DIY Wire Patio Table

Yesterday I revealed my infatuation for all the colorful wire patio tables that have arrived in stores this season. I even nearly bought a mis-matched pair I spotted at Home Goods. Fast forward to a couple of days cleaning up the garden and wouldn't you know it, I found myself holding two very sturdy tomato cages that were in good enough condition to eventually become the base for my wire patio table.

I figured I'd ride this idea to its eventual conclusion and either I'd have an inexpensive project that went awry or I'd end up with a custom side table to pair up with our deep patio bench out by the fire bowl. As it turned out, this little table came together just like I wanted it to, with very little effort or money spent. 

One of the things that made this attempt so appealing was that I already had most of the items I needed on hand. My only out of pocket costs were for the table round and mending plates. While I opted for a warm wood stain and a black base, you could just as easily make yours colorful like those I highlighted in yesterday's post by either using a color-coated tomato cage (easily available at most nurseries now) or by changing up the spray paint. Consider painting the table top itself as well and you'll have almost any color combo you want (how 'bout a white top and a mint base or a black top and neon base... so many options!).

Painted or stained, you'll want to give the top a good seal before putting it to use. Wax the top or paint on a good poly to keep water and cup rings at bay. We'll be leaving ours outside year round so I'm planning to seal ours good with a marine grade finish to protect it. 

I'm loving how this little table that came together so quickly plays off all of the black, gray and other wood elements we have going on outdoors. I'm planning on making at least one more to ensure there's always an extra place to set our cocktail down while sitting around the fire. 

Make This // Geo Dowel Pendant Fixture

I recently shared some pictures from the big New Years bash we had here at the house and today, I thought I'd highlight one of the design elements that went into the party decor.

We were expecting a lengthy guest list and wanted to make good use of every corner of the property. So though it was unseasonably warm that night, we staged a tent out by the pool to house another seating area for guests. Tent lighting options are readily available from party rental companies, but I always opt to create a unique statement piece of my own. I have an affection for lighting fixtures in general- but especially those that are inventive and make good use of understated items to create something more dramatic. The dowel pendants I came up with were heavily inspired not only by my fixation of late on geometric patterns, but by the seasonal Himmeli that adorn Scandinavian houses at Christmastime. So there was both a motivation to infuse something handmade, but also meaningful and relevant to the time of year.  The fringe benefit? These were inexpensive to make which left extra budget available for other more important expenditures like cocktails.

I have to tell you that though these may look complicated, they honestly came together so easily. I was convinced they'd fall apart with the first evening gust. But the glue has held them strong and sturdy well past the turning of the New Year. 

Here's the how to.

What you'll need:

1/4" wood dowels sourced from craft supply store

Hot glue gun/sticks

Plug in pendant lighting kit

Filament Bulb

To create a design like mine, you'll need 24 - 12" dowels. I also used Ikea's Hemma lighting kit. But you can also find similar kits at Urban Outfitters and on Amazon.  I finished off the pendant with an old fashioned filament bulb for effect, sourced right from my local Home Depot.

For our large party tent, I made two separate fixtures and hung them side by side. I also left the wood dowels unpainted for this affair. But, these can be easily repurposed with a little paint to create an entirely new look for our next party. See? It's a win win and good use of resources.

Party on.

Project In Progress // Metallic Linen Pillows

With the living room now washed in a bright white paint job, my attentions have turned to incorporating more neutral accessories into our living room. With the gray walls gone and the lamps upgraded to white, I'm really feeling a simple, clean palette in that space. To help lighten up our extra large charcoal gray sectional, I've been kicking around the idea of a pillows in various white, ivory and cream hues, a mismatched collection in various textures all tied together with one common denominator- metallic linen. 

I've found myself running into a typical problem of mine: I settle on something I really want and then can not for the life of me find it. I've seen some close runner ups on Anthro and West Elm and was a little shocked to find pillows upwards of $200 on other sites - I know it's par for the course as these things go, it's just not in my budget- especially not in the quantity I'm aiming for.  So I have resolved to find my own solution and will re-open the pillow factory at the kitchen table once more.

I've been meaning to try my hand at some painted textiles anyway. I think this is a safe enough endeavor to experiment a bit and see what I can come up with.  I'll be mixing and matching with some metallic linen yardage I've been lucky enough to find at Avisa Fabrics through Etsy. Gray Line Linens in New York has some affordable options as well. I'm probably going to order a few swatches from each to see how they will pair with the sofa and with each other before taking the plunge.

More to come on this project. Cross your fingers for me.

Project Reveal // Updated Patio Table

I've been hinting at several projects still in the works that will complete our backyard reno this summer. One of these was a make-over of our existing patio table set. We considered upgrading to a brand new set this year. After all, the patio table and chairs we already owned had been painted and repainted several times over the past 8 years. 

But I really liked our garage sale find chairs and the structure of our old IKEA table and decided to try my hand at updating them once more. 

If you are following me along on Instagram, you've likely already seen a partial reveal. For those of you  who are not, behold - a modern re-do on our old patio dining set.

We repurposed the old base, painting it black to match the new paint on the chairs. The old tabletop was weathered beyond repair and needed to be ditched. 

A quick trip (or three) to Home Depot and I returned with some pre-cut pieces of birch that would form our new table top. They were in pretty good shape to begin with, but I sanded all sides of each board down to a smooth finish before then staining all sides. 

I enlisted The Mister to help me put it all together. On the underside, we ran four boards vertically to allow for extra support and durability. Once constructed, the tabletop was screwed back into the painted  IKEA metal base and then coated several times in Varathane for weather and sun protection.

These favorite chairs were picked up as leftovers from a garage sale that had largely sold through and get this... for a mere $10. When we originally bought them, they were a rusty chrome. Eventually, we painted them white and that look held us over for several years. 

Currently, I'm feeling the black paired with warm wood vibe and this new combination is quite at home in our redesigned backyard. Our patio bar on the opposite side of the yard is constructed of the same wood and stained the same light walnut. 

Eventually, we will probably swap out the seat cushions for a darker fabric. For now, they are in pretty decent shape and we will probably squeeze one more year out of them.

Despite all the weeknight labor that went into this, it was a really satisfying project. We're already planning for lots of al fresco, poolside dinners this summer.

Make It // Kelly Wearstler Inspired Pottery

It's no secret that I'm a bit infatuated of late with rocks and minerals and with this latest project, I think I've successfully incorporated them into nearly every room in the house. The project I'm about to share didn't initially start out in this direction. I had actually spotted a different project on Design Sponge and visited the craft store with that in mind. By the end of my trip, I had the stones and epoxy in my basket and charged off down a completely new path. In the end, the Wearstler-inspired pottery I concocted was the final result I was always looking to achieve in the first place.

Once I got the stones adhered to the face of my pottery (helpful tip: secure with a little painter's tape until they set), I decided to go back over the pottery with a little gold leafing. Gold leafing is new to me, but it could not have been more simple. I think the flakes vs. some of the other liquid options available contributed some additional texture and dimension. 

The rhodonite beads do have some small holes for threading and though I originally thought I'd fill them in, they really don't bother me much with this project. I may opt for some rough cut minerals instead of the tumbled look here in future evolutions I'm considering. For now, I'm really happy with the result.

3 Things I Want To Make // Concrete Edition

I tend to get hung up on a material or project medium and when I do, anything and everything I see becomes doable with it. The Mister has labeled these phases my "little kicks". At the moment, I'm kicking around easy on the wallet projects made out of concrete.

Weekday Carnival // Concrete Table

This table top would be great for dinners outdoors - or I can even see it topping that potter's bench I'm intent on making out in the vegetable garden. Polished and sealed, it would hold up nicely to the elements and resist spills and stains. 

Monsterscircus // Concrete Votives

These gilded concrete candleholders made from food cartons would strike just the right balance of unfussy + fancy at our next summertime soiree. 

Martha Stewart // Hypertufa Planters

I always like to put a handmade touch on a gift. What a perfectly thoughtful, yet inexpensive option this would make. I could see these working well as swag for wedding guests at a minimalist or rustic affair.

Grab Some Wood There Bub

This is a post about some really great grains, beautiful stains and one big ol' pain.

Throughout our renovations process, I've noticed that once in a while, whether by way of some  magical cosmic plan or by sheer coincidence, multiple and otherwise unrelated projects will collide into a singular and consistent focus. Right now, Holtwood House projects concern all things wood.

Today,  I thought I'd share with you all the planing, staining and splintering happening around these parts.

Project One
What: Wood 'privacy' Screen
Where: Front of the house

I recently told you about the screen we are working on out front. For two years now, we've envisioned the day when we would choose our lumber and get to work on this baby and over the weekend, we took our first step.

There are several lumber yards in our area, but working off a tip, we decided to take a road-trip out to Peterman Lumber in Fontana, Ca to peruse their selection of domestic and exotic hardwoods.

The verdict: a must visit if you are in the So Cal area and are looking for something special. We found exactly what we needed (at no additional cost) and did not have to have our wood custom milled like we would have had we gone locally.

There was so much to see at Peterman. Intricate moulding, reclaimed wood, exotics like zebra wood, balsa (whoa- there are some fun projects to be had there) and just about every variety of mahogany under the sun all caught my eye.

For our purposes, we honed right in on their selection of pristine redwood- free of any knots or imperfections and serendipitously found the exact cuts and lengths among the pile (see first image).

Next steps on this project: build it!

Project Two

What: Custom Counter height dining table

Where: 'Formal' dining area

There are other projects that have been worth the wait as well. Take this custom dining table that is nearing the final stages and will soon be up on it's legs. We purchased the raw pieces of African Mahogany some time ago and had a knowledgeable friend glue and frame it up for us. But, while other projects beckoned, there it sat untouched for the better part of the last year, a glaring reminder of yet another project that had to be completed.

We wanted a particular kind of finish on this baby- polished, but matte. We also had to consider that any product we applied would change the color of the wood. I did a lot of research into just how we should go about finishing it and in the end, deferred to my favorite experts Morgan and Anna for the 411.  Over several days, I finely sanded and applied several coats of Danish Oil (in natural) before polishing with four coats of Howards Feed + Wax. So happy with the outcome!

Next Steps on this project: Order the custom hairpin legs and get it on it's feet.

Project Three

What: Stain Perimeter Fence

Where: Backyard

We also got to work on staining the 150 feet of back fence.
25 feet down.
Suffice it to say, I slept with a heating pad last night.

We chose Behr's 'Slate' and by Spring, when the yard has recovered, the plants are going to look amazing against this smoky backdrop.

Next steps on this project: Take it one day, one panel at a time until complete.

Fancied Up Votives

While preparing for last weekend's Super Bowl festivities, I threw together something very simple that I thought I'd pass along. Knowing the game would run well past dark, I wanted to create some ambience at the outdoor bar by adding a couple of candles. I mean, who doesn't like a little candlelight with their football? 

Truth is, I always get a bit nervous putting lone votives out onto a table for fear of them getting knocked over or that somebody will unknowingly drag their sleeve across one. So being the paranoid I am, I plopped the votives into a couple of lowballs and proceeded to create a little moat between the glass and votive with some rocks and minerals I had stored away for an upcoming project. Once lit, I thought they put out the prettiest glow. The translucent surface of the crystals and all the pretty veining were instantly illuminated.

It just gave my little bar display a little extra... something. I might even try it on a larger scale in other areas around the house.

It's the weekend friends!

Here's hoping the next couple of days off include a little candlelight of your own.

DIY Forts and a Christmas Miracle

Auntie, you rock! If I was counting on one Christmas miracle, I'm pretty sure that hearing those three little words at some point during the holiday might just have been it. But to get there, I pretty much had to pull off a miracle of sorts myself. 

I've always been a bit over ambitious with the type of projects I tend to take on.  I plan and plot, source and shop.  I am an ardent collector of images meant to inspire and I am prone to amassing project materials to be used at some point, "someday". These little a-frame forts, well, they were one  such project that sat and weedled away in my little brain for the better part of the last year. In more recent months, I had sketched several renditions, changing mock ups as new trends in fabric and accessories emerged. They were always intended to be made as Christmas gifts for my beloved nephews and nieces and I was set on awing them with individualized style and trimmings that would speak directly their very different personalities.  

But timing really is everything. For all my planning, what might have otherwise been a fun and painless project snuck up on me in the end, snowballing along with the dozen or more other handmade goodies I decided to juggle in the last month before Christmas. I so badly want to look like a rockstar and tell you that pulling these three little forts together was a breeze. But I can't do so in good conscience. I ran short on fabric- twice... the hand-studded trim almost put me over the edge one particularly tiresome evening and I realized halfway into the last one that I had the wrong thread (note to self:  I don't care how pretty the color is, heavyweight canvas should not be sewn with delicate viscose thread). Cut to said thread breaking mid-stitch on the machine 19 times per panel. For four evenings and a day I whined my way through the details, frustrated and sure none of the three would turn out half as good as I imagined. 

Hand-studded trim lined the opening to my nephew's striped canopy, while oversized poms and gold sequined trim fancied up the entrance to my niece's bohemian retreat. 

And then suddenly, the clouds parted and they were called finished. 

In those final hours before the holiday, they stood around our tree and I felt accomplished. Hell, I was excited, even giddy. I couldn't wait to pack them up and deliver them to those smiling little faces on Christmas. There was no way they would not love them at first sight.

And so it all went to plan where my sister (unaware of these oversized gifts until they arrived Christmas day at her doorstep- surprise!) busied her children behind closed doors while their Uncle and I set these custom forts up in their respective bedrooms. I had butterflies in my stomach as we unveiled them one at a time and lo and behold if the first words out of their mouths were not "What is it?". I have to admit, I was a little deflated.

Then a funny thing happened. At the end of the night, after all of the gifts were torn open, they asked if we couldn't put them together in one bedroom so they all could sleep in a "super-fort". Suddenly, it was all they could focus on. I jumped inside and filled the colorful a-frames with pillows and blankets stolen from every room in the house (hell, I was so tired that I was ready to settle in myself) when all of a sudden, I got my miracle.

"Auntie, you rock!"

"Really? I rock?"

"Yeah. This is the greatest Christmas present ever."

I heard they slept there for two more nights.

Hand Painted Gift Canisters

I've been toying around with the idea of painted canisters to corral all of my desktop paraphernalia and over the weekend, set out to up-cycle some used tin cans with a simple white paint job. As these things go, my fixation with black, white and gold got the better of me and I ended up with some abstract art instead. But as quickly as I finished, I could not help but envision these holding freshly baked cookies or salted caramels for gift giving. Heck, they are even fitting for a bottle of perfume or a small gift that might otherwise be relegated to a stocking stuffer. 

So I ask, why not have them both ways?

Security

We planned ahead and hired security to guard the gifts around the tree this year. 

When I spotted those gold patterned beasts that Heodeza made earlier this year, I knew that somehow I had to work them into our holiday decor. What a better place to parade this intimidating bunch than around the base of our tree? 

Interested in making your own? I have a little tip to share. With all the painted plastic figurines floating around the interwebs these days, I had been pricing these out pretty extensively of late. Cost per animal was easily coming in around $6-10, which was turning what would otherwise be a fun DIY on the fly into an expensive endeavor. I nearly gave up on this project when I happened to stumble upon some rather large sized animals in the dollar bins at my local Target.  To my surprise, I scored these 6" figures for just $3 a piece!

Holiday Floral // LA Flower District

Today, I thought I'd share a few floral moments around Holtwood House as seen over the Thanksgiving holiday. I parlayed my current fascination with rocks, agate and geodes and worked them into my holiday tablescape. Air plants were mounted to vintage brass candlesticks that flanked the center arrangement and worked to counter the weight of the amethyst. A little greenery eventually made it's way to every corner of the house, a detail which helped make the house feel festive and holiday-ready.

But before all that fun could begin, I made a trip out to the LA Flower District (one of the happiest places on Earth as far as I'm concerned) early last Wednesday morning. I loaded up on pods, berries and greenery and spent the remainder of the day styling my arrangements. You know, those are my favorite kinds of days... quietly creating with a little background music, just before the true hustle and bustle of staging a party begins. 

Most major cities have a floral district of sorts- a place where vendors gather to sell mostly wholesale to the trade. There are two within my reach- Downtown LA (my market of choice) and San Diego- and just as expected, there was plenty of inspiration to be had at the "Mart" that morning around every corner.   

Never been to the Flower District? There are a few things you should know. 

Go early. Professional floral designers arrive as early as 2am to get the best picks. If you are non-trade, plan to arrive by 6am on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Entry hours are a later on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Plan to arrive right at 8am on those days. Though posted hours suggest the market is open much later, you will start seeing some of the bigger vendors packing up early.

Bring cash. Though many vendors take credit cards, it really helps to expedite your transaction (and limit your budget in the event you want to go completely nuts) if you have cash. Unless you are carrying a trade badge, you will also to pay the $2 entrance fee at the door and they only take exact change. Quarters are also helpful if you are lucky enough to snag a parking spot on the street or need to use the pay only restroom.

Dress in layers. An early morning walk through these chilly buildings calls for a sweatshirt and gloves- particularly this time of year. You'll likely peel a layer or two off, depending on how late you stay.  Better to be prepared than uncomfortable.

Bring a hand cart. Bundles of newspaper wrapped blooms get heavy. Avoid frequent trips to the car and bring a little shopping cart if you have one available. It's best to keep all your picks visible anyway so you can easily pair to what you've already purchased. 

The "district" has two sides. The Southern California Flower Market off Maple in my opinion has the best selection of flowers. My favorite vendor there is Mayesh. Go there first and snatch up anything unique you must have. It will likely be gone if you think you are going to come back to it. Price out more common blooms like roses, hydrangea, tulips, etc... from several vendors.  The other side- Los Angeles Flower Market- will hook you up with the best selection of tropicals and orchids.

The lowdown on other details, including hours and parking can be found on the LA Flower District website.

Color Blocked Office Art

A couple of weeks ago, I worked up this color explosion for my home office. It finally made it's way onto the wall over the weekend.

Re{Fur}bished

Via

I love nothing more than a good project. An easy project with instant gratification is even better. Recall, I had mentioned last week that I scored during my recent shopping jaunt to The Springs.

We started the day out in Palm Springs, made our way to Cathedral City, then Palm Desert and on the way home, took a detour out to Desert Hot Springs. We wandered up and down those desert highways and byways, looking for just the right little token to take back home to Holtwood House. Our eyes were peeled, looking for pottery or some type of vintage abstract to hang on one of the (still barren) walls. But the first five hours or so were a complete bust. 

This is the norm with me. I adore trolling flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales, but it's few and far between where I feel I've found "the thing", you know? Some people have that gift or luck or whatever it is. Though usually it's fruitless, it's the adventure that keeps me venturing. But I digress...

I was feeling a bit defeated when like a mirage in the desert, we approached a little storefront called Gypsyland, seemingly overflowing out onto the sidewalk with mid-century goodness. I audibly squealed with excitement, cracking the door before the car ever stopped moving.  It was there sitting out on that gritty sidewalk out front that I saw it. 

I've been tagging a lot of images featuring sheepskin covered footstools. Sheepskin (or Alpaca) is seemingly everywhere these days. I heard Sam's Club was even stocking them (which honestly sort of gives me a little pause... have they jumped the shark?). I've had one slung over my office chair for several weeks, but I've been dying to use it to re-upholster some little "project".  Something that would allow me to have one of these to stare at and fluff with my fingers:

Via

Via

Via

I had envisioned a brass or acrylic base topped with that thick blonde fur and was getting ready to settle on something slightly more rustic should I come upon something suitable enough. But there it was. Just needed a little polishing and some new skin.

This little Baughman-esque beauty is mine, mine, mine!!!  

The Mister... he didn't "get" it. He thinks brass is so 80's- in a bad way.

You can't tell, but the old upholstery was grody... I mean like totally.

First I disassembled it so I could polish up the base. Good thing I checked. It is plated brass- not the real deal. A couple of wipe downs with a warm soapy rag and the gold was once again glimmering. I then gutted the seat and as it turned out, the foam was still in really good condition. I covered it first in a fabric remnant I had lying around and then stapled on the sheepskin before putting it all back together. 

The result was so satisfying and for relatively little work. I'm loving how it's tying things together in our master.  Now, if I can just keep it from becoming a holding place for sweatshirts and pants and whatever else comes off at the end of the day, it'll be a miracle.