Baby Got Back (-splash)

Ok, I had to admit I could not resisting listening to the classic video of Sir Mix-a-lot featuring this song while writing this down.  Take note listening as I can't stand to watch it; too much wiggling going on hahaha.

Seriously though, we gave a lot of thought about our backsplash.  We almost gave up the whole idea of putting one and almost decided to just paint it white and just be content with the 1-2 inch granite extension from the counter top.  Though this option concerned me a lot since water and oil splatter can damage the paint easily.  

We also thought about using materials like stainless steel sheets all around but I thought it was too industrial for our style if used too much.  We decided it will just be used against stove and the range hood since it cleans easily and needs minimal maintenance.  We also considered faux red brick finish but it did not blend well with our counter and cabinet colors.  It might end up being too dark in the kitchen.  

So were were back to tile, I scoured the internet for options as I knew I did not want regular 20 x 30 tiles since we used a lot of those in the bathrooms.  

Was initially swaying towards mosaic tiles

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 ... but I was really concerned about it being too busy to that point that I might end up getting a headache if I kept seeing it everyday while working on breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Considered using glass like this one...

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Shiny - super check.  Promotes vanity - check ng malaking pink na ballpen! ("check using a big pink ballpen", gay lingo for "definitely yes").  So again really pretty but not workable for us.  We might end up primping instead of cooking!

Considered penny tile since I loved the DIY that they did at Young House Love.  However, one that really stuck to me was subway tile backsplash.  

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It was classic, had texture and pattern but not too busy that it will detract from the whole kitchen.  So off we went to Alabang Home Depot and Wilcon Home Depot to look for something like it preferably in white or light gray.   

Lo and behold, there are no subway tiles in the all of home depot-land!  So we ended up checking these out:

Right color, nice shiny accents but no stock.  Sadness.  Let's move on...

Penny tile!!!! The only color available.  Sadly it's more on the beigy side.  Not meant to be.  And hubby did not like the idea that it reminds him of crocodile or snake skin. So another "x".

I know I wanted to veer away from the local tile scene but I really liked this one!  It's 20 x 30 nexus white by Mariwasa.  If I only saw this during our bathroom tile hunt this would've been one of our picks.  I realized it also went well with our kitchen since the design color was in silver and light gold (so it goes with black or brown very neutral).  The pattern was a bit round and soft so in contrasts with the edginess of the cabinets and granite but not too girly and not too loud that it would clash with other appliances in the kitchen.  Definitely a contender.

This was the closest I could find that would closely resemble subway tile.  However, it is one 30 x 30 tile with smaller "tiles" as the design.  The pattern was really nice and with dark grout no one would know that these were not individual tiles.  However, the color of the tile was leaning towards ivory and I did not want that yellow undertone.  So I had to let it go.

Enter Teka Jet Gris Wall Tile.  This one was surprisingly found by hubby mounted against the wall (wall tile duh) while I was the busy one looking at everything that was laid out in stacks on the floor.  So yehey for hubby!

What we really loved about it was that it combined all the elements that we wanted in our options (ok except for the shiny glass part).  It did not look like a bath tile, it had texture, it was gray (some pieces had a bit of brown in them so it would still look good with brown - very neutral), it had a great pattern but won't make our head ache, the individual "tiles" were laid out horizontally (like subway tiles) and it was cheaper than mosaic.  Hubby also liked that even if the individual pieces were layered and textured, the actual tile feels smooth to touch.  It's not too rough like rock tile and since it's smooth it's also easier to clean.

So here's how it looks like at our kitchen...

From a far you hardly notice the end one tile to the next, it is like each small piece was laid down one at a time.  It also went well with the white cabinets on top, black granite and the dark brown cabinets below.  As hubby said, it's like art work for the kitchen wall! We love it!

We're moving next month!

moving takes on a whole new meaning with bayanihan

Soooooooo.... This is the ultimate newlywed's dream right?  To move in to your new place as husband and wife.  To be the kings and queens of your castle!  To carry out your wildest (decor) fantasies in each room of your new abode (it's not what you were thinking!).  However, when you start to talking about moving beginning May and October already rolled around and you still haven't gotten around to doing it, then it starts to become an inside joke between the two of you.

This my friends is the long and tedious process of "finishing" up your house.  It basically involves all the minor details that your never thought about in your whole existence considering that you also lived in a house your whole life.  Makes you realize how little you know about what you need in the house you might as well have been raised in a cave - which is so much simpler. An opening, ceiling and walls. Done deal.

But we do need all the comforts that a modern and progressive house brings.  What would we do without electricity, plumbing, insulation?  We'd be a pretty sad (and stinky!) bunch indeed.  

You have options such as gas, induction, coal, or basic wood! 

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Just a list of a few of the mind boggling questions we had to answer since May:

- How many power outlets do you need and where do you put it inside the house or even just inside one room?

- Built-in cabinets? Where do you put it? How many Drawers? Where do you put the drawers?  How many shelves? What are the heights of the shelves?  Do you put doors, if yes what kind? Sliding or just leave it open?

- Lights oh lights, what kind of light fixture will you put at a particular place in the house? (Note that it is not in the room but a specific part of the house/room, a room could have multiple light sources)  Where do you put it, ceiling or wall, indoor or outdoor?  Is the ceiling made of wood or cement? What kind of bulb to use? What color of bulb to use?  Should you use LED's or are energy savers enough?

I knew these are not a few questions and there are a lot more where it came from!  And I know for a fact that you crossed the wedding planning and honeymoon bliss once your start swapping Martha Stewart Weddings and Wedding Essentials for Real Living every month.

So expect a few posts about our progress on the home front.  Don't get me wrong, I'm living the dream!  A great husband, a dog, a car and soon a house. So many blessings to be thankful for and I am loving all the minutes of these crazy, hectic moments in my life.

What about you?  Have you thought about what you want out of your house?

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I want this... Dipped furniture

from http://www.ivillage.com/dining-room-decor-ideas-dipped-legs/7-b-257933

What a way to add color in the room!!! Loving the coral.  I love how they made traditional oak chairs work well with a tulip table.  Great minimal commitment but high impact idea. :)

something bright and bongga to combat the rainy gloom

Hello everyone!  Honestly, I am getting sick and tired of all this rain.  It's still a virtual pond outside our door.  We can all do our share to help others in need by donating and sharing relief goods but for now, we are still stuck here at home.  

So here's a shiny, shimmery silver lining amidst all the rainclouds that's been dampening our days.  I haven't been this excited about a local designer since I saw Cary Santiago's Aviary wedding gown and the uniquely incorporated wood carvings in Furne One's gowns.  I recently discovered that Michael Cinco (yes of the America's Next Top Model Fame) does bridal collections too!

I am salivating over the details of these gowns...

(all photos from michaelcinco.com)

Di ba????? I've always been a fan of white and silver shiny details.  Makes all the needlework pop!  Love the ornate "backlace" (because a necklace is for the neck then what do you call it if you put it in the back? hehe).  Love the modern Filipiniana sleeve that would be really pretty in a modern Filipino wedding.  And in true middle eastern fashion - more is more so why not put crystals along the edges of each ruffle.  Heavy yes but sparkly double yes! 

There's more great and shiny stuff at http://www.michaelcinco.com/.  Be sure to check out how he works with lace.  Super modern and yet romantic at the same time.

Stay safe everyone!

Fairy Lights!

So I was looking for bedroom lighting inspiration.  My hubby was not so sure about using our awesome Ikea Maskros pendant light like it was used here.  He keeps thinking the ceiling might not be high enough but I kinda like the idea waking up every morning to its awesomeness.   Enter fairy lights.

Yes I know we grew up to know this by its other monicker Christmas Lights but I like Fairy Lights more.  Gives us a reason to use it all year round. Sooooo pretty!

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I would live in the attic if it looked like this...

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Another take on the rustic tree branch canopy bed, let's just edit out that bed side table.

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You can also use it as accent light for windows or for your dressing room mirror!

And we can always take advantage of Fairy Lights in other colors, this would definitely be dim enough to keep you chill and sleepy.

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Now if only hubby would agree with any of these. (I wish!) I would just have to think of a way to incorporate this into our house. :)

A new chapter...

I've been out of circulation for a while. Real life caught up. 

Beyond weddings we all go forward and coast through marriage, work, pregnancy, babies and families. I was thinking if I wanted this to be a wedding blog but I realized, I also liked a lot of other things clothes, furniture, interiors, fabrics, shoes, make-up, photographs, art, parties and toys. Life happens and weddings are but a part of that life and I thought it might be unfair if I limit myself to that part of my life. 

I thought about what drew me to weddings to begin with. What connected all of my interests together, and I realized what drew me to weddings were that: 

- it's a celebration so it is always fun 

- no two weddings are alike, they are always unique and special in their own way 

- it's loaded with pretty, shiny, cool, quirky stuff! 

And all my other interests can also be described using the same adjectives. :) So now I get to post things here that I love: fun, quirky, unique, pretty, shiny, cool stuff that I encounter as I coast through life. 

Here's to life beyond weddings. :)