Something for the Road

Better Use of a Small Space

We have a strange closet in the girls’ room.  It’s not quite big enough for a standard walk-in closet with hangers, but it was highly under-utilized.  It has been pestering me since we moved in.  Last month I got a little, “a-ha!”

It is a work in progress, but so much better.  Craft and Sewing Storage.
I see matching containers and a neat rug and wall-to-wall storage in the future.  Can’t wait.
In the meantime, a dresser, stainless steel racks, and rods for wrapping paper make it much more practicle.

My favorite thing so far . . . the Robin’s Egg Blue Porch and Floor Paint.  I spent 3 days painting the walls and floor of this room and the girls camped out in the Rec Room, but it was totally worth it.

Digging In

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m not afraid of hard work or of getting dirty.  I think my weaknesses lie in the fact that I dig in a little before thinking it through, sometimes.  I have also been overheard saying that I could clean my house all day, but once I’m in the yard, I’m at a complete loss.  My luxury expenditure in life would be a Yard Guy.  I really love a beautiful yard, but I lack the nurturing that it takes to get it lush and beautiful.

I have (had) two boxwoods in the front.  They used to look nice – before I moved in.  But now they are snow-beaten and parts of them are dying.  Every time I came home, I tried really hard not to look at them.  But, when the kids and I spent some time in the yard on Saturday, I just knew they needed to come out.

That poor little boxwood didn’t even know what hit him.  I just couldn’t wait – I didn’t think it through.  I don’t know what I’ll replace them with, I just knew it had to come out.

It is sad, isn’t it?  Poor thing.  Now, for the other one . . . . So, what to put in it’s place?

Peonies?

Hydrangeas?

More Lavender?

Help!  Where’s my Yard Guy when I need him?

Buzz Word: Modern Farmhouse

Apartment Therapy defines Modern Farmhouse as one part Scandinavian (with simple lines, smooth finishes) and one part French farmhouse (with rougher woods, blockier, chunkier legs). It's got the comfy homey look we can actually live with mixed with some of the modern look of what we strive for (but isn't always so practical).

Found on this design site.

Another great home tour by Apartment Therapy.  This one is in Rhode Island.

I’m digging West Elm’s Modern Farm Collection.

This home tour shows how simple design, even a little sparse is timeless and elegant.

I am in love with this kitchen.  I love the architectural details and simplicity.

You’ve got to see this one.  Ruins in Scotland.  Sounds so romantic . . .

Modern Farm Furniture Company.  Simple and easy.

I’m totally in love with this architecture.  I love the setting and the clean lines with old materials.

 

Modern and Rustic living by DiGueseppe Architect

 

 

This is the kind of modern that I really like.  Clean, but warm.

 

Buzz Word: Vintage Modern

  I have been hearing a lot about Vintage Modern Style.  It shows up in clothing, furniture, and my favorite – homes.  So, I decided to do a little research.  I typed in Vintage Modern and came up with these juicy tidbits . . . .

I found this on Pinterest.  Don’t you love Pinterest?

Apartment Therapy’s home tour of this vintage modern abode.  I’m liking it.

 

Pinstriped Pintucked Tunic from Sundance.

Another great top from Sundance.

Goodform Aluminum Chairs.

Furniture collection from reGeneration.

There’s something about this desk.  Can I go back to school?  Found on Etsy.

Emily Chalmers is a stylist who has a shop and has written a book all about decorating Vintage Modern.

Here’s a great article all about the Vintage Modern Kitchen.

The colors contrast so well with the white walls in this space.  And the rest of the home is just the same.

I’m thinking I really like this Vintage Modern Style.

Garden Follow-Up

Boxes are built and grids are tied.

My assistant made some great markers.

Look, she’s following the book.  Good girl.

How many seeds should I stick in this square?

The plants look good and the seeds are somewhere in there.

The Garden was finally planted on June 18th.  Doesn’t that seem late?

Here’s what it looks like July 6, 2011.

It’s coming right along.  Only the herbs from seeds aren’t coming up.

Look at the fingerling potatoes and squash.

It’s looking great.  Love the radishes and corn.

I can’t wait for the harvest.  Hooray.

Succulent Succulents

I love succulents.  They are the one thing that I can grow – probably because they don’t require much water.  They are simple and elegant and beautiful, in a low-maintenance sort of way.

Hey, is that kind of like me? 

This little beauty sits behind my kitchen sink.
It came from my favorite nursery.

Just recently, I discovered these adorable growths next to my front walkway.

This DIY Wreath is stunning, isn’t it?

Intriguing Etsy Shop where all plants are made from fabric.
I couldn’t kill that!

I’ve had my eye on this collection for a while.

This Container Succulent Garden is luscious.

I love this idea.

Another wall garden.  PDF instructions here.

This one is amazing.  Look how great it is on that red wall!

More Amazing.

Succulent favors.  Cuddly.

Very cool planter idea.

If  you haven’t tried succulents before, you really should.  If I can grow them, anyone can.

A Little Change Goes a Long Way

I made a little commitment to myself.  Home improvement projects will be on hold this summer.  I will enjoy my summer with my children.  For the most part, there will be no painting, no re-constructing, and no major changes.  I decided this a couple of weeks ago.  Then, last week I realized the kids would be home in a week.  Hmmm, just enough time for one more small project.

Kind of plain and uninspiring.  I’m not a fan of the generic metal door or the 2-story entry or the gaudy chandelier, or the white tile floor.

Punch!  I like it.  Much better, and super cheap – I had the paint.

Benjamin Moore’s Caribbean Teal

Project: Square Foot Garden Boxes

I have wanted a garden for a long, long, time.  I tried every year in Sandpoint, but the same features which are benefits to living on a 100-year old town lot are also big negatives.  Our yard was lush and shaded and it kept the house cool, but it was impossible to grow anything besides a few tomatoes in containers on the deck. 

Our new yard is very established and manicured, but there were a few beds by the house in the backyard which were empty.  So, naturally, I was excited to fill them with something.  I am a big fan of the theory behind square foot gardening and when my Sandpoint friend tried it in her yard, I was convinced I wanted to do the same. 

So, I bought the book.

It’s not a large space, but for Square Foot Gardening, it’s perfect.  One 6 ft x 3 ft plus another 3 foot x 3 foot should do on this side. 

Mike was pretty set on vinyl.  I liked the idea of using vinyl fencing for our boxes, but the cost was scaring me.  We figured it would be over $200 just for 3 boxes.  So, I’m really proud of myself.  Can I say that again?  I’m really proud of myself.  I called a local fencing company and told him what I was doing and asked for suggestions.  He suggested that I come dig around in his “yard.”  When I got there, he took me to his “recycling” and unusable pile and asked if anything would work.  I found enough materials to build two 6 ft x 3 ft boxes and one 3 ft x 3 ft box.  That’s 45 square feet of square foot gardening!  The best part is that he gave me all of the material for free and only charged me the labor to cut and notch the vinyl.  The cost was 1/4 what we thought it would be.

After leveling the ground (yes, I used a level), it pretty much involved putting together the corner posts, rails, and caps – kind of like a puzzle.  I like this kind of construction.

Don’t they look great?

Mike is concentrating hard on his buffalo wings.  I have to say that although he was more attentive to the wings than the garden, it was ok with me (later) when I ate those wings.  Yum.

The girls put another 6 ft x 3 ft box on the other side.

I have to say this was the hardest part, but the most fun.  The author of the book has a special mix for the boxes.  You basically dump everything:  compost, vermiculite and peat moss, on a large tarp and fold it over on itself and mix it up.  All six of us got involved.  I love my family.

Don’t they look great?  Next, we need the square foot grids, some seeds, and probably some supports for our vine plants.

I have to say, this makes me really excited.

Once and For All Chair Appraisal

Mom got wind of the Custer’s Antique Show at the Fairgrounds in Spokane a couple of weekends ago.  The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture was conducting appraisals that day for a small fee of $5.00.  So, we decided to get to the bottom of the elusive chair – once and for all.

It is a very pretty chair.  But is it worth anything?

Mom, Gabi and I stood in line with many other hopefuls.

 

Gabi does look hopeful, doesn’t she?

There’s the official sign.  I feel like I’m on PBS’s Antique Roadshow.

I wish you could see my face when I was given the news.
It seems the Antique Furniture market is in the toilet. 
That’s no surprise.
It also seems that my chair is not worth more than a few hundred dollars – I guess I won’t be getting new hardwood flooring with the proceeds of the sale.  Although it is beautiful and it is from the 1800’s, it is too unique.  I know, strange.  It can’t even be defined as a certain style.

But it is a beautiful chair.

Home Tour: Nora’s Room

I love how this room turned out.  I wish I had a wide-angle lens, attached to an SLR Camera, so that I could do this room justice.  This was Nora’s big birthday present.

I love how the window seat turned out.  2 of the pillows were birthday presents from Grandma and Grandpa.

 

The bookshelf was made by Mike’s brother, patterned after the Pottery Barn version.  I have always loved that.  The chandelier is from IKEA and it was a special request.  It really helps make the room.

Nora’s reaction was priceless.  She rolled around all over – especially in the window seat.  She kept yelling “thank you, thank you,” and then she said, “the kids are going to be so jealous!”

A perfect little hideout for a fun little girl.