DIY Upholstered Headboard

The headboard is FINISHED!  Bamboo shades and silk lampshades are up!  Let me start this off by saying I could not be more pleased with what $100 and a little sweat can get you.  I also want to mention that I did most of this project well before I even thought about blogging so I will try to be as clear as I can.  I wanted to make mine as professional looking as possible {and I use that term loosely because up close it does look a little homemade, but you have to be UP close} but there are easier ways to go about it and I will try and interject shortcuts. 

welt cord makes it look finished

Bamboo shades UP!

Lux silk lampshade + Target lamp =  happy Jessica

fabric covered legs attached to the frame

*Pillow my Mom made with a Schumacher printed velvet!  Knife edge with zipper closure- thanks Mom*

To start off I knew I wanted a THICK headboard.  I think this keeps mine for looking too DIY.

Supplies:

½ inch plywood cut at your home improvement store

Jigsaw

Staple gun & staples

Poster board to make your template if you are doing a shape

Sharpie

2x4's (quantity depends on your shape)

Tape measure

Bread knife

2 inch thick foam {This goes on sale all the time at Hancock Fabrics and you can you use the smaller sizes and pieces them together if it cuts down on cost.}

Batting

Fabric

Wood glue

Spray adhesive

Beer

Steps:

 

Decide how you are going to attach it.  Will it be hung on the wall?  Or to the bed frame?  I selected bed frame.

 

Decide on your design.  I cannot stress to you how much easier a rectangular shape will be!!!!  If you decide to have curves {you will need lots of beer} then make your template with poster board.  If not, have your home improvement store cut the plywood to your specifications.  {I have to say that we strapped this to the TOP of Matt’s Accord, rolled down the windows and held on – such rednecks.}

 

We traced the stencil onto the plywood with a sharpie {flipped the stencil over so both sides were exactly the same so it mirrored} and then cut it out with a jigsaw.  Matt’s first time using a jigsaw.  He felt manly - I am certain of this.

 

Next, we attached the legs - so one 2x4 to the left and one to the right with wood glue & staples.  And then one to the top and one to the bottom to give it support and that thickness I wanted.  If you decide on a rectangular shape you are ready to attach foam. If curves, then keep attaching 2x4’s horizontally until your curves are covered.  {See photo}  Then once the wood glue is dried, jigsaw around the curves.

Trace the stencil on the foam and cut it out with a bread knife.  Attach the foam with spray adhesive & then cover with batting which you attach by using the staple gun.  You really can piece this together and the you will not see the seams.

 

Fabric time!  I cut out all my pieces and sewed together with a welt cord I made.  This was tedious but welt cord is something you can’t skimp on with a headboard. Some curves didn’t look as good once I placed in on the headboard, so I used fabric glue to kind of fake it.  I attached the finished shell with a staple gun.  I covered the legs separately by just folding the batting and fabric around the legs.  Matt just drilled through the fabric to attach the headboard.

 

Everything minus the sewing only took a couple of hours.  This really is only a two weekend project. 

Boomshakalaka!!

Lonny Love

I am not a modern girl per se but I saw the cover of latest addition and flipped IMMEDIATELY to the article.  This space is droolworthy and the living room is just a textural paradise for me.

The graphic painting mixed with the those pillows, rugs, gold, wood, animal print AND velvet!!  Stunning. 

Check it out HERE!

Kitchen Backsplash

I had kitchen tile on my mind all weekend.  I keep visualizing what my updated kitchen will look like and I want to get a new backsplash - something simple.  I LOVE white subway tile with a beveled edge or with a crackle finish.  Our current tile isn't terrible, it is just really not "me".  And it is sad because the previous owner put it in only 4 years ago and I know it cost a small fortune because she left all the paperwork.  Such a pity.  It wouldn't bother me so much EXCEPT this one wall....she didn't take the tile all the way, instead she just did a border??  Bizarre.  Always take the tile up to the the upper cabinets people - kitchen design 101! 

Inspiration photos:

 

I actually HATE circles so I am surprised I like this so much.  I wouldn't put it in my own home but do like it here.

Love!

Isn't this herringbone pattern gorgeous?!  This might be my fave.

LOVE everything in this white kitchen!

Happy Monday!

dare i say it?

We made a little purchase this weekend....a new flat screen for our....gasp!....bedroom.  I know a lot of people shudder at the thought of having a TV in the bedroom but we can't live without it.  Maybe it is because we both grew up without having one in our own rooms or because we go to bed so early and catch a show before doze off...whatever the reason, the TV is here to stay!  With that said, I am not a fan of having a GIGANTIC TV on display in the bedroom.  This created a struggle in Best Buy because Matt kept saying, "come on man!" but I held my ground at 32"...which is still sort of huge for the bedroom.  So I think our solution will be purchasing an armoire since it is basically hanging off the sides of the current chest.  I want to find one second hand - NOT one of those dated mammoth beast ones -  and paint it a gray.  Look at these gorgeous ones below!

{via}

Happy Hump Day!

coral decor

Happy Monday!  I had such a great weekend of RELAXING.  No plans which is the best sometimes.  We didn't work on a single project - but there was a lot of talk of what to work on next.  The Mister likes to put in order of what is next on the list to buy.  I tend to stress him out when I start giving off my laundry list of "wants".  I also spent the weekend persuading him to like the color coral.  He is not a fan.  I kept showing him photos like a crazy person.  I even grabbed a J.Crew dress and laid it out for him to visualize.  I want to use coral as and accent, not the main focal which I think he thinks I want to paint walls this shade.  So honey if you are reading this see below!!  OH, and thank you for telling me not to blog about last nights dinner because you rated it a C.  {I am not a cook, I bake so he is correct - I try to make dishes low fat which end up a huge FAIL.}  True love right there.  Ha ha!

{via}

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

I lived in Ohio for 8 years of my childhood and I remember the Quaker Square in Akron that my Mom would take us to.  My memory is a bit fuzzy, but it use to be where Quaker Oats originally operated which had turned into a mall.  And when I say mall it was more of a couple of gift stores and an ice cream parlor. OHHH and one of those photo booths where you put on costumes from wayyy back in the day and take a black and white photo in a saloon.  My Mom FORCED my 3 sisters and I to do this.  The photo is hilarious to me because we didn't smile so we just look scary - like a pack of creepy kids.  Anyways, this place had HOT Oatmeal Cookies with only one raisin in the center!  I am not a fan of raisins so this was ideal.  It is funny, but 15+ years later and I remember the BEST Oatmeal Cookie I have ever had.

This recipe is super EASY and really really good!  If I blog about it is a keeper!  :)

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups light brown sugar, packed
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips (could use raisins...ewww)
1 cup walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°.

In a large bowl beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla with a hand held mixer until well blended. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture, stirring until just combined.

 Fold in rolled oats, chocolate chips and walnuts (if desired). Drop dough by rounded teaspoons about 2 inches apart onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  (parchment paper is a must when baking people!)

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes and remove to wire rack to cool completely.  I say this but I always put them on wax paper because I only own one rack and the wax paper works and I just trash it.

Trellis Wall Stencil!

Ta-da!

I am so happy this is DONE!  So long 1993 wallpaper!!!  This took me a VERY long time, much longer than I had anticipated.  I LOVE IT!  Since we won't be living here forever I didn't want to dump $$ into wallpaper so this is a stylish cost effective alternative.  I will have to say that this is the most tedious project I have ever taken on. I had two breakdowns {you know that tired frustrated cry where you see no end in sight not to mention the painters light made this room 1,000 degrees} and both times Matt jumped in to help.  He looked at me like was crazy.  Can't blame him.  I hold my own, but by hour 20 {yes this took a total of 20 hours done in two separate days} I had had it. I know it took me that long because I am Mrs. Perfectionist.  I can’t help myself…every single one had to be perfectly straight which was a challenge.  So if you are considering a stencil I say GO FOR IT!  I do love it and would do it again.  Just plan for it accordingly. :)

So, I purchased my stencil from Royal Design Studio for around $36 and the Benjamin Moore Celestial Metallic paint was $40 per quart - I needed a little over one. {My powder room is 5 x 6}.  I chose Farrow & Ball Buff for the wall color.  Not to shabby.

 

You will need the following:

Stencil

Paint

Pencil

Spray adhesive

Small roller

Small paint brush {buy a good quality one}

Wet wipes

Painters light

Leveler

Tips:
I started in the dead center of the main wall and worked my way out.  I picked the “ugly” corner for where if the stencil didn’t meet up at the end it could just fade to that corner no one really looks at.  I sprayed the back of the stencil with spray adhesive so it holds up there all by itself.  I read on blogs about using tape – I didn’t go this route because I didn’t want to be on a ladder and have the damn thing fall to the floor mid paint.  This did create a mess so I would consider it now since I had to scrape off the layer of dried spray adhesive before I used it the second time.  {I used my car’s ice scraper which worked perfectly.}  Corners are a challenge.  I folded my stencil {see photo below} and then went back with a small paint brush.  If the whole thing was skank looking I would just take a wet wipes and wipe it off and start over.  After hours and layers a of paint you will might need to clean your stencil. I did.  Make sure it is 100% dry or the paint will bleed under the stencil.  I learned this the hard way!

I taped up the first stencil when finding the absolute center

man that painters light is HOT!

These are from an art gallery in our hometown of Greenville, SC and they are of local attractions.

restoration hardware sconce with silk shades

Looks so much better! Bath hardware, bathmat, and toilet tray are all from Pottery Barn.  Vase with dried pussy willows is one of the special things left to me from my Grandma.

What's left?

Getting rid of that dated gold faucet!  Woo Hoo for ANOTHER project!