Item Of Note: Ikea's affordable Hemnes 3-drawer dresser

Up until recently I was using a kitchen island as a counter top in my bathroom and for awhile I had noticed how cluttered and messy the bathroom was looking due to the towels and things on the exposed shelving on the lower part of the kitchen island. Had I not had so many items and so many different colored and differently designed towels perhaps the exposed shelving of the kitchen island may not have ended up looking so untidy. I purchased a 3-drawer dresser in a red stain (the Hemnes 3-drawer dresser from Ikea) as a way to clean up the look of the bathroom and get it to look the way I wanted it which is tidy, eclectic and charming.

I Stand Behind: Ikea's Dragor rug

When I first purchased the 6'7" x 9'10" reversible Dragor rug at Ikea for $79.99 I really was just excited about the great deal for the large area rug. I did not expect it to last even 2 years, I honestly expected it to simply unravel with every step I took on it, but I was wrong, because here I am 3 years and some months later with the same looking Dragor rug- there is no unraveling, no thread out of place, no stain seen, it has survived one move and and a rather enthusiastic and playful poodle-terrier... and it is still the same Dragor rug I bought 3 years and some months ago.

I have come to love and appreciate the Dragor rug so much in fact, that I went and bought a second to place near the fireplace.

At $79.99 the rug is not only the most affordable in its size, but it also comes in three different sizes: 4'7" x 6'7", 5'7" x 7'10" and 6'7" x 9'10" and is also reversible giving you two different color-blocks to choose from, brown border and a beige center or beige border and a brown center. The flat-woven rug surface makes this area rug ideal for 1. Layering (as shown in the picture below near the fireplace) or 2. As a rug for the dining area where chairs will be pulled in and out continuously (as shown in the dining area picture above). And while some may say that the rug is a bit bland and boring, I say that the rug is perfectly neutral which means it is great for setting anywhere and easier to decorate around.

Check out the Dragor rug @ Ikea

The vintage wall-clock for less

Often times I'll see an object of desire, they often happen to be  vintage items and unfortunately these vintage items are more than just out of my price-range or simply priced at more than what I'm willing to spend on said item.

This particular situation just happened to be when I saw a vintage schoolroom-style clock at West Elm Market called the Newgate Wall Clock - Brixton, priced at a whopping $135.00 (pictured right below). Boy it would be nice if I could get myself to spend over a $100 on a wall clock! The simplicity and retro feel of the clock had me hooked though, so it only meant one thing... it was time to hunt for a similar style wall clock at a more affordable price and fortunately for us, there's always a more affordable version to be found somewhere.

West Elm Market
NEWGATE WALL CLOCK - BRIXTON
$135.00

Material:  Metal base, glass face, in Chrome
Measurement: 15.75" diam x 4"h
Detail:  Tapered hands, gloss-finished casing eliminates potential glare

The two options I've found for a similar-styled wall clock were both found at Ikea.  The first and most similar to the WE Market Newgate Wall Clock - Brixton was the Ikea Pugg wall clock which is priced at $14.99!

Ikea
PUGG Wall Clock
$14.99

Material:  Stainless steel
Measurements:  12.5"diam

And while hunting for a similar clock at Ikea I came across another affordable gem that I thought worthy of mention, the Ikea Bravur Wall Clock which is priced at $49.99. Whilst the style of the Bravur has the same retro feel the key difference of this particular clock is the size, at 23.25" in diameter the Bravur is rather large giving the style of the wall clock a little bit of a twist to smile about. (You can also check out the dimension of the Bravur wall clock in image at the very top of this post).

Ikea
BRAVUR Wall Clock
$49.99

Material:  Stainless Steel, Anti-corrosive phosphate coating, Epoxy/polyester powder coating, glass
Measurements:  23.25"dia

The Portable Buffet

When it comes to talking buffets I immediately find myself wondering 'portable or built-in?' My home came with a built-in buffet and since my home was erected about a century ago it's no special feature, I find that most old homes have the built-in buffets. The built-in buffet has many great aspects to it, the most obvious one being you move into a home that already has a beautiful buffet in an alcove like setting. But a part of me so loves the portable buffet, afterall, you can't move the built-in buffet to a different area of the room and you can't pick the style of buffet you so desire, plus, there's just something so charming about a stand-alone buffet that was placed exactly there to house your beautiful China or other dinner-setting whatnots.

In the back of my mind I've definitely been toying with the idea of how great it would be to get a buffet, even though the fact that I already have a built-in one stops me from squandering money in such a way (my husband is in my head!) and for awhile there I did stop thinking about the buffet, but then I saw the Emmerson Buffet by West Elm with it's rustic charm and it's simple design... so now I'm back to fantasizing about portable buffets.

WEST ELM

EMMERSON BUFFET, $849

So the Emmerson Buffet inspired me to imagine a life with a portable buffet, a buffet that can charm me everyday with its rustic charms.  My honest opinion on the West Elm Emmerson Buffet? I absolutely love it! Price? Fair, but that fair price is still too expensive for me, especially for a piece that looks like it can be made in your garage (though I'm absolutely sure it is a lot harder to make than I give it credit for). 

So on I go with the hunt for an equally charming and rustic buffet!

CRATE & BARREL

CUCINA PINOT GRIGIO SIDEBOARD, $1,299

The Cucina Pinot Grigio Sideboard by Crate & Barrel is priced at $1,299! While it is a beautiful piece the price is all I can pay attention to, although in the back of my mind someone or something is whispering 'you get what you pay for'- And while this may be the truth for some things is it true for the portable buffet? Hmmm. The Cucina Pinot Grigio Sideboard has plenty of space to store items with pegged shelving for extra storage for larger items, I can picture a set of beautiful collector urns all in a row sitting down below.

COST PLUS WORLD MARKET

ANTIQUE BLACK VERONA BUFFET, $399.99

For $399.99 Cost Plus World Market has the Antique Black Verona Buffet. While I think that red would have made for a more rustic and charming look Black is, I have to admit, rather chic. The Antique Black Verona Buffet features an overall appearance of chic (via color) and rusticity (via design *ahem barn-inspired doors). With storage for wine, two exposed shelvings and enclosed cabinet space the Verona Buffet is very user friendly.

IKEA

LIATORP SIDEBOARD, $350

But my favorite buffet today is Ikea's Liatorp Sideboard. Not only is the price right but I've completely fallen for the side glass cases and the center exposed shelving. The white color lends itself to charm and a country-vibe. I look at the Liatorp Sideboard and I can imagine it in so many other places other than the dining room serving as a buffet (although yes, it would be quite beautiful there), but what about the bathroom? Even the nursery! - Oh~ that is exciting.

I Stand Behind: Ikea's FIXA, floor protectors with rivet

Heavy boxes packed with dishes, clothes and such covered are a large part of the dining room area where the dinner table was not yet set up.  Unable to pick up a heavy box I pushed it across a mere foot when I heard a funny slight low scratching sound and realized that I had made a rather deep elongated impression on the wooden floor... not to be buffed out.  From then on I was very careful to never drag anything across the floor but to clearly lift any object and place it where desired- this I admit was quite a nuisance and quite trying for I had become used to living in other dwellings that did not require this kind of care.

So when my husband brought home a pack of FIXA floor protectors from Ikea I was more than enthused, I had him put them on the furniture feet right away. Thick plastic circular pegs lined on the bottom with a thick pad of felt and on the other side a smaller metal peg where it is hammered into the bottom of the feet of furniture.  Although the FIXAs were pretty sturdy and rigid once hammered into the feet my concern was that the thick felts that padded the bottom of the FIXAs would not hold after a time of dragging on the floor.  But having the FIXAs on for a couple of months now I have complete confidence in the floor protectors. They are easy to install and for only $1.99 for a pack of 8 I find it worth it even if it is only to last a year.

Very gladly, I do not find myself having to pick up and relocate anymore... I drag to my hearts content.

VIEW THE FIX ($1.99/8PCK) @ IKEA

Switching-Up The Functions Of Your Furnishings & Decor, A Great Way To Think Outside The Box

Who would have thought that a kitchen island wasn't a kitchen island and a cupcake tier wasn't a cupcake tier.  Chopping board by day and bathroom storage by night!  Switching up the functions of your furnishings and decor can't get any better than this... then again, there are new surprises everyday!

the kitchen island in the bathroom now consists of "His" and "Hers" drawer and functions mainly as exposed shelving for bathroom supplies, towels and weave baskets full of other bathroom goods.

At a width of about 3'11" and a height of almost 3' this affordable kitchen island ($100.00) from Ikea makes a great rustic-looking bathroom counter top and storage for a bathroom space that is of medium size.  The natural birch wood can be treated with oil should you be worried of moisture damage (though I haven't treated mine and seems to be doing quite well without it) and can also be painted to the color(s) you desire to custom match it to your bathroom or any other space you wish to use it for storage.

Another kitchen item that makes for a beautiful bathroom decor or even vanity table decor is the 3-tiered cupcake holder that serves as a unique and adorable way to store your cosmetics and hair supplies, even try it as a jewelry stand!

I purchased the above 3-tier cupcake stand at Costplus World Market for $20.00 and have used it only twice for birthday cupcakes.  Costplus may not have this exact style anymore but I have seen recently a rather modern 3-tier wire cupcake stand in it's place ($20).  A great affordable buy with a variety of functions once you can look past the "cupcake stand".