This summer I made a trip out to my parents house and I spent a little time going through their basement.  My dad always has new and interesting treasures that he finds at flea markets and junk shops. 

Over in one corner I found this filthy wooden tripod, originally used for surveying.  I knew immediately that I wanted to turn it into a lamp so I packed it up and brought it back home with me.  (I stuck it in my suitcase.. I wonder what the TSA thought!) 

I have wanted one of these tripod lamps for-EVER.. since seeing them in the Pottery Barn catalog. 

My version looks pretty darn close! 

If you aren’t lucky enough to find an authentic vintage tripod, you can actually buy wooden tripod reproductions on Amazon for about $50.

Of course, they won’t come with the patina (or cobwebs) that are found on the authentic deal found in your dad’s basement but they are still cheaper than a $470 floor lamp. 

To turn this beauty into a light, it is pretty straight forward.  You just need a make-a-lamp kit and a lampshade.  (You could buy the rewiring supplies individually but the kit makes it easy.) 

I removed the center threaded washer from the tripod and added a threaded rod though (I used a longer one than the one that came with the kit, because the original was too short.. I secured the rod to the washer using a pair of nuts.  

I replaced the washer into the tripod and made sure the threaded rod was high enough to support the new light. I added the light kitAnd then attached the wires. Finally I added the shade and it was time to test It out! It worked great

 

This was just one of a series of amazing DIY projects.  You don’t want to miss them: 

The Kim Six Fix Vintage Surveyors Tripod Lamp

Virginia Sweet Pea DIY Candlesticks Using Upcycled Bedposts

H2OBungalow Upcycled Metal and Wood Table

Create and Babble Little Round Stool

My Love 2 Create Small Decorative Caddy

My Repurposed Life Easy One Pallet Project

Designed Decor Build Your Own Tufted Bench  

 

Welcome to part two of my holiday home tour.  Today I’m sharing my family room and kitchen with you.  I took inspiration from that rustic mountain lodge feel of traditional ski chalets and mountain homes. Since it doesn’t really get cold here in California, I wanted the space to remind me of the cool crisp woods up in the mountains. All the rustic elements and natural colors make it feel extra cozy!


If you missed the first half of my home tour, it is DRAMATICALLY different than that space which featured traditional Victorian style Christmas decor.

I recently had to get rid of my living room sofa, and I have been on the hunt for a new one.  I want something with clean lines and super neutral.   I know some people are all about color, but I like my room to be plain, so I can add my color transiently, be it with crazy mantelscapes or fun throw pillows, or my own art work.

I also just saw that Sherman William’s recently annouced their 2017 color of the year: Poised Taupe and I thought it was the perfect jumping off point for a living room.


Style wise, I'd say I'm definitely transitional.  A balance of traditional elements along side clean lines of modern pieces.  I don't do farmhouse, rustic, shabby chic, french country or ultra modern. I do like traditional mixed with contemporary or industrial pieces.  That ia a hallmark of transitional design.

Transitional design is also known for its casual, comfortable and child friendly features, and it has a sense of warmth and coziness.  The perfect family home!  It features a balance of clean lines, and curves, without being too ornate or gaudy.  Often homes for sale are staged with tranistional style, since it generates the feeling of welcoming.

Finding transitional design inspiration can be tough, since most designs tend to lean either lean more contemporary or more traditional.  But I scoured the internet to find some that are both NEUTRAL and TRANSITIONAL.     This is the inspriation for my new living room:

Even though I've already shared my holiday home tour last week,  you may have noticed I only gave a tiny glimpse of my (at that time, unfinished) Christmas mantel. I have been sitting on this post for a while because I was invited by Jen Woodhouse to be part of this year's “Deck the Halls DIY-Style” blog hop.  I have joined with 17 other bloggers featuring great holiday decor with a DIY spin.  (All their links are at the bottom of this post!)

Christmas is only 2 weeks away! So it is time to give you a quick home tour of my holiday decor.  


I’ve already showed you my exterior decorations, so today is the day we move to the interior!

Today’s post isn’t going to be one that drives thousands of views with its eye-candy images or breathtaking decor.

It isn’t going to be filled with beautiful vignettes and awe-inspiring holiday decorations that belong in the pages of a magazine.

It isn’t one that you are likely see on a lot of other blogs, since it isn’t the type of post that most design bloggers would want to share.

But today’s post comes from my heart.
Today I want to share my cheesy plastic ornament-filled, terrible pop-culture referencing, asymmetric, overloaded, unmatched and down right UGLY Christmas tree. 

"Wait?! What!?"  You are probably thinking.  "Why would we want to read about that? Nobody wants to see the Walmart of christmas trees when everyone else is giving us the cover of Martha Stewart Living!” 

DON’T LEAVE JUST YET!! Let me explain:

And, in what happens to be a fortuitous twist of fate, I also recently pulled an old cable knit sweater out of the dryer only to realize it had a big latte stain on one of the shoulders.    The writing was on the wall.  Turn that sweater into a throw pillow! Of course!
The process couldn’t be easier.  You really only need to sew two straight lines.. nothing else.