mug shots or headshots?
do you ever look at words too closely or for too long, then they start to look incorrect? look at the word ‘headshots.’ strange, huh? anyway, i digressed before i even started… my good friend Jessica Cedarland and I are at Blissdom, a conference for 800 blogging women. like i mentioned in a previous post, […]
a custom dining room built-in for my neighbor
several months ago, i was at a friend’s house. she mentioned that she wanted to do a built-in in her dining room. one where the kids could do homework. stash papers. and maybe the adults could even stash a kegerator. and all of it would be hidden if a real dinner were to be served […]
a built-in entertainment center on steroids
i design software applications. what does this mean? my mom has asked me this no fewer than a zillion times. i conceptualize how users should interact with software. software apps, whether web-based or otherwise, should be easy-to-use. so easy that even AOL users should be able to figure them out. again mom asks “what does […]
rustic restoration hardware vibe dining room reveal!
the morning room is almost done. i just need to seal the dining table…but i just can’t seem to find the right product. i wanted to use Dead Flat but am nervous about it for some reason…not sure that it’ll clean properly. how about these luxurious host and hostess chairs? The nailheads are cool. our […]
kids’ loft/play area/preschool storage solutions
have i mentioned how much i hate clutter? perhaps it’s time to fess up to a bit of OCD? perhaps more than disliking messes is my extreme need to be organized. i want to know where everything is at any given time. having a system allows me to find a specific Hot Wheel without much […]
how to make a felt and velcro board for kids’ learning
i made this a few years ago for lil G…we use it all the time and he learned his letters quickly. now Big A is using it…mainly to eat. it’s a simple DIY. get a canvas. using a staple gun, staple a large piece of felt around the canvas. staple the velcro. i got all […]
big boy’s surfer room with a restoration hardware industrial vibe…
lil G’s room was the last room to get painted. i had the wall paper picked, but just wasn’t sure the direction i wanted to head. we’re a family of surfers, so that was definitely the theme. note that we don’t yet have anything above the bed on either of the walls. when you live […]
Restoration Hardware-esque coffee table :: stands up to Hot Wheels!
many of you have read about our ‘zero to hero’ coffee table. if not, you can read about it here. it’s been 5 months since i refinished this piece to have a restoration hardware weathered wood finish. i used annie sloan’s chalk paint. how much do i love that stuff? i bought 4 quarts, have […]
Antique chair with redone coffee sack burlap seat
our good friends gave us this antique chair. what a treat to get a gift like this! looks like it had been in their family for a long time…and perhaps in the garage for a while, too. the leather seat was torn and not salvageable. so sad. batting and burlap wrapped around the seat I […]
Getting a Restoration Hardware grey finish with ease….Eco Wood treatment
The blogging world has been inundated with the color grey. Dark grey. Light grey. Weathered grey. Annie Sloan chalk paint is wonderful. I’ve used it on pretty much everything inside and outside the house. It holds up extremely well. In fact, the outdoor pieces have endured several heavy rain storms and the patina continues to […]
Beachy, simple, fall mantle :: sea fans, vintage windows, baby pumpkins
before moving to this house, i was on a craigslist spree. lookie here…i picked up these 1950’s windows for $5 each. i ordered some sea fans, and using a few dabs of hot glue along the center wood strip, i achieved this look. pretty nifty. i kept the look simple and clean. i love the […]
the look of fall in so cal…
note that the light fixture on the right hasn’t yet been installed. the glass arrived broken courtesy of FedEx. thanks. 🙂 linked to
i’ve got my eye on you…. wood nursery container…
we’re in the final stages of our landscaping. when the trees were delivered, i wasn’t as excited about the trees as i was about the containers in which they were delivered…. so very excited to upcycle these… stay tuned!
annie sloan tutorial :: Restoration Hardware wood finish on an old coffee table
A few folks have asked how I got the look on the zero to hero coffee table. I didn’t take pix b/c we’re moving this week and I didn’t have much time to crank out a few more pieces before the movers arrive! But here was my process: Old White as a base, brushed on […]
when a zero becomes a hero :: ugly coffee table gets a life
our designer Erica Bryen, is incredible. she’s young, vibrant, hip, smart as a whip, and totally gets us. she works with clients all over southern california, has impeccable taste, and is no BS. she gets it done. she gets it. i’ve come to realize that it’s good to know what you don’t know…when you’re in […]