This weekend was a major coup on my list. I took a trip to Ikea yesterday on a mission to get a KVARTAL track/panel system to separate my front room from my living room. I did actually get what I went for, but a few other items snuck into my cart. Not sure how that happened. My thinking behind this divider was originally to help insulate my living room from the freezing front room during the winter months. As you can see, I definitely picked form over function when landing on my decision for which panels to get. These provide no insulation whatsoever (they have miniature holes in the fabric) but they were too pretty to pass up. They were hell to install and after I finished I wasn’t sure if I liked them. But I’ve decided I do…I’m just not sure on those gigundo curtain rods. They distract my eye. I think I’ll live with them for awhile and see how I feel in a couple weeks.
My favorite purchase from Ikea was this OFELIA throw blanket. It’s white (which I’m discovering is becoming a “pop” color in my living room, if that’s possible) and it’s super spongey and girly. I figured in the future when I’m old and hitched I won’t be able to have such girly decorations so better enjoy it now, right?
And the biggest victory this weekend is my new coffee table! Yes, the hunt is over. I was going to get something at Ikea but I wasn’t loving anything; and I had to love it. I was drooling over the Seguro coffee table from Crate and Barrel but $700?! I think not. I emailed that one along with this one from West Elm to Christina (I was email stalking her with coffee table choices) and decided to take a peak on Craigslist for the hell of it. Low and behold, listed on 2/12 was the very same C&B Seguro coffee table in excellent condition for less than half the original price! Can we talk about fate for just a second? What are the odds? Christina and I went and picked it up after lunch today and it is perfect. It has made my room so much cozier and the different wood tones pull everything together. Now I just need to get going on my chairs and I will finally have a completed living room. It’s only taken two years! Definitely worth the wait.
This weekend's victories: coffee table, Ikea throw blanket, KVARTAL panel system
Filed under: art envy, design envy, projects | Tags: coffee table, Design Sponge, design work life, gift guides
Be sure to check out some of the awesome gift guides that are out there via your favorite bloggers on ideas for unique Christmas presents. Several in particular that I have enjoyed come from design*sponge and DesignWorkLife.
gifts for $25 and under by design*sponge
Here are a bunch to check out:
design*sponge
$25 and under
$50 and under
$100 and under
bloggers’ wish list
DesignWorkLife
gift guides for each kind of horoscope sign: fire, air, earth, and, for your beloved Pisces like myself, water
typography
New York
Also, I came across this picture (also from design*sponge) of artist Maria Vettese’s living room (check out the entire home tour here). She uses a skinny bench as a coffee table. Hmmm….yet another idea to keep in mind for the coffee table quest. I love the look of it but also like how it doesn’t take up much space yet still serves its function. Plus I’d feel better about putting my feet up on a bench than a traditional coffee table. Thoughts?
Filed under: projects | Tags: CB2, coffee table, DIY, Make magazine
Since my chair hunt is looking pretty close to finished (pending the refinishing and cushions), I am now on a mission to find a coffee table for my living room. I really love the peekaboo clear table from CB2; however, I don’t want to spend the money on it. I realize it’s not SUPER expensive but I know I can find something for less that’s just as cool.
CB2 peekaboo coffee table
My other thought, which is vintage me, is that I can fashion something out of a selvaged piece. Here are two examples that I’m extremely envious of. This first one is made out of an old card catalog, which provides added storage space.
Then there’s this kick-ass table, made from an old apartment building’s bank of mailboxes. I adore this.
Another option is to just make one from scratch. Granted, I’ve never built anything before but I have it in my head that I could pull it off. I found this really cool plan on one of Make magazine’s digital editions. Perhaps I can bribe my dad or brother to help me with it when I’m home for Thanksgiving or Christmas since they have power tools and know how to build things (grunt grunt). It’s completely made of plywood and there is no hardware involved. It all connects via wood cuts and pegs.
So the new hunt is on.
Creative Envy 