Utility Room Makeover

Needing additional storage for my utility/laundry room, I took measurements of the space and tried to recreate the look of a built-in, but without the cost. I wanted something that was functional as well as attractive (maybe could serve as motivation to spend more time in there and tackle that heap of dirty clothes!?). Sketching out my vision helped me and my husband get a better idea of what we wanted from the space and how everything would fit.

I'm really pleased with the end results. For the shelving unit, I bought two inexpensive white bookcases, some shelf brackets, a cafe rod and hooks, 1.25 yards of fabric. The fabric curtain conceals our vacuum cleaner and floor mop, along with the cleaning solution we use with it. The three hooks for purses/backpacks/umbrellas, are screwed into some scrap moulding left over from another project.

For the chalkboard on the back of the door, I repurposed a 22x28 poster frame by spray-painting it with a can of clearanced blue paint, then put two coats of chalkboard paint on a piece of thin beech plywood, cut to size. My husband assembled it and mounted it on the door with heavy duty contact strips. (Now, I just need to buy some chalk so we can use the thing!)

I "shopped" my house for accents that weren't otherwise in use (red mirror, flowers, artwork, red media boxes) and I consolidated some storage in my daughter's room to be able to use the white baskets in the utility.

Altogether, the project cost came to about $70! And, although I can't say I adore doing laundry or other housework now, I certainly like being able to find things quickly with labeled storage containers, and the cheery decor certainly helps my attitude.

Monogrammed Nursery Artwork

With two weeks until my due date, my son's nursery is now complete. I opted not to do a themed nursery, instead choosing three colors to repeat throughout the room. The color scheme is anchored with homemade artwork above the crib.

Here are the steps for this monogrammed art project:

Supplies

- 12"x12" art canvas

- acrylic paints

- paintbrushes

- ruler

- stencil letter (or find a font that you can freehand)

- level

- painter's tape (optional)

- trim from hardware store

- spray paint

- wood glue

- wood filler

- picture frame wire and eyehooks

- mounting strips

Canvas

• Using a ruler and pencil, divide your 12"x12" canvas into three horizontal sections for the stripes (each would be 4 inches deep).
• Trace the letter with a stencil or eyeball it using a font you like as a template.
• Stipple (paint small dots) the three stripes with the acrylic colors you've chosen, making sure to continue stripes around the sides of the canvas. Let dry.
• Paint the letter with a contrasting color with a thin paintbrush or paint marker.

Mat

• Measure a 24"x24" square on your wall.
• Using the same color as the letter on your canvas, paint the square. (You can use painter's tape as a guide for best accuracy, but the trim should cover up any imperfections later.)
• Consider adding a second coat, especially if your wall is textured.

Frame

• Select a 2-inch trim/moulding style from your local hardware store (usually sold in long pieces by the foot).
• Cut into four 2-ft pieces with corners at 45-degree angles. Some stores have cutting stations that you could use without having to own a saw at home.
• Assemble with wood glue and filler at the seams, making sure that the end result is square (90-degree corners with no warping).
• Spraypaint the frame (two coats recommended) and let dry.

Assembly

• Attach mounting strips to the back of the frame and hang on wall. Screws or nails on the top corners could be added for extra reinforcement.
• Screw in two eyehooks to the upper back corners of your canvas and thread picture wire through the loops.
• Hang in the center of the painted mat with a nail.
• Step back and admire the results!

Free Download: Baby Care Chart

Are you a bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived parent of a newborn (as I soon will be, come August)? Track your baby's feeding, diapering and sleeping patterns. These are handy to take to your pediatrician appointments in the early weeks when you can't even remember what you had for dinner, let alone the 10 times your baby ate that day!

I've made these charts available in three different colors; just print off several copies and fill in.

• Pink chart
• Green chart
• Blue chart

Old Window Shutters

If you find some old plantation shutters at a rummage sale or antique store (or, in my case, if your mom has a few extra taken off the windows from her 1930s home), consider this simple project.

1) Clean with a mild bleach solution and consider repainting depending on the shutters' condition.

2) Hinge the shutters together to span the desired length for your wall hanging. I wanted my shutters to afford our queen-size bed a more substantial-looking headboard, so I had my husband attach 4 medium width panels and 2 small width panels together.

3) Drill pilot holes in wall, and using anchors, screw in all four corners. You'll need to add more screws in the middle of the wall hanging if you want it flush. Otherwise, leaving it loose in the middle will achieve a more multi-dimensional look (almost like there is a window behind the slightly ajar shutters).

Father's Day Photo Display

This photo display will be a surprise for Father's Day; it's a collection of endearing moments between daughter and daddy. It could also be adapted for a graduation display, baby shower, birthday or any other holiday. Here are the steps to this easy project:

1) Collect an assortment of clear jars (e.g., pickle, jam, olive, applesauce, etc.).
2) Thoroughly clean jars.
3) Remove the labels by soaking in vinegar and water .
4) Let jars air dry.
5) Measure the approximate height and width of each jar. Don't worry about being perfectly accurate, because you can always trim the photos to fit later.
6) Select your favorite digital photos and convert them to black and white for a gallery effect.
7) Re-size them to the custom sizes in Photoshop (or another photo editing program) to fit the jars.
8) Print out the photos on photo paper at home.
9) Slip the photos into the jars.
10) Arrange on table, shelf, window sill or mantle to display.

Citrus Infusion

What do you get when you combine a 99-cent bag of lemons and a homeowner who's ready for some summer color?

Citrus-inspired redecorating, my friend, and all on the cheap! Here are all my "supplies," purchased from a dollar store and fabric clearance store that totaled $30. I knew that I could incorporate these tangerine, lemon and turquoise accents into my neutral living and dining rooms to usher in a fresh, summery look--and I wanted to share the results.

1) Cover accent pillows with new fabric. I used no-sew ironing hem tape to temporarily cover these pillows (admittedly, I'm not handy with a sewing machine...yet!)

2) Change out candles and fill glass containers with fresh fruit. My mantel got the easiest treatment, but with big impact. The fruit and candles add nice color and wonderful fragrance, too. These lemons will make great lemonade in a week or so, and I can always swap them out for some oranges or another inexpensive, seasonal fruit.

3) Add accents in the center of the room and at the corners of adjoining rooms. On the coffee table (left), I positioned this orange and white kitchen towel under the glass of a serving tray and topped it off with a tea light candle and yellow daisies in a decorative pot with river rocks as mulch. A sea-blue accent filled with potpourri sits on our record player (right), dividing the living and dining rooms.

4) Use potted annuals for pops of color that last longer than cut flowers. Reserving the brighter colors for the living room, I still wanted to freshen up the adjoining dining room, but with a more subtle palette. I brought in the outdoors with this centerpiece. A small, natural weave rug anchors the planter I found in my garage, which holds three potted flowers nestled in a row. The foliage and blossoms serve to fill in the gaps on the edges of the container without having to add extra soil.

5) Enlist the help of an adorable toddler. Here, my 2-year-old daughter reveals a shot of the whole room for you all. She loved counting the lemons to put in the glass vase and bowl, and in spite of Mommy's instructions not to touch the flowers, she's still bringing me daisy blossoms she has plucked from the arrangements...sigh. I don't really mind. :)

Double Duty

Admittedly, at two years old, my baby girl is no longer a baby, so we recently transitioned her out of her crib into a full-size bed. We used her old crib to make a headboard for the new bed, even though it wasn't a convertible crib, per se.

This repurposing project worked out great because even though we have a baby on the way who will need a crib, our old crib was a drop-side, used crib that we were no longer comfortable with due to all the crib recalls and safety issues. I feel perfectly justified buying a new crib for the new baby, especially since we were able to repurpose the old one instead of tossing it.
Here's the finished headboard. Basically, my husband took the two ends of the crib and used metal brackets to attach them at the back. Then, he used furniture wall straps to tether the headboard to the wall--nice and secure. This headboard could fit up to a queen-size bed, and I love that my daughter still has a piece of her babyhood with her as she sleeps.