koolfind's Profile

that was really interesting, I enjoyed two of the videos but the first one stops half way through.

Gen Xer here. I know a big hurdle is definitely time. When you are raising little kids you only have handfuls of time to pull weeds etc, and even then you are exhausted.The next hurdle is information. I find the learning curve to be very steep, especially if you have other primary interests. First, you have to figure out the zone maps, then perennials, annuals and the season the plants bloom in, then (and there is so little information on this one) how to plant your plants so that they look good together all through the growing period. I often end up with plants that are too tall in the front of the bed, a garden that looks great in spring, like Armageddon in August, and I am just coming to grips with the idea of contrasting the texture of the plants leaves (fluffy and spiky.) That's a whole lot of reading. Then... you get to the garden centre and the tags are less than helpful. Often there are no zone indicators and you have to guess when it will bloom. Good luck asking the staff. I often get the feeling that it is set up this way "on purpose." Somehow I should know all these details, and the latin names of each flower in my zone in order to qualify as someone who is allowed to own a plant. Sigh.

I saw a really neat looking "corner daybed" hack on a website recently. I can't remember where though! It looks like they had upholstered along both the head and side of the bed then used cushions for "daytime use" to make it into a couch. Might be cool if you wanted to have another function for your space. Personally, I would install a curtain track on the ceiling that could wrap around the bed area or just be pulled dramatically aside. I would make sure the curtains "fell" behind the bed too to tie it in, especially if I used the daybed idea. I wouldn't use a divider shelf, the space is small... I'm a bit of a klutz though and I'm thinking of my toes! For storage I would use unusual furniture that might show up in a living room. Your kitchen is awesome btw.

Well...in direct contrast to what everyone else is saying... these look very much like my cabinets (sans the white and silver "firecracker" countertops that we have!) I didn't paint them white because I love colour. Long winters, what can I say. I really love the soft sage green that I painted them with and I painted the inside of the cupboard a two shades lighter for effect. Even with the visible hinges and silver handles it looks beautiful. I have to repaint again and I am considering painting the top cupboards white and leaving the bottoms sage, just to change things up. So, if you're not keen on white there's another option that might work, although with all the gray in your backsplash I would go towards a gray-green or even a nice gray, just on the bottom cabinets. Think of how beautiful it would look! I would change the curtains too to something more tailored, doesn't have to be expensive though!

Absolutely beautiful but...is that the same space? Curved walls, windows to the street? My brain is confused. Either that's a different orientation or they spent a lot of money. Ouch, poor brain.

I love Art Nouveau, fell in love with it in Barcelona seeing Gaudi's works. The buildings, and decor made you feel as though you had entered a new and magical world. So imaginative. I can't wait until his cathedral is finished. What I saw of it was amazing!

Tub with jets...never would have considered it before kids but it feels like "going to the spa." (not that I've actually been there..but I believe the advertising!) We actually didn't spend a lot on it but it makes our days a little brighter.

Nice everyday flatware that we registered for instead of silverware. They have a nice weight and make our day to day meals feel special.

Dishwasher. What an amazing concept.

Tea in real Teacups.

Pretty coffee mugs for coffee and a little tray for evening snacks.

Lit candles.

Super soft blankets.

I would love someone to clean my house...but I think that day is very far away!

are the giveaways only for the states? not Canada?

Hi there. What a cool space and a great opportunity to use some ingenuity. Here's my two cents: I love the idea of moving the bed so that it sits along the wall. I had mine that way in university and while it was awkward at first I ended up loving it. You can pull the top cover all the way up to the head of the bed and place the pillows against the wall as back cushions. You said you wanted a screen and you don't have a lot of options... move the bookcase so that it sits perpendicular to the wall and next to the wardrobe, for best usability face it out toward your wardrobe, butt your bed up to the other side, this will become your headboard. If you have a nice flat sheet in a colour you like you can use it to drape the "headboard" side. You don't really have to tack it on as long as the bookcase itself is stable,(you can shim it with cardboard if it is wobbly) just place the fabric under something heavy on the top shelf that's low enough that if the fabric is accidentally pulled the heavy stuff won't come over the back of the shelf. I'm sure they have cardboard boxes where you are. If you can find some that are a good size you can cover the front of them with nice paper (even wrapping paper, glue away) and use them on your book shelf. That should free up some space for your kitchen stuff to sit on the shelf too. I would use that lovely step up area as the desk/breakfast area with you extra chair for reading when you can't type anymore. Use the little side tables together in front of your new "daybed". If you are good at sewing (or even know how to tack on) and you come across another nice bedsheet or length of fabric you could use it to dress up the shower curtain and add colour to your room. Sew the sheet carefully either to the rings or to the curtain itself, you can always take it off when you leave, just make sure the plastic liner is the only thing actually touching the water when you shower! Some sticky tack and magazine pictures would also make great wall accents. The space up above would be great for luggage and if you find a box low enough you could slide it under your bed for extra storage, it won't last forever but you don't need it to. Good luck!

We had the same problem in our bedroom of all places. We had a box built around it and used some old glass windows as "doors" for the box. I added some of the stain glass film that you can put on regular windows then added a light timer and some lights. Now our "window" brings light into our bedroom every morning, right on time. Saw something like it while touring a Gaudi mansion in Spain.