Category: Uncategorized

I’m working on a little master bedroom refresh and wanted to add a bench to the end of our bed.  The thought process was — it will look pretty in pictures and will be a new home for “folded laundry that isn’t put away yet.”  I found the perfect bench from Scandis furniture called the Raholt bench but it is backordered.  I’m impatient.  So I built a bench. The best part?  It cost me less than $40!  In case you want to build an easy bench too, here is everything I bought from Home Depot:

Supplies (click each for link):

1. One 2 in. x 12 in. x 10 ft. Premium #2 and Better Douglas Fir Lumber for $18.98
2. One  2 in. x 2 in. x 8 ft. Furring Strip Board for $2.07
3. Medium Grade Sand Paper $3.97 (easier if you attach it to a sanding block)
4. Eight 18-Gauge Galvanized Steel Angles for $.60/each
5. Four #6 x 7/8 in. Flat Head Phillips Zinc Wood Screw (10-Piece/Bag) for $1.18/each
6. One 8 oz. Wood Finish Dark Walnut Oil Based Interior Stain for $4.98
TOTAL = $39.52

Instructions: 

(1) To make this project SO MUCH EASIER, get your wood cut to the desired size at Home Depot (or wherever you purchase your products).  My top piece of wood is approximately 12in wide and 5ft long (the bench seat).  I had the 2x2x8 wood cut into 4 pieces measuring 16.5 inches for the bench legs.

(2) Sand all of the wood really well until it is smooth.  I attached the sand paper to a sanding block, which made it very quick and easy.

(3) Use a rag to apply the wood stain on all of the pieces of wood on all sides.  It helps to wear plastic gloves to prevent getting stain all over your hands.  🙂

(4) Attach 2 steel angles to each leg.  I used a drill to make insertion points and then used a screwdriver to screw in the wood screws to attach the angles.

(5) Approximately 1.5 inches from each corner, attach each leg to the bench seat.  I should have attached my angles so that they formed an L, both facing towards the inside of the bench.  Arrows show where I should have put the bottom one.  Instead, the bottom ones show slightly so I used brown spray paint to disguise them.

Full disclosure – it isn’t the sturdiest bench ever but it does the job and I’m really liking it at the end of our bed.  And it was less than $40 and easy to make!  I love how it looks against our new rug, thanks to FLOR.  You can shop the rug here.  Our color is “bone.”  🙂

Thanks for reading!

xx,
Kristin

Our house made it on Apartment Therapy!  You can read the full article here.

Here is a little teaser (and some of the images) ….

“My husband and I bought our house when I was pregnant with our first-born nine years ago. It was a foreclosure and previously owned by someone who was trying to “flip” it. We did not like the design choices he made but we loved the neighborhood and luckily, choosing to buy in Venice, California has been a great investment,” writes blogger and designer Kristin Dion. “Over time, we have made several improvements. We replaced all the doors, added hardwood floors in the bedrooms, remodeled the kitchen, added bi-fold doors and a deck off the kitchen/dining area and built-ins in the family and living rooms. Our next project is the master bathroom!”

(Image credit: @life.just.so)

(Image credit: Kristin Dion)

(Image credit: @life.just.so)

(Image credit: Kristin Dion)

(Image credit: Kristin Dion)

Any advice for creating a home you love? In reaction to my Instagram posts, people often ask me how I keep my house so tidy — especially considering I have two kids. The truth is it isn’t always picked up and clean. For me, “home” means a place that is fun and comfortable for all of us. I want my kids to feel free to make a mess, pull out toys and crafts and just be them. But I also want a place I am proud of that is pretty and comfortable for me and my husband to relax in. If toys were everywhere, I would not be comfortable. So for us, the key is having a place for everything. Even the kids know where everything belongs. Built-in cabinets in our family/playroom were important to hold toys. So yes, they have fun and make messes but they know how to clean up, too.

(Image credit: @life.just.so)

I also think it is important to accessorize. My favorite accessories are pillows and plants. I love decorating with neutrals and woods and adding pops of color through pillows and plants. It gives our home a styled but natural vibe.

Hi guys!  I took a month off from creating pillows over the holidays to spend lots and lots of time with family.  I’m baaaccckkkk!!!!  I’m shopping for fabrics today and hoping to find lots of pretty indigos, neutrals and maybe even some pops of color!  I will keep you updated on my progress on instagram.  I really enjoy creating for you.  Thank you for the opportunity!  I hope everybody has a happy and healthy 2018!  xoxo

Welcome to Tegan’s new “big girl” bedroom.  I think she’s like me and has inherited the itch to change up her space every couple of years.  So we did.  The wallpaper is the star of the room, in my opinion.  It’s removable and super easy to apply.  The cactus theme is pretty mature and should last her a few years . . . but if we want to change it up, it is so easy to take down!  The butterflies used to be the focal part of her accent wall but they were a little juvenile and she only wanted to keep a few.  Over her bed, we wanted to incorporate art but not art that could fall (in an earthquake) and hurt her.  So we hung a lightweight wall hanging that I made by stringing together two placemats from Home Goods and tied it to a piece of driftwood Tegan found on a recent camping trip.  Her bed is a couple years old and we are still as in love with it as the day we bought it.  It is a double size and will last her many years.  The woven rattan pendant light, from Eclectic Goods (SUCH a good online shop) is a really cool accent.  It provides fun texture and eye candy and Tegan LOVES it.   The lights wrapped around her bed were a last minute addition due to her recent fear of monsters in the middle of the night.  🙂 The linen blanket is from Fig in Ojai, CA.  The vintage pillows are made by me and some similar may still be available in my shop.

Opposite her bed is this wall, containing many of her toys and books.  When organizing, I’m a huge fan of trying to find a place for everything, so that when cleaning up, there is an obvious place for each toy.  Each basket in this bookshelf has a purpose:  (1)  small figurine toys, (2) building blocks, (3) crafts and (4) doll and dollhouse accessories.   We organized the books together in rainbow order, which was a fun project and stays in order because she can easily color coordinate.  The large basket in the corner, from Home Goods, is the perfect catch-all for the bigger toys and stuffed animals.  For decor, I added succulents/cactus to go with the wallpaper theme.  The pineapple picture was staged by me and taken by my son.  We all agreed that a pineapple was appropriate for her room. Much like her, a pineapple wears a crown, stands tall and is super sweet.  Framebridge framed it for me.  BEST customer service and such an easy and successful process. Click here to check them out.   I highly recommend them for your framing needs.  Use code kristindion15 for 15% off your next Framebridge order!

The last wall in her room contains her dresser, another catch-all toy basket and her “peace corner.”   The dresser is an ikea dresser – simple and practical.  I changed the knobs to make it blend better with her room.  The lamp was another new addition to go with the more natural feeling and elements of the room.   With the wall decor, I went with a gallery wall, thinking that it will be fun for her to change out the pictures from time to time.  The mirror is from Target and the frames are from Ikea.  Her school is big on “peace corners” to provide the children with a safe place to go when they are experiencing “big feelings.”  We love the idea and have adopted it at home.  She sits in her to calm down, to look at books, or just to play with her babies.  The canopy is from Pottery Barn kids and the big pillow is from World Market.    I layered the jute rug with a faux sheepskin for comfort.

and that’s a wrap!  Thanks for stopping by!  Now… I have to get going on my son’s room makeover.  🙂

Just in case you and I have a similar style, I thought I would share some of my favorite things that also make awesome gifts!  Many of these items are for around the house — you probably know by now that I love home decor.  But I also love casual comfort for my personal style so I’m mixing in a little of that as well.   Happy shopping!

1 

I’m pretty obsessed with this aesop hand soap.  It’s pricey for soap but it’s soooooo good and also looks sooooo good staged in a kitchen or bathroom.

2/3

These are two of my favorite coffee table books.  They both have gorgeous pictures, excellent content and they look beautiful sitting around the house too.   Kinfolk and Styled.

4

I recently came across this mini LED light sign from Urban Outfitter when working on an e-design for a dining room.  How cute is this?!  It comes with 72 letters and symbols you can arrange however you’d like.  Love.

5

My. favorite. candle. ever.  It’s been my favorite for years and never disappoints.  Here is an amazon link I found so you can have it ASAP.

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Well . . . I’m bias . . . because I make them.  But I love these pillows and think they make a great addition to any room and would make a nice gift as well.  You can purchase them on my etsy shop.

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I’ve been enjoying my simple brass stud earrings these days.  My friend Beth makes gorgeous jewelry, including these $16 studs.  

8

Baskets always come in handy.  Storage, planter, toys, etc.  I love this one from Anthropologie for its texture, color and tassle.

9

I just bought this sweater coat by French Connection from Bloomingdales during their friends & family sale.  I wear it all the time.  So cozy.  The sale is on until December 11!

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I live in converse.  Simply the best.  So classic and comfy.

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Simple glittery blanket that doesn’t break the bank.  Yes!  This one is from H&M.  

Happy Holidays all!  Thanks for reading!!!!