Posts Tagged ‘decor’

Zero Budget Project: The Studio

August 6th, 2012
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My sewing/craft studio frustrates me to no end. It’s nowhere near organized and I use it just about every day. It’s one of those gigantic messes that’s so overwhelming, I don’t even know where to start.

I’ve got to do something about it now before it becomes something from an episode of Hoarders.

As you can see, I have a giant pile of clothes in the corner. That’s my refashion/tailor/alter pile. It grows every day. The sooner I get on it, the sooner I’ll have new clothes to wear. It’s a bit daunting, but I think I’ll have everything ready to rock and roll in this space in no time.

The goal: create an inviting space for crafting. I need to open up as much table top space as possible by wall mounting everything that can be mounted on the wall. Put supplies and tools in bins and boxes that are easy to access and put away. This room serves many purposes: sewing, bookbinding, calligraphy, leather crafting, painting and more. I need to keep it as organized as possible so I can make those transitions as effortlessly as possible.

Follow along on instagram @melissapher #zerobudgetproject for sneak peeks on progress, and check back here on Friday for the big reveal.

Dismantling + Organizing

June 18th, 2012
11 Comments

We’re moving. Again.

This time it’s into a house that we will own. I can’t be more excited about the new adventure that lies ahead. We’ll be out of our current place in two weeks, so we’re already starting our plan of attack on what should get packed and when.

I’m pretty sure my studio and the kids’ room will be the last to get packed, but my productivity is waning just thinking about all of the stuff I have to move. While I was blankly staring at my studio (as I often do – what a time suck) I thought I’d share this organizational discovery that I made not too long ago.

I’ve been on the hunt for a good storage method for my rolled papers, but I couldn’t seem to find anything that fit. Either the dimensions were off or the price was ridiculous for something so simple. While passing the bathroom section at Ikea, I had a brain wave and snatched up a cheap laundry bin for my solution. It was $10 and fits more than all of my rolled papers. And it’s plain, boxy and white. Does Ikea house all of the solutions to my life’s problems? Perhaps.

Decor: Planting a Garden

May 7th, 2012
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A Few months ago, I told my mom what I want for my birthday (the one that’s 6 months from now). I want her to help me plant a garden. She’s a major green thumb. I grew up eating fruits and veggies straight off the vine. It’s sure been an adjustment to find a taste for store-bought pears. Nothing compares to the real right-off-the-tree deal. Nothing.

This weekend, she got me set up with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil and mint. We’ve planted them in felt pots on our balcony, in case we move again soon. Which might be likely, based on our track record.

 

I also took the time to re-pot a few of the succulents I’ve had around the house. They were looking a bit drab.

My brother and sister-in-law gave us a beautiful ficus tree last Christmas. It was gorgeous, but short-lived. It must have hated where it lived, because it died about 3 months later. I hung onto the pot with the plans to buy some succulents in its place. It sure is a pretty pot.

This morning, I finished potting my old and new succulents. I think they look rather nice all bunched together, no?

 

Thrifty: White and NOT boring

May 4th, 2012
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This post is brought to you by Tai Pan Trading.

I’m currently working on de-cluttering my house. This has been a mission for a few years now. In my quest to de-clutter and add special items for serving, entertaining and everyday use; I decided that I’m going to take an all-white approach.

My plates, bowls, servingware and some cups are all white. They vary in shape and style, and sometimes vary in type of white, but all together, they look really nice together. I’m not a straight-out-of-the-box kind of gal, so I like to find special pieces to match my house anywhere. And I do look from Crate and Barrel down to thrift stores.

Just recently I scored this fantastic (and quite large) ceramic pitcher for $5 (no coupons involved, either) at Tai Pan. I believe it holds about 2.5 quarts. That’s big and cheap in my opinion.

I’ve curated a round up of a few of my favorite white things from around the web, and featuring them over at Houzz.com. These picks are well under $100, save for a few (albeit gorgeous) exceptions. I hope you check them out. 

So, do you have a go-to color like white? Mine used to be black, way back in my college days.

Keeping Carpet Clean

March 22nd, 2012
18 Comments

I consider us pretty fortunate to have found our rental in the middle of the winter. It’s a brand-new twin home that has never been lived in. How often does that happen for rentals?

Our place was one of two listings that I found that didn’t have taupe/tan/off-white walls. It has warm grey paint with white plain moulding, loads of south-facing windows, a large kitchen with a very open floorplan and a gigantic unfinished walk-out basement for my studio. Really, this place is just about perfect. Except for the carpet (and linoleum flooring, but that’s a totally different issue).

I can’t stand carpet. It’s nice in bedrooms, but I don’t find carpet has a place in high-traffic areas. At least not cheap rental carpet that will likely go threadbare in a few short years.

We’re fortunate enough to have a “tiled” entryway by the front door, but there’s nothing to protect the carpet from the door leading to the garage. We have two rugs on either side of the door, but the one on the inside of the door always gets crumpled up, and bunches beneath the door.

As I was fixing it for the millionth time the other day, I had a little brainwave to tack down the rug with upholstery tacks. The subfloor is wood, but not gorgeous hardwood that’s waiting to be revealed. It took me about two seconds to secure the rug and it looks WORLDS better. It’ll also make vacuuming it a breeze. I’ll let you know how it holds up.

So tell me, if you could build your dream home, would it have carpet in it? Mine surely wouldn’t!!

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