Mid-Century Storage

Posted in Design Challenges, Reader Q & A by Mallory

Today’s reader Q & A comes from another college friend, Christy (Carnegie Mellon represent!). She, her husband Chris and their adorable daughter Hazel just moved cross-country from a condo in the heart of Chicago to an incredible tree-lined property, complete with horse barn, in Seattle. But between two grown adults that work from home, a baby on the verge of walking and a menagerie of pets, they are in desperate need of storage until they have the opportunity to start the large renovation they’ve been planning.

As a result, they’re not looking to spend a lot as most of these solutions will be temporary. But, as both Christy and Chris are both very design-minded and crazy artistic, I’ve been charged with the request that my solutions “can’t look ugly” and in terms of style, Christy said “I hate that country shit.” She is also definitely not a fan of wicker (so there goes most of my basket ideas).

Here’s a little bit more about Christy’s design storage dilemma, in her own words:

OK, so here’s the deal:

We are completely overhauling this house within the next year (gut remodel), so I have been hesitant to fully “move in” and make my space just so. However, I have recently come to the realization that with all the other stress in my life, at the very least, I need my most-lived-in space to be a lot more livable in order to maintain a peaceful state of mind. (aka: SANITY)

I spend most of my time when I’m at home in these two connected rooms: the family room and kitchen. The family room serves three purposes: 1) Hazel’s play room, 2) My office, and 3) Relaxing on the couch in front of the fireplace (sadly, this rarely happens).

This house has many attractive features, but one thing it is severely lacking is STORAGE. You will see from the pics of my kitchen that we are exploding out of the space. Believe it or not, my kitchen in our condo in Chicago had about double the storage space. We had tall ceilings with floor-to-celiling cabinetry, a large original built-in in the hallway, and a huge pantry. Now we have no built ins, no pantry, and only one row of cabinets (first world problems!) But it does suck, because then we end up using our precious counter space for things like loaves of bread and ridiculous milk frothers.

Oh – and our aesthetic tastes tend to converge around Mid-Century Modern +/or warm contemporary. We hate ultra-modern stuff (read: cold!) and love a good, simple, hardwood furniture piece. We dislike things that are “clunky.” I love industrial objects juxtaposed with warm organic elements. It’s the German in me coming to terms with the Artist somewhere in the middle. Luckily, my husband and I agree on most things aesthetic.

Anyways. I need help. And I can’t spend a lot of money. And I have like no time. – Christy

So, let’s attack the kitchen first as it seems their milk frothers are running over. I’d assume all of their cabinet space is filled to the brim. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at any additional areas we could take advantage of for more storage. Next to their wall oven is the perfect place to add some hanging shelves. Depending on how sturdy Christy can make them (she’s quite handy and is the one who taught me how to use a drill), she could use it as extra space for smaller kitchen gadgets, like those frothers, coffee grinders, etc. Alternatively, she could use those shelves for additional food storage.

In the open area to the right of the wall oven where the windows are, I’d recommend a bigger island/bar cart than what they have now. It will give them both additional table-top surface as well as additional space on the shelves below. I think the Ikea Forhoja is her best bet. It’s simple, made of real wood (and could be customized if she chose to keep it) and always has high demand for resale on Craigslist if they choose to not bring it back in to their renovated space. It could also be put to great use for dinner prep if they are living in the space through the reno. Finding a space to make a makeshift kitchen is essential to surviving a major renovation.

via

Moving in to the living room, the first thing I would add is a console table behind their sofa. This will give them a shelf for additional storage and an open area underneath to store some of Hazel’s larger toys without having them out in the open. I wouldn’t recommend this table in terms of style for Christy, but it illustrates a creative way to store kids toys in an aesthetically pleasing way:

Some examples of great console tables that would coordinate with their current style are the Foundry table from CB2 for an industrial look or a vintage piece like this mid-century modern classic.

Underneath their new console or their coffee table, I would add some Christy-approved baskets for Hazel’s smaller toys. These from CB2 and Crate & Barrel would fit right in to their mid-century modern style:

For that long wall filled with Hazel accutrimont, there are two ways Christy could go: the budgetary/immediate option or the pain and gain option. My first inclination is to spend a little more on some pieces that Christy and Chris can keep and use after the reno such as a mid-century modern George Nelson-style shelving system. It would require some rearranging of their artwork, but this option would provide the additional storage they need in the living room and still provide lasting value to their overall furniture collection.I see this as something that would be a great piece in Christy’s future office to display her artwork, stacks of books, and pictures with her favorite red-headed friend, kind of like this one:

(Yes, this picture is now 10 years old… I suddenly feel ancient)

Alternatively, Christy could go with the lower cost option that is still made of solid wood and would not require her to put giant holes in her walls (or break her budget). I’d suggest going with the World Market Espresso Charles Slanted Bookshelf. The style is simple enough that it could blend with the current furnishings and as it’s moveable, could be reused post-reno. Also good for resale on Craigslist if she chooses not to keep it.

A third option would be to go the budget friendly, industrial route. This option from Ikea would add a significant pop of color and hide toys behind closed doors. Another great piece that could be carried over to the future space, repurposed in Christy’s art studio, or resold.

Beyond furniture, there are a few other options Christy could opt for that would help corral throw blankets, magazines, and the stray dog chew toy. I’m loving this basket (Christy, trust me on this one) from Crate & Barrel.

This storage ottoman from CB2 would provide storage as well as an additional seat for when the house is filled with more grandparents than chairs, which from what I hear, is a likely scenario.

So what do you guys think – any other storage options you’d suggest for Christy? And in case anyone doubted that a bunch of sorority girls knew how to drill (get your minds out of the gutters people!), here’s exhibit A:

(This may be my favorite picture of this girl. She’s kind of bad-ass. Although I’m slightly afraid that she may be revoking my design privileges for posting this…)

24Jun2013

June Lust List

Posted in Lust List by Mallory

As we’re more than half way through June, I figured it was time to share with you this month’s lust list!

Adidas Dragon Shoes: For those that don’t know, Jefe could give Imelda Marcos a run for her money. He’s got great style and LOVES himself a rocking pair of sneakers. As I could use some new casual shoes that aren’t flip-flops (and I’m sure Jefe would be thrilled if I upped my game in the kicks department), I’d love a pair of these in Bluebird.
Caitlin Wilson Teal Arrow Pillow: I am loving this new pattern from Caitlin Wilson. Her newest line is bright, happy and perfect for summer. I love this pattern in particular but may go with more of a traditional blue version as an accent for our bedroom.
Ray-ban Wayfarers: These will always be a classic. And I could use a pair of sunnies that are both stylish, classic, and don’t get caught in my mess of frizzy hair when I plop them on the top of my head this summer. That East Coast humidity during vacay can be brutal.
Merona Relaxed Bermuda Shorts: I love me some New England preppy style, particularly for summer. On a recent trip through Target, I was browsing for a summer dress and came across these in a a fun orange print. And the lobsters had me at hello. They’re already in my closet.
Bathroom Faucet Photos: After Jefe picked up this old Gillette print for the bathroom, I decided we needed some matching artwork for the opposite wall. I found these great black & white photos from Etsy. They’re simple, fit the new bathroom style and didn’t break the bank.
Ezeiza Weekender Bag: Found this guy on One Kings Lane. It’s just begging to be taken to wine country for the weekend. I love that it is unisex so Jefe or I could grab it for a quick getaway.
Asymmetrical Mini Letter Necklace: I’m in desperate need of a new gold necklace. I’m also a sucker for anything monogrammed. Thank you BaubleBar for this little beauty. Kate Spade’s new line Saturday also has a similar, slightly less expensive version.
Crate & Barrel Paterson Black Two-Door Cabinet: The credit for this find has to go to Jefe. He got the itch a few months ago to replace our tv stand with a Paterson, which we did. And now that we have this fancy new piece of furniture, we’ve got the itch to keep at the upgrades. We’d love to get this cabinet to replace our old Ikea dresser that we’ve been using as storage in the living room.

21Jun2013

On a More Personal Note…

Posted in Design Challenges by Mallory

So today, I’m going a little off topic as I have something personal I’d like to share in hopes that by sharing it with all of you, it will help keep me accountable for the future :-D.

I was always a pudgy kid. Never obese, just always a little rounder, a little curvier than my peers. My weight was always an ongoing battle – from being made fun of on the playground to being encouraged to put down the book and go outside to play while at home. Over the years, the weight would fluctuate – sophomore year of high school was awesome as miraculously 20 lbs just dropped right off. And then came college. And a year of working in not one but 2 restaurants. And graduate school. More ups and downs. And then came a REALLY stressful job in Hollywood. At times, it just felt like a battle that I may never win. Some days I looked in the mirror and loved what I saw: I had a rocking head of auburn hair and I was ok with not being stick thin. Other days, my confidence was not so resounding.

I joined Weight Watchers as a freshman in college and I’ve been on and off the program more times than I can count. When on plan, I’ve been super successful (we’re talking 40lbs people!), but I’ve let it slip over the last two years. Frustrated with more than just my weight, I have recently recommitted to getting healthy. It’s one of the few things in my crazy, ridiculous life that I can actually control, which I’ll admit has been much easier said than done, but here I am. Sharing with you all in hopes it will keep me motivated.

For anyone else out there counting points (or not) or just looking for some peer support, feel free to shoot me a note as I’d love to chat. The times when I’ve been the most successful were when I had a buddy to do the program with. Since moving to LA 6 years ago, I have yet to really find my Weight Watchers buddy. Any takers?

This has been something I’ve felt has controlled me my whole life and at a time when I’m finally realizing that I can’t control everything (shocker), this is something I can take action to get a hold of once and for all. The big 3-0 is in my sights and I have a lot I’d like to accomplish before it wakes up and smacks me in the face this December.

This blog is mainly a place for me to share my decorating advice with my small little corner of the world, but in the future from time to time, I may share the occasional story, recipe, or piece of motivation on my journey to finally getting healthy and feeling better about myself.

In that vein, this little article popped up today and served as a little bit of humorous motivation for me. So I’m sharing it with all of you. I really enjoyed Ana Gasteyer’s honesty and Weight Watchers-inspired humorous twist on a classic song. Enjoy!

20Jun2013

Wrapping Up the Reno

Posted in Design Challenges by Mallory

So where did we leave off?… Right, we had a brand new wood floor, a single warped board and a cement-bare entryway.

Jefe and I came home on Friday to find that miraculously, they managed to fix the wooden floor. I don’t know if they had to rip it all up (which was what was initially mentioned when I pointed out the lone survivor of the Great Warpage) or if they found a way to jimmy it in, but all I knew is that it was gone and our wood floors looked great.

The tile was down with spacers, but still needed to be grouted. Fine. One more day of reno wasn’t going to hurt us. Famous last words. Jefe and I spent Saturday watching men come in and out of our apartment, finishing some things and leaving others behind.

In the end, once all the workmen were gone, we were left with dirty walls that required 3 hours of scrubbing with Clorox wipes and Magic Erasers (thank god for Mr. Clean), and baseboards that our own handyman said “looked like hell.” There was also tile cement left in all sorts of nefarious places: clumps all over our kitchen and bathroom sinks as well as on the counters in the kitchen, marks at eye level on the walls (how on Earth did cement from the floor get that high?!) as well as a 5 inch smudge of cement on our exterior door frame which I still have yet to clean. Needless to say, I was a bit more than frustrated at this point so I didn’t take pictures. Bad blogger, I know. Lesson learned. I did manage to grab this one today of the spot still to be dealt with:

Now I get that renos involve dirt. All kinds of dirt. Especially when you’re talking about floors. But to say that we were less than thrilled with the state of our apartment after they left is quite the understatement. And we don’t even own the place. If I were the landlord, I’d be pissed at the finished product. The main floors look great, but any details (ie-the baseboards), look like the flooring guys did the bare minimum. Case in point:

Exhibit A

Well, after a Saturday filled with this fun, Jefe woke up on Sunday and said “let’s buy some furniture.” I don’t know if it was all the dust in the air he may have inhaled the day before, but I certainly wasn’t going to argue with him. So we packed ourselves in the car and headed out.

To his credit, when we had to push all of our furniture to accommodate the repairs, we noticed that our 3 Ikea Lack bookshelves had seen better days. Namely, they stood at a severe angle. My poor hunchbacked bookcases 😦

Before:

lack-wall-shelf-unit__0099184_PE240834_S4

After 2 years of books stacked on them:

This is not an optical illusion. These are, in fact, that crooked.

We looked and there was no way to tighten/fix them and we didn’t trust them to withstand much more, particularly if “the big one” hit (for you non-Californians, that’s referring to the big earthquake everyone says that we are “due” to get any day now). And when we looked around the room, particularly at the lovely new Crate & Barrel TV stand we got (that I have somehow failed to share with you until now), we really felt we could switch up our style a bit.

Now, Jefe and I are both at the point that we’d love to stop handing over the Benjamins to the big blue & yellow Swedish man in Burbank. But we’re also not rolling in it (yet) either. So off to Ikea we went.

Thanks to Operation Homify, we decided we had the following criteria for new bookshelves:

1) Had to coordinate with our current furniture and the more traditional style we’re aiming for

2) Had to fit the space

3) Wouldn’t break within a year or two

4) Did not cost an arm and a leg.

Enter the Hemnes. She’s a beaut, isn’t she? I’m in love with her. I want to make little book babies with her. I’m THRILLED to finally have a space in our home where I can “style” our books. The Lack versions clearly didn’t allow for that, so I’ve been playing with this guy pretty much non stop since we got it. It’s definitely still a work in progress, but here you go:

As it didn’t fit all of our books, we needed to get a second, smaller shelf. I would have loved to have just brought home a pint-sized Hemnes, but they don’t make one yet. (Why Ikea hasn’t thought to make a solid wood, short bookcase yet is completely beyond me). So we resorted to the old standby – the Billy.

After assembling quite a few for his parents’ reno, I’m pretty sure Jefe could assemble one of these in his sleep at this point. So he took the Billy assembly while I tackled the behemoth Hemnes (mind you, it’s nearly 7 feet tall). Once built in the open space on our floor, we finally could clean up the place and make it feel like home again. An hour of cleaning and rearranging later, we had a great little living room update.

And a little surprise: I’ve been working to make our desk space more appealing (in hopes I’ll get to blogging a bit more often), so you get to see some of those upgrades too! We’ve got new art, which is an ode to my lovely little hometown. It’s a picture of the front of Lancaster’s Central Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in the country. It’s been around for HUNDREDS of years. Has anything in LA been around that long?!

We added the desk lamp awhile ago, but switched it to my side of the desk when we added the new bookcase and relocated our standing lamp. I finally went through the mountain of stray papers I had strewn across my side and added these little guys on top of my organizer, a recent find on my first trip to the Rose Bowl Flea Market (more on that in the coming week):

And there you have it. Although we’re still fighting to get our washer in working order (it had to be removed to re-tile the space where it was in the hallway and has yet to work since attempting to hook it up again), Jefe and I are pretty happy that we were able to turn a trying situation into an opportunity for some updating.

14Jun2013

…And the Reno Continues…

Posted in Renovation by Mallory

Take a gander at our beautiful new (albeit laminate) wood floors! Aren’t they great?!

Now, you see that blue x of painter’s tape? That would be the warped board they failed to replace yesterday. It also happens to the damaged board that was furthest in to the room. And the one we MARKED yesterday with painter’s tape. Le sigh.

The thing is, it’s a tiny spot that’s only warped right where it meets the wall… And it will be hidden under our desk. But shouldn’t the point be that they totally just goofed yesterday despite our best efforts to both mark it and with me pointing it out IN PERSON when the flooring guys first arrived?

Needless to say the reno that was supposed to be done tonight may last in to the weekend. In order to fix the board, they have to pull up EVERYTHING they did yesterday. Ugh.

In addition to the living room, they had to rip up the wood in the entryway of the kitchen, washer & dryer unit, and the front bathroom. That section was warped during the Great Washing Machine War of 2012-2013. Luckily they’ve decided to replace it with the same tile that is in the kitchen and bathrooms instead of of the laminate. We honestly can’t blame them for that because if the washer were to leak again, they’d be dealing with warped laminate flooring. For a third time. Since we moved in 10 months ago. So here’s what my entryway looked like at 9am this morning anxiously awaiting new tile:

So Jefe and I have been thinking of ways to spend an entire Saturday outside the house as I am doubtful the work will be done tonight. Thinking we may finally knock a few movies off our must-see list and try a new restaurant… I mean what else are you supposed to do on a June Gloom-filled Saturday in SoCal? Happy Friday everyone!

Sledgehammer With Style

Hollywood marketer by day, design blogger by night.

Author Archives: Mallory

June Lust List

On a More Personal Note…

Wrapping Up the Reno

…And the Reno Continues…

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