DIY Painted Initial Pillow

Hello and happy Harry Potter’s birthday!  This month really flew by and I can’t believe that August will begin tomorrow.  July was full of vacations and family time, but it’s back to the real world, and I’m excited to share a quick and easy little project that can add a lot of personality to any room.  I’ve been meaning to share it for about two months now, but when they go by as fast as July did, it’s hard to keep up!  

Continue reading

Den Redesign: The Reveal

Well, it’s finally time!  This months-long redecorating effort is (for now) complete and ready for its internet debut.  If you’ve been following along for the past couple of months, this is just a summary wrapping up the projects you’ve read about already and showing the room as a whole.  If you’re new here, though, grab a snack or a drink (or both!) and get comfortable – there’s plenty to catch up on!  

Continue reading

Media Stand made from Old Nightstand

For some time, I’ve been halfheartedly looking for a new piece of furniture to serve as a small ‘media stand’ for the den.  I couldn’t find anything I liked in thrift stores, so after a few months, I sort of stopped looking.

Then, one day last month, I was in the last mile of a 14-mile run in an historic neighborhood downtown, when up ahead of me I saw what appeared to be a piece of furniture on the side of the road.  As I got closer, I saw that it wasn’t just my glucose-depleted state causing my imagination to run wild or a trick of the light; it was, in fact, an upside-down, three-legged nightstand that had seen better days.  It was the perfect size and had the exact design I envisioned for my little media stand – a large opening for the cable box and DVD player and a drawer for small items (matches for the fireplace, extra extension cords, etc.) to be stored.

Continue reading

Den Redesign: New Couch and Custom Pillows

It’s a cool rainy afternoon here, so I’ve opened up the windows to listen to nature’s soundtrack as I work.  It’s quite peaceful and a nice change.  But – let’s move on to the new couch and pillows!  Our couch was delivered in early March, so some of the new-ness has worn off (and Pipsqueek broke it in quickly by throwing up on it the day we got it…but I cleaned it right away and you can’t even see a stain!), but we’re both still very excited about it and the changes we’ve made in the den so far.

Continue reading

How to Upholster a Chair

How to Upholster a Chair and Ottoman

Have you ever found a comfortable or cute chair at a thrift store but hated the fabric?  Upholstery is a fun, tedious, and rewarding process that can produce a beautiful result for significantly less than the price of a new chair.  Read on for tips on how to reupholster a chair of your own and save several hundred dollars in the process!

Continue reading

Den Redesign: Linen Curtains with Hidden Tabs

Today I’m coming to you from a shaded table on the sidewalk outside of a restaurant downtown.   I’ve got a nice view of a fountain across the street and recent college graduates walking around in their black gowns, surrounded by family members.  It’s a nice change of pace from blogging on our new couch, which is really unproductive because it’s so comfortable it just makes me want to take a nap.  I really should get around to creating a new office space with a dedicated area for the computer soon.  But first, I must finish the den project, which brings us around to curtains.  

Continue reading