Grey Likes Nesting

People, this home tour is ON FIRE. It’s amazing. Do not judge me for my serious inability to cut down on the number of photos I’m including. They were all too good to let go.

Meet Kim and Scott. AKA. Adorable attack. They are serious DIY-ers, have this too cute blog called Yellow Brick Home, and paint pictures of pets. Your pets, their pets, everyone’s pets. No joke.

This is their 700-square foot Chicago abode. It’s everything you’d want from hip, city-dwellers. Complete with a cute dog, obvi. Keep reading below for a fun Q & A with Kim.

As you’ll see, Kim and Scott have art all over their home. It’s fun, unique, and colorful. Love it. Plus, their chalk wall in the entry way is a way steal-able idea.

This is their uhh-mazing studio space. I want to drive all the way to Chicago and steal that peach chair and keep it forever.

About this lovely patio, Kim says it is “a very important part of Chicago living, since it basically expands our small living space by a whole extra “room” during the summers.”

What’s your best advice for first-time nesters?

We live in a small home (less than 700 sq. ft.), and we’re constantly challenged by the size of a room, storage and ways to make our place feel bigger. With that said, we know that every decision we make might not work, but you have to try, right? We’re not afraid to fail (was the wall color a big mistake? Maybe, so try again! It’s just paint!), and we’re very hands on. We think that rather than be paralyzed with fear, just take small steps to make your house feel like you. Gather inspiration from your favorite blogs, magazines and even catalog mailers – there’s no right or wrong way to do something when it comes to your own style! And take your time; it won’t happen overnight, and that’s okay.

What was your biggest purchase for the home? How did you justify the expense?

We wouldn’t say that there is one item in our home that stands out as a splurge, but some items might seem a bit more pricey when put into perspective. For example, Scott couldn’t believe I spent almost $200 on 4 silk curtain panels (for the living room), when we have just as beautiful, crisp white panels from Ikea for $20/ea in other parts of our home! Along the same lines, we’ve just replaced all the venetian blinds in our home for more practical, energy-saving honeycomb shades. While they may not be the most exciting purchase, they’ll save us money in the long run on cooling and heating.

Where is your favorite place to relax in the house?

At the end of every evening, nothings makes us happier than to curl up on our couch and just be. We’ll catch up on Netflix (our current obsession: Breaking Bad), have a glass of wine and sit back with our four-legged kiddos: Jack, Maddie and Libby.

Do you entertain friends? If so, how have you designed your home to accommodate that?

We absolutely love hosting friend gatherings! One of the reasons we fell in love with our home was the open concept kitchen/living area. We have a round coffee table to encourage our friends to gather around, play games and laugh. Scott and I can be in the kitchen – just an arms length away from the living room! – and pour drinks, make sure there’s enough food and still be in the same room with everyone else. On warm nights, we have a small patio to gather and enjoy the Chicago summers.

 

All images shot by Kim, with the exception of the top image from Gooch Too Photography.

What did we do before Pinterest allowed us to save every pretty thing we found in a place we could always visit for inspiration? I like to think cork boards were the original homes for such lovelies.

Just take a look at all of these real life inspiration boards. I can’t think of a better way to stay in the mood while working than this!

Images: Apartment Therapy; Decor8 on Flickr; MaeMae Paperie; The Hearth; Design Sponge

Take beach style to glamorous new heights with this Palm Beach Hideaway Inspiration Board.

Glitz required, sand optional. 

Clockwise from the top: M.A.S.H. via Pinterest; Shelter via Pinterest; Scarf from J. Crew; Coastal Living; Watch from ASOS; Essie’s Tart Deco; Glam Things; Bag, Kate Spade from Nordstrom.

 

 

Earlier we shared some serious inspiration for chalkboard art and now we’re back with some of our favorite ideas for incorporating it into your home. Our best tips and tricks:

1. Start small. If you’re not fully committed to say, painting a whole wall with chalkboard paint, try starting with just a frame or a piece of furniture. Find a unique frame with a solid backing at a thrift store, remove the glass, and paint the backing with chalkboard paint. Or, take a wood table or cabinet and paint the top or doors. All the fun, no commitment. Now I sound like a man!

2. Be bold. The combination of huge chalkboard art on the walls with the bright colored accents really makes the look pop. These pieces of art can be created by taping off rectangular sections on the wall and painting the middle with chalkboard paint.

3. Score something vintage. This vintage schoolhouse chalkboard is a gorgeous addition to the entry way, or in any other room.

4. Dive in. Afraid of nothing? Just go for the gold and paint the whole wall. We especially love this look for the kitchen. The practical uses are endless.

5. Take it outside. Still not convinced chalk art needs to make a cameo in your home? Try it outside! Could be a fun addition to a backyard BBQ or front porch entrance.

6. Details, details. Think of other fun uses for chalk art, like place settings and labels. If it can be painted, it’s fair game.

7. Get seasonal. One of best things about chalkboard paint is that you can always swap the art out. That frame that usually hold yours grocery list, or the wall that normally has your favorite line from a poem? Turn it into a perfect place for holiday cheer. So much easier than putting together an artificial Christmas tree. Seriously.

Images Sources:

1. Crush Cul de Sac & 79 Ideas / 2. Unknown via Pinterest / 3. Hinge Design Studio / 4. My Paradissi  / 5. What Katie Ate / 6. That Inspirational Girl & Annaleenas Hem / 7. Unknown via Pinterest

We’ve been basically jumping up and down for days with excitement over today’s post. This DIY was created just for Grey Likes readers by the super-duper-extra talented Ashley of Sugar and Cloth.  Be sure that you have lots of spare time when you visit her blog, because you will get sucked in. It’s gorgeous. Here’s what Ashley had to say:

I’m always swooning over trendy geometric table linens (West Elm, you have my heart). The only problem is that the inner DIY in me can’t justify buying them when they can be easily re-created to fit my space perfectly with a little paint and creativity. So, I set out to make my own, here’s how:

Materials:

• Martha Stewart all-surface craft paint
• Foam brush
• Painters tape
• Linens

How-to:

Giving plain linens new life with geometric shapes is literally as easy as taping off a few cool shapes, and painting a few thin coats of all purpose paint over them. I used the tape for horizontal lines and making triangles, then decided to free-hand the X’s but you could easily tape those also. By only painting the corners, you’re leaving guests plenty of space to dab a little icing from their cheek when the party gets started without any roughness.

 

Don’t you love them? Dont’ you love Ashley?! We knew you would.