Our Painted Piano and DIY Malachite Bench.

If our piano growing up was peach or lemon yellow I bet I would have practiced a lot more.

Before, a sad empty living room corner.  

And the movers bringing in what they lovingly referred to as "the heaviest piano ever."  I joke. 

I found this beauty on Craigslist for next to nothing.  She was worse for wear when I found her, but nothing some green paint couldn't fix. 

Even though there was no doubt I'd be painting the piano, this decision was solidified once we got her in the space.  This finish just didn't do her justice.  #lifeistooshortforabrownpiano   

As for the bench, it sat in its original state for quite some time.  I finally decided a monochrome, green-on-green look would be fun and decided to make things interesting with this faux malachite technique I'd been dying to try.  It was so easy and instantly gratifying!  Such a fun way to inject some pattern to the otherwise solid piano.  I would definitely recommend this DIY.

I think this is really a lesson in living with what you love.  By no means am I a technical player, so for us painting the piano wasn't terrible from a sound / quality standpoint (I'm sure some of you serious musicians out there cringe at the sight of our painted instrument).  But we really love it.  This little corner of our house brings me such joy now, whether the piano is being played or just sitting silent.  And I'm such a proponent for a happy home!  So I say if you want to paint you piano (or do malachite walls or paint your ceiling blue or layer a rug on a rug on a rug) do it!  You won't regret it, I promise.  

Come On In: Michael Haney and Brooke Cundiff Via The Selby.

Doesn't this home feel so welcoming?

Almost familiar, in a way. As if you've been there.

The neutral color palette with shots of saturated hue

might be responsible for my gravitation to this NYC space,

owned by Michael Haney and Brooke Cundiff.

The style is clean, but collected enough to feel cozy.

It seems they've included all the right accessories to prove a life well-lived,

yet left out all else.

And there's certainly no denying the fact that Todd Selby has a knack

for making his readers feel as if they are the one

heading step after step deeper into a new friend's place.

The guy is good.

Such a great way to decorate,

especially for those who like to mix things up often.

I've said it before. I'll say it again.

By keeping the shell neutral,

you can incorporate colorful objects of any shade seamlessly.

Happy Monday Lovelies!

Home Tour: Country Cottage.

I had to share this Home Tour I found on The Martha Stewart site. What I really love about this house: the color palette. It strikes the perfect balance between sophisticated neutrals and cheerful pops of color. The place has personality but maintains a classy edge. It's beautiful yet fun and cozy, just the way a house should be!

The furniture is well tailored (read: slightly elegant) yet overstuffed (read: comfy) creating the perfect balance.

Red trim adds energy and works well as it can really stand out against other neutral elements in the space.

Beautiful hardware steals the show in this small galley kitchen.

I love the timeless teak finish of the dresser while the recessed circular knobs lend a sense of playfulness to the piece.

So effortless and natural!

This house really speaks to me and acts as a great reminder for all of us to have fun with our homes. Somewhere along the line people started taking the task of furnishing a home far too seriously. As this house evidences so perfectly, it's possible to have a beautiful and elegant home while remembering to keep it comfortable and true to your personal style. Well done!

See the full tour here

Home Tour: Office.

Step into my office. Sorry, I just couldn't resist because today I'm blogging about my "home office". Sadly it's more like a wall in my dining room carved out for all things blogging and design. This is where the magic happens though. Coffee in hand and Pandora on play, this is where I blog most mornings.

It's definitely a catch-all area in my current apartment. I can't wait to have an entire room dedicated to my office in the future (hopefully later this summer!) but for now it works.

Some of my favorite elements are those blue Anthropologie knobs that add a pop of color even when I don't have fresh flowers on my desk, patterned fabrics pinned to the inspiration board, and an orange nailhead trim chair.

Okay, back to work for me. Thanks for stopping by! And thanks to Danika over at Gorgeous Shiny Things for her very sweet words today! If you don't know her already, stop by and give her some love. The things that lady can do with paint leave me speechless. Check out her faux Carerra marble, zebra rug or orange trellis painted walls if you don't believe me. Amazing, right?!

My Home Tour: Bathroom.

Hi everyone! Today I'm sharing my bathroom. Similar to the kitchen, I wish I could change certain things, but because I'm renting can't. A new light fixture and medicine cabinet would be top on the list. I do love the white penny tiles that are original to the building, and can't even bare to cover them with a rug. Without further adieu, here is my bathroom...

(The shower curtain is from World Market and is actually a window curtain. The wrap around bar is installed high in this bathroom, so I wanted to get a curtain that would be floor length and most shower curtains would not have been long enough. Using window curtains also gives you more choice as there are many more options. And I love the light airy material of this curtain. )

(The condition of this vanity was quite sad when I moved it. It's compressed wood and had drips of white paint from years and years of repainting for new tenants. Also, the "wood" was worn away in parts exposing what looked like cardboard. I debated long and hard whether I should paint the vanity a crisp white or this deep gray. I ended up choosing gray to add a bit of depth to the space and haven't looked back since. I love the gray and the fresh look it gives to the piece.)

(Mercury glass and pink tulips. What could be better?)

(A thrifted saucer is the perfect mini tray for jewelry and a nail polish or two.)

(I searched for a pink ikat remnant to make my window treatment from, but couldn't find anything affordable. So I headed to my local JoAnn's, picked up some white canvas which was under $10, and painted it using white and pink paint. Then I simply folded the top over, used Tacky Glue to create a pocket, slipped a tension rod through, and voila. Ready to hang!)

(The Chanel prints are actually advertisements I tore from a vintage magazine. With a frame and matte they seem so much more special than a magazine page.)

(Love that my cheapie H&M robe I've had for years becomes an instant prop in bathroom decor.)

Thanks for stopping by! See you later today for ATLS's very first Giveaway! :)

My Home Tour: Kitchen Details.

I forgot to share some of my favorite details yesterday when I posted about my little kitchen. Although very minor, they make the space feel a little more special and a little more me.

(A detail of my chalkboard in good use. Transporting me somewhere in the middle of summer. A can of chalkboard paint will only run you around $10, and I bought mine at JoAnn's with a 40% off coupon. For just over $5 it's provided lots of happiness.)

(White chalk is the color of choice around here, but when I'm out, pink will have to do.)

(Lining the inside of cabinets is a great way to add color to a space that needs a little pop. In my case, I wanted to change the cabinets in the only way possible. Although the tie-dye is a bit over the top, it works since I adopted a more is more attitude in the space.)

(Love the way it looks with my favorite Anthropologie bowls. The mug is from Anthro too.)

(I posted a few helpful tidbits inside my cabinets. Facts such as conversion charts for cooking measurements and a proper place-setting diagram could all be googled in a minute or two, but having this information handy has proved useful. And it makes me feel so very Martha Stewart.)

(Just incase you were curious.)

Thanks for stopping by! See you tomorrow!

UPDATE: A reader brought it to my attention that I didn't explain how I did the lined cabinets. I used fabric and Tacky glue, a small dot in all four corners (since I'm renting and didn't want to do permanent damage). I found the fabric at an estate sale for about $5 and it was enough to do all cabinets. Very easy!

Paper works well too! Check out the second image in this post for another beautiful example: http://athousandlaughingstarfish.blogspot.com/2010/10/quadrille.html

I would love to see pictures if anyone tries it! You can send them to heidi.atlsdesign@gmail.com. Can't wait to see your work :)

My Home Tour: Kitchen.

Kitchens should be open and airy. Filled with beautiful cabinetry, an envy worthy backsplash, and pendent lights to drool over. Materials such as butcher block, Carrera marble, subway tiles, and dark wood floors should all at least be considered.

Sadly enough, none of those elements make a guest appearance in my tiny galley kitchen. And since it's a rental, and a temporary one at that, I am unable to do any renovating. That's correct, that means I can't even paint the cabinets a milky white, and replacing the old, dirty and all around hideous linoleum is a no-no.

With that said, I kind of love my kitchen. It'd bright yet cozy, has a very eclectic vibe, and is filled with so many fun memories and new-recipes-turned-old-favorites tackled with my boyfriend. Memories of friends stuffed into that tiny kitchen are some of my favorites. And while I can't wait for a future kitchen filled with all my favorite yummy elements, I'll always look back fondly on this one.

Come on in! Can I get you anything? :)

(Notice the floors are completely covered. You don't want to see the ugliness that resides underneath.)

(The black area behind the sink is chalkboard paint. This is my favorite element of the kitchen! It's great for grocery lists, fun quotes, and little love letters :))

(I found a vintage menu from The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI, aka one of my favorite places on earth. I recreated it on canvas and love that it reminds me of that magical island every time I'm cooking.)

(Vintage knife set I attached to a basket I had no other use for.)

(Those sparkly sponges were found at Home Goods and they make cleaning -something I'm not so fond of- a little bit happier. They remind me of a favorite vintage clutch. Fresh basil in a tea cup smells good and is easily accessible when cooking.)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day :)

And remember, if you want help in your home, I offer a range of design services.

Contact me at atlsdesign@gmail.com for details.