TV console

We moved into our new house about a month and a half ago, bringing a lot of our old furniture from our previous home to be used for the meantime. These furniture were mostly cheaper 'placeholders' before I find something more pretty and value for money to replace it with. 

I currently have a TV console that we bought for our previous apartment from Houz Depot, and it cost us about RM200. It was relatively cheap, although not pretty (cherry-coloured, fibre board), it has been serving us for the past 2 years quite well. 

Now that we have moved in the new house, my quest for new furniture begins! Okay, I've still got to wait until the baby comes out plus another 40 days of confinement. Sigh.

I'm thinking of getting the Ikea Besta cabinet, it looks great here. 

Source here.

I like the 2 little baskets in the small shelf. So last night I looked it up under the Ikea online catalogue and found it. Here it is! 

Ikea

It costs RM944. And that's not including castors and other stuff required. Not sure if the hubby would be willing to fork up the money. But as usual, we always prefer to see it first before actually purchasing to see whether it would be worth the money. Of course it looks gorgeous in the first photo, right? 

Have a great Thursday!

a little Ikea goes a long way...

Can you spot which items are from IKEA? 

Via The Bride's Diary

Well, I can, but it is still pretty, isn't it? 

I'm not sure I would use that shelf for my own home, as yes, it's too Ikea for me. But I love their use of textures with the baskets and all! 

Have a wonderful Monday!

breakfast nook dreams

I think I’m giving my husband a headache with all my crazy (and expensive) ideas for our house renovation. Okay, I won’t call them crazy, but maybe a little bit…. ambitious?

You can’t stop a girl from dreaming about her dream house, huh? I’m sure a lot of you reading this have been dreaming of the perfect house since you were just little girls (or boys if you’re a guy). Well, at least I have.

My latest "ambition"? Having a breakfast nook.

We have a room next to the kitchen of our new house which I believe would be unused (stashing ugly stuff does not classify it as 'used'). And since the kitchen is rather dark, I’ve been contemplating on taking down the wall and making it into a little breakfast nook with lots of light.

I can just imagine myself in any of these breakfast rooms, having my morning breakfast of cornflakes and cold milk. And a cup of hot Milo (a chocolate drink here in this part of the planet). 


The photo below is simply beautiful. I love the neutral colour palette of whites, beige and white washed wood. Seaside decor at its best.

Casual and elegant. Image from here

From Apartment Therapy

I love the denim blue material used for the seats and the mix of patterns on the throw pillows. Lovely!

House Beautiful

The use of neutrals in this breakfast nook is gorgeous. 

Aesthetically Thinking

A striped black and white banquette and lovely mix of frames and pictures. They used two square tables here and mismatched chairs. Casual elegance again!

Southern Living

This breakfast nook is clean and uncluttered. Simply beautiful. 

Triangle Honeymoon

Get those wicker chairs at Ikea!! This corner is oh so pretty. 

A House and Home

Sunlight being filtered by those lovely roman blinds. How lovely. 

Elle Decor

I love this nook with all its use of textures. 

Can your house afford a breakfast nook? I'll let you know if my dream of having a breakfast nook comes to life. If not, I'll probably opt for a french door with milk glass panes so that the sunlight can enter in to the kitchen from that room. 

Have a great Tuesday!

Best of grey kitchens

The kitchen is probably the biggest investment you make on your whole house. Since we'll be starting renovation work on our house soon, I've been looking for photos of kitchen on the internet for inspiration.

I think white kitchens are over-hyped. Yes, it's beautiful and everything, but being a practical mother of a rambunctious toddler, I don't think having a white kitchen would be a good idea.

So my best bet for this compromise?

Grey kitchens. It won't show dirt as obvious as white kitchens, and they're beautiful too.

These are some of my favourites that I've gathered on Pinterest for my future kitchen. I also added some notes for me to remember. I hope you find them useful too!

Image source

Aren't the wood panelled walls lovely? I love that the cabinets look like they're made out of aged wood panels too. The lamp on the island is gorgeous, but may not be a good idea in the kitchen. When I cook, I need all the counter space I can get!

Note: A lamp may look good on the island, but my not be too practical. :-)

Source unknown

I love a kitchen with lots of sunlight like in the photo above. Unfortunately, our house lacks sunlight in the kitchen with only one window. I may have to forgo the idea of having upper cabinets so that my countertops get all the light they need. Which could be better for our budget!

Note: A kitchen with not a lot of sunlight would look good with less upper cabinets.

Velvet & Linen

I love this kitchen above. I think I've featured it in my previous post, but never mind. Chalky greys, aged wood and patina... lovely!

Note: Grey looks good with natural wood too.

Another view of the same kitchen. Dreamy. I love the details such as that basket of onions under that island. But I can imagine my son diligently emptying the basket of onions on to the floor if I had that in my kitchen.

Martha Stewart's studio kitchen

Do you watch The Martha Stewart Show? I do, and I've always admired her studio's kitchen. I tried looking for a good picture of it on the internet, and this is the best I could find. I love the open shelves, the white bowls on the island, the white marble countertops and the simple knobs on the drawers.

Note: Open shelves must be kept neat - show off your favourite plates and books on them. 

Image source

That looks like stainless steel countertops, but I can't be sure. I love that the kitchen cabinets and tops have a modern feel to it, but the designer used concrete floors and a wooden table to ground the look. And I love those vintage breadboards on that shelf!  

Note: mix modern with vintage for a unique and warm look.

Image source

This kitchen mixes up white door cabinets with greyish-green doors on the island. Gorgeous!

Note: A kitchen island would look great in a different colour that complements the colour of your kitchen cabinet doors. I love Ikea's freestanding islands for those smaller kitchens:

Ikea

Image source

Lovely white marble tops with grey cabinets again. Love those cabinet door handles.

Note: Cabinet door handles and knobs can be the highlight of a simple kitchen.

Image source

Open shelving! They give such an airy feeling to a small kitchen. I would love to consider having these white shelves in that corner of my kitchen.

Note: Consider open shelves for small kitchens.

Image source

I love this grey kitchen and all the wicker baskets! It makes it look nice and cosy.

Note: Add wicker baskets for texture in a kitchen that lacks texture.

I hope you've been inspired with my favourite photos of grey kitchens! Have a great day ahead!

Project update 2!

I think this project deserves an update. I’ve been rather busy to actually go out and start purchasing, but I’ve used this time to gather inspiration and decide on what would be suited best for the room. Click here for the last update, and here for a photo of the room in it’s current state (it's the last photo in the post).

I’ve also taken the measurements down in order to get started on looking for affordable wardrobes and stuff.

Can someone please recommend me a good measuring tape? This is already the second one where the tape would not roll back in. :-/

Because the room is rather small, we're going to go for a wardrobe that is not too deep - 30cm max. Also, we don't want the doors to bang into the ceiling fan when it's opened. 

As for curtains, we've chosen Ikea's Wilma and Lenda curtains as they're a great price and look good, too.

For the accessories, I was thinking of painting the desk in the room black. Here's the photo of it.

There’s also a funky bookshelf – still haven't decided on how to revamp this one.

I also have an idea for artwork. We visited a second hand shop all the way in Bangi and found some great encyclopedias and maps. I was thinking of using the illustrations in some of the books and framing them.

Here are some cute map ideas I found on Houzz that I thought I'd share:

eclectic artwork design by Etsy

traditional artwork design by Etsy

eclectic accessories and decor design by Urban Outfitters

Image source from Country Living

We can either look for frames at Ikea, or get some cheap ones at a second hand shop at Petaling Jaya called Cash Converters. As for other accessories, I was thinking of visiting the flea market that I heard about at Amcorp Mall. Have been procrastinating on going there for ages!

I can't wait to get to work on this room soon! Have a great weekend!

Pendant Lamps

I am a fan of pendant lamps – to me they are pieces of artwork in itself. I love 'em simple and timeless. I found these pictures of pendant lamps which I think are beautiful. 

atelierjoya.blogspot.com

Check out these steel tubs transformed into lamps for a beautiful wedding dinner setting. I think they look gorgeous. 

zeospot.com

I've been seeing these glass pendant lights in a few shops and restaurants around town. I think they are simple and beautiful. I couldn't find a full picture online though. 

Ottava pendant lamp. IKEA

I really like this industrial lamp from Ikea. I'm thinking of getting one for my next home. 

decorpad.com

I love this room and how the glass pendant lamps make a bold statement in the living room and the hallway. 

decorpad.com

I love this entryway and how they used the same pendant lamps in each adjacent hallway to create consistency. Loving the framed blue artwork too. 

allaboutyou.com

I'm totally digging this room. How everything is mismatched but looks great together with similar colours and textures. I'm a fan of that wooden table. The whole room looks charming. 


I will be continuously looking for inspiration for lighting - particularly pendant lamps - as we need to get cracking on getting our new home ready for moving in. 


Have a great day! 

Swedish interiors

After all this talk about Ikea, one would think I have fallen in love with Swedish furniture. Well... maybe a little bit.

Especially after reading this particular post from Cote de Texas, I fell in love with the story and the pictures of the houses featured in this article in the Washington Post. Below are some of my favourite photos.

The Swedish look is all about chalky greys and muted tones, natural textured fabrics like linen and seagrass rugs and Swedish antiques in an environment that is relaxed, serene and casual. Now I wouldn't mind living in a space like that everyday.

The next photos are from a different house, but belonged to the same owner of the room above.

I fell in love with the entryway in the photo above. All its details - the pale stone floor, the patina of the chest of drawers, the carvings of the white banister and the fresh pop of green coming from the fern - I love.

The photo of this room above blew me away. Everything about it is beautiful. I will bookmark this photo for those moments when I am in need of inspiration.

Here's a closer view of the further half of the room. Isn't it gorgeous?

I love this dining room - particularly the grey Swedish chairs and the glass pendant lamp. And the view of the next room from that doorway is so intriguing.

Below are more photos of Swedish interiors that I find beautiful.

Source here

Notice how everything is weathered with a beautiful patina. Nothing is too precious to touch - that's what makes it so appealing (to people like me who has a boisterous toddler in the house).

Source here

I love the colour palette of fresh greens and natural light wood in the photo above.

Source here

Doesn't the room above look so light and airy?

Source unknown

I'm not sure whether the above is Swedish, but it has the colour palette that I love about it.

Source here

The above photo is also Swedish - but the modern side of Swedish interiors that we are more familiar with since Ikea took over world dominance (at least, in the decorating world). I love this apartment.

Here are some tips on getting the Swedish style look, taken from this article of the Washington Post by Terri Sapienza - even if you are living on the other side of the planet from Sweden.

Start small. If you’re apprehensive about a big change or commitment, start with a small space in your home, such as a foyer, hallway or guest room. 

Repaint the walls in a lighter color. Thai suggests a neutral color, which is more versatile and will work with many types of furniture and finishes. His favorite neutral paint colors include Classic Gray and White Dove, both from Benjamin Moore and Clunch by Farrow & Ball. 
 
Introduce painted Swedish pieces slowly. Start in smaller rooms and replace the furniture you like the least, says Thai. You may find that one or two new pieces refresh your space enough. If you like the way they look, you can eventually carry the style into the more prominent rooms. 

Don’t get carried away. “When people use too much Swedish furniture, it starts looking like a theme park and will eventually look dated,” says Thai. He prefers rooms that are more collected and mixed, with a touch of Swedish style. “You can introduce this furniture to your mahogany furniture and keep it like that,” he says. “It’s more interesting.”

Update upholstered furniture. If you have a dark couch, replace the matching accent pillows with pillows that are lighter in color and drape a neutral throw over the back, Thai says.
If you have a suite of dark furniture, break it up, he says. Move the pair of chairs to another room or recover the chairs, keep the sofa dark and add light pillows.
If you don’t want to invest in reupholstery, use slipcovers. Get fabric that is washable and neutral. You can bring in patterns and color with pillows and throws. Thai recommends Calico Corners and Haute for finding good, mid-weight linens.

Well, I guess the closest that we can get to Swedish furniture on this side of the earth is at Ikea for now! You'll know where to find me on weekends! :-)

ikea kitchens

I'm a fan of the Giuliana & Bill show - I especially love the episodes featuring the home renovations. And to my delight, 2 seasons ago, they ran an episode where the couple gave a makeover to Giuliana's parents' kitchen with Ikea cabinets! 

I couldn't find photos of the new kitchen on the internet - so if you missed that episode, here's a short clip showing the finished kitchen.

I love the cabinets, the door handles, the white counter tops. Dreamy! Have I mentioned that I'm in love with white kitchens? Yeah, I think I have.

With the cost of custom cabinets running sky-high these days, I've been contemplating on getting Ikea kitchen cabinets - they have great prices and a good number of kitchen door cabinet choices.

So I've been scouring the internet, looking for reviews on Ikea kitchens - whether they are any good, what kind of quality to expect. And the outlook is pretty good. 

Some notes I've gathered on Ikea cabinets from decorating and designing blogs:

1. The Blum soft-close drawers - custom-made cabinets will not come with these soft-close drawers, adding these on would require extra cost. Ikea cabinets are not only cheap, they come together with these soft-close features. Note: I love drawers as they're convenient and great space-savers. I'm thinking of investing in drawers for my whole kitchen. With maybe about 2 base cabinets max.

2. If you're looking for quality, the Tidaholm series is great. The door frames are made of solid oak whilst the panels are melamine. Solid oak frames would be ideal  as particle board frames have the risk of warping due to moisture. This is evident in my mum's kitchen that has melamine cabinet doors.

3. The Tidaholm (or just about any of the other series) cabinets can be furnished with paint to get a lovely custom look.

4. Custom kitchens have melamine cabinet frames and this is exactly what Ikea uses. So why pay more when you get it for less with Ikea?

5. To avoid your kitchen from looking like an Ikea showroom, with cost saved from their cabinets, you can indulge in higher quality countertops (though their wood countertops are a great bargain), hardware (such as knobs and handles) and appliances (sinks etc).

I've been collecting photos of my favourite Ikea kitchens. Some are straight off their online catalogue, some are photos from design blogs.
 

decorpad.com

I love this kitchen. So cool and classy. I love the marble countertop on the island. I think these are Ikea Tidaholm doors custom-painted in white. I'm loving the tiles of the backsplash too. The lovely blue-grey curtains on the side matches those chairs.

IKEA

This one is straight from the web catalogue. I've got my sights set on that freestanding island. I love how sunny this kitchen is.

IKEA

Another lovely white kitchen - this time looking more contemporary and modern with the sleek stainless steel handles. I really like the subway tile backsplash.

ikeafamilylive.com

This one goes even more modern with sleek, glossy white cabinets and modern stools. I love this kind of modern look, but not so sure if I would go for this style. It's too white and would be a hassle to maintain.

Jonathan Adler

Even Jonathan Adler goes Ikea! I love how he has paired the white cabinets with beautiful marble countertops and walls. And he adds in punches of colour from the lime green upholstered stools and matching pendant lamp.

IKEA

The Tidaholm cabinets in its original state. I'm liking the texture. Seriously considering of getting these doors.

delightfullyrandom.blogspot.com

I'm totally in love with this kitchen. One would not guess that those are actually Ikea cabinets painted a rich dark brown for a traditional country kitchen. Looks lovely.

IKEA

The Ikea kitchen goes industrial in this photo with their range of stainless steel cabinets paired with the wooden countertops.

installikeacabinets.com

A modern Ikea kitchen with stainless steel countertops and farmhouse sink! I love how the wooden beam ceilings bring character and architectural interest to this modern kitchen.

aroomforeveryone.blogspot.com

Ikea shelves. Contemplating whether I should go for open shelving or upper cabinets. I could save money by opting for the former.

I do hope you enjoyed these Ikea kitchen photos! Would love to know what others think of Ikea kitchens!

Have a great day!