what if: kitchen bookcase display

I'm not going to lie, arranging items on a bookcase is tough. Rough and tough. And in the case of a kitchen it's even trickier because, chances are, the stuff you have to arrange on a bookcase is stuff that you actually use in everyday life. If done wrong, it looks like the bookcase is a temporary answer to the clutter you can no longer find room for in your cupboards. If done right, it looks like the bookcase is part of your regular kitchen storage and can even end up being the focal point of the space. 

Since I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to dinner and glassware I've been faced with this challenge in every. single. home I've rented. I can't help it - dinner plates and glasses literally call me to come over there and put them in my shopping basket. Who am I to argue?

Add Jim's cooking ware he actually uses to cook things with and put things in and this is the reason why we needed a bookcase in the kitchen ourselves. 

Are you panicking yet? Not to worry, here's an example of how to work it all out. 

cookie jar / bird serving bowl / plant / white serving bowls / teapot / 

wire baskets / blue baker set / ikat serve bowls / bookcase

1. Leave space on the top shelf. For shorter bookcases, try finding something tall to add more height without adding weight. Here I have a house plant but you can also use a decanter, pitcher or even tiered vegetable holder.
2. Use your produce as decoration. Veggies and fruits that don't require refrigeration can help to add some color to the arrangement. Look for wire or mesh baskets to minimize the bulk and let the color shine through. 
3. Show off your best or most interesting serving ware. This is the trial and error part of the program. Gather all of the serving ware you wouldn't mind seeing everyday and layout on an empty kitchen counter top. From there, play with the arrangement so the color, shapes and sizes are evenly distributed across all shelving. When in question, snap a photo of it with your phone and take one final look to see what may needed edit 

just a thought: greeting cards as artwork

Aside from family photos, travel memories are the primary reasons why something gets framed and hung. Because of this single point of reason, it becomes really important that we mix different mediums within a display composition so our walls don't become very large scrapbook pages I have to "theme out" based on a place or a geographic area. We also to keep the eclectic vibe and maintain a certain level of visual interest throughout our home.

To keep get this mix without breaking the bank, I have a habit of purchasing greeting cards instead of actual artwork whenever I travel. It offers visual variety, maintains consistent sizing and often provides the perfect snapshot into our travels. My mom actually filled me in on this little secret that, aside from the frame purchase, costs around $5 vs. $50. This means I always, always, ALWAYS spin the greeting card wheel in search of something I can frame. It also helps designate more budget on larger pieces of artwork should I find something catch my eye that doesn't necessarily agree with my wallet.

Here's what I've added to my collection as of late - all from our travels to either San Francisco or Napa. Notice that not all are landscapes and some don't even have to do with the actual location. This also helps keep the subject and theme of each wall montage eclectic and, in the case of the unicorn, makes me smile every time I walk past it.

[@ a bookstore on Haight Street]

[at the Artesa Vineyards]

[at a Napa Valley art gallery]

[at a Napa Valley art gallery]

To make sure you pick a greeting card that is frame worthy, keep these tips in mind:

1. Avoid anything with a sheen or glossy finish. This will minimize the glare from natural or artificial lighting in your space.
2. Put each potential candidate through the "is this a greeting card" filter. If you think it looks like a greeting card in any way, shape or form put it back.
3. Push yourself to mix up the medium. This means, take note of the cards you already have and try to find a style you have less of. For example, if you tend to gravitate more toward watercolor, try finding one with more illustrative notes that you like just the same.

[Lyndsey Green on etsy]

[doggydesign on etsy]

[MileNine on etsy]

[laurageorge on etsy]

[LouiseCollisArtist on etsy]

makeover monday: kitchen bookcase

Hola! How was everyone's weekend? Good. Great. Wonderful. How fun!

I spent most of mine refinishing a bookcase my grandpa made for my mom but I ended up stealing. MINE. While my grandpa may give me the silent treatment after he finds out I painted wood, I'm ecstatic with the way it turned out. To the point where I almost pet it. Swear.

The bookcase lives in the kitchen and we use it to store things like casserole dishes, cookbooks, a microwave and our weekly produce.

Originally a light golden stain, I decided to sand off the finish and start spraying a white primer on it before we even moved into this house. The thought was to paint the entire bookcase a bright white to lighten up the space and keep everything looking crisp and clean.

...Until I realized that everything in the kitchen was a bone white. Including this adorable shelf I was planning to put the bookcase underneath. Smart, Kate. 

So I Jim dug through the garage and found two cans of the same paint used for all the kitchen cabinetry. Score!

Then it hit me. Why not paint the back of the bookcase a different color? It would make the content pop a little more and give the kitchen some much needed color. I had purchased this photo in San Francisco a few weeks prior in hopes to someday find a place for it in the kitchen. And even though it doesn't have a place in there just yet, I used it to pick the perfect deep blue hue. 

The entire project ended up costing me around $15. Already having majority of the paint, I purchased a couple of testers, a new brush and some rollers. Done. Now let's get started. 

First things first: three coats of bone white paint, letting it dry overnight.

Next came the blue paint. Nervous paint would peel off if I used tape, I actually free handed the border with a small angled paintbrush. I applied two coats and touched up wherever I saw any sort of inconsistency. 

Finally, I grabbed the tiniest roller known to man (thanks for the tip, Sharon!) and rolled on two coats of blue paint in between the border. 

Tip: Always line your paint trays with saran wrap. It alleviates tons of clean up time and allows for quick paint color changes. 

And that was it! I actually didn't apply any finish although as I write this, now I'm kind of thinking I really should (damnit!). I'll likely use Minwax's Polycrylic, applying only to the bone white part. 

I really like the little hint of color it provides and think the content stands out exactly the way I was hoping for it to. I'm thinking about replacing the vegetable bowls with wire baskets but that's just a small tweak I can worry about later. Cute, right? Right.

makeover monday: debra's dresser

A while back one of my new Sacramento girlfriends asked if I would help her refinish a piece of furniture. She was in the market for a dresser, her heart set on something with a mid century modern look that could be transformed into something modern and fresh. So I sent her off to the Sacramento Antique Faire with a couple of pointers:

1. Ignore all things cosmetic. This means finish, paint and even knobs or handles - it can all be refinished to fit your style. Focus on the shape of the piece and find one that you like.
2. Make sure it's wood. Unlike some people (Grampa!), I'm not afraid of a little wood veneer. Open the drawers and look to the back side of the piece of furniture to check for signs of real wood. 
• If it's solid wood it will 1) be extremely heavy and 2) not have any signs of stacking or seams between any of the wood used to build the piece. 
• If it's wood veneer, there will look like a separate piece of wood as the face panel however, the cover should still feel like wood. The easiest way to find this out is to find the blemishes to see how it wears away. If it looks ripped, then chances are the piece is laminate. If it looks more chipped or water damaged, you most likely have yourself some wood veneer.
3. Give it a jiggle. While some loose screws can be tightened, stay weary of any piece of furniture that seems clearly broken. It's not worth it. Trust me. 

So after all that, Debra ended up with this gorgeous piece of mid century modern history. And by gorgeous, I mean r-o-u-g-h. Scuffs, dents, the whole nine yards. 

Condition aside, Debra really did take the tips and applied them wonderfully. The shape was gorgeous. All wood veneer. No structural damage. All for $125. It really was a fantastic find. Stunning.

So first things first, we decided that this dresser could really have a moment if we were to stain it a really deep, dark color. It would really make a statement, warming up any room while adding a sense of richness.

So we started sanding. 

Until all of the finish, scuffs and scratches were removed and color was even. And actually, wood veneer isn't as delicate as some may think. It's thick enough to handle some pretty heavy sanding so feel free to give those scratches and scuffs hell. To make sure you're not sanding off the veneer entirely, check to make sure the color doesn't get drastically lighter. This means you're entering plywood territory which doesn't take stain nearly as well.

Once the dresser was completely sanded, we actually washed the piece of furniture really well using some damp rags. This helps remove all the excess sawdust, giving you a smooth surface to paint your stain on. Just make sure to leave enough time for the piece to dry. Ruby got a little impatient on this step.

After all was cleaned and dried, we started brushing on the stain. This is the time where I mention there are "different strokes for different folks". I'm of the brush and wipe camp - painting on a little bit of stain and using an old wife beater to rub in/off any excess. Regardless of your tactic, the most important thing to remember is that a little goes a long way. We used MinWax's Dark Walnut. Cute, right?!

Two coats of the stain and one coat of MinWax's Clear Satin Polyurethane and the dresser was complete. We brushed off any flaking finish off the original handles and sprayed with Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze to maintain the rich, warm feel the stain provided.

Debra ended up finding a circular mirror with an ornate frame we're still trying to figure out what color to spray it with. Adding some metallic and floral accessories will add the perfect balance to this now adorable piece of furniture. 

this week's looks: bright and sunny

One of the many reasons why I'm loving California:

There is absolutely no way I have to worry about snow right now. To celebrate, I want to keep things bright and sunny this week - which is exactly what the forecast calls for. 

Monday: Classic black and white stripes with bright jeans. Be sure to accessorize with colors opposite the color wheel for a fresher take.

Tuesday: Dress down a flowing skirt with a lightweight sweatshirt. Stick with wedges and a top knot to balance the two pieces.

tip:Use this look to experiment with lip color - I'm trying out a hot pink stain!

Wednesday: I love mixing stripes with florals. Add a skinny belt and bright coral cardigan to make work appropriate.

Thursday: A simple sundress paired with a wool long vest to combat those cooler mornings. Add an aqua statement necklace and some lace up boots to keep from feeling dowdy.

Friday: A fun pairing of mint and coral is perfect for an after work happy hour. Bring the whole look together with a lightweight scarf and some gladiator sandals. 

all clothing and accessory sourcing can be found on my polyvore page