this company will build you a secret lair
If you’ve been reading us awhile, you may remember the hidden bookshelf door how-to from a few years back. Well, if you’re really into the idea but are too busy in your laboratory (pronounced “la-BOR-uh-tory,” of course) to take on a construction project, check out Creative Home Engineering, the subject of a recent article in Wired. They’ll build you hidden entrances and secret rooms to your heart’s content, including features such as “a door that opens when certain piano keys are pressed or when pieces on a chessboard are arranged just so.” I am both frightened and intrigued! — Mary T.
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five things we learned last week
1) Ikea fabrics: WIN. Even if you don’t like other aspects of Ikea, the fabric selection is an all around winner for selection and cost, and the proof is in Rebecca’s adorable pillows. Susan Abramson says: “I love the orange and white – such a happy colour and design!! And you can’t go wrong with an Ikea fabric – it’s almost always 100% cotton and priced great so it won’t owe you anything once you tire of it.â€
2) Book cataloging sites are helpful in theory and in practice. Shelfari and GoodReads are two options that count Shelterrific readers as fans. SarahB says: “I started using Shelfari 3 or 4 years ago, when someone in my book club told me about the site. I’m an avid reader (I read 63 books last year), and Shelfari is a great way to keep track of what I’m reading, what I’ve read, and what I want to read in the future.â€
3) Subtle wall stencils have mass appeal. Rebecca F.’s idea to paint a stencil in the glossy finish of her bathroom wall color has fans. We love the subtlety! Christina says: “Oh I love this! Great stencil and I love the idea of stenciling the same color on a wall but in gloss. Thanks for the awesome idea.â€
4) Toothpick holders have a following. Very collectable, they have multiple uses and might make great Mother’s Day gifts! Kimberj says: “One thing I always keep an eye out for is cut glass salt and pepper shakers. I only look for singles that have no mate. I fill them with some kind of lovely organic spice or a cinnamon sugar mix and use them as hostess gifts for parties, holidays, or even a housewarming. I never thought about toothpick holders. What a lovely idea. They could even be filled with festive party picks for appetizers or specialty cooking salts.â€
5) Money saved on booking a non-Saturday wedding is worth it for many of you. Our reasons for Friday weddings differ from those of Will & Kate. Sara says: “I got married on a Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. One of the best parts was that our rehearsal dinner was a catered Thanksgiving dinner. We did save some money on the venue because it was a Friday. Another bonus was that guests had time to travel home on Saturday instead of Sunday.†Did you save money by avoiding a Saturday wedding?
photo by Kletia Garies
blogwatch: where we’ve been clicking this week
Who knew the 18th & 19th centuries were so chic? Psychedelic Federalist wallpapers, at Readymade.
The Nub chair by Patricia Urquiola: like an atomic windsor chair. Via notcot
Smitten Kitchen went to Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster, and all she brought us was this recipe for sour cream cornbread with aleppo pepper.
Make an INSANELY easy MCM-inspired planter with inexpensive Target pots — thanks again, Curbly!
DIY life shows us how to dress up vintage black & white photos with bright & colorful matting — a great Mother’s day idea!
Put down that Morton’s salt! Harold McGee introduces us to the wide world of salt, and why it’s so important to go natural.
site we’re psyched about: shelfari
As a rule, I say yes to book club. A guaranteed time for wine, food and friends, I look forward to our meetings and the set date helps me to incorporate a few good reads into my otherwise insane schedule. Recently, a friend turned me on to Shelfari, a social cataloging website for bookworms. Part of the Amazon family of web brands, the site allows users to create a profile (using their Amazon credentials) and create and share shelves of books they’ve either read, own or have on their wish list. Users also have the option of reviewing, rating, recommending or tagging books for quick and easy organization and discussion. Though I consider myself a beginner book clubber (and don’t have room for real bookshelves), this seems like it has potential to be a great organizational tool. What do you think, readers? Would you ever use a site like Shelfari to organize your reads? Are you in a book club? What are you reading? — Sarah C.
five things we learned last week
1) Everyone loves a good spork joke. Sapling Press stole our hearts this week with these snarky prints. Tula says: “Major, major cuteness. Love.â€
2) Baking a winning scone is easier than you think. Becki shared her go-to recipe and reader Beth Ellen shared hers in comments!
3) We have royal décor fever. This wallpaper takes the cake. Cat Sitter in the City says: “I love the wallpaper in the second photo. If I had a room in my house just for my cat, who is a little princess, I’d definitely use that wallpaper.â€
4) Along with the producers of Mad Men, we share a sentimental connection to this cookie jar. Seems like we all have fond memories of it! Aly in Boston says: “I grew up with this same cookie jar but in mustard yellow. Through my teen years I told my folks that when I moved out, the cookie jar would be coming with me. One sad day, a shelf that it was on collapsed and it shattered. I was so disappointed. Some years later after I had moved, I walked into a vintage shop hoping to find it but knowing it was unlikely… I stepped inside the door, turned my head and just like in the movies, my eyes landed directly on it! I did a double take and my focused zoomed in like a close up shot. It was so dramatic and hilarious. Not only was it the same kind of cookie jar, it was the mustard yellow!! It now happily sits in a very secure space in my kitchen. I can’t believe it’s going for $150!!!â€
5) Calypso St. Barth for Target launches May 1. We’re counting the minutes. Jennifer says: “That’s the third time I’ve seen the elephant teapot featured in a magazine or a blog in the last week. I must have it!â€
photo by Kletia Garies
