DIY: Chevron Table Runner

I admit I have a mild obsession with Chevron patterns. They are all over my pinterest boards and saved in most of my inspirational files.

Being the amateur table setter that I am, I searched high and low for pretty table settings on pinterest for our Easter Celebration.

I kept coming back to these two pretties...

Bellasimo & Bella

Pinterest

Then I hit jack pot and found this tutorial

...and from there my attempt at another DIY was born.

{Insert rolled eyes from husband & comments like 'can't you just go buy one'. I'll admit it's not that he isn't supportive, he's just a clean freak and has seen my too many of my diy attempts gone bad, so he isn't easily sold. Not to worry, this one left him impressed}

Supplies Needed:

Drop Cloth: I had on hand so free for me but total cost $10

Duct Tape: Had on hand but no more than $5 to buy

A fun color spray paint: $4.98

No sew tape from Michael's: $3.00

 Time to get started...

-Lay drop cloth on flat surface. Cut desired width for runner. Standard size 12 to 14inches. I didn't measure, just went for it. Sorry no pics.

-Flip over. Use your no-sew-tape to fold over the raw edge and tape in place.(this stuff is amazing for those that don't know how to sew)  Once again, I was so focused, no pics.

-Flip back over and begin taping your Chevron pattern. I just went for it. I know can you believe it? I'm sure you're thinking, really you the rule follower didn't use a pattern. But I'm telling you when the total project is less than $15 how much damage can you possibly do?

Here it is all taped in it's glory...

 Not gonna lie, this process was quite tedious. It doesn't require much thought or measuring, just lots of time tearing tape and placing properly. Probably 30 minutes to an hour.

And here it is all ready to be sprayed...

First coat down ...

Tip: I learned from the YHL team to apply many thin and even coats. I applied maybe 4 coats.


And here it is the next morning after a night of drying..

Lastly, completed and on the table...

Success without any fails. And even better, the satisfaction of doing it all by yourself.

I think it turned out quite pretty and it really was a painless process. I know this sucker will get all kinds of use.

Working my way to being a DIY Diva.....

Guest Blogger: Bradley's Boxwoods

Today is a special day. We have a Guest Blogger. Exciting Right?!

Introducing a talented friend & loyal reader -Bradley, banker by pay but blog reader & lover of all design by day. woah, did i just say that?

She just built a fancy house and now gave her green thumb a go.

Without further a do:

LTK readers…

Do you lie awake at night wondering what to plant in your front porch pots? Neither do I! Yesterday was my first time to plant anything, ever. Because it was so very easy, I want to share.

MISSION: I was inspired to warm up my front porch with potted plants to make it more inviting. Also, I was feeling guilty that the pots I received for Christmas were still sitting empty.

My mother-in-law, Lindsey, is a master gardener, so when I mentioned using fake plants (I’m aware it’s tacky) - she immediately offered to help.

We started with 2 lonely pots…

Your pots should be at least as tall and as wide as the plant you pot in it. Also, make sure your pot has a hole on the bottom to ensure drainage. Lindsey put a cloth over the hole to keep dirt from draining out.

What to plant? Since the front porch is fully shaded, and it’s February, my pots need a hardy evergreen. Boxwoods are the nearest thing to no maintenance. Perfect for someone who was seriously willing to use fakes.

We went to a nursery with a 1 year guarantee to find 2 of similar shape and size.

These looked pretty close in size to us. Aren’t boxwoods pretty? I like that they are dense and green year-round.

I wanted to plant ivy at the base of the boxwood to cascade over the top of the pot. I love this look, but it takes a while for the ivy to grow. For the ‘instant effect’, we bought hanging ivy to use.

Next we filled the pot with MIRACLE GROW fertilized soil to 8” from the top of the pot

Then, we placed the boxwood in the pot and covered it with soil

Lookin’ good so far.

Next, Lindsey had the awesome idea to cut each basket of ivy into 2 pieces. We planted pieces of ivy around each of the boxwoods for our finished product.

TA DA!

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Impressive or what??  SO good looking!! Are you in business yet??

And can you believe that front door??

We will sucker her into more guest posts invite her back for more house tours.

Until next time, Thank you for sharing Brad!

*Wanna guest post? Would love to have you!

 

DIY Upholstered Headboard

So I completed a DIY!!! And a tough one.

This post has been a long time coming. I actually started discussing this project Oh 3 months ago and we attempted it the end of January.

There were a few bumps, bruises, and spats throughout the process, but we finally finished this weekend and if I must say so myself I am pretty impressed with the outcome.  

There are hundreds of DIY tutorials on upholstering a headboard out there but from my experience many make it look easy.

I am here to tell you the exact opposite. First things first, I am a beginner, amatuer DIY'er. I will admit I went for the toughest shape out there - of course. However, this project was challenging & very trying at times. But in the end it was totally worth it. If you have patience and put in a little extra work, you will be impressed in the end. If I can do it, you can do it!

If you get frustrated easily or have a tendency to throw things, pout, cry, yell...you may just want to start with a square shape! Just want to keep it real.

Enough talk, here is a step by step process on how we upholstered a headboard for our guest bedroom.

First things first, project necessities:

-Bottle of Wine
-Jigsaw
-Measuring Tape
-Level

-Plywood
-2 inch foam
-Queen Batting
-3 yards of fabric
-Spray Adhesive
-Staple Gun

Now here are the steps we followed:

1) Draw Outline. I used bowls & place mats to help with curves and scallops.

2) Set up shop. Check your measurements & make sure everything matches up on both sides. Of course mine were off.

3) Double measure & mark the top circle. That is the focal point & all.

4) Let husband work his manhood and cut the shape using a jigsaw.

5) Shape complete. Smile, jump up and down, kiss your man on a job well done!

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Side note: Do the following steps yourself or with a friend if your husband is a perfectionist and doesn't like bumps and imperfections.{see perfect shape above}. The following steps caused quite a few cross words and heated discussions due to lack of complete perfectness.

You've been warned!

6) Put foam on the ground, headboard on top, trace shape.
(Note I didn't buy the proper foam & as you see I had sections. Would have been easier & neater to have one large piece)

7) No pic included but cut foam & use spray adhesive to attach foam to plywood (easy).

8) Lay headboard (foam on bottom) on top of batting and cut batting ~5in from plywood outlining the shape, cut & staple.

9) No pic included but lay fabric on the floor, headboard on fabric & cut accordingly and staple.

Very Important: Iron your fabric.

10) Flip over shape smiling & anticipating excitement...Insert frustration and a sense of failure. Bunchy, Messy, Horrible.

11) Take some time to re-evaluate & re-vamp. Unstaple your staples & go for it again.

Tip: Start from the sides and pull fabric tight, tight, tight. .

Even better Tip: Cut small slits in your fabric {sorry no pic} where the shape scallops to help staple where shape curves.

12) Flip over shape hoping for the best & smile.

We have yet to mount on the wall so as you can see it slightly hangs off the bed to the right and is currently leaning against the wall. Hopefully, hanging shouldn't be too tough. I have to wait a few days until the husband is talking to me again. Kidding!

All in all, this was a very rewarding DIY. Although challenging at times it was fun to take it step by step and see the final product in the end. Also knowing we spent a mere $100 instead of $1,000 getting a custom headboard makes all the frustration easily forgettable. I'll try and get a budget breakdown soon.

We have a lot more to do in this guest room hence the bare walls, but hopefully our guest will enjoy sleeping in style.

Have you completed a DIY headboard and it didn't go as planned? Please tell me someone else out there found it as challenging {& rewarding} as I did?

Before & After: NYC Apartment

As mentioned, we walked into my sisters apartment and it looked let's just say...horrible. She & her roommate would agree. 70% of the problem was clothes scattered galore but the other 30% was just a sad, living space. Nothing on the walls, nothing in place...just a white Ektorp sofa in a 10x10 room and a queen bed in a 4x4 room. Obviously not the exact measurements, but you know...nyc = small & expensive. Not to mention, their apt is in the basement. So few windows, nada view.

Enter Type A sis & aunt willing to make it livable get it done and a mom willing to fork over some cash & help organize.

We got a plan of action: Wine at lunch and a to-do list.

We would start at Bed Bath & Beyond for basics...storage bins, sheets, cheap draperies, frames, wall hooks, the works. Then move on to P.Barn, West Elms, and the others for pillows, mirrors, accessories- the finishing touches.

I so wish I had a pic of us entering BB&B. Let's just say I was in perma-smile I was so excited for the mission, aunt in let's do this mode, mom in support mode, and the sister rolling her eyes. Don't get me wrong, she was on board but couldn't imagine why we would want to spend our last day in the city revamping their apt.

Well, 3 shopping carts & 2.5 hours later we were done. It was a one stop shop mission....YES, everything came bb&b.  They had great throw pillows, wall decor, and accessories. Who knew, right?

Here is Lina loving our finds.

So, enough talking...here are the before & afters:

Before Bedroom:



& After:

Side Note: She had the mirror, euro shams, & painting. We switched the mirror from foot of bed to above bed & it instantly made the room larger. We made the bed and added the accent pillow & birdcage frame {both from bb&b}. We also got khaki linen window treatments but have to wait on the "super" (landlord as we call them in the south) to bring out the power drill.

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:

The sunbursts appear dark & brassy in iphone pics but they are the perfect gold to add a focal point for room. The roommates plan on adding a piece of furniture beside the sofa and under the painting as a storage/table.

Forgot to take after shots of the other side as we got a little distracted... found really cute place mats in the clearance section for $1.99 and I suggested we cut them out and put the in frames (4pack for $25) as instant art. Of course- we left the frames at the store. The fact that we got all of the stuff in one cab still & only left one thing baffles me.

So, wrapping up, it was a lot of fun! For $500+ we turned their little abode from dark & dull to fun & welcoming in an afternoons time. Best part, sister and roomie love it !