Archive for April, 2009
Burning Question: Got It Made?
Lately we’ve been questioned to no end on this subject (inquiring minds want to know!). And we’ve even seen chatter about it in the ol’ blogowebisphere. So we figured it was worth tossing the question out to you guys: is a made bed a morning must in your house? Or is it about as common as a blue moon- or a finished to-do list?
If your bed is accustomed to tightly tucked sheets and perfectly placed pillows, who in your household is usually responsible for keeping said bed in check? Or if you prefer the more relaxed approach, is it because you enjoy the efficiency of crawling into an already unmade bed each night or because, well, maybe there’s a certain chihuahua still sleeping in it?
No judgements here, so don’t be shy. Tell us what goes on in your bedroom… er, um, not like that…
Stain Master Freebie Winners!
Ok, so maybe not all of you are stain masters yet (though you do have quite a few other masterful skills up your sleeves), but perhaps you’ll be able to add some new staining skills to your list thanks to this week’s giveaway from Olympic Paint. We’d love to see some of you guys flex your creative muscles on a piece of furniture, a porch, a picket fence or even your home’s wood siding. After all, Olympic does have a boatload of colors to choose from…
But who are the lucky three winners who will get to take on one of these projects without spending a dime? The randomly selected people who each get to take home a gallon of their favorite Olympic Exterior Stain are… Kristin (the celebrity gossip master), Foobella (simultaneously the master of procrastination and organization), and Mary (a stain master in search of the perfect green stain). Congratulations!
Thanks again to everyone who entered. And don’t uncross those fingers or toes just yet. You’ll have another shot at a trio of prizes on Monday (which carry Burger’s stamp of approval- hint, hint). Stay tuned…
Learn more about how our freebies work at our Giveaway FAQs. Images courtesy of Olympic Paint.
Easy Does It
I’ve often heard the phrase “things are as easy or as hard as you make them” and if you stop and think about it, it really makes sense. So as I go about my day I often think “am I making this harder than it needs to be?” or “is there anything I can do to make this easier/faster/more automatic/less annoying?” Thinking like this over time has actually helped us to develop a few systems and habits that help our house feel a bit more like it’s working for us. As most people know, I’m sort of a freak about organization, but I just find that it’s often the key to being efficient, knowing where everything is on a moment’s notice, and having a place for everything (when you know where to put things, it really makes cleaning an auto-pilot job). Sure it might seem like more work up front to create the systems and practices that help your house run like a well oiled machine, but it’s really something that pays off almost immediately. And after about a week you’ll wonder how you ever lived without ‘em! So without further ado, seven things that make our lives easier:
1. We have a woven tray near the back door in the sunroom where we stash our shoes before coming into the house. It’s super easy and it looks a lot better than a pile of shoes on the floor, even though it’s just a pile of shoes in a basket. It also keeps the house cleaner since we’re not tracking in any bottom-of-the-shoe dirt or leaves (and really helps during allergy season).
2. We have a bowl on our rolling laundry caddy just beyond the back door where John drops his keys and his wallet. Actually it’s a white planter from Ikea, but it was $1 and it serves the same purpose as a key bowl. My keys and wallet are always in my purse which I hang in our mini-mudroom, but John used to have those “where the heck are my keys” moments, so we implemented the bowl technique and have never looked back. This quick “drop spot” really gets us out the door faster and keeps me from having to complain when I find John’s little pile of pocket-stuff on my desk or on the kitchen counter.
3. We whipped up a little in-cabinet cork board (here’s how) for easy recipe storage. It’s great to have a place for all the cooking ideas that I tear out of magazines (which would otherwise pile up on the counter or get lost before I get a chance to beg John to make ‘em for me). And I can even pin up my shopping list and add to it throughout the week. Oh yeah and it was less than $5 to make.
4. Matching wooden hangers are the best. Your closet instantly feels more boutique-y and organized. And they’re much kinder to clothing than those sad mismatched wire ones (no more weird shoulder bumps). Oh and if you’ve missed our how-to-add-two-extra-closets-to-your-tiny-bedroom tutorial, check that out here.
5. Being a list maker, I used to tear off sheets from a pad and leave them all over the house with things to do and items to get and people to call. Now I have one notebook (which I affectionately call the Holy Grail) that I just flip open and write in. Putting the date on the top of the page and jotting down all the things I want to do, people I have to call, and other important details is second nature to me now. And it means there’s no more missing list, no more forgetting where I stashed someone’s phone number, and no more missing appointments. There’s peace of mind knowing that everything’s all in one place, and there’s something so cathartic about turning a new page and starting fresh every day or two (and dropping it into my purse for on-the-go access).
6. Of course I used to have piles and piles of torn out pages from glossy shelter magazines sitting around waiting to be filed or flipped through. But a few years ago I grabbed a 3-inch binder and some clear sleeves and literally created “the ultimate magazine” by adding all of my favorite inspiration pictures. It’s super easy to flip through (a lot less cumbersome than a folder of loose tear-sheets), and I even organized it by category (interior inspiration, curb appeal ideas, etc). Life changing, I tell ya.
7. And although this is a system that my lovely cable provider offers, I can’t end without saying how much we love our DVR. Talk about making our lives easier! We’re no longer a slave to the clock (so we’re free to get more done and we have more fun too). Of course if we ever need to tighten our belts it’s certainly an “extra” that we would forgo, but it just feels so decadent to fast-forward through the commercials and watch everything that we want, when we want. Talk about time management!
So there you have it. Our roundup of a few of the things that make life easier here at Casa Petersik. There seems to be this stigma about organized people that suggests that all they do is spend time alphabetizing their spices and folding their underwear (I do neither of those things by the way), but my theory is that the organized people spend way less time trying to keep their home tidy and find things that they need because they have drop zones and folders and baskets for everything (so it’s easy to put stuff where it actually goes and go about your day).What about you guys? Do you have any organizational ideas or habits that make things go smoother around your house? Do tell.
In the mood for more organization ideas? Check out how we made jewelry storage and even cereal storage super easy.
Email Answer: Temporary Insanity
Q: We don’t think you realize what a following you have in terms of a younger audience that’s not in the middle of a remodeling project. At least six of us in college that are in the dorms salivate over your pad on your blog. Would you mind offering up some style tips for small spaces that you can’t paint or hang things in? It would be really cool if you could feature some ideas for decorating a place like a dorm or rented apartment that’s a temporary stop that needs some homey touches. What would you have liked to know while you were still rocking the whole “college chic” decor in your pad to make it a bit more mature and fun? Give ze doggy a scratch behind the ears for us! Peace and love from Rhiannon, Kim, Alyssa, Jace and Emma (the undergrads from UCSC at Cowell College who LOVE YOU!)
A: Oh the college years. We remember them like they were yesterday. You girls pose a very good question (one that we actually get quite often) so without further ado, a few dorm decorating ideas:
- Here’s a video of my tiny NYC apartment full of cheap and simple apartment decor ideas
- Here’s an apartment makeover we whipped up for J’s lil sister (who also couldn’t paint)
A bit more basic advice would be that if you know your walls must remain white, try bringing in some pops of color in your bedding and in other things that are easily removable (bonus: they can come with you to your next place). Here’s an example of just how chic and fabulous a few punchy orange accents can be. Keeping the rest of the room subdued (just like those white walls) really allows the orange tones to pop- and a few bright pillows are a super budget friendly solution (you can probably grab four for around $45 at TJ Maxx or Target)!
You can also get some great fabric and cover a canvas from an art store and hang that on the wall with those removable 3M hooks that don’t leave marks behind. Similarly, you can paint a large canvas (no artistic talent required, splatter yellow paint on a white canvas… it’s abstract wonderfulness) and lean it against the floor or even make it a makeshift headboard by sticking it above your bed. Here’s a room with a giant work of art on the wall, but you can create the same effect on the cheap with floral fabric or even paint (abstract pink and red stripes or squares would be great).
Again there’s a tight color palette in this space (red and pink) which is offset by an abundance of crisp white pieces (and walls). Yet this room has personality to spare- and can totally be recreated in one trip to Ikea and the fabric store. Score.
People in a dorm or their first apartment might feel limited by what they’re “allowed” to do (or what they can afford to do) but the key is focusing on the positives! Think of all the pieces that can be introduced to add style and personality on a shoestring. Here are just a few things that can be found at a thrift store or an inexpensive superstore (Target, Ikea, JC Penney, even Walmart) and taken with you to your next place too: a brightly colored rug, a wooly sheepskin tossed over an ugly desk chair, an old side chair rehabbed with spray paint and some great fabric, printed bedding with personality, a big fabric or paint covered canvas on the wall, some great lamps (seriously fabulous lamps, like some $2 thrift store ones spray painted hot pink or emerald green- something with mucho personality).
Adding in these pieces with loads of character and “wow-factor”- especially when paired with a subdued backdrop (all dark wood or white furnishings)- will make up for the white walls and make it easier and cheaper to pimp your pad (and move to the next place in a minivan). Even a bulletin board full of punchy postcards or a piece of fabric draped over an old mismatched desk (to create hidden storage) can tie things together and add so much to a space. Heck, a stack of colorful hardcover books (remove the paper sleeves to reveal the vibrant fabric spines) can even add interest and personality.
By now you probably know that we’re also obsessed with curtains for a quickie makeover (especially if you can’t use paint) so that’s definitely another great way too achieve a layered look that’s coordinated without being matchy matchy (you want the bedding, the rug, the art and the curtains to work together, but not all be the same exact material or tone). Just look at how much these patterned curtains do for this otherwise bland white bathroom. They really can make the room.
Although they might not be allowed in dorms, they’re certainly fair game in most apartments! And toothpaste makes a great last-minute hole filler when you’re waiting on your deposit and don’t want “the man” to realize that you hung curtains in the first place. Long live fabulous dorm and apartment decor!
How about you guys? Any great starting-out decor tips and tricks to toss into the mix? Share and share alike!
Images courtesy of A Life’s Design, Inspiration For Everyday Living, Design*Sponge and Apartment Therapy.
Behind The Scenes With The Nest Magazine
We’re back to reveal more about our photoshoot for The Nest magazine (which actually took place five months ago). Back then we had to keep our lips sealed about the actual name of the magazine, but now we can finally share a few pictures from that crazy day of posing, puppy wrangling, and pure chaos!
Unlike our Do It Yourself magazine photoshoot (which you can read about here and here), this shoot was only one day long. But instead of the 9am-3pm days that we clocked with DIY, this one was 13 hours long. Yup, from 8am to 9pm. But it never felt long- on the contrary, it whizzed by. And we happily snagged a few behind the scenes photos throughout the day to document what it’s like to have a crew of ten people (a hair & make-up lady, a wardrobe stylist, an assistant to the wardrobe stylist, the photographer, his two assistants, the creative director, the prop stylist, his assistant, and a videographer) styling and shooting their way through your home.
Here are two of the three people who were in charge of making sure we look good enough to grace the cover (I know, insanity!!!). Color was the name of the game (since the mag came out just in time for spring), so they dressed us up in festive and bright clothing and piled on the accessories for a much-swankier-than-we-really-are effect.
And although we cleaned our house within an inch of its life before the crew arrived, of course all that went out the window when they started setting up. Wardrobe, hair and make-up supplies took over our bedroom (check out the yummy spread below) while every other room (not exaggerating) was stocked with everything from food for the crew to lighting and computer equipment.
Sometimes it was a pretty form of chaos, like this gorgeous stack of pillows and props that they had on hand to brighten things up and add some spring zing:
As for what they brought in beyond the pillows and platters that you see above, it seemed like no detail was too small for the prop stylist and his assistant. From laundry detergent (for the storage shelf above the dryer) to olive oil (for the kitchen counter), no item or object was overlooked. And we definitely had fun seeing our house all “dressed up” for the occasion! We’ve learned (from our Do It Yourself shoot as well as this one) that the thing about having your house professionally photographed is that it’s actually someone’s job to arrive with truckloads of pillows and accessories to restructure and refresh each room for the camera. It never bothers us because it’s always entertaining to see what tickles a pro decorator’s fancy (we love options, and seeing how punches of orange or dark green look on our couch is actually fun for us). You just have to be cool with tons of people in your house moving stuff around… and we’re happy to say that we’re totally down!
Of course there were also the monstrous machines and expensive equipment in every nook and cranny to capture each room in perfect light (while no one’s the wiser that there’s a giant umbrella flash just out of frame when they pick up the magazine). Here’s photographer David A Land checking out a few shots on his tripod-mounted-computer-contraption. And you can see everything from clamps to gaffer’s tape and even some fruit salad on the kitchen counter below. So many tools, so little time.
To continue our shots-of-the-crew-from-behind series, here’s the videographer panning around our freshly styled kitchen (a few herbs in the window and some brightly colored bowls got this room ready for action). Do you remember this video house tour over on thenest.com? That’s what he was here for. We filmed it while the photographer worked in other rooms, and occasionally stopped the video tour to pose for still shots for the magazine (which is why we ran out of time on the video tour and had to shoot the sunroom in the dark!).
And speaking of the sunroom, we were actually super shocked when we saw the cover of the magazine because everyone was talking about the sunroom being the big shot for the story the day they were here. In fact, they rearranged all of our furniture in there (the daybed got turned 180 degrees to face the sliding doors) to create a scene that could be shot from the top of a van in our driveway. The reason? To hide the fact that it was clearly autumn and not spring (which was easily accomplished by shooting into the sunroom instead of out of it). Here’s David on top of an SUV trying to get the shot!
And here’s the sample sunroom cover shot that they so graciously left behind for us to admire (they print them out with a fake header and some subtitles so they can roughly see how it’ll look on the cover).
We loved the look of our sunroom in the shot and were actually kind of bummed when we didn’t see it in the magazine. And of course we thought Burger looked adorable on the floor pillow staring up at his dad (who was actually standing on his leash to make sure he didn’t bound out of the sunroom and onto the ground below). But at least we have this photo to remember it by.
They actually ended up using one of our own photos of the sunroom for the story (with green trees in the background) so it all worked out in the end. And that instance wasn’t the only time the camera equipment escaped our home’s four walls. Oh no, it routinely popped up outside in some of the funniest places. Here’s one of the photography assistants among our azaleas placing lights and flashes just outside the den to create optimal lighting conditions inside. I bet you never think about this sort of set up when you glance at glossy home magazines, huh? We certainly didn’t until now.
A few other extremely entertaining moments occurred when we happened upon one of our living room chairs on the front porch and when we stepped into the bathroom only to be greeted by one of the cameras in the bathtub. Well hello there.
And because the shoot lasted until 9pm, the crew created faux sunlight well after the stars came out. Now when we see a sunny kitchen feature we’ll think twice about whether it was even shot during the day. Oh the tricks of the trade.
And perhaps one of our favorite memories of the shoot was when we snagged this pic of ourselves with our “butt mics” as we affectionately called them. Who knew a crew could photograph your entire house and film a video tour in 13 wild and crazy hours?
Of course this was taken on hour 13, so that’s relief that you see in our eyes (the house didn’t burn down, the shots seemed great, and we were somehow able to string together full sentences for the video- whew). Thanks so much to our friends over at The Nest for the glossy feature (we’re actually on their home page today!) and the fun video tour. We always love showing people around our house, and their crew was no exception! And now we’ll wrap things up with a JPEG of each page of the article at a readable size as promised (here’s spread 1, spread 2, spread 3, and spread 4 – just click on each one to zoom in). In the meantime, we’ll just go back to pinching ourselves…
To learn more about the behind the scenes tricks of the trade, click here for some other juicy photoshoot details. And to check out a reader’s awesome bathroom makeover (also pictured in the same issue of The Nest magazine) click here for a pic.
