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space matters: a [white] beach cottage

I feel that no one can beat the romantic attitude of those individuals who live and breathe everything that’s shabby chic—seeing the beauty in everything even in those things that are commonly considered “trash”, embarking on an adventure of going through flea markets and thrift shops, and transforming their finds, turning them into something really charming.

Sarah from Sydney, Australia is a living proof that there are real people (aside from Rachel Ashwell) who embrace a shabby chic life. I first saw her beach cottage over at flickr last December when I was looking for unique Christmas homes from other countries. I got interested in her home and her decorating style when I saw that she used driftwoods from the beach as Christmas ornaments!

Today, we’ll take a peek at her lovely beach cottage as Sarah shares with us how she and her family moved from England to Australia, settled in “a bustly little seaside town” in Sydney, and transformed the once “tatty old cottage” into a charming beach cottage they now call home.

“We found our fixer-upper cottage in a very sad state about two years ago [when we moved to Sydney]. It was a tatty old cottage near the sea, sadly neglected, bathed in sunshine and heaving with potential (wood floors, sash windows, old fig trees, a summer house and a battered old deck). My mission is to create my home by using my skills as a thrift-junkie so I’m thrifting & using what I have like crazy!“

“I started blogging to document the journey of our fixer-upper cottage. But it has become so much more than a blog for me. It has provided me with a place to fulfill my passion for casual, laid-back decor, vintage coastal style. It has become a cathartic outlet for me at the end of the day.”

“I love all things vintage especially old pieces of neglected furniture with that faded patina only time can bring. I scour the beach-side suburbs for one-off vintage pieces and make it over with a distinctive whitewash that unites that old beach house ambiance with a fresh new feel.”

“I love vintage quilts, seashells, old outdoor furniture, white cotton, Adirondack chairs, Peroni, nautical stripes, vanilla, bare floorboards, lavender, home-cooked food, wicker baskets and pots of Australian tea.”

“A bike ride to the beach means we get all the benefits of living by the sea, the kids spend a lotta time in the water and in the summer our social life revolves around being outdoors and hanging out down the beach – there are wetsuits hanging from the deck, surfboards leaning against the shed, wet bathers and sandy feet around.”

I don’t know about you, but it’s difficult to imagine that the spaces in these photos were once in a rundown state. Apart from her natural style, I just admire Sarah’s passion in finding something unconventional and pretty, and constantly coming up with great ideas for her home. See her latest panelling project for her dining area here. 

*Quoted texts were lifted from Sarah’s blog, abeachcottage and her flickr

**Photos by Sarah from her blog and her flickr

[got a cool space? share it with us! email us about it with pictures of your place at mydesignfolder@yahoo.com. ]

spacelift: from masculine to feminine

Today, I’m working on an article about “gendered designs”. The premise is that there is a noticeable difference between the design of a male architect/interior designer and the design of a female architect/interior designer. Many times (but not always), spaces done by female designers have a certain “softness” in them, while the designs made by male designers appear quite “structured”. Probably, these are natural and unconscious inclinations of both genders. I am not sure, but there must be some scientific explanation to this.

Here’s an example to demonstrate my point. My female friend re-styled this condominium unit originally designed by a male interior designer. The only requirement of the client was to give it an updated, clean look.

Originally, the interiors have a masculine character dominated by dark colors and rigid lines.

When the unit was re-styled, it was a given a brighter look by just adding lots of whites and creams, plus some fresh and personal details.

Together with fine textures and a few streaks of subtle colors, the spaces were given a softer new look without looking too girly or too dainty.

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[Have you given your space (or furniture) a makeover? Share it with us! Email us about it with before and after pictures at mydesignfolder@yahoo.com. ]

diy project: make a clock out of old cds

As per orange’s request, here’s a great idea on how to re-use your old CDs–make them into mini-clocks!

I found this cd clock tutorial over at youcanmakethis.com. The project is so easy, even kids can make it! Maybe with a little help from the adults on installaing the clock parts.

youcanmakethis’ design (images above) is more on the pretty side, using colorful scrapbook paper to decorate the face. But I’m so sure you can come up with other designs.

To get you started, here are some more ideas for inspiration:

a scratched/crackled surface from geek-ware ,

… an industrial concept combining the shiny side of the CD + a cut circuit board from greensmartgifts,

… and a more challenging version from blisstree using clock parts with a pendulum and a painted CD clock face.

If you have a lot of old CDs, tons of creativity, and enough free time, you can make several clocks as gifts for family and friends.  You can even turn this into a business, making customized designs for sale as giveaways, souvenirs, or personalized gifts.

objects of design: philippine antiques

As proven by yesterday’s post, preserving things from the past can be very rewarding. The term “antique” used to be associated with “old” or “outdated”. Today, it’s synonymous with “priceless.” Depending on the item and how you display it, an antique piece can add great value to your home.

Last month, we took you to a uniquely Filipino home – a recreation of a 19th century Vigan-style bahay na bato. The home had so many interesting antique pieces that we couldn’t fit them all in last month’s post.

The homeowner has been an antique collector for years. His collections range from big pieces of antique furniture to small accessories like candleholders and oil lamps. He says that anybody can be a collector but advises there are certain guidelines in collecting antiques:

1. First, you have to have the passion to collect.
2. Be guided by books and friends who have an eye for design.
3. Look beyond what is there – see the potential in everything.
4. Map it out and plan ahead. You should know how to use the item and where to place it.
5. Collect one piece at a time. Save up for the great pieces – the pieces you really want.
6. In a modern home, antiques work best as focal points or accent pieces.
7. Proper maintenance is key. Wax or wipe every so often.

There are a lot of places where you can buy quality Philippine antiques. You just have to have the patience to dig and hunt. Go to garage sales and junk shops (especially those at Laong Laan, Manila). Bohol, Bulacan and Pampanga are also great places to find one-of-a-kind collectibles.

diy tips: a fresh start for your space (part 3)

DECLUTTER YOUR CLOSET

I hear a lot of people complain that they don’t have enough closet space. Most of the time, their closets are either full of unused and outdated clothes (which means you need to get rid of all those junk!) or the space is not properly compartmentalized.

In compartmentalizing your closet, it should have sections to store these specific items: long hanging items (long dresses, trench), double-hanging items (tops on the upper half and bottoms on the lower half), folded articles, undergarments, ties, belts, shoes, bags, and other loose miscellaneous items. To find out how much space one should allocate for each section, make an inventory of all your belongings that will be stored in the closet.

Most people take for granted the value of a wide selection of hangers in organizing a closet, when in fact, they can make your storage space work more efficiently while making it look uniform and organized.

Make sure you have a hanger for fine dresses, suits, blouses, suits, skirts, pants, belt and ties. For a uniform appearance, have all your hangers in the same color or finish. Less expensive plastic hangers also come in different types.

Another tip: take a clue from your favourite clothing store and group clothes according to color then according to type, or vice versa. For example, put all pants and skirts together in one section, and group them further according to color. Like in many boutiques, this system makes your closet visually organized.

Although it’s already a compartment in itself, you can further divide your drawer into smaller sections. This is especially helpful in organizing your lingerie, socks, ties, jewelry, and makeup. You don’t need to buy drawer dividers off the rack. You can make your own with some stiff cardboard or stiff plastic sheets.

When dealing with your closet, always remember “to each its space so that everything is in place”. bow. 

Previous: tabletops, shelves

Next: functional walls

diy tips: a fresh start for your space (part 2)

DECLUTTER YOUR SHELVES

Shelves are quite tricky, simply because of their awkward dimensions. Oftentimes, the clearance and depth of the shelves are not right for your stuff. So, it’s always preferable to have adjustable shelves, especially for kitchen cabinets, to avoid wasted space. If you’re just planning to build your shelves, make sure you first do an inventory of the the things that will go in them. Measure your books, boxes, jars, etc. This way, you’ll know how deep or how high apart your shelves should be.

To keep books neatly aligned, use typical bookends. As an alternative, you can also make use of decorative jars and figurines. Just make sure they are sturdy and heavy enough to be used for this purpose.

Books can be arranged in two ways: upright in a row, or stacked in a pile. For taller books, set them in a row, while the shorter books, as well as the the ones that are too tall for the existing clearance of the shelves, can be arranged in a pile to maximize the shelving space. As shown in the photo, piled books can also function as book ends.

Again, remember to compartmentalize, especially for non-book items that need to be stored on your shelves. Do a “boxing match” for smaller items like cds, remote controls, extension cords, and other knick-knacks and gadget accessories. This means match the size of your items with the size of the box/bin where you’ll be storing them. There are bins and boxes that even have clear front pockets where you can insert a label or a photo of the items inside the bin (as shown in the image above).

Labeled boxes are especially useful in the office, craft room, workshop, kitchen and closet. Or, you can just write/print tags and tie them onto the handle of the bin. (image above from domino magazine)

For a uniform look, try what Ms. Creative Director did. She used different sizes of woven boxes with a similar finish to complement the natural texture of their furnishings. She even found a box for her cds.

I know some of you might be hesitant to buy such pretty boxes. They can be a bit expensive if you go to the mall to purchase them. So for a better deal, check out Dapitan Arcade in Dapitan St., QC.

Or, if you’re a diy person, you can just make your own boxes. Re-size and dress up old shoe boxes using craft paper (brown paper which you can buy from national bookstore in rolls) or cheap canvas fabric. If you have enough time, you can also cover the exterior of the box with abaca rope/twine to resemble a woven box.

Previous: tabletops

Next: closets & drawers, functional walls

diy tips: a fresh start for your space (part 1)

If you want to give yourself a fresh start this year, try cleaning and organizing your surroundings first–detoxify your space and declutter.

Essentially, the first and most difficult step is to sort out your things. Keep only those that are important, and part with things that you have not worn/used in a couple of years, as well as items that are outdated or stained. You can dispose them by organizing a garage sale or by giving them all to charity.

When your space (a room, closet, or tabletop) is already free from “trash”, you can already begin organizing. Always remember, the key element in organizing and maximizing any given space is to compartmentalize. Divide the area into smaller compartments using adjustable shelves, baskets, bins, boxes and containers to neatly hold things in place.

In this four-part post, we’ll be listing some helpful tips on how to de-clutter some of the messiest spaces.

DECLUTTER YOUR TABLES

Maintain a tidy night table. Use a dish or a shallow bowl to keep those small items– keys, coins, watch, and daily jewelry– from scattering and taking up all the table space. You can also use this trick to maintain a clean vanity in the bathroom or a console table in the foyer.

For your office desk, use a mug or a small box to keep pens, markers, and pencils in place. Post reminders and your daily to-do list using a small note clip. Because it can only hold one or two notes at a time, you have no choice but to update your list and throw away old notes.

For those who are planning to put up workstation dividers, you can make them functional by using these surface materials to finish them: a cork board for posting notes & memos, and a glass panel (preferably the one with a painted back like Graphicote glass) for writing reminders.

Next: shelves, closet & drawer, functional walls

design speak: a new outlook for the new year

Happy new year everyone!

When I was thinking for a post to welcome the new year/decade, I remembered the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster that I have been seeing everywhere. I think it’s very appropriate considering the local and global tragedies that we have been through during the 00s. The past 10 years were not that nice, to say the least. In fact, Time Magazine even dubbed it as “The Decade from Hell”. 

I first noticed the poster in Heima in Cubao X.

Initially, I thought it’s just one of the latest statement posters created in line with the graphic trend leaning towards statement products. But when I googled it to find other related pictures, I was brought to a website with the same name, keepcalmandcarryon.com.

Apparently, this is not ”new”. It was one of the propaganda posters commissioned by the British government during World War II.

I guess, after 71 years and long after WWII, the message is still relevant. From the walls of Britain, the poster has made its way to our homes and spaces as a source of daily inspiration.

Again, from all of us here in Design Folder, have a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous 2010! Keep calm and carry on.

space matters: holiday homes around the world (part 2)

Here’s the second part of our “holiday homes around the world”.

Yesterday, I took you to Europe (Germany & Austria) and Australia. Now, let’s go to USA to peek into the homes of Fallon Akers from El Paso, Texas, Melanie Renn from San Francisco, California, and Alyn Carlson from Westport, Massachusettes. Thank you very much for sharing!

And to all of you, Happy New Year! See you in 2010!

(p.s. move your pointer over the pictures for the captions/notes.)

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Fallon Akers is a sewer from El Paso, Texas who loves 50s-60s vintage stuff. She also maintains a blog and an etsy store. In the style that she knows best, she filled her home with all handmade and vintage goodness for Christmas. Her “soft” tree ornaments are quite unique. I also love her pillows! Very pretty.

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Melanie Renn of San Francisco, California is also a lover of vintage decors. She has Christmas ornaments saved since the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Her collection is more on the classic side–figurines of angels, reindeers, swans, snowflakes, and real lead tinsels–each having a sort of magical character. What I also love about her collection are the stories that accompany every ornament.

Read more about Melanie’s holiday decorations in her blog here. She also maintains a group called h ♥ m e  in flickr that pools photos of the nicest homes.

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From a classic Christmas home, let’s check out a fun and quirky take on holiday decorating.

Alyn Carlson of Westport, Massachusetts is a graphic artist, designer, and actor. Her graphic design works can be found in her website here, while her designer hats can be purchased in etsy here. Alyn also has a blog where she shares her daily musings.

Her home for the holidays is decorated in a different way, veering away from the usual images of Christmas. She made a “Dr. Suess Christmas tree”, with all sorts of trinkets that create a whimsical, cartoon-like image. There is also a quirky gold wreath reusing old headless Barbie dolls that seem to be doing a “James Bond Gold Finger Radio City Music Hall thing” according to Alyn. 
 

space matters: holiday homes around the world (part 1)

Technically, Christmas is already over. But not here on Design Folder (nor in Manila, for that matter, haha)!

For the benefit of our readers abroad, Christmas/the Holiday season in the Philippines “unofficially” starts in October, peaks in December, and ends in January (i think after the feast of the three kings).

So, to extend the holiday celebration, I’m taking you to a Christmas design trip! Thanks to my new-found flickr friends, I got a peek at some of the lovliest hoiliday homes from different parts of the world. Seriously, their designs brought so much inspiration to me!

First up, sharing you the homes of Anita from Austria, Ivy style33 from Germany,  and Sarah from Australia.

(p.s. move your pointer over the pictures for the captions/notes)

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Anita Dawoodi is a home-styling blogger from Graz, Austria. She writes mostly about her daily design inspirations in her blog 1richtungsblog.com. But this time around, I’m blogging about her!

In spite of the snowy weather in Austria, her home is all warm and cozy, decorated in the classic silver, gold, and white Christmas fashion.

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Ivy style33 is a freelance decorator and interior design consultant based in Germany. What I especially like about her style is her extensive use of whites. Love, love whites! Check out her blog here for more photos of her work.

For Christmas 2009, she combined whites with hints of earthy colors and organic textures to decorate her penthouse. Her handmade ornaments are just adorable!

See more of her handmade goodies at her etsy shop here.

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From Europe, let’s go to the land down under to visit Sarah’s beach cottage home.

Sarah from Australia loves all things vintage and cottage. She just adds a modern twist giving it a clean crisp pallette. Her decorating philosophy is to create a beautiful home without spending a fortune. She does this by using her skills as a thrift-junkie, decorating with what is available and seeing beauty in ordinary things.

This year, she created a dollar-free holiday home using pieces of driftwood her boys found at the beach and combined them with glittery ornaments and some white seashells. Her alternative Christmas decors perfectly complement her white cottage home.

Check out her blog where she chronicles her adventures of living by the sea.

Watch out for the second part of the feature tomorrow!