Memorial Day weekend link goodness

On this, the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, I can't tolerate being inside--let alone tied to my computer. So instead of sharing my latest projects, or the ones I plan on tackling, I'm leaving you with some great nuggets from the web. Enjoy!

Gardeners, take heed. Here's how to make your own tomato cages for FREE.

Yummy salad for a BBQ bring along. Can't beat that for the holiday weekend!

Grilled clams. 'Nuff said.

More Memorial Day crafts than you'll ever be able to make in one weekend.

Summer hair to make you swoon.

Aqua bedroom gets balance

As promised, I'm bringing you more photos of my teal guest bedroom. I won't narrate them too much other than to say the color was a happy accident, and while it's bold, I find that I like it more when it's paired with more colors. Counterintuitive, especially for a girl who looooooves whites and greys, but true.

Tell me what you think:

I love how the teal is a very cool color, but the warm yellows and greens balance things out. I still need to use some more visual pauses on the walls, but I haven't gotten that far. Maybe next week? I'm having guests this weekend, so we'll see how the color goes for folks who actually have to sleep in the room.

A taste of teal

When I started working on the guest bathroom, I made an impulse buy of a really bold teal. We're talking really, really bold. And in the bright lights of the bathroom, contrasted by the light tile, it was too much for the eyes.

Um, no. That was NOT going to work.

So instead, I painted the room a more subdued version of the same hue. 

And the original can of paint sat around, begging me to put it to use. And it sat, and it sat. Until I remembered how badly the guest bedroom needed some color. When we moved in, the condo was covered in this khaki colored paint. During the day, the color is great. But as the sun starts to set, it's a sickly yellow, and I just can't deal with it. And since I'm also a student (and our guest room is also our office), I spend too much time dealing with a funky paint color in a small space. It got to be too much very quickly.

So, this is what I did:

There's more to come tomorrow, but let's just say that I'm smitten!

House, house baby

Yesterday was a very house-y day. The hubby and I peeked in on two different open houses (cuz who doesn't love doing that?) AND we went on a home/garden tour. Yea, how's that for home voyeurism?

The house tour was hosted by the Society Hill Civic Association. (Society Hill is a neighborhood in Philly.) There were 13 properties you could tour, from gardens and courtyards to houses, a synagogue and a museum. The variety of properties was impressive, and inspiring. But it was also educational. I had no clue that the neighborhood--which is very historic, well located, and pricey--was not the kind of area that you'd let your kids wander around 70 years ago. Kinda blew my mind.

Let's face it though, the real reason I went on the tour was to peek into homes in my city. And I have to tell you, I was not disappointed. There were charming trinity houses (Very common in historic cities like Philly--they're three stacked rooms, with itty bitty staircases. Not much room to navigate, but affordable, and usually extremely quaint.), 1700-era mansions and everything in between.

Sadly, we couldn't take pictures on the tour. Buuuut, I did find out that some of the houses are available for sale. And you know what's included on listings? Photos!

This is from the most inspiring house on the tour. It's one of the "Bouvier Houses," which were owned by a predecesor of Jackie Kennedy. The house dates back to 1850, and the bones are outstanding. But don't expect all old-world charm here. This is a modern house, owned by people who love modern design.

You don't see too many houses with that kinda of square footage in Society Hill. (At least, I don't get invited inside of them too often.) So this house absolutely blew me away. Beautiful doesn't begin to describe it. You can see the rest of the listing--and photos--here.

The next property that was for sale was equally stunning, but in a whole other kind of way. Again, it's an historic building. This time, we're talking about The Willings at Independence Park, a condo building that once housed the Reading Railroad. (Great for Monopoly addicts.) Sadly, the folks selling the unit don't have many photos available. I was able to uncover this one of the kitchen, from The Willings website.

It's hard to understand how classic most of the building is without seeing it, but envision an old, southern mansion, dropped in the middle of a northern city, with a sleek kitchen like this. It's a mix of styles, and it works really, really well. There were lots of oohs and aahs from the group in this house.

After checking out this much Philly real estate, I'm inspired for my house. Our property isn't historic, but that doesn't mean I can pull a few ideas from these houses. I'm thinking about adding more texture (exposed brick and reclaimed wood were huge themes), and maybe some more color. We'll see!

A Peruvian terrarium, sort of

We got some really cool presents for our wedding. (I know! As if getting married was a gift enough, we got toys!!!) This is one of the more fun surprises we got. That's right--this bad boy was not on the registry, but it so perfectly sums up the things we love, it's hard to express it. It has an outlet for creativity, it can be as personal as you want, and it holds plants! Swoon!

The gift givers made a joke in their card about us smuggling plants back from Peru, which we didn't do. BUT I was able to pick up some plants that are similar to the ones that line the Inca Trail.

Apparently I didn't take pictures of the air plants that are everywhere in the Andes, but I did get this crazy tree. Beautiful, huh? I tried to find as many flowering plants like this tree as I could. I came up with some beauties, like the one in the picture on the left.

Air plants are funny little creatures. They don't need much--watering every couple of days, and plenty of sun. That's about it. So all I did was add some charcoal made from driftwood (really pretty stuff), and placed the plants on top.

I am proud to present my newest green addition:

There are two flowering plants, and two with no buds. I love how things are sparse, but beautiful. There's nothing to complicate things or distract the eye. Plus the old-world grace of the terrarium is a fun juxtaposition against the sharp lines of the air plants.

Kinda fun how it fogs up in the sun, huh?

Easy, rustic flower arrangement

I had fun putting together the flowers for Mother's Day dinner. I wanted to have a rustic feeling, with lots of texture, so my first thought was to use Mason jars, which I have in abundance. Then I added a few bags of sea glass that I picked up at the Christmas Tree Shops for a buck a pop. (That's pretty much the bargain of the century as far as I'm concerned.) Rustic? Check. Texture? Heck, yeah. 

Next I had to figure out what kind of flowers to use. I love white, which is what I used in my wedding. It's classic, goes with my plates, and pretty abundant. So white flowers were topping my list. I found parrot tulips, which were pretty reasonably priced. But there's a dark secret about working with tulips. Once you take off the leaves--which was my plan--it turns a huge bunch into a few measly buds. Lamesauce, for sure. So I bulked up the arrangements with another set of white stems. I have no idea what kind of flowers they are other than gorgeous. Sorry I can't be more specific, but any white flowers would work.

Once I removed the leaves, things went pretty quickly. A stem here and one there, and in no time I had three arrangements that worked well with my rustic barbecue concept. I love how the flowers spread out and take up as much space as they can get. It made the table feel full, but visually uncomplicated.

A Mother's Day Feast!

For Mother's Day, my hubby and I had all of the special ladies in our lives over for a little barbecue action. All in all, I think it went well--it seemed like everyone had fun, and, most importantly, there was plenty of food. We had burgers (beef and salmon), mac and cheese, grilled asparagus, corn on the cob, roasted veggies and a salad. And for dessert, there was a slew of cakes. It goes without saying that now we have left overs enough to feed a small zoo.

I also had fun decorating. I decided on "rustic" as the theme for the day, and I used lots of flowers, Mason jars, burlap and Kraft paper. I think I pulled off the look, but I'll show you part of it later this week, so you can be the judge.

In the meantime, here's the hit of the day: the mac and cheese. I've struggled over the years to come up with a recipe I like, and I think I've finally found one. Here's what I did:

Mac and Cheese to Covet

For bread crumbs:
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/4 pound grated Cheddar
2 c freshly crushed crackers (or you could just use bread crumbs, but that's not very exciting.)

For sauce:
1 stick butter
6 T all-purpose flour
5 c milk
1 pound grated cheddar
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano
1 pound whole wheat shells

Preheat oven to 400 F.

First, melt the butter for the bread crumbs. Once the butter is nearly browned, add the cracker crumbs. Remove from heat and toss with Cheddar. Set aside.

Melt butter for sauce and add flour. Once the flour has cooked for a few minutes, add the milk slowly and whisk. It helps to warm the milk before mixing it in. Slowly add cheese while stirring.

Cook pasta until al dented. Mix in with sauce in a wide and shallow casserole dish. Add topping and bake for 30 minutes or until browned.

My very blue wintery March wedding

I know I've teased you a bit about the details of the wedding, which--I can't believe it--was two months ago! I shared a couple of DIY projects with you, like the ring bearer book, the sash, and the "Here Comes the Bride" sign. I even teased you a little with this post.

But I didn't get around to sharing photos with you. A crime, I know it! Well call me a criminal no longer. Here are the pics, thanks to Ashley from JPG Photography. I won't narrate the day, but things go in order, from me getting ready and writing a note to my hubby-to-be, to me getting dressed, our interfaith ceremony with ketubah signing, and the decor of our reception. I love looking over these--they take me instantly back to the day. Hope you like 'em, too. (And yes, please use them for inspiration for your own wedding!)

DIY drawers to buffet

Furniture lovers, check this out: I turned an old set of drawers that had no place left in the world to go into something that I very much needed--a buffet. And the best part of the transformation? That it cost $24 and about an hour of time.

Here's the before:

It's the dresser from the bedroom. We had it in the corner where the built-in cabinet eventually went. While it was OK looking, the drawers didn't offer much in the way of storage (they were too short and didn't open fully). Plus, they don't have anywhere near the square footage of an entire closet and bookcase.

Here's what I needed:

A set of drawers

A drill

Two handles

A saw

Sandpaper

Stain, brushes, rags

The first thing I did was take out the bottom four drawers. Easy enough. It left a horizontal wooden support, which I took out with the saw. About four or five passes on each side was enough to remove it. I sanded down the newly exposed wood and stained it to match. The base also needed a little staining, which I did with a color I already had. A night of drying later, and it was ready to be styled.

Ready for the after?

The only money I spent was on the handles, which are funky and rustic. And at $12 each, they weren't exactly free, but since I wasn't spending money anywhere else, so I was happy to do it. I think they add  a great element to a piece that was otherwise too finished for my dining area. This is a space with a quirky, colorful oil painting, lots of candlesticks and a table with a bunch of patina. Finished and modern would NOT work.

I'm thrilled with the results! Hope you like them, too!

Rittenhouse Square Flower Market

I've been tinkering around in the garden, so the urge to go to the Rittenhouse Square Flower Market this week is stronger than normal. If you're lucky enough to be in the Philly area, this is a great community event that benefits several area charities. Plus, it's right before Mothers' Day, so you can grab that last minute gift.

My mom isn't much of a gardener, so everything I'm getting is for little old me. And I have a brand new pot just begging to be filled. Can't wait!

If you want to attend, the deets are:
May 9-10
9 a.m until 6 p.m.
Rittenhouse Square

And, because it's a hop and a skip (no jump needed) away from Anthro, I'll probably be stopping in... Sounds like a nice day, if you ask me!

The built in gets dressed up

I've been a busy girl, so I haven't gotten to update you on the progress on the built-in. After some hard work from my step-dad, and some supervision from me (as in "Kaytie, what exactly are you doing?" "I'm supervising!"), the trim is almost done!

We put in the baseboards, which goes a long way towards giving us that finished look. This is the before photo (from quite a while back):

And here's how it looks now:

We had some small issues along the way. One cut was a hair too short, but nothing a little caulk can't fix. And there are some little notches at the base of the cabinet that had to be cut out. But aside from that, it wasn't terrible tough.

I still need to throw a coat of trim paint on the baseboard, and eventually a little quarter round at the bottom so it matches the walls, and that'll be that!

I can't stress how much of a difference the trim makes. Instead of this being a mediocre cabinet that would come with us when we move, I added something that should--with a little luck--add some value to our house. And it wasn't too much work (especially if you have someone you can "supervise").

It's all in the details

 Today my stepfather and I are working on trimming out the built-in cabinet I installed in the bedroom. We've had a few surprises already, and it's not even lunch time yet. Fortunately, I'm working with a pro, so he's come up with lots of solutions already. Plus, I get to learn a lot!

I'll let you know tomorrow how it all goes!

Inspiration from antiques

I'm in trouble. Yesterday I went to the Philadelphia Antiques Show, and now I'm obsessed with getting a finished look in my apartment. You would be too, if you saw what I did.

I started out by stopping by a series of showrooms created by local designers. Their assignment was to use antiques--art, furniture, rugs--to show how these pieces can be incorporated into both good design and daily living. It's a fantastic idea, and a theme that kept popping up throughout the day. I'll show you what I mean.

Take this room by Wein Interiors for instance. Here, everything except for the lighting, the backgammon table and the couches were antiques. All of the art, the rugs, the side tables, books, chairs and accessories were sourced from the show. That breath-taking sideboard? Not a reproduction. The curtains? Panels from a rare fabric dealer. Those gilded mirrors? Antiques from Peru.  (A sentimental note for me, since that's where the hubby and I went on our honeymoon.)

And in no way does it come off as stuffy, unapproachable or over done. Swoon!

The next room was created by Eberlein Design Consultants Ltd. as a pied-a-terre for when you might be visiting the city. Or, if you're like most urban dwellers, this represents your first studio apartment--a place where everything needs to be present, accessible, but still beautiful.

I love how this designer layers color on top of color, and texture over texture. The delicate yellow drapes beckon you in to sit on a velvet sofa the color of emeralds. And natural elements like the framed butterflies and the driftwood lamps add another dimension to keep the look modern. I also love how they used books freely as a design element. We all have them, and let's face it. They don't always look this good.

And on the polar opposite of the spectrum is the room created by Gregory Augustine of August Interiors. Here, it's a masculine look with clean lines that sources from the world of antiques, but creates an extremely modern look. The geometric art repeats in little details like the studded walls, the lighting and a round inlay table that will make you never want to see painted wood again.

After the designers' rooms, I made my way over to hear celebrated decorated and author Thomas Jayne discuss his newest book and some of the most well-designed rooms in American history. He covered rooms from palatial properties like the Winterthur estate in Delaware, and more accessible private homes that are equally impressive (albeit in a very different way). If you want to see the full list of what he considers great work check out his book The Finest Rooms in America.

Of course, the real attraction is the floor filled with antiques vendors. I wandered through the space for a while, and was blown away with the diversity of eras, styles and pieces. If you're a collector of fine jewelry, there were several options. Into textiles? Choose between rugs, wall hangings, curtains and fabric panels. Like furniture? I hope you have a specialty, because a little a lot of everything.

If you're in town and you'd like to check it out, today is the last day. But if you can make it, you'll get a big payoff. There's a guided tour and a lecture about stripping and refinishing furniture. (Yes, I do consider that fascinating stuff, thankyouverymuch.)

And if you can't make it this year, consider a visit next April for the 52nd showing.