With a basket full of corks, I got to work. My first crafty cork idea was coasters – we never seem to have enough coasters, so what could be cuter for a wine glass to rest atop than a cork coaster!?

Next up, I wanted to make a “D” for the house. I had seen a really cute one on Pinterest, and thought I would try my hand at one as well. Although it didn’t turn out nearly as cool as the one Pinterest, I was rather proud at my first attempt to cut corks in half and space them out to form a larger object.

Finally, was my idea to make a large cork heart! For this project, I wanted it to be a bit more artistic, so I cut corks in diagonals and various other oblong shapes. These little strips were used to cover “holes” in the design, and to give an additional layer atop other corks.

I am so pleased with the way this design turned out!

Sadly, most of our corks are gone now. I guess it’s time to start popping open a bottle or two more often…all in the name of art.

Cheers!

About six weeks ago, I did find some must haves from West Elm – glass jar pendants. And what goes better with one pendant, than four additional jars to join the party?

Cuteness, right? Well…the savvy homeowner I am not only got to purchase some fab lights to replace the hideous old ones, but I also became a master electrician. Okay, master is a bit of a stretch, but I did learn to install pendants, and in the process added a new bragging badge to my ever-growing “I’m a homeowner so I must learn new things” sash.

Fortunately, there are online stores and retail vendors that have some of the best finds at really affordable prices. As I find great deals, I will try to document for you viewing (and shopping) pleasure.

First up: a black mirror for our downstairs half bath. We have painted the bathroom in a steel blue shade, and I decided to accent with black and white photos and decor. I found a GREAT, light-weight mirror (I hate hanging heavy pieces – such a pain). My mirror was $39.99 from Home Goods – as compared to a similar style from Joss and Main for a whopping $410. That’s a 93% saving!

I think hubby owes me a back rub – anyone else agree?

As I prepare for the move into my house, I’ve moved beyond the large furniture pieces. We already have our plasma TV console, TV, sectional and dining table. I’m now thinking splashes of color and conversation pieces.

Enter Etsy.

I just stumbled across Susanna Shap’s work (ModernHouseArt) and I couldn’t be happier. Finally, modern art that I love (and might be able to actually afford). I love textured pieces that give a three-dimensional element, and her color selections are fantastic. These are all pieces I could actually see in my home – and don’t be surprised if a few months down the road I have pictures of my house with one of these beauties!

I won’t get into any more critique of texture and patterns. Quite frankly, I am no critic. I just know what I like. And isn’t that all that really matters? If you buy it, you’re the one having to look at it every day.

On that note, I wouldn’t mind looking at Susanna’s work every day!

Earlier this week I was heading to Sherwin Williams to select paint colors for the bedrooms. As I was poking around their website to get some ideas, I discovered their phenomenal tool – Color Visualizer. With this tool, you can upload actual photos of your room, and mask off portions of the wall to “try on” paint colors. Neat, right?

Since I didn’t have photos of my home yet (it’s framing and insulation right now), I used their stock photos and searched for photos online that have a similar setup as I want for my room. Lo and behold – instant visualizer for how the paint will look in the room.

Imagine how awesome this tool is when you are redesigning an existing room!

The most difficult part of the entire process has not been the actual anticipation of moving in, believe it or not. It’s actually been the frustration of not being able to buy anything yet. We need to keep the money in the bank, so to speak, until we close. Unfortunately, once we close, we have the keys. That is great and all…except we are planning to buy lots of new furniture. A new, empty house is not really ideal for welcoming guests to our humble adobe!

However, I am keeping my eyes out for “must haves” since we are now less than 2 months away from the big move. During my blog stalking and idea planning, I ran across a fabulous website called Joss & Main. Every day this website features FANTASTIC must haves for your home:

The best part? The prices are seriously discounted – upwards of 50% in many instances! I highly encourage you to join and start squealing at the daily emails you receive for fab finds at fab prices.

Row 1: Modular Bar System from Pottery Barn; Soirée Wine Bar from World Market
Row 2: Verona Bar from World Market; Glascow Entertaining Bar from Pottery Barn
Row 3: Parsons Buffet from West Elm; Wine Bar from West Elm

After finding these fun storage units and bars, I was on a quest to find interior design projects that included wine storage when I stumbled on what might possibly be some of the best modern entertaining kitchens by Ernesto Meda!

Ernesto is a young, Italian designer who clearly has a passion for the entertaining component of home kitchens. I love the wine storage built within these modern spaces and the abundance of storage not only for wine glasses, but for dishes and cooking ware. Sign me up for one of these!

Although we currently live in an apartment, I look forward to the day when we have a large kitchen for entertaining. I imagine bottles of wine and delicious appetizers across the counter top, lots of laughs and the company of great friends. When we finally purchase or build a home, I can guarantee a spacious kitchen will be at the top of our list…if we’re not so fortunate, a large remodeling project will be the first thing we do upon moving into our new home.

In honor of cooking and fellowship, I’ve selected some spacious kitchens that would serve as perfect space to gather and chat while the host and hostess simultaneously entertain and cook.

Row 1: Styled by Amanda Nisbet Design
Row 2: Photographed by Matthew Niemann of Aberdeen Studios
Row 3: Photos courtesy House Beautiful

Row 1: Styled by Amanda Nisbet Design, Photo courtesy House Beautiful
Row 2: Photographed by Matthew Niemann of Aberdeen Studios

Below is the before shot – a drab, colorless space with much to be desired. Our vision was to create a space that had personality and some femininity, without pink covering every space of the room.

The result is below. The steel blue color of the walls quickly transformed the room before we’d even brought in any new furniture or decorations. I adore the paint color, and what’s more, it takes on different hues throughout the day as the sun rises and falls.

When redoing the space, we were budget conscious. We used furniture from throughout the house and our collective storage units. Total cost for paint, shelves, frames and some new accessories was roughly $350.

One of my favorite parts of the room is the space around my desk. The shelves frame my “L” shaped unit – which is actually comprised of a simple desk and console, two pieces never intended to work in tandem! Check out the unexpected piece of furniture for my printer – a mirror-plated nightstand – proof you can have fun when designing your office space.

These twin wing-backed chairs were pieces we grew up with at our parent’s home. Both were in our formal living room as children, but had subsequently made their way to the storage unit. Although they could use refurbishing, these two pieces work perfectly for my office redesign on a budget. Colorful pillows sewn by my sister add the splash of color drastically needed to make these chairs look modern and inviting.

Redoing your office doesn’t have to break the bank. A fresh coat of colorful paint goes a long way for the transformation. And for new furniture or accents, try shopping at some second hand stores for pieces that can be refinished by hand or spruced up with colorful pillows. Lastly, browse your digital photos and have them resized at a cost next to nothing. Personal photos in the form of artwork are a quick way to infuse your personality into your new space. Have fun!

For me, it was after a few hours of painting when my arms and legs were beyond tired that I took notice of all the white spots and gave in to the reality that a second coat of paint was inevitable. It was the dreaded, “What have I gotten myself into?” Similar to a half-eaten pancake glaring back at you as your stomach begins to bloat in agony. Rats – defeated again!

Fortunately, the paint fumes have long since passed, though, and the fun part has finally kicked in – my spectacular office is almost complete! A few little accessories are left to wrap up, but we’re hopeful this weekend should mark the near completion of the details. After all, it’s the little details that make any space uniquely special.

As I pack to head out of town for a few days, I couldn’t help but snap a few photos. Enjoy this little sneak peek at my new office!