lefty loosey righty tighty

I love West Elm, but....

2010-03-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

My super-crafty sister (in law) made this gorgeous side table for me as a Christmas gift after I lusted over this one and this one. And to be honest...this one is SO much better! You just can't beat a great gift, made by hand, from someone you love :) Thank you S(B)C!!! xoxo

AND! She's also selling them... if you're interested, you know how to find me!

Goodbye Tequila Sunrise

2010-03-22T16:39:00.001-07:00

Hellllllo PRIMER!!!

The before, and the AFTER:

It must be...

2010-02-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

...the past few days of bluebird skies and warm sunshine we've had, but I'm already thinking of summer eves lounging in our backyard and cooling off with the doggies after work:

But as I watch the grey skies roll in (which I love sometimes too -- it's the born-and-raised Seattleite in me), I might skip the outdoor pool for now and keep myself entertained (and ispired) with this:

Unhappy Hipsters

Cheers,
SB

(photos from Unhappy Hipsters/Dwell Nov. 08 and March 09)

the biggest project EVER

2010-01-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

holy smokes, am I overwhelmed. i always thought i looooooved projects, but right now I don't know whether to prime another wall or fix one of the leaky windows or pull weeds or rake more leaves or organize another closet or.........

yeah. overwhelmed sums it up.

the thing is, i do love projects, but up until we bought our house, those projects were pretty condensed; our apartment was the size of a nice-ish RV, and even a full deep clean of every nook and cranny only took 40 minutes. now i just happen to be involved in our biggest project EVER...

maybe what i need to do is just sit back with a cold beer or a fruity cocktail and just BE instead of DO. is that even possible?

Hmmmmm..........

if only my nighstand was this lovely...

2010-01-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

(from this is glamorous)

I might get some better sleep! ;)

At the moment, mine looks more like a pile of hoping-to-be-read-soon books and magazines, an old alarm clock and some nick-nacks that haven't found a home elsewhere yet.

A New Years resolution in the making? Probably so.

Cheers,
SB

i heart closets!

2010-01-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

Well, in particular, i heart my closet :) It was one of the many things about our house that made me want to buy it; its walk-in size, has room for shelving/hanger bars up the the 12' ceilings, and a window for natural light. What it needs though, is a couple coats of fresh paint and some non-ghetto shelving.

Something like THIS (from this is glamorous) :

Yes, this would be lovely :)

Mid-Makeover Sneek Peek: Dining Room

2009-12-28T17:56:00.001-08:00

Before......

Mid-Way Through the Painting (well, priming actually)....

More to come soon! I'm really excited about this room!

Cheers,
SB

Goodbye "Tequila Sunrise," hello "Bennington Gray!"

2009-12-21T14:27:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas week guys!!

We still have a bit of touch up and trim work to do, but I wanted to share some pics of the sitting room and kitchen post-paint. YAY!!!

Here's a reminder of what it looked like the week we moved in: (love that camping furniture and the air compressor in the back! LOL The color was the same in the kitchen)

And AFTER:

So much better! After we do the touch-ups, it's on to the dining room (which you can see in the far right corner above is currently our ski-drying room :) ) and then a primer-party for the rest of the interior that is still either "Tequila Sunrise" or "Gross Flat Yellow" colored. But that's after the Christmast tree and stockings come down :).

Have a great week!

i heart samples and flipbooks

2009-12-10T14:57:00.000-08:00

MUST. PAINT.

2009-12-09T15:47:00.000-08:00

Ok, our houseguest is gone (sadface), and the 5-gallon bucket of primer is staring at me. I MUST START PAINTING.

I don't want to live in a fiesta-inspired home anymore. I want fresh and clean and classic so we can really start layering in our own style. But I also enjoyed a little hiatus from my months of priming and painting.....the constant discovery of paint on myself and/or the dogs (how did that get there??) and the constant reminder that I have almost the entire interior of the house to paint..........oye.

Ok, enough complaining. I am ONE LUCKY HOMEOWNER. I get it.

Will pick up the ol' paintbrush tonight................but where to start?

SB

(Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is to wake up and have my walls painted NOT in these colors.......)

While I do LOVE Pottery Barn....

2009-12-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

This gorgeous holiday decoration would have cost me over $200 to purchase (for the three that I would need).

So, I went to Michaels (I know, I know, you never thought the day would come) and whipped THREE of them for under $35. The fake snow and cranberry branches were from Michaels, and the candles were from Ikea. The apothecary jars are leftover from our wedding, and the dog was also a previous purchase. ;)

What do you think? Mission accomplished?

Stay FESTIVE,
SB

Only a homeowner...

2009-12-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

...would get excited about recieving a new garbage disposal and super-duper paper shredder for Christmas. Its true, I did.

And before you start to think this is lame, just remember that this means more funds for the fun stuff (skis, bike gear, etc.)!!!

Guest Bathroom: part 2

2009-11-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

The rumors are true: I’m obsessed with (lightly) renovating bathrooms. They are usually a small enough space that they can take bold color, and it doesn’t cost a ton to give one a whole new look. If the basic components are decent, $100 can get you pretty far.

Lucky for me, we have three bathrooms in our home -- two full and one quarter -- that all needed a makeover. So far, I’ve re-done the master bathroom and am currently working on the guest bathroom. Here are some before & after pics:

Master bathroom before and after:

Guest bathroom before and after:

Since I’m still hunting for the perfect light fixture for the guest bathroom, I’ve been putting some energy into stocking it with things my guests might need or want. If you read my previous post on our so-called guest bedroom, you’ll know why I want to make sure our guests are extra comfortable :) Looking for some new ideas and inspiration, I hit up my teammates at Waggener Edstrom for ideas (THANKS guys!!). And while there were some definite common needs, there were also some fun (and funny!) ideas I hadn’t thought of. Overall, I think the idea is to create a guest bathroom that is made to make your guests feel comfortable but not like they’re using YOUR personal space. This is handy, considering my initial plan for decorating the room with hotel-inspired details, and certainly a nice opportunity after coming from our one-tiny-bathroom situation when we lived in our cute-but-quirky bohemian apartment in the city.

When staying at a friend’s house, what would you love to find in their guest bathroom that you might need?
- Lotions and stuff in a basket, I’m not a fan of things sitting out.
- Ponytail holders
- Q-tips (they are hard to find sometimes!)
- Feminine products (had to say it!)
- Listerine/Scope (mouthwash)
- Basic OTC medications: Tylenol, Advil, Day/NyQuil, etc.
- Multiple towels
- Extra TP
- Hand soap
- Hand towel
- Empty trashcan
- Hand lotion and eye makeup remover would be especially gracious…I would be delighted to find that in a guest bathroom!
- Perhaps toothpaste as well…I feel like EVERYONE forgets toothpaste.
- Blow dryer
- great shampoo and CONDITIONER
- hair spray
- a water glass
- Disposable razor (unused of course)

What do you hate most about guest bathrooms?
- Having to rummage through things to find something I need, it feels like such an invasion of privacy! When I have guests I usually put all of their supplies in a welcome basket that I set out along with their towels before arrival.
- When they don’t have a trashcan!
- Feeling not at home or like you can’t use/move anything.
- Usually the only towels actually in the bathroom are the display ones. I hate having to ask for a towel to shower with and I definitely don’t want to use the “only for display” ones!
P- ink towels with bows, small towels that don’t wrap around your body, or just plain BAD towels! Or decorative accents that are totally unusable (Such as shower curtain ties that hold back the shower curtain, but are a hassle to get off to actually use the shower).
- If they’re sterile or too kitschy.

What bathroom items would make you feel most at home?
- NICE towels that coordinate. They must be soft and fluffy.
- I set out a bathrobe for my guest so that they don’t have to run around in their PJ’s or need to go back to their room post shower to change. I’ve had an unfortunate incident with a friend of my brothers who was staying over and I accidentally saw him running to the guest room in his birthday suit!!!
- I think plenty of towels so you wouldn’t feel like you’d have to ask for more or like you’re creating more work for the host.
- A really soft bathroom rug or a really nice candle (preferably something that smells like white flowers, such as gardenia or lilies).
- I think it’s cute when people use glass containers and put Q-tips, cotton balls etc in them, decorative and helpful for guests.

Any other ideas?
- Make sure it is stocked with a plunger. Just because you never know with house guests and I’m sure that if one was needed they would be embarrassed to ask. A good hostess always puts her guest’s comfort first!
- If you have space, I like to have the guest shower stocked with a shampoo, conditioner, and some gender neutral scented body wash. Then guests are always prepared!
- Make the bathroom simple but elegant. Don’t infuse your own personality into it too much, considering it’s for guests. When the bathroom feels so much like you, guests feel as if they are just USING your bathroom, rather than having it feel like their own personal bathroom for the entirety of their stay.
- PLEASE don’t use burgundy or blushing pink for ANY bathroom elements!
- I like simple artwork in bathrooms. Maybe a cool print? Something that is interesting but subtle.

Our first “real” houseguest will be arriving the week of Thanksgiving (YAY!!), so I have a few weeks to find that darn light fixture and make some of these cozy ideas a reality in the guest bathroom. And please let me know if you have other ideas to share!
Cheers,
Shanti

Intertwined

2009-10-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I’m currently training for the Seattle Half Marathon. And as some you might have heard, I’ve recently misplaced my motivation.

At first I was an overachiever with my running plan – carefully planning each run, the route, hydration, stretches, and rest days. At the moment, I’m only mildly concerned when I look at my training log and notice I haven’t run in five days….. (Oops). In search of a strong shot of ambition to keep going, I perused RunnersWorld.com, and came upon this post from Kristen Armstrong. In it, she mulls over why our running mojo waxes and wanes, and concludes that it often coincides with what is going on in our lives at the time and how we feel about it. She is so right! For instance, a few years ago I was planning a wedding and in the midst of a job change; at that time I ran to work things out in my head. I ran consistently and hard.

(I promise this is a Left Loosey Righty Tighty post, just hang in there with me!)

Currently? I don’t have any major stresses to work out in my life right now (thank you!), and I’m generally at peace (double thank you!!). And quite frankly, I’ve been finding it far more interesting to comb the aisles of Home Depot than run the trail around Greenlake. No wonder I can’t seem to lace up and hit the pavement…..

As I sat on the floor of our guest bathroom last night, putting the finishing touches on the newly painted cabinets and trying to decipher what exactly was overshadowing my running goals, I thought of how the same is true in so many parts of our lives, how everything is intertwined. It’s true even in how I’ve styled our house: the colors, the concepts, have all been based on a snapshot within my life, and the emotions that accompanied it.

Here are a few examples:

Our master bathroom: Painted a light frothy brown with crisp white trim and ceilings, I wanted a spa-like feel in this room, a place where I could breathe easy and relax. Clean, tidy, and perhaps even a bit sparse, I wanted to feel free in this space. At the time, my life was in a bit of turmoil and nothing seemed for sure; the economy, finances, the future, it all seemed too messy, and this was my attempt to create a safe haven.

Guest Bathroom: When I chose this rich brown-gray-purple color, I was looking for a touch of glamour and warmth. Sparkly shower curtain rings, fresh, cushy white towels, champagne colored bubble bath and candlelight -- I was feeling confident and passionate. Things were calmer in life by this time, and I was ready to reclaim some fun. (note the sparkly shower curtain hooks)

I do think it’s pretty cool though to have these times in life sort of documented throughout our home. And over the next few months, I will start priming and painting the rest of the interior, starting with the upstairs hallway and working my way down. The colors we are considering are warm, neutral, with a touch of sophistication but not stuffiness; kind of a clean slate that we can build on. And that’s kind of like life, right? You start with what you’re given, you touch it up with putty, caulk and primer, and then it’s up to you to chose the colors, create the accent walls and determine the artwork you want to display.

In her blog post, Kristen quotes author John Eldredge: "We have to be intentional about the joy." And on my fridge hangs a magnet that says “Life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself.” Either way, I think living with intention and creating the life you’ve always wanted should be at the top of our to-do lists, with the knowledge that we’ll have to putty up a few nail holes (for me, this = running) and perhaps go through gallons of primer (literally!) before we get it “just so.”

Yours in primer, paint and Nikes,
Shanti

Guest/Gear Room

2009-10-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, we chose to make what could have been a decent guest room into a gear room: a place where all of our outdoor gear and whatnot could be happily organized and ready for action at any given moment. The gear is both mine and my husbands, but to be honest, the obsession to organize is all me :) Hence, the heavy duty shelving and Rubbermaid tubs.....

However, I'm thinking there might be a way to make this room both a gear AND a guest room. Considering most of our guests have similar tastes as us, they probably wouldn't mind sleeping amongst skis and tents too much....

And I LOVE this simple style, which could take up one side of the room while the gear stays on the other side: (photo from http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/ and http://www.purlsoho.com/purl)

Now if I could only track down a sustainable crop treated log for a side table...........

Danish Simplicity + Sheepskin Throw

2009-10-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!

I've been seeing this corner-room trend a lot lately -- the simple Danish-style chair with a thick, cozy sheepskin square gently placed "just so."

And I'm loving it.

(realsimple.com)

I'm thinking IKEA might be the place to start...........

Ciao!

Could our attic look like this someday??

2009-10-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

Pretty please?

(I'm at a total loss for who/where to attribute this photo too --- yikes!)

I "heart" Nooks

2009-10-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a little kid, I've always loved little nooks, places you can curl up and nap, read a book, or just plain think; windowsills holding your favorite few books and a flower from the market, or a still life on a dresser that makes you smile each time you catch a glance. I still find myself seeking out this special spots, and now of course, creating them in our home.

Here's a few I wouldn't mind having in my house:

(from Anthropologie.com)

(from housebeautiful.com)

I have a crush on.....

2009-10-15T15:42:00.001-07:00

http://cocokelley.blogspot.com/

If you have any interest in design, style, and creating a beautiful world to live in, you MUST MUST MUST check out this fave blog.

Not only does the lovely and talented Cassandra have a serious talent for all things fabulous, but she makes great design and style attainable; I haunt her blog daily and could only hope to be able to one day whip up the kind of inspiration boards and ideas she makes look easy.

But until that happens, I am thrilled to pieces to let you know that she will be helping me transition our home to the next stage!! I'll be keeping the details under wraps for now while we hammer out the last few things, but I WILL tell you that it's sure to be fabulous. And of course there will be pictures! And perhaps some champagne.....

Cheers!
Shanti

Take one LAST look!

2009-10-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

Soon our Kirkland Hacienda will be a Cozy Natural Hideaway :)

Guest Bathroom: part 1

2009-10-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

I couldn't take it anymore: the dark green shadowy box that is our guest bathroom was SCREAMING for light, fresh color, and a whole new look.

So, I tore out the old baudy light fixture, had ian remove the toilet tank, put a couple fresh coats of trim paint on and got the first layer of primer on the walls!! I feel better already :)

Here are the "Before Pix":

I still have one more layer of primer to go, but in the meantime I've started to think of what I want this bathroom to look like. For now, here's what's inspiring me: (it's kind of an organic, eco-hotel chic. all pix from Pottery Barn)

You like???

It's The Little Things In Life...

2009-09-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Heya housies :)

So, in response to my blog post asking what YOU want to read/see/learn, it sounds like y'all want LOTS of photos and to learn more little tricks regarding homeownership, cohabitating, updating, renovating and styling. NO PROBLEM!!

In fact, I took a few photos last night that I've been wanting to share with you. I'm finding that right now, with so much going on (training for the half marathon, work ramping up for the fall, etc.), the big things feel overwhelming (paint the ENTIRE main floor? put in a French drain? design a yard? yikes!!!) but the little things make me happy and give me a sense of satisfaction even when the house-to-do-list just keeps getting longer and longer....

Here are a few of my favorites:

My closet doors -- freshly painted with new knobs!

The above-mentioned new closet door knobs. How sweet are these? Love the simple nod to travel, another one of my passions.

Typically, I prefer furniture with a history and a good story; this solid-oak piece was a hand-me-down from a good friend of ours that I absolutely love. I first used it as a night stand, but liked it better in the corner as I felt like it helped create a new space. The drawers are filled with little momentos, books, photos, etc.

A single yellow rose snipped from my grandma's garden -- does it get any better than this? :)

Cheers,

Shanti

Bathroom Bliss

2009-09-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

You've all heard me complain complain complain about our master bathroom color (yuck) and my desire for a crisp, clean, relaxing space (ahhhh... kind of like spaaaaa). Well, here are the final shots -- I think the change in color alone boosted my morning mood!

SOOOO much better, yes?

Cheers,
Shanti

borrowed idea!

2009-09-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

Hello!

As those of you who've visited our home already know, we chose to forgo the traditional guest room in favor of a gear room. And, oh yes, we have NO regrets. It's a beautiful thing to walk into the room and see our "toys" (skis, snowshoes, camping equip., etc.) all organized and ready to be used. And when you get home from an adventure, it's kind of nice to just dump everything in the room and shut the door for a few hours while you shower or recoup from whatever the trip served up.

So on a recent foray into Port Townsend, I spotted this fun way (see pics below) to organize our gear even more, which, if you know me, thrills me to no end. This project involves gear and organizing? Yes please!

We don't really climb anymore, but I still think this is a DIY cool idea, and you could totally use different materials to make it yours.

Bring on the rope and scissors!

Shanti

I'm baaaaaaaaack!

2009-09-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

So, what's the best way to kill a blog? Stop posting.

Yikes!

Sorry guys -- no excuses here, life simply got in the way.

But I'm back, with lots of ideas and fun things to share. Here's a snippet:

1. The master bathroom is DONE! Will post pix soon.
2. The office/travel room is FINALLY all put away and organized. Love that feeling!
2. I've hired a designer. That's right. Details coming soon :)

Off to buy gallons and gallons and gallons of primer............
SB

success!!

2009-08-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

hi guys,

as promised, just letting you know that after my post about being a Black Thumb Gardener, ALL MY PLANTS ARE STILL ALIVE! and actually, they're doing quite well :)

perhaps it IS possible to rehab a black thumb...

More on Monday!

cheers,
SB

Next Post: Your Choice!

2009-08-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

So I've been blogging for a few months now, and I must say its been a learning experience and tons of fun. I'm starting to figure things out, and am getting pretty good feedback so far.

But this morning I got to thinking --- what are you guys interested in hearing about or learning right now???

I can tell you that at the moment I'm obsessed with the power of a couple good coats of paint in a stunning color, creating defined but comfortable spaces in my home, and finding affordable ways to really make it "mine."

But what do you want to know? How to install a new outlet or light switch? Which colors are the latest and greatest? How to re-grout a shower? Or maybe where to go to get whatever it is you're looking for to spruce up your home? Perhaps a few tricks & tips on merging "his" stuff with "her" stuff? Or just more photos???

Tell me, and I shall deliver :) E-mail: havedogwilltravel@gmail.com

In the meantime, I'll keep blogging away.....

Shanti

Two (Fairly) Quick Ways to Update, Style & Change the Feel of a Room

2009-08-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning Painters and Paintettes!

The Seattle rain, a welcome change from the scorching heat we had last week, has given us the opportunity (solicited or not) to focus on the interior fixes that have been on "Winter To-Do List" such as painting and lighting.

And as you may have read in one of my recent posts, the master bathroom was in DIRE need of some TLC, particularly in the paint department. So far, we've got one coat of primer (TOTALLY necesarry) on and the ceiling painted -- and I have to say it already looks a thousand times better and WAY bigger. Its former Mountain Dew color (ceiling included) made it feel rigid and cheap; with just a few hours of work, it already feels brighter and cleaner.

Here are some pix of our progress so far:

Hopefully we can finish the primer coat and get the walls painted by the end of the week. I would LOVE to move in and actually use this bathroom by the weekend!! Stay tuned for final styling pix :)

Total cost so far:
$100 for materials + 3 Hours (prep, painting, and clean up)
No more Mountain Dew color: PRICELESS

The second thing we've been having fun with lately is lighting. Our house came with a few good lighting set-ups, but mostly they were the cheap, dim ones that never give out enough light and always burn through bulbs more quickly.

Here are the three we recently installed:

The top light is in our office/travel room, the one in the middle is the bedroom light we finally decided on (we went for about a month with no light.....!). The last is one of my favorites -- ignore the wall color and the need to patch the ceiling, that will come soon -- it is the inspiration for my future walk-in closet renovation.

In short, if you're looking to spend minimal cash and time updating, styling, or refreshing a room start with a couple coats of paint or a new light fixture -- it can change the whole feel of your space.

Enjoy!
Shanti

My Kind of Treat Tray

2009-08-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

.....I also wanted to share a cute idea I snapped while we shopped around P-town's Nob Hill:

And my friend (a fellow dog-lover) made a good point: this is a great way to get people to feed your pooch dog-friendly treats rather from their plates.

Shanti

Coming Up Roses

2009-08-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hello Housies!

I just got back from a fantastic weekend in Vacouver/Portland (thanks Kim!!), including a trip to the Rose Garden. These pictures, which I had to take on my phone, don't do them justice -- but I wanted to share a few of my favorites. And following my "Black Thumb Gardner" post, I may just have to plant a few of these sweet-smelling bushes myself.....

And of course there was some shopping done this weekend :), including a few fun things for the house. Following my Backyard Dreaming post, I found some great, affordable lanterns to hang in the plum tree, and will share pictures as soon as I have time to unpack.

Ciao for now!

Shanti

Merry Christmas to Me, perhaps?

2009-08-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Santa Claus,

Please take my old skis and make me one of these:
Or if you think I've been EXTRA good this year, please also send me a ski chalet with one or two of these in the living room:

Thank you and Merry (early) Christmas,

Shanti

A Few Great Finds!

2009-08-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Hey there mortgage mavens!

If you're like me and paying a mortgage (or saving for one) makes you more of a deal-seeker than ever before, you'll appreciate a couple of my most recent finds.

Here is the MINI COUCH I recently scored at a yard sale for $20. We really needed a small, sturdy, basic loveseat to fit into this space in our office, and this one is perfect. It's only a few years old and actually came from a real estate agent's office, so it's barely used and in pretty perfect condition. PLUS the cost went to the local Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)!!! And Jack seems to really like it:

A few days earlier, I was browsing through Cost Plus Imports, which I've found is a goldmine for affordable, stylish glassware and kitchen items. I'm also coveting the majority of their Moroccan-style tables and chairs....but that's a seperate post and to-do list item.... What I did buy was this bamboo wind chime for $6 (sorry, the photo isn't the greatest).

When Ian (my husband) and I were in Maui for a friend's wedding, just weeks before we ourselves got hitched in 2007, we went on a phenomenal hike through a bamboo forest. My camera batteries had run out just as we hit the trail that afternoon, but I will never forget the calming, ruthmic sound of the bamboo knocking together as we wound our way up the mountain. This chime makes a similar sound when the breeze comes throug our bedroom window at night, and I love waking up to it.

In general, most of the things in our house that I love are like this -- either hand-me-downs, family relics, yard sale finds, or super cheap scores that remind me of a great moment in my life. And that's how I want my home to feel -- ecclectic, warm, comfy, and full of reminders of the great moments I've been lucky enough to experience in my life so far. :) :) :)

That's it for now, but as I mentioned in the last post I'm headed to Vancouver & Portland this weekend, so I'll let you know if I come home with any great finds from Nob Hill or beyond.....

Shanti

Black Thumb Gardener Tries Rehab

2009-08-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

I am off to Vancouver, Washington to visit one of my best friends for the weekend (yay!), but wanted to share a few pictures and house updates now that I've got a new/borrowed camera to use (still haven't located the one we misplaced in North Dakota.....)

About a week ago I noticed a dire lack of greenery inside the house -- and while flowers are beautiful and make me smile, potted plants last a lot longer and are typically cheaper. However, I suffer from Black Thumb Syndrome...and will admit that I struggle to keep anything with a root ball and leaves alive. So, I trotted around to a couple of local shops -- Ravenna Gardens and, of course, Home Depot -- to see what I could get for a good price that would stay green all year and perhaps not freak out if I missed a week of watering. This newfound confidence in my interior gardening skills has perhaps been bolstered by my recent success with a gorgeous orchid that a friend got me as a housewarming gift. Its flowers have since bloomed and fallen off (which, by the way, is normal and not my fault!), but the base is as green and healthy as ever. Take a look for yourself:

If I continue to "water evenly and place in indirect, filtered sunlight," it should bloom again. So far so good!

The next plant I purchased was an easy choice; I've always loved succulents, and because they need direct, bright sunlight, they are perfect for setting near my kitchen sink as our south-facing backyard gets all-day light. And, I will admit, they are simply a cute plant! And in the adorable little double pot a friend gave me several birthdays ago, I think they are irresistable:

I also got a small plant for the living room -- no clue what kind it is, but I loved the green and cream leaves and the sturdy texture (this one lives in the living room):

And lastly, I think everyone should have at least one herb in their kitchen for cooking with. It makes a world of difference if you add a little fresh rosemary to chicken or dice up fresh chives over a baked potato. For me, basil was my first choice as it's my favorite :) and I can add it to pasta sauce, pasta/orzo salad, caprese salad, etc. YUM!!

So how am I keeping these plants alive and thriving? Well, a very helpful lady at Ravenna Gardens in Kirkland gave me some simple advice:

1. Make sure each plant's soil is consistantly and lightly damp to the touch. If it's been particularly hot out, check more often.

2. Mix an all-purpose plant fertilizer in the water about once a month.

3. Make sure each plant is placed in an area that gets the amount of sunlight reccomended (i.e. not just where it looks best in the house...oops!).

Easy, right? While I'm sure this advice is fairly generic and might not work for some of the more finicky plants out there, it seems to be working brilliantly for my small collection.

Also, I've kept each of those little plastic tags that come tucked into the plastic containers of new plants, and taped them inside a kitchen cupboard. That way, I can refer to them when needed or if one of the plants looks a tad bedraggled, I can check the tag and then see if perhaps it needs to be moved, fertilized, etc.

I'll keep you posted on my progress in Black Thumb Gardner Rehab!
Shanti

Become a FAN, you know you want to!!

2009-08-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Calling all LLRT fans, supporters and Facebook users!

Please come join lefty loosey righty tighty on Facebook! I am currently working to update the site and link it to the blog -- but in the meantime, it would be great if you could become a Fan!!

How to become a Fan 101:

1. Go here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/lefty-loosey-righty-tighty/111139809315?ref=mf

2. Click "Become a Fan"

3. Bam, you're done!!! And you've made Shanti happy. Nice work!!

Thanks everyone, and viva social networking!
Shanti

Backyard Dreaming.....

2009-08-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hey there summer lovers,

Now that the weather has cooled to more Seattle-like temps, I am really enjoying the warm evenings and weekends outside rather than looking for the nearest dog-friendly AC'd hangout. Last weekend we had some friends over for an easy-breezy barbecue, and it got me thinking -- while it's not on the docket for this summer, what am I going to do with our backyard NEXT summer???

On one hand, it's an entirely new area for me to style and shape and create and have fun with...on the other hand, there's a budget and an extreme lack of actual green grass to consider.

For now, our little oasis in the city will have to winter as-is; which, considering my interior house to-do list is still pretty long, is actually OK with me. However, this hasn't stopped me from dreaming of what I eventually want to do....................

Here's our backyard currently:

And here are some of the beautiful, comfy backyard ideas I'd like to use next summer:

Can't you just picture sipping a summer Mojito here?
(photo from http://cocokelley.blogspot.com/)

This makes me want to get comfy, catch up on my stack of magazines and then take a little nap in the afternoon summer shade.......

(Photo from http://cocokelley.blogspot.com/)

I would love to hang about five of the smaller lanterns in our plum tree for late-evening barbecues, hammock lounging, and sky gazing.

(photo and lanterns from potterybarn.com)

Or mayby I should hang them on these cool stakes at each corner of our deck.....

(photo, laterns and stakes from potterybarn.com)

I love the fullness of hydrangeas and am really drawn to this soft blue/purple color; would love to line one side of our house with these.

(photo from Google Images)

S'mores anyone?

(photo and fire pit from http://www.firepitsinc.com)

Anyone else have fun photos of backyard spaces they've created? I'd love to see them! E-mail me at shahler@hotmail.com.

Cheers,

Shanti

Q&A

2009-08-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

Hiya homeowners/seekers,

I hope you had a FABULOUS weekend! I got in plenty of house puttering-around time, and unpacked our LAST BOXES!! WOO HOO! Such a great feeling. However, we lost our camera last weekend so no pics to share/document the progress yet...but give me a couple days and I'll hunt a new/borrowed one down!

In the meantime, I promised I would share my answers to the questions that were sent to me since I started this blog. Below is a full list of the Q&A, enjoy!

Q: Cute house! Where is it?
A: Kirkland! Makes our commutes easier without paying Seattle real estate prices.

Q: You mentioned something about cheap cleaning products -- what do you use?
A: I love love love the simple mixture of bleach & water -- just look on the back of the bottle to make sure you get the right ratio. You can add a few drops of essential oil to the mix if you don't like the smell. And it's super affordable. Also, Dr. Bronner's soap, which you can find at any health food store includeing Trader Joes, is a great alternative and can be used for almost any clean-up job; plus it too is affordable AND its organic/biodegradable.

Q: How many houses did you look at before you bought one?
A: Oh gosh.... in person, actual walk-throughs? Probably about 30. Including drive-bys where we would assess a house's potential just from the outside without dragging our agent along, probably about 60. But if you include searching redfin.com (great for offering tons of pix inside and out) and windermere.com, that number would probably jump to a couple hudred.

Q: How long did it take you to find your house?
A: We were looking for about a year, however there were a few month-long stints during that time where we were unable to due to life stuff that came up. We did make some offers earlier in the game, but they either fell through becuase someone outbid us or got their first, or we took a second look and decided to pull the plug.

Q: You mentioned that you bought the house in pre-forclosure. Did you look for that kind of sale, and if so, how did you find it?
A: We had heard a lot about buying houses in pre- and forclosure, primarily because there were so many people with homes in that situation. We didn't look specifically for this deal, but we were certainly open to it given you can get a great deal and sometimes even score instant equity. But, I will warn you: buying a house like this is not for the faint of heart. It took us 4 months to close and there were a ton of roadblocks along the way. I'm still amazed our real estate agent and mortgage broker stuck with us.....(Thanks Arron & Ransom!!)

Q: How was it paying your first mortgage? :)
A: Ha, this is a GREAT question! To be honest...kind of anticlimactic, but in a VERY GOOD WAY! My husband and I have been building our savings by paying a "practice mortgage" every month while we househunted; this way, we learned what we REALLY could afford and how our lives would look with that much money going out (versus our pretty cheap Seattle apartment rent). If you can do this, I HIGHLY reccomend it -- I think it saved me from not only passing out when the first mortgage bill came but also from buying more house than I could afford. (Note: As some of you know, we sucked it up and moved into my family's basement apartment for a year in order to save up. If this isn't an option, just count your rent into your "practice mortgage" payments and stash the extra in savings. This way, you pay your rent, but also pad your savings).

Q: Did the colors of the house's interior scare you?
A: I had learned from touring many a home that paint can be changed, while many other former-owner "mistakes" cannot. For instance, you might find a house that has all the latest designer colors that you love, but if you hate the layout of the home or the neighborhood it's in, you're better off moving to the next house on your list.

Thanks, guys, for all the great Q's -- KEEP 'EM COMING! You can post them on this blog or e-mail me at shahler@hotmail.com.

Your Fellow Craigslist "Furniture" Section Addict,
Shanti

Excuses, excuses!

2009-07-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

I KNOW my last post included me saying that is was too beautiful outside to work on the house...but if you live in or near Seattle, you won't crucify me for saying that I haven't done much reno'ing, painting, or even raking due to the swealtering weather. In fact, our little neighborhood made the evening news for hitting 114 degrees (at the hottest part of the day)!!!

However, this weekend I've got a pretty big house to-do list, including hanging the new office light (love it!), mowing our dandelions (there's really no grass under there...) and staining our new wood door. I'll take pics and share the adventures on Monday -- should be a good time!

I still haven't finished painting the master bathroom yet after the "shower planter" discovery...but that will come when the weather cools, the days grow shorter and the yard demands a little less attention.

In the meantime, I wanted to share some of the fabulous Web sites and blogs that I've come across in past few weeks:

http://cocokelley.blogspot.com/ LOVE her design tricks and her "style (e)scapes" posts, especially her ideas for budget backyard/patio entertaining. I'm also in love with the Zebra print rug that keeps popping up in room photos... She's also from Seattle, so you gotta love that!
http://www.etsy.com/ I knew this site had cute jewelry, but now that my eyes are more drawn to side tables and rugs, I've found a ton of unique pieces that are now on my Wish List. I especially love the vinyl wall decals that are great for apartment dwellers and homeowners alike who either can't attach something permanent to the plaster or are like to change their minds every few months.
http://www.lampsplus.com/ This is the best, most affordable (usually) lighting shop I've found that has the greatest selection. I've purchased multiple ceiling lights and our front porch light there, and have been happy will each one.
http://www.bloominghomeco.com/ Ok, it's not a Web site, it's a store, but I had to highlight Blooming Home in Kirkland. It's a home consignment shop, and WOW, do they have some cool things and good prices. Right now I'm coveting the GIANT silver mirror that would look fantastic in our living room, and the green and brown loveseat...Everything is in fantastic shape and is high-quality. Definitely check it out if you're in the neighborhood.
http://www.realsimple.com If you're like me and you're looking to save cash where you can, check out Real Simple magazine's Web site; they have all the good stuff for free! Need to know how to clean granite? They have an article to show you how. Want to re-decorate your utility room? They have inexpensive, DIY ideas and how-to videos you can download.

Now I'm off to mow, stain and re-wire!

Cheers to cooler weather,

Shanti

Fo Shizzle

2009-07-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hiya fellow painters and deck builders!

Hopefully everyone has gotten a good dose of vitamin D lately -- if you live in/near Seattle, I'm not sure why you're inside on the Internet because its SOOO BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE right now!!! But, I do appreciate the blog attention :).

Some of you asked how my "homeowner staycation" went last weekend (see previous post). Well.....I didn't stay home and I didn't relax...but I did have fun! And, I got almost every single box unpacked by accident!!! Here's the story: In hopes of heading to Whistler on Saturday, we noticed that we couldn't find our passports. ANYWHERE. Assuming they were stashed in one of the moving boxes, I started to unpack, one by one, and actually put things away. And, of course, a few hours later we discovered they were hiding in a very un-obvious box stashed in the corner of the garage, where we weren't even lookin..... Still undeterred, we grabbed the Ziploc baggie of government-mandated documents and headed north for some biking and camping by the river -- just what the doctor ordered. And even though I had sworn off doing and house-related labor for two days, when we got home, it was nice to actually be able to walk through the living room and office without fear of being accidentally buried under cardboard boxes.

And speaking of offices...I am almost done putting ours together! We picked out a new ceiling light last night and I'm trolling CraigsList and furniture sites for the perfect loveseat or overstuffed chair to finish it off. I'll share pics soon and will finally deliver the "Adventures in Lighting" blog I promised a few weeks ago.

For now, here's a quick shot of our front door mat, which, for those of you who know us, is very fitting :).

And here is one that I saw on the blog of a designer, that just plain cracks me up:

If you need this for your stoop, here's the site: http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/whatonearth/Item_Fo-Shizzle-Doormat_VD1661_ps_dpr.html

WORD.

Shanti

A New-Homeowner Staycation

2009-07-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Hi guys :)

I wasn't going to post today, but, when I first started this blog, I promised to share the good, bad, and the in-betweens of our experience with first time homeownership.

I'm happy to report i have NOTHING BAD to report! But I do have an in-between. I am tired. I need a break. I need some sunshine. I need some balance.

We (fam and friends included) have been going whole-hog on the house since we signed that mountain of paperwork; tree trimming, painting, pressure washing, building, hauling, packing/unpacking, organizing, cleaning, painting some more, cleaning some more, etc. etc. etc.

All work and no play makes for a very grumpy girl...

SO! I am taking the weekend OFF. I'm going to play outside, see some friends (without having to explain why my legs are covered in "Skyline Steel" paint spatters) and chill out with the pooches. And most importantly, perhaps, I'm goint to ENJOY our house, sit on the porch, maybe read a magazine under the plum tree.

I highly reccomend you guys do the same -- take some time off from the never-ending house to do list, the projects, the work. Look around at all the hard work you've put in, then slip on your flip flops and do something fun!

Here's a few pix of what I'm going to be doing this weekend; notice NONE of them involve power tools :) :) :) (photos borrowed from Google images given the weekend hasn't happened yet...)

Remember this guy from the Police Academy movies??? We bought tix, and are ready for some good laughs!

The dogs are desperate for some extended, human-powered games of fetch.

I'm signed up for the TREK sprint triathalon in September, and will so be for the Seattle Half Marathon in Novemer...best lace up my running shoes and get in some good mileage!

Also want to dust of the mountain bikes...

SLEEP!! We all need more.

Cheers to putting all the to-do lists in a drawer for a few days!

Guacamole & Mountain Dew are good for a picnic, NOT for paint colors

2009-07-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow househunters/owners/renovating addicts!

I hope you all had a fabulous Fourth of July -- the weather was UNBELIEVABLE here in Seattle! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it...), the hot hot hot weather put most of the items on our 'house to-do list' on the back burner. It was just too roasty-toasty to start a new project or do much unpacking/organizing, so instead we decided to check out our new neighborhood via bike. We found some cool bike trails and I discovered that I need to start doing a bit more exercise than lifting moving boxes and yard work...but that's another topic :) .

I did attempt to finish painting the master bathroom, but was quickly deterred by the need for a ShopVac...

Why do I need a ShopVac to paint a bathroom, you ask?

Well, let me fill you in on some of the kooky things the previous owner of our house thought were good ideas...

At first, I was shaking my fist at the person who thought bright lime green (or Mountain Dew, as one of my coworkers called it) was a good color for a bathroom, ceilings included. But I figured a few coats of paint wouldn't kill me. HOWEVER, after climbing on the tub so I could reach the ceiling corner with my paint roller, I discovered that the previous owner (and probably the same person who liked Mountain Dew enough to paint their bathroom a matching color) made a built-in PLANTER on top of the shower. Yep, a planter, with rocks, dirt, even a hokey watering system. In a bathroom? Talk about a quick way to grow mold. YUCK. I figured that with all the ceiling hooks around the house, someone was probably a big fan of foliage, but this was a bit much in my book. Here are some pics:

Awesome Mountain Dew color (and my almost-done ceiling paint job); you can see the outside of the planter on top of the shower (the white strip).

A birds-eye-view of the planter and the watering system.

Anyway, I borrowed a ShopVac and intend to clean it out and patch it enough until we can do a more permanent fix down the road (I have BIG plans for this bathroom!) For now, I'm happy not to be showering under a secret, moldy planter or seeing my greenish reflection in the mirror when I walk in the bathroom!

Here are some other painting pics; you'll notice the guacamole-colored bedroom, which we painted "Skyline Steel." I'm all for color, but I'm not really into the food-related scheme and dark-cave look that painting the ceiling the same color creates:

Taking down the light before painting; this color made me crave chips and enchiladas... :)

Master bedroom mid-paint. The color looks kind of purple in this picture, but it's really more of a blue-gray.

This week I'm hoping to finish painting the master bathroom and setting up the master bedroom. I'll post pics ASAP. Oh! And this weekend I found a new obsession: LIGHTING. Stay tuned for some ideas, inspiration, and pics of our fun finds (my fave, of course, is my walk-in closet light!)

Yours in spackle and caulk,

Shanti

2009-06-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hi guys!

Well, the packing, hauling, carrying and backaches are over -- we are ALL MOVED IN!! And now that I'm looking at all our boxes of STUFF littered around the house, I keep wondering: "How on earth did we ever fit into our tiny apartment?" I swear someone stuffed our moving boxes en route -- we are just two people plus two dogs...

But anyway, now starts the fun part: UNPACKING! It's going to be a little slow for us as we paint rooms and then populate them. Plus, while we do have a lot of stuff (bikes, kayaks, skis, do you see a pattern here? ok, so maybe there are some shoes in there too...) we don't actually have much furniture. I guess you could make a bench out of the skis and scoot the kayak in the middle of a room for a table.... But I think that's part of the fun of creating your own home, right? YOU pay the bills, so YOU get to design your digs. I'm getting used to this idea....

I also wanted to share a couple of tips/lessons learned from our move into the new house. Some of them may seem obvious, but trust me; you will likely be so excited that you may forget the obvious (at least I did, ha!):

1. If at all possible, move boxes and furniture into the rooms you intend those things to eventually go. This will save you hours and bottles of Aleve, especially if you're like me and often find yourself unpacking and arranging things on your own. (Note: The Huz is a HUGE help, but he's been busy finishing the fence and organizing the garage, so I'm happy to take on the organizing and decorating.)

2. Create one room that is "done." Most of us won't be moving into a home that has nothing to fix or change -- you will want a place you can go to get away from all the paint cans, random ladders, missing light fixtures, etc. I made our bedroom the "done room," but yours may be somewhere else.

3. Understand that you will find additional issues/things to fix, and don't freak out; your to-do priority list will change as you settle in, and not everything can get done in the first month, or even year, that you are there. Example: I gave one of our dogs a bath in the guest room shower last night, only to realize that what I thought was a decent shower head was actually a piece of junk. A little duct tape took care of that for the time being, and a new, extendable showerhead is on the Home Depot list for this weekend; off goes the cute soap dispenser I've been eyeing.

4. Take a deep breath, realize that this is YOUR home. It's all yours, every inch of it. (Well, actually, the bank technically owns most of it, but whatever.) AND NOW ENJOY IT!

I've received some great questions from you guys, but while I work on answering them (and then posting them here), check out some recent pics of the move and the house:

Our living room on Moving Day #2

The backyard is coming together -- however as you can see, a hammock is more of a priority for me than filler bushes :) LOVE THAT NEW FENCE!

The sitting room (just off the kitchen).

Tucker hanging out -- note the giant air compressor that goes with our indoor lawnchairs....

Drowning in cardboard boxes,

Shanti

Timberrrrrr!

2009-06-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

Sorry for the delay in posting -- it was an INSANE weekend working on the house and then I was down for the count for a few days. Anyway, we got a TON done Saturday and Sunday, including nine dump runs of clean green from all the trimming we're doing. This is definitely where the sweat equity part of homeownership comes in! In total, it cost about $250 and 10 hours of work for five people, but we gained at least another couple hundred square feet on our lot and it looks so much cleaner and well taken care of. If our house was located near a curb, I would say we added "curb appeal," but given we're on a flagged lot (i.e. located in the middle of the block), I guess you could just say it looks a heck of a lot better when you drive up to it :) Here's some pics from one corner of the lot:

Lot corner BEFORE

Lot corner AFTER

However, I wasn't thrilled about having to cut down one of our mock apple trees ..... But, it had to be done; it was diseased and not thriving, likely because when it was first planted, the other trees around it weren't nearly as big and it probably got a lot more sun.

Here's where we started:

And here's how it went down: (advance apologies for the kink in your neck...I need to learn how to flip videos!)

Now it's off to paint the master bedroom and bathroom ("Skyline Steel" and "Chocolate Froth," respectively) so we can MOVE IN THIS WEEKEND!!! (FYI -- I am cursing whoever thought it was a good idea to use guacamole-colored paint on the walls AND ceiling...). I also need to find a light fixture for the bedroom as the previous owner had an old fan/light combo...I'll post pictures ASAP.

Cheers and paint spatters,

Shanti

2009-06-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hello, drill seekers!

Last week I mentioned in my inaugural Lefty Loosey Righty Tighty (LLRT) post that with the purchase of a new home comes the need to use (and learn about) power tools. And I am no exception to the rule; regardless of the fact that my family is quite talented in all things related to house building and repair, I remain the black sheep who has so far preferred to choose paint colors over hanging drywall. (Still a smart choice in my mind…)

Anyway, while I haven’t gotten my hands on a skill saw or nail gun yet, I did use the all-purpose DeWALT drill over the weekend. However, it wasn’t for anything house-related…..

Yep, you are seeing that correctly! In the middle of making homemade tamales on Saturday, our cheap-o hand mixer died a slow and grinding death. About to panic and make a Target run, some ever-so-handy and crafty ladies showed me that you simply have to detach the beaters and click them into the DeWALT. WHO KNEW??

Now, which is more surprising: the newfound use for a DeWALT drill or the fact that I was making tamales? :) :) :)

Drill ON,
Shanti

Cleaning + Yard Work = Free Therapy and Workout in One

2009-06-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure if it’s my subconscious way of avoiding the mess that is dealing with utility companies (more on this later…) or if I’m just plain anxious to move into our new digs (hot water or not!), but lately I have been tirelessly scrubbing, spraying, raking, hauling and weeding. And I LOVE IT.

The satisfaction I felt after slicing and dicing our front and back yard after a year of neglect is almost embarrassing; the pride I take in our now sparkling fridge and kitchen cabinets makes me want to show it off to people when they come over. And after all the hard work, my mind is clear and my muscles are sore like no friendly vent session or gym workout can produce. Perhaps house cleaning is the new stress buster and yard work is the new gym membership?

Tree before...

"Clean Green" Pile

... Tree After!

Housework High aside, as you can see we got a TON done yesterday, and even started on our new fence. It’s been a great way to meet our new neighbors and make a good impression (“Hi, we’d like to tear down this old crumbling eyesore left by the previous owner and build a beautiful cedar fence instead”) and hopefully we’ll have it done by the end of the week so we can move in with the dogs.

New fence on the left, old on the right.

I’ll keep you posted on our progress, but in the meantime stay tuned for the next blog, where I’ll dive into some creative tips on cleaning and disinfecting different rooms in your home and how to make your own products for way less cash then those cutely labeled but overpriced bottles.

Scrubbing Bubbles,
Shanti

Welcome HOME! Now you get to pay a mortgage!

2009-06-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

As the dust started to settle and exhaustion overlapped our excitement last night, it occured to me: WE OWN A HOUSE.

You would think this wouldn't be a shock given we've been househunting for over a year and have had our bid on this specific house for four months. But, in the darkness that typically accompanies 3 a.m. panic attacks, this was all I could think about.

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to have found a house that both my husband and I adore, one that needs some TLC but already has "good bones." I can't wait to unpack my kitchen and set up my hammock in the backyard. And let's be honest, I am chomping at the bit to organize my walk-in closet. But the fact that I am now treading on some very new territory (hello power tools and easement agreements!) is scary, and the fact that this new territory comes with a mortgage, utility bills, changing property taxes, homeowners insurance, etc., that is really scary. There's no landlord to call when the fridge breaks in Homeownerland.

So, I figured I'd throw all this fear out into the universe (a.k.a. the Internet), in hopes that others out there who are just starting their homeownership adventure or are already well-seasoned home renovators could have a common place to swap ideas, share lessons learned, or just plain vent about whatever real estate or mortgage issue has popped up now. I'll start with some of my own experiences, and we'll have some guest bloggers join us along the way, but please post a note or let me know if there's a specific topic you're interested in.

Let the adventure begin!

Cheers to mortgages and paint samples,

Shanti