Living room built-ins on a budget

I've had a design project rattling around in my brain for quite some time now. I'm slowly (very slowly) putting my living room/sitting room/room without a TV together and would really love to include the timeless elegance of built-ins into the décor. At the same time, I don't want to pay the high price for said timeless elegance, which is where my project comes in.


After spending a lot of time on sites like Ikeahacker.com and Ikeafans.com I've come to look at certain bits of Ikea furniture as raw materials, most notably, The Billy Bookcase. The basic Billy start out at a pretty low price and come in a few different colors and finishes, which makes them super versatile and budget-friendly at the same time. This would likely explain why the Billy bookcase turned into Built-ins project seems to be so popular. It also allows for some great personalization with some paint or wallpaper. I've even seen the standard matching shelves swapped out for glass shelves.


With my planned project, I'm thinking about adding some bead board wallpaper and molding to a few standard size Billys, along with some short doors to enclose the bottom shelves. Somewhere down the road, I'd also like to add some jadeite door pulls, to add a bit of antique chic. I have a few other ideas planned, but haven't come to a final conclusion. 



Here are a few Billy bookcase projects that I find inspiring:

 
This is a proper built-in, found at MagChunk http://www.magchunk.com/2009/11/12/more-built-in-bookcases/
 I'm loving the look of the entire room, really.

I can't remember where I found this picture. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know so that I can cite proper credit. I love that simplistic display choices.


 


And a great blog with lots of creative uses for bookcases, Billy included - http://www.simpleeffects.com/blog/?p=362




 

If you're considering a Billy built-ins project, Ikea has a great planner online.Give it a try!

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_CA/rooms_ideas/planner_billy/index.html

 

A slow cooker for smaller portions

This post is jumping in from of another post I was working on, which oddly enough had jumped in front of yet another post I had intended to post today. Confused? Don't be.When something as ab fab as this Royal VKB & Margriet Foolen Slow Cooker comes to my attention, all other things can wait.

When it comes to slow cooking, I happen to believe that one of the things that keeps some people at bay is the concept of batch cooking. There are simply times when I don't want to eat the same batch of chili for days in a row, or take up valuable freezer spaces with batches of beef bourguignon. That's where these wonderful little slow cookers come into play.

Inspired by the tagine (a Moroccan slow cooker), this adorable terracotta bowl and glazed lid set can go straight from the oven to your table. In fact, the lid can even double as a serving plate!  The slow cooker is just big enough to serve 2-3 meals. It's also stackable, so if you have plans for a modern Moroccan dinner party, with a selection of flavorful bites, the Royal VKB & Margriet Foolen Slow Cooker is exactly what you need.

You'll find it for only $64.00 at the A+R Store. Come to think of it, this little slow cooker might make a pretty fine Christmas gift.

ThinkGeek :: Shell Digital Kitchen Scale

Function and style unite! This stylish, little digital scale just landed in my inbox this morning (along with many other geeky delights). With weighing one's food being a big help in the weightloss department, I should probably do more than simple drool over this shiny kitchen toy. Perhaps when Think Geek opens a Canadian site sans egregious shipping and duty rates. Come on TG, Canadians love, Firefly t-shirts and titanium sporks too!

ThinkGeek :: Shell Digital Kitchen Scale

Antique Shops in Ontario: The St. Jacobs Antiques Market

I hope everyone had a good labor day. As you can see from this photo, mine was a wee bit damp. Sadly, as a result there was to be no farmer's market wandering; however, this made for an excellent day at my favorite antique shop in Ontario, with a bonus jaunt into a nearby outlet mall ...which happened to have Pyrex and Corning Ware pieces on at insanely great prices. I mean we're talking 2 for 1 baking dishes and huge yet dirt cheap covered casseroles...but I digress.

On to my promised photo-filled recap of what has to be one of the best antique shops in Ontario, in my opinion. I had previously mentioned the St Jacob's Antiques Market in a post a few months back, but didn't really go into the detail it deserves. This antique shop is a large, warehouse of a building, portioned out into individual stalls, much like a farmer's market or flea market. Each stall houses an individual seller's ware, which range anywhere from old books and toys, vintage records, clothing, antique furniture, housewares, light fixtures, teacups, military mementos, some gorgeous pressed glass and of course, my personal favorite milk glass!

I know, I know, enough chatter, on with the pictures...

Farewell to summer

Happy last long weekend of summer everyone! I'm heading out to my favorite lazy weekend haunt for some antiquing and meandering and fun. I briefly touched on this ab fab little hamlet a few months back. This time, I plan to bring you a full report -photos and all.

Think outside the Chinese takeout box

If there's one thing I learned (actually there are many) from planning my wedding last year it was to shop for things in places with no connection to wedding or special events. When retailers tack wedding, holiday, party or special event onto things, or heck, when they aim them directly at female buyers, they have a tendency hike the prices way up. The key to getting things at the best price is really all about patience and using a little savvy when it comes to searching online. A great example of this is Chinese takeout boxes. In lieu of wedding favors I had a candy buffet at my wedding and wanted to use Chinese takeout containers as the vessel into which guests would place their candy. What I didn't want was to spend $1.00 or more per box.



So I set out in search of cheap Chinese takeout boxes in Toronto, firstly the old fashioned way –by visiting stores. This search took me to Michael's, Wal-Mart, Party Packagers, a craft shop in the Vaughn Mills mall and a bunch of other places I can't recall. However, ever one of those places wasn't giving me a good enough price. That's when I let my fingers do the footwork…across my keyboard of course, and set out searching for wholesale Chinese takeout boxes.


 

Awsome coupons and free stuff in Canada

So it seems I'm on a money-saving kick these days.I've just come across a veritable buffet of coupons online, including one for free Staryfree Ultra-thin 18's.

Get free stuff and savings on toiletries here(plus other coupons if you click around the site):

Save.ca

Find over $140 worth of savings on P&G stuff  here:

brandsaver.ca