Rad Covers - Complete!

This weekend marked the end of our (initial) rad cover project! You can see Part 1 here. It was finally warm enough that we could spray paint the metal grates outside in the garage. It was VERY wet/humid but the paint seemed to dry just fine (thank god...we couldn't bear waiting much longer to get these up!). 

The perforated metal was the hardest component to find at a good price. For those of you in Toronto, we ended up getting the metal at FerrierWire. They had the best price and did custom cuts (for just a bit extra). Let me tell you, that "extra" was well worth it.  We ended up paying $150 for all the metal we needed for the living room and dining room covers and having it custom cut (as opposed to $160 for just the metal, uncut from our first source). Their pieces are $113 for a 3'x8' piece (Rona sells pieces 3'x2' for $40 if you're looking for something smaller, and Danforth Lumber sells 3'x4' for $80. Neither cuts to size). The only potential downside is that Ferrier is only open Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm-ish, but we made it work.

We used MDF for the box and top, with some trim for the edges. 

Here's the stuff you've been waiting for - the before and afters:

This was our entry rad "during" the project, as posted in Rad Covers -Part 1

And...after!!

For this rad we used a wooden screen that we had hanging out in the garage so this was one of the first ones done.

Here is what our rads looked like before our project:

Now do you see why we were so keen on getting this project done?

Rad cover box, pre-screen

Attaching the screen was pretty easy - just a small screw that it can rest on when gravity does its thing.

And the final product... 

Ta-da!!

It's funny how such weird, seemingly background-ish projects can make such a huge difference. Now we're hooked and will likely do some for our bedrooms upstairs - it just looks SO much better!

Dabble Mag

It was a busy and productive weekend -- more on that later.

But first...

I was invited to the Dabble magazine launch! Maybe everyone was, but it's still exciting to me.  It's a new magazine by Kimberley Seldon - For more information on Kimberley, click here.

Here is Dabble's first issue:



Kimberley is one of my favourite contributors on CityLine (along with the Three Chefs - I went to Oliver&Bonacini Cafe Grill last night and had the Oven Baked Gnocchi with Slow Braised Veal - delicious!). The magazine has a focus on design, travel, and food.  Can you say 3 of my faves? 

Am I excited to attend the launch? Yes.

Do I know what I will wear? No idea.

Do I hope some of you out in blog-land will be atending so I can put a name to a face? I sure hope so! Let me know and hopefully we can connect as I plan on going solo.

Happy Monday indeed!

Friday faves

Well so much for my happy sunny thoughts! This weekend is supposed to be rainy. Slightly warmer, but very wet. We are hoping it will be warm enough (and have enough patchy dryness) to bring the perforated metal pieces for the rad covers out to the garage and spray paint them. This is seriously holding up the project. You are supposed to spray paint in temperatures between 10-25 degrees, in a well ventilated room of course.  Well Toronto temps in February and March don't quite meet the requirements but I'm hoping the predicted 6 degree Saturday forecast comes true so we can finally get them done! We did the coat of spray primer inside...really bad idea. Had to open all the windows and leave the house for a good hour after that one.

In an attempt to "honour" the rain, here are some Friday faves for a wet weekend.



Doesn't this remind you of looking out a car window in the rain?  That or every music video for every early 90's ballad. haha. Via Rain Embellished 

Umbrella built for two (I believe a VERY practical friend actually gave this to another friend for her move to Vancouver :) ) - via Glam Chic

London Fog via just bella - Christine over at just bella blogged about this on Wednesday and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since...

via

A good read would make for a perfect weekend. I just finished the Stieg Larrsson trilogy, and am onto a new book which I'm not too into. Any recommendations for good rainy day reading?  I hope to catch up on my new Style at Home, Real Simple, and Fashion magazines over the weekend.

via ipernity

Rainbows are everywhere in Hawaii, this one in particular is in Maui.

sigh.

Navy Navy Navy

Continuing my navy trend from yesterday, and still thinking positive, sunny, spring thoughts...here are some of my navy fashion inspirations. Don't they just scream fresh?



Tibi via ShopBop



via J.Crew

via Darling Dexter

via Anthropologie

via Nordstrom

Dear navy...

I'm starting to get into Dear Genevieve. Does anyone watch that? It happens to be on before Sarah 101. I remember first seeing Genevieve on TLC's Trading Spaces WAY back when!  But I am liking most of what she's doing on her show. Her designs come across as liveable and very tailored to the people she is working with.

Last night she did a navy dining room - I have a real love for navy going on. It's always been nice but I'm especially liking what I'm seeing lately both in fashion and at home...

via Life As It Is

via luxe + lillies



via Inspired Days



via DecorPad

via Home for the Better

101: cooks in the kitchen

Sarah101 focused on a kitchen this week! This is exciting as we are currently in no-man's land with regards to our kitchen. Not sure if we want to go to the trouble of doing a temporary fix of painting the cabinets only to actually renovate within the next couple of years.  Needless to say, anything kitchen grabs our attention these days.

In tonight's episode they kept the general layout of the kitchen the same (just repainted all the cabinetry).  The cabinetry was white and the island base a robin's egg blue. Nice fresh colour combo. The backsplash they chose had some pink and blue tones in it...I didn't like it up close, but in the end I thought it looked good when it was on the wall. One really clever idea they implemented was using stair treads as shelves in an open pass-through.  I am not crazy about the floor (multi-coloured large square tile pattern) but it brightens the kitchen up, which was one of their main goals. Another clever solution was to take a round mirror, knock the mirror out and put in a fabric-covered bulletin board. The round, oversized peice really worked in the kitchen.

Sarah and Tommy did a good mix of retro, antique and modern in this one without it becoming too "kitschy".