a splash of bipolar

Okay, Belated Christmas Updates...

2012-02-05T21:31:00.000-08:00

i was on top of it this year -
christmas rocked in all of it's personalized/homemade glory.
and i have to thank katy winter at Golden Valley Stamps and Awards...

She does a lot more than stamps and awards -
come up with an idea and she can make it happen...
she'll even take your idea and make it better.
these were for my niece and nephew...

i can't wait to gift these again and again.
and wait till you see some of the other things she whipped up for me...
it was such a good year for gifts -
thanks to katy...
call her, or better yet -
go by her shop and see how many amazing things she can do for you.
(559) 686-1700

figuring it out...

2012-02-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

i found this via pinterest and it seemed familiar.
sooo familiar.
though it is far more traditional than our house -
it seems to have a lot of similar tones,

while it is not as modern in some of it's lines -
i think it's a good comparison -

a good idea of where i want to go -
clean, soft, using what we own -
which happens to be lots of photos, art, antiques and quirky pieces.

and i like that it is running along the same theories i had about this space -
clean, neutral lines with touches of wood, texture and gold...
we'll see.

2012-01-30T21:31:00.000-08:00

waiting on a rug.
a very old rug.
which will undoubtedly smell and need to be cleaned...
but will warm this place up a bit.
maybe.
we'll see.

it's not always sexy...

2012-01-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

so, setting up the computer in the office -
kind of a beast of a job.
i was sick to death of all the wires...

and since i'm not buying a new all-in-one computer,
we decided to plan it all out and drill a lot of holes...

lots and lots of holes-
which all lead to this little cubby of iniquity.
(most of that is future ethernet and lots of other crap i don't understands hook-ups for the future)

but in the end, it all worked out -
we love that the tower, printer, scanner, every wire known to man -
is all hidden in a closed cabinet.

though, as you can see -
i'm only half-way moved into my office.
but at least i have a computer.

work with what you've got...

2012-01-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

so, the really cool part about our house
is that i designed it around neutrals and opened up all the space

so when we get bored -
we move it all around, change the color scheme, anything we want...

i wanted this.
we pulled out our asian chairs, pie safe and lamp from the office...
(we actually traded them for the second couch)

i love not having anything in front of the big window.
charlie immediately jumped up on the toy bench
and spent a good part of her morning looking out at the street.

everything is temporary -
(i used those sticky-hook thingys)
since we are slowly but surely making up our minds about this wall...
at least they're not blank and empty for the time being.

the bookshelf redo from a few weeks ago...

love me my chairs.
love them.
not going to recover them until i know for sure what i want.
i'm having an impossible time making up my mind.
sigh.

love, love, love...
and my dad's bringing rugs soon from storage -
the same rugs we had as kids...
so, the sentimental sucker in me really wants them to work out.

thoughts?

i'm in love...with the "lightscoop"...

2012-01-23T22:28:00.000-08:00

so, i read this post last week.
and immediately order this product.
which arrived to day...
so i took these pictures for you.

it's called the "lightscoop" and it's amazing.
i have a real aversion to using the flash.
i even hate the pre-flash that autocorrects on flashless photos.
thus, the thousands of low light photos that are out of focus and "yellow-y"...
check out these two photos - the before and the after -
neither is edited.

i love it.
love it, love it, love it.
these pictures were taken at 10:00 at night.
amazing, right?!

before the weekend...

2012-01-23T22:24:00.000-08:00

i've been working on separating the office from the homeschool room.
it's been a beast of a job,
but here we are as of today.

it's not pretty, but it is clean and in order.
we'll start working on the pretty soon enough.
and don't mind the too-short old curtains...
i'll figure something out for that opening when i can...
but at least it covers up the rest of the flooring for our house...

i dream about the day i can redo that closet.
i dream about a computer station and built in shelves on the sides...
with enough space to store all our platters and misc. decor...
even our scrapbook and art supplies -
sewing and photography equipment...

i dream.
one day, someday soon.

i know, it looks ugly...

2012-01-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

this is my future floor to ceiling window in the "overflow room"
(we're in the middle of a craft vs. gym debate)...
and yes, this means the containers are bought, delivered and being cut up as we speak.
shane says we might need a good old amish barn raising by the end of this -
you know, getting everyone together and teaching them how to weld and powersand...
and getting the job done.

baby steps.
or rather, really big steps.
big, hulking container steps.
i love them.
i can stand in them and see our future in the trees.
seriously, in the trees.

we've got the clean and white (dare i say "modern") elements in play...

2012-01-13T07:47:00.000-08:00

now we just need the warm with a slash of irreverant
(art, sculpture, found objects, etc.)

via
and whether your scandinavian sensibilities lean more towards modern

via
or more towards sparse, yet elegant and rustic...
the frozen chosen have always had a way of bringing warmth
to the most cool of spaces.

and that's where we are right now.
we have the foundation set - lots of white lots of clean lines
but everything is a bit new-ish and too sterile.
it will take us time,
but we'll eventually figure out how we're going to bring in whimsical and elegant
and a good dose of rustic and warm.
time, time, time.

i kind of like doing things on a budget
(not that i've ever done it any other way)
but it forces time into the equation.
just going out and buying anything you want -
while probably very gratifying in the moment -
can also take away from the creative process of creating a space.
so time, time, time.

we'll get there in time.
and it will be more personal and more us because of it.

so, i bought this at a thrift store a long time ago....

2012-01-12T08:17:00.000-08:00

this beauty cost me a couple bucks at our local thrift store.
i bought her for the frame but was semi-charmed by her sixties orange-y print as well.
thought a bit dull, she would have survived untouched
had the sweet little old church ladies that run the thrift store -
not stuck the price/sticker/thingy right on top of the brittle old print.

so after very little debate and purely on a whim -
i decided to pull out the kids crayon slix (these things are amazing!) and some oil pastels -
and went to work.
i started by covering up the torn patch on the print with a big leaf
and then i re-color everything else.
short of the background, i redid it all -
and am especially proud of the vibrant pop of blue on the vase...
(and there's a few flowers that were a bit complicated to rebuild)

i need to pull back farther and show you the updated mantle,
but with the wonky camera and wonky lense -
this is the best i could do until it goes into the shop...

thoughts?

a few little projects got done...

2012-01-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

over the christmas break
we didn't get to as much stuff as we wanted to.
though we did finish these projects:
hung hook ledge in bathroom
sand and caulk ledge and rest of bathroom
touch up all paint and trim in bathroom
hang hooks
try to hang industrial shelving (fail)
move cabinets out of storage (double fail)
mount office desk
paint spindles
attach spindles
build insert for under stove
chose plan and bought wood for bench
hang tension wires
cut and hem curtains
hang curtains
return broken cellular blinds for repair
hang massive bulletin board in office

stuff still to do:
caulk desk and cabinets in office
paint and touch up all office trim
hang shelves in office
hang art in office
move couch and chairs around and decide furniture layout in office
drill access for wires and place covers in desk and cabinets for computer
move computer
fix wireless internet
build bench
pick plan for homeschool bench
build homeschool bench
design and finish homeschool wall
hang temporary curtain in office
figure out bookshelf walls

ignore the pictures.
my camera needs some love, badly.
so until it makes it into the shop, be patient with the wonky white balance.
(and the dirty lenses).

the metal industrial shelving was a no-go...

2011-12-30T22:30:00.000-08:00

so were these
(pulled out of storage)

not worth all the work for a temporary fix.
back to the drawing board.
sigh.

ps: i miss my books.

nick is off for nearly a month...oh, happy day...

2011-12-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

so, we're working on a number of projects.
one of them is the homeschool room.
projects to do in there:
* figure out the computer situation
* build bench
* art on walls, order map decal
* paint door
* metal on door
* pennant banner made and hung
* art station
* hang curtain over closet full of the rest of the flooring for our house, sigh.
okay, wish us luck.
lots and lots of luck.

2011-12-16T09:16:00.000-08:00

2011-12-15T22:40:00.000-08:00

we're doing a lot of this sort of thing around my house lately.
and my kids want to do it all, right along side of me.
let's just say, at one point today there were 437 teeny-tiny pins scattered across my living room floor.
thus, the lack of house updates.
inspiration posts to come.
and maybe some recipes.
keep checking back.

i haven't disappeared completely.

the bench debate...

2011-12-11T23:09:00.000-08:00

well, as much as i would love a built in -
we just trimmed out the whole homeschool room and it would be a shame to cut into it.
so, a bench is still needed - but which one?
i lean towards the storage cubbies for the sheer sake of practicality...
but then on an aesthetic-not-very-sexy level -
they're a no go.
and then i saw the beautiful farmhouse style of the red benches -
and i was smitten. and i can make it.
and i want them in red.
or orange.
or even a bright yellow.
hmmmm.
thoughts?

2011-12-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

i'm a vignette kind of girl.
go check out my pinterest vignettes. love them all.
click here.

oh yes i did...what's it to you?!...

2011-12-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

we bought a silver, footed butter dish.

we also bought this porcelain look tin canister.

and this. it's for the olive oil.

you see, as i've been using the kitchen, i've been making a list -
of all the things that i need to make everything work more functionally.
a butter dish was top of the list.
the tin wasn't on it at all.

so, when nick and i hit exeter for our "date day/christmas shopping",
we trolled through antique stores and the old mercantile in search of things on "the list".
we're still on the look out for cold storage crate for the potatoes and onions stored in the garage during the winter,
but all in due time.

i like finding old things.
i didn't quite expect to find a garrish butter dish when we set out on our mission,
but it was too perfect to pass up.

speaking of old things,
i found this dish years ago in a thrift store, chips and all.
i was going to spraypaint for the coffee table.
but that glorious blue was unpaintable - it is just the perfect shade.
so, we'll live with it, imperfections a plus.

ps: don't you love the aqaumarince, yellow and lime green (literally) combo?
me too.
it needs just a dash of pink and red and touch of orange and it would be the perfect palate -
for now.
my fickle bi-polar brain likes everything.

big but tiny blank slate...

2011-12-05T08:19:00.000-08:00

this is my blank slate.
i've since added a big black filing cabinet (behind camera perspective).
and i have two chairs and some shelves to hang back there as well.

i obviously gravitate towards white offices with a bit of white and a bit of industrial rustic.

though i crave color as well,
this would be living the dream.
every single last detail.
love it.

but this will probably be closer to the reality of what i can create.
i already have the big bulletin board, which needs to get painted if the temperatures will rise a bit.
i'll keep you informed.

though, the big black filing cabinet is making me lean more and more towards graywashes, black and white
with a few pops of subdued color.
hmmm.

a peak inside my brain...no, sorry - my kitchen...same thing...organized chaos...

2011-12-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

so, after living in my kitchen for a couple of months, i finally hit a wall -
and had to reorganize.
mostly, the drawers by the stove weren't as handy as they should have been.

so i switched everything around, created a "cooking junk drawer"
and ended up with one empty drawer (no worries, it will be filled up eventually)
the spice drawer and the silverware were switched and i love it.
the pots all fit in the bottom drawer with their lids.
(the skillets all fit on the pull out corner cabinets on the other side of the stove).
and you can see what my "junk drawer" consists of -
strainers (we use every day, no ifs-ands-or-buts),
hand towels, rags, potholders, toothpicks (for testing), rubber gloves (for chicken),
pepper grinder and olive oil sprays.
phew. it all is finally where it needs to be and works beautifully (for now)

this is one of the newly filled drawers by the stove. this used to be over in my "baking section" of the kitchen but it wasn't working. i love this more.
and that salad spinner will be replaced with another set of bowls as soon as i can find the right size.
and no, you can never have enough mixing bowls.
pop over to my house when i'm whipping up a multi-course dinner -
this drawer will be empty.
and i'll still be short a bowl or two.

on this side of the kitchen, the original plan was a wall of tall pantries -
but that just felt too oppressive once they were in place.
so we took the two middles out (put them in the office)
and replaced them with the "buffet" of lower cabinets (that are blissfully large and deep)

this side of the buffet is ever shifting and changing -
but since we still have kidiots and occasionally need plastic plates and bowls,
we need a drawer for that.
the top drawers are self-explanatory...always in use.
the tupperware drawer is HUGE and needed.
all the lids are separated and my glass storage dishes are in there as well.
and no, i don't own too much of my "take and toss tupperware" -
just enough.
i make lots of food for lots of people -
so, this drawer can actually run pretty low at times.

this is the other side of the buffet (part of my baking center)
it houses everything i'll need for my various baking expeditions.
it's still a bit limited for what i own (there are still boxes to unpack)...
but will do for now.

and this has forever been on my "to do" list.
this is my appliance pantry that is on the left (food on the right and both tops)
i spent the morning measuring and rehanging the shelves so that my mixer would fit in
and still allow for the rest of the accoutrement that we seem to need.
everything in this cupboard gets used on a daily/weekly basis
(except for the electric skillet and my roasting pan - but they fit in the "skinny shelves")
the microwave shelf still needs a cute skinny basket to hold all our ciders, hot chocolate and popcorn.
but this beats losing all of our overhead space on the stove and the new permit requirements
say that a microwave is an appliance and has to have a dedicated line run to the box -
ridiculous, wasn't going to happen.
so we hid it in here (and i hate how much space microwaves use up on counters)
and no one was the wiser.

until now.
okay, i hope you enjoyed that weird, drawn out look into my cupboards (and i only showed you half of them)
i'll get them all cute and synchronized at some point -
but for now, they work.
love them.

it's a mess around here and my son dresses like a nerdy old man...

2011-12-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

i cleaned up the office today.
i'm tackling the homeschool room tomorrow.
and i'm spray painting stuff if the sun comes out again.
and i promise to take pics and post some updates.

don't worry.
after a six foot daddy, a little girl and a chair couldn't figure out the star -
a 5'2 mommy jumped up and saved the day -
ie: the star stands up straight now.

my stint is in, so on half-function mode until i stop peeing blood...

2011-11-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

but even half-functioning and laying on the couch,
i was still able to crack the whip this weekend.
check out what nick and joe did -

yep, they installed my built in desk in the new office.
and the spindles from the original 60's half-walls -
they're coming back as well.
that's my job - sanding and painting them.

i'll post updates once they yank this thing out and i can throw the pills away.
i don't think pain killers and paint fumes mix well.

update: who knew i would literally have to yank the stint out myself?! :)

so, we had this nasty old fireplace...

2011-11-21T17:35:00.000-08:00

and it was filled with cobwebs and ash and bad energy...
so i cleaned it up and limewashed it and painted the inside of it -
and dreamed about filling it up with candles.
finally bought the candles this last weekend.
not enough candles.

enough candles,
but too low.
and could still use some more.

i'm thinking that since the fireplace is slightly sunken,
i need to build the base up a bit with painted wood
and go from there.

stay tuned.

all pictures taken at different times of day...my apologies...

2011-11-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

we're finally getting over our commitment issues,
and hung our shelves this weekend.

as soon as we did, we realized how unfinished the walls had been,
the kitchen felt done.
finally.

well, not quite.
i needed to fluff them a bit.

we decided to use the lower shelves for the "everyday stuff"

and the top shelves house whatever i was able to dig out of the garage -
(most of our stuff is still down at the ranch)

but for digging into my milk glass and a few "to spray paint" items -
i think we "faked it" well enough for now.

i did find my granny's yellow enamel tea pot with sugar and creamer bowls.
but it was too much yellow for now.
sigh.

but the fun part about these shelves - we get to play with them.
i can't wait to change up our colors and add some more art.
though, for now, i'm going with simple and white with touches of "aged tin"
(hee-hee)
at least, until the holidays are over.

thoughts? feedback?
let me know what you think.

it all started with a canvas sale at winkflash...

2011-11-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

and this bad boy arrived.
i love this photo.
love it.
best i ever took.
but there was something wrong -
it just wasn't big enough for this space.

and after lots of plan-making and as i was just about to buy the supplies
to make a modern frame, i ran into this big guy.
he was huge and hung really high at the local thrift shop.
and bonus, half off of $20.

so, after many trials and errors -
i had to flip the canvas and paint it.
i then spray-painted the frame.

nick hung the frame and then put a long nail in the middle of the canvas -
so that we can switch out the art when we want to.

this is a tricky area because the lighting is slightly off center and the shadows get wonky.

we hung it and called it a night.
too tired to clean up.

but i fluffed everything the next morning and was sooo happy.
the frame fits perfectly in the space.
PERFECTLY

and this is the view from the front door.
this is what we wanted -
a niche for art that "popped" as soon as you walked in.
what do you think?

2011-11-15T06:23:00.000-08:00

now i just have to figure out how to convince nick to pick it up.
it's in corcoran.
nick does not like craigslist encounters -
(even though we have met the coolest people)
he's still waiting for the serial killer.
but seriously, take a look at that perfection.
i've never quite seen a chair like this.
the hardware, the wood, that base -
the whole vintage industrial vibe.
love it.

funded, need to buy containers. yippee.

2011-11-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

in the meantime.
check out some of my craigslist finds this week.
i'm earnestly trying to get my hands on one of them.
can you guess which on it is?

and this, well this is just funny to me.
funny in a good way.

i'd love to store blankets in it or board games.

my computer is coming home tonight...

2011-11-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

and then i can show you how good charlie looks on the wall.
and bonus, i took another perfect picture this week.
and it's going to be amazing blown up.
but no preview, it'll have be a surprise -
a surprise that has to wait for a whole new room.

2011-11-07T12:39:00.001-08:00

i have some fun stuff to post, but my computer is still sick.
so, just know that my life is a lot of this right now.
this and left-over halloween candy eating.

oh, and we're just about ready to tackle the addition.
official announcement next week.
yippee!

baby updates...

2011-11-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

my kitchen...again...i don't care if you're sick of it yet.

2011-10-30T23:42:00.000-07:00

have i ever told you'all how much i love my kitchen?
i especially love that the base trim finally got put down.
thanks nick and papa joe.

and what about that pic of charlie?
do you think it's about time that i hung her up?
yeah, me too.

ps: i finally dug the shelves out of the garage this morning and am going to beat nick over the head with them if he doesn't get them up this week. just kidding. we're less of a beating, more of a sexy spanking sort of couple. so, this week or bust. or maybe i just shot myself in the foot with the whole "sexy spanking" comment - nick's going to have a hard time choosing - shelves or foreplay? hmmmm....darn it. curses. sigh.

that dang couch.

2011-10-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

time to move couches again.
this one is cutting off my chi.
the flow is gone.
too bad nick loves it here.
too bad for him.
bwah-hah-hah-hah (evil, head back cackling).
nah.
he got his two weeks.

my turn to move the couches around.
check back in tomorrow.

everyone sees light and bright...

2011-10-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

while we're definitely seeing stark.
we love it and know we need to add to it carefully,
but still...we could do with some texture and color.
(i faked it this week with a new sink skirt and some fruit)

but what to do with the rest of the house?
i'm heading to home fabrics in fresno today...
so, pics of options to come.
curtains need to go up and i need some pillows.
a rug will one day happen, so no worries on that front.

at least there are tiny moments throughout our half-lived in house...
i have a thing for birds spray painted white.
these two are one of many.

ps: did you notice (don't worry, i know you didn't) all the trim is done in the living room and kitchen? Done, done. hooray.

my computer is still sick, still in the shop. sigh.

2011-10-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

but for fun, go here and see what has caught my fancy.

HERE. (click)

and here.

HERE. (click)

and here.

HERE. (click)
(anyone notice my scandinavian gingham in this collection, swoon)

i could go on and on. I love her. Holli Zollinger is her name. spoonflower is the website. independent custom fabric is the game.

i love it all. i love that it is unique and not mass produced. sigh. okay, go buy some material.

i really want opinions!

2011-10-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

nick was working on the trim the other night and decided he wanted his couches back the way he likes them.

though, this just highlights again one of the big decision we need to make.
what to do with these two side walls -
especially, since they're the first thing you see coming in the door
(well, there will be a crazy long hallway to distract eventually)...
but for now, let me know what you think.
i'm torn on what to do.

you see, we bought these ikea heavy duty shelves to bring a bit of the industrial vibe into the living room.
(these shelves can go anywhere and we know they won't go to waste)

but i also keep going back and forth with the idea of one metal shelf on the far side
and a low buffet and artwork above on the other side.
and this little 1953 beauty showed up on craigslist last night -
i'm tempted. seriously tempted.
(it has original hardware)

anyhoo, let me know what you opinions are.
i'm having a hard time pulling the trigger.
(everything feels so permanent when you drill into your ceilings - as the ikea shelves have to be)

look what i/we did this weekend past...

2011-10-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

i put these bad boys on myself.
don't even get me started on dummy knobs and how expensive they are -
as well as pointless.
but i found some crazy cheap ones and have plans to make them unique -
(you'll just have to wait to find out)

all trim and floorboards were nailed in living room.
no we just have to set, putty, sand and touch up.
don't you love how my door stain turned out. it's a lot more gray in person.

this is looking in.
and yes, the light is too low - not too low for me though.
good thing it's MY OFFICE.
so, no more apologies to all the men in the family for banging into my various light fixtures.
i'll be like, "what were you doing in MY OFFICE? don't boo-hoo-hoo to me, trespasser!"

nick and joe dragged the but pantry units in.
they'll mount them and measure and cut the trim sometime this week.

this is where my custom desk will go.
it's going to be cool, and incoorporate a super cool element from the original house.
just wait and see.

and this is what has to happen once the feet go on these bad boys -
all the cable that we ran for every possible future need, will run into a box on the inside of this pantry.

okay, lots to do this week.
every last little detail has to be addressed before the appraiser comes.
so, crunch time. ick. sigh.

i told you, a splash of bipolar...

2011-10-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

so, i love color.
almost as much as i love perfectly mellow, aged, rustic neutrals.
and of course, white.
i love white above all else.

neutral:

color:

neutral: (and perfection)

and color:

the problem:
i feel like i need all of these elements in my life.
need, want, must have.

maybe this is some sort of a compromise,
or maybe this is:

tonight.

2011-10-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

we watched movies.
i need some texture and layers pronto.
but i'm holding myself back.
baby steps.

we just need to live in the space a bit more, feel it out, figure out what it wants.
and besides, there's about to be a whole bunch of construction dust floating through here.
so, let's see if i can exhibit a bit of self control (hah!).

baby changes...

2011-10-12T23:45:00.000-07:00

before:

after:

dream world:

i know the change seems minimal, but it is much more organized and clean out.
we will slowly add a bank of drawers and separaters as we can,
until then, i can dream about red walls and color coordinated books.
which just won't work with homeschool materials - it's hard enough to find things as it is.

what i'm working on today...

2011-10-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

this is the room-o-horrors also known as "the homeschool room".

oh, you don't see what's so horrific about it?
back up.

yeah, uggghh.
so, the shelves are all rearranged, with the baskets moved up -
charlie found the paint basket to be an all consuming fixation,
and for some reason putting it two shelves higher - she stopped begging.

still do do:
clean off the table.
hang curtains in closet to cover the 1500 sq ft of flooring hanging out until who-knows-when.
vacuum and dust.

the fun to do's for in here...
i'll have to do an inspiration post.
i need to set up my office desk and move the computer out.
stain extra picnic bench, red or fuschia stain if it will take.
gallery wall with essential "to knows" framed as well.
hang hooks somewhere for coats.
paint doors.
decorate doors.
hang metal on doors for magnet wall.
reupholster mid-cent-mod chair and place in corner with artwork.

sooo much.
but we need to do it.
the kids looove to work on the kitchen island,
but with it being an old woodshop station from the local college -
pitted and dented and scratched and that doesn't make for great handwriting practice.
anyhoo, wish me luck.
i have a CT scan in 30 minutes, 2 hours of writing after that, a meeting with mortgage lady/friend at 1, adoption papers to be notarized and mailed and dinner to somehow concoct from what's in the fridge.

okay, gotta run.

keeping it real, monday morning...

2011-10-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

just bought the webster.
white walls and ceilings show every single spider web.
need a broom closet about now.
trash can needs a home as well, or a pretty upgrade.
but has anyone shopped for a high end trash can recently?
yeah, i know.
a hundred-plus buckaroos.
sick.

okay, i'm off to clean.
it got messier after i took the picture.
let's just say white and green paint and cream cheese frosting were added to the mix.

i went cargo container/seatrain shopping yesterday...

2011-10-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

we're getting an AMAZING deal on these.

they're traditional 8'6, 40 ft. long units made of steel.

we're going for the one ones that bookend the aluminum one in the middle.

these doors are to die for.
i like the idea of them staying, with glass sliders inset
and if we can't do that, repurpose them somewhere else...like as a rolling door or a table or crap like that.
they're just too cool to pass up.

this is me standing halfway down one.
they're LONG.
luke and charlie couldn't get enough of them.
ran circles around us the whole time.
good thing their shots are up to date.

luke kept insisting that i take a picture of him in the doorway looking back.
my little director.
though, this does give you a relatively good idea of how long they are -
and then double that.

so the idea is to place them on the second story side by side,
and the two most damaged walls (like this one) will be placed towards the center -
in that the skins will be peeled off of these walls to make one big room.

though, in dream world where containers don't cost a fortune -
two high tops would be nice (9'6 ceilings - the two brown ones please).

and really, because we're not asking them to patch or repair any of the damage to these containers and will take as is -
you CANNOT beat the price.
we budgeted 10,000 -
and if all goes according to plan,
we'll have them on site for 4,000 (that includes delivery!)

i know, INSANE.
shane is our hero.
i couldn't negotiate anything below 6,800 and we'd have to ship from LA -
no frickin' way.

okay, i have friends to go catch up with and children to leave in their pajamas.
have a good one.

2011-10-06T07:47:00.001-07:00

our seatrain/cargo container addition - the updates...

2011-10-06T00:22:00.000-07:00

so, for those that don't know,
we've just recently received (reluctantly) the go-ahead to use seatrain/cargo containers in our addition.
and while money is tight and the market getting tighter every day,
we're going to try to make it happen if it's the last thing we do.

but bonus/update:
shane (the builder) tracked down a set of containers for insanely cheap, including shipping.
crazy cheap. and double bonus, all their damage is on the two interior walls -
which will be stripped back to make one big room - so, who cares?!
i'm going to check them out tomorrow around noon.
i'll bring the camera.

fair warning - they're not going to be sexy pics or anything.
they're going to look like a couple of rusted out cargo boxes -
but give us time.
well, first the bank needs to give us money,
and then you can give us time.

tired, peace out.
bb

ps: let me know, i have lots more pics and elevations of the project that i can scan and post.

a new thing to love about my ikea sink...

2011-10-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

when we undermounted the ikea sink (which is not how they are designed - but do it, worth it)
we were immediately bummed because all our sink accoutrements would be unusable.

we were wrong. the cutting board is a bit big no matter how the sink was mounted,
by this collander - genius.
freakin' genius.
(ps: in the vein of learning something new everyday, when roasting veggies,
they need to be dry, well before you get them "wet" with olive oil. who knew - explains a heck of a lot of my flops)

and look who decided to get himself found when i was digging through boxes in the garage over the weekend.
love him, need to find a place to put him.
he makes a killer stew, so he deserves a special shelf somewhere.
(ps: don't tell the others, but he was my first le crueset, sigh)

i swear i hate the fact that so much of my stuff is from ikea at the moment...

2011-10-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

it very much goes against my craigslist/antique prowling/yardsaling frame of mind.
but it is very cheap and is a good foundation for the room thus far.
so, with that being said, i must say this -
GO BUY AN EXPEDIT AND TURN IT ON ITS SIDE AND ADD CASTERS!!!!!

NOW!!!
but seriously,
best buy yet, after the kitchen sink, of course.
four of the cubbies are for toys and one for books.
and while my kids are perched all cute on it while they read,
it is also the perfect place to draw and lounge on with your dolls.
and my toy management has never been more streamlined.
love it.
LOVE IT! GO BUY ONE!!!
okay, i'll back off now.
no pressure, just my own personal endorsement -
this thing is freakin amazing.

(nose picking is keeping it real, some women like to show their dirty sink, i show our dirty habits)

don't judge! i already told you it was a problem!

2011-10-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

okay, meet box #1 of the tchotchkes.

these made a lot more sense in the room before we tore it open, replaced furniture, painted everything white and had a group lobotomy.
and ignore the books - they have another home (along with 1,734 of their friends) in a part of the house that isn't built yet.
the milk glass - it's mostly from our wedding (we collected it the summer before)-
and a piece from my granny's collection -
so serious nostalgia.
the birds, well, it was a phase.
i have an idea for them.

so, until then - i need to group them with a "modern flair"
or pack them up again.
sigh.

i'm so not in the mood for this.
i still have two whole walls with no decisions.
tchotchkes will have to wait.
double sigh.

ps: anyone else have a husband and an atomic clock?
are anyone else's husband and his clock inseparable?
is it weird of me to dislike a clock this much?

let me tell you...

2011-10-02T23:27:00.000-07:00

i'm really struggling with the whole clean and modern, yet warm and rustic vibe i'm going for.
because mostly i've got lots of thrift store crap that worked out really well in the old version of the house -
but is just plain "cluttery" in this version.
sigh.
back to the drawing board.
the drawing board with no money.
we'll see.

bits and pieces, that's how it will come together.
bits and pieces.

bad light, another angle...and a stool dilema...

2011-09-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

so, we love our stools and have used them for years.
but we bought them with cheapness, height and kids in mind.
which are still relevant issues.

but these are from overstock, and i love them all.
other than the hand forged ones from inda,
the industrial black flat top stools come in a glossy red or white and a burnished gray metal.

but now we've discovered that we love sitting as a group and want a set of eight of whatever we choose -
which makes us go back to the whole "cheap" issue.
so, i think we'll stick with these for now.
and bonus, they fold flat so all the extras can hang in the garage when they're not in use.

ps: i forgot, cheapness aside.
we can't get this style yet.
my kids still manage to fall off the ones with backs,
so give us a few years.
unless the design fairies show and whisk them away in horror -
and we have no choice but to get what we want.
not going to happen, but a girl can dream.

i wish it wasn't night. and there was better lighting...

2011-09-29T22:56:00.000-07:00

homestudy appt. #2 tomorrow.
so the kitchen is especially clean.
i love it more and more.
it's all bright and light and far less yellow than it's reading on my camera.
happy, happy, happy.

kitchen review, thus far...

2011-09-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

seriously, i can't get over this island.
or the fact that my family lives at it.
happily.

okay, juicer has to stay on the counter for now.
but the juicer likes to "spit".
and carrot juice and spinach shreads clash with white counters.
sigh.
double sigh.

and the stove (sorry for the bad pic),
love it.
it cooks beautifully - gas on top, electric convection stove on bottom.
(i was worried about this combo, but perfect so far...best of both worlds and all of that)
go here to check it out.

i'm lacking layers and textures, part 1...

2011-09-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

via
i need more of this.
but i'm so hesitant as i bring stuff back in the house.
a. there's so much construction left to do on the back of the house.
b. everything seems so permanent at this point, nails in wall permanent.
and i paid a lot of money and put a lot of sweat equity into those walls.
it has to be perfect.
right?
so silly.
i need to just do it already.
and if i make a mistake - fix it.

The Original Barn Lighting is having a sale...

2011-09-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

these are just a few of my favorites.
given enough money, time and extra electric lines,
i'd replace every light ficture in my house and then add some.

this is a bit garrish/red in the photo,
but imagine this in a rustic, washed out room - what a pop of color!
alright, here is where you go to buy them

THE ORIGINAL BARN LIGHTING

and here is where you go to enter their BIG GIVEAWAY

BARN LIGHTS ONLINE GIVEAWAY

How to Enter:

Look around online at Barn Light Electric and pick lights you’d love to own
Feature your lighting picks on your personal blog, and link to the lights if you can!
Copy/Paste these rules at the bottom of your blog article so others can enter
Once your personal article is up, you must email your blog link to: contest@barnlightelectric.com to be qualified to win. The contest ends Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Don’t have a blog? Find out how you can enter by reading the Official Rules

2011-09-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

we changed it up again.
no styling.
just furniture moving.
so versatile.

all the things that go unfinished...

2011-09-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

i started painting the trim, but all my purdy brushes are ruined or disappeared.
and the grout voids need to be filled
and the grout sealed
and the cabinet door hung (at least i painted the trimmed ends!)
and the door hung
and the hook board stained and hung...
sigh.
and they are all easy jobs.
easy, easy jobs.

this is the door (which is in my future office/current painting room)
it's finally done and ready to go up - but stuck until i go buy a new brush and put a second layer of paint on the doorway trim.

this is the pile of material that needs to be delivered with the furniture to the upholstery guy.
look at that pretty aqua and pink silk.

and these are the doors that hide it all.
do you see my "to do" list here?
it's sooo simple - find dummy door knobs that don't cost 40,000 dollars.
i want these.
hah!
so, i bought cheap $6 ones and am going to try to paint them.
wish me luck.
hah!
this is going to be a disaster - i predict it.

ps: like the old curtain panel i dug out of the garage?
it'll have to do for now.
and by pure happenstance, matches the super-discounted rug i threw in there this week.
a little christmas-y, perhaps?

funny things i'm contemplating doing...

2011-09-19T17:50:00.000-07:00

mostly, because i did this funny thing last weekend.
(remember this post)

well, to be truthful, i did three of them.
and then i ran out of stickers.
my bad.

you should try this - all of you.
you will love it.
it's almost therapeutic.
so put on a movie and become a kid again.

$1.50 worth of fabric. oh, and i got bored.

2011-09-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

so, nick was away performing his teacherly duties at the highschool football game tonight,
the kids were asleep,
and i got a second wind.

i wanted to see how easy it was to move things around and change things up.
(which was the whole "game plan" behind the couch purchases)

it was amazingly easy.
five minutes, no strained muscles (everything has felt pads underneath)
THOUGH, i'm still dying for some softness and texture in this room -
i'm leaning more and more towards white curtains -
though, vivid green ones keep screaming my name.
(and duh, they have to be to the ground and "pool" a bit)

speaking of softness, i've been thinking about doing this
and since our homestudy appt. was today and i needed to cover up all our tools -
and since we had to lower the sink the doors no longer fit and nick was still head scratching -
i went ahead and "faked it".

after pulling out a bunch of my favorite fabrics and holding them up,
i suddenly remembered my fabric stash in the "painting room" (my future office)
and darted in there and snatched up this beauty -
which is SOOOOO EXPENSIVE, but i got the last yard and a half and it was already on the $3 a yard clearance section at home fabrics.
and when you get the last of the roll - half off the lowest price.
this cost me $1.50.
i love it. ADORE IT.

so, the plan is this -
i'll hem it up on all sides,
and since the sink cabinet came with a handy dandy little hangy-rod-thingy -
i'm going to sew velcro strips onto my hemmed piece so that i can drape, stick and gather -
and rip off and wash at my convenience.

and bonus, lindsay r. had a great idea -
christmas/holiday themed ones.
which got me thinking - this is such a nice easy way to change things up.
so, i'm going to start collecting fabric and making these little curtains for when my "bipolar" hits and i need a change of scenery.

nick thinks they need to be hemmed to the top of the floor trim.
HAH!
i think they need to skirt the floor.
BOYS!
thoughts? comment and let him know i'm right.
it needs to be long and drapey and romantic - totally soften the place up.
shortening it would ruin the whole effect.
right? right!

oh, i just realized i've never posted a good pic of what the living room was shaping up to be.
fair warning, these aren't good pics.
this is right after we got home from ikea.

and this is last week after the kids had trashed it a bit.
i'll dig for a better one -
or just put it back the way it was and take pics.
the best part - NO BIG DEAL.
enjoy.
bb.

in honor of our baby to come...

2011-09-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

and since we're getting ready for our homestudy visit -
check out this amazing crib.
i'd do this -
if i was swedish, and super cool and had the space.
maybe charlie would like this little set up next to her bed?
hah.
luke, definitely.
he won't stop talking about when his brother is going to get here.
every time a package is delivered, luke likes to run to the door and ask if it's his brother.
charlie, on the other hand, asked me this morning, "are we allowed to eat babies?".
my little jokesters.
it's going to be a long two years of waiting.
but oh-so-worth it.
wish us luck.

around the kitchen...so far...

2011-09-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

the shelves aren't up, nor is the art.

but, the sink is in, the dishwasher hooked up and the stove up and running.

it's kitchen enough for me.

i'm just beginning to figure out where everything is going to go (for now),
and how it's all going to look in the end.

though, my pops of color will stay,
especially my le creuset (i have a ton of this french cast iron enamelware, but this piece is my favorite)
it will live on top of my stove forever.

sigh.

this little guy has a twin.
they float around the house (same as the globes)
and make me happy (same as the globes)
best thrift store find of the year.

here is the buffet in its will-never-look-like-this-again sort of stage.
the carafe and glass are from target on super clearance and will go to my bedside table (i take pills at freakishly early hours)
the picture will go elsewhere as well.

though, i do love the combo of sepia, brown and vivid orange.
i don't know if the sear-the-back-of-your-eyes-orange is translating well -
but believe me - NEON.

and here is my trusty bowl of calcium.
calcium is my friend and gets me through the day - literally - i take them all day long.
so, i try to find places to stash them so i don't forget.
they've recently found one of their homes in an old purple tin bowl that belonged to my granny c.
i used to eat cereal out of it as a child.
she would measure a serving size - 1/2 to 1 cup depending on the cereal - and serve it in this.
i kid you not.
she was a nurse and was very health conscious.
i love the purple.
i love the memories.

okay, lots to do, but it's nice to feel like we're almost there,
if we ever are...

those swedes...i love them...shivers.

2011-09-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

via house tweaking

around here...

2011-09-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

i'm sanding and spray painting and dish washing...
there's also some droid building, globe moving and general mayhem making.
them - not me.

ps: i love my sink more and more every day.
it's petite, but it is one big bowl, not too deep and perfect in every way.
love it.

the little fixes i feel i'll never get around to...

2011-09-10T18:40:00.000-07:00

so, remember our island.
which is really an old woodshop station from a local college.
we love it, especially the original locker base.

i love it so much, that i loaded up the lockers with all my canned storage.
this has turned out to be a brilliant decision -
in that my pantry is not overrun with all the tomatoes, soups, curries, veggies, beans and whatnot.
BUT, i have found that while everything is sorted and put away according to grouping -
i daily forget which group of cans went in which locker.

so, i've started downloading images of old labels.
i'm considering making custom magnets to stick on the doors.
thoughts? ideas?

i'd LOVE those old metal label frames that filing cabinets have -
but magnetized.
wouldn't that be perfect?
sigh.

for everyone who missed the sale...

2011-09-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

winkflash is having another one.
just go HERE
(for my technologically illiterate friends, click on the word "HERE" and it will take you there)
then when you're checking out, put CANVAS60 in the coupon section and save away.

on another front,
i'm digging the cattle with the red cabinet,
the sepia aged tones make for a nice contrast.
still, the scale's not quite right.
give me time.
i'll figure it out.

ps: did i mention that little red hutch thingy comes with rose-tinted glass shelves. i'm ignoring their existence for the moment, but we'll see.

add it to the list...

2011-09-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

so, along with polycoating the bathroom door,
painting the remaining trim, casing and bathroom trim and casing,
touching up walls and touching up extra cabinet door in bathroom -
i have two new projects.

this little beauty is quite big, and long.
gramma and papa picked this up along with the red cabinet mentioned earlier.
it's a handcrafted picnic bench with a nice edge detail.
i'm thinking a good sanding, wood conditioning and a paint job.
stain might work, but the legs are pretty rough.
we'll see.

as for this baby.
i know exactly what i'm doing.
but it's a secret -
A TOP SECRET.

shivers, it's going to be amazing.
if it turns out, that is.
check back in.

what to do? what to do?...

2011-09-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

so, papa and gramma found this little beauty for free and promptly delivered it.

the operative word is "little".
it's an interesting scale, not quite tall enough and not very petite and definitely a bit small for this wall.
but man, that color, the patina, those crazy huge knobs which i may or may not replace -
it kills me.
love it.

thanks gramma and papa.
thoughts, anyone.
we're going to move it around this weekend and photograph it and ask for feedback.
prepare yourselves.

what a day...

2011-09-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

took all trim outside, painted two coats on it and hauled it back inside,
so as to not let it warp in the 103 degree temps.

the saga that is my stove is finally over.
the countertops got cut back a bit more and finally -
FINALLY -
the stove fits and has gas and i made pasta.
it was undercooked, but who cares -
i made it -
ON MY VERY OWN STOVE!

picked this up on a thrifting trip with the kids.
nick and i have a thing for globes.
this is a classic - and big.
(and crazy cheap)

also, picked up this scalloped tray.
it needs a sanding and a new stain and poly coat -
but it will be beautiful.
soon, very soon.

we picked this skirt up as weird.
i think it's clashing with the color scheme a bit.
thoughts?

real quick...check this out...

2011-09-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

one of my all time favorite homes right now is from amber interior design.
it's her personal home and i've blogged about it before.
she just posted her finished home office and it helped me make up my mind.
i've used a desk system similar to her for years and in my head,
kept dreaming of filling one whole wall up, with a massive corkboard over it for ideas and whatnot.
and then across the room would be a sitting area to write with a big soft rug between.
i need to stick with my vision -
no matter how much nick wants me to put in a big wall unit we picked up on craigslist.
as much as i try to make it work.
it won't.
this does.
sad nick.
happy me.

ps: don't worry about the unit.
i've been dreaming of painting it peacock blue or yellow and putting it on one wall of charlie's room.

gotta love pallets...

2011-09-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

this compost idea, via young house love
was posted on their august "got done" list today.
i must have missed it and am intrigued.
the walls are a bit tall (i'd cut them in half) and the latest trend seems to be one unit -
whereas all the composting i've seen in the past uses two to three units side by side.
and since i passed up the two rotating barrels for $20 at a yard sale 6 years ago (curse me)
i think you have to come up with a 1/2/possibly 3 cycle system.

we'll see.
while i still want to have a raised kitchen/winter garden right off the patio,
i plan on utilizing the side yard with its full sun and easy access to water as my big summer garden -
i've even been contemplating a gutter system along the lower wall for early spring seedlings.
so, composting would be best on that side of the yard towards the front of the garden, so as to be available to grass clippings.
it's silly, but i'm craving having a garden again -
let's cross our fingers that the house will be done by next summer (heaven help us if it isn't)
and my wish will come true.

okay, off to work on the latest script with sue today.
best of luck on your garden dreams.

silly thoughts on a kitchen sink.

2011-09-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

more like "hallellujah" thoughts on a kitchen sink.
i can rinse a dish, wash my hands, start to clean everything that has to go into drawers.
oh, and there's the mystery box of baking supplies and spices that is swimming in spilled olive oil and vinegar.
i definitely need a sink for that.

the dimensions are tighter than the old sink by a few inches -
but with the deeper, one bowl basin -
i'm a happy girl.
i had a gut feeling i'd love it...
it reminds me of my granny's sink out at the farmhouse -
and i loved using that one.

via pinterest.
and these are on my brain -
with my compulsive need to put all things color in the homeschool room.
i'm craigslisting and thinking it through...so have faith.
i'll try not to go overboard.
wish me luck.

the canvases have arrived...

2011-08-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

she's going here, for now.
i was picturing a larger format here - but that gets crazy expensive.
(and these were crazy cheap, thanks winkflash)
maybe once i move my kitchenaid and whatnots back in, she won't seem so lonely.
(picture her centered a bit and a little lower)

he's going somewhere. i love him.
i'm waiting for genius to strike.

and thank goodness nick made me get a canvas of luke at the last minute,
cause there would have been major drama around here if this hadn't arrived.
i didn't take this, but it's from our family portraits this year -
(thanks janette)
and the green of his shirt and the field - dead match for the bright green table.
so, he is going in the homeschool room eventually.

now i just have to figure out where i'm hanging my gallery wall/walls without busying the place up.
wish me luck.

found it...

2011-08-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

go here to find out more about her.
paytonturner.com

random with a side of random...

2011-08-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

i weirdly want to do this in the home school room.
love the texture and pop of color.
maybe on a door as a center medallion.
thoughts?
via apartment therapy.

this was featured at the little green notebook.
there is this amazing artist who used stickers to creates images and patterns from stickers.
who stuff is meant to be seen from a distance and become clear as you move closer.
she "wallpapered" her apartment like this.
i promise i'll hunt down a picture.
you'll be amazed.
a framed, smaller version is more up my alley.

i need to reinterpret this myself.
i have a thing for inspirational prints and quotes.
and i think this would be perfect in a kid's room, especially as they grow into a teenager.
but unlike my other prints - i want to do something similar to this -
i'm thinking craft paper and oil pastels and freehand.

this is one print i made recently for luke.
i'm not quite done with it - but you get the idea.

2011-08-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

we're finally making some progress.
i've half-filled the kitchen up and pushed the rest of everything against the wall.

here's what there is of the homeschool room.
and bonus - here's our old table - with a facelift.
a very shiny, very green facelift.
AND I LOVE IT.

and coming back to the stuff covering my counter - ick.
we're still waiting for the plumbing to "figure itself out" -
as in, we're waiting for nick and joe to concoct some sort of way to make it all work before we have to call a plumber in.
on the upside, like my faucet?!

now, that's i've figure out that red, gray, black and white are the foundation colors for the main room,
the accents are going to have to start coming in -
in the form of pillows and doo-dads and art.
give me time, i want to think this one through.

though, i do know that while i'm going more neutral with pops of color in the living room -
the homeschool room will be all color with pops of neutrals.
sooo excited to see if it will all work out.

home and already back to work...

2011-08-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

on the road.

2011-08-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

we had a headache with the new countertops going in.

you know the kind -

you're-going-to-burst-a-blood-vessel-in-rage/frustration-until-they-come-back-and-do-it-right.

and you also know, or maybe not -

that while i can be firm,

i'll never be mean or even mean-ish.

(i'm really not into conflict and am pretty soft-spoken even when i'm angry)

it's not the language i speak.

and on the other end of the spectrum is nick's reaction.

which is -

we're tearing it all out with a crowbar tonight and hauling it over to his house and dumping it on his lawn and then taking a dump on it.

i'm not kidding.

nick's intuitive reaction to everyone is to one to spread fecal matter around in rage -

or light it on fire on the their doorstep.

he's never done it - but let's not see if he's willing to.

this is why we have a general contractor, hello shane.

because there needs to be a middle of the road way to communicate.

more than "okay, but i'm not really happy, but..."

and less of "take this flaming piece of poo and shove it where the sun don't..."

you get what i'm talking about.

moderation.

and shane has it and he made sure our countertop guy was back on day 2 (which was one day too many)

and fix all his mistakes.

and while we're not completely satisfied with the outcome -

but we're going to move in the shelves and see if how it all works out.

okay, i'm on the road and headed for the DI country, so will take pics as i can.

and i'll try to bribe nick into taking pics and posting the countertops for you'all.

wish us safety and good luck.

see you when i get back or get access to a computer.

sneak peek...

2011-08-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

the before

oh, wait.
here's the before-before.
(though there was another before - in that the huge closet that made the kitchen tiny had already been knocked out)

the after, kind-of
here we are so far this morning.

the buffet counter is in and backsplash going up.

and here is a close-up.
it's a bright white, teeny-tiny aggregate quartz.
love it.

more to come...

2011-08-17T06:34:00.001-07:00

countertops going in this morning.
hold your breath.
pics to come.

mystery cabinet #1...

2011-08-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

so, this is something much needed.
though, i was surprised at how tall it was once i built it.
a nice tall, but tall none-the-the-less

oh, look - they open and have partitions.
hmmm...
what could they be?

hip-hip-hooray!
it's a tall shoe cabinet.
we are in desperate need of this. this has always been the catch-all corner of the house -
including the basket fulls of shoes.
i decided i was sick of shoes piled and spilling out at my back door.

and bonus, the minute it was bolted to the wall,
i sent nick to bed and styled the crud out of it -
ONLY WITH WHAT I COULD FIND THAT WASN'T PACKED UP.

i'm not kidding.
i had a dark print of my favorite flower foto, dusty and fingerprinted next to my bed,
the ceramic duck that i sanded to paint and like the way it was sanded -
has been floating around the mantel since the remodel started.
and just inside my garage was this old flower print in the oval frame
(silly thrift store ladies put the tag on the picture and it ripped a piece of it off)
and sitting underneath the picture (in the garage)
was a little bag of thrift store brass items that i had planned on spray-painting.
but i've fall in love with their patina and texture.
so, brass they will stay - for now.
(i do have a disease, you know)

ps: thrift store items = $4

2011-08-15T07:38:00.001-07:00

okay, so here's the deal with design blogs and my sidebar links.
go to them, fall in love with them.
come back and follow them daily.
they are wonderful sources of inspiration and DIY-i-ness.

i've been passionate about design since i was barely into the double digits of life,
squirriling away my favorite issues of architectural digest -
falling in love with different magazines over the years -
from country living to elle decor and house beautiful and dwell.
(i told you - i have bipolar tastes)
anyhoo, then blogging came along and one of the most successful niches within the blogging world is that of design.
i love it.
i love that i don't subscribe to magazines anymore
(except for house beautiful, duh)
and i can find any and all sources of inspiration online.
i especially love that so many of these women are so original in their approach,
bringing their own spin to their business and homes.
so, start clicking/linking away and fall in love with them as well.
careful, it's addicting.

some of my favorites -
whatever (lifestyle blog as well, she has an addicting love of color)

ashleyannphotography (lifestlye as well, love her sense of voice and interpretation of sentimental)

designmom (original design blogger, mormon mommy, living in france, worship her)

mfamb (rated R warning, she's hysterical, but highly offensive, glamorous take on design)

chezlarsson (the first swedish design blog i fell in love with)

little green notebook (duh, she's the bomb, everyone loves her and she's started doing amazing DIY tutorials)

okay, i'll stop - go over and check them out.
check them all out, they're all amazing and i could say good things about all of them.

Weekend Yardsale Update.

2011-08-14T18:24:00.001-07:00

i bought something.
i'm a picky yard-saler, so this is rare.
but it was too good.

ignore the little girl in her pink dress.

focus on the 60's ice bucket instead.

check out all the kitschy-cool charm of this thing.
and it only cost me a buck.
plus, weirdly - it goes with the homeschool room colors so far -
which is good, in that it now houses some of our marker stash.
(yes, we have a thing for markers in this house)

just another peek at what is about to happen in the homeschool room.
it should be so amazing.
wish us luck - the table should be back by friday.
yay.

To Keep Me Honest This Next Week

2011-08-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

To Do:

fill grout voids in bathroom

seal bathroom grout, floor and wall

paint cut end of bathroom cabinet door

hang cabinet door

bathroom mat

chop and stain wood, attach hooks

hang hooks

cut and dry fit all trim

paint all trim - 2 coats

nail trim in

set all finish nails

caulk and putty all holes and voids

sand all trim and casing

touch up on trim and casing

trim around bookcase and fireplace

trim out kitchen cabinets

finish staining bathroom door

poly coat bathroom door - 2 coats and light sand

hang bathroom door

knobs for bathroom door

knobs for office doors

remove and paint back doors

(fill plugs)

re-affix magnetic strip

move the rest of flooring to ?

move kids into front office

move mattress and min. clothes over to kid's room

pack up rest of room and store

rip out shower, closet doors, bathroom vanity, mirror, toilet, tile

rip up carpet, trim, light fixtures

strip front door

prime with waterbase - no laquer based primer

homeschool room...

2011-08-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

well, since the homeschool room "closet" is full of flooring for the forseeable future,
i decided an expedit was in order.

now, if only i could get my table done, so i could move all the crappola out of the middle of the room...
life would get a lot easier around here.
that and paper trays.

don't judge, i haven't styled these at all -
nor done anything but mount them to the wall and fill up.
sadly, i have two more tubs of art supplies and books to come in.

but bonus, my scrapbooks fit in them perfectly,
which is tricky -
in that scrapbooks don't like to fit on any shelf, any where.

a sneak peak at stuff going on in the rest of the room...

finding the right piece....

2011-08-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

and since photography is so important to me,
i dug through some of my favorites -
and edited the bejeebies out of them.

this is still an all time favorite.
it frequently prints too dark and i've struggled to figure out what to do with it.
so, i recently brought the saturation down and washed it out a bit.

this is a for sure,
it gives me goosebumps.

i come from cattle people.
i spent countless hours of my childhood playing and working alongside my cousins and grandparents, aunts and uncles,
as we worked season after season of cattle.

i loved it.
i loved that cattle went hand in hand with my favorite part of being a multi-generational californian -
our weird passion for the rolling hills of grass heading out to the coast,
vivid and pale greens in the spring that turn to faded and mellow yellow waving in the hot summer breezes.

now i just have to decide between vivid pops of color (i have soooo many more versions of these)
or the washed out grays, linens and blacks.

i really am interested in feedback on this one.
unstretched canvases are 60% at winkflash until the end of the week.
i'm decided if i want to pull the trigger or not.
thoughts?

we're going to have to fake it for a while...

2011-08-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

work is starting on the back half of the house next week,
(i think, hope)
and i have to get us semi-functionally living here.
we're trying, we really are.
i'll keep you posted.
countertops would help.

2011-08-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

i designed the kitchen to specifically have a space for a large piece of art.
i've been struggling with what to put there.
i have lots of quirky, original options and have found some great resources for large pieces.

but then i saw this -
(sorry, don't know from where, pre-linking days)
and i knew exactly what picture i wanted to hang up.

ever since i took it and edited,
i still find it one of the most evocative pictures i've taken -
minus the ones in the new guinea and the dominican republic.
so until i can scan those and edit them,
you'll have to make do with imagining this hanging over my toaster.
any thoughts?

2011-08-05T23:23:00.000-07:00

it's been a busy couple of days with out-of-town guests
and lots and lots of work.
because i'm too tired to photograph any of it,
other than this couch and the new blinds finally going up -
i'll have to leave you guessing as to what else we got around too.
check back monday.

2011-08-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

Tulare Advanced Register

August 2, 2011

"The Planning Commission approved a first-of-its-kind project for Tulare: Using metal Seatrain containers for living space.

Two 8-by-40-foot containers will be used on the second level of a home at __________ as part of a residential renovation. According to the building plans, the containers will be connected side-to-side and placed on top of a proposed master suite addition to the first floor. An interior staircase will connect the two floors, according to the plans.

Michael Pinheiro requested the permit for Nick and Beckie Brown, the homeowners.

"They wanted to try something new," Tulare Senior Planner Rob Hunt. "Use converted containers as living space. I guess that's what they wanted to do."

Hunt said this is the first such request to come before the Planning Commission. The containers are typically used for storage at shops or construction sites.

Pinheiro said converted Seatrain containers have been used in renovation projects in Southern and Northern California cities. It's also environment-friendly construction as containers are given a new use.

"It'll have a new life as residential structure," he said.

Pinheiro said he hopes the cost of the containers and their shipping is cheaper than regular construction.

The renovation project came before the planning commission because the seatrain containers are consider roll off material, Pinheiro said.

Planning commission's support for the project was split, 4-3. The dissenting planners were concerned about the project's architectural fit in the neighborhood and how its corrugated metal look, Hunt said.

Pinheiro, who said he grew up in the neighborhood, said he contacted residents door-to-door and told them about the project, showing off a project model. The neighborhood is located east of Cherry Avenue School.

"No one hated it," Pinheiro said. "A lot of people were curious."

Pinheiro also said he hopes the use of seatrain containers for residential use catches on and other neighborhood residents consider using them in future renovation projects.

Along with the approval, the commission sat a 12-month deadline for the project's completion.

"That's not a problem," Pinheiro said. "We wanted to get the project done before the weather gets bad."

Okay, Michael came over in the morning to read the paper and was quoted saying, "I didn't say that!" and "I would never say that." (repeatedly). Also, I would have appreciated not having my address printed on the front page, but whatever - it's public information now.

Here are some of the responses on the paper's website -

"I have seen some seatrain container homes on the Web. They actually look pretty nice. I say go for it if it is significantly cheaper. Better yet if they are recycled containers."

"These sea trains because of the economy are called : Obama housing."

"The Tulare planning commission has now approved the use of corrugated metal storage containers as living space. Thats the bottom line. Bad idea! To make things worse they will be placed on top of an existing home for all to see. I have seen city officials give more scrutiny to the placement of metal storage containers in other parts of town that were actually intended to be used for "STORAGE" and screened. It is my understanding that they will not be camouflaged in any way that would make them more attractive. Just two big storage containers on a neighborhood roof. Lovely!"

"Not in MY back yard!"

"They will be painted bright red and have a green roof. That will really help them blend into the neighborhood."

This is my all time favorite -

"Seatrain Containers: Not just for hobos anymore!"

And this is my response (I couldn't help myself)

"Well, to be perfectly honest - this is our project, in our back yard. We have a huge lot and massive old growth trees. This will be a completely finished second story - not to be used as storage. It will barely be visible from the road. Between the designer, ourselves and our builders - this design was handled with extreme sensitivity to the neighborhood and to their reactions. But at the end of the day, the engineering is sound, it conforms to our laws and building code and the property is privately owned. And if everyone is offended by the look of corrugated metal, then everyone must be offended by the new library - same thing. As far as the aesthetic value of a home, who are we to judge mine, yours or the neighbor's down the street. We live in a town with extremely high poverty line and very little re-gentrification of our older neighborhoods. Fresh blood, fresh money and fresh ideas are what this town needs. I understand everyone's viewpoint, but rest assured - when this is done - this will be a beautiful home which will increase the property value of the homes around it. And when the city and the planning commission decide to figure out how to clean up the houses that are falling apart and falling down all over our town - then maybe we should all decide what our "aesthetic" should be. Until then, people bringing much need money and updates into this town is more important."

Thoughts? Feedback? And yes, I know our local paper employs deplorable writers.

Peace out.

2011-08-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

via 10 rooms

sometimes, something is so simple and so unique -
it works.
even the pink.

what we're building right now...

2011-08-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

via ohdeedoh
'

via kerry&Co

we have a homeschooling room that has to work really hard,
and yet look really neat and nice - considering it's very visible.
and to compound the issue,
the closet we're redoing in the room to hold a bunch of our supplies
is currently holding 1,000 sq ft of flooring.
so, the expedit will need to be the great, big workhorse that it is for the next few months.

i'm going to continue the whole white-on-white tone of the house right into the room,
but instead of grays and blacks and reds offset by pops of colorful accents,
i think this room should be colorful with pops of neutrals to accent it.

we'll see.

i'm staining our massive table turquoise this weekend.
we'll see if i'm a genius or a glutton for more painting-over-punishment.
wish me luck.

we have organization on the brain...

2011-08-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

we're moving up front for the rest of the remodel.
and since the goal of the whole thing was to live better, more efficiently and make better use of our stuff and space -
or get rid of it -
i've been collecting images for years off the web
(sorry not to be able to reference any of these, pre blog days)
it's almost overwhelming how many ideas there are.

here's a few.

things that have to be accessible or displayed in kitchen -
my insane spice collection
my le creuset collection
my professional kitchen aid mixer
knives
paper towels (no interesting way to do this)
kitchen towels (still can't beat my basket method)
fruit/potatoes/onions/citrus "collections"

things that have to be hidden in kitchen -
post and pans
baking supplies
baking dishes
cuisinart
all the cuisinart crap
rice maker
waffle maker
snacks
the list goes on and on

living room storage -
extra blankets/pillows
toys
kid's art
musical instruments
books/magazines
clickers

homeschool room -
you'll just have to wait and find out...

my to do list for today.

2011-08-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

check back in later.
i'll post updates and changes.
in my underwear.
not.
maybe.
but not.
(but yes).

we have this toy problem in our house...

2011-08-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

yeah, i know.
we're weirdly unique that way.
no one else in this strangely toy-centric country,
has ever found themselves collapsing under a heap of lead laced plastic components that our children use for entertainment and imagination play.

so we decided to reign in the beast that is our toy collection.
it started with an ikea expedit tower.
we just turned it on its side -

and added casters.

which will be very helpful indeed,
as we roll it from place to place until we figure out where it belongs -
if it will ever have a permanent home at all.
which makes it cool - the rolling around part.

ignore the lack of baseboard and tv cabels -
we're working on it.

i chose these baskets so that we can have another textural layer to the room.
we bought one too few -
so we filled one cubby with books.

and the baskets are huge and fit soooo many toys.
our entire stash of blocks fits in one.
(those would be the blocks i played with as a kid - thanks aunt missie)

and the kids have already figured out how handy the whole toy station is.
what's your thoughts?
how do you wrangle your toys?
i'd love ideas.

we have lots more toys in storage.
and we're not even lots-of-toy-people.
sigh.

onto the next stage...

2011-08-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

okay, while i've posted a lot of updates about all our work on the front of the house,
most of the dramatic changes are yet to come.
and because of the dramatic nature of the addition,
we had to go before the planning commission and let them decide the fate of our "container home".

it was a bit of a nail biter.
there were a few weirdos that didn't seem to get the whole "personal property/personal aesthetic" concept.
pinko-commies (just kidding, but not)

there's a reason tulare struggles to find the right tone in their growth and redevelopment.
they want to stay stuck in the past,
and yet want to grow to have the same success as visalia
(a neighboring town with an excellent idea of who they are)

it was an exciting night.
we wish we could have snuck a video camera in for you guys,
you would have enjoyed it.
and while i knew they would probably let us build it,
i was certain that we were going to have to cover it in stucco (ick) -
or at the very least, stick some mediterranean/tudor details on it for good old chuck.
but alas, no. it all went in our favor.
it's actually more satisfying to have to fight for something you're passionate about -
(i was fighting on the inside while michael and shane were being all diplomatic and courteous on the outside)
it makes you realize how much you want it -
and how freakin' cool it is.

and for those of you who never got to see the final design,
here's a peak.

i have lots and lots more to post as we get underway on the next phase,
but for now, enjoy.

i love it.
it makes me soooo happy.
and if only we had a ten foot hedge between our neighbor's and our yard.
sigh.

what you do when you need a break from laying floors and sanding doors...

2011-07-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

i was going to post these tomorrow, but jj was the first to "beg" and she's breastfeeding...

2011-07-31T19:16:00.001-07:00

and since breastfeeders with chronic sore nipples win every time, here goes.
(she's blogged about it enough to not cringe in shame when she reads this)
aren't i a good sis-in-law?
not.
a good sister-in-law would have bought stock in lanisoh
and then presented the stock certificates to her at the baby blessing.
until i'm that good of a sister,
pictures of my couch will have to suffice

ps: jj is allowed to call me in the morning and demand removal of post before i link over to facebook. or just comment. i've grown insecure since i posted this. let me know. and yes, leila is filling out beautifully - i love the pic of her little thighs.

hi-ho-hi-ho-it-off-to-ikea-we-go...

2011-07-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

and we may never recover.
4+ hours to get there (redonkulous)

1 hour spent fighting the manager over the cabinet that never made it in the original order.
he kept repeating the phrase "i have a customer who claims that she...".
i may have pictured bashing his head in repeatedly.

1 hour in smalland and we picked the kids up
so they could joyfully spend four more hours with us in ikea.
they were angels - no, seriously.
they went a little weird around 9:30 and their second round of "ikea food".
i think it was the toxins.
(i'm assuming any meat product sold that cheap is full of toxins)
(except for costco hot dogs - those are the bomb!)

our trip home was as cursed as our trip there.
the kids took the new pillows and cuddled up.
six hours and one by-the-side-of-the-road-family-nap later -
and we finally arrived home.

and proceeded to set up our new couch.
(cause the planning comission is voting tomorrow and we need to actually live here if our builder is going to tear into our house as fast as he's threatened to do)
you don't know how good this couch makes me feel.
i folded laundry on it last night.
it's been months since i covered a couch in neatly folded piles of laundry.
i was so giddy, i even folded my underwear.

okay, wish us luck.
we live in a small town.
shipping containers for a second floor is strange even in a big town.
we need every finger crossed.
and toes.
bye for now.
bb.

ps: you're going to have to bed real nice to get pictures of the couch.
start begging.
now.

you won't be disappointed.

2011-07-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

me and my doors,
we've got some issues.

some deeply distressing issues,
involving a water stain, power sander, nails, plyers, hammers, screwdrivers and a lot of impotent anger on my part.

curse.
sigh.

2011-07-26T20:54:00.000-07:00

quartz is freakishly expensive.
but it's freakishly solid as well.
and i think i've whittled homedepot down to the price of granite -
(almost, give me another week and a new biz quarter and it's a new game)

so, the sparkly one is not nearly as amazing as "cloud white" over at lowes,
and resembles corian too much -
WHICH IS NOT saying that corian is a bad thing -
but when you're upgrading your kitchen and putting in $80 a sq. foot countertop -
you kind of want it to advertise itself - not a lower priced, not heat resistant, not anti-microbial surface.
speaking of $80 a sq. foot -
DON'T PAY IT.
negotiate. everyone is blustering and fronting like they don't need the sell -
THEY DO.
even in good financial times -
NEGOTIATE.
i'm not a big bartering sort of person,
but with the big box stores - go big and go brutal.
i've never once had them not cave.
start with a minimum of 10% and the ultimate goal is 20%.
good luck.

this is nick's favorite.
it was my favorite once upon a time.
but no more.

this is my new favorite.
i love it.
nick, not so much.

but the more white, the more closely we stick to my vision -
which, i've learned, seems to be panning out better than i thought.
what's your thoughts -
i'm curious about everyone's personal preferences.
the tricky part is - they're both gorgeous.
you should see them in person -
subtle, slight matte finish, minimal variation, beautiful coloring.

so pretty.
thoughts?

read my disclaimer!

2011-07-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

MY DISCLAIMER:

so as not to offend,
when i make comments on things -
don't assume i would come into your house and make the same comments.
on this blog - i'm commenting on my own style and my own OCD issues with detail
(everyone one is a bit OCD - just about different stuff)
so, short of your house looking like a pig's been rooting around in it and smells like it laid down and died -
i just love everyone's own style.
i especially love going into someone's house
and it feels JUST LIKE their personality.
so, that's my disclaimer -
when i rant about stuff,
it's only about my house, what i would or would not like in my house.
are we cool? everyone get it?
remember that i'm the least judgmental person when it comes to personal choices?
cool, moving on.

Over the Fridge Cabinets.
I have a real issue when builders don't build them right.
and rather, build them to counter depth -
you know, assuming that we all have an extra 3,000 laying around to pay for counter depth fridges.
hah.

my issue for my house is that our kitchen is open to our living space -
everything is exposed
and everything is white.

but of course, our fridge is big and silver and bonus -
BLACK on the sides.
(why do they build them like this? it makes no sense)

and while most of these kitchens are beautiful, there's just this hint of awkwardness around the fridges.
some don't quite fit, some have very shallow upper cabinets (12 inches on some)
or too much space around the fridge.

and since we doing this from scratch and not moving into a new house
(curse, sigh)
i decided to put my foot down this week and go with my gut.

see, our over the fridge cabinets
(these, in white)
are six inches short and my beautiful stainless fridge would have been showing her petticoats.

and i want her to look like this.

or this - pretty, yes?
and the sliver of black that does show - nothing compared to six inches.
and bonus - you can open the door when the sliver shows.
so, check her out
(she's still covered in plastic and missing a door - but you get the idea)
oh, and thanks joe and nick for not putting up too much of a fight
and doing all the hard work.
much appreciated.

so, thoughts?
what are you OCD about?
would this have been a fight you were willing to pick with your husband and father-in-law?
either way, i'm happy.

i can't wait to get to the point where we can step back and clean up all the tools (for now)
and style everything all pretty and at least give you guys and idea of what we're going for.
until then, put up with our mess.
we're getting there.

ps: anyone else have family and friends that love to tell you everything they don't like about your house?
weird, huh?
i don't think i've ever gone into a person's house and criticized it.
i'm big into the whole concept of building people up.
and if they don't like the whole picture/wouldn't do it themselves -
why don't they realize it's not their house and shut their pie-hole.
i know, a little strong.
but seriously!
also, i love opinions when i solicit them
and if you disagree with me, it's actually a good thing -
because sometimes you're right and i'm wrong -
or i have to challenge myself and figure out why i made that choice to begin with.
okay, ranting over.
have a good one.

so, i told you i was bi-polar when it came to design...

2011-07-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

but if i had to pick on aesthetic that is speaking to me at this particular moment,
it would be amber from
amberinteriordesign
(click to go to her page)
check her out:

she has created the light open feel that we want.
and i'm all about digging up old kilim rugs and suzannis and that sky poster she created -
to die for.

so, while i won't be copying her,
i definitely keep harkening back to these rooms when i feel like i'm getting lost in my head -
and can't figure out what to do
(or rather, what to do on a budget)

anyhoo, countertops narrowed down to two -
wanna see them?
i'll post as soon as there's enough light to get good pics.
have a good one.
peace out, bb.