B&F Wallpaper

Farrow and Ball's colors are just perfection. One of my favorites is Arsenic. It's a lovely bluey jade green.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/img_content_1.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The arsenic color was used on the walls of this pretty Victorian house featured in <a href="http://www.livingetc.com/showcase/houses/Eclectic_Victorian_villa_article_291598.html?slide=1&thumbStart=1#gallery">Living Etc</a>. It's such a pretty, clear color.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/eclectic_house_tour__Livingetc__living-room.jpg" /></div></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/eclectic_house_tour__Livingetc__piano.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />A couple months ago I bought about 10 triple rolls of this wallpaper at the Brunschwig and Fils sample sale. It's pretty spot on with the arsenic paint color. I think I paid either $2 or $3 a roll. It was insane.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/bf2photo.jpg" /></div></div><br />It wasn't until I got home that I realized that half of the rolls were a smaller, different pattern. I'm thinking of using the smaller pattern on the daybed wall in my office.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7678-2_edited-1.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7647-2_edited-1.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've got plans for a big piece of modern art layered on top to mix up the more traditional pattern. I'm super excited.<br /><br />Spoiler alert: I brought a few rolls of the bigger damask with me to Arizona. Mom and I did a little mini-reno of her kitchen this week and the wallpaper makes an appearance. Can't wait to share the photos next week. I'm trying to dig up some before photos for you. Aren't afters are always better when you can see the befores?<br /><br />Happy weekend! xoxo</div></div>

B&F Wallpaper

Farrow and Ball's colors are just perfection. One of my favorites is Arsenic. It's a lovely bluey jade green. The arsenic color was ...

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Organizing a Desk with No Drawers

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Some of you asked if it was tricky to keep a desk organized without any built in storage. I actually love that my IKEA desk is leggy and open, but I discovered pretty quick that some drawer storage was going to be necessary. I use my old <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/10/lacquer-boxes.html">aqua lacquered drawers</a> for smaller office supplies (tape, stapler, paper clips, etc).</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/deskcloseup.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I looked for a while for a decently priced filing cabinet that wasn't completely offensive looking. Finally this little filing cabinet showed up at the Chelsea Flea Market for only $20. Sold!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7944.jpg" /></div><br />It looks like four drawers, but it's actually just two deep drawers for hanging files and it fits perfectly under the IKEA desk. I thought about painting it, but I'm sort of digging the wood. (and you can't tell that the top is scratched when it's under the desk)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7627-2.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You can also see in the photo above that I use an antique wire basket for magazine storage. I get a lot of magazines and catalogs, so I like having a place to keep them that's off my desk top. They sit here safely until I have a chance to read them and then I recycle most or pass them on to friends. I also have a couple <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/office?productId=10029389&N=7&Ntt=acrylic">acrylic folder trays</a> from the Container Store for rounding up loose files and papers at the end of the day.</div></div><br />On the other end of the desk, I keep two seagrass baskets for corralling trims and loose fabrics I pulled from the shelves of fabrics on wall behind this desk. I keep another acrylic tray here too for my husband's magazines. Isn't that glass ball so cool? It was another flea market find and wish I knew more about it so I could buy more!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7694-2.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm finding it's pretty easy to keep this desk clean. If I can't fit all the loose paperwork in my tray at the end of the day, then it's time to file. There are no 'black hole' drawers here. It forces me to be more organized and then my desk stays tidy. Kind of necessary when my work space is approx. 5 feet from the living room.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7726.jpg" /></div></div></div>

Organizing a Desk with No Drawers

Some of you asked if it was tricky to keep a desk organized without any built in storage. I actually love that my IKEA desk is leggy and ope...

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My Desk

With <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-balance-jenny-komenda-of-little.html">all this talk</a> about work schedules and approaches, I thought it would be fun to share some photos of my home office in progress.<br /><br />(See <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-office-chairs.html">here for the story</a> on my vintage office chairs.)<br /><br />Our loft has two long banks of windows. One is in our living area and the other is in our office/guest space (both these rooms are open to each other). I wanted the desk to basically run the length of the windows so an assistant could work there during the day and my husband at night. I wanted a shallow desktop. Also I needed something with legs that were or could be pushed forward so the desk could sort of sit over the top of the radiator vents. Sounds like a custom job, right? No good for me ($$$$$), so I figured I'd have to build something myself (<a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/07/pretty-office.html">like this</a>).<br /><br />Then I remembered that IKEA sells interchangable table tops and legs at really reasonable prices. I was hoping for something on the more modern/streamlined side anyway. I was able to buy two of the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40136558">VIKA pine wooden tops</a> and <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10115519">three of these metal legs</a> for about $90 total (the pricing is/was a little less in-store -- I bought the legs for $10 each and the tops for $30 each).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ikeadesk.jpg" /></div><br />The legs attached very easily with the use of a drill and the provided screws. Just make sure to measure where you want the legs to sit, so that the legs line up together.<br /><br />We were a little nervous that putting a single leg under the seam of the table tops (in the middle) was a bad idea, but it has been really fine - no problems here. I really just didn't want the added bulk of a fourth leg. Then it would just look like two desks pushed together. I'm so glad it worked to just use three legs. The result was exactly what I wanted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6809.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I love the modern shape of the legs.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6814.jpg" /></div><br />Once I had everything put together, I whipped up a quick pickling paint concoction with a little bit of white paint, some gray primer (because that's what I had around in the dark gray department) and water. I would say I ended up with four parts water to one part paint. I wanted it on the watery side.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6798.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I wanted to be able to see the knots and some of the grain in the wood through the paint job.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6818.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Pickling the tabletop was about the easiest paint project I've ever done. It took about 10 minutes to brush on all 100" of table length!</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/DSC_0002-7.jpg" /></div><br />I wanted a brass look on the legs, so I broke out my quart of Ralph Lauren Regency Metallic Parlor Gold and brushed it on the legs with a foam brush (no primer first, because I was feeling a little lazy - it was after bedtime. See me in my jimjams?). I did two or three coats and then sealed the gold painted with Polycrylic.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6822.jpg" /></div><br />I made this desk a couple months ago and it has held up beautifully. No chipping on the legs and the tabletop has withstood it's fair share of rogue crayon/marker scribbles.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/DSC_0044-8.jpg" /></div><br />I'm happy with the look of mixing the pickled wood with the modern brassy legs. And I really love how much surface space we have in that room now. It's great for a second work station, but I also use it a lot for laying out fabrics and samples. Two thumbs up for this great IKEA product.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7632-2.jpg" /></div><br />More on my office next week. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! xx

My Desk

With all this talk about work schedules and approaches, I thought it would be fun to share some photos of my home office in progress. (See ...

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Motherhood

So many of you fellow mothers have commented or emailed asking for tips on "how to do it all." It makes me laugh to think that I would be the imparter of advice on that one. This summer has majorly challenged me on the professional/personal balance front. All great things happening - just not enough hours in the day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/joannamotherhood.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Disneyland yesterday morning. This photo makes me laugh everytime. Grace and Claire were so excited to get going and the last thing they wanted to do was stop for a photo. :)<br /></span></div><a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/">Joanna</a> asked me to participate in a series she has this week on juggling motherhood with work. It was fun to write out my schedule and some of my thoughts about the subject, but I think my ultimate conclusion was that we all have to find a balance that works for us and constantly be re-evaluating and adjusting. I am reminded every day that life is full of trade offs. I feel like my schedule is a little too work-heavy right now, so we are taking this long trip out west. Vacationing with kids isn't always the most rejuvenating, but I am so happy to be with them all day, every day.<br /><br />Thanks to Joanna for including me in her series. You can check out the post <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-balance-jenny-komenda-of-little.html">HERE</a>.<br /><br />xoxo

Motherhood

So many of you fellow mothers have commented or emailed asking for tips on "how to do it all." It makes me laugh to think that I w...

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An Alternative to Butterfly Taxidermy

I was sort of surprised that <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/framed-butterflies.html">so many of you</a> think that framing butterflies is a morbid practice. While I think it's a great idea to only purchase vintage pieces or to buy from humane harvesters (there are lots of these sellers on eBay and etsy), framed butterflies don't bother me at all and I love getting a chance to examine these beautiful creatures up close. The patterns and colors are completely amazing. Mother nature at her finest!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_7633-2.jpg" /></div><br />But if you're still creeped out by the real butterflies, check out what one of my readers, Krista, <a href="http://kikis-list.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-very-own-butterfly-collection.html">shared </a>on her blog <a href="http://kikis-list.blogspot.com/">Kiki's List</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Screenshot2011-06-20at23642PM.png" /></div><br />Krista purchased a few sets of these <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/34585896/martha-stewart-replica-wedding-cake">pretty plastic butterflies</a> (meant for wedding cakes a la Martha!) on etsy and framed the sets arranged by color in shadow boxes from Michaels. Doesn't this look great? Check out <a href="http://kikis-list.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-very-own-butterfly-collection.html">her entire post here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Screenshot2011-06-20at101308AM.png" /></div><br />Thanks for sharing your beautiful project, Krista!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Screenshot2011-06-20at101222AM.png" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you have a project to share on LGN email me: jenny (at) jennykomenda (dot) com. Thanks!</span></div>

An Alternative to Butterfly Taxidermy

I was sort of surprised that so many of you think that framing butterflies is a morbid practice. While I think it's a great idea to onl...

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How to Reupholster a Chair, Part 5: Sewing the Cushion

Hi friends! We are out west for my sister in law's wedding, the beach and a little bit of Disneyland. I had to take an unexpected blogging break due to some technical difficulties (it's so hard to be away from my iMac and all my files/photoshop). Anyway, sorry for the delay on this final installation of the upholstery tutorial series!<br /><br />Here are the rest of the steps: <i><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/reupholstering-chair-part-1-stripping.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-reupholster-chair-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-reupholster-chair-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a>, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-upholster-chair-part-4-sewing.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></i><br /><div><br /></div><div>Sewing a chair cushion is very similar to sewing a self-welt pillow with a zipper. Not hard at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Step 1: Using a seam ripper, carefully pull apart the original cushion. I used an extra large seam ripper which makes the process fly by.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8962.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Step 2: Use the original cushion pieces as a template to cut out pieces from the new fabric. Pay close attention to the pattern on your fabric. You want things to line up as much as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8958.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Step 3: Always have your iron out and hot when you are sewing. Press everything! My mom (who is an AMAZING seamstress) always says that the key to professional looking sewing projects is in the pressing. The fabric will be much easier to sew and there will be less mistakes. Here we are pressing the back panel, where the zipper sits.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8969.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8974.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 4: Whip up some more piping. This photo was taken when we made the double-cord welting (<a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-upholster-chair-part-4-sewing.html">instructions here</a>), but the idea is the exact same. You'll need less width though for single cord piping.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8952-1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 5: Sew the piping to both the top and bottom pieces of cushion. My seam allowance here was about 1/2".</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8977.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A quick tip: if you cut the seam of the piping a little just around the curves, the piping will be much more flexible and it won't pull or rip from the inside.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8978.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 6: Sew the middle panel (which in the case of my cushion was one long strip the wrapped around three sides) to the top piece.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8979.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had a little trouble getting the pattern to match on one cushion (below) because we were short on fabric, but this pattern has so much going on, that it doesn't bother me at all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8980.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 7: Reassemble the zipper using the old cushion as your template. You can even reuse the old zipper if it sort of matches your new fabric (mine didn't).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8975.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The old cushion had a small panel that covered the beginning and end of the zipper. It's a pretty clean look, though you don't really see the back of the cushion from behind the chair.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8982.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 8: Once your zipper is in and the three-sided panel was all sewn in place, it was time to attach the bottom panel. Just like sewing a cushion, you turn everything inside out, with the zipper open so you can turn it back to it's right side after sewing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8984.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And that's it! The cushions fit just right and are easily removable for washing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_7705-2.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I took these photos as we were running out the door to catch our plane, so forgive the less than great styling. I definitely need some new pillows for to the chairs. I found this awesome red and green leopard print that might be *perfect*.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_7625-2.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Off to help with more wedding stuff. I promise to post as often as possible while we're away. I have some really exciting projects to share with you that I photographed before we left. xoxo</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_7622-2.jpg" /></div>

How to Reupholster a Chair, Part 5: Sewing the Cushion

Hi friends! We are out west for my sister in law's wedding, the beach and a little bit of Disneyland. I had to take an unexpected bloggi...

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