kids' craft room style

I was fed up. Every night before dinner, we had to clear off the crayons, coloring books, beads, paint and other projects that my crafty peeps had been using all day. We shoved everything into a cupboard, but it all creeped back onto the dining room table the next day. I longed for a room the kids could use so we could relocate all this stuff, and it occurred to me that we had just the spot. A spooky dark unused storage room that led into our laundry room and Steve’s man cave. Unfortunately, my kids were convinced the room was haunted, so needless to say, it was not inspiring any creativity (except maybe some ghost stories). Here’s a shot of the room from our home inspection pics back in March 2008.

So armed with the cheapest supplies I could find, I was determined to make this dark dungeon into the coolest craft room in town. The first step was to prime everything. We had tons of leftover primer, so I slathered that all over the various surfaces (cement, paneling, wood closet doors, duct work). Then I got out our leftover white paint from our kitchen cabinet project and coated everything except the concrete floor. (I had other plans for that…). Here’s my helper brightening things up.

I wanted a place for the kids to easily put up artwork so we could have a rotating display. We bought a sheet of galvanized steel and nailed it into the wall and then Steve framed it for a simple display board. We used chalkboard paint on the other wall and covered the ducts above with our magnet collection. The shelves house coloring books and oversized paper.

We scored an oversized dry erase board and sawed it in half. Affordable kitchen storage from this collection houses markers, erasers, chalk and includes hooks for hanging aprons.

The other side of the room has space for a small table and chairs. I covered the seat cushions in a vinyl tablecloth so they’d be easy to clean. The table has a metal surface, so it can also take a beating.

For storage, we categorized and labeled materials in these rolling storage carts, but the most affordable storage option we found was using leftover takeout containers to corral sequins, stickers, stamps, and other project materials.

I had grand ideas about stenciling a fun pattern on the concrete floor, but the kids had their own plans. Now it has a nice lived in look.

I can’t say that we never have to clear off the dining room table at dinner time anymore. It’s almost time for dinner right now and it’s covered with newspaper, notebooks, camera, cell phone and laptop. (All evidence points to me.) But the kids aren’t afraid to go down to the craft room any more, and when their friends come over, they’re all down there for hours. And that is nice!

Liz's Family Room Catches a Wave of Beachy Chic

When Liz told me that 65 Canadians were coming this summer for a reunion, I just had to help her update the family room, eh? Here’s her letter…

Dear Lisa, Help! We annually gather in Toronto with a group totaling 65. This year, WE are hosting (along with my parents at their house). Guests will stay in a hotel, but we’ll be gathering here and at my parents’ house throughout the visit. This is motivating us to do some home spruce ups before the big weekend. Our family room could use some help. We need to keep the sofa, chair and TV stand, and like the arrangement (a stager helped us with that). Our style is relaxed traditional, and I’m pretty conservative with colors. We use the room for overflow entertaining from upstairs and for playdates. The room opens to our boys’ (5 & 3) playroom and this is definitely a “hands on” room for them, so nothing too fussy, please. We could use more storage, paint, window treatments (it’s dark!), lighting, accessory ideas. I’ve got lots of family photos framed in black with white mats that I’d like to hang. I always envisioned a beachy look, but never executed my vision! Thanks, Liz

Surf’s up, Liz. Tell your friends to come on over, because this beachy chic mood board will get your family room ready for relaxation and fun!

1. Liz is a self-professed color conservative, and that works for us. Our palette takes its cue from sand and surf. To get some more pop from her existing sofa and chair, we’re recommending that Liz use Benjamin Moore’s Manchester Tan (HC-81) on the walls in a kid-friendly eggshell finish. She can tidy up her trim with White Dove (OC-17) in a semi-gloss for clean, crisp contrast.

2. We love this mix and match lamp base and shade duo for Liz. The simplicity of the glass and beige shade has all kinds of message in a bottle beachy connotations. What we love even more is that right now, this set is on sale for 50% off!

3. This photographic sea shell print pulls the look together in a subtle way. Framed in black, it will complement Liz’s already framed family photos.

4. We want Liz, her family and their guests (small, tall, Canadian) to forget they’re in a basement, so we’re suggesting Liz create an optical illusion with window treatments. By using a floor to ceiling curtain panel mounted right where the ceiling and wall intersect and falling to the floor, they’ll add the illusion of height and hide the small window and lovely view of their garage. This plaid panel pulls together our color palette, and injects more pattern into the room. The price is right, and they’re machine washable–perfect for guests of a shorter stature.

5. What could be better than custom shelving? Buying ready made pieces at affordable prices that look like custom. Liz wants to keep her TV unit, but add more storage. These bookshelves are sold in a pair for an unbelievable price. With each bookshelf flanking the existing TV unit, her entertainment alcove will look like built-ins made just for them. The set will provide enough storage that she’ll be able to remove the big white bookshelf and make a family photo gallery on that angled wall.

6. This trio of pillows punches up our nautical theme and brings new life to Liz’s existing sofa and chair.

7. Ahoy there! This lantern makes us think of bonfires on the beach. At this price, Liz could use several to accessorize her new shelves by filling them with shells, tea lights, sea glass or some other sea inspired relics.

8. These easy to clean, colorful, canvas storage containers can catch the remotes, dvds, and other assorted family room essentials to keep the shelving unit looking organized, because a room with clutter everywhere can never be truly relaxing. P.S., we dig the grommet detailing on these babies.

9. The trunk as coffee table is a clever storage concept, especially in the family room. This lacquered wicker version brings a natural textural element into Liz’s beach chic escape.

10. And what kind of beach retreat would be complete without a beverage tray? This shiny, blue beauty is the perfect topper for the coffee table trunk and just the spot for refreshments.

Well Liz, we hope you enjoy your budget-friendly beachy chic retreat with guests from near and far. Nothing on this mood board costs more than $100! (Even the bookshelves since they come in a pair.) Most items are less than $50. We had a great time pulling it together for you. Enjoy!

Laura's girls study in style

Laura contacted us to reinvent a room in their home as a study lounge for their two daughters. Here is her letter:

Dear Lisa:

We have a bedroom in our home that we’d like to reinvent as a space for our two daughters, ages 6 and 8, to do their homework. We’ll need two desks, some room for books, notebooks and study-type supplies. Also, we want a spot for them to cozy up with a book. They’re not princesses, so no pink walls, please. We want it to be a room they look forward to hanging out in for the years to come since we know the homework load only increases from here on in! Hope you can help us.  Thanks, Laura

Laura, we hope your girls rush home from school and get right down to business in this stylish study space. Here you go!

1. We picked up our color palette from the whimsical rug we found. Since we’ve got bold splashes of aqua, pink and lavender around the room, we thought a muted green shade like Guilford Green (B.M. HC 116) would be the perfect wall color.

2. Laura requested a cozy nook for the girls to read. We love the pattern and price of this chair. Plus it comes in a double size if Laura thinks there is enough room.

3. We think a pair of these poppy magnetic boards would be perfect for each girl to hang above her desk to keep soccer schedules, school deadlines, pictures of family and friends, notes from the tooth fairy and everything else they deem important front and center!

4. This book case is an essential piece for its attractive storage potential as well as how it will function as a divider between the two desks. With each desk positioned on either side of the book case, the room will have two designated study zones so projects and papers don’t get mixed up between the two sisters.

5. A pair of these desk lamps will provide much needed task lighting to each work space without hogging all the surface area on the desk. We love how the leafy green shade color picks up on the green tones in the chair and rug.

6. This set of five flip-lid boxes (or even two sets!) will help the girls corral their supplies, crafts, and knick knacks on the shelves of their desks and the shared book cases. We think their translucent material will make storage and organization a snap.

7. The swirling colors in this rug were the perfect jumping off point for our color palette. It’s not a girly-girl pattern, but instead rather whimsical and fun; certain to inspire creativity!

8. Ah, the desk–the essential study corral. We heart these trestle desksfor their affordability (remember, Laura has to buy two!) and open simplicity. Let’s face it, young kids do not know how to use hanging files. They know how to pile and put things in storage bins.  Furthermore, we dig how these desks can be assembled with the shelves on either side. So the desk to the left of the book case will have shelves on the left, and the desk to the right of the book case will have shelves on the right side. Symmetry–bet Laura’s girls already learned about it in math class!

9. These super stylish desk chairs made of clear polycarbonate plastic and chrome add an air of sophistication to this studious lair. They’re easy to clean and uber-affordable.

10. These cute pencil holders will be a fun desktop accessory. Now, Laura won’t hear, “Mom, I need a pencil.”

11. These incredibly affordable peacock panels are machine washable and a fun splash of color on the walls. If Laura and the girls want to go for another layer of texture and pattern, they can add this striped, crinkly satin set too.

12. I didn’t have room for these on the mood board, but if Laura and the girls decide they want to add some more pattern to the walls, here are a few fun decal sets to consider (butterflies, trees, birds, birds in tree, flowers).

Laura, I hope you and your girls love the ideas for your fun, new homework room–and you didn’t think fun and homework could be combined in the same sentence!

Paper vs. Tea: The Great Towel Debate

First, it was paper vs. plastic. But lately, I feel like a jerk if I even ask for plastic in the check out line. I feel obliged to casually mention how I’ll be picking up after my dog so I actually really need these bags, when the truth is I have six reusable bags in my car that I forgot to bring into the store with me.

Since I find myself at the grocery store nearly every day, I vowed to keep the reusable bags in the front seat so they’ll be in my line of sight when I’m locking up and heading into the store. I discover this works, and I’m living guilt free, and then? I stumble upon this article from the LA Times blog.

Here’s someone who has vowed to reduce paper towel usage and is actually doing it. She writes, “According to The Green Book — the bestselling guide to greening the planet — we are a paper towel-loving nation: A decrease in U.S. household consumption of just three rolls per year would save 120,000 tons of waste and $4.1 million in landfill dumping fees.”  Wow! I think I go through three rolls in a week! Am I the only guilty party here?

Image by © Lawrence Manning/Corbis

It’s not just an environmental issue, it’s an economic one too. The author drops $15 at her local big box store for a jumbo package of paper towels, and then at a similar type store finds a package of 24 bar keep towels for $12. My Kindergartener could do that math. She’s creating less garbage, and her plan has her only doing a load of tea towels and cloth napkins once a month! Hmmm, that doesn’t sound so bad.

To read the full article and discover how she does it, click here. I have to admit, I’m a rather inspired. We can save the planet, one little tea towel at a time.

Keep a design diary

Ever find yourself fingering a new towel set or enchanted by lovely drapery panels when you’re out and about, only to wish you could remember the exact shade of blue you’d painted that bathroom? Returns are no fun, and you never know when you’ll stumble on that well-priced must have item. Should you pull the trigger or not? Dilemma solved. Start a Design Diary for your home.

Image from seejanework.com

It’s an easy practice to start. Pick up a purse (diaper bag, backpack, small suitcase, whatever you’re carrying these days) sized notebook. We like these from See Jane Work.

In your diary you can designate a few pages for each room. Make a list of the items you’re searching for (window treatments, art, towels, bedspreads, lamps, furniture, accessories, etc.). If you’ve painted already and are happy with the outcome, tape the paint chip from the paint store right on the page. Staple in any fabric swatches. (No one will ever notice the small cut from your dust ruffle!) You can also attach pictures from magazines and catalogs that inspire you. That way, when you find yourself at HomeGoods with only 10 minutes to spare before your lunch hour is over or you need to pick up the kids, you can consult your design diary to determine whether that bath mat you’re contemplating will work with your colors, and whether you actually NEED it.

You can also use your design diary as a record for work you’ve had done in your home, and as a place to collect business cards from quality contractors whom you’d like to call again should the need arise.

It’s easy to tailor this concept to your home’s design needs, but making it portable is key. When you have it at the ready, you can avoid the whole “seemed like a good idea at the time” kind of buyer’s remorse that sends you straight back to the returns lane.

style your bookshelf

For a recent client, I recommended that she pare down from two domineering bookshelves in her living room to one with a less imposing design. Editing her book collection and then restyling the new bookshelf seemed like a daunting task to her, but it’s really not so hard if you follow these simple steps.

Edit down your collection

Remove everything from your shelves and start sorting. Sell, donate, or recycle any popular fiction, cookbooks, business or reference guides and children’s books that are either outdated, unused, or damaged.

Keep your prized possessions

Hold on to any books that have sentimental value to you. I have an old copy of Gone With The Wind that my grandmother gave her father for Christmas in 1936, for example; it’s a keeper. A book may have real value if it’s been signed by the author so you’ll want to keep it for sure. Also, hang on to any children’s books written before World War II because they're valuable too. Ultimately, it’s your space, and you’re the one who will be looking at the shelves most often, so keep the books that mean the most to you and reflect you and your family.

Find your shelving style

Once you’ve determined your keepers, you have lots of options with how to display them. Keep in mind, there is no right way to do this, just work it until it feels right to you. Some ways to consider are to group by color, size, or subject matter.

Image courtesy of colourlovers.com

You can shelve your books by varying the heights to achieve a skyline look. You can stack them horizontally; this works especially well for heavy hardcovers on lower shelves. Or, you can go for the traditional staircase style.

Add some accessories

Scour around for some objects that could be used as unexpected bookends. Choose other items you have to showcase–small vases, decorative boxes, picture frames, objects from nature–and work them in so that the sizing of the objects is in proportion. A small vase with a single flower looks great placed on an oversized hardcover book.

Make it work for YOUR home

Designate a basket of children’s books on a lower shelf to keep that often messy hodge-podge looking stylish and accessible. Lean a painting or framed photo on the back of the shelf for a simple and elegant look. Most of all, make it work for your family. And if you get bored with the look, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest things to makeover next week!

baby, it's cold in here!

Below freezing temps, school cancelled and ice on the inside of our mail slot. Brrr….!

We’re staying in our pj’s and working on Valentines today (or at least for the next 15 minutes).

{Clearly we’ve been so busy that there’s been no time for brushing hair. }

{At least one of us is dressed and ready for action.}

Yep, 15 minutes have passed, and we’re on to Scrabble Junior. What are you up to today? Hope you’re staying cozy, wherever you call home.