Kitchen counters finally

Kitchen counters finally, a photo by aliciadesign on Flickr.

Here is an in progress shot of our new laminate counter tops. I am ecstatic.
More done photos soon.

3512 Metal Earth | Formica | California Street House

3512 Metal Earth | Formica | California Street House, a photo by aliciadesign on Flickr.

New Laminate Countertops

photo, a photo by aliciadesign on Flickr.

Brad has been busy creating new laminate counter tops for us. Can I just tell you I am so thrilled. I can't wait to get rid of the makeshift white vinyl on plywood counters that I have had for the last couple of years... More photos to come.

Spa Surround Modern Fence

Spa Surround Modern Fence, a photo by aliciadesign on Flickr.

We updated the back yard by moving the spa. We also shortened the dog run and built a new gate. Our plan is to continue the new style of fencing behind the spa. And also build another matching gate on the other side of the dog run. I also want to put an out door bed attached to the spa....

Taking down the lattice cage

Well the rest of our lattice cage has come down. We are in the mood to change up our back yard and give it a more of a cohesive look. The yard used to be divided up into four sections. We have taken down the inner fences and are refiguring out ways to create better landscaping. We have a lot of wonderful plants that I want to rearrange and thin out a bit so our yard isn't quite so jungly.

Painting the back of the house will also be much easier now that all that wood is removed. I have started gathering ideas of things to do in the back yard here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliciahanson/sets/72157625874478445/ I also want to paint the studio to match that house scheme and maybe add a cupola to he shed too.

I will post some of the ideas here as I start designing.

Hot tubs new location

photo
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

So we poured new concrete and we are shortening the dog run. We also ran concrete along the fence,so the dogs cannot dig under the fence. While we doing the concrete we decided to move the hot tub over to this location. Now we have to build the new fences and gates.

Last night we decided to move incorporate the outdoor bed into the hot tub area. The plan is to build a new outdoor bed next to the hot tub and the top of the hot tub will slide under the out door bed. We are also going to put new wood surrounding the bottom of the hot tub and out door bed, that matches what we do on new fence. I am super excited about the new plan. More to come.

Cleaning the jacuzzi

photo
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

When we bought the house it came with this jacuzzi. We have never used. We have decided to a new location and hook it up. Here I am cleaning it up.

We finished concrete

photo
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

All American Handy Woman Almost - Alicia Hanson

Well I tried out for HGTV's All American Handy-woman. Here is the web quality version of my audition. You can see me play with power tools. In case you were wondering in anticipation, I didn't make. Maybe I will try out for DesignStar, I like that show a lot.

I'll have to check out HGTV's All American Handyman. Here is the lineup. It is going to be starting soon.

Clean Bathroom Design

Came across this beautiful bathroom image this morning and wanted to share it. I am have been redesigning our master bath, so when we have the funds to execute it we are ready. I really like these sinks. Do you think the sinks really have no plumbing under neath visible? Maybe it is hidden behind the shelf. Love the tile on the wall too. Go to DWR for more info

Finishing concrete, now the dogs can't dig out.

Finishing concrete, now the dogs can't dig out.
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

Today we finally christened the concrete mixer we bought months ago. We are lining the edge of the dog run area with concrete, so the dogs cannot dig into the neighbors yard. We used 9 1/2 90 lbs bags of quik- crete today. We got just over half of the area done. We ran into a couple small hiccups. There are sprinkler lines near by that got hit with the shovel. So we had to patch pipes which slowed us down. But now we know. Next weekend we will tackle the other half. Wahoo. Glad to be working on the house.

Concrete it is a family event

Concrete it is a family event
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

Blustery California House

Blustery California House
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

It's is raining alot here right now.

Tiki my friends make. Want one??

Tiki my friends make. Want one??
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

My friends Dean & Madeira make a Ultra hip tiki fountain which is re-pop of this vintage Matson cruise line travel display. I was lucky enough to get one for my birthday. I have to get some power over to it so I can hook the fountain part up.
I love it.

Tiki Surf Bathroom with new wall paper

Well my friend Marie, came over and helped me wall paper the Tiki bathroom. I had never wallpapered, so I sought the advice of my Crafty Aunty Jane. She gave me some great pointers. Such as plan out where you end to be in a discreet location incase your pattern doesn't line up exactly. I planed mine to be in the door corner. The job went fairly well. I purchased the wallpaper rolls from Hula Beach in San Clemente. I had one small snafu with the paper one of the rolls when I rolled it out, the ink had stuck to the back of the paper so the print had lifted. I called Hula Beach and was able to switch out the roll for another and was able to finish the job.
I also accidently touched my arm to one of the vanity light bulbs and burnt the heck out of my arm. I couldn't believe the bulb was that hot. The burn blister is still healing.

My garden is growing..

My garden is growing..
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

The plants are growing not super fast but at a steady rate. I have gotten 3 Zucchinis, quite a few strawberries and the basil is thriving. I am hopeful for the butternut squash and rhubarb...

All the Kitchen Cabinets are in.....Hooray!!

Well we have finally been able to purchase the last few Ikea cabinets we were missing. So all the cabinets are assembled and installed. I have so mjuch storage I haven't even come close to filling it. So now all that is left to do in the kitchen is the backsplash with Stardust tile and the counter tops... The last cabinets to go in were the big daddy over refrigerator, two 30" drawer units and we added 2 more pantry style cabinets on either side of the 1 pantry we already had. I am so pleased with all the useable space.

Tropical paradise

Tropical paradise
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

All the plants are going full force right now......

Greenery for the Tiki Bath

This past weekend I was showing my Dad and Stepmom around the area and we visited quite a few local shops. Since my guests shared my interest for Hawaiiana we visited the store Hula Beach in San Clemente. While perusing Hula Beach's lovely tropical decor I found something that I had been looking for. Tropical palm frond wall paper for the top of the walls in my tiki bath.

On a prior visit to the store I notice their back hallway had this cool wall paper called Urban Safari Green. They had graciously provided the name of it to me at the time, which I could not remember about 2 weeks ago when I was googling palm frond wall papers. To my delight, they now carried the wall paper. So I bought a couple rolls.

Since I am new to wallpapering I have asked the advice of my handy Aunt Jane in Texas. I am waiting for the perfect day to wallpaper. When I get this wallpaper up, I will get some pictures on the blog.

Modern Sofa Revamp

Well Brad's work has been a little slow, so we took the opportunity to get a few things done around the house.

We decided to re-upholster our sofa. This sofa was a gift from a client of Brad's up in Washington. They had the sofa in their basement, and were ready to part with it. We were getting our first place together and needed furniture. We loved the Danish modern look of the sofa. The former owners said that they got it from their parents who had bought it new. That was six+ years ago. When we got the sofa I knew I wanted to upholster it with a new color fabric. Overtime the brown actually grew on me. I always wanted a Charcoal gray. I liked the original texture of the original fabric. It seemed to really add to the subtle lines. About 7 months ago a neighbor down the street turned me on to a store in the area called UFO. Well after my first visit there I knew I had found upholstery heaven. The store has a wonderful selection of fabrics and trims. I scoured all the samples and decided on a George M Fabric called Quartz Charcoal. I bought 7 yards. I found ths chart after the fact but It seems quite helpful.

The process of actually covering the sofa went completely different from how I thought it would go. I pictured myself cutting pieces of the original fabric panels and then cutting new and sewing most of the pieces together and slipping the new pieces on to the sofa. Then making new cushions and covering those. Well when we started removin g the fabric, we realized that the sofa was upholstered as it was built. So we deconstructed the entire piece, documenting with photos the whole way. And then one more trip to UFO for more foam. Then we reconstructed the whole sofa with new foam in areas and the new fabric. I just love the way it turned out. On our second trip to UFO, we decided to do a headboard too. More on that soon.