design and the city

for my valentine ...

2012-02-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

i designed a book on blurb of our wedding photos. i was pleasantly surprised at how easy and fun it was to create. the book arrived last friday on our doorstep and i couldn't resist giving it to him just a little early.

R + L

Make Your Own Book

this project has inspired me to start creating a yearly photo book as a way to hold onto our memories instead of uploading them to the computer and forgetting about them. how do you organize and display your digital photos?

happy valentine's day, lovelies!

address stamp

2012-02-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

have you been over to paperwink to check out their adorable online shop? i discovered them from this image of an address stamp i saw on pinterest.

i just ordered one for myself a couple weeks ago and am delighted to finally have a personalized address stamp. at only $22, i'm not sure what took me so long ....

lucky day

2012-01-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

i was driving to my (work) storage unit earlier this week where i keep wallcovering samples and happened to see a vintage knoll office chair sitting outside of a thrift store. i made a sharp turn into the parking lot to get a closer look.

finding an office chair for my home has been a huge struggle. it's a hard balance finding something that is ergonomical, doesn't look too corporate, and isn't crazy expensive. i am in absolute love with this one!

oddly enough, the upholsterer that was recommended to me by a friend is merely blocks away. i think the chair and i were meant to be. this is my first experience in having a piece reupholstered and i'm super excited to see the transformation. details soon!

decisions, decisions

2012-01-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

i wanted to go more into detail about the decision process in our bathroom remodel. if you've ever tackled a remodeling project you know how overwhelming it can be in making the 'right' selections! as i said before, i tried to keep resale in mind as to what a potential buyer would want. my goal was to keep it neutral and timeless vs. selecting anything too trendy that would only attract a certain audience or date over time. resale or not, i actually think this is a good rule of thumb in any bathroom or kitchen remodel. (hence the pink tub phase!)

the first big decision was what to do with that pink tub. like many bathrooms, the tub was built into the studs and replacing it would be a challenge. i had a positive experience during the savannah renovation having an old cast iron tub refinished and felt strongly about going that route again. they don't make tubs like they used to and having the option to refurbish an old gem felt right to me. the local company we used charges $340 (with an online coupon advertised on their website) and warrants their work for 10 years.

before

after

the second big decision was whether to tile above the tub or install a fiberglass surround. if we knew this was our forever home, there would be no contest and tile would win every time. but in this case, was it worth the extra expense? would we get our return? it came down to that pesty window and cutting a shower surround around it. i just wasn't convinced how that could logistically work and still look polished. with subway tile being 22 cents a pop, i felt like we could manage that cost and would ultimately be happier with the end result.

thirdly, pedestal sink vs. vanity! i took a risk here because i know some buyers may be against pedestals with the lack of storage. we tried to compensate by providing a medicine cabinet above and there is also a storage closet behind the door. the previous vanity made this room seem so tight i was happy to see it go and the space open up.

storage closet

pedestal with medicine cabinet above

the biggest things i learned during this process were to research, shop around, weigh out all options, and listen to my gut. there were some very strong opinions given to me along the way about getting our return on what was spent, but ultimately this is something we wanted to proud of! i didn't want to cut corners just because we may sell in a couple years. someone once told me, "i've never regretted doing something right the first time". (thanks mike millikan!) i'm finding that to be very true, are you?

bathroom: before and after

2011-12-29T18:14:00.000-08:00

the bathroom renovation will be wrapping up tomorrow and i couldn't be happier with the results! this is what i walked into upon purchasing our house almost 4 years ago:

before

it was finally time to take the plunge and dive into this project head on. because the tiles above the tub weren't water-tight and the sink was clogged, this bathroom was rarely used.

during demo

decisions on this renovation were made with resale in mind. we've concluded that lamar isn't our 'forever' home and we'll be moving on in a couple years. my goal was to make conservative selections based on what a buyer may like and where we would get the biggest return on our investment.

(more details on all that later.)

after

it has been a very merry christmas in this household! i find myself constantly walking into this space to look around and take it all in.

happy new year!

and so it begins ...

2011-12-20T06:08:00.000-08:00

dining room updated (at last!)

2011-12-05T06:53:00.000-08:00

the dining room has sadly been neglected the last few years. old dated chandelier? we have become very good at ignoring you and pretending you don't exist.

before

the farmhouse table was made by rob's brother. isn't she a beauty? i found the chairs at a garage sale and bought the set for $20. they got a fresh coat of white paint last weekend which is a much better contrast against the table.

we are having family over for dinner next weekend and i'm relieved to finally feel proud of this space!

farmhouse table: utilitarian workshop

chairs: garage sale

light fixture: lowe's

art: self made

lowe's lighting

2011-11-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

i made a trip to lowe's last weekend for a last minute (final) attempt to find a dining fixture. i had searched high and low, but that day the lighting gods were on my side.

at $99, i didn't miss a beat and threw that baby into my shopping cart. she got installed yesterday and my only complaint is that we didn't put in a dimmer switch. another project for another day.

if you're in the market for a pendant, check out these beauties from allen + roth.

you can even complete the look with a vintage style light bulb. how great is that? lowe's, you've come a long way, baby.

resuming in november

2011-10-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

i apologize for the lack of posts in october. a few weeks ago we lost our 11 year old lab, niko, and i have been feeling a little out of sorts and unmotivated in the way of house projects. *sigh*

isn't it amazing how animals can touch our lives? we are struggling with a rather large void in our home and hearts right now.

we are feeling especially thankful for our aussie, buddy wiggles, who has been offering lots of love and affection which is helping us cope and heal. i have found myself taking buddy on lots of walks, runs, and hikes. it feels therapeutic to be outdoors with him in this gorgeous fall weather.

in other news, have you all been to lowe's lately? i went over the weekend and was really impressed with their lighting selection in which i (finally) found a new fixture for the dining room. i'll post more on that later this week ....

antlers!

2011-09-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

when i decided i needed hooks in my office to hang new ring sets of wallcovering samples, it suddenly dawned on me that i already had them.

(thanks, heather, for gifting me those antlers.)

gotta love an easy spray paint project, because there isn't much that glossy white can't cure.

(not that i didn't love the rustic look of the antlers, as they were. i still have more antlers left so experimenting with different finishes won't be a problem.)

before

after

while i'm at it, why not add a little something the bookshelves too? don't mind if i do.

office bookshelves

2011-09-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

the IKEA billy bookshelves are up! the size of them couldn't have been more perfect to achieve a built-in look in my office nook. there is a 4 inch gap around the perimeter that i think can easily be filled with some simple molding. another project for another day.

before

in progress

styling shelves has never been my thing so this will be a work in progress. now that i have the storage for books, i can actually start collecting some! i want these shelves to add some depth to the room, without looking cluttered.

for other kc locals who are interested in making IKEA purchases, blue box delivery was wonderful to work with and they charge a fraction of the price of what IKEA does for shipping. i was very pleased with how easy these shelves were to assemble. painting the backs of them black was a little time consuming but the contrast is well worth it to me.

hope you all are enjoying a beautiful weekend! the weather has been absolutely gorgeous here.

Guest Blogger

2011-09-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

my friend, kari, has a blog called Resolution Revolution, and i'm the guest blogger for september! check it out when you get a chance, and even after i'm gone. it's such a neat concept: a new resolution each month. doesn't that seem much more attainable than big resolutions at the beginning of a new year?

i'm writing about self reflection, inspired by a recent workshop i hosted/attended.

image from etsy.com

aqua + red

2011-08-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

i decided to step outside of the box this last weekend and paint my home office something other than gray or white. rob brought home some beautiful cheerful flowers (shown below) a few days ago and it brought just a little life into my office that i decided there needed to be more of. it took me about 24 hours to digest the colorful change but i'm pretty excited about the direction that this space is now going. i've always loved the aqua + red combo.

cabinet update

2011-08-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

our refrigerator was looking so sad at the end of our cabinets: slanted (thanks to the settling of the foundation) and lonesome.

i really thought the space around the refrigerator was valuable in our small kitchen, and needed to be used more efficiently. i designed the cabinet and we hired someone to do the carpentry. to save a little money on the project, i took on the responsibility of painting the new cabinets and trim after the carpentry portion was complete.

it's amazing how much storage this added and how much more polished our kitchen looks than before. the side cubbies are perfect for storing cutting boards, pizza stones, and baking sheets. the overhead storage works well for large serving platters and small kitchen appliances.

while painting this afternoon, it also gave me the opportunity to clean all the cabinet surfaces, touch up the baseboards, and treat our butcher block counters. things are looking up!

ordering IKEA in KC

2011-08-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

did you happen to see the posts today on design sponge and LGN on the DIY arched bookshelves? it couldn't have come at a better time for me. i have been debating bookshelves for my office for several weeks now, trying to decide the best route to take.

jenny took IKEA billy bookshelves and customized them by adding moulding and arches cut out of MDF board. brilliant. (i'd expect nothing less of LGN).

the problem is that kansas city doesn't have an IKEA but thankfully, these shelves are available to order online. however, my excitement was quickly brought to a halt when i got a shipping quote back of $349.

i decided to take a chance and do a quick search on craigslist and guess what i discovered? a local company who specializes in transporting IKEA furniture from the dallas store to kansas city residents at a fraction of the price. this could be dangerous ...

i'm in the process of placing an order with them, so i'll let you know how it goes. there is an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on their facebook page which was just the push i needed.

the little nook in my office will be the perfect spot to achieve this built-in look.

the larger your order, the smaller the freight, so i couldn't resist in throwing in the kulla ceiling lamp too.

the bookshelves and light fixtures (with freight) are adding up to less than $300. *happy dance!*

photos from LGN and IKEA

2011-07-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

if you haven't been over to pinterest yet, you must immediately. it was love at first sight. inspiration as far as the eye can see from interiors to cooking. i.am.hooked.

here are some of the images i 'pinned'. be still, my heart ...

happy pinning!

all images from pinterest.com

love is in the air

2011-07-14T22:49:00.000-07:00

the photos are in, and we think they're lovely. a big thank you to ben and kim pieper of four foodies, for putting up with us for a day.

a serene inspiration

2011-06-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

as a commercial wallcovering rep, i'm constantly inspired by design studios and projects that i'm exposed to. but most recently, the new office of space planning + design in columbus park really spoke to me. on my third visit last week to their studio i still found myself in awe, taking mental notes of everything i could, wishing i could move into their space or afford them to makeover mine.

i remember a time right outside of design school when the objective was to push the envelope with color. in my first grown-up apartment i painted the walls of my dining room a deep ralph lauren red. and now i find myself believing less is more. this space is a true testament of that. so serene, clean and elegant with a subtle backdrop allowing the gorgeous finishes and fixtures to really shine.

i'm in absolute love with those natural oak floors.

photos from http://www.spaceplanninganddesign.com

living lean

2011-06-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

the challenge of owning an older home, tends to be storage (or lack of).

we recently decided to reassess every square inch of our kitchen in search for other storage opportunities as well as assess what items are truly essential for our home.

before - i spy wasted space, do you?

in progress - much better

i really believe, small details can yield big results.

in the midwest, especially, we can easily fall into the belief that bigger is better. we run out of space and naturally want to upgrade our square footage by purchasing a larger home without evaluating our current items and living conditions. it's such an affordable option here! i have never been comfortable with that philosophy. in times like these, it seems so wasteful.

what about the many cities and cultures where square footage is much more valuable, where people are forced to think smarter about their space?

there is something to be said about only holding onto what is necessary and useful. living lean. maximizing each square foot to it's fullest potential, and then, maybe, earning the right to grow into a larger space.

good find!

2011-06-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

i've been stressing on where to store our kitchen knives and was thrilled to find this modern option at crate and barrel a couple weeks ago for $19.95. if a knife block is going to be displayed on a counter, it should be done well, yes?

i'm baaaaaaaaack

2011-06-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

hello internets!

i'm back and feeling 90% recuperated after a whirlwind of wedding and honeymoon events. everything was wonderful. we feel incredibly blessed.

i wanted to share with you our travels to costa rica really quick before returning back to our regular program. the mister and i spent ~~weeks~~ months researching the perfect place to spend our travels. we wanted it to be extraordinary. i believe taking our time to dig in and do our homework really paid off, but i'll let you be the judge.

mr. anderson & i on our ATV rental

the thing that caught my eye about florblanca was the architecture. each private villa was intended to embrace the outdoors and the beautiful surroundings within santa teresa, costa rica.

the only room in the villa that was completely enclosed was the bedroom. every other space was open to the lush jungle outdoors.

i knew this would be either a really incredible experience or a really scary one. if anyone knows me at all knows that i'm not a fan of critters being within my living space.

hearing the howler monkeys the very first night when i was needing to make a trip to the restroom, i'll admit, was rather intimidating. the deep sounds that came out of those little creatures is something that will forever be planted in my memory.

the monkeys, however, respected our space. as did most other wildlife with the exception of an occasional lizard or crab.

if you are seeking an all-inclusive large resort with several swim up bar/buffet/restaurant options, this may not be your cup of tea. florblanca is small, quiet, and intimate with attention in every single minute detail. be sure to check out their 'green season' rates and discounts for staying more than 4 nights.

our goal was to make this a trip we would never forget and indeed, it undoubtedly was.

cocktail anyone?

2011-04-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

i have been on the search for a fabulous bar cabinet since 1999. what could be more old-school hollywood glamour than a beautiful cabinet solely dedicated to mixing up a cocktail?

(not to mention, rob and i desperately need to free up some space in our small kitchen.)

today, my search finally came to an end.

wait for it ...

rob's adorable aunt and uncle, jill and bo, helped us purchase this handsome piece as a wedding present. they are such an inspiration to rob and i as a couple that the cabinet will remain even more special to us for years to come.

i'm so giddy with excitement, it will be a wonder if i get any sleep tonight.

a much needed upgrade

2011-04-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

it may be the fresh, new, beautiful wedding presents piling up that inspired us to upgrade our appliances too. or perhaps just the fact that it was time to say goodbye to our 1974 dishwasher (along with our water heater, washer, and dryer).

whatever the reason, i have embraced it with open arms.

rob has been the most persistent in these upgrades and as much as i agree, i can be a little tight with money. but this is his baby - things that he has wanted to improve in this house as soon as he set foot inside.

my biggest fear was the 'economical choice' - the black panel/stainless dishwasher. i can't explain the strong dislike of this design other than the black just taking away from the clean look it potentially could have. (am i the only one that lies awake at night assessing these details?)

i bit my tongue on my somewhat anal designer tendencies and let him run free. when he came home with this model, i nearly jumped in his arms. (okay, i did jump in his arms. can you blame me?)

oh glorious, happy day. i may just marry that boy. oh wait ... i am ... :)

round or rectangular?

2011-03-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

as i'm getting ready to finalize our table and chair rentals for the wedding, i realized i need to make a decision on the table shapes.

i love the look of rectangular tables with a fabric runner and rows of plates. it seems to make a strong statement to me of people gathering together. it also seems very appropriate for an outdoor barn wedding, yes?

or round ...

i almost think round tables would require less in the way of centerpieces, which could make my diy list much more simple. the softness of the round seems to also encourage conversation in a more natural way and with ease. perhaps more intimate too?

what is your preference? round or rectangular? or maybe even a mixture of both?

images from once wed, 100 layer cake, and ink kc.

sunday funday?

2011-03-06T19:28:00.000-08:00

hardly, but wouldn't that have been nice. i can say it was a productive sunday.

there has been a lingering project that i finally checked off my list today. the kind of project you avoid because you know it's going to involve hours of patching and sanding (and more patching and sanding) before you can even begin to think about the painting process ...

seeing this photo recently, was very sobering. the unfinished hallway in the background stuck out like a sore thumb and was just the motivation i needed to kick myself into high gear.

how cute of us! oh, wait ....

after committing to a long day soley focused to this space, i can now breath easier knowing we have a clean, fresh backdrop for any future photo op.

i decided to carry the benjamin moore white dove from the kitchen into the hallway as well. because of the lack of a light source, this small space can feel dark very easily.

still to do: recessed lighting, art, wood floors, and new door hardware.