ALTER ALERT: IKEA Hacking

IKEA is like that guy whose number you just can't erase from your phone. Kinda boring, of questionable quality, tolerable in small doses, but always there when you need him. You find yourself coming back again and again, whether it's a lonely Saturday night, or when you just can't find the right bookcase for your living room and you're tired of looking.

But even if you feel stuck in a rut (be it "romantic" or "furniture"), there are always ways to shake it up. The behemoth IKEA has stores in 37 countries, and in all of those countries there's bound to be someone bored with that same ol' LACK table. People around the world are "hacking" their IKEA furniture. The term "hacking" no longer means lonely geeks in their Mom's basements trying to decode the encryption for the CIA database. Hacking is now a term meaning modifying something yourself to make it better, more efficient, and more AWESOME.

There are IKEA hacks all over the internet, but IKEA Hacker should be the first stop on your online hacking tour. IKEA Hacker was founded in 2006 by "Jules," a nom de plume derived from the eponymous chair. There are hundreds of hacks on the site for you to admire and try yourself. Some of our favorites... (Click the pic to go to the tutorial.)

A floating iMac desk

A BEKVAM kitchen cart turned into a cool sink

But IKEA Hacker isn't the only place to find cool hacks. Here's one from Lifehacker...

Lotsa LAMPAN lamps turned into an awesome light sculpture

And one from Apartment Therapy...

Turning two LACK tables into a kitchen island

The possibilities are endless. Stop by your local IKEA and check out their "as is" section for discounted pieces that are perfect for a little hacking. Get creative! Get kinky! (And yes, that applies to both your furniture and your friend with benefits.)

Via IKEA, IKEA Hacker, Lifehacker, and Apartment Therapy.

B&A: Wander Films

For today's ALTER before & after, it's "Take Your Designer To Work" day! Sure, you could observe "Take Your Daughter To Work" day, but those crayon drawings she does really won't add much to the decor.

The goal of any office or workspace is productivity, and Wander Films, seen in here in these pictures, is no exception. We started with a completely empty two-room suite that required a little work. Still, the large windows and high ceilings brought in a ton of light and character.

Before

The art we put on the walls plays with scale: some are big, some are small. We also brought in an old-school chalkboard that's not only charming, but creates a hub for communication throughout the office. For the furniture, we played with a mix of the modern and the rustic. The sleek metal-and-glass tables contrast with the leather chairs and heavy wooden mini-conference table. The combination keeps the space from feeling either too sterile and dentist's office-y, and also from feeling too folksy and log cabin-y.

After

With no built-in storage, we had to bring in our own. Organization and having a place to store all your stuff is essential to having an efficient workplace. Piles of paper, office supplies, and other crap all over your desk can leave you feeling overwhelmed -- not the feeling you're looking for when you're trying to work! You need to feel like hell yeah, bring it on! Whatchu got for me? And so, the large wood-and-metal bookshelf, file cabinets, and side tables are the perfect way keep your things neatly put away and your desk clear.

So you see, bringing your designer to work can really benefit your working life. Now, if you want Girl Scout cookies, you're still going to have to bring in little Suzy. Mmm, Girl Scout cookies...

Q&A: What a Concept (Board)!

Q:

Dear Jackie,

I'm stumped. Totally stumped. As stumped as Sarah Palin when asked about her favorite reading materials. I've got a room that I know I want to [re]design (great word, by the way!), but I don't even know where to begin. I want to make sure I've got everything planned out before I move a single piece of furniture. What's a good way to organize my thoughts and make sure that everything works on paper?

Don't Want to Go Rogue

A:

Dear DWTGR,

A concept board is exactly what you're looking for, you betcha. A concept board is like a design brainstorm, that helps you narrow down your style and gives you a jumping-off point for starting your room makeover.

Just about every fabulous fashion designer uses one, so you'll be in good company. Check out Habitually Chic's great posts on designer's mood boards, like the ones above from Tommy Hilfiger and Oscar de la Renta.

But even if you're a glamorous designer or just a bumpkin from Wasilla, Alaska, all concept boards start out the same. Just start saving pictures you like! Tear them from magazines, right-click-save-as when you're online, snap a pic with your phone!

Once you've got a good pile o' pics going on, take a step back and look at them with a more critical eye. Notice any similarities in the pictures you've chosen. Are you picking lots of crisp, fresh whites? Lots of bold patterns? Does everything seem to be imported from Morocco, or are you more of a Parisian girl?

Now that you've narrowed it down to one overall theme, it's time to edit. Pick only about 10-12 pictures that fall under the design theme you've decided on. Now, take a look at the predominant colors: what is the main color (it's probably going to be a natural or neutral color)? Next, what's the secondary color (probably gonna be a richer tone)? And lastly, what's the accent color that goes with them (probably a bold one)? Once you've picked them out, you've got your color palette. You're well on your way to redoing your own room in a way that'll emulate the dream rooms you've torn out of magazines.

If you've already got furniture in the room you're looking to make over, take pics of those too and add them to your board. You'll be able to see how what you already own fits in with what you want to own. It'll help you decide what can stay and what has to go.

Having your concept board up and running makes shopping sooo much easier. You'll be able to tell instantly if that rug you saw in the store fits with what you're trying to do. No more buying something, taking it home, and realizing it just doesn't fit, thank God! (I hate returning things -- I always lose my receipts anyway!)

One more tip: if you're the kind who likes to "window shop" online -- you know, you browse your favorite stores online for hours, bookmarking everything you like -- there's an awesome tool called Polyvore to help you make an electronic concept board. Sign up (it's free, obvs), install the "bookmarklet" onto your web browser, then get back to shoppin'! When you see something you like, click your "Clip to Polyvore" bookmark and click on the picture you want to save. Polyvore saves the picture to your account, and saves the store and pricing information too! When you're done browsing, go back to the Polyvore site, and create a collage with everything you saved! You can publish it to your own website (it's the perfect way to drop a hint about what you want for your birthday!), email it out to friends, and share with other Polyvore users.

Whether it's torn-out magazine pages or clipped electronic images, having a concept board is WAY easier than writing your design ideas on your hand, dontcha know.

Via Habitually Chic and Polyvore.

ALTER Alert: Rakku Shoe Wheel

I know we all watched Lindsay Lohan on The Insider, admitting she's a hoarder. (No, hoarDER. Yes, it sounds like something else. Yes, she's one of those, too.) Boxes of shoes were piled everywhere completely haphazardly; if there was an earthquake she'd probably die buried under a pile of Manolos.

If Lindsay's shoe problem reminds you of your own, there's still hope for you -- and you don't even need an intervention from Neicy Nash. Rakku Designs has a really cool shoe storage solution: the Shoe Wheel. It's like an amusement park ride for your stilettos!

There are twenty expandable pockets that can hold up to 30 pairs of shoes (depending on the size, of course -- don't try and squish your McQueen lobster claw heels in here!). Once your shoes are locked n' loaded, you can turn the wheel to browse your collection.

It looks a little like a mini Price is Right wheel, and even though you may not win the showcase showdown after spinning this baby, at least the price of the Rakku wheel is right: $65 for the full wheel, and only $35.00 for the half-wheel "Shoe Pod."

It's cheap, gets around, and loves shoes. Just like Lindsay.

Via Rakku Designs (and Jezebel, too).

B&A: Bookworm's retreat

To say that Caroline is a bookworm would be a gross understatement. She's a voracious reader who doesn't just read books, but practically devours them.

Her home in Los Angeles is adorable and full of beautiful pieces, but it lacked a punch of color, needed a bit of organizing, and of course, needed a place to put her library!



Before

We ALTERed her dining room by first painting the walls an eye-popping shade of fuchsia. It's a risky color, but also fun and unexpected. And with the wall-mounted shelves and artfully arranged books, it toned down the color so that it peeks out playfully behind the volumes.



After

The furniture was rearranged, and the shelves helped contain the remaining clutter. A funky patterned tablecloth over the table, and voila! You would never be able to tell that this bright, energetic library was the same room as the white-walled one above.

Caroline's place really speaks to the importance of knowing yourself before you undertake any [re]design project. You have to consider what function the room needs to perform, and once you've got your "need" out of the way, you've got to think about your "wants!" Caroline needed a place to store her books, but wanted a colorful and vibrant room for them.

Don't forget: your home is all about you, baby!

Q&A: Climbing the Walls

Q:
Hi Jackie!

I just moved into my new place and the bare white walls are making me feel like I live in a mental institution. What are my cheap art options? I don't want to buy the same IKEA or Bed, Bath & Beyond prints everyone else has -- then I WILL end up in a mental ward!

A:
It's a good thing we got to you in time; padded walls may be fun to bounce off of, but it's hell trying to hang a picture through all that cushioning.

Finding unique art on a budget is totally easy. Here are some things you can try:

If you're not talented enough to pick up a brush, hopefully you're still capable of picking up your computer's mouse, 'cause that's all you need. You can upload your own photos to services like Shutterfly, which allow you to order prints and frame them with a few clicks and a credit card. There's also Etsy and DeviantArt, which allow independent artists to put their work up for sale online. The range of artistic styles and subjects are infinite. Whether you want a pretty picture of flowers in a field, or if you want a picture of naked ladies doing things that are illegal several states, you can find it.

If you're feeling creative but know that your artistic skills won't support an entire work of art on their own, do like you did on a high school math test: cheat.

Go to a thrift store, flea market, or garage sale, and pick up a painting you kinda like. You don't have to love it, but it has to have potential in your eyes. Then break out the markers and paints and draw over the existing work. Maybe that floral still life would fit your tastes better if you added your favorite flower. Maybe that oil portrait of someone's grandma would look better if she had a martini and ciggie in her hand. Maybe that dashing man on horseback would be sexier if he had Clive Owen's face on that body. If anyone asks, say that you were inspired by British artist Banksy. Clearly, he knew that a battle scene would be way cooler if there were aliens shooting people with laser beams.



Finally, just remember that if you can hang it on a wall, it can be art. Seriously. Try it. Pick ANYTHING and display it on the wall; if you've got more than one of the item, so much the better.




Try a board game...



Or a dress you don't wear but can't bear to part with...



Or flash cards if you still need help with the alphabet.

So there you go! Hopefully these ideas will get you started and keep the men in lab coats from coming for you...





Via Shutterfly, Etsy, DeviantArt, Art of the State, Lifehacker, and Apartment Therapy.

Death-Proof Plants

Houseplants really add something to a home: they bring nature indoors, they clean the air, and they prove that you’re the sort of mature adult who can keep something alive for more than a few days. But what if you’re the kind of gardener who makes ferns shrivel in fear at the sight of you? What if you’re able to kill a pet rock (or Tamagotchi. Or Furby. Or Zhu Zhu Hamster. Depends on which generation you’re in!)? Have no fear – there are plants out there that are black-thumb resistant. Here are a few you should check out.

Mother-In-Law’s Tongue (aka Snake Plant) (Sansevieria)
Not exactly the kindest name for a plant, but it sure creates a mental image, doesn’t it? Mother-In-Law’s tongue is so named because it’s long, sharp-pointed, and refuses to leave. It does best in medium light, but really only requires low light, as well as very little watering.



Japanese Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
This plant’s got a much more optimistic name. Peace lily also requires little sunlight, and needs to be watered about once a week. Not only does it have big, green, glossy leaves, but it also blooms beautiful white lilies that last for months.



Pothos (Epipremnum)
This ivylike plant is super-popular and super-tough. It’ll grow and grow and grow, necessitating a lil’ trim now and again. It doesn’t require much water (in fact, let the soil dry out between waterings), and it can survive in just about any light – even those nasty overhead fluorescents in the office.



Cacti and succulents
These desert plants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, thorny or smooth – the choice is up to you! But despite their different outward appearances, caring for these plants is generally the same: they like as much light as you can give ‘em, and only a sparing amount of water.

If you still worry about becoming a houseplant serial killer, here are a few tools to keep your little green ones thriving:

- Days Ago timer: stick this timer on your plant’s pot and reset it every time you water; it counts the days until you push the button again. Overwatering is actually one of the most common ways to kill a plant, so with this timer you can see at a glance if it’s due for another spritzing.



- Aqua Globes self-waterers: if you’re so absent-minded you can’t even remember to water in the first place, or if you travel, try this self-waterer. Fill the glass bulb with water, then push it upside-down into the soil. The soil slowly absorbs the water right at the plant’s roots.

Now, with the right plants and the right tools, you’ll be able to say you’re growing something that is NOT a crop on FarmVille on Facebook!





Information and images from: Plant Care, About.com: Gardening, Nursery Associates, Amazon.com and Aqua Globes, and How Many Days Ago?

ALTER Alert: Silverlake Craft & Vintage Fair

Being able to shop from artisans and crafters within the community is such an amazing opportunity, but to have them all crowded together in the same vicinity is like heaven! It is also crucial to support locally grown talent in a world that is filled with the big business mentality.



The Silverlake Craft & Vintage Fair is a once-a-month home to many cool local vendors selling their hand made items, along with vintage goods, and antiques at reasonable prices! It's like the website Etsy.com in real life! The flea market is on the last weekend of every month, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, on Micheltorena St. at the Elementary School (1511 Micheltorena 90026; cross street: Sunset Blvd.).

Check it out, I have a major crush!

Q&A: Dresser Stresser

Q: Dear Jackie,

My husband and I are expecting our first child this spring, a baby girl! I am designing the nursery, but all the children's furniture that I find in retail stores around town are either really expensive, poorly designed, or not durable enough to stand some wear and tear. I am also on a majorly tiny budget, do you have any suggestions?!

-- Dresser Stresser, Santa Monica, CA


A: First of all: CONGRATULATIONS! What better way to bring a baby into this world than in style! You are in luck, "Dresser Stresser," this is one of my specialties! I love the fact that you are on a budget; it makes things more challenging, and I love a challenge! I love the idea of incorporating antiques into a baby’s nursery, there is a sweetness about them that surpasses any contemporary manufactured children’s furniture. “They just don’t make things like they used to,” after all! My recommendation is to find antiques that you love and refinish them yourself, in light sweet colors to match your nursery design. Shopping for antiques can be such a fun and stress-free adventure! I suggest scouring your local flea markets and estate sales for pieces; they are always willing to haggle a little on the price. Remember that your concentration should be on the bones of these antique pieces; the surface color/texture and hardware can change. Since these pieces are going into your brand new baby’s nursery, I would encourage you to spend the extra few dollars on low or no-emissions, milk or water-based paints, or paints that are labeled “green.” After the paint has dried you can even sand the edges to give it a distressed look. As for hardware, there are so many great places that sell cute hardware. My favorite is Anthroplolgie. Take a look below for inspiration, you will find photos of a dresser that I [re]designed for a client.



Before



After

Good luck and have fun! This is a great weekend project. And most importantly, enjoy your new addition!

ALTER Alert: Gold Bug in Pasadena

I love this place for its uniqueness! An excellent place to find a piece that will make a statement in your space! Walking into Gold Bug is like taking a step back in time. From taxidermy animals and insects, to vintage framed anatomical drawings of humans and animals, this place is filled with incredible old worldly treasures! They have a rotating featured artist exhibition containing obscure, creative artwork and sculpture. Gold Bug fuses modern hipness and Victorian class together seamlessly. A note to the squeamish: proceed with caution, you may run into prehistoric looking creepy crawlies! Just a short drive to Downtown Pasadena, check it out sometime!

Check out their site for more info: Gold Bug in Pasadena.

B&A: Balcony

Let's face the facts; one of the only pitfalls of living in urban areas is the lack of outdoor living space. If you are fortunate enough to have a precious rectangle of outdoor space, you then have to factor in your view (or lack thereof!). Most places look directly into other apartments, or literally a brick wall. Chances are there is not much privacy, a few nosy neighbors peering in, that token neighbor that thinks it’s okay to chain smoke on his balcony and yell obscenities in a foreign language at the television... I don’t think anybody would be happy with that view!



Balcony Before



Balcony After

Creating a private sanctuary is essential for every city dweller to unwind. A project in a multi-unit building that the ALTER team just finished had this very issue: the lack of a nice view. We created a beautiful solution with a visit to the local hardware store. We picked up some window planters, 5’ bamboo poles, willow twigs, and a nice variety of large succulents. This is a great DIY project!

Check back for a full video of the private balcony sanctuary!

Q&A: Washed Out

Q: Dear Jackie,

I am addicted to the color white. My New Year's resolution was to add more color into my life. Every time I go to pick out colors at the hardware store, or shop for bright accessories, I freeze like a deer caught in headlights! Please help me spice up my living room with some color!

“Washed Out”, Malibu, CA.



A: Well, “Washed Out”, you came to the right person! I just so happen to be addicted to color! Let's find a happy medium that will satisfy both of us. First of all, starting from a fresh clean pallet is always a good idea; in your case you are set! It depends on the look that you want to achieve. Since you live in Malibu, by the ocean, I think we should keep it pretty light and airy feeling, while achieving the punch in the accessories. I think adding a sea glass color to the walls would do the trick. Let's also add some pops of color on these sofas, throw pillows in fun bright colors, some solids mixed with some bright patterns would be perfect. We definitely want to warm the space up with a warm colored rug under the coffee table, possibly something with a pattern. In the future, if you ever want to invest in a new piece for this space, I would consider a medium wood coffee table to ground the room. After you discover how much color will make a difference in this room, you will no longer be afraid to splash right in! Send after photos when you finish your new bright colorful space!



Good luck, and most of all have fun!

Flea Market Finds

My style thrives on eclectic finds! The best way to supplement your interior with one-of-a-kind pieces is to shop a flea market. Everyone has a home filled with store bought items, because that's the way we live. I get it! But when you wanna create a unique fingerprint for your place, you've got to add a few original and interesting pieces. Make a "SpacePrint!"



Perfectly Distressed



Flirting with color

I understand the hesitation with flea markets... I do! You may think it's used junk or cheap crap, but it's NOT! Sure, you'll find some useless junk, but amazing gems can be found if you keep your eyes open. While I strolled through the Rose Bowl with my childlike mindset, I thought, "This is such a great resource, especially in LA! I must spread the word... Go, find your unique SpacePrints!"



Mix Up Your Cubby Bins


ALTER Tips: Hunting for Gems

Go early and wear sunscreen. There's a lot to see! Go early and give yourself plenty of time to roam around. Plus... you're in direct sunlight, so lather up!

ALL prices are negotiable. Enough said, so bargain away.

Have a plan. It's easy to get overwhelmed and overthink, so have an idea of what you'd like to find before you go. For example, think: "Today I'm looking for a colorful lamp, something for my kitchen wall, and rustic side tables." Keep your mind open to other things, but have an idea of what you NEED and where you'd like to add a "SpacePrint."

Not everything is used, old, and/or cheap. DO NOT ASSUME everything is cheap! A great vintage or antique find, new and antique furniture, or original art may cost you a pretty penny, but it'll be worth it! (And on that note, take cash. Some vendors take credit, but it's a whole lot easier to pay and go.)

Bring a truck. If ya got one, bring one. Especially if you're in the market for large items. Most vendors will offer delivery, but this may save you a few bucks!

Ask for a business card. Lots of the vendors have workshops or stores. If you like something but need to think about it or measure a space, get a card and call them later.

Pay and pick up later. If you buy something that's heavy or awkward to carry, leave it at the booth and pick it up on your way out.

Walk away. If you're not sure, think about it. If it's gone when you come back, it wasn't meant to be.

**BONUS**
If nothing else, go for the people watching!