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!
This week on Design Crush:
Ten fresh art prints to up the art ante of your walls.
I’m pinking up the office for a much needed facelift.
Beautiful sugar and watercolor stained glass by Sipho Mabona.
The Kame is giving me some major suitcase envy right about now.
Loving these overhead POV paintings from Ida Badal.
I’m obsessed with my Life & Type custom letterpress poster! Sylvia Baz’s Typeworks alphabet prints are graphic and amazing.
The perfect summer grilling aprons by Hedley and Bennett.
I’d love a few pieces of this cement pottery from Studio Twocan.
Studio Twocan is a creative studio managed by sisters Maddie and Becc Sharrock. Each piece the duo creates is individually crafted, showing off their dedication and commitment to quality of design and manufacture. The cement is colored using pigment inspired by Australian landscapes, then each piece is polished with natural oils, sealing the cement with a satin finish. This process celebrates imperfections and ensures that each piece is unique. Check out their shop to make a piece your own.
I’ve been in the process of getting my backyard into tiptop summer entertaining condition, including an unexpected hand-me-down from my aunt and uncle in the form of a three times used grill that I can’t wait to put through its paces. Any grill master worth their salt requires a sturdy apron, and these chef’s grade designs ones from Hedley and Bennett are the perfect thing.
Suitcase envy is definitely a thing – case in point is Kame by Nendo for Fabbrica Pelletterie Milano. The name is Japanese for tortoise and describes the design of its padded fabric front perfectly. Protective of your travel possessions while also being a dream in space efficiency and functionality, Kame has got it going on.
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!
This week on Design Crush: Showcase Mirror is a wall display for your favorite things.
Pretty folksy jewelry that’s perfect for summer from Gamma Folk. Talwst creates the coolest mini dioramas in vintage ring boxes.
A roundup of the best Mother’s Day cards out there. (Psst, it’s May 10th.)
Super sexy paper cut babes with great hair and tattoos by Belinda Rodriguez.
The stone shelf would be perfect in so many places around the house.
Neon bright reversible embroidered art from Liz Payne.
Crushing on these Atelier Dion colored clay mugs in a big way. Sybille Paulsen supports and celebrates cancer patients through her wearable hair art.
Seems ironic that what I’m admiring most right now, just as the weather warms, is a foursome of Atelier Dion Colored Clay Mugs. These beauties are crafted out of signature pigmented clays rather than painted or glazed. (The silver lining/justification is that a day doesn’t go by that I don’t start with coffee.)
Simple product, simple name, so much impact. Stone Shelf from Fort Standard is a small marble piece (11.5″ x 5″ x 6″) that mounts to the wall with two brass thumb screws – the perfect size for setting keys, your phone, or just about anything.
