How to Update a Bookcase

I bought wrapping paper at Home Goods weeks ago knowing exactly what I planned on using it for. 

I planned on updating the bookcase in my daughter's room.  For starters it was really cluttered.

The first thing I did was empty the entire bookcase and then flipped the middle shelf because it had warped from the weight of the books over the years.  Once flipped it was perfectly straight again.

Then I cut the wrapping paper to size and adhered it using double sided tape on the corners and middle.  

Then I selectively decided what was going back.  I also bought two magazine holders at Home Goods and used those to store some of the books just to add more visual appeal rather than clutter.

In less than a half hour the bookcase was looking so much better.  I love a quick and easy project!!

Rumor has it the weather might actually warm up a little bit here in New York.  I'll believe it when I see it.  Have a great day.

-Judy

Five Easy Steps to Transforming Any Room in your Home

My niece is turning eight this weekend.  Her mom would like to update her bedroom and has asked for my help.  My niece has already developed a real style of her own.  She puts together the best outfits for herself...a combination of funky and eclectic and just totally cool.   The goal is to have her bedroom reflect her personality now and help her room "grow up" a bit.

The first step in any room transformation is to gather inspiration.  My favorite sources for inspiration are home decor magazines (I still love to hold a magazine and flip through the pages), Houzz, Pinterest, and HGTV Rate my Space.  

Eclectic Kids by Alexandria Interior Designer InDesign / Lori Ludwick

The second step is directly related to the first step...deciding on a color scheme.  In my case, the color scheme usually finds me.  What I mean is that while I look through my design sources, I am usually drawn to similar color schemes over and over again.  Sometimes it just starts with an inspiration piece, maybe a piece of jewelry that speaks to me, that transfers into a color scheme.  

The third step is to take inventory of what furniture works in the room and what will have to go or be replaced.  Any furniture staying in the room must be multi-functional.  The plan here is to replace her existing night stands with more functional nightstands.  I've been looking on Craigslist to find some makeover candidates.

In my niece's room the bed is going to be kept, but undergo a total makeover.  The plan is to upholster the headboard and footboard...currently covered with stickers.

Her current drapes will replace her closet doors, that are always falling off of the hinges. 

The fourth step is to create a mood board.  I use Olioboard to collect my ideas.  Here is one of the mood boards I have come up with for my niece's room.  The great thing about creating a mood board is it's an easy way to try out ideas without any commitment.  You can use items already uploaded into Olioboard, or you can upload your own photos.  

The fifth step, and really my favorite, is the execution of the room and putting it all together.
The plan is to have my niece's room come together fairly quickly over the next few weeks.  I can't wait to share with you her updated room.

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Swing into Spring party.

The party opens at 8pm EST.  Hope to see you then.

-Judy

Sharing with Savvy Southern Style

Teen Girl Room Revealed

Months ago I shared with you my daughter's friend Mia's room, that was in dire need of a makeover.  Mia and her mom enlisted me to help her transform her room.  Mia's main request...she wanted her room as orange as possible.  Here is the room after I got my hands on it:

 Let me remind you where this room began...

What a difference...right?

I started her makeover by transforming her closet.

I painted the closet Benjamin Moore Rhumba Orange
and added a closet system from The Container Store.

The wall behind the bed got the same wall color as the closet.  The room is a combination of white, gray and orange.  The desk is from West Elm and the white leather desk chair is from Ikea.

The memo board is inspired by the style tile boards sold by Pottery Barn Teen.

You can read a tutorial on how to make this here.

The Ikea Expedit was the perfect solution for storage in Mia's room.

Ikea was filled with orange accessories which made it easy to style this room.

Lighting was a problem in this room before.

They hired an electrician to add power so that we could add a ceiling fixture.

We had the electrician hang this super cool chandelier from Lighting Direct.

Here is the other side of the room.   The three other walls in the room are painted Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist.  It's a light silver gray color (which is hardly showing up in the photos).
The orange wall mirror and funky orange light on the dresser is from Ikea. 

The dresser and the drapes on the closet are from West Elm. 

I love how the lamp shape picks up on the pattern in the drapes.

The laundry hamper is made by OXO and is from Amazon.

Here is a closeup of the dresser.  I fell in love with this when I saw it.

The bean bag chair is from Pottery Barn Teen.

The rug is also from West Elm.  The grey zebra print helped pull the room together.

The bedding Mia had already and wanted to use it in the room.
The headboard and bed are from West Elm.  The lamp on the night stand is from Ikea.

Mia and her parents love how the room came out.  I love it too!

I can't wait to hear what you think.

-Judy

Beautify and Protect All At The Same Time

A few months ago I found a desk on Craigslist that I transformed for my daughter's room.  

You can check out that project here.

I painted the desk using Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint and then waxed it using a clear wax.  

However each time my daughter did her homework, pencil seemed to get on the desk.  

She was tired of having to be so careful and I was tired of cleaning the desk each day.  

My solution...a clear acrylic sheet I bought at Lowes.  

Since it's my daughter's desk, I felt safer using the acrylic sheet rather than having 

a piece of glass cut for the top of the desk.

The sheet measured 48"x24".  

The desk top measures 42" x 18".  

Using a square and a white board marker, I outlined the desk top measurement.

After I traced the dimensions, I laid it on top of the desk just to check my measurements.

Measure twice...cut once.

Using a plastic cutter and a straight edge, I scored the acrylic sheet and cut it to size.

 Then using several sheets of scrapbook paper, I made a pattern 

on the desk and laid the acrylic sheet over it.

Isn't it pretty?   Pretty and protected...the perfect combo.

If she gets tired of the scrapbook paper, I can change it out for other paper or even fabric.

Can't wait to hear what you think.

Don't forget that the Bunny Blog Hop is still going strong.  There's an awesome giveaway associated with that party.  Hope you will join the hop!  You can click HERE to join the hop.

-Judy

The Year in Review

2011 was my first full year of blogging.  The year was filled with lots of DIY projects, crafts and ideas. 

 Here's a recap month by month.

January

I started the year off with a makeover to my daughter's room taking it

 from toddler to tween...or so I thought.  

Who would have thought that the room update wouldn't even last until the end of the year?

February

These almost no-sew pillows that I created out of placemats I found at Home Goods 

were one of my most popular posts.  These pillows took no time to make.

March

In March I took on my first board and batten project and revealed a whole new mud room.

It's so amazing the difference just the board and batten made...even before all the finishing touches.

Also in March I created this beautiful ottoman out of an old Christmas stand. 

April

In April I created a pillow and a tote bag using four dinner napkins I found at Home Goods.

May

In May I took a Craigslist find and turned it into something special using chalk paint and drop cloths to reupholster it.  Now it's an awesome chair in my guest bedroom.

June

In June I updated our downstairs bathroom with paint and accessories.

There were some projects in that bathroom as well...

and...

July

I picked up my first trash from the side of the road and created a treasure out of it.  My kids were mortified, but were impressed once they saw how I made over these chairs.  

 August

Our outdoor sectional and coffee table finally arrived.

It finished off our outdoor patio perfectly.

September

In September I made lined pinch pleat drapes for my guest bedroom.  They were a little time consuming, but very easy.  The tutorial is here.

October

Who could forget October when I climbed up above my front door and decorated. 

 Is there anything I won't do in the name of decorating??

November

In November I updated my daughter's room.  She was finally ready for a full size bed and wanted the colors more tween-like.  I knew her original makeover was a temporary fix, I just didn't realize how temporary...what I didn't count on was the changes that happen when you start Middle School.

December

In December I created this Pottery Barn Teen inspired style tile board for a fraction of the cost.

  A few days later I made these fabric covered letters to go above the memo board.

I want to take a moment to thank all of you.  Whether you stop by everyday or just once in a while, I appreciate all of your visits.  I look forward to a wonderful 2012!!

Happy New Year!

-Judy