reading this husband??)


And these adorable DIY bag templates via Twig & Thistle would be the perfect things to give lovely Valentine's treats in.

This treat bag template reads "Happy Valentine's Day - Made with Love"


And this brownie bag template reads "Valentine's Day - Homemade Chocolate Brownies - Sweets for the Sweetest Day - 02.14.10"
Pop some homemade heart-shaped brownies inside a glassine lined paper bag and you have the cutest presents for friends or family.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Cookbook: Kilee's Gluten Free Cooking

My sorority sister Kilee has published the cutest cookbook, Kilee's Kitchen: Everyday Favorites with Gluten-Free Options. I know personally from my friends who have been diagnosed gluten intolerant or with Celiac disease how difficult it can be to eat healthy yet yummy food for yourself, not to mention serving others. Every recipe in Kilee's book is either gluten-free or lists gluten-free alternatives. It's full of healthy comfort food as well as food you could serve at a dinner/cocktail party to impress your friends who never need to know its gluten-free and healthy... unless they're into that. :)


From Kilee: "I love cooking! I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance last year and had to adapt my cooking style to exclude all wheat, soy sauce, and so many other ingredients. This did not stop me from making all the foods that I love. I just played with new ingredients and changed my recipes to be gluten-free yet delicious. If you make any of my recipes, no one will ever guess that they are gluten-free!"

Check it out for yourselves (you can preview the entire book!) or recommend it to a friend who is gluten-free.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Cookbook Bonanza

I have Christmas decorating recaps I want to post (a little belated, I know!) but I wanted to share my excitement over my Christmas Cookbook Bonanza loot that I amassed this holiday season...

From my Mom (we heart Ina Garten):

For my down-home cooking needs:

For my Gourmet side:
Gourmet Today: More than 1000 new recipes for the contemporary kitchen

For my Brit cooking fix from Cutie Pie Jamie Oliver:

Yep! I'm set for quite a while on the cookbook front!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Light the Menorah

This would make such a fab alternative menorah if you celebrate Hanukkah or if you just want some sleek wintery decor. I want this for my buffet table in the dining room! We have tons of manzanita bushes here in Central Oregon, so I think it would be a nice nod to our surroundings as well.