Pages

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

DIY: Customizing Boring Builders Grade Cabinets

My master bathroom cabinets have bugged me for years. They are just regular old builders grade, nothing special - oak, no hardware, no style.

And since my husband is not in favor of my overhauling the bathroom completely (darn it, he's no fun!) I had to get creative.

What could I do for 1) very little money and 2) very handyman little talent.

Ahaaa! Done!

See those feet (those weren't there before)?

First, this greyish stain I found that I put everywhere.

Second, I added these bun feet ($5.95 each at Lowes) to both sides of the cabinets. I think that they totally make it...and it was simple!

I had to sand down the feet first - each side of the bathroom cabinet was a different size. So I got to know my handy rotary sander :) It was actually fun.


Next I stained the feet. This required two different kinds of stain; one to match the existing color of the builder grade cabinets and the second greyish stain to match what I had done to the cabinetry.

THEN I installed them and adhered them to my existing cabinets with Gorilla Wood Glue.

And voila! A more custom feel to formally builders grade cabinets.

All that's left is to add handles to the drawer and cabinets...but I've gotta get my drill to work first (it was on the fritz today...).

Here are a few other shots of my bathroom now:

Curtains are burlap. Palm we have had forever. Window hanging on the wall is an antique from a barn somewhere here in Northern CA. And the blue glass lanterns are from a variety of places.

And this is our shower door/shower window. I felt it was lacking a little "privacy" so I took a very old copy of "Atlas Shrugged" and laminated a bunch of random pages then adhered them to the door/glass panel. I love the patina...and its fun to read a classic while you're in the shower.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Monday, January 23, 2012

Rad Onesies


Ok...so this isn't related to interior design, but these are some seriously RAD onesies for that funky cool baby in your life.

Cool right?!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Coolest Bunk Beds EVER

Yes, in my opinion, they are the coolest bunks ever. They are like treehouse lofts! Want...

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Thrifted Afgan


I picked up this AWESOME afgan at Savers while in Southern California this past weekend. Thrifting with one of my besties, Carrie is my favorite thing ever and this blanket was my favorite purchase from the store. $8.99, thrown in the washer once I got home, and voila! Fresh dash of color to my living room!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Tumbling Teacups - A New Way to Store Jewelry!

I was in Urban Outfitters this past weekend and happened upon this ingenious jewelry solution.


Its almost sculptural, right? Plenty of room to hang earrings, corral small pins and other earrings, bracelets - whatever accessories suit your fancy.

Very cool. Apparently it is regularly $69 but reduced now to $19.99. Go forth and purchase :)

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Green!


Loving this glossy green kitchen island. I am totally confident that my husband would not be on board with this in our kitchen that we are designing...but I still love it :)


Tuesday, January 10, 2012

My Terrible Passtime



I have to admit something to the interwebs. I have a terrible new passtime.
I look up gorgeous Parisian apartments that offer long term leases.


Oh good grief! Why do I do this?????

(Like HELLO, this kitchen???? That island?)
Well...


Because they are just so darned beautiful, elegant and ENTICING. Ahhhhhhhhh!

Warning: If you go to this website, you too will want to rent a flat in Paris...and maybe never come back :) Don't say you weren't warned.

Monday, January 9, 2012

The Most Colorful Sofa EVER


I find that I am consistently drawn to furniture that is wildly colored/patterened...and yet I don't have any furniture like that in my home. Hmmmmm...time to make some changes perhaps?

Anyway, this sofa just SPEAKS to me...yells perhaps :) Isn't it glorious? I think I would feel extra happy sitting on it.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

How to Design a Kitchen...when you've wanted one for a REALLY long time...

SO. This is the year. The year that we gut and redo our kitchen. I have wanted to do this for the 4+ years we have been in our house and my husband and me put together a budget/savings plan for the next 10 months or so to make it happen THIS year. I can't even express how excited I am about this.

Of course, it is all contingent on NOT blowing our monthly budget so that we can save enough to actually DO the kitchen.

All of this excitement gives way to a new reality however. Hmmmm...what exactly do we want in this new kitchen of ours? What to do when we DO NOT agree on cabinet colors or design? Change the footprint of the existing kitchen or keep it the same? Knock down some walls? Make a two-tiered island or create a peninsula?

They are at least enjoyable questions to research and answer, but this is the kind of remodel that we will do ONCE...and I really want to get it right.

So postings here will be a little heavier on kitchens this year as I try to fine tune what appeals and works for our family.

If you have ANY suggestions/ideas at all I would love to hear them. What worked for you? What helped you make choices for your kitchen? What are some products that you really love and couldn't live without in your kitchen? Bring it on - I am all ears!

Friday, January 6, 2012

A Little Peak...


This was our Christmas photo collage this year. Here is just a little peak into the 6 people that make up our very busy energetic family.

Can't wait to start this new year off with a design bang!


Thursday, January 5, 2012

I am HERE...

I really am here! I have SO missed this blog. Like most people, life has just taken up LOTS of time and so blogging got pushed to the VERY back burner. But 2012 is a new year and I've got lots of my favorite things/projects/ideas to share.

So stay tuned and thanks for sticking with me! Dwelling by Design is BACK!