Thursday, October 6, 2011

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Question: What to do when you desperately need a mirror for your living room but can't find one in the size or price you need? Answer: You make your own.

Before:

Materials used: Malma mirrors from Ikea. $2.99 each and adhesive tape


Almost there: I butted 20 mirrors (around 10"x10" together).

 I liked the overall look but decided I wanted something bigger.



After: 30 Malma mirrors later...

Chevron Stripes...my newest obsession

Chevron stripes are my new obsession. I fell in love after ordering this dress on eBay.

I kept thinking to myself, "How cool would it be if I had curtains in this pattern?". Maybe I'm not as cool as I think I am because chevron curtains aren't mainstream yet. After searching high and low, I found a website selling the fabric in the exact color, pattern and material I wanted. After three hours with thirteen yards of fabric, 10 yards of HeatnBond tape and a steam iron, I had three pairs of window panels ready to hang in my living room.

Before



After



Pillows, Pillows, Pillows! Oh My!

I found some old and quite dated toss pillows in the garage. They belonged to my mother. I could either use them as is (yeech), let them collect dust in storage or throw them out. I decided to keep them but I gave them a mini makeover. I was able to make non-sew pillow covers using three yards of fabric from Premier Prints, a roll of no sew adhesive tape and a steam iron. Whoever invented HeatnBond tape...you are a genius!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Putting the Living Back in the Living Room

From unused multi-purpose room to a cozy and chic living room. No dogs and no football allowed in here. 

Before




After

Not So Bedroom Blues

The wait is over. Check out the new headboard I made out of a Target curtain, nail head strip from eBay and a sheet of plywood from Home Depot ($15). What a difference!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Case of the Bedroom Blahs


A bedroom is a person's sanctuary. The bedroom should be a room where one can unwind after a long hectic day, relax after a tough day at work, or at least hide out when it's football season and her husband's annoying friends are watching the game downstairs.

My room is definitely lacking in the cozy, homey and relaxing detail. My bedroom is definitely functional but it's missing something. Or maybe I'm just not feeling it anymore. The sleigh bed that I was crazy about three years ago just doesn't do it for me and the curtains don't really add any warmth.




I don't have the time or cash to spend on a plush stylish headboard from Crate and Barrel. So what's a girl to do? I think I am going to make my own upholstered headboard out of 1/2 inch plywood and fabric. Here's a pic of the fabric I picked out. To save money, I'm using a 54 x 84 inch drape from Target.



For the curtains, I like this one. It complements the paint color of the room and coordinates with my bedding accessories.


Stay tuned!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Out of the Closet!

Aww, my old childhood bedroom. The room once housed my Barbie collection and a stable of My Little Ponies. When I moved out, my dad sold the barbies and the ponies at a garage sale and mom started to move more and more of her excess junk into my old room. Mom was considerate enough to leave a bed in there so I had a place (among her junk) to sleep during weekend visits.

Flash forward twelve years and the prodigal daughter has returned home. Mom and Dad have since retired up north and have left me the childhood home. Fortunately, I don't have to sleep among junk in my old childhood room but I was still facing a dilemma: What the heck should I do with this room?

I will be the first one to admit that I have a TON of stuff. I've got purses, shoes, jeans, coats, dresses. You name it, I've got it. My history of small bedrooms, apartments and my husband's and my first adult home purchase, a townhouse, have always left me with a lack of storage and wanting more. I decided that I would fulfill an adult dream of having a huge walk in closet in my childhood bedroom.

After work, I purchased a few closet rods, brackets and a total of ten 96" long shelves. I painted the walls a turquoise blue to offset all the white. I made sure to arrange the rods in various heights to accomodate pants, shirts, dresses and coats. The shelves now house all my shoes and purses. Everything has a place and everything is easy to find.




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After

  
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