Tag: IKEA

Starting on the Basement Studio (Finally!)

Furniture provided in part by IKEA.

I used to have a great little studio. Remember?

Oh, former studio! You were so good to me and my shop. Then I had a baby. And then another one. And I needed that upstairs bedroom back. So we remodeled and finished the basement to make room, and now (finally!) it’s time to get the new studio up and running. I last showed you the space when it was newly finished and looking rather empty.

Here’s what it looks like these days, with the furniture moved in.

I’m excited to be working with IKEA for this stage of the basement remodel. I already had one of their butcher-block kitchen islands and I’m adding a few more pieces from their Värde line because they work perfectly in craft rooms. And yay, I finally have a space to bring back the striped Stockholm Rand rug! I tried it a couple of years ago in the dining room, but it just wasn’t right for that space.

It’s going to look much better in the studio. I’m bringing another over to the playroom side too for continuity.

I have a lot of organizing and decorating to do. The play room can wait a little, but I’m eager to open Pink Loves Brown up again, and obviously I need everything in place before that can happen.

July 12, 2011
Inexpensive Custom Sized Roller Shades

I had been planning to put up sheer roller shades for a long time, even before I began redoing my bedroom (photos next week). We used to like our room darkening Roman blinds because they let us sleep in deliciously late. We haven’t been able to sleep in since we had our little alarm clock though, and the room began to feel oppressively dark in the wee morning hours.

I knew I had twittered about picking up the shades (ENJE), so I looked for the tweet to see how long ago that was. February 16. Oof.

The shades didn’t come in the exact size that I needed, but Anna reassured me that they are easy to work with. So over the weekend I set about trimming off 2.5″ and installing them, and it was easy.

All you have to do is measure the amount to be trimmed, mark it and then cut. Using good, sharp scissors will help (you do reserve a pair of scissors just for fabric, right?). The metal top and bottom can be cut with a hacksaw or jigsaw with a metal blade, but the fabric needs to be cut away first or it will become ragged. I used an x-acto knife for that part.

After you’ve cut everything down to the proper size, you just pop the ends back on and hang the shade according to the simple directions.

Done!

Benita of Chez Larsson just took on the same project recently, and here Anna of Door Sixteen gives her take on the ENJE shades. I’m so pleased with the way they look, and they were so inexpensive… especially compared to custom roller shades.

June 10, 2010
We’re Up To Something

I’ve (maybe) chosen a new paint color for the kitchen. We’re thinking of painting the walls next weekend. And the trim. *Insert audible gasp here.*

Remember, this is what the kitchen looks like now.

Also, Eleanor helped assemble some flat-packed Swedish furniture for my office. So handy, that little girl is!

December 28, 2009
IKEA Maskros Pendant

Remember how the Maskros Pendant was all over the design blogs after IKEA showed it at the latest ICFF? And it was supposed to be in select US IKEA stores by August? I think the light would look great in my bedroom, and it is now in stock at my nearest IKEA! I’m going to have to take a little trip out there to see it in person…

September 13, 2009
Black and White Mobiles

They may not look like much here, but these mobiles are actually really cool in person.

I bought one of each since they were only $10. I might combine them into one giant mobile… Or take them apart and make a small one for the nursery… Or I can hang one in the stairwell… Or on the front porch…

March 31, 2009
The Library Alcove’s New Storage

As my shop (Pink Loves Brown) has grown, so too has my need for more storage. The library’s alcove is right outside of my studio, so it’s a perfect place to store some of my inventory and supplies.

The alcove used to be more pared down and it looked nice, but it didn’t really serve any function. I put four bookshelves with doors together in an ‘L’ shape, and it’s a much better use of space. The unit in the corner is only half-accessible, but it’s working out just fine.

The knobs on the doors were from Anthropologie. I bought them when we moved in for my closet before we decided to use sliding doors, but they were so pretty that I decided keep them. I had never found the right spot for them until now.

Also, note that I finally found an Orla Kiely pitcher (that I’m using as a vase) in green! I thought it was going to be yellow from the photos I had seen, but the green is nice.

And because I know someone will ask if I don’t source them… Those are dried billy buttons in the vase. I bought two big bunches a while back, and they’re always showing up in various spots all around the house.

March 9, 2009