Let's Get Organized!

Fall always inspires me to get my ducks in a row and organize! As much as I love Summer, I actually enjoy getting back into a routine when September rolls around. And these photos make me want to jump right into my projects!



Finding some sturdy baskets and bins are a good place to start. I love these, on sale right now at Pottery Barn:



And I also love the idea of finding some wooden crates (like these from Target) and painting them a fun color:




And oh to have shelves by the stairs in the basement! I might have to get right on that.

Easy, Yummy Granola

This is the best and easiest homemade granola recipe I've tried. It is so yummy on ice-cream, with yogurt or milk or even by itself. The recipe and photo are from Tiny Urban Kitchen (a great site!)I added sliced almonds, golden raisins and ground flax seeds to mine.

Homemade Granola
Prep time: 5 minutes
Bake time: 20-25 minutes
Cool time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups oats
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup vegetable oil
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1-2 T brown sugar (optional - if you like it sweeter)

Preheat oven to 350 °F.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until all the oats are somewhat wet. The whole mixture should be a bit clumpy and wet. If you like clusters, you can add a tiny splash of water (like 1-2 tsp) to help some of the oats stick together.

Spread out the mixture on a pan and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Halfway through baking, you can stir the granola around. It will smell wonderful as the honey begins to slowly caramelize.

The longer you bake the granola, the darker in color it will become. If you like your granola relatively lightly golden brown, remove it after 20 minutes. It may still seem kind of wet, but don't worry! It will harden as it cools. Definitely take it out before the honey burns (i.e. when "golden brown" has turned into "black"). I learned this the hard way! After 30 minutes in the oven a portion of my oats had turned brown/black! [Although, to be perfectly honest, I really like slightly burnt food, and I actually loved the slightly burnt sugar flavor in these oats. I ended up eating most of the not-yet-completely-burned-bits of this batch . . YUM!]

Let the granola cool. Stir it around a bit - it will dry up nice and crunchy.

Of course, once you've made the basic granola, you can stir in other add-ins like dried fruit, coconut slivers, chocolate chips, etc. I happen to be super picky when it comes to granola, and I actually like mine plain. If you want to add nuts or seeds, you should mix them in with the oats and honey before baking.

Coffee Table Books

Are a great way to accessorize your coffee and end tables and book shelves. Finding something you're passionate about (art, architecture, flowers, design) helps make it personal and it's always nice to have pretty pictures just waiting for you to browse through for inspiration. And right now, there's a great selection on One Kings Lane. When you sign up, enter my e-mail address (gmid@nc.rr.com) when asked who invited you and you'll receive a $10 credit. Hurry, this offer expires on midnight tonight. Happy Shopping!!

Wallpapered Closets

I love this image from Country Living! My mom shared it with me recently and it stuck with me. So fresh and organized! Even if you don't have the perfect spot for a closet office, I love the idea of wallpapering a closet.






And you can really be bold with the pattern or color, or both! Like these, from Walnut Paper, such a cute site!

Inspiration

I was blown away by the home of Melissa Warner of design firm Massuco Warner Miller, featured in (and on the cover) of House Beautiful's May issue. I dogeared it and keep thinking about her apartment and after drinking in every photo of their website, I am blown away and totally inspired by this design trio's talent. These are just a few random pictures of my favorite rooms they have designed. I think their use of color (and wallpaper) are very effective in bringing the space to life and filling it with personality. Enjoy browsing if you have a moment!

Design Personality

Do you prefer bright colors and accents?



Or more subdued hues, like taupes, whites and grays?




Some designers will ask to look in your closet when you begin working together to get a sense of your color and pattern preferences but I can honestly say that personally, I like a mix. I think a home or apartment with a rainbow of colors or too many accents looks contrived and feels exhausting. But a totally muted palette lacks personality and seems sterile. What is your design personality? It helps to consider this before hiring a professional designer.

*Images via Martha Stewart Living and accessories from Inside Avenue.

Hardware and Paint Combos

Painting a piece of furniture can be daunting! Choosing the right paint color and hardware and IF you're attempting the task yourself, figuring out how to do it, can take some time and consideration. I love the look of a painted chest of drawers. I think it can bring a tired, worn dresser to life. The hardware from Anthropolgie, below, is always fun and inspiring and I love Restoration Hardware's paint palette.