- Talia
- Los Angeles
- Une Petit Chouette means "Small Owl" in French. That's me.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Inspiration: DIY Dresser Re-dos
Here are three Before & After dresser projects that have jump-started the inspiration for my aforementioned endeavor.
My First (big) DIY Project?
So you may notice that the title of this post is a question. That is because I'm kind of a little "scurred" for the project that I may be setting up for myself. Maybe my fellow design fanatics out there can help me out. I found a GREAT deal on Craigslist on this simple, yet versatile Shaker style set. This dresser is being sold along with two matching nightstands for a truly unbeatable price.
I immediately responded to the post with the hopes of gearing up enough guts and energy to tackle this as my first Before & After project. But, I gotta admit...I'm a little afraid that the task will seem too overwhelming once I have the furniture in my bedroom, thus leaving me with some nice-but-plain-generic furniture. Then, I fear I will have to question why I ever let go of my white IKEA Malm Dresser. Especially after seeing this Malm upgrade on Apartment Therapy:
So what do you guys think? Any suggestions?
I'll do a Before & After roundup, but I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
I immediately responded to the post with the hopes of gearing up enough guts and energy to tackle this as my first Before & After project. But, I gotta admit...I'm a little afraid that the task will seem too overwhelming once I have the furniture in my bedroom, thus leaving me with some nice-but-plain-generic furniture. Then, I fear I will have to question why I ever let go of my white IKEA Malm Dresser. Especially after seeing this Malm upgrade on Apartment Therapy:
So what do you guys think? Any suggestions?
I'll do a Before & After roundup, but I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Delicious Discoveries: Judykaufmann on Etsy
I love these prints by Barcelona-based illustrator, Judy Kaufmann. These whimsical portraits are accompanied by an inspiring and corresponding quote.
Frida Khalo Print - $25
John Lennon Print - $25
I Love My Mustache Print - $25
On her work, Judy says:
I get the inspiration from what I don't understand, what I don't know, what I don't know how to do, what I am not. From the interest that I feel about all things that are outside of my life.
Check out her Etsy store or visit her website!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Inspiration: Floating Sectionals
What do you guys think? Would you float a sectional piece as a free-standing seating option?
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Craigslist Booty: HÄSTVEDA Chair
Lookey what I got!
I was eyeing the selection of rattan and wicker chairs about a week ago on the IKEA site, considering the idea that one would fit perfectly in my bedroom as a reading chair. In a serendipitous turn of events, I happened across this HÄSTVEDA Chair from IKEA on Craigslist. The guy was so nice, he sold it to me (with the coordinating cushion that is normally sold separately) for only $25. So I shifted some things around, and voila!
Oh! And he even threw in these two throw pillows for free! Little did he know, they match my couch perfectly.
Lucky me!
I was eyeing the selection of rattan and wicker chairs about a week ago on the IKEA site, considering the idea that one would fit perfectly in my bedroom as a reading chair. In a serendipitous turn of events, I happened across this HÄSTVEDA Chair from IKEA on Craigslist. The guy was so nice, he sold it to me (with the coordinating cushion that is normally sold separately) for only $25. So I shifted some things around, and voila!
Oh! And he even threw in these two throw pillows for free! Little did he know, they match my couch perfectly.
Before & After: My 15 Minute Challenge
This morning, I was inspired by a Before & After by Laure on Apartment Therapy called A 15 minute Clean Sweep, in which she gave herself only 15 minutes to see how much tidying up could be done in her bedroom.
What an improvement, huh?
So I decided to take the challenge. I gave myself 20 minutes to see how much I could get done in my whole apartment.
Before:
20 Minutes Later:
I stopped when my timer went off, just as I was about to sweep. If I had given myself about 5 more minutes, I probably would have gotten that done too! In just 20 minutes, I transformed my house from a dark dungeon of doom into a bright, friendly, and serene sanctuary. Try it!
What an improvement, huh?
So I decided to take the challenge. I gave myself 20 minutes to see how much I could get done in my whole apartment.
Before:
Messy bed, clothes on the floor.
Clothes on top of the dresser, unorganized jewelry
Boxes and garbage on the floor, dirty table
Dirty dishes and counters...yum.
Bills and mail scattered on the coffee table, clothes and stuff on the couch
20 Minutes Later:
Threw away the garbage!
Wiped down the stove...
...and the counters! Washed the dishes, too!
Folded the throw blanket and put away clothes. Filed away my paperwork and bills.
I opened the windows, too. A brighter room always feels cleaner.
Organized jewelery and put away clothes.
And most importantly, made the bed. It's been scientifically proven that making your bed more often will make you happier, overall.
I stopped when my timer went off, just as I was about to sweep. If I had given myself about 5 more minutes, I probably would have gotten that done too! In just 20 minutes, I transformed my house from a dark dungeon of doom into a bright, friendly, and serene sanctuary. Try it!
To DIY For: Embellished Mirror
Hey, you! Want an easy DIY project that you can complete in less than 30 minutes? Try embellishing an old mirror with stick-on letters like the one featured in the latest issue of Living, Etc.
Or, try applying a decorative film on your windows like this one from Brume.
Or, try applying a decorative film on your windows like this one from Brume.
To DIY For: A Perfect Painting Starter Project
I gotta give a big shoutout to Jan at Poppytalk for squelching some of my DIY fear this morning with her Weekend Project post. If you're like me, you see others' DIY projects and think "Oh, that's soooo cool...and EASY! I'm TOTALLY gonna try that." Three months later...you still have the same white walls, or the same plain furniture, or the same ugly bedding.
Well, maybe all we DIY dysfunctionals need is a good starter project.
Poppytalk featured a paint-dipped furniture idea from House and Home that seems pretty darn simple and painless. Using a thrift store chair and a coat rack from Urban Outfitters, Senior Design Editor Cameron McNeil used two contrasting paint colors to achieve an asymmetrical paint-dipped look. Just cover the chosen piece in the base color, and when dry, tape off the area where your accent color will be. They make a point to add that you should avoid painting the piece exactly half and half. That way you'll be sure to get the desired "dipped" look we're going for.
I'm all for trying this out on a cheap thrift store find. Being an Urban Outfitters fanatic, I happen to know that the Coming and Going Coat Rack pictured above will cost you about $70. It just doesn't make sense to me to spend so much money just to throw a bit of paint on something. So definitely try this out on some gently used items that just need a bit of sprucing up. Have fun!
Well, maybe all we DIY dysfunctionals need is a good starter project.
Poppytalk featured a paint-dipped furniture idea from House and Home that seems pretty darn simple and painless. Using a thrift store chair and a coat rack from Urban Outfitters, Senior Design Editor Cameron McNeil used two contrasting paint colors to achieve an asymmetrical paint-dipped look. Just cover the chosen piece in the base color, and when dry, tape off the area where your accent color will be. They make a point to add that you should avoid painting the piece exactly half and half. That way you'll be sure to get the desired "dipped" look we're going for.
I'm all for trying this out on a cheap thrift store find. Being an Urban Outfitters fanatic, I happen to know that the Coming and Going Coat Rack pictured above will cost you about $70. It just doesn't make sense to me to spend so much money just to throw a bit of paint on something. So definitely try this out on some gently used items that just need a bit of sprucing up. Have fun!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hello, Gorgeous: Engan Nightstand by IKEA
And with a price tag of under 50 bucks, it's enough to make me swoon.
House Tour Inspiration: Liz's Durham Duplex
While enjoying my daily browse of the Apartment Therapy blog, I came across Liz's inspiring house tour. It all started when I noticed that she and I have the same paper lantern pendant floor lamp...
I really liked the casual modern motif she combined with the natural and bohemian textures of the paper lamp. But then, as I kept clicking, I saw a really neat pattern. She seems to have tied all the rooms together using the paper lantern theme.
I was really inspired by her minimalist bedroom. I am currently faced with the dilemma of not being able to paint my apartment walls and have been unsatisfied with the institutional feel I get whenever laying in my bed. Liz, however, used her white walls to her advantage by working WITH them and hanging several white lanterns. I think it provides quite a relaxing atmosphere. What do you think?
Check out Liz's full house tour on Apartment Therapy.
I really liked the casual modern motif she combined with the natural and bohemian textures of the paper lamp. But then, as I kept clicking, I saw a really neat pattern. She seems to have tied all the rooms together using the paper lantern theme.
I was really inspired by her minimalist bedroom. I am currently faced with the dilemma of not being able to paint my apartment walls and have been unsatisfied with the institutional feel I get whenever laying in my bed. Liz, however, used her white walls to her advantage by working WITH them and hanging several white lanterns. I think it provides quite a relaxing atmosphere. What do you think?
Check out Liz's full house tour on Apartment Therapy.
Don't Be A Basket Case: Get Organized!
Whether it's wire, wicker, plastic, or glass...
Jen over at IHeartOrganizing lays it all out for you in this organizational basket & container tour! I am so inspired to get organizing!
Check out her full post here.
Jen over at IHeartOrganizing lays it all out for you in this organizational basket & container tour! I am so inspired to get organizing!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Organizing a Happy New Year!
Hello, friends! I hope you had a relaxing and joyful holiday season. Please forgive the extended hiatus, but I have been selfishly and sluggishly easing my way into this new year. But now that the second week of the month has already passed, it's time to get my butt in gear! And there's no better way to do that than to start the year off with some tips to help organize your life in 2011!
I came across this fantastic idea for a makeshift dresser on Apartment Therapy. I have a ton of closet space in my apartment, but the one closet that SHOULD be the biggest (in the bedroom) is actually the smallest. So I have my sweatshirts, sweaters, and accessories stored away in one of the larger closets near the entryway. Though it's be working for me so far, I have to admit that it can be annoying sometimes when I'm running from closet to closet in the morning in a mad dash to get dressed for work. This neato idea could put an end to the morning madness.
Using plywood, vintage shelf brackets, and fabric organizing bins, you can easily create extra storage where you lack closet space or the space (or budget) for storage furniture. Just hang your shelves high enough so that the contents are above eye level, and low enough for them to easily be reached. You could even try other bin styles and textures. I would maybe try a nice woven basket or something with a whimsical print. What do you guys think? Would you try this to help you get organized for the new year?
I came across this fantastic idea for a makeshift dresser on Apartment Therapy. I have a ton of closet space in my apartment, but the one closet that SHOULD be the biggest (in the bedroom) is actually the smallest. So I have my sweatshirts, sweaters, and accessories stored away in one of the larger closets near the entryway. Though it's be working for me so far, I have to admit that it can be annoying sometimes when I'm running from closet to closet in the morning in a mad dash to get dressed for work. This neato idea could put an end to the morning madness.
Using plywood, vintage shelf brackets, and fabric organizing bins, you can easily create extra storage where you lack closet space or the space (or budget) for storage furniture. Just hang your shelves high enough so that the contents are above eye level, and low enough for them to easily be reached. You could even try other bin styles and textures. I would maybe try a nice woven basket or something with a whimsical print. What do you guys think? Would you try this to help you get organized for the new year?
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