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Laure Joliet

    How To Make Homemade Bubble Bath
    Soaking in a nice hot tub of bubbles at the end of the day is a small luxury that can make a big difference. If you make your own, you can choose what scents you want to soak in, and you have the advantage of knowing exactly what’s going on your skin. Also, it can a lot cheaper and just as luxurious as the fancy kinds. The key to a successful homemade bubble bath is to get a good mix of essential oils and the right amount of bubbles.
    Laure Joliet
    Sep 27, 2022
    7 Best Labels for Organizing Your Stuff
    This weekend our Spring Cleaning consisted of cleaning out the fridge, deep cleaning the kitchen and avoiding the space we call our bedroom closet. It’s become a catchall for things we’re not sure what to do with. Lampshades, framed art we haven’t hung yet, old duvets, and of course, clothes that we just don’t wear anymore. All of this cleaning and avoiding got us fantasizing about having clean rows of labeled boxes and jars with everything organized inside.
    Laure Joliet
    May 9, 2022
    20 Ways To Love Your Home
    While the weather turns a bit colder (only 80 today!) our thoughts turn to the Fall. We’re looking forward to more time spent indoors hosting and hanging out. BUt there are some things we’d like to get to to make our home feel that much more comfortable. Jump below for 20 ways to love your home (so it loves you back):1. Choose 10 things. And donate them, throw them away or repurpose them.
    Laure Joliet
    May 9, 2022
    Succulent School: 10 Hardy & Stylish Succulents For Home
    It’s no secret that we’re into succulents. They’re easy to take care of, cheap, easily propagate, don’t need much water and come in tons of beautiful colors and textures. Looking for some fresh succulent inspiration? Want to expand your succulent knowledge and find a new love? Discover our favorite succulents for ground and container planting after the jump. The beauty of succulents is that they can take full sun and can live in a container or in the ground.
    Laure Joliet
    Jul 18, 2020
    Kristen and Mike’s Mid Century Update (On a Budget)
    Name: Kristen James and Mike Dunn (with our two dachshunds, Conan and Gaudi)Location: Lakewood, CA Size: 815 SF Years lived in: 4 ½ When Kristen and Mike bought their 50’s era ‘stucco box’ what they saw was a whole lot of potential. Keeping a strict eye on their budget, they maximized their 815 square foot home by keeping rooms light and airy, adding a kit house in back for office space and planting an entire backyard oasis fit for Frank Sinatra himself.
    Laure Joliet
    Jul 17, 2020
    Small Bedroom Ideas: 5 Tips For Tiny Sleep Spaces
    Bedrooms are a place for resting, for reading, for getting down. And besides a bed and a lamp, there’s nothing else that must go into it. So there are a lot of options for how much or how little you want to incorporate. We’ve gone the route of keeping it simple with no artwork; just dark walls, patterned curtains and a white bed. But there are lots of options for packing style into a small space: 1.
    Laure Joliet
    Jul 16, 2020
    10 Inspiring Small Space Balcony Gardens
    A small balcony can be the best little hideaway as long as it isn’t just a forgotten chair and a dead plant or two. Yes even a really tiny outdoor space has the potential to be a refuge from the rest of the house, a place to start and end the day. Jump below for some of our favorites:1. Sandras Little Balcony Nook2. Small Balcony Idea: Line it With Fabric3. A Growing Canopy Balcony4. A Camouflaged Balcony5. Tiny Tokyo Garden6. Before and After: The Potted Balcony7.
    Laure Joliet
    Jul 16, 2020
    The 10 Best Nurseries in Los Angeles
    With the weather in LA going from hot to cool and drizzly, it’s a great time to start a garden, or revamp the one you’ve been neglecting, so, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite nurseries in LA. Some have a huge selection, some have guidance, some are totally inspiring, but all will help you get your garden into gear.• 1.
    Laure Joliet
    Jul 15, 2020
    The Best Grey Paint Colors
    image:6ce45112b9b117f474496593e9d6635025e0671b w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" It’s no secret that grey has become one of the most popular neutrals over the last couple of years. It’s got a little more warmth than white, but it isn’t in your face like a bright color. Plus, colors like turquoise look great against it. But, as we’ve found out first hand, it can be difficult to find the right shade.
    Laure Joliet
    Mar 23, 2020
    Restoring Naugahyde To A Shine
    We’re still in love with our Eames chairs and recently inherited a couple more that are covered in naugahyde. They’ve been sitting in storage for about 20 years and they’re dull and sad. We want them to look shiny and new like the picture above. Jump below for hot to restore them to their original lustre.Here’s our baby, a dull pink with water stains and sadness.
    Laure Joliet
    Dec 16, 2019
    How to Clean and Maintain Your Washer and Dryer
    A while back Abby and I got some tips from Danny Seo on how to be smarter about how we did laundry. He had some great simple (green) tips that we implemented right away. He also was one of the first to point out the importance of maintaining the machines so that your clothes get clean, the machines stay efficient and you get the most out of your investment.
    Laure Joliet
    Nov 19, 2019
    Best Plant Containers for Small Spaces
    Going vertical isn’t just for organization, try using wall-mounted and hanging plant containers to create a garden in a small space like a deck or a balcony:Using the walls and the spaces at eye level, you can create a garden in even the tiniest balcony or corner.
    Laure Joliet
    Jul 4, 2019
    House Call: Peggy’s White and Light
    Name: Peggy Wong of Blue Pool RoadLocation: Downtown Los Angeles, CASize: 800 square feetI met Peggy a couple of months ago at a blogger meet up in Venice. She was introduced to me as a former art director at Martha Stewart and she gave me her card for the company she’s started on her own, Blue Pool Road. When I got home and looked up her work, I was amazed: Light, simple, graphically subdued but in no way boring. Then I saw her house.
    Laure Joliet
    Jun 19, 2019
    5 Overlooked Plants That Can Survive In The (Almost) Dark
    Live without much natural light? These off-the-radar options are for you.
    Laure Joliet
    May 15, 2019
    How To Swap Out a Pendant Light
    We just moved into a new place and even though we’re renting, we wanted to swap out the pendant above the dining table for a nice upgrade we can take with us when we go. I was going to call an electrician until a friend mentioned that I ought to be able to handle it myself. So I did, and was a lot simpler than I expected!Materials:ScrewdriverWirecutters/strippers (or if you’re handy, a pair of scissors) 1. Turn off Electricity!2.
    Laure Joliet
    May 8, 2019
    Dealing With A Cat Who Pees All Over The House
    Once upon a time we were happy people, a family that lived harmoniously with a cat. Then we discovered hidden caches of pee: in the hamper, in trash cans, on quilts. Some members of the family wanted to banish said cat from the house, we refused and dedicated ourselves to solving the problem. Our kitty is a female so she wasn’t spraying the walls to mark her territory, she was just unloading her bladder on, normally, piles of soft things.
    Laure Joliet
    May 7, 2019
    3 Quick Ways to Clean Glass Vases
    Often times once we’ve gone to the trouble of buying flowers and arranging them in a beautiful vase, we’ll let them die there, becoming a different kind of bouquet. The only issue is that this can often mean that our vase has a residue left inside that can be hard to clean.The same goes for vintage glass containers we find in thrift stores that have residue or mineral deposits left behind. Here are our go-to ways for making them sparkle.1. Salt and Vinegar.
    Laure Joliet
    May 7, 2019
    5 Fragrant Plants for a Small Space
    When I visit my mom she puts me to work ‘dead-heading’ her lavender. As I trim away the dead blossoms the smell of lavender surrounds me and attracts quite a few bees. It reminds me how important scent is in a garden and what an integral experience it is to losing yourself in the outdoors. In a small space like a balcony or small deck, using plants that give off a scent can make the experience that much richer.
    Laure Joliet
    Mar 12, 2013
    How To Start a Plant Collection
    I have a lot of friends intimidated by the idea of having a garden. Maybe they think they’ll kill it all, maybe they think it’s too much work. But thinking of it simply as a collection of individual plants might make it more approachable. You can build small, you don’t have to invest much, and it’s fun to watch things grow. Start Small: Like any collection, the point isn’t to go out and buy the whole thing in a weekend.
    Laure Joliet
    May 2, 2012
    How To Flatten a Curling Cowhide
    Craigslist finds are what I live for. And this cowhide was one heck of a bargain. Except that the smaller ends keep curling up and I trip over them. I tried taping them down to the floor, I tried rearranging the cowhide so that the curling bits were under the sofa. Until I found out the easiest way to tame a curling cowhide.What You NeedMaterials:Cowhide2 rags (for absorbing water)pile of heavy booksspray bottlewater Instructions1. Lightly spray the top and underneath of the cowhide with water.
    Laure Joliet
    Feb 28, 2011
    Tips For Throwing a House Warming Party In a Small Space
    I recently moved (and finally got a sofa!) and am considering allowing people inside to see it, to mix and mingle and break in this new place. But it’s pretty small so it takes a little bit of strategy in addition to the normal prep for a housewarming. Jump below for some of the most useful tips I’ve come across.For a housewarming party in a small space I’m imagining some food, plenty to drink and lots of nice people.Clean up.
    Laure Joliet
    Jan 24, 2011
    Decorating with Antique Mirrors
    One indispensable item in any space is a good mirror. Not only does one expand a small space and reflect light, but depending on what you choose, a mirror can add character and flavor to a room. Walking around the flea market this weekend I saw all types of mirrors — from venetian to mid century to rustic. Jump below for some great ways to incorporate a vintage mirror into your decor.1. French Flea.
    Laure Joliet
    Sep 20, 2010
    5 Ways to Keep Love Letters & Sentimental Collections
    Some of the collections I keep are sentimental in nature and normally live in a box somewhere under the bed or high on a shelf in the closet. Among them are old love letters, ticket stubs, postcards, mementos from times gone past. And although I’ve gone through and chucked quite a lot, there are those things that I want to keep.• Frame Them.
    Laure Joliet
    Sep 17, 2010
    Jon & Tyke’s Modern Cabin
    Name: Tyke O’Brien and Jon LeaverLocation: Topanga Canyon, CaliforniaSize: 1,700 square feet — 2 bedrooms Years lived in: 3 — ownedWho else lives here? Our son, Monty (almost 2 year old) and our cat, Tiny. And there’s a coyote named Jeff who sometimes mills around outside. When we last saw Jon and Tyke in their Topanga Canyon Casa it was cozy and warm, filled with wood and deep rich colors and patterns.
    Laure Joliet
    Aug 20, 2010
    Alisha’s Bright White Guest Cottage
    Name: Alisha, Graham & Finley Irwin Location: Fairfax, CA Size: 320 square foot studio cottage with loft Years lived in: newly built guest cottage behind our home Rented or Owned: owned When Alisha and her husband were ready to renovate their tiny guest house they decided on two things: to keep it as low impact and green as possible and to infuse it with their happy, bright, vintage style.
    Laure Joliet
    Jul 29, 2010
    How To Cultivate Rex Begonias
    One of the best things about moving earlier this year was getting a kitchen with plenty of natural light, but no actual direct sunlight. It makes it the perfect breeding ground for our favorite indoor plant: the Rex Begonia.We’ve been growing begonias from cuttings for years. Our very first came from Gramma (the begonia matriarch, if you will): a Rex Begonia that would flower its pink blossoms like clockwork.
    Laure Joliet
    May 26, 2010
    How To Make A Modern Beanbag Pouf
    Since it’s small spaces month, we wanted to feature a modern take on the lowly beanbag chair: a piece of furniture that is versatile and comfy, something that can do triple duty as an ottoman, a seat and a coffee table and something that doesn’t have to remind you of your dorm room or childhood rec room plus you can diy a simple version yourself.Yes, the lowly beanbag chair.
    Laure Joliet
    Apr 12, 2010
    Best Bins and Boxes For Open Storage
    In a small apartment you’re lucky to get one tiny closet (and if you’ve got any kind of linen closet, congratulations). Sure, you can purge all non essentials but that will only get you so far. For everything else, let pretty looking (and uniform!) boxes and bins help organize your things right out in the open.This tip was inspired by Chez Larsson who urged us all to buy storage in bulk and all in the same color and style.
    Laure Joliet
    Apr 5, 2010
    Lighting A Match and Other Bathroom Etiquette
    According to a rep from the Emily Post Institute it’s no joke that so-called ‘small nuissances’ like stubble left in the sink or bathtub, a loose toothpaste cap and wet towels on the floor really can build up and lead to major quarrels between housemates and couples.
    Laure Joliet
    Mar 29, 2010
    How To Care For Teak Furniture
    A couple of years ago I inherited the Danish modern credenza that had been sitting in my grandmother’s living room for at least my entire life. She took incredible care of it and so I’ve tried to do the same. This means dusting, coasters and frequent oiling: Materials Unwaxed Teak Furniture Teak Oil Dusting rag Oiling Rag Well ventilated area 1. Dust: With a damp (not wet!) cloth, dust the piece of furniture so that you get every bit of dust off of it.
    Laure Joliet
    Feb 24, 2010
    How To Prevent Break Ins
    We recently moved from a 3rd floor apartment to a ground floor house. And before any of the neighbors had a chance to introduce themselves, we had a different kind of welcome, we were burglarized. It was the first time either of us had been broken into and it definitely gave us a scare.We wondered who it was, how they did it and if they were going to come back for more.
    Laure Joliet
    Feb 8, 2010
    5 Useful DIY Gift Ideas
    image:63725260473ae45e80f674d69ce7f20dfe3d8a83 w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" This year we’re giving simple gifts so that we have more time to actually spend with people. And the gifts we’re DIYing? They’re all easy, simple and practical.1.
    Laure Joliet
    Dec 7, 2009
    Corey’s Converted Barn
    Name: Corey James GashLocation: Orange County, CaliforniaSize: 700 square feet, plus 220 square feetYears lived in: 8 months Corey’s the kind of guy that can figure out how to do almost anything. Not only does he love to figure out creative ways to solve problems, but he’s really good at it. Case in point, he turned a dilapidated barn into a modern home almost completely on his own using skills he already had plus a little help from Google.
    Laure Joliet
    Nov 6, 2009
    The Best Ways To Rid The Apartment of Ants
    It must be the late summer heat here in sunny LA that’s made the city’s ant population decide to make a railway line right through our apartment. Doesn’t seem to be an issue that we’re on the third floor:Yes millions of ants have decided that the best shortcut to wherever they’re finding food is our apartment. We thought it was the trash and removed it.
    Laure Joliet
    Oct 1, 2009
    Genevieve and Maxwell’s Mid Century Perch
    Name: Genevieve & Maxwell’s Poorgeoisie BungalowLocation: Silver LakeSize: 900 sq. feetYears lived in: Genevieve – 3 years. Maxwell – 1 yearWho else lives here? Lucy, our Pit-Lab mix. Sometimes you seek out house tours and sometimes house tours come to you. In the case of Maxwell and Genevieve’s Silver Lake abode, we discovered it when we showed up to buy some mid century chairs we’d spied on craigslist.
    Laure Joliet
    Aug 28, 2009
    Annette’s Modern DIY Outdoor Planter
    We’re fans of any DIY that is simple, has great impact and uses supplies that are easily findable. So when we saw this great modern planter idea filled with easy to grow succulents we were intrigued. When we heard how simple it is to put together, especially in a small space like a back patio or deck, we were sold.
    Laure Joliet
    Aug 20, 2009