The Guest Room // The Paint

Guest Room-Paint-1-Design Crush

 

I’ve really wanted to paint a room black for a few years now, and my guest room was the only candidate in my house for it. But once I chose the wallpaper for behind the bed and matched it up to Sherwin-Williams Indigo Batik blue, well, it was Love with a capital L. All the drama of black without a total void of color.

 

Guest Room-Paint-2-Design Crush

 

I went with their Emerald Interior acrylic latex paint in a satin finish. (If you recall, I used the Emerald Exterior on my front door.) It was the best fit for the vibrant hue I’d chosen because it offers incredible coverage and hide, and includes a built-in primer. It really is my favorite paint to work with, inside and out.

 

Guest Room-Paint-3-Design Crush

 

Here’s a little peek at the before, after I’d moved all of the things destined for my September yard sale into the garage. You guys, it was full of crap and ugly. When I bought my house this room was the brightest of reds, I even casually referred to it as the Murder Room. The day I closed on the house we started painting, and over the next two days we painted every space with the exception of the living room (which got a coat of light grey a year later). This room ended up being blah beige simply because I wanted to cover the red, but had no clue how I wanted to decorate the room just yet. So it stayed that way for the next five years.

 

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Bebe was a great helper, she didn’t even eat any of the paint.

 

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Even though I was planning on wallpapering over one wall the next day, I went ahead and painted all four instead of trying to save some time. It paid off in dividends by covering any little mistakes we made while hanging the paper and is highly recommended, I’m so glad I did it. The color was even better that I thought it would be, and I kept stepping back and stating “I really like this!.”

 

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I splurged for this project and bought an actual canvas drop cloth after years of buying the cheap plastic kind. I’m weirdly looking forward to using it for years to come and accruing paint splatters!

Would you ever paint a room in your home this dark? Or have you already?

Disclaimer: Paint provided by Sherwin-Williams. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Design Crush going!

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Tips&Tricks: Kitchen

Tips&Tricks-Kitchen-Design-Crush

The kitchen is probably, okay definitely, my favorite room in the house. I love nothing more than cranking up some music and baking the afternoon away (well, when it’s below 100-degrees that is!). It’s a great stress reliever and it always feels good to share the bounty that comes out of the oven. At least my pants feel that way.

 

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Freezing, drying, and storing herbs 101.

How to peel garlic.

Eleven secrets to properly freezing produce.

How to clean your dishwasher.

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And Five Years Later I Have a Guest Room

Guest Room-1-Design Crush

 

It’s only taken me 5 years, 1 month to make my guest room legit. As in there is a mattress that doesn’t involve the act of filling it with air, there is art on the walls, there’s a bedside table. Like I said, legit. I couldn’t be more excited to be able to comfortably host guests in my home now!

 

Guest Room-2-Design Crush

 

Now brass isn’t normally my thing, but this headboard is special. It was my step-grandmother’s. I toyed with the idea of antiquing it or maybe spray painting on a bright color, but when I found out how much she paid for it I just couldn’t bring myself to do any of those things. Once the room started coming together and I brought the headboard in I was glad I had left it alone, the brass brings a nice brightness that helps balance out the navy walls.

 

Guest Room-3-Design Crush

 

This room isn’t very large, maybe 12′ x 12′. It could have accommodated a queen sized bed but I went with a double. For how often it will be used I valued the extra walking space more.

 

Guest Room-4-Design Crush

 

A lot of what’s in here has been repurposed form elsewhere in my house. The bedside lamp was once upon a time on my desk, the coatrack used to be in the house I grew up in, the bench was at the end of my hallway. The only furniture I bought was the small bedside table.

 

Guest Room-5-Design Crush

 

On the bench I stacked some of my favorite books for guests’ to flip through and also set out a small carafe of water with glasses and a towel. The Buddha used to be on my bedside table, but I just loved the way he stood out against the navy wall and decided to relocate him.

 

Guest Room-6-Design Crush

 

I love the brightness this piece of art brings to the room, the light grey bedding as well. This secretary desk was my Dad’s when he was a kid and I really like the way it balances out the warm wood of the bench and coatrack on the opposite side of the room. I also set out a jewelry tree and small bowl for guests to place their belongings when they wind down at night for bed.

 

Guest Room-7-Design Crush

 

Last but not least is the amazing light fixture that replaces the awful ceiling fan that used to be in its place. It’s the perfect size for the space, and the glass balls look like they have tiny filaments throughout.

I’m still planning on mounting a few floating shelves painted in the same navy as the walls above the bench, they’ll make a nice home for my small colored glass vessel collection. I’d also like to find a nice floor length mirror to prop against the wall opposite the bed, I think it will help open the space up more. As you know, decorating is a never-ending process! I’ll be sharing more specifics about the different pieces in the room through the week.

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Sarah Wiener for REISS

Sarah Weiner-1-Design Crush

 

Enamelware is some of my favorite to use in the kitchen, the look and the heft of it just feel good. The two-color dipped forms by Sarah Wiener for REISS make me so ridiculously happy. I have a feeling they would not only make me bake (even) more, but they’d also never be hidden away in a dark cabinet! Each piece is dipped and glazed by hand by the Austrian company, making every one unique and leaving your hungry for more.

 

Sarah Weiner-3-Design Crush

Sarah Weiner-2-Design Crush

 

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Sarah Weiner-5-Design Crush

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Boxcar Planters

Boxcar Planter-1-Design Crush

 

This Boxcar Planter looks like it was made for a sunshine-filled windowsill or as a centerpiece for a long table. Each piece comes with a metal insert to grow your own little succulent plants to keep the wood in tip-top shape. Every planter is made to order in Joe Gibson‘s Portland workshop.

 

Planter-2-Design Crush

Planter-3-Design Crush

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DIY Color Washed Glasses

DIY Color Washed Glasses-1-Design Crush

I love a tall glass tumbler more than just about any other glassware, really I do. But sometimes those guys are just sitting there like a blank canvas in the cabinet, waiting for a makeover. These Color Washed Glasses are a breeze to make and can look as fancified or casual as you want!

 

DIY Color Washed Glasses-2-Design Crush

All you need:
• a set of straight-sided glasses (I used tall tumblers, but you can use whatever)
ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape
• acrylic paint in the color(s) of your choice
• 3/4″ acrylic paint brush
• paint palette (i.e. paper plate)

 

DIY Color Washed Glasses-3-Design Crush

The first thing I did was wash and dry the glasses thoroughly, and then I taped them off. Because they’re going to be used primarily for beverages I wanted to make sure the paint was nowhere near the lip, so I simply used the width of the ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape as a measuring guide. You can opt to paint all the way down to the base of the glass, but I wanted to balance out the spacing at the top with a second strip of tape at the bottom. Since the glasses aren’t exactly straight up and down there will be a small amount of gapping with the ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape, simply smooth it down using your fingernail by pushing down and towards the edge.

 

DIY Color Washed Glasses-4-Design Crush

Next, squeeze a quarter-sized dollop of paint onto your palette surface (I always use a small paper plate) and load up your brush. Get to work sweeping and swashing over the exposed part of each glass, making sure to overlap the ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape slightly. You want a random look, so go crazy swooping and swashing!

 

DIY Color Washed Glasses-5-Design Crush

These glasses only required one layer of paint because we aren’t going for a solid opaque look. I set them aside to dry for about half an hour before removing the ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape.

 

DIY Color Washed Glasses-6-Design Crush

The edges came out very clean, and in the few spots that bled through I used my nail to scrape off the excess before the pain set completely.

 

DIY Color Washed Glasses-7-Design Crush

Huzzah! Time to sit back with an icy drink and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Because these are hand-painted you’ll need to hand wash these guys after using, or risk all of the paint coming off in the dishwasher – but you totally knew that already, right? I also plan on using these as small vases this fall, I think some brightly colored mums would look incredible with both the gold and white!
scotchblue, scotchblue painter's tape, painter's tape, tape

This post is a collaboration with ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Brand. Join the community at Facebook.com/scotchblue or visit scotchblue.com to learn more.

ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape | ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Facebook Page | ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Twitter Page | ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape YouTube Page | ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Pinterest Page

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Scoutmob (+ a Giveaway)

Scoutmob-1-Design Crush

I don’t know about you but I think it feels good, really good, to buy local. And when local isn’t possible, it feels just as amazing to purchase from independent makers who are following their passions in life.

Scoutmob is an online marketplace that’s twofold. One, they promote independent makers – craftsmen and designers alike – through Scoutmob Shoppe and give you access to their inspired, authentic goods. Two, they set out to find unique destinations that make cities great by way of their mobile incentives, under-the-radar events, and their on the ground scouts. In a nutshell, Scoutmob believes that by surrounding ourselves with authentic experiences and things, we can make our lives that much more amazing.

 

Scoutmob-2-Design-Crush

Tan Leather Key Fob (Saddle Tan) by 1.61 Soft Goods. I’ve had the same green and white striped fabric key fob for years, and was definitely due for an upgrade. This one is loads classier and easy to find in my bag.

 

Scoutmob-3-Design-Crush

Mini Leather Clutch (Cognac) by Crow SLC. This clutch has a perfect sturdy form, nothing too slouchy. And the warm, cognac brown goes with just about everything in my closet full of reds and blacks.

 

Scoutmob-4-Design-Crush

14k Rose Gold Ring with Black Diamond by Porter Gulch. In this ring I’ve found my new favorite! The rose gold band is so thin that I don’t even feel it on my finger.

 

Scoutmob-5-Design-Crush

Raindrop Bangle 3-Pack (Black & White) by Baleen. Geometric and architectural in design, this set of bangles adds that special pop to anything I wear them with.

 

Scoutmob-6-Design-Crush

Midday Weekender Bag by Po Campo. Everyone needs the perfect bag, one to throw a few essentials into for a short weekend trip. This is that bag.

 

Scoutmob-7-Design-Crush

Porcelain Horseshoe by Redraven Studios. My grandparents had a real horseshoe hanging above a doorway in their house for years. I’ve always wanted to imitate it in my own home.

Now it’s your turn! Scoutmob is giving one reader a $100 Scoutmob Shoppe gift card to shop to your heart’s content.

 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS KAITLIN!

To Enter:
1. Visit Scoutmob and tell us who your favorite maker is in the comments section.
2. Make sure you’re signed in with a valid email address. (For notification purposes only.)
3. Do it all before Sunday, August 25th at 11:59 CST.

Giveaway Rules + Disclaimer.

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Custom Map Wallpaper

3D Wohnung Rendering

 

Custom map wallpaper. (Yeah, you read that right.) Wallpapered can print any postal code onto any size wallpaper for your home or office! All they need from you is a postcode or specified area and BOOM. Done. Your map wallpaper can even be customized in any color. So, what would you print – your favorite city, your hometown, your current town? I think I’d have to go with my home city of Pittsburgh, there’s nothing much better map-wise than the confluence of its three rivers.

 

Wallpapered-2-Design Crush

SONY DSC

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Just My Type (+ a Mark and Graham Pinterest Sweeps!)

Mark&Graham-DesignCrush

Remember that cheesy personalized gifts store? You know, the one that was inevitably in every mall in America back in the 90s. Well, Mark and Graham isn’t that. Being a graphic designer and having a innate love of type makes me a little leery of anything “personalized” by nature. So you can imagine the pleasant surprise I received when this next-generation personalization hit it right on the nose with their beautiful font options and clean, modern pieces. Mark and Graham believes that making your mark is more than a symbol, it’s an artful mingling of typography and design. And you know what? It really is.

 

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Mark&Graham-2-Design-Crush

 

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Mark&Graham-1-Design-Crush

Everyday Leather Tote | Turkish Hydro Cotton Towel Set | Kiyla Necklace | Brass Rectangular Cufflinks | Canvas Tote | Armor Lux Stripe Long Sleeve Shirt | Beachport Pinstripe Sheet Set | Make Your Mark Cotton Duvet + Sham with Numbers

These are just a few of my favorite pieces, and they’ve also just released a comfy new line of personalized bedding that’s the perfect combination of luxury and style. Those pinstripe sheets are screaming my name – I think they’d be fantastic in my newly redecorated guest room.

Here’s the fun part, this week I’ve teamed up with Mark and Graham to run a Pinterest sweeps that you’re definitely not going to want to miss out on! We’ve created a board – Just My Type – that I’ll be pinning to all week with typographic inspiration. Create your own and enter for a chance to win a $500 shopping spree at Mark and Graham!

 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS KRISTIN!

To Enter:
1. Create a graphic-inspired Pinterest board. Be sure to include at least 3 Mark and Graham items!
2. Leave a comment here with a link to your board.
3. Do it all before Sunday, August 18th at 11:59 pm.
4. Good luck!

A winner will be chosen randomly soon after.

Giveaway Rules + Disclosures.

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