jen and chad's place: living room unveil.

After many, many, MANY months of putting this off, I finally took some photos of Jen and Chad's new living room. And, after many, many, MANY deep breaths, I finally used my new scary big camera to take them (more on that later but THANK YOU, Michelle). Wow, I am all about the caps today.

Anyway, let's start with the primary focal point: the fireplace.

With Jen moving into Chad's bachelor pad, we needed to find ways to make the space feel like their home, not just Chad's. You can find all posts about it here. To do this, we added some of Jen's style while keeping the room's color palette gender neutral for Chad.

The fireplace wall was painted a dark gray and stenciled to add some depth and visual interest. We replaced the mantel with a modern floating shelf and kept the accessories simple so as not to compete with the pattern. A lamp and planter were added to anchor the wall and stone tiles were affixed to the hearth to add texture.

Next up: the TV wall

We found this small, retro console at a thrift store ($50!!!!) after hunting for what seemed like an eternity. It was stripped, stained and sealed in a darker hue to stand apart from the light bamboo flooring. A small collection of clay pots were used to draw attention away from some of the electronics and highlight the grain of the console. The TV is Chad's and was already in place before Jen moved in. To balance, we moved the square seat next to the console and added a boxy bookcase arrangement (hi, Penny!).

Small pieces of wood were added to the backs of old frames, creating shelves for additional storage. We arranged the framed shelves in an asymmetrical arrangement to keep the space looking casual. From there, we used books and small trinkets to fill.

And then there's the rest of the room.

The coffee table was painted the same chartreuse as on the stenciled wall. A shag rug was added to compliment the retro style of the console and add texture that contrasts with the slick leather sofa. Same deal with the bamboo sliding window panels. New pillows were purchased to add color and a travel wall was created that feature some of the places Jen and Chad have visited over the years. 

Next to the couch - and I should have gotten a better picture - is a small counter top that juts out from an opening in the kitchen wall used for additional seating. We painted it the same gray as the fireplace wall on the opposite side and, since the space already had enough picture frames, added three hanging pots (utensil holders from Ikea) on each side of the opening, filled with succulents. I LOVE this idea, adding unexpected artwork while modernizing the space. 

In the end, the room ended up striking the perfect balance between Jen's and Chad's styles, functional needs and overall wants for the space. 

Have questions? Just ask!

cute photo arrangement overload.

Over the course of the week (sometimes day), I get a lot of questions about what people should do related to their home decor and wardrobe. Fortunately for them, I never shy away from sharing my opinion and get all mushy and gushy inside when that advice triggers confidence and multiple sighs of relief for someone. So, instead of helping one person at a time, I thought I'd extend my reach, share the love and offer some unsolicited advice/opinion on the more popular questions. That's right, just saving the world one stress wrinkle at a time.

[photo stolen from Dave F'n Powell]

As mentioned in my last post, my mom called me about photo arrangements. This isn't the first time we've discussed this topic (I've done two arrangements in her house already) and I'm 100% confident it won't be the last. This is because I happen to be the Chuck Norris of hanging photo arrangements. Give me frames, nails and a hammer and I will create something fantastic for you to look at.

[family room. photo courtesy of my mom]

[upstairs hallway. photo courtesy of my mom]

Back to the answer... You can include multi-colored frames as long as they're evenly distributed across the entire arrangement. Again, multiple colors. One arrangement. Even distribution. Take Jen's hallway for example:

[photos courtesy of Jen]

We were going for an eclectic look that still seemed pulled-together and maintained a sense of order. Since the hallway was so long (hello, The Shining) and the picture frames were so different from each other (hello, secret frame hoarder), we broke the arrangement into 4 different sections to make it easier to tackle.

Side note: I always, always work hand-in-hand with the homeowner. While it's important for a space to look good, I think it's just as important for the person living in the space to have ownership over the design. So... there.

Collecting all like-frames in piles, we distributed them across each section so we had an even, balanced playing field full of shiny goodness, black Ikea standbys and thrift store finds to choose from. From there we organized each section to look different from each other but still cohesive to the overall arrangement.

Simple right? Kind of, no, not really at all.

[photos courtesy of Jen]

Long story short, combining different colored frames in one arrangement isn't a recipe for disaster. Experimentation will be your best friend during the process so be sure to lay everything out on the floor before grabbing the hammer and nails. If you're still stumped, make it easier on yourself and choose EITHER color OR style/shape. This will help focus the arrangement without making you want to repeatedly slam your head into the wall.

And if all else fails, spray paint everything white. Like me.

[my bedroom. photos taken by me]

A special thanks to my Mom and Jen for sending over photos for me to use. Traveling to Cleveland last night would've been impossible and heading to Mount Adams became a non-option as soon as I plopped down on my bed. 

Also, thank you Dave F'n Powell for letting me swipe a photo from your FB page to help explain that this is me helping people.

A how to on spray painting.

A while back, my BFF Jen let me in on a little problem she ran across while spray painting some items for above the fireplace. Bubbling.

I reassuringly told Jen that clearly it was her (lol) and I was here to help. So I picked up the can of paint, started spraying and, low and behold, MORE BUBBLING! Not wanting to freak her out, I took one of the items (a candlestick holder) back to my apartment to investigate further.

First things first, I removed the paint.
After googling "spray paint bubbling" I saw that this was sort of a common problem in which many different things could attribute to it. (sorry Jen, turns out it's not just you!) The first thing majority of the help pages listed was excess finish/oil/cleaning residue could be the problem. So, luckily having purchased some paint thinner for another project (also coming soon), I got to work generously applying the paint thinner.

NOTE: Make sure to wear protective gloves and be very careful not to get any on your skin. If you can, I recommend wearing long sleeves and pants to avoid any contact with the stuff whatsoever (ouch!).

Second, I cleaned off the paint and finishing.
I grabbed a Brillo pad and got scrubbing. Once majority of the paint was off, I took the piece downstairs to the utility sink, doused with mineral spirits and scrubbed off the remaining residue. I then finished off the clean with some good old-fashioned soap and water, rinsing thoroughly. Turns out, the candlestick was brass!

Third, I waited.
Another potential issue that was brought up was excess condensation. Fortunately with the weather being as ridiculously hot as it is, I only had to wait a few minutes until bone dry. But I waited nonetheless.

Fourth, I primed.
Rule of thumb: when in doubt, prime. While some spray paints claim the paint will adhere to any surface, I wouldn't take their word for it. With millions of finishes and materials, it's always best to throw on a quick, thin layer of primer just to be safe. The keyword being thin. Make sure you are standing (or holding the can) and long enough distance away so that one thin layer of paint can be applied at a time.

I have no idea what the perfect distance is (DIY sites claim 10-12 inches), but like to think of it as the same process as hair spraying. Too far and you're spraying the floor more than your hair, too close and you get a single stiff spot vs. an allover cover.

Don't worry though, because if you end up goofing, just wait until it dries, grab a fine sandpaper and even out the thicker area.

Finally, I sprayed.
Since the primary goal was white and the end location was above the fireplace, I originally was thinking matte to balance the eggshell finish of the painted wall. Instead, I ended up choosing a bright white with a glossy finish to really make it pop off the shelf.I applied the first thin (read: thin) coat, waited like 15 minutes and applied the second. Then, a day later, I applied a third coat for good measure.
I completed all of the spraying in the middle of my apartment's front lawn but, I think for an added bonus, see if you can find a shaded or cooler area to eliminate yet another element that could be making the paint bubble.

The end product? A glossy white, bubble-free candlestick holder. Hopefully, I can get a shot of the whole arrangement to post soon to show you the final look. Now for the rest of the items...

Framed bookshelves, DIY style.

I'm back! And yes, like Puerto Rico, San Francisco was so fun that I completely forgot about posting (or taking) photos along the way. Thankfully, my mom is a superb photo snapper so I hope to steal all of hers as soon as possible. What all did we do? Fun things include, but certainly weren't limited to: a tour of Alcatraz, zip lining (yes, me zip lining) across the Redwoods, a Giants vs. Dodgers game and a trip to Napa Valley. Great times, good drinks, lots of walking.

Anyway, relaxed and well-toned, I headed over to my BFF Jen's house this weekend to check-in on her redecorating progress (all posts here). Naturally, I ended up putting in a little DIY time during the visit. For one reason or another, I happen to be top-notch at arranging wall displays and creating compositions. I don't know what it is but I am happy and proud to say that I am 'da bomb - a phrase I try to use extremely sparingly and only in situations that absolutely call for it.

As for the idea and actual creation of these, the credit goes to this picture, Jen for finding it and Chad's dad for building them.

So let me set this up for you.


Jen does not have a very matchy-matchy type of style. Like me, she like to keep her space eclectic, one-of-a-kind and full of stuff.

Because Jen likes a lot of stuff she needs a lot of storage. And because storage space is something her and Chad lack, she needed to find a way to make some. And because she needed to make some, she searched for something different that could also translate into art. And because she wanted something more artistic, she decided to go with the idea of making frame shelves.

First, Jen chose 4 frames that were similar in style and color but different in size and pattern. If you like a more uniform look, you can get identical frames and hang in more of a grid-like fashion.

Second, Chad's dad attached four pieces of wood to the backs of the frames, keeping the width about 5-7" so they could hold a book or DVD case with minimal overhang. The pieces of wood were then painted black on the inside and the wall color on the outside.

Finally, we figured out the arrangement, Jen attached some picture frame holders and thereyouhaveit. A picture perfect set of shelves.

NOTE: Have a guy (or a girl sitting on her legs) sit in the chair to allow for ample head space.

Next up? Hiding those TV cables, a new white drum shade and maybe a circular or character-shaped pillow to soften the composition!

Looking good, Jen and Chad!

Jen and Chad's place: wall stenciling

After enjoying a nice relaxing weekend at my parent's house in Cleveland, I headed back to Cincinnati to enjoy a nerve-wracking, full-of-work night at my BFF Jen's place. A big thanks to her boyf Chad for 1) trying out the first stencil until we figured out what we could use to stand on and 2) making us pizza which was absolutely delish.

Anyway, while it took at least 3 hours  to complete (minus the time it took to wait for Chad's dad to drive down the spray adhesive, oops) but I have to say - totally worth it.

Step one: the idea and color
To start off, we used Jen's wallpaper pinterest post as inspiration. While I like wallpaper, Jen and Chad are thinking of eventually putting the condo up on the market so we wanted to go with something less permanent. This way, it would be much easier for potential buyers to remove it if the style doesn't suit their taste (although I can't see why it wouldn't).

Then, we went on the hunt (as mentioned in this post) to find the perfect pillow fabric that we eventually found paint to match to. We chose a taupey-gray for the primary color and a chartreuse green for the stencil color. This color combo will add a hint of drama that has a little softer of an edge than your typical black and white. Again, I highly recommend choosing the fabrics first because, as we quickly found out, it's can be way more difficult to find a fabric you like than finding the paint to match.

Step two: buy the stencil
If you Google "wall stencil" you will get millions of search results to peruse the offerings. We wanted to keep the pattern boy-friendly and relatively simple since the rest of the room's decor was the same way. This helped balance out the room's focal point, adding interest but not taking away from the rest of the room as well. We ended up going with this pattern (also shown in another pinterest inspiration photo seen here). The stencil was a little pricey ($20 + $10 shipping and handling) but the material used for the stencil was thick, making it pretty easy to use. True to our luck, there was a smal tear in the stencil itself that we were able to tape up and fix however, we are hoping a photo of the damage can be used to get some $$ refunded.

Step three: stencil!
The included stencil how-to suggested that we place the stencil at the very top middle of the area we were planning on stenciling. As mentioned before, since this was out of arm's reach, we had Chad help (thanks Chad!) us until we could figure out a plan to let him off the hook.

After agreeing to place a blanket over the newly stained tv stand (photos to come), we soon started getting into a groove. Here's the how-to highlights:

1. Figure out which is the front and which is the back of the stencil (typically represented by numbers of letters). Then, spray adhese the back with repositionable spray adhesive. This. was. clutch. Be sure to put on a good first coat, and continue to reapply every other time you stencil.
2. Place the stencil in the top middle of the wall you'll be stenciling, finishing one side and then the other. Be sure to paint over the place markers so you can line up the stencil accordingly to keep the pattern consistent. At first we used a pencil thinking we could just erase, but since the wall was dark gray (duh!) we quickly changed to painting over the marker so we could see better.
3. Then, evenly coat a small foam roller with paint. Not too much, not too little (make sure you can still see the details in the foam material). You will likely need to reapply paint 2-3 times per stencil, but this will keep the paint from bleeding through, giving you a nice, crisp stencil.
4. After applying an even coat, peel off the stencil from bottom to top. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this also helps the bleeding through the stencil.
5. Wipe off the back with a damp paper towel, find your place markers and repeat.

TIP: Make sure one of you has good eyes for lining up the markers. Also, make sure one of you isn't afraid of heights for the high application. A big thanks to Jen, for being both of those people :)

Step four: touchups and wall decor (still to do)

Never expecting to be perfect, the final step to this process is going through the wall and touching up where needed with the gray or chartreuse paint. Specific areas: the corners, edges, place markers and smudged areas. I'm guessing this won't take too long - there were only a few areas where this was the case.

Also, notice the removal of the dated mantel shelf? It's looking so much more modern already! This did however, cause us to add "searching for new fireplace shelf" to the to do list. But, like the stencil, totally worth it in the long run.

Step five: check it off the list!
So where are we at?

To Buy
- fireplace wall stencil (purchased!)
- spray/paint for "bookshelves" (maybe already have)
- spray/paint for coffee table (painting chartruese tonight)
- plant for large pot (maybe someone will donate!)
- black frame for Cape Cod photo for travel wall
- wood planks for "bookshelves" (Chad's dad is on the project)
- long pair of curtains for sofa wall (Ikea or Ikea? Or maybe already Jen has?)
- material for fireplace hearth (still investigating options...)
- sliding glass door blinds/panels (still investigating options...)
- ADDED: fireplace shelf (investigating options...)

To Find
- 3 decorative frames for "bookshelves" (Chad's dad is on the project)
- large vases for fireplace mantle (maybe Jen already has?)
- small shelf for bar wall (TBD)

To DIY
- stain TV stand
- stencil pattern on fireplace wall
- make "bookshelves" (Chad's dad is on the project)
- spray large vases white
- spray/paint coffee table (Monday)
- stain/paint wine crates for bar wall (TBD)
- paint bar wall (TBD)

Jen & Chad's place: the living room to dos.

As promised, here are a list of to-dos for Jen and Chad's living room. Organized by what needs to be bought, found and DIY-ed, this holds everything that needs to be completed for the room to be considered finished.

To Buy
- fireplace wall stencil (purchased!)
- spray/paint for "bookshelves" (maybe already have)
- spray/paint for coffee table (maybe already have)
- plant for large pot (maybe someone will donate one!)
- black frame for Cape Cod photo for travel wall
- wood planks for "bookshelves" (4 per frame - Michael's?)
- long pair of curtains for sofa wall (Ikea or Ikea? Or maybe already Jen has?)
- material for fireplace hearth (still investigating options...)
- sliding glass door blinds/panels (still investigating options...)

To Find
- 3 decorative frames for "bookshelves" (maybe Jen already has?)
- large vases for fireplace mantle (maybe Jen already has?)
- small shelf for bar wall (TBD)

To DIY
- stain TV stand (sanding complete!)
- stencil pattern on fireplace wall (tackling this Sunday)
- make "bookshelves"
- spray large vases white
- spray/paint coffee table (color: TBD)
- stain/paint wine crates for bar wall (TBD)
- paint bar wall (TBD)

You'll notice that there are some TBDs within the list. We've decided to leave these a little open-ended until we can get a better idea of how the current, planned design shapes out  and what still seems to be missing in terms of balancing the space.

The questions we'll likely ask ourselves to ensure the correct balance will include:
- After the fireplace wall stencil goes up, will the other half of the room look too bare?
- Are there certain patterns or colors that only seem to be on one side of the room?
- Are the wall compositions balanced in terms of the amount of decor on them?
- Is there any additional storage that's needed for things we weren't able to find homes for?

While this post is a little dull and I won't post for each room, I wanted to enforce that this is an absolutely necessary step to complete when looking to redesign your space. It helps determine progress, stay on track and figure out a budget for the rest of the materials.

For those that are in need of some daily inspiration, check out some of these treatment options for concrete. I'm still not sold on the idea, but it never hurts to explore.

6717000

lofts-toronto

bathroom designs ideas

Jen & Chad's place: the plan

Much progress was made this weekend on Jen and Chad's living room. Slowly but surely the room is coming together and what is coming together, has been totally worth the wait.

First, the sketches. Here are the simple sketches that I put together based on the back-and-forth on pinterest (listed here) and the overall needs of the space. The sketches are simple and are meant to be used as a guideline for what is needed and what the larger aspects of the decor would look like.

sofa wall: travel photo composition (with the ability to add), long curtains to add height, larger lamp for side table, new patterned pillows

fireplace wall (main focal point): painted wall with stenciled pattern, new more modern shelf (please Chad!), very simple white vase collection

TV wall: new stained TV console, frame bookshelves (see Jen's pinterest), potted plant with stand to break up the squares

the bar wall (wild card): possible wall color, DIY shelves to house wine bottles, etc.

Second, the fabric. The reason for choosing the fabric before the paint colors is because it's more difficult to try and match a fabric with a paint color than vice versa. So, after a cool 4 hours (not exaggerating), we finally found the perfect two (yes, two) pillows that ended up being the inspiration for the rest of the color throughout the room. 

Style & Co. green pillow (@ Macys)

Zenith Pillow (@ Crate and Barrel)

Once we chose the fabric, we spent a total of 20 minutes (including shake time) to pick up two gallons of paint for the fireplace wall. We went with a warm, dark gray (eagle something from Ace) for the primary color and a matching chartreuse green (lone oak something from Ace) with a lattice-like stencil.

(@ stencilease.com)

We started sanding the TV stand, painted the primary color on the fireplace wall, primed the coffee table and hung the frame composition behind the sofa. All in all, a busy weekend! 

How did we put the rest together and what does the final space look like? Stay tuned!