Andrea @ Behind Closed Drawers's Profile

Display Name: Andrea @ Behind Closed Drawers
Personal URL: http://behindcloseddrawers.wordpress.com
Member Since: 7/12/10

Latest Comments...

Amen! I loved the comment about studying a room after a party.

I'm all about organizing as well as decorating and people often fall into this same trap, assuming that if there is an organizer for it, it must be used. This is simply not true. Each person should figure out how they use their own spaces in his or her own home and choose containers based on personal habits and aesthetics, even if it conflicts with the advice from the latest design magazine.

After all, if you can't truly live in your home and have it suited to your own needs, what's the point? Go live in a fancy hotel instead. ;)


When the Camera's Not Looking: Evaluating Livability
1/6/12 1:42 PM

Nice! I've been eying the original but knew I couldn't afford it in my wildest dreams.

Hmmm. This may happen. :)


Designer DIY: Make a Repurposed Cardboard Organizer
Design*Sponge
1/6/12 1:30 PM

I'm a recent convert to homemade cleaning products, and I now swear by them. I've shared my little concoctions with friends and have heard nothing but good things! Two friends were super-sensitive to regular cleaners and were glad to not have headaches or skin rashes after using them. Nice!

I use vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, and Dr. Bronner's castile soaps (liquid and solid) to clean, with the help of some organic essential oils. I love cleaning the kitchen and bathroom now that it smells so good and isn't bad for me or the environment!

Here's the recipe I used for laundry detergent. Also ... 1/3 c. vinegar instead of softener is amazing for your laundry, especially towels!

http://behindcloseddrawers.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/homemade-laundry-detergent-and-softener/


Homemade Cleaners Toolkit: 5 Essentials to Make Your Own
1/3/12 12:53 PM

For folks in Nashville, like me, there is the amazing ModerNash. They even have a nifty tool to shop from IKEA's website and figure out your shipping. Not EVERYTHING is better shipped by them (lightweight objects, for instance) but we got our Expedit and some table legs from them and were very pleased with both our home delivery and pick up service.

http://modernash.com/


5 Places To Shop For IKEA When There Isn't One Around
6/2/11 1:35 PM

Love the rustic-chic style you have going in this place. If my husband would let me, I'd buy a cowhide rug for our (admittedly) soft and feminine dining room. I think it would toughen it up.

Nice place!


Scarlett's Out in the Country
4/27/11 2:52 PM

I love the fabric "headboard" ... I might be stealing this idea in the near future.


Stacey's Everything from Somewhere
4/27/11 2:27 PM

w00t! love your blog and your DIY home.


Kim & Scott's Yellow Brick Home
4/26/11 1:18 PM

pardon me. Fleur de Sel.


Our Favorite Etsy Stores, 2011 Edition— And Tell Us Yours!
3/25/11 2:04 PM

There are so many shops I love on Etsy, but the one coming to mind at the moment (perhaps because I just had lunch and am craving something sweet) is The Caramel Jar's Flor de Sel Caramels.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheCaramelJar

Best. Caramels. I've. EVER. Had. EVER. I'm talking melt-in-your-mouth, hope-this-moment-lasts-forever good.


Our Favorite Etsy Stores, 2011 Edition— And Tell Us Yours!
3/25/11 2:03 PM

I think I'd have nightmares with that dragon/fish/lion thing looming behind me.

Although I agree with @Terry in Silver Spring ... it could make for an incredible morning alarm clock wake-up call if it is a working fountain that shoots water over your bed.


The Merlion Pop-up Hotel in Singapore
3/21/11 2:30 PM

Gorgeous! I'm so impressed. I've got several projects going and only $50/month set aside for home improvement. It's maddening, but also demands ultimate creativity, so I definitely appreciate your ingenuity!


Before & After: Den Makeover On an Extreme Budget
2/28/11 4:39 PM

Hmmmm. I'm inspired. I wonder what I can do with my back patio ... and no budget to speak of? Oh well. Guess I'll have to be uber creative! Shame. ;)


House Tour Inspiration: Outdoor Spaces with Pops of Color
2/28/11 12:28 PM

Wow! Is this the same room? What a transformation. Love it, especially the butcher's block counter tops.


Before & After: Chicago Bungalow Kitchen
2/28/11 12:26 PM

I enjoyed it. The designer in me loved the color coordination idea back when it started surfacing in all the design mags several years back, but it's starting to feel a little cliche. That being said, I still think it is beautiful.

Are my shelves organized by color? As much as I'm tempted to turn my standard IKEA shelving unit into a piece of art, no. They are sorted by topic. The librarian in me would go crazy any other way.

That being said, I'm going to share this video with friends. I'm a sucker for stop animation. :)


Organizing the Bookcase
2/26/11 10:47 PM

What a great organizing job! I, too, love the use of the shoe organizer. It reminds me of how I used to use mine for all my craft supplies before I pared down.


Before & After: A Pretty, Organized Hallway Closet
2/21/11 4:15 PM

I'm with @Ash_Anne. I love my dog, but I'm quite allergic to her dander. My health and quality of sleep (I'm a really light sleeper) improved exponentially when I removed her from the bed and the bedroom.

It took her awhile to get used to it, but I knew when I was engaged to my husband that we'd want our space from the "kid" and so the bedroom is sacrosanct. I weaned her gradually from sleeping with me and now her favorite spot in the world to sleep is her crate just outside our bedroom door. She even runs up there when my husband and I have stayed up past our "bedtime" and she thinks its time to go to sleep, unlike us crazy humans.

(Note: She's not the only thing I've banished. For a truly good night's sleep with no headaches or sinus problems, I have to dust and keep our dirty clothes that have been exposed to the outside, especially in the spring, outside the bedroom as well.)


Furry Bedfellows: Do You Sleep with Your Pet?
NY Times
2/19/11 3:09 PM

I love that there is a starburst mirror line-up to browse. I'm with the "that isn't even near low enough for my budget" crowd, but I get that there are mirrors for every budget.

The timing couldn't be better, though. I just blogged today about the one I found at Target that I'm excited about potentially buying. So for those of you with <$50 budgets (like me), you might like this one, too. Just don't buy the last one! I want it! :)

http://behindcloseddrawers.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/starburst-mirror-joy/


Ask And You Shall Receive: Starburst Mirrors
2/18/11 3:17 PM

I love sunburst mirrors. This one is just all-out bold and beautiful!

And my poor husband has been hearing nothing but of my desire to find the perfect greige for our apartment walls. I'm bookmarking this post for future reference. :)


Greige and Gold: Hot Color Combination
2/18/11 12:00 PM

My favorite shot is the last one that shows the pictures above the cabinets. Nice balance and contrast.


Before & After: Bekki & Gary's Low-Cost, High-Impact Kitchen Renovation
2/17/11 9:18 PM

Not much better? I'd say that's a huge improvement on a limited budget. I don't cringe when I look at it anymore.

My favorite part is the chalkboard paint wall. I love those things.


Before & After: Dated Kitchen Transformation
2/15/11 4:32 PM