Category: Filing Cabinet

How To Make Graphic Wall Art

post by Andrea

I’ve been deep in the throes of getting a very special room ready for an expectant arrival; baby number three. [editor’s note: Andrea, not me (Nicole)!] I knew I wanted to use a mix of purchased prints and interesting treasures that hold meaning to our family, but I also knew I wanted to add a touch of DIY art to the room. The room is pure white, with white furnishings and bedding, and a touch of linen beige and bright pops of color to add some vibrancy to the space. I’ve had this bright neon artists tape on hand for a few months, and have had visions of creating graphic wall art out of it for some time, I just needed the right space to put it. When we settled on the theme for the nursery, I finally knew just where it had to go. The process is simple, with dramatic results. Here’s the how to.

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August 14, 2012
How To Make A Simple Bauble Necklace

post by Andrea

I come across beads and baubles that I love on a constant basis, and in fact need to stop buying beads at will — only when the need arises. This past weekend, in an effort to try and organize my growing collection of beads, I came across these beauties and was finally struck with some inspiration. I had originally planned to string the black beads together in a tight, almost choker-like necklace, but then thought it might be too limiting to nighttime wear. But when just a few are added to a simple hematite colored chain, it’s the perfect look for day or night. I wore my new chain with a white tank and pair of boyfriend jeans for a simple, yet dressed up feel. Here’s the how-to so you can make your own simple bauble necklace.

You’ll need a piece of chain (my piece was 22″ in length, snipped in half to make 2 11″ pieces), baubles of your liking, 2 jump rings, a lobster claw closure, 2 wire guards (or 2 additional jump rings if you can’t find wire guards), 2 crimp beads, soft flex or mono-filament wire, scissors and needle nosed pliers.

You’re going to start by attaching your wire guard (or jump ring) to one end of your chain, and then string your wire through the guard, making a loop, and sticking both pieces of wire through your crimp bead. You then pry your crimp bead shut with a pair of needle nosed pliers. You now have securely attached your wire to your chain so you can start stringing. *A note about wire guards vs. jump rings. My local jewelry supplier suggested these wire guards because on occasion my wire would slip through my jump ring if the ends were not clamped shut tight enough, very frustrating if I had strung tons of beads. These wire guards work brilliantly and take the place of a standard jump ring (which I used in making this statement necklace). The wire guards are not always easily found though, so feel free to use jump rings instead, but always make sure you close the jump rings tightly.

Now that your wire is firmly attached to your chain, start stringing your beads. These were rather large beads, so I only needed to string 5 black ones and the 1 sparkly one. I didn’t want it to be too busy or fussy. Once done stringing, add another wire guard and crimp bead to secure the other end to your chain.

You’re now ready to attach your closure. On one end attach a jump ring to your lobster claw closure, and then to the chain. On the other end, just attach one jump ring for your closure to attach to. A tip about working with jump rings. I have found that if I gently pry them apart with 2 pairs of pliers, attach to my chain, and then clamp them shut, they close up much better than if I just try to pry them apart and closed with 1 pair. After you’ve attached your closure, you’re done! Total time from start to finish is about 30 minutes or less, depending on your comfort level with working with the tools. Total length of my necklace is 28″, with the chain being 22″ and the beaded center being 6″. Feel free to adjust to whatever length you need though.

July 31, 2012
Go Boost Their Roost!

I’ve been working with HouseLogic to offer homeowners a chance to win a $20,000 home renovation to “Boost Your Roost.” I received hundreds of entries and had to choose just one to move on to the next stage of the contest. Narrowing them down was a long process, but I’m so excited about the family I’ve named as finalists!

Clara and Brantley in San Antonio, TX would like to add a screened porch to replace the falling apart covered porch they have now. I hear it gets crazy hot there, and they have a little girl who could use a shaded, breezy, bug-free spot to play outside.

Their submission to the contest is below.

Located north of downtown San Antonio, our home sits in a small neighborhood of mid-century modern houses. The 1600 three bedroom / two bathroom house is incredibly efficient – the kitchen, living and dining room are one contiguous space. While we love our little home our only complaint is its lack of a usable outdoor living space. While Texas is known to be incredibly hot, with shade and a cooling breeze, spending time out of doors can be quite pleasant throughout the year. While a previous owner added a covered porch, its condition is deteriorating and the slab over which it was built slopes in a way that makes it difficult to use. More critically, swarms of mosquitoes make the space uninhabitable for most of the year.

Our daughter loves to play outside and the addition of a covered screen porch would provide a space for her to do that. Such an outdoor living space would also serve as an amazing venue for the entertaining of friends and family as well as a quiet place to enjoy the outdoors while being protected from the fierce sun and mosquitoes.

Screened on three sides, the porch would be open to the prevailing southeast breezes. Because of the sloping nature of our site, the porch would be a few feet lower than the finished floor of the house, creating a higher volume in which a large fan would further encourage the circulation of air through the space. A thin landscaped courtyard would separate the screened porch from the bedroom wing of the house, allowing all existing windows to open into the courtyard. To the west, a custom outdoor curtain would protect the space from the late afternoon sun.

A sweet family, a concise but detailed entry, and a thought-out plan… they had my attention. Then I watched the video, and yep: finalists. (The scene with the calendars makes me laugh every time.)

Bonus points, right? I want them to get their porch. This is what it would look like (note the now happy daughter).

But they need some help. They are now one of six finalists, and only the project with the most votes will actually win the $20,000 prize. So head over to HouseLogic to check out the competition and cast a vote for your favorite project (*ahem* Clara and Brantley). You can vote once a day until voting ends on August 13th.

This post is sponsored by HouseLogic, a website for homeowners from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

July 30, 2012
A Guide to Mixing Patterns in Your Home

Mixing patterns in fashion happens all the time (I’m always a fan of stripes and florals), but people seem to shy away from doing it in their homes. I mean, other people tend to shy away — not me. I’m a pattern mixing fool, so today I put together a guide to doing just that. Huzzah!

I think of Photoshop as a decorating tool, just as you would consider a designer’s measuring tape or sketchbook. Seeing how everything comes together digitally has been the best way for me to get a good idea of what will work in a space, and I love putting together layouts for you. Below is the guide I’ve created, with 27 patterns matched to perfection.

• You can find the links to all of the patterned chairs and pillows used in the graphic above on my Pinterest board.

The trick to mixing patterns is to start with a bold scale. I like accent chairs in oversized prints, so I begin there. Pick something like this one in pinstripes, or maybe something a little crazy like this one in raspberry ikat or my floral grandma chair. It will be easier than you think to make it work! For example, my chair may seem limiting at first, but there are so many colors in it that it’s easy to find a match. (In my home, that match is of course pink. And now coral too.) Next you add a contrasting pattern. In my case, the next thing would be my pink zigzag rug.

You can stop at two patterns, but you don’t have to. I certainly don’t! Vary the scales enough (something large, something significantly smaller, and then maybe a teensy ditsy pattern), and everything will look fine. This corner of my living room, below, has a whole lotta pattern going on. Bold floral fabric on the chair, a zigzag rug beneath, wallpaper in the room beyond, a textured (read: patterned) side table, art above, a patterned throw, and a patterned pillow. But it all works.

This post is presented by smartwater.
smartwater, simplicity is delicious. Click here to learn more.

July 24, 2012
Peachy Pinky Coral

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of pink, but lately it’s peach and coral that have my heart.

This was a fun one to photograph. Usually I’d put this type of post together in Photoshop, but I rather like seeing everything actually grouped together!

calendar • purse • tea towel (no longer available, west elm) • vase (available individually in SF) • bowls (no longer available, west elm) • owl butter dish • bud vase (available individually in SF) • chair

July 20, 2012
Look Hoo I Found

I’ve had a vintage owl cookie jar for a few years, and I move it around the house from time to time. Sometimes it’s in the living room on an end table, sometimes it’s on the buffet in the dining room. Other times it’s hanging out in my office or in the library upstairs. (It gets around.) Oddly enough, it’s rarely in the kitchen and has never been used for cookies.

If you want a little owl friend of your own, you can usually find some quirky old ones on eBay, but it can be hard to find a simple, white one. I noticed this new one though, and I think it’s a good stand-in for a vintage find. Maybe it could even fulfill its intended purpose and safeguard your cookies?

July 19, 2012