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.

The Fine Line When It Comes To Open Shelving

Open shelving is not only great if you are looking to add a bit charm into a space but is also convenient, no opening of cabinet doors or drawers is needed, simply reach over and grab. Of course this also means that everything on the shelves are exposed to all eyes. One may presume that keeping their open shelving will be quite simple because they are in fact a very tidy person- this is what I thought, but I quickly learned that there are a few things that can make open shelving belonging to the tidiest of people, cluttery and messy looking. And so, while I am a huge fan of open shelving and use it in my home almost wherever I can, the cluttery mess that can come with it is a very real issue, there is a fine line between neat & charming and just downright messy. Here are a few pointers on how to pull off and what to stay away from when considering open shelving for a space in your home.

I Stand Behind: Re-using jars and bottles

I have a collection of glass jars and bottles that I've been collecting from finished pickles, capers, juices and things. It all began with a wedding, my wedding, I was set on having a romantic country-style wedding, I envisioned a long table topped with white wild flowers in various jars, so I began collecting jars... and it never stopped. I found that when you took off the label and thoroughly wash the jar of residue and scent that they are absolutely charming and very helpful in storing beans, seeds, grains, pickles, preserves and etc. Of course your husband, as my husband has, can be very appreciative when he finds that you've got plenty of jars to spare so that he has a great way to organize all his little nails, and knick and knacks from the garage. Jars? There definitely a good thing.

Know This: Shaker-style cabinets

"The Shaker style is known for unadorned functionality and rooms that are arranged to feel clean and spacious."

-Per eHow

The Shaker-style cabinets are made from hardwoods, with recessed panels and no ornamentation on the front exuding a simple elegance. The Shaker-style features simplicity, utility and neatness with high-quality workmanship that exudes a modest look that is none-the-less charming. The emphasis of the Shaker-style is durability, this is one of the more important aspects of the style.

The floor plan of Shaker-style kitchen is ideally open and organized reflecting a style of simple living. Unnecessary appliances and decor is discouraged, once again this goes towards creating a clean and efficient kitchen. Any furniture should serve the purpose of the room without adding clutter. Plenty of storage space is important, as is having a place for each item.

A Quick Look: Counter made of books

Over the long labor day weekend I breakfasted out then went for a brisk walk down the street that was lined with cute little stores. I walked into a Co-Op/Vintage store and saw this amazing counter supported by countless books.  The books are glued and nailed together, some books were cut to achieve the proper height, the book are pushed up against a wooden structure that creates the frame of the counter while a wooden countertop serves on top.  A very unique and smart way to make use of old books!

I Stand Behind: the Hose Reel

When you buy a home you are buying land- this has never been so apparent until now, trust me, when you stand out in the yard for a hour watering the lawn that came with your property, it will never be clearer to you.  And it will be even more clear if you do not own a hose reel.

Dragging a 25 feet or 75 feet hose around the yard from corner to corner to water every inch of your dying yard is one thing, but after a hour of watering the time has come to reel in that 25 footer or 75 footer, whether you want to do it by hand (the hard way) is up to you.

I have to admit that just up until recently I have been letting my front yard whither away, currently it is an ugly yellowish brown plot with a few green spots here and there.  This unfortunate event came to be when I decided that watering the lawn was way too strenuous because, well let's face it, I was being just plain lazy.  In an ideal world I would have a sprinkler system set up, but I don't, so it has come down to either sucking it up and watering the damn lawn or not.  So what if I have to drag the hose around for a hour and then drag it back to where it belongs, right?!  Wrong, because simply dragging the hose back to where it belongs is not where it ends, afterwards, you have to attempt to wind it up as nicely as possible so the long hose isn't just strewn about hither and thither.  And you all know what this attempt leads to, pure AGGRAVATION because there is no possible way of coiling, not even semi-nicely or even semi-neatly, the long wet hose that has been slithering hither and thither all over the yard full of dirt and grass.  And ever since, I have been dreaming of a hose reel, I remember watering the lawn as a young teen, half my size and it was still easier with the hose reel.  All you had to do was turn the handle and guide the hose a bit, no dragging, no huffing and puffing, no profanities passed through those lips.  

I suppose I had been wishing for a hose reel hard enough, because the next day I awoke to find a hose reel in my front yard, just like that. Odd.  I watered the plants and reeling in the hose was a cinch, but best of all?  No ugly half winded hose strewn about the front yard.

Item of Note: Chroma Armoire & Console

We are of course familiar with the term "color-blocking" when it comes to fashion, but furnishings?!  C'mon!  It really makes me wonder why I hadn't seen this sooner.  Anthropologie takes color-blocking to a whole new level with it's newly out Chroma Armoire and Chroma Console, the vintage and retro choice of colors with a modern twist makes for one... strike that- two, very lovely pieces.

Chroma Armoire

Chroma Console

I Stand Behind: Nice expensive hand-pumps

Pure & Good Hand Duo $34.00 @ Anthropologie

I have a face and so I need to buy facial cleanser for it, I always buy the same kind of facial cleanser every single time because... what can I say?  I love it, it's perfect for my skin type and not animal tested.  I love this facial cleanser but I hate the bottle!  It is a plastic hand-pump bottle and when the facial cleanser gets down to about 3/4 of the bottle the agony begins.  The agony goes something like this, me standing in the shower or infront of the sink pumping furiously while mere drips trickle down the pump opening and down it's neck, very little at this point actually gets into the palm of my hand.  What could have been a soothing and relaxing facial cleanse has now become an irking annoyance, and all because of one... cheap... hand-pump.

The answer to my problem:  Buy a nice hand-pump

This will undoubtedly be a little more expensive than you are used to forking out for a hand-pump, but most likely because you have spent your whole life buying cheap plastic throw-away hand-pumps.  Instead, one time, trying buying a nice glass hand-pump, with good weight and with quality pump tops.  If you cannot find empty ones, and they can be hard to find, try purchasing a hand-pump with soap or lotion that you will like to use.  Once the hand-pump is empty, reuse it over and over again.  In my case, the hand-pump has been filled with my facial cleanser, and now every time I wash my face I say "bye bye irking annoyance of the cheap hand-pump!"

The Color-Coded Book Shelf

I have a library collection in the making and though it doesn't contain quite as many books as I would like there are still plenty to handle.  And while I've organized them by genre and author I've never thought of organizing them by color!  I'm fascinated with this new idea of color-coded books, in this logical brain of mine I wonder if it will make it hard or even impossible to find the book I'm looking for, or maybe it will be easier for me to find depending on how familiar I am with my book covers, I've come to the conclusion that it can really go either way 50/50.  But I think it worth a try even simply to see how much I would like the looks of it, after all, who doesn't like to organize?

Paul Loebach furniture & designs

Orchard Ladders
18 x 1.5 x 78 in / 10 x 1.5 x 130 in / 44 x 1.5 x 61 in
Produced by Matter

The work of Paul Loebach first caught my eye when I did a short post on the Paul Loebach Credenza featured in West Elm, the design was simple and yet the detailing was something to talk about - this is what I immediately liked about Paul Loebach's design.  Naturally I looked into Paul Loebach further, and was pleasantly surprised.  Paul Loebach is not a fleeting designer, it does indeed seem, that he is here to stay as most innovative and out-of-the-box designers are.  The quality of Loebach designs is comparable to that seen in DWR (Design Within Reach) stores but the designs lean more towards a warmer and welcoming atmosphere.

Orchard Ladder

The Orchard ladder was inspired by 19th-century orchard equipment.

Tocotta & Fuga

Tocotta & Fuga
25 x 20 x 28 in
Produced by Billiani

The Tocotta & Fuga chairs are made via computer driven machinery that "articulates the contoured parts including classic mortise and tenon joinery" Paul Loebach.

Step Stools

Step Stools
25 x 20 x 28 in
Produced by Areaware

The Step Stools were inspired by the versatility of the American Shaker furniture.

Wood Vase

Wood Vases
6 x 6 x 10 in

The Wood Vases are the results of an experiment in wood construction and CNC machining.  Where the design of the vases articulates the profile of the polymorphic shapes through the 'parting line'.

Shelf Space

Shelf Space
45 x 12 x 21 in

The Shelf Space is the result of an experimental collaboration with an aerospace machinery manufacturer.

View more Paul Loebach items & his biography

West Elm's Notable Item: Paul Loebach Credenza

Paul Loebach Credenza @ West Elm

Paul Loebach's Credenza table... A modern vintage... eclectic?  Table.  I may be at a loss for words on how to properly describe and detail the credenza table but it clearly took my breath away the first moment I set my eyes on it.  Wood with high gloss, I'm not quite sure if I've seen this combination before, but it works.

The kind of table that can transform and hold a room together, now that's the type of furnishing worth paying for, which brings me around to the pricing of this beauty, at $599.00 - it is decently priced.

Front view

Also comes in white

Paul Loebach's Credenza Table was such an attention grabber for me that I became curious about the designer.  With the push of a few keys I was able to find his website that proves he is an eclectic visionary in the realm of furniture design.  Check it out for yourself at Paul Loebach.

I Stand Behind: Large jars for storage

1-gallon Glass Storage Jar $13.99 @ Costplus World Market

I do yoga and love to soak in the tub once a week, my significant other does... well to be honest, I'm not sure what he does but he loves to soak in the tub at least once a week too.  And for all our body aches and pains we love to sprinkle a cup or two of fragrant bath salts to ease the pain and for a more deeper relaxation, whether the salts actually work- I have no idea, but they smell great and do make for a more relaxed bath time.  

Taking a bath once a week for each of us requires a bit of bath salt, so we buy the bath salts in bulk, and though the bath salts come in a pretty purple package it just isn't attractive enough to have it sitting around out in the bathroom.  To fix the problem of the bulk-buy bath salts I bought a very affordable 1-gallon glass container from the kitchen section in Costplus World Market to store my salts in, and it works wonderfully!  I can empty about 2-3 lbs of bath salts in the jar and leave it sitting out on the bathroom table, it looks wonderful and with a small glass scooper in the jar the salt is easily accessed.

I Stand Behind: Wood Baskets

Sedona Large Tote @ Crate & Barrel

I live in a 900 square feet apartment, that comes to approximately one bedroom, one bathroom, one living-room, one kitchen and one mud-room, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, merely trying to prove a point.  The point is, when you and your significant other live in a fairly small space you learn how to consolidate, arrange furniture and most of all... use the space that you've got.  If I've learned anything from this trying but happy existence it is that one should always make use of the space they have.

I'm in love with my bathroom, almost as much as I'm in love with my kitchen, my bathroom is made charming with it's 1920's subway tiled walls, pedestal sink and built into the walls underneath the windows are cabinet drawers.  And though it seems we have plenty of drawers there doesn't seem to be quite as much space as I hoped.

I use brown wood baskets to hold my neatly folded towels, it could not have worked out better.  What seemed to me a slight travesty my first day of putting bathroom supplies away upon my move-in to this humble abode became something really great.  My towels are always neatly folded and always out for an easy grab, the basket of neatly folded towels lends a charming and warm feel to my bathroom that I absolutely love.

If you find yourself out of space whether it's in the bathroom, living-room, kitchen or bedroom have a wood basket in mind.  You can easily store magazines and newspapers beautifully near the fireplace, or even throw pillows near the couch.