Our Little Kitchen Makes It Big

We are kinda super official now. Houzz, which we all know and love by now, chose our little kitchen for their Kitchen of the Week post. Thank you Houzz! (clearly)

Check it out: Houzz Kitchen of the Week

For more of the story about our little kitchen that made it big here's an old blog post.

The big picture

Large artwork on a budget is always a tricky find. But once again Etsy comes to the rescue. Check out these photos from Shoot Snap Images in Chicago that made a plain ol' blank white wall in a nautical playroom a lot more fun.

  

Here's the before photo of the lonely big white wall over the sofa:

And after the art rescue:

Photo by John Gillooly/PEI 

Printed on pearlescent photo paper the images really pop off the wall. I wanted something that was a series and these three images focused on ropes gave me a nice link to the seating area lamps and broke up the scale a bit more.

Not every photo at Snap Shoot is nautical either. I'm loving a series on cars they have. (It's on my Christmas gift list for my brother.) Every photo is a close up shot though, so you get a lot of texture and color - thank you again Snap Shoot. Photos can be ordered in sizes 8x10 up to 16x24, so go for it! Tell Hallur, the owner of Shoot Snap Images I say hi.

www.etsy.com/shop/ShootSnapImages

Details:
The frames are from IKEA (the ever popular and way too useful Ribba line). The mats are the ones that come with the frames but (they are an ugly creamy off white so) I spray painted them a flat light gray.

Never Say Never to A Can of Spray Paint

Glossy black spray paint is a staple in my house and it yet again came in handy so I could get some artwork up in my bathroom. The art itself is "borrowed" from a book I got from a museum bookshop (yes I saw the exhibit) so pretty pictures, and one quote in cool font, check. The frames were all bought at local yard sales for a total of maybe $15 so budget, check. Hit the Depot for a can of paint plus primer in glossy black and the local hardware store for a custom piece of glass to fit one of the yard sale frames, and I was ready to go. The whole project took about an hour and cost less than lunch, ok, lunch with a glass of wine.

One grouping

The frames are strong enough that nothing else is needed on the wall which is painted in my new favorite gray.

One pair of frames ties two distant walls together. The black frames help the accent in the original 1930s tile work  make more sense in the space.

One of my favorite frames, now that it's black!

Have a project you think a quick spray paint job with solve but need a little help? Send a photo to liz@ermillerdesign.com

Roll It On Wallpaper: NotWallpaper on Etsy

If the thought of hanging wallpaper scares you then you're in luck. NotWallpaper, a shop on Etsy, offers patterned paint rollers so all you have to do is dip your roller in paint and roll the pattern right onto your wall. The shop founders picked up the idea from an antique roller they found in Kennebunkport, Maine. This is also great for a table top or tray, for those of you that work on a smaller scale. They are $19 for the roller and $39 for a roller and applicator. Here are my favorite patterns:

Petite damask

Spring Bird

Sweet Dreams Floral

More patterns are due this fall from NotWallpaper: www.Etsy.com/shop/Notwallpaper

Get Ready for your End of the Summer House Guests: 10 Cheap & Cheerful Side Tables

We had guests this past week and it got me looking at some empty spots in my house that need a little help. Cheap and cheerful side tables (of course also great as bedside tables) always do the trick. Here are a few that caught my eye so you can get ready for your summer house guests. 

The Audrey
Photo courtesy of Etsy  

 The Catalina Barrel
Photo courtesy of Crate & Barrel

Cigar
Photo courtesy of Worlds Away

Marilyn
Photo courtesy of Clayton Gray

Milano
Photo courtesy of Clayton Gray

Tini Table IV
Available in 16 colors and 9 top options
Photo courtesy of Oomph

And the budget version at Target
Threshold End Table with Woven Top in Plum/Red
Photo Courtesy of Target

Peekaboo
Photo courtesy of CB2

Slim
Available in 3 sizes as round and 10 colors
Photo courtesy of Room & Board

Threshold Campaign side table
Available in 3 colors
Photo courtesy of Target

Threshold Tray in Teal
Photo courtesy of Target