Why Being "Picky" Isn't All Bad

DISCUSSION POINT:

The Power of Vision - Achieving Your Goals, Starting Your Dream Business, And Creating Your Very Own Masterpiece. 

 

I have a problem.

My mom used to define this problem as being "too picky". This applied to my choices in guys, clothes, purchases, etc.

The truth is that I have a picture in my mind of exactly what I want, and it seems impossible (in the "real" world, I mean) to conjure it myself.

How to Build a Cat Exercise Wheel, Part 1

RESEARCH & REVIEW

Bengalized.com Bengal cat on exercise wheel

Bengal cats are renowned for their energetic antics. You bought cat climbing trees, cat condos, cat toys; you tried scratching posts, catnip and cat calming aids, but for those who live with such a feline, you may want to consider buying a exercise wheel.

So You Want To Leave A Job You Hate

A COMMENTARY ON HOW TO APPROACH LIVING YOUR DREAM IN A WAY THAT IS LASTING AND SUSTAINABLE:

Great Gorm Guitar Rack

FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE BLOGS

During my regular peruse of Ikea Hacker, I came across this wonderful DIY guitar stand made from the Gorm shelves and wine rack.

 

 

Unfortunately, the specific instructions aren't in English. But the pictures should suffice.

A Natural Toothbrush Holder

(OR MY EXCUSE TO KEEP RANDOM STUFF)


Much to my dear boyfriend's chagrin, I collect things be it for sentimental, useful or "artistic" reasons. My favorite souvenir from a place that I've been is a stone from that place....

I have a few good projects involving my collected rocks in the works and, in the meantime, I have to invent other clever uses for them. In this post, a toothbrush holder:

Bookcase Crates

IT'S A SMALL SPACE- SOMETIMES YOU CAN KEEP SOMETHING THAT LOOKS COOL

OR KEEP THE BOOKSHELF

As we've moved into our new pad, I've been confronted over and over again with the choice of keeping beloved junk (to some) or keeping actual furniture or clothes.

It may seem like an odd choice, but I spent many hours walking about the neighborhood and dreaming up projects that would put this crate or that bottle cap to use. The items are an external collection of my wanderings, plus I think they look cool (in case it isn't obvious, I passed on collecting the "boring and ugly" items).

So when our Ikea bookcase broke for the SECOND Seattle-area move in a row, I decided not to replace it (again) and set myself the task to come up with something else. (Actually, I was going to leave all of our books in storage except that I noticed Trevor and I were both regularly searching through the various boxes piled in the hallway so something had to be done.)

A solution clicked into place when I realized that I would have to get rid of my wonderful wine crates, on which I lovingly added casters and painted with chalkboard paint, unless I could find a new use for them; like our books, they too were taking up our dwindling space in the hallway.


I decided to use them as bookshelves, of a sort, and placed our most-reached-for books (I keep telling myself I'll study for the GRE's) in the front:

Genius
and SO much cooler than our old Ikea Expedit bookshelf!

Corkboard Tiles For Practical Decor

WHEN POSTED ON A BULLETIN BOARD

 One of my first jobs in the new apartment was to tackle the kitchen and make it look... less cookie-cutter and, if possible, more tailored to us.

I removed the doors on a few cabinets (I really love the sparkle of light shining through clean wine glasses). Next, since I'm a gal who takes pleasure in texture, form, and function, I added cork tiles to the side of one cabinet. I'd call it a budget, tailored effect:

(side view)

(kitchen view)

And yes, future Recipe's of The Week are posted on the board right now!

Magnetic Spice Rack

The organizer in me loves this kind of magnetic spice rack because of the accessibility, industrial look and addition of color to the kitchen. HOWEVER, I don't like the prices; some of them go for over $100 (NOT including the cost of spices)!

The main impediment to this style is price if I want: (1) 20 plus spice jars, and (2) To spend under $50.

On the left is an example of these spice arrangement for that achieves #2. However, it provides for only an assortment of 12 spices. Similarly, for $20 could purchase a set of Kamenstein 6-Canister Magnetic-Strip Spice Rack, but I would still spend $80 if I wanted over 20 spice jars...
 

... Thus, and perhaps not surprisingly, I've decided to make my own...

Although this DIY Wall-Mounted Spice Rack from The Kitchn is cool, I wanted the containers to have clear tops like in the above images. I discovered this Instructables only after I finished my own magnetic spice rack. Here's my own, amateur solution:

Supplies:

- 25 x Tin Flat Containers 2.5 oz w/Clear Top = $15.75 plus shipping
- 25 x Neodymium magnets = $16.25 plus shipping
- Some double-sided 3M tape (I was lazy- I would have used glue, but this is what I had laying around the house.)

- An erasable pen like the kind your teacher used on the whiteboard (again, it's what I had laying around the house and I didn't want to wait until I got around to buying a labeler). I actually like this feature since it means I can use the containers interchangeably.

VOILA! For a total of $32 plus shipping, I managed to get 25 magnetic spice jars. They're currently on my fridge, but I may get a magnetic sheet for them once we're more settled into our new digs.

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Cat Tree - An Update

While visiting Walla Walla, I had the joy of exploring the Meri's near-acre garden. She generously let me run loose about the yard and have access to all of her tools. In my explorations, I found a large, dead willow branch with the most beautiful bends and folds.

This, I decided, is to be the Animal's new cat tree; I finally (not to mention, legally) found an inexpensive solution to a cat tree that she and I can both find attractive!

I stripped and sanded it, and then used some of the steel wool restoration techniques I picked up from an article on Apartment Therapy.

I also rubbed a light finishing oil already prepared by Meri.

1/3 Tung Oil
1/3 Lemon Oil
1/3 Polyurathane



RESULT:

I'm not quite sure how it will ultimately fit in our space, but currently it is acting as a "staircase" up to the Animal's plush spot on top of our bedroom cabinet.

Project: To Build a Table (another one)

After my first experience with building a workbench/table, I've refined my needs and tastes and am now brainstorming several other ideas.

I've come across my new favorite blog, Knock-Off Wood, that's all about Ana White and her endeavors to create furniture and supply free plans. It is seriously cool.


Perusing her site gave me a couple of great ideas, one of which is a "knock off" of her secret-storage desk:






However, I want the table to be modern & sleek and huge. I'm not sure yet if I'll endeavor to create "secret storage" like the desk above, but I'd like to create an industrial hybrid of Ane White's desk with this kitchen storage (I think the old file cabinets not only look cool but they make for incredibly dynamic, flexible, rolling storage!):

A quick sketch resulted in the following:

(Like I said, it's a SKETCH only)

Not sure of the dimensions yet.

I'll also probably buy some industrial stools- I've always loved the style of Tolix and found some similar stools- the Tabouret on Overstock.com that are closer to my budget:

* I'll post my progress once it gets up and running *



I also found these links to other people's projects that are pretty cool:

Marybicycles

Last Night Of Your Life (LNOYL)

 

Project: Platform Bed With Storage

This DIY platform bed has storage and is a cool solution to partition the sleeping space of a studio or loft, and DEFINITELY my next project:

Project: Renter's Indoor Bike Rack

Floor-to-Ceiling, MOVEABLE Bike Storage Using Tension -   An EXCELLENT and INEXPENSIVE Small Space Solution.

I’ve lived in the city for a while and 2 bikes have already “disappeared” from their racks outside. I love the idea of storing my bikes in the apartment, but then there is the frustration of having to climb over bikes if you’re trying to get to the bathroom or get the milk out of the fridge (I *might* be exaggerating, but you get the point). The options for storing bikes off the floor aren’t many when you are renting. Here were my requirements for bike storage indoors:
- No holes in the wall or ceiling
- Capacity to store two bikes off the ground
- A system that is tall enough for 11′ ceilings
- Minimal cost – no more than $50 – $60.
- STURDY
- Not ugly. seriously.

REI and Amazon.com sell nice, sleek bike racks like what I’m looking for, but nothing fit my style/utility/price criteria.

I concluded that I’d have to “invent” my own. I researched how to join pipes to create a sturdy tension rod, and researched various methods for securing “racks”. But then I found an inexpensive DIY solution on one of my FAVORITE sites, Ikea Hacker:

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/02/stolmen-bike-rack.html

Thank you, Michael, for posting your bike rack solution!

Thus, I spent a weekend collecting the materials, cutting pipe, and assembling. With the help of my lovely boyfriend to mount the bikes…..

VOILA!

Cost: 

Square Aluminum Pipe- $10 (Home Depot)

1 Ikea-Stolmen Tension Rod – $15 (from Craigslist)

4 Ikea-Stolmen hooks – $4 (Ikea)

2 Ikea-Stolmen attachments – $5 (Craigslist again)

6 2″ Bolts & nuts – $2 (Home Depot)

Total: $36.00

Project: Build a Planter - Save Money

Since planter boxes always seem to be not quite the dimensions I want for not quite the price I want to spend, I decided to get creative and build my own.

I have the joy of living a walk away from the Re-Store ( see the site for more info, http://www.re-store.org/index.php , it’s gorgeous) and after some creative exploration and some great planning help from Jeremy the Re-Store guy, I found some treated cedar siding, 0.5′ x 6′ long, for under $1 a piece. Hallelujah!


I wanted my planter to be 1′ tall by 6′ long, so I hammered metal “panel-things” (I have no clue what they’re called by actual handymen) to connect the boards so that they were two boards’-width, i.e. one foot, high.
Enough chat, here are pics of the final, although plant-less, product. I think you’ll get the idea:

(Do you see what I mean when I say call them metal “panel things”?)

Perhaps the planter isn’t perfect, but it’s perfect for my purpose. And I don’t think the plants will mind…

Also, I’d like to give a shout-out to my dad and Trevor for helping me with the tedious and LOUD hammering of those pesky metal panels!

I’ll update these pictures once greenery gets planted.

Cat Tree Alternatives

Ugly Cat Trees (no offense, cat-tree builders)

 


The Animal loves her ugly little carpeted cat tree (donated by my dad, who was very eager to get it out of his house I might add). I want something for our wonderful kitty to climb and jump and scratch all over, but most cat trees seem like they are simply elevated beds that are always in the way of things. I decided to do a little research….




Two favorites are the HOLLYWOOD FRANKLIN Cat Tower and the HICAT Cat Climber:

Hollywood Franklin

The Appeal:

- Floor-to-ceiling tension (so no worrying about the thing toppling over or needing to find space for a massive base for the tree)

- They both look like an industrial take on something that one would find in NATURE. The Hollywood Franklin looks like a mod tree- perhaps a Ginko. I almost expect the “leaves” to turn bright yellow in the fall. The Hicat looks like one massive tree trunk that you  decided to build your house around instead of chopping down one more tree in the world, and I imagine your cat feels similarly.

- In short: they ain’t BUTT-ugly.

http://hicat.co.uk/

And of course, great things typically have their disillusionments as well:

- PRICE!

In order to purchase a truly functional Hollywood Franklin, I’d have to buy two “Pack A’s” (approx $77/ea) and one or two “Pack B’s” (approx $55/each). So in the end, I’m spending well over $200.00, which I’m just not interested in.

The Hicat, unfortunately, isn’t sold in the US- only in the UK & possibly the EU. If you’re lucky enough to have someone in the UK who will let you use their address for shipping, and then send it over to SEATTLE (where I am), the price- NOT including the eventual international shipping, amounts to about somewhere around 82 – 224… Great Britain Pounds, of course.

So how can somebody with a humble wallet such as mine POSSIBLY get there hands on an attractive, useful cat tree?? Is it the ultimate fate of our kind that we must resort to the hideous, carpeted monstrosities that represent most cat trees under $100? Must we sacrifice for the pleasure of our cats? Can there be NO COMPROMISE?!

This blog entry represents my personal determination to find something budget-friendly, useful, and above all attractive (or at least “artful”), and it is a call to all other do-it-yourselfer’s who detest turning to their wallets, checkbooks and CC’s as the ultimate solutions to these problems. PLEASE comment with any ideas!
Thus far, I’m thinking of seeking donations of emptied carpet rolls from carpet warehouses and Craigslisting sisal rugs….

Paint Old Things For a New Look - Turquoise Lamp

Something old and something blue:

In effort to save a bit of money, and also to save my eyesight by providing more reading light in the apartment, I bought an old lamp base of the ideal height at Goodwill.

I made a lovely Monday evening of it- I poured a glass of wine and watched a new episode of HOUSE, allthewhile stripping & sanding the lampbase.
Next, I painted it a lovely teal, and “shopped” my apartment in search of a good, rarely-used lampshade.

Here is the result.

DIY:
Paint: $10
Lampbase: $7
Shade: Free

I’ve seen lamps similar in look above $200, so on the whole, I’m quite content.

Project: The Building of Work Table

The riveting conclusion of my search for the right “all purpose table”

Pictures say all:

Build the Frame:

 

Trevor’s well-earned blister ; The table – Complete!

 

Time to refresh & refuel with a simple salad of herbs and fresh baby tomatoes.

So we have this table….

… But where do we sit?!

STOOLS

I discovered that counter-height stools can be EXPENSIVE!  Here’s what I’d like:

http://www.tolix.fr/h65_h70_h75_h80.html

(I encountered this style at the bar of “Brasserie Four” in Walla Walla, WA – unfortunately, I only took a picture of the one in the bathroom)

But they’re about $240 each, and I just can’t afford it.

However, I know what I want: a classic, simple, industrial design. I love the yellow color, but I’ll settle for simple wood.

While I found other barstools that I liked, I just couldn’t find them at a price that I was willing to pay. However, building the table gave me tons of confidence in my carpentry “skills”. So I decided to build some simple seating:

And I’m done!

I measured so that the stools would be just right to stow neatly under the table under the table.

Which is a great feature when the table is doubling up as another countertop/workspace.

Cat-aided & Approved!