Studio inspiration

Here are a couple of the latest ideas for my place

Top of the door is underrated. May line up postcards from trips on top...is that tacky?

Come to think of it, I prefer this idea: postcards framed in floating frames

Or this.

I want me some metallic floor pillows.

Have ugly boob light fixture in my bathroom. Plan to over with something along the lines of this paint swatch DIY. Only in gradients of white and black

Boxes. Labels. Yep.

Glass bottles with puffpaint designs and white paint overall

Fall decor!

Bookshelves are so chic when they're horizontal

This is How My Brain Works: DIY Ikea Sofa cover

I've decided to start a new type of post. It'll just be for whenever I feel like it, because obviously my weekly attempts at Hump Day Dump Day posts have failed. Here's how this works:

Saw this:

And immediately my brain went to this:

And this is how my brain works. Now go DO IT!

DIY Chandelier Idea

Take several 90-cent embroidery hoops plus a $4 IKEA cord set plus sets of 6 Glass water droplets for $3.50 and wire string....you've got yourself a Vidal Pendant on the cheap!

Edit 9-22-11: Wouldn't this be another cool DIY? Z Gallery chandelier!

Edit 10-4-11: Is there any type of post that I can't relate this photo back to?!

DIY chandy

IKEA Hemma light kit + some kind of bar + chandy crystals bought off Etsy. Boom. (way more work than that...but seriously, could be really pretty)

Quick n easy DIY dresser

Craigslist Dresser, white paint, square drawer pulls, marbled paper, and Mod Podge. Perhaps top it with glass? And there you have it...Claire Forlani's uber expensive (I'm assuming) dresser for less.

Craigslist dresser before and after

The BF just bought a cheapo point-and-shoot camera to snap shots when we go canyoneering. So I promise that photo quality on this here bloggity blog should improve. Until then, more crappy camera photos to prove that nearly any piece of furniture can be improved with paint.

Image from KSL (local newspaper classifieds). Horrific spray-painted purple top and drawers, tacky blue handles. Prime for repainting! Sanded it down, stripped the paint from the handles, and repainted.

And Voila!

Draper-esque, no? The insides of the drawers are pretty blue too for a nice surprise. The drawers are still a little sticky but it works for my undies, towels, pjs, etc....and I think it classes up my little bathroom corner! :)

Before and Afters

I was thinking this weekend about how nearly every piece of furniture I own or have owned, other than my bed mattress and metal bedframe, have been thrifted, Craigslisted, or antique store-d and subsequently refurbished by myself. Thought maybe you'd like to see a few of my projects, regardless of the crappy photo quality.

Coffee Table:

Before: dingy green, lots of promise

During: my first experience stripping paint from a piece of furniture

After: The final product

Kitchen Table:

During: in the middle of sanding off an ugly stain from a thrift-store table

After: Hard to see because I never took a true After but it's on the right of the pic....painted white with a grey pattern on top.

Square Coffee Table: found this in our garage from a past tenant. Item on the right is a whiteboard I repainted and the back item is a bench I repainted

After: Turned out better than I expected

Dining Chairs:

Before: You've seen these pics before

After: Months later I still love 'em :)

Don't have before and after shots for these but I've refurbished all these pieces too:

Bench: recovered the seat in new fabric and sanded/restained the whole piece

Headboard: my mom and I made this together


Bedside table: Found this under a pile of junk in an antique store. Caught my attention because of the blue glass top, took it home, sanded/restained it. My mom said she didn't think it was worth the $30 I paid for it at first but now tells me never to sell it :)

So these are a few projects I've had my hands on! Have a new coffee table in the works as you saw a few days ago. I'll be sure to post pics once I'm done!

DIY Day: Build It

It's been a while since my last DIY Day post, so here are a collection of projects you could build

Dog bed from a side table

Drill bit + block of wood + votives

Another take on the same idea

This isn't executed very well, but the general idea is interesting.

Wood pallate + wheels + glass = rustic large coffee table

Can also go pretty, soft, and girly!

And another look!

I think this etagere would be prettier with a collection of glass items on it....but I like the symmetry

I want my bf to make this for me at work SO BAD....but I have nowhere to hang it at my place!

I love the picture ledge in this dining room.

I'm a fan of the open glass-front shelving and the little details in the foot corners

On a similar note, here's a little extra detail to spruce up glassfronts

In a studio apartment, you need to bounce light and create zones. This screen accomplishes both aims.

I like the quilt hanger

Pretty jewelry display

I'm obsessssssed with little Moroccan tables...I like the blue inside of this one

Old trunk + legs/base = bar cart height

Same idea, different gorgeous table

Jenny from Little Green Notebook added the curved tops to these IKEA bookshelves to make them look custom. Love it!

I like that tiny little table with all the wood cutouts

Mirror-front furniture = My biggest obsession

Pretty take on a pinboard

Open shelving at its prettiest

Table from wheel and ornate door....pretty!

Fireplace mantel-turned-bookshelf makes an easy DIY focal point in any room

In a small space, you need to utilize every square inch. Here's a great bench that doubles as a mini work station

I like this graphic candle-branch wall piece

Daybed via a crib minus one side....good for small-place style!

You know I can't pass up nailhead and pretty wood....kinda defeats the point of a headboard tho if it's all hard and not comfy?

Large wall covered in wallpaper and frames brings color into a space even if you can't paint

Looking at all this prettiness makes me want to get home to start reworking my new studio!!