Wednesday, March 30, 2011

My, you have a sunny disposition

So a couple of weeks ago I was obsessing over yellow doors.  However, when I got home and looked at the space I realized that a full on yellow door would make the entrance way look even smaller.  So I compromised.  I got creative.  I do what I do.

I've always loved detailed doors with all the molding and framing. Why not start your adventures or meet your destination with a bit of style and panache?

I couldn't afford to purchase a brand new door so I bought a couple of cheap $9 Walmart frames and spray painted them "sunshine yellow" by Rustoleum.  It's the same colour that I've used on my walls, my DIY light fixture, and a couple of shelves.  I think it's important to keep it consistent.  And I did just as the folks at Portlandia do:

Put a Bird On It!
Before




After
TA-DA!  In retrospect, I could have purchased larger frames and placed them horizontally but what's done is done.  I'm happy with the results and I think my poodle is, too.

I'm an organization freak

Okay.  My name is Pam and I'm an organization addict.  Everything in my home has to have it's own home.  So lately, my storage spaces are driving me crazy and when this happens it can only mean one thing:  project time.

I love the Ikea kitchen organizers.  Moving to my new apartment, I had to deal with less storage space for all my spices, kitchen stuffs, junk food, liquor... all the important stuff.  So, I installed the bygel system; of course, it's already filled up (my apologies for the terrible iphone picture - I haven't used my camera since I moved):

My kitchen lacks personality.  It lacks it in a big, blank, way.  There's no room for anything new so it's time to change things up to make use of the wall space.  I'm going to install a couple of Grundtal kitchen organizers. 

Here is the current situation:
Talk about a serious snore fest.  Don't laugh, I did this plan on MS Paint because that's all I had at work:



Here's some inspiration from other smarty pants:


Yiming's kitchen presented by the lovely folks at Apartment Therapy

So clean and simple, yet practical. I love the blue accents (Darling Dexter's Savannah home - love love love!)

I would also like to get a couple of these vintage Pyrex bowls but there's no way I'm paying 50 bux for each one.  One day, while I'm scouring the shelves at Value Village the thrift fairies will bring them to me.  It will happen.  Oh yes, it will happen.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

I want it all!

Okay... well, at least everything from the A+R Global Design online store.  I'm not sure how they did it but some how they were able to implant a small chip in my brain that sends them the ideas that are on my wish list.  They have seriously strong powers.

Here are a couple of my favourites:
 I'm going to get about 4 or five Greenbo's railing/ balcony planters ($24) - they're perfect space savers for someone with limited space.  Just looking at these makes me excited for the up and coming gardening season.  Yippeeee!

The Themis mobile ($27) was featured in one of the recent Lucky Magazine issues.  I've been tempted to buy it but don't have a place for this lovely trinket.

 Seriously, how cute are the Paper Boat Serving Set ($16-58)?  It isn't fair that I can't own every single thing that I see and love.



 TheDesile folding chair is just a really cool piece.  If you live in an apartment/ condo like I do, space saving solutions are a must.  But at $335 a pop, I just can't make it happen (weep, weep).



Maternal Dilemma card - karakuri model ($16)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Land of the Lost

I used to watch this show as a kid even though it would creep my out.  Teddy Ruxbin also creeped me out:


But these cute little guys don't give me the hee bee gee bees at all.  In fact, I think I've fallen in love.



Unfortunately, they're sold out and if they don't replenish soon I might have to ask my handy boyfriend to come up with something like this on our own!

That's it... I'm going to do it... any minute now....

I have wanted a colorful door for quite some time now.  I'm thinking yellow.  Sunny.  Bright.  Fun.  Cheerful.  Bold.

I made the mistake of painting an accent wall in a very small room in my first apartment and there was just too much going on in such a small space.  Guests opted to sleep on the couch.  I converted it into a walk in closet when the one in my room became too small for my extensive wardrobe:

Before (this looks like a make over for a prison):
After - much more inviting


Yes, I have enough shows, purses and dresses to fill a room.  I am not ashamed.


But I still have an affinity for yellow accents.  Which brings me to my desire for a yellow door.  Since I live in an apartment, I don't think it would be a good idea to actually paint any part of the door's surface.  I am toying with the idea of using yellow contact paper to brighten up the inside of the main entrance door.  I'll believe I'll have to order the contact paper online since I haven't seen anything like it in the stores.  Here's a couple of inspiring pics:
A guy called John
From Better Living Through Design

The Art of Nothing


Now that I've seen some of these pics I think I might put up some empty frames to create faux crowning.  Eeeek... so excited!  Hold me Zack!

That clip never gets old.  Long live the folks at Bayside High.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

I have succumbed

I do worry that my place is starting to look a bit juvenile but I think over time, once I have time and money to travel again, my walls and surfaces will be filled with little knick knacks from my various adventures.  There's just a lot of cute things here and there - I don't want for it to look like a spread from teen vogue!

That being said - I am now focusing on artwork in my home.  I find myself gravitating towards grey scale photos with graphic designs. 

The other day I had talked the serious condition that I suffer from. Iwantitnowitis bit me again and I ended up buying this print by Casey Ongren in the small card size.  I wanted to get the large print but felt that the graphic design might be too strong for my home.  It's gorgeous though - It's so interesting to look at.

I bought another print today. This is the second print I have bought off of the Urban Outfitters/ Society6 print shop.


    "Conjurers" By Nicholas Tassone



But I'm a big fan of this artist's work.  I'm hoping to buy more in the future.  There's something sweet about this picture. I'm not sure what these people will end up doing with the ball of energy and colour.  Maybe they're taking their cues from this film:



 I only watched this film once and I remembered that Joan Allen was the only good thing about it.  There was a big cheese factor and horribly predictable.