Custom Cork Board

 Another small office update I whipped out lately was an sprucing up of the long-neglected cork board I use as a jewelry organizer.  It was just an ugly, plain item and I took a scrap of this Premier Prints left over from my headboard project. I added some nailhead trim around the edge, and voila! Dead simple. Credit to Bryn for the idea!

The photo tacked at the bottom is one of my dad from a billion years ago taken at my grandparent's house.  He was a long-haired looker!

No-Sew Drapes for the Office

I've been derailed with blogging lately.  I keep forgetting to take photos or I'm working on a project that's pretty dull.


I did manage to finish my no-sew drapes for the office redo.  I used cheapo Robert Allen fabric I scored at $5/yard!

Hooray!  And my West Elm Parsons low bookshelf arrived so I am pleased to be able to build that shortly!

Office Design on a Dime

I'm tweaking my home office (read: extra bedroom where I watch Bravo and read blogs). Why? Why not? I Craigslisted a few pieces I had grown out of to make room for some new items. To commemerate the occasion, behold my first mood board!!

Let's walk through the plan. I already own the lamp, poster, drum light, loveseat, (a similar) rug and the parsons bookcase is on the way. I might replace my cheapo IKEA desk with their DOCKSTA table and add a bamboo chair. The loveseat's a richer, deeper green and a slightly different style but overall similar to the one pictured. 

I refuse to pay silly prices for drapes so I scouted out this linen-like Robert Allen fabric -- it was less than $7/yard on FABRIC.COM.  Plus free shipping and a 15% code, I'll have four 96" no-sew panels for about $35 total.


To do:
Make panels x 4
Reframe poster with mat
Assemble bookcase when it arrives
Look for DOCKSTA on CL?
Bamboo chair on CL?

Let's do this.

More DIY Drapes

after success with my no-sew panels in the dining room, I decided to attack some panels for the master bedroom. This time, I decided to line them for extra heft and light-blocking capability. 

The lining wasn't difficult but I wasn't terribly precise in my measurements so a few of the panels have slightly shorter linings than ideal. Luckily no one will see my mistake!

More rings and drapery hook action:  

Bam! Lined drapes!  I just used some $5.99 stuff from JoAnn purchased with a 50% off coupon.

My fabric - quatrefoil in a creamy yellowy color.  It is NOT upholstery or drapery weight, however, so it's a little thin. Had I not lined these, they would be pretty transparent. 

Affordable Fabric Resource: Tonic Living

I have been on the hunt for some affordable fabric for drapes for the master BR. I am slowly moving through the house and re-hanging all my drapes much higher and wider than the windows they cover. I made the mistake when I first moved in to hang all my hardware right above the top of the window. Rookie error - taller and wider drapes make a ceiling feel taller. I learned that from the DIY geniuses over at YoungHouseLove.

Ok, back to finding affordable fabric. I need about 11 yards (yikes) so anything over about $10/yard was going to be a budget buster.

Alors! TonicLiving to the rescue!  A Canadian-based company, they offer samples for $1 and surprisingly speedy shipping. Color me impressed.

 I've settled on Quatrefoil in Cream from TonicLiving. At $8.95/yard it's more affordable than most clearance fabrics I can find.  They also custom-make draperies that look really great, too.

Raleigh Fabric Stores

I've been on the hunt for a good localish source for home decor fabrics at decent prices for some time. Here in the rich land of textiles, ironically, there aren't a whole lot. I hear tell of an awesome place near Charlotte, and there's an outlet off 40 near Burlington, NC I haven't had a chance to check those out yet.

Closer afield here in the Triangle, I found Mill Outlet Village. I'm not sure it's really an "outlet", it's pretty nice inside and well organized and merchandised. Fabrics are categorized into upholstery, drapery and they carry foam, accessories and lots of trims, too.

Most drapery fabrics were in the $15-$25 range with a few over $40/yard. They do have a small clearance section as well, priced from $5-$10/yard.

I LOVED this, I think it's was around  $18/yard. The colors aren't quite right for my bedroom but maybe I'll find a use for it elsewhere.

The middle fabric has really pretty embroidered scrolls. This comes in several other colorways, too. I think it was a little less than $40/yard, which is too rich for my blood. I need at least 6 yards for no-sew drapes.

Trianglites and other North Carolinians, what places should I check out?

No-Sew Panels

So far, so good. I am making skinny little panels to save yardage. This window won't actually ever need to be covered with the drapes - they are only decorative so I guess this is a cheapo hack that will work.

I'm going to attempt to line them, too.  I think I can pull it off without sewing, too.  If not, I'll leave them as is until I can get my hands on a sewing machine.

Ikat Fabric

I scored this Robert Allen ikat fabric for $5/yard at Hancock so I decided to try my hand at no-sew panels. I am handy with a sewing machine, though I don't currently own one.  So I am whipping out the fusible tape, heatset glue and my ironing board. 

I love these ikats, too:

top left - designers attic

top right - unknown

bottom left - fabricadara

bottom right - robert allan

I'm a pattern freak.  I'm sure my house is going to start looking like a nutty old lady lives here soon.

Aminal Print

Finally ordered some of the Tazo print for the headboard re-upholstery project I have no business spending money on. After this, I'm calling the guest BR done. I swear. Really. If anyone needs an upholsterer rec for North Carolina, I'm happy to pass along who I use. They pick up/drop off which is a huge plus and the prices seem pretty fair.

Because I'm obsessed with printed pillows right now, here are three more Etsy finds that I love:

Be Still Shop

TrendyPillows

Turquoise Tumbleweed

Fabric Samples

I intend to recover my headboard in the guest room.  It's currently a mushroom-y shade in that microfiber/ultrasuede fabric that is just dreadful.  Be gone from the world microfiber!

My chosen samples from Premier Prints came yesterday after nearly 2 weeks (a bit of a long wait for  samples, IMHO).  They are a nice, heavy weight cotton and the samples are generous.

I love the yellow/white stripes but it's a too whimsical.  It would be really fun in a kids room.

The yellow/gray diamonds are nice, but not right for this project.   The animal-esque print photographs well and you can't go wrong with a little animal print.  Or pink.  And it will pop nicely against the taupe wall.

The green print is pretty but I'm not sure I *love* it.  It's a tad busy. What do you think?

Upholstery Fabric Resource

Have you seen Premier Prints Fabrics? Great prints at even better prices - most are 7.99 to 9.99 a yard! I've ordered some swatches for the re-upholstery job I want to do on my guest bedroom headboard.

Here are my favorites:

Tazo

Annie

Kimono

Lulu

Python

What's your favorite?

Dwell @ Joann

Joann has some great and not so great fabrics. Their 50% off fabric sale is going on right now so I hopped over to check out their selection. I have a chair to recover so I am in the market for some home decor fabric.

I was pleased to learn they carry some DwellStudio for Robert Allen fabrics, which are an oasis of modernity in a sea of toile, plaid and fugly florals. Here are my picks:




I picked up 3 yards of the green scroll for a window treatment project I am plotting.

I hear tell of some amazing outlets up in the Burlington area and down near Charlotte where upholstery can be had for $3/yard. I will have to get out there to check things out shortly.