Wooden Barrel Planter Side Table DIY

This is absolutely genius! I honestly love this guy! I mean com'on Joel... so creative! This is so simple I'm jealous that you thought about it before I did!

House and Home's design editor, Joel Bray, transforms an inexpensive wooden barrel planter into a side/coffee table. Not only is this incredibly easy, it's also ridiculously chic! The possibilities are endless. You could leave the natural wood, white wash it, paint the planter in a stripe pattern... I think you see what I mean... endless.

Take a look at how he did it or watch the Easy DIY Side Table video and other genius DIY ideas at House and Home TV.

My 800 Sq. Ft. - Fall/Winter 2012

Hello All! It's been a somber past week for me and I haven't posted in a while, but I am back on my 'feet' and ready for paint and shenanigans. I've missed you!

I've realized that I've done many small space tours but haven't done a formal tour of my own small space dwellings. So com'mon in, take off your shoes... Welcome to my 800 Sq. Ft! (I want to make sure that you all get a full tour, so I will take you around my space in several posts. Here is my living/dining/kitchen)

Apartment Tour: Meredith & Gwyneth, The New Yorkie

All weekend I was in design mode working on making a bachelor apartment feel like home for a single gal that just moved into the city. I am super excited about the project! Her place is a blank canvas with great bones and is turning out wonderfully so far. Don't worry, you will all get first eyes on the finished project and my DIY timbits along the way.

Now while I was looking for inspiration and a design direction for the 'Single Gal' Bachelor, I came across the apartment tour for Meredith & Gwyneth, The New Yorkie; a blog about Meredith and Gwyneth and their design adventures of making New York feel like home. I particularly like this home tour because it shows how a generic, parquet floor cover, white walled pie in the sky, you-know-the- ones-I'm-talking-about apartment can be personalized into a beautiful apartment of style. Not to leave out the fact that she as done it all in 470 Sq. Ft! This is what it is about! Living and loving life and a place, however small, that you can call your very own... I love it!

Check out Meredith & Gwyneth, The New Yorkie and their apartment tour.

Suitcase Side Table

Since I decided to give my bedroom a refresher I have been looking for a side table that would compliment the style of my room. I wanted something atypical. I thought may be an old vintage metal stool or a thrift find might do the trick but they didn't end up having the look I was going for.

I finally decided to go with a piece that I had made for the Blackout Fest Art show that I was a part of this summer. It added the unique collected vibe to my bedside that I was craving!

I sprayed the suitcase with Restoleum Clear Coat to seal the case and give it a bit of a shine. If you are trying to replicate this I would suggest covering any leather with painters tape to protect it and giving the case two coats of a clear spray paint.

I found these legs on an old table at the Goodwill thrift store by my Mom's place. I only wanted the legs from the table and didn't want to have to haul the whole thing to my car so I asked the store clerk if I could purchase the piece and just remove the legs. For $6 I thought it was worth it! The man thought I was crazy when I pull out my Fuller Switch-A-Bit Screwdriver from my purse and got to work...lol

Unique and functional. The case also still opens up and provides a bit of storage for me to stash things away. I'm loving it so far. Let me know what you think!