Merchandise Mart: Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom

While I was on a school trip to Chicago, we visited the Merchandise Mart. The Merchadise Mart is the largest commercial building in the world with 500 showrooms featuring furnishings, carpet, lighting, fabric, wall coverings, giftware, building products, appliances, and many more amazing products. Our mission at the mart was to open up our minds to as many kitchen and bathroom ideas as possible for our next project I seen so much I didn't even knew existed! One showroom in particular caught my eye, the Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom. This showroom housed top notch kitchen appliances (mostly stoves and refridgerators) and examples of how these appliances would work in a kitchen setting. Posted are some really neat photos that really make me wish I would start cooking more.

I really like drawers in a refridgerator set to different temperatures for different fruits and vegetables.
I also like the see through glass and the accent light in the refridgerator to give it a more contemporary touch.

I learned that the circles in the middle can be set to different temperatures which actually can stir
what ever your cooking so you don't have to do it.

An inside look of the drawers in the refridgerator. It's almost like its own mini fridge set
to a certain temperature.

Under cabinet refridgeration with glass doors always look pretty cool. Especially in a bar area and
saves room if you have a small kitchen.

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Revamp a Lamp Project

I was recently assigned a project where I had to go to a thrift store and find an old lamp and revamp it into something amazing. I found a really great white ceramic base that had an old antique feel. It inspired me to create something old and beautiful.  Below are some photos to take you through my process.

The lamp base I found for only $9!



I also found this faux lace material for only $1.95.
It definately came in handy and represents the look I was going for

Since my lamp didn't come with a shade, I picked this cheapy up
at Walmart.
 





I spray painted the base of my lamp a chocolate brown.

 

I also worked magic and spray painted the red lamp shade

a chocolate brown as well.

 

Finished product!
I used the lace I found at a thrift store, along with some pink
ribbon and some Christmas ornaments I took apart from Hobby Lobby.
I also used some scrapbooking buttons and feathers as well. Everything
is held up by some everyday craft glue.





Kitchen Salvage = Extraordinary Light Fixtures

There are many things you can do with your unwanted and old items in your home. You just have to see the potential in them before giving them away or throwing them in the garbage. With the tools and a little creativity, you can actually turn your old kitchen items into some unique light fixtures to light up your home, gift, or possibly sell to make an extra buck. A lot of people love this type of quirkiness. Below are some great ideas to help get your creative juices going.





The light reflects nicely off these forks and spoons. Gives it a elegant look in a weird way.
Perfect for above a dining room table.
www.inhabitat.com/ali-siahvoshi-lighting-from-everyday-objects/



I'm sure every kitchen has an old colander. With a little spray paint and love, you can create
any color or design you could ever imagine! Plus the glow of the light shining through each hole gives
off a cool design on the walls.
www.etsy.com search: Pendant light kitchen



This is so creative! I've never seen anything so awesome before. Why not use
all the old utensils in your kitchen and combined them together to create a
funky conversation piece.
www.afterglow-studio.com/filter/glass



There are also a lot of vintage pieces of silverware that can be found in thrift stores and
antique shops. This piece would give your kitchen a old rustic feel.
www.gardenandgun.com/blog/houstons-finest



Again, the light shining through this cheese grater would be divine. Such a simple way
to give character to a room.
www.etsy.com Search: Pendant light kitchen



This piece came from a really great website to give you more insiration. This lighting designer
specializes in fixtures made of kitchen items. It's almost an art form all its own!
www.interiordesignfiles.com/2010/12/beautiful-lighting-from-recycled.html




This is so awesome! This tea pot is definitely unique and the word creativity was
taken to a whole other level.
www.interiordesignfiles.com/2010/12/beautiful-lighting-from-recycled.html



Spoons and forks are definitely a popular item to use when making light
fixtures. This fixture stepped it up a notch and is made with all wooden cooking spoons.
Pretty imaginative don't you think?
www.decortoadore.blogspot.com/2012/07/utensil-storage-ideas.html

Ugly Christmas Lights

So the holiday season is just around the corner and at Hobby Lobby it has already hit. All our seasonal items are out and ready to go and customers are already stocking up on lights and decorations. So while I was at work it hit me. Why not do my next blog post about Christmas lights? (We are in the lighting unit in my class and all posts need to have something to do with lighting.) When I got home I surfed through the web trying to figure out what about Christmas lights would people find interesting. Other uses for Christmas lights? How to decorate with Christmas lights? What types of Christmas lights are out there? Nah, that's boring. Of course when I came across a website called Ugly Christmas Lights, I knew that is what I had to cover. Here are just a few of the photos I came across. They are hilarious!

Did We forget an important part?



Sure their yard looks um, good. But look at that beautiful house in the background
with no decoration on it at all.
Taken by: Anthony M.
http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/2011_collection/all_on_the_lawn.html

 I was trying to achieve a minimalistic look this year.

 Look at that rope lighting, really enhances that tree.
Taken by: Richard R.
http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/2011_collection/three_strings.html

Ummm

Those people must love light up piggies in Santa suits.
Cute or creepy?
Taken by: Holly Z.
http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/2011_collection/five_little_pigs.html

 Holy Mother of Pearl!!!

Wowza. They must have a lot of storage space in the off season.
You see the house? Way back yonder?
Taken by: Garret M.
http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/2011_collection/no_room.html

 Can you guess what doesn't belong?

Santa has raindeer and elves and apparently pet elephants too.
Taken by: LJS
http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/2010_collection/christmas_elephant.html

 I love the holidays, just not that much.

How would you like to get that for your sweet sixteen?
Taken by: LJS
http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/2010_collection/green_sleigh.html

An army has formed!!!! 

Remember all those festive plastic light up figurines that you used to find in stores?
Yeah....they bought them all. No wonder I can't find any.
Taken by: Nikita
 http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/2010_collection/lawn_glow.html

 Hey now there's nothing wrong with this at all.

Festive decorating rule #5: When decorating your house, you must not forget
the Porta John sitting on your curb.
Taken by: Kelly M.
http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/2010_collection/lightapotty.html

Octopus Chandeliers

"Light is not so much something that reveals, as it is itself revelation" -James Turrell

As an avid follower on instagram, I wanted to share with you some "luminaires" that are not only for everyday use, but are works of art as well.  A person I follow known as Adam Wallacavage has an imagination all his own. He actually creates chandeliers known as "Octopus Chandeliers" that have become quiet popular in his area of residency and they are also becoming well known around the country. He started these unique pieces of art when he was trying to create something different to decorate his Victorian home. Now, Adam Wallacavage's pieces are displayed in many art shows and galleries near his home of Philly.



Adam's blog. Where I found all these photos

One of Adam's more recent shows that has just ended entitled, "Shiny Monters"



More of his work that are a little less octupi.




Check out his website! It's really neat and houses a lot of my favorites. click here!!!!!
Also follow him on instagram (adam_wallacavage) He posts a lot of really great pieces.



From Salvage Mirror to Chalkboard

I have a small kitchen and wondering what to do with an empty wall I have in there. So as I was looking for some inspirational ideas, I came across this really neat idea from a blog called Censational Girl.  She found an old mirror from her local salvage yard and took some easy steps to turn it into a chalkboard for her kitchen. All you need is some new paint for the edges of the mirror and this stuff called chalkboard spray paint. It transforms almost any surface into a chalkboard. Check it out below:

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/08/from-salvaged-mirror-to-chalkboard/

Floral Arrangement at my cousins wedding

I was really excited to design floral arrangements for my cousins wedding. This one was on all three of her bridal shower tables.