Posted
August 17, 2010 by
erin under
Design Basics I recently was talking with someone about their window treatments. (They are sewing some new ones themselves and wanted to know if they should pay the extra money and time to line them.) Most designers will tell you to line everything! I don’t necessarily believe this, so here’s what I look at when deciding whether or not to line.
Let’s talk first about why you’d want to line them. There are multiple reasons to line those drapes:
-To give your drapes body so that they’ll drape nicely instead of look limp
-To look consistent from the exterior of your home. Imagine standing outside the front of your house and seeing the back of all your different colored curtains…doesn’t look very good, does it?
-To protect some fibers, such as silk and linen, from the sun. These materials can be broken down by constant sunlight.
{Drapes from West Elm}
So how do you decide? Look at the material your using for your drapes. Is it thick? Is it thin? Is it neutral colored, or did you choose some bold colors or patterns?
For light to medium weight fabrics of a neutral color I’d opt to keep them unlined for a more airy feel. (Although lining them is just fine too.)
For light to medium weight fabrics with a bold color or pattern, I’d definitely line them. It helps to see the pattern better on the inside, and keep things nice looking from the outside as well.
For heavy material of any color I’d look at the back. Does the pattern show through on the back or not? If you don’t like the look of the back of the material then I’d line them in a lightweight lining. Heavy materials usually have enough body on their own drape well.
A lot of it really has to do with the look you’re going for!
Tags: advice, curtains, How to, lining, tips
Posted
July 26, 2010 by
erin under
DIY I made these as a gift this weekend, and let me tell you, it was easy and they came out looking so fantastic!! Everything to make the glasses will set you back around $10 (with your Michael’s coupon), and that includes the glasses!
Supplies You’ll need:
Dinner glasses. I got 2 sets of 4 for 2.39 at Target. $4.78 Spent
Glass Etching Cream
. Even though 3 oz doesn’t seem like a lot, I used less than half a bottle for all 8 glasses! Around $8. (If you use a coupon from Michaels you can get it at 40% off!)
Contact paper/Vinyl/Stickers etc. Any of these will work to make your pattern with for etching. Want to stick with stripes? That’s easy too, just use tape! (price varies)
Foam Brush
Directions:
Wash and dry your glasses so you have a clean surface to etch.
Lay out the shapes you’d like to etch and adhere them to the glass. I made the shape I used in Illustrator and then had my Cricut cut it out for me. (Here are the shapes waiting for the etching cream.)
Paint a heavy coat of the etching cream on the glass and let it sit. I usually do 2 at a time. You don’t have to let it sit very long, usually just 4-6 minutes. (Don’t forget to place some old newspapers or a plastic bag on your work surface to protect it from the etching cream. Also, please work in a well ventilated area, this stuff is dangerous if used in a closed, un-ventilated space. We want you to be safe!!)
Rinse off the glasses and remove your stickers. (I like to make my etching cream last as long as possible so right before I rinse my project I use my brush to scrape off as much of the etching cream as possible and put it back in my container.) Let dry, and you’ve got fabulous new glasses!
Tags: DIY, glass etching, How to, Tutorial
Posted
June 17, 2010 by
erin under
Tutorial Remember the project I completed for BurdaStyle for Mother’s Day? They asked me to complete some modifications to make it work for your July 4th get together! You can see the full project tutorial and instructions with pictures on BurdaStyle here, here, and here! (Did I mention it’s a free pattern?)
Tags: How to, july 4th, sewing, Tutorial
Posted
May 20, 2010 by
erin under
How to We get asked this question a lot: How do I decide what is the correct rug size I need for my space? Today we’ll help you out!
Rugs are usually specified to help pull a furniture arrangement together. Many times, without something visual to pull everything together, furniture can look like it is placed haphazardly around the room. (Even if there is some organization to it.) I find that when choosing a rug size you want one that will just cover the space underneath your furniture arrangement. Don’t worry about all of your furniture fitting on the rug, just make sure that the front of the sofa and chairs are on the rug and you’ll be fine! It’s always better to go larger than smaller if you’re unsure about the size.
Are you visual like me? Here are some examples of some good sized rugs and not-so-good sized rugs:
Notice how in the two examples above the rug really helps to make the arrangement feel like one large, well-placed, arrangement.
See how in the bad example the rug is too small? Instead of pulling the arrangement together you’ve added something else that just clutters up the visual space. A well sized rug will help to provide a more cohesive look.
Good luck with your rug hunting!
Tags: DIY, How to, rug
Posted
April 13, 2010 by
erin under
Design Elements Being a designer I appreciate that having a focal point is a huge thing in every space! Focal points can also be seen on a much smaller scale. Here are some examples of focal points on a smaller scale and why they work:
This bookcase arrangement is a great example of a focal point! I love how the smaller shelving unit in the middle really draws your eye in while being balanced by the larger ones on either side! {Photo from The Day Has Come}
Bet you can’t find the focal point on the sofa? Ok, so maybe this was a little too easy, but see how just that one pillow really draws your eye into the space and begs to be looked at? {Photo from AdventureDiva}
See how the center framed photo is larger than the rest? This provides a clear focal point to the wall! {Photo from Blossom Interiors}
Think about the space you’re currently working on and see if it needs a focal point. It’s an easy way to fix your space and make it look fabulous!
Tags: DIY, focal point, How to
