Backyard Sneak Peek
We’ve been trying to take advantage of the few sunny days we’ve had this Spring and work on the backyard. Summer 2011 is definitely all about the backyard projects.
Here is a list of what we’ve done so far: rototill up the old grass, plant a Crab-apple tree, put down sod, built a small garden bed, purchased and put together a portable gazebo for some shade and mosquito protection, and fix the graveled areas.
What we still need to do: put down ground covering where the swing-set is (any suggestions…don’t really want wood-chips or gravel so I’m stumped), build a “salad table”, build more garden beds, plant seeds and garden plants/flowers, paint the shop, and build our little deck off the back sliding glass door (we already have most of the lumber for it – woo hoo!).
So here is a video sneak peek at our pretty new lawn! It actually went down a lot easier than we thought it would, and we’ve noticed it’s starting to root (we can’t pull the sod up anymore) so we’re so excited to mow it because it’s getting long!
Instant Lawn from Facebook User on Vimeo.
Instant Lawn from Facebook User on Vimeo.
(Click the link if the video isn’t embedded…ugh, killin’ me! But this is just a sneak peek, I’ll have better pictures in a few short weeks – yay for summer!
Another Switcheroo.
Phew – I have been busy! But I’m home with a sick little one today, so I have a chance to update you all a little and hopefully I won’t be so MIA for a while. Well, I take that back – when I’m not here, I’m working like crazy so that’s a good thing!
I’ve come to realize that we’re rather spontaneous when it comes to our house sometimes. We talk about our house a lot (more than most, I think!) and what we need or want, but a lot of it is just dreaming. But when something can become a reality, we kind of just jump on it and make it happen!
For instance, we’ve been talking about getting a new bed for a while now, but weren’t sure when it would actually happen. So I decided to post a picture of our old bed on Facebook saying it was for sale to see if anyone was interested – and 20 minutes later it was practically sold! Then we did some final research (we’d already done a lot) and bought a new mattress and bed online – woo hoo!
So next we decided to switch rooms with Harper. Why? Well hers has a half bathroom and Glenn wanted it. But it has a smaller closet and it’s a little smaller so I was a little torn. At first. Her room is more of a square and ours is longer and skinnier (a rectangle). Which after I thought about it, makes more sense for our King size bed. Anyway, we’ve switched rooms, put the bed together, painted and the new armoire for Glenn is on the way (solving the closet problem!).
Luckily both the mattress and bed had free shipping and arrived very, very quickly (thank you, Amazon Prime!!) so we had a new set-up by the weekend! So here’s a sneak peek of our new room – more to come soon!
I love that what took us almost 2 hours to put together, is time lapsed into less than 2 minutes. I also love that Glenn tested the bed out and you see a flash of me about to jump on it, ha! Enjoy!
Putting the bed together from Facebook User on Vimeo.
Read MoreKid-Sized Design
If you’ve been following my Tweets or the Likely Design page on Facebook, you might know that I have a fun new (real life) design project in the works — a daycare playroom! So in my search for some inspiration for this project, I clicked my way over to HGTV and saw that runner-up Design Star Dan Vickery’s new online show has debuted! It’s called “Kid-Sized Design” and there are only a couple of web-isodes up so far but after seeing Dan’s celebrity nursery design from Design Star I was curious.
Remember this room from Design Star? So sweet and cozy! I really thought it was finished well.
Those boat-mobiles were very creative! I could see why they decided to give him a show about designing for kids (well, really for adults, right?).
And here are a couple of shots from rooms from the show…
A little sparse (rug? more storage furniture? teeny tiny side lamp? they couldn’t change out that ceiling fan?)…but at least it errs on the side of not enough furniture instead of too much. And the main feature of the episode was that storage valance above the window, not the room itself.
Better, but I’d like to see more. There are a couple of 4 minute videos to watch, and you might come up with a couple of good ideas from each, but I’d love to see the floor plans, resource lists, etc. The “Dan Cam” (which is right in his face) is a little strange, but it’s only the intro and ending. Here is my favorite video from the bunch:
And here are links to the rest:
So, had you forgotten about Farm Boy Dan and his online show? Me, too, but I’m glad to see he’s back and working on something fun like kids’ spaces! Plus he does have the design education that others lacked, so I’m sure he’ll bring it. And if that doesn’t work out, he always has his modeling… 
{images via HGTV.com}
Read MoreWinter Song
Hopefully I will get back to regularly-scheduled-blogging on Monday! Until then, enjoy a very appropriate video for the current gloom outside, and this song, which happens to be a favorite of mine, helps me enjoy winter a little more. I ran across it while browsing Poppytalk today, and checking out her new look – love it!
Winter Songs from Crush Design on Vimeo.
Read MoreWe’re famous! And we have new stovepipe.
You might have seen this video before, but after I shared it with the folks over at Way Basics they asked for permission to use it for marketing purposes. And I said ‘sure!’ Just like that. 
Anyway, one of the Way Basics guys contacted me through Facebook and sent me a link to a recent article on the Orange County Register’s website featuring a few WB videos…but guess which one is his favorite?? The one with the cute baby scurrying around while mama puts together a new bookshelf, of course!!
Very exciting stuff, right? My dad thinks I should be compensated…which I’m not, but that’s alright. It’s fun seeing the video, even though it’s just me in my workout clothes and Harper in a diaper (a cloth one at that – it was hot!!).
Well, I made a new video this weekend, just for fun – I should have started it way before I did so you could see the entire process but it took me awhile to remember how to work the time-lapse program like I wanted. Hopefully I won’t forget again. But this is just of Glenn putting the finishing touches on the new stovepipe he installed for our wood-stove. And I’m looking on as supervisor – that’s a wife’s job, right?? The old stuff was rusty and dirty, so after 2 trips to the hardware store and 2 trips to Glenn’s work to use the correct cutting tools (the straight part had to be shortened), we have new stovepipe. Which is great because it snowed here this weekend and it was COLD!! The wood-stove is our main source of heat here and our stove works GREAT! Plus it’s kinda cute with its scalloped trim and ceramic medallion. We also use small space heaters around the house if needed. I hope you enjoy a typical weekend in the Christensen household! Don’t you love a man who vacuums? Too bad he’s taken, ladies!!
Update: Coming up soon, our new windows will be here on Wednesday, so I’m excited to see how that goes (brick house + removing old windows = bound to be some issues!!). Our handyman is going to frame out the new windows with trim, so it should look really nice when it’s done! Plus my Stampin’ Up party order should be in tomorrow and I’m so excited to starting stamping and making some cards!! Fun!! Happy Monday!!
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About Me
I'm an interior designer and a draftsperson, but I live in the country. I like it that way. I'm also a firefighter's wife, mom to 2 cute kids, and a homeowner and I like that even better. But right after that is a pretty and affordable space...and I mean a REALLY affordable space. Because I believe good design can be for EVERYONE!
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