Add Character to Sterile White Walls!

So I am sure all of you, at least once, has rented an apartment or house that was not allowed to be painted any color. I lived in a few places like that, and I couldn't stand coming home to those naked, ugly walls that were so sterile and unwelcoming. Luckily, there are many things you can do to lively up a boring space without the hassle of puncturing holes or secretly painting the place in hopes that the landlord won't notice.

First off, think MIRRORS! There's something about a room of mirrors that gives the area more space. You don't have to spend a lot of money, either-- go to the thrift store, pick out any mirror laying around, and go wild! Sand it, paint it, add sticks or fabric or stones! The possibilities are endless.

Tutorial

Another solution to bland white walls are wall decals. While you can find some rather inexpensive ones at Wal Mart, Target, or perhaps even the dollar store in the craft section, the larger ones will cost a little bit more. They're very easy to remove and won't leave any tacky residue on the walls. ChuckEByrd Wall Art, PedPed, and allwithwall are all etsy sellers with some very original wall decals for reasonable prices!

 
Here's another simple and fun DIY project to distract from the sterility of those walls--picture frames! They're easy to find, very inexpensive, and fun to reinvent! Thrift stores always have picture frames stacked high, and they're oftentimes overlooked because they're outdated and gaudy. White walls covered with various sizes of picture frames look effortless and original, and it's a good way to show off your photography, too!

                                                                                     

Another favorite wall decor of  mine are the fabric panel wall hangings. You can find them at Target, Pier One, Ikea, World Market.... they're usually very cute, but also very overpriced (come on... $40 for a set of three panels?) so why pay that much when you can DIY? You can get the fabric from your local fabric shop or cut it up from an old sheet, garment of clothing, or a thrift store find that is too bold to wear but would look great on the wall! Here is the DIY tutorial. 

 

DIY Lace Lamp shade = Less than $5 to Create!

As I made my way through the courses to complete my undergraduate degree, I realized two things-
1. I loved shopping and buying new things for my apartment.
2. I couldn't afford to do it all of the time.

As I full time student working part time and juggling the funds to pay for rent and "fun," I got frustrated when I'd walk through the aisles of Pier One and World Market and see 1,283,920 items that I wanted but couldn't afford at the moment. I'd see a couch from urban outfitters that totaled a whole month's worth of rent, or a mirror that added up to two week's worth of groceries.


To save some cash, I started doing a lot of DIY projects inspired by decor that I'd see in magazines and stores, and the results were very similar to the original piece in some cases.
When I went to France a few years ago, I recall passing a shop window that had a beautiful hanging lamp made of lace, and I really wanted it but assumed it was ridiculously expensive. It was one of those oh-wow-it's-so-cute-I'm-not-going-to-bother-looking-at-the-pricetag items.  It was still on my mind years later, and it wasn't until a few months ago that I found DIY lace lamp instructions somewhere on the web. It's SO easy and CHEAP to produce. ~salivates~

Constructing the lampshade is very simple--all you need is a balloon, Mod Podge (or Elmer's glue), lace doilies or a lace tablecloth (which can be purchased at a local thrift store for less than $2) and a pair of scissors.

The size of your lamp depends on the size of the balloon. If you go to the party store or perhaps even Target or Walmart, you can purchase singular balloons in various sizes (I personally prefer larger balloons).

All you have to do is:

1. Blow up the balloon to the desired size and tie it (beach balls also work for a very large lamp!)
2. Pour Mod Podge or glue into a blow and add a little bit of water so it's a little runny.
3. Dip neatly trimmed strips of lace into the solution and then cover the balloon with it.
4. Let it dry 
5. When it's fully dry, you're going to pop the balloon and the lace globe will hold it's form
6. Cut a small hole in the top of the globe so you can put the hanging light in it.
7. Voilà!

The same can be done with hemp or cotton string, which can be purchased at your local hardware or craft store. 

After learning about these, I've developed an obsession with DIY lamp fixtures, which will definitely shine bright in my next apartment. The best part is the beautiful and sultry shadow patterns that they make on the wall, making a perfectly quaint and intimate setting!~~~

First Things First.

 So two weeks ago, I took my sweet boyfriend away from our tundra home in the upper peninsula of Michigan to Naples,Florida so he could meet my parents. I grew up in Florida but did my undergrad in Michigan, so it's always nice to get away from the bitter cold and visit my favorite coast. There's nothing like escaping the brutal winds of lake superior for the warm sea breeze of the Gulf. We were only there for twelve days, but in that time we spent time with my family, laid out on the beach for several hours each day, and visited my favorite, South Beach. South beach is a far cry from Naples. While Naples is a Gulf Coast town comprised of wealthy older people and the business class, South Beach is a completely different animal.

There were gorgeous, sun drenched people at every corner dressed  provocatively in flamboyant colors. That beach was studded with topless women soaking in the sun or chasing their children.  The accents ranged from Polish to Cuban to French to Colombian. While it is a pricey area to spend the weekend, there are plenty of places that aren't ludicrously expensive where you can sit with a refreshing cocktail and people watch.Still life street performers decked out in face paint and period costumes lined Lincoln rd., patiently waiting for passersby to dump a little change in their dishes. There's always so much to see in South Beach. I'm the kind of person who walks down a strip and has my eye on everything and I'm listening to everyone, which in turn causes me to trip over something. While my eyes were focused on a bedraggled homeless woman being chased away from a cafe dumpster by the host, I heard a woman telling her son that she was going to yolk him if he asked her for tortas one more time. Sometimes I wish I had more eyes and ears.

It must have been quite the culture shock for my sweet boyfriend, who grew up in smaller town in Michigan, but we both had an amazing time letting loose over there. The weather was beyond perfect, the blue water coruscated beautifully under the sun, and we ate like kings. We stayed at the Cadet, which was a quaint and inexpensive hotel just a couple blocks away from Lincoln rd. Unfortunately, I am a cheap date and passed out close to midnight (much to the disbelief of my sweet boyfriend), but there was still partying going on outside at 5 a.m!

Our last day in Florida was pretty depressing because I knew that I'd be going back to wet, 40 degree weather and the bikinis and mini dresses would have to go back into the closet where they won't see sunlight again for weeks.

We got back on Tuesday and I'm still feeling pretty nostalgic, but I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things here in Michigan. *sighs*  at least there will always pictures to bring me back.

Sunset in Naples.