Interior Design



Aug
30
2006
 10

Decorating the Erwin House


There is something terribly gratifying about the sconce on the stone wall. My mom and I lived for a year with my grandparents when I was 4. I remember my grandfather's basement-turned-den: he had a fully-stocked bar with a collection of miniature liquor bottles, a number of model trucks from his days as a transportation...


Sep
5
2006
 2

Two Rooms Finished


I've been on home tours where the kids' rooms are a little over done. Stuffed animals arranged on hooks on the wall in the girl's room, or a perfect display of antique sporting goods in the boy's room. It's like the kids are just another accessory for their parents to decorate with. We let the boys decorate their own rooms....


Nov
9
2006
 2

Backsplash


Over the weekend, I crossed one of the larger tasks off of my crushingly long post-move-in-to-do list. I finally installed the mosaic tile in the kitchen. We ordered it in a big hurry about 5 months ago. I've had tile work done before, but never tried it myself. I had always considered it a black art practiced by the most...


Sep
7
2007
 0

Back Door Blues


We were interviewed by the Austin-American Statesman today and, while cleaning up and getting ready, I realized how much of our home is still technically unfinished. It might not be obvious to everyone that visits, but there is still so much left to do! When we originally planned the house, we knew we wanted the driveway...


Sep
19
2007
 5

The Boob Tube


I've been asking everyone I know, including the 1950's House Lovers and the folx at HouseBlogs.net, the same question: "What do you do with your television?" This is the dilemma I've been trying to solve for five years! We're not big tv watchers. We love to rent movies, but even then we only watch one a week or so. The television...


Sep
28
2007
 1

The House that Fink Built


I found the television solution of my dreams, but not at any online store. Finkbuilt's brilliant RetroVision 2000 AV Cabinet is the marriage of two eras, one era in which television was king, displayed prominently and proudly in the center of the busiest room in the house, and another era in which television rightfully...


Aug
13
2008
 1

Obsessed much?


Why, yes as a matter of fact we ARE obsessed with Mad Men in that perfectly stereotypical way that most mid-century lovers across America have become in the last few months. The set design is, of course, impeccable, and there is a great gallery from Season One that allows you to drool without really spoiling much. Since...


Sep
22
2008
 4

Doors… What Else?


Remember when we were growing a house and a baby at the same time? Before After It is hard to believe that Baby Erwin is a 2-1/2yo little whirlwind. It means that our house is more than 2 years old as well. The Babe now has her very own bedroom, and we sauced it up a little over the summer in the best way we know how......


Apr
9
2009
 2

Refinishing the Vintage Siemens Stereo Cabinet


Ideas, anyone?  I tried denatured alcohol and steel wool as a friend suggested, and then a mesh scrubber. Some of the old varnish came right off, but much didn't, and I don't want to scratch the veneer.  I hate to take it in to someone... or use intensely nasty chemicals while preggers....  I'm open :-)


Apr
10
2009
 3

The New Old Moe Retractable Lamp


A while ago, I spotted this pic on Retro Renovation: As luck would have it, I found a similar retractable Moe hanging light fixture down at my fave resale shop, Room Service: Sadly, the retractable portion was busted.  The Light Fixture Shoppe on Burnet (now closed, wah!) put it on a swank brass chain for me, but I'm actively...


Apr
15
2009
 4

1950′s Paint Colors Revisited… by Sherwin Williams!


David picked up these groovy Sherwin Williams paint color palettes a while ago and I have been meaning to scan and post them. Of course, scanning means the colors are off a bit.  They are greyer for sure, the yellows not so yellow-y, in real life. The line is called the "Suburban Modern Preservation Palette"...


May
11
2009
 1

Our 50′s Game Room


For us, the Activity Room is kind of like a 1950's game room or den.  We're breaking some rules here.  Architecturally speaking, the room is a formal living room.  Before the remodel, it was the master bedroom.  But with three children and one on the way, it is the true heart of the house.  Well, okay, it is the heart...