Patios That Inspire

I can't seen to stop planning (dreaming of actually) my rooftop patio. Here are some lovely patios from Pinterest which are a great source of inspiration.

Rooftop Patio Moodboard

I've fallen into a good weekend routine, waking up at the crack of dawn for a peaceful yet invigorating session of yoga on my rooftop patio.

At first light, I lay out my yoga mat, light the candle of my aromatherapy oil burner, prop my laptop on a little stool, click play and follow along the yoga routine. I see neighbors leave for their morning walks or take their bicycles out just before I go into savasana and the newspaper man would have just completed his deliveries by the time I finish. Its a beautiful way to start the morning...

However, the rooftop patio is now bare and  I so yearn to turn the stark empty space into an inviting and tranquil garden for relaxation. Although this is probably the last area of the house the hubby and I planned to take on (I still have bare bathrooms and a very disorganized laundry/utility room among otheres), I couldn't help myself from planning out what I'd like the space to look like.

My vision... a space with contemporary mix of black iron and wood, lots of greenery, a water feature, comfortable chairs to lounge on and lanterns filled with scented candles.

Weekend Project: Working With Leftover Material

Having made too much of the glitter & Mod Podge mixture for my last project I looked around for something that could use a quick 'glam up' and found an old box tray in my 'failed projects' bin. I had bought the box tray from Daiso a long while back and had tried to spray paint it (I went through a spray paint obsession phase). It turned out disastrous and I learned that I could not spray paint anything and everything.

Luckily for me this time, the coat of glitter turned out really well on the outsides of the box. To give the insides a little more interest,  I covered it with left over patterned paper from my 'Retro Chest' project.

Although a small unplanned project, it was super fun & rewarding to make something nice out of a previously failed project using only leftover materials. Ahhh...the unexpected joys of crafting.

Weekend Project: Believe

Project #2 from last month's Kaisercraft haul.  This time I took pleasure in decorating another beyond the page project, an MDF cutout of the word 'believe'.

You know I've been a big collector of  LOVE over the past couple of years. But everytime I see inspirational wall art being displayed, I can't help but want more of a collection of my own. So here goes - the first piece to be added to my extended collection!

But we can't just leave it like that can we?
Oh the things one can do with some Mod Podge and some glitter! And a little crafting tip here too... cover your craft mat with cling wrap when painting, it saves a lot of cleaning afterwards.

And here it is - all finished and ready to induce a smile every time I pass it. And I found just the place for it too...right on top of my inspiration board!

Dad's Retro Chest of Mini Drawers

I've been wanting to do a 'beyond the page' project for quite a while now and took the opportunity to stock up on more than a few kits from the Kaisercraft outlet store while I was Down Under last month.

I was thrilled when my hubby also picked up a kit for himself; the mini drawers and asked if I'd put it together for him. I was even more happy when he also participated actively to pick out paper for his project. He selected a retro looking sheet with lots of 'manly' tags (this patterned  paper is from the Garage Days Collection named Spare Parts) and we picked up a few other pieces to complement. I guess all those years of dragging him along to the craft store finally rubbed off on him!

I started the project by painting the edges of the frame with Tim Holtz's Distress Crackle Paint in 'Frayed Burlap' and covered the top and back of the frame with the coordinating back from the 'Spare Parts' patterned paper we had picked out. Paper from the Curiosity Collection called 'Eccentric' was used on the 2 sides and 'Rare', also from the Curiosity Collection on the bottom pane.

I then cut out the retro tags from 'Spare Parts' and used them as decoration and also added a key charm from my collection and the letter 'j' on top (hubby's initial) for some added interest.

Next, I assembled the chipboard drawers with Beacon's 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue. This is my favourite craft glue, very fast drying and it held the boxes together very well.

Initially, the little drawers easily fell out from the frame when the unit was moved. So to make sure the boxes stuck to the frame, I decided to hold them by adding magnets. I drew out the grid of the boxes on the back panel of the frame and glued on the magnets.

I then added magnets to the back of each of the chipboard drawers. After the magnets were in place on both frame and drawers, they were covered with 'Download' patterned paper from the Technologie Collection leftover coloured cardstock respectively. 

Finally, I made a template for the front of the drawers and cut out 9 more tags from the 'Spare Parts' patterned paper to cover the front of the pull out drawers.

I was pleased with the final product, and this has been one of the most fun projects I've completed thus far. Crafting has always been a hobby but working on a project as a gift for a loved one is even so much more gratifying.

The hubby was thrilled with the final product dubbing it "Dad's Mini Drawers".

Mac's Kitchen Cheat Sheet : Quick & Easy Herbal Chicken

I remember my school days when my grandmother would make me drink Chinese herbal soups for my well being or to improve my mental alertness blah, blah, blah…how I hated them. I used to hold my breath, gulp down the horrid smelling (and sometimes black, evil looking) brews as fast as I could and then pop a mint into my mouth after to get rid of the bitter aftertaste. 

Those episodes have definitely influenced my taste buds because today I often cook them for myself, with an easy modern twist of course! One of my favourites is this super easy herbal chicken. Here's the cheat...

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of essence of chicken
• 1 chicken thigh
• 1 teaspoon Goji Berries
• 1 or 2 small slices of ginseng
• salt and pepper 

Method:

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. I tend to use quite a generous amount of pepper as I like the peppery taste.
2. Place in a plate and pour in the essence of chicken.
3. Add in a teaspoon of Goji Berries.
4. Add in the slices of ginseng (optional for extra oomph)
5. Steam for about 30 minutes (depending on the size of the chicken thigh) until the chicken is cooked.
6. Serve with hot steamed rice. 

According to [the nest], I Have a Grownup Bedroom

I was thoroughly amused by the time I got to the end of the "10 Signs Your Bedroom Needs To Grow Up" Slideshow on [the nest]. I started reading expecting to go "Ohh I'll need to do this and add that and do that..." but instead it was "Ohh, I have this and I've done this and that too..."

Then I did a childish "Yeah, I'm a grown up" dance at the end. Oxymoron, I know.
So here they are - the signs that a bedroom needs to grow up.


1. You Only Have Mismatched Bedding

"A complete bedding set including sheets, pillowcases and a duvet will pull the room together in a more sophisticated way. Look for a high thread count and mature colours, like cream, gray & blue"

Grays and blues - check! How about some brown, too!

2. You Don't Have A Headboard

Headboard? Check! Customized, no less.

Bedding set, headboard and bedside tables...check!

3. You Don't Have Bedside Tables

"Time to replace the milk crates with proper bedside tables - two of them! For someone who needs her phone, books, a glass of water ad a hundred other things, a sturdy wooden style with drawers or a cabinet will fit the bill"

I could have sworn this article was about me cos I'm that girl who needs her water, phone, keys, books, magazine and glasses (cos I wear them) by the bedside each night. And befittingly I do indeed have the sturdy wooden style bedside table with drawers - two of them too!



4. Your Beside Accessories Are Lacking

Well, my husband has a nice enough alarm clock on his side of the bed and that's all he actually needs on the side table. So the rest was up to me to style with a simple painting and a "wu-lou".

On my side of the bed, the white tray is the most functional item used to corral my phone, keys and glasses each night. Books and magazine go in the shelf under the drawer. 

5. You Don't Have Curtains

"Curtains can change the feel of the bedroom, so take down those cheap, broken blinds and choose a window treatment that speaks to your style."

Seeing that the 'windows' in the room are sliding glass doors leading out to the balcony, I have a curtain box in the ceiling and floor length curtains complete with sheers too. Necessary to maintain privacy and block out the sun on the occasional mornings I get to sleep in!

6. You Have No Art

"Here's a chance for you and your guy to really showcase your personal style. Black-and-white photos say you're a sophisticated and cosmopolitan couple, while those with more traditional taste might hang classic oils on their walls"

Hmm...so here's where I feel a little..young at heart? So we've got art picked out for the bedroom. And no, they're not black-and-white photos or classic oils. A set of fun prints which are going to go above the bed. Only thing is I just haven't gotten around to framing them and hanging them up yet. Its the thought that counts right?



7. Your Furniture Clashes

"We love eclectic furniture that works together, but if you really want to change the feel of your bedroom, splurge on a set that traditionally includes the bedframe and headboard, side tables and dressers or armoires."

Clashing furniture? Maybe someday. For now, I have a set so coordinated, even the closet doors match.

Matching closet doors!

8. Your Only Lighting Is Overhead

"Nothing sets the mood in your bedroom like good lighting. Coordinating table lamps, floor lamps or wall scones will spruce up your digs in a flash"

Why yes, I do have coordinating table lamps on my coordinating bedside tables! Gosh, I'm starting to sound boring!



9. Your Floors Are Bare

"Center your space with a large area rug or decorate with smaller rugs in different spots of your room for a pulled-together look"

With all the coordinating furniture and table lamps, the last thing we needed was a coordinating rug. The oriental rug in the room was chosen to clash with the theme of the rest of the room, something to break up the monotony.

Yeah, right! The lies I tell myself. If only my decorating plans were so put together. Truth of the matter, the hubby and I went a little (maybe a lot) rug crazy when shopping for the new house. We have so many rugs and this large one we got just happened to fit size wise between the bed and the TV shelf. So there you have it, my decorating style called "making do with my impulsive buys"

10. Your Walls Are Lacking Colour

"Another way to make an impact is to create a color scheme for your walls. Grey is a sophisticated and trendy wall color, but as long as you avoid typically juvenile colors"

Grey it is, with an awesome feature wall too - colour and texture!

 

And there you have it.The 10 signs, according to [the nest] that my bedroom is grown up! View the original slideshow from [the nest] here.

Weekend Project: Another Quick Paint Job

Spray paints and I have become real good friends. Until a couple of years ago, I never realized how easy it was to alter the colour (and hence appearance) of ‘old junk’ to give them a brand new lease of life.

My latest save - an old rotating CD rack I’ve had for years. The simple rack with a light brown wood grain finish just didn't fit into the theme of the living room so, I decided to spray it gray. 
 

A good sanding over and three coats of gray paint later (using 2 cans of spray and costing only about RM15), the rack took on a more modern look and added a little contrast to the living room shelf.  It would have been otherwise a waste to throw away the very functional rack and I’m just thrilled to have been able to ‘recycle’ it.

I now find it easier to shop or just plain recycle items for its function, shape and size instead of its appearance or colour. An item with good bones is what matters. Appearance and colour - easily altered.

My Favourite Nook

My favourite nook in the house came to be rather unintentionally. For a compulsive planner like me, ‘unplanned’ only gave it so much more charm and character.

I wanted to have a reading corner in the study but the end result was entirely different from what I had originally had in mind. My initial plan was to have 2 walls lined with white Ikea BILLY bookcases and a 2-seater sofa, something very similar to a pin I found shared in my earlier post "Finding Inspiration".

But here's how my cozier-than-expected nook turned out.


The beautiful open shelf that houses our collection of books and magazines was one we came across by chance. It was on sale and the hubby and I decided to pick it up instead of the Ikea shelf we originally had our sights on.

The lazy chair was not even a piece I picked out. It was my husband who spent a small fortune on it, intended for him to watch television on in the living room.

The two little piggies which were intended for the rustic-country-ish kitchen were used as makeshift bookends when the kitchen turned out with a contemporary.  

The LOVE carving I had originally bought for the bedroom too winded up as a stray on the bookshelf having not fit the rest of the bedroom décor.

The framed jigsaw puzzles were little treasures we'd recovered from the store room when we moved. There's finally space to display the things I completed over a decade ago!



The clock from Ikea I hoarded for no apparent reason other than ‘it was cheap’ and the penny-farthing motif plate randomly pick out on a shopping excursion with Ink were the few other pieces that just ended up on the shelf.

So there we go. Actual space in my home that wasn't painstakingly planned out.
And I love it!

Quote of the Month: May 2015

Gallery Wall: Children's Art Prints

In the Mac & Ink households, blank walls have definitely been a staple. But when Ink and I moved to our new places, gallery walls were on the top of our must have lists.

I've got a couple of them in mind for my place - and here's the first one:

Children’s Art Prints

Designing my daughter’s room, I wanted it to be bright and cheery, a happy and inviting place for the little girl to play and sleep in. While hunting for décor that fit the theme of the room, I found these adorable prints from Trafalgar’s Square on Etsy.  These animal prints are so cute they make me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Buying the prints was easy but actually framing them and getting them hung up was a bit (actually a lot) of a pain. A lot of effort went into getting end result I wanted.

Perfect fit or with a profile?

I wanted to have borders for these as I thought it would add some interest to the overall picture. 

Store bought or custom framed?

My first thought was to get them custom framed but  was a bit apprehensive about which framer to go to having a not so good experience with the framer a few years back. I also thought it would cost more. 

So on one of our Ikea runs, Ink convinced me to get ready-made frames and mount them myself. Unfortunately, the Ikea frames only came with a profile for A4 sized art but my prints were 8R and that put in an extra run to the stationary store and a solid hour of ‘crafting’.

In retrospect, it would have been much less effort and only a tad more expensive to have had them custom framed as I eventually found a reliable and reasonably priced framer.

Arrangement?

Having the framing out of the way, the next step was to decide on the layout of the gallery wall and its placement on the wall.  I planned how I wanted the layout of the gallery wall to look like by first trying out the arrangement on the floor. 

Satisfied with the arrangement, I measured the spacing of the frames and then transferred the measurements onto the wall by cutting out the shapes on pieces of tracing paper and sticking them on the wall first. This may look like wasted effort but I'm really glad I did because it made it all so easy for the hubby to measure the location of the nail. 

Make a hole in the wall?

The hubby and I agonised a little over this. No one wants holes in their walls, but in the end we decided safety came first and opted to go with nails as it would give us some peace of mind that the framed pictures would not fall, break and cause any injury to the little girl.

Finally…..

Here are the prints all framed up. Worth every bit of effort don’t you think?

Quote Of The Month: April 2015

BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

WHILE WORKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT

 ~Helen Keller~             

                  

Tiny Budget, Big Ideas

So, back in November, I picked a quote about just plucking up the courage to do the things you want.

And then I went and did just that. 

So, amongst other exciting things this new year, I've got a new space to decorate! Yay!

The biggest thing I'd love to do with my space is to keep it as empty as I can.

Let's face it - I'm a messy person. And I need to have space for that mess to unfurl from my neatly packed moving boxes. Having way too much furniture is just going to make me feel really hemmed in. 

So here are my top 3 inspirations for planning my place:

1. As usual, Pinterest! 

Here's my board, called "the big move" where I'm constantly looking for creative ways to both fit all the stuff I have, and still feel like I've got a big airy space (when what I really have is the size of a closet).

Follow Ink's board .the big move. on Pinterest.

2. Ikea

I've been there so many times in the past couple of months, I think I've finally answered the question everyone I know has been asking for years - why the heck are there so many people there every freaking weekend?

But seriously, though. I've turned into one of those people who walk around with tape measure, and, well my phone instead of the cute little pencil and paper. Waaaay easier to keep track of all the ideas I get from walking around.

3. YouTube

Yeah so you knew to look there without me even telling you.

But anyways, me being me, I ended up watching most of the tutorials for fun instead of any actual instruction. Here were my favourites that just got me all pumped up about decorating my space.
Disclaimer: some of these videos are by Ikea as well.

Walk in closet - who doesn't need more space for clothes?

I've always fancied myself more of a lazy, clothes all over the place sort of person. But still, love this idea.

I really really love challenging the typical furniture up against the walls, TV on the opposite wall to the couch sort of living room arrangements. So this was a fun one to watch, although I don't think it'll come to this for me.

I've also always thought about all the different ways I could divide up my space. And after like a dozen "how to use a Billy bookcase to create a partition" videos (*blah*), this was really, really fun!

And just because I get distracted easily and end up watching stuff for fun