Creative Decorating DIY Ideas and a Winner!

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Did you see the Martha Stewart show yesterday?  I record it and then end up deleting a lot of them because I just don't have time to watch.  I watched yesterday's episode last night,though, and  I'm so glad I did!  They showed how to make this Embossed Velvet Christmas Stocking which I was pretty impressed with, but my favorite part was the Project Decorate rooms.

I really liked decorating editor Rebecca Robertson's eclectic modern room!  Great use of color and pattern and awesome DIY ideas...

For example, she used sawn balusters and radiator grill material to make this graphic statement on the wall. For window shutters on either side, she chose radiator grill patterns that complemented the balusters' shape.

She used radiator grill material again on the front of these glass-front cabinets from Ikea...

Continuing to think outside the box, she made the coffee table from an army cot and then set 4 DIY trays on top to make a hard surface. To make the trays, she covered baking sheets with a zigzag fabric and topped them with a thin sheet of Plexiglas. Tutorial HERE. (she designed the fabric and then had it printed at Spoonflower.com - at the time of this post $18-32/yard to have them print your own design - not bad for custom!)

She pulled the aquamarine color from a stripe in the abstract painting hanging over the sofa and used it on the ceiling. To continue to tie the room together, she cut radiator grill material into wide strips, edged them with 1/4-inch trim, and mounted them several inches away from the molding.

Doors embellished with the same radiator grill material used for the cabinets ease the transition from the living room to the hallway.

Love the creativity and outside-the-box thinking in this room!  You can go here to see the rest of the images of Rebecca's room and Kevin's room, and even vote for your favorite if you would like.

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The winner of the $220 CSN Stores Shopping Spree is Danielle (other-option)! Congratulations Danielle! Hope you have a blast shopping... :-)

Have a great day...

Mismatched Curtains

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

I anticipate a tish bit of eye-rolling by some on this one. My apologies in advance, but you know I like to look at out-of-the-box ideas in addition to the more practical posts.

After tearing this image from April 2010's In Style magazine with a note to post about it, I couldn't find the image on their site so I googled it and guess what? Apartment Therapy already blogged about this back in October 2009 with the same image (originally from Domino magazine).

IS and AT both suggested that to mix things up a bit, you could intentionally mismatch your curtains. What do you think of the idea? would you?

I think I could... Solids only though and it would help if there were more than one window so that I could repeat the mismatch to make it look more intentional.

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Clever Curtaining and Other Great Design Ideas

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

When I saw this home designed by Lindsey Bond featured in House Beautiful, I was immediately impressed not only by the great design but with her clever use of curtains to soften, disguise, separate spaces and create focal points.

You may remember this post where I talked about accessorizing your walls with curtains? I wish I had seen the image above at the time because it would have been another great example for that post. Love it!

In her office, the wall-to-wall open shelves disguise an off-center window while the curtains soften the space and can be closed to hide the shelves when needed (notice the ceiling mount rods). What a great way to keep the light from the window and still utilize the entire space for storage/display. The artwork hung in front of the shelves works to keep your eye in the space and off of the off-center window beyond.

Here she uses curtains to cocoon the bed in its own little room-within-a-room. She calls it her modern canopy.

You can see the other side of the bed curtains below. The beautiful antique mirror is covering an awkwardly placed window.

Here the curtains divide the room and make each space more intimate.

Some other things to note in the image above:

• You may have noticed the statement wall? :-) Awesome isn't it? It's actually a painted screen placed on the wall. I love the simple, bold punch of color in the otherwise neutral space.
• Rather than a built-in banquette, this one is just a long bench with a lumbar pillow that rests against the wall.
• And of course you know I'm a fan of layered rugs. They add incredible texture to this small space.

To see more images of this home and to read the interview with designer Lindsey Bond, visit housebeautiful.com
photo credit: Jonny Valiant

Hope you're having an awesome week so far!

Creative Decorating Ideas

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

A french door room divider works great to divide these two spaces and create a cozy entryway...

Sept 03 Martha Stewart Living via Martha Moments

Speaking of room dividers, I absolutely love the way Emily at Jones Design Company used this salvaged window hung from barn door tracks to divide her dining room from the entry

More words on walls... Are you tired of them yet? :-)

elle decor

Keeping your favorite books out of the way but accessible on a tray under the coffee table/ottoman. I like it.

Pottery Barn

Architectural elements can add wonderful character and interest to a wall and, depending on where you find them, can be fairly inexpensive.

Pottery Barn

It looks like there's a large textural mat on this table covered with glass, doesn't it? A unique way to add texture and interest on the table and still keep it functional...

Coastal Living via myhomeideas.com Photo:Dominique Vorillon

Designer Amanda Nisbet covered this dining table with an acrylic top to tie it in with her Lucite stools. It gives this traditional table a fresh, modern twist.

Traditional Home

Have a great day!

Creative Decorating Ideas

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG . House Beautiful Photo Simon Watson

I'll be taking a blog break until after Labor Day, but I have plenty of new posts in the cue for when I return (currently 1/2 finished, of course! :-) ) so I hope you'll stick around. For now I'm going to leave you with a compilation of inspiration and ideas to spark your decorating creativity...

BEDROOM IDEAS

Use a desk beside the bed instead of a night stand. The addition of a mirror and a decorative garden stool allows this to function as a dressing table as well. When not in use, the garden stool can be tucked under the desk, much like a nesting table and, if you're wanting to create some additional interest, why not layer several mirrors of different sizes on the desk top rather than hanging just one on the wall?

Designer Samantha Pynn Photo Virginia Macdonald

The upholstered wall in this bedroom designed by Caldwell Flake is fabulous, and I love the way they've juxtaposed the distressed corbels with the modern shade in the wall sconces.

MIRRORS

I know I've encouraged you to mix things up a bit (for example your dining chairs), but never your bathroom mirrors. What do you think? Of course the idea appeals to me just because it's different, but I'm wondering if I could actually do it. :-)

This wall is stunning isn't it? The bold wall color, mirrors outlined in molding, furniture and art layered in front... Inspiring.

Tobi Fairley/At Home In Arkansas

ART

More words on walls, because you know I love them. Can't get much more simple than this technique...

Veranda Photo Antoine Bootz

I love this vignette designed by Tobi Fairley and featured in At Home In Arkansas. I've seen a lot of people painting designs like these on their walls lately and I'm loving it, but those same stencils would be great for creating wall art on canvas. What a simple, sophisticated graphic statement!
I think using this mirror in the center of the plate display gives it a fresher, more modern feel. They've also used coordinating fabric and ribbon around the flowers on the table to tie them into the scheme...

myhomeideas.com

Rather than framing your art, you could clip it to clipboards and display it. This idea would look completely different depending on the type of clip boards and art used (for example, very colorful clipboards with kids art, or all black clipboards with modern art, or all white with botanicals, etc. Limited only by your imagination.)

Elle Decor Photo Pieter Estersohn

Outline a corkboard with ribbon and frame it in a statement-making frame, then hang your favorite necklaces from it. This keeps your necklaces within easy reach while at the same time functioning as "art".

Canadian House and Home

ADDING ARCHITECTURE

If you're not really a diy'er in the power saw sense, this idea from BHG.com could be for you. They suggest adding some simple architecture to your space using ordinary picture frames!

LIGHTING

We saw in this lighting post how

BHG.com

and
Dwellings by Devore

updated outdated chandeliers with drum shades (excellent idea, right?).

But BHG.com also suggests replacing the glass globe on your ceiling fan with a drum style shade for a simple update that will pack a punch. I agree...

Lamps on pedestals versus floor lamps...

Traditional Home Photo Colleen Duffley

Looking for more out of the box ideas? Click here...

Enjoy the rest of your summer. Hope it's FABULOUS!

Hanging Pillows and Cushions

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

The cushioned banquette in the image below divides the kitchen from the eating area. Very clever idea, don't you think? But what really drew my attention in this image was the back cushion. Notice how rather than upholstering the back of the bench, they've hung a cushion from pegs?

myhomeideas Photo: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

A few things that could make this a great idea to copy:

• If the fabric gets soiled (which can easily happen in any eating area), it can just be removed and cleaned (assuming they've made it with a zipper so that it can be removed).
• When you're tired of the fabric, just make a new cushion cover - no reupholstery required.
• It's unique and creates a different look than the expected upholstered back.
• The use of hooks would keep them in place a little more easily than just ordinary cushions or pillows.

In this Coastal Living Idea House, they used 3 twin size mattresses and fabric covered panels to create the daybeds in this sleeping porch. They do call them "hanging bed cushions", but in the image they almost appear to be attached to the wall, possibly with velcro strips or something similar? Just guessing, but it seems like that would be an additional solution to keep them from shifting around.

Coastal Living Photo: Tria Giovan

If pillows are more your style, Martha Stewart shows you to to make these hanging pillows.

What do you think? Is this an idea you would use?

Happy weekend...

Nesting Tables

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Nesting tables are a great way to add additional table top space without taking up additional floor space.

myhomeideas Photo Laurey W. Glenn

Other perks:

• Whatever you have on top of them can usually stay whether they're in or out, providing a handy spot for remotes, books, magazines, etc. that you want to keep close at hand.
• When you're having company and need an additional spot to set a drink, pull them out and set them in convenient spots around the room. When the company leaves, they tuck conveniently back into their designated spot.

If you don't have nesting tables, how about creating your own with a couple of different tables that are sized so that one can fit within the other? This also creates a more unique look, and provides versatility to use the tables separately in different areas later on.

AJC Homefinder

I'm a big fan of ceramic garden stools, and I think they are a great option for creating your own unique nesting tables by "nesting" one underneath another table, whether it be the living room end table or a table beside your bed.

Speaking of unique nesting tables, I thought these that I found via Design Sponge were interesting. They were designed by wuttke werks + so'mace. The tops are reclaimed whitewashed Douglas Fir and the metal is recycled rebar.

For more table inspiration, tips and ideas, check out these posts:

• Coffee Table Ideas, Tips and Inspiration
• Nightstands/Bedside Tables
• Side/Accent Tables

Southern Living Idea House Creative Use of Space

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

The small room below is actually an upstairs landing in the 2010 Southern Living Idea House that they decided to make use of by turning it into a small sitting room.

Some things to notice about this space:

• LOVE the upholstered wall behind the bench and the statement that the nailheads make - definitely the focal point.
• Bookshelves provide room for not only books, but to display family treasures and decorative items as well as baskets for storage.
• The turquoise poufs are a fun splash of color but are also multifunctional since they can be used as a footstool, side table or extra seating.
• Adding the lighting as part of the built-in unit eliminates the need for lamps in that area.
• Using chairs like the pretty cane chairs here is the perfect choice for a small room since they take up less space visually .

In this next room, which is a guest apartment in the garage, A Murphy bed folds up to create an open living space during the day and back down for sleeping at night. They finished off the space by upholstering the "headboard" of the bed and framed the area with curtains for a dramatic statement.

Interested in seeing more creative uses for small spaces? Check out this Creative Use of Small Spaces post.

Photos: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason

Chests, Shelves, A Headboard and Mirrors

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

I'm sure that's one of the more creative post titles you've ever seen, isn't it? :-)

I'm still debating as to whether I would actually ever do this or not, but of course I like the fact that it's different and creative. Using two chests to the sides behind the sofa rather than a sofa table behind and end tables on the sides? What do you think? (image from CR Laine)

I wanted to include this image in my shelf inspiration post, but couldn't find it at the time. Isn't it interesting the way they created these shelves to follow the curve of the window? (image from BHG.com)

If you have an awkward corner in your bedroom, this idea from BHG.com might work for you. Rather than ignoring the corner, they maximized the space by creating a corner headboard storage unit. They've included reading-light wall sconces and electrical outlets, and the plug-ins are close at hand for alarm clocks, cell phone chargers, etc.

I know many of you have seen this already, but for those of you who haven't - Jenny at Pearl Street Interiors hung two inexpensive unframed IKEA mirrors (love the shape!) over the plain sheet mirror in her parent's bathroom using 3M hanging strips. I love the idea and the dimension that it adds, don't you? To see the rest of this makeover, click here...

This isn't really a mirror, but I like the shape of this Ghost Mirror from Country Living. Template and tutorial here.

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Happy Friday! Have a great weekend...