Before & After: A Home Office Gets A Colorful Makeover
Yikes! This home office for two sure needed a violent makeover. Can anyone tell me what that puffy chair is? Looking at this photo brings out the OCD in me. I happen to be reading a book about organizing everything in your home. I may just skip the home office chapter because these photos, sent to me from Sonu Mathew, has it covered. Read More…
Before & After In The Garden: Year 3 Of Our Willow Tree Allée
Welcome to year three of the allée of flowering willow trees planted by misterarthur in a flash of brilliance. Our former Kitty Litter side yard didn’t always look quite so lovely.We’d have this great idea that didn’t quite work out, so it was left to rot… Read More…
Decorating On The Cheap
Today’s New York Times ran a brilliant and funny article about a $1,000 redecorating project gone wrong, then right. I thought you would, too. You’ll also enjoy seeing the room designed by HGTV’s Ron Marvin.
Ron is the host of Small Space, Big Style. He agreed to redecorate a woman’s living and dining room for free with a budget of only $1,000. Did she appreciate getting saving a $6,000 design fee? Not.
To read the article and see more images, follow this link. But first, here are some of my favorite bits from the story.
Mr. Marvin offered solutions for nearly all of her design problems, all for $1,000. Ms. Sperling, however, seemed upset. “I don’t want to totally say no,” she began, before pessimistically questioning nearly all of his recommendations. When told the dark sideboard would be repainted white, she asked “what kind of white?” When Mr. Marvin said the top of the dining table would be replaced with glass, she asked, “Isn’t glass expensive?” And as for the coffee and end tables from Ikea, Ms. Sperling wanted to know, “Is it made well at Ikea?”
later…
He was also perturbed that Ms. Sperling suggested spending more money. “She was being so detailed and picky about the whole budget,” he wrote in an e-mail message to this reporter, and now she is “adding more things!”
still later…
The next day, Ms. Sperling e-mailed back a lengthy explanation for why she wouldn’t be able to make it to Ikea for another week, how she didn’t like any of the three rug options Mr. Marvin sent, and why, according to her calculations, the mirror or a lamp would have to be cut.
Jeez! Thankfully, she liked “99%” of the finished room. I’ve been so lucky to have had great clients. But, there was this one lady….
Before & After: Dying An IKEA Slipcover
Fellow blogger, Candy Glendening, sent me this photo of her chaise DIY project. Candy bought the white slipcover to go with her Ektorp chaise, then dyed it the perfect color green with a water colored mottling. Cold water dyes work best to prevent shrinking.
Here's a photo of the chaise in her family room. I love the red curtains with those dark blinds. You can read the details of her room makeover on her blog by following this link.
Do you have a DIY project you’re proud of? Send it my way. In the meantime, lets all pat Candy on the back for her project. A job well done – and brave! But then, Candy is an expert in the art of dying fabrics.
Instant Room Makeovers: 3 Ways To Do Slipcovers
We’re well into summer, but it’s never too late to bring the feel of summer into your home. Paint is one way to accomplish a new look. But you have to live with that all year round. A better way to makeover a room instantly, and one that can change with the seasons, is to throw a slipcover over the sofa and/or arm chairs. Even the dining room will brighten up with a set of relaxed slipcovers.
In a few months, when winter rears its ugly head and you’re longing for something more cozy, simply remove the slipcovers and you’ve got yet another instant room makeover. Plus, the original upholstery will seem new again after living in seclusion for several months. Here are some slipcover ideas and resources to guide you. Read More…
