They say that behind every successful man is a brilliant woman.  Well, I’m proud to announce that behind our old king of sofas is a table fit for a queen.

Okay… that might be a bit of a stretch.  None the less, I’m still pretty excited about our latest addition.

It all started with the Pinterest Challenge.  As I was looking through all the submissions, this went down:

Me: Hey… take a look at this.

Him: We should do that.

Me: I KNOW!

Him: I’ll go get the supplies.

Most of our conversations don’t normally roll like this.  However, when they do and they’re coupled with Tyson having a hole in his work schedule, we run with the idea before anything changes.

Before getting into the project itself, I should probably back up and give you a quick update on the space.  In March, I asked you all to weigh in on the furniture arrangement in our formal living area.  We had the sofa against the wall at one point and then T-ed it out to see how we liked living with it that way.

The truth is, I hate having all the furniture shoved up against the walls.  But Tyson felt like the sofa was cutting off the sitting area.  The interesting thing was that as soon as we moved the sofa into the middle of the room, everyone kinda stopped using the space.  I (stubbornly) continued to sit there, but found myself sitting sideways on the sofa so that I could see the rest of the house.

So we recently decided to move the sofa back, but not up against the wall.  We planned on purchasing a table to put behind the sofa so that we could add lamps and bring additional lighting to the area.  At night, the space is desperate for more light.

Then the Pinterest Challenge came along and I ran across this solution created by Chandler from All Precious & Pleasant.  Tyson and I both knew this would be a quick and easy project with big impact for our home.  So we set out to make a table to go behind our sofa in the formal living room.

The thing is… it’s not a table at all.  It’s a shelf.  A very low, it could be a table looking shelf. Call it what you will, we were building it.

Tyson purchased a 7 foot board and trim to get started.

After miter cutting all the trim, he glued the pieces on.  He also added strips of wood to the underside of the long board for the shelf brackets to mount to.

His goal was to create the illusion of a thick slab of wood for the top and he didn’t want the brackets to get tucked up inside of what he had assembled.

Once the wood glue had dried, he added finishing nails at the joints for extra durability and sanded the whole thing smooth.

Then it was my turn to apply the wood stain.  I used Minwax’s Dark Walnut which I had left over from here, here and here.  (One little can goes far!)  I applied one even coat and immediately wiped it off so that it wouldn’t be too dark.

Some not so blog-worthy photos of me working… yay!

After the stain had dried, I applied three coats of polyurethane (with a light sanding in between each coat) to protect the wood.  This will be a natural place to set drinks and I want to help the wood out as much as possible.

Tyson then used wall anchors to install the shelf brackets onto the wall.

The end result was exactly what we needed for the space.  Tyson got open seating.  I got something that anchors the furniture without feeling like everything is up against the walls.

And now we have a large open wall above the “table” to fill in.  We’ve already got some ideas on what might go there, but we’re looking forward to exploring the possibilities.  Plus, this queen is ready to shop for lamps and accessories.

What do you think of the new “table”?  Any suggestions for the wall above?  How do you compromise when you and your spouse aren’t seeing eye to eye on decorating your home?

A few weeks ago, I shared the Subway Chalkboard Art that I did for the Spring Pinterest Challenge.  Seriously guys… I still can’t get over the fact that I was able to pull off this project.

This is the fifth challenge I’ve participated in and I can honestly say that each one has been a blast.  However, I can also honestly say that I never get to go back and fully appreciate all the other contributors of the challenge.  At last count, there were over 450 people that shared their projects on Young House Love alone.  That’s a lot of blogs to go check out!

So I decided with this challenge, I would intentionally go back through and share my top favorites with you.  My main goal was to feature projects that I love and ones that I would also want to tackle myself.  Also, I sought out blogs that I haven’t read before, since meeting new people is half the fun of a link-up.  Hopefully, these will be new for you too. I’ve received permission from each of these bloggers to include their projects here.  The only thing I ask is that if you decide to pin something, please do so directly from their blog. They worked hard and I want to make sure that they receive the credit on Pinterest where it is due.

After spending some time playing with chalk for my own project, Jamie’s project immediately caught my eye.

She used the same technique that I used to transfer the lettering, but for her project she used a chalk marker instead of chalk.  I’ve been curious to know how that might work and the marker resulted in some nice crisp edges.  Plus, I love the monogram!  I’ll be filing this font away for future reference.

Continuing on with typography, Becky used thumb tacks instead of chalk or marker to create her lettered sign.

I’ve never seen this technique before and I was instantly enamored.  Oh the possibilities… Especially when combined with all the varieties of nail head trim!  This will be popping up somewhere in our home for sure.

Carolina made these very cute wooden pendants that I can’t wait to try.

They’re a completely unexpected look and would be a quick and easy project.  There’s a ton of possibilities with this project too and I like that she used Mod Podge to finish off the back so that the threads are protected.

Ashley made this thread holder which I think is just brilliant.

Not only is all of her thread easy to get to and makes for a beautiful display, I think it’s so clever that she included a peg for her threaded bobbins.

Tanya from Dans le Townhouse has an amazing home with mid-century modern furnishings.  I love this updated side table that she did for her space.

Tanya did an incredible job of updating this piece, but at the same time staying true to the period.  It’s so fresh and classic!

Lyndsey is proving she truly can do A LOT in fifteen minutes with this outstanding stenciled wall.

I’ve seen a lot of stenciled walls on Pinterest lately, but this is one of my favorites.  It’s a completely different look and I think this pattern would be cool done on canvas too.

Anna did this gallery wall that I find utterly stunning!

I think the white, empty frames and mirrors create a graphic display that is really interesting and fun.  Plus, I’ve been eyeing the giraffe from Z-gallerie for months and would’ve never thought to display it in this way.  We recently had a large amount of wall space become available in our home and I would LOVE to try this.

Lastly, you have to check out Katrina at SotaIsSexy.  I’m not including a photo because… well, you’ve just gotta see her project for yourself.  Katrina ALWAYS does her own unique twist on the Pinterest Challenge and she never disappoints.  I make sure to never miss out on her latest offering.  This one is the ultimate grill.

Did you participate in the Pinterest Challenge?  Do you have a favorite among the ones that I mentioned?  Anything you saw during the challenge, that I didn’t mention here?

PS.  I actually have one more favorite that I haven’t mentioned, but I will be giving more attention to on Wednesday.  I guess you could say we created another Pinterest inspired project.  Looking forward to sharing all the details with you then.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CB2. All opinions are 100% mine.

Recently, I was asked to share with you the new line that Cortney and Robert Novogratz created for CB2.  Have you seen it yet?  Inspired by their family trips to Brazil, the furnishings are infused with a playful mix of bold color and modern style.

CB2 and Novogratz Collection

To me, one of the most impressive parts of the Novogratz story is that not only are they talented designers who have been working together for over twenty years, but they are also mom and dad to seven… yes, seven… kiddos.

Let that sink in for just a minute.

I have worked professionally with my husband for two years and I can completely relate to the fun and occasional challenge that arises from combining business and marriage.  Being parents to two, our plate feels VERY full.  However, if we added five more kids to the mix, our household would be off the charts.

But Cortney and Robert have been able to balance running a successful design studio and having a big, busy family.  The proof is in their latest line for CB2.

Some of my favorite pieces include:

Luli Table Lamp

This white ceramic monkey is whimsical and combined with the simplicity of the grey lampshade, it would make a perfect addition to our daughter’s bedroom.

Botao Stripe Armless Sectional Chair

I’m a sucker for a stripe and this color combination is super versatile.  This chair is a more sophisticated update to the one Tess already has and I also love it in the grey or violet versions.  Either would be amazing in her room!

The Boa Sorte Backgammon Set

I had to include this since I grew up playing backgammon with my family.  Frankly, we are competitive and cutthroat.  That’s why it made total sense for me to try to teach Tyson how to play on our honeymoon.  It didn’t go well.  Thankfully, he decided to stay married to me.  We haven’t played again since, but this would be a great set for my brother.

I highly recommend checking out the new CB2 line by Novogratz.  And for additional fun, CB2 is hosting a sweepstakes.

The details for your chance to win:

-      You and 3 friends could win the trip of a lifetime! Win a one week stay at the vacation home of CB2 collaborators Bob and Courtney Novogratz in beautiful Trancoso, Brazil.*

-      
10 other lucky winners will receive a CB2 giftcard worth $100 along with a personally signed copy of the book “Home by Novogratz”.

-      To Enter click the link:  CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes  Sweepstakes to run from May 2nd through June 3rd.

What are your favorites from the new CB2 line?  Let’s be honest… how great would it be to win a trip to Brazil? And get to stay at the Novogratz vacation home?! And maybe even take your favorite blogger along with you?!!

Okay… just kidding on that last one.  Just a little…

Last week, I went to IKEA to pick-up the wooden KNUFF organizers that I mentioned here. When I went, I promised myself I was only going for the one item.  Get in, get out.  I know how foolish that sounds to some of you, but I promise, I had good intentions.  However, much like Target, IKEA has a way of sucking you in and you slowly find yourself wandering the aisles wondering if you need another pair of Swedish salad tongs.

So I started taking note of things that caught my eye to share with you here.  A couple of items I purchased, but most of them are now on my IKEA Wish List.

Heart Shaped Ice Tray

My friend, Alex at Northstory does amazing things with shaped ice trays.  Where I think “just add water”, she sees the possibilities of so much more.  You can see some of her fun ideas here and here.  For .99 cents, I knew it was time to take a page from Alex’s playbook pick up this little heart ice tray.

Cute Daisies

I mentioned in my Mother’s Day post that I love the simple elegance of daisies.  I even keep some permanently in my workroom.  However, these guys are the perfect size for a small vase and at $1.49, they make an easy home accent.

Springform Pan

This is one of the items I truly regret not getting.  This springform pan has heart shape embellishments on the bottom and it has an insert to easily convert it into a bundt pan style.  2 for 1 and all my future Picaken problems would be solved.

Plants & Lace Pots

I passed these up the first time I saw them in the store, but when I hit the second display, I knew they would come home with me.  There’s something about the lace like trim and the playful little leaves that I love. I’m not sure where in our home this set will end up, but everywhere I place it, it just makes me smile.

Bedspread & Cushion Covers

I love grey and red together so when I came across a display of this red bedspread set next to the same set in grey, they immediately caught my eye.  If we were in the market to replace our summer coverlet in our Master Bedroom, I think this would be the perfect option.  It’s understated by being just one color, but the decorative stitching keeps it from being boring.

Akerkulla Fabric

If I hadn’t already done Tessa’s desk chair in IKEA’s Janette fabric, Akerkulla would be my fabric of choice.  I really like the playfulness of the pattern and the simple grey color allows the pattern to be the star of the show.

Leather Chair

I SO wanted this YSTAD chair to come home with me.  It would be perfect for the family room.  Not too big, not too small, just right!  It was in their “As Is” section and marked down to $450.00.  Someone in Portland has a great new chair.

Mini Globe Lights

This little impulse buy has left my family asking “what’s up with that?”  I thought they’d be cute out on the patio table when we BBQ this summer.  I picked up the aqua colored ones and they look like little eggs (or aliens… I can’t decide) next to our owl candle holder.

Have you had any success during a recent trip to IKEA?  Do you get sucked in by the wonders of their store?  See anything here that you would add to your IKEA wish list? Let me know which are your favorites or something that you might already own.

The Fine Print:  This is NOT a sponsored post.  I’m just a girl sharing her infatuation with swedish home furnishings.

My grandmother was a recipe collector.  I don’t have memories of her spending hours in the kitchen, but she was always collecting recipes.  Don’t get me wrong, she had some stellar “go-to” dishes that I can’t imagine life without.  Most of them were made during the holidays… Tom & Jerry’s, Divinity, Depression Fruitcake… but some of them were just every day things like Open Face Salad. The truth is she worked outside the home and when I spent my summers at my grandparents, she was always quick to play Yahtzee or cards with me instead of being in the kitchen when she got home from work.  I liked that about my summers with her.

However, when she passed away several years ago, my mom came across all of her recipes.  Many of them were torn from newspapers and magazines, but my favorites were those that she took time to write out in her beautiful handwriting.  I made sure to get copies of those for my own little collection.

Speaking of my own collection… frankly, it’s a hot mess.

I keep my cookbooks to a minimum, but I continually find myself collecting recipes that girlfriends have emailed me or items from Food Magazine that look SO amazing.  But these clippings don’t really fit in a traditional recipe box.  They are starting to take on a life of their own and it’s time to wrangle them in.

Last week, I made a trip to IKEA to pick up a set of their KNUFF boxes.  I searched several craft stores and container supply and there’s nothing truly like the KNUFF containers.  They come in sets of two for $9.99.  They are sturdy and (my favorite) customizable.

Before I could prime the box, I taped off the interior.  I like the natural wood finish for the inside, but I have something unique planned for the exterior.

In my prep, I was sure to cover the holes too.

 Once everything was taped up, it was time to prime.

Then came a few light coats of black spray paint.

For the next part of this project, I color copied one of my grandmother’s recipes.  My plan is to create a decorative border from the antiqued cards that are in my grandmother’s handwriting.  Of course, I didn’t want to destroy any of her original recipe cards and they copied beautifully onto a heavy card stock.  I also picked up Washi Tape and these decorative frames.

Before applying my copied recipe cards, I marked a 1.25 inch guideline around the bottom of the KNUFF box.

I then applied the copied recipe cards with Mod Podge and sealed the whole box off with a top coat.

Using leftover chalkboard labels and my chalk marker, I was able to make a title card for the inside of the wood frame.

I love having a larger box to put all me random recipes in… one that can stand up easily next to my cookbooks.  Tyson loves that life is a little more organized in our home.

Do you have a special memory of your grandparents that makes you smile? What about a family recipe that has been passed down through the years?  How do you contain recipe clutter?

This project was made with love and is being included in Victoria Elizabeth Barnes‘ link-up party.  To check out all the other well loved projects or to share your own, you can visit Victoria’s site here.