Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Catfish | Aviator Lounge Chair

Oh, Restoration Hardware.  I love you.  But you're so often out of my league.



I've been shopping for an eDesign client and recently fell in love with RH's Aviator Chair.  At $1355 (on sale), it's a little spendy.  But such a statement piece!

So we did a little digging.  What did we find?


The Accelerator Vintage Tobacco Leather Chair.  For $559.99.  A little smaller in depth, and the leather doesn't look quite as warn, but it has good reviews!

Score! 

Interested in becoming an eDesign client?  Reach out! 

Shopping | Portland's Best Kept Cabinet Secret

Our galley kitchen is lacking in storage.  Our stove stands alone, there's no place to put a hot pot.  Wah, wah, wah.

I mean, our kitchen has some other issues too.  Faux brick, wallpaper, highly textured walls, tile counters, dated appliances... I could go on, but it's easier to fix one thing at a time.  Or for me, two things at a time considering I am still working on our floors.

I digress.

I've been looking for inexpensive cabinet solutions to install on either side of our stove.

I've been to the ReBuilding Center and was initially excited by all of the cabinet options (its a fun place to explore if nothing else).  But most seemed old, and many were damaged.

Ikea is also great, but we decided to refinish our existing cabinets.




Enter DIY Cabinet Warehouse.  And cue the "ahhhhhhhhhh" music.  DIY Cabinet Warehouse is owned by MasterBrand Cabinets and is a catch all for factory over-runs, miss-ordered product, cancelled orders, and factory returns.

In other words, its an affordable cabinet mecca.

Found a base cabinet for the side of the stove for $25.  Yes, $25.

What's your favorite discount cabinet/building supply source?

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Travel | Portland Brunch, are we hungry yet?

We've had a number of people visit this month.  Lucky for us we get to see friends and family.  And doubly lucky?  We get to eat a lot of good food.  Like so much food I'm running on the treadmill while writing this.

Okay, so I'm not.  But I should be.

Here are a few favorites.  Come prepared with something to snack on in line.  Portland's brunch scene is intense and often requires long waits.

Photo Source: Yelp

















Pine State Biscuits

Photo Source: Yelp














Screen Door


Photo Source: Yelp















Veritable Quandry

Photo Source: Yelp















Simpatica Dining Hall

Photo Source: Yelp
















Broder

Photo Source: Yelp
















Tasty n Sons

Photo Source: Yelp














The Waffle Window

Photo Source: Yelp
















 Voodoo Doughnut

Hungry yet?

Friday, September 20, 2013

Shopping | Agate Platters

Photo Source: LEIF
I've been planning my Thanksgiving menu.  Well, sort of planning.  I've been looking at recipes and table decor ideas.  It feels like Fall here, and I'm so excited to spend the holiday in our first home with family! 

I want to do an unexpected tablescape.  No turkey decor here.  I stubled upon these agate platters courtesy of Leif and am in love.  Can't you just picture them paired with white linens and funky, painted pumpkins?  Oh, and candles.  Candles are a must.



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Concept | Open Kitchen Shelving

Yup, I'm still working on our kitchen floors.  The good news?  I'll think about that and get back to you.

I've been looking at kitchen pictures for some inspiration.  And, well, for a break.  One thing I've been seeing a lot of is open kitchen shelving.  Which I'm sort of digging.

See below for some of my favs.

What do you think?  Would you want people to be able to see into your cabinets?




















Take the cabinet doors off, fill, sand and paint




















Brass, glass and stone for layers of texture




















Utilizing the space in between a window for plate display




















Modern meets rustic with these wooden shelves




















Beaded board, iron brackets and open shelving for a charming plate display

















Eclectic kitchen with open shelving to display oversized mason jars

Thursday, September 12, 2013

DIY | Why so quiet?

























Things have been quiet around here.

It's eerie.

What's up?  Let me tell you.

Well it all started with a visit from a sub contractor that I was thinking about hiring for help with our kitchen refresh.  He knew a lot about period details.  Particularly, about things in our kitchen.

Then he mentioned that there might be hardwood under our vinyl tiles.

When he left, my interest was piqued.  And my husband was out of town.  It wouldn't hurt anyone to peel back a piece and see for myself.

Perfect storm.

I was SO EXCITED when I saw the hardwood.  I couldn't stop peeling.  It was like I had struck gold.  I could get this done before my husband came home.  A present!

Until, I realized that the adhesive that covered the floor was like one giant, sticky mouse trap.  And I was the mouse.

Cue the internet research.  Hair driers, peanut butter, detergent, scraping.  There was no easy way out.  The only thing that worked was goof gone, pine sol and a lot of scrubbing.  So much scrubbing that my fingers are now arthritic.  And I'm covered in sticky goo.  It's not a good look.

So, that's why it's been so quiet.  Because I'm past the point of no return.  Scrubbing away.  Covered in grime.  Dreaming of hardwood floors.  The dark stuff in the photo is adhesive.

One flooring store we called said it would take three guys a few days to clean the floors.  She also said it would be cheaper to lay a new floor than to hire guys to clean it.

Challenge accepted.

Help.  Me. 

What are you up to?

Sunday, September 8, 2013

DIY | Ikea Hacks

Ikea hacking.  Sounds scary, right?

So what's the deal?

Buy inexpensive Ikea furniture, add non-Ikea elements and create new pieces.

Here are a few favorites!

Photo Source: Cucumbersome















Anthropologie inspired end tables by Cucumbersome

Photo Source: Little House Blog




















Ikea Rast Side Table goes modern courtesy of Little House Blog

Photo Source: Apartment Therapy


















Ikea Bathroom Counter Hack using a kitchen island

Photo Source: Vintage News Junkie













 
Wood shutters using Ikea bed slats

Photo Source: I Heart Organizing























 
Expedit bookcase turns bench from I Heart Organizing

Photo Source: Apartment Therapy

















 
Elia Maurizi and Francesco Pepa used Ekby series and some paint to create this colorful shelf

Seen any good Ikea hacks lately?  Share your favorite!

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