The little things

Slowly but surely the fiance and I are turning our rented townhouse into a home. And even though there's still a lot to do, we took care of a few, mostly small, projects.

After revamping the fiance's nightstand, adding doors to our bookcases, bringing in rugs to the office, adorning the coffee table with my DIY tray and hanging curtains in the master bedroom, I'm convinced design really is in the details. Changing color, adding a graphic pattern and hiding clutter are small and cheap ways to take a room to the next level.

Nightstand: Nothing a little wood filler and new paint color couldn't fix.

Bookcases: Adding doors provides an organized look, taking away from the clutter of the DVDs and CDs and shifting the focus to the upper shelves.

Office: A little graphic goodness goes a long way.

Coffee table: A pop of color is just what the white surface needed.

Bedroom curtains: Finishing touch frames the pretty window.

Five for Friday: Office space

I'm finally ready to reveal the office-slash-guest bedroom makeover, which is still so much a work in progress. I'm happy with how the room has evolved, considering it has been a major source of frustration for me.

It is by no means finished, and I figured this would be the perfect way to express the goals, looks, problems that need solving, etc. for the room.

The not-so-inspiring before:

The room was depressing and lacked everything I was trying to accomplish with the design, so I decided to start over. I cleared everything off the shelves, which really helped, and went from there.

The fiance hung the curtains ...

And I took care of the rest.

But as I said before, much more has and can be done to the room, which is where the Five for Friday comes in. Any and all thoughts/suggestions/ideas are welcomed!

1. Floored: The space is desperately lacking a rug. I wanted this one, but the last time I went to IKEA, the saleslady said they were sold out and discontinued. So why does the Web site taunt me and say there are three left?

2. Style and comfort: The amazing window seat, one of the features that sold us on the townhouse, needs a cushion. Not only would it dress up the space, but it would make the seat way more comfortable.

3. Space constraint: The area where the filing cabinet, floor lamp and Lack table are still doesn't look right. I'm thinking of adding a five-shelf bookcase from downstairs to that space. A bigger piece of furniture may do the trick. Plus, you can never have enough storage. I'm open to any ideas, too.

4. I don't love lamp: The current floor lamp is old, cheap-looking and boring. I'm thinking this would literally brighten the space and add some style via the pretty drum shade and modern tripod frame.

5. Trash collector: The room needs a real garbage can. In the meantime, an old plastic bucket will do the trick.

[Source]

Five for Friday

It's full-blown monsoon season in Phoenix, but that won't stand in the way of my weekend goals, which include staying dry.

[Source]

1. Eff you, rut: I began last week's list detailing my ever-growing frustration with the stalled project that was decorating the office-slash-guest bedroom. Well, I'm happy to report I kicked the design block's ass. 

The look of the space has progressed in a direction I'm totally happy with this week. The addition of curtains, a restyling of the bookcase and a few wall decorations getting a home makes me a happy wannabe interior design maven. Stay tuned for the full reveal.

2. Retirement temporarily suspended: I'll be dusting off my reporter's notebook next week. My college homie and fellow Daily Evergreen alumnus Kyle Bonagura asked me to cover two Bay Area baseball teams at a tournament in Surprise for his Web site, Patch.com.

I'll admit I'm a little nervous considering I haven't written a gamer since leaving the Tri-City Herald in 2006. My time at the Fresno Bee was all about copy editing and page design. But I'm embracing this challenge. I should've known sports journalism wasn't going to let me get away that easy.

3. Second-hand search: A trip to the thrift shop across the street is in order. I have a little nook in the office/guest bedroom begging for a small chair or table.

4. Lack-luster: If the mission to find something at the thrift store fails, I have an IKEA Lack side table from 2002 that needs to be repurposed. I'm thinking something like this.

[Source]

5. Gone too soon: Tomorrow is not promised and that was never more evident Wednesday when I learned a friend I'd known since junior high had passed away. Les was an extraordinary person, touching so many with his musical talent, infectious smile and comforting embrace. 

 

One of Les' songs.

Cherish one another, be grateful for each breath and appreciate the beauty in the little things. Rest in peace, Les.