tink makes art

Last week, I helped friend, blogger, and stationary designer, Ellie Snow of Mint and Hello Tenfold, plan out her studio space at Golden Belt. The biggest design dilemmas were 1) providing a floor plan to open up the small space while creating several “areas,” 2) creating a space that functioned as an office, a store, and a meeting place for clients; and 3) assessing the dire need for additional storage.  Knowing heavy patterns and lots of color get old quickly, Ellie wanted to keep the space mostly neutral with slight nods to an existing red cabinet. To keep the budget low – and to add some fun personality! – DIY projects were welcomed.

The above photo was my design inspiration. See what design solutions I came up with and what furnishings I selected after the jump…

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How do you feel about bow ties for the ladies? Yay or Nay? If you’re thinking yay, here are a instructions on how to make one yourself (like the one above!), and below are instructions for how to tie a bow tie if you have a real one or some fabric! I like BIG ones like this, too!

Gemma Bowls by Crate & Barrel

Buy inexpensive, white porcelain or ceramic dishware, and use paint markers (specific to the material you are drawing on) to create your own designs: circles, lines, triangles, words!

via Lotta Jansdotter

It’s February! The month of L-O-V-E! Every weekday leading up to Valentine’s Day, I will share one post about something Valentine’s related from what to wear, what to give, what to eat, or what to say. Today’s post is a do-it-yourself paper flower via Green Wedding Shoes.

Get the full how-to here!

Add a splash of color to your kitchen by using acrylic paint to coat the handles of your wooden spoons! So clever. Not up for a DIY project at the moment? You can also buy these beauties at Milk Farm Road.

For only $10 a quart, chalkboard paint will go a long way both materially and creatively. In my old apartment, I painted one wall in the kitchen, which ended up being this fabulous work of art that evolved over time. I’ve also used it to paint the frame around a mirror to write encouraging statements like, “You look beautiful.”  Here are a few more ideas. The possibilities are endless…

herb labels via Pinterest

large, beautiful art piece via Middle Child Complex

pantry organization via Wit & Whistle

via Pinterest

via Pinterest
(a DIY project with electrical tape?)

via Pinterest
(another DIY project with electrical tape?)