DIY Tray Turned Mirror From noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Jones)

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Jones) Be sure to check out their blog! Although we took on quite a few large projects in our recent living room renovation, one of my favorites ended up being a last minute mirror update.

Since the start of the living room update, I thought the mirror above the shoe cabinet was too small to scale (I have also been wanting to steal it to use in our bathroom).  But finding anything that wasn't also too big, was proving difficult.  I was looking for something square or round, wood finish and between 24" and 30" tall/wide.  Weeks of popping into shops and Internet searches and I was coming up short.  I found many I loved, but they were always too tall or wide.  And then I found "the one" at CB2.  It was nothing over-the-top amazing, but I appreciated the wood color, size and simplicity.

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At $129 it wasn't the cheapest option, but it definitely wasn't the most expensive I had found in my searching.  Thinking I had finally found what I had been digging for, I added it to my online shopping cart.  And then the "back-ordered until May" punch in the gut happened.  OK then. 

While doing some local shopping I decided to head into an actual CB2 store just to see if it would be a different story.  Then, I spotted it!  Hanging right smack dab in the center of the store.  I ran over to it like a kid running to that furry little puppy in a pet store window.  I was so hopeful and then so suddenly disappointed when I was told the store wouldn't be getting any more in until June.  Gah!  Such teases.

So we started looking into a few DIY options and even began researching how to bend wood.  And then the universe aligned in my favor and there it was buried in a HomeGoods aisle... a drop dead gorgeous acacia wood tray.

Measuring in at just over 24", I knew it was everything I was looking for in a mirror, minus the mirror itself.  Thanks to a handy tape measure in my handbag, I determined I needed to find a 22" mirror insert STAT.  A quick Google search later showed that IKEA sells a 22" frameless mirror, and I just knew it was all meant to be.  I sighed in relief and crossed my fingers that the mirror would be in stock at IKEA and would truly fit as planned.  Lucky for me, it all worked out. 

To affix the new mirror to the tray, we started with a Mirror, Marble & Granite Loctite adhesive.  I wanted to go right for stuff meant for these types of projects to reduce the risk of the mirror detaching and falling from the frame.

We were generous with the application of the glue....

And as excited as I was to see it up on the wall, we waited a full 48 hours for the glue to cure to the mirror (which fit the frame like a glove).  The adhesion seems very solid, the mirror isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

The tray came with some rubber feet attached, which we left on the back to keep it cushioned against the wall.  To hang the mirror, we went with our trusted picture hanging system consisting of screws, hooks and wire rated to handle the weight of the mirror and tray (similar).

Just be sure to select a screw that is not as thick as the tray, or add a washer or two to make up the difference.

And that was it!  One of the easiest projects in the space, yet one of my absolute favorites.  I just love the warmth it adds, and that I was able to get the look of the CB2 option for half of the cost!

And I thought the handles might bother me, but they don't at all.  In fact, I sort of love the quirkiness that they add.

Knowing that every HomeGoods stocks and offers different products, it may be hard to track down this exact tray.  However, I still wanted to share in case you had one on hand, see one when you are out or use the powers of Google to track down something similar.  Also, the odds that IKEA happened to sell a frameless round mirror that fit perfectly was all about luck.  In my searches I did notice that both Lowes and Home Depot offer a giant variety of frameless mirror options; round, oval, square and rectangular.  And if all else fails, you may be able to find a home improvement or glass shop that could cut one for you.

There has been a lot of tray talk around here lately!  I guess it just goes to show how versatile they really are.  Not only do they rock for storage all over the home, they also make a pretty amazing framed mirror!

New Wallpapers from Juju Papers + Best of The Web By: Grace Bonney

For me, last year’s ICFF was all about wallpaper. Glorious, glorious wallpaper. There were rows upon rows (and rolls upon rolls) on display that celebrated all sorts of styles and trends, from florals and geometric prints to shiny mylar patterns and traditional toile. One of my favorites every year, Juju Papers, offered to give us a sneak peek at their collection before it hits the show floor this year (Booth #831). Designer Avery Thatcher will be debuting two new beautiful patterns, Big Moon (inspired by New York’s underground art and music scene from the 80s) and Pas de Trois (an artistic interplay in three basic painted gestures). Each one is available in Gold on Cream, Silver on Cream and Gold on Charcoal and is a bright, bold way to decorate your walls or totally transform a room. In addition to these beautiful styles, Juju will also be offering old favorites in new colorways. So if you’re planning to visit the show, be sure to check them out in person. You can also check out (and shop) the new papers online right here. I can’t wait to see Big Moon in person — that bold pattern in the charcoal/gold combo is stunning. Until Monday, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! xo, grace

Photos by Mikola Accuardi

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1cvVDaY From Grace Bonney

Hackers Help: Gap for door swing? By: michaelcutt

Hi guys,

I have an installation question regarding the Godmorgon high cabinet. It will be mounted in a corner, on the left side of a vanity. Door will swing to the left as well. How large of a gap is required on the left side to allow for the door swing? IKEA makes no mention of a gap but I’m pretty sure you need one!

Photo: IKEA.com 

The post Hackers Help: Gap for door swing? appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1JwaLPP From michaelcutt

In the Kitchen With: Tara O’Brady’s Esquites and Gazpacho By: Kristina Gill

Tara O’Brady is not a newcomer to the In the Kitchen With column. We featured her pakoras and green chutney a few years ago, which were a great hit with our readers. I am just as excited today as I was then to have her on the column, this time with a recipe for Esquites and Yellow Tomato Gazpacho from her new cookbook, Seven Spoons. As the recipe and images attest, Tara’s book is a print extension of the lovely cosmopolitan recipes from her blog of the same name. We have a very small window here in Rome to buy fresh corn on the cob (and at exorbitant prices!) and when that window opens, this soup will be on my menu! (For best flavor, start this recipe one day before.) —Kristina

Why Tara loves this recipe: This recipe is a favorite way to showcase corn at its peak. It turns the flavors of Mexican street corn into a soup that’s vividly bright and refreshing, yet lush. The corn, tomatoes, peppers, and onion create a layered sweetness, and then there is the vinegar that dives straight through it all. The whole of the production is low effort and unfussy, yet striking, and just what I want on a hot summer evening.

Esquites and Yellow Tomato Gazpacho
Serves 6

You’re most likely familiar with elote, slathered grilled corn on the cob in a mixture of mayonnaise, chile powder, lime, salt, and cheese that is popular in Mexico. One summer dinner when we had more than the expected number at the table and not enough cobs for one per person, I stripped the corn into one big bowl and served from there. That was the night I learned about esquites, the Mexican street snack of boiled or sautéed corn kernels, finished like elote. Esquites not only makes corn go further, but also makes the eating neater, if that’s a concern, and easier for those who have trouble with biting from the cob. (Parents with children of teeth-losing age, bookmark this page.)

Here, I take those flavors and whizz them into a cool gazpacho. The soup is vividly bright and refreshing, yet lush on the spoon. It suits the heat of high summer, on both the nights when you feel you can swim through the humidity and those that bake you dry. The corn, tomatoes, peppers, and onion create a layered sweetness, and then the vinegar dives straight through it all.

I prefer this soup without a burn; the poblano cream continues the vinegar’s twang, with the emphasis on the fruity qualities of the pepper rather than its heat. The production is low effort, and the result is as irresistible as its predecessors.

Soup
-4 ears yellow or bicolor corn, husked and snapped in two
-1¼ pounds (570 g) yellow tomatoes, stemmed
-1 small sweet onion, chopped
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
-2 slices hearty white bread, ideally stale, each 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, crusts removed
-¼ cup (35 g) blanched almonds
-1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, plus more as needed
-Medium-grain salt and freshly ground black pepper
-2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Chile Cream
-1 poblano chile
-Small bunch of cilantro, leaves and tender stems chopped, plus a few sprigs left whole for garnish
-1 ounce (30 g) cotija or feta cheese, crumbled
-₁⁄₃ cup (80 ml) crema or sour cream
-Medium-grain kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

To Serve
-1 lime
-1 shallot, minced
-1 avocado
-Cayenne or smoked paprika (optional)

Preparation
1. To make the soup, fill a biggish bowl with cold water and ice. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Salt the water liberally. Plunge the corn into the pot and cook for 2 minutes. When the time’s up, submerge the cobs in the ice water for 3 minutes, then transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. While the corn cools, keep the pot of water at a boil. With a paring knife, cut a small cross into the bottom of each tomato. Carefully drop the tomatoes into the boiling water and let them bob for 20 seconds. Lift the tomatoes from the pot and plunge into the ice water. Once cool, peel, core, and chop the tomatoes.

2. In a blender, process the onion, garlic, and bell pepper into a paste. Scrape down the sides of the carafe, then add the bread in chunks, followed by the almonds, and process again.

3. Slice the corn kernels from the cobs. Set aside approximately ¾ cup (180 g) kernels for garnish, then add the rest of the corn to the blender, along with the chopped tomatoes. Puree the vegetables until absolutely velvety, about 3 minutes. Pour in 1½ teaspoons of the vinegar, a generous pinch of salt, and some pepper. Process again. With the motor running, add most of the olive oil in a thin, steady stream through the hole in the blender’s lid. Pop the lid’s stopper back into place and let the machine run for a good while, maybe 2 minutes more, until the liquid is silky and emulsified. Stop the blender, taste, adding more of the remaining 1½ teaspoons vinegar, salt, or oil, as needed. The flavors will dull when chilled, so they should be more than convincing now. Flip the motor on for another 30 seconds, then pour the soup into a serving bowl or pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and up to overnight.

4.  About an hour before you’re looking to eat, make the chile cream. Char the poblano over a gas flame or under a broiler, turning regularly until blackened on all sides, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Leave to steam for about 20 minutes. Stem, peel, seed, and chop the chile, and add to a blender or food processor with the cilantro and cheese. Blitz to a fine green and white confetti. Scrape down the sides, pour in the crema, add a few grinds of pepper, and blend again. Taste, then season as needed with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

5. To serve, in a small bowl, squeeze the juice from half the lime over the shallot. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper and leave at room temperature to marinate, stirring now and again.

6. Right before serving, peel, seed, and dice the avocado. Fold the avocado into the pickled shallot. Ladle the chilled soup into bowls, top with the reserved corn, avocado, chile cream, cilantro leaves, and cayenne powder. Cut the remaining lime half into wedges and place in a bowl on the table. Eat.

Note: A word on breaking the cobs of corn in half: doing so will allow a smaller pot for boiling, and will give a flat base for removing the kernels later.

For those who look for pep in their chiles, use 2 to 3 jalapeños instead of the poblano in the cream. And in regard to that cream, it can instead be made with a pestle and mortar or by cutting by hand, yielding a brawny variation on the theme.

About Tara: Tara O’Brady is the author of the award-winning blog Seven Spoons, which she started in 2005. She has a regular column in Uppercase Magazine and has contributed to Kinfolk, The Globe and Mail, Oprah.com, and more. She lives in Southern Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two sons.

Reprinted with permission from Seven Spoons by Tara O’Brady, copyright (c) 2015. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Photography (c) 2015 by Tara O’Brady.

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1DWvDuE From Kristina Gill

Tattoorary Delft Blue + Floral Temporary Tattoos By: Grace Bonney

I’ve found that tattoos are one of the more divisive personal design elements I’ve come across. I personally love them (a good chunk of our team has them, too) and I am always planning my next, but I understand that they’re not for everyone. I think one reason (though certainly not the only one) that people shy away from tattoos is the whole “forever” factor. But with the rise in beautiful temporary tattoos from companies like Tattly, I think people are becoming more open minded about tattoos in general — or are at least experimenting with them. One of my favorite trends in temporary tattoos is the move toward historic or more classical imagery. I love an antique botanical, so these new styles from Tattoorary on Etsy are right up my alley (Thanks to Tattoorary for sharing them in #DSBlues!). They turn traditional floral and Delft Blue imagery into stunning temporary tattoos that you can apply for a fun night out or use to impress your fellow decorative arts majors while you study history in class. Whether you’re trying to test out for future permanent tattoos or just want to have some fun, click here to check them out online. xo, grace

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1H6oj77 From Grace Bonney