Spark

Julia and Her Pots via Interior Design Magazine

While having a relaxing “mom movie” night watching Julie & Julia, I discovered not only the joy of cooking but the joy of the pegboard (don’t laugh). Towards the end of the movie, Julia Child is in her kitchen, hanging up her pots and pans. Her husband was outlining each piece so it would be easy and quick to re-hang in the correct place. EUREKA!

Why is that I have only seen pegboard in my fathers garage? After a bit of research, I realized I’m behind the times. Pegboard is offered in many different colors and mediums at hardware stores like  Home Depot. There are multiple applications for pegboard organization from the laundry room to the craft studio.

Here are a few ideas from Real Simple.

In your home office for scissors, pens, a clock, etc

In your laundry room for all those random necessities, 

In your closet to hols jewelry, handbags, belts, ties, etc

You can also keep your laundry room organized with custom laundry room shelving and cabinets for a change.

Pegboard can also be used as a decorative industrial looking wall treatment by painting it a contrasting color.  If you are one to move your artwork often (as I am prone to do), this will save your walls from all those pesky nail holes. Now you a free to arrange and rearrange as your heart desires! You can even hang children’s artwork, chalkboards, mirrors or small plants in wall pockets.

When installing pegboard, be sure to attach the pegboard in all four corners to small blocks of wood (approx 1″ x 2″) as this will ensure you have enough room for the hooks and shelves between the pegboard and wall. I love these these stylish options from Ikea. If a large pegboard is not your thing, try strips of pegboard  in a mud room or foyer with hooks to hold purses, keys and coats.

I hope you love this ingenious, inexpensive organizational tip as much as I do!

For those who have small dining and kitchen areas, I often suggest built-in banquette seating to maximize the space. A banquette allows you to carve out little dining nooks in oddly shaped rooms or to double the width of free space in rectangular rooms. The long bench seat is perfect for piling up the kids [...]

Remember that unmistakable smell of new crayons? And the tiny thrill of sharpening a brand new pencil and watching that yellow curl of wood slowly unravel? Even if you can’t go back to first grade, you can capture the nostalgia of your early school days through a few “learned” pieces of furniture, lighting and decorative [...]

The reality is that the floor is some parts of your home gets dirty . . . very dirty. But that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on a rug that makes a style statement for fear of ruining it with muddy paw prints and spilled wine. These eco-friendly rugs are made from [...]

This week’s blog is completely poached from the wonderful Austin garden designer/blogger Pam Penick. She regularly writes about Austin’s unique gardening opportunities and constraints with lots of imagery. Pam writes: I’m joining my colleagues at Garden Designers Roundtable today on the topic “Vertical.” Introducing vertical elements into the garden is a time-honored technique for bridging [...]

28 12 17.  Those are the lottery numbers I would pick today.  The numbers that would win me a giant jackpot.  A jackpot I would use to dial up  Leroy Street Studio (an architecture firm based in nyc) and say, “Get out your drafting boards kids!  Mama wants a new pad.” Enough words.  Pictures say [...]

So you’ve been following the series, dreaming of your highest and best design, getting a clear picture of the style that suits you best, and gathering up your inspirational images. Now it’s time for action! Get out and get your hands on the finest Austin has to offer… Visit Natural Gardener for pots, plants, water [...]

There’s something unexpected and delightful about a collection of little art. It can take the most boring corner of a hallway or tiny strip of wall and turn it into a little surprise.   Eng Gee Fan also known as Minifanfan is this weeks pick for me. Visit her wonderful website and you will find [...]