August 23rd, 2010
I am fascinated by all the things you can do with a discarded dryer sheet. But one that I find particularly handy is to use a sheet to clean blinds. The dryer sheet seems to repel dust that collects in all those little slats. It’s much easier than washing the blinds in the bathtub (that’s how I was told to clean them).
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August 22nd, 2010
Included favorite photographs in your window décor. Hang small, framed prints of similar size across the top of your window from ribbons. This is fun to do for special occasions.
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August 21st, 2010
Create an inexpensive, yet attractive desk for our home office by using two, 2-drawer filing cabinets and a hollow door as your desk surface. Place the filing cabinets at both ends of the door for the legs and also instant storage. Use a hole saw to cut a hole in the door in which to insert all your cords from your computer, etc. Paint the filing cabinets and door a fun color that you enjoy.
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August 20th, 2010
Transform an otherwise dull bookshelf into one of the most colorful pieces of furniture in our home. Simply paint the inside of each compartment a different color. To create cohesiveness, select colors of the same value and paint any exposed front edges with one color.
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August 19th, 2010
An old, worn window can be transformed into a pot rack for the kitchen by hanging it horizontally from the ceiling with strong hooks and chains. Select a sturdy window, remove all the glass, and reinforce the corners with flat, corner brackets. Install ceiling hooks on the underside of the window from which to hang pots.
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August 17th, 2010
I have been working with the great people at Sew4Home and they just featured some of my favorite tips excerpted from my book Decorating Sewlutions. Check it out here! The photo to the left is a sneak preview of what you will find!
Donna Babylon is a DIY decorating and sewing guru. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com
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August 16th, 2010
Before you begin to paint, here are some tips to make your job easier.
- Remove all window coverings and hardware from the windows and any pictures and wall decorations from the wall.
- Roll up any carpets and cover them with plastic drop cloths.
- Move all the furniture to the center of the room and cover with drop cloths.
- Remove all switch and outlet plates.
- In general, you can expect one gallon of paint to cover from 350 to 400 square feet. However, check the label of the paint for the paint’s spread rate (the square feet of surface each coat of paint will cover). Coverage will depend on the color of paint selected and the wall surface being painted.
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August 16th, 2010
Suggested placement for tiebacks…
Sill-Length: floor-length curtains or drapes fall into graceful curves if the tiebacks are placed at the height of the window sill.
Placed Low: by placing tiebacks low (about 2/3 of the way down from the top of the curtains), an illusion of a tall, narrow window is created. This effect will obscure light because more of the window is covered by the curtains.
Placed High: to create an illusion of height, place the tiebacks about 1/3 of the way down from the top. This effect will also let in the most light.
Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing guru. Her latest book is Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.
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August 15th, 2010
Keep these ideas in mind when you choose colors for your bathroom.
- Pink and peach are colors that give everyone a natural, healthy glow.
- Yellow produces just the opposite effect.
- White fives a clean and sterile impression.
The oldest of bathrooms looks years younger when everything is painted white. If you need some help to wake up in the morning you may want to select a bright red or lime green color scheme.
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August 13th, 2010
Trims that are handled constantly, such as fringe on the leading edge of a curtain or on a pillow, can become tangled. These tips will help you make trims more manageable.
- Use a hand steamer or steam iron to steam fringe ends to remove kinks. Use a kitchen mitt on your hand as a portable “ironing board” when pressing already-hung curtains.
- Unruly tassels or fringes can be brushed softly with a hairbrush to untangle and fluff them. Select a brush with plastic bristles that are spaced 1/4 inch apart and have little balls on the tips. Uneven fringe ends can be trimmed with scissors. (However, don’t cut loops or twisted bullion fringes. They will just unwind!).
This tip excerpted from More Splash Than Cash Window Treatment by Donna Babylon.
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I have been working with the great people at Sew4Home and they just featured some of my favorite tips excerpted from my book Decorating Sewlutions. Check it out here! The photo to the left is a sneak preview of what you will find!