Rearranged

January 14, 2009 at 11:00 am (Home Changes and Additions) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , )

The cluttered corner of the living room just wasn’t working, so this morning (we are both home again due to awful weather) we moved the old Coke crate to the entryway of the bedroom.  This took care of two problems at once.  The marquee letters we had hanging in the doorway were looking a little lonely as well.  We were happily surprised by just how much tiny changes can help a space out!

The space isn't completely finished, but it does already look a lot less cluttered.

The space isn't completely finished, but it does already look a lot less cluttered.

The Coke crate could still use a few odds and ends,  but this is a great improvement.  All in good time!

The Coke crate could still use a few odds and ends, but this is a great improvement. All in good time!

I am so glad my fiance is understanding with me when I want to move shelves three times before its right!  And, thankful that he is willing to do all the work, even on his day off! 🙂

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Name That Chair

January 5, 2009 at 12:45 pm (Home Changes and Additions) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , )

I know I have posted pictures of this chair before, but I am still wondering. I saw this lonely little chair on the side of the road just waiting for the garbage man about a month ago (yes, the side of the road). I went straight home and begged Tony to go nab it for me. I mean the poor thing is adorable and in desperate need of saving. So, being the amazing and understanding guy Tony is, he drove his truck over to the house where I spied the chair and scooped it up.

When we got it home, we realized there wasn’t a thing wrong with it. It wasn’t broken, stained, or even scratched. It looked as though some one had owned it since it’s original day and finally used it in a garage or shop, as it was a bit dirty. They must have thought it wasn’t new enough looking to clean up. Well, I have news for these people. This chair is amazing. I scrubbed it with my handy dandy Magic Eraser (amazing also by the way!). And, the thing was soon good as new.

We now have the perfect addition to our pocket office. But, we were still wondering what kind of chair this is exactly. It is unmarked, but looks mid-cenury to me. I am no expert, but was guessing 50’s or 60’s. If any of you out there have seen another one of these, or have any info, please let us know!

Even if we never solve the mystery, we now have this truly cute chair all for our own!

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New Little Project

December 31, 2008 at 3:32 pm (Projects) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , )

 

I love finding odds and ends to fix up, remodel, or work on that I can then add to our home.  These little projetcs are fun for me and keep me busy.  This new task is a stool from my grandmother.  Its not new, not antique, not anything special really.  I almost truned it down.  But, she said that it opened up.  That caught my interest.  Then, she suggested that maybe I could keep some interesting photos in it.  BINGO!  I snatched it up in a hurry.  I love a bit of unexpected, and her idea of putting snapshots in the stool was perfect.  I plan to recover the top with some funky material.  I’m not sure if I will paint it yet.  Then I will add some old, random photos to the inside for company to explore.  Cute!  Any suggestions on print or paint?  Let me know what you think! 

 

So much potential...

So much potential...

 

Vintage photos tucked away in here would be perfect!

Vintage photos tucked away in here would be perfect!

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Quick Trip To The Antique Store

December 19, 2008 at 6:49 pm (Home Changes and Additions) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , )

Last night before the ice storm, we took a quick drive to the antique store the next town over.  I love this store.  All antique stores are fun, but this place is so big that you always see something new.  I did find these two little gems:

A coke box with the cubbies still in.  I have been wanting to hang one of these up for a trinket shelf.

A coke box with the cubbies still in. I have been wanting to hang one of these up for a trinket shelf.

This is a very old cigar box.  I though this would be beautiful to hold little odds and ends.

This is a very old cigar box. I though this would be beautiful to hold little odds and ends.

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We decided to put the cigar box in the TV cubbie for now.  The coke box we hung in the living room above the Eames lounge chair.  For now all that we put in it are some antique glass candies.  They are a little lost in there, but I needed a place to put them.  Over time I’m sure we will collect more trinkets to put in there.  I think it looks really cute.  Any other suggestions?
The cigar box in the TV cubbie.

The cigar box in the TV cubbie.

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This was the spot we chose for the coke box. Don't mind those awful curtains! 🙂

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The back of the box has a bit of a wierd shape, but this is a close up of the little candies if you can make them out.

The back of the box has a bit of a wierd shape, but this is a close up of the little candies if you can make them out.

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Winter Wonderland

December 19, 2008 at 6:33 pm (Tid Bits) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , )

Today is another snowy day here in Illinois.  Thick sheets of ice have kept me at home again today.  The house is cozy and warm, watching Christmas movies, but outside snow continues to fall.  The dog and I went out to play in the snow for a bit, before getting back to some work.  Here are some quick pictures of our snowy day.  For those of you in warm areas, enjoy only having to look at these pictures!

 

Our snowy back yard.

Our snowy back yard.

You can see the snow still falling down.

You can see the snow still falling down.

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The Little Red Stool

December 17, 2008 at 3:30 pm (Projects) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , )

Being cooped up in the warm house yesterday as the snow blew outside, I had time to finish up a few projects.  One was the stool that I posted about yesterday.  It started out green and dirty, but now is a beautiful red.  I’m not sure where I’m going to use it yet.  I thought it would look cute in the kitchen, but when Tony brought it up the stairs for me, it struck me that it might make the perfect odd edition in our bedroom.  Hmmm…

 

It looks perfect in red.

It looks perfect in red.

 

 

Here it sits in the kitchen, but might not stay there for long...

Here it sits in the kitchen, but might not stay there for long...

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A New Project

December 16, 2008 at 4:11 pm (Projects) (, , , , , , , )

The other night Tony’s mom offered us a little metal stool that she had in her garage.  Knowing my love for all things vintage and all things industrial, Tony snatched it up.  The current stool is painted green and very dirty and dinged up.  But, we have already started cleaning it and preping to paint.  I think it will be red.  Our kitchen is mostly black and white, but has some punches of red. I think it will look adorable in there.  Here are the before photos.  After photos soon to come!

Littl metal stool before.

Littl metal stool before.

I think it will look so cute red.

I think it will look so cute red.

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Den Update

December 16, 2008 at 4:07 pm (Home Changes and Additions) (, , , , , , , , , , )

The den/office has been an ongoing project.  As you have probably seen from the pictures, it needed some work.  We were planning some sort of framed art, and also a running shelf high along the walls, for cncert and show memorabilia.  We have accomplished the art!  We stuck with the music theme and using an idea I had seen somewhere before, we framed Rolling Stone magazines.  We wanted to do even more, but 6 was all the space would really allow.  I think it has a really nice grouped affect as well as something we both enjoy.  Let me know what you think or any other suggestions.  The shelving is still to come!

 

Here is a view of the whole wall.  Some form of curtains or window treatments would probably tie the area together.

  

The right side view.

The right side view.

 

The left side view.  No more empty walls!

The left side view. No more empty walls!

 

 

 

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Our Office/Den

December 12, 2008 at 7:35 pm (Our New House) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , )

One of the extra bedrooms in the house has been turned into a den.  We added a projector and a futon from my appartment.  Its cozy, but still a work in progress. We do like going in there to watch movies, but it needs some work.  We plan on mounting shelving along the walls right under the ceiling.  We have a sort of music/art theme going, so we would like to set some of our memorabilia on the shelves as a border around the room. 

The closet in the den has become a mini office.  We are both still in school and it comes in handy to have a place to sit at the computer.  Tony built a wall mounted desk and we painted it black. 

From the doorway looking into the den. You can see the futon and the projection shelf. I have a plan for some art to hang along the empty wall.

From the doorway looking into the den. You can see the futon and the projection shelf. I have a plan for some art to hang along the empty wall.

This is the wall that the futon faces. The bookshelf holds all of our school books. Above that is empty because it is for the projection screen. We have a large frame for the area, but it has yet to be hung. The file cabinet is an old Shaw-Walker that I painted bright red.

This is the wall that the futon faces. The bookshelf holds all of our school books. Above that is empty because it is for the projection screen. We have a large frame for the area, but it has yet to be hung. The file cabinet is an old Shaw-Walker that I painted bright red.

A close up of the bookshelves and our fish Van Halen.

A close up of the bookshelves and our fish Van Halen.

 

 This is the closet office.  Tony made this desk for me.  I used wire to hang pictures.  I'm not sure, but even after editing, it still feels a little cluttered to me.  Any suggestions?

This is the closet office. Tony made this desk for me. I used wire to hang pictures. I'm not sure, but even after editing, it still feels a little cluttered to me. Any suggestions?

 

The chair that we are using right now as the desk chair was found in the garbage. I hate to admit that, but it was perfect and I couldn't pass it up! All it needed was a good scrubbing (thank you Magic Eraser!). I thought it was so vintage cute, so I made Tony go swipe it. Gorgeous.

The chair that we are using right now as the desk chair was found in the garbage. I hate to admit that, but it was perfect and I couldn't pass it up! All it needed was a good scrubbing (thank you Magic Eraser!). I thought it was so vintage cute, so I made Tony go swipe it. Gorgeous.

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Next Comes The Bathroom and Master Bedroom

December 12, 2008 at 7:09 pm (Our New House) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , )

Here’s the bedroom.  It’s pretty small, but turned out well.  We would like to change these cutains in time (just like the rest of the house), but they can wait until last.  I think it turned out pretty cozy.  What do you think?
This is the bed.  Matching side tables and lamps.

This is the bed. Matching side tables and lamps.

A close up view of the side table. This one happens to be Tony's.

A close up view of the side table. This one happens to be Tony's.

This is the dresser facing the bed. An old full length miror stands against the wall and an Asian keepsake box sits on the floor next to it.The dresser is vintage from when my mom was a little girl. She used the room set and then I did when I was little. The black strips are removable, and flip over to change colors. We painted one side of each black.

This is the dresser facing the bed. An old full length miror stands against the wall and an Asian keepsake box sits on the floor next to it.The dresser is vintage from when my mom was a little girl. She used the room set and then I did when I was little. The black strips are removable, and flip over to change colors. We painted one side of each black.

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The hand is a vintage glove mold, the box is an old Kodak box, which we keep our momentos in. The mirror is an antique medicine cabinet, which we painted black and added a chendelier crystal for a pull.

The hand is a vintage glove mold, the box is an old Kodak box, which we keep our momentos in. The mirror is an antique medicine cabinet, which we painted black and added a chendelier crystal for a pull. Close up of sink and storage.

The view from the door into the tiny bathroom. Its small but we managed to fit all of our things in there.  It feels really bright and spa-ish because of the light blue walls and white curtains.  We added a blue rug and blue curtain hooks.

The view from the door into the tiny bathroom. It feels really bright and spa-ish because of the light blue walls and white curtains. We added a blue rug and blue curtain hooks.

 

The little shelf we hung across from the toilet with pretty perfume bottles on it. The only little "extra" that fits into the space!

The little shelf we hung across from the toilet with pretty perfume bottles on it. The only little "extra" that fits into the space!

 

Close up of sink and storage.  Pretty much the entire bathroom.

Close up of sink and storage. Pretty much the entire bathroom.

Here’s the little bity bathroom.  Not a lot to tell, but we did manage to fit all of our things into the small space, and it even turned out pretty!

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