design spotlight: fire pits & tables

We've had some crazy weather here in Denver this spring, but Memorial Day weekend just makes me want to be outside. We've spent a lot of time sprucing up our yard this spring, especially focusing on the curb appeal - which we've been neglecting since we moved in 3 years ago. Although I love watching the world go by from the front porch, the hubby prefers the privacy of our backyard. So for his 30th birthday on Monday, I got him a fire pit table. 

I did quite a bit of research on fire pits and decided to go with a propane fueled fire-pit table. We have a small backyard, and the seating area is close to the house. When we've had fires in our fire pit the smoke requires us to shut all the windows and the back door. Plus, our little guy still requires attention sometimes during the night so I wanted something we could easily turn off when we're finished enjoying it. We also don't plan to be in this house for many more years, and therefore didn't want a built-in feature.

This table was within our budget and should hold up to the elements - we set it up Tuesday morning and then had hail storms 3 days in a row and there isn't a dent on it. I like that it has a cover that sits flush with the rest of the table so you can use the entire surface when the flame isn't lit. Also, the propane tank and switches are hidden behind a latched door in the base that's a little tricky to open - perfect to keep out one small curious boy. We had a little weekend getaway in Beaver Creek this weekend and came back to perfect weather to enjoy our new fire table!

Here is the table with the cover on it, a perfect outdoor dining surface.

The large fire surface created lots of warmth but leaves plenty of table surface for plates and drinks.

Check out a few other fire features that inspired me:

This built-in fire pit is so welcoming with the bench and chairs. Perfect for grown-ups and kids to enjoy some s'mores!
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For something more permanent, an outdoor fireplace is a great way to create a gathering space outside.
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I love how natural this fire pit looks and the long bench allows for many more people to enjoy it.
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This fire bowl fits nicely on this balcony and adds to the nautical feel. How I'd love to have breakfast here in the morning!
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A fire pit table is perfect for this mountain retreat.
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design crush: freestanding bath tubs

We recently started giving baby Alexander baths in our bathtub instead of the kitchen sink. He didn't hate bath time, but he never really loved it so we were nervous about changing the location on him. Well, we shouldn't have been worried, because he LOVED it! Within minutes he was squealing and splashing and playing with his bath toys. It reminded me that I've never used the bathtub in our house. I know it's crazy, but I just never really made time for it. 

Now that we're giving him baths in the tub, it has me daydreaming of a private tub in our master that I could soak in and forget the stress of the day. The possibilities for bath tubs are endless, but I'm currently crushing on freestanding tubs. A freestanding tub serves as a beautiful focal point of a bathroom and just begs you to take a soak. It also opens up opportunities for so many different styles. Here are some neat alternatives to the classic white claw-foot tub that will have you daydreaming too.

Here's a perfect example of a freestanding tub stealing the show. A bonus for copper tubs? They retain heat to keep you soaking in comfort even longer.
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This modern tub is the only piece in this small room, allowing for the view to be the only focus when bathing.
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This bathroom is large enough to accommodate its own wet room with the freestanding tub inside. A wet room is a great way to contain water splashes and keep the marble flooring from becoming a slipping hazard.
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I love how the drapery frames not only the window, but the tub as well.
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How neat is this wooden tub? It makes a great statement and warms up this cool teal bathroom.
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I love how feminine this bathroom is and the freestanding tub only adds to that. I could just picture myself reading a romance novel with a glass of wine while soaking in this bathroom.
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In my dream house we will have a gorgeous freestanding tub, but for now, this little guy is happy soaking in the one we do have!

design spotlight: barn doors

I'm finally back! I took a much needed break from Sunlight & Sparkle to focus on being a mommy and learning to balance baby, school, and work. I haven't been dormant when it comes to design, in fact, quite the opposite. I just haven't made the time to document any of that work here. But that's about to change!

One of my favorite classes thus far in the design program has been my space planning class. It's so easy to get swept up in the excitement of shopping for furniture and items to fill a room, but to make the best use out of a space, you need to look at the size and arrangement of those pieces. 

I live in a neighborhood of Denver where the houses are one-hundred-years-old, and quite small. So space planning is critical if you want to have circulation within the tiny rooms. Many of the rooms in these homes have doors to separate them from other parts of the house. This can be great, but a door swing takes up quite a bit of space in a 1,000 square foot home. Pocket doors can be a great solution, but they require thick walls and demolition to install. Barn doors are a great alternative!

Barn doors have become extremely popular, and for good reason. First, they don't require additional floor space to open. They also provide visual interest to a room. They don't require extra thick walls like pocket doors, and barn doors can even be installed by a skilled DIY'er. And the best part, barn doors are evolving to fit more styles than your standard country farmhouse. 

I love how this classic barn door adds texture and warmth to this cozy country space
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this barn door doesn't separate a room, but functions as a clever way to conceal an office nook when not in use
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these "French" barn doors are a great solution if wall space is limited, they even tuck in nicely behind the cabinet and countertop
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I love the use of these sliding barn doors to cover the TV when not in use
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barn doors are a wonderful way to add color to a room
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Converting an old standard door to a sliding barn door is a wonderful way to repurpose it.
Here you can see a standard door swing would not have fit, but adding sliding hardware allows for the necessary privacy
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a contemporary barn door like this can divide a space but keep it feeling sophisticated and sleek
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these floor-to-ceiling lacquered barn doors feel ultra modern and wow in this space
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not looking for something flashy?
this barn door is painted white to seamlessly blend into the space, but offer a privacy option
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inspiration of the week: alternative chandeliers

One important design element that's often overlooked, is great lighting. And as you can guess by the title of this blog, my favorite type of lighting to shop for is a sparkly crystal chandelier. When I was designing our nursery, I spent a lot of time looking for a great chandelier that could work for a little boy's room. I didn't want something kitschy like an airplane or giant hot air balloon (although those can have their place). I ended up finding a whole world of alternative chandeliers outside of my beloved crystal fixtures. Here are some of the great pieces I found inspiring.

this chandelier is made from coconut beads and gives a wonderful earthy, fresh vibe to this dining space
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this unique chandelier has eighty hanging notes - thirty-one are printed with expressions of love in various languages, and the other forty-nine are left blank for the owner to add their own sentiments!
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I love how this turquoise chandelier adds a pop of color to an otherwise neutral space!
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we've all seen the mason jar chandeliers, here's a fun twist for a bar using alcohol bottles
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I realize this is treading the line towards a traditional crystal chandelier, but I couldn't help myself. I love the oversize scale of this fixture and the layers of the starburst.
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this modern geometric chandelier fits perfect in this neutral minimalist space
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I've seen a lot of chandeliers using candles, but I love the DIY nature of this version. Using a simple metal basket and some battery operated candles, you could make this farmhouse chandelier yourself.
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I couldn't feature a collection of chandeliers without including a birdcage chandelier. It's a great way to add an eclectic lighting element.
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here is the chandelier that ended my quest and will hopefully be featured soon in baby Alexander's nursery
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design crush: bunk rooms

I've been seeing a lot of cute "bunk rooms" lately and I have to say that I love the idea and thought I'd share my favorites for this installment of design crush. We all remember how much fun sleepovers were, so this is a clever way to be sleepover ready all the time. Although there's no replacement for a living room full of sleeping bags, this would be so much fun for family visits or holidays. And it's the great way to maximize sleeping space at a vacation home! Here are some of my favorite bunk room designs. 

perfect for a vacation home, this bunk room serves as the ideal kids den and keeps kids suitcases and toys corralled away from the main living area
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what could be more fun than a slide coming down from the top bunk?
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a bunk room doesn't have to utilize elaborate built-ins, this guest room is turned into a bunk room by selecting two beautiful bunk beds
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if you have the floor space, why not use full-size beds below with bunks on top for even more sleeping space?
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A basement is the perfect place to incorporate extra sleeping. Chances are the existing space is already setup for relaxing, and bunk beds can be tucked against one wall without taking up much space.
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A bunk room doesn't have to feel rustic or scream "children's area". This clean and contemporary design can fit into a more modern home seamlessly.
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love this nautical themed bunk room - perfect for a lake house!
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Last but not least, if you have the vertical space, this is a great way to put it to use. How fun is this extra tall ladder up to a third tier bunk loft?
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design tips: bookcase

Things have been a little exhausting here with the new baby, but we've managed to complete a few projects in our "down time." The first was painting the dressers in our bedroom. That project turned out to be the biggest DIY disaster ever. But we learned a lot and ended up with a great finished product - I'll post more on that later. 

The second project was updating our basement. We mounted the TV and moved some furniture around to give more space for the baby to crawl around. We desperately needed some storage for all of baby's things, so that meant a trip to Ikea. Let me tell you, Ikea with a new baby is no easy errand. But we found some great bookshelves to start our basement storage solution. Of course bookcases = styling dilemma. So I thought this would be a perfect theme for my next post. 

Here are some tips for styling a bookcase.

1. Work with what you have. 
This is the perfect place to display items you've been storing but didn't have a home. Great bookcases often house an eclectic mix of books and treasures. So look around your home and grab some items that need a place to live.

items like personal photographs, statues and magazines that you already have in your home are the perfect bookcase styling accessory
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2. Books.
Remove the jackets from books you already have. Chances are the spines are neutral and look great when stacked together on a shelf. Then alternate those books both vertically and horizontally for visual appeal.

stacking both vertical and horizontally help this eclectic mix of books feel cohesive and interesting
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3. Play with scale. 
Vary the size and shape of the objects on each shelf. 

the different sizes of the objects, books, pictures and treasures here make this bookshelf interesting to the eye
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4. Color. 
Look around your space and pinpoint your existing color pallet and bring those colors into the bookcase accessories. One or two dominant accessory colors can compliment a variety of books.

this bookcase uses the citron, pink and white from the surrounding space for a cohesive look
side note: Sarah M. Dorsey Designs is one of my FAVORITE design blogs! She has fantastic style and great DIY tips. Check out her blog via the link below.
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5. Texture.
Don't forget to vary the texture of the objects, as well as scale and color. 

the texture of the plant and accessories add visual interest to the books
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6. Pictures and Art.
Lean framed photos or artwork on each shelf and selectively cover some of the artwork with other objects for an organic look.

photos in black and white help add a personal touch to this bookcase
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what better place to display artwork that you've aquired?