NBC's Up All Night Decor Inspiration

I am inspired by what NBC's Up All Night set designer, Peter Gurski, created for the new popular show. His mix of modern colors, acclectic furniture pieces, and unique fabrics showcase how modern style can be comfortable and stylish. I hate the stereotype that modern homes are stark white with white leather couches. From watching the show I can see some pieces from West Elm, IKEA, Crate and Barrel and 2modern. The show is also hilarious but the design alone makes it worth watching.

How to Make Chalk Board Paint

I have looked into purchasing chalkboard paint and found it’s over $40 a gallon. My recipe is the exact same thing and can be used with leftover paint saving you a lot of money.
Ingredients:

1 cup paint

2 tablespoons white non-sanded grout (1 can is $2)

Mix together until the consistency is equal to yogurt. The grout thickens the paint and will slightly dilute the color. 1 cup of paint will go a long way. The paint will only last about 12 hours, after it sits for a day it will become too thick to use. To remove chalk use a damp paper towel and don’t place in the dishwasher, you must hand wash.

I used my paint to create a cheese serving tray, wine glasses and beer steins. I also have included some of the best chalk board paint uses.

Source: Better Homes & Garden

Source: Houzz

Source: Freckles Craft

Easy Kitchen Towel Table Runner

I recently purchased several kitchen towels from Target for $2.99 each. After processing the thousand of options, I decided to make a table runner to match my dining room wedding frame. It's doesn't get much simpler.

Items Needed:

(3) Kitchen Towels

Sewing Machine

Seam Ripper

Directions: Using your seam ripper take off the short end seam on each towel. Match the design and pin in place. Sew together and you are done. Less than 10 minutes!

Perfectly Charming Wedding Video

I am so excited to share this wedding video with you. Kirby and Tyler are very dear to my heart. I am so honored to have played a very small role in their wedding day. Their videographer did a fantastic job of showcasing their love, glamour and personalities.

Kirby + Tyler // St. Paul, Minnesota from Colin Cabalka on Vimeo.

Kirby is also a VERY talented fashion designer and runs a beautiful blog- check it out! http://colorsofhoney.blogspot.com/

DIY Dog Feeder Tutorial by Design Sponge

When it's too cold to take your dog for a jog, make a crate for your mate. I know that I am too cheesy, but Design Sponge has a great tutorial on how to crate this one-of-a-kind piece.
Full Instructions HERE

What You’ll Need:

-Wooden crate (sanded well to prevent splinters)
-Stainless steel food bowls (Amazon.com and Pet Food stores have affordable options)
-Jig saw
-Drill with large wood drill bit
-Wood sealer

Directions:

1. You will need two dog bowls with a lip (one for water, one for food). The lip will keep the bowls resting in the top of the crate. I used 2-quart stainless steel bowls that I got at my local chain pet store.

2. Measure your dog bowls to determine how much surface area you need to hold them. Allow an extra two inches on each side of the bowls and two inches between the bowls (total of an additional 6 inches in length and 4 inches in depth). If you don’t leave enough room around the bowls, the integrity of the box may fail the first time your dog accidentally sits on it.

3. Scour your local antique shops for a wooden crate that suits your style. It needs a top, obviously, but having a bottom is optional. Our crate is 26 inches by 13 inches and 9 inches tall.

4. We leave ours unpainted, but I recommend protecting the wood with a clear sealer. Auggie is a slobbery dog, and protecting the wood against water damage will keep it looking good.

5. Measure the inside diameter of the bowls and make paper templates. Lay the templates on your crate until the layout is symmetrical. Trace the templates onto your crate top.

6. Use a wood drill to make a hole inside the area that will hold the bowls. This hole will be a starter place for the jig saw blade.

7. Use a jig saw to cut out the holes. I once used a handsaw to do this, and it took a couple hours. But if that’s all you have, it will work. Use what grandpa calls elbow grease. Once the holes are cut sand the crate and holes again to prevent any splinters for your pet.

8. I also put little protective feet on the bottom to keep the crate from scratching the wood floors. You can pick these up at your local hardware store.

9. If your box comes with a lid you can easily add hinges from your local hardware store to create a unit that acts as storage as well as a feeder.

10. Place your bowls in the feeder, fill with food and let your pets enjo

Dog Door Scratch Repair

Repairing awful looking door scratches is easier than you might think. After many hours of wasted research I realized I had a simple solution at my figertips. I found some cherry oak wood stain in my basement that worked perfectly with no sanding involved in the process. The smell was very strong and it took about 24 hours to dry but I love that it was an easy fix.

How To Paint Your Laminate Counters

I am not against having laminate counters. I do, however, dislike when they pretend to look like real stone. My bathroom vanity was too masculine for me so I decided to paint my counters. I looked up various ways to do this and this is how it worked for me.
First, start with a clean dry surface.

Sand the counter by hand or with an electric sander until it feels slightly rough. When I did this it didn't look different but I could feel the texture changing.

Next, tape the edges and cover fully with primer. I used two coats of all-purpose primer. You could also use spray can primer.

Then, roll on your desired paint color. I did three coats for a very even finish but two coats would have covered just fine. The very final step (I didn't photograph) is to spray on several layers of polyurethane. This will smell very bad. I used a fan to help circulate the air.