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The Pinch of Yum Master Bedroom Tour

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When we started Curbly in 2006, saying that your job was 'blogging' was a recipe for confusion. Lots of people didn't even know what a blog was. Fast forward a decade or so, and blogging as a profession is so well-accepted that you probably have a blogger or two living in your own neighborhood. That why we were excited, but not entirely surprised, when we discovered that prolific food bloggers Bjork and Lindsay Ostrom, from PinchofYum, lived about a mile from us.

Bjork and Lindsay are famous for their gorgeously-photographed recipes (their chocolate-chip-cookies are the best), and for helping hundreds of new bloggers get their start through their FoodBloggerPro program (seriously: it basically teaches you to be a blogger). 

Today, we're excited to share a tour of Bjork and Lindsay's bedroom, which they recently finished remodeling. When we met up with these two to talk about their space, they were well on their way to designing it. They'd chosen paint colors, laid flooring, and picked out the major pieces, so styling was the main thing they were looking for help with, and we were more than happy to oblige.

Here's a look at how we styled the space, along with some of Lindsay's take-aways from the whole remodeling process: 

 

How would you describe your style?

Bringing your style to life is difficult on your own, but it's even more difficult when you're combining two styles to create a shared space. 

Our combined style is somewhere between Scandinavian, Mid-Century, and Urban Modern, with Bjork leaning more towards the clean-ness of minimalist Scandinavian and mine leaning more towards warmth of Mid-Century Modern.

Our indecision on a handful of the final design style decisions was the main reason we reached out to our Curbly friends to step in and help us lock in a few of the finishing touches. We needed Curbly to give us some suggestions and point us in the right direction, which they did!

Why did you to transform an attic into a master bedroom?

We live in a Post-War Cape Cod, which we didn't know was a thing until we bought it. As HGTV describes it, these houses are "are more functional than fun."

Small closets, small bathroom, small rooms ... you get the idea.

We love the house and especially love the neighborhood, but when we had friends over, or guests staying with us, we really felt the "small and functional" side of the house, especially given the fact that we all were sharing one bathroom.

Finishing the attic allowed us to add some fun to our functional home and make it our own. 

And as we much as we love brushing our teeth next to our guests at end the day, there's something that feels a little bit more adult-ish about going to separate rooms and having separate bathrooms.


What was your design inspiration?

We went on a Europe Trip at the end of 2016 and stayed at the one of the cutest "hostels" in the world: Hotel Tannenhof

They had recently remodeled their rooms, and we loved the look and feel, so we snapped a few photos to bring back home for inspiration.


What was your biggest challenge?

We worked with (the awesome! amazing!) McDonald Remodeling. They did an incredible job with digitally laying out what the space would look like with all of the major pieces put together. We could easily play around with how the space would look before committing to anything. While it wasn't easy, putting together the major pieces wasn't quite as hard as we had thought it would be.

The biggest challenge was the last 20% of the design decisions that we had to make. What pictures would we hang up? What should we put on the shelves? Where should our dog Sage's bed go?

Yes, we actually had this conversation. And it's next to Bjork's side of the bed, in case you'd like to know.

What's your favorite part of the space?

Every house we've ever owned has had the master bedroom on the main level. With our current house, we had a sidewalk and a street right our the bedroom door, so having a master bedroom that's above ground level feels like such a luxury! 

And, there's the whole don't-have-to-brush-your-teeth-next-to-your-friend-who-is-staying-over benefit that comes with having two bathrooms.

What was your biggest indulgence?

Zoned heating! The temperature different between the attic and the main floor is extreme. Combine that with Minnesota's hot and humid summers or freezing cold winters and you can get some pretty uncomfortable temperatures.

The zoned heating allows us to fine tune the heating for each level. It was something we weren't initially sure that we wanted to do, but we're so glad we did it. Plus, we have our Nest thermostats hooked into an Amazon Echo, so we can change the upstairs or downstairs temperatures by simply talking to Alexa. It's the future!

What’s one thing you would do differently the next time?

Add a hidden bookshelf door that opens to a secret gaming room where you can only play classic Nintendo games like Tecmo Super Bowl (this is Bjork's idea that, believe it or not, didn't get added to the final plans).

In all seriousness, we love the space. Maybe add a heated floor in the bathroom? It's a small thing, but it's -5 degrees today. A warm bathroom floor on a frigid Minnesota day would just take everything to the next level.


Product List

Want to see more or my favorite bedroom makeover projects? Check out the 2017 Curbly House Master Bedroom, or Chris' cozy northwest guest bedroom

Yes, You Can Use a Paint Sprayer Indoors: Our Spare Room Makeover Proves It

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Cozy Den Makeover Using a Paint Sprayer
Sponsored by Wagner and Trimaco

One of my favorite things about interior design and home improvement is discovering tools that help us do our job better. Painting is one of those jobs. We paint things all the time - walls, furniture, floors, baskets. Why? Because nothing transforms a space (or an object) quite like paint does.                 

But painting can also be a chore. It's time consuming, messy, and unforgiving. And it requires careful prep work. A few months ago, Bruno and I took part in a painting event at Wagner Spray Tech. Wagner specializes in paint sprayers that are total game changers. We had always been hesitant to use a sprayer on interior walls, but the folks at Wagner took us into their painting 'lab' and taught us some tricks, and I painted two large walls in less than 10 minutes. Then I looked at Bruno and said, "I'm never rolling a wall again." And I meant it. 

Not only did the painting process go speedy-fast, but the paint coverage was flawless. No streaks, no thin areas that needed another coat, and no thick, drippy areas that needed to be retouched. It was the most satisfying painting experience of my life.

We recently completed a room makeover in our home, transforming an empty bedroom that served as a storage/play/catch-all nightmare room into a cozy den. The foundation for the whole room was a fresh coat of paint, and we were eager to experiment with spraying the walls vs. rolling and cutting in. 

From Catch-All Room to Cozy Den: Room Makeover

The Prep Work

Spraying the walls of a room will save you loads of time - like, hours. But, you have to prep your room in order to ensure total success. And that prep work depends on having the right masking and surface protection products. We used a few key supplies from Trimaco to make sure our room was prepped correctly.

Trimaco makes all the painting jobsite protection products professionals use, and they have something for everything you can think of. When spraying a room, don't be intimidated by the prep work - the truth is, even if you're just rolling and cutting in, you'd have to do the same amount of prep (taping around windows, trim, and baseboards).

We used two products that are an absolute must if you're spraying a room: 
- Tape & Drape: pre-taped masking film makes covering windows, doors, and other surfaces super fast and easy.
- Cling Cover: self-adhering protective plastic sheeting. It clings to almost any surface and also attracts over-spray and dust.

Here's how it all went down:

Prepping the Room: Tape and Drape Painter's Tape

We taped around all the windows and baseboards using Trimaco's Tape & Drape painter's tape. This tape it the bomb! Why? Because it comes with plastic attached to it. You simply apply the tape to the trim, then pull the plastic out to create big swaths of coverage. We applied this same tape along the ceiling line. 

Prepping a Room for a Paint Sprayer - Flooring

We covered our floor with a giant, non-slip drop cloth from Trimaco. Adding a tacky back to underside of a drop cloth was somebody's masterstroke because it stays put! 

Cover your shoes for paint job prep.

Bruno is gaga for gadgets and he likes to keep his work area super clean, so he insisted we wear plastic coverings on our feet. This was not totally necessary for a job like this, but this floor guard for shoes would be a great addition to a winter cocktail party where people want to keep there fancy shoes on in your house. I'm kidding ... maybe. 

Using a Paint Sprayer to Paint a Room

How to Spray an Interior Space

We used the Flexio 590 Handheld Paint Sprayer. It's perfect for an interior paint job like this, because it can cover an 8x10 foot space in 5 minutes! Before spraying, we added our paint to the sprayer and mixed in a bottle of Wagner's Paint Easy additive to thin the paint and help it go on smoothly. Don't let the notion of thinning your paint fool you into thinking the coverage will be poor. When paint is applied through a sprayed mist, the super-fine droplets land and attach to one another, making the finish smoother than the voice of Barry White.

Despite the fact that it was freezing when we painted the room, we opened the windows a bit for ventilation. I think anybody who paints does this, but it's especially helpful when spraying a room, because you have paint particles hanging in the air. Wearing a mask is also important - it keeps the misty-fine particles out of your lungs. That said, the Flexio 590 doesn't over-spray nearly as much as you might guess. You won't feel like you're painting in the clouds.

Painting Walls with a Paint Sprayer

Bruno painted all four walls of the room in 20 minutes. That's it. 20 minutes and he was D-O-N-E. No second coats, no touch-ups. Can you even?

Here are some of our best tips for using a paint sprayer:

1. Keep a damp cloth in your pocket to periodically wipe the tip of the sprayer - it can get blocked as the paint begins to harden. This is important! You'll need to wipe the tip more often than you think ... but doing so will keep the sprayer from clogging and splattering.

Paint Spraying Tip: Keep a Damp Cloth with You to Wipe the Tip of the Sprayer

2. Learn how to adjust the sprayer nozzle to change the spray pattern. A horizontal nozzle position creates a vertical pattern; a vertical nozzle creates a horizontal pattern. Putting the nozzle at a diagonal will generate more of a round spray pattern.

How to Paint a Room Using a Sprayer

3. Stand close to the wall and keep your sprayer 6-8 inches from the wall. The further back you go, the wider and thinner your painted area becomes. Standing close to the wall helps you get a nice, thick coat on the first try. You want to keep the sprayer closer to the wall than you think; if you feel weirdly close, you're probably doing it correctly. 

4. Apply the paint in strokes (we like horizontal strokes), and pull your finger off the trigger at the end of each pass to let the paint trail off (rather than doubling up an application by continuing to run the sprayer row-after-row). Overlap each spray pass by about 50% to ensure full coverage. 

This video on how to use a paint sprayer was extremely helpful in getting us up and running:

We let the paint cure for an hour, then I removed all the painter's tape and plastic film. We folded up the drop cloth, and the room was a perfect blank canvas set to become all denned out!

Before we show you all the pretty pictures of the finished room and talk about the design process, I really want to make sure you understand how smooth and efficient the painting process was. I feel like we have a golden key to Paintsville, and we have an obligation to pass on the ease of this method. It is a game changer. It makes painting so quick and easy. Try it out. I promise you'll breakup with your roller and your old ways. 

A Little Bit About the Den Transformation

For years, Bruno and I have been unsure about how to use the empty bedroom on our second floor. When we first moved in, it served as our baby boy's nursery, because our house was still under construction and our master bedroom was not complete. Once our remodel was done, we moved him into a larger bedroom, and this little room met an ugly fate: The room where all the misfit toys and furniture lands. I know many of you have a room (or closet) that's befallen this same sort of fate. It's a luxury to have a room like this, especially because you can close the door and kind of forget about it. But, it's also a big bummer. It bothered me that this totally legit room was being used for such a lousy purpose. 

Catch-All, Unloved Room

Bleh... what a shame of a room.

We wavered between making it a guest bedroom (it wouldn't get much use that way) and turning it into a den. Bruno was fairly opposed to having a television on the second floor near our peaceful bedrooms. But, our current first-floor TV situation wasn't working. Because of the configuration of our sunroom, the only furniture we could sit upon to watch a movie was a loveseat. We did this for years, spending many Friday movie nights with kids on our laps. But, our kids are now way too big to do this comfortably, and it was becoming more and more apparent that we needed some kind of family-friendly sofa in our lives. 

So Bruno got onboard with the second-floor den idea, and we made it happen in two weeks! We ordered a rug, chose a comfy sofa with a chaise (the best seat in the room), and bought a slightly larger television (but not a giant screened beast, because I'm completely opposed to them and don't ever want to feel like I have an actual movie theater in my home - I like going to the movie theater for that kind of thing). 

Here's how the room came together:

After: Cozy Den Makeover

I really love it. It feels a little more country/boho than anything we've designed before. But, this is exactly what I love about it. It's super cozy and understated, but a little hideaway-y and retro (the wall of wicker baskets is very 60s & 70s). And yet, it still feels like it belongs in our house.

Cozy Den Makeover

Cozy Den/TV Room Makeover

Cozy Den Makeover

Cozy Den Makeover

Cozy Den Makeover  

We're in love with our sweet, little den and thrilled with the ease and swiftness of the room's transformation. I hope you'll give spraying a try the next time you paint a wall because it'll save you so much precious time, and the results will be stunning!


Product List

 

Thanks to Wagner and Trimaco for sponsoring this post; all opinions are mine alone. And thanks to you, for supporting Curbly and the brand partners that help keep us going!

Has your bare foot ever met a LEGO in the middle of the night? (How to Store All the Tiny Dangerous Toys in Your House)

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How using this tool organizer in the playroom can keep your home tidy
This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

If you live with a child between the ages of 4-10, chances are you have a tremendous collection of stuff lying around your house. In our case, many of the stuff comes in the form of tiny LEGOs and 4-wheeled Matchbox cars that serve as accidental (but totally legitimate) booby-traps in our home.        

Have you ever stepped on a LEGO with your bare foot? It's absolutely terrible. Have you ever lost your footing and rolled your ankle on a small metal car? It's absolutely terrifying. This is what life with small children is all about, and we've learned to be prepared.

How using this tool organizer in the playroom can keep your home tidy

Not just for tools! The Dewalt Small Parts Organizer was basically built for Legos

I'm a huge proponent of organization and keeping things tidy. Fortunately, my children seem to have inherited this gene, but it only manifests itself in fits and starts. The overall picture in their bedrooms is acceptable, but when they want to build with LEGOs or build a racetrack, everything is dumped from its large "organized" bin and deposited on the floor so that they can find the pieces they need. This method is works pretty well for larger toys, but it's the pits for teeny-tiny toys. But, my friends, there is a way to keep all those LEGO steering wheels organized and easy to locate. Let me show you the way.

Not just for tools! The Dewalt Small Parts Organizer was basically built for Legos

We recently became the owners of a DeWalt Compartment Pro-Small Parts Organizer, and it's a mighty game changer.  The piece is intended to help you organize small tools and construction bits (nails, screws, wires, and the like), but it works so well for all those tiny, hard to keep track of toys.

We've tried craft organizers in the past, and they haven't proved durable or secure enough for the task. Their lids too easily popped open, and their compartments were generally too small to hold the majority of the pieces we wanted to organize. But, not this guy. This one is sturdy, hefty, spacious, and best of all, super secure. When it's closed and latched, it stays put (it's actually waterproof!).

Its clear plastic lid makes it easy to identify what's where, so our kids can easily identify what's in each compartment before opening the box. And best of all, it has removable dividers that allow you to create custom compartments to fit your storage needs. Do you see how important and significant that is? It's the real bomb-diggity. 

Has your bare foot ever met a LEGO in the middle of the night? AKA, get a small-parts organizer and save your toes the pain!

Gone are the days of small toy explosions all over the living room. Gone are the whispered curse words uttered on a minefield path to the bathroom in the middle of the night. And nevermore are the accidental roller skates on the stairs. All those tiny pieces are safely tucked away in a secure box. We can all rest a little easier.  


This post is sponsored by The Home Depot, but all opinions are mine alone. Working with great brands like The Home Depot enables us to pay for all the content you see on Curbly. Thanks for supporting us, and them!

Everything You Need to Set Up A DIY Photo Booth For Your Next Party

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These days, no party is complete without a diy photo booth. They're not only a fun addition to any shindig, but they're a great way to capture memories and they create the most meaningful party favors in the world. Everything You Need to Set Up A DIY Photo Booth For Your Next Party

While renting an old-timey booth or hiring a company to run one are both nice options, they cost a pretty penny. The reality is, creating a custom photo booth using the electronics most of us already have around the house (e.g. your computer, digital camera, printer, phone) isn't very complicated. In fact, it's relatively straightforward. And, when you combine the "photo taking device" with some custom photo props or easy DIY backgrounds, your photo booth becomes the life of the party.

Follow along as we share everything you need to know about creating a custom diy photo booth for the party of your dreams! 

 

Curbly's Ultimate DIY Photo Booth Props Collection

For just $1.99, you'll get 30 ready-to-print photobooth props, including:
 

  • Food
  • Emojis
  • Social media frames
  • LOL speech bubbles
  • Crazy hair styles
  • Funny eyes and glasses

Buy Now ($1.99)

Photobooth props

Photobooth props


 

DIY Photo Booth - Taking the Photos

Apparently, since we wrote our DIY Photobooth post (four years ago!), the world has caught on and there are now hundreds (thousands?) of results in Google for this sort of thing. Our photo booth seems to work fine on Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7. Newer versions may get glitchy (sorry!).

Here's the thing; a diy photo booth is not a person standing there with a camera taking pictures of people in front of a backdrop. But that's what many of the solutions out there offer (like this one, from HGTV, for example). Ideally, what you want is a real photo booth! A "booth" where you press a button, and then the camera takes three or four pictures of you, automatically (and without warning ... that's how you get those fun candid/weird/awkward moments that photo strips are known for). We also think your version of a "booth", should put the photos into a vertical strip, and print them!

There are a million ways to do this, and if you want to spend some time, you can figure out a way to make your own for free (you could start with our Apple Automator script and see if you can update it). But, honestly, there are some great paid options out there that don't cost much:

 

  • Sparkbooth - This seems to be the most popular option, and costs $55. It allows you to customize the photo layout, print automatically, and auto-post to Facebook, Flickr, etc. ($55 might seem like a lot, but depending on how you value your time, you'll definitely spend at least that much DIY-ing something like it).
  • DSLR Photo Booth - This looks great for those of you who don't want to use a web cam. The basic version starts at $50, and you can try before you buy!
  • Pocketbooth for iPad, iPhone and Android is only $.99! It can print (via AirPrint) or upload to your social networks. Unfortunately, all of this has to be done manually, so it's not an ideal setup for a party. 
  • And finally, RasterWeb sells a pretty awesome USB button you can hook up to your computer to give your digital photo booth an analog vibe.

Going to use a full-featured camera? You'll need these gadgets:

 

 

Intervalometer: This handy accessory connects to your camera (find the one that works for your camera) and with easy setup becomes a button you can press for timed shutter release, giving you that "four-photo strip" you want. Buy for around $15-$20.

Photo Booth Button Intervalometer

 

Eye-fi SD card: Configure this card's built-in WiFi network to beam images straight to your computer, and with an Automator script, or one of the apps mentioned above, print them in a flash. Buy for about $30 for the smallest memory capacity. Set to auto delete after printing if storage capacity is a problem. 

Eye-fi Photo Booth Streaming

Backdrops to Set the Stage for your DIY Photo Booth

Creating a backdrop for your photo booth is essential because it adds a ton of personality to your photos. The best thing about backgrounds is that the possibilities are endless and they are easy to DIY. We recently shared 11 clever backdrop ideas, but here are a few more of our favorites:

Streamers Backdrop

DIY Streamers Backdrop from Lovely Indeed: Nothing says par-tay like a boatload of streamers.

DIY Confetti Backdrop

DIY Confetti Backdrop from Studio DIY: Confetti + Parties = A match made in party heaven.

Sequin Photo Backdrop

DIY Sequin Backdrop from Oh Happy Day: Adding shimmer and shine to your bash is never a bad idea.

Balloon Backdrop

Neon Balloon Backdrop: No party is complete without a bunch of balloons!

PVC Pipe Frame

If your party is outdoors or you don't have a wall to dedicate to a backdrop, making a freestanding one out of PVC piping is surprisingly easy to do. Here's a great tutorial!

 

Props to Set the Tone

Photo props are an important addition to your DIY photo booth because they give people something to do! They are easy to customize to your party's theme, and they are simple to put together using a printer, tape, wooden dowels or party straws.

Now, there are plenty of free printables out there, and we list some of the ones we like below. But if you want to skip the searching, check out our Ultimate Photo Booth Collection, which you can buy for just $4.99. 

 

 

Here is a collection of some of our favorite free printable props:

 

Photo Booth Props

DIY Props from Oh Happy Day: This adorable set features cartoon-y hats and headpieces that are perfect for every age! The super creative Oh Happy Day has several general and themed sets to choose from; take a look at them all!

Liberty Print

DIY Liberty Print Props from Le Blog de Madame C: These printable props in a Liberty print are garden-party-gorgeous!

Disguise Kit

DIY Disguise Kit: Spies, secret agents, and April-foolsters rejoice; your party is now perfect. It appears the original downloadable file for this is no longer available, but you should be able to expand and print the image using good ol' fashioned trickery.

Photo Booth Signage to Set the Direction

Adding a sign to your photo booth is the cherry on top of your booth's sundae. Because, frankly, it makes your booth legit! Here are some free printable signs to point your guests in the right direction:

Oh Snap

Oh Snap! Sign from No. 2 Pencil

Step Right Up

Step Right Up Sign from Elegance and Enchantment

For a host of other photo booth ideas, backdrops, and free prop printables, check out my Pinterest board!  

A Quick, Colorful Patio Makeover Just in Time for Summer

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Wagner Paint Sprayer patio chair makeover
This post is sponsored by Wagner

We are in the season of outdoor lounging. Here in the upper Midwest, summer is at a premium and we live outside as much as possible. There's no better way to indulge in this time of year than to sit on the patio and soak it all in. 

My parents have a stunning backyard with gorgeous gardens, fruit trees, and fountains. They live outside in the summertime and spend hours on their patio. Though their backyard is spacious and lovely, there's nothing special about the patio itself. They have a set of Adirondack chairs that were in need of a refresh. These chairs remain outside in the spring, summer, and fall and were in bad shape. Their paint was peeling and wearing off of the armrests. 

In order to refresh them, we needed to remove most of the paint from the chairs in order to give them a clean base from which to work. The task of removing paint is generally a real pain. This is especially true with Adirondack chairs because they have so many angles and nooks and crannies. We immediately knew that sanding the chairs would take forever and be a messy job.

Instead, we used a Wagner Furno 750 heat gun to strip the chairs, and it was a game changer. The gun blasts high heat in a targeted stream and blisters the paint. Once the paint bubbles, you simply scrape it off with a straight edge. We've stripped furniture with chemicals and with sandpaper before, and this method was by far the best. It was easier, faster, and created way less mess.

Once most of the paint was peeled from the chairs, we gave them a light sanding to prep them to take the paint. Hand painting the chairs would have taken us days to finish, and the chairs would have showed all the brush marks.

Wagner FLEXiO 3000 Paint Sprayer

So we decided to turn to our trusty Wagner FLEXiO 3000 paint sprayer.  The FLEXiO 3000 can spray un-thinned latex or oil-based paints, primers and stains and gives a light-textured, roller-like finish. It's perfect for jobs like this, where rolling is simply not an option, and brushing would take forever. But we've used a Wagner paint sprayer indoors as well, and were pleasantly surprised by how great they were for doing an interior wall. 

Spraying a patio chair with a Wagner Paint Sprayer

A few tips for using a Wagner FLEXiO 3000 Paint Sprayer Properly
- Keep the nozzle tip clean! Carry a damp cloth around with you and wipe it frequently. This helps avoid spattering
- Spray closer to the surface than you think you need to. These sprayers don't overspray very much, and its best to get pretty close (6-8 inches) to make sure the paint covers sufficiently. 
- Use high quality paint. 
- Find the right paint volume and fan power settings. Read the instruction manual that comes with the tool to learn how these settings affect your finish. 
- Use the right nozzle head. The FLEXiO 3000 comes with two heads, a detail nozzle and a wide area nozzle. Use the one that's appropriate for your job

Wagner FLEXiO air power settings

Wagner FLEXiO operating instructions

 

This is the third Wagner paint sprayer I've used on DIY projects, and it's definitely my favorite design yet. The updated FLEXiO provides more even coverage with less overspray, and the new, numbered paint flow dial is really handy. Best of all, they reduced the number of parts in the nozzle, which makes it a lot easier to clean.

We wanted our chairs to have a satin, smooth finish, so we sprayed them using  Sherwin-Williams Tempe Star SW 6229

The painting process was a breeze. We were able to paint six chairs in about three hours. We did two coats, plus touch-ups, allowing for some drying time in between coats. The paint process was quick and easy, and the finish was smooth. 

Freshly-painted Adirondack patio chairs

And! Since we had another Wagner iSpray head lying around, it was really easy to pop in another color, and whip up another quick DIY project for this makeover: a stenciled outdoor rug. 

We grabbed an old jute rug that had seen better days, and taped out a simple border on it. Then, we used the FLEXiO 3000 to spray a bold, black border on the rug, giving it a super quick refresh:

 

 

The After!

First, a reminder of what the patio looked like before:

 

Now, here's a look at how the chairs turned out:

 

Want to see a few other paint sprayer projects?

 


 

 

This post is sponsored by Wagner, but all opinions are mine alone. Thanks for supporting the great companies that make all the content on Curbly possible.

 

 

Designing A Wine-Inspired Kitchen

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This post is sponsored by BLANCO. Pictured here: The BLANCO EMPRESSA Bridge faucet

 

There's a lot happening in kitchen design these days, and everything from countertops to cabinetry to faucets are at your fingertips. While I love trendy kitchens, what I appreciate even more is a timeless kitchen that feels like the people who use it.

We don't often think of kitchens as having a "lived in" feel, but I think they should, and I'm especially smitten when they do. One of the best ways to achieve the look - even with a brand-new state-of-the-art-bells-and-whistles kitchen is to focus on the details of the small finishes. Faucets are a perfect place to do this, and I recently found a gorgeous line that excels in this kind of design.

BLANCO has a new line of faucets inspired by vintage European wine presses - which are completely classic and impressive. The line is called EMPRESSA, and the faucets it features are especially gorgeous because they work with almost any style and strike a perfect balance between vintage feel and a modern function.

While these faucets would be a great choice for a bar, I love thinking about how I'd incorporate them into a kitchen. Here are some inspiration rooms paired with the faucets I love the most from the Empressa line. 

The Bridge Faucet

Blanco Empressa Bridge Faucet
BLANCO EMPRESSA Bridge Faucet

 

A farmhouse-style kitchen highlights the best of the style. It's inviting and cozy, and layered with a variety of different styles, making it feel eclectic and homey. The photo at right would make the perfect home for the BLANCO EMPRESSA Bridge faucet because of its traditional look and clean lines. I love it in the polished nickel finish because it's warm and bright, and the bridge gives it vintage feel, but the pull-down faucet head is modern magic.  

Farmhouse Kitchen

Photo: HGTV

 

 

The Bar Faucet

Blanco Empressa Bar Faucet
BLANCO EMPRESSA  Bar Faucet

 

This faucet's sleek profile would be perfect as part of a sweet wet bar tucked into a kitchen nook; the perfect place to store wine and spirits.

I love the bar nook design because it's tucked away and unassuming, yet gorgeously accented with gray tiles, glass shelving, a narrow sink space and artwork.  

The BLANCO EMPRESSA Bar Faucet would be right at home in this bar nook because it has a low profile that's packed with high-function (like a pull down head with dual spray that comes in several finishes).

Wet Bar

Photo: Eric Piasecki 

 

 

Above - the BLANCO EMPRESSA pull-down faucet, with a dual-spray head, makes cleaning and rinsing dishes a breeze.

 

The Semi-Professional Kitchen Faucet

Blanco Empressa Semi-Professional Faucet
BLANCO EMPRESSA Semi-Professional Faucet

 

I'd place the Semi-Professional faucet in a space that's sleek and clean, with warm wood cabinetry and furniture to make it feel unexpected, personal, and styled.

The BLANCO EMPRESSA Semi-Professional faucet would fit seamlessly into this space because it's sleek and sculptural. It comes in four different finishes, each one highlighting that gorgeous black arm.

Modern Kitchen

Photo: Luc Remond

 

 

Pairing Kitchen Accessories for Wine Lovers

One of the most interesting parts BLANCO's new line of faucets is the wine press inspiration. When working a theme into your design, it's important to keep subtlety in mind. I think it's fun to think about some wine details and accessories that could be worked into any kitchen to play on the wine inspiration. Here are some of my favorite accessories for the wine-lover's kitchen:

Wine Accessories for the Kitchen
Marble Chiller / Geo Wine Charms / Wooden Stoppers / Brass Corkscrew / Herringbone Wine Rack / Decanter

 

How to Incorporate Your Passion for Wine Into Your Kitchen

Wine isn't just a complement to a good meal. For many, it's a full blown passion that evolves over time, as you develop your palate and learn the ins and outs of wine making and its history.

If you're really serious about wine, you're going to want a wine fridge in your kitchen. These days, you can get a wine fridge in almost any size or configuration. A freestanding wine cooler works well for spaces that weren't designed with one in mind. But if you're planning a kitchen remodel, consider building a wine chiller into the design.

A wine rack is another feature you may want to consider adding. While the bulk of your best bottles may be stored in a cellar, out of sight, it's nice to have quick and easy access to bottles you'll be cycling through regularly. 

Here's a rustic-leaning table-top wine rack that could pair well with the EMPRESSA BRIDGE faucet (without going too heavy on the farmhouse vibe)

Source: Wayfair 

EMPRESSA BRIDGE 

 

This simple, contemporary wine rack design is perfectly subtle. It'd go nicely with the EMPRESSA SEMI-PROFESSIONAL faucet:

Source: Behance 

EMPRESSA SEMI-PROFESSIONAL 

 

Need even more space for your bottles? Consider adding a clever toe-kick wine bottle storage drawer, like this one:

 

 

Wine-Inspired Colors for Your Kitchen Remodel

Want wine on your walls (not literally!)? Pantone has you covered with their color called "English Sparkling":

Like something a little bolder? Here's a nice, deep, red-wine-inspired palette from Sherwin-Williams:

 

Wall Decor Ideas for a Wine-Inspired Kitchen

Don't let the theme lead you astray here, folks! Just because you want to incorporate wine, doesn't mean you have to get too cheesy! (Get it? Cheese? Wine? Wine & Cheese?)

Wine-themed wall decor triggers visions of horrible stock images and bad thrift-store oil paintings of grapes. Just don't go there, ok?

You can key in on the perfect wine note without going overboard. For example, I love this vintage poster for a sleek, modern kitchen:

 

These wine press patent diagram posters would complement a more traditional styled space:

 

Or, if you're into something really classic, go for one of the old masters, like this Vermeer:

 

 

Learn more about the BLANCO EMPRESSA line of kitchen faucets:

 

 

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of BLANCO. The opinions and text are all mine.

The 100 Best IKEA Hacks of All Time

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100 Best IKEA hacks of all time.

We've rounded up one hundred IKEA hacks that prove you can have champagne tastes on a beer budget. Each of these hacks illustrates the power of transformation - basic warehouse pieces are cleverly altered in beautiful ways that make them feel custom. This round up has me feeling like Aladdin on a magic carpet ride - so come along with me! I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder, over, sideways and under on a magic IKEA hack ride. All hacks are listed in alphabetical order by their original IKEA birth name. 

ALEX

IKEA Hack ALEX - filing cabinet
Sugar & Cloth

 

IKEA Hack ALEX - desk DIY
A New Bloom

 

IKEA Hack ALEX desk
The Lifestyle Directory

 

IKEA Hack ALEX storage unit
Full Time Fiesta

 

 

ALSEDA

IKEA Hack ALSEDA ottoman
Curbly via Mormorsglamour

BESTA

IKEA Hack BESTA credenza
Sugar & Cloth

 

IKEA Hack BESTA credenza
Petite Apartment - IKEA hacks

 

 

IKEA Hack BESTA
A Beautiful Mess  -  BESTA IKEA hack TV console idea (entertainment center)

 

IKEA Hack BESTA
Place of My Taste

 

IKEA Besta cabinet hack
The Vintage Guru Shop - IKEA cabinet with vintage legs

BILLY

IKEA Hack BILLY
The Makerista

 

IKEA Hack BILLY
IKEA Hackers- built in book case

 

IKEA Hack BILLY
Golden Boys & Me IKEA hack DIY kitchen island

 

BORBY

IKEA Hack BORBY
Thou Swell

 

Note: we tried to find all of these and make sure they're still available on IKEA.com. Some models have been discontinued, but you can usually find a similar item to substitute.

 

DOKUMENT

IKEA Hack DOKUMENT
IKEA

EKBY

IKEA Hack EKBY
Teste De Lengo

 

IKEA Hack EKBY
Nalle's House

 

IKEA Hack EKBY
Houzz

 

EKORRE

IKEA Hack EKORRE
Sarah Sherman Samuel

EXPEDIT

IKEA Hack EXPEDIT
Amy Krist

 

IKEA Hack EXPEDIT
Honey Bear Lane

FAKTUM

IKEA Hack FAKTUM
IKEA Hackers - platform bed with storage

FAS  

IKEA Hack FAS
IKEA Hackers - table lamp

FIRA

IKEA Hack FIRA
Curbly

FJALKINGE

IKEA Hack FJALKINGE
100 Layer Cake-let

FOTO

IKEA Hack FOTO
Lulus - floor mirror 

 

IKEA Hack FROSTA
Design Sponge

 

FROSTA

IKEA Hack FROSTA
Coroflot

 

IKEA Hack FROSTA
Vtwonen

 

IKEA Hack FROSTA
Apartment Therapy

 

 

GRUNTDAL

IKEA Hack GRUNTDAL
Just a Girl and Her Blog

 

IKEA Hack GRUNTDAL
Apartment Therapy - wall mirror

 

HEAT

IKEA Hack HEAT
Curbly - IKEA hack gold wall mirror with

 

HEMMA
 

IKEA Hack HEMMA
Curbly via Instructables

HEMNES

IKEA Hack HEMNES
The Vault Files

HYLISS

IKEA Hack HYLISS
Remodelaholic
IKEA Hack HYLISS
Proverbs 31 Girl

INBJUDANDE

IKEA Hack INBJUDANDE
Poppytalk

INGO

IKEA Hack INGO
East Coast Creative

 

IKEA Hack INGO
IKEA Hackers

IVAR

IKEA Hack IVAR
Nur-Noch

 

IKEA Hack IVAR
IKEA

 

IKEA Hack IVAR
Nur Noch

 

IKEA Hack IVAR
Style by Emily Henderson

KALASA

IKEA Hack KALASA
Teste Di Legno

KLUBBO

IKEA Hack KLUBBO
Deko

LACK

IKEA Hack LACK
Hommie UK

 

IKEA Hack LACK
Triple Max Tons

 

LAPPLJUNG RUTA

IKEA Hack LAPPLJUNG RUTA
The House that Lars Built

LERBERG

IKEA Hack LERBERG
Weekday Carnival

 

IKEA Hack LERBERG
Burlap & Lace

 

LINNMON

IKEA Hack LINNMON + LERBERG
Advice From A Twentysomething  - simple desk

 

IKEA Hack LINNMON
Curbly - music production desk

 

LUDVIG

IKEA Hack LINNMON
IKEA Hackers - standing desk

MALM

IKEA Hack MALM
A Beautiful Mess

 

IKEA Hacks MALM
Curbly

 

IKEA Malm bedframe hack
Sugar & Cloth

 

MARIUS

IKEA Hack MARIUS
The Kitchy Kitchen 

 

IKEA Hack MARIUS
Curbly

MINNA

IKEA Hack MINNA
IKEA

 

MOPPE

IKEA Hack MOPPR
IKEA

MYSINGSO

IKE Hack MYSINGSO
Kristi Murphy

NORNAS

IKEA Hack NORNAS
A Beautiful Mess - bench

 

IKEA Nornas table hack
 Kicsihaz - bar cart

OLEBY

IKEA Hack OLEBY
Curbly - simple cutting board

RACKA

IKEA Hack RACKA
A Little Bit OCD

RANARP

IKEA Hack RANARP
Lovely Indeed

RAST

IKEA Hacks RAST
Bliss at Home

 

IKEA Hack RAST
Hello Lidy

 

IKEA Hack RAST
Decor 8 Blog

 

IKEA Hack RAST
Style Me Pretty - campaign dresser

 

IKEA Hack RAST
Redbook

 

IKEA Hack RAST
Addison Meadows Lane

 

IKEA Hack RAST
Hawthorne & Main

 

IKEA Hack RAST
Midwestern Girl DIY

RIBBA

IKEA Hack RIBBA
Curbly - under bed storage

 

IKEA Hack RIBBA
Lindsay Stephenson

RORT

IKEA Hack RORT
The Every Girl

SELJE

IKEA Hack SELJE
Curbly

 

IKEA Hack SELJE
See Kate Sew

SINNERLIG

IKEA Hack SINNERLIG
Curbly

 

SJOSLEV

IKEA Hack SJOSLEV
Hayley Photography

 

SKOGSTA

IKEA Hack SKOGSTA
Style Me Pretty

SKOGSVAG

IKEA Hack SKOGSVAG
Farm Fresh Therapy

SODERHAMN

IKEA Hack SODERHAMN
Petite Party Studio

STALL

IKEA Hack STALL
House Tweaking

 

STAVE

IKEA Hack STAVE
Curbly

 

SVARTAN

IKEA Hack SVARTAN
A Beautiful Mess

 

TARVA

IKEA Hack TARVA
In My Own Style

 

IKEA Hack TARVA
Cheaper and Better DIY

 

TRADIG

IKEA Hack TRADIG
IKEA Hackers - ceiling pendant lamp

TUPPLUR

IKEA Hack TUPPLUR
Curbly

VIKTIGT

IKEA Hack VIKTIGT
Curbly

VITTSJO

IKEA Hack VITTSJO
Little Green Notebook

 

IKEA Hack VITTSJO
Style Me Pretty

 

 

IKEA Hack VITTSJO
Style Me Pretty - bar cart

 

Vitttsjo Ikea hack coffee table
Simple Details

VURM

IKEA Hack VURM
Curbly - simple indoor herb garden

Yes, You Can Use a Paint Sprayer Indoors: Our Spare Room Makeover Proves It

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Painting a room with an indoor paint sprayer sames time and results in a more consistent finish. Here's how we used one to transform a spare bedroom.

Cozy Den Makeover Using a Paint Sprayer Indoors
Sponsored by Wagner and Trimaco

One of my favorite things about interior design and home improvement is discovering tools that help us do our job better. Painting is one of those jobs. We paint things all the time - walls, furniture, floors, baskets. Why? Because nothing transforms a space (or an object) quite like paint does.                 

But painting can also be a chore. It's time consuming, messy, and unforgiving. And it requires careful prep work. A few months ago, Bruno and I took part in a painting event at Wagner Spray Tech. Wagner specializes in paint sprayers that are total game changers. We had always been hesitant to use a paint sprayer indoors, but the folks at Wagner took us into their painting 'lab' and taught us some tricks, and I painted two large walls in less than 10 minutes. Then I looked at Bruno and said, "I'm never rolling a wall again." And I meant it. 

Not only did the indoor paint sprayer make the process go speedy-fast, but the paint coverage was flawless. No streaks, no thin areas that needed another coat, and no thick, drippy areas that needed to be retouched. It was the most satisfying painting experience of my life.

We recently completed a room makeover in our home, transforming an empty bedroom that served as a storage/play/catch-all nightmare room into a cozy den. The foundation for the whole room was a fresh coat of paint, and we were eager to experiment with spraying the walls vs. rolling and cutting in. 

From Catch-All Room to Cozy Den: Room Makeover

The Prep Work

Spraying the walls of a room will save you loads of time - like, hours. But, you have to prep your room in order to ensure total success. And that prep work depends on having the right masking and surface protection products. We used a few key supplies from Trimaco to make sure our room was prepped correctly.

Trimaco makes all the painting jobsite protection products professionals use, and they have something for everything you can think of. When spraying a room, don't be intimidated by the prep work - the truth is, even if you're just rolling and cutting in, you'd have to do the same amount of prep (taping around windows, trim, and baseboards).

We used two products that are an absolute must if you're spraying a room: 
- Tape & Drape: pre-taped masking film makes covering windows, doors, and other surfaces super fast and easy.
- Cling Cover: self-adhering protective plastic sheeting. It clings to almost any surface and also attracts over-spray and dust.

Here's how it all went down:

Prepping the Room: Tape and Drape Painter's Tape

We taped around all the windows and baseboards using Trimaco's Tape & Drape painter's tape. This tape it the bomb! Why? Because it comes with plastic attached to it. You simply apply the tape to the trim, then pull the plastic out to create big swaths of coverage. We applied this same tape along the ceiling line. 

Prepping a Room for a Paint Sprayer - Flooring

We covered our floor with a giant, non-slip drop cloth from Trimaco. Adding a tacky back to underside of a drop cloth was somebody's masterstroke because it stays put! 

Cover your shoes for paint job prep.

Bruno is gaga for gadgets and he likes to keep his work area super clean, so he insisted we wear plastic coverings on our feet. This was not totally necessary for a job like this, but this floor guard for shoes would be a great addition to a winter cocktail party where people want to keep there fancy shoes on in your house. I'm kidding ... maybe. 

Using a Paint Sprayer to Paint a Room

How to use a Paint Sprayer in an Interior Space

We used the Flexio 590 Handheld Paint Sprayer. It's perfect for an interior paint job like this, because it can cover an 8x10 foot space in 5 minutes! Before spraying, we added our paint to the sprayer and mixed in a bottle of Wagner's Paint Easy additive to thin the paint and help it go on smoothly. Don't let the notion of thinning your paint fool you into thinking the coverage will be poor. When paint is applied through a sprayed mist, the super-fine droplets land and attach to one another, making the finish smoother than the voice of Barry White.

Despite the fact that it was freezing when we painted the room, we opened the windows a bit for ventilation. I think anybody who paints indoors does this, but it's especially helpful when spraying a room, because you have paint particles hanging in the air. Wearing a mask is also important - it keeps the misty-fine particles out of your lungs. That said, the Flexio 590 doesn't over-spray nearly as much as you might guess. You won't feel like you're painting in the clouds.

Painting Walls with a Paint Sprayer

Bruno painted all four walls of the room in 20 minutes. That's it. 20 minutes and he was D-O-N-E. No second coats, no touch-ups. Can you even?

Here are some of our best tips for using an indoor paint sprayer:

1. Keep a damp cloth in your pocket to periodically wipe the tip of the sprayer - it can get blocked as the paint begins to harden. This is important! You'll need to wipe the tip more often than you think ... but doing so will keep the sprayer from clogging and splattering.

Paint Spraying Tip: Keep a Damp Cloth with You to Wipe the Tip of the Sprayer

2. Learn how to adjust the sprayer nozzle to change the spray pattern. A horizontal nozzle position creates a vertical pattern; a vertical nozzle creates a horizontal pattern. Putting the nozzle at a diagonal will generate more of a round spray pattern.

How to Paint a Room Using a Sprayer

3. Stand close to the wall and keep your sprayer 6-8 inches from the wall. The further back you go, the wider and thinner your painted area becomes. Standing close to the wall helps you get a nice, thick coat on the first try. You want to keep the sprayer closer to the wall than you think; if you feel weirdly close, you're probably doing it correctly. 

4. Apply the paint in strokes (we like horizontal strokes), and pull your finger off the trigger at the end of each pass to let the paint trail off (rather than doubling up an application by continuing to run the sprayer row-after-row). Overlap each spray pass by about 50% to ensure full coverage. 

This video on how to use a paint sprayer was extremely helpful in getting us up and running:

We let the paint cure for an hour, then I removed all the painter's tape and plastic film. We folded up the drop cloth, and the room was a perfect blank canvas set to become all denned out!

Before we show you all the pretty pictures of the finished room and talk about the design process, I really want to make sure you understand how smooth and efficient the painting process was. I feel like we have a golden key to Paintsville, and we have an obligation to pass on the ease of this method. It is a game changer. It makes painting so quick and easy. Try it out. I promise you'll breakup with your roller and your old ways. 

A Little Bit About the Den Transformation

For years, Bruno and I have been unsure about how to use the empty bedroom on our second floor. When we first moved in, it served as our baby boy's nursery, because our house was still under construction and our master bedroom was not complete. Once our remodel was done, we moved him into a larger bedroom, and this little room met an ugly fate: The room where all the misfit toys and furniture lands. I know many of you have a room (or closet) that's befallen this same sort of fate. It's a luxury to have a room like this, especially because you can close the door and kind of forget about it. But, it's also a big bummer. It bothered me that this totally legit room was being used for such a lousy purpose. 

Catch-All, Unloved Room

Bleh... what a shame of a room.

We wavered between making it a guest bedroom (it wouldn't get much use that way) and turning it into a den. Bruno was fairly opposed to having a television on the second floor near our peaceful bedrooms. But, our current first-floor TV situation wasn't working. Because of the configuration of our sunroom, the only furniture we could sit upon to watch a movie was a loveseat. We did this for years, spending many Friday movie nights with kids on our laps. But, our kids are now way too big to do this comfortably, and it was becoming more and more apparent that we needed some kind of family-friendly sofa in our lives. 

So Bruno got onboard with the second-floor den idea, and we made it happen in two weeks! We ordered a rug, chose a comfy sofa with a chaise (the best seat in the room), and bought a slightly larger television (but not a giant screened beast, because I'm completely opposed to them and don't ever want to feel like I have an actual movie theater in my home - I like going to the movie theater for that kind of thing). 

Here's how the room came together:

After: Cozy Den Makeover

I really love it. It feels a little more country/boho than anything we've designed before. But, this is exactly what I love about it. It's super cozy and understated, but a little hideaway-y and retro (the wall of wicker baskets is very 60s & 70s). And yet, it still feels like it belongs in our house.

Cozy Den Makeover

Cozy Den/TV Room Makeover

Cozy Den Makeover

Cozy Den Makeover

Cozy Den Makeover  

We're in love with our sweet, little den and thrilled with the ease and swiftness of the room's transformation. I hope you'll give spraying a try the next time you paint a wall because it'll save you so much precious time, and the results will be stunning!


Product List

 

Thanks to Wagner and Trimaco for sponsoring this post; all opinions are mine alone. And thanks to you, for supporting Curbly and the brand partners that help keep us going!


This Simple DIY Advent Gift Calendar Is Perfect for Adults

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Adult ADvent Calendar DIY project idea - materials

I'm going to use this platform to declare this: advent calendars are kinda the best. They capture all the excitement building in the hearts and minds of children and they temper it by delivering it in small doses the 24 days leading up to Christmas. Growing up, the method my parents employed was a drug store calendar filled with tiny poor-quality milk chocolates that my brother and I retrieved by poking our fingers through a small perforated square. And, we loved it! We looked forward to receiving those calendars every year – and I'm sure the small morsel of so-so-chocolate helped tame us a little bit.

Seeing the complete joy my own children get out of the advent calendar tradition got me thinking about why we don't give them to adults. I know we're the mature ones who have the composure and will-power to wait until Christmas to open our gifts ... but, c'mon, that's no fun. So this year I decided Bruno was going to partake in the slow trickle of magic that is advent.

Read on to see how I put an adult advent calendar together; maybe it'll inspire you to try one of your own. 


 

Materials

 

 

  • 24 boxes (envelopes or pillow boxes would do the trick too)
  • Numbered stickers
  • Twine
  • 24 knick-knacks (Most of mine were $5 and under) 

Step

Number your boxes 1 to 24.

 

Step

Fill them with treasures*.

 

 What to Put in Those Boxes for Your Adult Advent Calendar:

 

The sky's the limit, and yet, you want to keep those 24 treasures affordable. Here are some of the items I put inside the boxes:

 

Step

Wrap them up in twine whilst humming "My Favorite Things"

 

Step

Take great satisfaction in the knowledge that you are knowing you are making someone's day...

 

What special gifts or gestures or kindness are you planning this holiday season? I love to hear all the fun ideas our readers come up with, so please share yours in the comments!

 

    How to Make a Sweet Modern Advent Calendar Village

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    Wood Block & Test Tube DIY Advent Calendar Village
    Photo: Bruno Bornsztein

    It's advent calendar time! As I write this post, the Midwest is being walloped by a snow storm. Nothing inspires holiday decorating like many inches of snow, and to stave off decking all the halls, I created a little diy advent calendar village for our children. Read on for the full tutorial.

    Using blocks of wood and test tubes, I assembled a village full of tiny treasures to help our family celebrate the season. The great thing about using test tubes is that it ensures each day's surprise is small.

    advent town

    Creating your own diy advent calendar village is simple. We originally created 24 houses for this project, but the result was overwhelming, so we scaled back to a set of seven houses (to represent each week leading up to Christmas). 

    Wood block advent village

     

     

    Materials for DIY wood block advent calendar

     

    Materials

     

    • Wood: We used Basswood carving blocks.
    • 24 Test Tubes + Cork Stoppers
    • Drill + 3/4" Forstner Bit
    • Miter Saw
    • Acrylic Paint: We used gold and white.
    • A set of number stickers.
    • Tiny treats to fill your tiny test tubes.

     

    make Your DIY ADVENT CALENDAR:

    1. Cut your wood to size. Our houses ranged in size from 3.5" to 6" tall, and were about 2" thick. 
    2. Drill your holes into the blocks of wood. We used a 3/4" bit. It's important to drill the holes before you create your angled roofs because it's much easier to keep your holes plumb this way.
    3. Cut angled roofs on your houses. I think it works best to create a variety of peaks, slants, angles. Because, you know, houses come in all shapes and sizes.
    4. Lightly sand your houses.
    5. Using painter's tape, mark off the areas you'd like to paint on each house.
    6. Paint your houses. We used white paint on the faces of the houses and gold paint on the rooftops.
    7. Fill your test tubes and place them in their homes!

     

     

     

    I used a variety of small treats to fill my tubes, and I'll share some of my favorites with you because it was a challenge to find goodies small enough to fit inside a standard test tube. 

     

     

    What to put in your DIY advent calendar?

     

    • Edible Treats: Candy like M&Ms work well. Hot cocoa with marshmallows is another winner.
    • Crafts: I filled many tubes with beads and ribbons that came in $1 craft store sets. Some of these sets were too big to fit the test tube, so I placed only a part of them in the test tube (e.g. mini colored pencils).
    • Notes: In a few tubes, I placed a note indicating a special thing we'd do together as a family (e.g. "Bake cookies.", "Wrap presents.", "Take an evening drive to look at holiday lights."). Notes are also a great way to incorporate a service component into your calendar (e.g. "Shop for gifts for children and donate them to Toys for Tots"). I filled the tubes containing notes with confetti to make them more festive.

     

     

    The final result is a sweet village to help us count down the days until Christmas.

     

    If you like this how-to, do us a favor and share it on Pinterest:

    Pin this! DIY Wood Advent Calendar Village
    Thanks for helping us share this project on Pinterest!

     

    Tool School: Our New Studio Gallery Wall

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    Gallery wall hanging technique using a laser level
    This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

    On today's episode of #toolschool we're talking about gallery walls:

    I don't think I'll ever be over gallery walls. No matter their size, shape, or style, they never disappoint me. I love how much personality they have. I love that they can be perfectly symmetrical and organized, or relaxed and eclectic. No matter your style, the one thing you need when creating a gallery wall is balance. 

     

    I recently created a gallery wall in the new shop we're creating in the Curbly studio. It was different than any I've done before, and I discovered one brilliant trick to help me along the way. Read on to find out the secret weapon that will make your gallery wall come to life (without 75 extra nail holes).

     

    Before we get into the nitty gritty of this wall, let's take a little walk through the Curbly gallery wall archives...


    This lived in our dining room for years was assembled using Ikea RIBBA frames, beloved family photos, and the beautiful brains of Emily Henderson (plus the beautiful braun of Orlando Soria - who was the first person to prove to me that you really can measure twice and hammer once when assembling your wall). 

    Dining Room Gallery Wall Styled by Emily Henderson
    Photo: Melissa Oholendt

     

    Curbly House Gallery Wall by Emily Henderson
    Photo: Melissa Oholendt

     

    We've since replaced it with a collection of modern art prints that we love. But, seeing these photos makes me nostalgic 

    I don't know if our new dining room wall arrangement technically qualifies as a gallery wall, because it's only made up of five frames. But, I'll say this: The frames are huge, and the layout is gorgeous, and it spans the whole wall. It looks like a gallery to me.

    Minted Art Gallery Wall

     

    Minted Art Gallery Wall

    The arrangement we created in our new shop space includes a mix of frames, which instantly gives off an eclectic vibe. The wall consists of powerful women, and we wanted to come up with a way to make the experience of looking at the wall more personal. We mixed little mirrors into the wall so that women would see themselves in the wall. I love the concept, and I really love the way the wall came together. 

     

    A few more gallery wall resources

    Want to know how to start your gallery wall today, even if your art collection isn't complete? We tackled the subject a few years ago, and the tips are still relevant:

    Gallery wall how to
     

    Wondering how to build out an impressive gallery wall without spending an impressive amount? Here's how to hang a gallery wall on the cheap:

    Affordable gallery wall tutorial - how to make one without spending much money

     

    How to Speed Up Your Gallery Wall Game

     BOSCH 40FT Green Cross Line Laser 

    Like most 'tricks', this one really is just about having the right tool for the job. In this case, that tool is a laser level

    Because this gallery wall involved so many different types of frames (black, wood tones, and metal), and because the frames were several different sizes, and because it wasn't laid out within concise borders (like our dining room gallery), I needed to keep things bound and straight. I used a Bosch digital laser level to help accomplish this goal. The level was a godsend, because it allowed me to create straight lines, while being mindful of the boundaries of the wall.   

    BOSCH 40FT Green Cross Line Laser 

    Thanks to our #thdprospective partnership with The Home Depot, we've had the ability to test out several laser levels over the last few months. The one I grabbed for this job was the Bosch 40 ft. Self Leveling Cross Line Laser with VisiMax Green Beam. Here's why it's a good choice:

     

    • The green laser is extra-visible, up to four times more than standard red beams
    • With a 40-ft range, it's more than capable enough for around-the-house uses
    • It can be mounted on a tripod, or use the included clamp to attach it to almost anything
    • It's self-leveling, which means it's always easy to find a level line

    In addition to being great for hanging artwork, a laser level like this one is helpful when putting up shelving, aligning cabinet doors or hardware, setting tile, and just about any other use case when you want things to be straight and accurate.

     

    I'm thrilled with how the gallery wall turned out ... stay tuned for a full reveal (and a peek at our new shop) coming soon.

     

     

     

    This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. All opinions are mine alone. Thanks for reading, and for supporting the brands that make Curbly possible.

    I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the ProSpective2018 Campaign. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

    Studio to Shop: Transforming our Space into Something Entirely New

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    New Studio Shop Space

    We recently made a big change to our former studio space. We took it from a place that housed projects, DIYs, and our work stations, to something totally different, and something we're really proud of and excited to reveal.

     Curbly has officially been housed in this studio for the last 3 years, and it's provided an amazing place for the blog to grow and unfold. But, all good things involve change and making space for new things, and we've been quietly making a few of them around here. After trying to grow, grow, grow for the last few years, we decided to slow things down at the beginning of 2019. Both Bruno and I were creating new projects on the side, and the blog has felt like a project that needed some time to redefine and adapt. So, we're giving it space to do that, and we're both beginning to feel comfortable and confident with that decision.

    Curbly HQ Studio

    There's a parallel story that's been unfolding alongside my work with Curbly. For the last two years, I've been growing a business (called Niche) with my friend, Molly. We started out doing it on the side, and in between other jobs and responsibilities, but slowly, it's continued to grow and take up more space in our worlds. Our company centers around women's fashion, and we've held weekend-long pop-ups in our studio space every season over the last three years. It has been an incredible space, and one that we've loved transforming. 

    Over time, we came to the realization that we were ready for a brick and mortar space, and we looked high and low, never finding the quite right space. Before long, it became clear that the Curbly studio space was the perfect place for our shop. It was a seamless takeover, and one that has been thrilling to transform. 

    Using the space so differently is challenging and exciting from a design perspective, and Molly and I have relished the process of creating something new out of something old. The space has been reborn, in a sense, and the timing and unfolding has mirrored the changes taking place behind the scenes. 

    We've created a beautiful shop with the help of one of our favorite Curbly partners, Lamps Plus. Take a look at the process and photos of our new digs below...

    Like all good transformations, ours began with a couple of good mood boards.

    Studio to Shop Lounge Area

    Studio to Shop Mood Board

     

    And, here's how we brought it to life!

    Lounge Area in Niche

     

    When we began the process of turning the space over, we knew we wanted to maintain the familiar, welcoming vibe that existed in the studio. We wanted a lounge area for women to gather, so we created a lounge area that feels a lot like a living room.

    We chose a gorgeous, rich blue velvet sofa to anchor the lounge area; it's huge and comfortable and inviting. Our favorite part about this area is the gallery wall. We used an eclectic mix of vintage artwork and modern day photos of women we admire to create a wall of powerful women. We intentionally mixed in mirrors so that when you look at the wall, you glimpse yourself in the mirrors, and become a part of the wall. 

    Niche Gallery Wall

    I think gallery walls are magic, because they can be done without a lot of rules. The assembly of this wall required very little measuring and hammering (errr, re-hammering). I laid it out on the floor, and then transferred it to the wall frame-by-frame. I think it works so beautifully, because although it's not symmetrical or made up of uniform frames, it's balanced.   
     

    Niche Changing Room Area

     

    We created a cash wrap using a vintage wooden bar from the 80s (hey, Craigslist!) that we painted with a black lacquer. We wanted the area to feel open, and that's where that beautiful enormous gold mirror came into play. I love the vintage lines of the mirror paired with the modern lines of the wall sconces. 

    Niche Cash Wrap

    Our overall goal for the space was to have it feel welcoming and familiar. I think this feeling comes through in the smaller details. Like the velvet chairs, the vintage candle sconces, and the mix of old and new artwork. 

    Niche Nooks

    It's a transformation we feel proud of, and a space we can't wait to welcome women into for years to come. We officially opened our doors on March 23rd! If you live in the Twin Cities, come holla' at your girls, and make yourself at home in our new shop. 

    For those interested in the products we used in the space, here's a complete list:

    Furniture & Decor

    Lighting

    This post was sponsored by Lamps Plus. All thoughts, opinions, and ideas are mine alone. 

    Better Together: A Bold Vinyl Wall Decal and How to Apply It

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    Better Together Vinyl Wall Decal Application
    This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

    Earlier this week we shared some exciting news. We transformed our studio space into a bona fide retail shop! It's been a massive transformation, full of DIYs and clever hacks.

    One of my favorite pieces was creating an accent wall featuring our favorite mantra: Better Together. This phrase has been a part of Niche since its inception, and we wanted to work it into the space in a meaningful way. Since we're leasing the space, we decided that a vinyl decal would be the best solution for this feature wall. 

    We wanted the decal to be large-scale and bold, and hanging it was a mildly harrowing experience. Read on to discover the tricks up our sleeve.

     

    Our vinyl decal reads: Better Together. It's a phrase that's been at the heart of the work we do since the very beginning. We believe that women are best when they work collaboratively, support one another, and cheer loudest for one another. It's also a nod to our partnership, a great gift we discovered as we built a company together over the past few years. 

    Better Together Sign Application

    Although the phrase is powerful, we wanted the decal to have a low profile feel. We wanted the graphic to be large, yet light (so that it didn't detract from the merchandising of the wall). In the world of vinyl graphics, light = thinner lines. This meant we had to be meticulous with the placement of the decal so that it didn't become warped or crooked as we applied it to the wall. 

    We used a new 100-ft chalk line from Milwaukee and a healthy dose of teamwork to apply our decal to the wall, and it worked like a charm.

    Milwaukee Chalk Line
    Milwaukee 100 ft. Extra Bold Large Capacity Chalk Reel

    The chalk line was easy to apply, and such a lifesaver because it created a solid straight line that we could reference as we guided the decal onto the wall. We had great success with this method. Due to the scale of the decal, two sets of hands made all the difference, because one of us minded the line, while the other smoothed the decal onto the wall with the plastic rake.

    The new 100 ft. Extra Bold Large Capacity Chalk Reel has a planetary gear system providing longer gear life and smoother operation. It features a fast retraction ratio of 4:1, and the chalk string marks with an extra bold line

    Applying a Vinyl Decal with a Chalk Line

    The result is gorgeous, and quietly powerful. We had our grand opening party last week, and it was thrilling to see so many women gather under the banner of our mantra. We hope this saying inspires everyone who sets eyes on it to get swept up in the writing on the wall. 

    Better Together Decal

     

    This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. All opinions are mine alone. Thanks for reading, and for supporting the brands that make Curbly possible.

    I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the ProSpective2018 Campaign. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

     

    Curbly Pumpkin Challenge: Make Quirky Pumpkin Dioramas

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    Photo: Bruno Bornsztein

    The best school assignment in the world is the diorama. It's an indisputable fact: Gathering tiny objects and assembling them into a scene is delightfully gratifying.  

    For our Halloween pumpkin challenge, we decided to do a take on the diorama after being inspired by this die-o-rama from The Art of Doing Stuff, and this terrarium by The Paper Mama.

    We bought a family set of foam pumpkins from our local craft shop and decided to make a distinct scene in each one. Our themes were: Fairies (our 5-year-old daughter's brainchild), Space, and the Arctic.

     

    Here's what we used to create our pumpkin scenes:

    • Foam Craft Pumpkins (4)
    • Acrylic Craft Paint + Brushes (for painting the interiors of the pumpkins)
    • TOOB Figurines (Fairies, Space, Arctic)
    • Knick-knacks and Paddy-whacks to enhance your scene (e.g. moss, silk flowers, stickers, lights, etc.)
    • LED candles to light your scene

    Here's what we did to make our scenes:

    1. Trace a circle on a craft pumpkin to help guide your cut.

      Making a Pumpkin Diorama // Curbly.com

      Making a Pumpkin Diorama // Curbly.com
    2. Cut out the shape using an X-acto knife. Note: The interior of the pumpkin smells a lot like a jar of Maraschino cherries.
      Making a Pumpkin Diorama // Curbly.com
    3. Paint the interior of pumpkin. Note: Ours took the better part of a day to fully dry.
      Making a Pumpkin Diorama // Curbly.com
      Making a Pumpkin Diorama // Curbly.com
    4. Place your pumpkin fillers inside. We found that using toothpicks and wire to hold figures in place works well with the foam pumpkin.

      Making a Pumpkin Diorama // Curbly.com

      Making a Pumpkin Diorama // Curbly.com
    5. Light your scene using LED candles. Note: We used battery powered string lights to light our space scene. To do this we simply drilled holes into the pumpkin and threaded a light through each hole.

     

    And here are close-ups of our finished pumpkins!

     

     

     

    The best part of this project was the fact that it was virtually mess-free; no pumpkin guts, no kid burn out. The end results are also pretty magical - we can't wait to adorn our front stoop with these pumpkin dioramas on Halloween night! 

    This post originally published in October 2014. But, we're bringing it back because pumpkin dioramas are timeless. Don't forget to check out all the other entries in the Curbly Pumpkin Challenge!
     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs

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    50 Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs

    Spring has sprung and Easter egg season is here! Gone are the days of simply dropping tablets into water and vinegar and plastic-wrapping your eggs. Though there's nothing wrong with the classic method, the sky is really the limit when it comes to egg decorating, and DIYing a dozen has never been easier or more beautiful. We've rounded up fifty of the best DIY egg-dyeing and decorating projects to inspire you!

     

    Black and white line drawn eggs
    Alice + Lois

    1. Mudcloth Eggs: These eggs are modern, minimal, and so stunning. 

     

    dyed robin's eggs
    Honestly Yum

    2. Dyed Robin Eggs: Dyed with cabbage and flecked with edible gold dust, these eggs are safe to eat in addition to being gorgeous.

     

    super hero tattooed eggs
    Brit + Co.

    3. Tattooed Eggs: Ink those eggs! These easy egg tattoos go on in just thirty seconds, and look crisp as can be.

    floral watercolor eggs
    Dream A Little Bigger

    4. Watercolor Floral Eggs: Food coloring + Paintbrush + Sharpie + (Artistry) = These gorgeous eggs that make me think of Rifle Paper Co. flowers!

     

    gold leaf eggs
    She Knows

    5. Gold Leaf Eggs: They're delicate and timeless.

     

    easter eggs with botanical illustrations
    The House That Lars Built

    6. Botanical Eggs: Moody eggs so beautiful that I want to quit my day job and craft them for a living. 

    punny typography eggs
    Lovely Indeed

    7. Typography Eggs: #springy #punny #eggs

     

    modge podged foliage on easter eggs
    Say Yes

    8. Foliage Eggs: You can put all the spring flowers on your eggs!

     

    pinneaple egg decoration
    Studio DIY

    9. Pineapple Egg: Transform your egg into fruit!

     

    indigo eggs
    Alice + Lois

    10. Indigo Eggs: These are my very favorite eggs on the list, and they're easy to make! And guess what? You can marble with shaving cream too!

     

    pantone color swatch eggs
    How About Orange

    11. Pantone Eggs: Organize those eggs by color!

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye & Decorate Easter Eggs
    Delia Creates

    12. Southwestern Eggs: It doesn't get much better than a blooming cactus. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye & Decorate Your Easter Eggs
    The Crafted Life

    13. Ombre Eggs: Easter eggs with just the right amount of color and shading. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye & Decorate Easter Eggs
    Our Best Bites

    14. Silk Tie Eggs: I just learned that you can color an egg using a silk tie! Mind exploded!

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye + Decorate Easter Eggs
    Earnest Home Co. 

    15. Black & White Eggs: Classic colors + classic design.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye & Decorate Easter Eggs
    Alisa Burke

    16. Eggs a Dozen Ways: Using a variety of everyday materials, you can create a special dozen. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye + Decorate Easter Eggs
    Sugar + Charm

    17.Mosaic Eggs: A beautiful resolution to the Humpty Dumpty situation.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate + Dye Easter Eggs
    Kittenhood

    18. Star Sign Eggs: What's your sign? Turn your Easter into a horological experience by hand-painting astrological signs onto those mini-orbs.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye + Decorate Easter Eggs
    Oh Joy!

    19. Dip Dyed Eggs: Half-egg, half-neon! All geometric fun.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    The Merry Thought

    20. Moss Eggs: Delicate spring grass glued on an egg. These are cool, and, for some reason, also slightly weird to me.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye & Decorate Easter Eggs
    Squirrelly Minds

    21. Paint Splatter Eggs: It doesn't get much easier than splattering paint on an egg. Jackson Pollock would approve.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye + Decorate Eggs
    Brit + Co.

    22. Galaxy Eggs: These eggs are out of this world.

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye + Decorate Easter Eggs
    Paper & Stitch

    23. Pink Moon Eggs: Nick Drake-style Easter eggs for the emo among us. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye + Decorate Easter Eggs
    Bitte Shop

    24. Easter Bunny Eggs: Sweet bunny eggs asleep in their cozy egg onesies. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye & Decorate Easter Eggs
    Let's Mingle Blog

    25. Sprinkle Eggs: These confetti eggs are ready to party! Super easy to make, they bring lots of colorful fun.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye + Decorate Easter Eggs
    We Are Scout

    26. Chalkboard Eggs: Create a new design every day with this clever idea. Now you just need to learn to draw those cute bunnies!

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate and Dye Easter Eggs
    Paper & Stitch

    27. Artist Egg: Portrait of an artist as a young egg. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye & Decorate Easter Eggs
    Lovely Indeed

    28. Washi Tape Eggs: Tiny taped shapes turn these plain white ovoids into funky fun.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye + Decorate Easter Eggs
    The Proper Blog

    29. His & Her Eggs: Lips and a moustache are the only disguise these eggs wear.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate & Dye Easter Eggs
    Sarah Hearts

    30. Monogrammed Eggs: Your initials or an Easter greeting on the incredible, edible egg. Happy typography for the win!

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate and Dye Easter Eggs
    Oh So Beautiful Paper

    31. Tropical Leaf Eggs: A jungle of boho styling makes these botanical Easter Eggs extra special.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate and Dye Easter Eggs
    Brit + Co.

    32. Pointillism Eggs: Dotty designs using any shape you choose. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate & Dye Easter Eggs
    Martha Stewart

    33. Lace-Dipped Eggs: Tightly wrap eggs in lace before they take the dip-dye plunge. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate and Dye Easter Eggs
    Live Well Travel Often

    34. Penned Eggs: White pen + Brown egg = Delicate designs. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Your Easter Eggs
    Oh Happy Day

    35. Calligraphied Eggs: Beautiful script for all your Easter wishes.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye & Decorate Easter Eggs
    Oh So Beautiful Paper

    36. Pink and Gold Mist Eggs: A hint of pink, a dash of gold. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    Urban Comfort

    37. Striped Eggs. A super-slick way to stripe your eggs. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    Mom Spark

    38. Quilted Eggs: Patches of dye and painted stitches create eggs that are practically cozy.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    A Subtle Revelry

    39. Silly Face Eggs: Quirky, colorful eggs with abstract expressions.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate and Dye Easter Eggs
    My Melodrama

    40. Decoupage Eggs: Use these tropical images to deck those eggs.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Decorate and Dye Easter Eggs
    Design Improvised

    41. Stenciled Eggs: Using tape and the shapes of your choosing, you can create patterns to your heart's content. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    Oh Joy!

    42. Confetti Eggs: Bring the party to your ovoids. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs.
    Tera Janelle

    43. Marbled Gold Eggs: Using grape juice and paint you can create a marbled dozen.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    Freutcake

    44. Nylon Floral Eggs: Beautiful designs using nature and netting. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    Super Make It

    45. Highlighter Pen Eggs: Achieve a watercolor look with a set of highlighter markers.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    Delineate Your Dwellig

    46. Fruit & Veggie Stamped Eggs: The tiniest produce on display.

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    The Inspired Room

    47. Marker Colored Eggs: Use markers to make a set of colorful spring eggs. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    The Casual Craftlete

    48. Paper Napkin Eggs: These paper napkin eggs remind me of classic Scandinavian design and they are a piece of cake to make. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Eggs
    Sugar & Charm

    49. Gradient Eggs: Put your dozen in a row and gradually deepen the color. 

     

    The 50 Best Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
    Unsophisticook

    50. Rubber Cement Eggs: You can make cool shapes and swirls using a double-dye process and rubber cement. 

     

    Whew! We made it! Fifty gorgeous, completely DIYable Easter eggs for you to decorate this spring. Now, hop to it!

     

     

     

     

     

     


    DIY Halloween Curio Boxes

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    DIY Halloween Curio Boxes


    Halloween is coming, and with it an explosion of orange and black. The holiday's signature colors may be my least favorite color combination of all time. So, I put them in a box and it made all the difference. 

    To make your own set of Halloween curios, here's what you'll need:

     

    Supplies:

    • Paper mache or wooden curio box. I found mine at Michaels for less than $10. Here are some similar options - house and rectangle
    • Acrylic paint. I used Liquitex in grey, white, and gold.
    • Foam brushes.
    • Halloween trinkets! Your local craft store will have a covey of these. You can also find a big collection here
       

     

    DIY Halloween Curio Boxes

    Step-by-Step:

    DIY Painted Paper Mache Curio Boxes for Halloween

    Paint your curio boxes. If you want to forgo the traditional black and orange like I did, opt for a more neutral color palette like grey, gold, and white. Along the way, I learned that paper mache requires many layers of paint. Many!

    Painted Halloween Curio Boxes

    Fill those boxes with your Halloween goodies. We housed a variety of objects in our Halloween curios. Everything from holiday-related items - like the PEZ dispenser, to orange cars that we had in the mix.

    Display your curios! We adhered ours to the wall with Command strips, but they would be adorable standing alone on a mantel atop your Edgar Allen Poe collection.  

    DIY Halloween Curio Boxes
    DIY Halloween Curio Boxes
    DIY Halloween Curio Boxes

    A few notes...

    • My favorite part about this project was that it was fun for my kids. They are still too young to seek out the gorey side of Halloween, but they love little trinkets and treasures. Collecting items to put in the curios was there favorite part of the project and they are forever moving things around and adding new treasures as they find them.
       
    • If you can find curio boxes made from wood, they will probably be much easier to paint. Because, as I mentioned above, there were many layers of paint put on the paper mache boxes I had. Spray paint may have been a better option for the base coat. 

     

     

     

     

    No Carve Milk Glass Pumpkins

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    DIY a set of hobnail milk glass pumpkins

    We're back today with another no carve easy-peasy pumpkin (check out our mud cloth one from yesterday). We're kicking it old school with a milk glass pumpkin that manages to look classically vintage whilst sporting a clean, modern pattern.

     
    We were inspired by this tutorial from Spray Paint & Chardonnay, but ordered our steps a little differently. 

    Materials

     

     

    Step

    To create the hobnail effect, put a million dots on your faux pumpkins using 3D puff paint. Let them dry for 24 hours.

    DIY your very own hobnail milk glass pumpkins

    Step

    Cover your pumpkins with spray paint. You may need 2 coats depending on the original color of your faux pumpkin.

    DIY your very own hobnail milk glass pumpkins

     

    DIY your very own hobnail milk glass pumpkins

    DIY your very own hobnail milk glass pumpkins

    Make It! DIY Life-Sized Folded Paper Christmas Tree

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    Make this sweet and simple DIY folded paper Christmas tree!

    Christmas trees aren't for everyone. They can be pricey when you're on a budget, tricky in a small apartment, and nearly impossible with pets. 

    This year we came up with a super affordable, easy to assemble, clever tree that only requires a wall, a roll of tape, a stapler, dexterous fingers, and about an hour of your time. Right? Right! Let's make one.     

     

    Materials

    Step

    Fold 50 sheets of paper the long way in an accordion pattern. Start by folding the paper in half, lengthwise and then fold the two ends in toward the middle. Your paper will look like the letter "M" (or "W" if you please) while on its side.

     

    Step 

    Staple the long ends of the paper together and repeat. You'll want roughly 6 sets of paper that are 10 sheets, or "M"s long.

     

    Step 

    Fold another 30-40 sheets of paper widthwise in the same accordion pattern. You'll want the height of your fold to be roughly the same size as your previous folds. You can eyeball it or use one of your previous folds as a template.

     

    Step 

    Staple the short ends of paper together and repeat. 
     

    Step

    Attach the first set of 10 "M"s to the bottom of the wall with tape. The first layer should be your longest. You can make the subsequent ones shorter as you create a true tapered tree shape. We used Scotch tape for this because I have never had a bad experience with Scotch tape on a painted wall. But, you could easily use removable GlueDots or another adhesive of your choosing. The stapled together "M"s will have a fan-like look and you'll want to let the drape that occurs with the weight of your paper hang a little bit. It makes it more tree-like as you build up your tree. 

    Step

    Continue to build your tree, row by row. As you add layers, you may need to begin trimming the ends off of your rows of "M"s. We took about an inch off of 3 sets of the long "M"s and 1-3 inches off of 2 sets of the shorter "M"s. We continued tapering until we reached the top of the tree.

    DIY Festive Folded Paper Christmas Tree

    DIY Festive Folded Paper Christmas Tree

    Step

    To create your tree's top, simply accordion fold a sheet of paper, staple the top and fan out the bottom before attaching it to the wall.

    And, there you have it, folks! Your own, joyful little wall tree made of paper and your own two hands.

    DIY Festive Folded Paper Christmas Tree

    DIY Festive Folded Paper Christmas Tree


    Love this project? Share your love by pinning it!
    DIY Festive Folded Paper Christmas Tree

     

     

    Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Fabric + An Easy Project to Try Today!

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    DIY Large-Scale Tapestry Wall Art

    Fabric is a staple in the home and one of the most versatile materials to DIY with. We've teamed up with our friends at Fabric.com to head down a fabric rabbit hole - exploring everything from fibers, to trends in patterns and colors, to the easiest projects you can create with fabric.

    And for those of you who want to try your hand at a project, we came up with a super simple, stunning DIY wall art idea you can create using your favorite fabric and slats of wood.

     

    Table of Contents

    Some of Our Favorite Fabrics to Try in Your Home Right Now

    Whether you're considering a very basic toss pillow cover, or thinking about whipping up a new set of drapes for your living room, these are some of our favorite prints, patterns, and fabrics to consider:

    Indigo-Inspired

    Indigo Fabric Inspiration Board
    Top: Plaid Shirting / Nate Berkus Santa Maria / Floral Indigo
    Bottom: Lacefield Mumbai / Tribal Vintage Indigo / Inda Ikat

    Indigo is a color that's traditionally thought of as being somewhere between blue and purple on the color spectrum, and with a definite mood associated. It's named after the Indigofera Tinctoria plant from which the dye is derived. 


    Pretty Plums & Blushes

    Plums & Blushes Fabric Inspiration Board
    Top: Linen Rose / Bright Heart Oh Deer / Kona Cotton Plum
    Bottom: Whisper Triangles / Shirting Wine / Flannel Plaid & Stripes

    We're seeing plum colors and blushes coming back in a big way. These pink fabric shades are perfect for clothing (think: dresses, shoes, accessories). Of course, blush colored bridesmaid dresses come to mind quickly, but all sorts of pink clothing ideas make sense. 


    Botanical

    Botanical Fabric Inspiration Board
    Island Hopping / Tropical Botanics / Fronds

    Bohemian (boho-chich) is trending hard right now, and for good reason. Boho clothing, rugs, home decor and and even jewelry are beautiful and simple to make or find.  Would you make a boho wedding dress out of one of these fabrics? Not so sure; but maybe for some brave soul!

    Florals

    Floral Fabric Inspiration Board
    Top: Dwell Saskia / Floralism Azure / Les Fleures
    Bottom: Dwell Ming Dragon Admiral / Baroque Peacock Roses / Toscana Tile

    Ahhhh ... florals. So calm, relaxing, and joyful. Any of these floral print fabrics would make a great wall-hanging (or even wallpaper, if you're really creative). For that matter, you could take a nice picture of one and use it as a floral background for your phone or desktop. 


    Black & White

    Black & White Fabric Inspiration Board
    Top: Quirky Pinstripe / Flock Velvet / Remix Crosses
    Bottom: Pique Squares / Handcut Shapes / Wool Houndstooth

    Black and white is always so simple, stunning, and classic. It's just really hard to go wrong with a black and white color palette. Black and white curtains are a great way of incorporating some bold pattern in your decor. Or put that pattern on the floor as a rug, or over a couch as a throw! 

     

    Looking for something else? Check out the huge selection of fabrics available at Fabric.com. They have more than 500,000 yards of fabric in stock, and offer free shipping on orders over $49. 

     

    Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Fabric

     

    Fabric 101

    Fibers are the basic components that make up fabric. There are two classifications of fibers: natural and synthetic (man made and regenerated) fibers. Natural fibers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are derived from plants and animals.

    Synthetic fibers are usually filaments that are extruded and cut to a desired length. Manufactured regenerated fibers are made from the chemical-induced transformation of natural polymers.

    In a nutshell, fibers are organized into the following categories:

     

    • Natural: Cotton, silk, linen (flax), hemp, leather, wool, and luxury fibers such as alpaca and angora.
    • Regenerated: Acrylic, Acetate, and Rayon (and more)
    • Synthetic: Polyester, Spandex, Nylon (and more)
    • Blends: Poly/Cotton, Spandex/Cotton (blends aim to combine the best characteristics of each fabric, e.g. polyester/cotton blends breathe well and wrinkle less)

    When working with fabric in home decor and design, these fabrics are the ones you will most frequently meet:

     

    Cottons: Cotton is abundant, available in different styles, colors, and nearly every print and pattern you can dream up. Cotton fabric is prone to shrinking (remember to account for this when ordering), and should most certainly be washed and dried prior to use.
    Best Use: light-filtering curtains, quilts, toss pillows

     

    Heavyweight Fabrics - Duck, Canvas, and Denim: These fabrics are much heavier and thicker than basic cotton and are, therefore, substantially more sturdy.
    Best Use: outdoor projects, toss pillow covers, upholstery

     

    Flannel: Flannel is similar to a basic cotton, but one side is generally soft to the touch. Flannel is prone to pilling though, so take care with washing and caring for it.
    Best Use: blankets, toss pillow covers

    Flannel Fabric

    Fabricut Left Bank Flannel

     

     

     

    Wool: Wool is a natural fiber with built-in insulation properties. It's also durable and 100% wool is fire retardant. In home decor, wool blends are ideal because they're softer and less scratchy than 100% wool.

    Best Use: blankets, toss pillow covers, upholstery

     

    Home Decor or Upholstery Fabric: These fabrics come on large rolls and are offered in much wider lengths than other fabrics. They are generally high-quality and will hold up well to home use.
    Best Use: curtains, rugs, upholstery

     

    Helpful Fabric Vocabulary

    Fabric Grainlines from Isn't That Sew
    Fabric Grainlines from Isn't that Sew

     

    Selvage: The thin, self-finished edge of fabric. Selvages are tightly woven to prevent the fabric from unraveling or fraying. Wikipedia

    Cross grain: The crosswise grain is perpendicular to the lengthwise grain or selvage edge. The cross grain is also known as the "weft". Isn't that Sew

    Straight grain: The straight/lengthwise grain of the fabric is parallel to the selvage edge. The straight grain is also known as the "warp". Isn't that Sew

    Bias: A garment made of woven fabric is said to be "cut on the bias" when the warp and weft threads are at 45° angle to its major seam lines. Wikipedia


    10 Beginner Fabric Projects to Try Today

    10 Easy Fabric Projects To Try for Your Home

    Super-Simple Dishtowels - A simple pattern, an even simpler project.

    Easy No-Sew Curtains - The fabric of your choosing, Stitch Witchery, an iron, and time is all you need to make yourself a new set of curtains.

    Magnetic Ironing Mat - A mat that sticks to the top of your dryer for the most efficient laundry day you can imagine!

    Sweet and Simple Potholders - A stylish, functional project to hold all the hot things.

    Floor Cushions - Fabric + Bed Pillows = Cozy Floor Cushions

    Mitered-Corner Dinner Napkins - Create your own set of napkins with this basic sewing project.

    Reversible Fabric Storage Bin - Cuts, folds, and an iron get you a darling set of storage bins.

    Folding Magazine Rack - Hardwood dowels and fabric combine to make a modern magazine rack.

    10-Minute One-Piece Envelope Pillow Covers - A quick and simple sewing project that's perfect for beginners!

    Fabric Pots for Your Plants - Wrap your house plants in gorgeous prints.

     

    The Best Tools & Books to Help You with Fabric Projects

    Gingher Fabric Scissors: Sharp blades and fabric are a match made in heaven.

    Brother CS6000I Sewing Machine: If you're looking for a great, reliable, basic machine, than look no further. This is the sewing machine we own, and though it has the potential to do fancy things, I use it strictly for straight lines. On lightweight and upholstery-weight fabrics it has held up well for the last 6 years.

    Fiskars Cutting Mat: I love this set for its size and simplicity.

    Soapstone Fabric Marker:Drawing lines on your fabric is required in nearly every sewing project. These markers are a favorite because they wash out.

    First Time Sewing:While I can't personally vouch for this book, it's well reviewed on several sewing sites; in fact several people recommend it in lieu of a class.

    The Sewing Book: An Encyclopedic Resource of Step-by-Step Techniques: Like, First Time Sewing, this book is well reviewed and celebrated for its clear, visual coverage of sewing basics.

    Singer Complete Photo Guide to Sewing: This book is recommended as a supplement to a sewing class. The photos are helpful for visual learners, but a reasonably solid understanding of the basics is recommended in order for this book to be most beneficial.

     

    5 Fabric & Sewing Blogs to Follow


    Purl SOHO: Dozens upon dozens of gorgeous sewing tutorials for your home.

    A Fashionable Stitch: Sunni covers everything from clothing to home goods - with a side of wit that will endear her to you.

    Madalynne: Maddie Flanigan has a wonderfully detailed 'Best of 2016' section that's not to be missed.

    Closet Case Files: Modern trends and helpful tutorials.

    Mood Fabrics: The famous Project Runway fabric shop has a blog full of useful information - like how to sew seams!

     

    DIY Large-Scale Wall Tapestry: Using Fabric as Art

    It's an undisputable fact that framed fabric makes bold, beautiful artwork. It's affordable and easy to work with, and it can get you the scale you want without bleeding your pocketbook. We created a gorgeous, massive, focal point using a large span of fabric in a vibrant print, hem tape, a staple gun, and sanded and stained wooden slats.. Here's how you can do the same:

    Materials

    • Fabric - We used 4 yards of upholstery-weight fabric. The fabric was 54 in. wide and we trimmed it to an 80 in. length. Buy it today:
       

      P KaufmannLongrock Fiesta

      Screen printed on cotton duck; this versatile medium weight fabric is perfect for window treatments (draperies, valances, curtains and swags), accent pillows, duvet covers and upholstery. Colors include orange, citrine, grey, charcoal, plum, teal, green and tan.

      P Kaufmann Longrock Fiesta Fabric

    • 2 Wooden Slats - 1 in. by 3 in., cut to 56 in. length (Pro tip: Most home improvement stores will cut lumber for you if you don't have a saw yourself)
    • Sand Paper
    • Wood Stain
    • Twine
    • 2 Screw Eye Hooks
    • Iron-On Hem Tape
    • Iron
    • Staple Gun

    What Materials You'll Need to Make A Hanging Fabric Tapestry

    Step

    How to build a wall tapestry using wood slats and fabric.

    Using a piece of sand paper, sand away any rough edges from the wooden slats.

    Step

    Make cheap wall art by using stained wooden slat and fabric.

    In a well-ventilated area, apply wood stain to all sides of the wood slats. Let dry completely.

    Step

    Use iron-on hem tape to make some inexpensive wall art!

    While the wood stain is drying, lay the fabric right-side down on a large surface that can be ironed on (i.e. carpeting, a large blanket, or towels). Set the iron to a medium, dry heat. Lay out the iron-on hem tape about 1/2 inch from the selvedge edge of the fabric. Use the iron to adhere the tape. It takes 2-3 seconds of pressure for the hem tape to stick. Once the hem tape has cooled, remove the paper backing.

    Step

    Iron-on hem tape makes this DIY hanging tapestry a breeze to make!

    Fold the selvedge edge down 1/2 inch, and iron the fold down on the tape. It will take 5-7 seconds for the hem tape to adhere to the back of the fold. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the opposite side of the fabric, creating two hems down the sides of the tapestry.

    Step

    Making large-scale wall art can be easy... and cheap!

    Once the stained wood has completely dried, screw in two eye hooks to the top of one of the wood slats.

    Step

    Using a staple gun, wooden slats, and fabric, you can make large-scale wall art at an affordable price.

    Lay one of the non-hemmed edges of the fabric across the back of one of the wooden slats. Fold down the raw edge of the fabric, and staple in place across the back of the wooden slat. Repeat the process for the opposite end of the fabric on the second wooden slat.

    Step

    Want to fill the walls in your home but don't want to spend a bunch of money? Try this DIY large-scale wall hanging.

    Tie a piece of twine to the eye hooks to hang. Done!

    DIY Large-Scale Tapestry Wall Hanging - fabric: P Kaufmann Longrock Fiesta from Fabric.com
    Easy DIY Wall Tapestry. Fabric: P Kaufmann Longrock Fiesta

     

    DIY Large-Scale Tapestry Wall Hanging

    DIY Large-Scale Tapestry Wall Hanging

     

    Thinking about trying this project later? Pin it to Pinterest! You know? Pinterest?

    DIY Large-Scale Tapestry Wall Art - P Kaufmann Longrock Fiesta fabric from Fabric.com

     

    This post was sponsored by Fabric.com. Thank for supporting the brands that support Curbly!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIY Valentine Bouquet Wraps + Printable Love Quotes

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    DIY quotable bouquets
    Even if Valentine's Day isn't your thing, flowers should be. And if Valentine's Day is your thing (it's definitely mine), then you're going to love this DIY project. We put together a simple way to present your blossoms to your boo, your bestie, or your bae. And, we've added a few free! printable! adornments you can add to your bouquet. Read on to find out how.

     

    Materials

     

    Valentine's Day wrapped bouquet printable

     

    • Flowers - Pick your favorites! We chose tulips, spray roses, and ranunculus
    • Brown kraft paper or paint masking paper- It's classic and versatile and stunning with ribbon (are you humming the line, Brown paper packages, tied up with string. These are a few of my favorite things...? I am!)
    • Mylar tissue paper
    • Ribbon and baker's twine
    • Scissors + washi tape
    • Optional: If you want to dress up your kraft paper, grab some paints and a brush and paint the town (brown?) red. We did quick Xs and Os, lips, and hearts.
    • Printable tags - These are your final touch!  Download the PDF here!

    Step

    Make pretty patterns on your brown craft paper

    Add a few simple designs to your brown kraft paper. I did Xs & Os, lips, hearts, and arrows using acrylic craft paint.

     

    Step

    Trim the paper to clean up any ragged edges.

    Ready to wrap your bouquets

    Trip your kraft paper to size. You'll only need about a foot for a small bouquet like the ones I made.

    Step

    Line your kraft paper with mylar and wrap your bunch. Don't worry about making it look perfect. A simple wrap that's tighter at the bottom and more open at the top looks great.

    Tie your bouquets

    Wrap the bouquest in mylar

    Step

    Add a ribbon to the outside of your wrapped bouquet. 

    Finish the bouquet with a ribbon

     

    Step

    Print out the free PDF bouquet tags and cut them to size. Attach tags to your bundle with a strip of washi tape.

    hand painted wrapped Valentine's bouquest

    Valentine's bouquest

    Quote bouquet

    Quote bouquet

     

     

     

    What are your favorite Valentine's Day DIY projects?
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