Sunday, February 28, 2010

Weekly Etsy: Buds and blooms

I have always loved having fresh flowers in the house. With the lack of an actual farmer's market and the overabundance of boring roses and carnations among the fresh flowers in the grocery stores here, I've gotten out of the habit. Putting the house on the market has given me just the excuse I needed to start bringing in the blooms again. Which also has me keeping an eye out for beautiful vases again!


bird vases by catherinereece

snuggling vases by annaspots

fern vase by kensgardenpottery

crystalline vase by dbabcock

painted square vase by simplyprettyprints

double stem white vase by taylorceramics

orange wood vase by BowlsandBoxes

mini white vase by RouDesigns

slim black vase by mrhstudio

Let's finish up with one of the always inspiring weekly we like it wild shots from design*sponge.

Gorgeous ranunculus (ranunculi?)


Technorati tags: etsy, vase, flowers

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Redo Recap

Now that I'm done with all the caulking and sanding and painting and waiting and waiting and waiting for the floors to finally, finally, finally be finished by a newly heartbroken old friend, I thought it would be fun to do a little recap of the work I actually managed to document with some semblance of before footage.

This whole project was a LOT of work but was a lot of fun in some ways.  I feel like I learned a ton about making things pretty and doing it right.  I've never been all that in to my home's decor.  I've always liked looking at design ideas and admiring other people's homes.  But, when it came to my own time and money, I've always prioritized clothes, accessories, fun and food.  Seeing the huge difference I can make with relatively little time and money, I am so inspired to beautify my surroundings and keep my eye on design in all of our future homes.  I can't wait to get my hands on a new place!

But, back to the old one.  A little bit of bad and better:

Hall/kids/guest bathroom:



Kitchen:



Master bath sink area:


Living Room:


Technorati tags: house sale, renovation, DIY

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Living Room, Chez Sushi

I've got one last before and after on this little home sale staging project I've been working on. I wish I had thought to take before pictures of all the rooms I worked on, but I lack foresight.

Here's the living room circa 2006:


Here it is today, less a little furniture and plus a little fake wood and real paint:


The house is finally on the market.  Wish us luck!

P.S. Due to a happy event related to The Man, we had a whole passel of family in town and a big dose of excitement and in it all I completely spaced the Weekly Etsy love. Promise to get back on the bandwagon!

Technorati tags: house sale, renovation, flooring

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Inspiration and Anticipation

All this "home work" I've been doing has been sparking my creativity and had me pouring over design blogs which lead to craft blogs and DIY ideas and in turn have SO inspired me. I can't wait to get cracking on some crafts (not least of which is the latest fun project sent to me by Alicia for Team Awesome) and sink my hands into some home design that's for us and not watered down and neutraled out for potential buyers.

In the meantime - while scrubbing and styling and curb appealing and real estate picture taking have to remain forefront - I'll just keep looking and longing. And showing you.




I love how these crocheted vases and bangles seen on Design*Sponge take something solid and make it soft. I haven't crocheted since I was a little kid and even then all I ever managed was lines. Long lines. Lots of them. Which I tied and made into leis. But, still. Lines.


I love the sentiment and the vintage charm of this wall hanging by Dottie Angel.


The last origami I folded was 1,000 cranes for my wedding about 8 years ago. This kusadama tutorial seen via Apartment Therapy make me want to pick that paper back up!


How amazing is this teeny tiny terrarium housed in a lightbulb?  Seen on The Hipster Home.

Ah, I can't wait!

Technorati tags: creativity, DIY, crafts

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Weekly Etsy: Feel The Love

The Man and I don't actually do Valentine's Day as a couple. In terms of expressing love in a relationship, we tend to think of Valentine's Day as a manufactured holiday. Love should be expressed all the time in all kinds of ways. Buy me a prepackaged set of chocolates and cliche red roses and hand me a card because Hallmark told you to and I feel patronized not cherished.

But oddly enough, in terms of expressing love in general, I totally love Valentine's Day! I love seeing red and pink and love sprinkled all over.

This week's Etsy finds all sing Valentine's Day - lots of paper goods for spreading the love, vessels for flowers and beautiful reds and pinks.



Technorati tags: etsy, handmade, Valentine's Day

Saturday, February 06, 2010

My Baba

I was digging through the external hard drive for before pics of some of the rooms in the house and came across one of my favorite pictures of all time. This is my grandmother and grandfather on their wedding day in the early '40s in Hawaii.

This was a woman who grew up so poor that she dropped out of school in the eigth grade to help take care of her six brothers and sisters. But, between her (and her family's) seamstress skills and the big fat huge deal weddings traditionally represented in Japanese culture, this is the beauty they created that day.

My Baba was one of the sweetest people I've ever known.  I vividly remember her getting mildly angry about something once when I was a child and it completely floored me.  She never had a cross word or an uncharitable thought about anyone or anything.  It makes me happy that for one day, she starred in a grandiose and gorgeous production celebrating her and her love.

Isn't she beautiful?


Technorati tags: wedding, family, hawaii

Friday, February 05, 2010

Al. Most. There.

I've finally gotten to the point where I'm tying up loose ends and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I've started taking some pictures for the realtor - they really need to be taken with natural daylight pouring in but I'll be meeting with her after work next week so I figured I'd try to snag them myself. Realty pictures are hard. Super duper hard. I've been climbing all over things and trying to get as high up and as squished up against walls as I can. The kids think I'm mildly insane and the dog doesn't understand why he doesn't get to be in the pictures.

I'm really hoping the rain lets up Sunday so I can fix the gorilla glue/zip tie solution The Man employed the last time the neighborhood's mailboxes were knocked down. Sploogy gorilla glue and zip ties!? Really!? Yes, really. I also need to freshen up the bark chips and plant some flowers. Veeeery hardy flowers - they need to survive the cold and my longstanding plant murder record. The Man can bring a stick back to life but I can kill a tree. I mean I haven't done that, but I bet I could if I paid attention to one.

In the meantime, while the rain pours, I'm staying so nice and cozy inside. And taking pictures. And now I'll shut up and show you the kitchen.

Wait, no, one more thing. I noticed the crap on top of the fridge after I took the first shot and moved it out but never quite captured the same perfect composition again. So, Alicia photoshopped the wine cube (what of it?) out. I think I'm still going to retake these pictures if I get a day with a little more sunshine.

Ok, now I'll shut up. Uh, right after this...one of the first things we replaced in this house was the light fixture over the eat in area of the kitchen. So, that's in this picture. But, everything else is original. Also, the plastic chairs. Yes, the plastic chairs. We loved that dining room table when we got it (like 12 years ago) but we never did find chairs we liked with it. The plastic chairs were supposed to be placeholders. And they were. For seven years. Wow. I'm suddenly mortified.


Note the hideous wallpaper, dated wood trim and cheap varnished cabinets.  Also the psychotic magnet collection on the fridge.  We buy magnets wherever we go.  It may be overkill.  Also, I wish you could see it in the picture, but just know that the outlet and lightswitch plates were sponge painted to match the hideous wallpaper.  That should be known.



Better, no?

Now, from the other side.



If I run out of things to do, I'll probably go back and repaint the cabinet doors like so:



Not just that one, either.

Technorati tags: kitchen, home improvement, house sale