MarlaneDesign

Austria Email Enamel Pots

2012-01-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

I have a love affair with them.

They are from the 60s, hearkening from a day when email meant...well, something other than email as we think of it. I got a set of four of these pots from a thrift store in Arkansas. I promptly burnt a hole into the little fry pan. I didn't know about the delicacy, the slow-cooked perfection of enamel. I tried to treat it like a cast iron skillet. WRONG! I just didn't know! Since then I have had lovely luck with the big dutch oven style pan and the little saucepan and medium one, used for pasta. If only this tea kettle was actually for sale!

Jameson Bottle Bird Feeder!

2012-01-14T18:33:00.000-08:00

You know what I think is the best about this picture?
The closet door that I cleverly removed from our bedroom closet and left outside to die -
there's some MarlaneDesign underbelly for you.

The little walkway behind our house has always been so glum, and you can see it from one of the office windows. So I decided to put a birdfeeder here in hopes of livening it up!

Got the directions from "Esprit Cabane: The Magazine of Crafty and Green Living Ideas" which I cannot vouch for as a publication, but their "make a bird feeder out of random things" got me moving!

Theirs looks a little more au natural, but mine was truly from found objects: random wood, random wire, used screws, an empty bottle and a cat food can from the recycling.

Now we wait~!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T20:33:00.000-08:00

Have been caught up with work and haven't done anything too designy in a while - but this is an offering to all you artsy people out there doing some finger-licking design this season!

Fence Envy

2011-12-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

I want this:

We live in an older neighborhood where everyone has ironwork fences. While I like ironworks, especially when they have ivy or some other plant growing up it, I am too impatient to wait for that sort of thing, and until then they basically afford no privacy. Add to that the fact that neighborhood cats randomly wander into our yard through the bars (and that if ours got out there would be nothing keeping them on the property) I am not that crazy about them. Also if we had kids (or wanted to sell to someone who did) there is a good possibility their toys would just roll into the street! I've also got a little jonse for what the Jones's have - all the newly remodeled houses on the block are getting these put in, and I want one! Bah!

Naturally you would think I would just look it up and get a quote, but there are so many other little projects to be done that I am not sure where a new fence (when ours is perfectly usable) fits in.

You got it: More Cat Stuff! This Time, More Shelves...

2011-12-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Because I pretty much think that shelves solve everything, I have been doing research on improving the cat habitat in the office (where they spend the night) with shelves. I have always felt bad about cooping three cats up in a tiny office overnight, but it's the only choice besides being mauled as they clamber over our heads to get a good view from the bedroom window. What's more, with all my experience in making shelves, I can probably get it done in a dedicated day! Here's some of my favorite photos from the web:

www.moderncat.net

"Tree" and "Cloud" Shelves by Thorunn Design

Not exactly for cats, but doesn't it challenge the imagination? It could be...

IKEA's "Lack" Wall Shelf (turned on its side)

www.ikeahackers.net

Jake and Karen's DIY Cat Platforms (moderncat.net)

Not sure why these wouldn't open towards the window, but they are a nice idea, because the cats can scratch on the side! They also spent the extra time to rout the wood, so the tiles would sit flush....can't say I have the know-how for that, but can definitely nod to the attention to detail!

Introducing HabiCat Wall-mounted Habitat for Cats

Last but not least, I LOVE this, but it's $250. If the shelves were going to be more on display, like in a living room or bedroom I would say maybe it's worth it, but for the office I am going to go a little more diy, a little more whimsical. I like the idea of making them fit into a painting....

I'll let you know what comes of it!

Bed in Front of Window Part Two

2011-10-07T14:36:00.000-07:00

Because I believe that design is all about working in stages, I will share with you my next stage in "Window Above the Bed."

Before:

After!

I moved the bed out from the wall about a foot, and added a shelf right behind the headboard, since it's so short. This is working out marvelously. I really love it. Not only is it a great place for books, but it bought me an extra foot on the sides of the bed, where with the added depth I intend to have little dressers as nightstands for the both of us. Also now there is storage behind the bed!

For lighting I took down my hanging lamp and installed that little windchime chandelier above the bed. Although it is difficult to tell, it does NOT hang directly above our heads - I cannot recommend that in California! It has been really great for reading in bed, since the light is coming from behind.

Although I am not sold on the curtain fabric, I feel like the rough linen works well while we have that windchime. The goal is to eventually have a little crystal chandelier (like the one in the picture below), to add a little luxe to the room! Then I will probably change the curtains to something with more textural depth. I put them up anyway though, because the white ones were just too poppy in a room where the goal is quiet and relaxation! I took a cue from the Inspiration photo, where the curtains are closer to the color of the walls. Another adjustment with the curtains is that I got a wider rod, so they are the same width as the bed. I may stretch them out even more.

Inspiration

So that's that for now!

Sperry Rand Remington Streamliner Typewriter

2011-10-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

How could I blog about tomatoes with this sitting on my desk?

Say hello to the new typewriter of MarlaneDesign. Later this year we will be unveiling a line of cards on ETSY and this little lady will be a great contributor.

(And when I say we I actually don't mean me, myself, and I (as I normally would). MarlaneDesign will be joined this winter by the new housemate as an important addition to the card production staff :)

I am open to names.

For the typewriter. My housemate already has one.

Tomato Time!

2011-10-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

Even though I started them late, I am having to use TREE STAKES to support these tomato plants. I am happy to report that we get a bowlful every other day, and that the fellas I started from seeds are on their way with even bigger fruits. The squash plant, on the other hand, got powdery mildew and is pitiful. I am only doing tomatoes next year! What my adventures in plant growing have to do with design I don't know, except there's nothing prettier than edibles in the front yard!
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Print On My New Skirt

2011-09-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

So sweet.
I have made a resolution to take all the things I have butchered and intended to alter but never did to the SHOP. And have someone else do it, so I can have my clothes back. I recommend this be a day to embrace all the tasks we'll never do and are okay with never having done. So there.
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Book Review

2011-09-16T08:32:00.001-07:00

Who better than the British to tell us how to live more efficiently? (I'm pretty sure he's a Brit anyway. He says things like "rubbish" and...well I can't find the other example but take my word for it).
This book has some old photos in it (there are some desktop computers that look like they belong on the set of Mad Men) but overall I recommend this book. He answers lots of practical questions (do you have a place for temporary storage like library books?) and gives suggestions for built-in solutions as well as those that could work for renters. I am already doing step one, which is considering underused areas of the house. I was shocked to discover so many- for example, we never sit at the kitchen table. His suggestion for areas like that is to make sure they're comfortable, and he's right - our kitchen chairs are the least comfy in the house. Chairs are also one of my favorite pieces of furniture, so I have no problem getting right on that :)

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Bed in Front of Window

2011-09-06T09:40:00.001-07:00

You all might have noticed I have our bed in front of a window, and a tiny, uneventful window it is! I have been thinking about ways that I can make it more exciting, and I did a little search on Apartment Therapy (ground zero for strange decor issues). Here is a great post on how to work a bed in front of a window, called, funny enough, "Inspiration: Bed in Front of Window." Here's my favorite image:

I recently wondered what it would be like to have a console table behind the bed, something that could hold books and be a nice ledge for the cats (they already have a ledge behind the curtain, but it's not a great extended headboard for when we sit up at night). I also love the lighting fixture - more for the glimmer from the window light than the actual light! Most likely I will let this ruminate for a while, but I'll let you know if I make any changes!

A quick sketch based on the two images.

The Small Cool Outdoors Contest by Apartment Therapy

2011-09-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

Check it out here!

Xeriscaping

2011-09-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

I have been interested in desert landscaping, mainly because California is technically the desert and maintaining grass is a real pain. Most of it on the property was done away with before we got here, but there is still the curb to consider. Here is a great makeover of a little house, so you'll see what I mean:

Before:

After:

See how cute it is now?! I like the variety that xeriscaping provides, and of course the low cost and maintenance over time!

Here's the link to the full post.

My Tomato Plants

2011-09-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

And you thought I wasn't doing anything.

Other work may cut into house renovations, but at least plants keep growing! (As long as they get watered anyway.)

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Hutch Re-Create

2011-08-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

As with any hobby, the blog has taken a backseat to LIFE recently, so sorry about that, but it's all been positive. I have been keeping up with the garden, and have been thinking about what I would like for a gardening station, and what I want looks very much like this:

but a little more like what it looks like in the "after":

Except not that at all, really just imagine it white.

Then I could garden in style, instead of on top of the washer, where my housemate recently found potting soil.

Inside.

We ran the spin cycle.

See the whole Apartment Therapy post about this hutch here.

Get Your Stamps Today!

2011-08-05T00:00:00.001-07:00

These are Forever Stamps!
"Industrial design is the study and creation of products whose appearance, function, and construction have been optimized for human use."
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A Made Bed

2011-08-04T11:25:00.001-07:00

Sometimes that's all I do for a "designy" day!
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Chandelier in the Carport

2011-08-02T19:22:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when you live in an urban area (read: square footage of a postage stamp) you are asked to re-evaluate certain things. We have a carport that also houses our laundry, as a lot of them in this 1924 neighborhood do. It also has the garden shed, and of course we use it for parking. But when entertaining I would like to use the advantage of the solid roof (we only have a sun shield canopy in back) for some outdoor eating by candlelight. So now this little thrift store chandelier ($20), which I have been trying to place since May 2010, has a new home!
First thing I disconnected all the wiring. It looked like it worked, but the plastic fake wax "candles" weren't doing it for me. Then I hot-glued these 49c tea cups to the arms amd put tea lights in them. Then I hung it. If only every project could be this easy.
Next up, turning the washer and dryer into a banquet!
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Old Door Love Part Two

2011-07-29T11:41:00.000-07:00

Today I started on my "old door" project. You might remember my musings on what to do with the old doors Daniel and I found randomly all in one week. I had never exactly decided, so working on it today was completely unexpected. I started by watering the plants, which led to washing my car, which led to spraying the old doors, which led to paint chipping off. And then I really got serious.

I love the way paint looks when it is chipped off in layers - the randomness, the contrast between the different colors. This old door has been painted a lot!

I started with a heavy jet stream from the hose to loosen what was already bubbled from age and used a paint scraper to remove that first. It came off easier than the sticker on a peanut butter jar!

When I was finished with everything that came easily, I scraped along all the edges, to give it a uniformly weathered look. Now since this door is old, there's a chance the paint could have lead. So I kept it very wet while working, and when everything dries I will vacuum up the chips while wearing a painting mask, and then fill the vacuum cleaner reservoir with water to dump it. This is my home-grown way of minimizing the chance of inhaling dust, but if you're going to try this I'm sure there are safer ways!

The goal with this particular door is to add little white shelves with cast iron brackets and use it as a plant stand.I may eventually use a high gloss clear coat on the whole door, to keep it from rotting outside,

and to hold onto that wet, high gloss look!

Cork Option

2011-07-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

Ever have big heavy things you would like to stick up on the fridge (cards, kids artwork, etc) but the magnet just isn't strong enough?
This morning I noticed that I had both a piece of craft cork and some bare magnets. Hot glue the two together and voila - a mini cork board, per item!

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Update: I wasn't super happy with how this looked, and then I remembered we had little white button thumbtacks and they look much cuter.

House Grass

2011-07-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

I cannot help but laugh at how sweet these kitty grasses look! I grew them originally for the cats - cats naturally eat grass outside to aid digestion, but my indoor bubs don't have access. These I got at PetSmart, but they're just a mixture of barley, rye, that kind of thing. They grew up in 2 days, and needing so little care I have to say they are my favorite house plants so far. Check out that shock of green hair! I have named them Little and Big Wilson.

A House Beautiful Week

2011-07-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

This month's House Beautiful, the first to be delivered to my door (I used to read them at the library until I realized I was doing it every month!), is a "Living Large in Small Spaces" issue. One of the reasons I like this 'zine is that it almost always features a Cali abode, and I was not disappointed by the Spanish-style bungalow therein. But they also have several other spaces in descending square footage that all made bold choices with their decor, some of which I don't agree with, but I can agree that they are bold. It's only recently that I have realized my choice of smoky blue walls was bold, so I like to poke through these kinds of issues going "oh yes, but still with the white walls, eh?" It's my special brand of smugness solidified by hours of standing on a ladder using a small paintbrush to smooth the blue edges against the whitw ceiling. But enough about our lack of crown molding. So I recommend this issue for the boldness, but also for their little "clip and keep" decorating guide that gives measurement approximations for everything from paint to sofa upholstery. Where were you, House Beautiful, during The Month-Where-I-Could-Not-Choose- Appropriately-Sized-Curtains?
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Chess Pieces for the Win

2011-07-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

Years and years ago I bought Daniel a marble chess set (that includes the board you see here). For a long time it sat various places : on a bookshelf gathering dust, in a drawer, on a bookshelf gathering dust and then in another drawer. Finally I decided to use the marble chess board as the top to a metal-box end table I put together:

This has worked out very well, because it feels kind of urban-industrial chic and also because it was free.

We had those bricks outside.

Then! Then I found the book end. A marble knight chess piece book end!

St. V. de P - $15. We could not be more pleased. About a book end.

Bear with me, it's been a long week.

Ta-da!

Old Lamp, New Spot

2011-07-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

Completely forgot I had this lamp. Found it today stuck in the corner of our guestroom (which is about to become the bedroom of a good friend and future housemate) and said, why not give it a chance? And there it stands, tall and beautiful and incredibly handy for reading, in a spot I thought would never accommodate a lamp. Moral of the story? Try it once. Especially if it's a furniture re-arrange, because that is actually free, unlike trying say, a bathroom color (ahem).
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Photobooth Fun

2011-07-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

Photobooth pictures, here copied onto grey cardstock, make great bookmarks! This one is keeping my place in the second book of The Hunger Games series. I just started!
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Wardrobe Time!

2011-07-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

The day has come that I not only turn to IKEA, but I turn to it faster than you can say big-box-save-my-life-please. After a year of organizing, purging, coaxing and cajoling, I finally had to admit that my closet is just not big enough. I have gotten rid of everything I can do without, have under the bed drawers and the like, but the fact is that rod space was just not adequate.

Enter: IKEA.

A real piece of furniture would run me anywhere from $500 - $1500, but IKEA had just the thing for $99.99. Now, this is their idea of stripped down, but I still think it has some charm. Frosted insets, one shelf and one lovely rod and I now have all the room I need. I am considering some serious IKEA hacking on this thing. I hate that now that clothes are in it you can see through the frosted doors. I will probably line them with white tissue paper, and later, mirrors. I am also considering scouring Home Depot's decorative wood trim aisle and picking up a few decorative strips for a few dollars. I'll let you know.

For the record, I have not changed my thoughts on IKEA . While there may be a few nice things (and some real wood in there somewhere) I still think it's mostly crap that they sell as a way of life, pretending it's nice and hiding behind a modern facade. I know it when I see it, and don't pretend I am fooling anyone (although I may have some hopes to disguise it with mirrors and fancy trim :). When I took one of the sides out of the box it was cracked, the plastic veneer chipped, the mealy wood interior smashed every which way. They replaced it, but I am pretty sure that was just loading the box into the car. And there's a safety tab to screw into the wall, because they know that given a sharp gust of wind it'll kill you as soon as look at you. But there is something to be said for not here today here tomorrow, and the absolute instant gratification of it all. While I was there I picked up a kitchen strainer, some outdoor curtains, a plastic bag holder and food storage containers. Sometimes you just can't beat IKEA.

Except maybe with Wal-Mart.

Lonely Corner Revamp

2011-07-08T16:00:00.001-07:00

When our housemate Felicia moved out, this corner that held her cozy recliner went into decline. Stuck with an antique chair that everyone is afraid to sit on, it became fodder for the dreaded pile up of random stuff. Meanwhile, our television area was saddled with my bar decanter collection. No good all around!

Then, in steps Martha! (Surprise surprise).

I am pretty sure if given the opportunity, these cube shelves could solve world peace. While dubious about their abilities at first, I gave in with this cube system for the office. Imagine my thrill when I found a Martha brand one at Home Depot for half the price!

Now we have room for the decanters, plus some martini glasses and the shaker/utensils. Not to mention books, a spot for an unused throw blanket, magazines and a basket for my writing materials. Plus this freed up some space on the end table, which had previously held our "incoming dvds" basket I use for rental/library materials. In an added stroke of genius, I screwed our IKEA wine bottle holder to the side (I had nixed it in favor of some mug holders under the kitchen counter top. Truth be told, we do not often have extra bottles of wine, as evidenced by the empty holder). But hey - when we do! And there are still two cubes with nothing of note in them!

One thing might have to be adjusted - the tops of these pre-fab pieces of furniture are very slick, unlike real wood. So before you leave glass things to rest, I would put something a little friction-y underneath them. I am going to cut a piece of cork board to place below the decanters. Felt or a wooden tray would also be a good call.

Overall I am very pleased! Nice surprise when all I went to Home Depot for was potting soil!

Update:

Never mind about the cork. I did one better with this silver tray!

Design for Make-Believe

2011-07-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

So recently Daniel appealed to those of us here at MarlaneDesign (that's me, myself, and I if you're wondering) about if it would be possible to build a set piece for a music video he was directing. This music video, for the lovely and talented hip-hop performer who goes by the illustrious name of St. Andrew, needed a Catholic confessional. Now I don't know if I have revealed this, but I know a thing or two about Catholic confessionals. As a student of Immaculate Conception Elementary AND Trinity Junior High (could it sound any more Catholic) I have spent a time or two in a confessional. And as is typical here at MarlaneDesign, I was more into considering the aesthetics of said confessional than the import of my sins.
So I said bring it on! With some brilliant consultation by Mr. R.J.Daniel - Director, we came up with something quite lovely, that I am proud to say I built with my own two hands. And the door even slides.

Next up, the Ark.
(And I don't mean Arkansas.)
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Guest Feature: Jana in Colorado

2011-07-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

My friend Jana lives in Colorado, and has an existence going on that is basically what I am striving for, but on a bigger scale. Her garden is bigger than mine, her dog is bigger than my cats, and she is a much, much nicer person than I am. Not hard to do, I realize, but this girl is a Southern Belle in the Flesh. I have seen some amazing capability and creativity from her over the last few days, and for all that I have decided to feature her here today!

First of all, she made some adorable baby quilts for friends:

I am amazed by people who make babies, but I am even more amazed by people who make quilts. This requires mathematical precision, and we have already been over how much I love doing that.

ON TOP OF THIS she has a garden that is pretty much a full scale manor-house production, and makes mine look like the one that the poor kitchen maid keeps in a tub on the side of the house. Because I that's exactly what it is. To your amazed eyes I give you:

Can we say WOW?

And then just because she is even more awesome than THAT, she is also raising the most adorable brood of chickens!

Ridiculous and Adorable.

And so now that we all hate Jana, I leave you with her adorable dog.

Seriously though, thanks Jana for letting me use all this stuff.
It makes up for the fact that I did nothing today but sit by the Kiddie Pool.

Summery Gift

2011-07-04T14:17:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow I am taking a summery gift to my theatrical agency, the group of people who helps me every step of the way with my acting career, the awesome folks at The House of Reps. For their gift, I chose four freezie sippie cups, (of which I already use one myself and love it in this heat - did I mention they're freezable!) and dressed them up in matching tissue paper. The "basket" part of this gift basket is a four corner pink organizational office bin, so they can use it once the gifts are gone! Add some cards and candy and I think we have a good little present!
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Real Simple

2011-07-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today I take to the streets and make copies of some tried and true. More specifically, the crib sheets from this Real Simple Solutions. Master Grocery List, Cooking and Baking Substitutes, and Stain Removal tricks are now had by me, and at easier disposal than wading through all the crap on the internet. Oh, the internet. What used to seem like a goldmine of information is starting to feel a lot more like a burdensome free-for-all. Libraries, and their trove of handy dandy books are good enough for me!

I realize the irony of criticizing the internet while writing on it. I am just saying.
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Short Summer

2011-07-02T12:11:00.001-07:00

Today, dissatisfied with my summer wardrobe options, I took about 2.5 inches off every skirt and dress in the closet. I should have done this years ago.

One particular triumph of this day is the transformation of a maxi dress. You may be familiar with these dresses - they look like summer dresses, but they are long, hitting the floor - read: suffocating. They rank with UGG Boots for the beach on my list of things you have to live in another climate to understand. Also, when you are 5'3" as I am, they also rank on my list of things that make me look shorter, along with ankle straps and skirts that hit mid-calf. I am pretty sure my version of hell would be a woolen calf-length skirt with black ankle strap heels, waiting in line somewhere in the heat. But I digress. So I turned a nice, never-gonna-wear-it BCBG green maxi into a I'm-wearing-it-right-now summer dress, all with the turn of a pair of scissors. The best part is that it is akin to t-shirt material in that the edges roll up, so no hemming!

If all this makes you squeamish - the cutting and the clothes in the same sentence, then I recommend that the next time you have a bag of things to take to Goodwill, you get a pair of scissors and instead have some fun. If we live in fear of our clothes because we don't know how they are made, then we will forever be buying cheap things for a lot of money because we don't know the difference. Not really, anyway.

Happy Cutting!

It's A California Day!

2011-07-01T11:05:00.001-07:00

Agenda:
Errands
Build a monitor stand for Daniel, who sits hunched over in front of his Mac desktop all day.
Pot our trees from Million Trees LA before they go to pot.
Sit by my kiddie pool and eat ice pops and write.
Let's go!
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Kiddie Pool

2011-06-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

That's right, I said it, kiddie pool.

Our house did not come with a pool, and frankly I am glad it didn't. Just the thought of maintaining it, fencing it off, and hoping someone's little child does not fall in it - not to mention the reduced use of what is, after all, an urban outdoor space- makes me shudder. Going to a public pool is completely out of the question. They're loud, filled with kids and any number of bodily fluids. I don't care how nice your gym or apartment complex is. Think about the ODDS. And I don't have a nice uncle out here with a pool. Besides, I am only rarely a pool kind of girl, the same way I am rarely a ride-in-a-convertible kind of girl. I take the big hat and hair scarf approach, and am still not all that motivated to join in. But this year, for whatever reason, I feel like lounging outside by a body of water. And in a typical me move I want to do it in privacy, more specifically, at my own abode.
I admit that for this cause I have thrown design out the window. Armed with an air compressor from our friends at the Home Depot, I got this cushy "family size" inflatable pool from Target - it has all the design flair of an air mattress. And I adore it. Our backyard is now an oasis; complete with lounge chair, umbrella, and a cool place to put my feet, or my whole self if I so choose. And no one can pee in it, because its mine!
On a design-esque note, I am surprised there are not more temporary pool options. Lots of people just want somewhere to cool off, not necessarily to dive and do the butterfly. I love this because it has cushy sides, but can't you just SEE something with a faux-rock wall and a mister? Something that looks more like a wishing well and less like an above ground oil tank? Alas, these in-betweeny products are hard to come by.
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Cuttings!

2011-06-30T11:49:00.001-07:00

I have had so much fun finding little offspring growing in certain pots. I am amazed at how prolific succulents can be! This is my little window collection. I find that cuttings do best in the same situation as seeds that are growing - lots of warmth, sun, and water. The backyard is definitely starting to feel like more of an oasis, and less like a baked piece of city property!
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Ready to Have a DIY Summer?

2011-06-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

Ready ready? Yes I know "summer" has already started for those on an academic schedule, but for those who follow by the solstice, we've just started!
This project is one I actually did years ago, a mosaic clock. The materials for this, including the hardware, are easily found at any Michaels/HobLob type of place. I've even seen it in the "did you forget this" section of the check-out aisle! It's a great way to salvage broken dishes. This was a piece of Polish pottery that made a clock, 2 picture frames and 2 lightswitch plates. I now save up broken plates for a larger project - the top of a patio table!
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Mary Mary Quite Contrary

2011-06-15T09:22:00.001-07:00

My garden grows relatively well! After covering the seeds with plastic wrap they germinated immediately and turned into little plants! Outside, really only the squash germinated, so I brought two tomato plants inside and they made an appearance immediately. I have decided the window is the place for any seedlings or cuttings. Have to admit I am relieved that too many of the seeds didn't become little plants - I don't actually have enough space for them all! When these tomatoes get big enough I will grow them in containers, and leave the bed for the sprawling squash. Yesterday we got our seven Sweet Bay Laurels from Million Trees LA - so excited to find the right spots for them and watch them grow! Our outdoor living space is definitely looking up.
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Crate and Barrel...okay!

2011-06-08T17:38:00.001-07:00

Lusting lusting over this "Vaughn Apartment Sofa" in the Spring catalouge. Scaled "spare and square for small spaces" it would be just the thing!
Too bad I love my sofa now!
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House Beautiful - Again, Again!

2011-06-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have finally signed up for a subscription of House Beautiful, after months of going to the library to pore over its pages. Which is great, I highly recommend reading magazines at the library, especially art publications which can be pricey. But what I was really missing was being able to cut things out!

As an added bonus, I was also able to subscribe to 5 issues of ELLE decor for $8, which is a good deal considering they are almost $6 cover price. Just an FYI!

Have You Seen the Couch?

2011-06-07T14:34:00.001-07:00

The couch isn't what I would call "presentation style" right now (pillows all straight, blankets folded, books aside) but something about Dottie lying there with my book made it seem just right for today. I will post a more dressed up version when the back cushions and throw pillows I have planned are ready :)


Before

The full post about before

My Inspiration

Using some $1.99 unbleached cotton from this seller in the fashion district, I used a staple gun to cover the bones of our 1965 pull-out-couch, which was surprisingly easy. The way you can tell if your couch will be easy or hard to cover is to run your hands along the frame and look for wood. If the couch is too padded you'll have to strip away layers before the staples hit wood. If it's sparse in padding like ours though, due to design or age, then it's much easier. Then I used a yard of chenille, on sale for all of $3.00, to cover the tops of the couch cushions, attaching the new and improved facade to the existing zippered cover. That was just a simple whip stitch on a folded edge. (I am still to finish the back cushions, but the colors are so close its hard to tell). The arm covers are long curved strips hemmed at the edges with Stitch Witch. These are great bc they can be thrown in the wash and make it awkward for the cats if they want to scratch (and cover it if they do). After that you're done!
The reason for the feaux reupholstery is simple - cheap, decently easy (prob 3 afternoons total, the cushions taking more time than the actual frame) and therefore no guilt if it doesn't work out. The cotton isn't the best choice for a couch bc it isn't sturdy, but it was cheap and the important thing was just to cover the darn thing, especially before the summer, and I wanted something that would feel fresh. I love both the color and feel of the chenille on the cushions, which is really the most important part of the couch. Had there been quantities enough (which is always the problem for trying to find fabric onsale) I would have done the frame in that as well. But now I know that having the cushions in another fabric from the frame doesn't bother me, so if I find some better fabric at another time, no one is crying over the 1.99 cotton. I wish, frankly, that I did all my projects like that. Dressmakers do, using muslin, because you never really know how something is going to drape, if that cut is going to be right. Now if I redo the job, I'll have a pattern already cut, so it won't even take as long. But it'll do - for now :)

Weddings Weddings Weddings!

2011-06-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

My childhood friend Jacqueline has tied the love knot and looked stunning doing it! I don't usually feature fashion here (and that dress is most certainly NOT do-it-yourself, in the best possible way) but I couldn't help posting about her and this photographer. She is just so beautiful and full of joy!

Collage Lab

2011-06-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

Was gifted the sweetest thing for my birthday by fellow actors Michelle and Melissa,

a "Collage Lab" full of vintage papers from www.collagelab.etsy.com.

Odds and ends from vintage books, magazines, and memorabilia, it is super fun to explore the possibilities for scrapbooking, cards, and shadow-boxes!

More "Chock Full of Goodness" Packs on sale at the seller's site!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64383612/chock-full-of-goodness-packs

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More Fun with Roses

2011-06-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

Alternative vases: a glass honey jar, and a glass bowl. These are especially good for home grown roses, which often don't have long stems.
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Birthday Roses

2011-06-01T13:10:00.001-07:00

From the garden!
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Hemming Curtains

2011-06-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Thanks for your patience as I whisked away to Arkansas for a week - I had a brother to see graduated! Now that I am home and left to my own devices, let the games begin. First thing on the agenda is hemming all the new curtains I put in place before I left, the white top panels and the solar panels behind them. I might have mentioned the move from roman shades, which I began to feel were too hazardous for the cats and possible visiting children (you never know)! The curtains were all purchased on Craigslist and are of varying lengths (weird, but whatever), so I have chosen the sew-less option of a little gem called "Stitch Witchery" to even them out. These are basically little flexible glue strips that you iron on for presto hems! They are great for things like curtains and shortening skirts fast!
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Carpet Tile to the Rescue

2011-05-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

As my complaint often is with this plasticky pre-fab furniture, the top to the organizing cube from Target wasn't nice. Thin, slick, and with two holes inexplicably drilled into the top (and yes, I suppose its possible that it should have been the bottom, but stay with me) I decided to be done with it. It is now topped neatly by some staple gun action with extra carpet tiling - and I love it. The traction is great for setting tools and other electronic valuables on top as a resting place during the day, and at night the cats can use it as another place to hang out/use as a launching pad to the window - double the fun!
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New Use for Old Things

2011-05-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

After a couple mornings of pouring water all over the table trying to nourish my herb garden, I realized - why not use a cream pour from a tea/coffee set? Namely, this little white (yes, sigh*) cat that really only gets used on special occasions. Now it has extra purpose, and I have happy plants and a dry table.
*Note: this is the only cat "figurine" in the house!
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Shelf Organization

2011-05-16T20:53:00.001-07:00

After making a new shelf I generally reorganize a million times. It takes a while for it to go from storage to something more - I feel like I finally hit on it by adding a handmade birthday card in a frame. It features Daniel and I as cameras - silly but fun!
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Graduation!

2011-05-16T11:51:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to all who have recently matriculated from an institution of learning! My boyfriend and my brother are both celebrating graduations this year, and it has made me nostalgic! This is from my own undergraduate graduation, a shadowbox I made from some of the non-traditional items I received. First is the graduation announcement and insert (that I designed and had printed. Its a lot less expensive and I think more personal to buy the generic invite and print your own insert. It allowed me to include info about what I would be doing next, which I think aunt and grandma were more interested in than the card ;) I also included the pin we were given at Convocation at the beginning of the four years, and the pin, sash, and medallion I got for graduation. Overall, its a fun, organized, and safe way to keep these artifacts! Shadowboxes are expensive, but they are often on sale at Michael's in their custom framing department, and that would be an excellent way to spend one of their ubiquitous 40% off coupons! I got this one on sale because it was a weird shade of grey- a little craft paint solved that!
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Book Ends!

2011-05-15T16:42:00.001-07:00

Jars filled with white marble chips - heavy, repurposing of jars, inexpensive, and aesthetically pleasing! I like the texture the rocks bring to the shelves - always a fan of finding ways to incorporate nature. Plus, the rocks are $4 a bag. There was enough to make all 6 ends and I still have plenty for other projects (or just the garden). I think another nice alternative would be to fill the jars first with sand, then rocks, and if you have a lot of light in the space, a cacti or two! This also reminds me of the wall of pretty glass jars and decanters at the 99 c Only Store. Mixing and matching shapes could also be fun.
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Back Patio Prep!

2011-05-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Am starting to get very excited about the back patio lately! Just got this rockin' beach chair from World Market, which I love not only because it goes with my color scheme, but is easy to fold away. City patios benefit from furniture versatility, definitely.

The flower pot is from The Plant Stand in Costa Mesa, and the rocking chair and table were lucky finds last summer at a Silver Lake lawn sale. I spray-painted the table a hammered silver to go with my "restoration hardware" (but more fun) aesthetic. So far so good!
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Ashley and Robert Bohemian

2011-05-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

Loving this House Tour on Apartment Therapy and had to share!

Baby Boom

2011-05-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

So a lot of my friends are having babies right now, and it made me take a second look at a beautifully non-kitschy nursery from the blog Small Spaces .

Mainly I like how cleansing it feels, and how easily it would transition as the baby grew into a little person!

Another cool blog: Dwellings, also on Tumblr.

I haven't looked into this a lot, so post links to your favorite nursery designs!

Chandeliers Up!

2011-05-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was wandering through Ace Hardware (as I am wont to do) and I came across the perfect fittings for my antique chandeliers at $9 a pop.

Turned off the power, got a ladder, and did some rewiring! For those of you who have never replaced a light fixture full stop, its super easy. Just turn the power off, and if you can take one off, you can put one back on. I think that's going to be an episode of How-to-House, when we get a new fixture for the back patio. But without further ado, here they are!

Pretty great huh?

If you're wondering, here's what they replaced - the dreaded nipple shades!

Which oddly have photographed well, but these are not so cool in person, believe me.

Piggy Bank Rehab

2011-05-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Another dollar store find, this one from a store that I am pretty sure carries the things places like Target and Wal-Mart couldn't sell. I feel like I recognize this piggy bank from Target:

I learned a couple things about spray-painting this time around. When you spray paint something glossy, even if it's with a spray paint made for plastics, and you don't use some sand paper on it, around the time you want to do the second coat it will crackle like the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. This piggy bank was originally going to be white, but the white plastics paint crackled so badly on it that I had to sand it down and start over. The second time I used a Rust-Oleum heavy duty primer that we had used on the front door, and coated it with a glossy red that I had bought by mistake (we used a more earthy red on the front door). Over that went a glossy clear coat. More work than I had anticipated, but that's what I get for not reading directions.

So now he looks like this!

After adding the felt pads on his feet (to keep the red paint from rubbing off on my white, unsealed shelving) I realized he looks a little like a nicer version of this:

Which is my undergraduate alma mater, so why not?

Mirrored Out

2011-05-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

We have been mirrored out here at MarlaneDesign, inspired by a reconnaissance trip to IKEA in which I remembered that I had four IKEA wave mirrors sitting behind a trunk that were all but lost since this time last year! So I tripped along home and put them up.

This one fills a lovely corner by the back door.

These two greatly improve the lack of spaciousness in the master bath and also add an additional workspace. The lighting is the most natural in the bathroom, so now I have an alternative to getting ready over the sink.

This one adds nice dimension to a flat wall in the guest bath.

And finally - this little space by the doorway is going to get an overhaul with a beautiful oak framed beveled edge mirror that I found in a moving sale on Craigslist. The sucker is heavy though, so I will put it up tomorrow, having just got proper picture-hanger-uppers. Underneath I will put three coat hooks from World Market that we already had and voila! Entryway.

Get the hooks!- ours are white.

Bedspread Trial Win!

2011-05-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

Not wanting to commit right away to a grey/brown bedspread, I bought a nice Calvin Klein sheet set in the color. Now that I know I love it, I'll make a duvet cover from the top sheet, better than a plain comforter because we can remove the comforter inside for California summers. What's more, Ill choose a different, complimentary color for the back of the duvet, so if I decide to change things up I can flip it! This option is only slightly more cost effective, depending on whether you have something that can be used as the inner comforter, and also depending on the quality of the sheet set. I could have bought a comforter set for less this time of year, but I like the versatility that a duvet offers, and the fact that I could get a higher quality sheet set compared to the cost of a really high quality comforter.

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Painter's Tape

2011-05-05T12:32:00.001-07:00

Great for securing photos inside a frame. No matter how many times I have to readjust, it never harms the matte or the photo!
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Sandpiper Bathroom

2011-05-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

While in the throes of curtain problem solving (turns out roman shades are hazardous to cats that practically live in windows and also small children) I found time to repaint the bathroom (Sandpiper, Martha Stewart). I don't know if we remember lesson learned - never paint bathroom with matte paint, duh - but I also changed the color scheme and am pleased with the cleaner, stonier look.

Before:

After!

I also moved the little shelf (cleaned of some clutter) to under the medicine cabinet, leaving the wall space under the drawing (my mother's sketch, ladies and gentlemen!) for breathing room. This house was built in 1924, and back then there was no such thing as a master bath! So in a bathroom this small, all the breathing room I can get is important. It also made room for my little jade plant! This climate is so bright that jade even does well indoors. I'll post more photos soon - I have some fun storage ideas for small spaces like this!

FYI:

Shower Curtain:

World Market

Other similar items:

Trinket Box

2011-05-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

I have been amazed what a coat of paint will do to things at the 99c Only Store - especially ceramics. Here, I transformed this little bird box into a by the bed ring or retainer holder!

It really amazes me the trouble they will go to in order to paint these things when a solid color would be so much better.

I used a glossy white Rustoleum spray paint for this, coated with a glossy enamel for extra durability!

Vines

2011-05-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

What kind of vines are these, does anyone know? We want these for our backyard!
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Old Door Love

2011-04-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

Hit the jack-pot today and walked by a house in our neighborhood that had gutted some room or other and left on the curb, among other things, two solid wood antique doors, one with glass still intact and ripe for the picking! My boy was good enough to go home, don a pair of gloves, and bring his truck to haul them home. Now all I have to do is decide what to do with them. I know I want to use them outside (I am sensing definite lead pain potential). Here are some of my favorite options, courtesy ApartmentTherapy :

Herb Garden Real Estate

2011-04-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

I made this herb shelf for my new cilantro plants. It's half the width of our other ledges, so kitty can't fit. This required the board, plus one 2.5 inch wood screw, drilled through the board into the window frame. Done!
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Herb Jars

2011-04-25T18:12:00.001-07:00

Today was cilantro planting! I bought a package of seeds earlier this month and never got around to planting them. A few rocks in the bottom of these jars w some potting soil on top equal happy times for the seeds. Hopefully they'll grow! I'm putting them in a north facing window (which apparently has mucho calor- almost killed my begonia plant). Alright seeds, grow!
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Grow-Up, Bedroom

2011-04-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

I have had the same blue quilt bedspread for a few years now. I bought it when I lived in a bland white walled rent house with oatmeal berber carpet. But it is time to move on. (Don't worry, I already moved on from the blue curtains. We are doing white roman shades).

So I went browsing on Apartment Therapy for other grey walled rooms, and found this stunner that both Daniel and I agree would make the room more calming (and I think) more accommodating of the current masculinity also residing therein. I am also not sold on our nightstands, seeing as one is actually a metal shelving unit and the other was found on the street. I would much rather have ones to match my antique pineapple post bed :)

It's actually kind of amazing how much the scale in this picture matches the scale of our room! I am excited to be on the lookout for a light brown bedspread like this. The most important thing is it won't show lint or dirt or cat hair - a darker brown would, and it warms up the grey tones. Love it. I also love the blue accents - because that's where blue belongs now in this room - as an accent.

Other brown bedspreads:

Actually not sure how brown this is, but I like it.

I am also willing to make my own duvet cover out of a pair of king sheets - you never know the kind of quality you can find at discount places like Ross and TJMaxx in the way of King sheets. I covered a couch of mine three years ago using a beautiful pair of brown King sheets I got for $19.00 at a TJMaxx in Austin. That's where I learned dark brown shows everything under the sun.

And also that I will never recover a puffy couch again.

Make Your Own Rug

2011-04-23T02:30:00.000-07:00

From Apartment Therapy

I am up late tonight because I think we have two oppossums fighting in our attic. Awesome.

So I have all this great blue/grey tapestry fabric, and have always thought it would make a great rug, but wasn't sure how to go about it. This article on Apartment Therapy gives the general idea, which I think is probably worth a shot. I have recently decided to depart with the big blue rug in our bedroom, because it has started leaving a powder of latex adhesive on the floor, and I can't imagine that is healthy to track around. That's what happens when you buy "cheap" rugs from Target. I have a gorgeous Oriental rug that I bought for twice the price on discount from a Tuesday Morning, but at least it doesn't leave anthrax on my floor. Let me know if you have any ideas of what to do with a rug that has seen its last! I have thought of putting it outside, but it would show too much dirt. Oh well.

Chandelier Pay-Day

2011-04-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

So you might remember the chandeliers I bought at Goodwill last summer - I was literally shaking as I carried them out, sure that someone would stop me and change their mind about the purchase price - $15 each. Now I am vindicated on eBay, looking for the kind of hardware I would need to install them:


My chandelier - I have two of these, one with rhinestones at the bottom...

One selling on eBay for $225!!!

Needless to say, I am glad I was born the granddaughter of two antique dealers!

Outdoor Storage

2011-04-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Now that it is getting warm outside and I am doing increasingly more around the house, it is starting to feel ridiculous keeping all my tools inside, in the office closet. Every time I go in there I have to interrupt Daniel's work, and I would just rather find an outdoor storage solution to make more room inside.

Rubbermaid 2.6 ft. W x 2.1 ft. D x 6 ft. H Plastic Small Vertical Storage Shed

Model # FG374901OLVSS

Internet # 202046944

I have found this, a Rubbermaid storage solution from Home Depot. At $149 it's a hefty fee for a bit of plastic, but considering the fact it is water and air tight and locks AND is essentially adding as much square footage to the house, it might be worth it!


Rubbermaid Large Vertical Storage Shed Model # FG3746SWOLVSS Internet # 202046945 Store SKU # 491315

At 52 cubit feet compared to 17, at 299.00 this one just might be a better deal.

Suncast 2 ft. 6 in. x 4 ft. 8 in. x 6 ft. 7 in. Large Resin Vertical Storage Shed-$299

But of course THIS one has "Two-tone resin with a wood-grain texture adds style to your home" - watch out ladies and gents, this biatch is stylin'.

New Succulents

2011-04-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

Home Depot had a whole slew of new little guys, and at 1.98 and craving neglect who can resist? This time I took pictures of them and their labels for a computer file on what I've got. They all look so similar as babies, but this time next year Ill have definite favorites!
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Kitty Show

2011-04-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

Got the cats a "video toy" called Kitty Show. Its not sold on Amazon, but they ship super fast! Also a good way to show off my chairs - I recovered the little one this weekend, and used the same fabric to patch the arms on the other (using a curved upholstery needle).
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Penguin Classics

2011-04-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

You might remember my post around Christmas about the Penguin Classics I received as a gift:

Well this morning I was poking around Amazon, ordering a new Rodney Yee DVD (Yoga for Back Care, for all the time we spend sitting at computers! and A.M. Yoga for Your Week - 5 supposedly great routines to choose between - I'll let you know how I like them)...

AND I noticed there were new Penguin Classics on the virtual shelf! Those of you who know a little about my acting work might enjoy this one, which I read immediately when I found out I was going to be a vampire :)

I also added all of these to my "Wish List"! It makes me feel like I have them...

Researching the Community

2011-04-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

Something I hadn't thought of is researching the community for resources. Especially in a big city, there might be programs for free stuff and things to do!

Take Million Trees LA , a great organization that took over for Green LA, a program that gave away free shade trees through the LA Dept of Water and Power. I filled out a form with Million Trees - they are giving away up to 7 trees per property!

I also discovered a blog called Take Sunset, which features "real estate, architecture, and things to do in los angeles." Fun!

Spring has Sprung!

2011-04-18T14:20:00.001-07:00

I need to plant my veggie garden! Ideas?!
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Terrarium from the Side

2011-04-16T21:23:00.001-07:00

So you can see the ridges on the glass - this is why it doesn't fall! Ikea gets my vote this time :)

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Glass Terrarium

2011-04-16T21:15:00.001-07:00

You will need:
Glass jar from IKEA (2.99) with ridges )holds rope in place
Keychain ring, large
Sisal rope (this is 1/8 in thick)
Little succulent
Rocks
Potting soil

Using the ring on top, I threaded the rope from the top once around the bottom of the glass, then looped back around and tied it on the top. Then I made several knots up, then two big ones, and finally lots of knots on top. The hook is placed under the grouping of knots on the top.Took 10 minutes! Hanging it was super easy too, bc my pot rack is over the kitchen window. I am going to see how this one does before making anymore, but I am excited about the possibilities!
(I do like the special glass globes made just for this purpose, but I did want to see if I could put one together!)
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Made Me Laugh

2011-04-15T01:49:00.001-07:00

See anything wrong with this picture?

WHAT animal is going to eat from those food dishes? Aren't they a little high up to be so small? Say a dainty eating Great Dane? Please.

Yes, I am reading Storage magazine at 1:30 am. It relaxes me.

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Chalkboard Canister Labels

2011-04-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Made these awhile back and just realized I never posted them! Little pieces of plywood sprayed with chalkboard paint make great canister labels. I affixed them with little velcro dots that stick with adhesive so I can change em up! If you're intimidated by the plywood (I know not everyone has stuff like that lying around) don't be - chalkboard paint works on almost every hard surface. The back to a photo frame, for example, could be cut up and used for this! Get the spraypaint version though, its easier for small surfaces.

I like the Rust-Oleum brand - they have a huge selection at Home Depot with everything from paint to stop rust to spray paint made just for plastics and pre-fab particle board furniture and even paint for your appliances and grill!

Breakfast

2011-04-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

This may seem like a small thing, but today I re-evaluated breakfast. My boy and I were in the kitchen, I making oatmeal (trip to above the fridge for the oatmeal, sink for water, back across to the microwave and then over to the counter by the stove for brown sugar!) And Daniel is trying to make his cereal, getting milk from the fridge, and the coffee, which we do french press on the stove. We're both vying for prime real estate: the counter between the sink and stove. And I realized that I was the one who was in the way! Why go to the refrigerator and the counter if I don't have to?! Voila. Oatmeal in the cookie jar (we're ice cream people really. If I bought cookies all the time I would look like that's all I ate because it would be) and brown sugar in an extra canister I had that didn't look right on the counter (the yellow just looked weird there. Can't explain it). They are both now sitting right next to the microwave, where, I might add, the bananas I use are also right overhead. I can't wait for tomorrow morning when its all at hand!
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Spice Drawer

2011-04-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

Everyone has their own (and sometimes elaborate) way of dealing w/spices, but we don't have a lot, so I am allocating part of the drawer by the stove for them. This way I don't have to see their mismatched packaging and feel like I should transfer the spices to matching jars! I lnow one of these days I will have more that beg for something more advanced, but we pick our battles!
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Amazon Associate!

2011-04-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about joining the Amazon Associates program! Now when I want to link to something on Amazon, it's very simple to do right from my post. I shop a lot on Amazon, so this way I can keep you guys updated on what special little gadgets I find on there. This little 7" glass terrarium is on its way to my house, post haste!

MarlaneDesign's New Look

2011-04-12T21:13:00.000-07:00

Got to thinking about how long I have had this blog (since Nov 2009!), and I decided to find a new look for the site that meshes better with my current goals - I am no longer dealing with paper, pens, and other safe and easy (read lightweight) materials, but venturing into real construction! I really surprised myself by building the raised vegetable bed - measurements are not something I am good at working with. I have always liked winging it. But in order to move onto bigger and better things, I have to learn that I can wing the design, but not the wood cutting!

I chose the fence in this image because it reminds me of the unfinished portion of our fence behind the house. There will always be something that needs doing, so I will remember to be patient and take my time. And, more importantly, to remember that sometimes the wood is beautiful just the way it is.

I hope you like it!

Solar Lights

2011-04-12T18:23:00.000-07:00

Newest obsession - very inexpensive at Target - $5 for this one and $2 each for smaller ones! I like to put them in pots in the backyard also!
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Glass Terrariums

2011-04-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Got wind of these beautiful succulent terrariums last year, and was reminded of them by this summer's BHG DIY magazine. This particular one was sold by LBrandt on etsy.com. She doesn't have anything new for sale right now, but that's okay because I am going to figure out how to make one from scratch anyway (gotta say, looks pretty simple).
Spring rules!

On my search for glass terrariums, I discovered this ADORABLE fish bowl. Unfortunately the reviews say this is way too small for a fishy - and I'd have to agree. But I will keep my eye open for a bigger one! I find fish to be so relaxing, but I can't give up any surface space to a fish - especially when one of the kitties could make short work of it!

A Fun New Way to View MarlaneDesign!

2011-04-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

The Blogger community has been busy! You can now customize the way you'd like to browse MarlaneDesign! Simply type "/view/optionname" after the regular url for the new options. Check them out!

http://marlanedesign.blogspot.com/view/flipcard : Photo representing each post
http://marlanedesign.blogspot.com/view/mosaic : Photo and description
http://marlanedesign.blogspot.com/view/sidebar : Post of the day with sidebar
http://marlanedesign.blogspot.com/view/snapshot : This one is adorable!
http://marlanedesign.blogspot.com/view/timeslide : This one is so sweet, it reminds me of a journal!

Sketch Day

2011-04-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Planning the patio furniture! I'd like to build two benches, with plastic storage tubs underneath to hold the pillows and cushions when not in use. The beginning of this idea was the original need to hide a set of old steps that we're not sure we can bust out just yet. That way they are hidden until we can, and the bench can go anywhere if we decide to use them differently!
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Raised Veggie Bed

2011-04-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

Built this 6x4 ft beauty with my own two hands! Along with being one of my biggest construction projects (read: couldn't fit the wood in my Honda Civic!) this project also signifies the beginning of a new era for this blog! My boyfriend Daniel is a filmmaker, and together we are making a new branch of MarlaneDesign with a YouTube channel, where we'll do a series of videos called "How-to-House". I'll lead you through my simplest and most complicated projects and hopefully demystify some of the things that everyone could try at home! You'll know when a new "How-to-House" is ready, bc Ill embed it right here!
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Begonia in a Tin

2011-04-08T17:02:00.001-07:00

Can't beat $4.97 for a pretty little flower like this in a tin from Trader Joe's. The pot usually costs that much! They say these should be indoors in indirect sunlight, so our kitchen table is actually a great place. I have become very enamored of flowers in the house since having that bouquet from Comedy for a Cure - but I don't really believe in having cut flowers all the time. This is a great solution! Bonus: not poisonous to pets!
Stay tuned for the raised garden bed I am building in the front - not sure what's going in it yet, but it will be ready when I am!

Update: If anyone is wondering, I had to move this begonia from this north facing window - too much sun got the little thing a little crispy! They work best in indirect sunlight (apparently) and enjoy misting - not overwatering! I'm trying!

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Ipod Cover Cover

2011-04-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Glue gun and fabric scrap!

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Comedy for a Cure

2011-04-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

Beautiful arrangement from Comedy for a Cure last night at the Roosevelt Hotel. Lilies, roses, and hydrangea!

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Staining and Gardening

2011-03-30T15:36:00.001-07:00

Added mulch around the roses today after digging out all the weeds and am using some brick stain to recolor the planters - much more cheerful! Also got to work staining the old brick by the gate - the front used to be completely brick, but over the years it disintegrated and was concreted in and painted over, but some still shows on the side.

This work also got me thinking about what the front of the house should look like, and how much we want a red door! The front walk is stained an ugly green, but I think the sand color of the stone in this picture would be really soothing. We also could do a terra cotta color on the roof, like this one has. This was actually the only Spanish-style house with a red door I could find - let me know if you come across any more!

Blue Living Room Blues

2011-03-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

I am still ho-humming over our living room. We recently had our housemate leave, taking with her a lovely oatmeal colored recliner and making me miss the soothing color and wonder if I should cover our sofa with something similar. This would be radical.

The thing about our sofa - it's a 1960's Hide-A-Bed with atrocious fabric, but beautiful lines. It fits perfectly in the space, is no-nonsense, but so cozy, AND so low to the ground that nothing can get underneath it (read: glass from a broken wineglass, cat toys, cat hair, lost socks, slippers, ETC...). The only thing is we had been wanting a leather couch, and I hate to go to any expense/effort (and covering a couch IS effort) if we're going to get something else. But as it turns out our tastes are pretty expensive in the area of leather couches (here is one place I have no interest in IKEA-quality), and as I have mentioned before, I don't know if I trust that much costly leather around the cats (or myself, for that matter. I have been known to get nail polish on a brand new bedspread).

Couch and Coffee Table in Question

p.s. Can you tell accent pillows have not been a huge concern as of yet? It's amazing how the simplest things can escape your view when still worrying about where we were going to put everything. Now I see those sad, mismatched little pillows and think "HOW DID I MISS THIS?!" (this is also a good time to note that since it's raining and gross outside today, I clearly need to get out).

So, after examining the couch and discovering it to be gloriously compartmentalized, here's what I think I am going to do. Cover the couch in a lovely, soothing oatmeal color using an inexpensive fabric and staple gun. . This can be accomplished by buying unbleached canvas painter's cloth from Home Depot ($19.99 for a 9x12 foot spread) for the structure, and then buying something softer for the cushions. I am excited by the two-toned effect that will come from having two different fabrics, and the durability from using painter's cloth (which is built to withstand liquids). Then I can get my leather fix by covering the coffee table you see above using a feaux-leather vinyl and padding, transforming an ugly wood piece into a table/ottoman. Ta-DA! I will keep you updated 1. If I actually get around to all this and 2. If it looks any good.

Desired effect:

It's always hard to find an exact replica of what you would like to achieve, but here is a cozy living room with blue walls, an oatmeal-toned couch and a dark brown coffee table, mimicking the shade of leather I would like to use. The main differences between this room and mine are that the wood floors are much darker, the walls are lighter, and I am using red as an accent instead of pink, but this is actually a pretty close match. I am very interested in rooms that use cool colors but appear warm -this is definitely one of them!

Now that I think of it, this reminds me of a post I did on an article in Home Beautiful with designer Peter Frank (see above) where he designed a slipcover for his couch to match the drop-cloth the painters had used to protect it. I am actually amazed that I had forgotten about this - he uses almost the exact same color scheme I am going for, and the couch is the same color! Seeing this picture now, I am wondering if it would be fun to cover the lampshade by the couch using the scraps from the slipcover project - oooh stay tuned!

House Beautiful - again

2011-03-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

I've got to say House Beautiful really does it for me. I love this article on another bungalow and what she's done with the backyard - pretty great!

I know we just stained the backyard concrete, but I am suddenly smitten by the idea of creating different spaces by perhaps putting in borders and filling over the concrete with rock! Definitely makes for a cozier feel, and might deflect the early morning sun, making the area cooler. Could be worth a shot!

I love this quote from the owner/designer about an outdoor space (and I can also relate because we don't have a foyer either:

"The front door opens directly into the living room. Is it awkward not having an entry hall?
Oh, but I do! I use the steps, the gate, the yard, and the porch as a sort of foyer, to give pause to guests, so they feel they're getting away from the hubbub of L.A., the cars, the sun, and entering this warm, cozy place."

LA Housetours on Apartment Therapy

2011-03-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

I feel so lucky to live in a big city, because one of the best things is to be able to go on a great website like Apartment Therapy and have an entire section devoted to your particular architectural and horticultural goods! Here's a sweet House Tour of a 700 sq ft house that I think is just adorable.

One of the biggest things I do NOT want to do is paint our kitchen cabinets white (although I am thinking a big summer project will be to strip them and re-stain them a lighter color). I find that painted cabinets are dirtier, harder to clean, and tend to chip - ugh on maintenance. I used to be all about painted wood, but Daniel appreciates a nice grain and has brought me over to the dark side :)

Now I am off to spend some more time in the garden, where I am in a serious battle with weeds. If you are going to mulch, people, mulch WELL.

Salt n Pepper

2011-03-25T19:13:00.001-07:00

Finally came across the best shakers for cooking to sit over the stove. They were at Out of the Closet thrift on Sunset!
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Home Office Official

2011-03-25T17:04:00.001-07:00

Target buyers rejoice! Got this lovely flowerdy box there, complete with file folders to make my home office official! Now I will be very organized. (I hope). If doing my taxes this year has taught me anything, its the importance of being organized - and saving the receipt for this file folder!

This also reminds me of something else. In my quest to be organized this year, I realized that it is actually very hard to be organized without the proper accoutrements. Yes, it's necessary to have the shelves and baskets and even file folders, because anything that is MADE for a purpose (and I am not dissing diy at all, I love building to custom!) is going to make it more likely that you will give in to the purpose and use it. That's how its worked for me, anyway! So while it seems like a lot of stuff, I have been amazed at how much I have been able to get rid of (read: donate) that was only doing half the job. Suddenly I feel like I have more space, not less.

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Carpet Tile City

2011-03-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

Got some great carpet tiles courtesy of InterfaceFLOR to cover the cats ledges - A quick tango with a box cutter and staple gun made these wooden perches safe for their little paws! Thanks InterfaceFLOR!

p.s. If you're wondering why all the concern about the cats having some real estate (my new favorite term for places to sit!) it's not purely good pet ownership - I am hoping to wean them off scratching our 1960's couch that yes, does feel like a rug, in hopes of getting a leather couch later this year. If I can give them lots of alternatives, then it's a lot more likely to work out in my favor!

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Coat Closet Improv

2011-03-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

Case in point: these coats were taking up a lot of space in the bedroom closet, and since we didn't have a coat closet we needed to do something else. This space behind the door made possible by beautiful hooks from World Market.
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Closet Crusader

2011-03-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

I am close to achieving my house storage goals, having added this second set of shelves in the closet. Now I can avoid the dreaded STACKING that inevitably comes tumbling down on a mini person like me. Because I was too lazy to cut this wood, you might have noticed I layered one shelf on top of another. This works only because I am not putting anything heavy up there (purses). If not, it would be better to do it the right away and use another bracket.

Note:

We're three months until we have been in the house a year, and I can't believe how far we've come! Its almost to the point where everything has a place, we've purged of things we don't need, and can navigate our day with efficiency and ease! With large inconveniences out of the way, its exciting to think of little ways to create more space. One of the big ways I've found is to re-allocate things to other rooms. For example, I've just realized that a lot of our guest glassware (martini, champagne, and special wine glasses) don't need to take up space in the kitchen, but can go with the bar decanters in the living room. I am in the process of designing something simple I can build myself that will allow space for the decanters, a glasses rack, and space for a record player by the television hutch. Stay tuned!
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Martha's Paint Colors - what's with the symbols?

2011-03-22T12:20:00.001-07:00

So I am in the Home Depot, and here are the paint colors in the house:

Sandpiper: Guest Bath and about to be ours as well - Star

Cobblestone: Master Bedroom - Snowflake looking symbol

Spanish Moss: Guest Bedroom - Apple

Thistle Blue: Living Room - Star

Faded Ink: Kitchen - Star

Caraway Seed: Office - Snowflake

I am convinced that Spanish Moss is a harmonious choice for the guest room, but Martha doesn't seem to think so. I wonder if I am just more advanced than the symbols, but their apparent disagreement with the choices I have made bothers me- there's not even a green choice with a Star! Very disturbing. My decision is to ignore it all. Long live the palette!

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The Shelf Crusader Strikes Again

2011-03-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I just watched the movie "Super" and am in a superhero kinda mood.

But I did build a shelf yesterday and am very happy with the result. Now that our books are spread around the house, no one book shelf looks overloaded and *gasp* there's room for more! I also just love that now when I walk into the bedroom my eye goes up to the books! Any chance to draw the eye up in a bungalow is a good thing.

My favorite part of this is the little milk glass candle holder. It had a great spot at my old house and has been floating around aimlessly here. Now filled with rocks from the garden, it makes a great book-end. Any other book-end ideas are welcome!
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MarlaneDesign

Austria Email Enamel Pots

Jameson Bottle Bird Feeder!

Happy Holidays!

Fence Envy

You got it: More Cat Stuff! This Time, More Shelves...

Bed in Front of Window Part Two

Sperry Rand Remington Streamliner Typewriter

Tomato Time!

Print On My New Skirt

Book Review

Bed in Front of Window

The Small Cool Outdoors Contest by Apartment Therapy

Xeriscaping

My Tomato Plants

Hutch Re-Create

Get Your Stamps Today!

A Made Bed

Chandelier in the Carport

Old Door Love Part Two

Cork Option

House Grass

A House Beautiful Week

Chess Pieces for the Win

Old Lamp, New Spot

Photobooth Fun

Wardrobe Time!

Lonely Corner Revamp

Design for Make-Believe

Guest Feature: Jana in Colorado

Summery Gift

Real Simple

Short Summer

It's A California Day!

Kiddie Pool

Cuttings!

Ready to Have a DIY Summer?

Mary Mary Quite Contrary

Crate and Barrel...okay!

House Beautiful - Again, Again!

Have You Seen the Couch?

Weddings Weddings Weddings!

Collage Lab

More Fun with Roses

Birthday Roses

Hemming Curtains

Carpet Tile to the Rescue

New Use for Old Things

Shelf Organization

Graduation!

Book Ends!

Back Patio Prep!

Ashley and Robert Bohemian

Baby Boom

Chandeliers Up!

Piggy Bank Rehab

Mirrored Out

Bedspread Trial Win!

Painter's Tape

Sandpiper Bathroom

Trinket Box

Vines

Old Door Love

Herb Garden Real Estate

Herb Jars

Grow-Up, Bedroom

Make Your Own Rug

Chandelier Pay-Day

Outdoor Storage

Rubbermaid 2.6 ft. W x 2.1 ft. D x 6 ft. H Plastic Small Vertical Storage Shed

Rubbermaid Large Vertical Storage Shed

Suncast 2 ft. 6 in. x 4 ft. 8 in. x 6 ft. 7 in. Large Resin Vertical Storage Shed-$299

New Succulents

Kitty Show

Penguin Classics

Researching the Community

Spring has Sprung!

Terrarium from the Side

Glass Terrarium

Made Me Laugh