February 28, 2013

10 Modern Cribs Under $400

For our baby’s nursery, I’ve been in search of a modern-ish looking crib, something with clean straight lines and a simple design.  (You can check out my nursery inspiration mood board here.)  However, I've had trouble finding a modern crib that’s both affordable and not over the top wacky-modern looking.  If you Google “modern nursery cribs” you can find several online stores that specialize in modern nursery furniture.  The problem is, many of their cribs will run you well over $1,000, with most costing at least $600.  There’s nothing wrong with splurging on a pricey crib if it will make you happy and you can afford it, but I’m looking for something less expensive.  As long as the crib is comfy and safe, I think my baby will be just as happy snoozing and pooping in a crib with a lower price tag! 

In my crib research, I found 10 modern looking cribs priced under $400, even including several under $200 crib options.  Here they are, in no particular order:

modern-cribs

1.  Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib – Amazon $299
2.  Baby Mod ParkLane 3-in-1 Convertible Crib – Walmart $300
3.  Child Craft London Stationary Crib – Walmart $180
4.  Sorelle Commuter Crib – Walmart $358
5.  Ikea Sundvik Crib – Ikea $119


modern-nursery-cribs-under-400

6.  Babyletto Mercer 3-in-1 Convertible Crib – Amazon $339
7.  Baby Mod Olivia 3-in-1 Convertible Crib – Walmart $300
8.  Ikea Gulliver Crib – Ikea $100
9.  Baby Mod Modena 3-in-1 Convertible Crib – Walmart $199
10. Babyletto Modo 3-in-1 Convertible Crib – Amazon $351


There are some cute options!  I like all of these cribs, but for the nursery I’ve been planning, I  think I like cribs #2, #4, and #7 the best.

However, if none of these cribs are modern looking enough for your taste, I stumbled across this one:

modern-lucite-crib
It’s a lucite crib which costs $3,750!  I’m sure someone out there has this crib in a nursery that cost more than my entire house, but I’m struggling to understand several things with the above image.  Aside from the price and the lucite material, it kinda looks like a fish tank, plus it’s filled with bouncy balls!  Now I haven’t taken any parenting classes, but I’m pretty sure a crib full of bouncy balls is a safety no-no.  Add in the creepy head statue on the dresser, and my mind is boggled about the kind of baby who would live in this room!

So what do you think-  Are modern looking cribs for you?  Any other affordable modern crib suggestions that weren’t on my list?  And what about the lucite crib, work of art or craziness?

February 27, 2013

Gold Painted Corkboard

It’s Pinterest challenge time!  Today, I’m joining in on the Pinterest challenge put together by Young House Love, Bower Power, Decor and the Dog, and The Remodeled Life in which we actually MAKE a project inspired by something we pinned on Pinterest.  I took today’s challenge quite literally as I made something perfect for “pinning” – an updated corkboard!

My husband had a standard boring corkboard hanging near his desk in our home office (this is separate from the awesome, much girlier desk I have for myself).  The corkboard got the job done, but it’s surely nothing to brag about.

corkboard makeover

I decided to spice it up with some spray paint thanks to some inspiration I found on Pinterest. The first pin (found here, originally from Ballard Designs) gave me the idea to transform a regular bulletin board into something prettier, and the second pin (found here, from The Happy Home) gave me the idea to paint it.

Burlap CorkboardPainted Corkboard - The Happy Home


So I cleared off the corkboard and got to work spray painting it.  I first covered up the actual corkboard so I could start by spray painting the frame.  I used Rustoleum spray paint in “night tide.”  It was a can I had grabbed on clearance from Home Depot a while ago, but I hadn’t used before.  I thought the color would be more navy, but it ended up being more like a deep turquoise. 

spray paint corkboard

The nice thing about spray painting a corkboard is that I didn’t need to tape off the inside, I just used thumbtacks to keep my newspaper in place.  As a bonus, I spray painted the thumbtacks too so they would coordinate with the finished product.  Here’s how it looked when I was done painting the frame- better already!

spray painted cork board

Then I got to work on the actual corkboard.  I decided to spray paint gold stripes which gradually got wider.  I started off with about a 1 inch strip at the top and made each of the following strips about a quarter of an inch wider.  At the very bottom, I decided to add the word “work” for some added interest.  To make the letters, I pulled up some block letters on my computer screen and used it as a light box to trace the words onto a wide strip of painter’s tape.  Then I just cut them out with scissors and an exacto knife.  It was actually much easier to do than I thought it would be.

diy corkboard

Then it was time for the fun part, spray painting the whole thing gold.  I used Touch ‘n Tone spray paint (from Walmart for under $2) in “metallic gold.”  And here’s how this baby looks now:

spray painted gold corkboard

And now with some stuff on it.  You know, important work things, like pictures of my dog.

diy spray painted cork board

diy bulletin board

Much more glam!  Well…about as “glam” as a cork board can look in my opinion.  I like that the gold is subtle next to the original cork color, but it’s still colorful enough to add some shine and a fun look.  I really like how the word at the bottom turned out too.

diy painted corkboard

Since I had all of the supplies already at hand, this project cost me a whopping zero dollars and it didn’t cost me much time either.  The corkboard went from something I mostly didn’t notice to something that makes me happy when I look at it now!  Isn’t that the best, especially from a quick and free project?

DIY Painted Corkboard Before and After
Have you made any freebie updates to anything you own lately?  Are you also joining in on the Pinterest party today?

P.S. You can find my past Pinterest challenge projects here: Map Photo Frame, Gallery Wall, Photo Coasters, Summer Fun List Poster.

P.P.S. You can follow me on Pinterest here.


I'm also linking up this project to parties at Beneath My Heart, House of Hepworths, The Shabby Creek Cottage, We Are That Family, Beyond the Picket Fence, Someday Crafts, Katie's Nesting Spot, A Glimpse Inside, My Romantic Home, Finding Fabulous, If It's Not Baroque, Designed Decor, Shaken Together Life, Tatertots and Jello, Whipper Berry, Funky Junk Interiors, Serenity Now, Uncommon Designs, Home Stories AtoZ

February 22, 2013

Friday Faves

It’s Friday, yay!  It’s also time for another look at my favorite things from the past week, yay!

Check out this gorgeous waterfall pond from Oh My! Creative.  I would love to have something like this in my backyard, it’s beautiful and must be so relaxing.

DIY Waterfall Pond - Oh My Creative


How cute are these lollipop flowers that Oh Happy Day made from crepe paper, what a great idea.  A bouquet of these would be such a cute gift.

Lollipop Flowers - Oh Happy Day


My Clever Nest was very clever to make this decoupaged mirror from napkins!  What a cool way to spice up an ordinary mirror.

DIY Decoupaged Mirror - My Clever Nest


Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons whipped up fun Abe Lincoln pancakes with her boys.  She has several other clever presidential pancakes on her blog.

Lincoln Pancakes - Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons


In non-blog things, another one of my faves for this week is the Hunger Games Trilogy.  I know I’m behind on the times as this book came out a few years ago already, but I just finished it this week and loved it!

hungergames


So that’s what I’m loving this week.  Has anything caught your eye recently?  Any book recommendations now that I’m done reading the Hunger Games?