Hob-knobbery

I love interesting hardware. I'm pretty well addicted to any knob, pull, hinge, hook, or finial. It's pretty disgusting, but it passes the time. I typically fulfill this hardware jones at Anthropologie, but lately I've been checking out the more wallet friendly retailers (re. I am cheap and only just got a job, folks!). Hobby Lobby has recentlystarted carrying really adorable drawer pulls and such that are much more practically priced than those at Anthro. I still love you Anthro, but you are a smidgen out of budget about 99.99% of the time. Unless there's a super duper amazing sale. Then I'm all over that. Another great couple places to check out are pretty standard, at least for me -- T. J. Maxx and Tuesday Morning. I'm not sure whether these stores are available everywhere, but they tend to carry really random things, including funky hardware on occasion. Below are the pulls I picked up at Hobby Lobby for my room.

Ugly dresser

So I forgot to take a picture of my ugly dresser before I painted it, but "after" pics will be posted shortly. Mom and I picked out a greatteal color similar to Benjamin Moore's Dragonfly, which I saw in Martha Stewart's color magazine last month. I've never been a huge fan of painted wood furniture, it feels like forced coordination and decoration and, somehow, just seems unnatural. However, I've been checking out the Before and After Archives on Design*Sponge and I think I'm okay with it. I know I want fun knobs and some design element on the drawers and top. A glaze maybe? Or possibly just a lighter shade of teal? Or (and this is my favorite) a piece of artwork on the drawers. It's in development, so we'll see.

Roller Blinds

This is what happens when I stay up too late -- I find projects I think I need to do right away, but don't have all the tools to do. Case and point: After browsing the DIY at Design*Sponge again, I've decided it is imperative that I make myself some roller blinds for my window well. I enjoy the natural light, but not the icky things within the window well itself. I don't want to climb in and clean it or open the window to clean it because, like I said, there are icky things inside.

Anywho, I very much enjoy fabric of all kinds. Right now I'm kind of obsessing over Liberty of London, who isn't, right? At B&J Fabrics there is a plethora of amazing Liberty prints. I'm absolutely in love with a few, and might splurge. Once I find a job. Because I'm jobless living in my parents' basement and I'm just a huge post-college cliche right now, try not to judge.

Here are a few of my favorites, should anyone feel generous enough to gift them to me. This stuff ain't cheap at $36.95 a yard. But for eternal happiness, it just might be worth it.

Microwave Cart in the Closet

Until I am fortunate enough to be disgustingly wealthy and able to get a custom closet organizational system, I have to stick to what I can find around the house. Actually, what I can find from my apartment remnants. So far, I've added 3 shoe shelves and boxes to the high shelf storage, a sweater and two shoe hanging organizers. Today I added a microwave cart. Still not sure where exactly it should go or what precisely should go on it, but I've got high hopes! I'm thinking mobile crafting station... I'm accepting comments on the subject because I know people read this. *zeke* ahem.

Putting the bed together

Today, My mom, sister, and myself are putting together my captain's bed I've had for the duration of college. It's now home with me and moving to the basement. It is incredibly difficult to put together considering I didn't take it apart (thanks Mom!). Now we're pretty much ready to get the whole thing put back together, but I'm finally fixing the things I've been annoyed with since I first got it. It's getting L-bracketed to the wall (finally, no wobbling!), we're stringing a surge protector through before we get the bottom part butted up to the shelf portion so that I don't have to stick my little arms down into the bed abyss. It's been Sharpied and wood crayoned to perfection. I could sleep in my own bed tonight, and that is the most exciting thing I've heard in a while.

Organizational Mecca

Today, I stumbled upon what I believe to be Organizational Mecca. Stainless steel, small parts cabinet with between 25-100 drawers complete with 12+ colors and labeled drawer pulls. I want one, I need one, I wish I had a job. These babies by Hobart Cabinet Co. aren't cheap, but they are made by order in Ohio and take 4-6 weeks. They have a special deal on the 10 drawer cabinet on eBay or you can get something done on their official website. I'm thinking about gray, almond or heather blue, myself. It's officially at the top of the wish list. You can specify in your order (by phone or e-mail) whether you'd like dividers, inserts or 2-3 pocket trays. I will seriously dream about this tonight and take over a week to mull over which color to pick. Sigh.

Closet Space

Why does it seem as though no matter how much closet space I have, I manage to fill it all to the very max? I've been daydreaming about a converted super closet kitchen (so much space, so many little organizational nooks and crannies!) but I doubt that will happen. I'm also in love with closet systems like California Closets or Elfa at The Container Store (above). Too bad Wichita doesn't have one. I'll have to suck it up and just use what I can manage to find at Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond. Pictures of closet organization overhaul to come. As soon as I find my camera. It's in a box. Somewhere.

Lazy!

How I've been feeling lately. I'm not sure if it's the weather or what, but I'm just tired. It's hard to get motivated to do everything I really need to go when option B is lie out at the pool all day...

Adorable Hangers

So I found this cute idea for hangers going through Design*Sponge DIY archives and I'm going to get right on this! For complete instructions click here.

I Hate Moving

Dang I hate moving!

I'm sitting in my new room downstairs just about to lose my little mind. There's stuff everywhere! And I'm pretty sure I've already gone through it all once to do the "Keep," "Toss," "Sell," or "Donate" piles. Hopefully when furniture is all moved in things will have someplace to go, but there's absolutely no way I need all this stuff. It's going to take a couple more rounds of pile-making to get this even sort-of realistic to put away.

Curtains or Doors

Featured dilemma: I am moving to the basement where there is one giant shallow closet divided with two sets of accordion doors. Do I replace one set with fabric curtains, or leave the doors up? I am leaning towards fabric because it would help soften the room and add color and texture. It's a difficult decision because I don't really have any furniture in the room until it gets touched up and put back together.

The Mad Haberdasher

My name is Morgan and I like to design and craft. This will be my design blog. I'll post things I like, things I love and hopefully, things I make.