DIY Modern IKEA Tarva Hack

When I revealed Emerson's nursery a few months back, everyone kept asking how we DIY'ed the IKEA Tarva dresser in her room. So I'm finally getting around to laying out the step-by-step of how we did it!

The thing I really love about the Tarva is that it comes unfinished and is designed to be customized and jazzed up. I've seen several really awesome and inspired creations using the Tarva and I love that IKEA is creating products specifically for people who love customizing furniture.

See the full DIY after the jump!

DIY Circle Wood Shelf

I've had my eyes on the round dorm shelf from Ferm Living for quite some time and have seen more and more circular wall shelves popping up again and again in stylish spaces I drool over. The price tags on most of these gorgeous shelves is hefty and way out of our budget, so I took the liberty of creating a budget-friendly version that retained the modern minimal look of the originals without breaking the bank.

One of the most challenging problems was where to find large circular wood pieces that didn't require a carpenter's know-how of bending wood. When I can't think up a solution (or Google a solution) to a DIY problem, I'll just go to a local craft or home improvement store and wander the aisles until a material stands out. This is the approach I took with the round wood circle and I found my answer in the quilting aisle... 23" round quilting hoops.

I couldn't use the outside hoop that screwed together since the wood wasn't connected, so I had to rely on the inside hoop that was already a full circle. I picked through the eight hoops they had in-store and picked out three that had similarly-colored wood and lined up evenly.



Get the rest of the DIY details and sources after the jump…

DIY Wooden Bead Pendant Light

With a little over a month to go until our babe arrives, we have finally entered the finishing touches stage of the nursery project. From the very beginning, I started scoping out ridiculous amount of nursery inspiration. And I kept coming back to the brilliant simplistic and modern styling of Sharon Montrose's Animal Print Shop nurseries. Her baby alpaca nursery, and this pendant light, are just so spot on.

So I set out to recreate a DIY version of this pendant light using wooden beads, twisted cloth covered wire, and a vintage light bulb. Aside from the electrical assembly, which did take a couple hours, this project was simple with big payoff in terms of bringing color and whimsy to the nursery.

Get the rest of the DIY details and sources after the jump…

DIY Changing Pad Cover

My DIY inspiration usually arises after trying to take on a new project, looking high and low for good tutorials, and having a hard time finding what I'm looking for. At that point, I'll just wing it. And if the project turns out well, I share it with you all.

Putting together our little one's nursery has been one of my favorite projects to date. I've really loved exploring new colorful decor styles and incorporate a soft feminine vibe into the space without going over-the-top girly. I couldn't find a changing pad cover for sale that had the modern boho vibe I'm going for. So when I came across embroidered mustard yellow curtain panels on clearance at Target, I thought it may look awesome on a changing pad. Here's how I did it...

DIY Dried Flower Shadow Box + The Best Gift

September 7th of 2013 was the best day of my life. I married my best friend (you can see us in our wedding glory found here). A man that humbles me every day with his grace, kindness and humor. He's a better person than I am. A better person than most every other person I know, in fact.

On the day of our anniversary last Sunday, I was feeling really under the weather. We had just gotten home from a whirlwind weekend in Philadelphia and I crawled into bed and was ready to fall asleep. Rich excitedly comes into the bedroom and says I can't go to bed yet. First, I must open his anniversary gift. So I roll over, pull myself up, and see him smiling on the edge of the bed with a beautifully wrapped (always) box. Before I even open the gift, I felt terrible as I hadn't gotten him something. But, of course, because he's just the best person, wasn't even fazed. I tear open the paper and this unbelievable gem is inside. Rich MADE THIS. Out of the flowers from the boutonniere he wore on our wedding day. Arranged so artfully and carefully placed. It took my breath away and is absolutely the BEST, most meaningful present I've received. That man.

6 Modern Eclectic Ways To Think Outside The Frame

I'm always on the hunt for new ways to incorporate natural elements into our home and onto our walls. I love framed art, but too much of one thing takes away from the beauty and intentionality of that item. Varying the types of items you hang allows each piece to stand out and hold court on its own. Here are the six modern eclectic wall decor items I'm digging lately.

Above: Kilim rugs combine beautiful rich colors with geometric patterns and always add eclectic character to a space. Since they're low pile, they look lovely on walls. 

Above: This space is so artful, unique and functional with its display of straw hats. Using a bleached piece of driftwood, as seen in the styling above, created a beautiful bending shape and I love the driftwood peeking through the hats. 

I love washi tape for many reasons, and uses, but wall decor is one of my favorite. The options for creativity are endless and temporary, making it the perfect option for apartments or dorms. This example of black crosses is modern yet playful and a fun idea for a child's playroom. 

See the rest of the list after the jump!

THE KITCHEN

The day is finally here! I am so excited to share our kitchen. It has been a LONG time coming and this project felt, at times, as if we tackled more than we could handle. All of the work of this remodel was done by Rich, myself and gracious friends and family willing to lend expertise and muscle. Despite its challenges, we finished. And all of the blood, sweat and tears (yes, literally) were worth it because we ADORE this space.

Here's the before shot of our kitchen. The photo quality isn't great, but they are the most forgiving and appealing photos I could track down. I don't need to explain the cons of our previous kitchen, but our main issues were the fluorescent lighting, dark wood cabinetry, beat up/burnt laminate countertops, butter yellow brick accent wall, and fake brick as backsplash. I also had a hard time with all the upper cabinetry. Since it's a galley kitchen layout, I didn't have anywhere to do all of my food prep, so some of the upper cabinets had to go to give it a more open feel with additional work space.

And in case you missed that...
 

See our full kitchen reveal after the jump!

Home Envy: Modernist Sydney Beach House

This Sydney beach house is to die for. The floor to ceiling windows that flood natural light onto the white walls, floors and wood accents make me want to break out the white paint. All of the details of the home are so artfully arranged and intentional, even down to the greenery and stem displays.

See the full home after the jump!

before + after: our bathroom reveal

One of the first projects we tackled upon moving into our house was the upstairs bathroom. When we moved in, it boasted a nautical theme with baby blue beadboard wainscot paneling and heavy drapes. It was the farthest thing from our style. Plus, this is one of the most light-filled rooms in our house, so we wanted to take advantage of the flexibility to do something creative with paint colors. We are so happy with the results. Check out the full before and after bathroom reveal after the jump!

friday finds

1. the perfect corner utilizing wall knobs
2. white and wooden rolling pins
3. pillow love: this b&w one is so good
4. i can never resist big baskets on white walls
5. the coolest lookin' power cord
6. kimono sleeve top in white summery fabric
7. a natural cat eye makeup look
8. simple strawberry tart perfect for the fourth
9. the way all-wood walls work beautifully in a space

happiest of fridays! xo, erin

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