Giving New Life One Spray At A Time

It's amazing what a simple coat of spray paint can do. This Ikea hand-me-down spent years neglected outside in the corner. When we renovated out deck, I wanted to throw it away but it was too heavy for me to scoot to the front of the house. How many of you know what I mean... particleboard 😤 ???

So, I decided to give it some 💗.

I went to Home Depot to pick my favorite colors of the rainbow. Rust-Oleum has now come out with a spray paint that is already mixed with a primer! Ta-Dah - one step of the process down! Priming is important b/c it establishes good base for your paint to adhere.

At home, I prepped the bookcase by giving it a proper scrub down with a little soap, water and a stiff brush. After the bookcase completely dried, I sandpapered the surface so that the spray paint would have something to stick to. Don't worry, once you apply your paint, the surface will look smooth.

Spray painting was a fun activity that involved my 7 year old daughter. She decided that the shelves should have a point of contrast - an orange pop. Great advice from her because the finished product looks FAB!

Bedding for a Princess on a Shoestring

It's amazing how expensive crib bedding can be. A full set that includes a comforter/ quilt, crib bumper, a fitted sheet, dust ruffle, and a possibly a diaper bag can cost upwards $180.00. Something to keep in mind is that purchasing a full set is probably over-kill. Child safety organizations recommend against using comforters, crib bumpers and pillows in the crib since they pose a risk of suffocation.

Purchasing bedding a la carte is your best economical option. All you need to invest in the short term is a 100% cotton fitted crib sheet and dust ruffle. Dwell Studio now makes a line for Target. Here's what we got for our little princess:
Olivia Crib Sheet
Olivia Crib Skirt

Right now they are on clearance. So, for both items, I only paid $24.00!

Sweet Dreams

There are so many options for cribs. They vary not only in style but also price. I knew that I wanted to keep things simple, and of course, was drawn to items with clean lines and function. Here's a few of the cribs that I liked the best:

BREAK THE BANK

• The Oeuf Crib is the big dog (with a steep price tag ~ $890) in this category. Unlike most cribs on the market, it has a lowered center of gravity and the lines are crisp. The crib can grow with your child with the optional toddler conversion kit.

AFFORDABLE
Most first-mothers want the absolute best for their little ones. But keep in mind, babies grow up quickly and you won't know if they'll like sleeping in the crib until they are born. So, unless you've got some cash to burn, here are some good affordable alternatives.

Surprisingly, Wal-Mart has come to the rescue with their BabyMod line. There are two that have perked my interest.

• The Olivia and ParkLane cribs both offer the same European allure as the Oeuf but feature a 3 in 1 conversion capability - crib, toddler bed to daybed. The conversion kit come standard with the purchase and both are a mere $299. What I also like about these cribs is that the mattress height can adjust to four different heights. If you can select the option to ship "site to store" and pick up your crib at your local Wal-Mart (bypassing extraneous shipping charges).

Another dark horse comes from Ikea! The Swedes get simplicity right.

• The Gulliver has clean lines and is straight to the point with no frills. You can simply remove one side to convert the crib into a toddler bed. It's only $139.

I opted for the ParkLane crib. I've been pestering my dear husband for the past 4 weeks to assemble it. Hopefully it will be one of his new year's resolutions! I'll take some pics and post shortly!

Happy New Year!!!

It's been a while since my last post. Work got crazy, family got crazy and life seems relentless with its never-ending curve balls. Well, I'm back now ... apologies for the rather long hiatus.

I'm excited for the new year ... 2009 is going to be a great one - full of hope and new beginnings. My husband and I are expecting a little girl in March. I'm 29 weeks and getting more and more anxious with each passing day.

Lately, my affordable modern instincts have shifted into full gear towards nesting. Stay tuned for some of my nifty finds for the little ones!

To Be or Not To Be

I hunted high and low for drapes to hang in my dining room. Finally after purchasing & returning (making multiple trips to Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, JcPenney), I settled on the Felicia curtains from Ikea. They give the appearance of silk dupioni due to it's nubby yet smooth texture. And surprisingly, there have an even hang. Do spruce these up with a non-standard issue Ikea rod & rings. You'll have everyone guessing where you picked up these fabulous silk drapes! Your dirty little secret will be that they were under $100.00!

Spruce Up Bamboo

Have you ever been to Pearl River in NYC? A discount Asian import store where you can get all sorts of things for your home. This bamboo bench (for $51.50!) is something that I've been eye-ing.

I've been so busy at work but my inner DIY gal has been yearning to do something new. Imagine a fresh coat of semi or high gloss paint on this eclectic bench. Maybe a canary yellow or robin's egg blue. Something to pop in the corner of a room.

Eco-chic

It's been heating up, and we've been firing up the grill and enjoying the early days of summer. To try to curb our utility bill, we've opted for an eco-friendly option to cool down - the Minka Aire Artemis.

Ceiling fans are not longer a faux paus but can add a stylish accent. While a ceiling fan does not lower the room's temperature, the circulatory breeze can make you feel 8 degrees cooler. In the winter months, running the fan a clockwise direction can push the hot air down the walls, gently recirculating warm air through the room.

Check-Mate

Here's an easy way to bring a dash of colors into your living space - Ellsworth Kelly's 1951 piece. I wouldn't plan on springing for it on full price. Let's check back in when MOMA slashes their prices towards the end of summer.

High Tea for Me

Here's a great way to spend some time out for you ... with your favorite loose leaves and a dainty little tea cup. Beautifully elegant and more importantly on s-a-l-e at Anthropologie now!

Aegean Dreamy Bathrooms!

I've always thought that "egyptian" anything was the way to go. This type of cotton is typically renowned for its softness, absorbency, and durability. This is definitely my go-to choice when choosing bedding.

In the bathroom, it's a different story. Egyptian cotton are typically so absorbent that they often take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to dry completely often resulting in a mildew-y smell. Enter Turkish Aegean cotton! I've found this cotton to be just as soft and absorbent but dries quicker.

If you want to try them out - click on the link above - Costco once again has a great bargain! I got the Almond ones and love them!