Picks from Target's Project 62 Line

I have to admit that I kind of ignored the news about Target's Project 62 Line until I was shopping for an ottoman for my Mom and realized Target had a gorgeous one with a mid-century modern vibe.  After that, my interest was piqued and I tumbled down the rabbit hole, flagging a bunch of finds - all with that vintage vibe I covet.  Although I'll always love vintage, it's great that Target is making a similar aesthetic more accessible.  Not everyone can find - or afford - vintage, so it's nice to have the option to buy new every now and then.  Plus with some thing (sheets! towels!), I just like new anyway.      

Here are my favorites from the Project 62 collection:

These dusty blue Holmdel Mid-Century Dining Chairs would look so amazing in the lakehouse with their sleek shape and pretty blue hue (although they come in other gorgeous colors too) - I love them more than my current chairs, for sure (although I'm sure they'd pick up dog hair the way mine do)!  There's a matching stool, too.

This Large Enamel Tray looks like a vintage score, especially with its navy sheen.  I love trays for corralling dish soap and sponges by the kitchen sink, or in the bathroom to protect the counter from any leaky bottles.

P.S. If you love my Krenit bowls - but not the typical price - this piece from Target has a different shape but such a similar style.  

This Framed Abstract does not have that usual "I bought this from the same place I bought windshield washer fluid" look you'd expect from mass produced art.  I love the colors and it looks like it's framed really nicely too.  The whole vignette is perfect.

Years ago I was trying to find the perfect chunky pillar candle holder with a mid-century modern vibe for a friend's mantle decor - to no avail.  This Walnut Pillar Candle Holder would have been perfect.  There's a taller mango wood taper candle holder that's really beautiful too, with a light, Scandi-inspired vibe. 

Aqua Plush Shag Rug ???  I'm not a huge fan of rugs, but now I need a smaller version for the bathroom.

Here's the ottoman (the Farewell Oval Ottoman) that caught my eye.  I'm still searching for something that's round, but with storage.  This one is perfect for an entryway though, as a great spot to sit and tie shoes.  The gold caps on the legs look so mid-century - I love that little detail.  Of course this teal blue ottoman obviously makes my list as well.  I almost bought this ottoman but I'd really, really like square or round for the space.  But it's so good! 

A mid-century inspired dining table for only $200 USD - the Amherst Mid-Century Dining Table is such a sweet deal for anyone just starting out because it fits small budget but still looks so chic.  I spent way more on my first table at a vintage shop and it wasn't half as nice as this!  And if you have the real-deal mid-century teak or walnut table, you'll appreciate these beautiful acacia wood coasters (or these marble and wood coasters) for protecting those easy-to-stain surfaces... 

For on the table, I'm so happy to be seeing silver in home decor again!   This stainless 20pc Silverware Set has such a delicate, elegant vibe - it definitely looks mid-century, the designers captured the aesthetic so well.

This Hillside Console Table is heavily inspired by a vintage piece I have pinned somewhere in the 30,000 pins I'm hoarding on Pinterest.  It just looks SO familiar (although it looks really different in the light grey/white version - much more coastal)!  I've always envisioned it filled with houseplants, basking in that one, perfect sunny spot where all plants love and refuse to live elsewhere.  I can't be the only person that has ONE place all plants want to be...

Rooms in my house are never "finished" because I am so slow choosing the perfect pieces.  I hate replacing things.  I like to make design decisions that will last and sometimes that requires patience - and an ongoing mental list of pieces for which I'm still searching.  On that list right now: reading lamp and, if it weren't for the brass, this Coulee Floor Lamp would be perfect!

I have had a wood stool in my front entry for years and it's so indispensable!  I don't really have a proper entryway, just a minuscule little hall and then - BOOM - you're in my house.  I don't have room for a console table or bench, just a little wood stool but it's the perfect spot to set my purse or tie my shoes.  This Ryder Accent Stool would be similarly handy, but it also makes the perfect versatile side table in a spare, refined space.  Those clean lines are so striking!

  
So many of the bedrooms I pin have a beachy vibe and that's definitely the direction my lakehouse decor is taking: beachy meets mid-century.  But my own bedroom is the least beachy room is the least beach space in the house - save for my beach glass inspired closet doors.  My mid-century posters define the space and I'd never part with those three (I am considering selling the forth, though!), but I do still ogle a beachy bedroom when I see one.  This Green Dot Woven Bedding looks so great in this bedroom, and it's only one or two accessories away from capturing that vintage beachy look.

These are just some of my favorites.  Have you purchased anything from Project 62?  I noticed a few things I put in my shopping cart online sold out before I could commit - oops...Target is really on fire with this line - even the way the rooms are styled is so inspiring. 

Mid-Century Modern Inspired Finds from Wayfair

I feel really fortunate that I've had the opportunity to collaborate with brands I really, genuinely like and purchase from as a customer - like Wayfair.  In addition to partnering for my recent mid-century modern inspired office makeover, I've worked with Wayfair on a series of smaller, fun posts - like my recent raspberry hand pie recipe and my DIY fabric clothespin holder.  As a blogger, I love that Wayfair celebrates creativity and the passion to make things - so many of my posts with them have featured DIY projects and recipes.  As a customer, I love that Wayfair offers shipping to Americans and Canadians - and the selection of gorgeous home wares just can't be beat!


In fact, if you're a mid-century modern enthusiast like me, there are TONS of gorgeous, retro-inspired furniture pieces on Wayfair, to mix and match with authentic vintage finds.  For fun (this post isn't sponsored), I wanted to round up some of my favorite mid-century inspired furniture and home accessory finds!

Mid-Century Sectional I'm a huge fan of sectional sofas because they are comfortable and versatile, but it can be tricky to find one that's stylish as well. This mid-century inspired sofa looks plush and comfortable but still has sleek lines, trendy mid-century legs, and a tufted back. Plus, it comes in a ton of great colors, including "laguna" (a pale turquoise hue), and "teal" (a smoky blue color).	CanyonVista Mid-Century Accent Chair Set This chair and ottoman set is such an affordable price, but it looks high end! It comes in six retro colors which are paired with natural wood, which lends a fun vintage vibe to any space without sacrificing comfort. The high back and matching ottoman make this a perfect chair to curl up in on those long winter nights.	Mid-Century 3 Drawer Dresser I love the lines of this mid-century inspired dresser by Dwell Studio. The style and brass accents are definitely a throwback, but the pale grey hand-painted finish lighten the look and offer a modern spin on a classic vintage look.
Mid Century Eiffel Side Chair The mid-century Eiffel chair has a classic design with a fresh turquoise hue and gleaming chrome legs. Such a versatile piece and perfect for the dining room, kitchen, office, or kid's playroom. Easy to keep clean and surprisingly comfortable.	Mid Century Star Wall Clock This mid-century star wall clock boasts a solid wood, walnut-toned core from which silver rods seem to radiate - some have small wooden balls, others do not, which creates a visually interesting clock that complements vintage and modern decor.	Hanging Organizer This stylish and practical hanging organizer is made with solid hardwood balls for durability and style. I own a similar wall organizer in all white and it is SO practical for drying snow-soaked mitts and hats without deforming them. Practical AND gorgeous - my favorite combination!
Table Lamp with Cone Shade This brass cone table lamp has such a great vintage feel. It would look perfect on a retro desk or beside a vintage bed. The adjustable arm makes this a versatile piece - so handy for reading in bed.	World of Leaves Wall Art on Canvas This fine art canvas print is made in the USA! It has a cute retro feel without being too literal, so it would pair well with modern and vintage decor.	Margaret Curtain Panel Smoky teal blue curtains? Be still my heart! Made from durable polyester, which has a luxurious but subtle sheen, these curtain panels add mid-century flavor to any room.
Mid-Century Wildflower Throw Pillow Looking to add a hint of 1960s styling to your space, but not ready to commit to a sofa or dresser? Start small with this mid-century inspired printed throw pillow. The turquoise backdrop is upbeat and cheery - the perfect way to liven up a neutral sofa or bedding.	Alia Short Stacking Bar Stool This space-saving bentwood stool is such a great piece to have for parties or kid's rooms and the classic style comes in natural wood or a more contemporary wenge.	Crosshill Magazine Rack This handcrafted brass-hued magazine rack would look perfect beside a mid-century inspired chair or sofa. It's a practical way to keep magazines close at hand!
Simeon Etched Vase This white glass cylinder vase has a stunningly simple turquoise design. It's on closeout so grab one soon!	Irene 5 Blade Hugger Ceiling Fan with Hand Held and Wall Remote It can be difficult to find a good looking ceiling fan, but this one has everything! A sleek design, cast aluminum brass-hued base, walnut-stained blades, plus an ultra-quiet motor with a remote that can be handheld or wall-mounted.	3 Piece Iron Candle Lantern Set Made of iron and glass, this colorful set of outdoor lanterns comes in the prettiest, retro color palette. They would add serious style to any patio or sunroom.
Mid Century Mix Mug This mug has such a quirky shape and an adorable mid-century inspired color palette. It would make the perfect gift for your favorite co-worker – it also makes a great teacher gift, once you fill it with teas or treats!	Serena Herringbone Throw This herringbone throws comes in a pretty assortment of colors - including the most perfect 1960s inspired blue. I have a pair of vintage Lotte lamps in that exact hue! Herringbone is timeless and this throw would look perfect draped over a vintage sofa or cozy chair.	Noah High-Back Office Chair with Arms Built for motion, versatility, and multitasking, the Noah Office Chair is made from solid wood. I love the mid-century lines and creamy white bi-cast leather. It's the perfect addition to a home office because this chair doesn't scream "corporate office."
Josef Tripod Coat Rack This sturdy iron tripod coat rack is the perfect addition to a small hallway or entryway. It's an easy spot to stash guests' coats without taking up room in your closet.	Paseo Shower Curtain Add a mod look to a simple bathroom with this funky shower curtain. The pattern is subtle, but it still adds some fun and function!	Jacqueline Maldonado Lightweight Geo Square Duvet Cover I love the geometric design on this bold duvet cover. It's the perfect bedding for a mid-century modern bedroom set!

Read more »

Ikea Besta Hack 2.0 - Besta TV Stand

When we rearranged our living room to capitalize on the lake view, we gave up our Besta wall unit.  We had very carefully chosen the modular Besta pieces to fit the townhouse exactly but when we moved to the lakehouse, it worked well here too!  I loved the glass panels behind the TV because they looked like beach glass, and the tower of Besta cabinets (we splurged on glass shelves and doors) showcased my turquoise McCoy pottery collection beautifully.

I was a little sad to see it go.

One day our hulking TV will get mounted above our (magically renovated) fireplace but, for now, we put baby in the corner.  A TV in the corner of the living room is not as weird as I thought!  Really, I barely notice it because the charcoal grey painted fireplace really disguises it.  I have been dreaming about finding a TV cabinet that hides the television and, with the magic of a remote, lifts and reveals the TV only when we're ready to binge watch Orange is the New Black. 

In the meantime, we re-purposed one piece of our old Besta wall unit - with a couple of alterations! Above is how it was looking after the game of musical chairs in the living room.  I think you know where this is going...

Supplies:

• Stubbarp Ikea adjustable Besta legs
• Varathane premium wood stain - weathered grey
• Watco spray lacquer
• Rubber gloves
• 220 grit sandpaper
• 1/2" oak veneer plywood
• Oak pre-glued veneer edge banding
• Construction adhesive

First, I swapped out the legs for a newer version.  When we first bought the cabinets, there weren't many options for adjustable legs, but we picked an okay silver set.  Now, however, Ikea sells a greyed out "walnut".  Here's a look at them (they're actually solid oak with a "walnut effect" and grey stain).



Next, we needed to address the holes on the top and side of the Besta cabinet, left over from when the other pieces were assembled together.  As you can see above, we decided to do exactly what we did to our DIY Ikea Fauxdenza Hack - slap on some plywood! 

We couldn't find the same Carribean Pine I chose for the credenza top, so we bought some oak instead.  I really wanted walnut veneer (like what we used for our DIY Walnut Storage Bins) but a 1/2" thick walnut veneered plywood was really expensive.  I want to say around $150?  That's too good for an Ikea TV stand!  We chose the least expensive option (without dropping down to the construction-grade plywood you find at home building place, like Home Depot): basic oak.  But I spent a good 40 minutes picking out the sheet with the best grain, and I'm really happy with my choice! 

For the floating credenza, I had a grey stain custom-mixed at a local paint shop.  I've had folks ask me about the color, but I have no way to help readers replicate it, so for this project I decided to try a ready-made grey stain.  I turned to my friends at Rust-Oleum, who sent me Varathane Premium Wood Stain in weathered grey, which is a really nice grey.

With stain, you can really control the intensity.  One coat of weathered grey still looks warm with beige undertones (like my credenza), but after two and three coats, it becomes a lot cooler and richer.  It's a beautiful shade of grey, with blue undertones.  On my stir stick, you can just how different one coat vs. seven coats looks:

Of course stain will look different on different species of wood, but on my oak veneer plywood, it looks SO similar to the sample on the can (pictured on red oak).

After the stain was dry, I applied four coats of Watco Spray Lacquer - which is SO easy to use!  I lightly sanded between coats two and three.  Other than that, I just sprayed it on lightly in a well ventilated area - no brushing, no streaks.  It even smells good.  This might be my new favorite product.

 
Installation went exactly like the credenza hack: after cutting, edge banding and staining the plywood, we applied construction adhesive to the Besta unit, applying the sides first and then the top.  I held the panels in place while Hubby affixed some screws from the inside to help grab the panels while the adhesive dried.  A few clamps helped keep things flat and - voila! 

A freshened up Ikea Besta hack for our corner TV:

It's a subtle change, but it makes the Ikea Besta unit look a little more finished - plus it hides those screw holes, allowing us to re-purpose this piece and save some $$$ while we drain our bank accounts on sailing stuff. 

There was only one snag with this project (which makes me SO happy we didn't splurge on the walnut):  because we have yet to buy a table saw, we often make do with a skill saw and a straight edge but, for projects like this, we either use someone else's table saw or get the guys at Windsor Plywood to cut it for us (that's where we buy a lot of our supplies).  They cut the Ikea credenza perfectly, but we were less than impressed this time.  A dull blade created some tear out and it wasn't until we'd applied the construction adhesive (at midnight) and were about to affix the top that we noticed the top was cut too long.  Oops.  We double checked the measurements and we didn't make the mistake, but it IS our fault for not dry-fitting first.  We were over confident - and over tired - but we decided to keep going.  We would have had to scrape off the construction adhesive, drive to Hubby's Dad, trim the tiniest bit off, re-glue the edge band and touch up the stain.  Did I mention it was midnight?  We were kind of in a "just get it done" mood and, you know what?  It is barely noticeable.  If this was a permanent, love-it-forever kind of furniture, I would have taken the time to make it right.  But eventually (sooner, rather than later, I hope) we're going to replace this for something nicer and, hopefully, jettison the corner cabinet altogether one day.  This little mistake isn't really noticeable and I'm just happy the big ugly holes are covered up. 

But there's a lesson in there: always double check and dry fit first!

P.S. I had to share this last photo!  I was listening to music on the TV while I was working and I snapped this photo just as Coleman Hell was on - he's originally from my city.  So thrilled to see people from Thunder Bay making it big!

Read more »

Rearranging the Living Room with Our Modern White Leather Sectional

The sectional sofa we ordered back in March was delivered and the living room looks completely different now!   I rambled on in this post about how we wanted to start capitalizing on our view of Lake Superior.  The furniture placement wasn't thought out for the space because we just moved everything from the townhouse living room and plonked it down.  The sofa faced away from the window and although the setup was nice for watching movies with the fireplace roaring, it wasn't inviting for just sitting around, chatting or reading - and you couldn't see the lake very well from the living room.  One day we'll renovate the fireplace and put the television above it (maybe hidden behind art?), but for now we disassembled our old Besta unit, bought prettier "greyed walnut" Ikea legs, and shoved it in the corner to make room for the combined 20 feet of lounge space our new, modern leather sectional offers.

Ta Da!

Even though we added way more seating, somehow the room feels airier and more spacious to me because the windows are now largely unobstructed.  As well, instead of a hodgepodge of furniture (the velvet chair, the mint chair, three teak tables, mismatched sofa and dark ottoman, wall unit, plant stand), we have a more streamlined furniture arrangement: big cream sofa with matching ottoman, accent chair, pair of end tables with matching lamps, and the TV stand.  It's simpler!  We had to move the teal velvet chair to my office, but I kept the Mingo chair and positioned it with one of the teak tables beside the television.  Once again, I'm blocking windows with furniture, but you can still easily see the lake around the delicate frame of the mint chair and it just feels a little more balanced.  With just a naked row of windows, the living room felt lopsided, but my biggest motivator is that I have literally nowhere else to put my favorite chair in this small home.  It has to live there - or someone else's living room (cue the sad trombone). 

Two of our three teak side tables stayed, as did my beloved blue Lotte lamps (I bought a pair of Canadian-made linen pillow covers that are an exact match!).  I'm not convinced that I like the scale of the teak table with the Mingo, so we might be swapping it out, but I don't want to build/buy anything until this layout has gelled a little.  Besides, I'm too busy loading up the sofa with an abundance of throw pillows, wheeeeeeeeee.

Look at how insanely long this sofa is...

Living Room Before and Afters:

Here's a reminder of the living room when we bought the lakehouse:

Here's a comparison of our old arrangement with how the room looks now:

Before

Now

Before

Now

Before

Now

Choosing the colour for our sofa was tricky.  I considered many different leather samples, including a beautiful caramel (not pictured), a metallic silver (so expensive), a really worn, bitter chocolate (too rustic), a forest green (what was I thinking?), and a blindingly bright white (not pictured).

In the end, I really waffled between a couple of grey leather swatches (one matched the fireplace perfectly, the other was a medium grey) and a creamy white.  I kept thinking grey would be practical, but everyone I polled voted white.  My friend Ashley said it best: "in a lakehouse, with no kids, go with the white - it's perfect".

I'm so thrilled with the light leather.  It's what we'd grown accustomed to with our old sofa (although this sofa is a much lighter/brighter shade) and I think that with a sofa this ginormous, a grey or caramel leather would have looked too heavy.

From the sample though, I couldn't tell how creamy the leather would be and I was shocked when it arrived - certain we'd been sold the wrong colour.  It felt too yellow when it was unwrapped on the deck, with the sun beating down on it.  But once we hung the artwork and added the throw pillows, I immediately appreciated its softness.  A white leather as bright as our walls might have looked too stark and cold, especially with my cool color palette.  The creamy white has a natural feel and plays well with Hubby's Grandpa's paintings (I moved the creamy diptych from my office, although it used to hang in the townhouse living room).

This sofa is manufactured in Canada, which makes me happy.  I love the chunky arms (there was an option for narrower arms, but I think these look more modern).  I sit on the edge when I'm on the phone; it's a peaceful place to perch and take in the view.  The sofa is too comfy for things like that, because I tend to fall asleep, curled up in the corner ("my" spot), within minutes.

We had the choice of "walnut," "espresso," or "chrome" legs and we chose the walnut:

As an added bonus, we finally replaced our disintegrating ottoman!  We bought the matching storage ottoman, and it's every bit as awesome as I hoped.  I've wanted a new ottoman forever and I'm so happy we kept putting it off. 

Unfortunately, we think the sofa was dropped during shipping because the arm by the fireplace is really pushed out and wonky.  We're still waiting to hear back on a replacement/repair, but hopefully that doesn't create a headache.

I lowered the exposure a lot so you could see the view outside the living room window.  Having the sofa against the window was a real shame, because this is the view we were obscuring:

I've been watching the sunset from the sofa every night and it's a beautiful way to end the day.

Once I've done a little more tinkering with the room, I'll share a tour of the whole living/dining/kitchen space. You can see I'm still working, because in some photos the McCoy planter on the hearth is empty, but in others it has my new eucalyptus planted.  I'm sure I'll be fussing with things all week.

In between naps.

I've been asked by many readers to create a page where I list everything in the lakehouse - a "shop the look" kind of idea, but that's so tricky because a lot of what I buy is vintage, on clearance, or custom-made.  I am slowly putting together a list, going room by room, searching for alternatives that closely resemble my best finds.   In the meantime, here are some links for the living room, with similar items if I couldn't track down links for the exact pieces.

GET THE LOOK:

SOURCES:
Triple Bubble Light Fixture with Three Saucer Pendants - Modernica
Teak Dining Table - Vintage (this round West Elm table is similar but this rectangular walnut table from West Elm is more spacious)
Blue Tweed Dining Chairs - HomeSense (the "Sabrina," the "Tufted Hourglass," and the "Savafieh" are similar)
TV Stand - Ikea (Besta Cabinet with Grey Walnut Legs)
Case Study Planter - Modernica
Turquoise Velvet Pillows - Ikea (here's a similar aqua velvet pillow, Made in USA)
Blue Tweed Pillows - Sears
Patterned Throw Pillows - Marimekko
Turquoise Planters - Vintage, McCoy (I'm swooning for this turquoise bullet planter, and this aqua ceramic planter on solid wood legs from West Elm is just as stunning!)
Blue Lamps - Vintage Lotte, still produced today (see here for a really affordable aqua lamp with a similar vibe and here for really cool, coastal modern lamp)
Mint Chair - Vintage (see here for a cute MCM-style mint accent chair and here for a gorgeous turquoise MCM arm chair)
Leather Sofa and Ottoman - Barewood Furniture (local furniture store)
Krenit Bowl - Vintage (see here for modern reproduction in turquoise!)
Modern White Ceiling Fan - Kichler Ferron (can't find it in white anymore, but there is a polished nickel)

Read more »