spring all year.

I love having fresh flowers in my apartment all year long.  While winter, low light, and my very steamy radiator (a blessing and a curse) wreak havoc on even the heartiest of bouquets, it's still so nice to come in, take off your boots, and count the open blooms.


During their annual 20/20 Home Cure, my good friends at Apartment Therapy (if you don't know, now you know) suggest picking up a fresh bunch every 10 days or so, it is so good for beating the winter blues.  I usually start by cleaning my entire apartment, opening all of the windows (even in the winter) and finishing the day with a fresh vase of flowers on my desk or coffee table.  This week's beauties are on my desk- I needed a little motivation for all of the time I'll be spending here this week :) 

Extending the Life of your Fresh Flowers

Materials

• Fresh flowers of your choice
• Vase or vessel of your choice
• Dish soap
• Bleach and/or white vinegar
• White granulated sugar

Tools

• Good sharp clippers or a sharp knife
• Garden gloves

Instructions

1. Before you get started, make sure your vase or vessel is super clean, to avoid any bacteria that might seep into the water. Soak your vase with dish soap and hot water, then use white vinegar or a bit of bleach to wipe out the insides.

2. Add a teaspoon or two of sugar and a couple of teaspoons of bleach to your vase, then add tepid water (unless you are using bulb flowers, like hyacinths or tulips, which need cold water). The sugar's carbohydrates feed the stems, and the bleach helps keep the water bacteria-free.

3. Remove any foliage from the stem so that no leaves will be submerged in the water. Leaves in the water will break down and cause bacteria to form.

4. Trim the end of each stem at a 45-degree angle and submerge immediately in water. (Leaving the stems out of water after they're cut allows air pockets to form which can later block the path of water into the stem.) Some florists recommend cutting the stems underwater, but this is rather unwieldy, and I'm not sure it really makes much of a difference.

5. If you're adding branches to your arrangement, use your sharp knife to strip the bark from the end of the branch. This exposes the capillaries of the branch to the water, allowing it to soak up as much as possible.

6. When you're arranging, try not to jam too many flowers into the vase. Overcrowded stems will wilt more quickly and release more bacteria into the water.

7. Keep your floral arrangements out of direct sunlight if possible, and always pluck out any wilted stems to keep the rest of the flowers looking fresh.

8. Change the water in your bouquet and give the stems a fresh angled cut at least every other day.

Time to pluck a few leaves,

anesha

my winter list.

Working in the hospitality industry has its perks.  In Chicago's blustery winter months hotels and restaurants come to a standstill, creating a month-long snow day for all of us worker bees.  While many of my hotel friends seek temporary employment in warmer places, I have committed myself to a stay-cation this year.  To stave off impending boredom (I cannot sit around for 30 days) I've put together a list of projects for my little home.

ONE
Every tiny apartment needs a focal wall.  My apartment has a ton of doorway spaces, which are great for creating a larger feel for my space, but terrible for defining spaces (living/sleeping/eating).  I'm committed to starting with a focal wall and then building my "rooms" around it.  Hopefully that will alleviate some of my cluttered clusters

TWO
I am willing to admit that I've been addicted to the same boring brown decor for years now, however with some very inspired help I am the proud owner of a kick-ass leather sofa that is begging for some complimentary decor.

my Living Area!

THREE
I haven't figured out where I'm supposed to put my bed.  I saw this sweet post on Apartment Therapy about building your bed into a closet space...it's really cute but I need to find a way to frame out more walls around it...Expedit anyone?

from Apartment Therapy

While the new school of thinking is all about open floor plans with all locations visible, I've tried it for a few months and I'm not in love with it.

Off to find my camera...


-Anesha

this is everything.

A year ago today I was sitting around my lovely Hyde Park apartment, enjoying all 600 square feet of hard wood floors and stainless steel, yeah, I know.  On the inside things were looking good, but just outside my front door things had taken a turn for the worse. I decided it was time to move on up to the north side (Buena Park) to a tiny ass apartment boutique studio apartment in a  mid-century high rise.

I'd like to use this space to keep track of all my small space decorating finds/cool stuff/whatever I find of interest and exchange tips/suggestions with other box dwellers out there.

I'm home,

anesha