Ingo Table

Jeraldine pretties up the stoic Ingo coffee table and adds space to it too.

She says, "I bought a simple wood table for my living room as I love wood. However, I decided to smart it up a bit. So I painted it in white. I added a pattern with a stencil and grey painting. Then I realised I needed a shelf under it to store some magazines for example. As I had dismounted an old Ivar furniture, I took one of the plank, sewed it to size, painted it. I marked the height at which I wanted the plank and drilled four holes in each leg. I pushed in them the small pieces of steel usually used to make Ivar planks stand and installed the extra shelf under my table."

The Lifeguard: Part Deux

Photographer Matt Albiani and fashion designer Michael Bastian are friends who just happened to both have lifeguards on their mind recently. (And thanks to Matt's photos in my last post, I think we all do now!) Michael's spring 2009 menswear line was inspired by the 1975 move The Lifeguard which I had never even heard of but I hope Netflix has because I think it's going to be very popular very soon! More importantly, he was inspired by the ease and sexiness of the lifeguard lifestyle. Aren't we all!

I checked out the collection at the Bergdorf's men's store recently and wished I had a boyfriend to shop for because the clothes are preppy but slim fitting and sexy. A perfect combination! Matt and Michael were also a perfect combination. Michael hosted Matt's book party for Lifeguard on Duty at Bergdorf's and you can ogle the photos on display in Michael's section until the book comes out in June. Too bad it's not summer now! Bon Weekend!

The bone box

Derrik has a collection of about 40 x-rays and for the longest time wanted to build a light table for them.

He says, "As it happens, I needed a coffee table and the Ramvik design looked perfect for what I wanted to do. With the help of a friend, we cut and routed a big hole into the table top and wired together some florescent lighting. The drawers don't function as such and are only there so the housing has sides. I managed to get the piece of acrylic (through which the light pours) for about $30."

Twig Accents

Country Living

I have always had a love affair with twig furniture. When I was in my twenties, I bought several beautiful pieces at flea market off the back of twig artist's truck. A few cushions from Pier One and viola I had living room set. My friends thought I was strange to use outdoor furniture inside, but I thought I was very chic.

McClellan Design

Of course over the years, my love for twig furniture has not diminished but I no longer feel the need to have a living room filled with it. I prefer it in a sun room or porch.

Oak Hill

Isn't this a very interesting and beautiful way to use of birch twigs and branches? This room almost looks as if it is built into the trees.

Notice the ceiling detail and pattern of the branches. Isn't it wonderful?

It looks as if each branch was hand cut to fit around the arched window.

Pinch

I do love twig furniture as a accent though. I love the texture and organic feeling it brings into a room. Adding a small focal point like this side table can add some great texture to a room.

Here is another great example also from Pinch.

Here is designer John Pinch at his booth showing the versatility - Is it a table or a bench?

Style Files profiled exactly how to make a copy of the Pinch design at home. Click on the link for the directions. they are in Dutch, but pretty self explanatory.

Adding twig furniture is a simple way to bring the outdoors in and add some interest and texture to your space.

It's Raining Men!

I am so bummed that I am going to miss the book launch party at Bergdorf's for my friend Matt Albiani's new book Lifeguard on Duty. It would have been nice to congratulate him in person but more importantly, I will be missing seeing all the hot lifeguards off duty! I might have to figure out what beaches they work at so I can fake drowning just so they can give me mouth to mouth. (Did I just say that out loud?!) You know you were thinking it too!

I have a feeling Matt's book is going to be very popular this summer. When you buy one for yourself, make sure you pick up one for you beach house host/hostess. If you do, they might ignore the fact that you left your towels on the floor. Heck, they probably won't even notice you're there at all since they will be too busy looking at the photos!

Oh, Matt was kind enough to answer some questions about the book. Make sure you go back and read them after you stop drooling!

HC: I know you've had a love affair with the beach for years but how did the idea for the book about lifeguards come about?
MA: I was a lifeguard for five years in college, and have always been inspired by the spirit and culture of an ocean guard.

HC: You traveled to beaches across the US for four years to get the shots. Was it more fun to shoot photos for your own project?
MB: This is definitely more satisfying because it is such a personal project, and one that comes completely inspired from my experiences.

HC: Is there one US beach that has the hottest lifeguards?
MA: All of them are such terrific guys. The girls though all seem to go crazy for guys from the jersey shore, though.

HC: Do you have a favorite photo in the book?
MA: I shot for a few days under a pier at a lifeguard competition, where all the guards were hiding from the august heat, and those images under the pier are some of my favorite, because at that time, they were the ones being protected.

HC: How excited are you to see the final product of all your hard work?
MA: It is very very satisfying to see my work come to fruition.

HC: Any plans for another book? What are you working on now?
MA: I just shot the cover of the Jonas Brothers new album, which was a crazy departure for me, and have begun work on my next book, on college rowers. I can't wait!

Photos by Matt Albiani

Check HER out!

I have been thinking for awhile now that I need to pay it forward a bit more on this little ol' blog. So many of my bloggy friends have highlighted my projects and I think it's about time I start doing the same for others!

I see so many projects out there I am completely inspired by, so I am going to start sharing them with you as well. Without further adue... ado? Adeu? Whatever, here we go...

You HAVE to go check out Censational Girl. She found me a couple weeks ago and her blog is one of my favorites right now. Another sister of mine separated at birth I say...there are so many of you out there. Huh. Anyway...look at the tree she painted in her daughter's room:
AND she made it look easy. Ummm, OK, she clearly rocks. Mine would look like a tree on steroids or something.

Have any of you seen those ceramic lettered balls out there? We carry them at the decor firm I work for and want them SO BAD! I just can't imagine spending so much money on them. Holly over at Homebody Holly shows how to make your own lettered spheres:

I love it!! It's so so so sad that I've been looking for ping pong balls at Goodwill to do this in the cheapest way possible. Sad.

Do you ever see stuff on the side of the street and drive by it 15 times, trying to decide if you're going to look like a lunatic, jumping out of your car and stuffing it in? (I found a beauty a couple weeks ago, but called my sister to go pick it up cause I was "busy" -- I was just making her do my dirty work.) Well, Karla at It's the Little Things That Make a House a Home did the same and turned a headboard into this:

Oh, be still my heart. That is AMAZING. Talk about transformation!

We all know the easiest update for a dresser is new hardware. But take a look at the extra little step the girls at Little Nannygoat took to bling up a dresser:

This is what I love -- finding something you probably already have, changing it up and making a HUGE statement -- for next to nothing!

Finally, Melissa at 320 Sycamore redid her bathroom. You just will not believe the transformation:

I love love LOVE this space. Amazing. Take at look at her latest posts for more details!

There you go! Paying it forward blog-style. I hope you were inspired!

P.S. Yet again, your comments on my last post had me cracking up!! You guys are the best!

Patchwork armchair

Ele does a pretty patchwork cover for her Tullsta.

She says, "I re-upholstered it with a patchwork of fabrics including several with lino block I printed myself. I also painted the scuffed legs white. I cut off the fabric and used it to make a pattern. I re-used the zipper for the cushion and then trashed it as it was neither nice nor clean. I used a combination of new fabric, thrifted fabrics (corduroy, cotton, upholstery, an old pair of pants and a men's shirt etc.) and block printed fabrics. I used lino block prints of the oudjat eyes, radiolarians, jellyfish, frog & lily pad, koi, seahorse, walrus, dragon and blue whales. I also used one old screen print of the sun."




See more pictures of her patchwork armchair.

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Just wanted to thank Erin Scottberg of Lemondrop for her story on Ikea hacks. Her article picked 12 cheap and easy hacks from this site to show non-Ikea hackers what can be done. Is your hack one of them? Check out her article here.