When You Can't Live With It But Can't Live Without It

There are two types of approaches I take to DIY.

1. Permanent projects designed to last forever using solid materials

2. Quick fixes using cheap, semi-permanent materials designed to be band-aids (with the caveat that it doesn't get in the way of future permanent projects nor damage the integrity of the home)

The kitchen project? I'm taking the latter approach. In the next year (hopefully!), we're going to tear out everything and replace it with our dream kitchen. Yet, we aren't ready for the permanent kitchen for a bunch of reasons like $$$ and my lack of decision-making skills and the fear of taking the plunge without being sure it's as perfect as can be. However, I'm totally embracing the slow evolution of the future kitchen plan. Each recipe gives us insight into functionality, each party better highlights ideal flow, and each trip to the store enlightens us on the best kind of storage. I'm taking my sweet time, but I'm learning oodles that I can apply to the big remodel.

Now, there is no way that I could ever cook a meal or host a get together in the kitchen in the state it was in when we bought it. No. Way.

Shall we revisit what she used to look like?

How do you like those twig and rooster cabinet pulls?

It really doesn't look that bad, but the smell, folks, the smell.

Since we couldn't wait it out for our permanent kitchen in this space, the clean it up and cover it up method was the route we took. Since we were going to do something with minimal investment that wouldn't last forever, I used the phase 1 kitchen update as an opportunity to play with styles that I wouldn't install in our dream kitchen.

So, I bring you the inspiration. These are among the MANY photos that I pinned for the kitchen two years ago when this project got started. They are a bit more vintage country than our future kitchen will be and they have a touch more color than I would gravitate towards today. But when you're going to do multiple phases of renovation, why not explore all sorts of design styles!

Sources from upper left: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

See some trends? Muted colored cabinets, vintage drawer pulls, natural material countertops, semi-open cabinets, lots of white and light, patterned flooring/rugs, wood accents, beadboard, and nods to yesteryear.

Come back to get all the sources, the tutorial on installing linoleum floors, a how-to cover existing counters in concrete, tips on making a space feel new even when it isn't, the installation of the backsplash, a step-by-step on adding more counterspace, and a check-in to see how it's holding up two years later. If you're itching to see what she's become, click here. To follow along on the progress, subscribe!

Weekly Roundup

Happy almost weekend!

Hannah Carpenter has been staying at artist Julie Blackmon's house and sharing all of the gorgeousness on her Instagram Stories. Julie's house is so pretty as it is, but when she uses it as a backdrop (or rather a subject) for her photographs, the result is striking. P.S. You can buy prints of Julie's photos in her books!

Sarah's recent gallery wall is the perfect amount of classy and funky. It's so pretty and refined, yet the vintage skiing photos are quirky and fun. She also outlines the many ways to mat artwork in a gallery wall for completely different effects.

Like buying goods from artists and independent shops? Like it when 100% of your purchase benefits a great cause? Then check out Still We Rise! The auction is open through June 27.

This brief video about color and language is worth a watch. Which colors would you keep in your vocabulary if you had to pick only four?

I have dreams of living in a big house in total isolation like Little Edie and Big Edie - but with less squalor. The Grey Gardens estate has been restored and it sure is something else.

An article about me! (practically)

A Console Sink Collection

We lucked out with extra space in the bathroom to carve out lots of storage so we were able to nix the vanity and opt for a console sink. With all of our toiletries in the cabinet, the sink could be just a sink - no need for a bulky vanity taking up visual space in a small bathroom.

During our sink hunt, the priority to was to get as much work surface area as we could for the space we had (so we opted for this one). But if that isn't your number one goal, how about acrylic legs? wall-mounted faucets? turned legs? shelves? or marble? I've collected my favorite console sinks from a few different online retailers - each with some different features.

1. Mason Apothecary $999 / 2. Essex $714/ 3. Vero Wall Mount plus legs $731 / 4. Vero $582 / 5. Templeton $823 / 6. Mason $699 / 7. Milano $706 / 8. Nuo $739

Those are all great brand new sinks, but there’s nothing like an authentically antique sink. Shop available vintage sinks with the button below.

We have #6, the Mason console from Signature Hardware. We've been using it as our primary bathroom sink for two years and it's holding up beautifully - even fared well after I left a hot curling iron on it for 8 hours by accident. Doh!

For more of the bathroom renovation progress check out the inspiration, the plans, the demo, the recessed shelves and storage cabinet, and the window. There's still more to come, so I'd recommend you subscribe.

Weekly Roundup

What a couple of weeks! We went to Boulder, CO and Chicago, IL - both of which I had never visited before. I fell for both. Exploring these cities that are so different from my own yet so easy to imagine living in has me really thinking about all we have in San Diego. I'm planning on venturing out and about in my hometown to appreciate all that this fine city has to offer. And if that means eating lots of food, well, so be it! Would any of you be interested in a compilation of my favorite spots and eateries in San Diego?

Ross and I finished The Keepers during our travels. Wowza! I just finished The Leftovers the other day. Triple Wowza! Please share your theories about each of the shows!

Do any of you have a Lichtenstein laying around? Maybe do with it what Agnes did.

In response to the withdrawal of the Paris Climate Agreement, one of my favorite photo printing resources announced partnerships with artists that would raise money to preserve our planet. Their One For Our Land Limited Edition Prints are gorgeous photos of our planet for only $10.

Have you seen the pink houses in LA by The Most Famous Artist? Really, COMPLETELY painted pink.

Speaking of installation art, Lucy Sparrow's latest work is what fiber art dreams are made of. She created an all-felt convenience store in New York, and you can even buy the items! I meant to buy some of her grocery store items years ago when I first saw her, but I was completely plagued with indecision and never bought anything. This time, I must choose! I still can't decide but I'm eyeing the chocolate chips.

Tomorrow is my neighborhood's Old House Fair and I truly can't wait! I get to tour some of my neighbors' houses and admire their old home restorations. Keep an eye out on my Instagram stories - I'll probably be sharing there!

Happy weekend!

Design Inspiration At The Robey Chicago

Airbnb is all the rage right now, but I'm still a fan of staying in a nice hotel. It's so lovely to return after a long day of exploring to a tidy room with nothing but your own things. You'd think that as a homebody, I would want to curl up in someone's personal reading chair and peruse their collection of tchotchkes, but I'm still a sucker for the hotel life. I think it's those super crisp hotel sheets.

There's so much to be inspired by in a cool city, and why not also your hotel room? I've outlined the design elements that I adored while staying at The Robey Chicago.

Contrast

The space is a perfect combo of bright whites and deep greens - my favorite! It's almost like the room was designed just for me and my love of moody colors.

Complementary colors

The pops of red against the green walls are so striking. Admittedly, I don't do a ton of complementary colors in my house. The closest I get is with blues and orangey-wood-tones.

Dark ceilings

I'm totally on board with this trend. If my bathroom walls weren't already so dark, I'd definitely consider painting a deep hue on the ceiling.

Curtains for doors

Just because you want to cover up some storage, doesn't mean you need a door. When done well, curtains can make a statement that doors can't. I've had the door off of our closet for two years now (haven't scraped the layers of paint off yet) but maybe a curtain is a good solution for now. Emily Henderson recently talked about how she chose curtains for her master closet.

Modern meets heritage

The space feels so trendy and hip with its modern lines and simplicity, yet also so old-school with a nod to vintage elements. Talk about old meets new - that sink and toilet look decades apart. Those retro push button switches reminded me of home.

Delicious scents

The entire hotel smelled so good thanks to the products from Le Labo. I slathered that body wash and shampoo on my person every day so I could smell it constantly. When I went into the perfumery conveniently located next door to the hotel I was in olfactory heaven. Whether you choose to give your home a distinct scent or experiment with varieties, I certainly encourage thinking about the element of smell at home.

See-through walls

These wall/windows let so much natural light into the bathroom, make the bedroom feel so much more vast, and add oodles of flair. The glass had enough texture that bathroom users had some privacy, but probably not enough opacity that I would install them in a wall between a guest bathroom and the family living room. However, I think interior windows could be a great way to share natural light while defining separate spaces. Bring back the transom window!

Which of those design elements do you already have at home? Which are you interested in incorporating?

The Robey Chicago is a gem not only because of its style, but also its location. It's outside of downtown in the lovely neighborhood of Wicker Park. Surrounded by delicious eateries and gorgeous houses, it's the tallest building for miles. The views!

The lobby, lounge, rooftop bar, cafe, and even their elevators are all to die for.

If you saw any of my Instagram Stories, it was no secret that I fell in love with Chicago. The city was such a treat to visit during the most perfect time of year. I definitely attribute my admiration to spending most of our time exploring the neighborhoods outside of downtown where we could see how folks live, enjoy unique restaurants, and admire the amazing architecture. If you have plans to visit, I highly recommend spending lots of your time in the Wicker Park, Bucktown, or Logan Square areas - and The Robey is certainly the first spot you should look at booking.

While The Robey Chicago provided me a discounted stay, all opinions are my own.

Father's Day Gift Guide

Still looking for gifts for the dads in your life? Here are some options that are sure to please!

1. For the dad that has it all and the dad that likes to give back, IRC has lots of gift options that support those in need.

2. Let dad play his favorite tunes around the house on a Sonos speaker. Here's to hoping his music taste is loved by all. If not see gift option #11.

3. Ross recently switched to this wired beard trimmer and raves about how he prefers the wired option over battery operated. I like that it keeps him looking trim - pun intended.

4. If dad likes card games or magic, this gaming set is a nice collection of spiffy cards. I'm a bit partial because they're designed by my brother-in-law.

5. Get him a $95 gift card which will cover the cost of a free home try-on as well as some prescription shades or opticals. He can also get frames without corrective lenses if he has superb vision.

6. Do you have any sweet photos on your phone that dad would like to admire all the time? Chose expedited shipping today and get a custom framed photo in time for the big day.

7. A sander is always a helpful tool to have around for big or little projects.

8. Who doesn't love getting a vacuum as a gift??

9. This baseball hat is my personal favorite - I have it in this '80s dad jeans color. I like that it's not branded, it's slim fitting, and exudes cool dad vibes.

10. For the kids who don't want to get dragged to dad's favorite museum, an individual membership lets him enjoy his science/art/music/history/architecture/magic/train museum solo. Or, gift a family membership for a year of fun together at everyone's local favorite.

11. When dad loves his tunes but nobody else does, gift him some quality headphones. Ross, an audiophile, has these and I stole them from him to use during our recent travels. He doesn't yet know that I'm not giving them back.

12. Funny, sentimental, graphic, and simple - there are so many greeting cards by artists and makers. This dad card is too cute.

Happy Father's Day!

Weekly Roundup

We're heading out on our trip oh so soon! Ross has a gig in Chicago so we're extending his work travel with a vacation, and also stopping in Colorado to make it a double vacation. I really cannot wait. Thanks to all of you who gave travel recommendations! I have a nice list of activities and sights to see, but most importantly, a grand list of eateries.

This past week, friends from The Crafter's Box came over to photograph their projects in our house. For those who love to make, The Crafter's Box is a unique delivery program that sends you the tools and materials needed to create pieces inspired by artisans. Some of the featured makers are favorites of mine like Emily Jeffords, Sarah K. Benning, Maryanne Moodie, Jenna Rainey, and more. How cool is it to have Jenna Rainey teach you how to watercolor a monstera leaf? Very.

Do you like pink? Check out the bathroom in this house for sale in a nearby neighborhood. Wowza.

Mr. Rogers' signature look was his cardigan, so seeing all of the sweater colors in order of when he sported them is pretty cool. Even cooler is this video of a young Mr. Rogers advocating for children's educational television programming. Goosebumps.

NYT has compiled the best options for streaming some of the best movies of this year. I'll tell you again, Get Out was an exceptional film; and you must watch it.

When I was sourcing fabric for my chair upholstery project a few weeks ago, I wish I had Sarah's favorite sources for textiles.

I just got these shoes this afternoon and I'm already in love which how comfy they are, and how eco-conscious the company is. I'll give you a full report after I truly break them in.

Happy June! Happy Pride Month!

But, Where Do You Keep All of Your Things?

Bathroom storage is a biggie. In all of the infomercials of people in dramatic black and white reenactments spilling their toiletries all over the bathroom floor or in House Hunters when a couple is tripping over each other trying to both get ready in the morning, they all exasperatedly exclaim how they need more storage in their bathroom. We've all been there, amiright?

I try my hardest to live minimally and own as few makeup products as possible, but we all have stuff to store. Without a vanity to hide all of our things in, we carved out a nice spot in the corner of the room to store all of our goodies.

To revisit, here's the layout we played with during the design stage (the finished dimensions changed a bit).

See that chunk of space at the end of the tub in the upper right corner? That pocket is the answer to all of our storage woes. The 6.5" deep space became what I call "wet storage" and is accessed from the shower/tub. The 12" wide section is our "dry storage" that opens into the main part of the bathroom. The goal was to create as much hidden storage as possible so things didn't sit on the sink or the edge of the tub. Also, I'm one of those people that decants my shampoo into an unbranded bottle aiming to see as few product labels as possible - sorry toiletry brand graphic designers.

With these terrible photos, you can see how the whole thing came together.

Before the storage unit construction began, the window was sized, the subfloor was rebuilt and prepped for tile, electrical was put in, rough plumbing was installed, walls got cement board, and the floor was tiled.

When we were interviewing contractors for this project, 85% of them said that adding this storage unit was a bad idea. They said that the weight of the tile would pull on the cabinet and the only way to prevent it was to make the unit super strong by building a wall between the tub and the shelves, which would only leave 5” of usable storage space. I refused to accept that, and the contractor we ultimately hired agreed that my cabinet dreams could indeed come true.

Well, the bathroom remodel wrapped up two years ago and the storage unit is in perfect condition! 

Kim and Scott of Yellow Brick Home did a similar cabinet at the foot of their tub awhile after we installed ours. They used the wall and pre-made cabinet method - but did so much better a job than any of those doubtful contractors could have done. Either route works!

A big part of what made this cabinet strong is we opted to permanently install the shelves, rather than adjustable boards that we can move up and down along pegs. The permanently affixed shelves hold the whole piece together from top to bottom. I don't have the luxury of resizing the cubbies, but that's perfectly fine for our needs.

We also took the cabinet all the way to the ceiling. Which is storage heaven, and gives it extra rigidity being tied into the floor, ceiling, and wall.

The wet storage earned marble shelves to create three cubbies to rest shampoo bottles. The marble sits on top of the row of tile and gets wedged in on all three sides by the second row atop the slab.

Here she is - two years later and still going strong.

The original plan was for the shower niches to be 6.5" deep, but I found a remnant slab at a local stone yard that was 8" deep, so why not! Each shelf varies in height from 8" to 14" tall to allow for different sized bottles. The whole recessed niche is 19" above the edge of the tub so its low enough that the bottom shelf can be reached while soaking in the tub, yet not so low that we're bending down to grab things while showering.

I talked about the tile in this post, but I just have to point out this detail at the bottom of the cabinet with the base tile wrapping underneath the door. Love.

The bottom shelf is 23" tall to allow for the toilet brush, plunger, and cleaning supplies. The rest of the shelves are 13" tall. It's the perfect size for these baskets and this modular acrylic storage. With 17" of depth, I can fit 24 rolls of toilet paper easily within reach. Any deeper and it would be hard to reach anything in the back of the shelves.

The concealed storage and the tucked away shower niches give all of our toiletries some privacy. Yet, whenever guests ask "Where are all of your things?!" I proudly open up the cabinet and pull back the shower curtain to reveal the shampoo bottles. Which kinda defeats the purpose of designing a hidden niche and a concealed cabinet. oops!

You can read about all the rest of the bathroom elements by clicking the button below. Then, subscribe so you can follow along when we add another bathroom to the house in 2019!

Weekly Roundup

If you've ever looked at professional photos of interior spaces, chances are at least one of the images was captured by photographer, Tessa Neustadt. She just launched an online shop with new and vintage home furnishings. If her shop is anything like her photos and her style, it is sure to be a winner.

The American Museum of the House Cat just opened in North Carolina. Who's in the area and will check it out for me? I've been to the Kattenkabinet in Amsterdam and highly recommend it. The more cat museums the better.

We're going on vacation pretty soon, but I'm already dreaming about my next one. Visiting Great Camp Sagamore in the Adirondacks looks pretty swell.

If It Isn’t Posted to Social Media, Did It Still Happen? Designer, TV host, and all-around cool chick, Sabrina Smelko writes about her take on the weird world of sharing on the internet.

If there's one thing I like more than sweaters, it's murder mysteries. This is both.

Memorial Day weekend brings lots of sales! Here are a few deals for you:

• Rugs are already 50% off, but you can take another 20% off with code SUMMER20 at eCarpetGallery
• Framebridge is offering $10 off their custom white frames with code WHITEHOT
• There are several savings events at AllModern, plus you can get an extra 20% with the code SPLASH
• 20% off and free shipping at one of my favorite art sources, Society6
• Use code MW1725 to get 25% off everything at House of Antique Hardware
• Code BBQ200 will get you $200 off customizable seating at Interior Define
• Lighting is on sale at Lumens - up to 40% off
• My favorite place to buy my (men's sized) shoes is ASOS. Use code LIT20 for 20% off
• Get 15% off everything at Rejuvenation with code MEMORIAL15
• Everything is 20% off at Rifle Paper Company
• Non-toxic and eco-friendly mattresses are $150 off at Avocado Mattress
• No coupon code needed for Wayfair's major markdowns
• There are too many deals to list for Amazon, but you can get a free trial of Amazon Prime so all of those goodies can ship free
• Buy more and save more with code SUMMER at West Elm
• Home Depot and Lowe's both have a rebate for $10 off for each gallon of paint you buy
• Target has patio and home and furniture items for 30% off. With code HERO you get another 15% off
• With code MEMDAY you can get 20% off Joss&Main's sale events
• Fellow San Diegan Janell is offering 20% off her vintage rugs at Mesa Vintage with code REMEMBER
• Many modern furnishings from Article are on sale this weekend
• There's a bunch of killer deals at Old Navy's Memorial Day Sale
• Jeans are 30% off at Levi's with code MEM30
• Warby Parker's eyeglasses home try on is always free - no coupon needed!
• Code SUMMER will earn you 20% off at McGee & Co.
• I swear by this period underwear. No coupon needed to get 30% off at THINX this weekend
• There are many discounts on Pottery Barn but with code SAVEMORE you can get an even bigger discount
• One of my favorite art retailers is offering 25% off. Use code SUMMER2017 at Artfully Walls
• San Diego and Los Angeles folks - get 10% off vintage furniture at Loveseat

Happy weekend!

Weekly Roundup

Happy Friday!

White paint isn't always the solution for making spaces feel bigger. Apartment Therapy shows off how dark paints can make walls recede and thus, make the room look more vast. Truth.

Ross has work in Chicago in a few weeks, so we're making a vacation out of it! We'll first make a stop in Denver and hope to relax in a woodsy cabin before heading to Chicago for some big city exploring. I have quite a great list of Chicago sites, but I'm still researching activities and eateries in the the Denver area. Any tips?

Emily Henderson just revealed her patio makeover and it is so so dreamy! We just landscaped the front yard a few months ago (I promise I'll show it off soon!), but our backyard is the MOST neglected space in our home. Emily's cozy outdoor space is giving me some motivation to think about updating the backyard.

Have you seen the McMansion Hell blog? It breaks down the design elements that make McMansions such unfortunate pieces of architecture. Here's some 101 to give you an intro to these poor houses.

I just saw the Casting JonBenet movie the other day. Chilling! It's on Netflix and totally worth a watch - a unique take on documentary filmmaking.

There are so many good shows available right now! Here's a comprehensive list.

Who else is ready for the weekend? Enjoy!

My Favorite One Room Challenge Transformations

If you've visited the blog, checked out my Instagram, or chatted with me in person, you'll know that for the past six weeks I've been knee deep in transforming the den for the One Room Challenge. As a reminder, the ORC is an opportunity for bloggers to focus on completely transforming a room in six weeks. There were 20 featured bloggers, and over 200 guest bloggers participating in the challenge. It's a fun opportunity to participate with fellow bloggers where we can commiserate with each other, hold ourselves accountable, and share in the excitement. And lucky for you, there are hundreds of new spaces for you to admire!

While I was working on my projects for the moody den transformation, I was motivated by the spectacular projects that fellow bloggers were working on. Did you check them out? Did you? Did you?

Well, I've collected my favorite room transformations for your viewing pleasure.

This guest room from House of Brinson is an absolute stunner. I was captivated by Will and Susan's Instagram stories previewing the progress for weeks, and the reveal does not disappoint. That wall color! The wallpaper! The chandelier! The artwork!

Bre's bathroom is winning in layered texture, warmth, and color in an all white space. I can't wait to add a bathroom onto our house just so I can get a shower door like that one.

It's no surprise that I love dark greens, so I find Abby's kitchen cabinets super dreamy.

The details in this room are in-cred-ib-le. Those ceilings are wallpapered in a paper covered in glass beads! The adjoining bedroom that was also transformed for ORC by Old Home Love is to die for. 

Erin Williamson's transformed kitchen is full of personality, but the family photos taken in the spaces are amazing in the most cinematic way. You must check them out.

I love buffalo check in pretty much any form, so it's easy to adore this little one's room by House of Hire.

Marble, brass, black, white, and wood - my favorites. There's nothing more that House Updated's bathroom could need.

We're several years from thinking about baby rooms in our home, but that doesn't stop me from crushing on the wallpaper, mobile, and rug in Chris Loves Julia's nursery.

Thalita of The Learner Observer dramatically transformed this laundry room into a much more functional and oh-so-charming space.

I don't even know where to start. This room is out of this world! Check out Old Brand New to take in all of the perfect details.

I'm a sucker for built-ins and I love filing, so this desk space from Vanessa Francis gives me all the organization heart eyes.

Those are just a few of the nearly 300 room transformations. For more reveals, check out the 20 featured and 254 guest bloggers from this season of the One Room Challenge. I can't wait for the next round in the fall!