Saturday, February 18, 2012

DIY Headboard Ideas

Headboards are very fun things to make. They are usually quite pricey but you can easily make something beautiful that won’t cost you much. For example here is a headboard made of white ribbon stretched over a white-painted wood frame. The project is as easy at it sounds yet you can get an interesting basket-weave treatment to your bed. The frame can be made of lightweight 1×1 wood planks or bought pre-made at many art supply stores. By the way, it’s a good idea to stretch ribbon overlapping the frame to give the headboard more strength.

http://www.shelterness.com/diy-ribbon-headboard/

Ten Tips for The Sexiest Bedroom... Like Ever (And also for finding love)

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ten-tips-for-the-sexiest-bedroom-like-ever-165953


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Ursula's amazing nanny of over four years is starring in a new show on Cinemax called "The Girls Guide to Depravity," from which comes the memorable line, "The best way to get over a guy is to get under a new guy." It was a good reminder to me that amidst all the politics of dating, as an apartment therapist, I think that the BEST way to catch the person you want is to have a fantastic bedroom. Your bedroom is the clearest expression of how you are feeling about yourself right now and is bathed in your pheromones. Are they hot or cold?


Now sex is always a good starting point and a sexy bedroom is essential, but what you also want it a bedroom that supports your LOVE - both for yourself and for others. A bedroom shouldn't just be a short term chick or a boy magnet, it should also be a long term love nest. So let's rule out red walls, mirror balls and scented candles, okay?
When I was in college I remember very clearly walking into a woman's room in my eating co-op and being instantly smitten with the space. It was incredibly personal, comfortable, mature and sexy. Even before I knew who she was, I wanted to meet her and be IN that bed with her. We soon were, and she and the room are still memorable (and friends).
I've done many interviews over the years on bedrooms - particularly around Valentines Day - and I always say that visiting the person you like's home - and checking out their bedroom - was an immediate and super clear indicator as to whether the relationship was going to be on or off immediately. So give yourself a chance! There are a lot of things in life that you can't control or you can't improve immediately, but your bedroom is not one of them. Here's my shortlist. Please add to it, and Happy Valentine's Day!


1. Make it Personal & Grownup - This means that your bedroom should express YOU and have in and around it furniture, artwork, clothes and items that are deeply personal. An attractive bedroom with all new furniture and no real character is not sexy. Additionally, I've always found that women whose bedrooms express their older, mature sides are sexier than younger rooms that look like holdovers from college. Women are sexier than girls, so let go of the Victoria's Secret PINK decor and bring it up a notch.

2. Remove Computers, Wires and Officey Stuff - With all due respect to those who work from home and are short on space, please do all you can to keep all non-bedroom activities OUT of the bedroom. It just kills the space. Make sure your bedroom is a retreat from all the other stuff you do in your life. Make it your inner sanctum.

3. Have a Good Bed - After sleeping on over a dozen beds last year (see my Year in Bed Project) I have come to really believe in investing in a good bed. This doesn't mean that you need to spend a lot of money, but taking care of this purchase, spending what you can and really falling in love with your bed is a great start for falling in love IN bed. Also try not to store anything under your bed if you can. It's not good ju-ju.

4. Good Lighting is Essential - Your bedroom should be lit for you and for your easy use. This means at least three points of light, which is typically two reading lamps and one opposite. Like any good hotel setup, you want to be able to have a nice light in bed before you go to sleep and you want the rest of the room to be softly illuminated with low, indirect light and NOT a fixture on your ceiling. Plenty of easy to reach soft, low light is sexy.



5. Warm Colors, But Not Too Warm! - While cool colors are actually better for supporting a good night's sleep, they are are not hot, stimulating colors, which might be more useful right now. My recommendation is to aim somewhere in the middle. AVOID red-light district red and go for warm greys, lavender, warm greens, browns, tans, rose (if you really want it feminine). Neutral colors rock. Think "spa chic" and raw linen, which is so popular right now. China White is a lovely not too warm white, which goes really well with little warm pops of color in bedding, pillows, rugs, curtains or lampshades.

6. Keep it Quiet - Peace and quiet is of signal importance in the bedroom, but particularly in the sexy bedroom. It's communicates privacy, intimacy and coziness. To quiet down even the noisiest bedroom you simply need to add a lot of fabric to dampen the sound. Heavy, tall curtains and a good rug or wall to wall carpet will do most of the heavy lifting here. Headboards are excellent for absorbing sound while your in bed. Armchairs add a luxurious touch to the bedroom - can you say Boudoir? - and also will eat up unwanted noise.

7. Keep it Soft to The Touch- You want to consider all the senses when in the bedroom and softness of touch is a big one. Lovely, high quality bedding under your body, a warm rug under your feet and a crisp, dry oversized towel to wrap him or her up in will take you really far.



8. Candles Really Do Work - Candles always carry a romantic connotation and for good reason. The light they cast is the softest, warmest and sexiest around. EVERYONE looks good in candlelight. Just PUH-LEASE be really careful with scented candles as low quality scents can ruin everything. When in doubt, AVOID. Really want a good one, check this out.

9. Mirrors Are Sexy Too - While some may feel mirrors make them too self-conscious, it's worth the risk. While not good for a sleepy, slumbering bedroom, an attractive, large standing mirror or wall mirror that allows you to watch yourselves (when you're ready to) is super stimulating and can take you to new heights. If it's a large standing mirror, you can easily move it if you want to as well.

10. Clean Is Sexy, Don't Forget It - I left this one for last because it's a buzz kill, but it can't be said enough that if you do NOTHING else, make sure your room is really, really clean. It's actually the first thing a person senses (consciously or unconsciously) when they walk into the bedroom and is the biggest turn off, even when everything else is okay. Keep clothes folded and away, the floor vacuumed (under the bed too) and all your surfaces neat and clean. Order and cleanliness in the bedroom are the best backdrop for letting go and getting wild and dirty, and you don't want to blow it.

Inspiration: Laurana's 16 Square Foot Craft Studio

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/inspiration-lauranas-16-square-82271


041709craft-01.jpgLaurana takes a teeny space and organizes an entire craft room perfectly. Not only is it one of the teeniest craft studios we've seen, it may be the most organized--further reasons why her craft studio rocks after the jump!
041709craft-02.jpgSmall spaces need a little bit of color to make your eyes focus on another element besides the size. Hot pink seems to work great with white and dark brown accents. In addition, Laurana takes the right side of the room and installs five levels of shelving (utilizing vertical space is key).
041709craft-03.jpgWe love the fact that no space goes to waste--Laurana uses magnetic containers to hold craft items.
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In a small space where rows of shelving may interrupt good lighting, Laurana attaches lighting underneath to brighten up the area.

Close-Up: Über Organized Craft Room with a Touch of Tech

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/click-for-more-pics-even-81393

Even craft rooms need tech to stay on top of their game. Above we have the impeccable space of Megan from Crafty Intentions. We couldn't believe how highly organized this space was, so we had to ask Megan just how she did it...

She painted the space from a harsh purple to Jamaican Sea from Behr, then installed Ikea Lack shelves to hold all her crafty goods including, rhinestones, sequins, little fabric trim, beads, metal and wood accessories, etc. pom poms, tools and glitter.
The bottom shelf includes stair-like levels Megan got at Lowes. These allow her to store more small jars in the space. She added lighting from Lowes, "They come in packs of 6 and the price was more economical than purchasing similar lights from Ikea."
She bedazzled her rotary phone herself, "I used stick on rhinestones, and on the number display I used black vinyl with holographic stickers that I cut into dots for the numbers. The phone was $5 from a flea market - and yes, it works."
Next to the rotary phone is the iHome iPod lamp. "The directed light is pretty good for projects, but since the photos seen here were taken, I've removed it from my craft room because I have all my music on iTunes and I can already play it off my computer - it felt redundant to have the ihome lamp there too."
On the other end of the room from her desk, Megan placed a TV to watch while she crafts. "In general I watch shows or movies that I know very very well so I don't have to actively watch, but rather listen instead." She sewed a curtain skirt below the TV to hide four canvas storage boxes containing yarn, tulle, plaster, and scraps Megan inherited from her mom but hasn't organized yet.
As we all know, sitting in front of the computer (or sewing machine for that matter) can be hard on your body. Megan added pillows to the back of her chair, tied down with polka dot ribbon.

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Kitchen Makeover: Paint and Contact Paper

http://www.yankeemagazine.com/home/diy/kitchen-update


I recently watched my friend* work some serious magic on her rental kitchen, and I just had to know her secret. The before picture (below) highlights all that is wrong with the space: dingy yellow counters and cheap, wood cabinets.

The after picture (below) shows what appears to be an entirely new kitchen! Her secret? Contact paper, a couple coats of white paint and plenty of elbow grease!

Tips to Update a Kitchen:

When painting over dark wood, make sure to use a high-quality primer. Even though you may be tempted to skip this step, since you are painting with white anyway, a primer will ensure the best coverage possible.
Before sticking your contact paper to your counters, make sure they are clean and dry. Lay out your contact paper like a puzzle piece, cutting each piece to fit around corners and curves, before removing the sticky backing.-You may decide to put a coat of waterproof sealant, or a layer of laminate over your contact paper, if it is not waterproof.
If your counters have a lip, use push pins to secure the underside of where the contact paper meets the counter (see picture below).

*Idea and elbow grease courtesy of Lauren Olaksen! Amazing job Lauren...thanks for letting me feature your hard work!

Imaginative Craft Rooms from Around the Web

From apartmenttherapy.com


Lately I've been finding myself in the craft doldrums; the spirit is willing, but the inspiration is weak. If you're feeling the same slump, here are some colorful, functional craft rooms to spark your creativity. And even if your creative spark is at an all-time high, who can resist some lovely spaces to keep those cogs turning?
In each of these rooms, originality meets function, and organization makes creative tasks more efficient.
• Debee of Inspire Lovely has created a bright, inviting studio, full of interesting nooks, inspired ideas, and creative organization methods. (I love the mismatched drawer knobs!)
Handmade Jane has set up a clean, neat space with clearly designated areas for her sewing items.
• Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous has come up with some innovative storage solutions, including a crib spring inspiration board, a highly organized fabric hoard, and an envy-inducing work box. (Images 3 and 4)
Heather Bailey's space provides easy access to materials and a walkaround crafting table, making it possible to work on projects from multiple angles.
• Christi from Hiya Papaya (via House of Turquoise) has energized her craft room with bright colors and graphic wallpaper, making it an inspiring place to work.
Randi's wall-to-wall fabric storage is enough to make any crafter swoon, and her cheerful bunting keeps the mood light.
• Amanda of the Ivy Cottage Blog transformed her garage into a highly functional craft room, complete with a gigantic work table and ample storage space.
Desirée's craft room is a light, bright, adorable space with multiple work surfaces and well-placed pops of color.
• Jenn from Clean and Scentsible majorly transformed this storage space, keeping the new design graphic and clean.
Shauna and Stephen's craft room (as shown off in their AT house tour) is a color-coder and organizer's dream.
The Tofu Studio makes the most of large surfaces, bright colors, and glass-fronted storage (which keeps pesky dust off craft materials).
• By using custom cabinetry and colorful storage boxes, Toby Fairley has created a vibrant craft space that is the epitome of neatness and cleanliness.

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Spring is Coming: 6 Gardening Apps

From apartmenttherapy.com

Botanist---OP.jpgAs we sauntor past February, the days begin to get longer and the weather picks up little by little. Spring is on the way and green thumb enthusiasts especially are in eager anticipation to get down and dirty in their patch.
Every year brings about an empty canvas to reimagine the blossoming flora surrounding patios and porches. As for those of us who live in apartments, indoor plants literally breathe fresh air into a home. Before shopping for seeds or tools, take a look at these apps to help plan, prepare, maintain and advise towards making the most of your garden.

iOS
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Left: Vegetable Garden - Right: Landscapers Companion - Gardening Reference Guide
Vegetable Garden
There's nothing in life quite like savoring the fruits of our labor and what better way than to grow your own food from scratch? Vegetable Garden helps plan plots for veggies so they have all the space they need as well as featuring a detailed schedule with set reminders and alerts during the plants growing cycle. Also included is information on various vegetables and their soil preparation, harvesting and growing tips. $3
Landscapers Companion - Gardening Reference Guide
Here is an absolute guide for botanists or newcomers alike featuring an extensive database of over 15,000 plants. Each entry for the plethora of greenery is accompanied with information such as sun requirements, water usage, mature height and width and an image. It's not only good as a guide but as a personal journal with the ability to add your own pictures and notes of your own garden. $6
Also on Android - $5
Android
Botanist---Android.jpg
Left: Garden Snob - Right: My Garden Lite
Garden Snob
For those who live and breathe green all year round there's Garden Snob, the up to date blog app for all things green. Daily news comes in the fom of gardening tips, tricks and techniques. Great for inspiration on new ideas and how to manage your own garden. With Garden Snob you can find out how to keep the garden vibrant, well managed and the best ways to maintain your vegetables. Free
Also on iOS - Free
My Garden Lite
Have all your plants laid out before you in an effective database to properly manage the particular requirements and needs with My Garden Lite. Simply input all your plants individual information such as where they are located, when they were planted, take a picture and My Garden Lite will remind you when they need to be watered based on those elements. Free
Windows Phone 7
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Left: Garden 360 - Right: Urban Gardening
Garden 360
Staying on top of your garden has never been easier. With the help of Garden 360 you can organize a journal with details like photos and in-depth notes about personal gardening activities. With the harvest tool, you can rate your plants when harvested and determine if you would like to plant them again next year. $2.50
Urban Gardening
Fans of gardening blogs Urban Gardener, Urban Veggie Garden, City Farmer, and Gardener Susan will get a kick out of Urban Gardening. This freeware application delivers the latest from these top tier urban gardening apps that have the best advice on apartment botany. Get inspired by their pictures and posts to bring a little plant life to your urban space. Free