Wishing you all a wonderful Easter!
We have a nice 4 day long weekend here in Canada. I am looking forward to finishing off my two week spring break with a family weekend enjoying the amazing warm sunny weather we have had here!
Crate and Barrel: Now In Vancouver
As a long time fan of Crate and Barrel, I frequented their outlet when I lived in Virginia, I was thrilled to find out they were opening up here in Vancouver!!!!
Lucky me was invited to the media preview last Wednesday.
Here are a few goodies that caught my eye. Please forgive the photos, I only had my iphone with me that day.
That rug is calling my name!
Crate and Barrel is now open.
Oakridge Center
Cambie and West 41st.
Vancouver.
Now I think they need to open an outlet near my house and all will be well.
XO Barbara
Get Your Panyl On: An Ikea Billy Hack
Recently I participated in the One Room Challenge, created by the uber DIY/ design blogger Linda from Calling It Home . Being a two time participant of the ORC as we insiders called it, or also called "A Kick in the Pants to Get that %$$# Room Finished That Has Been on the To-Do List for Several Years" Challenge. The ORC is a fun filled, nail biting, sweat and tears-filled challenge where 20 bloggers and/or designers work at re-vamping or renovating a room in 6 weeks.
The first time round, I re-vamped my living room. Being a bit of a frugalista I like to re-use and re-invent what I have. Our home is a bit of an Ikea showroom, and after being in the "know" I am attempting to re-vamp my Ikea furniture to look less Ikea-ish. So when I got an email in my inbox from Panyl, expressing their sadness that they missed out being part of the ORC Part I, I immediately emailed them back that they can wipe those tears, that lo and behold I was going to participate again in the ORC, this time finally finishing the games room I began 2 years ago!
Panyl, a fabulous product for us Ikea Hacker addicts, breathes new life and customizes Ikea furniture making it look less, "Ikea-ish" . Are you following me? Or has my rambling lost you?
Panyl also noticed my slight obsession with stripes and chevron. Really? Is it that noticeable? And would I like to be one of the first to try some new designs they were working on.
Stripes and chevron were dangled in front of my nose - shameless.
So, a plethora of samples were sent my way and I bravely went out of my red and black comfort zone and embraced emerald green!
Throughout the process, I was in contact with Dan and Tristam, two founders of Panyl who gave me top notch customer service, going out of their way to answer questions and to re-send my Panyl purchase via FedEx so it would arrive in time for my deadline. Thanks you two, it arrived less than 24 hrs! I was thoroughly impressed.
Never having tried Panyl but always curious, I was surprised at how condensed that package was in the mailing tube.
I wanted stripes and chevron, I had a plan. But was surprised when all I got was just green. My assumption was that is was a panel of Panyl with green and white stripes. But what they sell is a panel of Panyl (like the play on words?) cut into perfect stripes and chevron that you then peel and stick onto your furniture using a spacer.
Ahh, they just show the strips on a white bookcase. Mine is black. Oops. Oh-well. I was told I can get a white back for my bookcase, which I will next time I am at Ikea!
The funny part was I was taken aback that there were no directions. But silly me found them after I was done and when I was cleaning up. Somehow they ended up underneath everything!
Panyl has such a neat "stick". That is the best way I can describe it. It goes on so easily but can be removed to make adjustments and doesn't leave behind a residue or lose it's stickiness. When applied, it goes on so smooth, no wrinkle or bubbles. If there are any, they smooth out with a swipe of your hand and no creases are left behind.
What I did was remove everything from the bookcase and removed the back. But you don't have to. Panyl will cut the pieces to fit an already assembled bookcase!
It was so easy to apply using my spacer they provided.
I am itching to try Panyl again. This time I think I will go with faux woodgrain.
If you have tired Ikea furniture that need a lift - be sure to try Panyl!
Thanks Panyl for joining in the fun.
XO Barbara
PS. I was in no way compensated for this post. Panyl did provide me with product to try and review, the opinions are mine.
One Room Challenge : The Reveal
Phew!
Welcome to the final installment of the One Room Challenge, where 20 bloggers attempted to re-vamp, renovate and re-do a space in 6 weeks.
Did we do it? Be sure to visit the bloggers (links at the end of this post) so see if they did!
Want to see where I began? Pop over here.
Want to see where I began? Pop over here.
Did I manage to get it done?
Sort of.
I managed to tidy up the space, hang up a gallery wall, add pom-pom fringe to the drapes, sew a smallish pouf, shop the house for pillows and a vintage Coke bottle carrier turned tray, added Panyl to the back of my Billy bookcases and bought a small coffee table for the space.
My glitch?
I did not find a rug.
Cheapskate me hit Ikea in hopes of finding the perfect rug. I have champagne taste on a beer can budget. Hand tufted wool rugs were what caught my eye, but the price tags deterred me. All the cheapo rugs were, well...cheapo. I am a texture and fabric snob, couldn't bring polypropylene into my house.
So...
Sigh..... so no rug. Will keep looking.
But.....
My Panyl pieces arrived and were so easy to apply! Panyl is an amazing product, it has a really neat "stick" to it. If you don't like how you placed it, you can re-apply it. It goes on smooth, with no wrinkles or bubbles. I am excited to use it again!
The only downfall was I assumed the Panyl pieces were green and white, like they appeared on their website, and did not realize that those were strips of Panyl on a white bookcase with a white back. Had I known that I would have painted the back of my bookcase for more pop. I like the green, but green and white would have been better. So when the weather warms up, I am taking apart the bookcase again to paint the back and re-apply the green Panyl stripes.
The company was fabulous to work with, They even called me up to see if I was happy! Talk about customer service! Thanks PANYL for being part of this and supporting lil'ol blogger me :)
Ready to see the room?
Here are the sad before shots.
TA-DA!
A little bit of vampire romance...
Feels good to be done!
Check out the others!
Check out the others!
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