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West Elm Platform Beds: Our Top Pick for Tweens and Teens

Families with tweens and teens often transition to a bigger bed and room configuration. For us, the change was prompted by the need for better sleeping options for guests, along with the kids’ desire to have more grownup spaces.

After doing some research last year I bought platform beds for both Hudson and Ella from West Elm. They’re perfect! I now know SIX tweens and teens who have West Elm beds as part of their new look. They’re affordable, stylish, high quality, and easy to assemble.

Hudson has a queen sized Chunky Wood bed frame in chocolate {$349 plus $50 delivery surcharge}. We didn’t bother with a headboard; it’s just against the wall with some extra pillows. We bought it on sale, so the price was even lower. For Hudson’s new look we added the Threshold Crinkle Quilt in Red and the Thomas O’Brien Sheets in “Tribal”, both fromTarget. Here’s a West Elm Chunky Wood catalogue shot below, in white. Note that Hudson’s bed in chocolate, with the red and taupe bedding looks totally cool and guy-ish!

Chunky Wood Bed Frame

This is the color of Hudson’s bed. We bought an extra thick mattress so that it wouldn’t be too low to the ground:

Chunky Wood Bed Frame - Chocolate

Ella’s bed is the full sized Simple Low Bed Frame in white {$199 plus $30 delivery for that size}. Again, we went without a headboard {though one could easily be added and West Elm has some great choices} and we bought it on sale.

Simple Bed Frame - White

It’s just the simplest thing, but that’s all we needed. For bedding she chose the Ruched Quilt in White and Ikat Dot Organic Sheets in Black, both from PB Teen. Looks crisp and classic!

Detailed View

These beds have everything we wanted in a new bed for our tween and teen: inexpensive and oh-so-cool, with zero parental hassle. Love it!

Chaos in the Kitchen: The Renovations Begin

We’re in the midst of a kitchen renovation around here… exciting and messy!

This is what we are trying to accomplish:

make the kitchen feel more spacious
replace laminate cabinets and countertops that are falling apart {packing tape is holding counter edges in place}
create more counter work space
have an island where four people can be seated; ideally not all in a row {we want it to feel like a table}
have our kitchen feel more interesting and funky

Here’s the before view {the hole in the soffit is there because Mr. BOP was looking for the heating duct}:

The kitchen was like this when bought our house about nine years ago. We added this butler’s pantry on one side {through the doorway on the right} to create more storage and counter space. It was a great enhancement, and we decided to keep that in the same configuration, but with new cabinets and counter.

As we planned the renovation, we turned to architect Dick Robson {my step-father}. Here’s the concept drawing that he created for us, below. The area to the left of the present fridge has been open space for an eat-in table {earlier in our lives} and now, a couch. Using that wall for kitchen workspace gains the spacious feeling that we were looking for. Plus, the view from the sink will now look out toward the stream. The only loss here is that we really have enjoyed having a couch in the kitchen.

This plan accomplishes everything we were looking for — counter space, a seating area for the four of us {the island is 8 feet across} and space that is overall more interesting. The pantry will remain on the right hand side of this view. We have made a few minor changes, such as decreasing the height of the soffit above the island and also continuing the counter all the way across to the left of the new fridge. Although we like the breakfront look, we decided to sacrifice some style for function in that area. We also needed to replace four windows on the left side to accommodate the counter height.

So, this brings us to our current phase; chaos and demolition! We feel fortunate to be working with Joe Churchill of J&L Woodworking, as they create custom cabinetry and coordinate the kitchen installation. We highly recommend them. Joe and his right hand man, Ron {along with several electricians} got to work this week:

So that’s what’s going on here on our home front. Next week’s tasks; choosing cabinet hardware, painting, approving the concrete countertop sample, emptying the rest of the cabinetry, and coordinating with our plumber and taper. Oh, and packing for camping too! Although renovating a kitchen is challenging, confusing, and inconvenient — I’d say so far, so good. Stay tuned!

Welcome to The Hudson Hotel

Hello! I hope you’re enjoying summer. We’ve been on the go, in the sun, and generally not spending much time in front of the computer. As it should be!

I thought this would be a fun thing to share; especially for anyone else who — like us — does not have a beautiful guest room all made up and waiting for summer visitors. When we have company Hudson relinquishes his teen room with its queen bed, and it becomes the guest room. Not ideal, but Hudson and Ella recently made the accommodations surprisingly swish by creating “The Hudson Hotel” for the grandparents. Here it is:

The Entrance

The Key

The Reveal

The Warm Welcome {in the frame on the bed}

The Perks

And, the fun. The Hudson Hotel has been enjoyed by both its guests and proprietors. Free WiFi and big smiles.

Soooo, we don’t have a guest room. But I’m quite happy with our new hotel.

Martha and I Conquer the Spit

I dashed into Staples today to buy ink cartridges and I came out with a new favorite thing — compliments of the Martha Stewart Home Office Collection {a Staples exclusive}.

Meet Martha’s Dry Erase Decals. They are thin dry erase boards that stick on walls, mirrors, stainless steel, glass and plastic. They can be moved, and they leave no residue. I bought two packs, each for $3.99 — one with two smaller decals and the other with one larger one. They feel like a big sticker and were easy to apply smoothly.

So many possible uses, and several styles from which to choose … but the first that sprang to mind was how to solve the spit-in-the-sink situation. Although both kids deny having any possible part of it, there’s a constant buildup of dried toothpaste and gunk in their bathroom sink. This should do the trick:

Once the spit is no longer, we’ll move on to friendly reminders and parental pep talks {I’ll drive them mad with “good morning sunshine!”} . Love the front-and-center location.

Next, I posted one on the metal board in the kitchen — at the ready for the grocery list.

The third decal — the big one — I stuck inside a kitchen cabinet, where I’m keeping a running list of things we want to do for the coming weekend and school vacation.

I could become dangerous with these babies. More organized. Inspired. And spit-free.

Thanks, Martha!

Olliebop Shops: And All the Rest

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It’s taken us a while to regroup from our Extravaganza on Cape Cod. Four days, forty five people, three turkeys… it was a celebration to remember. We’re still unpacking, and our holiday decorations today {Wednesday} consist of one bare naked wreath hanging on the front door. I’m looking forward to a weekend of settling in and decking these halls.

So here’s the last Olliebop gift guide! I’ve loved putting the five guides together, as I’ve always gotten a jolt of joy {did I really just say that?} from giving a thoughtful gift. Really — I love giving a good present. I still remember the first time I wrapped a package all by myself; a kid, trying to make all of the corners just right. The paper was brown with white polkadots. Way before brown was back. It was beautiful.

I find, though, that this time of year the deluge of messages asking me to consume can dampen the fun of giving – so I’m trying to stay in the zone of quality, thoughtful gifts and keep some of the shopping “noise” at bay. I’m looking forward to settling in and making some some gifts too, with my own two hands.

This guide covers grandparents, stocking stuffers, hosts and hostesses, and all that jazz. Ollie and I fetched it, just for you.

Personalized Gifts for Grandparents and Extra Special People:

Miniature Holiday Message In A Bottle {$18} By MiniatureRhino on Etsy. Also wonderful: miniature letters and packages from Leafcutter {I’ve seen a Leafcutter package in person and it was fantastic!}
Family Portrait Pillow {$138-$148} From Garnet Hill. Choose which family members are picture on this keepsake pillow. Allow two weeks for shipping.
Photo Hardcover Dayplanner {$79} From Pinhole Press. Shop Pinhole’s full line of beautiful holiday gifts here.
Custom Molded Pewter Heart Ornament {$38} By Lisa Leonard Designs. Choose your own wording and date.

Oh, and the Personalized Postcard Mug featured here in the Guide for Him {in the middle of the top collage} would be perfect for grandparents!

The Little Things: For Stockings and Such

I love picking up little things locally for stocking stuffers, but there are a few web sites I go to for the funny, pretty, festive little things that round out the collection, especially Papersource and Perpetual Kid.

How about these small things? Both practical and not: The Pocket Guide to Mischief, Clip On Safety Spotlights, Book of Hug Tickets, Power Conservation Socket, Sound Effects Machine, Tops Malibu Sparklers, Dr. Drip Single Cup On-The-Go Brewing System and The Ideal Token Gift!

And here’s a fabulous “little thing” … The best Hot Fudge sauce imaginable, made right here by Sundaes Best in Saratoga Springs. Jars may be bought singly, or in variety packs featuring any of their 10 flavors. A perfect gift for neighbors, teachers, colleagues and friends. Take a peek at all that Sundaes Best has to offer right here!

And speaking of very special treats, here’s the department of extra fancy, yummy, decadent, homey things – to delight hosts and hostesses or anyone, really:

24 Assorted French Macaroons {$28} By SparklesMacaron on Etsy
Dainty Champagne Flutes {$78 for six} From Olive & Cocoa
Handled Terrine {$58} From Terrain. A petite version for $30 is right here.
Design Sponge at Home {$23} From Amazon. The long-anticipated book of home decor, from Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge
Antiqued Glass Turtledoves {$26} From Wisteria
Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Crate {$38} From Olive & Cocoa
Mini Calendar on An Easel {$10} By LemonadePaperie on Etsy
Maple Syrup Sampler {$28} From Terrain. Love those hues!
Truffle of the Month Club {$35 for 3 months} Each month includes 16 truffles. Made by EstherAguirre on Etsy

Shifting Gears…

How about a charitable gift from Heifer International? Their mission is clear and provides tangible assistance to families all over the world. Choose from a wide range of animals, plants, or “shares” of a larger item. The cards provided with your gift are beautiful. Have a look at how it works:

And speaking of furry friends…

What’s that you say, Ollie? You want a spiffy collar for the holidays and a new hedgehog? You got it, buddy.

Collars for dogs and cats {$22}. By Restowe on Etsy. Click on Image for link.

I’m looking back up the screen at this guide as it’s complete… amused, as it seems a little scatterbrained. But that’s what this time of year is like! It’s 11:28 pm, and Mr. BOP is sitting beside me playing guitar, and the kids are in bed. Ollie is now snoozing with his feet up in the air, in an undignified pose. I’m thankful for family, friends, and for readers — {you, my dear}. Reminding myself, the days are long, but the years are short. And in this moment, it’s all good. Goodnight! xo

Feel Good Friday: A Beautiful Offering for Vermont Flood Relief

It’s been a month and two days since Hurricane Irene swept through Vermont, devastating many communities — including my hometown and surrounding areas. A unique way to help resilient Vermonters rebuild now is through the purchase of this commemorative tealight — made of hand blown glass by the renowned Simon Pearce in Quechee. Their work is simply stunning!

For each tealight purchased {$40} by October 31, Simon Pearce will donate $20 to the American Red Cross of Vermont and the New Hampshire Valley. A special stamp on the bottom denotes the significance of the piece — which, in its own right is a dazzling gift. I’m getting a jump on my holiday shopping now, thankful that Simon Pearce has created this beautiful opportunity. {Click on image to start shopping!}.

A New Look: Simplified with Dash and Albert

We are plotting the long-awaited renovation of a problematic area of our house — the “red room.” In mid August, this former dining room will be divided down the middle and will become both mud room and office/creative space. For the past eight years, the red room has housed: a bench piled high with school packs and bags, a table which acts as my desk and has no drawers {and is covered with papers and office supplies}, Ollie’s crate, a bunch of miscellaneous items with no other home, and a few coat hooks. It’s pointless, and at times embarrassing. Time for this part of the house to grow up. More on the transformation {before and after pictures} later….

But for now, I owe paint colors and the countertop choice to our contractor, pronto. Short on time, I landed on a simple approach — starting from the ground up, with Dash and Albert.

: For the office: the Stone Soup woven cotton runner {$84}. Click on image for link.

I’ve admired rugs by Dash and Albert in the past — happy, colorful and not so expensive. Both of the new spaces — mud room and office {Olliebop Central!} — will be long and skinny so I chose a runner for each from outdoorrugs.com, lured by free shipping. Pictured above is the Olliebop Central runner. I like it because it’s a little bit beachy and fun without being too much. The cotton will be soft under foot and most importantly, it’s neutral enough to handle yellow lab hair. I chose the Indoor/Outdoor Marina Stripe {made of polypropelene which can be cleaned with a garden hose} for the mud room.

To firm up the decorating plan I rolled out each rug and chose two neutral, but upbeat, paint colors {a creamy color for the cabinets and a subtle but deep robin’s egg blue for the small amount of visible wall}. Next, I’ll accessorize by pulling brighter colors out of the rug — orange, pink, blue, lime green, and some earthy tones too. We found a desk chair at an antiques fair, and an old arched screen window that’s now destined to become a chalk board. I’m having fun imagining it all coming together in mid to late August.

Here’s one other good thing; should one wish to go mobile with a color palette, Dash and Albert makes tote bags that match their cotton rugs too {$60}. Redecorating or not, these are a unique accessory.

Now that paint has been chosen, I’m lurking on Etsy and other favorite in search of fun accessories. My hunt has yielded some ideas like these… but I’d love to see any that you’ve got to share {subscribers: please visit the site from the header or footer of your email, and include a link in the comments}.

Above: Top left Dwell Studio Soft Scrolls Leaf Fabric by Robert Allen {$15.98 per yard}
Top right Ampersand Recycled Wooden Sign by WilliamDohman of Oh Dier on Etsy {$32}
Bottom left Curvy Chrysanthemum Vase from Anthropologie {$28}
Bottom right Address/Business Card File Made with Vintage Record Album Covers by FreestyleGifts on Etsy {$55}

Above: Left Vintage Stamps and Stand: Set of Twelve from BrooklynRetro on Etsy {$42}
Right Make Something Good Today Print by PleaseBeStill on Etsy {$25}

Above: So Very Happy Print by dazeychick of Studio Mela on Etsy {$23}

Note: If one of the Etsy links shows the item is “Sold” just click on the blue “Shop” in the righthand column to look for the same or similar listings.

And there are just a few more things that I really like here, here, and here… do you have any favorites among items in this post, or elsewhere?

I hope you are having a vibrant, colorful day — complete with French Fry, or your own version of a wonderful treasure. And what would that be???

By Request: Dorothy’s Top Container Gardening Picks & the Magic Duo

: Plant scouting at Sunnyside Gardens in Saratoga Springs

Several friends have asked this Spring if I would share favorite plant names for container gardening. I do have a magic duo (read on ’til the very end of this lengthy post…) for my shady front porch, and my window boxes and pots are usually looking quite good. My secret weapon? My mom, Dorothy, who shares her knowledge each season as I’m choosing plants. It’s a Springtime ritual to wander the aisles of our local greenhouse planning for windowboxes and container gardening for the season. I know that many of you Northeasterners have already planted your pots and such, but I thought I’d share a tour of our greenhouse outing, along with our top picks for plants that we love!

The folks at Sunnyside are creative with their planting containers, demonstrating that you really can plant in just about anything:

While meandering, Dorothy introduced the “Spill, Fill, Thrill” concept for container gardening. I got the sense from her that this is a widely used saying, but I had missed the memo — and I latched on quickly to this trick. Essentially, you need plants in each of three categories; “Spill” is a plant that hangs down, “Fill” is a plant takes up room and provides structure, and “Thrill” is a plant that adds some drama and height. I had my iphone with me, and took shots of favorite plants as we chatted our way through greenhouse:

Top Row, Left to Right: Lantana {Fill}, Salvia {Thrill}, and Creeping Jenny {Spill}

Middle Row, Left to Right: Bacopa {Spill}, Ornamental Pepper {Fill}, and Dusty Miller {Fill}

Bottom Row, Left to Right: Creeping Zinnia {Fill}, Dahlia {Fill}, and Sweet Potato Vine {Spill}

* I see now that I only show one “Thrill” here — so I’ll add that grasses are a great thriller!

My full-sun window boxes were made up of the first five plants above {Lantana, Salvia, Creeping Jenny, Bacopa and Ornamental Pepper}. I always have a complex when I first plant containers because they look so puny, and this time was no exception. Puny! They will fill in, though and within a few weeks they’ll be busting.

: Planted windowbox… puny, but promising

And, if you’re still with me, here… I have to share my time-tested magic no-fail combination for shade/part sun on my front porch. Every year I plant the same thing — Kong Rose Coleus and Impatiens — and every year they are fabulous! I have grown to love all kinds of coleus for shade, but the Kong Rose has such bright, dynamic colors that it’s my favorite. And yes, impatiens are common and predictable, but they do right by me every time, in the shade of their gigantic and flamboyant friend.

A freshly planted specimen, below… which will grow to be 2-3 feet high. Every year it is spectacular.
{Where’s the “after” shot from past years? Surprisingly, absent from from my photo collection!}

: The Magic Duo for shade: Kong Rose Coleus and Impatiens

As I was doing a bit of container garden surfing, I came upon several great links at the Better Homes and Gardens site that I’ll pass along. First, the Container Garden Finder quiz — answer a few questions and the finder will give you a custom container planting plan! I also liked Easy, Beautiful, Window Boxes for Sun and Easy Recipes for Window Boxes in Shade.

Although the process of planting containers for our short Northeastern season is quite an effort, they make me happy each and every day of summer! How about you – what are your favorite container gardening picks? Any magic duos flourishing at your place? I’d love to hear! Oh, and if you have any questions for Dorothy, just ask in the post comments. She could talk flowers 365 days of the year!