Summertime

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 I've been spending some time laying out by a pool recently- it's done wonders for my soul! There's something magical about summer sunlight. It causes me to wake up excited about the day, wanting to hurry up and get my work done so I can be spend all my extra time outside! And the summer evenings... oh the summer evenings. After about 7pm, the breeze picks up and everything cools down a bit- and it's light out until 8:30 or 9! 

I am just SO enjoying summertime right now. Are you?

Anyway, one of my favorite blogs is Brick House (Morgan's writing is hilarious and her MCM vintage flea-market chic style is bad-A). 

Exhibit A 

(CHECK OUT HER LIVING ROOM!!!!)

Anyways, she had the genius idea of making a pool for her backyard that doesn't cost 5 digits to install. 

This is hers:

GREAT IDEA, RIGHT?!?!?! She wrote that the 10' tank cost about $500. You can then plumb it out and add a filtration system, like this and you have a real live pool! Texans, this is for you. 

Check out these sexy pics of a gorgeous tank pool:

That deck built around it is perfect. Add a couple lounge chairs and I'd be in heaven! Filing this project away for when I've got a yard. :)

 Thanks, Morgan for sharing your brilliant idea with the rest of us!

xoxo,

 

Daybed DIY

DIY Daybed Tutorial from SecondHandHannah. 

She says it's "a solid wood door from my husband, the large cushions were found and given a through cleaning, the hairpin legs were also found by my husband attached to a old warped piece of plywood. The back cushions were in my attic, I bought a couple of yards of unbleached muslin, I had the gray wool for the contrast welt on the back cushions, and after using some danish oil... bought a small can of walnut stain.

So, the total on that is about $10."

 

So amazing! I want to make one!

xoxo, 

 

More Backyard/Alley Ideas

 I've been on a quest to somehow for free or otherwise super cheap re-do my back little patio/alley.
This image is wonderful. I absolutely LOVE those orange chairs. Maybe I need orange chairs?

Spray paint some Craiglist finds, perhaps?

 I found this amazing blog via AT. This Brooklyn native MADE all their patio furniture and it's rad. I think I could reproduce a budget-friendly version out of wood pallets. Here are more pics of their back oasis.

SO cool, isn't it?

They even made a planter station, which I have no room for, but is so cool nonetheless.

So then there's this idea (also via AT) of a little banquette. You could put ready made outdoor cushions on this.

And sprinkle little bricks with glowing tealights and cute plantings around all the little nooks and crannies of the back yard.

Maybe rig some old colored bottles rigged up with some twinkley lights! Or maybe lights like these from Tar-jay.

Then of course, this is South Texas, so we would definitely need to spend money on something like this if we're going to spend the summer evenings outside:

Man, I am liking this vision more and more. :)


xoxo,
 
 

I want to have summer parties

There's this great little alley behind our apartment building. Well, I guess I should start by saying our new little apartment building is great. It's this old crumbly brick building that only houses 5 units, and I love it. This alley behind us, it's fenced in, creating a really really small little backyard. People store their barbeque grills back there, and there's a nook for the recycling bins, but really, this is unused real estate. 

I keep thinking that it would be magical to string some Christmas lights all along the fence, get some old patio furniture on craigslist and paint it matte black, throw in some pretty plants, and get a giant industrial fan. The mood I'm going for is very Cafe Brasil.

from Flickr.

These beautiful images are from the wonderful Carolina Eclectic FlickerStream. Check out her blog here.

OK, so back to dreaming... I could also try the wood pallet furniture thing... but I lack a wood shop. Does anyone know where to find a pattern for pallet chairs that doesn't consist of major wood work? I'm thinking more along the lines of a DIY project, not a woodshop project.

Since we're talking about Wood Pallet DIY projects, check out this rad table tutorial.

And of course, I'd want a party so I could have a super cute martini bar like this one.

Via.

I love Summer!

xoxo,

Cute Project

These are the cutest:

Instructables found here.


xoxo,
 

Granny Chic

I am just SO busy lately. Sorry to neglecting the blog. We've finally moved in to our new place and I LOVE it. The tenant before us had a case of serious dwelling neglect so I've also been SUPER busy painting everything! I have the most wonderful color scheme going on. And providentially, have found almost every can of paint on sale (I love you, Home Depot paint rejects shelf!). I am going for a recycled, vintage, granny-chic, bright colors kind of look in the new place. Here are some of my inspiration paint swatches... so far:

So this fits right in. I want to make one! Get some molding scraps, broken ornate garage sale find frames, etc, and spray them all a nice burnished gold before mounting them on the real mirror frame. Wouldn't it be a super fast and easy DIY project? I think so.

I saw this on Design*Sponge today and developed a crush. Most decidedly AGAINST the antler head trend, I couldn't help but like this rhino bust. Is that weird? Sometimes, I cannot explain why I am attracted to some things... (like rompers or harem pants) and this is a prime example:

I kind of want him.



xoxo,

 

Bathroom

Our new rental is adorable. It's located in a great part of town, close to art museums and great restaurants and running paths. We love living there. But there is one teeny problem with the apartment- limited storage. I have the daunting task of making some kind of storage space in our little bitty bathroom. There are literally no cabinets, so I am getting creative with storage solutions.

First, Adding a medicine cabinet (hopefully, this one) behind a mirror for over the sink storage. This will house things like toothbrushes, dental floss, face wash, medicine and first aid kind of things, and the like.

Second, I will put a little storage bin underneath the wall mounted sink and then make a little skirt to hide it. I think, these clear plastic drawers will house hair products, blow dryer/chi iron, netti pots (you do have one, don't you?) and other larger toiletries. Keeping those things close at hand is functional and hiding them with a skirt keeps everything feeling neat in that small space. This great no-sew sink skirt tutorial will do just the trick. Still keeping an eye out for the perfect fabric. Suggestions?

Third, I am buying one of these over-the-toilet etagere things. I know they're not the chic-est storage solution, but they're functional and affordable. This will take the place of having closed cabinets. I will store ugly stuff like cleaning supplies and toilet paper... things that need to be behind closet doors, literally.

So that's my space maximizing bathroom plan. After the organization, I will actually make a decorating plan/color scheme, etc. For now, I'm keeping everything (except the sink skirt) white- tile, walls, sink/toilet, and etagere. The fabric I choose for the skirt will dictate what kind of color accents happen to liven up the pint-sized bath.

Any tips? Any recommendations for storage or fabric?



xoxo, 
 

DIY Round Up!

Have I mentioned my love of hex tile before? Why, yes I think I have. 

Here's a cool DIY tutorial to disguise ugly vinyl/linoleum bathroom floors and give them a faux hex tile look.

 I know I know, everyone is bananas over chevron, and so am I. Even though this tutorial is circulating blogland, it's so good, I need to make sure you've seen it. I LOVE that this chevron application is in muted colors... I think that creates an elegant understated feel to this otherwise bold graphic pattern. And yes, one accent wall is plenty.

Apparently those designer duvet cover companies are making a killing, because making one yourself is so easy! I am super eager to try out these simple instructions for making your own duvet cover. You can even purchase two flat sheets of designer bedding to make a cheaper version! This is my dream duvet, but I would use this fabric.

xoxo,

Dreamy Kitchens

I like to bake. And I'm good at it. Does this make me sound conceited? No really, in one of my college art classes, we had an performance art assignment and I made my favorite chocolate chip cookies as my "piece." Ha ha! Anyway, I've really been wanting to putter around in the kitchen lately, trying out new recipes (hence the glut of recipes I've been posting) so I guess that's why all these kitchen images are speaking to me...

First, a DIY glass etching tutorial from Martha Stuart (via Simplified Bee). If you couldn't find a set of old-school vintage jars, maybe these or these would work.

More kitchen organizing tips from Martha here.

So back to kitchen organization....

I like the pegboards, baskets, and jars- everything looks so contained!

Would you be inspired to cook or bake more if your kitchen was clean, lovely, and organized?

 Images from Apartment Therapy, UrbanGrace, SandStudios.

These kitchens... just gorgeous. My favorite is the last one, with the industrial-frosty-glass cabinet doors.


xoxo,