DIY’s Month of Storage: Tip of the Day

Written on January 5, 2010 at 1:07 pm, by Guest Blogger

Happy New Year, DIYers! Hope you all had a long, warm, relaxing holiday break, filled with plenty of glitter, glue guns, and knitting needles (not necessarily at the same time). A few items on our agenda today:

• Today we’re kicking off Team DIY’s Month of Storage here on the blog. Along with our usual slate of handmade projects, DIY inspiration, and other miscellany, we’ll be delivering a Storage Tip of the Day Monday through Friday. And look for a special storage challenge later this week!
  

• Check DIY’s page on Facebook, where there’s a lively convo going on about your New Year DIY resolutions. Join in! What one craft or DIY skill do you resolve to learn in 2010?

• The weather outside might be frightful (depending on where you live — it’s -12 degrees in Des Moines today! Brrr!), but DIY’s new issue will be delightful! And it’s almost ready to make it’s appearance in your mailbox or a newsstand near you.

And with that, we’re on to our first Storage Tip of the Day. It comes to you from Debra Wittrup, one of the classy gals Team DIY looks to for killer advice on color and design. Look for more from Debra in the next issue of the magazine! Happy 2010! – Team DIY

Labels Make The Difference

Labeling things can give you an instant organization system. Labels are the best way to identify contents and direct you when you’re putting things away. Labels can take many forms.

• Stickers and file folder labels are useful for labeling boxes, tins, and bins.
• A hanging tag is a better solution for baskets.
• Personal label makers such as the Touch label maker from Brother are handy little keyboard machines that are also fun to use. (Warning: They can become addictive!

Each room of the house can benefit from labeling.

• In the family room, multiple remotes can get confusing. Label each with its function using small stickers.
• Kitchen leftovers won’t languish to become science experiments if they’re labeled with a “use by” date.
• Labels on your linen closet shelves help you identify the full-size sheets from the king-size.

Keep in mind that labels don’t have to scream at you. They’re there to ease your workload, not create distraction.

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How To Set a Formal Table

Written on November 20, 2009 at 11:07 am, by Guest Blogger

If you’re like us, the prospect of setting a formal dinner table adds a frightening new level of stress to holiday planning. Salad forks? Butter knives? Yikes! Our friend Christy of Beach Brights Blog is here to remove our anxiety and help us pretty up the tabletop in style. If your Thanksgiving soiree will be a formal affair, you’ll love Christy’s super-simple guide! — Team DIY

KEY

1. Bread and butter plate
2. Water glass
3. Red wine glass
4. White wine glass
5. Dessert wine or champagne glass
6. Dinner plate
7. Dessert spoon and fork
8. Salad fork
9. Dinner fork
10. Dinner knife
11. Soup spoon
12. Butter knife

Glassware

• Always serve water. The water glass should be set at 12 o’clock.
• Wine is usually poured before the course it is being served with.
• Red wine, white wine, and dessert wine glasses should form a triangle.

Soup or Salad

• If serving soup or salad, set a plate charger on the table and set the napkin on it. The soup bowl should be served on top of the charge

Flatware

• Knife blades always face inward.
• Forks and knives are always set together.
• If a spoon is set but no soup served, it is usually set for dishes with thin sauces.
• Coffee flatware is served with the coffee.

Napkin

• Once seated, unfold the napkin on your lap. If you leave the table mid-meal, set your napkin on your chair. When the meal is finished, place your napkin next to your plate.
• Napkin folding tutorials can be found here.

Basic Etiquette

• The host or hostess will be first to start eating.
• Food is always served to your left and cleared to your right.
• Beverages are always served to your right.
• When you are finished eating, the table should be cleared. Do not leave spoons in cups or small bowls. Also, leave your silverware on your plate parallel to each other in a diagonal position.
• Centerpieces should be low so that conversation and eye contact is not obstructed.
• Individual salt and pepper shakes are placed above the main-course fork or above dessert flatware.
• It is acceptable to use placemats without a tablecloth.

XOXO-BeachBrights

www.beachbrights.blogspot.com

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Sweet & Simple DIY Photo Frames

Written on November 9, 2009 at 3:24 pm, by Guest Blogger

Since you (and we!) loved the last post from Beach Brights Blog so much, we’re thrilled to feature Christy again this week with a fun and fast photo frame project. See more of her work here. Over and out! — Team DIY

Easy DIY Photo Frames

These frames cost only $1 each, and it took me less than 15 minutes to complete three of them! They’d look great hanging on the wall in a group, or resting on a table or mantel. there are lots of options for customization (you could paint the frames before adding paper to the front or glue on fun embellishments). Use your imagination and enjoy!
What you need:

• Unfinished wood frame
• Glue
• Scrapbook paper
• Sanding block
• Foam brush
• Brayer
• Craft fnife
• Rub-on words

1. Cut paper to fit frame with 1/4 to 1/2-inch overlap.

2. Evenly apply a coat of glue to the top of the wood frame with the foam brush.

3. Adhere paper, rolling brayer of the top to smooth out air bubbles. Let dry.

4. Sand away excess edges or paper using the sanding block.

5. Lay the frame flat, paper side down and cut out the middle using your craft knife. Sand these edges.

6. Apply rub-on words to frame (optional).

XOXO-BeachBrights

www.beachbrights.blogspot.com

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6 Smart Ways to Brighten Your Home

Written on November 3, 2009 at 10:21 am, by Guest Blogger

It’s officially that time of year. The days are short, and we often leave for work before the sun rises and return to a dark home. We asked Kate Hart, a professional home stager and designer based in Philadelphia, to share some tips with us for how to brighten up our personal spaces during winter months. In addition to TV and radio appearances, Kate’s work has been featured in lots of books and magazines. Her business, Hart & Associates Staging & Design, helps families and realtors get properties ready to show. So she knows a thing or two about making spaces feel cozy, warm and bright. Enjoy! — Team DIY

• Replace your existing light bulbs with full spectrum bulbs. Made to emulate natural daylight, these bulbs most closely resemble the sunlight that your body lacks as the days get shorter. I like GE Reveal bulbs; they filter out yellow light produced by other light bulbs.

• Swap out a large painting with a mirror to push more light around the room. Choose the wall you see when you first enter the room so that your eye is tricked into thinking the room is lighter at first glance. I use Pizzazz MirrorSquares from MirrorMate Frames; they’re affordable, customizable, and they look great in groupings.

• Switch out dark-color or heavy fabric lampshades for lighter, white lampshades to add more light to a space without having to purchase a new lamp.

• Start your spring cleaning early. Make your windows sparkle by removing any streaks that block sunlight from entering your rooms. Vacuum dusty screens (or remove them all together) to add even more light to your space

• Add metallic accents. Your eye is naturally attracted to bright objects. Polished silver or chrome accessories, such as candle sticks, bowls, platters, urns—even mirrored furnishings—will reflect light back into the room, making it feel lighter

• Dress your rooms in winter white. Dark colors absorb light, whereas white reflects it. Replace dark-color bedding with a white or cream comforter or duvet set to give your bedroom a brighter look. Add a white or cream slipcover to a sofa or chair to refresh your living room. Remove dark, heavy window treatments and add crisp white panels. Keep warm by choosing a down fill for your comforter, and accent with soft materials such as cashmere and velvet.

Remember, it takes a few simple changes to brighten not only the home, but our spirits as well!

Visit Kate’s Web site to find even more tips and videos about home staging and design.

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DIY Kitchen Makeover…Take Two

Written on October 30, 2009 at 9:54 am, by Guest Blogger

If you have the winter 2009 issue of Do It Yourself mag, you’ve seen (and, if you’re like us, coveted) Christi Jensen’s fabulous kitchen. The DIY diva completely overhauled the kitchen in her 100-year-old home in Des Moines, Iowa, using products purchased from IKEA. The result is a hip ‘n’ classy space with tons of character and charm.

But what you see on the pages isn’t the first time Christi and her husband Craig have updated the space. Christi agreed to take us on a tour of the kitchen’s history and the road to remodel. Enjoy! — Team DIY

Like most young couples, Craig and I didn’t really see our kitchen’s flaws when we bought our house; we were just so excited to find something solid that we loved in our price range. Two years later, in the midst of pregnancy, the cream cabinets, fiddlehead-green walls, and scary linoleum were screaming at us. There was also the issue of the “pantry.” When our house was built, there was no pantry. Now there was this 18″ x 36″ mini-cave into which can goods disappeared. We didn’t have a lot of equity for a renovation, but we needed an inexpensive update, fast.

Craig took a Sawzall to the pantry and ripped up the floor and we painted everything that didn’t move a milk bottle white ($20). Pantry gone, there was just enough room for two shelving units (the most expensive at $200) that we hoped looked like built-ins. We even put up some paneling ($14) behind them to replicate wainscot. We chose composite flooring — it’s green, durable and inexpensive. Had we stuck with a solid color, flooring and supplies would’ve cost us about $40. We chose four, so we spent a little over $100. The downside: Cutting all the squares to make the pattern was a chore and you really need to follow the step-by-step directions. All of them.

Our cheerful kitschy kitchen served us well for awhile, but once we had the equity, we decided it was time for real change. We needed a little more room and a lot more storage. Our son loves art, so to keep him near during meal prep, we really wanted to incorporate a craft corner. With the help of our architect, designer (she’s a friend), and the indispensable IKEA kitchen gurus, we devised a budget-wise plan, once again incorporating the inexpensive composite flooring. To keep with our 100-yr-old bungalow’s style, we added small details such as mullioned windows and wainscot offset our sleek, modern cabinetry.

Almost constant rain and the floods of 2008 complicated construction and our remodel, but I have to say, it wasn’t really all that bad; careful planning helped us avoid a lot of hassles. Today, we have a great kitchen that fit our budget. I love the drawer storage (I even have a place to scoot away the dog food and bowls), and my son can reach just about any dish he needs. Having a craft/computer area is great – we’re helping with homework/art while we prepare dinner. We entertain a lot and everyone gathers in this room. I’d say our little kitchen’s gained a lot of grown-up sophistication, but it’s still the most fun room in the house.

A full set of the renovation photos is available on Christi’s Flickr page

Check out Christi’s cool and crafty blog, Gussied Up, and her Etsy shop, too!

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Guest Post: Monster Magnets

Written on October 27, 2009 at 6:47 am, by Guest Blogger

We instantly adored Christy of Beach Brights when we made her acquaintance via our page on Facebook. Her knack for fabulous DIY room makeovers and projects makes us melt a little. So of course we were delighted when she agreed to share a few holiday projects with us. Enjoy — and look for more guest posts from Christy soon! – Team DIY

Monster Magnets in Boo Boxes

What you will need:

• Glue
• Clear flower marbles (1/2-inch minimum size)
• Craft papers with a small pattern
• 1/2-inch magnets
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Small tin
• Primer
• Spray paint
• Chalkboard paint

1. Lay the clear flower marbles out on a surface, flat side up.

2. Use a dime or small circle to trace patterns out of scrapbook paper. Heavy stock papers work better.

3. Add a small dab of glue to the top of the flat clear flower marble and put the paper image (image side face down) on the marble.

4. Give the glue a few minutes to dry, then add another drop of glue to the back of the paper and add the magnet. Let these dry throughly.

5. Spray the tin with primer, let dry (one coat should be fine).

6. Spray the tin with 1-3 coats of chalkboard paint, allowing them to dry between coats.

7. Cut a circle out of scrapbook paper to line the bottom of the tin. Glue in place.

Not only can you create seasonal gifts, these little magnets also work great as party favors or even little travel games!

I love crafts that can be enjoyed with kids or given as gifts. Plus, they’re super easy. This craft takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

Enjoy!

XOXO-BeachBrights

www.beachbrights.blogspot.com

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Five Fab Ideas for Fall Parties

Written on October 23, 2009 at 9:05 am, by Guest Blogger

We think Stephanie Tait has a pretty killer job. She works with two of our fave home decor companies—Blissliving Home (adore the bedding!) and Chesapeake Bay Candle. Thanks to her crafty lineage and the time she’s spent at these design-savvy companies, Ms. Stephanie is pretty much brimming with cool ideas. Team DIY asked her to dish out some tips for throwing a fabulous fall party. Enjoy! – Team DIY

I’m crafty. Not in the cheat-you-out-of-money way, but in the “oh-look-construction-paper!” way. When I was growing up, my mother was always into some sort of DIY decorating project—stenciling the hallway, spray-painting the wicker furniture, installing tile in the basement, you name it. Naturally, I’m the same way with home decor and entertaining. And now I’m passing my craftiness on to you.

Fall is an amazing time to entertain. The weather is turning cooler, the leaves are brilliant, and the kids are out of the house (for the most part). When you’re planning an autumn get-together, don’t be afraid to let your inner-Martha Stewart out.

Here are five of my favorite entertaining tips for fall:

1. Put pillars in the fireplace. It’s cooler outside, but not cool enough to light a roaring fire. Pillar candles in a fireplace make a phenomenal statement. Choose any one color or combination of colors (I prefer all white pillars), then vary the sizes. Arrange them in a staggered, non-geometrical way inside your fireplace and light. It creates a real wow factor for your guests. This photo was shot by Dan Whipps at Mei Xu’s own home–she’s the founder of Blissliving Home and Chesapeake Bay Candle.

2. Use natural bounty. Fall is a time for harvest—use it to your advantage! Most fruits or vegetables with a rind or a tough skin are great to use in entertaining decor. Create a beautiful serving bowl by hollowing out a pumpkin and filling it with a rustic pasta salad. Slice off the top of a lime, scoop out the fruit, and use the rind as a votive holder—or try the same technique with a mini-pumpkin. The possibilities are endless! (I found the photo above in a great book — The Candlelit Home: Decorating with Candles Year-Round by John Terrell Fry.)

3. Stagger your buffet. If you’re having a buffet-type of meal, a multi-tiered buffet table is an amazing idea. Place a tablecloth on your empty buffet table, then gather boxes of different sizes. Make sure they are sturdy enough to support platters of food (milk crates work really well). Place the boxes facedown on the table. Then place a second tablecloth over the boxes, tufting the extra fabric between the boxes. Set a platter of food on each flat surface and voila: incredible presentation.

4. Scatter votives. I can’t stress this enough: Everything looks better in candlelight. Everything – you, your home, Mr. Stitches the family cat – everything. Scatter votives everywhere: on the buffet, on the dinner tables, around the bar, the side tables, on the mantle.

5. Use mirrors. Chances are, you’ll have tables at your get-together, whether it’s a sit-down dinner or a casual cocktail party. Placing mirrors on these tables will add a touch of glamour to your decor and set off the candlelight from your pillars and scattered votives. I prefer small round mirrors for this purpose; find them at IKEA or Target. Place the mirrors face up on tables with a votive on top. They reflect the light and sparkle of your party, and pump up the class-factor.

Have fun with these ideas and be crafty. That’s what it’s all about! You can even take all the credit for them. I won’t tell.

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Five Cheap-o Decorating Projects

Written on October 20, 2009 at 8:12 am, by Guest Blogger

We’re thrilled our friends John and Sherry (and Burger) are here to hang out with us today! You might recognize them from their must-read blog, younghouselove.com, or from the pages of our mag, where they appear from time to time–always delivering fabulous decorating tips and tricks. Today, they’ve put together five deliciously cheap decorating projects you can pull off in a weekend. — Team DIY

Well hello. We’re John and Sherry from younghouselove.com, and we’re thrilled to be popping in to sound off about our five favorite cheap-o decorating projects. We’ve rounded up a bevy of easy and affordable ideas that anyone can implement, so embrace your frugal DIY-loving self, and let’s get down to business.

First up, we have one of our favorite ways to add function and organization to any kitchen. With an in-cabinet cork board, of course! Picking up some self-adhesive cork squares at a local big-box store like Target (for under $10) along with some simple push pins will put you about ten minutes away from creating an awesome little message board for recipes, shopping lists, and other documents that are helpful to have on hand (but still hidden from view since they’re stashed inside the cabinet). For more details and easy step-by-step instructions, mosey on over to our blog.

Our second simple and super-cheap decorating project involves a quart of paint and some blue painter’s tape. We’re taking about subtle tone-on-tone stripes that are chic and expansive (but never expensive). Measuring and taping ours off in the bathroom only took a few hours (and a few bucks), but the result is an easy-to-achieve elegance that’s chock full of texture and layered style. Go ahead, head over to our blog for the full tutorial and get your stripe on.

Our third so-easy-anyone-can-do-it project that won’t break the bank is creating a wall of frames for instant style and interest in any room. From an asymmetrical arrangement to a more balanced and grid-like layout, there’s no limit to what you can do (even with the mismatched frames and DIY art you might already have lying around). And we love framing arrangements so much that we actually made a little video full of tips and tricks for laying them out and hanging them up. You can find the entire frame play-by-play right here.

You might want to sit down for this one. Our fourth frugal and oh-so-simple decorating project is reupholstering a chair. All you need on hand is an inexpensive manual staple gun (they can be snagged for around $15 and are as easy as a stapler to use) and about a yard of fabric. Just unscrew and remove the seat of your chair of choice, center the fabric on the front of the seat (if it has a pattern) and pull it taught and staple it around the underside of the cushion’s perimeter. If you can wrap a gift you can upholster a chair, and it only takes minutes for a major overhaul. For the full rundown along with step-by-step photos to guide you, just click here to get your staple on.

And rounding out our little list at number five is another cheap and easy decorating project that’s near and dear to our hearts: raising your shower curtain to ceiling height. Talk about major drama and a seriously spa-like look that’s a lot cheaper than retiling or replacing the vanity. Plus it adds tons of height and breezy softness to any bathroom with a case of the blahs. It’s as simple as moving your existing curtain rod all the way up (or upgrading to a chic new chrome or stainless one if your current one has seen better days) and snagging an extra long shower curtain and liner from local stores like Bed Bath & Beyond to online shops like amazon.com. Just click here for the full breakdown of how we upped the ante in our bathroom.

So there you have it. Five fast, frugal, and–dare we say it–fun ways to spruce up your house without going for broke. And you can find even more where those came from over on our blog, younghouselove.com. But enough about us, what about you guys? Do you have any other easy updates that you love? From switching out cabinet hardware to hanging curtains, we’d love to hear what other budget-friendly DIY projects you have on your to-do list!

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