The Deck Demolition Party

Yesterday I invited a few friends over to help demolish the deck…so our friends Audrey and Michael came over to lend a hand, and it was actually a huge amount of fun. The demolition only took about 45 minutes with the four of us. That was one seriously rotten deck!! The posts weren’t even secured into the ground with concrete. It’s amazing it had lasted that long! Anyways…here are some pics.

Mid destruction

Post destruction. Then began the bbq-ing!

 

On my own…my first freelance gig!

For those of you who know me in real life, you know that I’m obsessed with all things decorating. (I mean obviously, right? Hence this blog.) But it’s not only my blog, but my daytime job too. Pretty much 80-90% of my time is spent thinking about how people decorate their houses, and I LOVE it!

There have been times when people have asked me to give them advice or to do some side jobs freelancing, but I was always a little nervous about it. To be honest, I was afraid of failure. Plain and simple. I didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s design. What if they hated it? What if they hated me?

Well, recently I got a phone call at work from someone who’d hunted me down because she’d seen my house when it was for sale over the winter. She and her husband had purchased a different house, but had fallen in love with my style…and so they wanted me to come and help them problem solve in their new home. And so, even though my stomach was turning flips with nervousness, I conceded to help them.

Last night, I met with the couple and got right down to business. Once I got there and started talking shop, all hint of nervousness went right out the door. It felt natural. I mean, it’s what I do all day long anyways…I just do it for someone else. I kept thinking to myself, “how do they not know these things?” and “I can’t believe I’m getting PAID for this!” The things we focused on were:

1. Space planning & furniture layout
2. Paint colors & general painting techniques
3. Window Treatments
4. General problem solving minor home problems such as how to repair drywall holes, getting down wallpaper, flow, etc.
5. General instruction on how to build each room (design-wise) and get a gameplan in order.

And at the end of two hours, I walked out there feeling happier than I have in ages. I couldn’t believe I did it! And it felt great. I’d like to continue doing this on the side. Maybe soon, I’ll have to create a business card…

 

It’s not easy being green…

It seems like a day doesn’t pass that I don’t hear another story about how people are losing their jobs, the economy is tight, gas is getting more expensive everyday, and how Greenland is melting. Somedays it feels overwhelming… I mean, I’m only one person. What can I do? I’m trying to keep my own head above water here. I’m just as worried as everyone else is about the cost of gasoline and how it affects my daily commute and the price of my beloved blueberries.

And yet, I can’t help but acknowledge that something good is coming out of all this. We’re all worried and [at long last] beginning to reconsider our daily habits. How can we get around town without driving? Do we really need those plastic bags or can we bring our own? Maybe we can finally try our hand at planting that vegetable garden…

I think most of us are struggling to figure out just what this all means for us. It’s hard to change your habits overnight. I love reading the blog The Simple Family because that’s exactly what she writes about - how she can keep it simple. I think about that alot too, and often I’m not sure exactly what I can do. What the best practices are…

Likewise, I know that many big companies are having to re-evaluate that as well. Today I was invited to participate to be on a “Green Committee” for my un-corporate corporation. Just like every person, they’re struggling to figure out ways to keep costs low, but acknowledge they need to do more to become more green. I’m excited to be able to meet and discuss the ideas I have with a larger group that is also thinking and sharing ideas. It shocks me to think about how much energy my office building must consume everyday. There are very few CFL’s to be found there…and of course, 70% of the employees leave their computer on 24 hours a day. And don’t even get me started on how we only just started recycling paper and plastics about a year ago…

I know at home (and at work) I try to conscientious about being green by doing things like: 1) not leaving the lights on unnecessarily 2) trying to use CFL’s (not in every light fixture because I don’t like the light quality…but even that is up for discussion). 3) trying to always bring my own shopping bags to the grocery store. 4) not using the air conditioner unless I absolutely have to. 5) biking to the store when possible. And yet, I know that even these things aren’t enough. These little things won’t turn back the tide on years of neglect for our planet. And yet, still we must struggle to do what we can. Figuring out what to do….

As gas prices continue to soar, it is going to only worsen. Maybe instead of being called “House Obsession,” my blog will be called “Gasoline Obsession.” I want to do all I can to not only ensure my future, but the future of everyone else coming up behind me. And yet, I feel just about as lost as a child in how to navigate this new change. And so, I’m going to continue to spend more time at home doing those little things that I think help…and crossing my fingers for the best.
Wishful Kermit I, by bermudafan8 via flickr.

 

Currently obsessed with…homemade ice cream

My friend lomoa was recently discussing with me her love of homemade frozen yogurt. She was raving about how easy it is to make at home and how she gets so much use out of her ice cream maker. I’d seen the new ice cream machines around, but for some reason have always been dubious that they work (or that I would ever use one). But for weeks now I’ve had an obsession with the idea of getting one of those easy-peasy Cuisinart ice cream machines. Apparently making homemade ice cream is no longer as difficult as it used to be.

I remember back when I was a kid we’d get out the hand crank ice cream maker, pack it with ice and rock salt…and then approximately 45 min later enjoying awesome homemade peach ice cream. I will always claim that my mother makes the best ice cream by the way. I still have memories of her and I eating it at the kitchen counter together the day after. She would always store the leftovers in a giant orange tupperware container. Our freezer would harden the remaining ice cream to such an extent that we were forced to sit and chip out ice cream from the giant orange bowl and just enjoy it slowly. We’d usually do this and watch tv. It was a lovely, peaceful time indeed. And one of my mom’s true culinary skills.

Anyways…now that the summer is getting hotter and more humid up here, I begin to think about ways in which to keep cool. (Especially considering my new house has no air conditioning.) The idea of making a delicious cold treat at home appeals to me because it feels so low-fi. It’s local and homespun. And these days I’m trying to figure out ways that I can unplug, stay out of my car, stay local, ride my bike, and enjoy life in the slow lane. Some blueberry frozen yogurt sounds like it would hit the spot perfectly.

Image above taken by desertculinary via flickr.  She tells us the recipe for this gorgeous concoction here.

 

Tool Sharing: What a great idea!

My friend is on a teensy, miniscule budget for her new house renovation. She’s having to try and figure out how to stretch aproximately $10K to remodel two bathrooms, install new flooring for three rooms, and make sure to have enough to cover any other miscellaneous along the way. I admire her dedication to sticking to it and getting creative on her making her dollars s.t.r.e.t.c.h. One of the things I learned from her recently is that there is a “tool library” in Philadelphia. Apparently for only $20 per year membership fee, you can “check out” a huge variety of tools as simple as a crowbar all the way up to things like an angle grinder or a table saw.

I think this is a spectacular idea! If I end up doing any major renovaitons myself (ie. with my bare hands) then I’ll consider using it. Here’s a link to the West Philadelphia Tool Library.

And just in case you don’t live in Philly, it turns out there are locations across the country that do tool sharing. Go HERE for a list of one that could possibly be near you!

Photo taken by Chris Lombardi via flickr.

 

Backyard beginner

One of the reasons I wanted to move from my old house to the new one is that I wanted more space for the dogs. However, my backyard turned out to need a lot more work than I originally figured it would, and the dogs and I haven’t been able to do much enjoying yet. (Isn’t that always the case with every house project?) I’ve only lived in the new house since March, and already I’ve had to:

1. Prune the 65′ mulberry tree (Turns out tree pruning is expensive!)
2. Deal with the poison ivy growing in the lawn
3. Get the outdoor drain unclogged due to silt draining into it and causing an impasse.
4. Throw down grass seed to try and get aforementioned silt from running off into the drain.

All this and I still can barely even use it. So the next big thing I’m going to be doing is ripping down the rotten deck. It’s going to be an exciting 4th of July. But why wait, you ask? Why not start tonight? (Actually I did.) However, N’s dad is letting us borrow his truck to haul away all the debris so this weekend makes most sense. It should be interesting. Hopefully soon it will be nice enough to actually spend some time back there.

 

Loving Etsy Linocuts & Paper cutouts

Etsy never ceases to amaze me in all the wonderful things you can find there.  People are so creative.  And the fact that you can buy artwork directly from an artist just makes me happy that there are still ways to interact with people on a small level.  These four pieces have been in my favorites for the last week, and seeing as how I’m trying budget myself on acquiring new wall decor…I thought I’d pass along the joy to the rest of you.  Sooo cute.

(From Left to right):  1. “The House Next Door” by Leannegraeff, 2. “Carolina Chickadee” by melissakate, 3. “Girl Papercut” by elsita, 4. “Formal Squirrel” by MisNopalesArt.

 

Cement driveway alternative?

Lately, I’ve been contemplating the state of my backyard. My ideal would be to have a lovely brick patio, but alas that’s not in the budget at the moment. However, during the daydreaming phase, I was on the lookout for ideas and while in Maine I saw something at Jordan Pond that I thought was very interesting. It’s a type of block that has holes in it that you can grow grass in. So basically the surface of the ground is level and solid, but it allows drainage and doesn’t look like a solid slab of brick.

I thought this was a cool product. It’s environmentally friendly and probably a cheaper alternative to traditional brick. What’s even more interesting is that I just happened upon an old post at Charles & Hudson about the same thing. (Can I just say again how much I adore Charles & Hudson? They’re my new favorite home blog.) Only in this instance they’re discussing it as an alternative to paving a driveway. I think that’s a brilliant idea…much better than for a patio most likely (since your patio furniture might get stuck in the holes). Anyways…here’s the pic I took at Jordan Pond.

 

Thoughts on hanging a shelf (and not driving yourself crazy in the process)

I’m at the tail end of my kitchen renovation. It feels nice. Although the reason that it’s not 100% complete is because of those final little details that seem so hard to finish. One of my biggest headaches these past two weeks has been hanging a double decker kitchen shelf from Ikea. Who knew something so seemingly simple would be so freaking frustrating?

Well, I’ve learned from experience that you need proper support when trying to hang a shelf. Several years ago, I attempted hanging a different Ikea shelf and in the middle of the night it came tumbling down…along with everything on top of it. Ugh.

So this time, I wanted to make sure that didn’t happen. Thus began the hunt for the perfect toggle bolt. Well, I will spare you the humiliating details of my incompetence…and instead just give you a simple DIY’ers how-to checklist for when YOU are hanging shelf [with a toggle bolt].

1. Find a shelf. Preferably NOT from Ikea. I know they look pretty, but I’m convinced that they’re designed to make your life hell. However, assuming that you are like me and prefer form over function…then continue down this list.
2. Determine what kind of wall you have and if there is a stud available. Screwing the shelf into a stud is ALWAYS preferable to using any other method. Or so they tell me… I never seem to hang anything into a stud.
3. However, assuming you bought some fancy Ikea shelf that doesn’t work with the spacing of your studs (like I did), then knowing what type of wall you have will help you determine what kind of wall anchor you will need.
4. When you’re marking the holes for drilling into the wall…make sure you use a level to make sure that your shelf will hang level. If possible, have the shelf propped up on top of something so that you’re not trying to hold the shelf whilst also marking the holes. This can be extremely frustrating.
5. If you have hollow walls, a molly bolt or toggle bolt is your best option. But if you plan on hanging heavy items on this shelf, go straight for the toggle bolt. (Oh, and BUY A FEW EXTRA!) You’ll lose a couple in the wall trying to get it right…and the last thing you want to do is head back to the hardware store at 8pm on a Tuesday night.
6. Also, if there is a small local hardware store nearby…make sure to purchase any wall anchors there. The people that work there are more knowledgeable and can help you pick out the right size anchor as well as any new drill bits you might need to insert that bad boy. If using a toggle bolt, you’re going to need a bigger hole than you think.
7. Follow instructions on the package for how to use the toggle bolt, but here’s a tip: Make sure you get the right length bolts. (Or else you’re going to have to go back to the store yet again.) When you’re not sure, err on the side of longer than your first inclination . You can always tighten it.
8. Another tip for the toggle bolt: Don’t try to be sly and put the toggle all the way at the end. You’ll need to screw it on a couple of threads so that it doesn’t get messed up behind the wall. Trust me!!
9. Next tighten up the bolts…and then you’ve got a nice shelf hanging on the wall.

Hopefully this project won’t take you almost two weeks like mine did. But even though it took me that long, I must say that I’m very happy with the results.

 

Clearing a clogged outdoor drain

So after almost two months of putting up with a clogged outdoor drain (I was in denial that it needed fixing), I finally dealt with it. Originally when water began backing up three feet into the yard, I called Roto Rooter and had an ugly experience with them. (They never showed up after several repeated phone calls.)

Yesterday’s rain storm here in Philly made me realize that I couldn’t put off dealing with this problem any longer. Part of the wake up call came from having dampness begin to back up in the basement. And really, who wants that right?

So this morning I got up and consulted the oracle that is Angie’s List to find a good local plumber who also does outdoor drain clearing. I called the plumber at 8:30am. Someone came over at 10:45am. And after only 10 minutes I had a free-flowing drain that finally offered me some peace of mind. My only frustration with the whole process is that it cost me $149. For having only spent 10 minutes here, it would seem that service should cost a lot less. Hmmmm. Maybe I could get in the clog cleaning business. It seems to be rather lucrative, albeit somewhat messy.

Anyways…the main point here is Angie’s List rocks. If you haven’t signed up for them yet. You should. It’s come in handy more times than not.

 

Home Depot NYC

It stands to reason that a Home Depot in NYC would have more selection than a Home Depot in Philly, but this morning it was wonderful to be able to experience it in person.  I loved getting to see their wide[r] selection of lighting, faucets, sinks, and kitchen displays.  The sales staff also seemed more knowledgeable.   The store was clean and everything was well lit.  If my local Home Depot were like this one, I’d shop there more often rather than going to Lowes.

 

I love that someone thinks THIS sofa is “stylish”

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/fur/632287889.html

 

Trying to keep my head above water

Okay…I realize that I’ve been slack.  I haven’t posted anything here in weeks!!  (How DARE I?)  But the reason for that is that I’ve been trying to unpack boxes in the new house whilst traveling for work….and also preparing for the impending renovation that begins on the 14th.   Did you hear me?  THE 14th!!! 

Let the demolition begin.  I can’t wait since I don’t have a shower at the moment.  But in the meantime, I’m furiously trying to buy things like faucets, toilets, tile, garbage disposal, paint, etc.  When I signed up for a project, I didn’t realize just how big this one was going to be.  Don’t even get me started on the giant mulberry tree in the backyard.  I’ll save that for another post.

 

DIY project: Faux stone pavers

I just saw this post over at Charles & Hudson, and am in LOVE. I’ve always had a serious fondness for brick walkways, stone streets, etc. Unfortunately neither in my new place (or my old one) do I have a place to use this idea. It doesn’t matter though because I’m totally in love with it.  I’m going to have to store this one away for my future cottage home in the woods.  Hopefully you’ll be able to use this idea NOW. 

Go here to buy the mold.

 

Flickr Find: Adorable collection of knick knacks…

My Home, originally uploaded by tiny blackberry muffins.

Why am I in love with these little cartoon-ish figurines. I can’t imagine actually collecting them myself, but every time I see them (either on someone’s blog, on flickr, or in a thrift store) I’m immediately drawn to them… like a moth to an old coat.

Anyways…TOO cute. I love Tiny Blackberry Muffins‘ collection.

 

Retail Me Not — My newest online friend

So if you’re like me (and you probably are since you’re reading this blog), you make a lot of purchases online. It’s not that I dislike buying things from stores, but the reality is that I have VERY particular tastes and specifications. Well, in preparation for moving to my new home there are lots of things that I need get to get. Some things are normal like new locks & paint…and then there are seemingly normal (yet distressingly hard to find) items like an outdoor motion sensor light that doesn’t look like something attached to a prison…or one that’s a wall sconce. I need a light that is a ceiling mount fixture, but it turns out that attractive motion sensor lights are not that easy to find. (I’m surprised!) So after a futile trip to Lowe’s and about an hour of google searching, I finally found ONE. The only one available it seems.  (On the bright side, it’s relatively stylish and wasn’t tooo expensive.) But the best part was that I was able to use my new favorite website www.retailmenot.com to get $10 off. This is about the 5th time I’ve used this site to find free shipping codes, $$ off coupons, etc. And I’m extremely happy with the results. I’ve not paid shipping each time!! Super cool…and I also saved some dough on my new lighting purchase.

 

Dying for this quilt at UO

So I’ve been dying for this quilt for some time, and now that it’s finallllly on sale I’m completely broke and would rather not add this to my credit card.  However, I’m completely in love with it.  Soooo cute and it’s the perfect summer quilt for when it’s too hot for a duvet (yet still I feel as if I need something on my bed).

 In general I have to say that I’m finding myself really liking some things from Urban Outfitters home section these days.  I don’t even go in there anymore for their clothes (which is disappointing because I used to be able to find good basics as well as great jeans…but I guess I’m finally officially over their target age range.)  Anyways…the point is that they actually have lots of cute home stuff that I find myself wishing I had, such as this adorable embroidered pillow, this cute leaves tumbler, and this chandelier wall decal.  (I hate myself for even admitting that I like a wall decal.  I’ve scorned them for so long…) 

Oh well…soon I’ll be spending time & money on painting & renovating projects.  At least I can dream about these cuties.

 

Art Star Craft Bazaar: Now taking applications for 2008

Art Star is now taking applications for the 2008 Craft Bazaar that is being held at Penn’s Landing on Saturday May 31st (from 11-7pm) and Sunday June 1st (from 11-5pm). 

This is definitely one of my favorite local things because of the amount of wonderful (and affordable!) art & crafty stuff you can find there.  Last year I wanted to buy one of everything, but finally edited my purchases to one little cup by Little Flower designs & a paint by numbers at someone’s yard sale down the street.   If you haven’t been to one of these, you definitely must go this year.

 

Sewing slipcovers: It can’t be THAT hard, right?!

I’m currently taking sewing classes, and so far have learned to make a pillow. Not too extraordinary I realize, but I have BIG plans. Once I get settled in the new house (and have a room to dedicate to crafting), I think I’m going to set up a little sewing space to make pillows & bags to sell on Etsy. The other big project is that I want to learn how to sew slipcovers for my furniture. I’m going to start small with a really ugly ottoman (that’s covered in stains). It’s perfect size & weight so I don’t throw it away, but I hide it whenever people come over. Therefore this weekend I went to J0-Mar and bought some cheap-o $1/yd fabric to practice sewing for it. (I don’t know WHAT I was thinking in buying that faux Laura Ashley chintz. I had a momentary brain fart while looking through so many bolts of fabric.)

Just to be clear…the brown & pink fabric is for my first attempt at a handbag. I have plenty of leftover stuff though…and since I’m such a newbie at sewing it’s nice that this fabric cost so little!!

Oh yeah…does anyone of you have any experience sewing slipcovers?  I found this guide online… but would appreciate anyone’s input.

 

How fabulous would this look in my bathroom?

Mixing tiles, originally uploaded by Anna Linder.

It’s like a giant patchwork quilt of color. So fab. Too bad, I’m more of a white tile / grey grout kinda girl. I can daydream, can’t I?!