Last Friday my younger daughter and I spent the afternoon wandering around downtown. We took in The Art Institute's new modern wing, then headed over to the Magnolia Bakery for a snack. I immediately fell in love with the decor and just had to share some shots with you. There's a lot of vintage kitchen inspiration here. Cleanly displayed collections, industrial pieces mixed with warm vintage accessories that were probably in your grandmother's home.
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This is our second year in our classic Chicago bungalow. It has beautiful Arts and Crafts era details, so I don't want to overwhelm it with decorations. This year I'm keeping it clean and classic. White twinkle lights and lots of greenery. The space I'd like to really do right is the front entryway. I've been Pinning all sorts of ideas and I think I've decided to do natural pine boughs (I love the loose drippiness) and a pine wreath with a loosely wrapped ribbon instead of the traditional bow. Then I'll hit up area t...
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When we had a tiny house with a big backyard, I bought the plans for Edgar Blazona's MD100 one room structure with the idea that I'd make a studio out back.
Before that could happen, we moved to a bigger house with a tiny backyard and no room for the MD100. I've never given up on the dream of building a smattering of Blazona's structures, maybe in the woods somewhere near a river or lake. Someday that will happen, but for now I'm thrilled with the idea of having my own mini Blazona-esuqe structure to play with...
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Yesterday we started our master bedroom makeover using budget finds or items already in our home. Some things are swap outs for other spots, some from our garage, at least one is an alley find. This isn't a project I really have money to do right now, so we're going to work it and work it HARD.
Old furniture that's gone out of style or maybe has a not-so-great finish can get a fabulous new life in a bright hue. These thrifted nightstands have taken on a bright teal paint job and give us much-needed drawer space....
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Holiday contest for ideas!
I recently picked up a vintage Elf to start the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition with my kids. I've seen a few posts from around the web with tons of cute ideas for how to place him around the house. I think Dave and I will have as much fun cooking up ideas for where to place him as the kids will when they discover his nightly activities each morning.
This is the cute little guy I picked up at my favorite antique mall for $6. Love that he's teal and green. He fits r...
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Decorating the Master Suite on a Budget
After being in the house just over a year, we're finally getting to a point where we are able to turn some of our focus to decorating our master suite. There's a lot to work with here, including a window nook, soaking tub, and king size bed. We already have a smokey blue nail head trim headboard and I like our yellow and white patterned comforter.
Also reused from our old house are the drapes, Ikea arm chairs, and small cafe table. Dave needs a space he can...
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We've been all over the area this summer in our little camper, but I hadn't been anywhere alone yet until this past weekend. I joined the Sisters on the Fly last spring after getting tons of inspiration from the book of the same name and this weekend was the first time that I was able to join one of their adventures. We all met in Potato Creek State Park just outside South Bend, Indiana.
Sorry about the dark camera phone pictures. I haven't been able to find my camera for 2 weeks. I live with a toddler. Stuff goes...
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My arms feel like jelly. I just took what I vow will be the FINAL swag at getting the color on those dang Windsor chairs right. I gave up on spray paint and invested in a power sprayer so I could use custom-mix latex instead of the limited blues offered in the can.The color came out right this time, just like the chairs in the inspiration photo. Remember this?
So, of course that meant re-priming everything.
I hung tarps in the garage to rig up a makeshift spray booth.
And of course you can'...
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The summer is always a busy time for us. Chicago keeps us locked indoors for so long during the winter months, that it's hard to get me to stay inside very long once things warm up.
Here are the broad strokes:
We went to Texas to visit family.
Sophia turned 10 and got her ears pierced.
Will turned 2.
We got the Yellowstone camper and have been fixing it up.
I got hi...
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We've gotten to the part where we decide what color to paint the exterior of our vintage Shasta LoFlyte. I've very quickly put some options together in Photoshop. The fabric for the awning (I've already purchased) is an outdoor wide cabana stripe in light teal and white.
Which one do you like?
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I had big plans to sew the crap out of some stuff this weekend, but the weather outside was just too pretty. Then our friends Dan and Carolyn got married yesterday in a ceremony perfectly timed with the purported rapture. (Everyone we know was still in the room by the end of the night, verifying that they are all complete heathens.)
We did manage to get a lot of plants into some dirt, but these sewing plans for the Shasta are next on the to-do list:
Sewing an awning for a vintage camper.
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Oh crap I'm exhausted. SO many nooks, crannies, cabinets, corners, hinges...Lots of things that have to be unscrewed, pulled off, painted around, and replaced.
I've painted countless rooms over the years and almost always been able to knock one out in a solid day, but here I am with this tiny camper and after 2 full days I'm only about 2/3 of the way done. It's good, though. Things are coming along and if scrubbing, patching, and painting does anything, it gives you an intimate knowledge of every square inch. We'r...
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Today I got the kitchen area painted, cabinets and all. I'd love to type a long diatribe, by my right arm feels like an overcooked noodle.
Before:
After:
Still lots to do, but it's a good start. More pics here >
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Here's where I'm netting out so far with paint colors (I love the colors in the Martha Stewart Paint line.) as well as flooring, fabric, and lighting. I may try to develop a muted red, white, and blue palette as well, but the green and blue feels so fresh. It's all throughout our house...I just can't get away from it no matter how I try!
Since I'll be using accessories from Bluebird Goods, I'm trying to keep a fairly neutral background that is still fresh, friendly, and not too stark. I'll be sewing everything...
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...Perfect back cushions for the Ikea Meldal daybed.
I've played around with all sorts of cushion options for the Ikea Meldal daybed that we keep in the front room. Nothing has fit right or was too expensive for me right now. I thought about sewing, but I've never done a box cushion and good foam is $$$$. So yesterday I measured the back of the daybed and set out to see what I could find. I didn't have to go too far. Target has box cushions in a seasonal end cap that fit perfectly at four across and they're only $...
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Looking around at all these cute vintage campers has got my decorating juices flowing big time. So I'm restraining myself (barely), by window shopping and planning what will go in our mobile family abode.
Goodies for a Vintage Camper by kitschykitten.com featuring tops
Amazon.com: Coffee Sugar Flour and Tea blue white metal check...
$23 - amazon.com
Amazon.com: Lodge EC6D33 Color Enamel Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven,...
$56 - amazon.com
1-1/2" Hexagonal Glass Knob: Nickel-plated Bolt
$...
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Every year at this time I go on a mad hunt for all things outdoors. Last year it was for a new bike, and I ended up with a rosy pink Globe Bikes step-thru. This year, realizing my fantasy of gliding through town with a bouquet of flowers and bottle of wine tucked into my wicker basket was flawed due to the fact that no one seems to make a basket that will hold the weight of said bottle without distorting the basket to the point of wheel abrasion, I've opted for a harder-working option. If I can't get home from the li...
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I've been such a huge fan and avid reader of Apartment Therapy for years. At least twice a year I follow along as they do The Cure (an 8 week cleaning and organizing sweep through your home). I get a new bit of inspiration every single day, and have a large stash of links and images I've saved in my "go-to" files when I need an idea.
So I am naturally over the MOON that they featured our kitchen! My "I just got laid off...this sucks...I'm going to do something productive" project actually got us on AT! Thank you f...
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