#DSShapes By: Grace Bonney

Over the holidays, I tried to take a break from constantly having my phone at hand. The 21st century temptation to photograph, document and share every beautiful or interesting moment that I came across was always there, but I found that the less I photographed, the more I noticed. Every beautiful old door, stained glass window and great menu design seemed like a great jumping-off point for some project, online or off. I wasn’t able to totally step away from my phone, because I did end up snapping a few moments from our holiday vacation. And when I went over those photos, I noticed how many of them were about catching great moments of “shapes in the wild.” Everywhere I looked there seemed to be some sort of geometric detailing popping up everywhere: In old windows, in the form of tiles on doorsteps, and even in the overlapping of tree branches in our yard. So for January’s #Hashtag Challenge, I’d love for you to share the shapes YOU see in everyday life. Maybe it’s a great wall mural, tiny rectangle-patterned cookies or a handprinted pattern — whatever it may be, share the shapes YOU see during your day and upload them to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and hashtag them #DSShapes. We’ll choose our favorites and share them here next month! xo, grace

Images above, clockwise from top left: BostonaPollen, Denai_Jones, SandraNygard, Citron_Press_

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1Iqw0AL From Grace Bonney

Pull Pot By: oskar

Keep your kitchen pots sorted and easy to grab with the built in glider function of Utrusta (waste sorting bin frame) and with support of Variera pot lid holder.

Things you need: Utrusta 702.461.12 & Variera 701.548.00 and a screwdriver.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1Bv7RZi From oskar

Changing table to chest of drawers By: Kinga

Materials: Singlar changing table, TROFAST storage boxes

We got a Singlar changing table very cheap at the bargain section in our IKEA shop. It has a shelf but that was not enough for the multiplying clothes of our baby.

My husband loves DIY, so after short planning, he took two laths and cut them to the depth of the table. Attached them with small nails. The middle one is wider to hold both boxes.

It looks nice and the table can be painted to have a smarter look.

The only disadvantage is that the drawers can fall out if I pull them out too much, otherwise it is perfect.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1wiUYw2 From Kinga

7 Strategies to Reset Your Home for the New Year From Jackie

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger Jackie Be sure to check out their blog!

Happy New Year!

Are you ready to hit the reset button in your home? Get a fresh start? Maybe a new perspective?

I know I am.

When the New Year rolls around I tend to do a lot of reflection on our home and how well it is serving us and making us feel. My number one home goal is to always make our home a safe, nurturing haven for our family.

Sometimes we place too much focus on the superficial stuff–what pattern to use on the pillows or how high to hang the curtains–when just below the surface there are some more important questions to answer. If you take a little time to do the deeper work, the superficial stuff gets easier to decide and your home becomes more uniquely you.

7 Favorite Exercises for a Fresh Start at Home

This year during my reflection I decided to compile a workbook of my seven favorite exercises to reset your home so it works and looks better for you.

Make Your Home Happy is my gift to you.

It’s a compilation of things I wish I had focused on as a new homeowner, techniques I’ve used to make our home the best it can be for us, and regular exercises I use year after year to keep our home on the right track.

I hope it helps you reflect on how far your home has come and where you want to take it from here.

Click here to download your copy.

7 Steps to Make Your Home Happy

Here’s a peek at what’s inside:

Click here to download your copy.

I can’t wait to hear which exercises were your favorite and how they helped you reset your home.

Bench cushion cover made from IKEA Signe rugs By: doortje

Materials: Minna fabricX Signe cotton rugs

What I did was:

- cut off the shorter, knotted edges of the rugs, and then zigzagged them to prevent fraying.

- then I sewed two rugs together, pressed and steamed the seam and then strengthened the seams with topstitching.

- I used IKEA’s sturdier cotton ‘Minna’ fabric for the back with an overlapping seam and simple velcro closure.

- I kept the length of the rugs and folded under, so it looks good from the sides too! (= therefore the fabric of the back is shorter than the front)

- For the stuffing I simply recycled the old mattresses (complete with cover and all) and made the new cover a bit smaller (both in length and width) for a nice, firm look.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/17dN6Xg From doortje

IDEA chair By: Tamir Menachem

This is a design idea sent to the site. What do you think of it? I doubt that the watering cans can hold any weight and may potentially break and poke you in the behind. So please do NOT sit on this! As a plant pot holder, it may work. ~ Jules

I tool 2 IKEA PS 2002 watering cans.

Glued a piece of synthetic grass.

Screwed it on metal legs frame

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1yfMj3d From Tamir Menachem

Stuffed Aquarium By: Jason Benson

I just realized that I had my own IKEA hack, but hadn’t really thought about it since I made it years ago. When I saw all of these sea creatures in the kids section at IKEA I knew they’d make for a fun picture with the help of a little craft felt.

Materials:

Small Stuffed Sea Creatures

Craft Felt: Light Beige, Dark Beige, Light Green, Dark Green, Light Blue, Grey

Dark Blue Plastic Backing

(you can also use clear and adhere blue paper to the back of it, or even use glass if you are good with cutting glass, I just happened to find dark blue polycarbonate at my hardware store)

Tools:

Hot Glue

Black Marker

Scissors

A cutter for your backing (my piece was the right size when I bought it)

Construction:

1. Cut your backing to size. I managed to find a piece that was just about the size I wanted, but you might not be so lucky. I also found a piece that was just about the right color, although I have no idea why Home Depot had an 18″ square piece of blue polycarbonate, I’ll just assume that the craft gods were with me that day.

2. Cut out the felt shapes. I used light blue felt for the bubbles, greens for the seaweed and beige for the sand. I didn’t use any templates, just sort of free handed it. By overlapping some light and dark colors you can add a little depth. For the castle I doodled it onto a grey felt first with a marker then cut it out.

3. Hot Glue! I just threw this together for fun, so I used hot glue to stick everything to the board. It’s been hanging in my bathroom for five years and hasn’t fallen apart so the hot glue is doing pretty well, but you can certainly use something more archival if you are worried about it lasting.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1EU4j6M From Jason Benson

Rast Hack Bedside Tables By: Jules

Materials: RAST chest

We purchased two RAST dressers to convert to bedside tables. My husband added trim to the drawer fronts, added a beefier top to them, and trimmed a more substantial base at the bottom. We stained the tops, painted the rest, and added LANSA hardware in place of the knobs they come with.

You can see more of the hack at www.lifeinyellow.com.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1zVyuHI From Jules