While the inside of my 115 year old home has been fairly easy to make my own, it’s been a bit more of a struggle with the outside. I’m in love with the facade but not the siding, the porch swing but not the steps. It’s been a process of learning to love all of the quirks and character that come with living my chapters in this place, all while putting my aesthetic mark on it. This set of DelRay Bay Chairs add a great pop of color and good lines to the house’s first impression from the street.
I plan on replacing the porch light with something low profile, but more modern. And I’ve toyed with the idea of boxing in the porch posts with cedar. I can’t wait to put black shutters on the second floor windows for a more cohesive look, but that will have to wait a bit longer.
Other plans for the coming weeks include painting the front door a semi-gloss black, as well as giving the swing a fresh coat and replacing the rusting chains. I have yet to figure out what to do in the small yard area that butts up directly against the sidewalk. Enclose it in black wrought iron fencing and plant wildflowers? Add more hosta from the backyard and keep it as is? I’m undecided and impatient but very optimistic.
Product provided by Lamps Plus in exchange for this post. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Design Crush.
I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited to launch a new column as I am to kickoff PGH Maker Profile today. But let me start by backtracking just a little bit. Before I moved back to Pittsburgh (aka PGH) last September I had a few local creative friends, but didn’t know what to expect beyond that. I’d heard good things about the community, but was in no way prepared for just how phenomenal it actually is. I can honestly say that I’ve never met a group of people who are such go-getters, so willing to collaborate, or so welcoming as the crew I’m growing to call mine. It makes me realize that I’m exactly where I belong both in my career and in my life because so many good things are happening. Now I’m looking forward to sharing all of these amazing human beings and their talents with you. Some you’ll know, some will be new, exactly zero will disappoint.
Amy Hamley of Redraven Studios is my favorite kind of business lady, the kind who was following their passion and just happened to trip into business. A girl after my own heart, really. Within five minutes of meeting a few months ago I knew we were meant to be friends. She’s turned her background studies in ceramics into a legit career featuring pieces that you’ve most likely seen as Etsy all-stars and everywhere else on the web. Last month I spent an afternoon sweating and drinking warm Riesling in her studio while we talked life and business.
Greenware drying.
Tell us a little bit about how you got your start with Redraven.
My business kind of happened by accident. I was working at a community ceramics studio teaching wheel throwing classes. I made some work there for myself, but would take clay home and began to make jewelry in my kitchen. I would take it back to the studio to fire the pieces. It evolved from a thing that I liked doing to me opening my Etsy shop in 2008 selling ceramic jewelry that was finished with vintage ceramic decals. I enjoyed making these, but knew that I wanted to work larger and make work that was meaningful to me. In 2010 I started making molds again. I rebranded my store by creating all new listings for items that I had slip cast in porcelain from handmade molds.
Amy stamping her logo on a ring dish. Greenware drying.
What’s your favorite part of the process? Your least favorite?
My favorite part of my process is hand painting my dinnerware collection. My least favorite is refining greenware to bisque fire, or sanding bisque, they are equally terrible.
Redraven’s beautiful dinnerware collection.
What other makers inspire you most?
So many makers inspire me that I don’t even know where to start! First my studiomates, Heather and Myles of Stak Ceramics. They make flawless, innovative, functional work. Ali Gibbons and Taylor Ceramics are also two incredible ceramic artists that I really admire. Fayce Textiles makes the most insanely beautiful textiles and homewares. And, literally, every maker in Pittsburgh.
Stones that were cast as molds for jewelry.
Where do you see Redraven in 5 years?
In five years I’d like to see redraven in some dream retailers with a more expansive wholesale client network. And maybe working a little less!
The ring dish I painted before glazing and firing took place.
What makes having a small business in Pittsburgh so great?
The community. I couldn’t ask for a better network of makers, business owners, and friends. There is a work ethic and pride here that is very special to Pittsburgh, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.
I’ve been trying to cut back on costs before summer and its full schedule of activities and events hit full stride, mainly by cooking at home more and eating out less. A big part of being in the kitchen for me is enjoying the process, and having sturdy hardworking pieces to work with can make or break the experience. So when Neoflam asked if I’d like to try out some of their retro cookware I didn’t hesitate. I was surprised by just how light their cast aluminum pieces are, a huge difference-maker when lifting a potful of my famous (among dozens) peanut soup. The sleek lines and colors look so good in my kitchen that I’ve opted to keep my stockpot stovetop even when not in use. (Check out the Promotions section of their site to score a deal of your own!)
I received product in exchange for this post. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Design Crush!
I did it. I created an accent wall that I love that doesn’t feel tacky or cliche, but that still packs a punch. In this case the key was choosing two muted hues as well as embracing my love of geometry. But let’s back up for a minute and check out the before photos of my home office.
The bare basics and oh so boring. A small Parsons style desk, office chair, filing cabinets to hide supplies, and artwork that has yet to find a home. Of course no room would be complete without a wayward throw rug, yes? As I mentioned in my last post, the walls had been painted a greyish white and that’s about all I’d done in this space since moving into my house last September.
Before charting out the diagonal accent wall I’d settled upon, I gathered a length of rope and a few thumbtacks. The first step was maneuvering myself up to the tippy-top of my ladder to reach the high ceiling, where I tacked the rope in the upper corner. (No small feat for this 5’2″ girl.) I drew it taut as I pulled down to the opposing corner and tacked a few places along the way for reinforcement, then followed the line it created with painter’s tape. My (mad) method ensured a straight line, which is oh so important if you’re the OCD type like me who might obsess over any imperfections later on.
It took two coats of SW 7110Cosmetic Blush in my favorite Sherwin-Williams combo, the Emerald line in a satin finish. I’ve used this tag team on my last four painting projects and love it. Once the second coat was on I removed the tape by pulling away at an angle for a super crisp line. (A pro tip is to always remove painter’s tape while the paint is still slightly wet.) The low VOCs made the smell of paint non-existent, so with a small crack of the window I was able to start working in my office almost immediately.
If you noticed, I turned my plan for a diagonal accent wall into more of an accent corner! I didn’t plan on it beforehand, but once I started taping things off it just felt right. So I went with it. The end result feels a bit like a pink beam of light shining on my workspace, which has been an especially welcome presence on overcast days.
I relocated my desk to the newly painted wall and kept things simple with a brass lamp and fresh flowers. (Trust me, that desk will be cluttered in no time.) The project as a whole took just around two hours spread over two days. I have a few more pieces of furniture to add before the office is 100% complete, but this refresh is perfect for the immediate future!
For the past three years I’ve teamed up with Sherwin-Williams to mark National Painting Week. Together we’ve tackled the front door and hall bath at my old home, and now my office. Each project wasn’t huge as a whole, but made such a positive change in my space.
Visit the National Painting Week site and see what other bloggers are doing to update and celebrate! Leave a comment below sharing if you have plans to switch up an area in your home for National Painting Week for a chance to win $100 from Sherwin-Williams. Giveaway ends May 17th at midnight EST.
I received product and compensation from Sherwin-Williams in return for this post. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Design Crush!
Life & Type is a collaboration where you provide the idea and they provide the letterpress machine, the design templates, and the craftsmanship. Together you work to create a personalized, large format art print that shares your life in type. I had the chance to team up with creator Daniel Richardson to work through the seamless process he’s streamlined and make my own.
After settling on one of their three available templates (with more to come soon), and a theme of previous addresses of places I’ve lived, we got to work. I filled out the simple template form, submitted it, and received a proof within 24 hours. I made a few tiny changes to my original wording and gave the go ahead to Daniel.
That’s when he took the reins setting type and printing. A few days later my custom poster was in the mail and on its way to my doorstep. In the meantime Daniel emailed some photos of the process, a step that’s included in all orders that really sends the experience over the top.
When my Life & Type poster arrived I was even more impressed than expected. The paper is super luxe, the type is beautiful, and the entire experience was just so personalized. A poster like this would make such a fantastic gift for so many occasions – graduation, a new home, a wedding, etc. I know this beauty will be hanging in my home for years and years to come.
I received product in exchange for this post. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Design Crush!
I’ve been dragging my feet on getting the second floor of my house into shape in a big way. Plans have been underway for months, but the puzzle pieces have been slow to fall into place. Right now the focus is on my office because I’m desperate to break a bad habit I’ve developed since moving last September – working from the couch.
I painted the smallish room the same custom white-grey/grey-white that I covered the rest of the house in, but I want to add something inspiring and different. This is the room where Design Crush gets put on the page after all, so I think it needs to reflect the personality of the site.
As you can surmise from my inspiration here, I settled on a pale pink – SW 7110Cosmetic Blush to be exact – and a play on an accent wall design. It started out as one thing and as I got to taping off turned into something so much better. I can’t wait to share the redesign with you all next week for Sherwin-WilliamsNational Painting Week!
That was fast! The event is full! Apologies to anyone who missed out.
Local Pittsburgh friends! I’m so happy to announce that I’ll be hosting an event with Anthropologie on Saturday, May 2nd from 10am until noon. Join me at the Bakery Square location where we’ll create sets of abstract painted potholders while we snack and sip on delicious things. Space is limited, so be sure and RSVP today if you’d like to be part of the workshop!
I first learned of Chatbooks back in January, and they kept passing through my head as I tried to come up with a solution for creating a printed version of last year’s #365quotes Instagram project. (If you’ve been following along, you likely noticed that I failed fantastically at this year’s attempt – #365lyrics – about six weeks in.)
A few months later they happened to release just what I was looking for, a 365 page book made just for putting this sort of project on paper. I downloaded the free Chatbooks app, searched my Instagram feed by the hashtag #365quotes and selected all the tagged photos. After swapping out the cover to the one I preferred and clicking Order I was done.
A few days later the printed result showed up on my doorstep. To say it was gratifying to flip through the pages would be a huge understatement, the paper was the perfect weight and texture. And I love that I can order additional copies for anyone who requests their own book.
Chatbooks has some other great book options as well. The Instagram series prints a new book automatically in 60-page (a photo a page) volumes. You can edit which photos get included and even change captions. The Chatbooks series is a daily scrapbook come to life. The best part is that multiple people can add photos, almost like a group text. You can then delete photos you don’t want and edit captions once again in this 60-page option. Last is the custom book, where you can upload between 30 and 365 photos celebrating an event or focusing on a theme. Invite others to add their perspective as well, photos will automatically arrange themselves chronologically.
I’m really looking forward to cataloging more life events with Chatbooks and embracing the printed photograph once again.
I received product in exchange for this post. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Design Crush!
Somewhere along the road of finding my home’s style I began to incorporate more art and fewer personal photos. With the exception of a black and white photo strip of my mom and I when I was less than a year old there’s, well, nothing of the sort. But my iPhone – like your smartphone, I’m sure – has made me take more notice of the world around me. I’m constantly snapping photos. I rarely print them though, so when Artifact Uprising reached out about teaming up I realized now was the perfect time.
My favorite piece is the [Signature] Print + Wood Cleat for its casual feel and versatility. Tired of the print? Have a new one printed and swap it out. I went with a photo of my mom and stepdad’s backyard in Oklahoma that I took the day they moved out of their longtime home last summer. Just looking at it I can remember the rain falling and the movers carting box after box out the front door.
There are several layout options to choose from, so you get the best visual appeal for your photo. The wood cleat is handcrafted with beetle pine that’s reclaimed from Colorado, and pairs perfectly with an ultra thick [signature] print. The easy-to-use magnet closure system makes swapping prints out so easy.
I also created a Wood Calendar with twelve of my favorite Instagram shots. The beetle pine clipboard has a big magnet on the back, so it’s perfect for hanging right on my refrigerator. Artifact Uprising updates the calendars they print on a rolling basis, so there’s no need to wait until next January to enjoy it. I’ll be making it a yearly thing and ordering a refill pack next April.
If you haven’t already, here’s your chance to experience Artifact Uprising. One of you will win $150 to create your own printed memories! You could do a little something nice for yourself or think a few weeks ahead to Mother’s Day and even graduation. Enter below, you have until April 21st. Good luck!
I’m so happy that we can finally say winter is behind us. Not only did this last one seem endless, but it was also the first spent in my 115 year old home. My 115 year old home with all new windows, but a lack of great insulation and a disgustingly high heating bill. The temperature indoors never rose above 64-degrees yet my bill never went under $300. I knew this might be an issue when I purchased the place of course, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.
I knew I needed something programable, and Nest Learning Thermostat‘s promise of learning my habits to program itself was irresistible. Smart technology is everywhere in my life, so why wasn’t it yet working to save me money?
I’d heard great things from friends who had switched to Nest themselves, so I was eager to give it a go myself. What I was less sure about was installing the unit on my own, I’m not the handiest person. After turning the breaker off and removing the old thermostat I was left with a gaggle of wires and remnants of buttercream wall paint. Thankfully there was a simple step-by-step guide that was easy to read and follow (and extra paint in the basement).
Honestly, it couldn’t have been easier. I screwed in the wall plate (isn’t that built-in level handy?) and connected the wires before popping on the cover. THAT WAS ALL. Nest immediately updated itself through my wifi, then asked me a few simple questions like where the unit is located in the house and my zip code. It’s been busy learning my patterns for the last few days and I’m looking forward to seeing the result on my gas bill.
I can also control my Nest through my phone using the app, like if I’m going to be late getting home. Using Auto-Away it automatically switches into away mode to be more energy efficient, and a little green leaf (the Nest Leaf) shows up when I’m saving. Summer isn’t all that far away either, so I’m really looking forward to the Airwave function that helps lower costs by cutting AC runtime according to the humidity level in your home. That’s not even the end of this super smart thermostat, which blows my mind. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that sleek design that looks so nice on the wall which doesn’t hurt one bit.
I received product to review for this post, all words and opinions are mine and mine alone. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Design Crush!
