Acrylic Remote Caddy Stand 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! Hello and happy Monday friends!  Did you enjoy your weekend?  We started our built-ins this weekend so I will have some progress for you soon.  I appreciate you hanging in there in-between bigger updates.  With me not feeling well paired with working on some larger DIY's, posting has been a little more sparse.  Hopefully things get back to normal in the next week or two around here.

As our living room comes together, I have been starting to think about some of the smaller touches.  The living room will still house our television and components, so of course that also means we will have a few remote controls on our hands.  I have tried boxes and baskets for remotes, but they always end up lost, so this time I thought I would keep things "clear" for everyone.

We have remotes of different shapes and sizes, so I was on the hunt for something that could accommodate those needs.  Well, you know my love for acrylic.  The moment I spotted a desktop organizer and saw all of the compartments in various sizes, I knew it was just what we needed.

And it was!  Plus, knowing that it will live on a shelf near our television, I also wanted to be able to toss a few current magazines, a notepad and some reading glasses into the mix.  Easiest solution ever; acrylic desktop organizer = awesome remote control living room caddy organizer.

You can find acrylic organizers just about anywhere these days.  Amazon and HomeGoods are my "go to" spots, but Container Store and most office supply stores carry them as well.

All could have been left alone, but I spotted these little legs and couldn't wait to add them to the mix.  You know, just to take things up a decorative notch.

Hello spray paint season!  Oh, how I have missed you!!

Using my favorite gold spray paint, the legs instantly looked ultra glam.

A little clear E6000 glue later....

The glue cures pretty quickly and should provide an ultra strong hold.  The legs are pretty universal and should fit most corners without issue.  The possibilities are really endless, I have about three trays I am also eying up for this project.

Our TV shelves are not ready for me yet, but I couldn't help but toss a few items into the organizer to show how much it can hold and how versatile the storage can be.

Hopefully having all of the remotes in one easy to see and access place, will prevent us from losing them so frequently.  OK, who am I kidding, they grow legs in the night and walk off no matter what.  But at least they will look intentionally stored between uses!

A Stylist’s 1830s East Coast Farmhouse By: Lauren Chorpening

I love taking a look inside old homes. There’s a level of charm and quirky character that newer builds rarely have. Things like parlor doors, original hardwood floors and built-in details get me every time. It’s not to say, though, that older homes don’t come with their own set of issues — they absolutely do. Necessary updates, original structures that are smaller than current standards, and creaks and squeaks are all part of owning a century-old (and then some) home — but for the right people, it’s a dream. This 1830s farmhouse in Natick, MA was exactly what the Alfanos were looking for.

Emily Starr Alfano is an event/wedding designer and stylist and Bill Alfano is the marketing and outreach director. Emily, Bill, and their dog Bruno found this gem in July 2014 in the sweet town of Natick. They toured the home the same day it went up for sale and put in an offer the next day. This house was move-in ready with a beautifully redone kitchen, which made finding such a great, historic home even more exciting. “Since I spend so much time here, and use various rooms for work and staging pictures, it was important the house either had certain existing elements or could be transformed,” Emily says. “We just straight up lucked out with this house. I don’t think either of us ever dreamed we could have a house with such character but many modern updates…especially in our first house!”

Their good luck hasn’t come without work and adjusting to the home. “Despite many updates and upgrades over the years, at the end of the day the house is almost 200 years old — there are obvious challenges! Among them are super small doorframes which make moving couches, tables and other large items fairly difficult. We’re pretty sure our staircase is the original and it’s essentially a straight line up. We’ve got wonky walls and ceilings that aren’t straight!” says Emily. “We found this perfect-for-us piece of real estate. I think more than anything we wanted to create a space that reflects us a family and honors the original design…quirks and all.” I love the way they have embraced their house, with the wonderful things and the challenging things, and have made it uniquely their home. —Lauren

Photograpy by Joyelle West

SOURCE LIST

Kitchen
– open shelving: done by the previous owners, but they built with wood + brackets from Home Depot
– paint color: Behr Salt Glaze
– shades: were here when we bought it!
– island: DIY
– farm sink, butcher block counters + cabinets: IKEA
– black cabinet pulls + knobs: Home Depot
– Persian runner: Rugs USA
– specific items on the open shelving, counters + island: Anthropologie deer vase, wood fruit trays from H&M, wood + gold trays by Diane Von Furstenberg, vintage soda bottles from Magnolia Market, marble pastry slabs from Crate & Barrel, cutting board from Terrain, and lots and lots from HomeGoods!
– vintage floral prints over sink: Brimfield Antique Market
– Bruno’s teepee: PetWaki on Etsy
– various plants: Russell’s Garden Center
– olive topiary: TuscanyTopiary on Etsy

Dining Room
– paint color: unsure (we kept it when we moved in)
– farm table: custom from Wooden Whale Workshop on Etsy
– chairs: Overstock
– chandelier: Wayfair
– rug: Rugs USA
– metal stag: HomeGoods
– Grand Taxonomy of Rap Names: Pop Chart Lab
– shelving: IKEA
– wood cup display + side table: HomeGoods
– lavender plant: Russell’s Garden Center
– wire basket + weathered pitcher on table: HomeGoods
– succulent + cactus vases from Anthropologie + IKEA
– Bar bookcase: HomeGoods

Studio
– paint: Benjamin Moore White Dove
– white shelving: IKEA
– desk: IKEA
– Bertoia-style desk chairs: Amazon
– sheepskin: IKEA
– black floral wallpaper: Anewall Decor
– wood + white stool on bookcase: Serena & Lily

Living Room
– paint: Benjamin Moore White Dove
– fiddle leaf fig tree from Russell’s Garden Center (displayed in a Nate Berkus for Target fringed basket) + IKEA
– disco ball leftover from an event
– driftwood stools: HomeGoods
– tripod lamp: Wayfair
– clipboard frames: Michaels
– succulent notecards: Edtya Szyszlo purchased at Paper Source
– sectional: Jordan’s Furniture
– black + white stripe pillow: H&M Home
– geometric pillow + light coral pillow: HomeGoods
– sheepskin pillow: IKEA
– navy blue rug: Hayneedle.com
– Persian rug: Rugs USA
– coffee table: World Market
– coral blanket: Target
– cable knit blanket: IKEA
– pendant chandelier: Lowe’s
– “Bentley” driftwood stag: some random website that we can’t seem to find anymore!
– driftwood garland: One Kings Lane
– feather prints: TheClayPlay on Etsy

Bedroom
– paint: Benjamin Moore Calm
– blue nightstand: Target
– headboard: reclaimed table top
– duvet cover: HomeGoods
– linen sheets: Crate & Barrel
– sequin blanket: West Elm
– white linen pillows: IKEA
– picture ledge: IKEA
– framed wrapping paper: Paper Source
– bedside lamp: HomeGoods
– jewelry display: HomeGoods

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1IfPHi9 From Lauren Chorpening

A Timber Pole Home Among the Eucalyptus Trees for a Growing Family By: Sabrina Smelko

This time last year, I went on a eucalyptus kick. I hung some in my shower, I pinned DIY eucalyptus decor and flower crowns on Pinterest, and I hunted every flower shop close-by for more. There’s just something about eucalyptus. So I’m a tad envious of Sara Hingle‘s home, surrounded by beautiful eucalyptus trees in the heart of Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia.

Nestled in the lush bushland, you’ll find an old timber pole house, home to Sara, the founder and Creative Director of These Walls Paper + Textiles (a wallpaper company we featured last month), her partner Mick, a project manager, their sons Joshua (5) and Thom (2), and occasionally Ruffie the dog and Maggie the cat. And beautiful as it can be living there, their split-level 1970s home comes with its own share of problems: keeping on top of the landscaping is a challenge, and during the tropical storms that frequent the area, the nickname “the Titanic” gets thrown around for their leaky home. But all of their home’s cons don’t come close to outweighing the pros: the location (which boasts close proximity to the ocean while remaining in the bush), the charm and character, the space, and feeling it brings.

When telling the story of how they met their home, Sara laughs: The night following their son Josh’s first birthday, Sara’s mother jokingly commented that they needed a bigger place for their growing family. Up until then, they were busting at the seams of their small duplex, and with a newly-mobile son, Sara and Mick ended up spending the night staring at the glowing screen of a computer, buried deep in a session of “internet real-estate window-shop[ping].” The following day, while on a country drive among the trees and beside the ocean, they stumbled across the home of their dreams and hours later they were signing the paperwork.

With an acre of yard for young Joshua to run around in, the home was the perfect size and accommodated the addition of Thom shortly after. But Sara and Mick quickly learned the expenses that came with being a young family. This meant that huge additions and renovations were off the table, especially after the costly and tiring job of removing a pool. Once they were settled in, they threw a few coats of Dulux China White on each wall, and with the addition of new furniture, carpeting and lighting, the house started to feel like home. It wasn’t long before Sara worked her magic with wallpaper and textiles, which added plenty of warmth and personality to the space. –Sabrina

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1J48FpX From Sabrina Smelko

Seeing the Potential in a San Francisco Rental By: Shannon Grant

When renting in a big city, it’s almost always a given that an apartment won’t automatically meet all the criteria of one’s idea of a “perfect” home. That’s okay, you just have to decide what is most important. Is it the neighborhood, the price of rent, the size? Sometimes an opportunity comes along that requires a game-time decision, and you are challenged to see through the things you don’t like in order to make a home you love.

This is exactly what happened with Shara Lotfi and Chris Koesler. They were living happily in the quiet Inner Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco when this apartment, located in the Mission, became available. It was a much bigger space, and presented a chance to move back to a neighborhood they loved. But it wasn’t a home run. As Shara says, “I can’t believe it now, but we were actually reluctant to move at first! When we first saw the apartment it was not in the best shape. There was wall-to-wall mint green carpet and all the windows were covered with dark, heavy drapes. There was peeling wallpaper in the bedroom, and everything was just generally looking a bit old and shabby.”

The couple decided to seize the opportunity and set upon making some big changes right away. The first and perhaps most dramatic change was tearing up all the carpets that were covering the hardwood floors. “I think if we had known exactly how much work that would be, we might have talked ourselves into living with the carpet, but luckily I was pretty adamant about tackling that project,” Shara says. They did it all themselves (including removing the pesky carpet nails!), and then hired someone to polish the floors. The other major improvement — that is, in my opinion, one of best, cheapest, (and easily reversible) ways to transform a space — was to paint every wall in the house, as well as the kitchen cabinets. Following those two major overhauls, they continue to make changes here and there, including making the home baby-friendly since their daughter, Ayla, was born in 2013.

In all, they have created a place well-suited for their family of three with enough space to work from home. Shara is the designer behind Lotfi, a textile and accessory design company, and Chris is a freelance illustrator and part-time professor at California College of the Arts. Moving beyond the interior space, they are now shifting their focus to the backyard, as Ayla loves being out back. Shara says she is not much of a gardener, but she sees the potential for a beautiful garden, and as any renter knows, that is half the battle. —Shannon

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1OYwtxo From Shannon Grant

Staying Connected as a Mom From noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths)

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths) Be sure to check out their blog! With Mothers Day coming up, I can't help but think about how much I love being a Mom myself - something I KNOW I wouldn't be as good at, or understand the importance of, if it hadn't been for my own amazing Mothers examples.

I have to be honest and say that my Mom and I struggled with our relationship for quite a while... and we still do sometimes.

As much as both me, my Mom and my sister would have probably loved to be in one of those relationships where the mother and daughters grew up always being BEST friends, who counted on each other for everything, hugged all the time and shared their deepest, darkest secrets together... we just weren't that way. 

READ THE REST OF THIS POST >>>

*** original post via TheHouseofSmiths.com ***

The 2015 Obama China Reveal (DS Goes to Washington) By: Grace Bonney

Last Tuesday I was going through my email when I noticed one that stood out. The subject line was “Invitation to the White House“. I clicked on it, expecting it to be fake, but to my complete and utter shock (and joy), it was a real invitation. So two days later, I left our house around 6am to hop on a bus and then train to Washington, D.C.

Growing up in Virginia, I’ve spent many a summer and school field trip walking around outside the White House, but to be invited inside- and to meet Michelle Obama- was nothing short of one of the greatest honors of my personal and professional life.

Along with five other bloggers, photographers and writers from the home/lifestyle community, I spent Thursday afternoon getting a tour of the White House kitchen, garden and family dining room, finishing up with an amazing hour in the official china room, where we met with White House Curator Bill Allman (more on this incredible man later) and Michelle Obama to get the very first preview of the official Obama State China Service. We got to preview this new collection before the main press, which was a huge honor, but just being there in such a beautiful place surrounded by such inspiring people will be something I will never, ever forget.

Read on to see the Obama State China Service and peek inside the White House interior and gardens…

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1EJfmA8 From Grace Bonney

BH&G Letterpress Father’s Day Card Design From BHG Guest Blogger

Today's Inspiration comes from Better Homes and Garden's Style Spotters BHG Guest Blogger.

 

Raised by mothers who taught us the value of handwriting and having three children of our own, my husband and I believe there has never been a more important time to slow down and relish the power in handwriting. Our belief in the handwritten word and our desire to inspire others to write was the reason to create our blog, Brown Ink. In 2013, the site expanded to include Brown Ink Paper Goods, an online boutique featuring my favorite stationery, journals, and writing related goods, as well as my own line of letterpress stationery.

 

 

 

 

My personal line, Brown Ink Paper Goods, is a collaboration with a dear friend and letterpress printer, Jean Glenn of Pomegranate Press.

Jean and I recently sat down to design a Father’s Day card together. Our goal was to create a card to be used when celebrating the Dad in one’s life, but not exclusively for Father’s Day. Jean suggested we create a multi-colored plaid to represent a traditional father’s flannel shirt. I also had in mind the phrase Best Dad Ever. Combining the two ideas, we felt these complemented each other, a classic style with a sentimental modern twist.

Using Jean’s letterpress style and borders dating back to the turn of the century, we selected a traditional type style, Wedding Gothic from 1901. With a variety of colors to select from, we chose three colors which complement each other; stone, amazon, and ocean.

Once we decided the color, typeset and layout of the piece, Jean went to work on her Chandler & Price Platen Press which she purchased in 2002. I adore spending time in Jean’s basement filled with stacks of letterpress samples from over the years, cans of colored ink and wooden boxes filled with a few thousand metal typesets, borders and icons.

Jean first established the placement of the type for proper alignment. She also set pins in the tympan paper which holds the cards to be printed. Next, without ink, she printed a blind impression so we could proof the layout. Not completely satisfied, Jean adjusted the space between the borders to allow enough room for the written note, always checking the print was not crooked.

Finally, Jean inked up the press and printed samples to establish consistency in the ink. Having selected three colors, using vertical and horizontal lines, and then adding the text, each card passed through the printer 5 times! After printing, Jean cleans the press and type, then re-sorts the type back into their cases.

It’s an absolute gift to collaborate with my talented friend Jean who, aside from the love of printing, is passionate about both hand-touched paper goods and writing! This belief is what makes the Brown Ink Paper Goods true to its mission, the power of the written word.

 

Photos  by Louisa Podlich

 

PS: Visit Brown Ink for a one-time use of 20% off with the code BH&G20

BH&G Building A Dream House: Mudroom Inspiration Board From Melissa Bahen

Today's Inspiration comes from Better Homes and Garden's Style Spotters Melissa Bahen.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could snap our fingers and magically have projects completed? [insert big sigh here] There are so very, very many projects that need to be done at the Dream House: gardens need to be planted, bees need to be tended (children too), art work needs to be hung on walls, and rooms need to be decorated. In the case of the mudroom, which is a complete blank slate, we are long on plans and short on time. But that doesn’t stop me from dreaming. On the contrary, I know pretty much exactly what I want our mudroom to look like when it’s finished…whenever that might be! I want to keep the mudroom fairly neutral and natural. I want it to be bright, clean, and well-organized. If I could wake up tomorrow to a finished mudroom, here are the features I would want it to have…

• a paneled wall, painted white: While the house was still under construction, my husband mentioned that he wanted to install horizontal paneling in the mudroom (someday) and paint it white. And I thought, “Good grief, I’ve married a genius!” I love the idea and think it will add brightness and a subtle, understated texture to the room. (photo from Dandee Designs)
• double wall hooks: In my last post, I said, “The more hooks, the better.” And seriously, I think that’s my new mantra. I want not one, but two rows of double hooks so that coats, scarves, hats, and backpacks have a place to go that isn’t the floor. (photo from Home Depot)
• lower baskets: We already have five baskets and just need one more so that everyone has a place to store sunglasses or frisbees or stuffed animals or sunscreen–all those little odds and ends that need corralling. (photo from Pottery Barn)
• a long bench with room for storage: A nice bench (ours will mostly likely be homemade) provides a place for those storage baskets to go and gives everyone a place to sit to put on shoes. (photo fromPottery Barn)
• vinyl flooring that looks like rustic barnwood: I love the look of hardwood flooring. We put it in our entryway and dining room, and it looks beautiful. But the mudroom floor gets pretty messy, especially during our muddy Oregon winters. I love that this vinyl floor is ridiculous tough, super easy to clean, and really nice looking. It really does look like rustic barnwood; I’ve even started using our sample piece to take pictures on for my blog, and you can’t tell at all! (photo fromMetroflor)