mini kitchen remodel

 

so we have been hard at work trying to make out new house a home, just getting things to FEEL like us is hard enough. we painted the house, hung pictures and found a place for our "stuff'.. that itself is a stressful chore..

the kitchen is the heart of the home and we really wanted to make it bright and white and on a budget we did it ourselves, well, damian did.. most of it.

we took inspiration from pinterest, houzz and of course picking the brains of all my stylish girlfriends..

here is what it looked like before.

 

we tore down all the upper cabinets and all but 2 people told me i was crazy and i actually thought i was too for a minute when damian actually started ripping the door off..

6 useful cabinets of storage..

poof! 

GONE!

 

the one cabinet above the fridge i actually wanted to keep but.. it came off when damian removed the one next to it.. so.

we went with it..

yep. we will take that one down too.

why.

not?

we tiled up the wall.. allllll the way up the wall..and on alllll three sides..

the hardest part was removing the 8" black splash of granite.. that was a whole day.. yes. 1 whole day.

 

it is a bit tricky to get the pattern down.. and all the cutting! all the light sockets.. geesh!!

but.

i just LOVE the look of subway tile.. so clean and fresh..

 

we took down the drop ceiling light boxes and had some pocket lights installed.. it lifted the ceiling and made it SOOO much brighter...

 

we had all the bottom cabinets painted white and put new clean modern hardware on..

found it all home depot.. nothing too fancy.

 

repainted the ceiling a fresh coat of white..

 

hubby worked late after work every night for a week.. his hands were raw and he was so exhausted..

looking back it was quite a stressful task we took on but to tell you the truth.. 

we over simplify everything..

i mean we really do..

we usually jump into things and go..

"oh wait! this is sort of a big deal!"

it always works out and i love that about us..

remember our camping adventures?

prime example, bought a pop up trailer and went camping having no idea AT ALL what we were doing..

but we figured it out and it is what we look forward to every summer..

sometimes you just gotta JUMP! and the net will appear..

have you heard that saying?

i love it..

 so here it is the after photo.. 

a sweet friend bought me an air plant and glass bubble for christmas and i am obsessed! i went to buy 2 more because i love it so much! they were the perfect addition to our new kitchen! hanging in this corner they are just perfect!

{thanks nicole!} 

a BIG tip i learned.. adding some plants, my oils on the counter, cookbooks, etc.. made a HUGE difference it making the space feel lived in and not too stark white or just being non functional.. who would of thought i would ever say too white.. right?

for that great question..

 "where is all your stuff?"

{additional photo added}

so here is where we store all of our dishes, everything we need to serve our meals is here, i love the restaurant feel of having the dishes out there and stacked up..  we have a couple more wood salad bowls that i just pile inside of the one you see here, something about a kitchen feeling used but organized.. it just feels great! all over flow of platters, big bowls, pitchers etc are in the garage in bins and labeled for the one time a year i may actually use them :)

diy vintage rope swing..

so i had an idea to make a swing.. 

 i was inspired by a location with gorgeous trees.. combine that with an engagement shoot.. 

and off to home depot i went..

it was very simple.. i had mixed reactions as usual.. how would you hang it? me. the QUEEN of over simplifying.. i will just wrap it? i wasn't quite sure but.. it worked out..

 once i get something in my head.. 

i jump in.. usually ill prepared and very impatiently.. but i manage.. somehow?

so i bought 3/8 inch manilla rope from home depot {it came in a bag.. really? how much easier can it get?}  and i also bought a  long piece of pine.. and had it cut.. home depot cut it for me right on the spot..
i choose 24 inches.. you could do whatever..

i love home depot.. the lady that helped me was martha.. 

she was SO helpful..

she was so excited for me and my swing..

i just love the look of natural rope..

so.. the bag says 122 lb weight limit but you are doing two ropes total so is it actually a 244 lb weight limit..

so first thing..
 i measured 1 inch in from both ends of the wood then i marked the exact center.. 

with a 3/8 inch drill bit, hubby drilled the holes to string the rope through..

{in his pj's and all.. it was a sunday morning project}

i wrapped tape around the ends of the rope to prevent fraying.. and slid the rope through the holes..

flip over the wood and tie a knot reaaaaal tight..

i thought the swing needed some whimsy..

i cut 1 inch strips of vintage fabric to tie to the rope..

i have a ton of fabric my grandma gave me years ago and i love it..

here is a little secret.. if you cut into fabric.. you can then tear it when making strips and it will rip perfectly straight..

no lie.

promise!

it is seriously so fun.. 

i simply tied the long strips of fabric all the way up the rope..

and there she is.. all ready to go..

here is the fabulous couple who i got to shoot swinging in the trees..

it was SO amazing..

lately.. i can't say no to sparkle.

i have seen a few versions of fabulous glitter boots in magazines and on blogs..

i loooove them

i saw this photo and the search began.. only to find..

these here are $890

and these here  are $590

so as stubborn as i am..

i bought a pair of tan suede booties and decided to "make them myself"..

insert eye roll here..

well.

i love love love loved the "pretty suede with perfect wood heel go with anything in my closet looking boot".. i almost don't take the plunge...

i have had the glitter and goodies for a couple weeks..

but. 

finally..

i went for it..

and i am in love.

here is step by step..

sparkle makes everything better.
don't you think?

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Nate Berkus?

so you all have seen my headboard, right..

 i blogged about it here, here and here..

you were sick of hearing about it i talked about it so much..

if there was a fire.. you would see be trying to shove this mamma jamma out the door...

well..

i am so honored to say..

you can see it right HERE too..

yes, the nate berkus website has my little DIY featured..

o.m.g.

i about peed my pants when i saw it..

seriously.

inspiration can get the best of me.

my new office wall..

it was the hardest thing i have ever done..

i cried..

i sweated..

i whined more than i would like to admit..

then.

i cried again..

i painted over the ENTIRE wall..

yes.

but being the stubborn girl that i am..

i went for it again..

thanks GOODNESS third time is NOT a charm.. 

second time is..

happy friday friends!

a chair do-over..

these u.g.l.y. chairs i bought off craigslist for $40..

there were 3 more for a total of 6.

yes. that is less than $7 a chair..

good bones. i knew they had potential.

i sprayed them with a high gloss white paint..

i bought some amazing fabric from spoonflower..

they have great modern and fresh prints..

i do not have a fancy technique or secret to tell you about reupholstering but to pull the fabric tight and the more staples the better..

i bought a staple gun for $20 at home depot and it is the best money ever spent..

seriously.

you need one.

the corners could be tricky but just fold them like when you're wrapping a gift and remember staple staple and then.. staple once more..

nice and smooth..

try to line up your print..

i did say {try}..

there she is..

i can not tell you how much a print does for a space..

i love print and have tried to "keep it simple" with solid accents..

then i always go back to a print and feel that everything is just right again..

so my advice..

go for print..

 ...

hex bracelet update

so as you may know..

i have been selling these hex bracelets..

i had a client buy one off my wrist and have been selling them ever since..

they are fabulous gifts..

for you.. or a friend..

i hooked up with a company and got a great deal on a large quantity of hex nuts so my pricing is now a bit lower at $20 for a single strand and $30 for 2 strands {as shown in photo}..

i am also offering a free shipping discount to all you lovely readers.. 

so stock up ladies {and boy?}..

i have a paypal button on the left sidebar all set up for you..

i am all about ease and simplicity..

{i'm trying anyway}

so enjoy..

and thank you..

mucho.

xx-

f

day 21 {paper} and day 22 {hippy chow}

day 22 {hippy chow}

that is what we call it.. we ate it in hawaii years ago and has been a staple ever since..

brown rice..onion, carrot, zucchini, bell pepper sauteed with teriyaki sauce and a fried egg on top..

so good.

r

{paper}

a dear friend of mine is expecting her 3rd little boy..

i made her about 25 of these paper airplanes out of new york city maps..

her and her hubby lived there before starting a family years ago...

i thought they were cute for baby jude and meaningful for the couple...

art.

i have been wanting to do a gigantic piece of colored, splattered, sprayed, crazy art for a LONG time.. 

finally.. 

i did it..
with a little helper..

she just does NOT like the camera...
i gave her an old canvas that was in their room to do with what she wants..
we put on some music and painted away...
it was such a special day for me.
i just loved how into it she was..

this picture makes my heart sing...

little chloe splattering..
she was going crazy.
it was in her hair..
all over her feet..
for once, she was ok with getting a bit dirty..

 she got this technique down quick..
who knew a 96 cent spray bottle could be so much fun...
really, if you want to something to entertain your kids for HOURS..
i am not kidding, a spray bottle with water.
outside.
they get very creative and think it is greatest thing ever!

here is my final project..

i haven't painted since art class in college and it felt fabulous..

i loved every second.

i mean, it's no pollock {by ANY stretch}

but it's mine and very special that chloe and i had this day together..

                  makena was so impressed when she came home and saw it.. she was hilarious...

she kept saying..
"mommy.. you are a really good artist.. i mean REALLY REALLY good.."
ahh..unconditional love.
mom can do no wrong.
enjoy it now.
{i am going to enjoy every second of that glory before i am having to drop her off on the corner so she can walk the rest of the way to school..}
 

the weekend

do you see this mirrored table??

i scored it at a garage sale i spotted on our way back from donuts

 {yumm} 

on saturday for $25..

i was literally doing cartwheels to the car..

and that is a fabric covered peg board i threw in for $2..

who ever said donuts are bad for you?

they are wrong.

we are painting rocks for our garden..

i am in love with yellow right now..

finished up some more of these and those..

ohh! more yellow..

i sprayed this mirror yellow and i heart it!!

pizza party..

beatles birthday party..

i love how they are always game for anything..

little chloe graduated to a big girl bed..

she is sooo thrilled about it..

we are really into drinking our milk out of fancy teacups..

have you tried it?

you should..

it is delightful..

:)