Identifying Color Relationships

The blog's been on hiatus for the past week but we've got some great content to share with you this week. Today's post comes in the form of a video featuring Josef Albers in which he discusses color relationships. It's a really interesting and educating video, something everyone can probably take something away from about mixing and matching up colors. We definitely took a few tips.

The video was shot by dwell magazine (no relation, but we're definitely inspired by dwell). Take a look below and let us know if this was helpful!

The Full Spectrum for Dwell | Josef Albers from gary nadeau on Vimeo.

Before and After: Whole House

I know how much all of you like Before and After's. A room is a blank easel (even if it has stuff in it) and it always interests me to see the different ways and styles people prefer to outfit the rooms of their homes with.

Fortunately, today we get a glimpse of an entire home makeover. Think the TV show, but with a much smaller budget, less sponsorships, and probably less yelling.

This set of images comes courtesy of Design*Sponge, yet again, and Rey of Rey3 Design Collaborative designed and renovated it. If you're ever in Palm Springs, you can even rent this little beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool Find: DIY Coffee Can Lanterns

This week's cool find comes in the form of a DIY project. We liked these lanterns so much that we set out to make them for our own home (once we drink enough coffee, so it shouldn't take long). But this little tutorial comes straight from one of our biggest inspiration on the web: Design*Sponge.



They've got the full instructions for materials and processes over on their blog, and it looks like the hardest part is finding a coffee can!

Give it a whirl, let us know what you think, and share your own DIY tricks in the comments.

4 Awesome Alternatives to Plastic Dinnerware

Plastic dinnerware has definitely had its place in our home before, but when you get down to it, eating on plastic is eating on a petroleum based product. The more you can stay away from these things, especially plastic, the more environmentally friendly you can make your home and your habits. So today we bring you a few alternatives to your plasticware, and the great thing is, much to my surprise, the options aren't astronomically expensive!


First up we've got dinnerware from a company called Corelle. Corelle's plates and bowls are made from a material called Vitrelle glass, and come in the square variety (shown above) as well as your classic circular plates and bowls. They're resistant to breaking, dishwasher, and microwave safe, and perhaps the best part, they come in a huge variety of classic patterns. Check their website for something you like. A set of 16 will run you a reasonable $50.



The most unique of the bunch will have to go to the Wasara line by Joanne Hudson. These elegant, disposable, and biodegradable plates and bowls are made from bamboo, sugar cane, and reed fibers and can stand the heat. The price isn't great at about a dollar a piece, but they're running a promotion if you become a fan of Joan Hudson on Facebook, you get 10% off your next order.
Check the Joanne Hudson website for more options!



Another great disposable, biodegradable option is Bambu Veneerware from Sur la Table. This stuff is a great, green alternative to paper and plastic and will biodegrade about 6 months after use. Set of 8 will run you $13-$15.



Perhaps my favorite, for its reuseability and its natural look, is this acacia wood dinnerware (or any wood dinnerware) from Mimi's Mercantile.  Easy to wash with soap and water; light and durable finish make these a great replacement for plastic. Depending on what size you want, they'll cost you $12 a pop.

Is there any alternatives you like that we didn't cover? Let us know!

What's Cooking: BLT Salad with Bacon Vinegarette

We've got your weekly recipe right here, and this week's a quickie! It should only take about 10 minutes to throw together. This one's courtesy of The Kitchn and I picked it because I love bacon, and I love BLT's but I also have a soft spot for salads. So it only seemed natural to put them all together. The kicker: bacon vinegarette. I know, my mouth is watering, too.

serves 8 as a side, or 4 as a main

French baguette
6 oz. bacon (about 9 slices)
About 6 cups washed lettuce (a delicate, leafy green is best)
2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil, sliced into ribbons

For the vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons bacon drippings
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
salt to taste

Cube the baguette into 1/2 inch pieces (should provide around 4 cups of croutons).

In a large nonstick pan, fry the bacon over medium-high heat until crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Carefully remove 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings and set aside, returning the pan to the heat. Add the bread cubes and toss until golden and crispy, stirring regularly, about four minutes.

Mix all vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until emulsified. Crumble the bacon. Toss salad ingredients, bacon and croutons, drizzle with dressing and serve.

How to Borrow Your Neighbor's Drill/Bike/Table Saw/Anything

I don't know about you guys, but I encounter this often in some way: Let's say you have a project you would love to work on yourself, but you don't have the power drill to do it. Or you don't have a table saw in your garage to rip some lumber. Or it could even be something else. You want to go camping but don't have a tent or a mini grill; or want to go canoeing at the lake but have no canoe.

For everything you don't have, your neighbors might. And thankfully, there's NeighborGoods.

NeighborGoods is the new, online way of asking for a cup of sugar. It's kind of like a CraigsList for borrowing. You sign up, list the things you're willing to lend, find if there's someone with that canoe or table saw in your nearby community who's willing to lend it, and voila! You can work on your project or take a nice row in the lake.

This can literally be used for any thing that might be useful to someone for an afternoon or a couple of days. It's meant to break down the barriers of your fences and walls and help save you money and resources. I plan on using it as much as I can! Since it's relatively new, there may not be very much to borrow in your community yet, but don't be shy. Spread the word!

Wake up to a Modern Bath

Here's the scenario: You wake up in the morning to get ready for work. Your bathroom is drab. It's dark, it's pink, and it's uninspiring. It looks like this:



Okay, you probably don't have a bag over your toilet...
This is just the beginning of your day. You start off uninspired as soon as you leave bed. When you walk into this bathroom, you might feel those dark, drab feelings come up and let them affect how you feel about your job. You go to work and still cease to be inspired. You might say "Am I really going to get much inspiration from a bathroom?" And you have a point. Your home bathroom probably won't inspire you to do great work. But at the same time, aesthetics do have an impact on your psyche.  Just maybe not to this extreme.

Let's replay the scenario. You wake up. Good morning.



Done. Promoted. Happy about everything. All because of your morning routine and the style of your bathroom.

Okay, okay. I may have gone off the deep end here, but there are times when one becomes psychologically happier because they appreciate and approve of the look, feel, and comfort of their surroundings. Modern baths can help!