I’m blessed to be able to work from home.

I own and operate a business that manages benefits for 153 individuals with disabilities. So it goes without saying that I need a designated office space in my house.

I really wish that I could have a home office that has a writing desk. You know – the ones that look like a chic table.

With nothing on it but a laptop. And some flowers. And maybe an antique ink well. And a cool chair to sit on.

No cords. No desk phone. No printer in sight.

What I wouldn’t give for a home office like that. So beautiful. So serene….

But hey, this is reality. Or at least it’s my reality.

So what about an office that needs lots of equipment? Like printers (yes – multiple printers!). And a document scanner. And filing cabinets.

Does it mean that it can’t be stylish?

Does it mean that I have to settle for an old gray metal desk that looks like it belongs on a battleship? And ugly filing cabinets?

I don’t think so.

This is my desk..

The legal size cabinets are metal. Yep, metal.

We added the base.

And painted them with chalk paint.

And distressed them.

And added nicer drawer pulls.

The top is a solid core luan door slab. (A slab comes without holes for knobs and hinges.)

We added molding around the edges.

And stained it.

And sprayed 3 coats of poly on it.

TIP: If you use a door for a desktop – be sure to use a solid core door. We used a hollow core door temporarily until we finished this. You can see it in the ‘before’ photo.

If you use a hollow door – you can tell it’s hollow. You can hear it when you write. You can hear it when you set your pen down. You can hear it when you touch the surface.

With a solid core door – it’s solid. Just like a desktop should be.

Ours is a 32 by 80 interior door. It’s perfect for a good-sized work surface. We installed a pull-out keyboard tray underneath for plenty of writing area above it.

DIY desk from filing cabinets

This home office is Bella approved!

So the room that I spend most of my day in has always been functional.

But now it’s stylish too.

Win – win!

We’ve been avid do-it-yourselfers since way before the internet was even a thing.  Or HGTV and the DIY Network.

Wow – that was a long time ago….

Fifteen years ago I started a different business that manages money for individuals with disabilities.  

So I sit at a computer all day.  And pay people’s bills and do bookkeeping.  

I really miss decorating.   

After 38 years in NorCal, we moved back to my hometown on the coast in Southern California.  

And bought my childhood home!

It’s a 1960s fixer with 1970s and 80s vibes.

Boy, is this going to be an adventure!

Yield: 6 servings
Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

1 16-ounce block extra-firm tofu, drained and pat dry1 tablespoon neutral-tasting oil1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon curry powder, divided2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided1 tablespoon ghee or butter1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced3 cloves garlic, grated1 teaspoon grated ginger1 13-ounce can full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk1 pound frozen, chopped spinach1 teaspoon granulated sugar1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper1/4 cup heavy cream or plain, non-Greek yogurt

For serving:

Steamed white rice

Lime wedges

Yield: 8-10 servings (as a side)
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

For the salad:
1 pound casarecce pasta (or any other short noodle, like fusilli or farfalle)1/2 teaspoon canola oil1/2 cup uncooked quinoa

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (more, as needed)

1 small head purple cabbage, thinly-shredded (about 1.5 pounds)2 tablespoons minced shallot1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegarTorn mint leaves, for garnishToasted sesame seeds, for garnish

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 1/2 tsp chili-garlic sauce (more to taste, depending on spice tolerance)
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 teaspoon mirin

Juice of one lime, plus 1 tsp lime zest

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Doors.

They give us privacy.

They give us security.

They’re necessary for the flow and function of our spaces.

And they can also add to the style of our home.

This is what the doors looked like when we bought my parent’s 1960s house:

They were a basic, builder-grade hollow core flat style door.

Definitely not very interesting but they served their purpose for 56 years!

We knew we wanted to replace them with something a little more decorative and fitting with the new style we’re going for.

We also wanted a classic interior door style that wouldn’t look outdated in a few years.

At first we looked at 3 panel doors. But we didn’t like the way the panels were so thin and flimsy.

Then we looked at other 5 panel doors. But we didn’t like the way the frames of the panels were just squared off pieces of wood.

Then we found these 5 panel solid core interior doors that were just right!

The flat panels are solid and there’s just a bit of detail on the surrounding pieces to give this painted interior door some character.

See how to make these pillow cases from a vintage linen tablecloth HERE

We just love the way they look and we love the style they add to every room in our house!

Read about this vintage wall mounted coat rack HERE

Here they are on the closet in our guest room

We did 4 of these bypass sliding closet doors for symmetry. They really look great in there!

See how to make this shower curtain from a linen sheet HERE

So choose your interior doors wisely.

Make sure they reflect the style and personality of your home.

And I think you’ll be happy with them for years to come!

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ProjectsKim SmithSeptember 29, 2020fabrictissueboxcoverdiy, fabrictissueboxcover, covertissueboxwithfabric2 Comments About LifeKim SmithSeptember 22, 2020athingchipswithaspoon, eatingchips, silverspoonsinajar

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You know when you’re driving somewhere at night and you happen to go by a house that has a large window and the room is lit up and you can see inside? Do you look? Do you check it out?

Do you go on home tours? Do you enjoy magazine spreads and blogs and Instagram accounts that show interior spaces?

Me too!

There’s just something about seeing how other people live… What’s their style? How do they decorate their home? What ideas can I get from what they’ve done?

So in that spirit, I’m sharing my house with you. The rooms that are mostly done, that is.

You see, our remodel is a work in progress. We still have a long way to go. But for now, these are the rooms that we live in.

Let me know what you think!

PS Excuse the bare floors. We’re waiting until the house is completely done before we get rugs — so much dust!

ENTRY

Get tips on styling an open cabinet HERE

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Our fireplace isn’t finished yet!

See how we made this desk from filing cabinets HERE

OFFICE SITTING AREA

See how to reinvent a Target bookcase HERE

This is also my sewing space

See how to make these pillowcases from a vintage tablecloth HERE

Read about how to make an ivy topiary HERE

HERE are some tips for decorating white on white rooms

GUEST BATH

See this bathroom before and after HERE

See how to save big money on your bathroom remodel HERE

See how to DIY this framed bathroom mirror with lights HERE

See how to make these floating box shelves HERE

LOREN’S BEDROOM

See how we refinished this table HERE

See the story about the TV cabinet HERE

I hope you enjoyed the tour!

We’re hoping to start back up on the remodel real soon. So I should have more to share in the weeks to come.

I’ll keep you posted…

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Did you know that as we age, we actually need to work out more than we did when we were younger in order to keep from losing muscle? That hardly seems fair! Well I want to keep all the muscle I’ve got so I try to workout twice a week. And strength training also helps to prevent and even reverse bone loss!

This is my favorite workout video. You feel like you’re working out with a couple of friends! You can follow along with Jessica for a higher level workout or follow along with her mom, Debbie for a less strenuous routine. There are three 35-minute sessions: Upper body focus, Lower body focus and Total body focus.

All the exercises are easy to do and the only equipment you need are hand weights and a mat.

Yield: 6 servingsPrep time: 5 minutesCook time: 45 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes

1 pound chicken breast, sliced into 1”-thick chunks2 teaspoons garlic powderKosher saltBlack pepper1 tablespoon canola oil1 pound small broccoli florets2 tablespoons unsalted butter1/2 cup finely diced onion3 cloves garlic, minced3 tablespoons all-purpose flour3/4 cup chicken stock1 3/4 cup heavy cream1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, plus more for garnish1 teaspoon maple syrup1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg1/4 teaspoon dry mustard1/2 lemon, zested and juiced1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

For serving:
Steamed white rice

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.

2. Place a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. While the skillet heats, toss the chicken with garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and a few twists of cracked black pepper. When the skillet is hot, add canola oil, swirling to coat. Add the seasoned chicken in one even layer and sear, uncovered and undisturbed, for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove to a 9×13 baking dish and reserve. (Note: The chicken likely will not be cooked through at this point, and that’s intentional! It’ll finish cooking in the oven.)

3. Add the broccoli florets to the hot skillet and sprinkle all over with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Add 1/2 cup of water to the skillet and immediately cover with a lid. Steam the broccoli for 3-4 minutes, just until bright green. Remove and add to the same baking dish with the seared chicken.

4. Discard any excess liquid from the skillet. Turn the heat to medium and add butter. Once the butter has melted, add the onion and garlic. Sauté until just translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add the flour to the onion and garlic mixture and sauté for 2 minutes more.

5. Slowly add the chicken stock to the onion, garlic, and flour mixture, stirring constantly. The resulting sauce will immediately thicken. Then add the heavy cream, stirring until completely incorporated. Add the thyme, maple syrup, nutmeg, dry mustard, and lemon zest to the sauce, and season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and more black pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer.

6. Allow the cream sauce to simmer over medium-low heat for 6-7 minutes, or until thickened to a consistency that’s just runnier than melted ice cream. Taste and adjust with additional salt as needed.

7. Carefully pour the cream sauce into the same baking dish as the chicken and broccoli, and use tongs to evenly coat all the ingredients. Combine the panko breadcrumbs and olive oil in a small bowl, then scatter over the top of the casserole.

8. Bake uncovered for 12-14 minutes, or until the casserole bubbles vigorously and the breadcrumbs are beginning to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes. Before serving, garnish with more black pepper, thyme, and a drizzle of lemon juice. Spoon over steamed white rice and devour while hot.

If you encountered any problems making this recipe — or, ya know, if you just really loved it — DM me on Instagram or email me with your comments or thoughts.

Yield: 4-5 servings
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighsKosher saltBlack pepper3 teaspoons olive oil, divided1 cup dried orzo1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced, fronds reserved for garnish

6 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken base (or: 6 cups chicken stock)

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

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I know there are rules for setting the table.

Knife and spoon on the right…

Fork and napkin on the left…

Glass on the right…

But sometimes I just like to shake things up

And do something a little…

Unexpected

So if you’d like to break away from the stuffy, formal table setting rules, I’ve got some ideas for you!

Here are some tips for setting a table that’s casual, fun and non-traditional:

I love the look of mismatched plates all used together.

I like using all white plates in different styles and patterns to give interest to my tablescape. I never buy more than 2 of the same pattern so I have lots of variety. My favorite place to find interesting dinner plates is HomeGoods but you can find them anywhere. And when you collect them over time, it’s really easy on the budget!

And I also mix it up with my silverware. I probably have over a dozen different patterns of silverware. I have some that belonged to my great-grandmother, my grandmother and my mom. And I have some that belonged to Mr. Redoux’s grandmother and mother. They’re all beautiful and special to me and I love using all of them!

2. CONTAIN THEM

There’s just something so much more fun and interesting about plates standing up in a vintage box than just stacked on the table or set at each place.

The same goes for the silverware. Use any kind of container you have on hand. Mason jars, jelly jars, vases, baskets, flower pots all can be fun vessels to hold silverware.

3. LEVELS

Varying heights will give your table lots of interest.

Use cake plates, inverted bowls, pedestals, even books to elevate dishes.

4. LAYERS

TIP: Not every serving dish on your table has to have food in it. Do you have a small square casserole with cobbler in it? Then layer it on an empty fluted pie dish and put it on a cake plate — instant decor! Think about different ways you can layer different pieces to make a special presentation.

5. TEXTURE

Texture always adds interest to a space and the same goes for your table. Make sure you have plenty of different textures in your tablescape to keep it interesting.

Here I added a vintage bucket. The paint-stained, rustic finish plays nicely against the glossy finishes of the plates and silverware. And the burlap table runner on top of the pine wood of the table also give off a rustic vibe that keeps everything feeling casual and informal.

6. NATURAL ELEMENTS

I always try to use as many natural elements as I can on my table. These pumpkins, squash and eucalyptus all add that touch of nature that grounds this tablescape and gives it a homey, comfortable feel that you just want to sit down and enjoy.

7. SHOP YOUR HOUSE

Look around your house for interesting things you can bring to the table.

Use things you have on hand like old wooden boxes, vintage buckets, baskets, jars, plate racks and other items that would add interest to your tablescape. Look in your yard for greenery and garden vegetables. Look in your fridge for fruit and veggies you could use. I think found and gathered objects make the best centerpieces!

So have fun and create a relaxed, unexpected table that welcomes your guests to gather and enjoy the meal.

And the company!

See this post HERE for Fall decorating ideas

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