Tag Archives: ideas

Overlays + Ikea Furniture

While we were at Ikea picking up our dining room shelves, we also decided to buy their white 6 drawer Malm dresser for my office. Normally I hate Ikea furniture, but look how pretty the dresser looks with O’verlays! I plan to pretty it up with one of these fretwork designs.

{Top 3 favs}

I’m a little obsessed with the greek keys…

So pretty!!!

{Above images via Amanda Carol}

Or there’s this gorgeous classic design

{Via My O’verlays}

I could even add pulls to dress it up more

{Via Danika & Cheryle Blogspot}

{Via Pinterest}

There are so many choices, but I think my fav is the greek key design. Out of the 3 options which is your favorite?

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Washi Tape Corkboard DIY

I found this awesome idea for a corkboard on Pinterest. This was so easy, I literally made this in 20 mins!

{Supplies used}

* 4 pack of 12″ corkboard tiles – found at Michaels

* Japanese Washi tape in your fav color. 15mm size – found on Etsy or here

* 1.5 inch Masking tape (I used frog tape since that’s all we had)

* Scissors

I taped the first piece diagonal across the corkboard  leaving about 1/2 inch on either side to tape to the back

Then I took the frog tape and used it to spacer for the rest of the pink washi tape

Repeat on the other 3 corkboards..

You can do this design or.. switch the tiles around and make this design

and you’re done! Now just stick the tiles to the wall with the adhesive squares provided.

Pretty cute huh?

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Craigslist Buffet Transformation

I’m back!! Sorry for my absence. I’ve had a lot going on recently (business-wise)  and was feeling a little un-inspired in the home decor department.

I’m feeling rejuvenated and ready to share some fun upcoming projects with you! Which brings me to my latest project..

After about a year of searching Craigslist for an antique buffet/sideboard (apparently I am kind of picky) I finally found the perfect piece!

Here’s what it looked like before:

 It has all the intricate details I was after – stunning turned legs, scalloped wood & tons of gorgeous wood detailing.

After a good sanding, 3 coats of paint, stenciling and new hardware.. here is what the buffet looks like after:

Cute right?

{Supplies used}

* 1 gallon Behr paint in pure white satin finish – Home Depot

* 1 gallon Martha Stewart Dolphin Gray in satin finish – Home Depot

* Electric sander –  $30 at Home Depot

* Martha Stewart stencil pack with quatrefoil stencil – Found at Michaels  here

* Martha Stewart sponge paint roller & tray – Found at Michaels here

* New hardware from Anthropology

Now to get started:

Step 1 – Remove hardware & doors. Sand down the wood to remove shine & any scratch marks – I used 80 grit sand paper for this. I had to sand the legs by hand (UGH).

PS. Yes I know my garage looks like a junk yard. We need to have a  garage sale, don’t judge!

Step 2 – Vacuum sanding dust then wipe down entire piece with damp cloth.

Step 3 – Paint time! In both paints I bought the primer & paint all in one, since I really hate priming. Using the all in one paint worked great.

I did 3 coats of white – in some spots I had to do 4 coats

I painted the cabinet doors with 2 coats Dolphin Gray

Step 4 – Stenciling. I decided to use the quaterfoil stencil from the Martha Stewart stencil pack. I was a little tricky at first to get the hang of it. The second drawer was definitely better than my first, but I don’t really mind.

Tape down your stencil, making sure it’s straight.

Only use a small amount of paint on your sponge roller, and gently roll over the stencil. If you use too much paint on your roller, it will seep under the stencil and then design doesn’t come out so pretty.

Not bad right?

Step 5 – Install pretty new hardware & you’re done!

We finally have extra storage!

This weekend Clay & I are going to Ikea to get these floating shelves to go above the buffet. I still need a spot to store all my wine glasses & pitchers, so I think the shelves will work perf. Can’t wait to see what it looks like.

Stay tuned for the big reveal!

By the way, do you think I should paint our dining table?? It seems so dark now..

Oh and we are also going to finally hang this lovely gold chalkboard above the buffet too.

Enjoy your weekend! Xo, Melissa

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TV Solutions & Decorating Ideas

TVs are probably the hardest design challenge when it comes to living room spaces. It’s like do you mount it over the fireplace? Hide it behind an armoire cabinet? Stuff it in the corner?! I too have had the hardest time with this. Our living room is pretty small and we have a massive TV! (I blame this on my Husband) I have gotten a couple of emails from readers asking for my ideas on how to make their TV NOT be the focal point of their entire room. So here ya go!

 Idea #1 – Frame art around your TV

{Via Lonny Mag}

AMAZING right?? I love this idea. Embrace your TV by framing art or photos around it! So simple & fun. Personalize it by choosing frame colors that go with your decor!

{Via AB Chao}

It can even be off centered & still look amazing. I love how this blends perfectly with the gallery wall.

{Via Laura Winslow Photography}

Makes such a difference don’t you think?

{Via Pinterest}

Idea #2 – Frame your TV!

{Via Apartment Therapy}

{Source unknown}

{Via FrameMyTV}

Check out Frame My TV for custom TV framing!

You could also go to the antique fair & look on Ebay or Craigslist to find frames to fit your TV

Do you like these ideas? Have you done something similar? I’m always looking for more ideas, so please share!

Xo, Melissa

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Photograph Collage Wall Complete

I finally got around to making that collage wall I was telling you about awhile ago! I found the idea on Pinterest and knew I had to do it. It’s like personalized wallpaper!

The part that took me the longest was sorting through our millions of wedding & engagement photos.

I picked up the knob from Anthropologie

I wanted the entire door covered in photos, so to fill in any bare spots, I cut out some photos of our wedding cake, favors, scenery etc

Considering what the door used to look like…

this is a huge improvement!

You like? Xo, Melissa

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DIY Tufted Headboard Tutorial

I have been wanting a headboard in our room for so long. For some reason it was just never something high on the priority list. I also never really found one I was in love with – that wasn’t $1,000+

The other day, I was searching for something on Google and came across this amazing blog and saw that she did an incredible tufted headboard and tutorial.  So I thought, why not give it a try!

Let me first start off by saying that this wasn’t complicated or hard to do, but just takes time! Clay & I did this over a weekend, but you could stretch it out over the week.

The headboard took about 2 days from start to finish. We followed Little Green Notebook’s tutorial exactly.

After doing this myself, I came up with a lot of tips for you, which I will share throughout this post.

{Materials you will need}

Home Depot

  • Pegboard from Home Depot, cut to size. We measured our bed (King size) and had them cut the pegboard 40 inches high x 76 inches wide
  • Spray adhesive
  • Staple gun & staples
  • Mounting hardware to attach headboard to the wall behind the bed

Joann’s Fabric Store

  • 3 inch thick upholstery foam 

**Huge Tip** Download the Joann’s app on your smartphone for a 50% off coupon. They have coupons every month for 50% off a single item, plus 20% off your entire purchase. For some reason these pieces of foam are extremely expensive – we would have paid $120 just for the foam!

  • High loft batting
  • 3 1/2 yards (less if your bed is smaller than king size) of whatever fabric you like. Originally I wanted a more velvet blush pink fabric, but we found a light blush pink satin fabric for 50% off, making it only $4.99 a yard!

Here was my inspiration photo

  • 4 inch upholstery needle
  • Waxed button thread

**Tip** I highly recommend using waxed upholstery grade thread, don’t use non-waxed. Half way through the tufting, we ran out of thread, so I went to a different fabric store that was closer to our house. They only had non-waxed thread. It was IMPOSSIBLE to work with. We ending up having to go back to Joann’s to get the waxed stuff anyway. The wax sticks to the fabric and makes it much easier for making knots as well – more on that later.

  • Button making kit + refills 5/8 inch size – enough to make 58 buttons. You can do less if you plan on having less tufts or if you have a smaller headboard.

Total cost $150 – not bad for an upholstered king headboard

Now that you have all your supplies let’s begin!!

First you will need to figure out your tufting pattern – we decided on rows of 11 and 10 buttons, alternating each row

circle where you will make your holes with chalk

then take a sharpie and make dots through the chalk marked holes.

Take the pegboard off and now you have your pattern.

Take a pairing knife and cut out your tuft holes

Now that all your holes are done, use your spray adhesive and glue the foam to the pegboard. Now all the holes will match up and you’re ready for tufting.

**Tip** make sure to let the foam hang off a 1/2 over the pegboard on the top and sides. This will make the edges more cushy and soft looking when you go to staple the fabric around the edges.

Then make your buttons with your kit

This part wasn’t as bad as I was anticipating.. we watched some Oprah & Real Housewives + we had this fatty to keep us company 🙂

Once all your buttons are done

Lay your pegboard, foam, batting &  fabric down – in that order

Take your needle, waxed thread & button

and poke it through your first hole

Pull it through and staple a couple of times. Triple knot the thread around the staple to ensure it doesn’t come loose

And there’s your first tuft! Yeee!

I am so thankful the Little Green Notebook said to start in the middle of all rows and work your way out with the tufts & save the edge tufts for last.

Knowing us, we would have totally botched this part if not for her advice!

After all your tufts are done, staple at the bottom on the foam slightly pushing up when stapling so that your staples aren’t visible.

Then just simply pull fabric tight around all edges and staple to the back!

Attach your mounting hardware & attach to your wall behind your bed & there you go!!

What a difference this pretty headboard makes in our room!

Notice how the tufting starts right at the top of our mattress and the rest hides behind the bed perfectly

Our headboard kind of reminds me of this Pottery Barn one – I think ours is way cuter though and we didn’t have to spend $800 Yay!

What do you think? Are you thinking about making one??

It really makes our bedroom feel so romantic & chic. What do you think of the color?

The best part is, I was about to buy something identical to this headboard for $600 about a year ago. With everything said and done, we spent a total of $150!

Hope you like our headboard as much as we do!

Xo, Melissa

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How To Paint Your Floors White.. Holy Amazing.

I NEED these white floors! Obsessed! I first heard of this idea a couple of months ago on the Nate Burkus Show. I was basically glued to the TV.  There is just something about white, I  cannot get enough of it. I’m pretty much drooling over this living room.

{Source}

Painting our floors won’t be happening for awhile, since we plan to rent this place for a couple more years. Once we buy a house, I will be all over this. I guess I will just have to dream for now! Painting your floors white is probably the easiest way to add instant chic to your home. Well maybe not easy but you know what I mean.  Here is a really good extremely detailed tutorial I found over at Door 16.

{Source}

Someone please do this! I can at least live vicariously through one of you. We would love to hear how it goes and see your before & after photos too!

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As you can see white painted wood floors go with any decor. Shabby chic, modern chic, vintage, rustic, whatever you like.

{Source}

Xo, Melissa & Virginia

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