tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37625333522624319542024-03-19T03:40:35.771-06:00smartgirlstyleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-63319609193112458802019-09-16T13:56:00.002-06:002019-09-16T13:56:38.611-06:00New book on parenting: The Five-Minute Time In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1691485195/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">.<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvswnlyjvvywzZ7Oh7EgIS6zxhVcxbJ2RL3rq_6NP2dSjTzmkLj8ZUmTy7WIl5au-awd6BDsmEsAcplhuTUMVNh-dDc9P5kOsPV7SCDJ6oXjKmaumepKUUvK6BWoStIxsltMKZWqlvPecV/s400/5+Mins+A+Day+Cover+Idea+%2528Cedar+Fort%2529.JPG" width="266" /></span><span style="color: white;">.</span></a></div>
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I wrote a manuscript several years ago and have been working up the guts to publish it ever since. I finally did. It's called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1691485195/" target="_blank">The Five-Minute Time In</a> and tells you more than you'd ever want to know about a rough parenting season in my life and how I got through it.</div>
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At that point, I wanted to be "anywhere but here" with regard to my five children. I felt stuck and didn't really know why or how to get un-stuck. It was a lonely, frustrating, sad part of my life. Until I embarked upon, and experienced multiple implementations of, a five-minute time IN. That action literally changed everything for me over a short period of time. </div>
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As far as parenting struggles go: It's not something a lot of people talk about, especially for moms. And I recognize (boy, do I recognize) that we're all different, and such a season might not be part of your journey or that of anyone you know. But it also might be. It's<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> hard to tell from the outside. No one really knew with me. So I share this account with the intent to give hope or help. </span></div>
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<span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="heart emoticon">The kindle AND paperback versions are now available: <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F1691485195%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0LNO6AUxSPWOR-TRnQaD0l3vb-DSNoK2gBBNjSprXWulXqbmNKjr_B1dE&h=AT3LkVDRiFtlXX0kNwHa4_mpwFQNz0RC4Y7e7ML-VROAyT9xBowV1DU4JD8zdINlu90_LYbyNFsIk47ojwHlnuue917NONzyoU7hZYDi5xeSYPNy5sYSwoQeumgJWweuxqBOwjHe7ECzJCO63aeLkY3ndfLn" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1691485195/?fbclid=IwAR0LNO6AUxSPWOR-TRnQaD0l3vb-DSNoK2gBBNjSprXWulXqbmNKjr_B1dE" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/1691485195/</a> . </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or, if you don't want to purchase, you could request that your local library acquire a copy. If you need this message, even if just to feel like you're not alone in this journey we call motherhood, I hope you find a way to read it.</span></div>
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<img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t6c/1/16/2764.png" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /> Brittney</div>
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PS-This cover photo is a candid of one of my daughters and me, a year or two after Time In. It was taken by the very talented Savannah Merrill, @smerrillphotography and is one of my favorites in life. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-20951343269628380252018-03-17T05:38:00.000-06:002018-03-17T05:38:07.735-06:00Pirate Hunter original soundtrack released<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTv-cm4FvfqNcuyQZVxutayaLBg9qx244Un1LKzIDN3tpPnWwQBpxUcIIySpnALx6UwsXOUf7fTbm99eLdbHGT3UnpZ0qbDFq9o0s5_0zhAVHcMHgeHcFjmZGFf_b1A7F_XjafmrvOPm2/s1600/Tanner+Pirate+CD+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="960" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTv-cm4FvfqNcuyQZVxutayaLBg9qx244Un1LKzIDN3tpPnWwQBpxUcIIySpnALx6UwsXOUf7fTbm99eLdbHGT3UnpZ0qbDFq9o0s5_0zhAVHcMHgeHcFjmZGFf_b1A7F_XjafmrvOPm2/s320/Tanner+Pirate+CD+cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For those of you who read and enjoyed reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Become-Pirate-Hunter-Marty-Reeder/dp/1462119808" target="_blank">How to Become a Pirate Hunter</a> like my family and I did, you're going to be pretty happy about this announcement: an original soundtrack/companion album of the same name by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tannerlexjones/" target="_blank">Tanner Lex Jones</a> has just been released.<br />
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How to Become a Pirate Hunter's songs go hand in hand with the storyline of the book, generally following the chapters through a character's point of view. Think Wizard of Oz and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, but with more satisfying correlations.<br />
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Admittedly, I'm no music critic. And, full disclaimer, Tanner Lex Jones is my cousin and friend. But the truth is that I've both read Marty Reeder's Pirate Hunter book and listened to Tanner Lex Jones' companion CD, and the combination of prose and music is delightful.<br />
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Each of the album's tracks is catchy, musical, and true to the pirate genre in its own way. The soundtrack is unified in style, and I enjoyed listening to each song's unique flavor and musicality. Through his music, Tanner Lex Jones (and has woven together this engaging storyline, his songs each a unique and distinct thread of the overall tapestry. Track #5, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/tannerlex/this-boy" target="_blank">This Boy</a>, about having the faith and guts to risk it when it counts, has been released as the single and is a favorite.<br />
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I recommend this album in its own right, but especially as a companion to the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Become-Pirate-Hunter-Marty-Reeder/dp/1462119808" target="_blank">Pirate Hunter</a> novel.<br />
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The new How to Become a Pirate Hunter soundtrack is available for purchase on all major digital media marketplaces. You can also place orders for physical copies through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tannerlexjones/" target="_blank">Tanner Lex Jones</a> Facebook page.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-5155882280268836072017-03-14T05:06:00.000-06:002017-03-14T05:06:17.104-06:00How to Become a Pirate Hunter: Book Release & Review<div class="MsoNormal">
You guys. Fun news!</div>
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Today, March 14, marks the release date of a fantastic new young adult novel, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Become-Pirate-Hunter-Marty-Reeder/dp/1462119808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488491487&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+become+a+pirate+hunter" target="_blank">How to Become a Pirate Hunter</a>." Written by Marty Reeder, high school English teacher extraordinaire and also cousin of yours truly, this book was a delight for me to read and review. Check out the <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2017/03/how-to-become-pirate-hunter-new-book.html" target="_blank">review and a fun interview with the author himself here</a>. </div>
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Don't forget to order your own copy of this fun, creative novel!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-90261749268679410602015-10-01T08:14:00.002-06:002015-10-01T08:14:32.553-06:00Exercise: Trick Yourself into Getting it Done<div style="text-align: center;">
If you're like me (or, frankly, anyone in the galaxy), you have a hard time being motivated to exercise sometimes. I've dealt with this lots and lots over the years as I've trained for marathons, ultramarathons, and just the day-to-day routine of staying generally healthy.</div>
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So I've compiled all the tips and tricks I've used over the years on days I just really didn't want to work out but knew I needed to. It's called, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Benefits-are-Real-Struggle-Realer-ebook/dp/B015YOYKRA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443584306&sr=1-1&keywords=the+struggle+is+realer" target="_blank">The Benefits are Real, But the Struggle is Realer</a>." </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7PO4yXVa5lEfWuILv0anNKn4okZFURPxGDX8Vl0JZ5K3hYFw1FvD74F4Re-IwEoly2t-VGWOTmdvfaVRrXMh9Gw3yWYQ5q2Vcan-pM0PsGZwPmBIWNge38qj0i-rAuttxxD0MyyzedI/s1600/Exercise_Cover_Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7PO4yXVa5lEfWuILv0anNKn4okZFURPxGDX8Vl0JZ5K3hYFw1FvD74F4Re-IwEoly2t-VGWOTmdvfaVRrXMh9Gw3yWYQ5q2Vcan-pM0PsGZwPmBIWNge38qj0i-rAuttxxD0MyyzedI/s400/Exercise_Cover_Photo.jpg" width="397" /></a></div>
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Check it out on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Benefits-are-Real-Struggle-Realer-ebook/dp/B015YOYKRA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443584306&sr=1-1&keywords=the+struggle+is+realer" target="_blank">amazon.com</a> if you're interested! And if you do, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Benefits-are-Real-Struggle-Realer-ebook/dp/B015YOYKRA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443708173&sr=8-1&keywords=the+benefits+are+real+but+the+struggle#customerReviews" target="_blank">reviews</a> are always appreciated!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-48890246826077592242015-09-20T20:59:00.004-06:002015-09-20T21:14:12.749-06:00My first eBook<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Just wanted to let you know I've published an itty bitty <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015M9XXFC?*Version*=1&*entries*=0" target="_blank">eBook of short vignettes</a>. It's not life-changing, it's not inspiring, it's not terribly thought-provoking. I tried to make it entertaining, but I may have failed on that front. It is, however, short. So. There's that. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb3tXxiCSwph8bnX5OL6cdarI_IBClXUm3gJQgGya5NGHhbKFhlY7ipiHiJZcfhkJB6bmWm0TxicKHm-0JK-1IClA7jwk5MB4bow3IzYein5p-2CAi46XF0JfN1LDUjzRb5DKCn26hUtL/s1600/Cover_Photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb3tXxiCSwph8bnX5OL6cdarI_IBClXUm3gJQgGya5NGHhbKFhlY7ipiHiJZcfhkJB6bmWm0TxicKHm-0JK-1IClA7jwk5MB4bow3IzYein5p-2CAi46XF0JfN1LDUjzRb5DKCn26hUtL/s400/Cover_Photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'd love it if you had a few minutes to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015M9XXFC?*Version*=1&*entries*=0" target="_blank">check it out</a>...and then a few minutes after that to read it...and (you see where this is going, don't you?) then to leave a mildly positive review. :)</div>
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- Brittney</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-18274097180587198582014-04-28T14:07:00.001-06:002014-04-28T14:07:22.313-06:00How to Build a Grape Arbor<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey! It's been a while, I know. This tends to happen every spring... I fall off the blogging radar. I still manage to keep busy around my house and yard, I just don't post as much.</div>
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Like what we just completed in the ol' backyard - a grape arbor, slash, privacy shield. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iVJqAiRr_iJAWiJ4m6WmtfSA0Zgb-6u4xpMRA29DcLIFTdGElyc8GdieQ5ZTFvtD2J2Pnv0rAqIyHr5wMJP-RT0cl7gnDdKz6K-3ReUIjJM9a409kzgwAk0UD3kRLaQu78O8wf8vVDZl/s1600/DIY_Grape_Arbor1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iVJqAiRr_iJAWiJ4m6WmtfSA0Zgb-6u4xpMRA29DcLIFTdGElyc8GdieQ5ZTFvtD2J2Pnv0rAqIyHr5wMJP-RT0cl7gnDdKz6K-3ReUIjJM9a409kzgwAk0UD3kRLaQu78O8wf8vVDZl/s1600/DIY_Grape_Arbor1.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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If you're looking for ideas on building a grape arbor, building a decorative arbor, or sprucing up your backyard space in general, check out the full tutorial I wrote for <a href="http://www.homedit.com/how-to-build-a-grape-arbor-step-by-step/" target="_blank">Homedit.com</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlsJUMVVvj_rjRzC68OAhfO9A5AgsGKs4e7Qfblf96uOJ2oQhxoLk7g_OwFbx8hy7hIFXlNyge8GxqdbwcOtdcyNoGhKZi89iYjmCAcgldcStzuZlp21XYLdz_8sogYnayFGwWueOvfLq/s1600/DIY_Grape_Arbor2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlsJUMVVvj_rjRzC68OAhfO9A5AgsGKs4e7Qfblf96uOJ2oQhxoLk7g_OwFbx8hy7hIFXlNyge8GxqdbwcOtdcyNoGhKZi89iYjmCAcgldcStzuZlp21XYLdz_8sogYnayFGwWueOvfLq/s1600/DIY_Grape_Arbor2.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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We love this thing. It's beautiful. Now, whether or not the grapes will grow is a whole nother story... </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-79610432029792926832014-01-13T13:56:00.002-07:002014-01-13T13:57:40.647-07:00Rug Pads for Carpeted or Hardwood Floors<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy mid-January, everyone. Is it just me, or is time FLYING by lately? I have had barely a minute to even think about my house or home décor over the past few months. Which is both good (time with family, exercising, pursuing other interests) and bad (my home needs some freshening up). But it is what it is, I guess.</div>
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Nevertheless, I have a very important, albeit not-super-glamorous, discovery to share with you all. It involves rugs and a product that keeps them squared up and in place. </div>
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We've got wall-to-wall carpet in our living room (although we hope to remedy this in the near future), and you may or may not remember the two rugs (<a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2012/10/living-room-makeover.html">first</a> and <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/when-one-thing-leads-to-another.html" target="">second</a>) I've tried out in here. Over time, I'll admit to having gotten a bit frustrated because the rugs wouldn't stay put. They would inch, ever so slightly, to some slightly askew position, even with furniture legs holding them down. </div>
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Like so (this is a straight-on photo; notice the clockwise shift of the rug?):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg58eorNjIruHvNuVdKER3tvBIi1E_9PhfOLH0T8gUQmZ2AgTUwuh3T7ZtI84oROjRz2dky2arE_si-C5FRgSTRaR1WoxIxSLNn_9Mq_LqQyWf5m9iBTVkY2HwGPn6j9rv76cCuf5GdDv/s1600/rug_pad_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg58eorNjIruHvNuVdKER3tvBIi1E_9PhfOLH0T8gUQmZ2AgTUwuh3T7ZtI84oROjRz2dky2arE_si-C5FRgSTRaR1WoxIxSLNn_9Mq_LqQyWf5m9iBTVkY2HwGPn6j9rv76cCuf5GdDv/s640/rug_pad_1.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Every week or so, I'd be on my hands and knees moving living room furniture aside so I could yank a couple of unruly area rug corners back into place. Not my fave activity.</div>
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You can, hopefully, imagine my delight when a representative from <a href="http://rugpadusa.com/" target="_blank">Rug Pad USA</a> contacted me with an opportunity to review a couple of their products. The company is based outside of the Greater New York area and specializes in manufacturing premium rug underlays for area and Oriental <br />
rugs...but, more importantly to me, they thought they could fix my rug-shifting woes, both on carpet and hardwood floors.</div>
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After giving them two rug dimensions (one larger rug on carpet, one smaller flatweave rug on slippery hardwood in my kitchen), Rug Pad USA custom cut the pads and promptly shipped them out. I have been living with the rug pads for several weeks now, and they.are.awesome.</div>
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For the rug-on-carpet dilemma, I was sent an <a href="http://rugpadusa.com/premium-lock-felt-rubber-rug-pads.html" target="_blank">Premium-Lock felt & rubber rug pad</a> (I think), which consists of a grippy rubber mat...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVGLG6nAYpGCBjsh7zzaCQmtzDxoWMOTt5_s-6he8yvOMXgSkfEUzuSmX9_9vFkZqd9QlLyv6hXPEa-QIUDGt0u5LKeTtVwEeH-WKS1X_chEPFT889cxITHFIXkkxxDTB5ae5xg_HzbT9/s1600/rug_pad3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVGLG6nAYpGCBjsh7zzaCQmtzDxoWMOTt5_s-6he8yvOMXgSkfEUzuSmX9_9vFkZqd9QlLyv6hXPEa-QIUDGt0u5LKeTtVwEeH-WKS1X_chEPFT889cxITHFIXkkxxDTB5ae5xg_HzbT9/s640/rug_pad3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...attached to (surprise!) some thicker felt for padding.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuYfYNd7J7fgyAdprBjxiJwcdJOaBxxuh9V-sbSWtxWuB_AZZ6qJ-wHtMO0fsnhLM1VNPoA41o_4FsYVcah7GslwpbLB4pPRFr7rf7Ijn18-Va0yvueFA7ebCLmcoMDZMpYJG0Wicsceq/s1600/rug_pad4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuYfYNd7J7fgyAdprBjxiJwcdJOaBxxuh9V-sbSWtxWuB_AZZ6qJ-wHtMO0fsnhLM1VNPoA41o_4FsYVcah7GslwpbLB4pPRFr7rf7Ijn18-Va0yvueFA7ebCLmcoMDZMpYJG0Wicsceq/s640/rug_pad4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I laid the rug pad down (rubber side on top of carpet, area rug on top of felt), adjusted the squareness of my rug, and went on with daily life for weeks. This rug hasn't moved, people. And we've even had some major Kinect-playing hours, full of jumping and sliding and shaking all around by humans young and old, right on top of this thing. I'm sold.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjB2CPUN2yU1volNz_U8zaiZYilj7rfmGH1JfT3dNEhF6yRSDaO2i9b0l4eNFReYoxV8WUVR_sNq7muTMByXUFQCmR1UmgqNCXSQyMJ_ausy_aFDWFyAx1mVPkvAkR4EKy7X-OtXQ97w6/s1600/rug_pad5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjB2CPUN2yU1volNz_U8zaiZYilj7rfmGH1JfT3dNEhF6yRSDaO2i9b0l4eNFReYoxV8WUVR_sNq7muTMByXUFQCmR1UmgqNCXSQyMJ_ausy_aFDWFyAx1mVPkvAkR4EKy7X-OtXQ97w6/s640/rug_pad5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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For the flatweave on the hardwood (which had a rug pad underneath previously, although you wouldn't know it by how slippery it was), Rug Pad USA recommended their <a href="http://rugpadusa.com/eco-solid-organic-rug-pad.html" target="_blank">Eco-Solid organic rug pad</a>. Again, the pad came custom cut, so I opened the package and put it under the small rug in front of the kitchen sink (after a lightning-fast disposal of my old, useless rug pad) and went about my life. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7_455On8rTf09F5JoJO-JV2sADjRRz6JdW5H-iSvzId16R16pBuGfNZC_cwROzO3dCnf1ywE7fEt4khXZC-bb4ERabKOkYaRLCCoCnrLLGsvWaP786GoXhj4ZK-c4j-3g4g-HbiKhaVl/s1600/rug_pad2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7_455On8rTf09F5JoJO-JV2sADjRRz6JdW5H-iSvzId16R16pBuGfNZC_cwROzO3dCnf1ywE7fEt4khXZC-bb4ERabKOkYaRLCCoCnrLLGsvWaP786GoXhj4ZK-c4j-3g4g-HbiKhaVl/s640/rug_pad2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Weeks later, I'm impressed and satisfied and able to easily recommend both the products and service provided by <a href="http://rugpadusa.com/" target="_blank">Rug Pad USA</a>. I find I still need to adjust the kitchen rug slightly, but I think that's more because the rug itself gets rammed and upheaved by the legs of bar stools that my toddler pushes around the kitchen to "help" me with dishes. Which inevitably ends up in my having to towel down the entire kitchen, top to bottom, an hour later.</div>
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But that's another story for another day.</div>
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In the meantime, if you have a pesky shifting area rug, no matter the surface of your floor, you should check out <a href="http://rugpadusa.com/" target="_blank">Rug Pad USA</a>. No lie. It may just change your life.</div>
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<em>This post is sponsored by </em><a href="http://rugpadusa.com/" target="_blank"><em>Rug Pad USA</em></a><em>. Opinions expressed are 100% my own. </em></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-18587617698155081482014-01-08T21:10:00.000-07:002014-01-08T21:10:15.279-07:00Living Room Mood Board<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hi. Most of you don't even remember me, I know. Because I took a month-long hiatus from blogging whilst the holidays were upon me. Forgive me? No? Rats. But...oh well. We'll both live, now, won't we. :)</div>
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I'm helping my super awesome and stylish artistic friend update her living room. Like I said, she's a legitimate artist and has a great eye for colors, lines, and textures. She recognizes trends without being trendy, if you know what I mean. The main challenges of their living room are: </div>
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1) Space. With a large farmhouse dining table on one end of the modest-sized living room, there's not a ton of extra space. </div>
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2) Her husband digs contemporary minimalist style, she leans toward eclectic with soul and personality - a little tribal, vintage, industrial.</div>
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3) There are five children and a puppy to consider. </div>
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4) Budget. It's not inexpensive to makeover an entire living/dining room in one fell swoop. But they're ready to take a stab at it.</div>
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Without further ado, here is the preliminary (translation: expendable, jumping-off point, could be waaaaay off) mood board for their updated living room design:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdx4CZaN1dclqqTA2CECnAVDaSxOc1KtEaLvy6aaDKbE1bU2v2stP0ENnNMlHYxtJLGoyg8siYZt8bwkaK0Js9ZQubUh1j9y-_R-8gJCIjDRYaw__1t8usB4jY1oLZ9ttWvtlrDtvy0-6/s1600/Contemporary_Tribal_Eclectic_mood_board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdx4CZaN1dclqqTA2CECnAVDaSxOc1KtEaLvy6aaDKbE1bU2v2stP0ENnNMlHYxtJLGoyg8siYZt8bwkaK0Js9ZQubUh1j9y-_R-8gJCIjDRYaw__1t8usB4jY1oLZ9ttWvtlrDtvy0-6/s1600/Contemporary_Tribal_Eclectic_mood_board.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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(pre-script: Walls will be white.)</div>
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1 - <a href="http://www.cb2.com/avec-tweed-sofa/s262137" target="_blank">Contemporary sofa</a>. This Avec sofa from CB2 has clean, modern lines, while its grey tweed upholstery adds a bit of warmth and texture. (A similar form could also be replaced with light leather.) </div>
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2 - <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/225531893812281853/" target="_blank">Two-tiered coffee table</a>. I like the combination of square shape (we'd use two), warm wood tones, and industrial vibe of this table. The under-shelf is necessary for a select few of the family's many many books and cool treasures.</div>
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3 - <a href="http://www.shootfactory.co.uk/other-houses/1070/images-locations/84_9.jpg" target="_blank">Red wooden side chair</a>. They have a fireplace, and I envision a vintage chair pair (mismatched would be fantastic) flanking it. This little vintage red number caught my eye.</div>
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4 - <a href="http://www.barnlightelectric.com/images/detailed/28/mini_eclipse_gooseneck_1_navy_705.jpg" target="_blank">Navy gooseneck barn sconces</a>. Because floor space is so limited, side tables (and, consequently, their table lamps) are a big fat question mark. A couple of wall-mounted lamps will make a big difference in the room's lighting. </div>
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5 - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_2zQxAAm9qeutOqaNaqntkesHsbMYuiCS9lxlQFhK-oUEYC_xRfZqce3z2xYs-hidMsmRBqdlSSdmIvKlvPQ3C81uyHDQ5Vyyeimr4nGwPV0W87_eOnu6cDZwbjyMfi694MRwiLT6WPr/s320/frond-throw-pillows-1.jpg" target="_blank">Palm frond throw pillow</a>. What can I say? Just for fun. A little unexpected pattern and earthiness.</div>
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6 - <a href="http://suzani.tumblr.com/image/71791928439" target="_blank">Suzani rug</a>. Tribal meets geometric meets modern meets perfect foundation for eclectic in this bold, graphic area rug. The colors can read as neutral or as great jumping-off points for other parts of the room.</div>
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7 - <a href="http://img0.etsystatic.com/022/0/6745897/il_340x270.512243938_nyxn.jpg" target="_blank">Mint velvet throw pillow</a>. Nothing adds freshness to a fairly traditionally colored space than a bit of mint velvet. It's unexpected. I'd add contrasting navy piping.</div>
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8 - <a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/3454833/The-home-of-Stella-and-Joeri-industrial-bedroom-Amsterdam" target="_blank">Medium-tone wooden bookcases</a>. Two of these exist in the living room and aim to stay. Great wood bookshelves can almost always be worked with successfully.</div>
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9 - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2gOe5tqyOsFOsPXwEnwe-5_IgXuYB57k5XE_b5ltE9LUELfLFe-iwYp8ZEpXeKD9HKUPVAw2eUOPXsV7Eq5-YKT-2W7EI-qOL99_dMPy_5_K-2Ft5OIcIqAbfZrrOPFxAn8JyjQIwUJ1/s1600/UO+Leather+Butterfly+Chair+.jpg" target="_blank">Leather butterfly chair</a>. Provides a hip, retro vibe while still being classic in leather. Also, what can beat those lines? Nothing, that's what. Breaks up the solid chunks of a living room's inherently larger pieces (e.g., fireplace, sofa, dining table, etc.).</div>
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10 - <a href="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2013/05/01/cde853cab9d3.jpeg" target="_blank">Mustard and white herringbone window shades</a>. Paying homage to the love of geometric shapes without competing with the rug or other pieces, this simple fabric adds just the right touch of visual interest and color.</div>
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11 - <a href="http://www.elmwoodreclaimedtimber.com/sites/default/files/styles/hero_image/public/hero-gallery/Reclaimed-Wood-Floor%20Rocky%20Mountain%20Mosaic_0.jpg?itok=5GPePNof" target="_blank">Medium-tone wood floor</a>. Looooove a wood floor, especially if that wood floor is authentic and well-lived. A perfect start to a room's makeover, if you ask me. </div>
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12 - <a href="http://www.visualcomfortlightingstore.com/v/vspfiles/photos//TOB1200HAB-2.jpg" target="_blank">Brass pharmacy floor lamp</a>. This type of lamp successfully bridges the gap between classic traditional and modern. Plus, every living room needs a bit of brass.</div>
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13 - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLEbcPf4QMQSodjM2G0cC5vyNbala2et24aIKtv-Uj8LWWBY80fTSOFbkiPA4JDLax4_chdjNX5uJ-4wGEQc_p0ad2hDHh63mOCe1OmagLcQuq2YX_QiB3-XOnV4v1RLVNrqv_Y0wxTY/s1600/970122_011_b.jpg" target="_blank">Newsprint rhino head</a>. A wall-mounted animal head, just for the fun of an eclectic living room. (Actually, upon seeing the mood board, my friend nixed the rhino head. No sweat. I want her to be happy!)</div>
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14 - <a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/Varenna-Coral--P2805.aspx" target="_blank">Printed throw pillow</a>. We'll vary the prints, patterns, and colors of the throw pillows. Not too many, but enough to bring a little life into the room.</div>
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15 - <a href="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/12b185ce0054f567_4-1909/traditional-armchairs.jpg" target="_blank">Leather armchair</a>. This already exists in the room, which I'm glad about. Classic comfort.</div>
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16 - <a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/61/b0/97/61b097a394e99eb5341bbdb14c064000.jpg" target="_blank">Mismatched dining chairs</a>. As I mentioned, a large chunky wood farmhouse-style dining table sits at one end of the living room. It has a significant visual presence. Currently, the chairs are all dark wood like the table. I'd like to encourage a mix-and-match feel with the chairs, leaning toward vintage industrial.</div>
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This will be such a fun project; I'm excited to get going and will keep you all updated on our progress. Stay tuned!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-37144177578702964262013-12-15T19:58:00.003-07:002013-12-15T19:58:48.548-07:00Christmas Decorations: Bows<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bows. We put them
in hair, we put them on gifts, we even put them on our car grilles. (Okay, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we </i>maybe don’t put them on our cars, but
we’ve all seen it done. That counts for something.) </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The truth is, bows have
been around forever, and it’s for a reason. Bows can provide a polishing
touch to whatever they’re put on…and they often provide a bit of heart-warming
nostalgia as well, which is never a bad thing, especially during the holidays.
You might want to consider adding a few bows to your décor this season – inside
or out, it’s never too late. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/31198/between-naps-on-the-porch-traditional-entry-other-metro"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="666" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/a2d1ea6f0ac9286d_8-1000/traditional-entry.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></div>
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<small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/entry" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></small></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> Welcome guests to your home with some oversized bows atop miniature Christmas trees. Keeping the tree décor restricted to the bows alone helps this look not be too overdone, although the stars on the silver buckets are a festive and unobtrusive addition. </o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf6FrRdPoOvPc7OPuU5XwW4z3I7Sd0y1S3DhESDd0OnRtguV3v2BqE99y-ljQDcBiufVdbgthsW6TSxlKjgBDinDf3w0-O8FNHbi6LqP5JWlRJ8LAvCmTSKBbxAI22RqOU_VAfOzJkIfY/s1600/christmas_bows1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf6FrRdPoOvPc7OPuU5XwW4z3I7Sd0y1S3DhESDd0OnRtguV3v2BqE99y-ljQDcBiufVdbgthsW6TSxlKjgBDinDf3w0-O8FNHbi6LqP5JWlRJ8LAvCmTSKBbxAI22RqOU_VAfOzJkIfY/s640/christmas_bows1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2013/12/christmas-decorated-stoop.html#.UqizUr7n8dU" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Large red bows on your green garland on the stair railing is a classic look. And the thing about classic looks is: you can’t really go wrong with them. Ever. Add bows to both ends of the garland (start and finish) and a few places in the middle.</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfP44jX3O9LgfE369UNEtupPvDmMR-K9D7qTCMWDof2iSVB2KLEMQNgt9spH96xkBS10PClp0uNhAFyUrvuH8vgJv0iuW2MrJxN4sAe56T5wBVoiqP0Xn90H4_gcVGcMKsJItccpgL4eP/s1600/christmas_bows2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfP44jX3O9LgfE369UNEtupPvDmMR-K9D7qTCMWDof2iSVB2KLEMQNgt9spH96xkBS10PClp0uNhAFyUrvuH8vgJv0iuW2MrJxN4sAe56T5wBVoiqP0Xn90H4_gcVGcMKsJItccpgL4eP/s640/christmas_bows2.bmp" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1391459_258796810935960_562878445_n.png" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Hanging a simple boxwood wreath (or a greenery wreath of any kind, for that matter) is a hallmark of Christmas décor. (Psst - it's not hard to <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-boxwood-wreath.html">make your own boxwood wreath</a>.) You can customize the look with an oversized satin bow and hanging ribbon. Keep the bow ribbon light and neutral for a fresh, modern look. <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjHFfe5dDjuIQ0_eqqcCFuk0eRIGWFgZ4kk_NdhblIlggbhx7s7ZZ-rWIg5WtXx4JqgylmJ-droU2w7xDvwCSwsWv2gA4NzL8NoeojOArUJP1sHudXoJgGDNibJF1FO7dX0jiWfgyzVBm/s1600/christmas_bows3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjHFfe5dDjuIQ0_eqqcCFuk0eRIGWFgZ4kk_NdhblIlggbhx7s7ZZ-rWIg5WtXx4JqgylmJ-droU2w7xDvwCSwsWv2gA4NzL8NoeojOArUJP1sHudXoJgGDNibJF1FO7dX0jiWfgyzVBm/s640/christmas_bows3.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.homebunch.com/interior-design-ideas-christmas-decorating-ideas/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A perfect and unique idea for a holiday dinner, or just to dress up your dining room for the season, is to tie bows around each chairback. This is particularly striking against white slipcovers, although the bows would look well against any color (and type) of chair.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/2016511/Homes-for-the-Holidays-2012--Edmonton-traditional-dining-room-edmonton" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/235124a800ab0552_8-0769/traditional-dining-room.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Edmonton--AB" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></td></tr>
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</div>
<div style="color: #444444; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Centering a large bow on your mantel garland is a good way to capitalize on the attraction of symmetrical décor on a naturally symmetrical feature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This one isn't exactly to my taste, but I can certainly appreciate the holiday spirit behind it. (But, for the record, that brass-legged coffee table? Yes, please.)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLFvkNO2UOXGV3D0EADr3AD6OuUJqvtRYIp5_wamDS3Qmq8F0VU1fUb3usylzR7Zpy9o4bJDp1LYum8nGUfUmAZzpmfc_vx6Z46NJjsY7GQ2ox2OZtQtXx60CNqM3h79r55SzXocR0zZI/s1600/christmas_bows4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLFvkNO2UOXGV3D0EADr3AD6OuUJqvtRYIp5_wamDS3Qmq8F0VU1fUb3usylzR7Zpy9o4bJDp1LYum8nGUfUmAZzpmfc_vx6Z46NJjsY7GQ2ox2OZtQtXx60CNqM3h79r55SzXocR0zZI/s640/christmas_bows4.jpg" width="574" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://freshome.com/2011/12/05/33-christmas-decorations-ideas-bringing-the-christmas-spirit-into-your-living-room/christmas-living-room-3/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ve all seen stars or angels or other items atop a tree (which are lovely), but if you’re looking to freshen things up one year, you might consider adding a bow as your tree’s finishing touch. This is an especially sweet look in a rustic or country styled Christmas space.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Jr8LZChoAqK_4wIL_JBfCAJ5WCVHM6C8BVMzE8h948oldLPaEWRazyhtYpTGYyLuphMFMGAtyPw9Vz_nQCHT9r1a45PcpHs6CFrTfdaUrAHjrB-BRf6oHVkE0roBc-bkkofW_UkfuqoA/s1600/christmas_bows5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Jr8LZChoAqK_4wIL_JBfCAJ5WCVHM6C8BVMzE8h948oldLPaEWRazyhtYpTGYyLuphMFMGAtyPw9Vz_nQCHT9r1a45PcpHs6CFrTfdaUrAHjrB-BRf6oHVkE0roBc-bkkofW_UkfuqoA/s640/christmas_bows5.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://freshome.com/2012/12/12/30-christmas-decorating-ideas-to-get-your-home-ready-for-the-holidays/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or, if you really like your figurine on top of the tree, maybe decorating the tree itself with bright, cheery bows is the thing for you. Contrast bright satin ribbons with something natural, like pinecones or, in this case, dried hydrangeas.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/2085411/Wilderstein-Holiday-Tour-eclectic-living-room-new-york" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="686" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/cb11f38400b6a2fe_8-6563/eclectic-living-room.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/rikkisnyder/rikki-snyder" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What about you? Do you like adding bows to your Christmas décor, or is it not your style?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-45575894197081491512013-12-13T11:39:00.000-07:002013-12-13T11:39:00.626-07:00Bits of Christmas at my House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I usually keep Christmas décor pretty simple.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB41ko_vbIrHQybcrYmQvHBoLiGoxqi8pg5cdLZ3gjeBL_gzPKu04KkZtLfON0QcvJPoW5lRFAjtASQOL8VL8eKtzQUtPQ4IgWPYs-3x76vg6nEUkHieKx-G68tEj0nFMiMhPoJ3YlbP0/s1600/Christmas_NOEL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB41ko_vbIrHQybcrYmQvHBoLiGoxqi8pg5cdLZ3gjeBL_gzPKu04KkZtLfON0QcvJPoW5lRFAjtASQOL8VL8eKtzQUtPQ4IgWPYs-3x76vg6nEUkHieKx-G68tEj0nFMiMhPoJ3YlbP0/s640/Christmas_NOEL.JPG" width="458" /></a></div>
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I visited Sweden a few years ago while my parents were there for three years and picked up some Tomta. (Don't know about the spelling. But I love their hidden faces all the same.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLlm_eZInF6KZyQviYDfbB8V0SrbRn3pDxVBMEm-A6RQzIOtQCXoB-yblR2OPy_O-4-i9oSKpQZKa4B7l3_4m6QErZWjQ9GJizk-QtGs9ZN3VT7V61qRZkjpavfMqTtoSjLB1NtfR0xM7/s1600/Christmas_Tomta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLlm_eZInF6KZyQviYDfbB8V0SrbRn3pDxVBMEm-A6RQzIOtQCXoB-yblR2OPy_O-4-i9oSKpQZKa4B7l3_4m6QErZWjQ9GJizk-QtGs9ZN3VT7V61qRZkjpavfMqTtoSjLB1NtfR0xM7/s640/Christmas_Tomta.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I will forever love Swedish style and décor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMslqMv1z_j1ZA8F-toM3oU3bFF31FZNsDLHyP3Qyxl80Pnf3Z70VsJYyzj_-a1h0n7MH2c9G-AoA3ANT0CTeKRE9NUUsd6YZcScOdFpu24i2zSCOG0MtAHXKyn1mL86R9nBdFgntPDvv3/s1600/Christmas_miniTomta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMslqMv1z_j1ZA8F-toM3oU3bFF31FZNsDLHyP3Qyxl80Pnf3Z70VsJYyzj_-a1h0n7MH2c9G-AoA3ANT0CTeKRE9NUUsd6YZcScOdFpu24i2zSCOG0MtAHXKyn1mL86R9nBdFgntPDvv3/s640/Christmas_miniTomta.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Below is my kids' favorite advent activity each year: Mini felt stockings that hold mystery treats for the 12 days leading up to Christmas every year. Made by my sis-in-law, this was the greatest handmade Christmas gift for a family with young kids. Ever. In the history of the world.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7rNV4Xwc8BOWndhZt47lgoro2mPwRQGRp6993oJe9yJhF4XVVvGPeEFQSmxeLw5ROJ16JsZRmq4FC2U4zczkxHRIDnDGg_gvllhCFBYqGWUzAbisw7EWrL3CLMsKAHcN5ipnqYQ8p7Uj/s1600/Christmas_stockings_advent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7rNV4Xwc8BOWndhZt47lgoro2mPwRQGRp6993oJe9yJhF4XVVvGPeEFQSmxeLw5ROJ16JsZRmq4FC2U4zczkxHRIDnDGg_gvllhCFBYqGWUzAbisw7EWrL3CLMsKAHcN5ipnqYQ8p7Uj/s640/Christmas_stockings_advent.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy Friday, friends.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-4293688158868053922013-12-08T22:21:00.000-07:002013-12-15T16:57:33.472-07:00DIY Gift Idea: Door Draft Stopper<div align="center">
I love Christmastime. I really do. We're working this year on keeping the Spirit of the Season in mind around our house. We're doing things more slowly and with greater care. We're trying to smile more. We're reading stories together every night. We're trying to get back to a time (was there ever a time?) when Christmas was simpler. When a candy cane and a cozy blanket and a good book were ingredients for a perfect afternoon. When we lived for Friday night so we could pop some corn and play Christmas bingo as a family.</div>
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I dunno. Maybe that all sounds a little too nostalgic and weird. But not as weird as what I'm about to recommend as a DIY gift idea. (And if that's not the best segue you've ever read, I'll be shocked.) (Which is absolutely true if by "be shocked," you know I mean "<em>not</em> be shocked." Just so we're clear.)</div>
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Enter (drumroll please) the door draft stopper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIupZF3LmxJbwCRgLNsEjl5DSC_IbWtDFeWiI5bb10QBWifJI2RXCjXslUnM_8-0QGfeiJa7XRXOkimStoCl_0O62YrX-ALUMPVylrhjESKmrJxnHKTVBTcgMh0PQ9_qNIrhygMFlu13V/s1600/door_draft_stopper3_pin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIupZF3LmxJbwCRgLNsEjl5DSC_IbWtDFeWiI5bb10QBWifJI2RXCjXslUnM_8-0QGfeiJa7XRXOkimStoCl_0O62YrX-ALUMPVylrhjESKmrJxnHKTVBTcgMh0PQ9_qNIrhygMFlu13V/s640/door_draft_stopper3_pin.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Now, I don't live in a drafty cave or anything, but there is a distinct chill that comes through around our exterior doors in the colder weather. So one afternoon, in about 15 minutes, I made two draft stoppers for the front and back doors. I don't know why I've gone seven winters in this house without these babies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyk0ibr5IDhsDzihyphenhyphenGFb_oB4v7K0vSmtuNFTtp2ZAVmVpZpKFIQ5H-aA6XRmfoiTgNIeCllzFhvIB5smS6eKIJIkwWqJV5dIpMMjdVPJrWOmgwaqNWLreDe7dIofITeSYnBkGyPwsUxfC/s1600/door_draft_stopper1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyk0ibr5IDhsDzihyphenhyphenGFb_oB4v7K0vSmtuNFTtp2ZAVmVpZpKFIQ5H-aA6XRmfoiTgNIeCllzFhvIB5smS6eKIJIkwWqJV5dIpMMjdVPJrWOmgwaqNWLreDe7dIofITeSYnBkGyPwsUxfC/s640/door_draft_stopper1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Suuuuper easy. Here's what you do:</div>
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- Measure your door width. Add about 8". </div>
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- Cut two strips of fabric that are each the length of your door width plus the 8", and about 8"-10" wide.</div>
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- Placing right sides together, sew the two long edges and one short end together to create a very long, narrow sack.</div>
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- Turn sack right-side-out. </div>
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- Fill with dried beans, rice, or wheat kernels.</div>
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- Fold under the rough edge, then sew up the top. </div>
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- Viola. End of door draft stopper creation.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA67_2ZIbaEA6f6Jfxu8DpCdtXzpcjAmLicLK1wLl5r6Ci8hG8YRIqLIbKQYTXv9CSZNIAHtShL_TD1yidvOhvKE8Dm3z_y9E_fxtLR6ywiD-za5G64PtqYu4AZ5zhkwyzED8Vv439QF8X/s1600/door_draft_stopper2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA67_2ZIbaEA6f6Jfxu8DpCdtXzpcjAmLicLK1wLl5r6Ci8hG8YRIqLIbKQYTXv9CSZNIAHtShL_TD1yidvOhvKE8Dm3z_y9E_fxtLR6ywiD-za5G64PtqYu4AZ5zhkwyzED8Vv439QF8X/s640/door_draft_stopper2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's so simple, you guys. I love this thing, and not just because it's made of mattress ticking. (You'll remember my fetish from <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/04/settees-mattress-ticking.html">here</a>, <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-new-settee-sneak-peek.html">here</a>, or <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-sew-professional-pillow-cover.html">here</a>.) </div>
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I love it because (a) it was so easy to make, (b) it's already made such a big difference in the amount of cold air I feel by the door, and (c) ummm...I can't remember my third reason, but I know there was one. No matter. You'll just have to trust me that I love it.</div>
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I'd recommend making some of these for yourself and then, if you're stumped about a couple of people on your list, make some for them for the holidays. Great DIY gift.</div>
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Rather than spending more time trying to convince you of the door draft stopper's merits as a holiday gift, though, I'm now off to get some cleaner for that front entry rug. Hooo-eeee. Kids and winter and boots are a deadly combination.</div>
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Happy gifting!<br />
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<br />
<em>Featured!</em></div>
<div align="center">
<center>
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyckmPPVEQhV2IqKAXjp_n3oxWkdFCPqiiOz2A3uqMP6HuSNqOcSURvGwoEHh5ivMOr42F8OkqRN5KDtOFwMxYvrUa3ZJNbhOHXp3raz5-DXsURmy93u4XzfihuE5dIVOn1smhrCebU1e/s1600/featured.jpg" /></a></center>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(shared: <a href="http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/" target="_blank">A Glimpse Inside</a>, <a href="http://www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.com//" target="_blank">A Vision to Remember</a>, <a href="http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/12/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-link_10.html" target="_blank">Adorned from Above</a>, <a href="http://myfashionforwardblog.com/" target="_blank">All Things Pretty</a>, <a href="http://angelshomestead.com/saturday-spotlight-47/" target="_blank">Angels Homestead</a>, <a href="http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2013/12/show-tell-saturday-121413.html#more" target="_blank">Be Different Act Normal</a>, <a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2013/12/welcome-to-153rd-masterpiece-monday.html#more" target="_blank">Boogieboard Cottage</a>, <a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/12/sunday-showcase-party-224.html" target="_blank">By Stephanie Lynn</a>, <a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/2013/12/flaunt-it-friday-184.html" target="_blank">Chic on a Shoestring Budget</a>, <a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Coastal Charm</a>, <a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/" target="_blank">Craft-O-Maniac</a>, <a href="http://jembellish.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Round%20Tuit" target="_blank">Creating my Way to Success</a>, <a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/" target="_blank">C.R.A.F.T.</a>, <a href="http://www.diybydesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DIY by Design</a>, <a href="http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/97-party-time/" target="_blank">DIY Dreamer</a>, <a href="http://diyshowoff.com/2013/12/15/diy-party-time-holiday-diy-home/" target="_blank">DIY Showoff</a>, <a href="http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2013/12/wow-me-wednesday-133.html#more" target="_blank">GingerSnap Crafts</a>, <a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/link-party-palooza-19/" target="_blank">I Heart Naptime</a>, <a href="http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/" target="_blank">I Should be Mopping</a>, <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/12/your-whims-wednesday-141-and-features.html" target="_blank">My Girlish Whims</a>, <a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">New Nostalgia</a>, <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/12/linky-party-giveaway/" target="_blank">Remodelaholic</a>, <a href="http://www.sewcando.com/" target="_blank">Sew Can Do</a>, <a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2013/12/frugal-friday_12.html#more" target="_blank">Shabby Nest</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/12/whimsy-wednesday-93.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>, <a href="http://stylelixir.com/2013/12/fridays-fab-favorites-join-the-link-up-my-travel-essentials.html" target="_blank">Style Elixir</a>, <a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/12/take-look-tuesday_9.html" target="_blank">Sugar Bee</a>, </span><a href="http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sumo's Sweet Stuff</span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, <a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/2013/12/best-diy-projects-35.html" target="_blank">The 36th Avenue</a>, <a href="http://what-about.co/" target="_blank">What-About</a>)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-71325308194141178702013-12-06T23:09:00.000-07:002013-12-06T23:09:03.795-07:00Aqua Chesterfield Sofa...and Being Green with Envy<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes the holidays make me think of blue and silver. You know, like cool winter ice.</div>
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Or, more importantly, like this aqua Chesterfield sofa set. Good grief. The walls. The art. The rug. The sofas. (The sofas!!) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdVq7QHhBByyw8L-I4cb7zLT6Y1UB5dXAgtouXE7bIiqGwEQlTxMxAIgh3Dz-oXVSHciDcLHy4yqKk7Q1KWUbhEC8FlFtzFJnenRHuxaYUG6idCSUODPxThbRFxtCYE-R5Wyeg6IiEeTR/s1600/aqua_chesterfield_sofa.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdVq7QHhBByyw8L-I4cb7zLT6Y1UB5dXAgtouXE7bIiqGwEQlTxMxAIgh3Dz-oXVSHciDcLHy4yqKk7Q1KWUbhEC8FlFtzFJnenRHuxaYUG6idCSUODPxThbRFxtCYE-R5Wyeg6IiEeTR/s640/aqua_chesterfield_sofa.bmp" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/f2/eb/a0/f2eba0bd7d1130a428f4bdf553527e4d.jpg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-5779387714386476592013-12-03T21:06:00.000-07:002013-12-15T16:28:15.655-07:00DIY Gift Idea: Herringbone Paint Chip Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hey friends! The holidays are in full swing around here, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Other than the fact that every member of my household, sans myself, adores egg nog. Me, I prefer to <em>not</em> drink heart-attack-in-a-mug, thanks.</div>
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Anyway. If you're like me, you're always on the lookout for a great, fairly fast and easy but still personable, DIY gift idea. It's a bonus if it's inexpensive. This little number checks all those boxes and leaves you the rest of the afternoon to guzzle all the egg nog your soon-to-be-clogged heart desires. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcngn0nHlvpfZcGcsZ9n6cl0Dh4vPvVAQF2qBnq6BxsvUsOyNwSKOYucFJ-8mSaalb7YOmkQPVAiwsjtTpil8vzQD4zHxQN3bDmWbJQTuyqvTuxw13U5S0wvMj0sYPnJyvR8g72orpeu7e/s1600/herringbone_paint_chip_art0_pin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcngn0nHlvpfZcGcsZ9n6cl0Dh4vPvVAQF2qBnq6BxsvUsOyNwSKOYucFJ-8mSaalb7YOmkQPVAiwsjtTpil8vzQD4zHxQN3bDmWbJQTuyqvTuxw13U5S0wvMj0sYPnJyvR8g72orpeu7e/s640/herringbone_paint_chip_art0_pin.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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(p.s. I totally have to give credit for this project's inspiration <a href="http://housestuffworks.blogspot.com/2012/04/diy-paint-chip-art.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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This is a great DIY art project that you can make for your own enjoyment or to give to someone else who has great taste. You'll need a frame, some paper or cardstock, some paint chips in an ombre gradient, scissors (puppy chew marks on said scissors are optional), and glue. I'd recommend grabbing several sticks of glue, because if you have kids the chances are high that half of them are dried out. But, again. Optional.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2p-wsxNjVef4jRvsrlkQlwlRqTWFZTovsByFVKBYNmYvH5RqEdGmWDmCIFBaXJxDb4wBgsR_SC5ZpzuC7gBRt-hdFzeoSnGx_aG8-D_rV61BuZlQF9eHaMoRCihVcIeCeje5S7RATw6i/s1600/herringbone_paint_chip_art1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2p-wsxNjVef4jRvsrlkQlwlRqTWFZTovsByFVKBYNmYvH5RqEdGmWDmCIFBaXJxDb4wBgsR_SC5ZpzuC7gBRt-hdFzeoSnGx_aG8-D_rV61BuZlQF9eHaMoRCihVcIeCeje5S7RATw6i/s640/herringbone_paint_chip_art1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I began the project by cutting out the paint chips into herringbone-type parallelograms. I freehanded them, because I'm lazy like that. You could create a template if you prefer more exacting art. Also, be sure as you're cutting them out that you have about half the diagonals "going" each way - mirror images of each other shapewise, I mean. I just cut out a bunch because I wasn't sure what I'd want my ombre to look like. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApwcfTMKmfCEZUWphKt6Vw0M0wgWUGkwTA_eSNNIzI_L6ThKc777T-21_Oo2kd8mCFF9fJpCsFdiqJ6Y-6Tb2QkhMuUvYFscjmDpzocI3vSj1HYuvbGcQ4Pzhi67kUmwOi2HKlTbDPM_6/s1600/herringbone_paint_chip_art2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApwcfTMKmfCEZUWphKt6Vw0M0wgWUGkwTA_eSNNIzI_L6ThKc777T-21_Oo2kd8mCFF9fJpCsFdiqJ6Y-6Tb2QkhMuUvYFscjmDpzocI3vSj1HYuvbGcQ4Pzhi67kUmwOi2HKlTbDPM_6/s640/herringbone_paint_chip_art2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Laid them out on the paper (cut to frame size) to get a basic idea of what I wanted, then I started gluing them on piece by piece. I didn't mark anything here. You definitely could, and your herringbone pattern would look like perfection. Depends on how you like your DIY art, I guess!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF5YGUEt5EGu0cY4ArrGcN8ButAC4XXl0T-K7au3EJ5wjWrSBlmLigwB9kyBcjxa3U9ilfnypRdMoBatckLg1UPvgcam8zYVQj2UOcjes8AOWoghj-oouLxkE3SypbWQVXa9X827QMmZ4/s1600/herringbone_paint_chip_art3b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF5YGUEt5EGu0cY4ArrGcN8ButAC4XXl0T-K7au3EJ5wjWrSBlmLigwB9kyBcjxa3U9ilfnypRdMoBatckLg1UPvgcam8zYVQj2UOcjes8AOWoghj-oouLxkE3SypbWQVXa9X827QMmZ4/s640/herringbone_paint_chip_art3b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Framed it. Loved it. Wanted some more of it...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8M4RHKec-nitWnlF1bW-z0wshSr8sUx2T_FL0gfSrquWEx7jxGv2bSNjLvgnXc5zCuWkijRgi1-bkIgOO3gFNmIWrOrKzjWF3RQ97aaa3q9fQrlctVT_pGL9E5YrfBU4581ae-9XSJe5/s1600/herringbone_paint_chip_art3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8M4RHKec-nitWnlF1bW-z0wshSr8sUx2T_FL0gfSrquWEx7jxGv2bSNjLvgnXc5zCuWkijRgi1-bkIgOO3gFNmIWrOrKzjWF3RQ97aaa3q9fQrlctVT_pGL9E5YrfBU4581ae-9XSJe5/s640/herringbone_paint_chip_art3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...so I made a second one, this time with the herringbone in the landscape orientation.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54hpb6w-q76StFSPhvsfWHIJLzFSpIZYlEwLmKTzYO32AaLwhIxzQqTAVyeloPpn3TQPcqVR-Hwnd37GPvBm7Q1Yp38KJjXY7l0zw1yZ4dEdFW86WFSdG9T1DXxsu4CJTbOor5d9DC0AT/s1600/herringbone_paint_chip_art4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54hpb6w-q76StFSPhvsfWHIJLzFSpIZYlEwLmKTzYO32AaLwhIxzQqTAVyeloPpn3TQPcqVR-Hwnd37GPvBm7Q1Yp38KJjXY7l0zw1yZ4dEdFW86WFSdG9T1DXxsu4CJTbOor5d9DC0AT/s640/herringbone_paint_chip_art4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's one of them, hanging at low height in the living room corner.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBq2PzHwU1m86KE-dEzCD5oKafhMKTchSq3B4pkuOAuJvBbjpb9U92I5cNPkoWHgZvlU0Awy307Qm9z9W1Ju7xahBdYQM9TEPzDHQniNpbL-4DVe_lQFS061JbBLgpkdFUisDpczt_KF4/s1600/herringbone_paint_chip_art5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBq2PzHwU1m86KE-dEzCD5oKafhMKTchSq3B4pkuOAuJvBbjpb9U92I5cNPkoWHgZvlU0Awy307Qm9z9W1Ju7xahBdYQM9TEPzDHQniNpbL-4DVe_lQFS061JbBLgpkdFUisDpczt_KF4/s640/herringbone_paint_chip_art5.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Nothing like mixing the Logan LDS temple, Georgia O'Keefe, and some herringbone paint chip art next to a <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/11/faux-bois-in-living-room.html">faux bois table lamp</a>, eh?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZXIVA_UK_zz95dr2Hbpjsxx8e7zkMQTAPD6g6P51smoUvqcrwwPvWlBveTTdlV1_6ksBHl89j94HBRfoq39C1ZDA05SGVq79_AnwESg_Fw-7jHH9b_re7DeTsLuVNWM9R5sHBxxjDwXc/s1600/herringbone_paint_chip_art6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZXIVA_UK_zz95dr2Hbpjsxx8e7zkMQTAPD6g6P51smoUvqcrwwPvWlBveTTdlV1_6ksBHl89j94HBRfoq39C1ZDA05SGVq79_AnwESg_Fw-7jHH9b_re7DeTsLuVNWM9R5sHBxxjDwXc/s640/herringbone_paint_chip_art6.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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This was such a fun project for me. Therapeutic, with Christmas radio on in the background and my two youngest girls napping. Now go and do one (or four) yourself, either to keep or give away.</div>
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As always, thanks for stopping by!</div>
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(Feel free to check out my other ideas for paint chips: an <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2012/08/paint-chip-mobile.html">ombre nursery mobile</a>, a <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2012/12/paint-chip-art.html">bit of art</a>, or <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-best-materials-for-decorating-on.html">other great ideas for decorating on a tight budget</a>.)</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(shared: <a href="http://www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.com//" target="_blank">A Vision to Remember</a>, <a href="http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/12/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-link_10.html" target="_blank">Adorned from Above</a>, <a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2013/12/welcome-to-153rd-masterpiece-monday.html#more" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2013/12/welcome-to-153rd-masterpiece-monday.html#more" target="_blank">Boogieboard Cottage</a>, <a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/12/sunday-showcase-party-224.html" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/12/sunday-showcase-party-224.html" target="_blank">By Stephanie Lynn</a>, <a href="http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chic on a Shoestring Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/" target="_blank">Craft-O-Maniac</a>, <a href="http://jembellish.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Round%20Tuit" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://jembellish.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Round%20Tuit" target="_blank">Creating my Way to Success</a>, <a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/" target="_blank">C.R.A.F.T.</a>, <a href="http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.diybydesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DIY by Design</a>, <a href="http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/97-party-time/" target="_blank">DIY Dreamer</a>, <a href="http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/" target="_blank">Finding Fabulous</a>, <a href="http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/search/label/%7Bwow%20me%7D%20wednesday" target="_blank">GingerSnap Crafts</a>, <a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/link-party-palooza-18/" target="_blank">I Heart Naptime</a>, <a href="http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/" target="_blank">I Should be Mopping</a>, <a href="http://mumsmakelists.blogspot.com/2013/12/empty-your-archive-35.html#more" target="_blank">Mums Make Lists</a>, <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/" target="_blank">My Girlish Whims</a>, <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2013/12/vintage-and-vogue-at-christmas-show-and.html" target="_blank">My Romantic Home</a>, <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/12/12days72ideas-review-remodelaholics-anonymous-link-party/" target="_blank">Remodelaholic</a>, <a href="http://www.sewcando.com/" target="_blank">Sew Can Do</a>, <a href="http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></a><a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2013/12/frugal-friday.html#more" target="_blank">Shabby Nest</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/12/whimsy-wednesday-92.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>,
<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/12/take-look-tuesday_9.html" target="_blank">Sugar Bee</a>, <a href="http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sumo's Sweet Stuff</span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, <a href="http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-diyers-41.html" target="_blank">The DIYers</a>, </span><a href="http://thehappyhousie.com/?p=6410" target="_blank">The Happy Housie</a>, <a href="http://what-about.co/" target="_blank">What-About</a>)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-38031208540304400162013-11-14T09:27:00.000-07:002013-11-14T14:04:55.435-07:00How to Waterproof Your Upholstered Dining Chairs<div style="text-align: center;">
If you've got kids and you've got upholstery within a meter of your dining table, chances are, you've got stained upholstery. I did a ton of research about the best way to go about incorporating kid- and water-proofed dining room upholstery. Because, let's be honest, kids (try as they might) are not easy on fabric where grape juice and peanut butter oils are concerned.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bO5q9R48RUYsrkuveVTX28TNr2_2VsBoIyw-MLuIOTJE8dNagz9ZP2lDpV84gpi9DoxXN6N74IQZySp2GAuG81G2aZKi8LdJHAwqfK2jnWlhTKVQeD3iWe7fNNFlbxGzvnItHv1Tfz7E/s1600/DIY_oilcloth00_pin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bO5q9R48RUYsrkuveVTX28TNr2_2VsBoIyw-MLuIOTJE8dNagz9ZP2lDpV84gpi9DoxXN6N74IQZySp2GAuG81G2aZKi8LdJHAwqfK2jnWlhTKVQeD3iWe7fNNFlbxGzvnItHv1Tfz7E/s640/DIY_oilcloth00_pin.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I had <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-living-room-curtains-and-can-of.html">this great coral-print fabric</a> on-hand that I wanted to use to lighten and brighten the original dark-brick-reddish chair upholstery. But there was no way it was going to stay clean without some sort of protective barrier.</div>
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There are loads of ideas out there. Buying oilcloth (or leather or vinyl or other water-resistant fabric) outright would work if you didn't already have fabric, but that didn't apply to me here. I was tempted to try my hand at soaking the fabric in boiled linseed oil, but the extreme flammability and the warnings about having the fabric be forever tacky swayed me away from that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFQl7YmMkPvsDOS-3Rj4NE9xpFjPqo-y7F9XwP5lLoOEoNW8dBGfd4grJU47O4IrXamiF-DFIa6lWg9gcfjU5MQLDaRwly6VZiJ0UWjnAzLprYF7DD66TwAWhXILlt4ggj0bvP0VTr2EG/s1600/DIY_oilcloth2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFQl7YmMkPvsDOS-3Rj4NE9xpFjPqo-y7F9XwP5lLoOEoNW8dBGfd4grJU47O4IrXamiF-DFIa6lWg9gcfjU5MQLDaRwly6VZiJ0UWjnAzLprYF7DD66TwAWhXILlt4ggj0bvP0VTr2EG/s640/DIY_oilcloth2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I read that you could use iron-on vinyl, and thought this would be my answer until I realized it only came in 17" widths. My dining chair seats were wider than that. But wait! Fabric.com sold the stuff in 24" widths!!! (<a href="http://www.fabric.com/" target="_blank">Fabric.com</a> was the only place I could find that offers 24".) And it's cheap, too - like $6/yd or something. Problem solved.</div>
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I cut my fabric to fit the seats then followed the very easy instructions on my heat&bond iron-on vinyl. (Be careful to double- and triple-check the surface of your fabric before you stick the stuff on to make sure it's clear of lint and hair. Otherwise, you'll have lint and hair on there eternally.) </div>
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Ended up with a relatively flexible and waterproof piece of fabric. Yesssss.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPW3oOaxyL6L7zWG3v7Kl_O1ei47HmPHvJd4zauRD-X8yecsxdKIR4Wy9IznSeiIqnbrKp-yuTmtmCXvDF2WoMH2YKYeTseMBoEC61337RP0HxWld2_pr0hDpFoJ2OaHzktX5a6T4gilI/s1600/DIY_oilcloth1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPW3oOaxyL6L7zWG3v7Kl_O1ei47HmPHvJd4zauRD-X8yecsxdKIR4Wy9IznSeiIqnbrKp-yuTmtmCXvDF2WoMH2YKYeTseMBoEC61337RP0HxWld2_pr0hDpFoJ2OaHzktX5a6T4gilI/s640/DIY_oilcloth1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I followed <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/basic-reupholstery-seat-cushion.html">this basic tutorial</a> on recovering the dining room seats. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu29AkfL4Rab6sE-4eVyHfUsklM8GgWk3ZahiIuEq2_kCtx3w2sXhU9U_JLq1VeJZH-o_kDh1tJUzz7ljUc0Dzps8bKYXs1gOivtPqUBwMYgqpXuPqhWdgcGZVGsDQBkyuXKY84EFn7O-/s1600/DIY_oilcloth3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu29AkfL4Rab6sE-4eVyHfUsklM8GgWk3ZahiIuEq2_kCtx3w2sXhU9U_JLq1VeJZH-o_kDh1tJUzz7ljUc0Dzps8bKYXs1gOivtPqUBwMYgqpXuPqhWdgcGZVGsDQBkyuXKY84EFn7O-/s640/DIY_oilcloth3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Start at the center of each edge and work toward the corners with the staples.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdiYAJWcRpw9_V-cnWylt1t1tLdgkj4C6juxwVhwmyBa7pZZrY-ogTX1rUpthoBP8PrCLVdQJfrXiDd1wPhjKrTj8mvkwV5pb-qb7hToLSWwZGTWlZWGa4AX77oTTCp68U73Cwfu7vx-H/s1600/DIY_oilcloth4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdiYAJWcRpw9_V-cnWylt1t1tLdgkj4C6juxwVhwmyBa7pZZrY-ogTX1rUpthoBP8PrCLVdQJfrXiDd1wPhjKrTj8mvkwV5pb-qb7hToLSWwZGTWlZWGa4AX77oTTCp68U73Cwfu7vx-H/s640/DIY_oilcloth4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Do opposite edges.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fTytcrqr8Xol7LR7_gUhXbBMitY9FJD6KbDxDyG32ifu7ua82pBlaDz8WcQckCfKuBLGAgHyYKHHjkSh_6BVmW-nmgAMcevxS8-jLqS4McFtM2dCxwIR5Kp3pR2aRo_F5mwYwFXkPX0I/s1600/DIY_oilcloth5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fTytcrqr8Xol7LR7_gUhXbBMitY9FJD6KbDxDyG32ifu7ua82pBlaDz8WcQckCfKuBLGAgHyYKHHjkSh_6BVmW-nmgAMcevxS8-jLqS4McFtM2dCxwIR5Kp3pR2aRo_F5mwYwFXkPX0I/s640/DIY_oilcloth5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, when the two opposite sides of the seat were stapled (the front and the back, when the seat would be reinstalled onto the chair frame), I was ready to do corners. Starting in the center of one of the side edges, I stapled half and then, always pulling taut (because vinyl shows off wrinkles baaaaad), curved the staple line upward toward the corner. Like in the photo below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI27IyZ4Mi9mjZX_KZE6Kiv-L-yxTwJmYv3m5ptcSEjqwxwzWmav2EwxTol1dyvdwVwzPfAOIv3Pmlk3VoSC3Ju6SpfhNcoecwpPyrdUrSFXHHS5oj8_0cYqFnK9_13pkuXeXGtZzKnWDQ/s1600/DIY_oilcloth6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI27IyZ4Mi9mjZX_KZE6Kiv-L-yxTwJmYv3m5ptcSEjqwxwzWmav2EwxTol1dyvdwVwzPfAOIv3Pmlk3VoSC3Ju6SpfhNcoecwpPyrdUrSFXHHS5oj8_0cYqFnK9_13pkuXeXGtZzKnWDQ/s640/DIY_oilcloth6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Trimmed the excess.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXHCio3tssiN0yNfAzbG-4P5mcTLq4X-oOdmQm8Bbb8fHLRfbqVM-YT3prZAuPPs9aUIi4osXX52JWuiLk2gBdEo7v3Yj6ves1Ax1ALCOGaenpbeYAbTMHZ2PP49Yj9Iibf_tF8K7NSli/s1600/DIY_oilcloth7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXHCio3tssiN0yNfAzbG-4P5mcTLq4X-oOdmQm8Bbb8fHLRfbqVM-YT3prZAuPPs9aUIi4osXX52JWuiLk2gBdEo7v3Yj6ves1Ax1ALCOGaenpbeYAbTMHZ2PP49Yj9Iibf_tF8K7NSli/s640/DIY_oilcloth7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Neatly folded and pinched the remaining corner fabric, doing my best to minimize the pleating.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWFsDsDhlDdI09ykvFSyrexuLrGz-bXiYHiDRDRdUbS_EcgQ_BeYnX-vZfJEm1fhNtUGNNy_YmeQJXyZA4swa-1bNGAdBssvMEz5Vb-7YRU8OaZz-rjX8wetRnhdK_RVetRcf8tCQpZin/s1600/DIY_oilcloth8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWFsDsDhlDdI09ykvFSyrexuLrGz-bXiYHiDRDRdUbS_EcgQ_BeYnX-vZfJEm1fhNtUGNNy_YmeQJXyZA4swa-1bNGAdBssvMEz5Vb-7YRU8OaZz-rjX8wetRnhdK_RVetRcf8tCQpZin/s640/DIY_oilcloth8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then stapled the fold down.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm09tZOaGt6b7mAVkZtVBnUhJWSzIl7jINVQWkmV9DsZBXukYb7QJevTLpjs8wNF2YuRrJfNBdF6UMKfjseGgaZezihIPv-Y5sCTgTPRwLRxuH8vlYEM3oRMOjzrGoFnHVz_h6FaqFPjnL/s1600/DIY_oilcloth9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm09tZOaGt6b7mAVkZtVBnUhJWSzIl7jINVQWkmV9DsZBXukYb7QJevTLpjs8wNF2YuRrJfNBdF6UMKfjseGgaZezihIPv-Y5sCTgTPRwLRxuH8vlYEM3oRMOjzrGoFnHVz_h6FaqFPjnL/s640/DIY_oilcloth9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I did that for all four corners, and the seat cushion was ready to rock & roll.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7Ob0BeJEV4cIWND6riTorE5kGB9muyvnLn8ZNwVBwdThe6nNWqeQnaX23rP3KhfKpLRmt-iW12BvY-uKyF4W_sZFSJ8oDlAh0BcizL4pRJ0xIvgpjqd4BgQFaVWRFKJtsevEUBfiDFYK/s1600/DIY_oilcloth9b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7Ob0BeJEV4cIWND6riTorE5kGB9muyvnLn8ZNwVBwdThe6nNWqeQnaX23rP3KhfKpLRmt-iW12BvY-uKyF4W_sZFSJ8oDlAh0BcizL4pRJ0xIvgpjqd4BgQFaVWRFKJtsevEUBfiDFYK/s640/DIY_oilcloth9b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love how easy this is to do, how inexpensive, and how it lets you use whatever fabric you want, pretty much anywhere in your house, worry-free.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMU3xlr6obJ-jFyBaHbOpFBsucDDr9ivSl3FN2xAa6ASJeTPnSp87-0F-ZEr_3RJVzZe_eGuKlW4rZrFsA3ivm9vsobR44QV3bA-IM_r0kcn8zUkBuJclJdR9bU5HElilIOOpcMTbpONf_/s1600/DIY_oilcloth9c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMU3xlr6obJ-jFyBaHbOpFBsucDDr9ivSl3FN2xAa6ASJeTPnSp87-0F-ZEr_3RJVzZe_eGuKlW4rZrFsA3ivm9vsobR44QV3bA-IM_r0kcn8zUkBuJclJdR9bU5HElilIOOpcMTbpONf_/s640/DIY_oilcloth9c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the brightening effect of a fabric swap:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVPRXi5NCcjbVgzljZ0vpv-CdN-w0_NAePX_3x0BYlIcoCPsSlevTe5HBL51kBwIBPyKGDt0hxQwZ7ee0AU9g9bW5GVfy7gJyYTCpnkPwDCEnjUa8OuZ09v9QTgKGz21Ta1BHbWiVLOhp/s1600/DIY_oilcloth0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVPRXi5NCcjbVgzljZ0vpv-CdN-w0_NAePX_3x0BYlIcoCPsSlevTe5HBL51kBwIBPyKGDt0hxQwZ7ee0AU9g9bW5GVfy7gJyYTCpnkPwDCEnjUa8OuZ09v9QTgKGz21Ta1BHbWiVLOhp/s640/DIY_oilcloth0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm a fan, I'm not going to lie. I love having this option for our dining room. Because I have four kids (the oldest is 9), and spills and fingerprints are part of our daily existence. It's not matte, to be honest, but it's not like covering the seat itself in separate clear vinyl. This is easily more subtle, less shiny, than that. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkVsFS9PKPq3xQE1N24eOxyxiH-XqZ774n_ne05zzcNph7OjEWMeYsoPr74di86p5qr28PLbarO-5RNcseDBczIrNIoOKxyNzybyezk8hscAjdVXnAP19-BLlSApjZABpOKfmfK_mhgMn/s1600/DIY_oilcloth9d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkVsFS9PKPq3xQE1N24eOxyxiH-XqZ774n_ne05zzcNph7OjEWMeYsoPr74di86p5qr28PLbarO-5RNcseDBczIrNIoOKxyNzybyezk8hscAjdVXnAP19-BLlSApjZABpOKfmfK_mhgMn/s640/DIY_oilcloth9d.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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There are still some changes I want to make to this dining space before I call it good. But, for now, this quick waterproofing fix provides continuity and a little brightness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkp59ohUBs7sdxQKLS2dadZdeYekSO5uRJienk0ONUTmYDaeEgX5SlzEXNNqTSjUoV8ECB_uGyX_lJqFygRzc7uV5M7cFVxeIz3no6B3MIizprUjTqT4U3pgD2uF925Kvc7wkUJqSXS0V/s1600/DIY_oilcloth9e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkp59ohUBs7sdxQKLS2dadZdeYekSO5uRJienk0ONUTmYDaeEgX5SlzEXNNqTSjUoV8ECB_uGyX_lJqFygRzc7uV5M7cFVxeIz3no6B3MIizprUjTqT4U3pgD2uF925Kvc7wkUJqSXS0V/s640/DIY_oilcloth9e.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now, when I cry over spilt milk, it'll not be because the chair seats are ruined. It'll just be because I don't want to clean it up. Again.<br />
(Just kidding. I don't actually cry over spilt milk. Usually.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{shared: <a href="http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/" target="_blank">A Glimpse Inside</a>, <a href="http://www.ajennuinelife.com/" target="_blank">A Jennuine Life</a>, <a href="http://www.diybydesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DIY by Design</a>, <a href="http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2013/11/wow-me-wednesday-129.html#more" target="_blank">GingerSnap Crafts</a>, <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/" target="_blank">My Girlish Whims</a>, <a href="http://www.sewmuchado.com/" target="_blank">Sew Much Ado</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/11/whimsy-wednesday-89.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>, <a href="http://www.sugaranddots.com/" target="_blank">Sugar and Dots</a>, <a href="http://thehappyhousie.com/?p=5809" target="_blank">The Happy Housie</a>}</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-90746646027615827442013-11-12T20:22:00.001-07:002014-01-29T20:21:52.553-07:00Home Office Makeover...Almost Done...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>This post is written in collaboration with <a href="http://www.cozywallart.com/" target="_blank">CozyWallArt.com</a>. Opinions expressed are 100% my own. </em></div>
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Hey guys!</div>
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I apologize for my absence over the past week. We've been a bit sick around here, plus I picked up<br />
<u>Gone With the Wind</u> on a whim last week and couldn't blog because that book is a saddening 1,000+ pages. Priorities, people.</div>
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Anyway. You perhaps read about my excruciatingly <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/corner-home-office-some-rug-options.html" target="">un-inspiring home office</a> and how I was determined to do something about it. <br />
(Who are we kidding. You've lost sleep over it, I know you have.) <br />
(You haven't? In fact, you've never even heard of me and this is your first time to this little part of cyberspace and so far you think I'm odd and too tangential? Huh. Welp, I'll say this for you: You're insightful. And welcome.)<br />
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So, between my wanting to throw my book across the room in frustration over Scarlett O'Hara and my rocking and holding and rocking some more my very sweet-clingy-sick toddler, I actually got started on the home office makeover. </div>
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Here's the super awesome and accurate mockup of my vision:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJUdQOChYPZCBTEVkfprGIyNTdqM9XCPgGOhAVhGHy9-7AZQmmbTCwf04yvbjYu50wHl7ktyNYxycsOo1y_gw9Tnr8MLiT5bie7qmaF6jfWvkOkf5d5oAA_NZTv2IDEbiw6fAlgnRq8Xb/s1600/corner_office_workup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJUdQOChYPZCBTEVkfprGIyNTdqM9XCPgGOhAVhGHy9-7AZQmmbTCwf04yvbjYu50wHl7ktyNYxycsOo1y_gw9Tnr8MLiT5bie7qmaF6jfWvkOkf5d5oAA_NZTv2IDEbiw6fAlgnRq8Xb/s400/corner_office_workup.jpg" height="400" width="398" /></a></div>
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Annnnd, here's a sneak peek of the real thing:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC-FJIwOiLCPJz_BBbiCECdq7t2tEfaMKbtmKKq8ouPi_cZIMTXE50cn4fF-F_6e9swecvl3TJFhmDlcVz56jCFYzDnH6QTsiLP5MTwnYcrKNKTHj_SoWANM42IZjHQEZFbtD_NrdnGfG/s1600/home_office9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC-FJIwOiLCPJz_BBbiCECdq7t2tEfaMKbtmKKq8ouPi_cZIMTXE50cn4fF-F_6e9swecvl3TJFhmDlcVz56jCFYzDnH6QTsiLP5MTwnYcrKNKTHj_SoWANM42IZjHQEZFbtD_NrdnGfG/s640/home_office9.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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My first order of business was to delineate just, exactly, where the home office was going to be in the corner of my family room. I did this by painting a 9' section of the corner wall white.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHv8XeB7kkjj2oXTKnMpnAbk0NrZo0n6XdqkqlmN_uYLczyLw4iWB9VyRlWITfTiFuZ2Lll-GJM8WZF3ExQffzyTXYrmnqoQTydGF7fuQU0j7M2jphTBx8dZTxjnGZuOQ4F8u_xRzYM5U/s1600/home_office2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHv8XeB7kkjj2oXTKnMpnAbk0NrZo0n6XdqkqlmN_uYLczyLw4iWB9VyRlWITfTiFuZ2Lll-GJM8WZF3ExQffzyTXYrmnqoQTydGF7fuQU0j7M2jphTBx8dZTxjnGZuOQ4F8u_xRzYM5U/s640/home_office2.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I then got <a href="http://cozywallart.com/product/jacks-single-size-wall-pattern-decal/" target="_blank">these jacks decals</a> from CozyWallArt in black. (You guys might remember <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/ikea-hack-hemnes-with-cozy-wall-art.html" target="_blank">this other recent project</a> I did with awesome decals from CozyWallArt.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaZ1LorAB5jE3XDC5Jt72jqAZN77hiIHaZ623iMvVbufwjxZmr5Fz7tXStFG34fRycQYFxQMfTdVM8NzbU8lqVFcyLCD17Sc8evPuxi84mWMK4xkjod__pzkekFvFAiTefWHT__Ml1fiH/s1600/home_office3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaZ1LorAB5jE3XDC5Jt72jqAZN77hiIHaZ623iMvVbufwjxZmr5Fz7tXStFG34fRycQYFxQMfTdVM8NzbU8lqVFcyLCD17Sc8evPuxi84mWMK4xkjod__pzkekFvFAiTefWHT__Ml1fiH/s640/home_office3.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used the 6" ones and spaced them one-per-square-foot. Originally, I had planned on using 10" jacks and spacing them one-per-14-inches. But the awesome designers at <a href="http://www.cozywallart.com/" target="_blank">CozyWallArt</a>, who knew the size of my wall, thought that the end result might not end up <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-geometric-wall-new-home-office.html">how I was envisioning</a>. They sent me some .pdf files depicting a few different layout options - and they were absolutely right. I changed my order right away. You guys, this company is the real-deal for quality and for wanting what's best for the customer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3uZzhHbcg3eF6VpzNy_hRFo2UGxeirS0yniLeHnclNasu58V5umvlDY-PNj8wUNlD1DxW6s7BBHBBrDXSFYI7O02a0wQg-cHNJMdxKnAfSqX9yjRVf-FbwTlrhR46paImNprKpvXgmON/s1600/home_office4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3uZzhHbcg3eF6VpzNy_hRFo2UGxeirS0yniLeHnclNasu58V5umvlDY-PNj8wUNlD1DxW6s7BBHBBrDXSFYI7O02a0wQg-cHNJMdxKnAfSqX9yjRVf-FbwTlrhR46paImNprKpvXgmON/s640/home_office4.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used a measuring level and dotted out a grid on my wall - 12" between dots, and each dot would touch the same spot on the individual jacks. I also used a level on each jack before firmly placing it on the wall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCuK0VpVuHjFpPC8QUVTmV4NgjQnTzG51WJRaTvs_lbr3JJoLqDKSp8AeGxvlt01Zb3uaaQcITIj5kIuNoHUCPx_X2owrWYv8JZfoG2ryOZY1ptDirmmstVi-4XK4Ka0h-njrPNVT2urN/s1600/home_office5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCuK0VpVuHjFpPC8QUVTmV4NgjQnTzG51WJRaTvs_lbr3JJoLqDKSp8AeGxvlt01Zb3uaaQcITIj5kIuNoHUCPx_X2owrWYv8JZfoG2ryOZY1ptDirmmstVi-4XK4Ka0h-njrPNVT2urN/s640/home_office5.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh yeah. Every once in awhile, I'd stand back and check out the growing geometry of the wall. Love the retro, almost sputnik vibe of these jacks and how, overall, they look like super retro-modern geometric wallpaper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS85Nui_S2B3qTOkCZvqRU81Cas6Mq72SQ0ZaOFlBvyoxZzXXpqnJxcHNLeSZW1YCKL9SovhyphenhyphenIOMROu1tFHNmqiiQi5mLIyMfJdkiJKuyi_xiW8P12SbdDO0cIf3fK9zzaGUQmr-KTNjUI/s1600/home_office6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS85Nui_S2B3qTOkCZvqRU81Cas6Mq72SQ0ZaOFlBvyoxZzXXpqnJxcHNLeSZW1YCKL9SovhyphenhyphenIOMROu1tFHNmqiiQi5mLIyMfJdkiJKuyi_xiW8P12SbdDO0cIf3fK9zzaGUQmr-KTNjUI/s640/home_office6.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had to choose between making part of the top jacks go onto the ceiling or part of the middle jacks go onto the chair rail. I chose the former, and I'm happy I did.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1btM8jkJ7AImwYa48AdHrbGkGHyq4MDpb0VJfWKKsJhLRsEyLQK0UVKlt_xR7lQ6FDIuivx8p7j9OYKiySRvtJrtoIfrzUinnZhZ7Ej1X1IiJUNyBLc63eMAkMrWVqT-BSsEIPM7zyKE0/s1600/home_office7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1btM8jkJ7AImwYa48AdHrbGkGHyq4MDpb0VJfWKKsJhLRsEyLQK0UVKlt_xR7lQ6FDIuivx8p7j9OYKiySRvtJrtoIfrzUinnZhZ7Ej1X1IiJUNyBLc63eMAkMrWVqT-BSsEIPM7zyKE0/s640/home_office7.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I like how the chair rail kind of disappears with the graphic wall. And I looove the graphic wall. It was surprisingly quick to put up, too - maybe took 3-4 hours, including measuring and leveling and all. Maybe less.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nFhqW1bQwtjZtcWUpx4_E6qL6maM3GbXf8WFEGWN4f03wUqKBMDP6T81b5neQH2HiWDCRqgbtKcOXrLq5S0zyL4PNZ2Kbq22cbqr5jSrKxcAyU-_G9r8lIefO74X0wndPxAUbwpx04sZ/s1600/home_office8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nFhqW1bQwtjZtcWUpx4_E6qL6maM3GbXf8WFEGWN4f03wUqKBMDP6T81b5neQH2HiWDCRqgbtKcOXrLq5S0zyL4PNZ2Kbq22cbqr5jSrKxcAyU-_G9r8lIefO74X0wndPxAUbwpx04sZ/s640/home_office8.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I moved office stuff around to make it work better for my home office space. There are now two chairs, and two workspaces, instead of one. The desk itself is cleared off, which makes it much easier for using it as an actual work station.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9_8xpcSJ6XHBdPBq6L9ho5hqgOjy5fDg7C8Z-mYbAyEdxaeXvTeGRgiAJHHfFiTJAwUdO_2yGrrA-23XKNaHkYXoLmNTtpkcD5RY-jqIVpj_2MtXJvz3BBPB-NvtTHs4Z5qZEiluMH2R/s1600/home_office9b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9_8xpcSJ6XHBdPBq6L9ho5hqgOjy5fDg7C8Z-mYbAyEdxaeXvTeGRgiAJHHfFiTJAwUdO_2yGrrA-23XKNaHkYXoLmNTtpkcD5RY-jqIVpj_2MtXJvz3BBPB-NvtTHs4Z5qZEiluMH2R/s640/home_office9b.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I got the green chair for a few bucks at a thrift store - it was previously an ugly not-cream-not-brown color (you know the color I'm talking about), so I spray painted it this happy kelly green. Also, you can't really see it in this photo, but the lamp is a sweet vintage desk lamp that was also an unfortunate shade of brown but was brought into this millennium with some black spray paint.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Q69yilJD8NipN0-mg3DO7EPt10B9u4f6QaJAsuI4-8b3w4V26-98V7mzNj5Wg_yncjiLfkWEF3JJsad7yNDRyzqyZKTUtfGde2MGs3oD9dWnneXnDZoI_artA9nw_XnqR5YlGwD_BfDZ/s1600/home_office9c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Q69yilJD8NipN0-mg3DO7EPt10B9u4f6QaJAsuI4-8b3w4V26-98V7mzNj5Wg_yncjiLfkWEF3JJsad7yNDRyzqyZKTUtfGde2MGs3oD9dWnneXnDZoI_artA9nw_XnqR5YlGwD_BfDZ/s640/home_office9c.JPG" height="594" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm awaiting the arrival of a rug (should come in a couple of days). And I'm on the hunt for the perfect simple-retro wall clock. But, that being said, I genuinely couldn't be happier about the change to this little corner of our <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2012/08/family-room-house-tour.html">family room</a>.</div>
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Don't forget to check out <a href="http://www.cozywallart.com/" target="_blank">CozyWallArt.com</a> for yourselves. In my opinion, their decals on the wall are the best part of this very basic home office upgrade. In fact, my husband was working down here yesterday and said he liked being able to look at the geometric wall as he worked. I think it's mentally stimulating without being distracting, you know? </div>
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Do you have a "home office" space? What do you guys think is the best or worst or most important component of a successful home office?<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(shared: <a href="http://mumsmakelists.blogspot.com/2014/01/empty-your-archive-39.html" target="_blank">Mums Make Lists</a>)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-43040399012127956702013-11-11T08:02:00.000-07:002013-11-12T20:25:27.182-07:00A Geometric Wall & A New Home Office<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Somebody around here has mad graphic design skillz. I'm not necessarily saying it's me, but...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhNdHuE0KoPqut7tXcxSrskXYyG6Thevd5uBPpwsoVvaBh45UMOQs_T4eJ7DMr5C7MsjPa5KLTac5FyZbXlCJKFjJUUiXmqkv5bHQY2zF1kutZ3p6kiQkRNBf3U_-_3u8tl1CkCzUxRb1/s1600/corner_office_workup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhNdHuE0KoPqut7tXcxSrskXYyG6Thevd5uBPpwsoVvaBh45UMOQs_T4eJ7DMr5C7MsjPa5KLTac5FyZbXlCJKFjJUUiXmqkv5bHQY2zF1kutZ3p6kiQkRNBf3U_-_3u8tl1CkCzUxRb1/s400/corner_office_workup.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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Behold, the very professional and highly detailed mockup of the basement home office transformation. You probably don't need an actual photo after this little number, do you. Heh. </div>
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Okay, fine.</div>
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Let's start at the beginning. My computer is housed in a (previously) dark, messy, and uninspiring <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/corner-home-office-some-rug-options.html">little corner</a> of our <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2012/08/family-room-house-tour.html" target="">family room</a>. To make a very long story very short, I got tired of the dust bunnies and constant clutter and yuckiness of the space. </div>
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Immediately after spying this <a href="http://cozywallart.com/product/jacks-single-size-wall-pattern-decal/" target="_blank">graphic Cozy Wall Art decal</a>, the wheels in my head started spinning toward something like these, only office-style:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoXvjpoU444adrnD3s1pECxvsfCkuL9pYH4hn0oAnZ5YjvHzCDIEE4OujWfBX8ytc9wHgRDj5mk8XeTtPLaLSIlbOyC3F_VjNV5QlDo0ox50qvjBqa9dY8G5P-P3jvOn96dd1jMWkBwiC/s1600/black-white-wall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoXvjpoU444adrnD3s1pECxvsfCkuL9pYH4hn0oAnZ5YjvHzCDIEE4OujWfBX8ytc9wHgRDj5mk8XeTtPLaLSIlbOyC3F_VjNV5QlDo0ox50qvjBqa9dY8G5P-P3jvOn96dd1jMWkBwiC/s640/black-white-wall3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2010/01/06/dba0ef62b21f.jpg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zwQ7Id8_EoKBIaGD3JIE2TAwPljbEapLwrVxas9VTUk-bUbmG9MAkfSbfxHcZ52Grir-ztA0G8t81gVbm9_fAQwF0YcMhKVnBL1vyKds3kjpewMwAPKDrU68kY_S62amcXvcgXWH5FAi/s1600/black-white-wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zwQ7Id8_EoKBIaGD3JIE2TAwPljbEapLwrVxas9VTUk-bUbmG9MAkfSbfxHcZ52Grir-ztA0G8t81gVbm9_fAQwF0YcMhKVnBL1vyKds3kjpewMwAPKDrU68kY_S62amcXvcgXWH5FAi/s640/black-white-wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://historybydesigndotorg.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/ikea-2013-fabric.jpg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn80m7iTt400X4U5ACajOp4XcqRY9cXWQ0XCZn2B0v0ETBBLXiLvP9C7LwSHpZ5T_hwPnYRx1KlxSnFkzY-PJMolGbaEXmxbIBr6Rc_m-0a3NiybMLGkA4a2rOcBL-CpafbVbIKwYnmS7/s1600/black-white-wall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn80m7iTt400X4U5ACajOp4XcqRY9cXWQ0XCZn2B0v0ETBBLXiLvP9C7LwSHpZ5T_hwPnYRx1KlxSnFkzY-PJMolGbaEXmxbIBr6Rc_m-0a3NiybMLGkA4a2rOcBL-CpafbVbIKwYnmS7/s640/black-white-wall2.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://arcadianhome.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2013/01/7-Contemporary-Look.jpg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Come back tomorrow to see some progress toward this kind of awesome wall graphicality.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-19943063523701506312013-11-06T07:00:00.000-07:002013-12-03T21:06:14.255-07:00Faux Bois in the Living Room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>This post is sponsored by Lamps.com. All opinions are 100% my own.</em></div>
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When <a href="http://www.lamps.com/" target="_blank">Lamps.com</a> approached me a little while ago about featuring one of their lamps, I ran - not walked - to their website to check stuff out. Like a greedy little... I dunno. Whatever's something very greedy and overly excitable about lighting options, I guess.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeRz65flvEAfNLGPMl72P2Hux8xMDMPmdoCl-TAD18rCIGHqwl71Ss9XDjRbvXwm5_6aK_3SSqiUTuKvl4kK8a-8m9UQFawXRFA0ZfbHpEpSUit6c0KfeCesGvK0EWAxBU668KkKQM2uJ/s1600/faux_bois_lamp4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeRz65flvEAfNLGPMl72P2Hux8xMDMPmdoCl-TAD18rCIGHqwl71Ss9XDjRbvXwm5_6aK_3SSqiUTuKvl4kK8a-8m9UQFawXRFA0ZfbHpEpSUit6c0KfeCesGvK0EWAxBU668KkKQM2uJ/s640/faux_bois_lamp4.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lamps.com/lights-up-cancun-adjustable-table-lamp.html" target="_blank">This lovely contemporary lamp</a> sang to me from the cyberwebs. (Which isn't easy, btw.) It looks a bit reddish in these photos. In real life, the color is a pretty, rich shade of chocolate.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIg8zhj5V479W_Yeg_1enpKanqMD8pUb-s9FhYigA0fV3IhqC-BfXK1tnRHvwjan0xgGSQsMgyndp2vwGenyev01QGZCRVaS5dLlhcCIH50DbcL722gdC4Xrag61ccKXOYLTU4jpvxwZk/s1600/faux_bois_lamp2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIg8zhj5V479W_Yeg_1enpKanqMD8pUb-s9FhYigA0fV3IhqC-BfXK1tnRHvwjan0xgGSQsMgyndp2vwGenyev01QGZCRVaS5dLlhcCIH50DbcL722gdC4Xrag61ccKXOYLTU4jpvxwZk/s640/faux_bois_lamp2.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I love the streamlined look of the entire lamp - a simple base, slim lamp stem, and adjustable height feature. Design elements are neither overlooked nor wasted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRA2Jpi1yLdrK3bzPQDd4hG1p4uCWwE9L2b-WMl356IB9QbEvy7pC2GVgYIQyAgzHFIhAIv1fADPUHTR4nZZWzvWPQW_eItVR6JD21519wyxSxdhxity7vyJGkx5rn64YYmE8z1Mqyqaf/s1600/faux_bois_lamp5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRA2Jpi1yLdrK3bzPQDd4hG1p4uCWwE9L2b-WMl356IB9QbEvy7pC2GVgYIQyAgzHFIhAIv1fADPUHTR4nZZWzvWPQW_eItVR6JD21519wyxSxdhxity7vyJGkx5rn64YYmE8z1Mqyqaf/s640/faux_bois_lamp5.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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And, although it was a hard choice of lampshade (honestly, I kept going back and forth between about five of them), you just can't go wrong with faux bois. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AGMLKeLaUKsfOdVx1dUT2HZW4pOh1gg1WEK-eLEUWEXEB36EU4FdJuBoIZWwXAF6lc3i-e1ubcSqGerPjCMt76ti6KbPZNU7pL_BUfv9Xe8XNt6zuWWcCgAVmrXUNBgjIGO6u1b1Ocj1/s1600/faux_bois_lamp3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AGMLKeLaUKsfOdVx1dUT2HZW4pOh1gg1WEK-eLEUWEXEB36EU4FdJuBoIZWwXAF6lc3i-e1ubcSqGerPjCMt76ti6KbPZNU7pL_BUfv9Xe8XNt6zuWWcCgAVmrXUNBgjIGO6u1b1Ocj1/s640/faux_bois_lamp3.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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A table lamp is just what the corner of <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/when-one-thing-leads-to-another.html">our living room</a> has needed for a long time. (For real; we've read many a chapter squinting in the not-quite-sufficient-for-reading light of the track lights.) And this one is perfection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPOid_a9fDgn0SQ3sxHbFPK9QUb2YnTWF7fF23UoNjXNqrje6bwp-QeaRRagWLyVhfLqf6z8EMi_3hGQHEif8NNsOe-jOMp5W70JAMpB6IS-MMXvtKFCP6SIJJVhQMgkS_cj6UzMjjJWV/s1600/faux_bois_lamp1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPOid_a9fDgn0SQ3sxHbFPK9QUb2YnTWF7fF23UoNjXNqrje6bwp-QeaRRagWLyVhfLqf6z8EMi_3hGQHEif8NNsOe-jOMp5W70JAMpB6IS-MMXvtKFCP6SIJJVhQMgkS_cj6UzMjjJWV/s640/faux_bois_lamp1.JPG" width="448" /></a></div>
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Also, I just have to say: the original lamp base was damaged during shipping. I contacted Lamps.com and they promptly sent me another one, free of charge with no questions asked. Two thumbs up for that convenience in customer service.</div>
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What lamps are you guys loving lately? Have you added any faux bois to your décor? I'll admit it freely - I'm in L-O-V love with this trend.</div>
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Do what you want, but I'd highly recommend checking out <a href="http://www.lamps.com/" target="_blank">Lamps.com</a> - the fantastic lighting options they've got will astound you.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{shared: <a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Coastal Charm</a>, <a href="http://www.diybydesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DIY by Design</a>, <a href="http://www.twindragonflydesigns.com/search/label/Inspiring%20Creativity%20Wednesdays" target="_blank">Dragonfly Designs</a>, <a href="http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2013/11/wow-me-wednesday-128-shabby-apple.html#more" target="_blank">GingerSnap Crafts</a>, <a href="http://myfashionforwardblog.com/" target="_blank">My Fashion Forward Blog</a>, <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/" target="_blank">My Girlish Whims</a>, <a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/" target="_blank">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</a>, <a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">New Nostalgia</a>, <a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/11/show-me-what-ya-got-145.html" target="_blank">Not Just a Housewife</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/11/whimsy-wednesday-88.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>, <a href="http://thehappyhousie.com/?p=5662" target="_blank">The Happy Housie</a>, }</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-83236157820072712872013-11-05T08:40:00.000-07:002013-11-05T08:40:00.422-07:00Mismatched dining room chairs<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey everyone.<br />
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I'm currently in the process of working on some dining room chairs for the <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-paint-dining-room-table.html">freshly painted dining room table</a>. I think an eclectic mismatched situation, with just a hint of cohesion, is more my style than what's going on currently at my dining table. But I've got some tricky resources to work with, so I'm trying to get it all figured out. </div>
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Which means I'm hitting the cyberwaves for some much-needed inspiration. I'm good at sharing. I'll share:</div>
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This room is bold, which I like, but I almost feel like everything is trying a little too hard. Overall, I like the idea behind the dining chair cushions' coordinating.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/161056/Colorful-Kitchen-eclectic-kitchen-other-metro" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/82c1e76c0da8a395_8-4404/eclectic-kitchen.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic/kitchen" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Oh heavens. Yes, yes, and YES. Everything.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MghiRxfk6Da1K6nWPXwqsTvgdFEKn5UQ3CPNVuI7Y2W9xz2DN4TdCk4P_PscqPntm685lyo6iQwhlP9OwwE-ZLdw11dXTTnJxwfm65hqgktNxNYrw7fcHr-hU3L7bnn38DSU1XppPR7p/s1600/mix-and-match-patterns-common-colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MghiRxfk6Da1K6nWPXwqsTvgdFEKn5UQ3CPNVuI7Y2W9xz2DN4TdCk4P_PscqPntm685lyo6iQwhlP9OwwE-ZLdw11dXTTnJxwfm65hqgktNxNYrw7fcHr-hU3L7bnn38DSU1XppPR7p/s640/mix-and-match-patterns-common-colors.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://freshome.com/2013/10/22/10-easy-ways-mix-match-patterns-home/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Alternatively, I do love a dining bench as well. I grew up with two benches at our family table, and now I kind of want my kids to experience the tugging adjusting squeezing jostling bumping that comes with it. Plus, you can always squeeze in "just one more" dinner guest... :)</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/1884039/Lake-Oswego-Main-Floor-Remodel-traditional-dining-room-portland" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/e49102760091dc80_8-3855/traditional-dining-room.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/dining-room" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Major vintage feel to this dining, ah, "set." Love the looseness and casual vibe. Also, because the chairs are so low-backed, they don't draw too much attention to themselves. Which is, to me, endearing.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkPCeGkGw8y0pDZosMEdovEAta5REnpbEmqNjLn_icZVvm3RqHvXnVv3jZDOUCPGxGC0RNpZ3UKiTn4ZD9JmRu62NgdKh_75b6wV8M56Kl_OU7MVE7qoJzTdmwlDtAt_DjwkLWvYGHZdh/s1600/mismatched_dining_chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkPCeGkGw8y0pDZosMEdovEAta5REnpbEmqNjLn_icZVvm3RqHvXnVv3jZDOUCPGxGC0RNpZ3UKiTn4ZD9JmRu62NgdKh_75b6wV8M56Kl_OU7MVE7qoJzTdmwlDtAt_DjwkLWvYGHZdh/s1600/mismatched_dining_chairs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/roundup-mismatched-dining-room-85862" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Both styles below are mid-century, but the chairs' mediums are completely different. A fancy person's version of "mismatch." </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/2994271/Marie-Laurence-and-Johan-eclectic-dining-room-montreal" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/63610c26012be0f0_8-5052/eclectic-dining-room.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic/dining-room" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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I like this kind-of-random jumble of chairs.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/4085921/Enchanted-Storybook-eclectic-dining-room-nashville" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/7e41ec69019fd30a_8-8616/eclectic-dining-room.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic/dining-room" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Love the subtle-yet-apparent differences in the mismatched dining chairs here. No, really. I love this.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVClSksMw5AQ_Lj3Hkpy37hhzl4j-_y83fZuMl20U0GDJjubSSf6ZYFvCMRm3O59EYr6KlH6PgGpvcyn8VePb1TMpuB0Wx1h3MKiNz3oP04eFdw1W51TxnnpIKEXho7kEPngTsYWsziXM/s1600/mismatched_dining_chairs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVClSksMw5AQ_Lj3Hkpy37hhzl4j-_y83fZuMl20U0GDJjubSSf6ZYFvCMRm3O59EYr6KlH6PgGpvcyn8VePb1TMpuB0Wx1h3MKiNz3oP04eFdw1W51TxnnpIKEXho7kEPngTsYWsziXM/s1600/mismatched_dining_chairs2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/roundup-mismatched-dining-room-85862" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Anyway. You get the idea. But my very most ultimate inspiration photo, the one that I'm trying to work into our own space, is this guy:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXtm9B4bxgMH7GJlIQw-0lehG3uKp2J_v8azttZCpIWCoxC0w-Ey2x6z6vNee7Ms8YjBw3Z7uNOKTkkoJfuha_ValK_QjOF5rX8WZ2bxdXz81aTTW8CUZGwGfiS-6ZUVcks0h1FbxJicW/s1600/IMG_5783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXtm9B4bxgMH7GJlIQw-0lehG3uKp2J_v8azttZCpIWCoxC0w-Ey2x6z6vNee7Ms8YjBw3Z7uNOKTkkoJfuha_ValK_QjOF5rX8WZ2bxdXz81aTTW8CUZGwGfiS-6ZUVcks0h1FbxJicW/s640/IMG_5783.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Next up: painting the walls white and adding delightfully undersized bits of vintage art. And also, stealing a church pew. </div>
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Just kidding. I won't get around to doing that stuff. But wouldn't it be great if I did? Because then I could practically have this dining room!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-44816286621300301812013-11-04T07:12:00.000-07:002013-11-13T17:04:12.906-07:00How to Paint a Dining Room Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hey kids, as you can probably tell from the title, this post is about painting a dining room table. Because I'm crazy like that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBnpngMfokdnvNTkMbHiFVulRsNxLkwEvs8jBgJU5ApP9_djRpDc0DmW8OfeH8OjgGRS-tXUoSpfSuQvig4AfHPvvJG2HtvDAvoDxchm347LJvK9eDW0rfSOXPqh7J4tpVK-b2oFPJKG5/s1600/dining_table_redo0_pin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBnpngMfokdnvNTkMbHiFVulRsNxLkwEvs8jBgJU5ApP9_djRpDc0DmW8OfeH8OjgGRS-tXUoSpfSuQvig4AfHPvvJG2HtvDAvoDxchm347LJvK9eDW0rfSOXPqh7J4tpVK-b2oFPJKG5/s640/dining_table_redo0_pin.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I'm not talking about slapping on a coat of paint and calling it good. I'm talking about durability. About kid-friendly. About withstanding milk spills and spaghetti night. About not worrying whether or not the tabletop is going to survive its next Kids' Craft Hour. </div>
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If you get what I'm saying, nod your head. </div>
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If you're nodding your head, read on...</div>
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I've been wanting to swap our current <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2012/08/dining-room-house-tour.html" target="_blank">counter-height dining set</a> for a standard table height for some time now, just because our dining room space is so small. I felt like everything was disproportionate.</div>
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Fortuitously enough, we looted a dining table and four chairs from an unsuspecting and sweet neighbor who's moving. (By "looted," I mean we hauled away her table while she practically did a happy dance because it meant she wouldn't have to move it anywhere herself.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SJlc13JEhr_RugmD5wsNfecpl7zv64vYIiFptKi-X4VVvJqOBuJVwujok4ytOwI3EnMCD9WAHRePvNGFtDgAbrgvv98RZ-eSWaNmN5SbZeehOQzmNO_Xp7bDbKRbZB34JsDabwve8mbY/s1600/dining_table_redo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SJlc13JEhr_RugmD5wsNfecpl7zv64vYIiFptKi-X4VVvJqOBuJVwujok4ytOwI3EnMCD9WAHRePvNGFtDgAbrgvv98RZ-eSWaNmN5SbZeehOQzmNO_Xp7bDbKRbZB34JsDabwve8mbY/s640/dining_table_redo1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's in decent shape but not great. Hey, it was free - no complaints here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39URICnnRlSkSfA6wLC49NSGLB5PmsImX7F0h3mqlFwLu-DI3PefPKDyWGCEyc9HUngfquTx6i3JBmsd0iGINN08wrBOu4JqTZ9LA5FA8vy3vo0OVXUxTxA4_c7rPs3utvFrTpOcZv_sr/s1600/dining_table_redo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39URICnnRlSkSfA6wLC49NSGLB5PmsImX7F0h3mqlFwLu-DI3PefPKDyWGCEyc9HUngfquTx6i3JBmsd0iGINN08wrBOu4JqTZ9LA5FA8vy3vo0OVXUxTxA4_c7rPs3utvFrTpOcZv_sr/s640/dining_table_redo2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love wood, don't get me wrong, but as you can see from the photos above, this particular table is (a) not real wood, and (b) possessing a wood tone that is too dark for our small dining room. We needed a little more light-n-bright. Stat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfpYBMMthWWhAQuZAlH4uKYSsXRmzZf7j_892LVB6jspYLt1oDxoxmrf-QvKKdVNP9AaNMRTjjMGywMDRPq6zBbGx6LOueWIS5RZZx_ZFGB7lR03TMeunglXwrbN6ZbASRRAl7T50S6gy/s1600/dining_table_redo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfpYBMMthWWhAQuZAlH4uKYSsXRmzZf7j_892LVB6jspYLt1oDxoxmrf-QvKKdVNP9AaNMRTjjMGywMDRPq6zBbGx6LOueWIS5RZZx_ZFGB7lR03TMeunglXwrbN6ZbASRRAl7T50S6gy/s640/dining_table_redo3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The chairs are in good condition, but not exactly what I'm after. That's another project for another day. Soon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53gA87dKd8qmCZvUoXqBHmTQ1xGvspPMI_s8Zwugc7TxMBkRY7XMV4XKSpHBYzlaZ_gDnBBrIwc60QFr6SyCXa8buQenVYv1gcILjhyphenhyphenSXw3k1_xpMLJRtb942du4syrEcgYnaU8a74Q08/s1600/dining_table_redo4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53gA87dKd8qmCZvUoXqBHmTQ1xGvspPMI_s8Zwugc7TxMBkRY7XMV4XKSpHBYzlaZ_gDnBBrIwc60QFr6SyCXa8buQenVYv1gcILjhyphenhyphenSXw3k1_xpMLJRtb942du4syrEcgYnaU8a74Q08/s640/dining_table_redo4.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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There are a million and three ways to paint a dining table (believe me, I've scoured the interwebs and have taken copious notes), but this is the way I went about it. If you're looking to embark on a similar project yourself, feel free to add my humble account here into your mix of research.</div>
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(Continue reading after the jump.)<br />
<a name='more'></a>First, I sanded the table. I know that oil-based primer (like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BZX6B4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000BZX6B4&linkCode=as2&tag=smar047-20" target="_blank">this one</a>, which I actually used a little later) is heralded as the step-saving mecca of all paint projects. But a dining table that survives at our house, with four young and exuberant-but-borderline-crazy children, is going to need all the help it can get. Simply priming over the shiny lacquer/varnish/whatever wasn't going to cut it here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj35EdRB9xLFQEuPr6ZFAiEBJ6J9XeLnI-bDoNQqxGS04ukjW_RavSWGFHPcsOdsv74sOtDGVbQ8y7dbxRapxRG5Bg2k5_n5l6GrX6U7PqUS1Fu3J6yNUqWZedC-GrA006CooNqR6aU8cS/s1600/dining_table_redo5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj35EdRB9xLFQEuPr6ZFAiEBJ6J9XeLnI-bDoNQqxGS04ukjW_RavSWGFHPcsOdsv74sOtDGVbQ8y7dbxRapxRG5Bg2k5_n5l6GrX6U7PqUS1Fu3J6yNUqWZedC-GrA006CooNqR6aU8cS/s640/dining_table_redo5.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I didn't sand down to the wood/particle board everywhere, though. My finger in the photo below shows where I sanded down to - can you see how most, if not all, of the shine is gone, compared to the area below my finger? Not really? Oh. That's because my camera at noonday stinks. But trust me. The top is significantly less shiny than the lower part. And that's a good thing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5nm9Nc-qbYokbG4N51S1O9ssH91zEUw_61oddDXEzQfvaLN6hS3uECcL5PP5_dHJDNnKyCFOpsYYHKMRmX31Dy3ahGMdpVb467v80Gz47Ex6p6RpjeeGlxopRealADjVNQ6j6vtFRi8O/s1600/dining_table_redo6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5nm9Nc-qbYokbG4N51S1O9ssH91zEUw_61oddDXEzQfvaLN6hS3uECcL5PP5_dHJDNnKyCFOpsYYHKMRmX31Dy3ahGMdpVb467v80Gz47Ex6p6RpjeeGlxopRealADjVNQ6j6vtFRi8O/s640/dining_table_redo6.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Working in small sections (for example, one leg), I brushed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BZX6B4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000BZX6B4&linkCode=as2&tag=smar047-20" target="_blank">Zinsser primer</a> into all the cracks of that section and then quickly rolled a 4" foam roller over the flat surfaces there. Primer dries fast, and it dries crazy-fast in the sun like this, so I had to be sure the entire section was completely smooth in a matter of half-minutes. Actually, I don't recommend painting in direct sunlight if you can avoid it. Tricky business, that.</div>
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(Note: Something to consider about painting a table is the underside. Often, if your table is anywhere near stairs, the underside will be seen as you come up the stairs. You need to decide if it's worth it to you to paint the underside. As for me, I did prime and paint under the outer lip but didn't do the entire underside of the table, even though I'll be able to see it coming up the stairs. Just not worth it to me.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9OvxBz8avBQWrSPVztYFYS7io2SyGHpnSPOZtf9WnFH58HWuPP8d1QaolOmIwmDQraS3STgSEv9QlYLsi92sHCsnerT4Ney6zY_sv2svqOf_oY_rB7GxsUL8FweQ5WQgbdxY1gCVKYoH/s1600/dining_table_redo6b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9OvxBz8avBQWrSPVztYFYS7io2SyGHpnSPOZtf9WnFH58HWuPP8d1QaolOmIwmDQraS3STgSEv9QlYLsi92sHCsnerT4Ney6zY_sv2svqOf_oY_rB7GxsUL8FweQ5WQgbdxY1gCVKYoH/s640/dining_table_redo6b.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I used 220-grit sandpaper to sand between each coat of primer. I did two coats of primer on the legs and three on the tabletop. Probably overkill. But I was going from dark to light, so every little bit helped.</div>
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Next up: Paint. You may gasp and roll your eyes at my amateur-ity when you hear this, but I concocted my own paint color. Which was a mistake. (If this were a movie, you would hear music foreshadowing doom here. But it's not, so you won't. But feel free to hum something like the Death March tune, if you'd like.) <br />
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Here's the thing: I had this <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66287425739110993/" target="_blank">dining room inspiration</a> photo in my head but had no specific color name to go along with it. I have a gazillion odds and ends of grey and blue and green paints (I happen to love those colors. As many of you know by now.), so I just started mixing until I found something that, to me, resembled the "duck egg blue" of the photo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwZ67eg6CwruRkig03QXDqIq7NjOw0avPYyUhopoPh6WNojYTlF5BqwBF1UClQe2eZl0Ni-OnLbMOcUnP4JDHzdIsrp1Ih1KVuOqg8cO7_fA7SpXjwDV2VlDEKjepQFzJDSjXgPaxYEYL/s1600/dining_table_redo7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwZ67eg6CwruRkig03QXDqIq7NjOw0avPYyUhopoPh6WNojYTlF5BqwBF1UClQe2eZl0Ni-OnLbMOcUnP4JDHzdIsrp1Ih1KVuOqg8cO7_fA7SpXjwDV2VlDEKjepQFzJDSjXgPaxYEYL/s640/dining_table_redo7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I painted on a little bit over the primer to see how it looked dry (below). I decided it was a touch too blue, too bold for what I was going for. So I added in some more white(ish) paint and I think a little green, and I ended up with a color I really really love.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdQ07kSkyzEhp35rUpr8UCY07iwEwQvSRBRrIjW8DEUZIKbpWn6vp28XhqE_8jLq9nKvf_94m5DhZj2-EGbn4ZsO25FwROnOB5yOOB-IzLN-nC_R-O6Ujx2qxO-B3xiHgKpcAVhZ7Yd5P/s1600/dining_table_redo8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdQ07kSkyzEhp35rUpr8UCY07iwEwQvSRBRrIjW8DEUZIKbpWn6vp28XhqE_8jLq9nKvf_94m5DhZj2-EGbn4ZsO25FwROnOB5yOOB-IzLN-nC_R-O6Ujx2qxO-B3xiHgKpcAVhZ7Yd5P/s640/dining_table_redo8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Painted two coats on the legs and five (FIVE!) coats on the tabletop. Waited a full 24 hours between each coat, too, which deserves a gold star <em>and</em> a pat on ye ol' normally-impatient back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWa9sEx-nw4o6j7nRtdOX3M6b2Sq_t7xfb_BJi7bcz3zk4wKBYS8kwejYRRkmO65YYeiQki2khyphenhyphenZjdZFFwlGTmneWuynhvkUqb-2cIFmutkpAHOwNIrMrbq4V1sguk9Ut8x1uEOSYCwQI/s1600/dining_table_redo9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWa9sEx-nw4o6j7nRtdOX3M6b2Sq_t7xfb_BJi7bcz3zk4wKBYS8kwejYRRkmO65YYeiQki2khyphenhyphenZjdZFFwlGTmneWuynhvkUqb-2cIFmutkpAHOwNIrMrbq4V1sguk9Ut8x1uEOSYCwQI/s640/dining_table_redo9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It may come as a surprise to some of you, knowing how I usually take the lazy way out, but I actually sanded (220 grit) in between each coat because my paint was NOT drying smoothly. Yet, after each sanding, I thought to myself, "This coat will be different. THIS one'll end up smooth."<br />
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Nope. Didn't happen. Here's what I battled on the tabletop, pretty much after every coat of paint:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs92i5DbFOgu_kWeAiJTBwe3qwlBxB3Jifob8sZjzNVa4rTAj1N0cyM4WjZPaKp2j-7WPB5Swnwmmpeqj3wI2_yGpr1zbai7Xv1Eaw_32EVxU0si5zB2WYBnIT4iTkYwEx4cwiz4WLCXtG/s1600/dining_table_redo9b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs92i5DbFOgu_kWeAiJTBwe3qwlBxB3Jifob8sZjzNVa4rTAj1N0cyM4WjZPaKp2j-7WPB5Swnwmmpeqj3wI2_yGpr1zbai7Xv1Eaw_32EVxU0si5zB2WYBnIT4iTkYwEx4cwiz4WLCXtG/s640/dining_table_redo9b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Whatever. So frustrating. I finally threw in the towel, took my new paint concoction to the paint store, and had the professionals match it...but with fresh, non-lumpy, un-aged paint. After just one coat of the new stuff, it is waaaay better. Smoother, easier to paint. Just better.<br />
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I think the lessons we can all take away are: (1) don't mix your own paint, and (2) don't use old paint. And if you don't want to remember both of those, remember this one: don't mix your own old paint. Ever. Even if the color is something you love. <br />
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So. Three coats of the new paint on the tabletop using a 4" foam roller (the legs actually turned out fine with the original paint, for some reason), lightly sanding between each coat. Let it dry thoroughly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoG27x0vKhiL4QmEP8BKIrKpZYGDGPGmaHO98O5Ohc4DOjD-y7Aff9V3fdWzbd10KI-daajHPB9j9sZwtuAfySBgc9I0nLgevXw3t2on43B528dCi5vyVFRyS14VUE5Zg5G-AyQo8XxS3/s1600/dining_table_redo9c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoG27x0vKhiL4QmEP8BKIrKpZYGDGPGmaHO98O5Ohc4DOjD-y7Aff9V3fdWzbd10KI-daajHPB9j9sZwtuAfySBgc9I0nLgevXw3t2on43B528dCi5vyVFRyS14VUE5Zg5G-AyQo8XxS3/s640/dining_table_redo9c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I then brushed on five (FIVE! Overkill, for sure, but my kids are hard on furniture. So five it is.) coats of Minwax Polycrylic. (Found at Walmart, <$20 for a quart.) I also sanded between most coats of this stuff, but not the last coat.<br />
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One tip: As you're brushing on polycrylic, you want to get enough on your brush that you're not dragging dry patches through. I mean, everyone gets so fired up about doing THIN coats when painting, which is good, but if you overcompensate and approach the surface with a brush that is too wiped-dry, brush marks will be increased. Lay it on thin, yes, but make sure you have enough on the brush to lay it on smoothly. Then try not to go back over your work, the polycrylic will even itself out as a rule.<br />
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Ahhhhhh. So smooth. So shiny. So protected.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbzTz6LgMAG85RgmN5n75IXRIsFDDOXdooERSylFg3hPvzSqUDHOaEPftWFTsPOU0Ffj80mxnYniXvLx7TIclfyk2fHeqRvQfKdzd1YFRdfhw3m1dOw-zwVLvYHeCufI8kw8kibei5zqF/s1600/dining_table_redo9d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbzTz6LgMAG85RgmN5n75IXRIsFDDOXdooERSylFg3hPvzSqUDHOaEPftWFTsPOU0Ffj80mxnYniXvLx7TIclfyk2fHeqRvQfKdzd1YFRdfhw3m1dOw-zwVLvYHeCufI8kw8kibei5zqF/s640/dining_table_redo9d.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Let it dry thoroughly for several days. I've read online that it can take up to five weeks for polycrylic to fully cure, so we'll be taking it easy on the table in the interim.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmOKBDkSqxRmrOFG_BaHkBzw_imixDr24HPuJxw_cOQ-m10JbcxPL3idEbTxoBYoVYo7O1plB68JprhVEJ0GSkTr_34MzPAzxWXFozrIVXbp4z5vRUS1cXjruTL29giM9ZDk8P6hzbXu8/s1600/dining_table_redo9e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmOKBDkSqxRmrOFG_BaHkBzw_imixDr24HPuJxw_cOQ-m10JbcxPL3idEbTxoBYoVYo7O1plB68JprhVEJ0GSkTr_34MzPAzxWXFozrIVXbp4z5vRUS1cXjruTL29giM9ZDk8P6hzbXu8/s640/dining_table_redo9e.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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So far, so good. It's withstood everything the kids have thrown at it over the last couple of weeks. Except fingernail polish. Which, in the hands of a trying-to-be-careful-but-still-only-5-year-old, just might be the bane of my existence...<br />
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Now I want to paint my walls white. Which, frankly, isn't going to happen anytime soon. But a girl can dream. I'm also working on the chair situation and am excited to share the end results. But until then, happy dining room table painting, friends!<br />
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<em>Featured!</em><br />
<center>
<a href="http://www.domestically-speaking.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.domestically-speaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PAINT-PARTY-BUTTON-FEATURED.jpg" /></a></center>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{shared: <a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Boogieboard Cottage</a>, <a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/11/sunday-showcase-party-219.html" target="_blank">By Stephanie Lynn</a>, <a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/fall-recipes-3/" target="_blank">C.R.A.F.T.</a>, <a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Coastal Charm</a>, <a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/" target="_blank">Craft-O-Maniac</a>, <a href="http://www.diybydesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DIY by Design</a>, <a href="http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/92-party-time/" target="_blank">DIY Dreamer</a>, <a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DIY Showoff</a>, <a href="http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/11/202nd-power-paint-party.html" target="_blank">Domestically Speaking</a>, <a href="http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2013/11/wow-me-wednesday-128-shabby-apple.html#more" target="_blank">GingerSnap Crafts</a>, <a href="http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/" target="_blank">I Should be Mopping the Floor</a>, <a href="http://jembellish.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Round%20Tuit" target="_blank">Jembellish</a>, <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/" target="_blank">My Girlish Whims</a>, <a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/" target="_blank">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</a>, <a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">New Nostalgia</a>, <a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/11/show-me-what-ya-got-145.html" target="_blank">Not Just a Housewife</a>, <a href="http://www.sewcando.com/" target="_blank">Sew Can Do</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/11/whimsy-wednesday-88.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>, <a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/" target="_blank">Sugar Bee</a>, <a href="http://www.sumossweetstuff.com/" target="_blank">Sumo's Sweet Stuff</a>, <a href="http://thehappyhousie.com/?p=5662#comment-13887" target="_blank">The Happy Housie</a>, <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.com/" target="_blank">Thrifty Décor Chick</a>}</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-62945221419387973122013-11-01T10:00:00.000-06:002014-01-29T20:16:59.239-07:00Girls Bedroom Makeover<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy day-after-Halloween. I hope you've stolen and eaten as much of your kids candy as I have. Because then we can be sick to our stomachs together...</div>
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You've been waiting with bated breath, I can tell. Sleepless nights, trouble concentrating, unexplained fidgeting. It's finally here. The (semi)makeover of my daughters' bedroom. </div>
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Here's the thing. I liked my <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2012/08/girls-bedroom-house-tour.html">girls' bedroom before</a>. It was cute, with the matching twin beds and everything. But there was just not enough space, and the ladies were begging for bunk beds. So we obliged, and they couldn't be happier. Which, I'm not going to lie, is totally rewarding.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(My apologies in advance for the odd lighting going on in these photos.)</span></div>
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Here's the view from the doorway:</div>
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We moved the twin bed that previously lived under the window and put their desk, which previously <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/09/diy-duck-tape-framed-chalkboard_4073.html">stuck out into the doorway</a>, in its place. There's nothing like sitting at a desk and daydreaming out the window, I tell you. </div>
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But I digress. Here's a view of the closet and wall directly to your right if you're entering the room. The closet doors have been removed for ages, since they kept coming off their track. I had a spare curtain and so moved the old curtain rod to the closet and hung a fabric closet door. It's open here just for your viewing entertainment. You're welcome.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2k4noPSTKXGMOtRsfiBK3oI_4cDL22dDQpOFDi2Gi6Uc7rXsoCg5orvTp7IK1ycsmBzut08gYnb-0tfrEbNX68Jfps4mwRpN6xrQ56xtbBlS1uh0t-c8qiaBg_5PFQZAN_DN0mtpNyxZj/s1600/girls_bedroom_makeover5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2k4noPSTKXGMOtRsfiBK3oI_4cDL22dDQpOFDi2Gi6Uc7rXsoCg5orvTp7IK1ycsmBzut08gYnb-0tfrEbNX68Jfps4mwRpN6xrQ56xtbBlS1uh0t-c8qiaBg_5PFQZAN_DN0mtpNyxZj/s640/girls_bedroom_makeover5.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Four double hooks on the wall have been a huge help already. My daughters somehow have come to own a huge assortment of bags, which previously found homes on the floor because there was no place to put them. It's much easier to keep things clean when there's a place for stuff. (I'm still looking for the perfect large yet minimalist piece of art for the wall above the hooks. Will find it eventually, but for now, the wall itself is the art. Yep.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dgItkFwDpg4ogpAhFcT9QjYxksS-cskwrmDr76iOzM4ZAxy34WDMp-aVR2CrbOZWlPzxChcMoIBx1aLXCtT1dkGFqT_41a8Fpqh9nNMB47Vrqpn0WxLUtQ_vWj3sr3QNWdh6yF2wIVMB/s1600/girls_bedroom_makeover9c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dgItkFwDpg4ogpAhFcT9QjYxksS-cskwrmDr76iOzM4ZAxy34WDMp-aVR2CrbOZWlPzxChcMoIBx1aLXCtT1dkGFqT_41a8Fpqh9nNMB47Vrqpn0WxLUtQ_vWj3sr3QNWdh6yF2wIVMB/s640/girls_bedroom_makeover9c.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rounding the corner of the hook wall is the <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/ikea-hack-hemnes-with-cozy-wall-art.html">newly facelifted Hemnes dresser</a>. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I LOVE this cherry blossom decal. So simple, fresh, and pretty. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Unlike the top of the dresser, but we'll address that another day.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Sy2XmguWLng4WKP72GQLOZ_K7xdz6_eu0y642Ry4kfbe0CgEC39Z066aXNNGVn3PWvhHozoo6JLzoBTQcXASavD32rIEsqsTeIMr2-aXeiTBvY10_Pe2ZnV5RJlwVRgbzQ2qNNoC-h8a/s1600/girls_bedroom_makeover4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Sy2XmguWLng4WKP72GQLOZ_K7xdz6_eu0y642Ry4kfbe0CgEC39Z066aXNNGVn3PWvhHozoo6JLzoBTQcXASavD32rIEsqsTeIMr2-aXeiTBvY10_Pe2ZnV5RJlwVRgbzQ2qNNoC-h8a/s640/girls_bedroom_makeover4.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Continuing along the dresser wall is the previously mentioned desk. This thing is vintage and awesome. I recovered two equally vintage chairs (that the girls picked out...can you tell some personality differences? I love it.) with the same closet-covering fabric. Which happens to match the <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/ikea-hack-hemnes-with-cozy-wall-art.html">new roman shade</a>. I don't normally match stuff so much, but I just happened to have the fabric, and my daughters like stuff to match. The end of that story.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoeoyvaDO3-MaGS5UL8RdvT36KexI9AAAYLg3UXuc1qoaEolTWWJMw2_1LN3fyMlR80yzRFFbfGDr3mz0aEVMHGOOkvSQSHagPPPejEppMBb6oR1sztq3k3v19GERwmi-QEbYdkR9c4f5/s1600/girls_bedroom_makeover9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoeoyvaDO3-MaGS5UL8RdvT36KexI9AAAYLg3UXuc1qoaEolTWWJMw2_1LN3fyMlR80yzRFFbfGDr3mz0aEVMHGOOkvSQSHagPPPejEppMBb6oR1sztq3k3v19GERwmi-QEbYdkR9c4f5/s640/girls_bedroom_makeover9.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Turning the corner on the other side of the dresser is the pink monstrosity. It's huge and pink and I kind of make fun of it, but, man, it pulls more than its share of the storage workload around here. Did I ever tell you the story about how we saw this at Ikea almost five years ago on MAJOR clearance, and we bought it knowing full well it was huge and pink because it was a girls' bedroom bookshelf come true. </div>
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(I have equally fascinating accounts of most of the furniture in our house, if you'd care to hear them.) (What's that? You wouldn't? There's nothing you'd hate more than hearing me prattle on about the sordid histories of my home's existing inanimate objects? Oh. Okay.) </div>
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I suppose I should've organized things a bit for this photo shoot. Minnie Mouse looks like she's dying on that top shelf, there. Dah well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YwdkCFbTSH7ps9jd4c-apl45BN_qIpk9kEVSsOwL6tokKjMsUFn2lNBeTDkal7hihMl4PU_UG41GN_gI5w7zYqBj14DSfOwCz_9T66lzPr_heX5jqiJnDI4AZhMD_34iSVn1gR-Jo9Ul/s1600/girls_bedroom_makeover8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YwdkCFbTSH7ps9jd4c-apl45BN_qIpk9kEVSsOwL6tokKjMsUFn2lNBeTDkal7hihMl4PU_UG41GN_gI5w7zYqBj14DSfOwCz_9T66lzPr_heX5jqiJnDI4AZhMD_34iSVn1gR-Jo9Ul/s640/girls_bedroom_makeover8.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Here're the bunkbeds. Complete with <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/easily-customized-ikea-wall-lamps.html">golden reading lamps</a> and <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2012/12/diy-ombre-ruched-duvet-cover.html">ruched duvet covers</a> I made myself. (My youngest daughter's duvet cover has been washed a bazillion times, including one time accidentally with bleach, so the ombre effect has decreased substantially. Heh.) I actually had an idea for new-and-improved quilts (they would've been so stinking perfect here), but the girls didn't want to part with these yet. I suppose I should be glad, and I suppose I am. Kind of.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJdmeW4LJY9QTg-PTPoEhUQk-Yapj0H76nNxJtF7a8tOlnJ-nnEzQ6hEVBOOGALMyoY7kce3QxG2eC1bTCjz9dz3mCRyT4cZDZSC8B_MEv77TcBy-Ha25zkcsDJjFBd1vHD1pFLZZlu64/s1600/girls_bedroom_makeover7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJdmeW4LJY9QTg-PTPoEhUQk-Yapj0H76nNxJtF7a8tOlnJ-nnEzQ6hEVBOOGALMyoY7kce3QxG2eC1bTCjz9dz3mCRyT4cZDZSC8B_MEv77TcBy-Ha25zkcsDJjFBd1vHD1pFLZZlu64/s640/girls_bedroom_makeover7.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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And just like that, we've come full-circle. From henceforth, I think this room will be known as The Room That Holds Crazy Amounts of Stuff. </div>
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I like how it's finished enough for the girls to enjoy their space, but not so much that I won't be able to poke my grubby little paws into a project or two to continue cleaning things up. I'd love to change out that rug, for starters...<br />
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Feel free to check out some more rooms on my ever-evolving <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/p/house-tour.html">house tour</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{shared <a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/2013/10/flaunt-it-friday-178.html" target="_blank">Chic on a Shoestring Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/" target="_blank">Fingerprints on the Fridge</a>, <a href="http://www.firefliesandjellybeans.com/" target="_blank">Fireflies & Jellybeans</a>, <a href="http://mumsmakelists.blogspot.com/2014/01/empty-your-archive-39.html" target="_blank">Mums Make Lists</a>, <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Romantic Home</a>, <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/11/holiday-neighbor-gift-ideas/" target="_blank">Remodelaholic</a>, <a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Shabby Nest</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/10/whimsy-wednesday-87.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>, <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-sew-professional-pillow-cover.html" target="_blank">Thrifty Décor Chick</a>, <a href="http://what-about.co/" target="_blank">What-About</a>}</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-64537793210498232642013-10-31T11:09:00.000-06:002013-11-12T19:46:55.033-07:00Corner Home Office & some rug options<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Halloween, everyone!</div>
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I should preface this post by saying: I'm not trying to make you guys jealous of me. But when I came down to my "home office" this morning and was greeted by this sight...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6v0yxyFoQUIhONee0S9GTQZeinsdi6wzyJaREE90j49IXHMpMwcCl9xb99Qnwjzvyw8ShczZKOTCfXkcReFotqOrdErL2xkS2YlEEgZpPrO_7AXBsGB62O1h1fMZaWT87QGW8ZwUNkwoc/s1600/corner_home_office_before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6v0yxyFoQUIhONee0S9GTQZeinsdi6wzyJaREE90j49IXHMpMwcCl9xb99Qnwjzvyw8ShczZKOTCfXkcReFotqOrdErL2xkS2YlEEgZpPrO_7AXBsGB62O1h1fMZaWT87QGW8ZwUNkwoc/s640/corner_home_office_before.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...I knew that today was the day to get things in gear. Stat.</div>
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You're not jealous, are you? Okay. Phew. Because that is some sweet junk I've got going on right here.</div>
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Read more after the break.</div>
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I've actually been wanting to redo this little corner home office for some time now. Because it's a hole, that's why. Because it's uninspiring and messy and blucky. And because I spend a good portion of my weeks these days (ghost)writing for an <a href="http://www.homedit.com/" target="_blank">interior design website</a> (and consequently scouring scads of beautiful photos of beautiful spaces) and decided that something - anything - would be a step up from what I've got going on right now.</div>
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I'm excited about my plan for the office wall (stay tuned!) but decided I'd better get something ordered for the floor. This redo overall is an un-need in our house right now, so my budget is pretty tight. I allowed myself $50 to spend on something to throw down on the carpet. (Which is another yucky story for another day, but it is what it is.) </div>
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I found some good options on <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/" target="_blank">RugsUSA</a> (a good budget option for area rugs, especially when they've got a sale going on) that matched what I was going for. The wall is going to be geometrically graphic, so I wanted a black-and/or-white(ish) rug that could easily fly under the visual radar but still enhance the whole office space.</div>
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I like the herringbone pattern of this <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-chevron/charcoal/200HJHK07A-508.html" target="_blank">Homespun Chevron <span id="colorName2">Charcoal</span> Rug</a>. It's way too bold and graphic for what I need, though. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3-BjB8lwsrVty9L0AFpl2s94NRQV3FXwmj1nwyUD1_7AbVZ7LuQap3wsziv4w_gglYM8uM0TbjOsan8aBnWITD4kgCrODT9kw1BPPKo4mUzZx0FK6Zzwo0x6tJzPWjbsr5YWK6yEefWx/s1600/black_and_white_rug6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3-BjB8lwsrVty9L0AFpl2s94NRQV3FXwmj1nwyUD1_7AbVZ7LuQap3wsziv4w_gglYM8uM0TbjOsan8aBnWITD4kgCrODT9kw1BPPKo4mUzZx0FK6Zzwo0x6tJzPWjbsr5YWK6yEefWx/s640/black_and_white_rug6.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
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I like the ikat-ish-ness of this <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-chevron-sg11/grey/200OZSG11A-508.html" target="_blank">Babylon Chevron SG11 <span id="colorName2">Grey</span> Rug</a>. But I'm going to be honest with you all...I'm kind of over chevron. Is that shameful for me to admit? Yes? Oh. Okay. Then I never said it. (But I did, because it's true.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJdgi4K71Xar11-GO-G1tLVozXLR86kc-jCFLkqPFzkf0Li_qF-XVkAoreXzgFZnI4xXA2dzcWjB08fpb7iWsdPqkllc6sB40p-XqENijoEKn-Arf_eSL9MysiZVhY6yiWkUXmqBu6OMU/s1600/black_and_white_rug3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJdgi4K71Xar11-GO-G1tLVozXLR86kc-jCFLkqPFzkf0Li_qF-XVkAoreXzgFZnI4xXA2dzcWjB08fpb7iWsdPqkllc6sB40p-XqENijoEKn-Arf_eSL9MysiZVhY6yiWkUXmqBu6OMU/s640/black_and_white_rug3.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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Speaking of ikat rugs, I also liked this one: <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-ning-ikat/soft-grey/200BHBC38A-406.html" target="_blank">Radiante Ning Ikat <span id="colorName2">Soft Grey</span> Rug</a>. Again, though, it's a bit too busy for my graphic wall plans; it would compete too much.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jwsfZmDV6RYWYB36xWAh7_CE3LPSf1YB4J4z0tDvBd4sYoMhHZiaKsbfKyrN_MM1VdbQr3yGq4gyjjpOxoH7yXwBZu3ZMfExll0nEuCGPttqEzjGMmiuk6illajZUcCU-fcLF4kYrGDE/s1600/black_and_white_rug7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jwsfZmDV6RYWYB36xWAh7_CE3LPSf1YB4J4z0tDvBd4sYoMhHZiaKsbfKyrN_MM1VdbQr3yGq4gyjjpOxoH7yXwBZu3ZMfExll0nEuCGPttqEzjGMmiuk6illajZUcCU-fcLF4kYrGDE/s640/black_and_white_rug7.jpg" width="388" /></a></div>
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Mmmm... Moroccan-style. I just might love this kind of rug forever. Simple and sophisticated. Plus, those rug tassels are fantastic! <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-shag/natural/200SPRE14A-406.html" target="_blank">Marrakesh Shag <span id="colorName2">Natural</span> Rug</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBXQmo4rvQz1q8hNxDol_ydxyMvnJQ6QgWHGoBP7YeNepE7cQfrOWIaJLAEHDHO32rpwK-dGJQ21ottAbtKkTm-EiUslNMQTgdl7yXdvYxEyUO1rHjWn-VAgenD5HG3C-jXTmS3P_cUOc/s1600/black_and_white_rug1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBXQmo4rvQz1q8hNxDol_ydxyMvnJQ6QgWHGoBP7YeNepE7cQfrOWIaJLAEHDHO32rpwK-dGJQ21ottAbtKkTm-EiUslNMQTgdl7yXdvYxEyUO1rHjWn-VAgenD5HG3C-jXTmS3P_cUOc/s640/black_and_white_rug1.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
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Here's a similar budget-friendlier (like, way budget friendly) option of Moroccan rug: <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-moroccan-shag/ivory/200MTVS28A-406.html" target="_blank">Tuscan Moroccan Shag <span id="colorName2">Ivory</span> Rug</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKLcC5z3qq5yI9FOCLLZTUqlextZ0qWj2av4dDgkbbssbY6an6N51J51zEcntWMQRQkafxbzAx6kO72PxZdL_C3mt9gAfuZ4Fa5IeXKjBdhh1EZrkaR02GU_lCDJc5-GJElLTMwQBcRUg/s1600/black_and_white_rug2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKLcC5z3qq5yI9FOCLLZTUqlextZ0qWj2av4dDgkbbssbY6an6N51J51zEcntWMQRQkafxbzAx6kO72PxZdL_C3mt9gAfuZ4Fa5IeXKjBdhh1EZrkaR02GU_lCDJc5-GJElLTMwQBcRUg/s640/black_and_white_rug2.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
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Randomly, these worn vintage rugs have grown on me lately. There's something pretty chic and also inviting about this <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-kerman-panel/natural/200VBVI6A-53076.html" target="_blank">Beaumont Kerman Panel <span id="colorName2">Natural</span> Rug</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lM7Bg4mG_Rw1LyKZeuPzO0sYBHact1RCc2f2Gcvs7KZOfy8te2CBB1ElF8SqxN75Gqi0uAdZPnwqUT_y9u_yW-Q2hw-fM4w8vNpKvZHsbJe7tl6qCHBCqH-qNOdULTN4tVnYIAjEn2_1/s1600/black_and_white_rug4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lM7Bg4mG_Rw1LyKZeuPzO0sYBHact1RCc2f2Gcvs7KZOfy8te2CBB1ElF8SqxN75Gqi0uAdZPnwqUT_y9u_yW-Q2hw-fM4w8vNpKvZHsbJe7tl6qCHBCqH-qNOdULTN4tVnYIAjEn2_1/s640/black_and_white_rug4.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
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And this one. The colors here are beautiful. <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-vintage-aubusson/spruce-blue/200VBVI1C-311057.html" target="_blank">Beaumont Vintage Aubusson <span id="colorName2">Spruce Blue</span> Rug</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV46Cco6-XQDVTmmuXxum3p9JDJK8CxxyRVXGCivIsOvrsoTBuPswMSAdSttcacyIroIcOZBLYTUk_4HLUt8jV82c9IHyHRqaipbDx71gK0TmjyXe0TmooPDq4RI6KWXk9tO_q7ZUcVkT9/s1600/black_and_white_rug8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV46Cco6-XQDVTmmuXxum3p9JDJK8CxxyRVXGCivIsOvrsoTBuPswMSAdSttcacyIroIcOZBLYTUk_4HLUt8jV82c9IHyHRqaipbDx71gK0TmjyXe0TmooPDq4RI6KWXk9tO_q7ZUcVkT9/s640/black_and_white_rug8.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
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Would never turn down a cowhide, for sure. Unfortunately for me, 50 bones isn't going to get me a <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-devour-cowhide/white/200NKCHP08-507.html" target="_blank">Serendipity Devour Cowhide <span id="colorName2">White</span> Rug</a> this time around. </div>
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What do you guys do when for budget-healthy flooring options, whether it's for a home office or not?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-87931201583000125302013-10-30T05:30:00.000-06:002013-11-01T14:18:01.806-06:00Easily Customized Ikea Wall Lamps<div style="text-align: center;">
As much as I love Ikea's affordable furniture designs, I don't usually take their products at face value (as evidenced <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/bedroom-makeover-ikea-malm-dresser.html">here</a>, <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/ikea-hemnes-dresser-racecar-stripe.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/ikea-lack-table-into-padded-bench.html">here</a>) (and I guess <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/ikea-hack-hemnes-with-cozy-wall-art.html">here</a>). Meaning, I typically change them up in some small (or big) way to make them unique and better fit my space and style.</div>
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Even the tiniest changes make a big difference. For example, I got two <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10085193/" target="_blank">Kvart wall lamps</a> for the girls to read in their bunk beds. They weren't my first choice of lamp, but I was getting desperate.</div>
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They were...fine, I guess. But I wanted my girls to have something a little more special than a straight-from-the-box cheap-o silver light. So, with the help of a little spray paint, I gave them a straight-from-the-box cheap-o gold light, instead. I'm sure you'll agree: much better. Right, guys?... Guys?... Friends?... Aw, nuts.</div>
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Anyway. I left the cord in the bag and Frog Taped everywhere else where I didn't want paint.</div>
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After making these necessary preparations, I proceeded to cover the lamps in two light coats of gold spray paint. (Apparently, <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/bedroom-makeover-reading-lamps.html">I like a touch of gold in a reading lamp</a>. Rorschach that out for me, will you?) Mounted them on the wall as easy as you please, and BAM. Golden light from above.</div>
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Here they are, double-mint style. The cutest thing is when I come to tuck the girls in at bedtime and one of them is propped up on pillows, asleep with a book on their lap, lamp a-blazin'. Good thing they're LED.<br />
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I'm just glad the little ladies are happy and feel special. That's really all I'm going for. Well, that, and an easy project crossed off ye ol' To-Do list.<br />
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(Check out the entire <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/11/girls-bedroom-makeover.html">girls bedroom makeover</a> if you'd like!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{shared: <a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chic on a Shoestring Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/" target="_blank">Fingerprints on the Fridge</a>, <a href="http://www.firefliesandjellybeans.com/" target="_blank">Fireflies & Jellybeans</a>, <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Romantic Home</a>, <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/11/holiday-neighbor-gift-ideas/" target="_blank">Remodelaholic</a>, <a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Shabby Nest</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/10/whimsy-wednesday-87.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>, <a href="http://what-about.co/" target="_blank">What-About</a>}</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-58516110262531167132013-10-24T11:03:00.000-06:002013-11-13T20:20:10.700-07:00Ikea Hack (Hemnes) with Cozy Wall Art Decal<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>This post is sponsored by </em><a href="http://cozywallart.com/" target="_blank"><em>Cozy Wall</em> <em>Art</em></a><em> - creating products that accent the life and personality of a home.</em> <em>All</em> <em>opinions expressed are 100% my own.</em></div>
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Most of you guys probably know by now that I have a thing, some might call it a fetish, for customizing Ikea furniture. (If you don't believe me or have forgotten, check out what I did to a <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/ikea-hemnes-dresser-racecar-stripe.html">Hemnes dresser</a>, <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/ikea-lack-table-into-padded-bench.html">Lack table</a>, and <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/bedroom-makeover-ikea-malm-dresser.html">Malm dresser</a>.)</div>
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While I've loved the results of my previous Ikea furniture personalization efforts, I have to say that those projects were waaaay more labor-intensive than the dresser makeover I'm about to show you now. And I love this one just as much, if not moreso.</div>
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Let's start at the beginning. A few weeks ago, Cozy Wall Art contacted me and asked if I'd be willing to do a product review for them. I checked out their website and immediately fell in love with many of their products. <strong>The decals are actually designed for walls,</strong> but as soon as I saw <a href="http://cozywallart.com/product/cherry-blossom-branch-wall-decal/" target="_blank">this one</a>, I knew I had to have it for my girls' dresser as a key part of their bedroom makeover.</div>
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Why would their dresser need any attention, you might be wondering? Three words: boring. white. laminate.</div>
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(Continue reading after the jump.)<br />
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So. After enlisting the help of my 5-year-old in choosing the decal colors online (actually, that's a small lie. I insisted on black branches. Blossom color was her choice. If it would have been left solely to her, I'm afraid we would've had a veritable Pepto-hued branch-and-blossom explosion on our hands) (Not that there's anything wrong with that), I placed my order and quickly received this little number in the mail:</div>
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(May I diverge from the actual process description for a moment to say what an impressive customer service experience I've had with Cozy Wall Art? They not only shipped the item quickly, but they also included a free bonus decal (the flower below) and a couple of munchies in that cute ribbon-tied bag (above). Included instructions were helpful, and to top it all off, the shipping package was secured with decorative packing tape. It's obvious to me that these people have their eye on the details in décor of all kinds. I loved it all.)</div>
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Anyway. I first cleaned the girls' dresser (which was like a facelift in and of itself) then followed the aforementioned helpful instructions and installed the decal on the Hemnes dresser. </div>
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Because I was installing the decal over drawer seams, I did have to go section by section and cut the decal apart so the drawers would be able to open. Even with this added complication, the installation was straightforward, and I used the squeegee that Cozy Wall Art included in the package with great results. Honestly, I'm no vinyl expert, but the process was easy and even, dare I say, therapeutic. </div>
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It was at this point (photo below) that I started to get suuuuuper excited about how this was turning out. Isn't the shape of that branch just so pretty?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_ev086xuooRxB73XvoHWchpz9okz7HjIZMcGpgIVD4GK4EMq40aI69Ks9AGVA5PLiNaOglAPHAs1tMteCBK6Teb4yanq-fj9U3r3a0IbwLhLfKONMkZiFrN3tLfswoU8KsKGBY2E1hwh/s1600/ikea_hack5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_ev086xuooRxB73XvoHWchpz9okz7HjIZMcGpgIVD4GK4EMq40aI69Ks9AGVA5PLiNaOglAPHAs1tMteCBK6Teb4yanq-fj9U3r3a0IbwLhLfKONMkZiFrN3tLfswoU8KsKGBY2E1hwh/s640/ikea_hack5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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One thing: What the what on wonky lighting in these photos? </div>
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One other thing: In self-doctoring the decal to work for this dresser, I was very careful to cut the decal to stop at the edges of the flat parts of the dresser drawers. 1 mm longer on any of my cuts would've ended the decal on the tapered part of the corner, which would've resulted in less-than-ideal adhesion. Any resulting gaps in the decal, due to this decision, were visually negligible, as you can see below with the full branch that's ready for blossoms:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnUHIrC_s3WQ6mUKcitcq70uSgoadwxgUZcCKuP_eROHbDn0QbWMnyzWc_JiLEggjjh-VDckv1Utjt60f7bA7N70Y-EzkkLSFq7ibMcCTYX6hfS9MIFAREznr_w2PTi3BHt_6YXvn9qCZ/s1600/ikea_hack4b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnUHIrC_s3WQ6mUKcitcq70uSgoadwxgUZcCKuP_eROHbDn0QbWMnyzWc_JiLEggjjh-VDckv1Utjt60f7bA7N70Y-EzkkLSFq7ibMcCTYX6hfS9MIFAREznr_w2PTi3BHt_6YXvn9qCZ/s640/ikea_hack4b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was also impressed with the attention to detail in the design itself. There was variety among the blossoms themselves - I think four totally different blossom silhouettes of varied sizes, and the smaller buds. This kind of thing is what makes the end result so, I dunno, art-like. The blossoms look unique and alive. Well, not alive exactly, but you know what I mean. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjD2-jvMAr0kKOiKQdJ5KC2mcr6DXqIs0DnWiljxJsKYorWs51Dnpk4BgP_rSiT63ADqvEiJGYdxnS2n8zCIJ6ovmLPWyGwW_WvQm4dYBxCcqrkziN2ewEXmq-NwvC1AuXiWS7ILyc7Xa/s1600/ikea_hack3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjD2-jvMAr0kKOiKQdJ5KC2mcr6DXqIs0DnWiljxJsKYorWs51Dnpk4BgP_rSiT63ADqvEiJGYdxnS2n8zCIJ6ovmLPWyGwW_WvQm4dYBxCcqrkziN2ewEXmq-NwvC1AuXiWS7ILyc7Xa/s640/ikea_hack3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So. I stuck the blossoms on, pretty much following the enclosed suggestion sheet. My girls both squealed when they got home from school and saw the dresser for themselves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh1LBF4dSMxm91sizRn6J2i2paa-4AXdTkpc2CkmjmaS4vyc3Mfh5nl3N55xyCPVXIJAaGAcfYJGOB4-OZu_wEKz3KOLlwSsxBVlZKa6f4AFweOY_-5nI6pWOeKVd42-KzzXCDuosfyZ-/s1600/ikea_hack7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh1LBF4dSMxm91sizRn6J2i2paa-4AXdTkpc2CkmjmaS4vyc3Mfh5nl3N55xyCPVXIJAaGAcfYJGOB4-OZu_wEKz3KOLlwSsxBVlZKa6f4AFweOY_-5nI6pWOeKVd42-KzzXCDuosfyZ-/s640/ikea_hack7.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I think that translates into Mission: Accomplished.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWi2a1OZUYwQDN8wgi0j_MF0pO59nbvq-iE_nGwYTSDO0LT1f16pDzv02u3gLdHDRLhICnXofc1pM2fu2yaDu7xZValpY_pY_t6HYLmlJUTPaLC2XAvf06cipro03QNQZ1xswTw-0rneo/s1600/ikea_hack6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWi2a1OZUYwQDN8wgi0j_MF0pO59nbvq-iE_nGwYTSDO0LT1f16pDzv02u3gLdHDRLhICnXofc1pM2fu2yaDu7xZValpY_pY_t6HYLmlJUTPaLC2XAvf06cipro03QNQZ1xswTw-0rneo/s640/ikea_hack6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thank you, Cozy Wall Art, for sharing your genuinely wonderful product with me and my readers. Everyone else: I recommend <a href="http://cozywallart.com/" target="_blank">checking these guys out</a>, for real. So many great designs for so many different styles.</div>
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(If you're interested, check out how I <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/11/home-office-makeoveralmost-done.html">"wallpapered" my home office</a> with geometric Cozy Wall Art decals.)</div>
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<em>Featured!</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.ajennuinelife.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="A Jennuine Life Thrifty to Nifty Thursdays Feature" src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa423/jldeshazer/AJennuineLifeButton-ThriftytoNiftyThursdaysFeature_zps0d3922d6.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Boogieboard Cottage" src="http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy117/jacquesfamily52/Boogieboardcottagehtmlbagde-6-1-2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/" target="_blank" title="Monday Funday Feature"><img alt="thehappierhomemaker.com" src="http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/beuncommon/MondayFundayFeature150_zpscd6cc8a3.png" style="border: currentColor;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{shared: <a href="http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/" target="_blank">A Glimpse Inside</a>, <a href="http://www.ajennuinelife.com/" target="_blank">A Jennuine Life</a>, <a href="http://becolorful.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Be Colorful</a>, <a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Boogieboard Cottage</a>, <a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/" target="_blank">C.R.A.F.T.</a>, <a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chic on a Shoestring Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/" target="_blank">Craft-O-Maniac</a>, <a href="http://jembellish.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Round%20Tuit" target="_blank">Creating my Way to Success</a>, <a href="http://diyshowoff.com/2013/10/27/diy-party-40/" target="_blank">DIY Showoff</a>, <a href="http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/" target="_blank">Finding Fabulous</a>, <a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2013/10/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link-party-13/" target="_blank">Miss Mustard Seed</a>, <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Romantic Home</a>, <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/10/top-ten-teen-hangout-areas/" target="_blank">Remodelaholic</a>, <a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2013/10/frugal-friday_24.html#more" target="_blank">Shabby Nest</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/10/whimsy-wednesday-86.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>, <a href="http://www.sumossweetstuff.com/" target="_blank">Sumo's Sweet Stuff</a>, <a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/2013/10/best-diy-projects-28.html" target="_blank">The 36th Avenue</a>, <a href="http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com/2013/11/girls-bedroom-makeover.html" target="_blank">Thrifty Décor Chick</a>, <a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/10/sunday-showcase-party-218.html" target="_blank">Under the Table & Dreaming</a>, <a href="http://what-about.co/" target="_blank">What-About</a>}</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-63847919295434454442013-10-22T07:00:00.000-06:002014-01-10T14:03:43.275-07:00Signazon and a Fake 90th Birthday Bash<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>This post is sponsored by Signazon.com. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.</em></div>
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Have you guys ever heard of <a href="http://www.signazon.com/" target="_blank">Signazon</a>? They're a customer-focused printing company that, although large, focuses on the details of each customer and every individual order to get it perfect.</div>
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The guys (and ladies) at Signazon don't just do business cards and photocopies. (Not that there's anything wrong with entities who DO do just those things, of course.) They provide a wide variety of printing-related products and services. <br />
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Here's just a glimpse of what Signazon does:</div>
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<strong>Custom Banners</strong><strong>.</strong> I love this option. Do you have an annual holiday party that needs a little sprucing up in the décor department? (I'm looking at you, Christmas Sweater Party hosts) or a welcome home gathering in the not-so-distant future? Custom banners are great for a quick, bold statement and for outdoor use (especially if you live somewhere where inclement weather is a consideration for outdoor décor destruction...which, if you don't, please tell me where you live so I can move there).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6TAs9iIzDvs79ZlGbJyHgNHsq77TZwqpuOV6IU2aLXTkgb_Ak1hiWqlEAfwnBAvaTYvk7E4RgXYCiAm2D5loyN8kclhQ-6uWvVMgOh6P_El3X6ZAgggx2s33VjaUPjvA8gBRmW_r0eJ4/s1600/Signazon_custom_banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6TAs9iIzDvs79ZlGbJyHgNHsq77TZwqpuOV6IU2aLXTkgb_Ak1hiWqlEAfwnBAvaTYvk7E4RgXYCiAm2D5loyN8kclhQ-6uWvVMgOh6P_El3X6ZAgggx2s33VjaUPjvA8gBRmW_r0eJ4/s1600/Signazon_custom_banner.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong>Stationery</strong><strong>. </strong>My knee-jerk reaction to custom stationery and letterhead is that they belong at an office. But I was at a neighbor's house the other day, and she had a stack of personalized stationery with her name on it on her home office desk. I found it adorable, and admit to a) coveting it and b) considering changing my name to be hers, if only for a week or two, so I could use her stationery. There's something awesomely personal about writing on paper that's designed to be uniquely your own. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VG1cx8cJ91OgLuxIMpQyKYWYBhboAgImc-pZXC2pFFLOqIOkq5gP0Qhy4P-w92kycbXcP4tEJ_WBghM5OD25QC_FcwsDQ_JU3p-3m_RutVoJVpBDxsP8Gcj-1mAezgVx9lvb5SnH4o2F/s1600/Signazon_stationery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VG1cx8cJ91OgLuxIMpQyKYWYBhboAgImc-pZXC2pFFLOqIOkq5gP0Qhy4P-w92kycbXcP4tEJ_WBghM5OD25QC_FcwsDQ_JU3p-3m_RutVoJVpBDxsP8Gcj-1mAezgVx9lvb5SnH4o2F/s1600/Signazon_stationery.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong>Invitations</strong><strong>.</strong> You guys (ladies) who come to this blog are an inspiringly creative, talented, and party-licious bunch. Which is why I think you might be interested in learning about Signazon's custom invitations. Doesn't the thought of having someone else do the invitations make your next party To-Do list breathe a sigh of momentary relief? There are so many options - the sky is virtually the limit here - this is a great feature.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_Fh9zCk8UM2sWD5-2U4t6NSufxBuwGbq6004w9QQxk9ghzuNxs6sqwAMecXP3zIPQptEjtQG86VQb0z30-JMB7vaF2aomJ81fvrIWHmvD0oUWTEjGlrDt2DXG-NgLcCqmeC1nUqlJvv4/s1600/Signazon_invitations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_Fh9zCk8UM2sWD5-2U4t6NSufxBuwGbq6004w9QQxk9ghzuNxs6sqwAMecXP3zIPQptEjtQG86VQb0z30-JMB7vaF2aomJ81fvrIWHmvD0oUWTEjGlrDt2DXG-NgLcCqmeC1nUqlJvv4/s1600/Signazon_invitations.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong>Wedding Banners</strong><strong>.</strong> Have you ever driven around a city trying to find a wedding and/or reception but been unsure whether or not the parked cars you see are an indication of your destination or if they're parked there for something else altogether and you would feel like a fool heading into what you thought would be a small garden wedding that turns out to be Vern & Ruby's 90th birthday bash, complete with amped up Billie Holiday and spiked Metamucil? <em>(Note: Vern and Ruby are, in this instance, fictional characters invented to make my point. Not that I wouldn't wish anyone a happy 90th, of course. In fact, just in case: Happy Birthday, Vern! You too, Ruby.) </em>But I digress. What I'm trying to say is that having a wedding banner to announce the festivities' location is not only helpful for out-of-town guests, but it's just plain fun. Plus, the newlyweds can take it do decorate their barren new living room walls (yep). Win-win.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIOZPvmTpK5soAcVppxpsW1i8i5-e0Y6pYxJdLYmh6a2afs09fwDXILzllAbASlSnL95H4SaSN2aOYVM9icjRE8PLeQKrYaQskao-g3gAabTwmj5Zgvi3P_1XcLSXzAzR_0__IM_XHLJg/s1600/Signazon_wedding_banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIOZPvmTpK5soAcVppxpsW1i8i5-e0Y6pYxJdLYmh6a2afs09fwDXILzllAbASlSnL95H4SaSN2aOYVM9icjRE8PLeQKrYaQskao-g3gAabTwmj5Zgvi3P_1XcLSXzAzR_0__IM_XHLJg/s1600/Signazon_wedding_banner.jpg" /></a></div>
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I hope you all check out <a href="http://www.signazon.com/" target="_blank">Signazon</a> for your everyday (and not-so-everyday) printing needs. (I'm especially looking at you, Vern & Ruby.) </div>
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<em>This post is sponsored by Signazon.com. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.</em></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762533352262431954.post-76438731252224074482013-10-21T00:23:00.000-06:002013-10-30T14:18:23.285-06:00How to Make a Roman Shade (using everyday materials)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I don't know why it is, but for some reason, roman shades seem super intimidating to make, don't they? I thought so for a long time, until several years ago I bit the bullet and just made one. Then two. Then a few more. Now I don't know why I ever made curtains. Roman shades are, honestly truly and sincerely, very DIY-able. </div>
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I hope to convince you in this post. Ready? Let's get to it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb7K7MdTdKr8Iclik0JnJZ5FzRJpxLCQE7dTrrC4h85003jjpGJToe4JnbdGyqAxOm0_E37lg4V2cY1tVDqZyb7rryK_cKsTZEieXiAijS94YgI34cfr856Rz1mL_dC8Kv6YKnYTw7Z86/s1600/roman_shade_pin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb7K7MdTdKr8Iclik0JnJZ5FzRJpxLCQE7dTrrC4h85003jjpGJToe4JnbdGyqAxOm0_E37lg4V2cY1tVDqZyb7rryK_cKsTZEieXiAijS94YgI34cfr856Rz1mL_dC8Kv6YKnYTw7Z86/s640/roman_shade_pin.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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This post is super photo-heavy, so you'll want to click through for the full tutorial.</div>
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<strong>What you'll need</strong> (it might sound like a lot, but I promise it's not too bad):</div>
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- 1 piece of fabric for your shade, cut about 6" taller and 3" wider than your window </div>
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- 1 piece of blackout fabric cut exactly to window size (*optional*)</div>
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- some smallish screw eyes (I used four 3/4" screw eyes for a 41" tall x 47" wide window)</div>
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- some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0068RO5HS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0068RO5HS&linkCode=as2&tag=smar047-20">white plastic rings</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=smar047-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0068RO5HS" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (found in drapery notions at Joann's or on Amazon)
or flat washers (I used 12 flat washers)</div>
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- some yards of string (I'm guessing I used <8 yards of nylon string, because that's what I had)</div>
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- needle & thread</div>
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- yardstick, measuring tape, square, or any other measuring device</div>
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- pencil</div>
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- a thin(ish) piece of wood or trim cut to the width of your window (I used a piece of scrap 3/8" plywood, cut about 3" wide and 47" long)</div>
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- a narrow piece of something to weigh down the bottom of the shade cut to 1/2" less than window width - wood trim, heavy wire, whatever you have on-hand (I used that same scrap plywood, <1" wide and 46-1/2" long)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWQWcHK8VDMW1dc6rGSFbHZsXYnef-HXz3WWyR8y4m9Mx9wm8TN6lrjq4QWJHV4xcNMggV47JCTMOZyYrlwsFNoidcgUuOeGC4wEdOHMZlH4jPL2zxbLCkoX1wqdZiXiJpDktbGhJZ4Tb/s1600/roman_shade1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWQWcHK8VDMW1dc6rGSFbHZsXYnef-HXz3WWyR8y4m9Mx9wm8TN6lrjq4QWJHV4xcNMggV47JCTMOZyYrlwsFNoidcgUuOeGC4wEdOHMZlH4jPL2zxbLCkoX1wqdZiXiJpDktbGhJZ4Tb/s640/roman_shade1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 1:</strong> Lay fabric right-side down. If using blackout fabric, lay blackout fabric centered on top (wrong side) of shade fabric. Fold twice (fold 1/2" first, then 1") to create a double fold hem on one side. Pin in place. </div>
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<strong>Step 2:</strong> Repeat Step 1 for other side seam and pin in place, making sure that the new pinned width of your shade fabric is the width of your window. (If you're going to err here, err on the side of being 1/8" shorter than your window width, <em>not </em>longer.)</div>
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<strong>Step 3:</strong> Sew seam, but <em>stop</em> about 2" from the bottom of your true window height. <br />
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(The bottom of my true window height is shown by the blackout fabric in the photo below. I stopped sewing where you see the sewing machine foot. Disregard the black seam you see there - that's a factory seam that was already in the fabric and has nothing to do with this project.)<br />
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<strong>Step 3b: </strong>At the bottom of the side seam where you stopped sewing, go ahead and either iron the double fold all the way to the end of your fabric or press it really hard with your fingers. You'll want the folds to stay there.<br />
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<strong>Step 4:</strong> Repeat Steps 3 and 3b for other side seam. <br />
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<strong>Optional Step 4b</strong> (ONLY if you're using blackout fabric; even with blackout fabric, this step is optional): Sew a straight seam across the top of the blackout fabric (about 1/4" seam allowance).<br />
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<strong>Step 5:</strong> With side (and maybe top) seams completed, lay fabric right-side down. You're now going to mark where you'll hand-sew your plastic rings or washers. (Note: I used flat washers, so I'll say "washers" from here on out. If you're using plastic rings, which I'd recommend, then just make the mental adjustment.)<br />
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<strong>Step 6:</strong> With a pencil, measure then lightly mark where you want your washers. Basically, the washers serve as guides for the strings in pulling the roman shade up and down. My window is 47" wide, so I wanted three support string lines. I wanted a large bottom "flap" on my shade, so I measured 10" up from the bottom of my true window height (in other words, from the bottom of the blackout fabric).<br />
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<em>NOTE: You might prefer the look of a smaller flap on the bottom of your shade. If so, I'd recommend putting the first horizontal line of washers about 5" or 6" up from the true bottom of your shade. THEN measure 10" up from there and so on... </em><br />
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Overall, my <em>vertical</em> washer lines were marked 4" in from each side, and then in the very center of the shade. For each <em>horizontal</em> washer line (of three washers), I measured 1" less than the distance below it. I should say here that, in my photo below, <u>the top of my shade is at the bottom of the photo</u>. (How's THAT for confusing?)<br />
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<strong>Step 6b </strong>(ONLY if you're using blackout fabric): After marking all washer locations, safety pin the blackout fabric to the shade fabric at each washer spot while everything is still laid out flat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMM-QXxxdzWjlt-XyGxxgptQKG8MDJcJJHdTFVUmTzZyfui6l6T863_plPm-qxwHetr6XBuLRWjxi7-3IPsXSflQFdQtDe5P1ZORC2Jb_693CZ2dqJmuieWw3raOkDNLg1cjc0ryhSWrM/s1600/roman_shade5b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMM-QXxxdzWjlt-XyGxxgptQKG8MDJcJJHdTFVUmTzZyfui6l6T863_plPm-qxwHetr6XBuLRWjxi7-3IPsXSflQFdQtDe5P1ZORC2Jb_693CZ2dqJmuieWw3raOkDNLg1cjc0ryhSWrM/s640/roman_shade5b.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 7: </strong>Using needle and thread (thread that matches the actual shade fabric, not the blackout fabric so much), sew one point of the washer down at each marked spot. Kind of like sewing on a button. (Kind of.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJP4vo5M3d4NyurIUixKC4Jv7nPI-ckKA9Cksh7_hWzAwDofELkqosBDWGJ0xLD3KaLqFbWDj2ckFAV_bz6NiXXtTkeUpiWwp6dafbyS20NKCBctth1f4hDO8_da4FkvwBe-TE9crwYvm_/s1600/roman_shade6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJP4vo5M3d4NyurIUixKC4Jv7nPI-ckKA9Cksh7_hWzAwDofELkqosBDWGJ0xLD3KaLqFbWDj2ckFAV_bz6NiXXtTkeUpiWwp6dafbyS20NKCBctth1f4hDO8_da4FkvwBe-TE9crwYvm_/s640/roman_shade6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Make sure sewing is snug but loose enough to allow the end of the washer to pop up as needed.<br />
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Phew. How are we doing? Easier or harder than you thought? Either way, go ahead and take a step back and admire your handiwork, once all the washers are securely sewn on:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXcuMDQkdqRTKs-lS0OwjmVdDH0Ht6psmB4qdeJ76aTCG8CD5gRRyBZAYehTc_GHR-cvtyE9gFQG-xN3U364MCNh4qlXJRxyAkAX2XsaASp3YSTb9ahExjT4ReO6zCgxxdpGHp8sTvgQI/s1600/roman_shade7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXcuMDQkdqRTKs-lS0OwjmVdDH0Ht6psmB4qdeJ76aTCG8CD5gRRyBZAYehTc_GHR-cvtyE9gFQG-xN3U364MCNh4qlXJRxyAkAX2XsaASp3YSTb9ahExjT4ReO6zCgxxdpGHp8sTvgQI/s640/roman_shade7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 8: </strong>Create a double fold hem going across the true bottom of your shade, using the 3" extra shade fabric allotted to the bottom. (Remember how you cut your fabric to be 6" taller than your window? The other 3" extra should be at the top of the shade.) Remember how you ironed or finger-pressed the phantom double fold toward the bottom of your shade? This ironed part should be included in the double fold hem, but leave the end "holes" open.<br />
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<strong>Step 9: </strong>Slide your long thin weight into the newly created bottom "pocket." Ideally, with a little wiggle work, you will be able to work the ends of the weight into the ironed-but-not-sewn side seams. This is ideal because the weight is safely tucked away, out of sight, out of mind.<br />
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<strong>Step 10: </strong>Lay your wider wood or trim piece (the piece cut to the width of your window, if you'll remember - I used a 3" wide piece of scrap plywood cut to my window width) along the top of your shade. Edges of shade fabric and wood piece should line up exactly. Measure and mark onto your wood the location of the vertical washer lines (three of them, in my case), then screw in your screw eyes. (See photo below for screw eyes reference, but disregard the string for this step.)<br />
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<strong>Step 11:</strong> Decide which side of the shade you want your pull to be on. <br />
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<em>(Note: My pull is on the right side of the shade. If your pull is going on the left side of your shade, reverse the following "right" and "left" directions accordingly.)</em><br />
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When you stand at the bottom of your shade and look at the shade lying on the floor, begin threading your string through the vertical washer line on your left-hand side. Thread your string through all the washers in that vertical line all the way up to (and through) the screw eye at the top of that line. Pull 2' of extra string out the screw eye and lay it on the ground. Cut the string close to the bottom washer (the first one you ran string through), leaving yourself just enough string to tie a knot securely around that bottom washer. </div>
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<strong>Step 12: </strong>Repeat Step 11 for the second (middle, in my case) vertical washer line, except this time, after threading the string through the screw eye at the top of the washer line, pull the string over and thread it through the screw eye of the first washer line - the one that already has a string going through it. Pull out about 2' of string from that screw eye, then cut and tie the string at the bottom (first) washer of that line. <br />
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<strong>Step 12b: </strong>Repeat Step 12 for the third vertical washer line (right-hand side, when you're looking at your shade from the bottom), except this time thread the string through all three screw eyes.<br />
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In the photo below, the blue dotted line represents Step 11, green is Step 12, and red is Step 13.<br />
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<strong>Step 13: </strong>Pull all three strings taut (but not super tight - you still want everything lying flat), then knot them together near the end of the 2' excess.<br />
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<strong>Step 14: </strong>Lay the wood piece (with all the screw eyes and strings) on the top 3" extra shade fabric. The bottom edge of the wood piece (as in, if you're standing at the bottom of yours shade and look toward the top of the shade, it's the thin/side edge of the wood piece that you see, <em>not </em>the wider side that has the screw eyes screwed in) should line up exactly with the window height line (in my case, the blackout fabric), with the rest of the wood piece hanging out on the extra 3" shade fabric. It's not important if the shade fabric sticks out past the wood piece or not; this won't be visible.<br />
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<strong>Step 15: </strong>When you have the wood piece lined up parallel for the exact window height, lightly hot glue it into place. All you're trying to do is keep everything in place for the final installation step.<br />
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<strong>Step 16: </strong>Install the shade by screwing the wood piece into the top of your window frame (top 3" extra shade fabric will be sandwiched in between). I used four 2" screws, every foot or so. Below is a photo looking upward at the screwed-in wood piece. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDveKQiabID_zT8nLNduQHmR9fKDqStuZD2snHSa_LJLiatrHe9MClZid6wWmXEDXmR5Ejg_y7-lk5CW8h4BMLeLEK_HG7j4ABNMQdeAOgGq69UMxk9Lg1_bhS-_B3h1dPFrIb9biGfbIr/s1600/roman_shade9b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDveKQiabID_zT8nLNduQHmR9fKDqStuZD2snHSa_LJLiatrHe9MClZid6wWmXEDXmR5Ejg_y7-lk5CW8h4BMLeLEK_HG7j4ABNMQdeAOgGq69UMxk9Lg1_bhS-_B3h1dPFrIb9biGfbIr/s640/roman_shade9b.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Here's another shot of the other three screws holding the thing up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rrlT2N5B9Vl-q7IfrNW9nOblvkbMbQZF_KEfMAP77RXRqSXh87rVCsfBrEAaTPx__VR0-H5mY0uN5DKuVhgD_MvKaiHSlx1-QMcnYaoA8wJxjvUID2sgLHj5wUhEfPBgM5pc1k9so0wq/s1600/roman_shade9c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rrlT2N5B9Vl-q7IfrNW9nOblvkbMbQZF_KEfMAP77RXRqSXh87rVCsfBrEAaTPx__VR0-H5mY0uN5DKuVhgD_MvKaiHSlx1-QMcnYaoA8wJxjvUID2sgLHj5wUhEfPBgM5pc1k9so0wq/s640/roman_shade9c.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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K, last thing, which is super duper easy: Install something to catch the string pull (the 2' excess of string that you tied together earlier). I just used one more screw eye and screwed it into the side of the window frame, so once the strings are pulled down and the shade is up, I can loop the knot around the screw eye and it'll stay.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC9VCeNVjvEA6PIWyEBDgCH2QAyZ00TihF3Ko18J6OXPzDFpSkdsouStKznNcPUrbIK8EVIwXJZ5ns1f8IWNpIcldHjUQlISQ_VyuObKKg8dJvlGRlyQMeylhgkagPbHs5leVRZFaHsE_/s1600/roman_shade9bb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC9VCeNVjvEA6PIWyEBDgCH2QAyZ00TihF3Ko18J6OXPzDFpSkdsouStKznNcPUrbIK8EVIwXJZ5ns1f8IWNpIcldHjUQlISQ_VyuObKKg8dJvlGRlyQMeylhgkagPbHs5leVRZFaHsE_/s640/roman_shade9bb.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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There you have it! Stand back and enjoy your new roman shade window covering.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoZ41HQrQOS4GUC0HvWcSP-j0QTvmSh3YIK5SkjF_paQ6aaYDgnuVJnDCTIW-ChzVjgQy7Wu0igqn1trWNY7rGd1L4axn__OxuWgfaC3leFxIAA_LbO-5NbJuOthO_B2B6ekkJgKFX44K/s1600/roman_shade9d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoZ41HQrQOS4GUC0HvWcSP-j0QTvmSh3YIK5SkjF_paQ6aaYDgnuVJnDCTIW-ChzVjgQy7Wu0igqn1trWNY7rGd1L4axn__OxuWgfaC3leFxIAA_LbO-5NbJuOthO_B2B6ekkJgKFX44K/s640/roman_shade9d.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh, I added a little ric-rac with fabric glue because the shade is for my girls' bedroom, and ric-rac is just cute. You can do that, too, if you want. Obviously.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJI7AUeTLyDsMMcE7TyQAKxaiBxgJyrqwpsuFaQun3CIAuKzGRDOc5UkQ8Ov_erM6pdL5I5Dwho6n7ZJsWGuudiNOcg1QDm0AAgx4QK9d4hEDgYeJ0RxGPIucyriVh36H6Orr0GRgRYnn/s1600/roman_shade9e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJI7AUeTLyDsMMcE7TyQAKxaiBxgJyrqwpsuFaQun3CIAuKzGRDOc5UkQ8Ov_erM6pdL5I5Dwho6n7ZJsWGuudiNOcg1QDm0AAgx4QK9d4hEDgYeJ0RxGPIucyriVh36H6Orr0GRgRYnn/s640/roman_shade9e.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I really hope this was helpful, but I'm starting to have my doubts. I promise it's not as tricky as I'm most likely making it sound. Ask me if you run into questions, and I'll be more than happy to try to help you out.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{shared: <a href="http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/" target="_blank">A Glimpse Inside</a>, <a href="http://www.ajennuinelife.com/" target="_blank">A Jennuine Life</a>, <a href="http://becolorful.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Be Colorful</a>, <a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Boogieboard Cottage</a>, <a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/" target="_blank">C.R.A.F.T.</a>, <a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chic on a Shoestring Budget</a>, <a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Coastal Charm</a>, <a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/" target="_blank">Craft-O-Maniac</a>, <a href="http://www.diybydesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DIY by Design</a>, <a href="http://diyshowoff.com/2013/10/20/that-diy-party-39/" target="_blank">DIY Showoff</a>, <a href="http://www.twindragonflydesigns.com/search/label/Inspiring%20Creativity%20Wednesdays" target="_blank">Dragonfly Designs</a>, <a href="http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/" target="_blank">Finding Fabulous</a>, <a href="http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2013/10/wow-me-wednesday-126-we-r-memory.html#more" target="_blank">GingerSnap Crafts</a>, <a href="http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2013/10/inspiration-monday-today-were-inspired_20.html#more" target="_blank">I Should be Mopping</a>, <a href="http://jembellish.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Round%20Tuit" target="_blank">JEMbellish</a>, <a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/" target="_blank">My Girlish Whims</a>, <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Romantic Home</a>, <a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/" target="_blank">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</a>, <a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">New Nostalgia</a>, <a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/" target="_blank">Not Just a Housewife</a>, <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/10/top-ten-teen-hangout-areas/" target="_blank">Remodelaholic</a>, <a href="http://www.sewcando.com/" target="_blank">Sew Can Do</a>, <a href="http://www.sewmuchado.com/" target="_blank">Sew Much Ado</a>, <a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2013/10/frugal-friday_24.html#more" target="_blank">Shabby Nest</a>, <a href="http://www.simplydesigning.net/2013/10/whimsy-wednesday-86.html" target="_blank">Simply Designing</a>, <a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/10/take-look-tuesday_21.html" target="_blank">Sugar Bee</a>, <a href="http://www.sumossweetstuff.com/" target="_blank">Sumo's Sweet Stuff</a>, <a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/2013/10/best-diy-projects-28.html" target="_blank">The 36th Avenue</a>, <a href="http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/90-show-off-your-creations/" target="_blank">The DIY Dreamer</a>, <a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/10/sunday-showcase-party-217.html" target="_blank">Under the Table & Dreaming</a>, <a href="http://what-about.co/" target="_blank">What-About</a>}</span></div>
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