Urban Nest

Archive for July, 2009

Small Room, Big Impact

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Even though the dust has just settled on our last renovation project, I’m already collecting ideas for our next project. I’m not sure when we’ll get to it, but our powder room is next on the list. It’s a small space, but it will be a great opportunity to do something interesting with a little bit of punch. Here are some of the bathrooms that are inspiring me these days.

{images from Sarah Richardson Design}

This bathroom by Sarah Richardson is my absolute favorite. I love the penny-round marble tile on one full wall, the oval sink, and the off-white and grey palette.

{image from Amanda Nisbet Design}

This one from Amanda Nisbet is running a close second. The creamy wall paper and dark wood has a warm feel that would be welcoming in a powder room.

{image from Bonesteel Trout Hall}

If I’m feeling really gutsy, maybe I’ll go for something colorful like this room from Bonesteel Trout Hall. The tile stripes have such a cool effect.

Hopefully someday I’ll have a fabulous new powder room like one of these.

Happy weekend!

Posted in Inspired Nest | No Comments »

In the Pantry

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

We’ve been enjoying our new kitchen for a couple of months now and have really settled in. Our marble countertops are holding up well, despite a few water marks and etchings. We haven’t had any of the stains I was so worried about. Some of the little additions have made the biggest impact, like the ice-maker and garbage disposal. One of my favorite new spaces in our kitchen is behind this door

We were able to turn a previously unused space under our staircase into a pantry. I’ve never had a pantry before, and it is such a little luxury. We had our electrician install an outlet in the pantry so that it could house our microwave – we just couldn’t spare any counter or cabinet space elsewhere in the kitchen. I have to say that I really like having the microwave tucked in this space. I’ve set up a little area to make my tea in the morning, and it has worked out perfectly.

One little detail I have to point out is the pantry door knob from Rejuvenation. I absolutely love it – I wish I could replace all the knobs in our house with this porcelain and nickel number.

I’ve had fun accessorizing the pantry. I’m trying out labels on the shelves, I’ve added these glass canisters and plastic bowls from West Elm for additional storage, and I have a few extra clothes pins handy for clipping bags closed.

I have some other ideas for this space – like a chalkboard and some storage bins for my paper and plastic bags. Any other ideas? I’d love to hear your clever pantry storage solutions.

Tags: kitchen, pantry, storage
Posted in Build the Nest | 4 Comments »

Note As You Go

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

I try to recycle as much loose leaf paper as I can for making lists and taking notes. Printer paper rejects torn in quarters, notecards and invitations with blank backsides, anything of a decent size that I can add to my various stacks of notepaper around the house is fair game.

But, as much as I pride myself in recycling these scraps, I often end up wasting the waste. Like when I need to jot down a phone number or just a couple of things at the store – not enough to fill the page.

So I’ve decided those scraps are best for when I sit down to make an intentional list or take specific notes, when I know I’ll fill the page up, or get pretty close. For that quick thought on the go, or even the evergrowing grocery list, I’ve adopted this clever system.

It’s simply a roll of adding machine paper from the office supply store, hanging from a ribbon. Not exactly sure who uses an adding machine anymore, but what do I know about accounting! Anyway, I keep my roll of notepaper on the side of my refrigerator, attached to a strong magnetic clip. As I run low on supplies, I add it my list. As my list grows, I pull the paper down a little farther. And when I’m headed out to run errands, I just tear the list off, taking only the paper I actually used. A No. 2 pencil fits perfectly through center of the roll. In fact, I plan to try this, which I just read about last night, for a prettier pencil.

My scratch and tear ribbon roll looks a lot nicer than the mismatched scrap paper stacks I used to keep clipped to the fridge. It’s been a great solution to minimizing clutter in my tiny kitchen! And I can keep the stacks for my office and my nightstand drawers.

NOTE: I got the idea from [updated: March 2009, Better Homes & Gardens] an old magazine I was flipping through in a doctor’s office. They used butcher’s paper and twine to hang in a gardener’s potting shed for mapping out new plantings. I was sure I justified tearing the page out for reference because the issue was so dated, but I can’t seem to find it. If anyone has seen it – the article, not my tear sheet – I’d love to credit the source.

Tags: lists, notepad, paper roll, scrap paper
Posted in Build the Nest | 11 Comments »

Cozy Window Seat

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

As a kid I always wanted a window seat. They seemed so dreamy and cozy – the perfect thing for a little girl’s room. Well, we created this one almost on accident. My husband and I got this ottoman as a hand-me-down from his aunt years ago. It’s beautiful and in great condition, I couldn’t believe she wanted to give it away! In an old apartment it served as our coffee table with a tray on top, but in our house we kept moving it around trying to find the right spot.

{ our window seat, left- Flroal Elements fabric, right- duvet cover form West Elm }

One day my husband tucked it into this nook in our master bedroom and it fit perfectly. We have a Cape Cod style house with dormer windows that felt like wasted space until the window seat was created. I must admit, I don’t really curl up in this corner much, but I love the aesthetic of this small space.

I recently purchased the fabric shown on the right to make simple curtains out of. And to give you a sense of the whole room, we have the duvet cover from West Elm that is shown on the right. Our furniture is a very dark wood, but to brighten up the room we have a soft, white rug from Ikea. Some people think it’s odd that we painted our bedroom grey, but to me it acts like a blue and feels calm and relaxing. And at the end of the day, I retreat to this room and enjoy what we’ve done to utilize the nooks and small spaces.

Posted in Build the Nest | No Comments »

My Grand Foyer

Monday, July 27th, 2009

I love foyers and entryways. Architecturally, they add so much interest to our living space, even when, functionally, all all we really do is pass through them. But artistically, it’s a first impression of your interior space. It may be all some guests ever see of your home. And if you’re anything like me, it’s often what you see from the street when walking through interesting neighborhoods at night.

Someday, I’d love to have a formal entrance to my house – a wide open gallery-like space with loads of sunlight, green plants and interesting artwork; or perhaps a tall, narrow hallway with thick moulding, an ornate chandelier and a fabulous rug.

Since these are not the things a first home is made of, I will hold on to these dreams for another time…

For now, our front door opens right into our living room and almost directly up the stairs. I’ve been trying to think of a clever way to create more of an entrance, visually.

There is not much natural light, though there is a small nook cut out between the stairway and a closet fit for a desk or a bench. My antique, hand-me-down dresser fits the space nicely with room for a lamp, a purse and the mail. But wanting something more striking, I decided to tape off an interlocking square motif and paint the narrow wall facing the front door a dramatic orange-red. The color picks up tones from artwork, pillows and a rug nearby, while the bold pattern creates a focal point that clearly defines a separate space.

If I didn’t love my Paper Cloud lampshade so much, I would definitely hang a small chandelier or pendant from the ceiling to further define the entrance. But I’m really pleased with the modern geometric pattern on the wall, combined with the fresh organic lines on the lampshade and the rustic edges of the dresser. It suits our eclectic style perfectly and makes me feel like we have our very own foyer [foi-ey].

Tags: foyer, paint, small spaces
Posted in Feather the Nest | 20 Comments »

Fabulous Prefab

Friday, July 24th, 2009

I recently came across the web site www.prefabs.com. Wow…so much to see! Up until recently I never would have dreamed I’d be interested in something like this. I suppose there’s a social stigma that exists because of low quality mass produced designs used in the past and I’ve always thought prefab meant cheap and unoriginal. Well, times have changed. Now architects are using this type of building to offer consumers custom, well-designed, modern homes. And I love it!

{ prefab cabin and interior-images both from Method Homes }

This cabin is from Method Homes. It has an open floor plan and huge windows so you feel like you’re in the wooded environment. And the best part-you can rent this house! I think this is a great idea if you’re even thinking of purchasing a prefab home. Go stay for a weekend and find out things you like and would want for your own space.

{ prefab home exterior and interior-images both from FlatPak }

FlatPak also offers gorgeous homes. Check out their Flickr site to see different styles and even a sneak peek at their construction process.

If you’re not into modern and minimal, visit Shelter Kit for a more rustic, cozy aesthetic. They have been around for almost 40 years and offer prefab barns, lofts, garages, and cabins.

What are you thoughts on this type of home? Have you had any experience purchasing or building one? I’m interested…so send me any information you have.

Posted in Inspired Nest | 3 Comments »

Tree Table

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

A couple of weeks ago I posted ideas for my sunroom redesign. One item I featured was the natural tree-stump side table from West Elm and I was asking if anyone had ever attempted to make something like this on their own. Well, I’ve decided to tackle this project! Since I don’t have a forest of trees on my property, I immediately contacted my aunt and uncle, who live on a farm, and I knew would have the resources for a project like this. I visited them on Monday and Jerry had a plethora of tree trunk pieces to choose from! The piece I ended up bringing home with me is a solid piece of oak, almost the exact dimensions of the stump shown on West Elm.

{ natural tree-stump from West Elm, my soon-to-be tree table }

{ tree stump clusters; image from Martha Stewart }

My stump, on the right, looks pretty rough now with the bark pealing off and all, but after much sanding and love, I think it will be a perfect fit for my room. Rachel found this tutorial on Martha Stewart that I am going to use as a guide after continuing to let dry out and spraying a few time for any critters. This piece has some neat knots and grain patterns, so I hope to keep it looking as natural as possible.

I will let you know how the final product turns out and will be keeping track of the steps I take to get this done. Let me know if you have any advice!

Posted in Feather the Nest | 6 Comments »

Altered Book Art

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Every year, my church hosts a week-long Summer Art Camp where kids and adults can explore various creative arts. This year, I’m a volunteer for the 4th and 5th graders who are learning how to create altered book art.

Altered book art is simply the process of modifying books (preferably old or damaged books headed for the trash) to create three dimensional pieces of art. I had no idea this was such a vast art form. There is actually an International Society of Altered Book Artists and tons of exhibits all over the world!

Since I didn’t know anything about it and I’m having so much fun watching these children learn to do it, I thought you might be interested, too.

{images: all but the top right image are sample pieces created by the art instructor; the top right image is one of the students’ work in progress}

Our students are using all sorts of recycled materials to embellish their books, creating very personal and unique sculptures. At the same time, they are learning basic art principles and techniques like understanding a color wheel and painting with water colors.

I am specifically intrigued by the process of cutting and folding pages of text to create interesting textures, stories and landscapes. Take a look at some of these artists’ work:

{image: “Cutting Book Series” by Noriko Ambe}

{image: “The Romantic Imagination Unleashed” by Sarah Bodman, via The University of the West of England School of Creative Arts}

{image: “Fields of Greens” via Maine College of Art}

I specifically selected the pieces above because you can easily see that they are created from books; however, you must take a look at the hyperlinked portfolios to see just how extraordinary some of these books become in the hands of a talented artist.

What an incredible art form. I’m so grateful to be learning so much about it this week! I hope you enjoy it, too.

Tags: altered book art
Posted in Leave the Nest | 1 Comment »

Living Room – Could it be Coral?

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

Do you have a room in your house that’s almost complete but just needs those few finishing details to tie it all together? For me, it’s our living room. We’ve made some good progress since we moved in almost 3 years ago, but it’s time to make the final push. Here’s what our living room looked like when we first looked at the house.

Once we moved in, we had no furniture in this room for the first 6 months that we were here. It was like one giant empty entryway (the front door opens in to this room). We were always explaining to neighbors who stopped by that we really had moved in – we just didn’t have furniture yet. At first it really bothered me that it wasn’t in our budget to finish the room in one fell swoop as soon as we moved in, but now I know it was for the best. Here’s what our living room looks like today.

We’ve chosen the pieces in the room slowly over the last 3 years. Now all we need are some finishing details – pillows, curtains, and some accessories for the book shelves. I’d like to add a pop of color to the navy, blue-grey, and brown palette. Coral is one possibility. I’ve found inspiration from one of my favorite catalogues, JCrew:

{image from JCrew}

And just the other day, I saw this room by Amanda Nisbet on Coco + Kelley

{images from Amanda Nisbet via Coco + Kelley}

Here’s what I’m considering:

Pillows on the couch out of this Celerie Kemble fabric from Schumacher,
A linen accent fabric from Gray Line Linen for some other throw pillows,
Framed letterpress cards from Horne on the bookshelves,
Books on the shelves covered in this paper from Paper Source,
Another linen from Gray Line Linen to trim the window treatments and
This barnacle vase from Global Table

So, what do you think, could coral be just a passing fancy? Stayed tuned for some other options I’m considering.

Tags: color scheme, living room
Posted in Feather the Nest | 6 Comments »

Ask Urban Nest

Monday, July 20th, 2009

{CORRECTION: Miss Manners is perfectly fine with sending a wedding gift within the first year of marriage; Emily Post is not. As if the rules weren’t tricky enough…}

In June we spent a week exploring some fun ideas surrounding wedding design. One of our delightful readers challenged us to start the conversation rolling about the perfect wedding present for dear friends of hers who are newly engaged. Stephanie, Rachel and I have come up with some ideas to get things started.

Here is what we know about the betrothed couple:

They are from the same hometown, though at age 30, just started dating a couple of years ago. Their relationship withstood long distances and shortly after they intentionally landed in the same city, they got engaged!

The Groom: ultimate DIY-er and wanna-be photographer

The Bride: a true nester, with style and panache

The Couple: very active; enjoys hiking, traveling, and motorcycle rides; loves to entertain friends and family; is in the process of buying a home, where they plan to host their wedding in the backyard. Their aesthetic is “modern traditional” – traditional lines and comfort, enhanced by hip colors and prints.

At Urban Nest, we really value the sentiment of a splurge. That is, something fun, inspiring, a little bit practical, but that we’d never buy for ourselves.

Experiences
What romantic, lost in love couple wouldn’t adore a timeless picnic basket? I can’t tell you the last time my husband and I went on an official picnic, but I do know this: 1) we have taken a picnic once or twice, and 2) we do use our picnic basket often when traveling near and far with home baked goodies or hostess gifts. Just the feeling of presenting a lasagna, a pie or a bottle of wine with cheese in a classy picnic basket is enough to ignite a little romance.

collage_072009_picnic

{images: left, The Getaway Gourmet; right, Utility Canvas}

There are lots of clever ways to embellish the gift of a picnic basket – tuck a special bottle of wine inside, cushioned by handmade napkins, or a lovely blanket to throw in the grass. How about a gift certificate to a favorite sandwich shop (to go, of course!). Or something equally timeless, like a book of poetry.

Here’s a little twist: select a beautiful box and fill it with all the accoutrements for a romantic evening at home: votive candles, sultry music – I’m really into John Legend right now, a nice bottle of wine, a book of reflexology or this fun cookbook! This would make a great shower gift, too!

{images: left, Semikolon; right–top, Barnes & Noble; middle, perch! design; bottom, John Legend}

You could do something similar for mixed company, including some upbeat jazz, colorful table linens, a special vase, and napkin rings. Depending on how your budget is shaping up, you could even throw in a gift certificate to a favorite florist.

Artwork
Art is always a very personal experience, which makes it a lovely gift for close friends, but I’m careful to leave it unframed so that the recipient(s) can make it fit her decor perfectly. I recently came across this delightful artist, Jennifer Hill, who does personalized art prints, combining beautiful illustrations and sentimental text. Take a closer look here.

Since the couple in question is buying their first home, which will also be where they get married, you might consider commissioning an artist to sketch or paint an original piece (from a photograph) that will commemorate their first home forever. Or, if you are of the school of manners that celebrates a wedding up to a year after the nuptuals (I am, Miss Manners is not!), you could submit a festive photo of the reception to be rendered.

You could also explore the countless number of talented artists on Etsy and find one whose style fits the couple’s aesthetic. You might inquire about creating a custom piece of art that they can hang in their new home, using specific colors, a personal photograph, or maybe a landscape of a place they’ve visited together or dream of going someday.

Silhouettes are making a huge comeback. What a perfect way to combine a traditional art with modern design. Again, Etsy is a great source for artists who do this beautifully.

Timeless
Celebrate the notion of a honeymoon and treat your friends to their very own hammock to hang in their backyard. Make it personal with some fun outdoor pillows. Do they have a front porch? How about a porch swing where they can sit together in the evenings for years to come. You can even personalize it with a brass plate – perhaps their initials, their wedding date or both.

{images: left, Apartment Therapy; right: Nags Head Hammocks}

Since they like the outdoors and hiking, making a donation in their name to a local state parks or a place they love to go could be a lovely sentiment. See if you can find out what that donation would be used for specifically. Would it be possible to have a bench or a stone placed on the side of a hiking trail with their names engraved? Or a commemorative brick placed in a walkway (think alma maters, churches or museums).

Jennifer, we hope these ideas spark some interest for you.

Now, we’d love for YOU, our readers, to chime in and help our friend Jennifer choose the perfect gift that will uniquely celebrate her joy for this wonderful couple! What great gift ideas do you have?

Cheers! Urban Nest

PS: If you have a question, need some inspiration, or would like to bounce ideas around, shoot us an e-mail threebirds@urbannestblog.com. We’d love to get creative with you!

Posted in Inspired Nest | 5 Comments »

Beach Ball Lampshades

Friday, July 17th, 2009

I nearly forgot about this…

I came across Toby Sanders’ Beach Ball Lampshades on Apartment Therapy earlier today and couldn’t let our week at the beach pass without showing you! Toby is creative director and founder of TOBYhouse, a London-based interior design consultancy.

{image: Apartment Therapy}

These could be so much fun in the right beach or poolside house.

Have a great weekend! See you again on Monday…

Posted in Inspired Nest | 1 Comment »

Seaside Retreats

Friday, July 17th, 2009

While it’s storming in Richmond today, I am still dreaming of cozy seaside retreats like these:

{images: left, The lettered Cottage; middle, a beach cottage; right, Sarah Leeab on Flickr

I had the best time browsing Layla Palmer’s blog, The Lettered Cottage, and Sarah from Sydney, Australia’s blog, a beach cottage, this morning looking for inspiration. Be sure to stop by for loads of breezy cottage decor and witty tales of rennovations. Also, be sure to click through to Sarah Leeab’s photostream on Flickr. She’s photographed some amazing spaces worth viewing!

{images: left, a beach cottage; right, Coastal Living

Enjoy!

Tags: beach decor, coastal, cottage
Posted in Inspired Nest | No Comments »

Off to the Beach

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

Violet, Andy and I are headed to the Outer Banks next week, and I can’t wait! I’m ready to relax under an umbrella with my toes in the sand listening to the waves – just 3 more days and counting. Part of the fun for me is getting ready – making a list of things to pack, baking some treats, and I usually tackle a little project. Last year I modified a bathrobe pattern to make a cover-up. This year, it’s this case for my sunglasses.

When we get to the beach, I’ll clip this inside my beach bag along with the keys to our beach house and a little stash of cash in the back pocket. There will be no rummaging around in the bottom of the bag this year! If your beach bag needs a little organization, too, you can download the instructions and the template and whip one up for yourself. Enjoy!

Posted in Build the Nest | 2 Comments »

Where Did We Go?

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

It was a vast expanse of white, everywhere we turned…more white. We were not on an airplane high above the clouds on our way to a fabulous destination. We were not walking along the white sands of a misty morning beach. And, no we were not even painting our walls white yesterday.

Indeed, we had our first technical meltdown. If you stopped by Tuesday evening or Wednesday, you too, saw the blank white screen that was Urban Nest.

Thankfully, we were able to restore everything back to order in about 24 hours – with the help of some very generous IT professionals.

So stay tuned today as we get caught up. Rachel has a great project for your summer getaway!

{image: Dustin Bryson, Flickr}

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Beach Style

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

I love the beach. I love the warm breeze, cool water, soft colors. And I try to integrate that beach feeling into places of my home…I guess to evoke that dreamy, light feeling for the many moments I’m not at the shore. The piece below was a hand-me-down from my sister. She no longer wanted this mini hutch with its original orange-ish colored wood with brass knobs.

repainted mini hutch with glass knobs

I knew I could get rid of the 70s looking aesthetic, so I gladly took this piece with the intention of making it my own. I sanded down the wood and added a few coats of white paint, but felt like the piece was complete once I found these seafoam colored, glass knobs from Restoration Hardware. The final look felt beachy, airy, and light. It now resides in my dining room with some ocean touches and always makes me think of the coast.

Tags: beach, diy
Posted in Build the Nest, Inspired Nest | 1 Comment »

Moonlit Tub

Monday, July 13th, 2009

While we’re talking outdoor bathing rituals, I have to show you this incredible outdoor bath at one of my favorite Virginia getaways. The photos really speak for themselves, I just had to show you…

{images: The Hope & Glory Inn}

Follow winding paths through authentic English gardens, complete with a moon garden which only blooms in the evening, and an outdoor shower (circa 1940) with a claw foot tub and sink in a totally private setting. Sweet strains of music continuously drift softly throughout the hotel and out over the grounds to the paths and gardens. {from The Hope & Glory Inn}

If you are anywhere in the vicinity of this Chesapeake water town, you really must spend a night or two in Irvington, VA at The Hope & Glory Inn.

Tags: clawfoot tub, outdoor showers
Posted in Inspired Nest | No Comments »

Outdoor Showers

Monday, July 13th, 2009

I spent a few days at the beach recently with some dear friends on the Outer Banks. I grew up vacationing every year on these beaches and even lived there for a summer during college.

One of the things I love most about being at the beach, is showering outside after a long day in the sun and surf.

It’s one of those things that I completely forget about until I pull up to the house and see the water draining from the weathered grey walls of the outdoor stall. There’s something exhilarating about being in plain view of neighbors and beachcombers, and even the occasional ice cream truck! Behave — it’s just my head and feet you can see!

It’s also the sound of the ocean crashing while fresh water rinses away the salt and sand…the frogs croaking from nearby in anticipation of a new puddle to splash in. It’s the warm color of the sky as the sun rests to the west, or the dark gray clouds as an afternoon storm rolls in.

For whatever reason, standing under an aged shower head, on a sandy wooden floor, with an ocean breeze passing through is pure serenity.

Have you tried it?

Tags: beach, outdoor showers
Posted in Inspired Nest | 2 Comments »

Sunroom Redesign

Friday, July 10th, 2009

My husband and I moved into our house almost two years ago and in that time our sunroom has unfortunately become…well, the junk room. Lately I’ve started thinking about what to do with it so I can actually take a book out there on a lazy saturday and relax.

The walls are mostly made up of windows, but in between is wood panelling, which I plan to paint all white. The interior wall is brick, I plan to paint that as well and add a vintage fireplace for an extra cozy feel. Here are some other elements I’ve ear-marked for my white, breezy space. This is a work in progress…so please send over any great products ideas you think would fit into this look.

Below is a breakdown of what I found so far:

1. Jonathan Adler ‘Beatrice‘ porcelain lamp with paper shade.

2. 100% cotton ‘pleat pillow‘ from CB2.

3. White wire plant stand.

4. Tabletop Terrariums from Anthropologie.

5. I found this fireplace online here in stone, but hope to find a wood one locally at Caravati’s.

6. I love the look of this natural tree-stump side table from West Elm, but wonder if I could somehow make this…anyone had experience with this??

7. I bought this slipcover from IKEA for a steal. I don’t own the exact chair, but a hand-me-down…so I’m going to try to alter it to fit the one I have. I’ve also thought about block-printing on it to give it some subtle color.

I’ll update as my redesign starts…but I’m thinking it’s way too hot and humid right now in Virginia to paint!

Tags: mood board, redesign
Posted in Build the Nest | 7 Comments »

Spice it Up

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Do you ever get stuck in a dinner rut? I definitely do. I make the same rotation of meals every week. Particularly recently, I’ve been under the weather and have been relying on quick meals that will also appeal to my 3-year-old (I just haven’t had enough energy to make 2 dinners). We’ve been living on pasta and chicken nuggets. Last night I decided to mix things up a bit and break out a spicy old favorite for just my husband and me, spicy wok shrimp with coconut rice.

This recipe is from my favorite cooking website, epicurious. I reference this site all the time – if you’re not familiar with epicurious, it has recipes from Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines along with reader reviews. This spicy shrimp recipe has become one of our favorite mid-week pick me ups. I cut the amount of shrimp in half to make it more economical, but I always make the full amount of rice, it’s delicious! Here are some of my other tried and true favs from epicurious:

Honey and Soy Glazed Salmon – Another perfect weeknight meal. I serve it over jasmine rice along with some edamame.

Linguine with Gorgonzola, Prosciutto, and Spinach – I do not use all of the olive oil the recipe calls for, just a few tablespoons.

Grilled Halibut with Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette – I regularly omit the capers from this vinaigrette – I just usually don’t have them on hand.

Grilled Marinated London Broil – This is perfect for a summer-time party. I usually use this marinade on a flank steak instead of london broil and serve it with cheese grits and a salad.

If you’re in a rut, give some of these a try and let me know what you think! I’d love to hear your recommendations!

Posted in Inspired Nest | 3 Comments »

Have a Goodtime

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

I live a couple of blocks away from this vibrant paint store. Don’t you just want to take a look inside?

Sunny’s Goodtime Paints is full of interesting and inspiring goodies – like fun, modern stencils and Sunny Goode’s line of color washes and glazes. You may have seen Sunny’s work before. This amazing room was featured in one of the last issues of Domino (check out the stenciled floor).

{image from sunny's goodtime paints}

Even if you don’t live in Richmond, you can browse and buy Sunny’s products on her website or look for a retailer near you. Check out her helpful how-tos to find tips and tricks for stenciling, color washing and antiquing. I’m partial to her stenciled floors, like this green and white kitchen floor.

{images from sunny's goodtime paints}

I’m not sure I have enough nerve to paint any of our hardwood floors, but I have been thinking about adding a pop of color to some built in bookcases in our family room. Maybe I’ll stencil the back of the shelves. Have you used any interesting paint techniques in your home?