OK! Now it is time to put everything together.

On Friday I took a break after assembling the 2 rectangles made out of shelf brackets. Now place one of the rectangles on the floor with the flat side up. This will be the base of your island.

You will be attaching the 4 legs (also shelf brackets) to this. Be sure that your 4 legs are the same length (about 2” less then you would like your final counter height to be).

Snug one leg base up against one outside corner of your rectangle base.  Bo...

A few weeks ago I found a butcher block top at the Crate and Barrel Outlet which had been part of an island that was damaged. I have always wanted more butcher block counter space (on a small island) but never found the right size at the right price for my small kitchen. The one I found was perfect at 42” by 21”.  The question then for me was, what should I do for a base?

I figured it out…and I don’t think anyone has anything like it.  You can do it too!

All you need are some nuts, ...

Remember the glossy white laminate shelves I found at Crate and Barrel Outlet for $7 each?  Well I added some rustic gnarly sandblasted grape wood legs and made one of them into a chic coffee table!

I find the juxtaposition of the slick white top with the grape wood branches very rich. I would place the table on either a dark ebony stained wood floor or a very light creamy white rug to help it stand out even more.

Here is how you can make your own:

Purchase at least 3 (that is what I used) an...

You can get a fast fresh new look for your home for under $100.  

One way to do it is a fresh coat of paint, but that’s not fast and can sometimes run more (depending on how large your room is)

The quickest way to do it is a few new throw pillows for your couch.  This can usually get pricey, but I have found some fabulous, colorful, beautifully handmade pillows at bargain prices.

 

Lily Belles Garden - Etsy

It’s quick, easy, a...

This is a bit of a detour from home furnishings, but I thought you might appreciate a little tip about one of the best used clothing stores in the Bay Area.

I was in San Francisco doing some interiors shopping for a client when I decided to swing by one of my favorite spots, Goodbyes on Sacramento Street in Presidio Heights. It never fails to disappoint. They have been in business for 19 years offering the best deals in men's and women’s designer apparel.

Goodbyes has two stores that sit ...

Remember the pair of old, tarnished, dirty, brass lamps I found at the Alameda Flea Market and Antiques Fair? I’ve finally had a chance to polish one up, and wow, it looks great!

Brass is quite easy to clean up.  While it looks almost new, the brass takes on a time-worn glow (patina) that you can’t find on new lamps.  Here’s how to do it:

First, make sure that your item is actually brass.  You can do this by testing a magnet on it.  If the magnet does not stick, it is brass.  If your ...

I thought that I would show you the progress on one of my clients bathroom renovations today. It’s always so exciting to be able to completely start over with something that you have been living with but wanting to change for a very long time. It’s even better if that space can become an escape to another world!

These are the before pictures of the small master bathroom:

  

The goal of this renovation was to make the space feel as open and light as possible and add a bit more room in the...

The Meadows that I am referring to is the charming little flower shop on College Avenue on the Berkeley/Rockridge border.

The owner of The Meadows since 1989 is Patrick Ansari. He works hard to run a sustainable business by supporting local farmers, providing flowers that are grown outdoors (not in hothouses that use more energy and resources which in turn make them more expensive as well), treating his flowers with care so they last longer, and of course taking care of his valuable staff.

P...

I have always wanted lots of counter space.  More specifically, cutting board space to slice and dice without the onions and garlic falling off the board and lodging between my toes and the tomato juice dripping over the edge.  

Despite having remodeled my kitchen 9 years ago with the achieved goal of lots more counter space (even putting in all under counter refrigerators so as not to lose that precious 30” of horizontal counter heaven), I still want...