This past weekend, I was in a house with the washing machine and dryer right smack in the kitchen. It struck me as a little unusual, and got me thinking as to how I would manage that if it were my own home. I would have no choice but to make it work, but I wondered if it would bother me having it right there where I prepare meals. The more I thought about it, the more I realized having your laundry room right off your kitchen would essentially increase your productivity. Think about it – in between chopping vegetables or waiting for water to boil, you could be folding your load of whites!

My laundry room is in the basement and although our home is not huge, it feels like a mile away. And sometimes I just postpone walking down to fold the laundry, and then all of a sudden it’s a week later and my load is still sitting in the dryer. It’s terrible!

Perhaps if my washer and dryer were in my closet, or at least on the first floor hidden in a closet, I’d be less lazy with my laundry and more proficient.

What about you? Is your laundry room in a different place like your kitchen or your clothes closet?

[Images: 1 – 2 – 3]

Hello and Happy Friday! It’s going to be a beautiful September weekend. Hope you have something fun planned!

Here’s this week’s Weekly Six:

1 – A stitched screen gives a sweet greeting. Would you do this in your home?

2 – Dig in your toolbox for this DIY.

3 – How about a tree in your foyer? It’s an interesting look!

4 – Goat cheese makes everything better – and it looks amazing on these tacos.

5 – Loving these crisp concrete tiles.

6 – Have you been watching Honey Boo Boo Child? I have to admit that it’s my guilty pleasure – I can’t get enough!

And that’s all! Have a great weekend – see you back here on Monday!

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about bunk beds. Not for any particular reason, because I certainly don’t have the need for them at this time. But first because when down the shore this Summer, I stayed at a house that had two sets of bunks to fit more people – the kind with a single bed on top and a double bed on the bottom. Then, I started thinking about them last night because I was watching the Real World Challenge show on MTV and they were all choosing their beds – which were bunks.

Both scenarios used bunk beds to fit more people to sleep – which is the purpose of bunk beds, right? But does function have to prevail over style? Not always! I did some searching and found some bunk beds that were more stylish than some than I’ve seen – like the ones shown above.

I do like all of the options that come with bunk beds. Childrens beds don’t have to just be a plain old bed anymore – they can get bunk beds with tons of different options for the underneath – such as a futon, (again, like the bunks above) a desk or armoire. Isn’t it interesting how bunk beds are always for kids rooms or for college dorms? I would save a ton of space and in turn gain more storage if my fiance and I had a bunk bed with a dresser and/or armoire underneath!

Now that I’ve given you my feelings – tell me, what are your thoughts on bunk beds?!

Disclosure

In our house, there’s always someone’s laptop on the coffee table, the kitchen table or the counter area in the kitchen. It never fails. I just moved both mine and my fiance’s this morning to a more discreet place. Maybe that’s why I’m leaning towards to today’s product pick of the Retro Bureau.

A compact workspace that’s sleep and modern? One that closes to conceal all the laptops and tablets floating around our house? I’ll take it! It would be so nice to have something like this in my home, since it doesn’t take up too much space and we can sit down and open it up whenever we needed to do some work, pay some bills, stalk on Facebook, whatever. And then close it up and no one would know what was hiding inside!

The Retro Bureau is made in Germany from metal, in a variety of colors to choose from. The top has elastic holders to keep items in place and the bottom has a convenient storage drawer. When opened, a linoleum working space is revealed, which also includes LED lights.

What do you think of this awesome workspace?

Disclosure

Every year on my birthday, my mom would make me the same delicious cake. I would eat it for days after – for breakfast, for a midnight snack – it is my absolute favorite. So, when she moved to London, I had to learn how to make it for myself. When I called her to email me the recipe, she said to simply look on the back of the Hershey’s Cocoa box. And there it was: Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake. And of course you have to frost it with the Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting.

If you are a chocolate lover – you will not be disappointed in this bad boy. Here’s the recipe – make sure you keep it on your radar!

Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water
• “PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE” CHOCOLATE FROSTING (recipe follows)

Since we decided to refinish our hardwood floors last week, I’ve been learning more about flooring styles than I ever have before. Specifically – cork floors. Have you heard of them before? Because I never have and I’m typically looking at all different decor blogs all day and night!

So, how did I miss these? I don’t know, but I’m glad that I’ve found them now because they really are an interesting concept. UK Flooring Direct has several different options, and some interesting information on cork floors as well. Cork floors are supposed to be much easier on your feet – for those that spend countless hours cooking for their families. This also makes a plate less likely to shatter when it hits the soft surface of the floor. [Perfect for my clumsy self!]

Plus, cork floors are also far more environmentally friendly than other options out there. I’ve read that cork comes from the bark of the tree, so pulling it from the tree does not destroy the tree completely.

Well, now I’m kind of upset that I don’t have any place to put cork floors in my house! What do you think of cork floors – do you love this look? Do you or anyone you know have them?

[Images 1 – 2]

Disclosure