DIY- Customizing OTR Curtains

Custom curtains are expensive, OTR curtains can be lame. And expensive. But if you can find yourself a good set of OTR curtains, and some great trim on clearance…hot glue that junk for a ultra fancy custom look.

Like so.

For yesterdays before & after they had a set of restoration hardware curtains, to which we added this trim I found on clearance.

Using a hot glue gun…

…Going slow inch by inch. Tis tedious. But worth it.

On the leading edge of the curtain (the edge you pull close to center) put the trim flush with the edge of the curtain fabric. On the bottom edge, line it up so the fringe meets the curtain edge.

When you get to the end, fold over, glue, and glue to the curtain.

Ta-Da!!
I show you this not because I think it is some unbelievably original DIY, but because sometimes it doesn’t occur to me to attempt a project until I see it. And I think a lot of us have a boring but practical curtain situation that could be brought to the next level.

So now you see it. Simple, big impact, frugalishhhh, do it.

Power to the world.

Spice up your life.

Jus’ Kiddin! I’m gonna show you my client before & after today!

I said I was going to wait until Wednesday, but I can’t. I am too excited.

When I started out with this whole edecorating thing I wasn’t really sure how it was going to work. Was anyone going to hire me? Would I be able to find the time to do it? Would I be good at it? How would the clients execute my vision on their own?

Well this is the first project to come to fruition, and it just makes me so incredibly excited for the future of this lil bidness.

So as a reminder, these clients are pretty traditional, all american, but wanted me to take that and push them just a little out of their comfort zone while still staying true to their slightly preppy formal vibe…this was one of the boards I gave them:

(Again, my designery instructions and specifics have been removed since they paid me for that junk)

They were on a budget, a nice budget, but we were working a lot with what they had and refinished vintage pieces. They are in a rental apartment, so we were limited in that we couldn’t paint or make any architectural changes. Really they were like the majority of the clients I have had so far in their perceived limitations, and I am thrilled with all that we were able to accomplish, I think it was a lot more than any of us expected…

Before: The space 

After: Let there be light! We added a new curtain situation (a DIY I will share tomorrow). Recovered their existing couch, regrouped their art, new kicky rug, new old coffee table, new lamps, refinished the le tigre chairs from yesterdays post…

Before: The view from the window back into the kitchen

After: Please excuse the mess in the kitchen…But again, it’s a new build apartment without many architectural features, we couldn’t mess with the kitchen or the overhead lighting, but we wanted to make it homey and create some character. I love the new arrangement with the dining table and the china cabinet, it is like a proper grown up dining area!

Before: A whole lotta brown. That would be patio furniture they were using for dining. 

After: Another view of the redefined dining area. Bar cart, table, and china cabinet. The le tigre chairs used to kind of float over by the window, but now they can be used to seat 6 at the dining table, or for extra seating in the living room.

Before: WompWomp

After: Pure.

Before: The hubster had a bunch of these maps and city prints from his dads old office, and they were all kind of spread out throughout the space, and the lady of the house was really growing to dislike them, but as you will see…

After: We grouped them all along that wall to make more of a collection or gallery wall. I think they look great now and much less like inherited wall coverings, and add a lot to the space. Also, you can see back there by the window we created a little reading nook/lighting situation.

Before

After: If you can believe it, that is their same couch recovered. As much as possible I recommend recovering/refinishing your existing pieces or finding good quality vintage to redo. New junk is so expensive, and so much can be done replacing springs, restuffing cushions, repainting etc. Also, we are still waiting on some pillows for the couch, but on their existing armchair we added a new pillow which really freshened it up. A small touch that makes a big difference.

Before: A little sads.

After: I just love it all. 

After again…I especially love the ol’ lady over the bar cart, judging your alcoholic consumption.

And now for some details…That nifty little china cabinet I redid is really living up to its full potential. Something about a well arranged china cabinet makes me feel so much more secure in my surroundings.

Spiffy bits from Furbish

The overhead lighting, as you saw, is kind of tragic, so we wanted to provide a few points of light throughout the space so that they could avoid using those guys. Love this little reading nook we created in an awk corner, and blankey by furb as well.

Funny story on this posh little coffee table. I found it on 1stDibs, twas a great price. Snatched it up for my clients. Later got a call from the dealer that none other than Ms. Tory Burch was trying to steal it out from under us, so we needed to send payment right quick. Don’t feel too bad for Tory though, I think she’s doing just fine.

A much beloved bar cart from society social done up with some great vintage bar utensils/glasses/accouterments from etsy.

That couch. In that material. Is just everything.

SO.

That is what can be done with some edesign.

You like?

Wanna hire me?

DIY- Chair Upholstery

Sorry for being so MIA last week, I was recovering from the festivities, then working my fingers to the bone, then traveling to see family and I just couldn’t make it to these parts to say HALLOW! But I hope you all had a delightful Easter weekend!

This week I have a pretty boss client before&after for you, but first I wanted to share a few DIY projects I attempted for their apartment.

First up, a pair of hand me down chairs the couple had inherited.

I mean, nice enough. 

Sturdy, good quality, and non offensive, but I think we can all agree they are a little blah for a 20-something couple.

So we painted ‘em black, and reupholstered the seat in this badass Clarence House le tigre remenant I had been saving.

I don’t normally attempt upholstery DIY on my own, but this seemed simple enough. 

I was nervous about working with such a fancy pants material lest I eff it up, but the remnant was too small and oddly shaped to use for anything else so I decided to seize the day.

The man of the house is a bit conservative and had a minor meltdown when I unfurled my Tigrous Wonder, but the chairs are now his favorite in the house, which is saying a lot because we turned that sucker OUT. It be lookin’ good, but you don’t have to take my word for it, imma show you on Wednesday!

Singing in the rain

It has been raining for approximately 1,000 days in Texas.

And were it not for this slicker I would be quite soggy.

I first became aware of the existence of this rain jacket when two cute sister bloggers came to visit me in my home, but they were all pretty and clean smelling and pristine and I became intimidated and forgot to ask them from whence it came.

But then my bffs mom was wearing it too, and I got the scoop.

It is Ali and Ro and please let me point out a few of its great features.

Firstly, it is a rain jacket, and keeps you dry when it rains, which is pretty essential.

But unlike other rain jackets, it comes up only to your elbow, so you aren’t flopping around and sweating and suffering from over coverage during a warm spring rain. Also, it has a hood discreetly tucked into the collar. ALSO it hits just below your corny pone thighsman trophies, and provides great ass coverage. AND it has a little cinching action in the front, giving the illusion of a waist. AND it is really soft and cozy. Sometimes I wear mine even when it is not raining, I love it so.

And it comes in a variety of classic and kicky colors.

Get you one.

A gift for you this Monday morning.

No real post today.

This weekend my best friend and Gracie’s Godmommy got married.

And somehow a wedding that started like this…

…And this.

Turned into this.

And I am still wiped out this morning.

In all seriousness, it was the most beautiful and reverent ceremony followed by the most fun and joyful reception ever.

So as a gift for you this Monday morning, I leave you with this uhmazing video of my other best friend and fellow bridesmaid MayMay getting the party started as usual.

Feel the joy.

Humiliation Diet: Week 10

Week 10…down no pounds from last week. Sads. Still down 9 overall.

Gracie’s ego is out of control after last weeks post on her Tracy Anderson body, and now she is kind of insufferable constantly showing off her fitness moves.

Planking on a million.

Look at that form!

I mean, you have to admire her dedication to a healthy lifestyle, and the roles results speak for themselves, but after awhile I am like, I get it. You are super fit and athletic, I am very impressed, can we please talk about something else now?

But on the plus side, I am saving a LOT of money on personal training under Gracie’s tutelage.

You don’t know me!

But you might learn a few things if you head over to Amber’s blog and check out the guest post I did for her!

In case that picture doesn’t entice you enough, there are funny Gracie pictures over there as well.

And while you are there poke around and fall in love with her. She’s real talented, kind of boho chic with a rocker thing going on, and she is funny and pretty and has a super cute baby.

These are all good things.

Getting there.

Every time I make the decision to go ahead and have Mr. Banks photographed, some new project presents itself and I am like ohhh maybe I should wait until that is finished and fabulous.

 But I have finally come to the realization that my brain being what it is, there will always be some new project and enough is enough and it is high time to stop teasing you good people.

That is…Once these last projects are completed.

See you guys are partly to blame as y’all were so enthusiastic about the wallpapers I was contemplating, now I think I might have to make at least one…or two of those happen.

Like maybe in Gracie’s bathroom. 

Because this chair is coming to live in that little corner.

I love the vintage faded red velvet, and it is wee! Perfect for the baguette.

And that is Audrey over there on the wall. And it just feels very parisian and fitting of that paper.

So we should wait for that to be completed…right??

And then there is the office. 

I finally got some proper chairs, and a bulletin board…But it still doesn’t feel complete. However, it might if…

If If If. If only. I think that one might have to wait.

But don’t the chairs go so well with it??

  They are CB2, a super decent price considering DWR charges 10x that for their similarly attractive office chairs. AND I have found it is good for my posture. At least if I find myself somehow in the possession of a few rolls of that magic paper, I will be ready for it with my matching chairs.

I am also considering this nifty fellow.

For Gracie’s bathroom. Wee. Good price. Painted black and paired with her red velvy chair could be pretty cute. Totally unnecessary since she is only 8 months old, but I always have my eye out. Filed away under “some day”.

Finally.

I think we can all agree that photography should wait until this rug…

Is married to those stairs.

Right?

Celebrity Doppleganger.

Gracie may have the physique of a baby Tracy Anderson.

But I have nailed the Winona Ryder.

Beeeeetlejuice.

WTFLIPPP!!!!!!!!!!

I am told this bizarre hair loss and regrowth is just another one of the miracles of pregnancy, although I have been decidedly unpregnant for about 8 months now.

So shall we revisit the Zooey proposition? Better than Beetlejuice hair, right?

No? We are liking the 90s throwback spiky banglettes?

And a note to my body:

If you ever want our brain to agree to host another baby in our belly, stop.messing.with.me. No more crazy hair situations, scars, pyrogenic granulomas, insane weight gain, etc. Just cool it, ok?

Humiliation Diet Update: Week 9

9 Weeks…9 pounds BETCHES!!!!!!!!!!

Gracie has been helping me with my Tracy Anderson workouts, and dare I say, I think she has nailed it.

Gracie

Tracy

See that one is Gracie

And that is Tracy

In case you were confused because they both have such defined muscles.

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