organize and simplify your life

My mom still has packs of paper doilies in her kitchen. She’s the queen of table presentation with her fabulous hors d’oeuvres, pastries, and cakes. Doilies always added that extra elegant touch to her table. Here are modern doilies with a twist, from online site Modern Twist. “How’d you like that line?” I particularly like the one that looks like caramel drizzled in a looped design. Reminds me of when I order molten lava chocolate cakes with ice cream and drizzled in caramel. Yum! Anyway, so these are great not only because they create great presentation, but they are durable, washable, and reusable.

DOILEEZ are available on modern-twist.com. Also use them for non-food decorating, see below.

I saved this photo and now can’t remember where I found it, but I just love this fabulous disco stair idea. Here’s an easy way to really make a statement with your staircase. I like the mix of the mirrored tiles against the wood rail and wall frame to the right, totally unexpected and fun. Edgy vs. classic decor, love it! I realize this post veers a little off topic for this blog but I just really liked it and wanted to post it for you. I’ll justify it by categorizing as a “simple” but fabulous idea.

Here’s a fun, whimsical idea along the same lines of yesterday’s post. Now please don’t do this to your grandmother’s beautiful heirloom china, but how many of us have hit up the garage and estate sales and purchased those retro 50s and 60s tea cups. I HAVE, and I still drink tea and coffee out of my big Crate & Barrel mugs. Saw these today on Apartment Therapy and wanted to share it because I just thought they were so darn cute!

I am more of a clean and contemporary decor style person, but I don’t like my place to feel cold or austere. I like to throw in ethnic and natural elements to soften a modern look. I could see these used in a modern kitchen as pendant lights over an island or bar to throw a little personality into the design yet they are simple enough to blend well with modern design.

Tea light pendants created by domestic-construction.com.

Before you buy that new decorative vase on impulse at Target, dig through your cabinets and see if you can maybe turn some servingware you never use into useful organizational and decorative objects.

I have two pieces of glass servingware from Crate & Barrel, featured in my lovely pictures. (Sidenote: I need to learn how to take better pictures of glassware with a flash - not much natural light in my place.) I worked there years ago and accumulated a ton of C&B stuff. I’ve since sold much of it in my move across country. It’s not that I don’t love my Crate & Barrel goods, cuz I do, I think they’re way better than Pottery Barn and better prices. I just needed to lighten my belongings.

I didn’t want to part with these two pieces, one, because I like them, and two, cuz I used them quite frequently when I used to entertain. I figured they would become useful again. So for the time being, since I’m not doing much entertaining I decided to pull them out and make other use out of them in my living room. The divided dish (top photo) I am currently using as a valet for random items. And the chip and dip (above) is displaying my collection of rocks from beaches around the world. I’m happy to finally have them out on display. (Another sidenote: natural materials are great for decorative accessories and free!)

My pics don’t really do them justice, but they look great and I’m quite happy I didn’t spend any money!

I recently posted (Part 1 and Part 2) on the DIY approach to scanning your old family 35mm slides. If you don’t mind spending the money and are not worried about shipping your slides, you might be interested in a few companies that will do all the hard work for you. Not only do these companies scan slides but they will also transfer Super 8mm films, old casettes, LPs, you name it. They are a one stop shop for converting your old analog treasures to the digital realm. You can also have them make extra copies for backup (highly recommend) and for gifts.

These two online companies were recommended here on Unclutterer.com.

Family Memories to DVD

The Photo Archival Company

If you’re a Costco member, check them out too. According to the Unclutterer article, Costco offers some transfer services as well.