Autumn Cleaning

Spring cleaning is sooo two seasons ago. This September and October, autumn cleaning is all the rage. I am not saying you should completely give up your spring cleaning, but everyone needs a good purge of stuff this time of year.

This afternoon, my mom and I spent a few hours cleaning out the garage at my new house. (Side note: my mom is crazy and claims she actually likes that kind of stuff; I told her to come on over whenever.) Not only was the weather perfect for such a task, it actually didn't take as long as one might think. I am not such a fan of getting dirty, or bugs, or dust, or sweat... but it actually wasn't that bad!

The previous owners left a few things that honestly had probably been there even before they moved in. Most of it was trash, but we did find some really cool salvageable things. For example, an old brass day bed that is missing pieces... oh no problem, I'll turn you into a border for my herb garden (don't laugh, I am totally considering growing one... I get ambitious). We also found about 300 feet of usable garden hose, which is pretty awesome since I am close to sure that it is longer than my lot. Also go several planters and some cool metal tea light holders. I love finding stuff!

It really is a good time to throw stuff out. A lot of trash pick-ups will have a special "junk" day around this time of the year where they will pick up big items like furniture. Also, for areas like a garage, you are going to want to start parking your car under cover more often once the weather gets gross. And as disgusting as it is to think about, now is the time to consider pest control... before the little critters get cold and look for some comfy lodgings in your home.

The bottom line is that autumn is the time to prepare to hunker down in your home... by making it as clean and tidy as you can. So take advantage of the sunny yet cool days and get to work! And let me know if you'd like some help from my mom...

Stuff I Like This Week 9/26/2009

A long week sans posts... I need to get my act together.

1. Sunshine. Welcome to something I don't actively miss until it is gone. This whole week has been rainy and gross. Walking ten minutes to class with my paper portfolio is also not ideal. Additionally, my normally relatively tame hair has reached epic proportions on the frizz scale... after washing with straightening shampoo, using a straightening spray, and even adding a straightening finishing cream after using a straightening iron, I came home from a day of work with perfect ringlets under a fine layer of frizz. Not the look I was going for.

2. Wallpaper. OK, so upfront, the major drawback is expense. But pick a smaller room or choose an accent wall and DO IT. Wallpapers coming out right now are amazing. Go big or go home. I am considering doing my smaller downstairs bathroom in a fun BIG print... perhaps with some metallic accents? Whatever you do, have fun... wallpaper can easily send your room in a decidedly geometric or organic direction. For the record, I would choose a more organic prints for bathrooms or small rooms, and bold geometric prints for accent walls and larger rooms. Also, do not put wallpaper in a bathroom without a vent. Steam = death for wallpaper. I will record my adventures with applying wallpaper when the time comes (luckily, they often come with a sticky back now so that you don't have to worry about messy paste).

3. Fall TV. I am a huge dork, but fall TV makes me happy. After a summer of enduring the Hoff on America's Got Talent, I can't resist rejoining the stories of my favorite characters... Jim, Pam, Meredith, Issie, Heidi, Tim, Lynette, Bree, and even the new kids on Glee. Thank God for DVR though, or I would have a crisis every Thursday night. Sigh... at least I resigned to my dweebyness.

4. Higher education post-degree. As some of you know, I am currently taking a drafting class at the University of Louisville. I already have my BA in Art from Furman University, but in the course of working at the interior design firm, I realized I need some more technical skills. Not sure if I am going to continue to try and get my Master's or even a BFA, but for now, I am loving taking one class in a discipline I love. No pressure for grades, and best of all, because it is such a specific class, I am actually applying what I am learning in my everyday life. Yesterday, I drafted out the top floor of my house and played with renovation options... amazing. If you need to learn a new skill, give it a try. I am loving reliving my glory days as a stereotype. Much better than the cliche I am now.

5. Decluttering. I have glorified this in a past post, but I am loving it right now. Most recently, I have applied this to my time at work... we have so much stuff that it is ridiculous. Broken candle even I can't salvage? Toss. A million tiny picture hooks? Put in a labeled box and put away. Supply shelves? Tidied and cleaned. Workspace? Five paper trays found hidden on the messy supply shelves, labeled, and put to use. Additionally, tomorrow night I plan on cleaning out the garage at my new house. The previous owners left some things that I either want to save or throw away... and then I might even get a little crazy and paint the inside with some Kilz to keep it nice and clean. Boo-yah.

I will be a better blogger... I promise.

bLOG

So I like to call my personal style 'organized chaos.' When it comes to paperwork, I inherited my mother's OCD gene. Unfortunately, as a general rule, I am not the neatest person in the entire world. My records, however, are pretty perfect.

A filing system is a whole other story (which we will get to eventually), but first I need to impart the necessity of keeping a home log. It is tedious, yes, but it will undoubtedly help you in the future, especially when you go to sell your home.

I am not talking anything too fancy. All you need is a Word document on your computer that you add to whenever you do some sort of significant work on your home. I started mine today when I had the water and electricity switched to my name. I entered a note in my log under September 2009 saying when service was switched, mentioned any deposits paid, pertinent phone numbers, and account numbers. Now, when I go to cancel my service in a few years, I will have those notes so I remember the important things.

These notes will also help when you sell your home. The more information you give a buyer, the better. If you can hand them a record of any problems or fixes you have done in the time you have been in the home, they will trust you a lot more, which will eventually lead to a better price for you the seller.

Example entry:

October 2009

Garage treated for termites by Bubba's Bug Killers (502-555-1234) for $185. Retreating recommended every twelve months ($45). No significant damage found; some past evidence of termite presence. Treatment prevents infestation.

Simple. Takes about two minutes. Saves you a huge headache. Great all around. Enjoy your record keeping!

Before and After

My Aunt Laura and I played around with some renderings today to see what I might want to do to the house... I might be getting too excited.

Can you find all the differences?

BEFORE

AFTER

Stuff I Like This Week 9/19/09

Right now I am exhausted and all I really like is my bed, but alas... the blog beckons. Oh, and work does too. Remind me to stop working on Saturdays when I am an established rock star.

1. Art in the Highlands. The end of summer and beginning of fall is the ideal awesome time for art fairs, no matter where you are. Louisville has several, most notably the St. James Art Fair. However, this weekend I am checking out a new addition to the scene, Art in the Highlands, put on by Louisville Collegiate School. The show includes an excellent representation of local Kentuckiana artists without falling too far into the trap of exclusive jewelry and fiber arts. Additionally, it is a juried show, which means you won't have booths of bored empty-nesters peddling their handmade scarves and beanies full of dropped stitches and made from yarn procured at the local Wal-Mart. The show runs today and tomorrow at Louisville Collegiate School, 2427 Glenmary Avenue. If you are not local to Kentucky, google juried fairs in your area and check them out--support local art!

2. Louisville Stoneware. I swear this is not a Kentucky-centric edition of Stuff I Like This Week. Louisville Stoneware has been around forever (since 1815) and is a point of pride for many Louisvillians. These ceramics are sturdy, durable, and meant to be used. The company has recently begun making efforts to expand the awesomeness outside of Kentucky; I can't wait for the world to know about it. You can shop online for one-of-a-kind pieces. Instead of applying decals like most "pottery" stores, Louisville Stoneware employs artists who hand paint every piece, ensuring that your dinner plate is unlike anyone else's. I don't think you can buy them online, but the artists will also make custom pieces with your name or monogram (these make for great gifts as well). I know my dog Chip loves her personalized Louisville Stoneware food and water bowls... who wouldn't?

3. Imeem.com. OK, so giving credit where credit is due... my friend Molly intorduced me to this awesomeness. I used to be addicted to Pandora. Love it. Who doesn't? Sitting at work, bored out of your mind... no iTunes to keep you entertained, your iPod battery rapidly being depleted... what shall you do? You used to type in www.pandora.com to stream "radio," now you go to IMEEM. It is the same idea as Pandora (streaming music from the web when you don't have access to your own tunes), but this is so. much. better. Whereas with Pandora you entered one artist you like and the site automatically generates a playlist which you cannot control save for pausing and skipping songs, Imeem allows you to create your own playlist for no charge. Virtually any song you can think of, you can listen to... and on repeat if you so desire. They also have music videos, though it is a little harder to justify watching those at work. While I was a huge fan of Joshua Radin radio on Pandora, I am an even bigger fan of being able to switch from Joshua Radin to Taylor Swift to Brand New to Badly Drawn Boy to Jay-Z and back again. Check it out next time you are at work and enjoy free music from your computer... and annoy your coworkers by listening to Miley on repeat.

4. Damask Prints. So in preparing to write about how much I love damask, I found out it was really a misnomer. Damask is actually the type of fabric that used to be woven in a reversible pattern, not the actual pattern we imagine when we hear the word today. Either way, I am becoming a tiny bit obsessed with the pattern right now. We are seeing it in everything that is coming into the store... wallpapers, fabrics, dinnerware, you name it. The print is classic and fun and let's be honest... will most likely end up somewhere in my new home. Try integrating it into some part of your life, whether it be in decor, fashion, or accessories. You won't regret it.

5. Baby Jam. I love The Office. I love Jim. I love Pam. I love the idea of Jim and Pam procreating. Done and done. (PS rumor has it that Jim and Pam will have their wedding as early as the fourth episode... I might die. I am also having a crisis considering Thursday nights will soon include The Office, Project Runway, AND Grey's Anatomy. Someone get me a life ASAP.)

"It is better to be the hammer than the anvil."

Looking at my bank account right now is a little depressing, so instead I will focus on the positive: my next steps as a homeowner!

As I have mentioned before, I can't get into my house until Sunday, which means I am in this strange sort of limbo. The house is mine, but not really, not yet. Kind of sad, but I am dealing with it. Soon enough, my friends, soon enough.

In the mean time, I am preparing for the big day by setting up meetings with contractors. I have (obviously) never done that before and really had no idea what the process would be like. Basically, it is pretty simple: they meet with you at the house, you go over what you want to do, they give you an idea of how much it will cost. HA. Something tells me it won't exactly be like that. I have heard so many contractor horror stories. They go over time, over budget whatever. I am not a fan of those ideas. I have a pretty tight budget and some pretty big ideas, so we shall see. Most importantly, I am unique in that I don't want them to do EVERYTHING. Anything I can physically do, I want to do. Which leads to a conundrum with issues like the hardwood floors: I want to refinish them, but I can't sand them. Will a contractor let me get away with paying him just to sand them and not finish the job? We shall see.

Fingers crosses, everyone. My first meeting is on Monday night!

JOY

I AM A HOMEOWNER!!!

Be Cool, Stay in School

Little known fact: Pottery Barn is in the education business. They aren't like sponsoring scholarships or anything (as far as I know) but they would LOVE for you to learn how to decorate your house with their furniture.

I am torn about my love for the PB. On the one hand, it has quality pieces of furniture that are, for the most part, stylish, classic, and simple. Their products have a modern sensibility without going all I. M. Pei on you. However, I can't help but remember that episode of Friends where Rachel buys the apothecary table and Phoebe throws a fit because it is not a genuine piece with 'history.' Though Phoebe sometimes annoys me, she kind of has a good point there. Although anything you buy at PB will be nice, there is something simply amazing about reclaiming a piece of discarded furniture and making it into a treasure of your own.

However you feel about Pottery Barn, here is the cool thing: They offer decorating classes. Not necessary really, but it cant help but be somewhat enlightening. And best of all... the classes are free. Not only that, but you get 10% off any furniture featured in the discussion. Score.

Now, I realize that this is just a way for PB to push their furniture, but if you have something in mind, why not sit through an hour class and get 10% off a sofa? You might just learn something in the process.

Sign on the Dotted Line

The hour is upon us. Tomorrow morning, at 8:30AM EST, I will fork over my savings, my time, and my status as a debt-free member of society to enter into the land we know as home ownership.

I am over the moon. I know I was having doubts, but tomorrow, this thing I have worked towards for almost a year will become a reality.

Now, here comes the tricky part. While I am closing on the house tomorrow, I don't actually get possession until Sunday. Sucks right? Well, with the state of the banks and the mortgage world right now, institutions have become more stingy with 'bridge loans'--loans they give to cover a seller's costs in the few days between the time they buy their new home and sell their old. So a lot of sellers are writing into the contract a few days' cushion before possession. Essentially, instead of borrowing more money from the bank, the sellers are using the money directly from the sale of their old house to purchase the new. Even though I am signing my life and money away tomorrow, I don't get to actually possess the house until Sunday. Rough.

In other news, class is going well and so is work, despite being super tired this Monday and working my fingers to the bone drafting and typing. Such is life. I know you're jealous!

Doubt

I am not one to question a lot. I am a gut instinct kind of girl. I believe in fate and signs. I don't know if I am always right, but I tend to follow my heart rather than my head. I am an ENFP, if that helps you understand anything.

Basically, this next week is one of huge changes for me. I am dealing with a MAJOR life change. I am basically establishing myself permanently in Louisville, and while I am so excited about everything that is happening, understandably, part of me is wondering if I made the right decision.

I love Louisville. I think it is fabulous. I have grown up here and my heart is in my old Kentucky home. But I loved living in South Carolina too. It feels like two entirely different lives and I am not sure how I feel about it.

The good news is, buying this house gives me something on which to focus. I am excited to start the renovations process and see what I can do. I want to explore things like refinishing floors and common household fixes. I want to make this house great and I think I can. Like my subtitle says, I am making a house a home... and in the process hopefully making this mess into my new life. I have been treading water for so long, I think I am finally ready.

I guess this is what they call a quarter-life crisis. I think I have my life together, but I guess we will have to wait and see.

Stuff I Like This Week 9/12/09

I know you missed me last week and are probably chomping at the bit for five more things that are awesome. I know I am. So here is a list of a few more things I am obsessed with this week (besides corks).

1. Design Clubs. Get on google and find one immediately in your area. In these tough economic times, interior design businesses are suffering because no one wants to pay thousands or dollars and commission to redesign her home. These clubs allow individuals access to the resources of designers (products such as carpet, paint colors, and furniture) for a fraction of the cost. You pay a small set of dues and lose out on designer advice, but if you know exactly what you want, you are set. I know my company offers one and they may be somewhat exclusive, but if you know of an office near you, it can't hurt to call and inquire. Done and done.

2. South Carolina Politicians. I am not a huge fan of politics... yet another subject in which I feign interest in order to please the gentlemen. But I can't help to swell with pride and comment on the recent awesomeness of the politicians of South Carolina (my former home state, if we do so remember). Whether they are hiking the Argentinian Trail or interrupting our president with some ill-timed insult, they are really making the Palmetto state shine. Thanks, boys.

3. Pottery Barn's Pressick Lanterns. I have been trying to determine what I want to do with my outdoor space at my new house, and no matter what, I know I want it to have a fun and somewhat Bohemian vibe. Enter the Pressick Lanterns. On sale, no less. There are only a few colors left, so grab them while you still can. Hang on a patio or leave sitting on tables. Either way, these fun and colorful lanterns will brighten up any space and bring you lots of joy in the waning days of summer and into the autumn. Mix them up with some large bulb retro white lights and enjoy the ambiance.

4. Target Summer Clearance. Everything must go! OK, not really, but they are practically giving away some items, especially in home furnishings and decor. Rock the sale. I picked up some bathroom accessories in addition to a few outfits the other day and I am loving them. Something about getting an excellent deal just makes an item so much more appealing. See what you can find before everything is gone!

5. Tuesday. Why? Because THAT is the day I close on my house! I don't get possession until Sunday, but who cares? It will be mine! I can fill out change of address cards and start the whole renovation process and get excited for finally being on my own. Usually, Tuesdays are not my favorite, but this one is going to be AWESOME.

More Fun with Cork

So while most of my South Carolinian friends are freaking out about the current situation with the Clemson/Georgia Tech game, I decided to write another blog. I like football... at least the things that go with it, like autumn, beer, and tailgating. However, I have changed loyalties regarding NCAA teams so often it hurts (stupid boys--I will claim to be a fan of global warming if I think it will make them happy), so the outcome of this particular match up really does not affect me. So more crafts!

Just in case you have any corks left over after making your awesome kitchen cork board, here is a quick and easy way to put those other corks to use. Next time you are at Lowe's, pick up a pack of six adjustable metal pipe clamps for less than $10 (I would suggest Home Depot, but their web site search is dumb and I couldn't find the clamps as easily). Stuff some corks inside one of the clamps (very tightly so they don't fall out!) and tighten the clamp with a screwdriver.

Awesome. A trivet. And if you have to Wikipedia what a trivet is, you obviously need one. Stop burning a hole in your table and get on it.

PS... GO JACKETS!!!

Put a Cork in It

I don't know about you, but imbibing is one of my favorite past times. Nothing is better than a glass of wine at the end of a long day, a cold beer on the porch with friends, or a mint julep (or eight) in your box at Derby. I love a good glass of red wine (though not white or blush thanks to an unfortunate mixing of the two that ended badly in 2007).

An even more lasting memento of your night with a bottle of wine than your hangover is the cork from your bottle. These corks are not only useful as stoppers, but are quite often ornate and unique to the vineyard from which they came. So why not use them in an awesome project rather than chuck them? Cork is actually made from the cork oak tree and that makes this project GREEN. Way to go. I love it when recycling and libations go hand in hand.

As you can see from the picture, this project takes quite a few corks. So ask your friends or get started drinking. I was lucky enough to do both. Pick up a shadow box at the local crafts store of your choosing (they run about $20-25 depending on how nice they are... I have found some for even cheaper though). With a shadowbox, you might have to break out the glass, so if you can, find a deeply set (approximately 1 inch) wood frame. I was able to find one at Michael's for about $16. I also spray painted mine dark blue to better set off the natural color of the corks.

As for attaching the cork, hot glue will suffice, but I also recommend super glue or gorilla glue. I have seen them attached in many different ways, but the basket weave pattern seen in the picture is the easiest to make and the most visually pleasing.

Grab some thumbtacks (Target has some chic retro-looking ones right now) and start sticking notes to your new awesome cork board. I have already picked the perfect place for mine in my new kitchen... counting down the days until I can actually hang it up!

Swingin' from the Chandelier

Finally! It feels so good to be back and in a routine, even if it is a very busy one! I am so disappointed in myself for the dearth of posts recently... my most sincere apologies. The trip to Greenville, while fun and relaxing, was not very conducive towards blog writing. And yesterday, upon my return, I was just going all day. We all know how it is.

Anyway, yesterday I returned to work in full force, cleaning up little messes I had left when I left last week. The interior design office is an amazing place to work, and I am so grateful for all I am learning there.

Today, I went with the owner/president and our director of renovations and operations on a house call. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a service we provide throughout the design process.

After bee-boppin' through town in the owner's Jag, we arrived to find our client very upset about this heinous chandelier she had insisted upon. We all hated it on principle (it was ugly); she hated it because it was not ugly enough. She wanted it bigger. Monstrous.

So, here is the rule of thumb I learned regarding chandeliers. Size is very important, and bigger is not always better. When determining the appropriate diameter of your chandelier, take the length and width of the room (in feet) and add them. From this number, subtract 8. The resulting number is the length, in inches, of your perfect chandelier.

For instance, if I was choosing a chandelier for my 15x17' dining room, I would do:

15 + 17 = 32 32 - 8 = 24

The appropriate size chandelier for my dining room would be 24 inches, or two feet, in diameter.

A quick hint to get you through the day... and a big ol' welcome back to me!

Shades of Gray

I have been incredibly behind on my blogging and I feel like a failure! I tried to update with a Stuff I Like This Week yesterday and was unable to due to technical difficulties... I felt like crying. So we are going to have to hold off on that one for a few days and just have fun discussing other decorating tips. Rough.

As I mentioned before, I am staying with my friend Molly who just had her apartment redecorated. A few months ago, she called me freaking out because the designer had sent her the paint samples... and wanted to paint her living room gray. It sounds bland and non-traditional, and even a little morose, but trust me--as a wall color, it acts as a soft and beautiful neutral to play against your art or textiles.

Gray is surprisingly versatile. It will undoubtedly have undertones of blue, green, or even lavender, and you can use those subtle hints to play up some of your accent colors. The gray in Molly's apartment has a blue undertone that compliments her blue and brown window treatments and plays up her art and throw pillows.

Additionally, this designer used the same gray as a ceiling color in Molly's bedroom and it came out beautifully... but more on non-traditional ceiling colors at another time. Until then, if you are picking out paint colors, don't discount gray--it may be the perfect compliment for your space.

I'm Stickin' with You

I'm back! The past few days have been insane... apparently, when I budgeted my time for my new fall schedule, I did not take into account that taking a class would mean having homework. Funny how that works out. Additionally, I have just joined the Junior League of Louisville (again, who am I?), so that has turned into a big time commitment as well. I love it, and I love being busy, but it has left very little time for blogging. Sad!

Luckily, I am on a little labor day break in South Carolina. I am staying with my friend Molly, who just had her apartment decorated by a local designer as part of a special for the local NBC affiliate. There are several aspects I love about the design--gray walls, a non-traditional ceiling, and Asian influences are amongst the best. However, I'll get to those in future posts. For now, I am going to focus on what I thought was a stencil. Oh, how I was mistaken!

There has been a recent trend towards short-term options for decorating. Permanence is out. And nothing is better for a temporary design solution than new removable wall decor stickers.

Molly's living room now includes a mid-wall border that looks like a stencil, but can peel off without ruining the paint beneath. Perfect for an apartment where you are invested in regaining your security deposit, or even just a house where you want to change things up for a short period of time.

I tried to find a good online resource to recommend, but honestly, there is no online store that looks reputable and it completely devoted to removable wall art. However, you can either google "wall decals" or check out Target for a wide selection of removable wall art.

Try it out and enjoy it for a few weeks... or months... and then try another. Instant, removable, awesome.

The Lobby of Hobbies

OK, so I am not really boycotting Hobby Lobby. I actually go there a lot... including yesterday and today. I was just a little miffed because I tried to return something that *they* had incorrectly labeled (it was supposed to be 40" but was only 38") and they would only refund me 60% of the price. Excuse me? Seriously? Yes seriously.

Now, that is not to say that the Lobby of Hobbies does not have many redeemable features. Namely, they offer deep discounts and use coupons that benefit you even if you did not bring them in. They also offer a wide selection of 'home decor'-- not the nicest stuff, but still more selection than Michael's.

So I suppose the conclusion is that it is an ok place... as long as you don't need anything after 8:00PM or on Sundays.