put a rug on it

Over the past six months I have been searching tirelessly and fruitlessly for a new rug in my bedroom. Too big, too traditional and too expensive are all the options I have found, but nothing that seems to be the perfect fit.

{via shadesoflight}

Besides its functional use to trap debris and provide cushion and warmth, rugs are an essential visual element in bringing the room's look together. Don't get me wrong, I am crazy for wood flooring, but adding a rug softens the look and provide a resting spot for the eye among the assorted textures and colors of the room.

{via apartmenttherapy}

While on the topic of my never-ending search, I thought it would only make sense to discuss important parameters to keep in mind when selecting a rug to fit your space.

• Consider the hue in selecting your rug. Is it in a high-traffic area or do you have kids or pets? If so, you might want to think twice about lighter shades in the rug you choose. Also, make sure the colors in the rug accent the look you already have. Introducing new colors in your rug have the potential create a discord in the look you are already achieving.
• Often overlooked, but always essential: consider what your rug is made of. Fibers such as chenille are more fragile and may require more maintenance than others. On the other hand, wool is generally of higher quality and will last longer than a polyester rugs. Each type of rug is appropriate for different spaces. Polyester may be the most affordable option, but it also is essential for high-traffic areas. Most rugs out there are a blend of polyester and wool. 
• Be thoughtful of the size of rug you are purchasing. A 2'x3' rug is meant for a doorway or in front of the sink and, conversely, a 4'x6' rug is usually not meant for under a dining room table. The rule of thumb I use when selecting a rug is to choose one that covers at least 50-75% of the area you are covering. Usually, you want the rug to 'touch' nearly all the furniture in the seating area.

Regardless, take risks and have fun with how you select or place your rug. The more unpredictable, the better!

designed to sell

If I had all the time in the world, I bet (and I am not a betting woman) I would spend most of my time repurposing/refurbishing objects to resell. I imagine paint-splattered pants, glue-covered hands and my cat running around with some string essential to my project. Oh, what a beautiful mess.

When I grow up, I suppose.

I've had those thoughts more frequently as of late because of my recent success in selling items on Craigslist. From renting apartments to pianos, I think I have a knack to sell. Correction: designing products to sell.

{home staging ideas via apartment therapy}

So where do you start? Let's take a trip down selling lane:

• Think about what aspects of an ad stick out to you amongst the sea of other posts. Are you the gal who finds 10+ exclamation points in the title appealing? Or are you a strictly posts with photos buyer? Use those guidelines when creating your ad.
• Always include a photo. This is not an exercise in imagination. Folks will not buy your stuff if they don't know what it looks like.
• If you are renting/subleasing an apt, do some research on staging your rooms. A buyer will be more likely to sign on the dotted line if they can picture themselves in your space. They are not looking for unsightly clutter and a dusty room. Make your bed and go wild with throw pillows.
• Be descriptive, but be brief. Assume your audience has a short attention span. Keep your sentences short and to the point but exciting at the same time (and for crying in the night, check your grammar). 

well read

At the risk of sounding like a woman twice my age, I must confess my unabashed love for crafting. It is a compulsion that has left no wall uncovered in my apartment and no weekend without a project.

How I craft: lay out detailed plans, collect materials, stress over infinitesimal details, create, repeat.

{pinwheels draped across bedroom mirror}



This past weekend I met up with two friends to catch up work on own respective projects. I have several craft projects in the hopper at the moment, so I finished up modge podging a lantern I was working on and began making pinwheel garland to accent a mirror in my bedroom. I love the look of old books in decor, so naturally I gravitated towards the idea of making a pinwheel out of book pages.

via {Better Homes and Gardens}

To make a  pinwheel, I folded two old book pages entirely in accordion style. The older the book, the more character your pinwheel will have (however be careful with your paper choice, as some old pages tend to be too frail to fold). This example instructs to trim the ends to create a curve, but I preferred to leave the rough edges. Tie the two pages together and glue the ends to form a circle. I finished off the pinwheel by adding a gold center to cover the tied pages and strung the pinwheels on hemp string.

Customize the pinwheel to your liking or add other components to this garland. I've since decided to update the garland by adding other textiles for balance and added texture.

the dish on a new side dish

Every so often I cruise the web for new recipe ideas to expand my cooking repertoire. Brussel sprouts often get a bad rap, but I have a found a place in my heart for this often unwanted vegetable. I had some hanging out in my fridge waiting to be used, so alas, the search began. 

{fresh ingredients prepped}

The recipe I found stemmed from a search I made for a recipe similar to a dish I used to pick up frequently from a co-op in Burlington, VT, the locavore mecca of the US. It was a tasty, yet healthy dish to pick up for dinner or as part of a quick lunch. That recipe called for pecans, but I found this one as a suitable substitute.

{via Martha Stewart Living}

I was a huge fan of pairing of the glazed onions with the brussel sprouts. Quick, easy and saved in my recipe box for future occasions.