DIY Paint Can Lights

And while we're on the subject of new lighting...

This image, from the Style At Home booth at the Interior Design Show in Toronto, has been floating around the web for the past couple of days.  The painted floor is amazing, as is the fabulous bright springy styling -- a sign of things to come for those of us being socked by winter weather right now.  But what's really terrific is the use of paint cans as lighting fixtures.

It reminded me that I had recently snapped an equally cool use of paint cans as light fixtures...except this one was a little less sleek. 

Just as inventive though, don't you think?

These fixtures -- using brand new paint cans or well-worn ones or any other vessel entirely -- are super-easy to make on your own.  All you need is the object of your choice and one of these:

And if you want to hardwire it rather than plugging it in and hanging it from a hook, pick up one of these:

Have you ever created your own lighting?  Pendant?  Chandelier?  Lamp?  Please share!

Image credits: Re-nest (originally from Poppytalk, similar image can also be seen on Aubrey+Lindsay's Blog); Paige Lewin; West Elm Pendant Cord Set; West Elm Industrial Pendant Conversion Kit

Catalog Living

Logic quiz: Poor self-image is to fashion magazines as WHAT is to home decor catalogs?

I don't know either, but sometimes I feel like I have it, whatever IT is.  Occasionally I get sort of taken over by staging my house...rolling up the throw blankets and storing them just-so in a gorgeous basket (you're cold? grab one of these!), propping the white ceramic fish platter in a plate holder on my kitchen counter (look, it's art!), stacking up a pretty set of books by my bedside (who has time to read?).  Maybe it's some form of OCD, or maybe it comes from buying and selling multiple houses in the past five years (never know when you're gonna have to put it on the market!), but I suspect that some of the obsession comes from looking through too many home design catalogs and shelter pubs.

Luckily, my little brother pointed me to a hilarious site that reminds me how idiotic some of those scenes from Pottery Barn (and others) are.  Catalog Living follows the fictional life of Gary and Elaine, the passive-aggressive, accessory-obsessed couple who live in your catalogs.  Created by actor and Tufts graduate Molly Erdman, Catalog Living now serves as my daily reminder that I shouldn't worry if my throws aren't just-so.

{But really, a little staging never hurt anyone.}

Image credit: Catalog Living, January 20, 2011

Some of Boston's Best (in my humble opinion)

At the end of October, CBS Boston launched a spankin' new website that brings all the local CBS outlets under one digital roof.  Thanks to a glowing recommendation from Boston Mamas' Christine Koh, I had an opportunity to contribute some of my favorites to the site's Boston's Best section.  Need the perfect accessories to go with that dress?  Or a last-minute gift and bouquet of flowers for your co-worker's birthday?  How about the best places for housewares and home decor?  I also shared some of my very favorite local home artisans, some of whom I've featured right here on the Mudroom.  So check it out, and feel free to add your own favorites in the comments!

Image credit: Comina

Inspiration for an Unexpected Home Office

Best laid plans.

I don't know about you, but when I move into a new space (which is more often than I'd like), I try to have it all planned out before the big day.  The furniture, the wall colors, where the lamps will go.  Everything.

But sometimes things don't turn out exactly like you expect.  There's enough space for the couch on that wall, but looks terrible.  Your pots and pans don't actually fit in the cabinets.  The TV is perfect right there, but the deck door allows a little beam of the neighbor's outdoor light in exactly when you want to watch The Real Housewives airkiss and then rip each other to shreds.  You get the picture.

Anyhoo, it turns out that one of the AWESOME things we didn't count on was that our fabulous extra-narrow cherry farm table that used to be in our dining room fit perfectly in our new kitchen, so we didn't have to buy a kitchen table and it freed up a whole room.  Frankly, I've always thought formal dining rooms were sort of a waste of space, so rather than doing a home office/guest room combo (our original plan), we have the unexpected opportunity to have an entire room dedicated to an office (can you hear the chorus of angels?).  I'd like our space to be:

Peaceful, with lots of work space,

multi-purpose,

separate, but equal,

and of course, well-styled.

Image credits: House Beautiful, Southern Living, Cottage Living, Stacy Style (who, by the way, rocks, and if you tweet you should follow her @stacystyle)