Canister Update!

Many of you were on the edge of your seats as I struggled to decide which canisters to buy for my kitchen - orange or avocado (both from Etsy).  After reading your comments both here and on facebook, the majority of people said to go with the avocado canisters.  I spent hours and days in the kitchen before finally coming to a decision...

The avocado canisters won!

I'm horrible at taking pictures so you can't really see the canisters in my kitchen without the glare, but I have one on the shelf with my mugs and fondue pot....

and the others on the counter underneath my shelf of vintage kitchenware.  They look much better in person, believe me!

I love them so much and think I made the right choice.  As you see, we have a lot of red, yellow, and orange in the kitchen so it's nice to have a little avocado to break it up!

Thanks for all the comments and support during my tough decision!

Move over Boring Daybeds...

Talk about a space saver!  The DOC sofa bed from BonBon Trading goes from couch to bunk bed in just a few easy steps.  Now you can fit not one, but two guests this thanksgiving.  Not to mention, this is way more stylish than a normal daybed!

Prices aren't listed on the website which usually means it's pricey.  Maybe the Moddi folks (inventors of the DIY Murphy Bed made from Ikea parts) can come up with a bunk bed design!

Thanks to the ShearYadi blog for tipping me off to this awesome find!

Etsy Shop of the Week: jDuct

This week's shop: jDuct



Betcha didn't know duct tape could do this! jDuct's designs range from cheeky "Not Milk" flasks to an action packed Super Woman wallet. There's even something for bike enthusiasts! Each wallet is made from 100% duct tape...no cardboard...and yet they're sturdy enough to stand up to your abuse. Take that expensive leather wallets. Take that.

(Text and pictures in this post updated 12/14/09)

The Weekender: Radio Cabinet Help

A couple weeks ago, Jerome and I hit up a garage sale on our way to Home Depot.  At first, it seemed like a bust, until we saw this awesome radio cabinet way in the back.  The radio had already been removed and the owners were planning on throwing it out.  My mind started racing with ideas for things to do with the cabinet.  We bought it for $10.

Now that it's home, we've realized there aren't that many places to put the radio.  It only fits in two places, the alcove by the kitchen and the corner of the living room (pictured).

We thought about making it into an entertainment center...the fabric of the old speaker cover allows signals to come through so it'd be perfect for housing our xbox and cable box. Unfortunately the radio cabinet didn't look right under the TV.  So now we're back to square one. 

We're headed to Home Depot today to buy shelves to put in the cabinet.  If you have any ideas of what we could do with it...bookshelves, dry bar, etc...let me know!  We need inspiration :)

7 Armoires Under $300

I was recently asked for places to find affordable armoires for a college student. After hours of searching, I found 7 armoires under $300. They come in all different sizes and colors so there's something for everyone!

Clockwise from top left: Engan Wardrobe (Ikea) $179; Falls Village Armoire (Target) $299; Black 4-Door Wardrobe (Target) $200, Sauder Brookstone Armoire (Walmart) $154; Tolga Organizer (Ikea) $69; Eina Wardrobe (Ikea) $100; CB2 Cadet Cabinet (CB2) $199

Etsy Shop of the Week

This week's shop: Mungo Crafts

With winter just around the corner, you can be sure I added a few sweatshirts from Mungo Crafts to my wishlist. The quirky sweatshirts have a giant flat to keep you warm and cozy. You can even custom order to get the color combination you want. But Mungo isn't all about clothing...check out their rice bags (heat them in the mircrowave and throw under the covers for a warm bed), art prints, and super cute plush characters.

The Weekender: Frame It Up

This week's Weekender will help you make a frame for the DIY art you made last week.

WARNING: This post is for slackers looking to do things the easy way. If you're making a frame for a non-wood art piece (photographs, prints, fabric, etc), or you just like quality work, you'll want to stop reading immediately and head over to Instructables.com where they'll show you how to make a great frame just like one you'd buy in the store.

There are two ways to make a frame, the easy way and the right way. So far, I've only made a frame the easy way. I was going to make a frame the right way so I could give you step-by-step instructions, but then I got lazy and went the easy way again.


For others wanting to go the easy way, all you need is wood trim, a miter saw/box, a staple gun, and screws.

First buy the trim which can be found in the lumber section of your local hardware store. There are all kinds of trims and mouldings available, depending on the look you're going for and how much you're willing to spend. Read the labels carefully...some trim is sold per foot while others are per piece.

A miter saw is next. It helps you make angled cuts, which is exactly what you need for the corners of your frame. Unless you plan on using a miter saw pretty often, I'd recommend skipping the power saw (you can get a cheap one for about $100 at Home Depot) and going for a hand saw and miter box. I bought this miter saw for $20. Because I don't want to be the one you sue if you cut off your finger, I won't tell you how to use the saw...read the directions that come in the box to make the corners of your frame. Remember to measure carefully as you cut. You'll want to measure from the outside edges of the trim when calculating your length, NOT the inside.

Now you can paint or stain your trim and let it dry. Easy enough!

Here comes the part where I cheat. Instead of buying flat corner brackets to join my frame pieces together, I go the easy route and simply attach the trim directly to my wooden art piece using a staple gun. I then attache a picture hanging bracket to the back of the piece so that it can easily hang on the wall.

I just saved you like 20 steps. You're welcome.

Again, this is only for people looking to cheat and do things the super easy way. As long as the work you do is good, people will never notice (or care) that you cheated!