After making this DIY bookshelf, the bf has been in the mood to build more things for our little apartment.  His most recent venture are kitchen shelves that we modeled after these West Elm wood shelves.  We were *this close* to buying those shelves at $79 a piece until Kyle decided to make a version of them himself.

So he bought a few slabs of wood, used the same stain as our bookshelf, and picked up a few cheap-o wall brackets at Ikea.  And now, we have 10x more storage in our kitchen!

To make these shelves, here’s what we used: 

Wood Shelves
3 – 8″ x 24″ red oak (or any other hard wood, custom cut at Home Depot)
1 Minwax wood conditioner (to prep before the stain)
1 Minwax wood stain in “dark walnut”

Wall Brackets
6 – Ikea Ekby Valter brackets, black (it comes with screws)

Screws
12 – #12 2″ screws (to screw into the wall)
6 – small screws (to screw into the wood)

Other tools
Extra fine sand paper, 220 (to sand the wood before staining)
Hand drill
Stud finder

You basically just sand and stain the wood, drill the brackets into the wall (preferably a stud, but if not, then use drywall anchors), line the shelves on top, and drill them into the brackets.  Voila!

I totally forgot to mention in my last post that this week will be a very light posting week for moi.  Emphasis on the very light.  It’s the busiest work week of the year for me, including one crazyyy weekend.  It’s all very fun and exciting, but I can’t wait to see you all again on Tuesday.  Shall we call it a date?

In the meantime, here are a few things that I would like more of in 2012:

• More black on black outfits:  So chic and classy.  Yes, please.
• More chickpeas: Hey, I really like chickpeas.  This year, I want to find more inventive recipes for them, like this cilantro lime chickpea salad.
• More rugs: My apartment is all wood floors and could really use a colorful rug here and there.  We only have one rug right now but I’d like one in each room.

Happy weekending and see you soon!

[Images via: 1 / 2 / 3]

Okay so having the flu is kind of the worst ever.  I haven’t left my little apartment since Thursday, my bed and I are now best friends, and I’ve eaten chicken soup for the past 4 days straight.  But guess what?  The bf took such great care of me!  He is a keeper sometimes.

Also, I really love ampersands.  As a lover of English grammar, I find them to be filled with such beautiful meaning.  You can take any two words, add an & in between them, and suddenly they are connected.  Joined together, linked, binded.  Like you & me.  Pulls at this English-major’s heart strings.  Also, they’re quite gorgeous, wouldn’t you agree?  In fact, I want them all over my house.

This ampersand print from Ampersand Design Studio is one of my favorites.  I love the pop of neon but the overall design is just so perfect.

Happy Monday!

[Image via Ampersand Design Studio]

This right here is my teeny tiny Christmas tree, photographed two ways.  I think the first way is my favorite.  Love the bokeh effect.  But seriously, how small is that tree??  It’s too adorable, I can’t take it!  Anyway, this week was literally the fastest week in recorded history.  So much stuff happening in my little life.  Also, I realized I’m really out of shape.  My office building had a fire drill on Tuesday and we had to walk down 18 flights of stairs…my legs are still sore.  COOL.  On a completely unrelated topic, here are a few things I’m loving this week:

• I wish I was eating this gourmet granola right this minute.
• These gift guides from Terrain…I literally want everything.
• Schoolhouse  Electric & Supply Co. = new favorite online store.
• These free holiday fonts.
• Again, all I crave are marshmallows.  Especially when they are homemade and in the shape of a snowflake.

PS – I finally made my Instagrams public!  You can follow me on Instagram at thestyleeater (sorry  I have no idea how to link to it).  When I signed up many moons ago, I didn’t realize it was a social platform.  And then when I did realize, it was too late, I was already the loser with no followers.  So I started to embrace the fact that I had zero followers.  Then Kyle convinced me that every Instagram account is public and I’m the only loser with a private account.  No longer!  I’m cool now.  Happy weekend!

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Kyle decided to build us a bookshelf.  Totally on a whim!  I like when he does things like that.  We used this DIY from The Brick House and absolutely loved the results.  Exactly the right level of industrial chic we were looking for.  Don’t ask why the wall is 2 different paint colors, though.  That’s the landlord’s fault.  I mean, 2 paint colors on one wall…really??

But back to the unit…we put a few things on the shelves for now but plan to add lots of flea market goods and old books as soon as possible.  Can’t wait until it’s all finished!

Now on to the “building” part.  I can’t really take credit for any of it, not gonna lie.  I took the photos and held a pipe every once in a while, but Kyle (the Tool Man Taylor…har har) did all the manual labor.  Full disclosure: this was NOT an easy project.  It took about 7 trips to Home Depot and lots of F bombs.  We put it together once, had to take it apart, and then put it together again.  But now that it’s up and attached to the wall, I couldn’t be happier with the results!

The full size of the bookshelf is 40″ wide by 92″ tall by 12″ deep.  In total, it cost us about $250 and 12 hours of labor (over the course of a week).

Here are the parts we use:
Pipe (1/2″ gas pipe)
4  - 18″
10 – 8″
2 – 10″
8 – 12″

Fittings
4 base flanges
10 tees
12 90º elbows

Wood Shelves
5 – 40″ x 12″ x 1″ pine (custom cut at Home Depot)

Wood Finishes
1 Minwax wood conditioner (to prep before the stain)
1 Minwax wood stain in “dark walnut”

Rustolem gloss spray paint (for the pipes)
1 – black

Screws
8 – #12 2.5″ wood screws (to screw into the wall)

Other tools
Prep All Spray (to clean the pipes before spray painting)
Extra fine sand paper, 220 (to sand the wood before staining)
7/8″ Hole Saw (to drill the holes into the wood)
Hand drill
Stud finder
Lots of brute strength (seriously, you need some muscle)

Important things to note:
+ Clean pipes thoroughly with soap and water and THEN with Prep All spray to get rid of the oil
+ Because studs are most commonly 16″ apart, make sure the holes you drill in the wood are either 16″ apart or 32″ apart (or 48″ apart, so on and so forth in multiples of 16 – ours are 32″ apart)
+ Again regarding studs, it’s super important to drill the unit’s top base flanges into studs for maximum support (which is why we made the wood holes 32″ apart)

If you would like a more complete set of directions, just email me and I would be happy to share!

•  I want to wrap all my presents in Anthropologie gift wrap – it’s so gorgeous!
• Debating whether or not to have/make a wreath this year, but this sweet DIY holiday wreath is definitely persuading me to create one.
• These refined rustic touches from Creature Comforts are right up my alley.
• This holiday inspiration from Odessa May Society is exactly what I needed to dive into the holiday season.
• Not gonna lie, this first birthday party makes me want to get on the baby train.  Sooo ridiculously cute.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend – oh and Happy December!  WHAT?  I can’t believe it’s almost 2012.  This year has flown byyyyyyy.

• My obsession with ankle boots is as strong as ever.  With that said, I’ll take these…and these.
• Pinterest is still my favorite hobby.  Come check out my latest outfit obsessions.
• This art print is on my wishlist.  Love the bursts of color.
• I’m smitten with Sarah Yates blog lately.  Her photography is beyond amazing, plus she has a sweet pup.
• This weekend I want to see “Like Crazy,” go to brunch (typical), and find the perfect crew neck sweater.  Maybe some laziness in between!  What are your plans?

Thanks so much for the sweet comments on my hair tutorial!  I heart you.  Here are three things I’m particularly smitten with in this very moment:

// This wintery gray outfit on the cutest darn little Dutch girl I’ve ever seen!  Oh and can I have some of those autumn leaves? Aaaand the Isabel Marants?

// This mid-century modern living room found in the pages of Dwell.  I guess I’m not the only one who loves it – I see a comment from my lover boy, Kyle, on that link!  We like what we like.

// This roasted carrot and avocado salad with lemon and orange dressing.  That Jamie Oliver is one talented chef.  Plus, I will eat anything that has carrots in it.  And avocados.  And lemon.  And orange.  I guess it’s a match made in heaven.

[Photos: 1 / 2 / 3]

Happy Friday!!  This week has seen a drastic change in Los Angeles weather.  LOVING.  IT.  Cooler temps mean warmer clothes and layers, pumpkin-flavored desserts, scarves and oversized sweaters, seasonal soup recipes…I could go on and on!  It’s my favorite time of the year so I’m enjoying every minute of it.  Also, today is one of my best friends’ birthdays!  Happy birthday Sarah Jayne, sending so much love all the way across the United States.  In addition to Sarita’s birthday, here are a few things I’m loving this week:

• Can you believe the J. Crew discount right now??  25% off orders of $150+ through Sunday.  These kind of discounts come around once in a lifetime.  I couldn’t be more excited!
• The newly launched Besotted Brand paper goods and stamps are as beautiful as they are chic.  Can’t wait to add a few sweet things to my ever growing stationary collection.
• This chocolate chip cookie recipe (found on Cup of Jo) looks BEYOND delicious.  Need to test drive them immediately.
• My love for delicate rings is as strong as ever and these Gabriela Artigas rings could not possibly be more gorgeous.
• This weekend, my cousin Kayla is teaching me how to knit.  I’ve been dying to learn, but is knitting really hard??  I’ve literally never done it before so this will be a very new experience for me.  Excited!

Have a wonderful & relaxing weekend, lovelies.

Do you guys watch NBC’s Parks & Recreation?  It’s one of my absolute favorites!  Leslie Knope and crew can do no wrong in my eyes.  In last week’s episode, Tom (Aziz Ansari) and Donna had their annual “Treat Yo Self” day, where they spent the entire day spoiling themselves with goodies, clothes, and massages (ex. head-to-toe cashmere for Tom).

So today, I thought I would treat myself (virtually, of course…I’m poor right now) with a few things that I’m loving as of late.  From Alexander Wang to Rag & Bone,  Madewell to Bauble Bar, these are a few items on Janelle’s TREAT YO SELF 2011:

sweater // bra // hat // boots // skirt
blanket // necklace // salt & pepper cellars
napkin // satchel // print // wall hooks