The Never-Ending List

As recounted in this list, I had a lot of items I wanted to complete back in 2011. Here's a copy of that list with my current thoughts inserted.

Sell the washer/dryer that came with the condo and move in the better one from storage - I'm done with this because the new washer/dryer didn't fit so I'm stuck with the old one. I still have to fix the lid latch, however. 

Finish replacing the three windows that are left - I haven't finished this item due to money constraints.

Insulate the attic - See above.

Kitchen remodel including new sink, countertops, and tile backsplash - This is almost done, sans grout!

Install a garbage disposal (if the condo association allows it) - It's not allowed because the pipes are too old. 

Swap out a few upper kitchen cabinet doors with doors with glass panels - I may or may not do this, to be honest I forgot all about it. 

Paint the kitchen/dining rooms - Done, thank you to my boyfriend!

Bathroom remodel including new faucets, a new toilet, new tiling on the walls and floor, and potentially convert to a standing shower only - I still want to make some changes to the bathroom, but I am going to stick with a tub/shower combo. 

Find someway to seal up the front door better - This still sounds like a good idea. 

Sand and stain the hardwood floors - Sounds like a lot of work!

And here's the list I made without first looking at my old list above:

Bathroom

• Purchase & install new pedestal sink faucet
• Purchase & install new tub/shower faucets
• Purchase & install medicine cabinet
• Purchase fabric & sew new curtain for window
• Purchase & install toilet/move toilet back
• Purchase & install 2-3 towel rods on back of door
• Have bathtub inspected (it was leaking out of the overflow)
• Remove radiator

Kitchen/Dining Room

• Install curtain rod
• Sew curtains from Ikea duvet/pillowcases
• Purchase & install new light fixture over kitchen
• Finish grouting the tile
• Purchase magnetic hooks for oven mitts
• Replace windows

Bedroom

• Install curtain rod
• Purchase rug
• Build something to set mirror on top of
• Organize items under bed
• Finish painting canvas that my boyfriend gave me for my birthday
• Replace old window

Living Room

• Purchase rug
• Purchase ottoman
• Recover or paint shoe tray
• Fix my poor construction of bookshelf
• Fix floor where someone in the past must have set a potted plant

Closet/Laundry Room/Hallway

• Purchase & fix washing machine lid latch
• Purchase & install new light fixture

The bolded items happened to be on the original list as well. Well, I still have a lot to do. 

Dinner Bell!

Some of my most magical childhood memories are from visiting my grandparents' cabin. They have a great place in Alaska complete with rowboat, swings, fire pit, trails, and more. Although all of those items involve fun activities, there are many little details that make it special as well like my grammie's flowers, little paths made of rocks, and a feature I've always especially liked - a dinner bell. In case you don't know what a dinner bell is, it's a bell that you ring so that everyone scattered around the area knows it's time for dinner! My grammie is a very good cook, so you better come running when you hear that bell.

In honor of the cabin, I knew I wanted my own dinner bell. It doesn't have much practical use in 650 square feet of space, but I like it anyway.

And if you've read this blog before, you know I love to share where I buy things so that you can buy the same items for your home. But this guy was from an antique store, so I don't have the foggiest as to where to find one like it. You might try etsy.com or ebay.com or maybe your own local antique store. The one I went to was the kind with many different vendors setup. The bell cost about $25, but I purchased it with the Shop Local American Express campaign for $20 so I got it for $5 + tax. Not a bad deal for a bell in good shape that still feels nice and old. Eventually I'd like to paint the screw head black to match the hardware finish. 

I also added another little kitchen detail, this teacup hook from Urban Outfitters. Unfortunately I bought it awhile ago on clearance for just a few dollars, so it isn't available anymore.

Urban Outfitters Teacup Hook

Notice that the tiling is complete! All that's left is grouting. Stay tuned for that post soon.

The good news is that my apron is still available at Anthropologie.

Tea-and-Crumpets Apron in Gold

Bedroom Curtains, (Almost) Complete

I decided on the curtains! My boyfriend and I stopped by Ikea this weekend and picked them out. He knew right away which ones would look best. I had to see for myself.

The Ikea curtains with the dots looked a lot different in person than I expected. So I narrowed down my choices to the black & white Eivor, which I had already decided I liked based on the website, and the Matilda, which I hadn't noticed on the website. Here are the Matildas:

Ikea Matilda, $24.99 for a two panel pack

Once I got them home I put one up on one side, and one on the other to compare.

I found the Matildas to be too flimsy and see-through. I love the look of the Eivors. I can't really explain it except that most of the furniture in the room is white which really seems to look good against the black and white of the curtains.

I ended up going with the Eivors which rang in at only $14.99 per two pack panel, $10 less than Matilda.

  

The room looks much closer to being complete with this addition. What I haven't told you is that I still have to put up the other curtain rod in the bedroom. I'll save that for another weekend!

Someone Likes Spray Paint!

I saw this fire hydrant yesterday, and I couldn't resist posting it. It looks like someone loves spray paint as much as I do. But you know, it helps to put some cardboard or newspaper or something behind what you're spray painting. I'm just saying...

Bedroom Curtain Quest

I finally put up one out of two of the curtain rods in the bedroom, so I am on a hunt for curtains. You're probably thinking, oh, lazy! But my walls are made of plaster so putting anything into them is an epic battle.

My quest started at, surprise, Anthropologie. But even their curtains on sale are set at cringe-worthy prices. I do have to credit them with having looooong curtains at a max length of 108". The Colossal Dots curtains below are $198. That's $198 per panel. Let me do the math for you. $198 x 2 windows x 2 panels per window = $792. Ha. Ha.

Colossal Dots Curtain

The curtains below are a measly $208 per panel.

Mod Honeycomb Curtain

Another look I liked was pom-poms along the edges, as in these curtains:

Toorie Curtain

And they are only, ONLY $108 per panel. Ha. Ha. Here's a close-up of the pom-poms:

Luckily we have such a place as Ikea from which we can buy affordable curtains that do not simultaneously delight and frighten us with their beauty and price level. I was imagining buying these plain curtains at $24.99 for a set and sewing some pom-poms on them.

Ikea RITVA Pair of curtains with tie-backs in white

Here are a few of the pom-pom color ideas I found on Etsy:

3 Yards Of The Sweetest Little Pom Pom Fringe In Pink Sunset

3 Yards Of The Sweetest Little Pom Pom Fringe Edging In Seafoam Green

12mm Baby Blue Pom Pom Fringe Sweater Dangle Sew Lace 18 Yards

epic JUMBO pom pom ball fringe in Asparagus GREEN

I'm estimating that I could get the curtains and pom-pom supplies for about $75 for all four curtain panels. I'm also considering these printed curtains from Ikea, which are only $14.99 for a pack of two panels:

Ikea Evior, Pair of Curtains, white/black

I even photoshopped them into my bedroom so I could see what they might look like.

I also found these dot curtains at $29.99 per set at Ikea. I like the polka dots. They remind me of the giant dot curtains from Anthropologie (except in white of course) that I posted very first, above.

Ikea Ninni Figur, Pair of Curtains, white

Now I just have to decide. Oh, and put up the second curtain rod. 

Airbnb Update

As I mentioned in this post, I had my first airbnb guest. Well, now I've had my second! And I must say, it's going great. I'd recommend airbnb to anyone!

I'm pretty picky with who I pick to stay at my place though. So far everyone has been FANTASTIC. I'd say I'm a good judge of character, but what I really think is that people who use airbnb are just cool.

I can't wait to have more guests. It's so fun. I have GOT to finish my kitchen so that the tile is not all grout-less for them. Now making updates is twice as fun because I know I will enjoy them, and I know my guests will enjoy them!

Super Tall Nightstands

Have you ever tried to find a really tall nightstand? It's a pain. A REAL PAIN! Sure, they're out there. And they're usually called Telephone tables. I think because telephone tables are designed to be tall so you can stand up next to them and comfortably answer the phone. I had to have a tall nightstand because my boyfriend's (this is not for my condo) bed is super tall. Nightstands under 29" need not apply.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about at World Market:

Darby Phone Stand

Cute, right? And it even has a little drawer and everything. But it costs $109.99. Hold the phone! No really, hold the phone table. The nightstand had to be just as tall as the table above though because my boyfriend's bed is really high off the ground. Annoyingly so.

After searching at about a bazillion places including Target and Ikea for an affordable super tall table, I was out of luck. Then I decided to just go ahead and try Walmart. I found this guy which is, um, exactly like the the World Market table. For $89.

Knob Hill Tall Side Table in Antique Cherry

AND THEN, I found this guy for $29:

Rosewood Tall End Wood Table in Coffee Brown

Short story even shorter, I did Walmart.com's site-to-store and picked it up a few days later. Perfect. I just had to assemble it and pick out a lamp and lampshade. So I headed over to Target. I liked these choices:

And I ended up going with this one for $9.99:

White Resin Stacked Lamp Base, Small

 The lamp base isn't actually sold online, but at the link above Target does provide a "Find in Store" feature. I couldn't find the lampshade at all online.

The lamp set cost about $20 total. So for less than half the price of one table from World Market, I had a nightstand and cute lamp!

And that is why we shop around, my friends!