DIY Yellow Curtains for the Playroom

<div style="text-align: justify;">There are only two bedrooms on the main floor of our house, the master bedroom and a large-ish room at the front of the house. For the first few months that we lived here, I used it as my office space, but it just didn't really work for some reason. Then I had the idea to move my office to the big space above our garage on the other side of the house and make the old office our playroom.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 16.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/16.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I had been a little worried that toys would end up migrating all over the house with this set up, where the playroom is right by the living spaces, but really, it's been so great. I love both the studio space and this playroom, which we only very recently decided to quickly decorate in time for the Domino shoot. We had been planning on doing Evie's room as the kid's space in the spread, but the playroom ended up being the easier space to photograph in the end, so we threw this room together in about seven crazy days! These yellow curtains were our jumping off point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wanted this room to feel girly and playful, and I thought pretty curtains were a great place to start. We had no time and really no budget to make fancy curtains though, so IKEA came to the rescue. I had actually picked up three packs of these white cotton Ritva panel pairs a couple months before (when the room was still an office) and I just hadn't got around to hanging them yet.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5541.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5541.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I almost didn't use them because I wanted the walls to be white, and I wanted the curtains to be a fun color to pop off the white. This image kept coming to mind when I was brainstorming colors. I only wish I had the budget to recreate these exactly!</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo PaulCostello1.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/PaulCostello1.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I figured it wouldn't really be a wasted effort to try and dye the IKEA panels because I wasn't able to return them at that point. So I picked up four bottles of RIT dye - two each of Golden Yellow and Lemon Yellow. It's not for everyone, or for every tub, but I felt comfortable with dying the panels in my bathtub. I tested the dye beforehand and there was no staining on the fiberglass, so I felt good about moving forward using my tub. It made the project and clean up about a million times easier than using a big tupperware tub (and I have a front-loading washing machine, so that wasn't an option).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5550copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5550copy.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I got three of the panels wet in the shower first (which helps the dye soak up more evenly) while I filled the tub with about six or seven inches of the hottest water I could get out of the tap. I added one bottle of each of the two yellow colors and about half a cup of salt. Once that was all mixed, I put in the three panels and while wearing long gloves, moved the fabric around in the dye bath for a good 20-30 minutes until the color looked bright and even. I turned on the faucet again, to cold this time, and let the dye bath drain and the cold water run on the panels until the water was close to clear. I moved the panels to a laundry basket and took them to the washing machine for a cold water wash on the delicate cycle.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5548.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5548.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I made a hanging station and let the panels air dry over night. And then I started again with the second batch of three panels and two more bottles of dye.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5601.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5601.jpg" /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Then we ironed each panel well before hanging them over white fabric shades from Lowes (which were less than $20 for the 48" size!) and white wooden rings and rods, also from Lowes.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 18.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/18.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I love, love, love how these curtains turned out. Because I had bought the IKEA panels so many months before, it practically felt like a $12 project, where I just had to buy the dye. :) And I think the color combo of the lemon and golden yellow colors really worked out perfectly, which was sort of a lucky break.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 17.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/17.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I think when I have some extra time I'll add a thick or even black out lining to these to add some weight and a clean white backside view from the front of the house (though the white roman shades help a bit with that for now).</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 15.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/15.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Have you had any successes with dying big projects like this? Have you used your tub or a tupperware container?</div>

DIY Yellow Curtains for the Playroom

There are only two bedrooms on the main floor of our house, the master bedroom and a large-ish room at the front of the house. For the first...

Read more »

Florals on Vintage Furniture

<center></center>Our bookshelves are almost doing being built! I'm so excited to get those installed in about a week! It's got me thinking a lot about furniture in the library. I think I want to float a daybed in front of the bookshelves. Something in a really modern shape would be pretty, I think. I love the simple shape of this one, and that slow curve on the headrest area is pretty much perfection. The legs are sort of weird though, right? A little too utilitarian?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-05-13at104837PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda006/ScreenShot2014-05-13at104837PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div>These legs are closer to what I'd want to do. This shot was from an eBay listing and above is from 1st Dibs.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-05-12at65938PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda006/ScreenShot2014-05-12at65938PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'd love to do a button detail on the cushion, but I think there would need to be at least one bolster to make it not feel like an army cot.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo resize.jpeg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda006/resize.jpeg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been looking online for something vintage, but I might try making one if nothing great pops up. It would be nice to get to choose the dimensions of the daybed too so it can fit in the library nicely. All the other pieces in the room are upholstered in solid color fabric and the drapes are probably going to be solid too, so I'm thinking the pillows and the daybed cushion would be a great place to have fun with pattern.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I can't stop thinking about how GORGEOUS this chintz looks on this Le Corbusier chair I saw on <a href="http://instagram.com/sarakatestudios" target="_blank">Sara Kate's instagram</a>. The contrast is so cool and fresh to me! Plus, that fabric is unreal. So, so pretty.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0464.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda006/IMG_0464.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Reminds me of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-office-chair.html" target="_blank">this office chair</a>. Unexpected fabrics on classic furniture shapes are really fun.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Picture7-1.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda006/Picture7-1.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This little chair makes my heart sing. I would love something like this in one of the girls rooms. :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 7562d769f9e220adac78bad2076e7f78.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda006/7562d769f9e220adac78bad2076e7f78.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />It would be easy to do just the bolster(s) of the daybed in a floral instead, if the whole cushion would be floral overload. So much of the battle though is finding the right pattern! I have some options in my fabric stash, but I kind of want something new and different. What's your favorite floral pattern right now?

Florals on Vintage Furniture

Our bookshelves are almost doing being built! I'm so excited to get those installed in about a week! It's got me thinking a lot abou...

Read more »

New John Widdicomb Louis-Style Chairs

<center></center>I've been having the best luck with thrift stores and vintage furniture shop finds since we moved here! I won't lie, it feels like a super-sweet consolation prize for leaving New York's great vintage shopping scene (which I had been really sad about). It might take a little more work to find the great pieces here - but they do exist and they are <i>cheap.</i> It feels a lot like Delaware did, where people either don't know what they have or they know and don't like it so are willing to part with things for a song. Which is still weird to me because, you know, the internet exists! Why not sell the stuff online? Not that I'm complaining about getting deals!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6862.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6862.jpg" /></div><br />I've lived in lots of different cities at this point and I think the best way to find new sources is to be willing to stop your car everywhere you go. Whenever you're driving, be watching for signs for thrift stores, used furniture and junk shops and even consignment stores. Don't ever judge a book (shop) by its cover (window displays/signage) either. Often times the weird new stuff will be  prominently displayed in the front and the great vintage finds will be tucked in the way back. This exact scenario played out for me a couple of days ago when I was driving around Scottsdale, waiting for my cracked iPhone screen to get repaired (why I don't have any real-time photos of the experience). I saw a consignment store had banners and balloons out front saying they were closing down, so I decided to pop in even though the place looked like it was going to be a major flop in the finds department.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6847.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6847.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a name="more"></a><br />I nearly turned right around about three steps into the store. It was almost completely empty except for a handful of oversized Tuscan stuff that is (was??) so popular here. But I kept walking around and found a back room area that had a pretty good selection of vintage things. The owners were moving things out of the room. Apparently they had officially closed down the day before. I did a quick once over and the only thing that really caught my eye was a dining set in the very back corner of the store. Six chairs and a table.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6849.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6849.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6851.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6851.jpg" /></div><br />I asked how much for the set even though I thought I wouldn't take it. Only $50. It was a steal. I went over to take a closer look at the set. The more I looked at the chairs, the more I wanted them. The proportions were perfect and I loved the elongated oval shape of the backs. The tight caning was in perfect condition and I really liked the style of the weave. So simple.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zIMG_6856.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/zIMG_6856.jpg" /></div><br />Then I flipped one of the chairs over and saw a flash of a gold name plate. That was a good sign.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6844.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6844.jpg" /></div><br />WHAT THE JOHN WIDDICOMB.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6839.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6839.jpg" /></div><br />No wonder the shape was just perfect and they weighed about a million pounds each. So solid.<br /><br />I told the sellers I would love to buy the set and asked if they were sure that $50 was enough. While I was asking that, my mind was racing with Do I or Don't I ethical questions about needing to tell them about what I figured was the real value of the set. And then the owner completely put me to ease by saying "Oh, aren't they great? Did you see they're by Widdicomb? I wish more people cared about great mid-century design here. I'd be happy to give them to you for $50 just so I don't have another set to load up on the truck."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6859.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6859.jpg" /></div><br />I still felt a little guilty, but I was also <i>so excited</i>. Find of the century for me! I've been wanting Louis chairs for a long time, but I've been too picky up until now to spend a ton of cash on brand new chairs. I'm so glad I waited. I gave Ali, my sister, the table already since I think we're going to use the old Drexel table like I mentioned before. I think the two styles will pair really nicely together!<br /><br />The same day I found this cute pair of swivel arm chairs for $30! I love the shape of the arms. They need to get reupholstered, but I think they're going to look amazing in a new fabric. I'm thinking maybe the library?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dIMG_5528.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/dIMG_5528.jpg" /></div><br />Since my luck was running so high that day, I also swung into Home Fabrics to look for a vinyl for the Louis chairs. BINGO.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6869.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6869.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Dark gray. Buttery soft. So much like leather in look and feel. Not thin, squeaky or sweaty like most vinyls. And is was only $6.99 a yard!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6868.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6868.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Most anything would be an improvement on the current fabric though. Looks like these chairs got a little face lift in the 80s. Time for some new clothes, ladies!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6858.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_6858.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Now to figure out what color I should paint the frames. My mom and I were talking about it and she suggested considering leaving them mostly as-is, just a good cleaning and brightening. I like the idea a lot and it might look good to have something a little more antique-y looking in the room, but I don't want them looking too vintage in the bad way. You know? If I go bright white though, they might look too new and cheap-looking. Black would be a similar result I think, unless I did a chalky, matte paint. But then, fingerprints! I could do a bright color, but I want to paint the lanterns red, so that would be overkill. I was also thinking about stripping the frames and doing sort of a limewash look... Lots to figure out!

New John Widdicomb Louis-Style Chairs

I've been having the best luck with thrift stores and vintage furniture shop finds since we moved here! I won't lie, it feels like a...

Read more »

JEM Fabrics Update

Just a little PSA today for my fellow New Yorkers: JEM Fabrics, one of my very favorite sources for super affordable velvets and trim (where I bought <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/01/custom-black-out-roman-shades.html" target="_blank">this trim</a>), is closing its doors this month. :( I'm so, so bummed for the very nice people that run the store (and also for myself).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0655.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_0655.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0665.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_0665.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3535.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3535.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />For the next two weeks they are selling everything at a deep discount, including furniture they had downstairs in the upholstery section. I stopped by yesterday and bought five yards of this laminated black linen (above) for a dining chair project and I also ended up buying this vintage tufted sofa for $100.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3537.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3537.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3539.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3539.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I don't need it, but it's comfy, and I've never been known to turn down a good piece of tufted furniture. I'm thinking it'd be pretty amazing reupholstered in a distressed black leather (I spied something perfect at <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-new-leather-source.html" target="_blank">my new leather source</a>). In the end, it might look a little something like this <a href="http://bit.ly/11aAzOW" target="_blank">Dwell Studio Chester sofa</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 92e6e86ba8fd37f023e1056603c74087.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/92e6e86ba8fd37f023e1056603c74087.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/" target="_blank">via SFgirlbybay</a></i></div><br />I passed on this gorgeous down-filled Baker camelback, which I'm regretting a bit. One of you should snag it though (also $100).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3530.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3530.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think it could look a bit like <a href="http://bit.ly/10OcPhZ" target="_blank">the Anthropologie Ditte</a> with a new upholstery job and a set of pretty <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/04/jazzing-up-cheap-chairs.html" target="_blank">brass caster cups</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 24347510_038_f.jpeg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/24347510_038_f.jpeg" /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: start;">I did end up buying 15 yards of this gorgeous deep blue-green-gray mohair to reupholster my <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/04/layering-floral-pillows.html" target="_blank">LEE roll-arm sofa</a>. So, so excited for that to happen. </div><div style="text-align: start;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3756.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3756.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3760.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3760.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>And now that my beloved JEM is going away, I'm feeling sadly short on affordable, interesting velvet sources. New Yorkers, am I missing out on any great places? Mood sometimes hooks me up, but all the other fabric stores in the garment district have left me empty-handed in the past when it comes to velvets. Trade fabrics are great, but sometimes there's just nothing like the hunt for something really one-of-a-kind feeling, you know?<br /><br />RIP, JEM. I'll miss you and your cool, worn painted plywood floors.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0664.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_0664.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

JEM Fabrics Update

Just a little PSA today for my fellow New Yorkers: JEM Fabrics, one of my very favorite sources for super affordable velvets and trim (where...

Read more »

HGTV Home Fabrics at Joanns

It seems rare to find on-trend and exciting fabric patterns at regular fabric stores like Joanns. Trellis patterns don't really do it for me any more, but I do like sort of more unique geometric patterns a lot. This one from the HGTV Home fabric line at Joann's stopped me in my tracks. The colors are so great and the pattern looks so high-end. Almost like something David Hicks would have designed.<br /><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2383.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2383.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The pattern also came in a blue/charcoal combo:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2374.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2374.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The whole line from HGTV Home was pretty great. And happily, most of the patterns were heavy enough to use for upholstery.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2377.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2377.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I liked the pattern within a pattern here on the chevron. It helps class it up I think.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2375.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2375.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2382.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2382.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I <i>loved</i> this gray and cream fabric below. I would totally put this on a pair of chairs or even a sofa. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2381.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2381.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

HGTV Home Fabrics at Joanns

It seems rare to find on-trend and exciting fabric patterns at regular fabric stores like Joanns. Trellis patterns don't really do it fo...

Read more »