more play kitchens

i am back on a play kitchen kick today, after taking max to the doctor and him loving the play kitchen in the office. i really don't like the look of the commercial play kitchens, they're kind of an eye-sore in a house, so i am really wanting to make our own. plus, a DIY kitchen has the potential to be much cheaper (the plastic kitchens and specialty kitchens are upwards of $150!). here are a few i have found that i am loving and will use as inspiration for the project.

most of these kitchens are from ohdeedoh.com and use ikea components as the base of the project. some are pricier DIY's than others but i think overall, i could probably make a play kitchen for easily under $100, but hopefully under $50 or $60 (perhaps using thrifted units instead of new ones from ikea).

enjoy!

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aren't they all so cute? there are a few i just love.

hart & sew giveaway

there is a little giveaway at hart & sew which i am super excited about because they are cute, girly headbands perfect for my little #2 on the way!!

go check them out now!

here's a link to the etsy shop, hairblooms.

thinking october...

is this not the cutest halloween costume you've ever seen?

well, i think it is. i guess i just have something with animal costumes...i absolutely love them!

i think it'd be so cute for mr. max this october...but, if not for him, definitely for some baby in the future!

and it works, girl or boy...because this cute little monkey is a girl...

from katie did

DEFINITE must-do project

i just saw this project on design mom and fell in love! i have been trying to figure out what to do for max when he is ready to move to a big boy bed and have been going between the toddler bed or twin bed scenario.

i wanted to do a twin bed cuz i didn't want to purchase another crib mattress (since a baby will be sleeping on it - we'll need two). but then, a toddler bed is a much better size and i am sure someday we'll need both a twin and a toddler bed.

this project would cost $75 for two toddler beds, so even cheaper for just one! that definitely beats out even the cheapest beds i have had my eye on. that price doesn't include a mattress but ikea has some mattresses (here, here, and here) that are definitely priced in my budget. PLUS, i can customize the bed however i want as far as color scheme goes.

i am really excited about this! i think i will either do it later this fall, before the baby comes, or have my dad make it for me when my parents come down to see the new baby. since big brother won't be two until after the baby is born, i think i definitely have time before he is ready to move to a bigger bed (that is unless he magically starts climbing out of his crib suddenly!).

see the entire project & tutorial here.

magnetic ABCs

what a cute idea - and relatively cheap! which i always love.

this is the perfect way to teach my baby his ABCs!

tutorial here.

dream kitchen

i love white kitchens and i just found one on design*sponge that i absolutely love.

go here to check out more pictures.

more nursery ideas

ever since i saw this nursery, i was in love!

it kinda goes along with the color scheme i have been thinking of...but i just love it. especially the bright, bright yellow!

it is my dream nursery, i think.

i love this idea. i was thinking of using frames to put fabric in but these hoops are neat too. i love the circular look. maybe even a combination of circles and squares would be neat.

how could your baby not be happy in this cheery crib?!? :)all pictures from megan at me and wee

thanks for the inspiration!

baby room

although i don't know what i am having yet (finding out august 10th!!), i am dreaming of what i would do for a nursery if we had a girl...

of course, if we have a boy, i will just continue to use the bedding we already have for our son...but, it'd be fun to have a girl because i could change things up!

our third bedroom gets the hot afternoon sun, so it heats up really badly. i bought some curtains at ikea the other day (on sale for $14.99 - but incredibly heavy, and good quality!) to help keep the room cooler. they are a light red, almost pink-red, color. so...i thought, if we had a baby girl, those curtains would obviously already be in her room, so here are some ideas i am stirring around in order to tie those curtains in with a nursery...

maybe a bumper made out of this beautiful amy butler tree peony in ivory fabric...

and maybe some accents with this amy butler lotus wallflower in mustard fabric...

and of course, i would need to put lots more pink in the room...so maybe some wall hangings done with some other coordinating fabrics...

what do you think of a light red, pink, and mustard color scheme? not typical...but, i think it would work! do you?

updating

there is something that is very appealing to me about living in an older house and then updating it. i like the "new house" feel...and the comforts that go along with it, but a big part of me has always loved the "old."

often, old houses need a lot of TLC and design wise, are pretty ugly. i thought i would post some pictures i've seen recently of things that have inspired me and showed me what you can do with something that may appear to be sort of "blah." i've learned you can really make things look great with just a little paint and some creativity!


how ugly is this? well...i think it is. it's just very plain and typical.

how lovely is this?? a COMPLETELY different feel to the house!from design*sponge

those wood doors seem to be so common in older houses and i am really not a huge fan of wood...i really like lots of white in a house...

look what some paint can do! it instantly updates it and gets rid of that '80s look.from design*sponge

another way to update a very out-dated room...again, the wood doesn't appeal to me at all...
doesn't it look completely fresh & different after the new paint and molding?
what is the best about this makeover is that it cost $82. INCREDIBLE!
from the lettered cottage

now here are pictures from my friend's sister's house...
it looks incredible...tiffany is of course an interior designer...but still, i think with some help, anyone could do this. her house looks great! (some of the rooms are still in progress in the photos but they still look completely amazing!)

how beautiful is this room now? i love the molding around the window. instant update.
how many kitchens have you seen like this and think how expensive it would be to update it? some paint on the cabinets and new hardware is a great way to save money yet still have an updated look...
the countertops are supposed to be a concrete look...i really like it. very modern.
this is the living room after they refinished the floor. i really love how it looks.
all images from modernbarn

so many wants

lately i have felt sad as i see so many projects that i want to do but then realize i can't because of the lack of money we're experiencing. it is a hard time of life to be in but it is making me realize that wants aren't everything...although they sure are fun!

there are some current *i want to do these really bad* wants that will just have to wait at least a few months, maybe years, who knows...i'm trying not to feel depressed about not being able to have this creative outlet!

so basically i haven't posted anything in a long time because it's just depressing right now to be blog-surfing and see all the things i want to do but can't. so...if i am MIA it's because i am taking a break from my "wants" so i can focus on just being happy with our needs!

update: okay i feel a little better...i was really just down but then i decided to use some fleece i had bought awhile ago to make this cute neck pillow for my son from make it & love it. quick, easy, little to no cost project. gotta love that! of course, mine was not pink...instead, dinosaurs!