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".

I Stand Behind: The Hand-Held Sweeper Bucket

With a yard full of trees and plants I've been having a hard time keeping it clean, this is because of the copious amounts of dead leaves and twigs that fall, when I'm done sweeping one section I'll find myself staring at a pile that isn't quite large enough to warrant me jumping in (*like the child in me wishes it can do, had the pile been large enough) and yet the pile isn't small enough simply to pick up a couple of handfuls of and be done with.  

I suppose the continuous bending and picking up of yard debri is a good work out for my back (it'll creek for a day or two afterwards simply to remind me I had a good workout) but it is questionable whether the good outweighs the bad, the bad results in a messy yard (and that just won't do).  So I've come to the conclusion that my yard would be 75% cleaner had I a good way to pick up the debri, which is why I decided on a large sweeper-bucket from Home Depot (about $20).

The sweeper bucket is hardly sold for yard clean-up purposes but I found that it works great.  It's not nearly large enough to get my yard trimmings in one scoop but it does the job more efficiently and without me having to bend over repeatedly or get my hands dirty.  The handle is also on a hinge that allows the bucket to be seen as (pictured above) for easy sweeping or for the bucket to simply hang down with the opening facing up, this way it is easy to carry your debri without spilling it all about or you doing a funny thing with your arm to adjust the sweeper bucket in a position that keeps all the debri inside.

Urban Lofts

My brother and his new wife are soon to be moving into a beautiful urban loft located in the mid of downtown LA, how much more jealous could I be?!  Then again it would be hard to trade in my organic vegetable and fruit garden for a loft that has no planting space at all.

They were able to secure for themselves an absolutely beautiful and eccentric urban space; concrete flooring, open piping, partial brick walls and all, an all-encompassing fun space to design and decorate as your home.  With this new home of theirs constantly on my mind I looked up a few decorated urban loft spaces that I felt were inspiring.

As much as I like the idea of minimalism and modern themed homes I love too much the feeling of being cocooned and comfortable at home, for me this means rugs, rustic, color, fun, cute, wood, chandeliers... all that makes a space feel homey to me are these things, thus the loft pictured above is more my style.  I love the red on the spiral staircase and the use of rugs throughout, not to mention the teal colored tufted armchairs.

The use of wood is important in the loft pictured above. In terms of the decorating approach the loft is absolutely gorgeous, the use of wood gives the feeling of being grounded and lends an atmosphere of comfort while at the same time there are big proportions of modernism (*ahem, the kitchen area).  And while the loft is largely decorated in the minimal style it positively lacks the coldness of the usual minimal home.

Rugs?  A very important tool for any decorator but more-so with lofts as the rugs have a tendency to look even more exaggerated in this type of space.  The use of a contemporary rug in a loft can amplify the feeling of the modern in the urban loft while opting for a more classic tufted arabian rug can give an immediate feeling of warmth.  Pictured in the loft above is an area rug for a space that is decorated in the minimal contemporary style, not only does the area rug organize the space but also give off the feeling of a lived-in space, all as a result of the color and style of the rug; the perfect way to add a bit of character.

Cement walls and cement floors is almost always the case when moving into an urban loft, this can be seen as quite a hurdle to those who wish for a more comfy style home.  Pictured above is a loft that was transformed into a comfy space.  The large french-style windows, plush sofa and built in wall divider all enhance the general mood to a more contemporary chic space.  The use of lamps and the large amount of seating choices all point to the idea that this is a space you can sit and be comfortable in, that you can spend time in and talk in.  A very good example of allowing your furniture to do the talking for you.

The cement-floored and walled loft pictured below is much more modern and holds tight to the theme of the urban loft, the use of metals and the exposure of the cement floors and walls reiterates this theme beautifully.  Cement, metal, glass, leather are all textures that are modern and it is made sure, in this loft, that these elements are exposed, hence the absence of floor coverings such as rugs and the absence of wall-coverings such as tapestries and pictures.  By using the natural elements already part of the structure the modern and raw-looking loft feels quite natural, simply enhancing the natural (but urban) beauty of the space.

Leaving my favorite to last, the cement floored and brick walled loft.

DIY: Paint it "Trash" bucket

Found an old-school metal bucket in the backyard and decided to convert it into a trash can (there is a lack of trash cans in the house and a few rooms can definitely use one, especially the office).  While I probably could have used the metal bucket as-is I decided it was a great opportunity to have some fun with it.

I decided to paint the word "TRASH" on the metal bucket so that everyone would know that this old metal bucket sitting on the floor wasn't just any old metal bucket but an old metal trash bucket!  I know pretty useless right?  But hey, it looks super cute now, plus it goes really well with my orange office!

Things you will need:

1.  An old metal bucket (or any metal bucket)
2.  Alphabet stencils (I went to Blick, a store that I rightfully call "a little piece of heaven" and purchased plastic alphabet stencils for a mere $3.00, they're reusable too which just makes my day!)
3.  Pencil (not a mechanical pencil, the lead will just break once you try to trace the letters on metal)
4.  Acrylic paint (any color of your choice, I chose orange to match the orange office)
5.  Paint brush(s) (the smaller brushes seemed to work the best for me)

What you need to do:

First step:  Trace the letters of the stencils across your metal bucket to make the word or words you wish to make, suggestions?  "Basura", "Toss it here", "Don't be a litterbug", "Rubbish", "Garbage" etc. etc.  Get creative, think outside of the square and in the circle, your letters don't have to go straight across you see?  How about staggering or going diagonally.

Second step:  Paint the letters in with your color choice.  Take your time, take a break if you need to, don't feel like you need to rush through it, it is only a trash can after all.  I found it easier to trace the edges first since that was the most difficult to do and then filled it in with slow, long strokes.

Third step:  Create a textured coat over the first coat which will not only make it look even cooler but the color even brighter.  As you can see from the picture below, the "S" only has the first coat of paint, once I put the textured second coat of paint it will look brighter and more funky like the "A" next to it.  Create the texture by using the same color paint, dab the tip of your brush into the paint and dab away, add as much or as little texture that pleases you.  Keep in mind that you don't have to wait for the paint to dry to do this texturing step, you can wait for the paint to dry if you'd like though but allowing the first coat of paint to dry doesn't really change the final look.

And you're done!  Now you've got an awesome trash bucket for your equally awesome but now more awesome room.

A Taste of My House Revisited (O.G. A.K.A. Micasarevisita)

Thanks to another great blogger, Lori of Automatism, who posts absolutely wonderful pictures of most everything, and yes, even the inside of beautiful homes, I was introduced to Mi Casa Revisita, a site concentrated on everything interior (also where the images of today's posts are from).  Mi Casa Revisita is in Spanish but I'm sure you will be able to find your way around the site, with just a little bit of Spanish such as "bano", "casa", "terrazas" and such words it is simple enough to navigate through the site, however reading the actual articles may be another ball-game.

"House of the Free Spirited" as this house is so aptly named is breath-taking but not in the romantic sense of the word, breath-taking in a sense that the mixture of contemporary, minimal and spanish style of the house is so well integrated together that one can't possibly imagine topping it.  I absolutely love being taken in surprise (assuming that the surprises are good of course) and The House of the Free Spirited did exactly that with it's mix of rustic, modern, vintage, and contemporary pieces all against the backdrop of a minimal and modern home.

I think that very often when trying to decide what kind of look you want your home to be many get caught up in sticking to one look whether it's minimal, modern or rustic, etc.  I suppose it is safest to do so, but in this case I feel like going with how one feels, what one likes in a single piece and incorporating that into the home regardless of it's interior genre has worked greatly to the benefit of the big picture.

(Above image) - I love that the tiled flooring is continuous and the same from the inside of the house to the outside, it gives a free flowing vibe that not only makes this small house seem even larger than it is but also a feeling of balance and connection between the inside and outside of the house, hence I suppose the name of the house, "House of the Free Spirited".

(Above image) - the use of rustic colors that are dabbled about the entire interior (the basket in the corner, the teal on the shelves, the colors of the picture above the sofa, the red of the wooden chairs) brings life to what other-wise could have been a rather drab interior.  Sometimes when given an empty space, in this case it would have been tiled floors and white walls, it can be hard to imagine the space at it's best- I think a wonderful job was done here with the inclusion of different colors probably not normally used especially given the spanish-colored tiles (such as the bright red wooden chairs) which actually gives it the right amount of pop needed for the look of the room as whole.

(Above image) - here is an image that epitomizes the whole reason why I love this house so much, the use of different interior genres that just seem to go curiously well, the rustic table and vintage chairs with a backdrop of a very modern and minimal kitchen.

Using Red

I've never been a fan of the color red but I'm slowly warming up to the color especially when it comes to interior design.  I find that red can be so versatile, it can be played down to suit a charming design or played up to a penetrating color that enhances a classical-themed interior or even be used to accent a minimal or modern themed room or home.

THE KITCHEN

The red in the modern kitchen pictured above gives off a pleasant charming accent to what otherwise could have been a cold feeling kitchen.  The use of the color in the kitchen brings down the kitchen into a more welcoming atmosphere and lends an interesting view of the kitchen as a whole; mixing modernism with charm from the red wood of the cabinets is unusual... and yet, very pleasing.

The high gloss red cabinetry and island is contrasted with the light blue walls in the kitchen pictured above, the use of red keeps the kitchen bright and popping.  Light blue is not often paired with such a great amount of high-gloss red and usually in the case of light blue walls red often takes the role of the accenting color.  In this kitchen however the great amount of high-gloss red that is used seems to have a feeling of imbalance between the two colors (red v.s. light blue), red winning out naturally due to the deepness of the color.  However the two colors together although not naturally paired in this manner give off an eccentric vibe that is altogether fun.

In the kitchen pictured above a theme of white and red, the classic pair, comes together to result in a kitchen that is light and pops with fun, imagination and charm.  An interesting take on walls and trim also can be seen in this kitchen.  One wall red with white accents and another white with red accents.  A great way to play with balance and keep it fun.

THE EATING AREA

A classic designed dining room with red has a tendency to remind me of something I've read in Russian classic literature and usually scream "gaudy!!" to me.  The high-gloss red in the sleek walls accented by dark mahogany wood trim (seen in the above picture) is definitely something different.  The sleek red walls is very much modern while the decor and the use of mahogany is very classic not to mention the contemporary rug, and while the there is a mixture of very different and rarely paired styles, the outcome is rather exciting and sophisticated.

One of my favorite pictured red rooms (above), the eating nook.  The enclosed eating nook stands as an accent to the kitchen and set the space off even more-so than it would have already been.  The warmness of the red creates a fun atmosphere against the black and white while also keeping it cozy looking while at the same time chic.

THE LIVING AREA

Deep red walls accented with black and white with pops of lighter colors such as the yellow and peach makes for a very contemporary space.  Red walls can make one feel a little too enclosed, even a bit claustrophobic perhaps, but the cleverly used black and white photos placed along the height of the walls creates open space.  And while I don't believe an entirely red-walled living-room to be completely inviting and comfortable the amount of cozy sitting space offered, the lightness lent by the window and the entertainment of the pictures itself can't help me feel like I wouldn't mind sitting in this room for a while.

THE CHILDREN'S ROOM

Candy-cane lane!  Red and white stripes is a great way to go with children's room for the use of red.  What can be more fun for a kid than to be surrounded by a large candy-cane, because that is indeed what they will thinking.  It's a chic over-all design for use of this color while at the same time still maintaining a suitable atmosphere for kids.

THE ENTRYWAY

So I've saved the best for last, the red entryway, which I think is the perfect and best use for red in the home.  A stunning invitation to any visitors.  Using the red and white classic pair (pictured above) and keeping it clean and simple is always nice, but hanging black and white photos along the walls can also make for an interesting time for the new-comers, you can bet they'll be stuck in that room for at least 10 minutes.  I say it's the best room to use red because the use of red in the entry-way is always surprising to those who have never seen it, and I simply love the idea of starting off with a BANG!

Item of Note @ West Elm: Owl Mug

I have a thing for mugs.  I try not to have a thing for mugs because what am I going to do with a  collection of 100 mugs you know what I mean?  However, the  West Elm the Owl Mug is too cute to not talk about.  The owl mug with beautiful dark autumn colors against the white base screams morning coffee, and I do love my morning coffee.

Owl Mug - Autumn Branch $8.00 (sold individually)
Porcelain, measures 3.25" diam x 4.25"h

View other items @ West Elm

A closet pole in lieu of a shower pole

Upon moving into our newly renovated home we realized we had planned the master bathroom tub to be too long in length, for two months my husband and I showered in the guest bathroom for we looked high and low and was unable to find a shower curtain rod long enough for our master bathroom tub.  We then moved on to thinking about more creative options, wires and even ceiling hanging rod options, of course all of these were not actual shower curtain rods but possible ideas of what could work.  After two months of no shower curtain rod my sister came to visit one day and when she inquired about the curtain-less tub I told her our conundrum, and she, with a mere blink of an eye said to me, "why don't you just use one of those long wooden closet poles?"  I was of course happy and at the same time completely dumb-founded that we hadn't thought of it.  The next week my husband and I made a trip to our local Home Depot where we bought a pole for $10 and a pack of rubber caps for $2.00.

We measured out the length of the wall and cut the wood to the proper length with a handsaw, popped rubber caps on the end and hung it up, we both took a shower in the master bathroom that night and we really could not have been more excited about it.

There is the concern that the wooden rod will warp into a condition that will eventually deem it unusable due to moisture, whether this will actually happen or not I have no idea but it beats not being able to use the tub at all.  The thought that coating the wood with a paint seal did occur to me, this may possibly help it from not being affected by the moisture.  Other than this moisture concern on the wood the closet rod worked beautifully, not just mechanically but aesthetically as well.  The natural wood color of the closet rod goes perfectly with the other natural wood colors in the bathroom and ended up tying the bathroom decor  nicely together, something I did not expect and a very pleasant surprise.  

The wooden rod seems to have other advantages when compared to all other shower curtain rods, it is not only cheaper than purchasing an actual shower curtain rod but can also be painted to a color of your liking, naturally this would require a little bit more work than purchasing a shower curtain rod but it would be an original, your original, with this in mind painting and sealing doesn't seem half bad does it?