Good looking banquette from the Akurum

Sorry for the spotty posting. Have been running around like a headless chicken - work, some personal projects, helping a friend set up his fish farm. It's all good, but leaves me a little tired and sleep deprived. Hope to get back on speed with hacks today onwards.

These 2 are from Peggy who lives in Switzerland. She says, "When I have some spare time, I try to think about good solutions to my everyday life problems around the house, and when I have even more time... then I realise the projects (and sometimes, it takes weeks to get it done even if it would be a matter of a few hours to do it with nothing and no one coming in between! (I have 3 kids!)

Here's one completed kitchen bench made with Faktum (called Akurum in the US) horizontal wall cabinets and Capita legs on which I fitted a MDF top (cut - paint - screw on).

We sat directly on the cabinets (not so good looking and a bit narrow) for about two weeks because it took me some time to get the MDF. It was fine for the kids... but it started creaking a bit under 'adult' weight! It was about time I finished! To make it more comfortable, the MDF is 50cm (cabinets are 40cm). I attached a long 3cm x 6cm piece of wood to the walls to support the MDF at the back. In the cabinets, I store stuff that I don't need on an everyday basis.

The other hack is an 'olde hack' or 'outdated hack' 'cause the piece is not available anymore (and that's too bad really! I think it was called Blista)... But I think it still illustrates an very important mathematical reality:

CD case = toilet paper roll! :o) It's good to keep that in mind for future hacks!"
 

Gray/Grey Dining Rooms

I have a new obsession with gray dining rooms, I love the elegant look - Gray is such a wonderful color. If done correctly it can be warm and elegant. Very often I see cream woodwork and one or two simple black accents; both help make the color pop. Here are a few of my favorites: Jane Showers & Associates

This dining room was designed by one of my favorite designers, Jane Showers and Associates. I love the how the ebony table anchors the space while all the other pieces in the room are light and airy. The huge mirror, which reflects the buffet across the room adds a layer of drama. The chandelier looks like it could be from Julie Neill Designs and the ceiling has a pearlized look. Lovely!

MLS Photo

This gray dining room is actually an illusion. It has black and white printed walls which gives an overall feeling of gray. Very chic. The striped chairs and traditional style table go beautifully with the more traditional style of the room. The art work adds the black accents. Hard to tell exactly, but perhaps antique architectural prints, framed in ebony. A crystal chandelier adds sparkle.

MLS PHOTO

Here is a country inn - this gray reads a bit more blue to me. The cherry wood is good compliment. I also find the pinkish-creamy ceiling pretty but I do not like chandelier. It seems too informal and too small for the space.

MLS PHOTO

This room really speaks to me. Here is a wonderful example of gray in a more austere room. The windows open to a spectacular view. Often the wrong color can compete with view. This gray is a perfect compliment to the outdoors - it actually enhances the view. The lighting adds the perfect accent of black with out overpowering the space. Add in the texture of the sisal rug, the simple lines of the furniture, the soft color palette of the upholstery, and viola! Perfect!

Where I got it and how much it costs.

I've received a ton of questions on where I've purchased items in my posts, so I thought I'd list where I got everything and how much I paid. (If there's no price it just means I can't remember!) I hope this helps out -- I'll try to keep this up on future posts. Let me know if you have any more questions!


Fall is here? It's 84 degrees outside!
Door décor:
Hanging flower containter, Southern Living at Home
Flowers, Hobby Lobby

Kitchen centerpiece:
Tray, Southern Living at Home
Pumpkin, Pier One
Potpourri, Z Gallerie

Mantel:
Candles on mantel, $3.50 Hobby Lobby
Berry garland, $6, Michaels
Candle holder, scrap wood

Bell Jar:
Fall picks, $1, Hobby Lobby
Large fall plate, $6, Pier One
Crystals/acorns, Pier One
Ribbon, $3.50, Hobby Lobby

Table vignette:
Frames, $3 each, JoAnn, Etc.
Leaves, taken off a vine, Hobby Lobby

Candle on counter:
Garland, Hobby Lobby
Small fall plate, $5, Pier One


Lampshade tutorial:
Lamp, $20.00, Lowes
Fabric, $6, Hobby Lobby
Trim, $7/yard, Hobby Lobby


Bwwuuaahaaahaaaaaa!!
Wooden pumpkin, $2, Hobby Lobby
Black scrapbook paper, $2, Hobby Lobby


More Halloween treats!
Scrapbook paper, $.50 and $.25, Hobby Lobby
Frame, $1, Deals
Stickers/bats, Hobby Lobby


I love nap time.
Tombstones, $1, Deals
Spooky glitter sign, $2, Hobby Lobby


I spent $50 to save $12! Wait...
Beware glitter sign, $2, Hobby Lobby
Fall picks, $1, Hobby Lobby
Tiny pumpkins, $1.50, Target
Black pumpkins, $1.75, Hobby Lobby



Go forth and shop thrifty!!

The Book of Decorating

I received my advance copy of The Book of Decorating from Domino yesterday and I definitely think everyone will love it! There are tons of great interiors from the magazine all in one place now and many new fabulous designs too. The Decorator's Handbook in the back is the perfect reference guide for the average homeowner who wants to learn how to do it themselves but also a nice refresher for the professional.

Even better is that the launch party for the Book of Decorating is open to the public! Stop by The Conran Shop, 407 East 59th Street, on Wednesday, October 15 from 6:00-8:00pm for chic cocktails, conversation, discounts, and prizes! See you there!

Mission: Declutter and Organize

I love to organize. Most days you wouldn't know it from the state of our home, but I blame that on the two-year-old, Hurricane Bub. I have a sickness with it, like this, but this sickness I haven't really shown you here yet.

This year was the Year of Declutter in our house. I decided last December that I would scour every. single. crevice of this house and get rid of anything we didn't need and organize everything else. It's taken all year long, but I've (almost) done it! It is the BEST feeling! My favorite transformation is our unfinished basement -- the change is amazing and I'll share it soon.

So with the new year approaching us, I figured we should share some inspiration and get organized in 2009. On January 12, I'll ask you to share the ways you organize your home (I'm going to use that cool Mr. Linky thing!! Yay!). I've seen some really cute ideas on various blogs and I know there are so many fun ideas that out there that we need to share.

Yes, it is October and I'm talking about January. Planner, much? I told you I have problems. So get ready, and think about those fun, easy or cheap ways you organize so you can inspire us!

P.S. Any respectable organizer MUST have the Dymo label maker, used above. Ahhh, you'll label everything! Your kids, your cats, your husband!!

**Edited to say I moved the date for this back a bit, so we could all get Christmas put away, the house de-garlanded and could breath for just a bit before jumping into another party.

The Colors of the Night

It was 46 degrees this morning and it got me thinking about all the great indoor activities available in New York and museums are at the top! One of the new exhibits that I am excited to see is Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night at The Museum of Modern Art. It looks fabulous!

"It often seems to me that the night is much more alive and richly colored than the day." - Vincent van Gogh, September 8, 1888

I spent $50 to save $12! Wait...

Doesn't make sense to you? Me either. Started with the $6 pumpkins at the grocery store. Had them in my cart, and thought, wow, $12 for two pumpkins I will throw away! I should just go spend the $40 on the fake pumpkins!! That way they'll pay for themselves in, say, FOUR YEARS?? See my reasoning here? My husband doesn't always get it either, bless his heart.

So off to Hobby Lobby I go, get my Funkins, love them. Then we go to the beautiful farm this weekend, and you can't go apple and pumpkin picking without buying pumpkins. I mean, it's sacrilegious or something, isn't it? I think it was the cider, because I easily dropped $40 that day, on pumpkins and apples. Geez.

So here are the fifteen million pumpkins, and we don't even really have a porch. I think I made it work: (not sure what to do with my witch broom)

Don't you just LOVE those tombstones?? I even added glow in the dark paint to them. I thought about getting some bones from the Dollar Store and sticking them in the ground in front of a few of them...I have more around our trees:

Here is more of the decor around the house. I think I'm done now. (I think...)

I made these last year by taking cutouts from the Web and using stiff felt. Pennies each! I put them on the windows and they look great at night!

Here's another cheap sign: (Looks like "Beware of the fruit" right there...I should move that.)

I'm obsessed with these pics from Hobby Lobby for a buck each...I put them everywhere!:

Not sure I'm loving this, but I got a package of these teeny tiny pumpkins for $1.45 on clearance from Target last year. At that price, this will do:

I buy the leaf garland and pull the leaves off and use them EVERYWHERE:

More Southern Living for you lovas out there...

And I leave you with a close up of the fireplace. I love how this turned out!:

I'm putting a list together of my recent projects -- where I got them and how much they cost, for your info. Stay tuned!

P.S. What would you do with these? I painted them black, with plans to spell out Welcome on them...but the pumpkin ridges won't allow for it. Any ideas?

P.P.S. Thanks for all the great ideas ladies!! Kara inspired me with her suggestion, so I ran out and got tags tonight and did this. I think it's stinkin' cute!