living room decorating

<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm so excited to start sharing some of these beautiful living room tours with you! It makes me so happy to see real homes, filled with affordable AND beautiful furnishings along with lots of great DIY projects. I hope your as inspired as I am by these lovely bloggers!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">First up is Courtney from </span><a href="http://www.alittleglassbox.com/p/lil-diy-action.html" style="font-style: italic;">A Little Glass Box</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Here she is, sharing her lovely rowhouse living room with us...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic240.jpg" /></div><br />This past summer we moved from the East coast to the West coast. Coming from a 105 year old row house in Baltimore I was used to decorating small narrow spaces, but this rental house presented me with quite a design challenge. The living room is only 9.5x8 with three walls of windows. I immediately knew it would be difficult to incorporate color and texture without the help of wall art and the space for multiple upholstered pieces of furniture. However, I didn’t let this challenge deter us because this little house may be smaller than we were used to but it packed a lot of visual punch. The rustic wood ceilings were the original floors of the house before it had been rebuilt and the gorgeous light poured in from the windows making it impossible to do anything but embrace this space. Decorating it has been a labor of love but worth every minute because it has taught me a lot about using every inch of space.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic380.jpg" /></div><br />I purchased our couch from Macy’s in 2010 which is the perfect neutral jumping off point. We were worried that it would look too green against the grey stone flooring but it fits in perfectly with the help of the Dhurrie rug from West elm in Sorrel. The bench I am using as a coffee table is actually a craigslist find that was in some rough shape. With a coat of Rustoleum spray paint in Navajo white and some new fabric purchased from Calico Fabrics, I was able to give it new life.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic249.jpg" /></div><br />The room gets its rich layer of color by mixing different patterns of pillows and I am able to still enjoy some of my art work by hanging it lower than normal and in an unexpected location.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic242.jpg" /></div><br />The ‘spool ‘side table was actually made from an electrical wire spool that we nabbed for free from home depot after all of the electrical wire had been sold. We stained the discs with Behr’s semi transparent stain in Sable. It is wrapped with a bathroom rug purchased from West Elm to look like thread on the spool. It is one of my favorite pieces in the space. It is the perfect side table as well as some extra seating or book holder. In such a small space it is necessary for items to serve more than one purpose.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic334.jpg" /></div><br />This room also opens up to our entry way which meant that I needed to use this space to not only set the tone for the house once you walked in, but to act as our own little mudroom while looking pleasing when sitting in the living room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic177.jpg" /></div><br />I repurposed a hutch that was in our dining room in Baltimore and transformed it into decorative shelves by painting it Martha Stewart’s chinchilla grey and creating cardboard backing inserts with a pattern to mimic the look of wallpaper. It’s a great piece to hold my collections and also stores practical everyday items in the cabinet below.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic165.jpg" /></div><br />Because we don’t have an entry closet I simply added some hooks; baskets and a bench to increase our usable space. This is a trick I like to use as a previous professional organizer. My handy hubs helped me to create a coat rack out of spare wooden hangers we had laying around and some reclaimed wood. We love it. It now houses jackets, hats, and shoes for all of us, including our little man Oliver Tate. The stool was a retro flea market find that we simply recovered and it creates the perfect place to put down my purse. The basket, which is locally crafted, houses sticks and pinecones from our daily family walks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic370-1.jpg" /></div><br />We really have grown to love this space and it functions very well for us. It has been incredible in teaching me that the size of a room does not dictate or determine the design impact it will have or the ability it will have to make you happy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic241.jpg" /></div><br />Our design aesthetic is versatile, comfortable, eclectic and adaptable because I am always changing things around and our needs are always evolving. I hope this space can inspire others to think outside the box and explore alternative possibilities from the norm.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic318.jpg" /></div><br />Sources:<br /><br />Wall color is Whispering Wheat by Glidden<br /><br />Corona Couch in Stone from Macy’s<br /><br />Blue print pillow from John Robshaw called Ghana<br /><br />Orange print pillow from Z Gallerie<br /><br />Cream faux sheep pillows from last year’s winter collection at Pottery Barn<br /><br />Navajo pillow from Cost Plus World Market<br /><br />Dhurrie rug in sorrel from West Elm<br /><br />Small Leather poof from Goodwill<br /><br />Upholstered bench from Craigslist<br /><br />Fur throw from Restoration Hardware<br /><br />Side table from Goodwill with Anthropologie rhino head knobs<br /><br />Hutch shelving in entry from Trohv in Baltimore<br /><br />Lamp base purchased at Marshalls<br /><br />Lamp shade purchased from Trohv in Baltimore<br /><br />Mercury bubble glass vase from Marshalls<br /><br />Gold tray from Goodwill<br /><br />Picture frame from Homegoods<br /><br />Paper Mache bird from In Watermelon Sugar in Baltimore (sprayed in Rustoleum’s gold metallic paint)<br /><br />Entry way stool from San Francisco flea market<br /><br />Entry hutch painted Martha Stewart’s Chinchilla grey<br /><br />Stencil for cardboard inserts in the back of the hutch from Hobby Lobby<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you for sharing <a href="http://www.alittleglassbox.com/p/lil-diy-action.html">Courtney</a>!! Your living room and entry spaces are amazing!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you'd like to share your living room on LGN, email your submission to jenny at jennykomenda .com. </span>

Living Room Tour: A Little Glass Box

I'm so excited to start sharing some of these beautiful living room tours with you! It makes me so happy to see real homes, filled with ...

<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://thirdparty.fmpub.net/placement/453350?fleur_de_sel=[timestamp]" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This DIY is sponsored by </span><a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B247785739%3B73339171%3Bz&k4=2845&k5=%7Bbanner_id%7D" style="font-style: italic;">Home Depot</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. I'm so proud to be working with them on this content series where I'm reinventing old furniture and giving it a new life. I truly believe the best way to get higher quality furniture at a lower price point is to buy vintage pieces and repurpose them. Home Depot is dedicated to being eco-friendly and I think this type of recycling is a great step in the right direction. Thanks, Home Depot!</span><br /><br /><br />I really wanted a pair of tufted headboards for my girls rooms, but tufted pieces can be especially expensive! I picked up a pair of these vintage headboards for next to nothing at a thrift shop and thought I could probably come up with a way to reuse these rather than buying something new.<br /><br />I took a quick photo and then played around in photoshop with the placement of the tufts. Since there are a lot of curves in this piece it wasn't just a matter of doing some math, like with most tufting projects I've done.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2photo-2.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Once I had the tufting placement down, I started pulling off the old upholstery.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1156.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Underneath the top layer was a realllllly old piece of silk that was super sunbleached. I always love pulling apart old upholstery to see what fabrics are hiding.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1159.jpg" /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The part that hadn't bleached out was a gorgeous lilac. Played to my ombre obsession :)</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1173.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I used this underneath fabric to mark out my tufting design. The basic  idea is to keep everything in straight rows and then offset the rows,  like laying bricks or drawing polkadots. The rows will line up  diagonally and horizontally.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1164.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Then I pulled off that bottom layer of fabric and batting so that all that was left was the wooden frame.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1169.jpg" /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I used some of the batting to mark off the shape of my foam. I used the batting instead of the fabric because I needed to foam to be cut a little short so it would be pretty far inset from the bed frame.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1177.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The foam I used here was a repurpose too. I used some camping foam! It's such a cheap way to buy 2" or 3" foam.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1180.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I used a serrated knife to cut out the shape, but I wish I had an electric knife. Those work so well for cutting foam.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1183.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The foam fit perfectly inside the frame, right where I wanted it, about an inch in.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1184.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I used a combination of the serrated knife and a pair of scissors to shave down the corners of the foam at about a 45 degree angle.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1189.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1192.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I cut some small holes in my fabric guide so I could draw some registration marks on the frame.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1195.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1200.jpg" /></div><br />I had jotted down all the measurements on the fabric guide too, so it was easy to quickly double check my marks.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1197.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I drilled through the frame with a 1/4" drill bit. It's a good idea to drill pretty large holes in your frame backing to make the tufting go faster.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1203.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Once the holes were drilled, I layed the frame on top of the foam and marked the tuft placement by poking a sharpie through the drill holes.<br /><br />The next step is vital to getting the deep-tuft look. You have to take out all the foam where each button will go. I just use a little paring knife to cut a simple hole around the registration mark.  You want the hole to be sort of angled so the opening is wider and the bottom of the hole is about the size of your buttons.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1204.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One the foam is cut in an angled circle, you just have to grab the cut piece, pull, swirl and rip. This part goes so quickly!</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1207.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You can cut or pick out addition foam as needed to created the right shape for the tufting holes.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1210.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I used my trusty can of spray glue to affix the back of the foam to the bed frame. You really want the foam to stay put during the tufting process so this step is important.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1212.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Cover the foam with a layer of high-loft batting.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1216.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Lay down your fabric on top of that and round up an extra long needle (mine's about 5") and some upholstery thread (Don't use regular thread here. It needs to be upholstery thread).<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1218.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Turn on a show and enlist a cute little helper who is eager to push back bedtime.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1223.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I skipped explaining the step about making my own buttons because there are lots of different companies that make button covering kits and they all have different instructions. So just pick up a kit and some refill packs and follow the instructions on the back. I used 5/8" buttons here. Also I always use a little dollop of Magnatac glue when I make my own buttons, just to reinforce the hold, especially when using thick fabrics like velvet.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay so <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">here's the tufting process:</span><br /><br />1) Double up your upholstery thread and thread your long needle. I use two arm-lengths of thread each time and I can get two buttons done with that.<br /><br />2) Your first tuft should be the middle hole in the very top row.<br /><br />3) Your needle should pass first through the back hole, through the middle of your foam divot, and finally though your batting and fabric.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1224.jpg" /></div><br />4) Leave about six inches of thread hanging in back and then thread your button in front. Because you doubled up your upholstery thread, four individual threads should be on your button.<br /><br />5) Trying to keep all your threads tidy, pass the needle back through the foam and hole in the frame. It might take a few pokes to find the hole again since you're searching blindly, but it gets easier after a few tries.<br /><br />6) Now pinch your button and sort of push and wiggle it down into the foam divot. At the same time, pull the threads from behind the frame.<br /><br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1226.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">{Next, get excited because that looks like a real, legit tuft. Also, send your little helpers to bed because it's after 8:00. Then enlist your sweet sister in law, who's in town visiting with her cute new husband, to lend a helping hand.}<br /><br />7) With your helper pushing the button as far in as possible, pull the threads in back very tight and staple them down on to the frame. Pull the threads in the opposite direction and staple in again. Repeat a couple times and tap in the staples with a hammer to make sure the staples are flush and in there tight.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1264.jpg" /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8) Here's the most important thing I can share with you here:</span> Work in rows. Start with the middle button and work your way out in the row. Then start the next row in the middle again and work your way out.<br /><br />Once you finish your first row and are ready to start the next row, play with your fabric and start making folds in a diamond shape. It's surprising how easily the fabric naturally folds into the diamond shape. The goal is for the surface of the upholstery to be smooth and as tight as possible. For a professional look, you want all the extra fabric to go in the folds.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1235.jpg" /><br /><br /></div></div>Rather that placing your tuft wherever your needle appears and having to deal with the consequences with the folds later, CHOOSE where your button will go by making the folds first and sort of pushing your fingers in the foam divot. You'll know exactly where to put that needle and the button.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1234.jpg" /></div><br />Keep working away, going row by row, starting from the center and working out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1237.jpg" /></div><br />Once all the tufts are done, the back of your frame looks like this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1262.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">9) Staple around the perimeter of the headboard between the foam and the frame.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1244.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Another important part:</span> Keep in mind that all interior folds should be in the diagonal/diamond shape. All the extra fabric around the perimeter of the headboard should go into vertical or horizontal straight line folds. Try to keep everything tight and smooth.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1246.jpg" /></div><br />Almost there!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1247.jpg" /></div><br />10) Next I trimmed away all the extra fabric and batting. Try to get as close to the staples as possible.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1255.jpg" /></div><br />11. I decided I wanted to lightly touch up the frame. I always love the look of a crusty old frame with bright and clean new upholstery! But this frame was looking more dingy, less patina-ed, so I brushed on a little bit of white glaze and some of my favorite Ralph Lauren paint in Parlor Gold. Just a little bit of each though, so the frame still looked old.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1261.jpg" /></div><br />All ready for the last step: trimming!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1256.jpg" /></div><br />I used <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html">these steps</a> to make matching piping out of the same velvet. I think the cording I used was 1/4". Nice and thick so it fills in the gap between the foam and the frame with all the staples and the fabric/batting mess.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1268.jpg" /></div><br />I just used my favorite glue, Magnatac, to glue the piping in place. Use a generous amount, but be careful not to drip. It's really hard to get this glue off velvet especially.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_1270.jpg" /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All done! I know I always say this, but this project was so fast and easy. I started the project last night just after dinner time and was done after the Republican debate and two Walking Dead episodes. Not too bad!<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_7997.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I was so glad to be able to reuse those old headboards to get the exact look I wanted for my girls bedroom! I love the shape and it makes me so happy to have these special pieces in my home rather than a pair of more expensive and generic headboards from a place like Target or Urban Outfitters.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/3IMG_7991.jpg" /></div><br />

How to Upholster a Framed Diamond Tufted Headboard

This DIY is sponsored by Home Depot . I'm so proud to be working with them on this content series where I'm reinventing old furnitur...

living room decorating

Living Room Tour: A Little Glass Box

How to Upholster a Framed Diamond Tufted Headboard

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