Chair Project

For a class last semester I built a chair from reclaimed materials and was pretty pleased with the result...

The wood I used was an old fence on my parents property that had recently been torn out. The siding was perfect for the seat and back, just had to be careful of rusty nails! 

My dad helped me cut down the pieces according to a rough design I had drawn out and measured, then I started to build the sides of the frame.

A technique I used to join some of the more weight bearing areas was to drill a hole where two pieces would be joined and insert a peg.

Next up, I knew I wanted some sort of fabric backing for the chair but really, really didn't want to test my sewing skills. Instead, I bought some used sweatshirts from goodwill and tore them into strips.

The effect, especially on the back, was awesome!

And... the finished project!

I really enjoyed coming up with the design of the chair, and learning to use the different woodworking tools from my Dad. I think my next project will be a bench for my bedroom!

Best,

Jess

Think Small.

(google.com)
First blog post from my new 1 bedroom apartment! 
(New to me anyway, the building is a Victorian built in 1910.)There is a good amount of space for one person but it has definitely been a challenge separating areas for different purposes. A must for me is a study space, I have my drafting table in my living room but I need a regular desk as well.

There's a small mud room that could work but I've been considering using that area for storage in the wintertime. The only other available space (that is near the heater) is a closet...

I've found some cool possibilities online, let's check them out!

I like this idea because it includes the option of a little bistro table, a comfy chair does double duty.

(babble.com)

Just because it's a small space doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style, I love the look of this one. 

(potterybarn.com)

Another option would be keeping the desk in the bedroom, and separating it from the bed with a curtain or folding screen.

(babble.com)

This idea is amazing, two painted bookcases on casters, easily closed up when not in use!

(howjoyful.com)

Plenty of options to choose from, I'll keep you updated on how it turns out!

Best, 

Jess

Window Shopping

(parkwestdesign.com)

Anyone who barely even knows me knows that I am an Anthro-holic. At any given time, about 90% of what I am wearing is from that store. 

In addition to the amazing clothes and cute accessories (It always goes on sale people, just wait it out) their window displays and store vignettes are always inspiring, and often eco-friendly.

Here's one of my favorites- these larger than life roses are made from dyed coffee filters. 

(theinspiredroom.net)


Colored clothespins 

(katieelisefenwick.blogspot)

Painted paintbrushes

(pbase.com)

This one in particular is amazing, I'd definitely like to attempt one of these on a smaller scale for an art piece in my apartment...

(parkwestdesign.com)

(parkwestdesign.com)

Here's a close up of another display from Anthro that uses rolled plastic:

(parkwestdesign.com)

Always impressed by this store's window displays and how each one is wonderfully unique!

Best,

Jess

Mrs. Thorne's Miniature Rooms

Two of my favorite magazines are Elle Decor and Dwell magazine, and not just for the beautiful images. Besides having great article content, both editors write truly insightful Editor's Notes that I look forward to almost as much as the photos. This month, Michael Boodro: Editor in Chief of Elle Decor, mentioned the Thorne Miniature Rooms on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. I immediately looked them up and was amaaaaazed.

English Drawing Room, Victorian Period
1840-1870

Between the years 1932 and 1940, a woman named Mrs. James Ward Thorne meticulously designed 68 miniature rooms depicting almost every type of design style beginning in 13th-century England and ending in 1930's California. The rooms were built by skilled craftsman out of work during the Great Depression, each room is built at one inch equals one foot scale. 

New York Parlor
1850-1870

These things are incredible, and allow us to see the incredible evolution of design in diorama form. Boodro writes;

"Virtually every period and style in between is represented: late Tudor and Shaker, Louis XV and English Georgian, French Empire and California modern. Attention has been lavished on the tiniest details. Wall murals and paneling, Persian rugs and silver tea sets, candlesticks and crystal chandeliers, have all been documented...Each vignette, none much larger than 17 inches wide, is marvelously specific."

Cape Cod Cottage Living Room
1750-1850

I could look at these things for hours, check them out online if you aren't able to travel to Chicago. Or, watch a video montage:

One of the benefits of building these rooms at such a small scale is that they have stayed perfectly intact and are expertly maintained. When Mrs. Thorne died, she allocated much of her remaining fortune to the care and occasional repair of her rooms. As someone who has spent many frustrating evenings building models for school, I am glad to learn that whoever has the job of repairing these guys with tiny tweezers and q-tips is well paid...

Best, 

Jess

Bedroom Chemistry...

When I moved from San Francisco to San Diego a few months ago, I assumed I was trading in my cramped, wildly expensive and slightly moldy pre-war apartment for a spacious, modern Craftsman home that only costs a  couple hundred dollars a month.

I was a little off base.

The rent is definitely cheaper in Southern California, but the amount of space you get is about the same. My part-time work/full-time student salary isn't really improving my space issue.  However, small spaces can sometimes be a fun (and necessary) challenge. I found a few images to help get inspired about living large despite your square footage.

White Out

White paint can be a great neutralizer, and make even the smallest space seem vast. Choosing white furniture and using your pops of color sparingly can help make your room feel light and airy. 

(Steven Miller Interiors)


Wall Art
The less stuff you have laying around, the more space you appear to have. But if you're spending a lot of time looking for certain things you've stored away, your space isn't functional. I love how the jewelry in this room is both a design accent and a cool way to store the things you use every day.

(Bosworth Hoedemaker)


Curtain Call
If you're like me, your bedroom is not only where you sleep: it's also where you work,  entertain, drink wine, and (when you're really annoyed with your roommates) eat meals. Being able to close off the space where you actually sleep, can make a huge difference in your REM cycle. 

(houzz.com)

Go Glam
To ensure that your sleeping arrangements can make the easy transition into adult living space: buy a bed. A unique, awesome bed frame that matches the decor of your living space will always jazz up the place. Especially if it's a piece that you don't mind showing off.

(Steven Miller Interiors)

These are all definitely ideas I plan on utilizing as I put together my new living space. In case you were wondering, it is a Craftsman. At least I have that going for me.

Best,

Jess