My IKEA Kitchen

When I moved into my apartment (7 years ago!), I immediately got to work on kitchen solutions.  I knew I needed to make the most of my wall space because, frankly, that's all this eat-in kitchen had other than 3 upper and lower cabinets plus one drawer.  So I went to IKEA and bought myself a kitchen.  

Fortunately, they had a plethora of wall storage.  (Plethora- fun word, right?)  I grabbed a couple of these rods with these hooks and this basket.  And I really liked this spice rack, too.

I added a few other pieces like a hanging produce basket and a butcher's block where I keep my 'garage bin', a cloth basket full of tools, batteries, flashlights and other miscellaneous items.  All in all, I'm pretty happy with my kitchen space; it's functional and organized.  Just how I like it.

Tell me, Appleshiners, what tricks do you have for an organized kitchen?

Also, remember this loft kitchen that I unpacked and Appleshined?  I had cabinet envy soooo bad; look how well it turned out.

Organization Inspiration

Hi friends!  I can't believe it's already Wednesday; this week has been so busy.  I was shopping for a client in West Elm yesterday and got excited about this wall display.  What a great way to add more storage on a wall, especially in a small space.  It's fancier than floating shelves and better than a build-in.  A few simple right angles turned a plain wall into a bookshelf.  And that's a good tip: one of the best ways to gain more storage space is to go vertical. (Remember this post about hanging scarves on a wall?)


Tell me, Appleshiners, how have you made the most of your wall space?

Organization Inspiration

Hi friends!  Did you have a good weekend?  I hope so.  I had a busy, busy schedule- most of it was prepping for my half-marathon on Sunday morning.  And now that's done, whew!  My legs are little sore but I'm quite pleased with it all.  After some rest (and a very cold ice bath), I wrapped up the weekend with a lovely concert and dinner with friends.  Remember my talented friend, Emily?  Her yummy dinner party inspired this post on organization and etiquette.

So when looking for inspiration for today's post, I went back through images of Appleshined bookshelves; they make this organizer a happy girl.

Holy moly, after working with my client, they organized this bookshelf all on their own!  I love the color-grouping with the books.  And the wall shelves are from CB2.

Remember this bookshelf from the Art Studio?  It houses all her instructional/copy books.  And I love the creative accents on top.

This dollhouse-shaped bookshelf was so cute in the girls' playroom.  And the wicker baskets made it more functional.

This is one of my favorite, whimsical shelving sets.  Staging the little things in your apartment or office with personal accents gives a more meaning to your space.

Again, I used wicker baskets to maximize the shelving space for more than just books in this playroom.  It's a great way to house smaller toys and clunky objects.

Tell me, Appleshiners, what's your favorite inspiration for an organized bookshelf?

Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Recently, I visited the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, not just to look around but also to support my very talented friend, Dwayne, and his gorgeous interior design firm, RDYC.  He was selected by DIFFA for their Dining by Design exhibit- congrats!

It was fun afternoon (especially since it was particularly cold and rainy outside) and I wandered about, finding plenty of organization inspiration and snapping a few photos along the way.

Of course California Closets had an enviable closet display.  I really like the natural, wooden shelving with glass shelving and cabinets- it's so light and airy.  I could totally see myself getting ready in that closet.

I like these little stools.  The soft colors are so pretty and they could double for an end table or extra seating.  Multi-tasking furniture is key for small space organization.

How gorgeous is this shelving unit?!  My taste usually doesn't go towards earthy elements but the simple beauty of this piece is stunning.  And the height allows for more shelves = more organizing solutions.

Shadow box shelving units are all over the place but I've never seen them assembled like this before!  They made the most of a corner space, taking storage vertical and maximizing wall space.

Remember my post on using a frame to hold sunglasses?  This company has a streamlined version of that concept.  Board by Design makes an iWear Rack so compact and attractive, you could place it right by your front door and never forget your sunglasses again.

I had a lot of fun with this little weekend activity.  

Tell me, Appleshiners, what are you up to this weekend?

Cool Furniture for Small Spaces

Look at me, hanging out on that cool couch....that turns into a bed!  It's my dream come true: the ultimate space saver that's both practical and trendy.  

In the past, this type of bed was a dark and dowdy contraption (with a name that rhymed with 'urphy').  Nowadays, Resource Furniture has transformed the hideaway bed into a modern living room layout.  And they didn't stop there; they have console tables that stretch to seat 14 people, bunk beds that double as an office and coffee tables that triple as a desk for one or formal seating for 10.  

I was so excited to go to their event this week and take a grand tour of the showroom.  My most favorite piece was their beautiful sofa which happened to turn into a bed.  Fantastic!

First, you have to remove the many throw pillows (their fabric selection is gorgeous and plentiful).  And note the ample storage space underneath the couch.  Very cool.

Then simply pull the shelf down to open up the bed.  It acts as the support for the frame and the best part is, nothing on the shelf gets disturbed.  Even those glass vases remain untouched when the bed is fully functional.

And there you have it!  One, two, three steps from a cushy sofa to a snuggly sleeping arrangement.  It's a Queen size bed, too, and I swear that mattress is more comfy than the one at my apartment.  (Or maybe I was just giddy from the demonstration.) 

Regardless, it's a great way to save space in a small apartment, guest room or vacation home.  And it's sleek, efficient and easy on the eyes. I had such a lovely time at their event and can't wait to see what design they'll come up with next.


Tell me, Appleshiners, where would you use a bed like this?


PS- I hope everyone has a happy holiday!  If you're planning on joining family and friends for a yummy dinner, use these great carriers to get your food there unharmed and in style.

If you're hosting a get together, here are a few ideas for extra seating in a small space.

If your list of things to do is overwhelming, take a few deep breaths and follow these tips on how to make the most of your time.

And, most of all, I hope you have as much carefree fun as she does here.  Happy weekend, everyone!

An Organizer's Dream: Crafts Room

I was the little girl who went on playdates and cleaned up my friends' rooms for fun.  And I'd mentally configure every small space I encountered into a one-room home.  The bed would flip out over the kitchen sink, which was above the stove and next to the closet, all on one wall.  That left me 3 other walls to construct.  Yup, that's when I knew that lifestyle organization would be my thing.

Decades later, I still play pretend with an imaginary space.

This image from Better Homes and Gardens is such an awesome inspiration for a crafts room.  There's ample storage yet everything's close at hand.  Letting your space ramble gives way to disorganization.

You can get the shelves here, the storage unit here and the baskets here.  These are a alternative type of wall shelves, if you'd prefer.  And here's a desk similar to the one pictured.

The designer let the storage space continue up to the ceiling with covered baskets, great for small items.  They even used these magazine holders for the shelves.  The flow of the room allows for lots of crafty materials to be contained in a small space.

And the best part about the design is the colors.  The soft gray walls, white and natural units, with only a dramatic pop of blue print keeps the space creative but not overpowering.  Ah...I love a good day dream.


Tell me, Appleshiners, how would you organize your 'dream' crafts room?