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Gimme a Giveaway: Kilim Decor

Published on February 7, 2014February 7, 2014 by Our Humble Abode80 Comments

This fantastic giveaway is from Kilim Decor, an Etsy shop filled with meticulously made vintage Kilim pillows and clutches. Even better, this is a U.S. based shop, so shipping is fast and affordable. I got my pillow in two days. And I can’t stress enough the quality. Very well made and super sturdy.

Not to mention lovely and one of a kind. Now it’s your turn to get your own Kilim pillow. Maybe this Turkish Lumbar Kilim Pillow;

Or a more intricate Lumbar Kilim Pillow:

A fun, busy 16 by 16 inch Vintage Kilim Pillow:

Even a more simple 18 by 18 inch Kilim Pillow:

The Goods: A $50 shop credit, good for or toward anything in the Kilim Decor Etsy store.

To Enter: Leave a comment, which can (but doesn’t have to) include our Just for Fun question.

Just for Fun: Which foreign country would you most like to visit? So many are on my list, it’s hard to decide.

For additional entries:

1. Add Kilim Decor’s shop or an item to your Etsy favs, and leave another comment.

2. Like Our Humble Abode on Facebook, and comment again for three total entries.

Contest Closes: Thursday, February 27th.

Number of Winners: There can be only one, chosen by Random.org.

Ships: Anywhere in the US, friends.

Other Info: We will select the winners using random.org and announce on Friday, February 28th. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Broken Hearted

Published on February 5, 2014February 5, 2014 by Our Humble Abode1 Comment

As we’re all aware, Valentine’s day is just over a week away. While I love the opportunity to show a little extra love to my special men, I’m not so into red and hearts. Instead, Ev and I partnered up to make a two toned heart pillow. He chose the paint colors and I did the rest.

Using scrap paper, I made a half heart template and lightly traced it on my fabric with a pencil. Using a yard stick, I made a line across to separate the triangular base from the top.

Martha Stewart craft paints claim to be good on fabric, so that’s what I used to fill in. If I weren’t stuck inside due to crazy cold, snowy weather, I would have used fabric.

I’d rather have a lovey design with year round colors, so Ev did a good job with his choices. Dude knows how to pick ’em.

Here are two more fun heart pillows you could make to add some love to your house:

DIY geometric heart pillow:

Gold pleather heart pillow: Yay for more modern versions of an old favorite.

Where do you stand on Valentine’s day and the decor that usually goes with it?

Bathroom Before and After

Published on February 3, 2014February 3, 2014 by Our Humble Abode50 Comments

When we moved into this house, the master bathroom was dated with yellow tile on the floors, counters, and shower. The brown grout always looked dirty. And those red walls. Oh, I couldn’t stand those red, patchy walls.

Though the bathroom was large and filled with light from the big window.

A shower leak bumped this remodel up the priority list, and we couldn’t be happier to bid the old room adieu. Last fall I quickly painted the walls a light green, just to cover up the red (but didn’t bother taking the light fixture down to paint behind). So, here’s what the room looked like before demo work began:

Which is a stark contrast to the finished room we’re using today:

Ben built a custom solid walnut vanity topped with a vessel sink with stainless steel countertops.

Wood planked walls and ceiling give subtle texture and the nearly black painted upper part has a high contrast I love.

Accessories and the long teal linen window curtains pop against the neutral walls.

Simple DIY art, arrows, and a copper bud vase add personality and really make the room feel lived in.

The new slate floor and marble shower tile feels ultra luxurious.

Our low profile curtain hanging system also helps keep the bathroom open and airy in a way even a glass wall couldn’t. And with far less cleaning and maintenance.

But we can’t forget the tub, because that’s a key piece in this remodel. By shortening the vanity to a single sink, we were able to make room for the claw foot tub.

I’d love to make a small shelf to rest on the tub, because the rattan stool is in the way of the door swing.

One last item on the bathroom to do list is replace the window and surrounding trim this spring or summer.

Finishing a room always feels great, but this one is especially satisfying. So many elements we love, some we weren’t comfortable putting in a main bathroom. Like the claw foot tub. The boys have used it a few times already, and we’re happy not to have to worry about four sides of splashes on a daily basis.

Winner & Etsy Favs: January

Published on January 31, 2014 by Our Humble Abode2 Comments

Say goodbye to January 2014, because we’re nearing the end. But, we’ve got some good news for two lucky giveaway winners.

Myssie and Sarah Z, you get to choose your favorite print from The Smitten Collection and one text bubble cut out from me. Congrats on the new art! For all you other Etsy lovers, take a look at these great pieces I found this month:

Navy Geo print by Brittany Bass

Hand Stitched Note Card from Sarah K. Benning

Iceberg in Water photograph print at Eye Poetry Photography

Mountain Blossom Furoshiki from The Link Collective

Triangle Throw Pillow Cover by Adidit

Geometric Air Plant Cube from Sea and Asters

Laurel Wreath Necklace at Almanac for June

Leaded Glass Hanging Vase by BeeJayKay

Ampersand Screen Print from Shop Ampersand

Silk Wings Scarf by Shovava

Rose Gold Initial Pendant at Olive Yew Jewels

Black and Copper Large Cylinder Vase from The Object Enthusiast

Trifox Print by Twamies

Orb Shaped Black and White Planter from Half Light Honey Studio

Wishing everyone a happy (and warm) last day of January!

Dark and Handsome

Published on January 29, 2014January 29, 2014 by Our Humble Abode53 Comments

Hey, hey, hey! Guess what? Aside from a few small tasks (replacing the broken light switch plate and perhaps getting a runner), our master bathroom remodel is done. Finishing the vanity was our last job, and it’s ready to rock.

Ben built everything, and in a similar way to our old kitchen cabinets. (If you have questions, feel free to ask!) After talking to a custom cabinetry shop, he did make a few tweaks. The custom shop uses white melamine for the cabinet box and Blum Tandem Plus drawer glides, so that’s what we used. Because these glides are designed to be ‘hidden’, the drawer bases have a 1/2 inch lip around the sides and front. No visible glides on the sides:

Ben used his table saw to cut a channel for the MDF to fit into.

We wanted a wooden vanity to add some much-needed warmth to the room. American Walnut is a favorite of mine, with its deep, rich color. After joining the boxes together, we, um, Ben faced the fronts with walnut. I came by after and filled the small cracks and nail holes.

One of the reasons we chose a vessel sink was to have usable, full-sized top drawers. To make this possible, Ben ran all the sink plumbing down the 5 inch center of the vanity.

An access hole inside the cabinet is usable with the drawers pulled out, if we ever need to work on the sink.

For a simple, modern look, we kept flat panel drawer fronts. (Sorry for the terrible lighting, I took these at night).

For the finish coat, I decided to experiment with Teak Oil. I love the ability to recoat without having to completely sand down the wood. And the oil looks amazing, bringing out all the beautiful grain and color. See the right stack, without oil? Ashy and blah.

After a full day of dry time, the vanity was almost ready.

Modern cylinder handles finish it off. To mark the holes, I put pieces of tape near the center then measured and marked on the tape. Ben drilled and pulled off the tape. Worked like a charm.

Hey handsome, do you come here often? Oh, you do? Wanna come home with me?

Of course it took me two seconds to start organizing the drawers. Here’s Ben’s side:

And my top drawer:

When the sun cooperates, I’ll snap a ton of pictures to show full before and afters. I’m pretty sure, no, completely sure, this is our fastest full remodel. We demo’d mid November and I’m calling it done today; only 2 1/2 months.