Yep, it has recently been announced that Vanilla Ice of “Ice Ice Baby” fame (he was so cool when i was in the 3rd grade) is slated to have his own home improvement show on the DIY Network. Apparently, Vanilla has spent the last few years flipping houses, so now I guess he is a home improvement expert. Who knew? The show is called The Vanilla Ice Project and premieres on October 14th.

I swore off of IKEA for a few weeks after our move. I just couldn’t afford to keep going. Finally last weekend, I ended my self-imposed IKEA time-out. I drove over to Red Hook, Brooklyn and bought a bunch of little things that I needed for the apartment. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was nice to be back. During my visit I also picked up their new 2011 catalog. The 2011 catalog came out a few weeks ago, but with my new mailing address and my IKEA ban, I wasn’t able to see it until now. Here are some of my favorites from the catalog. Some are new, some aren’t. Anyway, I hope this gets you excited. God, IKEA should be paying me!!

1) KLUBBO coffee table $69.99

2) SORGLÖS vase $12.99

3) DALFRED bar stool $39.99

4) LEENDE carafe $9.99

5) EXPEDIT shelving unit $99.00

6) MICKE desk $79.00

7) MOLGER box with lid, set of 4 $9.99

8) VÄRME teapot $9.99

9) BESTÅ BURS desk $249.00

A few weeks back I introduced you to the hallway/entryway to my new apartment. (Remember?) I still like what we have done, but I’m considering making an upgrade to the two closet doors directly off the hallway. I want to paint them a glossy dark gray or even black. What do you think? Vote or leave me a comment. And check out some examples of black doors below.

From Living Etc.

Photo by Richard Smith

From Domino

Thomas O’Brien

Nate Berkus vis Desire to Inspire

Have you ever noticed that some people actually use their florescent overhead lights? It amazes me that anyone could stand living that way. I guess maybe I’m just sensitive to that sort of thing, but I insist on having good lighting. Since we moved into our new place there has been one thing bugging me…the lamps in our living room have only one setting. They aren’t dimmers or 3-ways, and this has been driving me crazy because I love to dim the lights at night.

I always thought that adding a dimming function to a lamp would involve wiring and a bunch of technical stuff. BUT, after a little research I discovered that there is a super easy way to add a dimmer to a regular lamp. The key is to buy a dimmer cord for table lamps. I bought two of these cords ($10.93 at Lowes), and all you have to do is plug your lamp into the dimmer cord and then the dimmer cord into the power source. And then voila! Your lights can dim. Last night was the first time I used these bad boys and it was AWESOME!

This is just one of those things that you never hear about unless you are looking for it. So now that I’ve told you, I hope it will inspire you to dim the lights, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy how much a little mood lighting can change a room. Ahh how relaxing.

I saw this recipe on Design*Sponge and am determined to try it. Not only is the color amazing, but blood oranges are one of my favorite fruits.  Whenever I see them in the grocery store I buy at least 15 at a time. Typically, they aren’t available until the dead of winter, but you can use blood orange juice which is usually pretty easy to find.

The drink was invented by photographer Dia Rao and her fiance after a vacation in Sardinia. Apparently in Sardinia they make the best mojitos and have delicious blood orange juice. When the couple got home they decided to combine the two.

Here are the instructions. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

2 Bunches of Mint

1 Cup of Fresh Squeezed Blood Orange Juice (you can substitute Trader Joe’s Blood Orange Soda)

2 shots of Rum

2 Tablespoons of Sugar (omit if you use the TJ’s juice)

Juice of 1 Lime

1 cup of ice

1 shaker & Muddler

Shake well and serve garnished with remaining mint and a slice of lime.

Add mint, lime juice and sugar to shaker.

Muddle the ingredients until the mint is well crushed.

Add rum, blood orange juice and ice.

(Photos by Dia Rao)

Over the weekend I was determined not to spend money. So it was probably a mistake to go the Brooklyn Flea on Saturday. I went with a friend and while both of us went in with the intention of “just looking,” we ended up walking out with bags. Oh well. After much rationalizing I ended up buying the awesome vintage McDonalds/Muppets glasses pictured above. And I don’t regret it either! I haven’t quite figured out where they are going, but they are definitely going to be for display only.

Then earlier today I was [digitally] flipping through the new Lonny Magazine and one house in particular really caught my eye. It is the home of textile and home accessory designer Cath Kidston (http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/). What I love about her home is her sense of humor. It made me realize that without even thinking about it, I have acquired several things that are the opposite of serious. These glasses are a perfect example.

Another example is our beloved velvet painting bought in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

I think its great when a person doesn’t take themselves or what they do too seriously. And I never get tired of combining high-end items with kitschy things.  Here’s some photos of Cath Kidston’s house. Here approach is definitely over the top…What do you think?

Of the Mickey Mouse painting above her mantel Kidston says “It makes the room friendly”

Her bathroom is covered in photos of roses and her dog.

We have been in our new place for a month now and we are still very much in the process of setting up everything. The living room, after much debate (and thanks for all your votes!) is painted a solid gray BUT will have molding added in the next few weeks. I’ll be sure to share the finished room once its ready.

Now I’ll introduce you to our kitchen. So far, I have painted it and we have made it functional. But I think now is a good time to take a step back and figure out how to take this room to the next level. Right now it looks like a half-baked space (which it is). I’d like it to feel more intentional. The foundation is there, I think we just need to hone in on some details and refine the color palette a little bit.

The Paint Color

I LOVE the color we painted this room. It is Benjamin Moore Lido Green. Its a soft green with a touch of blue, and it works really well with warm colors. I actually love how it looks with reds and oranges! So the good news is that the walls look great.

Work Station

I’m really proud of how I was able to re purpose an old IKEA desk from our old place and turn it into extra counter space in our kitchen. It was certainly a moment of genius when I put 2 and 2 together. But enough bragging, lets be honest. While the skirt on the table creates a great hiding space for things like cat food bags, I have to admit that it is being held up by the shoddiest velcro job EVER! It could definitely use a refresh.  And the shelf above the workspace has so much potential for greatness, but right now its just kind of blah. Here is what I’d like to change:

Shelf: Some functional bookends is probably all it would take to make this shelf look and function better. (Skribent Bookend from IKEA $4.99)

Table Top: I want to add a butcher block since the desk surface isn’t ideal for the kitchen. I think a bread box would also help with storage and keeping the space clear. (Polder Chrome Bread Box from Bed Bath & Beyond $29.99, Exklusivt Butcher Block from IKEA $24.99)

Table Skirt: Instead of the dark gray, I like this fabric from IKEA. I think it would have a fresher look. (Burta Ruta Fabric from IKEA $8.99 a yard)

Stove Area

This area is already pretty cute (if I do say so myself). I like the shelves we installed and the pot hanger. The window more than anything  could use some work…

Wall Shelves: I just love the way orange looks against the Lido Green. So I think it would be really cool to get a great piece of cookware to display. This would be a bit of a splurge but its the kind of thing you can keep forever. ( “My First Staub” Round Cocotte 2.5 Qt through Zappos $99.99)

Window: This window gets a great amount of light, but the cheap-o blinds we got are not really cutting it. Ever since I read Little Green Notebook’s guide to making roman shades from cheap blinds I’ve been dying to try it. I’d like to attempt something that will end up looking like the shades pictured above. Except the ribbon trim should be a bright, bold color. (Ribbon Roman Shade from Pottery Barn starting at $71)

Window Part 2: This window poses an additional challenge because it faces our neighbors. The bottom line is that I need to be able to go to the fridge late at night and not worry about someone seeing me in my underwear. This window decal by Emma Jeffs would be a great solution. Its a bit on the pricey side though, so I might try to come up with a DIY alternative. (Emma Jeffs White Moroccan Tile Adhesive Film through Design Public $76)

The Floors

These floors are cheeeeaaaaapppp! And they like to show every single scuff mark and every stain. They immediately get dirty and they like to stay looking dirty. In short, this floor is not a team player.

Flor Tiles: My solution is a simple rug made from durable (fabric) Flor Tiles. I’ve never really considered rugs a great idea in the kitchen, but this situation is somewhat serious. And I remember a really cool kitchen featured in Domino that had Flor tiles covering the entire kitchen floor (see below). I probably won’t go that far, but I think an area rug would be a nice relief from this awful floor. (Take A Ribbing Flor Tile in Black $11.90)

The Fridge

This area looks pretty junky. We need to use it for storage, and I think I had the right idea with the basket, but it would be nice not have all our cereal boxes on display.

Top of Refrigerator Storage: I think more baskets is the answer. Maybe our cereal will peek out the top, but at least it will be somewhat organized. (Byholma Basket from IKEA $15.99)

New Lighting Solution: Right now, we have a table lamp on our fridge. All it does is take up space and look awkward. I want to get rid of this lamp and install a pendant light to replace our ugly overhead fixture.  (Fado Pendant Light from IKEA $39.99)

Before we all go our separate ways this weekend, I want to share a recipe for a really nice summery drink. Its called Tinto de Verano and its a Spanish cocktail similar to Sangria but without the necessary soak time. Supposedly it is what Spaniards drink while tourists have Sangria ha ha.

Its super simple and really refreshing. And it might be all you need to make your Saturday a little more magical (I mean alcohol always helps right?).

The recipe is really simple. All you need is:

Then just mix in equal parts wine and seltzer and add a splash of soda. Serve over ice with garnish.

Have a happy weekend!

(Photo from Pull The Cork)

Its been a really hot summer. And while I sit inside huddled next to my little air conditioning unit, I imagine a more glamorous way to spend the summer…far far away from Brooklyn. How about the famous Beverly Hills Hotel? Ok, that might be out of my price range, but the famous hotel (also known as the “Pink Palace”) has some famous decor. Maybe a little Beverly Hills-inspired decorating would do me some good?

Martinique Wallpaper

This is perhaps the most iconic decor of the hotel. The famous banana leaf “Martinique” wallpaper has been a staple of the hotel’s famous Fountain Coffee Room since it opened in 1949. It is a stunning print that is totally over the top. You might recognize it from the Golden Girls. Blanche’s bedroom featured Martinique wallpaper AND a matching bed spread. Blanche sure knew how to do it up!

Pictured below are two more modern examples of the wallpaper:  Nicky Hilton’s kitchen (InStyle Magazine) and Brian Atwood’s Milan apartment (Elle Decor).

Green & White Stripes

This is another major motif of the hotel. And there are countless ways you can mimic these stripes. In fact, IKEA has some great striped fabric that is very reminiscent of the hotel.

Grecian Touches

Its nothing new, but Grecian design motifs are definitely synonymous with many luxury hotels. Check out those Grecian bungalows by the pool.

Getting This Look

While the hotel is also known for its coral pink, I think it is safe to say that this color is probably only going to work in the pristine halls of the Beverly Hills Hotel. When it comes to our real world homes, let’s not go there. So please forgive me for banishing that coral from my shopping suggestions below.

Clockwise From Left To Right: Martinique Wallpaper, Green and White Striped Pillow $20, Yellow Lacquer Ice Bucket $39.70, Yellow Greek Key Trim 3 yards for $8.80

A Little Side Note

Not sure if anyone else remembers this move, but Troop Beverly Hills is a film from the 80′s about a ritzy Beverly Hills girl scout troop. I credit this movie with first introducing me to the Beverly Hills Hotel. Watch the trailer below and feel some nostalgia!

I’ve started a new feature on 2nd Floor Living. Introducing the “How To” post. I’ve actually already written a few how-to’s in the past, they just weren’t labeled as such. But now you can easily access all “How-To’s” in the sidebar. Hopefully, this will be a helpful resource for you. Next time you aren’t sure how to do something, check and see if we have a How-To on it. And if we don’t then suggest it!

I tend to write How-To’s when I myself don’t know how to do something, so when it came time to re-pot my new plants I felt like I needed a little refresher. The plants I needed to re-pot were a Ficus Lyrata or “Fiddle Leaf Fig” and some basic herbs – basil, oregano and rosemary. So three small plants and one giant one. Here’s a step-by-step and some tips I picked up.

Tips:

• It’s a good idea to water the plant you are re-potting the day before so that the soil is a bit softer and easier to work with
  
• You always want a pot with an air hole in the bottom. This allows for ventilation which is very important! If your pot doesn’t have one, then you should add a layer of rocks or pebbles before your soil.
  

Step #1: In the new pot, fill up the bottom with about an inch of potting soil. In the end, you will want the re-potted plant and soil to stop about 1-inch from the top of the pot, so if your plant is small and an inch of soil is not enough, add more soil until the height is right.

Before The Move

Use a scoop or measuring cup to add soil.

Step #2: Take the plant and hold by the stems. Turn upside down and gently pull out of old pot. If this is too difficult, use a knife to cut around the edge of the pot.

Step #3: Once you have the plant out of its old container, you want to get rid of excess dirt and make sure the “root ball” is in good condition. It is generally a good idea to get rid of about 1/3 of the old soil. You also want to make sure that the roots are not growing around themselves in a tight bunch. This is not good for the plant. Loosen the roots with your hand…think of it as a massage for your plant. And don’t worry if some of the roots are broken. This is kind of like pruning and will help control the plants growth in the new pot.

Before a Root Massage

After a Root Massage

Step #4: Place the plant into the new pot and begin filling in soil around it. Pat the soil down firmly to get rid of any air bubbles.

And there you have it! The process is basically the same for small and large plants. Getting my ficus out of its old pot was a bit trickier (ended up just cutting the plastic pot) but everything else was the same as my smaller plants just on a larger scale.

Here’s the end result!

And just a reminder to all you city slickers out there…this is messy! I made a huge mess so don’t try to re-pot something in your nice living room!

Also, FYI if you have a cat, he/she will be very interested in what you are doing.