Search Results for “nursery”

Studio Style: DIY Projects for My New Place

by Kayla Kitts May 23, 2013 8 Comments

I’m one of those Pinterest people. You know the type. Their DIY board is a mile long and they pin to it every day but they’ve never done a single project. I’m also one of those people that will refuse to buy a certain product because “I could totally make that myself.” Sigh. I promise I’m on the path to recovery. I’m going into my new place with a confident, do-it-yourself mindset. And last week I conquered the first furniture makeover for my new place.

So, I’ve become mildly obsessed with Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan after a demo here in the office. I used a few colors (Henrietta and Paris Grey, to be exact) and some painter’s tape to completely transform a $10 laminate tripod table I found on Craigslist into a colorful, geometric show-stopper. I don’t want to boast, but she’s stunning. That project opened up Pandora’s box.

My second furniture transformation project happened yesterday on a whim. Two months ago, I fell in love with a gold, ornate floor mirror at one of my favorite antique shops. The owner marked $75 off the price, I loaded her up and drove away feeling like a proud mother. Two of the edges were severely tarnished, so I decided I’d just give it a fresh coat of paint and make it my own. After using the Chalk Paint®, I knew I wanted my mirror to have more of a matte finish and less of a lacquered look, so I used the same Graphite hue that Marianne used on her sheepskin rocking horse. I could only give it one coat of paint before the rain started, but I was able to actually get in all the tiny crevices and remove most of the gold. Today I plan on applying coat number two and a clear wax to finish.

See Kayla’s Painted Mirror

Daily Delight: Aluminum Foil Craft for the Kiddos

by Grant Dudley May 21, 2013 2 Comments

This aluminum foil craft from Freshly Picked will keep your little ones entertained for hours. It’s super easy, and that’s why I love it! I liken this project to giving a child a box to play with/in — it’s almost too simple to imagine your kiddos will enjoy it so much. Here’s the dealio.

MORE: MARIANNE’S POPULAR WEEKDAY CRAFTERNOON SERIES >>

Grab some aluminum foil and your child’s toy cars. Let him or her press the details of the car into the foil — then, let the kids crush the foil cars demolition derby-style.

Photo From Freshly Picked

So easy and so brilliant, right?

The Nursery Files: Hanging a Gallery Wall

by Marianne Canada May 17, 2013 3 Comments

Now that we’re closing in on my due date, I’m ready to finish this nursery. The last big project I’m tackling is hanging the eclectic assortment of art I’ve been collecting (and in the case of this monogrammed string art, making) with this space in mind. Hanging a gallery art wall can look overwhelming, but it’s really a snap. Sherry and John over at Young House Love have some great tips for using newspaper templates when hanging a lot of art in a space. In the end, I laid out the artwork on the floor first and then eyeballed it on the wall. I think it turned out pretty great.

I was able to check one more project off my list this week, recovering the glider cushions. If you remember from this post, this glider had great lines but the dingy white cushions had to go. I knew that as soon as I spotted this modern fish-printed fabric that I had found the perfect pattern. My friend Emily’s mom (thank you Teresa!) made slipcovers for the existing cushions and boom! The glider looks brand new for just $30 in fabric costs.

Only a few more last-minute details and then I’m ready to unveil the finished room, not to mention ready to have a baby.

Catch up on The Nursery Files from the beginning:

Adventures in Antiquing: Clinch River Spring Antiques Fair

by H. Camille Smith May 15, 2013 16 Comments

This time of year is my favorite for so many reasons: warm weather, spring flowers, longer days…but the thing I love most is spending sunny weekends outdoors hitting the local antique fairs. Thanks to the favorable weather, most fairs take place in the spring and fall — check this list to discover one near you.

The closest antique fair to HGTV’s Knoxville HQ is less than 20 minutes away in the Mayberry-esque hamlet of Clinton, TN. Each year in early May and October, this sleepy Southern town draws antique and collectible dealers from throughout the Southeast for their Clinch River Antiques Fair. Best of all, mixed in with the professional vendors are lots of locals who’ve cleaned out Grandma’s attic, barn or basement — so, although the prices and quality of antiques vary dramatically from booth to booth, there’s so much to choose from that I never leave empty handed.

Here are a few of the goodies I spied:

A coat of bright green paint and a liberal sanding give this 60-year-old dresser a kicky update — $150:

Mixed in with the antiques were a few crafts. How clever are these?! Old Reader’s Digest books cut into initials — such a great idea for a kids’ room or nursery – $15 .

Weekday Crafternoon: DIY Paper Cloud Mobile

by Marianne Canada May 7, 2013 5 Comments

Yep, it’s time for another project for ye olde nursery. I’ve been plugging away, making art for the walls and even a Rocking Sheep, but this week my energy was focused on making an inexpensive-yet-adorable mobile for Baby Boy’s abode.

Armed with our free printable template, card stock, fishing line, and an embroidery hoop, you are less that $5 away from making this show stopping mobile.

Dreamy, isn’t it? For more episodes of Weekday Crafternoon, head over here. See you next time!

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HGTV’s Color of the Month is Quietly Cool

by Liz Gray May 1, 2013 17 Comments

The weather isn’t the only thing warming up this month: Our color team meeting got a little heated when we struggled to decide between our top two contenders for May. Votes were split between Lili’s orange-red poppy and Camille’s soothing whisper gray. After all, don’t they look amazing together?

Design by Sarah Richardson

You can (and should!) combine these colors, but we had to chose just one. Read on to find out our decision.

Find Out HGTV’s May Color of the Month

Defend the Trend: Do You Fawn Over Chevron?

by Briana Mowrey April 26, 2013 8 Comments

BRIANA: Chevron has long been on my list of trends to tackle, but I’m bringing it up now because I see signs of its reign starting to wane. Could straight stripes and punky polka dots be poised to take the throne once again? Or are you still a loyal subject of the zigzags? Discuss.

JESSICA: You know the seagulls from Finding Nemo? They were me – only instead of wailing “Mine!” I was screaming “Chevron!” in every single department store. But as time went on, I realized that chevron was just a novelty to me. I didn’t really love chevron – just the idea of it. All those crazy zigzags just aren’t stable enough for me at this time in my life. We’re on a break.

DAVID HAYNES: Just the idea of chevron? Jessica, that is deep. I’m going to have to think on this for a while.

LEANNE: Enough with those harsh zigzags. Make 2013 the Year of Sensuous, Life-Affirming Swirls. Like in this Gustav Klimt.

MORE SHOUTING ABOUT CHEVRON

The Nursery Files: DIY Freezer Paper Stenciled Onesies

by Marianne Canada April 26, 2013 4 Comments

With the rocking sheep and paint treatment complete, the biggest projects for my nursery decor are complete. And it’s a good thing, we are closing in on my early June due date. This week, I’m waiting on a few things to be delivered, so I’m keeping busy washing teeny baby clothes and filling up my new dresser. I have some really cute stuff, but you can’t have too many onesies, so this week I’m printing off these adorable freezer paper stencils from The Alison Show to make a few myself (congrats to Alison on her newest arrival!).

I am so enamored with freezer paper, my mind is already spinning with a dozen ideas to use it (hello, Weekday Crafternoon!). What do you think of these homemade onesies?

Got baby fever? Catch up on all of The Nursery Files!

Daily Delight: Baby Door Stopper

by Grant Dudley April 25, 2013 1 Comment

Ever tire of just getting the baby down to sleep when, suddenly — someone in the house slams a door and well — you know what happens next (the baby cries and you have the urge to murder that door slammer)? Here is your clever solution!

The Latchy Catchy allows you to open or close any interior door silently! Made of durable fabric and stretchy elastic straps, this little handy dandy item conveniently fits all door shapes and sizes (including lever or french handles).

Photo From Etsy’s Latchy Catchy

Simple and brilliant all at the same time, yes?

Weekday Crafternoon: Kid-Crafted Block Prints for Mother’s Day

by Marianne Canada April 23, 2013 2 Comments

Mother’s Day is a big day in the Canada household this year. No, not because I’m getting bigger (though I certainly am), but rather because this year both my birthday and my daughter Lulu’s falls on Mother’s Day. You’d better believe my husband is feeling some pressure on the gift-giving front. But really, all I want for Mother’s Day is time with my family, so this year Lu and I made gifts together. She’s about to turn 4 and loves to stamp things, so we’re making block-printed napkins to give the moms in our family.

This is a great project for kids and adults of all ages. All you need are some fabric paint, buttons, and other found objects and you are ready to stamp everything from napkins to tablecloths and more.