Sunburst in My Bathroom!

Remember when I was contemplating re-doing the bathroom? Well, after a few (small) tweaks, I’m perfectly happy with the way it is!

Isn’t it funny, how adding just one or two things can make a space feel so much happier? I love having flowers in here, and my mom got me a mini orchid when she and my dad were staying with me a month ago. It’s expiring fast, but still makes me smile when I walk in. I hope to keep one in there always! I added a nice new glass soap pump (buh-bye plastic containers), too.

But my favorite new thing is the sunburst mirror (from Target, $24.99, apparently not online, but similar to these sunburst mirrors here, and here). A little mid-modern touch to my mostly classic bathroom.

So, what’s the need to add more lights and frame out the ceiling and re-tile the shower? Well, I’d still love a marble vanity countertop…

-Liz

Happy Spring!

Yesterday was the spring equinox and I celebrated with my brothers in town this weekend. We took a rainy walk through Muir Woods, made chocolate cake and sweet crepes (at least my brother’s girlfriend did), and watched some March Madness basketball.

Bad cell phone picture under the Muir trees

I thought I’d do a nice little round up of the fun spring projects I’ve seen on a few other blogs, since I’m not feeling too crafty myself these days. I’m in more of a romp around in the rain mood (see above!).

1. DIY Spring Wreath from A Soft Place to Land

2. Hydrangea Cake from i am baker

3. Always pretty things from sfgirlbybay

What else would you add?

-Liz

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Adler Manifesto at the Filmore Store in San Francisco, photo by misocrazy

“I believe that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right. Unless the husband is gay.”

-Jonathan Adler, Happy Home Accessorizing

 

Book Review: Happy Chic Accessorizing by Jonathan Adler

Cover Photo from Amazon

I got home tonight, excited to read my new book (that I got in the mail yesterday from Amazon), Happy Chic Accessorizing, as my husband watched March Madness. I bought Happy Chic Color in the mail too, and !surprisingly!, Brentan had already taken a peek through.

‘That guy is crazy,’ are his first words as I open the cover.

‘I know,’ I reply.

I got what I was expecting–a crazy, color-filled, eclectic, modern, playful, CRAZY loose guide to design. His look is unique, never boring, and the pictures full of color. The copy, on the other hand, is a little soft, but playful still. On decorating with pillows, Adler says, “Herewith, more tips for squishifying your pad.”

I don’t think I could ever embrace Adler’s playful over-the-top enthusiasm for over-the-top-ness, but I love his overall theory in his belief that “your home should make you happy.” I believe that too, Jonathan, I believe that too.

-Liz

PS. You should check out this adorable post over at Carrots N Cake: life advice from Murphy (the dog). So cute!

Ashlyne Huff Video: Victorian Opulence

I don’t really know anything about this artist, but she (or her producer) has an awesome taste in architecture and design. Don’t you kind of want to live in the apartment in this music video? I’m loving the fireplaces and the blue walls, the yellow details, the wide wood floors, the crown molding, and the sparse, yet opulent, furniture. Drool fireplace. Drool high ceilings and windows. (I miss my Boston apartment. It had this kind of potential.)

I like that the space is so open– it just screams ‘HAVE A PARTY!’ I sort of wonder what other people’s spaces look like full of friends and family, unlike the traditional empty staged blog and design mag pictures. I want to see your friends and the cool people that hang out where you are!!

Next time I have a big party in my space, I’ll try to take some pictures of it full of people.

So she’s a little dramatic, but she’s rocking the cowboy boots with the floofy dress.

-Liz

Small Bedroom Gallery Wall

I hung up these few pictures above my dresser in the bedroom a few weeks ago, since the wall was gaping bare. I think I made a nice little scene, with a framed poem, original piece of art (that’s the one that’s covered in glare…), and photo of me and my sweetie! The art and frames I had, so it was a nice ‘free to me’ update in the bedroom. Though it may not look like it, the top of my dresser got all cleaned up and organized. And while I like the fake ‘crystal’ lamp (from Bed Bath and Beyond), I have an awesome original 50′s real crystal lamp on the table beside my bed. Oh my I love that lamp (that you can see here. Yes, see how it sparkles?). So the one on my dresser may need to be replaced to not compete with the awesomeness.

What’s decorating your bedroom these days?

-Liz

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Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

-William Morris

 

New Plants

New Plants

I went to the local nursery a few days ago (I like to support local nurseries instead of places like Home Depot, when I can! The staff are so helpful and really care about your projects), and bought a few new plants. I was a little bummed with their selection, but I’m told that in a month or two, when spring “officially” arrives (though not in Northern CA–it’s already here!) they’ll have more stuff to choose from. However, that didn’t stop me from finding a few plants and veggies, and spending close to $150!

So this bed in front of the house still is mostly empty (remember my adventures in plant extraction?), and I’m going to wait a bit longer to fill it up completely.

Spinach

A few veggies filled up my filing cabinet planter. Did I ever tell you that I made this last spring? I found a few cheap metal filing cabinets at a garage sale, took out the drawers, and screwed them together, bottom to bottom. Then I added some casters and spray painted the whole thing a pretty light blue. A very easy, cheap, flexible mini garden! I overestimated its capacity, and had to put my spinach in pots. Though I think they’re cute in terra cotta!

Strawberries

I was delighted that the nursery carried bare root strawberry plants. These are supposed to yield big, juicy berries, and I can’t wait for June or July to come to harvest these!

The filing cabinet planter box

Here’s a larger view of my planter box, the other side filled with lettuce and peas. The box is rusting a bit so a fresh coat of paint might be nice….

How does your garden grow? I’d love some tips on container gardening, or hear about what’s been successful to you!

-Liz

Sarah’s Oakland Bungalow (In Progress)

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I spent most of last Saturday helping my friend Sarah (of Urbivore) fix up her new home in Oakland, CA.  I’ve known Sarah since 9th grade or so, and owning a home has been her dream since she moved out to CA over a year ago. Her new old house is 1950′s bungalow style, with nice newly refinished wood floors, lots of light, and lots of imperfections on the walls, which I became intimately familiar with as we spackled, sanded, swiped, and painted during the day. The living room above is the prettiest room in the house with TONS of light from the east and south facing windows. Her fireplace is really cool too, and has a bit of potential for awesomeness! (The pink mirror above, less so)

Here’s Brentan and Sarah in the entryway, right before we went out to get some delicious tacos for lunch and primer to fix that ugly patch on the wall in the following photo.

Sarah had picked out some paint colors before we arrived, and here is Lori (Sarah’s friend from college) looking at the mess we need to clean up. This room is the dining room, and I can just see a cute chandelier with Sarah’s vintage modern turquoise chairs and teak table so well in here! We painted this room grayish blue, but I didn’t manage to snap any during or after pictures.

Sarah’s eventual plan, and instigator of buying her first house, is to transform the yard into an urban edible garden, complete with chickens!

I’m going back next weekend for any support Sarah needs. Stay tuned for more updates.

-Liz