My Home Redux

Tips and How tos for Hanging Pendant Lights

Pendant lights are very popular in kitchens and breakfast rooms.  They can be traditional or quite modern with colorful blown glass.

Here's an excellent article about them. Check out the tips about the height and where to find them. I agree the best selection is online. See My Home Redux for some of the online lighting stores I've used very successfully.  Read the article here.

And once you've found your pendants, check out this video on how to hang it.

How to Make Built-in Bookshelves

Built in Bookshelves or cabinets can add storage, decor, and organization to a family room, office, and even dining room. Here's a how to guide to make some yourself.

Check it out with these photos and easy to follow instructions.

Create Your Own Porch Runner

I saw this idea while waiting for my son at the orthodontist's office. It showed how to take rag or cotton rugs (inexpensively available at Target, Walmart, etc.) and stitch them together to create a great runner for a porch. Of course the same principle would apply for a kitchen, family room or hall way. While they showed stitching end to end, the same principle would apply to make an area run and stitch on the long and short ends.

I've modified their directions a bit, so here are my step-by-step instructions:

1) Cut off any fringe from an end you intend to join to another rug.

2) Butt the two short ends of two rugs together and join with a large zig zag stitch.

3) Using heavy duty bias tape, lay it on the BACK side of the two rugs and cover the seam of the  butted ends.

4) Sew the tape down on BOTH sides of the seam and ends. Turn the tape under on both ends to form a finished look.

5) Repeat steps 1 - 4 as many times as you want to sew rugs together.

This will give you a colorful runner or rug for indoor or out!

The Beauty of Carpet Runners on Stairs

Hardwood stairs are popular, big, a must-have in homes today.  But the abuse they take from walking up and down - especially if you have pets - can cause them to look worn quickly. But carpet runners add beauty and help to protect the wood. Just how do you get runners (yes, they sell them as long rolls/spools of runners) and install them?  Look, no more. Here is some helpful advice and beautiful examples (many on sale at what looks to be great prices.)  Check out the links on installation and measuring. The site delivers to must U.S. states (sorry, my non-U.S. friends). Also, if you're interested in an area rug, they sell those too - many on sale. (My favorite, as you  know.)  So check out StairRunners USA and Rug Depot here.

Budget Custom Headboard

The best headboard for a bedroom is not furniture at all but a decorated piece of wood that perfectly complements your decor. 

First, measure the width of your bed. This should be the width of your headboard. Then on plywood, fiberboard, or OSB, draw your headboard shape on the wood. Cut out with a jigsaw. You may want to draw half the shape on a large piece of butcher's paper, folded in half, first to make a template that is guaranteed to be symmetrical. (Of course, unless you want an asymetrical headboard.)

Hint:  Get fabric that's at least 54 inches wide and keep your headboard at least 8 inches short than the width of the fabric to avoid having to seem the material together. The batting to create the "puffiness" can be laid down side by side with no problems since it will be covered by the fabric.

You can see here for the next step of instructions, but basically take quilt batting across the front of the wood and staple (get a lightweight construction stapler) the batting to the back of the board. Now, do the same thing with the fabric, making sure to pull it taut. To make a button hole, drill a quarter inch hole in the wood before you attach fabric and batting. Then once that's on, take a button, stitch into place, and pull thread around a small wire brad on the back to pull it tight. This will also help to tighten the fabric on the front.  Again, it's all here too.

To create legs for the headboard, measure from where the bottom of the headboard should be to floor. Then take the height of the headboard at two ends and subtract four inches.  Add these to measurements together and cut a 1 inch by four inch board to that length. Screw each leg to the back of the headboard.

Next, mark and drill holes lined up to those in the leg of the bed frame. Finally, attach headboard to bed frame running bolts through the holes and tightening with a nut at the end of the bolt.

There you have custom headboard in several hours and on a very small budget.

How to Decorate a Fireplace Mantel

Your fireplace can be the centerpiece of your family room, great room, or living room. But how do you strike that balance of interesting pieces on your mantel without making it look like a crowded junk colection or barren shelf? Here are two ideas and how tos:

First, the traditional 3 plus 1 method - this never fails.

Second, is a newer style. This is easy because you don't have to center and hang anything straight. It's also easy to change later. It's the leaning frames style.

How to Stencil or Embroider Curtains

Inspiration can come from anywhere. As we reminisced over Thanksgiving, my mother talked about her very creative mother being ahead of her time.  It was WWII, and she wanted to make long curtains for her sons' room. Using either sheets or long lengths of white muslin, she sewed curtain panels to cover the windows with a small rod casing at the top and simple hem at the bottom.  She then drew tanks, airplanes, aircraft carriers onto the muslin. Next, she embroidered her drawings. Being an artist certainly helped. But this is an idea anyone can do today. Don't have time or talent to embroider?  Use fabric markers or fabric paints. Fast. Easy. Not artistic?  Get stencils. Shapes of color work just fine too.

In the picture, basic flowers were embroidered. Or you can do appliques.  Either will work and look great.

You can use this for a children's room, bathroom, or even kitchen.

To create the rod pocket, turn the top of the fabric at the top over to the back. The amount you turn over should equal the width of the rod (an old-fashioned flat rod requires one inch, round rods need about 3 inches) plus 1 and a half inches. This will give you an inch trim at the top and half an inch to create the seam. Take the bottom half of the turned over fabric and turn it under again (so it faces the back of the front of the curtain, kind of like a u-turn), pin. Then sew about a quarter inch from your fold. This makes your seam. Then sew another straight seam between this seam and the top of your curtain to make the pocket. You will go up the width of the pocket (1 inch or 3 based on your rod). Voila a rod pocket.

For the bottom hem, turn one inch up toward the back then take half of that back toward the front (like the u-turn seam above). Stitch a quarter inch from the fold at the top of your bottom hem. (Did you follow all that?)

If you are using one full width of fabric your selvedge (the finished sides) can be sufficient. But a more finished look calls to make a seam like you did the bottom hem on each side of the panels.

Afraid to sew?  No sewing machine. Then buy plain drapery panels, valance, or curtains, and add your stencil or art.  Either way, you now have a custom curtain at fraction of the cost!  Thanks Grandma for the idea 65 years later!

Create Your Own Wainscoting

Wainscoting is a beautiful way to protect lower walls and create a rich trimmed finish. Wainscoting generally follows two forms - beadboard and raised panels. Let's discuss both.

1) Beadboard  provides a cottagy, casual feel. I've used it in a powder room. Beadboard has strips of wood with a rounded bead between each "board". You can get 4 foot by 8 foot panels of simulated beadboard (cheaper and easier), but true bead board comes in tongue and groove strips or boards. Cut each strip to the proper height and affix with trim nails. You may also add a touch of adhesive but if you ever remove the wainscoting, just be prepared to do some heavy patching or replacing the drywall. Then you add your baseboard on the bottom and a chair rail on top. Stain or prime and paint. A pretty easy weekend project.

2) Raised panels are more elegant than beadboard and evoke old world images. Whether you used painted wood, stained, or even cherry and mahogany, raised panels are gorgeous and luxurious.  They can be a bit pricey. You can create a simulated look by taking flat trim pieces, making miter cuts (45 degree angle cuts), and affixing to your wall. Then add a chair rail. Paint all the trim and the wall the same glossy color to simulate faux panels.

For the real thing, take a look at these excellent step-by-step directions.  This will be a long weekend project that will require very careful cutting, but you can certainly do it yourself. The results will certainly be worth it.

Helpful Painting Tips

Painting is the #1 way to decorate or update your house. From walls to cabinets to furniture, almost anything in your home can be painted for a new and dramatic effect. But how do you paint properly for the best result?  Here are many helpful '"how to" tips to paint just about anything. Check it out here.

New Tiles with Craft Paint

Have bathroom tiles that are outdated? A tiled kitchen backsplash that showing it's age? Are a bunch of white boring tiles? But don't want the mess of taking it down or the money to hire it out?  Here's an idea. Paint the tiles with craft paint. Use faux painting technicals or paint squares or designs. Set your imagination free. See here for instructions.