Reused bakers rack becomes pot rack & wine rack. Simple homemade spice shelf.

Lately I have been bitten by the design bug. I can usually look at gorgeous photos in decor magazines and blogs, and think, "that's nice," then go back to my day. However, as you know, I have been painting and re-doing and decorating like mad this past month. Here is my latest.

Before I put up a spice shelf:

After I painted the MDF & put up the spice shelf. Super cute I think. :-)

I didn't remove the labels or stickers on my spice jars, I just turned them sideways. Here is the cinnamon to show you:

Then I had the idea to put up a pot rack. My train of thought sounded kind of like this, "I want a pot rack, but I don't want to buy a pot rack. Hmm... We have an old bakers rack in the basement from our apartment... I could get some chain and hang one of the shelves... It even has a wine rack..."

Before the pot rack/wine rack:

Zoe took a photo of me drilling the holes with my safety glasses on. Very stylish, haha. I made a template of the rack with paper and used a stud finder to find the studs. I could tell if I was correct because most of our basement is unfinished, so I could look at the studs down there to see how far apart they are.

I asked for help at the local hardware store, Budget. The name, Budget, is so appropriate ;-) I got eye hooks, S hooks, and chain that each could support 225 pounds. I could have gone a little lower, but I figured it's better to be safe.

I took a photo of all the sawdust from drilling the holes in the studs.

The finished pot rack/wine rack (I also like to use it for fruit. So pretty.):

Also, I wanted to mention, that's not a mini Christmas tree on my kitchen island. It's a rosemary tree that our friends brought us on Thanksgiving. I replanted it in a slightly larger pot with holes in the bottom, and I water it every other day in the sink. We have been loving all the fresh rosemary for cooking. Cheers, Kelly

messy happy decor & playing hard

They say in Boulder people work hard so they can play hard. I think in our house the work is play... But an awful lot of learning happens when we're playing... :-)

Once, when Andy was about Zoe's age, he was told that all he had done all day was play. He answered, "I'm a kid, that's my job."

Tired out from playing hard...

painting flowers on the wall

Yesterday I went to paint a plate at a ceramics studio. (I am now expectantly waiting for it to be fired...) When I came home I sat down in a chair across from our couch, and starred at the blank wall. Since moving in, I have pondered what to do with this wall. I have put up dozens of paint chips, and considered shades of green, blue and orange.

As I stared yesterday, I suddenly knew what I wanted to do—Paint flowers from the area rug on the wall. I thought I would take a
before photo:

Below is the wall after the flowers were painted. I used bold loud colors taken from the rug with the plan to...

...do a white-wash over the flowers, when they were done, as seen below. They are even more subtle in person. I'm really happy with how they came out.

Click a photo to see it larger.

The bedroom re-do is finished! And it's our new favorite spot in the house :-)

To Do List: All checked off :-)

1) paint the walls

2) recover the headboard, and make pillows

3) replace the pictures over the bed side table

4) refinish the gold frame

5) find new candle holders (yay! one dollar on sale at Michael's!)

6) pour clean burning soy wax into the candle holders

7) find a new lamp shade

8) make a pattern to embellish the new lampshade

9) paint the pattern on the lampshade and add ribbon for trim

10) put up cork board (sticky stuff it came with didn't work,
staple gun did)

11) put images up on dream board

12) hang family photos from mini wooden clothes pins

13) write the word believe on the wall below the candles

14) bring in the succulent terrarium we made

Phew! And that doesn't include the desk, which we found on the curb and refinished this summer. I especially love the vintage-looking pulls we put on the desk.

bedroom re-do sneak peak ;-)

click to see them larger
This is how our bedroom has looked since the day we moved in (well, almost). The walls are what Andy's dad calls, builder's white. The picture is the wrong scale to be over that nightstand. The headboard is beige microsuede, which doesn't go with the quilt or nightstand at all. The lampshade is leftover from when this lamp lived in the girls bedroom years ago... I could keep nitpicking, but I wont ;-)

And here is a sneak peak of the re-done bedroom. It isn't finished as you can see—we haven't finished painting the walls, and I want to paint this gold frame, etc. But I'm really happy with how the headboard came out. I found this Amy Butler fabric on eBay—three yards for 30 dollars. I think that's pretty good for Amy Butler fabric, but it's been so long since I purchased any, that I can't remember what it usually costs;-) I had just enough fabric left over to make two little pillows also. They are just the right size for behind your head, when you're laying in bed.

I found this king size white quilt at Marshall's for only 50 dollars, and with that the bed is done. ...I think ;-) We have a bunch of snow and it's like 20 degrees outside, so we aren't going to finish painting in the foreseeable future, but as soon as it's done I will put more photos up.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Designing the bedroom & Creating a Succulent Terrarium

Click the photos to see them larger.

I decided to finally design my bedroom. We've been living here for a year and a half, and I haven't done a thing to it. There are some bamboo shades, but that's it. I realized that I never want to spend time in the bedroom, even since we found a cute desk on somebody's curb this summer, and I refinished it. At that time I had been fantasizing about having a craft desk in my room, and after imaging this for a few weeks, a desk just the right size appeared. I'm talking exactly the right size—like it fits the space I wanted to put it to the inch.

Still, the room is obviously unfinished, and so, not very welcoming. I went to a few fabric and craft stores, looking for some Amy Butler fabric to use in the room, but couldn't find any. So I went on Ebay, and there it was—on sale no less. I got a few yards to make a slipcover for my upholstered headboard, and another pattern to make some pillows.

After that, my design concept all fell into place... in my mind that is ;-) I know what color I want to paint the room (low VOC of course). I know what I want to hang on the walls. I already have images ready to pin on my dream board over my desk. And last night I took two of our wedding photos that were just sitting in a box, and put them in some frames I found in the basement. Free art. Love it.

There was also one other thing missing from my plan: Plants. I think every room needs two things: some black accents, and plants. However, I didn't want a traditional house plant. Ever since I can remember I have been in love with desert plants, like cactus and succulents. But it's been years since I tried to keep any, and I really wanted some.

First thing this morning I went to Marshall's and there it was: My huge glass terrarium—only 10 dollars! Shopping was never so easy. I just walked in, and like the desk that appeared when I imagined it, there was the terrarium.

Next, my Bubba (Ashley) and I headed to the local garden center, The Flower Bin. They have the most amazing selection of desert plants, and every other kind of plant you could imagine too. Going there is such a treat. We played around with different succulent arrangements, till we found a grouping that complimented each other.

Then a guy who works there gave us some serious knowledge on succulents. He told us that succulents need drainage, very little water, and that the roots grow outwards, not down. Therefore, he suggested a good amount of rocks, bigger rocks, because they're better for drainage. Also, since there wont be a real drain, he directed us to add a layer of charcoal next, to remove toxins from the system. He said to put a couple inches of cactus potting mix after the charcoal, and don't pack it down. Then you can arrange the succulents to your liking, and fill in with more cactus soil.

I thought it was very interesting that he suggested not watering the succulents for a week or two after planting them. Then he said you can check them individually to see if they need water by gently squeezing with your fingers. If there is some give, then they could use a little water. If they feel firm, then they're full. The ones that need water can be squirted with a spray bottle.

Lastly, I was surprised to learn that most of them can be pruned with scissors if you want to keep them short and bushy. Otherwise, some of them will grow quite tall, and may exceed the height of the terrarium, which is 9 inches wide by 10 inches tall.

decking the halls =)

kitchen backsplash!

I decided to put up a glass backsplash this weekend. Well, I decided a week ago, and I did it this weekend :-) It wasn't very difficult to do, but it was very hard work. My shoulders are super sore, and my arm muscles may have doubled in size ;-) Although the installing took many hours more than grouting, I think it was actually easier. Anyone else who's done a project like this -Which did you prefer?

Here is the kitchen before, only three sheets up on the wall.

After finishing the first row.

One and a half rows.

All the tile is up, next comes the grout...

Phew! Grouting done! I need a back massage!

After a good scrub, I put all my stuff back. Yeah!

A close up of the tile. I like it so much. It's a random pattern of clear and frosted glass.

We are so proud that we went around the angled window trim. Andy found this cool tool to cut the glass. It was really fun getting the perfect piece to fit.

And the other side of the window. Next project: the half bathroom...