More Maskros Hacks

I love how many different ways a DIY tutorial can be reinvented! <br /><br />My friend, Vanessa, who I went to high school with, did <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-sputnik-chandelier.html">my sputnik DIY</a> in her gorgeous living room (she used the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70190450">smaller sized Maskros</a>, which looks perfect here). <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/newhouse3.jpg" /></div><br />Guess what Vanessa used to make the rods look a little more substantial?? She cut straws from QT (a convenience store in AZ with the best drink selection ever - rivals Sonic) down the middle, wrapped them around the flimsy rods, and spray painted the whole thing. I love this! <br /><br />Another improvement on my project: Vanessa painted the backs of the amuse bouche plates to better hide the little white plastic bits. Genius! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/newhouse6.jpg" /></div><br />Here's another Maskros hack from the <a href="http://picketfencedesign.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-flower-chandelier-my-maskros.html">Picket Fence Design blog</a>. It's pink! and OMBRE! What's not to love?! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/closeup.jpg" /></div><br />They cut down the petals a little, like I did and then used three different colors of acrylic paint to give that graduated ombre effect. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/Step2-Readytopaint.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another beautiful project! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/litup.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks so much, ladies! <span style="font-style: italic;">If you have a project you think I'd love, email me at jenny at jennykomenda dot com.</span></div></div></div></div><br />In related news, today I shared my 15 very favorite chandeliers that won't break the bank (all under $400!) <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/08/09/15-ceiling-fixtures/">HERE</a>.

More Maskros Hacks

I love how many different ways a DIY tutorial can be reinvented! My friend, Vanessa, who I went to high school with, did my sputnik DIY in ...

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New Settee

I was a busy little bee this weekend, running around trying to get ready for a client install this week. Saturday I stopped by the Chelsea Flea (which, did you hear? This is their last month in the parking garage? Beginning in September they move down a block to an outdoor lot and I'm not excited.) **UPDATE: The garage will continue to operate as a weekend flea market on a month to month basis going forward! Yay!**<br /><br />Anyway, I found lots of art and accessories for the installation, but I also found this pretty little settee that I couldn't pass up.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_9847.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here's the back view. I love the little nail heads! They are super teeny and cute. Can you believe our luck in somehow getting a handicap accessible minivan cab? I wish that would work out for me every trip to the flea market! It was so easy to load in and out all of our finds!</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_9848.jpg" /></div><br />I was hoping the settee would fit on the little wall next to my pantry, but it doesn't really. So I moved the entry console to the pantry wall and put the new settee in it's place. Now it's a perfect for putting on shoes.<br /><br />(sorry for the nighttime photos...)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_9870.jpg" /></div><br />Isn't it so CUTE and so little?! I love the scale!!<br /><br />The leather is in bad shape so I'll need to add it to the list of pieces to reupholster. Wouldn't tomato red linen look beautiful with the mahogany wood frame? I have some inspiration images in mind that I'll need to dig up to share. Also considering black and white stripes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_9864.jpg" /></div><br />How was your weekend? <span style="font-style: italic;">Is it just me or is 2011 absolutely flying by?</span><br /><br />--------------------<br />Today on Babble, I share an ingenious, <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/08/08/bundt-cake/">budget-friendly idea for decorating your kitchen</a>. Here's a hint:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/Picture76.png" /></div>

New Settee

I was a busy little bee this weekend, running around trying to get ready for a client install this week. Saturday I stopped by the Chelsea F...

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Happy Friday and More Bookshelves...

Guess what? It's the weekend!!<br /><br />Thank you so much for your kind words about yesterday's post. That was a fun project, mostly because I have a serious soft spot for bookshelves. I've been so surprised at how much I LOVE having all our books in one place. The wall of books is functionally very nice (to keep them all together), but it also packs a big, graphic, visual punch. It's no wonder some of my favorite home inspiration images are of huge bookshelves.<br /><br />Here are a few that I love and haven't shared here before:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/veeregrenney_habituallychic2.jpg" /><br />design by Veere Grenney via <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhouseandhome.com%2Fdesign%2Felegant-designer-bedroom&rct=j&q=house%20home%20veere&ei=imw8TveZB4zrgQfztt2MBQ&usg=AFQjCNEk1ravLwfFuyAkfrwjp_0Lzwm2ZQ&sig2=ApFvxciPAkNlmGRMvi3tPA&cad=rja">House and Home</a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/0107p088_kel_1.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/bookcasefromsunsettrimmed.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://www.sunset.com/">Sunset Magazine</a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/selldorfarchitectsbuiltinbookshelvesshelvesshelfshelvingbooksgreenwichapartmentnewyorkcitycococozy.jpg" /><br />design by Selldorf Architects via <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cococozy.com%2F&rct=j&q=coco%20cozy&ei=Xmw8TrXnJYGtgQeMndCiBQ&usg=AFQjCNEqnoQvV8aiqCu6NpKH1_5Y7EK4yg&sig2=7WPw076t-rT8dQDnGEPXFw&cad=rja">CocoCozy</a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/11421114_pQRyMFLX_c.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/janshowers.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.janshowers.com%2F&rct=j&q=jan%20showers&ei=S2w8TtWfCofVgAeA7KimBQ&usg=AFQjCNEaVzHjZSmcUbIy7qItbp7M4aM78w&sig2=xCXOrZlx550YtM3G6Ne__A&cad=rja">Jan Showers</a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/Screenshot2011-06-08at72211PM.png" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/3277321124_591077fc54.jpg" /><br /><br /></div>Also, thanks for your support with my first week of posting on Babble! <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/08/05/make-your-books-pop/">Today I shared my favorite tool</a> for quickly, cleanly painting the backs of bookshelves. Even though I had to do SIX (!!) coats of primer and paint on my arched bookshelves, this tool made the effort minimal. <span style="font-style: italic;">Hint: no taping or brushes are involved!</span><br /><br />Happy Friday, friends! xoxoxo

Happy Friday and More Bookshelves...

Guess what? It's the weekend!! Thank you so much for your kind words about yesterday's post. That was a fun project, mostly because ...

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DIY Arched Bookshelves

<span style="font-style: italic;">Update: Welcome, D*S readers! If this is your first time visiting my site, you can read a little bit about me </span><a href="http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/08/02/beyond-the-notebook/" style="font-style: italic;">here</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. I hope you look around and decide to stay a while! By way of a quick introduction, here are a few of my recent projects:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- </span><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-sputnik-chandelier.html" style="font-style: italic;">DIY Sputnik chandelier</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- </span><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/painted-detail-on-my-kitchen-island.html" style="font-style: italic;">Antique dresser as a kitchen island</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- </span><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/heirloom-button-art.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Heirloom Button Art</span></a><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br />Remember <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/09/arched-bookcases.html">this post</a> where I shared my love for arched bookshelves?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2d86e82ade9f.jpg" /><br /><br /></div>We decided to put a wall of bookshelves in my office, so it would sort of feel like a library. We already had two white <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/83688210">Billy bookshelves</a> from IKEA, so we bought two more for $50 each, and then eight $10 <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40197392">extender shelves</a>, so that the shelves would go up really high. I wish we could have gone all the way up to the ceiling for the true 'built-in' look, but the rafters in our loft made it tricky.<br /><br />This is the super sad before photo from the week we moved in:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/beforebookshelves.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />And now:</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/JennyKomendaArchedBookshelves.jpg" /></div><br />It was a <span style="font-style: italic;">crazy-</span>easy project! (I know I always say that, but it's true!) Here's the break down:<br /><br />I went to Home Depot and had four pieces of 1/4" thick MDF cut in to 14" x 32" rectangles. While I was there I also picked up three 8' lengths of 1/4" thick x 2" wide and two lengths of 1/4" thick x 1" wide flat trim moulding.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7179.jpg" /></div><br />When I got home I sketched out my first arch one of the MDF pieces. If you're not comfortable with measuring out and eyeballing this step like I did, you can use a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027AEI2W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=littgreenote-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0027AEI2W">flexible curve</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=B0027AEI2W&camp=217145&creative=399373" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> to give you a more exact curve.<br /><br />To get arches that look like mine, the top of the curve should be about two inches from the top of the MDF rectangle. No matter how high your arch is though, you'll need the bottom edges to be 1" wide.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8440.jpg" /></div><br />If you are new to the world of electric wood cutting tools, I think the jig saw is a good place to start. I have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P9H4VY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=littgreenote-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=B000P9H4VY">this $30 model</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=B000P9H4VY&camp=217145&creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and it works great. My advice here is to go slow and cut carefully. If you start to move off your line while cutting, <i>slowly</i> readjust back to your line. The goal is as smooth a curve as possible, so try not to jerk back to your line.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8442.jpg" /></div><br />I used that first cut out arch as a template for drawing my other three arches. It was an easy way to make all the arches identical.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8475.jpg" /></div><br />After all the arches were cut out, I hand-sanded the arches a little, just to smooth out some imperfections. I love those big double wide sanding blocks! They last forever.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8469.jpg" /></div><br />Michael helped me hold up the arches while I drilled in a few pilot holes and some dry wall screws. It's a good idea to really get those screws in flush with the MDF or even counter-sunk so you can't see them later. We installed the flat trim in the same way.<br /><br />The idea is that the 2" wide flat trim covers where the bookshelves butt up to one another. The 1" wide flat trim is for the too far ends of the bookshelf walls.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8478.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I used white latex caulk to fill in the holes from the screws and to fill in the cracks.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8494.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8496.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />We've had two of these Billy bookshelves for like six years or something (you can see when I first painted them peacock blue <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/07/living-room-curtains-are-done.html">here</a>), but the other two shelves and all of the extenders needed to be primed and painted.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8502.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">IKEA laminate is <span style="font-style: italic;">HORRIBLE</span> to paint. It's seriously like paint-repellant. It took me three coats of primer and three coats of paint+primer to get full coverage on just the backs of the shelves.<br /><br />It was worth it though. I love the contrast! The dark green, almost black, paint really makes the crisp white arches pop.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8506.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We let the paint dry for a day or two and then started filling the shelves with books.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/JennyKomendaArchedBookshelves2.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's all pretty loosely arranged right now, but I'm cool with a work in process.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/JennyKomendaArchedBookshelvesIMG_7623.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My husband loves books more than just about anything and I have a pretty big collection of books myself. So this was a really fun project for us to work on together. He's a big fan of the arches and it's fun to finally have a wall of shelves big enough to store all of our books.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7670.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. If you're curious how I hung the art on the fronts of my shelves (without damaging the wood!) check out <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/08/04/hang-it-all/">my post on Babble today</a>.<br /><br />PPS In yesterday's Babble post I shared my secret weapon for productivity: <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/08/03/getting-it-done/">Teux Deux!</a></div></div>

DIY Arched Bookshelves

Update: Welcome, D*S readers! If this is your first time visiting my site, you can read a little bit about me here . I hope you look around ...

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Dying Lampshades

It's super easy to change the look of cloth lampshades. I saw this beautiful photo in <a href="http://www.bhg-digital.com/bhg/201102/?pg=71#pg71">Better Homes and Gardens</a> (and Lindsay from Everything LEB did a post on the subject <a href="http://everythingleb.blogspot.com/2011/02/here-comes-sun.html">here</a>).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/Picture31.png" /></div><br />They suggested doing the whole dye bath thing, but I was feeling impatient the day I wanted to dye my too-simple <a href="http://www.target.com/Room-Essentials-Mix-Match-Shade/dp/B004BG3AUG/ref=br_1_28?ie=UTF8&id=Room%20Essentials%20Mix-%20-Match%20Shade&node=13361081&searchSize=30&searchView=list&searchPage=1&sr=1-28&qid=1312387351&rh=target_com_category-bin%3ALampshades%7Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%3ACream%7Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%3AWhite&searchBinNameList=target_com_category-bin%2Cstyle_name%2Cmaterial_type%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin%2Ctarget_com_character-bin&searchRank=salesrank&frombrowse=1">Target drum shades</a>, so I cheated a little.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/Picture32.png" /></div><br />I picked up a bottle of this powder form fabric dye at an art supply store here (Blicks). It's called Procion MX Dye. There were so many cool colors! I chose <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006IJZAW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=littgreenote-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0006IJZAW">Bright Green</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=B0006IJZAW&camp=217145&creative=399373" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for this project.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_8173.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I just put a tiny bit of the powder in a bowl and mixed it with cold water and then painted it on with an artist's brush. It was so easy and the project finished so fast that I forgot to take pictures of me painting! :)</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/Picture41.png" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At it's brightest, the shade I chose is supposed to look like the above, but I went much subtler here. At the time I thought I was going to paint the girls door mint green and I didn't want to go into overkill mode. Since then though I've redyed them emerald green. Ha! More on that later (and on the pretty silver paper lining the insides of the shades).<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/Dyedlampshade.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Off to play with my girls who I haven't seen in a week! They've been in Arizona with my parents while I finished up some work projects here. I missed them so, so much!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2IMG_9505.jpg" style="height: 236px; width: 169px;" /></div><br />Speaking of family, I put <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/08/02/beyond-the-notebook/">my first post up on Babble</a> yesterday. It's a little intro on me and my family - maybe some stuff I haven't shared with you here yet? There also may or may not be a photo of me in airplane pose. Do you play that with your kids?<br /><br />Anyway, I'll also be posting on Babble's <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec">The New Home Ec blog</a> every day, so don't forget to check me out there for more of my home decorating tips!<br /><br />xoxo</div></div>

Dying Lampshades

It's super easy to change the look of cloth lampshades. I saw this beautiful photo in Better Homes and Gardens (and Lindsay from Everyt...

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