Blissful Musings

We are always watching HGTV, DIY Network and reading all the awesome home renovation blogs, but in reality many things do not apply to us.  We rent our home and size is not on our side.  One day, right?  In the meantime we need to figure something out.

Renting creates some complications.  The place is your home, but it’s not quite your own.  This means taking out walls, adding tile, making large holes, hanging new doors, and anything that is permanent or leaves a permanent “stamp” is off limits.  Even painting is conditional if allowed at all.

Our old place allowed paint, but the standards for the wall once the lease was up, left us being hesitant to bring out the paint brushes.  In our new SF condo we rent from a private owner and painting is off limits, in fact we got a better deal on the place because she didn’t repaint.  This left us with a black accent wall in the bedroom, but that’s another story.

How do you add style, personality and design to a rented home?  It’s a little bit more of a challenge.  Lately I’ve been keeping my eyes open for fun, home DIY projects that we can use in our rented condo.  (Really, they are awesome for home owners too though).

Wallpapered Bookcase by Pepper Design Blog

A wallpapered bookcase will add color and pop and is a great alternative to actually hanging wallpaper.  Also, it gives you an excuse to buy some fabulous wallpaper.  (Have you seen Oh Joy! is coming out with a design?)  Some paint can also achieve a similar effect.

Collapsible Storage Bakets by Sew 4 Home

Who can’t use some extra storage?  Plus if the storage coordinate with the room, you are adding style not an eye sore.

Coffee Table to Ottoman by Pepper Design Blog

A little more of a complicated DIY project.  However, I think it challenges you to look at pieces you may already have and how you can recreate them to compliment your home.

Fabric Drawer Liners by Mod Podge Rocks (and a fun new knob)

Another reason why Mod Podge is awesome.  Also, finding a cool knob can completely change the look of a piece of furniture.  My favorite knobs are at Anthropologie.

Summertime Wreath by Cartwheels in My Mind

This project is so adorable and full of fun personality.  I LOVE the flowers especially.

Paper Capiz Shell Chandelier by Design Sponge

The chandelier is just ridiculously creative.  It’s worth looking at the tutorial just to see how it all comes together.

Recovered Lampshade by Olive and Joy (via ish and chi)

I really want to try this project.  I love patterned lampshades and they always seem to be so expensive.  This seems like an easy alternative to get the same style.

Fisherman’s Orb and Vignette by Love & Lace

Stephanie and Love & Lace has seriously some of the BEST DIY projects.  Her home is amazing and I’m constantly in awe of her awesome ideas and style.  Plus, she is super sweet too.  I love the idea of creating a vignette on the wall with some DIY pieces and simple shelving.

The best thing about most of these projects is that you are creating pieces that have flexibility whether you are just rearranging a room or actually moving.  If you own a place and aren’t up for major renovations or projects these ideas will work just as well to update or refresh a space.  It’s investing in “mobile decor” that will travel when you move to the next place, move it to a new room or are setting up your first permanent residence.

Any simple decorating tips that are rental friendly?  What’s a favorite DIY “mobile decor” project you’ve done?

Also, check out this post from Ish and Chi for some more rental decorating ideas.

Remember my post about bedding?  It’s still on my mind.  Especially after I came across some lovely duvets at West Elm that wouldn’t break the bank.

Don’t you think these would just invite you to crawl into bed after a long day?

I just want to sink into this bedding at the end of the day.  The texture just looks luxurious.

The simple pattern doesn’t overwhelm, but still draws attention.  I’d maybe go for some more simple throw and pillow covers to balance the actual duvet.

Can’t you just imagine this with some cute yellow throw pillows?  I’ve been into pops of yellow.  I like that this bedding has a pattern, but at the same time potential for a different look and feel depending on what else you match.

{all photos from West Elm}

I just want this room in general.  It feels welcoming and comforting and exactly where I want to land at the end of a long day.  The wall vignette is actually what I’ve been wanting to do in our own room.

Just wanted to let you know I am still here just dealing with a massive s.p.a.m. issue on the blog and trying to fix it.  It’s been taking up my normal blog time, as I sit and delete hundreds of spam messages.  I’ll try to post tonight.

Hope you all are having a good week!!

{via Keep Calm Etsy Shop}

Remember when I told you that I bought a sewing machine?  Well, I’m sad to report it’s been collecting dust since we moved and I haven’t completed any new projects.  Life has just gotten in the way and then the overwhelmed feeling of where do I start?  I’m going to tell you where I’m going to start…

As I was doing my nightly blog read the other day I came across a Home Ec class on the Smile and Wave blog.  What, could it be?  An online sewing class?  Where every project is pretty much awesome?  Oh and I learn new techniques along the way?  I’m in.

Yep, I signed up.  For an awesome class taught by the lovely ladies of Smile and Wave, Freckled Nest and Courtney Janelle Sews.

Do you want to sign up too?  We can support each other along the way.  I’m looking for others to turn to when I inevitability get confused and start to create havoc on my sewing project.

Here are the details and part 1 of the 26 projects.  Here is part 2.  Looks awesome right?

Who else is in?

When we were registering there was a great debate about the bedding.  Mark didn’t want anything that had floral or was too loud of a bedding as he prefers neutrals.  Oh and it couldn’t be over the top expensive.  I wanted some sort of pattern and color.  This seems like a simple request, but in reality there wasn’t much that fit our criteria at the stores we registered at.

Eventually we finally found a pattern and color we agreed upon. It was the Cole Stripes from Pottery Barn.

While we both like the look of this bedding and have been happy, the biggest downfall is that lovely DRY CLEAN ONLY silk.  Oops.  In our excitement of finally finding a bedding we agreed upon, we didn’t think through the whole cleaning thing.  Which is now a pretty penny.

Now as we contemplate getting some new machine washable bedding I am again debating do  you go pattern or plain?  Color or neutral?  And now I’m not so sure I am on one side of the debate.  I decide to randomly go through my google reader and look at all the various bedrooms I’ve saved and “starred.”  It’s kind of all over the place.

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Maybe the secret is neutral and plain with pops of color and pattern in the pillows?  Or the bedding is the focal point and everything compliments that.  But then what kind of pattern?  I just don’t know.  As you can tell I feel very indecisive on the whole topic.

So what do you say?  Do you prefer pattern or plain?  Bright colors or neutral?

This couch is awesome.  If you follow me on Twitter you probably saw me tweet about it the other day.  I always say I want a claw foot tub one day, but maybe a claw foot tub couch will do as well.

Cast Iron Tub Couch from Ruff House Art

It would be the focal point of any room.

I’m a dog person through and through.  I love dogs and will stop anytime to say hello to a new dog (especially a lab).  While I love life in San Francisco, I can’t help but miss my dogs.   My parents have a yellow and black lab that I grew up with and still remain with them in San Diego.  They are the sweetest dogs and I often looked forward to our trips down to San Diego just so I could spend time with our dogs.

Meet Callie.  Kind of a ditsy blond, but the sweetest thing you could imagine.

Meet Tucker.  The epitome of a gentle giant.  He is the biggest baby in the world.

Whenever Mark asks what I want for a birthday, Christmas etc. I usually respond with, “A puppy.”  I’m half joking and half serious.  We came really close to getting a dog at the beginning of the year, but then reconsidered once we realized we could be moving.  Dog plans are on hold for now, but that doesn’t stop me from missing the presence of a dog in our house.

Now back to the topic of the post.  We get to pretend we are pet owners the next few days as we dog-sit for some friends!  Our friends are having their first baby and while they stay in the hospital we get to take care of the dog baby.

The next few days we will be taking care of this little character!  Meet Denali.

Pretty excited to have a dog around.  Maybe it will convince us to take the plunge and get a dog.  Or leave us satisfied with our house plants for now. 

Do you have a dog or another pet?

Let’s be honest I love drooling over the latest issue of Coastal Homes, Architectural Digest or House Beautiful as much as everyone else.   Whenever I drive by incredible homes I am always imagining how amazing the inside must be to match the immaculate outside.  However, the likelihood of me living in a large, gorgeous home anytime soon is 0%.

For now I will be living in a little one bedroom apartment.  And I’m content with that.  We choose to live in California so therefore it’s more expensive to buy a house and we will be saving for awhile.  In the meantime I get really excited whenever I see small homes, spaces or nooks decorated to perfection.  I’m inspired, encouraged and suddenly ready to make great use out of my small space.

Apartment Therapy has a contest on “Small Cool” Spaces and I always look forward to seeing all the amazing pictures that come pouring in.  Here are a few standouts so far…

Isn’t this window just beautiful? I’d love to have a bay window.  I imagine it would make your small place seem so much bigger.  I like the mismatched chairs and white dresser especially.

Something about this room is just intriguing.  It feels almost slightly tropical with the low wooden frame, good light and that palm tree.

This couch converts to a bed at night and still looks just as cute.  Love the storage ottomans that are also trays.  We have one from Target and was a great purchase for us.

This apartment was decorated so well.  The wall colors make it seem so homey.  I also like how they used the floating shelves to add some interest.

Such a simple uncluttered kitchen.  I really like the open shelving and the selection of glasses and bowls.  I’m not sure I could actually do this without appear cluttered though.  We have way to much stuff cleverly fit (by Mark) into our cabinets to maximize space.

Again the wall color and simplicity draws me to the space.  I also love the wall of frames.

My favorite parts of this little kitchen are the rug and those EAT letters you see on the right.  I want those letters.  Are they the ones from Anthro?

all pictures via Apartment Therapy Small, Cool Contest 2010

What are your best tips for decorating a small space?  Do you live in a smaller apartment/condo or a bigger home?

Hi Friends! I have been totally MIA. I went on vacation to Colorado last week which of course I scheduled some posts in advance. We got in late Monday night and things have been a little crazy and posting hasn’t fit in. Crazy in a good and exciting way, but crazy nonetheless. I will hopefully be able to share with you very soon everything that is going on.

I’m also having major spam issues and that is taking time. Any good spam filters for a Wordpress blog you recommend?

In the meantime, what have you been doing? What am I missing? Post your blog posts I need to catch up on from the last week or others that you just loved. I’m serious, catch me up! I have tomorrow off (yay!) so I plan on first getting my own blog post out and then doing some major catch up on my blog reading.

I thought I’d share some formspring questions I’ve been asked recently.

What is your perfect sandwich? (please list toppings!) by MsColaBee
Turkey and Avocado Sandwich that includes mayo, mustard, pepperchinis, lettuce, onions, provolone cheese and a little bit of oil and vinegar. My other perfect sandwich includes french roll, chicken, pesto, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and toasted. Plus I like soup with my sandwiches.

What’s one question you haven’t been asked yet, that you wish someone would ask? What is your answer to said question? by hamsterbee
What’s my favorite dog breed? I love Labrador Retrievers. I would love to have the “rainbow” with yellow, black and chocolate one day. However, no matter what we have to wait until we get a house with a backyard to get a lab. I can’t wait until that day though. Dogs make me so happy! Hopefully we can get a small dog sooner though.

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done? by twowishes
I lived and studied in London for a year. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done and I got to experience so many amazing and cool things while I was there.

What is your daily make-up routine? by kimmichelle
Tinted moisturizer, some blush, little bit of eyeshadow and some mascara. If I’m going out then I’ll add in eye liner and more eye shadow. For the most part I’m pretty basic. Usually I wear chapstick since Mark doesn’t like lip gloss. He thinks it’s sticky and smells weird. If I’m at work, it’s a special date or out without him I’ll wear gloss though.

Do you have a formspring? Link to your account! Or go start one!

Happy Friday!