Remember when I posted about not being able to decided between the color for the Tord Boontje garland?
I finally decided.
Category Archives: Design
Random Geometry
I have been contemplating what I want to do with the wall behind my scrap table and Lack bookcase. If I were rich, I would put Anthropologie’s Vanuatu Twilight Wallpaper. If I were richer, I would put up Nama Rococo’s Random Geometry Wallpaper. But alas, I can have neither because of the price.
So this has led me to improvise and rely on my mad painting skills. I am a painter, an amateur, but I’m not half bad at what I choose to paint. I am thinking about actually hand painting (in pink or maybe black) some geometric patterns on the wall. I am really craving a black wall somewhere in the house, but not sure that the craft area is the place for it. I’m thinking white with pink geometric shapes and maybe some pretty birdies would be fun, colorful and intriguing.
I cannot seem to find any good examples of people hand painting some wallpaper. There are a lot of great graffiti photos out there though! Anyone out there every hand painted wallpaper? I don’t mean stenciling. I mean a repeating pattern that looks (from afar) as if it’s wallpaper that has been adhered to the wall? I’m thinking about tackling this project this week!
craft area :: the plan
The “craft area” is really just a small corner in our FROG (finished room over the garage). Basically, when we moved in, the cabinets provided a great place to store all my DIY crafts and scrapbook stuff. I have lots of it. My first thought when we moved in was “Yay! An already built in craft area! HOW AWESOME!” I giddily started to unpack my junk when I quickly realized that this set up was a| not going to work b| not really inspiring. There weren’t enough shelves. The cabinet doors didn’t provide me with quick access to my supplies. The counter top was nice, but nothing else was really working out. I went into design mode right away.
Since this area is also sharing a room with a “den” and office work space, I wanted someway to close it off and easily block off the mess when friends came over. My idea was to install a curtain rod system on the ceiling so that in times of need, I could just close the curtains around the area and VOILA! No mess and pretty curtains! I also needed a good table space. Something large and study as well as plenty of storage, preferably open storage so I could easily see what I was looking for. Here is what I have decided to start with in the space ::
1 | It all started with the Circle of Life brackets(no longer available online) from Urban Outfitters. On sale for $5.00 a pop, marked fron from $20. Alas, I knew I had some open shelving brackets already. Point. Click. Ordered.
2 | Ikea supplies already cut and ready to install wood planks for shelving. All I had to do was measure and purchase on my next trip.
3 | Lack Bookcase from Ikea gives me a lot more sturdy open shelving. I wanted a pink one, but I will have to settle for blue.
4 | I wanted to recycle my old craft table by giving it a face list with the purple and black paint colors.
5 | A handy little work lamp to place on my newly painted table for those long nights crafting.
6 | Baskets and Boxes to help store away supplies and make the shelving not so overwhelming.
7 | Tundra laminate flooring from Ikea. This will end up going in the whole upstairs and eventually downstairs, but I wanted to buy enough to at least get the craft area ready for some furniture.
5 | Vanuatu Twilight Wallpaper from Anthropologie is really just a pipe dream right now. Way out of my price range, but it would be oh so pretty on the wall behind the table, bookcase and shelves. Anyone have a good resources for a cheaper version?
First things first. Remove the built in cabinets, prime the walls, make a trip to Ikea and install the flooring. I’m gonna be busy.
Bench it
I’ve been stalking George Nelson benches on eBay recently. I really think it would be be perfect fit for a little semi-alcove in the entrance way, where we could pile up all our things as soon as we walk in the door. We could keep purses and wallets on top and shoes underneath.
There are a lot of reproductions out there. I am fond of the ash colored wood pictured. Prices are ranging (for a 5 foot bench) anywhere from $189 – $800. That’s a pretty big gap. I can buy a Herman Miller approved bench, but I won’t be able to afford food for the next month either. So here’s my question: Are the reproduction any good, and if so, which ones are good? I’m sure there are some cheap repros and I would like one for a good price that doesn’t look like it came from Wal-Mart. Any advice?
Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar
Can. Not. Wait. For this to become available! The Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Rohrer 2010 Calendar.
Nook TeePee
I purchased a tiny bistro style aluminum dining table and 2 chairs a while ago for our breakfast nook. Alas it is just too small for the space. It looks all swallowed up by the bay window, so I needed to find a replacement. Hello CB2! The Teepee table is almost perfect for the space and very good for my wallet!
This is the space it will be occupying :: {please excuse the mess + wall color + lighting fixture, we have only lived in the house for 3 weeks+! Still a mess!}
The bistro set is super cute and the chairs are really comfy. I got it for $99 at TJ Maxx in Columbia before we moved into the house. Might have to find a place for it upstairs in the office for some business-like coffee talkin.
Ordered.
Filed under Design, Living Room
Literally just clicked the order confirmation button! It will be going on one wall in the living room. Can’t wait! So exciting!
Master Bed
I have grand plans for our master bedroom. I had grand dreams of owning one of these beautiful beds ::
Alas, it would take a lot of weeks to save up for one of these fabulous Anthropologie beds. So then I thought I would go the cheaper route ::
![ikea bed[5]](http://www.aroaringhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ikea-bed5-300x273.png "ikea bed[5]")
These beds from Ikea are great and affordable, but I still really don’t have the money to spend on a new peice of furniture for the bedroom. I need a dining room table and a couch first. So I’ve decided to do this ::
Mattress + box spring on the floor. Sans headboard. Now I just need to figure out how to keep the dogs off the white bed linens when we are not around…hmm..
Torn between Tord
Filed under Design
I have already told Jason that a Tord Boontje Garland chandelier is what I want for my 27th birthday in December. After seeing Anna’s light, over at Door 16, I fell in love and knew just the place to put it. The entrance way by the front door, where you can also see it up close when your at the top of the stairs.
But I’m torn. I love the graphic look of the black, but think the brass may bring more of a shine and brilliance to the space than the more dramatic black.
I plan on installing it with a School House Electric Lewis pendant, per Anna’s suggestion as well. What’s your opinion? I’ll post photos of the planned placement soon.