Archive for April, 2010
Posted by claire to How-To and Kitchen on
30 April 2010, with 17 comments so far.
Since moving into our home in August we have been garage sale shopping like it is our job on the weekends and trolling our local Craigslist for furniture deals. Craigslist has been an amazing source. I love being able to take something that someone no longer needs/wants/uses and giving it a new life in our house. Our favorite new acquisition? A 1940s Wedgewood stove with two ovens, brolier drawers, and a griddle.
The stove was being removed from a kitchen with more modern appliances on the way, and we were happy to ditch our newer stove for this larger, older model. The stove that came with our house worked fine, though it clacked loudly as it struggled to ignite the gas range and let’s be serious, it doesn’t look half as cool.
In the former owner’s home our stove looked fairly clean, I could tell it would need a good scrubbing but I was not prepared for the incredible mess I would have to deal with when it was pulled from its longtime home. When we came to collect our Wedgewood stove it was covered on both sides with years of grease and grime. Every knob housed a greasy build-up, the chrome was dull and rusty, inside the oven was covered in, well, you get the picture. This thing had to be well cleaned before we could install it.
Above: Our stove after some scrubbing, but still far from clean!
(more…)
Tags: baby oil, chrome, cleaning, grease, natural cleaners, oven cleaner, tips, vinegar
Posted in How-To, Kitchen | 17 Comments »
Posted by Megan Jeyifo to Reuse and Salvage and Storage on
29 April 2010, with 1 comment so far.
Blogger Elsie Marley (real name Meg, like me!) added the photo above to ReadyMade’s Flickr pool this weekend. It was just the inspiration I needed to start thinking seriously about what to do with my own tiny bathroom. Her blog post on the project details the three year journey spawned in part by her brother dropping a hammer on their previous sink, leaving them no choice but to replace it quickly. I’m contemplating dropping something very heavy on my own pea-green sink and telling the landlord that it has just got to go.
What is not to love about this bathroom? While small, Meg has added practical storage that doesn’t sacrifice style. The mailbox on the side of the $100 antique cabinet was scooped from the trash years back and repurposed to hold books and magazines. The metal First Aid kit on the right wall was an eBay find and hides meds from little kiddies. A high school boyfriend was the source for the box on top of the toilet.
The most inspiring part about this photo? She spent a little over three hundred bucks for the whole thing. Thanks for sharing, Meg! I’m off to go (accidentally) destroy my sink.
Add your photos to ReadyMade’s Flickr Pool here.
[Photo: elsiemarley]
Tags: bathroom makeover, bathroom repurpose, bathroom storage, decor, Decorating, elsie marley, flickr, mailbox, small bathroom, upcycled bathroom
Posted in Reuse, Salvage, Storage | 1 Comment »
Posted by Sonia Zjawinski to Gardening and Reuse and Salvage on
28 April 2010, with 1 comment so far.
Unfortunately, as a home owner there are times when you have to cut down a tree. Whether it’s disease, roots battling for space with underground plumbing, or the simple desire to bring more light into your home, that evergreen just has got to go. So, is there a way to honor that retired perennial, while still making room? I recently saw this solution in the front yard of a home here in Pacific Grove, CA and thought it was pure genius. (more…)
Tags: california, containers, front yard, pacific grove, pine tree, planters, repurpose, second life, stump, tree, tree stump
Posted in Gardening, Reuse, Salvage | 1 Comment »
Posted by Chris Gardner to How-To on
27 April 2010, with 2 comments so far.
Nerissa Goco and Peter Hoang are a creative couple in Vancouver, BC, who detail their “adventures in domestic living 2.0″ on their home blog, The New Domestic. They share everything from pictures of their daughter Luna to some very fine DIY projects, including this clever garden-clipping centerpiece project. Having found some vintage-looking pill bottles among the test tubes and petri-dishes at an art supply store, they went outside and immediately began finding stuff with which to stuff ‘em.
“They were a steal at 35¢ a piece. The only catch is that vessels this small, even when filled with water, are really light. They’ll topple over if the clippings they hold aren’t as light as a feather. Pictured from left to right are: (1) a sprig of mint, (2) buds from an unknown shrub, (3) bamboo leaves, (4) chive flower, (5) berries from an unknown shrub.”
Any help identifying the unknown foliage?
[The New Domestic: Glass Pill Bottle Mini-Centerpiece]
Tags: bouquet, centerpiece, dining, diy, flowers, plants
Posted in How-To | 2 Comments »
Posted by Sonia Zjawinski to Decorating and Pets on
26 April 2010, with no comments so far.
Since work is where many of the stresses of the day reside, I try to include items in my home office that both inspire me and put a smile on my face when things aren’t going according to plan. One of the easiest (and safest) anti-anxiety meds, in my opinion, is a sweet desktop image that can brighten up your day with a few clicks of your mouse.
Obviously, being the pet lover that I am, I’m a big fan of rad images of kitties, puppies, bunnies, or anything else for that matter that makes me go, awwww. While there’s nothing wrong with saccharin filled animal snapshots found on Hallmark cards and Cute Overload, there’s something much more interesting when people use animal imagery in creative ways, where the animal is the inspiration rather than simply the subject. Frankie magazine is a fantastic fashion magazine based out of Australia. And while many of us can’t afford to pay the international rates to read every issue, there’s certainly no excuse not to check out their free desktop wallpapers.
Of course, some of my favorite images the mag offers involve cats and dogs, but these aren’t your standard fare of feline and canine artworks. The images range from crafty to artsy, but never cheesy. You can check out my faves after the jump and you can download your preferred flavor via Frankie. Do you have a favorite place to find wallpapers? (more…)
Tags: cat photography, cats, desktop wallpaper, dog photography, dogs, frankie magazine, wallpaper
Posted in Decorating, Pets | No Comments »
Posted by Chris Gardner to Decorating on
23 April 2010, with 2 comments so far.
I know, I know, “alternative” is a terrible word to describe these creative takes on the throw pillow. But, you must admit, their intent is to do the opposite of most pillows, which is (1) provide comfort or (2) blend in and support a color scheme. I’m sure they’re plenty comfortable (they better be, as I just ordered eleven of ‘em), but blend in? No, ma’am. These dudes are tone-setters in every way.
Hometone.org has assembled a very fine collection. Some highlights:
Adobe CS App Pillows , $15 each from My Suite Stuff
CMYK Low-Ink Pillows by Thomas Dabner, €19.99 each at Envelop.Eu
D*Light Huggable Pillows by Diana Lin, $180 each
[See all 35 at Hometone.org]
Tags: adobe, adobe cs, CMYK, computer, decor, photoshop, pillow, pillows, round-up
Posted in Decorating | 2 Comments »
Posted by Megan Jeyifo to Organizing and Reuse on
21 April 2010, with 26 comments so far.
I just added my very first photo to the new ReadyMade Flickr pool. In a moment of clarity this weekend, I decided that the holes in this cheese grater would be perfect for dangling earrings.
The method: Sand and spray paint a thrifted cheese grater. Fill with earrings. Pin onto wall.
Thumbs up or thumbs down?
Add photos of your DIY jewelry displays or whatever else you’re up to around the house to the ReadyMade Flickr group. We’d love to see and share them.
Tags: bathroom, bedroom, cheese grater, diy jewelry display, diy jewelry organizer, flickr, jewelry, organization, projects, vintage cheese grater uses
Posted in Organizing, Reuse | 26 Comments »
Posted by Megan Jeyifo to Furniture and Stores and Thrifting/Estate Sales on
19 April 2010, with 8 comments so far.
Finds from an Urban Dig
During my angst-ridden teenage years, my stepmother constantly invited me to accompany her on weekend jaunts to estate sales around the Milwaukee area. I always demurred. I was sixteen with better things to do, like finding the perfect jeans and flat-ironing my curly hair. I finally made it to an estate sale this weekend and I’m kicking myself for not tagging along with my dear stepmom ten years ago. It’s not like I ever found the perfect jeans or figured out how to straighten my hair anyways.
This estate sale was billed as an “Urban Dig” by Lynne McDaniel, the organizer and owner of Chicago vintage shop An Orange Moon. The home belonged to the state of Illinois’ first Black chief nurse anesthetist, Willye Tillman. Ms. Tillman was born in 1928 and passed on in November of 2009. Judging from the contents of her condo, she lived a full and colorful life.
Ms. Tillman did a lot of traveling. My first find during the “dig” was a Brazilian-Porteguese conversational guide printed in Rio de Janerio in 1961 (Foi atropelado: He was knocked down). I also walked out with vintage postcards from Jamaica and Paris, addressed to travel clubs she belonged to.
(more…)
Tags: an orange moon chicago, backgarage, estate sale, willye tillman
Posted in Furniture, Stores, Thrifting/Estate Sales | 8 Comments »
Posted by Sonia Zjawinski to Pets on
16 April 2010, with 3 comments so far.
Holy moly! If you haven’t seen these amazing sustainable dog houses your knees will probably go weak as mine just did.
Sustainable Pet Design custom-builds dog houses in which you select the style, color and plants to be included. Plants? Yes, plants. Atop each Greenrrroof Animal House is a mini landscape made from native plants. As many of you already know, green roofs used within human architecture provide insulation, filter runoff water, and filter dust and particulate matter for cleaner air. Living roofs have the exact same benefits when used on dog houses, which can often get too chilly or too stuffy for your pup.
Greenrrroof dog houses are made from naturally rot resistant, untreated red cedar planks, which are finished with zero-VOC lacquer. The company also occasionally uses reclaimed wood for some of its designs. Recycled woods are coated with a zero-VOC sealant that prevents toxins from off-gassing. The roof is waterproofed using beeswax, after which a 1-inch deep gravel drainage layer is installed, then a geotextile fabric, 2-inch deep planting medium, and finally your plants. The company even installs bamboo pipes that direct clean runoff water into your pet’s dish.
(more…)
Tags: animals, dog house, dogs, green roof, greenrrroof, living roof, Pets, sustainable, sustainable pet design
Posted in Pets | 3 Comments »
Posted by Chris Gardner to Kitchen and Organizing and Storage on
13 April 2010, with 4 comments so far.
Once the kitchen cabinets are full and the countertops cluttered, where else is there to go but up?
Tight on space and budget, an unnamed IKEAHacker created this spirit-and-glassware storage center from IKEA’s ASKER dish drying racks, hung on an ASKER rail, with a few wine glass racks suspended below.
“Constrained for space and renting (so not wanting to make big holes in the wall) I decided to hang everything I could in the kitchen. This included hanging pots and pans over the entrance to the kitchen (careful to hang the small ones over the passage to permit passage for up to 6′3″), and the Asker suspended liquor bar hack.”
[Asker Liquor Bar Hack at IKEA Hacker]
Tags: bar, glasses, hacks, How-To, ikea, Kitchen, liquor, rack, smallspaces, wine
Posted in Kitchen, Organizing, Storage | 4 Comments »
Posted by Sonia Zjawinski to Pets on
12 April 2010, with 3 comments so far.
While this little project turned out to be an April Fool’s joke, I still think it’s adorable and wanted to share. Care, who blogs for Obsessively Stitching, made these kitty leg warmers from a pair of socks. She gives all the instructions over on the site. I think my little Gizmo would look quite fashionable in a pair of these.
Tags: cat, cat crafts, diy, funny, leg warmers, sewing
Posted in Pets | 3 Comments »
Posted by Sonia Zjawinski to Pets on
9 April 2010, with 1 comment so far.
Now, I know keeping rodents in the house can be a touchy subject for some, but rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits all make great pets. They do, however, require different types of supplies than, say, your average cat or dog. Many people, unhappy with the rodent habitats available in pet stores, have gone the ReadyMade route, repurposing one piece of furniture for another use. In this case it’s turning an old TV stand into a rat ranch. Well, maybe not ranch, since it’s on the small size, but you get the point.
Instructables user TimBTodd took a TV stand he scored at a flea market for $5 and built a screen door for it that latches closed. I love the idea of repurposing old furniture as clever pet habitats. It makes the whole chore of replacing bedding or sweeping out mini turds a bit more bearable when you have a cute DIY project to clean it all out from.
Tags: cage, habitat, rat, readymade, repurpose, rodent, tv stand
Posted in Pets | 1 Comment »
Posted by Chris Gardner to Gardening on
9 April 2010, with no comments so far.
Last week, the New York Times’ Michael Tortorello explored a few new models of indoor container gardens, which allow for those without any outdoor green space, or even choice windows, to produce their own herbs and greens at home. Tortorello points out though some traditionalists argue that real gardening can only occur outdoors,
“the American consumer seems to think otherwise. According to Bruce Butterfield, research director at the National Gardening Association, container gardening is roughly a billion-dollar-a-year retail business. And he said about half the country’s home food growers — that is, 18 million households — do at least some gardening in containers.
After several years of steady growth, container sales climbed 25 percent last year at Gardener’s Supply Company, a mail-order business with a store in Burlington, Vt., said Maree Gaetani, the company’s spokeswoman. That’s “mostly owing to the increase in vegetable gardening and people’s desire to grow anywhere they can,” she said.”
The most exciting items in the summary seem to be the Herb Grow Bag, a shoebox sized polypropylene sack that’s designed to be paired up with a friend and fit inside a Self-Watering Tray, allowing them to suck up water through the bottom.
Have a peek at rest of the article to see more indoor gardening options, like the MyGreens Light Garden:
[Read More: In the Garden: Container Gardens Get Spring Started Indoors. Images: New York Times]
Tags: container, Gardening, herbs, Kitchen
Posted in Gardening | No Comments »
Posted by Chris Gardner to Decorating on
8 April 2010, with no comments so far.
Custom curtains can be both functional and beautiful—they can let sunlight in or keep it out at will, and add lots of color and impact to your decor. But custom, professionally-made curtains aren’t always in the budget. Sure, you could grab some fun fabric and whip out your sewing machine and start measuring, but I’m thinking this stenciled window shade from Southern Living has a lot of potential.
“Stencils have come a long way; today’s options are sophisticated, easy to use, and offer you endless design possibilities. Combine your favorite pattern and paint color for a shade that makes a personal statement in a bedroom, bath, home office, or anywhere you want to add privacy. Completing your project is easy once you prep your shade and get the hang of applying the paint. Don’t worry about achieving perfection. If you’ve never stenciled before, try a few practice designs on poster board. Hang your finished shade alone for a clean, tailored look, or layer it with simple curtains for softness.”
I don’t find much inspiration in the gold, Celtic-ish pattern in the how-to, but as SL points out, there are “endless design possibilities.” Plus, a vinyl shade’s slick surface makes it easy to create your own stencils and print on cardstock or acetate for complete control.
[Done in a Day: Stenciled Window Shade, at Southern Living]
Tags: pattern, shade, stencil, window, window treatment
Posted in Decorating | No Comments »
Posted by Megan Jeyifo to Decorating and How-To on
7 April 2010, with 1 comment so far.
I am all about ease these days. The sun is shining, flowers are blossoming, birds are chirping. It all calls for sitting on your front stoop or back porch with a cold beer and a good book. Here, I’ll show you three simple painting projects for making the most of your outdoor relaxation spot. They rate a one on the difficulty scale and don’t cost much. All the better to enjoy your springtime with.
1. Painting an outdoor rug. If you”re into flowers and swirlies and spending big bucks, World Market has tons of super cute outdoor rugs for your space. If not, click over to Curbly for a cost-conscious how-to. Author DIY Maven got hers done for less than twenty bucks.
2. Liven up terra cotta pots. If you’re looking to add color to your outdoor space, consider spray-painting standard terra cotta pots. They can be found in abundance at many thrift stores or at your local nursery and when compared to the cost of colorful glass planters, painting is well worth the minimal time and effort.
3. Spray paint your old patio furniture. This is such a no-brainer and yes, I am kind of tooting my own horn. I finally got around to spray painting a plain patio set and it made a big impact on my little back porch. Sand your wrought iron chairs or table, wipe clear of debris and get to spraying. If dealing with untreated metal, I would recommend using a primer. Shake your can well before use and paint in even, thin coats. Always make sure that your can is in motion and don’t dawdle on any one area for too long as excessive application can cause the paint to run. Hold the can about ten inches away from the surface at all times. Two coats is generally enough for wrought iron. For information on spray painting all manner of surfaces, check out this round-up by Real Simple.
What are you doing with your great outdoors this spring? Send projects this way. We’d love to hear!
[Images, top to bottom: Curbly, Sunset, M. Jeyifo]
Tags: diy outdoor rug, easy outdoor projects, spray paint terra cotta, spray pait outdoors
Posted in Decorating, How-To | 1 Comment »
