Family Room Makeover in Progress

I have been working on my family room for years. It keeps getting pushed to the back burner. Ever have one of those rooms?

repurposed coffee table

When we first moved in, we removed carpet. Then lived with plywood subfloors for a few years before finally installing bamboo flooring.

calibamboo

I painted the French doors a beautiful Benjamin Moore Pacific Ocean blue with glazing when I created a door pediment from an old headboard…

turquoise french doors.jpg

And the old hunter green striped LaZBoy sofa was great quality but I was thrilled when it got slipcovered…

before

hunter green striped sofa

after

Comfort Works slipcover, living room, beach theme

And then I saved my money to order the Waverly Santa Maria Desert Flower fabric I had to have to make curtains. That fabric sat untouched for a year. I finally got the curtains sewn but not hemmed although you couldn’t tell in photos.

DIYShowOff family room tour.jpg

It’s a room that I tend to decorate here and there, one we rarely use so it gets cluttered up, but it’s never really been finished.

Until now. With the help of Overstock.com, this room is getting “polished”… i.e. “completed”. I also want it to function more as a studio/work space too since it has great lighting. It’s finally happening!

If you’ve ever shopped at Overstock, you know there’s a great selection of all things home related at great prices. And I love shopping the WorldStock section for beautiful handmade home decor and furniture. 60-70% of the purchase price goes back to the artisan and suppliers! 

Here’s a sneak peek at my Overstock order. Definitely eclectic…just the way I like it! Some things will have a bit of a DIY spin.

overstock makeover

 

  1. Will H. Bradley ‘Modern Poster’ Canvas Art
  2. Megan Romo ‘Fair V’ Canvas Art
  3. Fuchsia Mulberry Thai Silk Cushion Cover
  4. Goldtone Blue, Black and Brown Thread Earrings (India)
  5. Iron Wall Mounted Deer Head Figurine (India)
  6. ‘Spring Romance’ Cotton Wall Hanging
  7. Michael Tompsett ‘World Map – Navy’ canvas art
  8. Walnut Espresso Criss Cross Table
  9. TRIBECCA HOME Swindon Rustic Oak Turnbuckle Dining Bench
  10. Casa Cortes Vintage Adjustable Metal Bar Stool
  11. ‘Canyon’ 18-inch Tweed Braided Basket
  12. WallPops Kolkata Stripe Stairs Decal Pack
  13. White and Navy Hotel Shower Curtain
  14. Small Tesy Residence

SEE THE FULL REVEAL HERE

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Update: Winners are MINDY Y. who tweeted about the giveaway and BRANDY with this comment: Something I would add to my wish list is paint for every room in my house, including all the little things like tape, items to remove wallpaper, etc… Wallpaper…..the reason I have not painted before now!

CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES! Please respond to the email I’ve sent to claim your prize within 24 hours (updated due to previous winner not responding/new winner chosen). 

$100 OverStock Gift Card Giveaway

But wait! There’s more! Overstock is generously donating a $100 gift card to TWO DIYShowOff readers! Two ways to enter to win:

FIRST:  Visit OverStock.com. Come back here and leave a comment below sharing what you’d add to your wish list. One comment per visitor. One winner will be chosen at random from the comments on 11/14/13.

THEN:  For more chances to win, stay up-to-date with DIYShowOff and share the giveaway via the entries on the Rafflecopter form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

Disclosure: I was provided OverStock store credit to makeover an area in my home and to host an OverStock giveaway. All opinions are in my own words and my own experience. OverStock has been one of my go-to online shopping sources for years…just one of those places I check out when searching for home decor or gifts. 🙂 

DIY Alphabet Burlap Cork Board Message Center

Hello DIY friends! One of my favorite stores is Michaels – although it’s one of those stores that I can’t run in for just one thing because I end up with a cart full of the cutest decorative accents and more materials for my craft stash. You too, right? Well, Michaels just announced the addition of pre-cut craft fabric to the thousands of creative products available in its stores, providing us with one-stop shopping for DIY projects. This is BIG HUGE news when you live in a smaller city with only one local fabric store! While I was there, I also discovered that Michaels sells a complete line of sewing supplies as well…this cuts my shopping time in half. One store instead of two. Bonus!

DIY burlap message center

Michaels supplied me with this awesome stash of fabric as a part of a promotion for their new line of home decor fabric. Isn’t it darling? 

Michaels fabric line

The alphabet burlap is ADORABLE! and a perfect match for my craft room so I decided I would make myself a burlap covered corkboard message center to help keep me organized. Cork board, Chalk board, Clip board AND burlap? That’s what I’m talking about! A fun combo!

Materials:

  • 36″ x 24″ framed corkboard
  • Crafty Cuts alphabet burlap
  • 4 pieces of thin wood trim (Michael’s also sells a small miter box & saw)
  • Black spray paint (or you could probably get away with one can of chalkboard spray paint)
  • Spray adhesive
  • 3 clipboards
  • Chalkboard spray paint
  • Hot glue (and hot glue gun)
  • Embellishments
  • Push pins

Corkboard/Chalkboad/Clipboard Message Center Tutorial:

DIY message center

1. Measure and (miter) cut small trim pieces to fit inside of the corkboard’s frame. 

DIY burlap covered cork board

2. Iron burlap. I used my iron’s highest setting and sprayed water (not steamed) to get out wrinkles. Iron both sides. 

ironing burlap

3. Measure inside of corkboard frame and cut a piece of the burlap to those measurements (mine was 34.5″ x 22.5″). If you subtract 1/4″, it will save you from having to trim the fit later. If it’s a smidge small, it’s okay (and actually better) and will be hidden by the added wood trim later. Set fabric piece aside. 

alphabet burlap

4. Spray paint the corkboard frame and trim pieces black. I was okay with imperfect coverage for a distressed look. (You could also sand edges when dry.) No need to tape the corkboard since it’ll be covered later. Let paint dry. 

DIY burlap corkboard message center

5. Give the cut burlap piece a coat of spray adhesive on the back side.  (I do this outside because of the overspray but be mindful of the wind direction blowing the adhesive spray mist as well as when picking up the sticky burlap, not to touch/fold which mine did but easily quickly pulled apart.) Immediately move to step 6.

DIY burlap covered cork board message center

6. Working from the middle out, smooth the burlap over the corkboard (inside the frame). It’ll be reposition-able right away if needed. 

DIY burlap covered cork board

7. Next I used hot glue to attach my small mitered trim pieces over the burlap edges, right next to the inside of the corkboard frame. This covers the edge of the burlap.

DIY burlap covered cork board

If you need to re-cut a mitered piece or accidentally scratch the black paint finish, simply fix it with a black Sharpie.

DIY burlap covered cork message center

8. Embellish as desired. My mitered edges surprisingly were a great fit after the mitered cut fix above, but these adorable flower embellishments attached with hot glue would work for covering a not so professional {tricky cuts!} mitered fit too. 

flower embellishments

9. Clipboards: Remove metal clip hardware, coat with chalkboard paint, let dry and repeat a second coat and let dry. 

chalkboard clipboard

10. Season chalkboard by rubbing the length of a piece of chalk over the complete surface then erasing. 

seasoning chalkboard

11. Re-attach clips. I found that using a twist tie to hold the clip open then lining up screws made reattaching the clip to the board a lot easier (because of the spring in the clip). Once screws are in place and tightened, remove twist tie. 

reattaching clipboard hardware

12. Embellish chalkboard clipboards if desired. I numbered mine and added some cute stickers. 

decorating chalkboard clipboard

13. Hang! Corkboard should come with hanging hardware but large Command strips will work too. 

alphabet burlap message center

It’s perfect for my black, natural, vintage inspired craft room. Lovin’ it!

craft room

There’s a lot of “stuff” in this room but it is clean and organized!

craft room / home office

I was provided with fabric and a Michaels gift card to complete the challenge. Michaels.com and Michaels Pinterest Boards feature project ideas that use fabric, including throw pillowslamp shadeschair seat covers, and bracelets. Laminated burlap, a Michaels limited exclusive, can be fed through most home printers to add personalized messages and images to fabric projects…I want to try that next!

Summer Home Tour

Welcome to the Summer Tour of Homes Day 2! If you’re following along and just popped over from visiting Emily’s gorgeous home at Decor Chick, welcome guests!

Summer Tour of Homes

I’m so excited to participate in Day 2 of the Summer Tour of Homes hosted by Gina at the Shabby Creek CottageIt’s my favorite time of year! Longer days for productivity and lots of DIY.

DIYShowOff Summer Home Tour

Are you ready for LOTS of pictures? I hope so! summer chalkboard

Most of our summer is spent outdoors. We do a lot of summer entertaining, hosting BBQs and family cook-outs. So making our outdoor areas pretty is where our tour begins…

barn patio

We have a bank barn which we use for storage (much like a huge garage), but the bottom part opens up into our BIG party gathering space in the summer where we can set up volley ball in the yard and sit around a bon fire.

teeny tiny scary before picture…

barn before

The barn patio area provides a covered space for setting up a picnic buffet for entertaining or a quiet place for relaxing. Improvements are still on the DIY ‘to-do’ list but you can see it’s a big improvement already. This area has been a great location for grad parties, a co-ed baby shower BBQ, a fashion photo shoot, family reunions, picnics and cook outs.

barn patio makeover

outdoor entertaining

outdoor living

party patio

barn party patio

red and turquoise patio

Sources: DIY painted foam playmat art tutorial, tire planter tutorial coming soon, DIY tissue paper poufs and banner, old weathered door/barrel buffet, spray-painted accessories (Rustoleum Lagoon), turquoise crocheted accent pillow (Target), red petunias, outdoor area rug (Better Homes & Gardens, WalMart), red accent pillows (Target), blue mason jar vase, red outdoor fabric table cloth (Kmart), DIY framed chalkboard. 

The patio off the back of our home also got a mini-makeover last month with some cleaning, refreshening accents with some spray paint, some re-arranging, flowers and a few new decorative touches…

(see the before the patio and installation)

before

patio-before

patio makeover

patio-makeover

patio makeover

The patio swing was looking a little tired and inspired an outdoor swing/daybed makeover patio daybed

My hubby’s favorite hobby is cooking and having fresh herbs near the French doors to the kitchen is convenient. Decorative and functional with our free standing pallet herb garden

free standing pallet herb garden

patio accents

One of the things I loved about the property when we purchased our home was the mature huge grape arbor. It was very rickety but the grapes were plentiful…

before

grape arbor before

We rebuilt the framing and added a gazebo to the center…

grape arbor gazebo

This year we’re recycling a pile of old bricks for a paved walkway and seating area underneath the gazebo (more on that coming up this summer). Again, a work currently in progress, but check out those vines! LOVE!

grape arbor gazebo

It’s been a while since I’ve done a home tour. Things are mostly the same with some rearranging but here are some most recent pictures. Our house before was down right disgusting and scary but we saw past that to the potential…location, charm, character, size. But definitely a true fixer upper. 

kitchen (links to kitchen before/after, more pictures, DIY door clock tutorial, spice loft, sliding ladder, marble subway tiled backsplash how-to, painting cabinets, cook book library, etc.)

farmhouse kitchen makeover

kitchen tour

before

kitchen before

 after…

farmhouse kitchen

farmhouse kitchen tour

eclectic farmhouse kitchen

eclectic kitchen tour

The French doors lead right to our patio. It’s so convenient for entertaining and hosting BBQs. The sun sets on the other side of the house so evenings are shaded and comfortable. Perfect for alfresco summer dining. 

before…

farmhouse kitchen before

farmhouse kitchen before

now…DIYShowOff kitchen tour

powder room before and after

powder room

dining room

before

dining room before

now…

diningroom tour

diningroom makeover

DIYShowOff diningroom

farmhouse dining room

eclectic dining room

DIYShowOff dining room

I’m always re-arranging the sitting room. It’s gets a makeover about once a month. It’s an ever changing multi-functional space. Sometimes it’s a sitting room, sometimes a dining area or mudroom.

before

sitting room before

This month, it’s a small office/work space…

office space eclectic hallway DIYShowOff Home Tour sitting room

DIY: no sew script drop cloth curtains, wall mounted pallet shelf, French doors, slate floors, pet gate, globe light fixture cover.

half-globe-light-cover

Our stairway landing hasn’t changed at all. I just love it the way it is. For now.

stair landing

And the family room is still a work in progress so these are a bit of a reveal since I haven’t shared little things in this room before, but fun DIY art and lots of color adds a touch of summer…

family room

Still a lot of DIY planned for this room!

DIYShowOff family room tour.jpg

headboard door pediment tutorial

turquoise french doors.jpg

family room accents.jpg.jpg

DIY chevron garden sign, painted thrift store candlesticks, Today will be the Best Day sign, DIY curtains (fabric is Waverly Santa Maria Desert Flower), window/chandelier coffee table, and a DIY chandelier planter tutorial coming soon.

chandelier planter.jpg

eclectic family room makeover.jpg

free standing fireplace surround with pallet shelving faux fireplace with pallet shelving

eclectic family room tour.jpg

Last but not least, even CocoRosie, our Italian Greyhound, enjoys the summer weather with her shaded dog bed

DIY shaded dog bed

Whew! Lots to see, right? Thanks for sticking around if you made it through it all! You can see more room by room before/after and DIY at the DIY Show Off Home Tour

Are you all set for summer? Don’t forget to link up your summer home tour on Friday, June 7th at the Shabby Creek Cottagesummer-tour-of-homes-schedule

DAY 1 (June 3rd)

2 – The Nester @ Nesting Place
3 – Mandi @ Vintage Revivals
5 – Ashley @ The Handmade Home
6 – Kristin @ The Hunted Interior
 

DAY 2 (June 4th)

1 – Beckie @ Infarrantly Creative
3 – Chris @ Just a Girl
4 – Brooke @ All Things Thrifty
5 – Karen @ The Graphics Fairy
6 – Emily @ Decor Chick
7 – Roeshel @ DIY Show Off
 

DAY 3 (June 5th)

1 – Melissa @ The Inspired Room
2 – Wendy @ The Shabby Nest
3 – Donna @ Funky Junk Interior
4 – Marianne @ Songbird
7 – Brittany@ PrettyHandyGirl
 

DAY 4 (June 6th)

1- Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality
2- Traci @ Beneath My Heart
3-Stacy @ Not Just a Housewife
4-Jen @ Jennifer Rizzo
5-Lindsay @ Makely Home
6-Sandra @ Sawdust Girl