Three Ways to Make the Most of the Apartment Balcony

Spring is finally here! My balcony looks on to a beautiful view of ... a parking garage. As grateful as I am to have a balcony in a city of few or no balconies, I have lately been thinking of ways to jazz up my little piece of concrete yard.

Here are three ideas:

• Attract nature to come to me.... maw haha! - Just kidding, I was actually thinking of making a bird feeder. Check  out this cool idea of converting an old bike (I think..) into a device that attracts flying critters. http://www.instructables.com/id/Bird-feeder-1/#step1

• Add some green. - I will have to get a little creative with this one, as I have a cat that thinks that plants are for his chewing enjoyment. I have always liked the idea of container gardening, but the aforementioned cat has created quite the obstacle, leaving me with the options of hanging plants or the newer idea of vertical gardening. The "Recycle, eh?" blog has some great reuse ideas; one using rain gutters and another using an old wood pallet 
•  http://www.recycle-eh.com/apps/blog/show/6888775-vertical-gardening
• http://www.recycle-eh.com/apps/blog/show/6724623-more-wood-pallet-recycling

• Hi-light the night! Sorry... I got a little excited there about some super cool DIY glow-in-the-dark jars. OK, I know that description doesn't sound super cool, but when you check it out, you too will want to make a few. 
• http://frompankawithlove.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/glowing-jar-project-varazslat-a-lakasban-enhu/   

Functional Art - furniture that deserves a spotlight

Form follows function. 

Right? 

In the practical since, yes ... but sometimes the concept comes first and drives amazing design. Occasionally art can be practical too. For furniture with an alter ego, check out these pieces that cross the line of art and function.

  

The Bloom MGX lamp by Patrik Jouin  is designed to "bloom" to either diffuse or allow more light.

photo by Thomas Duval

photo by Thomas Duval

Moss Gallery

THe Muslavi Gallery in the UK is a distributor of Laskowscy Design furniture. Their designs try to blur the edge of where the object ends and something else begins. For example the graphic on the Ikebana coffee table spills onto the floor. 

Laskowscy Design

The Artistic 4 Chaise can be yours for the low, low, low price of $6,500 + shipping.... ok I don't mean to be sarcastic. All jokes aside, this piece is designed to follow the curves of the body and is supposedly quite comfortable. In addition to the ergonomically correct construction, this chaise will make a statement in any room.   

http://www.opulentitems.com/Artistic-Furniture.html#

Subway Tile Back Splash Love

SO ... I know that this blog is an apartment/ small spaces blog, that being said I want to nod at my full-time job as a kitchen designer. I recently was asked what my favorite back splash design is and I have to suggest a simple tile - SUBWAY TILE

Subway Tile Always looks Good.

Okay, maybe not always, but it is sure hard to make look bad. Subway tile is classic and looks great in both contemporary and traditional kitchens. Also, by selecting a clean-lined, uniform patterned back splash, you are less likely to date your kitchen. Coming back around to small space design, choosing this style of back splash will not only make an already tight kitchen feel less cluttered but also make the space feel bigger.


This small bright kitchen is one of the winners of Apartment Therapy's Small  Cool Kitchens of 2011. I also love this kitchen, and not just because of the great use of 1x2 subway tiles :) 

 Click here to see more images of this great kitchen

Here are a couple of kitchens that I worked on in the past year in model home world that show subway tile back splashes.







































If you would like to see more subway tile back splash examples check out these sites:

10 pieces of kitchen design wisdom from small cool kitchens
http://www.dreambookdesign.com/2011/01/kitchen-makeover-white-subway-tile.html
http://www.subwaytileoutlet.com/blog/stainless-steel-backsplash/

USB drives that are harder to loose

A few years ago, while finalizing my senior project for college, I endured one of the worst sinking feelings ever; the loss of my flash drive. I had just finished the final touches on my project and I was on my way to Kinko's. Long story short my drive was gone by the time I arrived at the printer... Don't worry, I finished my project and graduated. Looking back I can't help but wonder if I could of saved myself from all that stress by having a flash drive that would of been harder to loose. Here are a few that are super cute and maybe might be conversation starters

Instructable member, created these one of a kind thumb drives using sculpting clay and acrylic paint. View directions here - http://www.instructables.com/id/USB-Sesame-Street-Zombiedesk-decorations/  

zombifyed sesame street
 

Go Bananas! These are from a Chiquita Banana promo campaign. It's a pretty smart idea if you ask me.

Part art part thumb drive -

http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.73880987.jpg 

How far down the rabbit hole....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84852046/white-rabbit-1gb-usb-memory-leather?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=thumb+drive+&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade 

3 DIY headboards for under $50

Bedroom furniture can be expensive! I know many apartment and condo dwellers who have completely forgone a headboard and bed frame in lieu of putting the mattress directly on the floor due to the cost. Fear not! I have found creative, attractive and affordable DIY headboards and beds. Check out these three:

• Using bamboo laminate flooring, this "Instructable" user has created a modern clean-lined platform bed and headboard.  http://www.instructables.com/id/Bamboo-Flooring-Platform-Bed/ 

http://www.instructables.com/image/FO0C4A2GPBDIA70/Bamboo-Flooring-Platform-Bed.jpg

• Are you able to track down a wood pallet (maybe even for free)? If so, you may find yourself the lucky owner of a "new" headboard, albeit re-purposed .  http://theinspiredroom.net/room-tours/vintage-airplane-boys-bedroom/ A pallet can also be used for the bed frame and at the same time add storage.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/2297898290_fe90376dee.jpg 

• Want an inexpensive headboard that is light weight and easy to take down when moving? Try a wall decal; not only are they cheap, you can change the look with a new decal when ever you want. http://www.whatisblik.com/shop/nico-bed-frame   

 

http://www.whatisblik.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/480x/8a02aedcaf38ad3a98187ab0a1dede95/n/i/nico_rasp_1.jpg