Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Made By Girl

This print from Made By Girl had to be mine from the moment I saw it.  It has claimed a spot right on the desk in my office. That's where I retreat in the mornings when my husband allows me a few minutes of baby-free time to enjoy a mug (always Fiesta -- Today the color choice was turquoise. I switch it up daily) filled to the brim with coffee and I start my daily rounds on the blogosphere.  Coffee. Blogs. Happiness. 

Photo by Grace Hilton

You'll notice a couple of books in the photo that are also tied to blogs that I highly recommend. Apartment Therapy, of course. If you don't already follow it, start now.  You can also buy their books herehere, and here.  The other books are city guides by Kaie Wellman that feature all locally-owned truly unique businesses. Kaie has never steered me wrong. These mini books the perfect size to toss in a handbag and are essential for exploring your own city or when visiting one of the 22 cities she's covered. Buy them here and you can follow her 'ramblings' on the Eat.Shop site for even more goodness. 

Now for the best part of today's post. Jen Ramos of Made By Girl is graciously offering Grace Hilton blog readers a 10% discount off anything on her site! How amazing is that?  Just enter code GIVEAWAYMBG2011 It expires in one month, so start shopping! And of course, check out Jen's blog right here

Monday, June 20, 2011

Todd Oldham + Charley Harper

Thanks again, Todd Oldham!  First, you compile a book of Mr. Harper's illustrations (now available in this smaller size) Then, you bring good ol' Charley to the dinner (and lunch and breakfast) table with this new line available at Fishs Eddy.  There are seventeen different options from salt and pepper shakers to trays and bowls -- all ceramic. I'm especially a fan of the puffer fish sauce dish (pictured top). Happy shopping!





Thursday, June 16, 2011

Reader Question: Semi-Custom Corner Bookcase

I had a question from a reader about the bookcases discussed in Cordelia's Nursery and shown completed in Cordelia's Nursery: Part II.  The IKEA Billy bookcases in the 41" height are not meant to used as a corner solution, but I devised a way to make it work by creating a top out of birch ply. It's actually a fairly simple IKEA-hack, despite what may seem at first glance as intimidating directions (see below). If you have a program such as Google SketchUp (bonus - it's free!), it makes the hack that much easier.



You will need:
Plywood of your choice (1/2" to 3/4" thick)
A board of the same species of wood as the ply
Circular saw
Circular saw guide and clamps
Dowel Guide
Dowels
Drill and bit to match the dowels
Wood Glue
Finish Nails and corresponding Nail Punch
Hammer
Extra wood
Clamps
Small wood screws
Table Saw
Miter Saw or Miter Box and Japanese Back Saw
Finish of your choice (I used urethane)


Layout
1. Lay out a plan view of you bookcases
2. Add a half inch on all sides except for the back
3. Divide that new shape into sections no longer than 8' (which is the max. length of a sheet of ply)
4. Try to do this so that the grain runs parallel with the front of each bookcase
5. Dimension the SketchUp sections and lay them out on the ply.
6. Using a circular saw and guide, cut the sections out.

Joining
7. Lay your pieces out as they would be when installed, but upside down. Be sure to not scratch the good side.
8. Using a pencil, draw three small lines across each joint. equally spaced to each other and the ends of the joint. These will help us align the dowels.
9. Align the dowel jig to each of the lines you just drew and drill holes into the ends of the boards to accept the dowels.
10. Prepare to glue. Lay two scrap wood pieces approximately 2" x 1/2" x 12" parallel to one of the joints. Make sure they are set back about a quarter of an inch on each side of said joint. Also, make sure that you have at least two clamps that are wide enough to get around both of these pieces.
11. Screw these two pieces to the BOTTOM of the two boards. Make sure the screws you use are not long enough to penetrate the finished face or you'll ruin the pretty side.
12. Apply glue to the edges of each board and too the dowels you'll be inserting. Attach the two boards together and place at least two clamps onto the screwed-on scrap pieces to hold them together.
13. Use a damp cloth to clean up any excess glue.
14. If you have additional scrap wood and clamps you can repeat steps 10-13 for all the joints while your first joint dries. If not, wait for it to dry per the glue manufacturer's recommendation before doing the next joint.

Edging
15. Use a table saw to cut down the birch board to a series of strips approximately 3/8" x 1". Because the pieces are so thin I recommend you use a feather board to keep the wood against the fence and a push rod.
16. Use the miter saw to cut the edge strips to size, making sure the corners are properly mitered together.
17. I pre-measured the location of the finish nails on the edging and pre-drove them for each piece.
18. Apply glue to the ply and edge piece and hold together. Drive the nails in to hold the edging in place. Use the Nail Punch to recess the heads.

Finishing
I used a random orbital sander and 80 grit to make sure the edging was flush to the ply. Then I worked up to 120 and 220 before urethaning.  I put on four coats, sanding in between per the manufacturer's recommendation. I left the nail heads exposed. If you wish, you can use some wood filler to fill in the recesses left by the Nail Punch. Also, our walls were straight enough that I didn't want to scribe the top to them, but that is something to consider if you want the fit to be really, really tight. If you are going to scribe, I would make the boards a bit wider to account for the material you're going to eventually cut away.  Good luck! 

Monday, June 13, 2011

Dwell On Design

Yesterday, I finally got around to registering for Dwell On Design, which is coming up June 24 - 26th in Los Angeles. I missed out on the early bird tickets for the home tours though. Darn.  I actually had a blog post draft to remind you all about early bird tickets and then didn't even remind myself!  Welcome to motherhood.  There are never enough hours in the day to check off the many things on the to-do list.

Which brings me to my next update which has nothing to do with Dwell.  As you may have noticed, it's next to impossible for me to keep up the pace of daily blog posts. New clients plus new baby and home remodel equals zero time to blog.  I do really enjoy sharing my favorites things, events, and updates on the restoration of our Cliff May Rancho and my drafts folder is bursting at the seams!  So, I will keep posting and aim for at least once a week.  For now I am just trying to limit work distractions so that I can enjoy this precious time with my baby daughter.  She turns one year old in just four more months.  It's crazy how fast the time goes!

Back to Dwell.  Tickets are still available for the show and all the home tours and you can find a full description of the ticket packages right here. Below are photos of some of the homes included in this year's home tours.  Happy Monday and see you soon!






Images via Dwell On Design

Flea Market Fun: May Edition

Better late than never. Last month's recap of the Long Beach Antique Market  is coming to you mid-June. In all fairness, this sale was right at the end of last month! Long Beach actually hosted not one, but two, sales in May. I missed the first one since I was out of town, enjoying a much needed mini vacation with my husband to celebrate our second wedding anniversary.  So, I was excited to hit the sale on Memorial Day weekend. Below is a glimpse of some of the goodies that I spotted.  

Next month, keep an eye out for the June Edition of my flea market adventures which is set to include a recap of my trip down the 405 to the Irvine Flea Market


Look closely. 
Yes, that pattern is pig musicians and their friends dancing to the music!  
This 50s glassware set was so odd, but adorably so. 


Four dining chairs recovered in sherbert-colored fabrics
They reminded me of the Ruthie Sommers-designed room below -




This desk and chair were in great shape, at an equally great price (around $200 for the set, as I recall)


I wish I hadn't passed on this cute tripod lamp


A trio of bullet planters for $50 each although they needed a little TLC


Rainbow-colored lockers in fun colors for $400


Great 60s fondue pot snagged by my sidekick for a mere $20
I hope I get invited to dinner some time to see it in action!
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