Organizing for Two

When I set out to organize my husband it came with many, many, many changes along the way.  He wants everything out in the open, easy to grab and easy to see.  I am the complete opposite.  I want everything put away that isn't pretty to look at.  I love to stuff things in drawers, closets and our basement!  Do you have a basement? They are awesome!

 Below you'll find the ways we conquered this design organization dilemma so that we are both happy. 

First, I used a nightstand as the end table between the sofa and the man chair.  This one was perfect because it has a drawer and a shelf.  The shelf holds his computer when it's not in use and it's easy for him to grab when he sits down to watch TV.

The drawer is perfect for all the nick knacks this man has.  Cords to this device and that.  A USB storage device, pens, notepads, matches, you name it it's in there.

The magazine holder, a fantastic find from Target that holds books, magazines and papers he is currently reading.
 

The fun colorful tray from West Elm holds all FOUR remotes that are essential to a happy man and his television. It also holds a box of tissue (another requirement) and a pretty vase (that's for me).  I've yet to get the white lacquer tissue box so I left it out completely. I want one like this. 
West Elm carries the best lacquer trays, my favorite size are the square ones.  Check them out here.

So there you have it.  Remotes, magazines, papers, books, computer and miscellaneous stuff all contained AND easy to grab.  No easy feat.  The beautiful part is that when you slide the chair over, you can't see the shelf or the magazine holder. And that my friends, makes for a happy wife.

Do you and your partner have any design disagreements?

Here's to a New You!

The start of new year.  A chance to start one thing and end another.  A time to make promises to yourself and break others.  A time for reflection on the year before as you look toward the year ahead. 

I've always considered my new year as beginning on my birthday.  I do that because I think I'm special and different from everyone else.  I'm kidding.  I've done that because I've always felt a connection with my birthday as being the start to my new year.  This year seems different.  I'm feeling a little je ne sais pas?  

I'm going to write and post something every day on this blog for the next 365 days.  Do you think I can do it?  Apparently I think I can.  I love blogs, crazy about them.  I wonder how I ever lived without them.  I love the stories and the never ending creativity.  They honestly brighten my day.

So I'm setting out today, January 1, 2013 on a journey to write every day on this blog.  So often I don't write or post out of fear that it's not good enough. Well, I'm choosing to confront that fear, to be imperfect and to just be myself. A journey I hope that will teach me something about consistency, commitment and showing up.  A journey out of my comfort zone and into the land of possible and probable imperfection. 

Happy New Year!

Nicole B.

  
  

Paint Your Kitchen

 

 

(After)

 

 

(Before)

 

When I took this photo we had already removed all of the top cabinets. A bit embarrassing, but you had to see what they looked like before. Our kitchen is a square with three doorways. Very tiny and most of the time it's dark.  We absolutely had to paint it.

 

(During)

 

Each cabinet door had to be removed along with all the hardware.  Then each one was sanded, cleaned and layed out for painting.  We decided to keep the 1980's brass hinges, they have a nice patina to them and brass is so back in style.  The glass knobs were picked out months ago from Anthropology.  I couldn't be happier with the glass knobs, brass hinges, grey painted cabinets and stainless steel appliances.  Our kitchen makes me happy now. Every morning I smile. It's clean, fresh and stylish. No longer in the 80's and fits us and our house just perfect. 

 

 I do have this to say, if you are hesitant to paint your cabinets, don't be. It was such a rewarding project for us. Hard, tedious work, but totally worth it. 

 

 

There is more I'd like to do to my kitchen, but that is for another day and another dollar.  This has been such a simple transformation. 

 

We used Benjamin Moore's Grey Owl in a semi-gloss for both the cabinets and the walls.

 

 

Land of Nod Modern Dollhouse

Hands down the coolest doll house ever.  So cool that I'm pretty sure someone made it for grown-up me to play with.  I want to insert myself in that photo above. Smiling. Laughing. Playing house.  

 

Now all it needs are some cool vintage pieces, dollhouse size. 

 

 

Or maybe some modern art.

 

 

And what's a home without a hipster family?  If that was a Portland family, dad would have a full beard.  And one of the little girls would be wearing a tutu with rain boots.

Buy it here.  Cause it's awesome.

 

*All photos are from Land of Nod.  Visit their website here.*

Our First Turkey

How was your Thanksgiving? I was excited for ours this year, we cooked our first turkey. Both of us were new to this endeavor. There we were standing over the kitchen sink with our raw naked turkey, my husband's hands reaching in for the neck. Out it came and he says, "Ooo that stinks" and I say "I don't smell anything". Feeling a little protective of my turkey and the fact that I didn't want my day potentially ruined by a bad turkey, to which he replies "oh that's you that I smell". "Very funny" I say.

We searched that cavity, hands and wrists deep inside the empty interior of the raw turkey. Ribs and bone, bumpy and cold and empty. Totally empty. "No giblets?" we thought "well this one doesn't have any" (because we are special like that). So we moved on. Bathed it in butter and seasonings, put up the foil tent and slid it into the oven for four hours. Four hours and repeated basting's later, we had quite a gorgeous bird. (See below)

With all of the fix'ns. No, I'm not southern. Just sounded good.

After all that searching and thinking we didn't have any giblets. They were there the whole time, chill'n in a plastic bag in the back end of the turkey. Did my mother gasp in horror that we cooked the turkey with them inside? You bet. Did it matter that we did that? Not one bit. This is my favorite part about cooking. You really can't ruin it. And you learn from your mistakes. So next year...Our turkey will be even better!

We shared one big table in the living room with a side of football.

But we really all came together to celebrate each other and this little guy. Our little ray of sunshine and joy. I'm so thankful for him and for all of my family. Life is amazing.

 

 

Target Ottoman Make-Over

 

 

 

The original ottoman as purchased from Target

 

The new ottoman!

 

 

It wasn't quite as simple as I had thought, but I did it and I'm so glad I did.  It makes such a huge difference in the room.  

 

Still want to do more:

 

Paint the walls, new rug, get the fireplace in working order and sew a roman shade for that window you see above...

 

I love owning a house. So many possibilities!

I stumbled upon a flea market AND a vintage furniture shop today, that I didn't know about. I mean really? I used to work at my friend's vintage shop in downtown Portland.  All the time people would come in and say, "how long have you been here?". I would reply "Um (I use that word too much) two years!" And I would think in my head "where have you been!".  But today, here I was saying the exact same thing, only this shop has been there for three years. Whoops! Nicole, where have you been?

I had so much fun, it was a beautiful sunny day here, warm but cool and I was there early.  Reminded me of all the flea markets I used to frequent in So Cal. Sniff. Sniff. I came really close to buying a set of 4 matching mid-century dining chairs. Really close. And then I panicked and practically ran out of the shop. I came home and came up with a new solution for my dining room.  Sooo glad I didn't purchase the chairs. But I really felt inspired by this shop, Seek The Unique.  It made me realize that I have other options for this dining room of mine. I don't have to do 4 matching chairs.  But, I have a new table, so vintage chairs would make it feel more comfortable. It's all about the balance!

Here are some photos of my dining room.  This one is with some chairs that we like to use. They swivel and are comfortable. They are just the wrong color. What if I paint them? Black legs and turquoise seats. What do you think?

 

The other thing I want to do is change the paint color again.  I picked this out while I was pregnant.  I can't stand it! And the location of the vintage lamp has to change. What do you think about a bench with the two chairs? Ok, paint the room, swag the lamp, paint the chairs, find a sweet vintage bench with lots of character and change the drapery rods.  Whew! I got some work to do!

Here is the room without the chairs, mmmm...possibilities!