Neglected Nacho

Whenever I eat nachos, there is always that one funky looking tortilla chip I ignore and push around the woozy cheese mountain until it's the only one left on my plate...and even then, I won't eat it. Well that's exactly what I feel best describes our master bedroom in terms of design. Meet our neglected nacho.

eh. Nothing to write home about.

Chris and I spent the majority of our "tool time" hustling and bustling the main living quarters, but when it came to our chamber, we were completely out of design fuel.

Our bedroom isn't very big to begin with and I doubt I could ever fit a regular dresser in there. Thus, it leaves me no choice but to work with what Mr. Lusk built;  jam every article of clothing in the closet and improvise with the limited space we have.

Instead of hiding my everyday jewelry in a box, they are hung at eye level on a criss cross shaped wall shelf. Ten times out of ten, I pick a fun piece to wear off the shelf. 

And since every inch of floor space in the closet is stuffed to the gills, my homeless shoes are neatly stacked on wine racks.

But nine times out of ten, I have an OWL of a good time.

-d

No Boys Allowed

Like many early generation Y'ers, I spent most of my 7 year old days idolizing Punky Brewster...not only for her jazzy style or sunshine hair bands, but for her super-fly tree house. Alas, my backyard tree house days consisted of the living room and a queen size bed sheet draped between one end of a couch and a leather recliner.

But enough of my jibber-jabber, take a look at this itty bitty lodge.

I'd say that's a mighty fine example of a graduated tree house. 

Show of hands, who in blogland grew up with their very own tree house? Was it everything you (and I) thought it would be? 

Lackety Lack, Dont Talk Back

[Not sure if this constitutes as an Ikea hacker project- considering it didn't involve the use of any power tools, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that it does.]

As I was gearing up for the baby soirée, I realized my seating to tabletop ratio was lopsided to the point where I would find empty water bottles buried in between the couch cushions. Ok...not really, but it was getting close to that point.

Now and then we would use our 5 year old Ikea lack side tables as a temporary fix during movie nights, etc. but the ubiquitous cubed table stuck out like that guy who just got fired from Jet Blue at an employee of the month convention. To no one's surprise, paint called out to me as the perfect...and easy solution.

After a few minutes of online research, it was loud and clear that the secret to painting the lack series was to use primer. No sweat. This was going to be an easy breezy cover girl...until I noticed that the leftover can of primer stored in our garage was probably as old as the table. So, what the hay; I skipped the first, and most important, step and began to paint my primer sorrows away. Worst case scenario, I'd be out of a ten dollar table that I would have eventually tossed to the curb anyway.

Fast forward 2-3 coats of paint and approx 3 days of drying and there you are!

The painted tables alone were just alll riiight...that is until I went a bit further.

A little too predictable for our sake, but that's just how we roll nowadays. 

Gotta use up that box of  floppy disk somehow.

Floral Arrangements

As we all swoon over the latest issue of Lonny, I can't help but to blame the online magazine for germinating granny-loving floral condition.

Case in point...

I'm gushing over the paver design below despite the fact that I would like to go all Super Mario Bros on it and blast some flower power. 

Sorry Chris...but I've been stung by the flowery design bee. :)

psst. don't think I wasn't going to mention page 167! one day Oscar's room...one day. 

It Takes A Village...

Honest to blog, seems like 2010 was the year to get knocked up. I personally didn't get that memo (sigh of relief); but many friends of mine did, including one of my best friends. I happily offered, well...more like insisted, to host an all girls baby shower at my humble abode...and this past weekend was her pink-free zone shindig.

I've always wanted to buy those cute Martha Stewart pom poms, but apparently Martha favors expensive tissue and whatnot, therefore I DIY'd my way through Martha's voluminous poms and saved myself a few bucks. The first couple of pom poms I made exhibited signs of the bad-first-pancake theory. Luckily this video rescued me with my puffy problems.

Bouquets of DIY pom pom flowers and wheat-grass filled flower-pots were sprinkled throughout the table.

Most of the mouth watering desserts came from one of the BEST bakeries the City of Angels has to offer; The Village Bakery and Cafe.

Ok, so I may be a tad bit biased here, seeing that the owners of the joint are family (literally related to my in-laws), but no lie, their food is to die for!  

One of these days I'll expand my horizons and sample more offerings from their menu. Offerings such as the Thanksgiving on a Bun sandwich. But for now I just can't part ways with their breakfast special. Bacon wins every time.

[Atwater Special]

And even though the party is over, there's no shame in keeping the festivities alive in our home all week long.

I'll Drink To That!

I must have been wearing luckypants last week because my bacon loving heart won The Brick Cottage's Mad Men-esque cocktail glass giveaway!

Before Chris and I unwrapped the goods over the weekend, Karrie included a lovely handmade note inside. Isn't she just too cute for words?!

Our new drinking buddy nests on our new vintage coffee table and made it home just in time for Mad Men night.

Thanks again, Karrie!

Say Whaaaaaaat!?

I've been a HUGE fan of Retrograde LA for some time now and I just can't help but to salivate onto my keyboard every time I peruse their site. I'm telling you, it's love at first click. Their pre-owned furniture selection is the best of the litter...and without the big-ticket price tags. 

Oh, what's that you say? Show me the goods? Well, get ready for a Friday love affair.

An almost identical Eames Lounge Chair for a fraction of the price. I'm talking shelling out only 13/50ths of the original price. Hit. Run. Score.

I'm glued to the little barneby below. It'd be perfect in our family room especially since we have yet to fill-in every corner of the room.

[microphone? check. Two turn tables? unchecked.]

What's better than a 3 piece suit? A trio table set, of course!

Sadly, furniture shopping is not on this weekend's agenda...but, throwing a baby shower is! A full recap next week. Promise.

Awesome Blossom

When Chris and I flew our respective nests and moved in together, I promised myself two things: one- I would never wear frumpy sleepwear (guilty!) and two- I would never purchase a flowery bedspread for our bedroom. I figured it was only fair to stay gender neutral in our new communal space. I've kept my promise for over 3 years without any trouble or temptation...that is until I heard the siren song of this little son of a sandwich pictured below. 

[Orla Kiely]

I may have to break my promise. 

Going Mad

I hope our guests weren't too peeved by my whispering throughout last night's Mad Men season premiere episode. Seriously, I could not stop gushing over that beautiful caramelized orange button tufted couch every time it made an appearance. 

What I wouldn't give to be Pete Campbell's butt in that scene. I know what you're thinking...furniture groper. What can I say? I love touching furniture. 

And then there was Roger's Nesso lamp sitting on his tulip office desk. Which is also available in orange, btw.

But it was the scene below that sent Chris' eyes and mine to meet.

I want that dividing wall square pattern...painted...in our master bedroom walls...well just on one wall. 

Anyone else going mad?

Two Girls, One Pup

Don't let the ill title fool you, this post is rated G as in Girrl, you did this all by yourself?!

A few days ago, I offered to help my friend Annel assemble a cargo-load of Ikea bedroom furniture for her new digs. I've experienced countless hours of abstruse illustrated instructions in my life, not to mention imma pro working with their "z" shaped allen key, so what better time than now to expose the 'Rosie the Riveter' in us both.

Exhibit A: Hopen bed

It was smooth sailing assembling the base until half way through the booklet, we realized we needed an adjustable wrench...which we didn't have. So the buck stopped here:

Fast forward, with wrench in hand, and we were hoppen'.

The only other hardship endured, was the fact that I could barely get my gangly self in a comfortable working position.

Exhibit B: Mavas Entertainment Center

This doodad had three times as many puzzel pieces to put together. We never planned to imitate Paula's Abdul's 1990 billboard hit, "Opposites Attract", because we were literally going two steps forward and two steps back for an hour on the piece pictured below. 

(aye!)

The remaining 14 steps were a one-way street and did not involve any disassembling of parts.

And now for the pup.

::Kobe::

As far as I know, the furniture is still intact. ^_^