Staycation Results

cracker jack

It’s only taken weeks for me to be able to post this…everything takes longer than it used to..and photographing it is a serious challenge since it only stays perfectly clean once a week for about 15 minutes after the completion of chore-time…just enough time for me to vacuum, then, it’s back to general chaos.  I finally gave up and picked a semi-neat day that wasn’t raining.  Still too cluttered for my taste, but I guess playrooms are meant to be played in, not photographed for Mommy’s annoying blog.

The “reveal” to The Minors was quite a thrill.  Thing One stood there mouth agape and Thing Two immediately ran over to start fondling the newly organized Lego and Playmobil.

For those concerned about the fate of CC’s staycation plans…have no fear…he ticked some things off his list as well AND we got all the materials for the attic support project…so there.

Since there’s only the one small window in this room…I had to be conservative with the color….I put a bright white on both the window wall and the opposing wall, and put Martha Stewart for Valspar’s “Blue Agave” on the other opposing walls.  Seems to make the room feel longer…and certainly brighter, which was the main goal after all.

The couch/chair former sectional was a $200 Craigslist find…has this kinda 80’s thing going, but I’m pretending it’s 60’s cool Pierre Paulin….denial ain’t just a river in Egypt…

I needed a desk/work area that would accommodate both of them since the Burke set is ALWAYS covered in Lego projects.  My intention for that set was to be a family game table, well…you can see how that worked out.  I went the cheapo route and bought another set of sawhorses (my yellow ones were too wide for this project) for $38 at Urban Outfitters and a solid door for $54.  Rubbed some linseed oil on the door and called it a day.

Now that we have the coffee table, we don’t have to drag all the bean bags into the living room anymore for game time, so that’s been a big improvement.  I still have some more organizing etc.. to do in here…but that’s what winter is for…it’s been too nice out to be in much.

Here’s the previous homeowner’s “before”

Previous Owners Playroom/Office 2

Then it became our defacto attic while we cleared the tree rats out of the real attic.

Last year, when it was also the attic.

As the Minors left it…..

As it looked the day the minors left

3 days of painting started….

patch job from NES debacle paint going on

Ahhh..fresh paint.

playroom after

playroom after

Lego Assembly Table

playroom after

costume wall

Avian Obsession

While both my fawn love and avian obsession have been mentioned before..I’ve also long loved maps and atlases.  One of our favorite wedding presents was a big, new National Geographic atlas.  I can still sit with it for days on end.

My point is… British artist, Claire Brewster, has managed to combine two of my favorite things...although not for sale. I might have to steal this idea for some bird silhouettes of my own.  Handcut from atlas pages…she creates beautiful, intricate creatures and objects.  You go girl.

redthroathummingbird claire brewster

11.4.09   UPDATE!!!  Apparently her work IS for sale….contact her via the link above!

Hog Wild

So, the upper deck at the front door will remain, but all around it will be different.  The access will be moved to the driveway side and the heavy railings will be replaced, hopefully, with something like you see below.  These are hog panels…yeah, I know…my own pig pen!

The panels run, on average, $20 each.   I love the idea of these budget railings since they can be DIYed easily.  The owners of this house took all the photos below….with more here.  A great solution that I hope to steal once the mudfest subsides.  I’m thinking we’ll probably stain the wood which will (hopefully) add to the look.

hog panel railingtexas plathouse rails

A Plan for the Handy

Handy froogs will really dig this.  PlanCanvas sells plans for building modern furniture…most of which can be made with a single sheet of plywood.  The majority of the designs run about $4.99…you also get a material list and even a link to buy necessary tools on each plan listing.  I think it’s a great concept and I look forward to seeing how they evolve.  Check out these cool side tables…

$4.99 for the plans to build this...

Platner Poser

I just can’t help it….I look at a Warren Platner inspired trashcan from Chiasso and there it is – Hey!  Make it a table!  Is nothing sacred?  Apparently not.

Glass is cheap….get a piece cut and there’s your bargain.  There is one caveat…it would be a far more stable surface if you flipped the can upside down.  That said, I’d actually prefer it that way with a top of onyx or other natural stone.  For such a small area, you could get a remnant or scrap piece for probably $25 or less.

Big style, small price, and customized to your taste.

Platner for Knoll Side Table $662  at All Modern
Platner for Knoll Side Table $662 at All Modern

Chiasso's Waste Can for $28
Chiasso's Waste Can for $28