Little Room Refreshed: Card Catalog + Display Boxes

So here we have it. The little room with an updated look. Its quite a difficult room to photograph since its so er, cozy, but I'm so happy to finally be able to use the card catalog now that its in place. Hooray for tiny cubby holes.

I didn't realize it when I laid them down the first time but those FLOR tiles were awesome since I was able to rearrange them to fit with the smaller work table really easily. A normal rug would have had to be changed. So that was a big bonus.

As usual, I'm not quite done. First, my love of empty frames evidently does know bounds because I think I'm going to add a chalkboard inside just for fun. Second issue is I'm not convinced about the photo mobile. Might have to chuck it. Thoughts?

Other than that, I'm really pleased with the update. I'm not usually one for changing up something that works but a gifted card catalog demanded action. It sounds kind of crazy but this room is like my secret garden. Something unexpected with a personality of its own.

What do you think?

If you are new here, go take a look at this rooms before photos here, details on the door turned desk, flor rug, window treatment and diy display boxes.

Changing up the Little Room

It was one of those weekends. You know the kind - you set out to accomplish a moderately simple project and by Sunday evening you are just staring a big mess with no end in sight.  Well, yea, that's how it went.

Remember the card catalog conundrum I shared nearly a year ago?  Its been sitting unsolved since that.  We finally go around to cutting down the door turned desk in the little room. 

 

Of course this means changing up the gallery wall.  I could have just rearranged the photos but I have something a little different in my mind.  It required I get a few splinters but I think it will be worth it.  Sadly I didn't get to finish it this weekend so that will have to wait for another day. Can't wait to share.

You'll also notice the card catalog itself hasn't been moved in yet.  That requires brute strength I don't have.  Thankfully my husband and my brother (who doesn't even know he has been nominated for this job yet!) are strong!

Did you finish your weekend projects?

Little Room Complete!

In my nearly 5 years of Brooklyn Limestone, I don't think I've ever called a room really and truly finished before. There is always something I want to add or change. Well guess what? I'm calling one done.




Thanks to my favorite find at Brimfield, I'm feeling pretty happy with how my little room looks now. Sure, its not perfect. I never got around to getting a big glass top made (but I'm not sure I need it since I've been using it without for so long) but enough is enough.

Here it is before and during the renovation


Even though its tiny, I've put quite a lot of time (but not a lot of money) in making it what I wanted: A little bit old but feminine. If you missed the sporadic updates over the past few years, here are the cliffnotes: After we renovated, I had to beat back my internal slob, then I made a new friend, then I turned a found door into a desk workspace , hung a birdcage, laid a flor rug and finally, made an ephemera inspired window treatment.

Of course the ultimate irony now is that I'm fully planning on changing it up in here to solve card catalog "problem". That means the desk is going to get cut which means the art work has to change configuration (at least) and who knows what else I'll do in here. But that is definitely a 2012 project. Now if I could only feel as complete with the rest of the house!

Return to Sender Window Treatment Tutorial + Freebie

So now that you saw the window treatment, its time to reveal how I did it. The most exciting bit was that it cost me a total of $1 in supplies I didn't already have laying around the house.

First off its a faux roman shade - it doesn't go up and down - perfect for my needs since privacy and light is not an issue in here. I thought about what I wanted in here for a long time - solid was too boring, a geometric print was too mod, a floral print was too fussy. So then it hit me, why not take my love of vintage ephemera and do something more whimsical up there? If you are wondering, you can very easily sew this if you are even a tiny bit comfy with a machine. I just didn't have any matching thread so I decided to glue.

Materials & Tools: drop cloth fabric, fabric glue, a strip of wood, t-shirt transfer paper, iron, printer, staple gun, scissors, hammer, measuring tape, nails, tacks

Step 1: I started at my desk and did a layout of a vintage letter on my computer until I was happy with how it would look. Lucky for you, I've done that part for you - you can just download the images you'll need at the bottom of this post.

Step 2: Print out all the elements on t-shirt vinyl paper and cut to size.
Step 3: Cut your drop cloth fabric to the width of the window plus 4 inches and about 2/3 the length of the window (the length doesn't need to be exact since you'll be folding it up)

Step 4: Fold over the ends of the fabric and iron away until you get a nice clean hem. Its a good idea to measure along the way to make sure you've ended up with the right width.

Step 5: Glue a bead of fabric glue under each hem. While drying, layout tshirt transfers as you'd like them to appear.

Step 6: Iron on transfers one by one. Perfection is not necessary. Tip: If you remove the transfer while its still extremely hot, you'll get a more distressed result. If you allow it to cool for just a few seconds, you'll get a clean transfer. I used the distressed techique for some and the clean technique for others.

Step 7: Wrap the short end of the fabric around the stick and staple in place.

Step 8: Play around with the folds until you are happy with the arrangement and length of the treatment.

Step 9: Stitch or tack the folds into place. I did both but its not necessary if your fabric is not as heavy.

Step 10: Nail or screw into the top of your window. Voila. Success!

Its not perfect. I used a pen to mark the transfers - completely unnecessary and impossible to get the marks off. (Word to the wise: don't do that!) I also need to add some skinny dowels to the inside of folds to get them to hang a bit straighter but I didn't have those on hand. That said, I don't mind the imperfections much. Its the little bit of fun it that this space needed.
Ready to make your own? { Download the images here }

Whimsical Window Treatment in the Box Room

Remember the box room? Yep, that little space I've been outfitting with odds and ends. Well, Im one step closer to calling it finished because I just diy'd a whimsical no sew window treatment that I just love.

The best part is I did it with just $1 worth of new supplies plus other things I already had laying around the house. And yes, its incredibly ironic to have a no sew window treatment in a room with a sewing machine. What can I say? I like to keep you guessing :)

As a little refresher, here is a reminder of what the room looked like pre and post renovation.

It all started with the fabulous dressform the hubs surprised me with, then I turned a found door into a desk, then I hung a gallery wall with art I had saved over the years, and finally I layed down some Flor carpet squares to make a rug. It was almost there but the window was looking sparce. So what do you think of the window treatment? Want to make your own version? Stay tuned for the full tutorial and clipart download.

Faux Bois FLOR in the Box Room

I've been slowly hacking away at my 'box room' piece by piece. Without a real goal or deadline, I've been meandering a slow road to completion for ages. But thats okay, this is a no pressure room. ( For new readers, you can read more about it here. )

I wanted to add a little bit of pattern without disrupting the calm palette or overwelming the small space. Add that to the fact that I wanted to protect the floor from scratching, a rug was the logical choice.

The problem was that this is a small room and I didn't want the rug to cover too much of the hardwood. Enter FLOR. Kitty came to help me install them.

It probably suprises no one that I selected one of the Martha Stewart patterns. Specifically the bisque faux bois pattern that has been haunting me for quite a while. I didn't have occassion to use it before but this was just perfect - both in shade and style - for what I had in mind.

If this had been a solid or a more geometric pattern, it would have been a breeze to put together. The stickers that came with the floor tiles are very easy to apply and hold it all together really well. The modular tiles let me style a long skinny rug that is perfect for the room. So overall, its exactly what I needed. As with anything, there are a few hiccups.

I had assumed a pattern like this would have to fit together like a puzzle. It took me a solid 45 minutes before I realized that there isn't a single pattern. Argh! (Or maybe I didn't have enough pieces to get the pattern correct? Or maybe I'm too dim to figure it out?) Whatever the reason, I was pretty frustrated with that. I wish the pattern was more seamless. When yous step back a few paces, the pattern blends together better so its not really an issue anyone but I would notice.

Other than that, this was quick and easy to put down. I like how the pattern is subtle enough to add interest but not too busy. And its nice to know that I can replace a piece should it get worn or stained.

Now that I've added some softness with the rug, I'm pretty close to being done - just need glass for the desk top and a window treatment.

What do you think?

Hanging Out.

Remember when I said I purchased two items at FIND? You already know about the curved chest I put in the bedroom. But its high time I revealed the other thing I picked up as well.



Did you spot the new addition? It's the distressed wooden bird cage.

You might have noticed - I have a thing for bird stuff. Aside from the obvious ode to the cage in the blog header, you might remember my obsession with the bird market in Hong Kong. Or the little bird statues on my bookshelf. Or the birds on branches I painted on my office window. Or the two parties I've planned with a bird theme. What can I say? When I like something, I really like it!





So when I was shopping at FIND, I spotted this lovely arrangement. I love how the two look together but space was limited. I took the little one home with me.


Although I have a confession to make. I love the way it looks but I don't think it will be there for long. Even though we made a special trip to Home Depot to buy the kind of anchored hook that is supposed to work in plaster ceilings, I'm not so convinced this bad boy is going to hold. That birdcage is pretty heavy and my ceiling is just weak little paster. Makes me worried I'll come home one day to find the cage and plaster bits all over the floor.



In other words, I might be taking it down soon enough but its hanging out for now.

Progress in the Box Room: A Cheapskate Update

Ok, so I can't seem to get away from calling it the box room. Despite some good suggestions otherwise, it doesn't feel right to call it a sewing room until I learn how to sew properly!

To refresh your memory about my secret shame, here is how its changed over the past two years.



I spent a lot of this weekend in here spiffing it up. It still has a loooong way to go to being complete but it's getting there.

First off the table skirt. For function more than form, I needed a skirt to hide the mass of supplies Im storing under the desk. I've been looking for just the right fabric and have been coming up empty handed. (Not to mention I have absolutely no idea how to sew a tailored table skirt.) Instead, I went the budget route - drop cloth canvas and brass nail heads both purchased at Lowes for less than $20. The added benefit of being a no sew project convinced me to go for it. If I ever find the right fabric and sort out the sewing detail, I'd like to replace the skirt eventually but this does the trick for now.


After that was done, I turned to the big expanse of wall over the desk. Out came the various bits and pieces of artwork I've been saving in my closet for a rainy day. Add in a tape measure, nails and a lot of time figuring out how to hang it all together, got me this.


And finally Ethel got some pearls and a ribbon to spiff her up as well.

So there you have it...for $20 I added a little more finishing to this room.

I know I need to: add a window treatment, have a glass top made for the desk, screw in more lightbulbs, add some grommets to the skirt so I can tie it open, add some more finishing touches (I'd love to work in Linda and Christy's idea about a large scale vintage pattern worked in here somehow. I still have plenty of wall space so I think I'll give that a go if I can figure out the semantics.)

I need help with: Should I add an accent color? If so, what and how? Anything else you suggest?