Tag: saratoga springs interior design firm

Fall Front Porch

Written by Jenna on September 24, 2013. Posted in Autumn, DIY, Fall, Seasonal. 3 Comments on Fall Front Porch

It’s officially Fall!

I was a bit sad to see the Summer end, but I have to say, with the kids back in school and a routine once again being established, the arrival of the season has actually been quite delightful. The weather also has been chilly, so it just adds to the thought that Fall is in full swing.

To celebrate the new season, I had to give my front porch a new look. After finishing it up over the weekend + photographing it yesterday, it’s ready to share + enjoy!

This seasons front porch didn’t change much. I really just added in a few new layers of color + festive pumpkins, ghords, and mums.

Take a look…

Welcome.

The entrance of a home sets the style + tone for what’s to come on the inside. I always like to evoke an inviting, colorful, and welcoming aesthetic to my seasonal & holiday front porch creations. With it being Fall, colorful pumpkins + mums were a must.

Both bring fantastic color to the porch.

I also filled my lanterns with sugar pumpkins + interesting shaped ghords.

The vertical pallet ‘garden‘ also got a revamp. Down came the vines + spring flowers and in their place went colorful mums. I planted them a few weeks ago with the kids. It was great getting them involved and we got to use my other pallet creation that I made this past summer.

I never shared this on the blog (I kinda forgot with other projects going on), but the lutchens bench that sits under the pallet got a makeover at the beginning of the summer. It used to be plain wood (natural finish with no stain) and with the desire to bring in more color to the porch, I spray painted it in a turquoise color. It sure is an eye-catcher!

It’s amazing how something can look brand new for under $5!

The other side of the front porch is just as delightful with 2 teak side chairs and a tiered table in between. The table is from West Elm. It’s seen better days and almost got tossed until I realized outside under the covered porch was the perfect next life for it.

The table is also the perfect spot to rest a cup of tea and enjoy a few treats. Yesterday a sliced apple + an apple muffin were my treat of choice.

Even though the front porch isn’t a large space, it’s so cozy. Whether watching the kids on their bikes or simply enjoying a few (rare) quiet moments, I love sitting out there enjoying our home and ‘the fruits of our labor’.

Want to see how much it’s changed? Check out these ‘before’ photos from 2 years ago…

Quite the transformation!

Wild flowers from the yard make the perfect centerpiece. Not sure if it’s because they’re from our garden or because they’re free, but either way, this simple arrangement makes me so happy.

On my apple green front door, sits my latest wreath creation that I shared last week. I love the plums & navy hues!

Thanks for visiting! I loved having you tour my new festive Fall front porch. I hope you enjoyed.

What elements have you brought in to decorate your Fall front porch?

Tips + Tricks for Painting the Perfect Stripes

Written by Jenna on September 20, 2013. Posted in DIY, Paint, Paint Techniques. 7 Comments on Tips + Tricks for Painting the Perfect Stripes

This time last week I was just about to jump into the foyer remodel. I was picking up the paint + supplies, removing everything from the space, and getting the walls prepped.

A color was chosen. The walls were spackled, sanded, and painted. Then last the stripes were added.

Straight Stripes.
Crisp Stripes.
Perfect Stripes.

I am actually really impressed with myself on how straight the stripes turned out.

Here is the result…

Now a week later, other than the styling + accessories, the space is complete. {big sigh of relief}…

But taking a step back, I learned alot about painting stripes. There are many tutorials out there – I’m sure if you google it, you will find plenty – and instead of giving you a step-by-step, I thought I’d simply give you the 411 on what worked and why. Ready for it???

Trick 1.

The # of stripes. Start out by determining how wide + how many stripes you want on the wall. I wanted to go wide (somewhere between 10-12″ wide) + I wanted an odd number of dark stripes (for some reason odd numbered things appeal to the eye better), so I created a simple drawing of my wall.

The paintable wall (excluding the base moulding) measured = 93.5″. I divided 93.5 by 9 (because I wanted 9 equal stripes) = 10.38. So each stripe resulted about 10-3/8″ wide.

Are you with me?

Here’s a picture…

I hope I didn’t lose you. Stick with me.

Trick 2.

So you got your stripe width figured out.

The next step is to make the stripes. I went with the simplest technique for creating the stripes No nifty gadgets or gizmos were used, but instead just an ordinary, everyday tape measure. Yup, I’ve got about a half dozen lying around.

Starting at the ceiling (that’s key – don’t start from the floor), I measured down about 10-3/8″ and made a mark with my pencil about every 20″ across the wall.

Then I connected the dots. I lined up the tape with the first dot at the left wall edge, then continued across the wall meeting each dot. It was fairly simple. Once the tape was in place, I checked that the tape read 10-3/8″ all the way across.

For this project, I used 3M painters tape. I’ve used it before when painting the stripes in my son’s room & I have also tried FrogTape when creating the chalkboard wall for the CCC. To be honest, I feel both are equal. Both have a magical “formula” to keep the paint from supposedly seeping under the tape. I don’t think that it works incredibly (but I have a another trick for that), so overall, I don’t prefer one more over the other. Both do the job. But, I will say, don’t cheap out (like I have in the past) and buy a generic painters tape. IT. WON’T. STICK. TO. THE. WALL. Go with the good stuff… 3M or Frogtape!

Trick 3.

So this is the best trick of ALL!! The true way to achieving the most crisp, perfect striped lines with NO SEEPAGE under the tape is to “seal it”. It sounds harder than it is. After you’ve painted, use a brush to paint over the tape edge on the side you plan on painting the striped color (on my wall it was the dark color). READ: ***Don’t paint the edge of the tape that is staying the background color because you will get a line after the tape is removed.

Then “burnish” (push hard) the tape into the wall so it makes a good seal.

To help with remembering which side was which, I added a small piece of tape to the stripes that weren’t changing… the background color.

Then came the paint. I’m sure you know how to do that. No trick there…

Last and final tip…

Trick 4.

After the second coat of paint remove the tape. Yes, while the paint is still wet.

sorry for the mucky picture, it was late at night when I took these pictures.

And you’re done. Those are the 4 easy tricks + tips I have for painting stripes on walls.

Fairly manageable, right? So do you think you would try stripes now?

Have you ever seen the stripes I painted onto window curtain panels? They are still my most favorite curtain panel to date…

Anyway, let’s get back to my foyer. Want to see more pictures of the crisp, straight, and incredibly perfect lines?

And there you have it. The crispest lines you’ve ever seen and it was so easy. Are you ready to paint stripes on your walls? I’m thrilled with the result.

I have a few things I just ordered to finish up this space. Here’s a peak…

With the new gold gorgeousness, a.k.a. the new gold dresser, these new elements are going to be just right to finish up the space.

Once they arrive, I will share the big reveal. Until then, be sure to get your stripe on this weekend.

Where are you going to add stripes? Do you have stripes in your home already?

Foyer Progress + Painting Made Easy

Written by Jenna on September 18, 2013. Posted in DIY, Paint, product review. 38 Comments on Foyer Progress + Painting Made Easy

As of 9:00 last night, the painting of the walls + the stripes are done. Now that’s a big checkmark off my list!

I have one more element in the space that needs a last coat of paint, and then the painting part of the Foyer Remodel will be complete. A few styling magic tricks to follow and the space will be completely fresh and new.

Taking a step back though, I have to tell ya that the painting process wasn’t too grueling. Before venturing into a painting project, I’m always a little leery about how long it will really take. From removing everything in the space to spackling the holes to painting the edges to finally painting the main walls, it ends up being double the time than originally estimated. Plus I’m usually tuckered out over the days to follow from all the bending and lifting.

Thankfully the painting part for this project didn’t take long at all and it took exactly the amount of time that I estimated. Why? Because of a handy dandy tool that I used called the Paint Stick by HomeRight.

When I was at Haven during the middle of the Summer, HomeRight was one of the vendors. Since they have a wide-range of painting tools, I gravitated right in their direction. I was awestruck by the huge selection of paint sprayers, but then I saw the Paint Stick. A minute-long demo later sold me. I had to try it.

Once I had it in my home a few weeks later, I was psyched to get started.

The process of putting the Paint Stick together was fairly easy. Within about 2 minutes, the stick was in place and I was ready. One point I will mention is that the first time pulling up the inner tube, which draws up the paint, was difficult. I had to use some womanpower, and then got it! I initial thought I was doing it wrong and didn’t want to break anything, but it just needed some muscle.

Once I put the paint cover onto the paint can, I was ready.

BUT, before I could begin, I had some prep to do. The good ole’ prep work…

Since the main wall with the stencil was slightly raised, I gave the wall a quick overall sanding. The ‘before’ wall color was eggshell and the stencil design was the same color but in a high gloss finish. I was a little reluctant how the new paint would take on the high gloss and thought sanding over the design would cut down on the sheen, allowing the new paint to adhere better.

I spackled all the holes. Those dang holes. There were more than I thought.

Then painted all the edges and corners of the room. Instead of taping the ceiling and all the mouldings, I decided to just “cut-in” with an angled brush and I have to tell you, it was so much easier and the result is so much better. The usual steps I take are: tape, paint, remove tape, and do touchups. None of that was needed this time. My angled Purdy brush was awesome. I bought a new one for this project and it was $10 well spent and saved a ton of time.

At last, it was finally time to paint with the Paint Stick!

I stuck the Paint Stick onto the port of the cover and drew the paint up. I was ready…

And away I painted…

Bye Bye Stencil. It was nice knowing ya.

My new Greige color, Benjamin Moore Gallery Buff, is gorgeous and my new handy-dandy paint tool, the Paint Stick, made it easy!

Once the base color was done, I was able to start the stripes. Check out my tips + tricks for painting the perfect stripes.

My thoughts

Overall I thought the Paint Stick was a great product. It made the process of painting the main section of the walls a breeze. I only had to fill the PaintStick up twice for my entire foyer. It’s not a huge space, but a decent size. The up-and-down on a ladder when using a regular roller was eliminated and the bending over to reach the areas near the lower part of the wall wasn’t necessary. The other nice part of the Paint Stick is that the paint can be used directly from the can. There is no need for messy trays + there is no waste. How many times has someone stepped in paint and/or paint drips all over? Plus there is never a way to get all the leftovers from a tray back into the paint can.

I will say the cleaning up process wasn’t as easy as simply throwing away a liner and roller, but it wasn’t too bad. Overall it took about 15 minutes. I actually started cleaning the supplies without reading the directions – shame, shame on me – and it took much longer than it should have. If you follow these directions, it’s fairly simple!

Would I use it again?

You bet and I would suggest you try it too! You can pick one up at your local Lowe’s. When picking up the paint + supplies for this project, there was a huge display in the paint aisle.

So guess what… HomeRight is super great and is giving away (1) Paint Stick EZ-Twist to one of my fabulous followers. Want to make painting less daunting and have it take way less time than ever before? Then enter now >

This Giveaway is Over. Stephanie Whitacker is the official Winner. Please keep on the lookout for more giveaways coming up soon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: HomeRight has chosen to partner with me to share their products with you, my wonderful readers and followers. I was provided with product to review and was compensated for my time to use the products. No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write. All opinions are 100% mine!

Gone with the Beige. Hello Greige!

Written by Jenna on September 16, 2013. Posted in Paint. 17 Comments on Gone with the Beige. Hello Greige!

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Did the early signs of Fall start creeping through in your neck of the woods? It did here in Upstate NY and we enjoyed the slight chill + sun by doing a Fall favorite, apple picking. All day yesterday I was baking away.

Aside from the outdoor fun, I also got my groove on with the foyer. I shared on Friday that my next room remodel is the foyer / entry / mudroom… In my home, all the same space. It’s not huge, but an inviting space that I wanted to give a new look. One of the most playful new elements in the room is the addition of wide horizontal stripes. But before the ‘wow’ factor could be added, a new fresh coat of pant was needed.

The ‘before’ space was a beige-y color (in eggshell) with a tone-on-tone (in gloss) stencil design on the main wall. As of late, I’ve been veering towards cooler colors and the beige hue was too orangey, especially next to the new blue walls of the office and the powder room. Instead of touching up the beige walls, I chose a new color that was a mix of gray + beige, known as greige!

For my walls, the depth of color didn’t change, but the tone certainly did. It was amazing painting over the beige because the new grayer hue (that has a tinge of blue/purple undertone in it) made the old color look very orange (something that I never realized before). It instantly works a lot better with the adjacent spaces.

I’m adoring greige hues because you really can’t go wrong. Whether a space has cooler or warmer tones, the ‘greige’ will go in that direction.

My advice: If you are wanting neutral, go with greige! While I’m in the midst of finishing up the walls + stripes, I thought I would share with you my Top 10 Favorite Greige Colors…

Colors Include:
1. Sherwin Williams Mega Greige
2. Valspar Woodrow Wilson Putty
3. Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies
4. Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan
5. Behr Granite Boulder
6. Glidden Martha Stewart Sharkey Gray
7. Benjamin Moore Gallery Buff (that’s my color!)
8. Valspar Bay Sands
9. Behr Mineral
10. Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige

All of these colors are a perfect mix of beige + gray = greige, but keep in mind when choosing the ideal hue for your space that every color has different undertones (red, blue, green, etc). The best step for choosing the right color for your space is to select a few samples and test them out. Don’t forget to try the same color on different walls and also look at them at different times during the day. As the light changes, the color will too.

Here are a few spaces with my favorite Greige Colors…

Valspar Woodrow Wilson Putty (interesting name…) on the walls of the living room by Bryn Alexandra

Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige on the walls of the dining room by 2 Vintage Sisters

Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies on the walls of the home of Kirsten Krason

Behr Granite Boulder on the walls of the dining room by Sappy Apple

Now that I’ve got my new greige paint color on the wall, I am ready to add the bold + dynamic stripes. More on that later this week + I’ll be sharing a new handy dandy tool that I just discovered to make painting a bit less daunting – Holla! In the meantime, enjoy and be inspired by the new greige colors I shared.

What is your favorite color greige? Do you have a greige wall in your home?

The Start of the Next Room Remodel. The Foyer.

Written by Jenna on September 13, 2013. Posted in DIY. 7 Comments on The Start of the Next Room Remodel. The Foyer.

Now that the kids are back in school and home life is somewhat back on a regular routine, I’m psyched to start tackling my next big room remodel. This past Spring it was the powder room that got an overhaul, and now I’m ready for something else. The space coming up is adjacent to the powder room. Can you guess what it is??? Twist. Twist. Ok, I’ll tell you. It’s the foyer. It’s had many lives over the past 4 years, but it’s ready for another. And it all revolves around this…

This piece of gorgeousness (that I was reluctant to buy but many of you on instagram encouraged me to take the plunge) is the inspiration for my foyer and the starting element that everything will be designed around.

Want a better look?

There it is.

It’s dynamic. It’s unusual. It’s a showstopper. And it’s all mine to design around…

And look I couldn’t stop myself from already styling it…

One of the major needs in the foyer (because it duals as our mudroom) is storage. Out of convenience, the kids keep most of their everyday shoes in the foyer, so a new piece with storage was a major must! And this gold bombshell actually has more storage than the last cabinet.

Here is the space before…

And before that 2-1/2 years ago (prior to the stair makeover & the new flooring)…

What a difference, right? Also going is the tone-on-tone stencil. And in it’s place…

Stripes!

With a Major Cabinet, there needs to be Major Stripes.

But I’m going bolder. I wanted to do black and white (I love Emily Clark’s foyer), but I decided on a greige (a mix of gray & beige) with a dark charcoal brown. The black would have been too deep for our overall space.

The contrast is major, but I do wish the darker color was even darker. hmmm… {wheels are turning – did I choose the wrong color?} We shall see how it looks once the stripes go up. So many colors, so many decisions.

So the chosen colors are Benjamin Moore Gallery Buff and Benjamin Moore Coachman’s Cape. I actually had them color matched at Lowe’s and am using Valspar Ultra Paint + Primer.

And after doing some math this afternoon, I came up with two options for the width of the stripes – I think I’m leaning towards 5 dark stripes at 10-3/8″ high.

The entire foyer will get a fresh coat of the lighter color, while the stripes will only be on one wall behind the gold console. Because of the space, it’s most fitting. Aside from the paint, I want to freshen up the artwork and decor as well. On the main striped wall I envision 4 or 6 white square frames with large white matting.

Specific pictures or artwork TBD. There are a few more walls in the space and I’ve got some thinking to do for them. And of course the powder room is one of the spaces right off of the foyer.

The built-in coat rack that is behind the front door will remain because it’s our everything! The 30″ wall is so functional – I don’t know what I would do without. And I think the back of the front door is going to get a splash of color too.

Well I’ve got my work cut out for me, but that’s the plan. You know know where you’ll find me this weekend. What are your weekend plans?

Ideas + Solutions for the Wall Behind the TV

Written by Jenna on September 9, 2013. Posted in Decorating, Photo Gallery Walls. 10 Comments on Ideas + Solutions for the Wall Behind the TV

Another Monday here again! I hope you had a great weekend. It was fairly low key on my end, but as a family we enjoyed the beginning signs of Fall, with the brisk chill in the air, by taking a family bike ride + watching football. I also got the opportunity to shop for some colorful mums to transition the front porch, as well as the mantel. Both are still in progress, but are coming along. I’m waiting for some small pumpkins & ghords to arrive at the local stores – upon asking, it seems like it might be another week or 2.

Onto today’s blog topic… The TV and what to do with the wall behind it.

I often get emails from readers asking design-related questions and most of them I return with a few short sentences in hopes to point them in the right direction. If they need more help, we usually end up working together through my E-Design Program. BUT, last week I received a question that I KNOW alot of homeowners struggle with, so I thought it would be best to put a blog post together to assist and inspire more than one reader.

This email is from Christina:

I was hoping you can direct me with a huge dilemma. We have a tv hanging on the wall in our family room. Which I can’t stand. I prefer an armoir or built in. Any how hubby wanted modern tv on wall so I compromised. I have no idea what to do with all the extra space on either side of the wall. My style I would say is old world, electic, traditional. Could you please offer suggestions. I’m also confused if both sides need the same exact item hanging on the wall. Could I do a decorative mirror on one side and a collage of artwork on the other. Do I hang distressed wooden panels on either side or tapestry…….help. This space kills me. I can’t stand the TV on the wall.its so cold. Thank you for any guidance you can offer.

Is this a topic you’ve often struggled with as well? If so, I have some great ideas + solutions.

Most homeowners have flat screen TVs that are only inches deep (I’m excluded from this bunch – we still have a big ole’ cumbersome TV in the living room). The minimal depth of these televisions allows for it to be functionally integrated without overwhelming the space. If designed right, the artwork, pictures, paintings, and/or wall decor that surrounds the TV on the wall can become just as important, or more important, than the TV. In turn, the TV ends up not being the dominant focal point of the room. It still functions the same, but doesn’t overtake.

Let’s dive into some design solutions…

Gallery walls are in. Gone are the days of 1 or 2 pictures on a huge wall. The size and number of pictures on a wall should be proportional with the wall height and width. The wall that is chosen for the TV is often the largest and/or longest in the space, so it should be filled.

One idea is to create an asymmetrical gallery wall, which is probably the easiest because there is no right or wrong. It allows for growth and it allows to incorporate what is most meaningful for you.

This TV gallery wall is surrounded by pictures and images in an array of sizes and frame finishes, which the eye is drawn to instead of the TV. via One Kings Lane

Framed by two windows, this TV gallery wall is a great solution for incorporating a TV into a living room space. A mix of black and white artwork in black or white frames, are set behind the TV which is atop of a white dresser. via Emily Clark

Another idea for a TV wall is this eclectic asymmetrical composition that displays collected art and a vintage lamp along with the wall-mounted TV. Incorporating an element larger than the TV steers the eye away from the “black-hole” and instead allows it to focus on the other elements – the lamp + artwork.

Another idea to take away – Because many of the other elements on the wall are black, your eye is tricked into not focusing on the TV. From the black lampshade to the black frames (some with black matting) to the black and white artwork + photos, so the TV actually looks like another piece of dimensional art. via The Hunted Interior

Slightly different than the above examples, this TV gallery wall is fairly symmetrical. The wall-mounted TV is centered on the console and the pictures / artwork are “bookmatched” on each side (for the most part). Other interesting elements, like the animal horns, surround the black and white frames and bring an added dimension to the wall.

Completely different than the examples above, this TV is wall-mounted and is surrounded by perfectly symmetrical black and white pictures in black frames. It truly is an art gallery. This wall created by Brooklyn Limestone shows all the steps of how she created it, plus a video on the progress. It is definitely one to watch.

No matter the size or configuration of a space, a TV can always (well 99% of time) somehow be incorporated. In this narrow living room, the TV is set off to the side and sits on top of a dresser / console table. It’s tucked out of the way, not making it the focal point. Above is a picture that is even larger than the TV, which draws the eye up instead of at the black box. via La Dolce Vita

The space around the TV doesn’t have to be only for pictures, but displaying other wall decor, like shutters, mirrors, or general wall art, is a great opportunity to create an interesting and unusual composition. via Southern Hospitality

Going the minimal direction, the television in this space sits on top of a black lacquered console table and is pushed to one side allowing space for a large lamp and other accessories. the wall space around is kept fairly bare, but interesting. via The Little Green Notebook

Again, going back to a symmetrical look, the TV in this room sits on a smaller dresser and behind are two larger painting, then 2 more smaller styles on each side. Two ghost chairs sit in front allowing for the art to speak”, yet still making an architectural statement. via Maple + Shade

Larger artwork behind the flat screen TV can make just as much, or even more, of an impact as smaller pictures / photos. via Apartment Therapy

Another great TV gallery wall designed by Kristin of The Hunted Interior, showcases the television set off to the side with framed black and white photos around. A large white lamp with black shade sits forward of the TV allowing it to be the focal point.

An asymmetrical gallery of black and white photos surround this TV mounted on the wall. To the sides sit two large floor lamps bringing height to the space. via HGTV

How to Create a TV Gallery Wall in your Home

So how can you incorporate these ideas into your own home? It takes time, planning, and a layout. Gallery walls don’t come together as easy or as quickly as hanging a simple picture on the wall. BUT, a gallery wall can make a huge impact that will be far worth a single photo.

When the DIYer over at Tasty n’ Chic took on the endeavour of a new gallery wall, she created several plans and layouts before deciding on what worked best. She used a computer program to create the ideal layout, but you can also use craft paper or wrapping paper (outline the sizes of your frames), or layout the frames on the floor (that’s what I do to get the exact plan).

Here is her drawing…

And then the result…

I hope I’ve provided my reader Christina + all of you with some interesting and creative ideas + inspiration for what to do behind the TV. I still have my humungous TV behind doors, but have had ideas and thoughts of upgrading.

If you’re looking for useful ideas and layouts to create a photo gallery wall, check out this post {click here}

Good Luck with your TV wall creation!

DIY: Drop Cloth Curtain Panels with Leading Edge Detail

Written by Jenna on September 5, 2013. Posted in DIY. 16 Comments on DIY: Drop Cloth Curtain Panels with Leading Edge Detail

I’ll be honest, none of the window curtain panels in my home cost more than $50. Yet all are custom made. Not by an uber-expensive fabricator, but by me.

Store-bought and/or custom-made curtain panels can be very pricey, but the same look (or better) can be achieved by making your own. And guess what, it’s not difficult…

As the calendar turns and another Fall approaches, Lowe’s put The Team to the test this month to create a new window treatment for the home. I was in need (well more like a want) of new window panels for the dining room, so I knew it was the perfect spot to get my craft on.

I desired something simple, so instead of stopping at the curtain aisle for a typical drape, I headed towards the paint aisle and landed in the drop cloth section. confession: I can close my eyes and always find the drop cloth section… I’ve confessed my love for drop cloth before, but honestly it is The. Best. Material. hands down. You can do so much with drop cloth material. It’s not just for painters!!

Anyway, onto the new panels…

1. At Lowes, I chose a 6 ft. x 9 ft. size panel (about $10), then cut it in half to make (2) 3 ft. x 9 ft. pieces.

2. The panels are heavy enough, so I didn’t feel that a lining was needed, so I simply squared off the edges (drop cloth isn’t always perfectly straight), folded over the edges, and sewed all around.

3. Once the panels were complete, it was time to add the decorative leading edge. I chose a navy blue light cotton fabric which was the perfect contrasting complement to the lighter color of the drop cloth material.

And yes, that says $3 for the yard. In all these panels cost about $13!

The color of the fabric is showing royal blue in this pic, but it is more navy in actuality.

4. I layed out the fabric length-wise and cut as many 4″ strips as I could.

again showing royal blue… but it’s not.

5. Then I folded over the two side edges 1/2″ each and ironed the seam flat.

That’s the true color. I swear!

Sidenote: Because of the panel length (a typical panel can be from 84-96″ long), you may need to attach fabric strips to achieve one long strip. I did and before folding over and ironing the seam, I attached two strips and then I had enough length. Once sewn, iron the seam flat.

6. Once the seams were ironed, it was time to attach the decorative edge to the drop cloth panel. I decided to have 1″ of drop cloth exposed, then add the navy blue accent. I first pinned the navy fabric in place and sewed all along the edges using the same color thread.

And that’s it. A high-end look for $13!

The result…

The panels are hung by clip rings and have slight puddle at the bottom. They are the perfect addition for my dining space.

Other ideas + ways to achieve a high-end look for less…

You don’t have to use drop cloth to create a similar window curtain panel. A similar detailed edge can be added to a store-bought curtain, similar to what I did in my daughter’s room. In her space, I actually added the decorative fabric to the outside edge of the curtain panel instead of on top of the fabric. The typical store-bought panel wasn’t long enough, but the added fabric made it the ideal length.

If you are using a thinner fabric to create a window panel and want to have a heavier panel that will allow less light to shine through, check out what I did in my bedroom. Using drop cloth material (AGAIN), I took a regular weight cotton fabric and lined them. Depending on the fabric pattern, a decorative edge could be added to these style panels as well.

Ideas are limitless for what you can create for your windows!

Thanks to Lowe’s, I was able to create my most recent creation for less than $15. So next time your combing the paint aisle to grab some spray paint, don’t forget to check out the drop cloth section. Your mind will go bonkers with all that can be created!

Excited for the Fall and ready to tackle some home improvement and DIY projects? Lowe’s has it all.

Sign up for their free Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine, which is filled with ideas + inspiration! Plus you can always follow them on Pinterest and Instagram for even more great ideas!

Disclosure: I am so grateful to be apart of the Loweâ€™s Creative Team and was provided with a Loweâ€™s gift card to purchase items for my project. I was also compensated for my time to use the products. No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write. All opinions are 100% mine!

What have you made using drop cloth? Have you ever thought of jazzing up your window curtain panels to create a custom look?

I’m a CoverGirl

Written by Jenna on August 28, 2013. Posted in Decorating, Featured Publication. 7 Comments on I’m a CoverGirl

I was thrilled when the Fall issue of Saratoga Mama (affiliated with SaratogaMama.com & Saratoga Today) hit the stands last week because not only do I love finding out what’s happening in my neck of the woods, but I got to finally see the space I designed featured on the front cover.

My first cover! I’m officially a CoverGirl. Well kinda…

One of the fun & challenging projects I took on this Summer was to partner with Colleen of Saratoga Mama to makeover 3 rooms for a feature in the back-to-school issue. In 2 days (not consecutively, thankfully) we scouted, shopped, staged, and shot the spaces. It was a whirlwind, but it was a blast.

Here is the result.

All 3 spaces were okay. Just okay. But they needed a little TLC to ultimately be more stylish & functional. Once a plan of action was set, we were on our way! Check out more of the process + what worked/didn’t work {here}

Now to the details of each space…

Space 1: Central Command Center

The homeowner of this space was in major need of an organized drop space for everything to keep her family running. They needed a spot for all the everyday ‘stuff’ like keys, kids school papers, announcements, invitations, etc. We decked out the open wall space between her kitchen and dining room with a new central command center to get her family on track. The space includes:

A personalized 2-month calendar (similar to the one I created for my family)
Clipboards to easily rotate and change the weekly chore chart and homework chart
Metal bins for each child
A corkboard for important things
and a little Personalization!

After we shopped, I layed out the items on the floor to create the perfect montage. I created a faux wall on the floor using painters tape so the measurements would be exact once translated to the wall.

We moved, rotated, tweaked, and adjusted until it was just right. Here is the result of the layout…

And the final Central Command Center on the wall…

And finally, the layout in the magazine.

The homeowners kids were super cute. And even though the little girl didn’t want to be photographed, it all ended well and the photographer captured an adorable photo.

In the end, the homeowner was thrilled and expressed how useful + functional this space is for her and her family. It’s a real space she uses everyday! It’s incredible what can be created with a little thought and focus. In all, this space cost less than $100 to create.

Here is a breakdown:

Clipboards: $5
Personalized Calendar: $15 (for the frame; calendar is a DIY creation)
Red metal files: $30 (homegoods)
Corkboard: $30 (homegoods – it’s supposed to be hung horizontal, but I removed the original hooks and added new white hooks placed vertically for keys)
Pen holders: $8 (even though meant for the desk, I hung them using a nail)
Shelf & wall decor:$0 (repurposed from another space)

Space 2: Mom Cave

This was an awesome space to transform. Most of the elements were already there and actually remained in the space, but with some minor tweaking, this office looks completely different! The desk area is located at the landing of a second floor cape-style home. The ceilings slope to about 4′, but the area was too large to be wasted. Just recently, the homeowner moved her desk to this area and it’s been a great, quiet haven to work. YET, it wasn’t pretty and inviting. It needed something! With a few quick changes, this space went from drab to fab.

The first thing I noticed when I walked up the stairs to this space was the lack of color. It needed something for the eye to draw in. The ideal wall was the low wall behind the desk. It was begging for something intense. I chose Benjamin Moore Rhubarb for a splash of color against the white distressed desk. It was the perfect solution for this office makeover. A few other elements included:

A new desk lamp. (Target) The old style was too harsh, so I brought in a non-typical task lamp that gives a soft glow to the space instead of an intense, direct light.
New knobs. (Hobby Lobby) Changing the top knobs added definition to the desk + they pick up the new rhubarb wall color & gold tones in the lamp
Storage for desk organization. (Homegoods and Staples)
A corkboard. (Homegoods)
A desk chair. (TJ Maxx) A comfy and non-traditional desk chair.

The space was so fun to put together and in the end I saw how happy the little changes meant to the homeowner. Little things do make a difference.

I’m in love with this lamp. The faux snakeskin lamp base gives the space texture and depth, and an unexpected elegance. The brass tones at the bottom of the lamp base were also picked up in other areas of the room (small doses, of course) like the labels on the corkboard organizer and the new knobs.

What was supposed to be a picture frame got changed into a daily corkboard organizer using a roll of cork + stick on labels. Now the homeowner can add reminders for the week and break it up per day.

The side wall used to hold 2 floating shelves that protruded too far into the room. Now a photo montage wall filled with black & white family photos + meaningful elements makes this wall a happy place. Adding in a repurposed chair + a standing lamp with a new shade was the final touch. This space is now inviting, comfortable, and ideal for a work-from-home mom.

The final result in the magazine…

A few of the elements in this space are new, but most were repurposed from other rooms throughout the home. It’s a space that is warm + welcoming, & ideal to work in.

Space 3: Kids Corner

If you’ve got kids, most likely they love to color and create. A place in the home just for them to call their own is so important. A place that holds all their stuff so that at any time they can grab a puzzle, a book, or a paint brush will make them happy and independent. The newly created kids corner in this home was once a dark space with a chair that covered most of the corner. The outcave that was meant for a TV was unoccupied leaving a large span of open space, and the doors below were serving no purpose for what was behind them. A new functional space was needed!

The first step to transforming this space was to remove the cabinet doors. With my suggestion of a soft blue hue, the homeowner painted the interior of the cabinet, as well as the shelves + the new shelves above. Then on our scouting adventure, we found fun baskets to hold paper, books, and all the necessary crafting supplies to fill the shelves. Books, puzzles, and pictures from around the home quickly filled the rest.

The new spot was coming together…

Sometimes the most unexpected items end up being the best. My most favorite element in the new kids corner is definitely the industrial-style arrow. The homeowner thought I was a little crazy about purchasing this for the space, but I felt it was right. It was fun, unique, and totally not expected. It also makes the ideal space for holding books, stuffed animals, and other cute accessories. Lastly, I love this arrow because it heightens that space. Even though the wall is narrow it needs to be filled. Filling it draws the eye up, which makes the room feel larger and taller.

Finding this ‘desk’ that was actually part of a nesting table set makes for the perfect work space. Even though this wall is only about 30″ wide, it’s the perfect spot for a little creator. The top of the desk wasn’t flat (not ideal for working), so I suggested the homeowner have a piece of glass cut to size. It cost about $15 and make the best flat surface.

3 adorable coat hangers are hung on the side wall to easily change out artwork & beautiful one-of-a-kind creations.

The result in the magazine…

And that’s a wrap.

It was awesome to be apart of such 3 great transformations. In just 2 days, Colleen and I accomplished a whole heck of a lot. It’s amazing how much can be transformed with a plan and a small budget. If you live in the Saratoga area, be sure to pick up the latest issue of Saratoga Mama Magazine. If you’re not in the area, no worries, click here to read it online.

Have a space in mind that you’ve been wanting to give a makeover? Start by shopping your home. Repurposed items that you already own are the best way to give your home a new look without spending a dime. As an example, you should check out how I spiced up my bookcase with $5. Yes it only cost $5!

DIY: Pallet Gardening Table

Written by Jenna on August 9, 2013. Posted in DIY, Pallets. 37 Comments on DIY: Pallet Gardening Table

Why yes, another pallet project coming your way.

I’ve only created 328 pallet projects thus far. well maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration…

Anyway, I’ve been busy with creating something new and different using pallets.

What did I make? A Pallet Gardening Table…

I’ve never seen something like this before (maybe it’s on pinterest, but lately it’s been crushing my creative juices so I try to stay clear)

Why did I create it? Because I needed a spot of my own to do my gardening and potting. As I’ve said before, gardening isn’t my strong-suit, but when I do enjoy it and with time, I hope to get better. Spending hours on the driveaway hunched over, is just not cutting it anymore.

And why did I use pallets? BECAUSE THEY’RE FREE. how much better does FREE get… Plus I really like the size & look of pallets. Don’t you?

In all, this project cost less than $10 to make and basically the money was spent on hardware.

So here is what I gathered to create this Pallet Gardening Table:

(6) C-Shaped Screws (they need to be heavy-duty)
(4) 4″ Strap Hinges
Wood Screws (for outdoor use) to install hinges
Small C-Hooks
Chain (about 6′ – 7′ in length) – I got a cute yellow chain from Lowe’s
(2) Pallets that are the same size

Lowe’s put me to the test this month to create something interesting + for the outdoors, so let me show you the process…

1. I started by adding the C-Screws to the pallet that would sit on the house (if you create something similar, it could also be attached to your deck or in your garage. It’s not a must for just the side of a house).

(1) C-Screw on each side was added to the top of the pallet about 2-3″ in from the end.

(1) C-Screws on each side was added to the face of the pallet about 6″ from the top & in the center of the end planks.

Once complete, that pallet was set aside.

On the other pallet, add (1) C-Shaped Screw on each side to the face of the pallet (which will be your work surface) about 12″ from the edge & in the center of the end planks.

2. Once the (6) C-Shaped Screws are in place, then it’s time to connect the (2) pallets. Using heavy-duty 4″ strap hinges, place (2) at the end planks and the other (2) somewhat evenly spaced in the center.

3. Link the chain onto the C-Screws, so it fits just right for the bench to be open at 90 degrees. The Strap Hinges won’t let the pallet open more than 90 degrees, so essentially the chain isn’t needed, but I liked the extra security + the yellow adds a cute pop of color.

So this bad boy is mega heavy. You will absolutely need 2-3 people to move this… unless your The Hulk.

4. Once the bench was done (on the ground), it was time to put it in place on the vertical surface. The work bench should be around 36″ high (typical height of a kitchen countertop), but you can determine if you want it higher or lower. I chose 36″ above the ground. We held it in place and determined where the C-Screws in the house should be placed.

* This is the process I took, but you will have to evaluate your space for the best way to hang the pallets. Don’t hold me accountable for your situation because every vertical surface is different.

Using (2) C-Shaped Screws, we installed them into a stud on the side of the house.

5. Once the C-hooks were in place, we added about 6″ of chain to each side which hooked from the C-Shaped Screws on the house to the C-Shaped Screw on the top of the pallet.

6. At this point, it’s done. The overall project didn’t take long at all – maybe about 30 minutes. The last added detail were hooks along the sides and back of the vertical pallet to hold shovels, a small rake, etc.

And then it was complete!

When it’s not in use, simply push up the horizontal pallet and hook it into place.

So what do you think… Would you be up to creating something like this? I was always in need of a better place to do potting + gardening. Thankfully this gardening table has been a great solution (and has saved many of sore backs…)!

If you’re interested in more of my pallet creations, check these out:

Monogrammed Chevron Pallet Tray

Vertical Pallet Garden

Outdoor Pallet Sofa

Pallet Bookshelf

Told ya’ I’ve built alot of creations using pallets!

What DIY creations have you made using pallets? What do you love using pallets for? Do you keep them as one or do you like to dismantle them to create something new + different?

Powder Room Remodel Reveal

Written by Jenna on July 24, 2013. Posted in Bathroom, DIY. 27 Comments on Powder Room Remodel Reveal

The powder room remodel is finally complete!

I hope you weren’t holding your breathe because it’s been 2 + months since my last progress post. Boy, did I surely leave you hangin’…

BUT (and it’s a big but), it’s all worth it because this is the result >

Big Time Awesome!

And just to remind you where we started, here is the before >

And before that (when we moved in to the house), this is what the space looked like >

A bit scary, don’t ya think?!

Back to the progress…

Since the last post when I shared the steps of fixing the wall from the previous tile and hanging the wallpaper, we were busy with >

Hanging crown moulding (1st time ever, wow it was tough)
Hanging the new light (twice because the 1st one that I thought I loved, I really didn’t)
Painting the crown moulding
Putting together and installing the vanity
Installing the toilet
Hanging the mirror
Choosing and changing the pictures
Designing and installing the custom roman shade
Touch ups!

O, well now I know why it took me 2 months to show you the reveal. That was alot. Here are some progress pictures along the way…

Alot happened to this small space. The most challenging was absolutely the installation of the crown moulding. It was the first time that the Mister and I ever tackled installing moulding and it was tough. We made lots of mistakes day after day, and in the end called in a friend who has major talent for woodworking. He’s not a professional woodworker, but someone who does it as a hobby and is quite knowledgeable and maticulous. Anyway, he really made the bathroom what it is because without, the space wouldn’t have the same depth and pizazz.

If you’re familiar with installing moulding, our crafty guy used the coping method, which results in really tight corner joints. Once the moulding was installed, there was very little need for wood filler. With the time it took to do this simple bathroom (about 3-4 hours), I couldn’t imagine doing a large room or an overall house. I’ve been drawing mouldings for client homes for years, but now I have the appreciation of how difficult it is to actually install. Not sure I’ll be doing that again any time soon…

Want to learn more on the coping technique for crown moulding? Check out this post I found.

Anyway, it’s complete and I’m in love with the overall space. Want to see more of the reveal? I bet you do. Go…

The vibrant and eye-popping Amy Butler wallpaper sets the tone for the room. It’s surely the statement of the space and the one element that started the design. From the mirror to the vanity to the framed pictures on the wall, everything is very simple so the wallpaper can ‘speak’.

Pretty white accessories fill the space, along with black and white framed images from my travels. Both are beautifully set against the deep blue walls.

The new roman shade is another amazing element in the room. I designed it and the creative folks at Tonic Living fabricated it. They are amazing. They offer an array of services for creating window treatments, pillows, futon covers, and more. Their offering of fabrics is huge and very much in-trend.

This was the sketch I sent them and you see the result…

The top of the shade sits right under the bottom of the crown moulding and when fully lowered, you see the full border design. The fabric is a heavy white linen and the border detail is a 2″ thick navy ribbon.

The mirror was definitely the most difficult selection to choose. I wanted something that was interesting, but minimal so the wallpaper behind would still shine through. I finally decided on this mirror from Lowe’s and am thrilled with the overall look. I like it’s round shape that emulates the flowers in the wallpaper, as well as it’s frameless design.

The vanity and faucet are another element of the room that I adore. The Moen faucet is the same style and finish that I used in my master bathroom. It has great lines and works beautifully in the space. Plus the major awesome part is the finish doesn’t leave spots. Read more about it here!

More details…

The light fixture is a $17 steal from Lowe’s (on their website it’s more $$$). I had previously chosen another light, but wasn’t thrilled with the look once home. Actually this fixture is also hung upside down. When I held it in place before install, the junction box was very high on the wall and a fixture hanging down was more appropriate. My genius husband came to the rescue and said, “Why don’t we install it upside down?” And that’s what we did. You would never know and it looks great!

And I think my most favorite part of the new space is how I can enjoy it from so many other parts of my home…

This is my view from the office / family room looking through the foyer and into the new powder room.

Here is a recap of all the elements in the newly created powder room:

Vanity
Faucet
Toilet
Wallpaper
Mirror
Light
Frames: Target
Paint Color: Valspar Blue Mystery
Table: Family Heirloom painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen
Window Treatment: Custom Design by Tonic Living

Thank you for taking the tour of my new powder room. What a refreshing new space to see and enjoy when you enter our home.