...Get Set...

The Kalamath (The Plaque)

Okay...so it's been about a month since I told you all about my intention to whip my place into shape. Well, here at DB, that's how we roll...slowly.

My plans are still on the forefront (despite my non-flurry of posting) but, in order to move forward, I need to set the stage with some history. You may be curious as to why I've named my house (and subsequently tagged these fix-it posts with), The Kalamath.

I bought and moved into this condo in the summer of 2004. At that point, many of my friends were still single and renting...or hitched and renting. I was terribly nervous about being one of the first to buy for the first time but then I got a little pouf of inspiration. I heard, through the grapevine, that an old friend of mine (from high school) had recently purchased her first home in Denver, Colorado. She was single and professional and she went out and claimed her independence by buying up her own gosh darn home. This initiative, girl-power purchase just happened to be located on Kalamath Street.

Cape Cod Classic

So, in honor of my high school friend, who boosted me up enough to wade through property inspections, interest rates, and broker meetings and because I love the Cape Cod tradition of naming homes, I dubbed my new condo-cottage: The Kalamath.

And then my best friend, The Plumber, made me a nice plaque.

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Weekend Flings

• Freestyle Rap Skillz: A Translation (seen above)
• Wine Crates for Pup
• Are You More of a Hologram or a Misfit?
• Favorite Yankee Candle?

• Man Match & Other Crazy Fun on Cosmo Dot Com

• This is Your Brain on a Nap
• Saving a Cottage

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Glacier Votives

Glacier votives, at Cursive Design

It's the beginning of candle season for me. I like to bust them out when I start noticing the days getting shorter and the night is creeping in sooner. It makes a cozy and relaxing atmosphere at home.

I stumbled onto Cursive Design, when looking through the list of vendors at the recent Renegade Craft Fair, and really fell for the Glacier votives. Simple, abstract and a just a hint of glamour with bits of gold leaf. I love how they change colors; from daylight to when they are lit at night and the gold leaf softly glows.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Hashish candle

Hashish candle, at Jonathan Adler

One word folks: DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crate and Barrel's Rug Trick

Asimi Rug(s), at Crate and Barrel

When I first saw this photo on Crate and Barrel's website, I was intrigued by such an odd rug: a dark center with a light border, similar but not identical patterns. Then I realized (ha ha) that it is actually two separate rugs, one sitting atop the other.

So I checked them out and found that the rug is the Asimi Rug in Neutral (light tones) or Brown (the dark). I guess if I had to prefer one over the other, I'd go with the Neutral. It's pretty.

Asimi Rug in Neutral, $299 - $1099

Yet I've got to say that I'm a little bummed that the rug, the double one shown at top, doesn't exist. Would buying both and stitching them together be totally crazy?

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Weekend Flings

• The MostHilarious Video. EVER. Seriously. (seen above)
• Big, Silvery, & Handmade
• Garbanzos: Cardboard's Tailgate Snack
• Urban Outfitters Follows a Trend?

• Waffle Love, with a Side of Cigarettes & Jesus Tees

• Collegiate or Colorful AC Love
• Jangly Art

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Obama in Words

My Bonus Bone selection isn't an interior design, I realize, but it's important, timely, and aesthetically righteous.

This shirt designed by Nicholas Nocera of Alison Rose shows a powerful portrait of Barack Obama drawn out with words. The lines of text are mostly quotes from Obama's DNC acceptance speech with other sound bite gems thrown in.

Some of us believe in this man a lot and some of this believe in him a little but I think we're all filled with a bit more hope. If you're feeling the same way, visit Alison Rose to show your support across your chest. The shirt's available for men and women, in organic natural or a soft blue, for $22. The cherry on top is that a portion of each sale goes straight to Obama for America Campaign.

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Couch, Heroic

This (real) pic is from a (real) accident in North Hollywood last week. Rumor has it that the curbside couch cushioned the impact, allowing the driver to walk away totally unharmed.

This selfless act is just another reason to love abandoned furniture. That dirty and forgotten couch is truly a Good Sofaritan.

Photo Credit: Curbed

Weekend Flings

• Kermit Bale: An Exhaustive Comparison (seen above)
• A Portrait for Catty
• 3000 Broadway, Aerially
• Porcelain's Candy Tile!
• Denver Will Look Good in Blue & Yellow
• The Craziest Old Oven
• A-List Dolls
• More Pets, More Portraits

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Notepaper roll dispenser

Notepaper roll dispenser, at MoMA

Here's to some slick and smart German engineering! This notepad is simple, sleek and very practical. It's also rather "green". When you write a shopping list, for example, just tear off the exact amount of paper you need with no extra unused white space.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Squares

Squares wallpaper, at Ferm Living

Whoever styled this photo gets an A+ in my book! I love this new wallpaper from Ferm Living. It looks like Q*Bert's more sophisticated home.

Reminder: Chicago Renegade Craft Fair

Renegade Craft Fair, Chicago, 2006

Reminder:
The 6th annual Renegade Craft Fair is happening this weekend. Alison Rose will be there with new merchandise that's nothing short of brilliant. Cardboard will be there all weekend, hawking her little heart out in the AR tent. Porcelain will be out, walkin' around and checkin' out the crafts, all Saturday afternoon. You should come out too. You should say, "Hi" and then you should buy.

Details:
Sat 9/13 & Sun 9/14
Noon - 10pm (both days)
On Division St, between Damen & Hermitage

Click HERE for more details, maps, and lists of both vendors and live bands!

ASPVIK line

ASPVIK cabinet with sliding doors, at IKEA

Anna from Door Sixteen posted about a piece from the ASPVIK line. I've never really taken a look at this line, but now I'm considering checking it out for my studio. I'm in need of some nice, simple storage and this may just fit the bill.

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Mama C as Motivation

Mama C Painting the Living Room

One of the reasons I'm so gung-ho to get going on my own home projects is because Mama Cardboard has put an entire summer into fixing up her place. With Bamboo's help, they spackled, sanded, painted, stripped, hung and re-hung, and even put in a new light fixture.

Yet today is the biggest feat yet: Mama C is finally getting new carpet! She's been waiting for this for years and today marks the first day of installation. Together with the freshly painted trim and walls, it's going to look like a brand new house.

Old Carpet

Even though she's not completing the install herself, she had plenty of prep work to accomplish before the overalls show up. Check out this hi-lar-i-ous narration of Mama C and the relocation of the enormous and CIRCULAR dining room table:

"The main problem was that I didn't know where to put it. So I decided to take the top off. I unscrewed it ok, but then there is a mechanism for locking the base together that still connects the top and bottom. It looked way too complicated to consider removing that, so I decided to screw the top back on. Well... then the base came apart and I couldn't get it back together, and, therefore couldn't screw the top back on. I struggled and struggled and then decided to take a break. I had a cup of coffee on the porch and was thinking of asking [a neighbor] to come help me... After coffee, I thought I would give it one more college try, before giving in and asking for help. I got underneath the table, lifted the top with my back, squeezed the base together while inserting a yard stick to raise the lock between the two pieces, and then once they were together, reached up and behind me to the top of the table to grab the lock and lock the base together. Can you picture it?! Hilarious. I screwed the top back on and then rolled the table out to the front room by the big window. Hopefully, it is not in the way there, 'cause that is where it is going to stay!"

Congratulations, Mama C! All barefoot, all the time!!

Weekend Flings

• Happy Birthday to the Babies! (seen above)
• Does This Really Work?
• Sayonara Color: Bamboo & Cardboard Compose a Bilingual Duet
• EZ Drum Shades
• The Night Bookmobile: A Graphic Serial
• My Next Car Will Be Wood Grain!
• A Feliwayed Kind of Bird

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Vinyl Stickers from Wonderful Graffiti

I know that wall (etc.) decals are played out but they can still be fun and original. Go spend some time in the Wonderful Graffiti photo gallery and you'll see what I mean.




For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

On Your Mark...

The time has come for me to get serious about working on my home. I have a few big tasks to tackle (finding and fixing the shower leak, painting - um - everything) and there are tons of small projects too (replacing the 4 million burnt-out light bulbs). It's overwhelming and sometimes even scary to think about everything on the To Do list. But all I really have to do is start. If I look at it in a better light, this is also a chance to have fun with my home and fully inject it with beauty, sass, and little bits of me. I'm psyched...and I'm nervous...but I'm way more psyched.

by katharina schumacher

This photo is not of my own home but it's initiating my undertaking because I just plain like it. What speaks to me about this pic is the stillness and yet, with the crumpled cloth and half-full glass, the obvious activity. It's quiet here but not sterile or showcased. It's artistic but still tangible. I want to work to capture that same feeling in my home.

So expect me to come to you for inspiration, feedback, and frazzled moments when I just need to vent. Photography and profanity to follow...

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

A Laborious Update

• Wash the dishes
• One load of laundry
• Call Alison Rose
• Take photos of my neighbor's porch
• Pay four bills
• Weed through clean laundry for items to donate or swap
• Put remaining clean laundry away
• Compose two brilliant blog posts
• Clear all stuff collected on my bedroom bureau

Okay, well, I got close. I did wash all the dishes and complete one load of laundry. I gabbed with Alison Rose for a good long while and also chatted with Porcelain and Mama Cardboard. Taking photos of my neighbor's porch was my Hail Mary and I can't quite believe I got that done (see above). Bill payments and clothes sorting, check. I didn't put all my clean clothes away but that makes for an exciting Tuesday night. This post makes three four bloggies and the surface of my bureau is seeing light for the first time in months.

I hope you too had a great Labor Day!

A Tradition of Labor

Gil Elvgren Pin-Up

In honor of Labor Day, I'm going after my To Do list. To keep me on task, I'm going to reveal my (totally achievable) list of daily chores to all you guys. At the end of the day, if I'm not too callused, I'll update all that I accomplished. But, if I fall asleep in my mop water, the reveal will have to wait until tomorrow. Here's the list:

• Wash the dishes
• One load of laundry
• Call Alison Rose
• Take photos of my neighbor's porch
• Pay four bills
• Weed through clean laundry for items to donate or swap
• Put remaining clean laundry away
• Compose two brilliant blog posts
• Clear all stuff collected on my bedroom bureau

So the pressure's on! Gotta get off this couch and go find my duster.

Photo credit: Life Goes On...(v2.0)