Back At It...

I've been on a bit of a hiatus the past few months from blogging...I started putting a bit too much pressure on myself to post often, instead of just letting it be what it's supposed to be--an outlet.  All of this is so foreign to me, I'm not very good at putting myself out there and being ok with any response or nonresponse I get--I always have expectations.  I started this blog as a way for me to put my ideas out in the universe free of expectation--just to share my love of decorating and making our apartment feel like a home.
So I suppose that's my New Years Resolution--to work on entering situations without expectations.

On that note--I have a new piece of furniture I'd love to share!

Our bathroom is about the size of a postage stamp and has absolutely ZERO storage.  I've used a couple of creative solutions to find more space (using an old dresser drawer as a shelf and hiding bathroom supplies in various places in the apartment)--it still hasn't been enough.  We have an awkward corner just outside our bathroom that has really had no use, until now.  I found this lovely for FREE on craigslist!!  (loveloveLOVE the free section!)

So I wanted to keep this a really simple piece--I wanted it to be pretty and clean looking.  The drawers are wood, but the top is laminate (still a little gun-shy after my last DIY blunder here).  After my failed side table redo, I got a few suggestions on using Chalk paint in my next go-round.  So I heeded all of your advice and WOW.

How have I never used chalk paint before?!  This stuff is a godsend!!  It sticks wonderfully to both wood and laminate--no priming needed or anything.  My favorite part is the way it dries though--it's a really wonderful, warm matte.  Absolutely my new favorite--can't believe I've lived this long without it!  I used Behr Belgian Creme on the drawers and top and then I put a new coat of aluminum spray paint on the frame and drawer pulls.

Here's my new "linen" dresser...

This wonderful shadow box with dried lavender was given to me by my sister for an engagement present--it's one of my favorite things!

This whole re-do only cost $4!!  I used 2 of the Behr paint samples (about $2/each) and I still have some left!

Well, I hope you like my new dresser re-do!  So glad I'm inspired to DIY again and ready to tackle a new project!!

Bedroom Update

Since we've moved into this apartment my focus has really been on the main living areas.  Our bedroom has really been neglected--so I've been working on making it a more complete space that is actually inviting and somewhere we would want to spend time in.

Clean a Carpet Without a Steam Cleaner

This weekend I decided to tackle our area rug--my husband bought it about 4 years ago and it really hasn't been cleaned since (obviously it's been vacuumed).  Since this rug lives in our living room, it sees a lot of traffic and had some pretty ground in dirt.  I couldn't afford to rent a steam cleaner (or the want to haul it up 3 flights of stairs) just to clean this one rug. 

So I started doing some research online to find a way to clean it without using a steam cleaner.  Being fair, I do believe I would have been able to get the rug much more clean with a steam cleaner, however, the method I used definitely helped spruce it up and it's much cleaner than it was before!

Side Table Revamps, A Cautionary Tale...

Ok, so I can be a bit of a go-getter (not always in a good way).  Once I get an idea in my head I have a hard time not just going for it.  So this is a cautionary tale...sometimes it is far better to stop yourself and do your research, think things through, before you jump in!
The story begins with 3 side tables (2 bedside tables and 1 in our living room), that were all a little too dark.  So, after re-doing our dresser, I decided they needed some lightening up.  Here's what I started with...

6 Ways to Add Color Without Paint...

Hello All...

SSo this week I wanted to share some more of my rental secrets...when you're faced with the dreaded white walls and tan carpet it can be overwhelming...how do you make those white walls disappear and make the room feel intentional?  Like you actually meant to have those white walls and tan carpet!

So here are my 6 ways to color without paint!

Curbside Dresser Before & After

A month or so ago I walked out of our apartment building to run to the store and I saw this great dresser sitting out front with a "Free" sign on it!  I immediately saw potential and lugged it up to our 3rd floor apartment!

Before...                                                                    After...

      

5 Movies to Watch for Inspiration

So Fall has finally hit, at least in Seattle, and it's getting dark super early...so for us that means we're spending a lot more time inside right now.  Well, the other day I watched one of my all time favorite movies and suddenly realized how inspired I am by the decor and design of the house!  

So now that there's a bit more night-time to spend watching movies, I thought I would share my top 5 favorite movies that inspire my decor...

Easy and Affordable Rental DIYs

I was recently asked by Hometalk to put together a board full of great DIY ideas for rentals!  I was so excited because it can be really hard to find affordable DIYs and tips for people who are renting and deprived of wall paint!! 

If you've never heard of Hometalk it's an awesome website--it's a place to check out some amazing DIYs (you don't have to have a blog to post projects or questions!).  You can clip your favorite posts to your own boards (similar to Pinterest) to keep track of your ideas!  So definitely check it out!

Without further ado...here's my new Hometalk board!

10 Ways to Decorate a Tiny Rental...on a Budget

I've learned so much since we moved to Seattle a year ago...how to properly dress for rain, how to not only decorate a home--but make it feel elegant and grown-up (on a seriously tight budget), that I absolutely LOVE the Pacific Northwest...I've also really learned how to use the space you have and sometimes create a little more!  Turns out that a lot of times you have to figure out how to store something in plain site without your place looking like you live at a storage unit.

So I wanted to share a few tips with all of you on how to not only use your space efficiently, but to make it feel elegant and comfortable at the same time...

Apartment Tour

I finally got around to updating the Apartment Tour tab--go check it out and let me know what you think of our place!!

DIY Burlap Poufs

So something I've wanted to work on for awhile has been creating some pouf ottomans for extra seating and to put our feet up!  Living in a small apartment, it's hard to add seating without crowding the space.  So a week or two ago my husband brought home these fantastic coffee bags from his work.  I totally fell in love with the stamps on them and thought they could add a cool, rustic element to our living room.

Estate Sale Steal Update!

A couple of weeks ago I posted about these great prints my husband and I picked up at an estate sale.  Well, I tried a couple of the mold fighting techniques I found online…let me just say, the microwave DOES NOT work.  I have no idea why that is even out there!  (I just tried it on one of the mats, so I didn’t damage my prints, but it did stink up my apartment for quite awhile!)  What I ended up doing was using a toothbrush that was BARELY wet with a little bit of vinegar to try to brush off as much as I could.  Luckily the prints were dry when I got them–so the mold was mostly dried out.  To be honest–my little toothbrush trick didn’t do a whole lot.  You can still see traces of mold on one of the prints, but I plan on just enjoying them until I can’t anymore.  Sorry, I didn’t take pictures of my toothbrush experiment–still getting used to this whole blogging thing!

Winter Reading Stack...

My husband and I went to our favorite local book store yesterday evening, while we were there he had a great idea!  We both like to read, I don’t get to read enough because I’m still in school and my husband goes through “reading bursts.”  His idea was to put together a stack of 5 books at the beginning of each fall that we will both work through together.  

I think this is such a great idea for the winter, especially in the Pacific Northwest where the days are incredibly short during the winter months (around 8 hours, sunrise to sunset)!  I also like the idea that we will read the same books, not necessarily at the same time, but it’s always fun to have someone to talk about your books with!  

So I wanted to set his plan into motion–this stack may change, but this is what we’re starting out with…

Adding a Little Luxury to a Tiny Bathroom

Ok, so I have a postage stamp sized bathroom–you can actually reach all four walls by standing in the middle!  That being said, decorating can be a challenge.  It’s hard to not make it feel so utilitarian.

Being obsessed with Pinterest, I ran across this picture and fell in love with the idea.

Cheap and Easy Coffee Table Update!

Hello All! This is a super easy way to add some character to a simple coffee table.  I recently rescued this from a neighbor of mine that threw it out!  I don’t have a before picture, but it was a simple wood coffee table, totally bare wood.  I spray painted it gray, but wanted to add a little something extra to make it look unique. I picked up a white paint pen at Walmart, turned on “The Way We Were,” and went to town!  

Estate Sale Steal!

So my husband and I stopped by the final minutes of an estate sale today and found these really great old prints!  I guess sometimes the late bird does catch the worm!  They were published by Vanity Fair (these are obviously prints of originals) in the late 1800s and are of prominent political figures of the time.  They’re called “Men of the Day.”  

Anyway, since it was the final minutes they were in a great bargaining mood!  So we got 3 prints and a silver tray all for $50!  One of the prints was originally $65!  We’re super stoked on them, but now need to clean them up and hang!  

Two of them have some mold damage, it’s mostly on one.  Not sure how to get rid of the mold though?  I’ve heard that you can put them in plastic bags and put them in the freezer and then brush off the mold.  Want some feed back before I ruin them in one foul swoop!  Has anyone dealt with mold on paper before?  Any successful ways to get the mold off before re-matting and framing?

Thanks!