Let the Fall DIY Decorating Begin!: Fall Banner DIY

Now that the Labor Day festivities have finished and we’ve officially settled into September. It’s time to think about FALL! At least for me it is. Fall is my favorite season. I love the bright colors, the crisp air, and warm bonfires. It’s such a cozy and beautiful time of year. 

I live in Virginia, which means that even though it's September it's still about 90 degrees during the day. But I am originally from PA where fall really did begin in September. I can remember going pumpkin picking in sweaters by mid-September when I was younger but that's no longer the case here in VA. 

Regardless of the temperature, in my world once we pass Labor Day it's time to break out the fall decorations and begin making fall festival plans! This year I finally have a mantle to decorate so I spent this weekend getting the decorations ready. 

The fireplace banner has become popular the last year or so and while you can buy gorgeous pre-made ones in the store, they are usually pricey and I get more satisfaction out of decorations that I can make myself or add my personal touch to. 

So here is how you can make your very own fall fireplace banner.

First you will need to gather your supplies. You will need:

• Burlap (I bought fall themed burlap at Michaels -- it was about $5 for 9 feet)
• Scissors
• Twine
• Stapler or craft glue (I prefer a stapler)
• Measuring Tape
• Fabric Marker or decorative paint

Next you will have to measure your fireplace and mantel and decide how many space you want your banner to take up. Once you have done that you then can decide on the size of your squares or rectangles.

I created rectangles because of the look I wanted. They are 6 inches high and 5 inches wide. I then proceeded to cut 4 rectangles that were the exact same size.

Once your squares or rectangles are cut, you want to lay them out flat on the counter. You want to measure out the length of your twine. I used about 3.5 feet of twine. I planned to have 2 inches of space in between my rectangles when  they were hanging. But the distance is completely up to you -- use your own digression. Now that you've gotten your twine ready, you want to grab your craft glue or stapler. 

You want to flip your burlap over so that the side you want facing out is facing down on the counter. My burlap has pumpkins and gourds printed on it but you can use any kind, including plain burlap. Once your squares or rectangles are flipped over you want to either glue or staple the flap down. If you're using glue you want to be careful to only put it at the bottom of the flap so that you can still thread your twine through the flap. If you're using a stapler then you can just thread the twine through or put the twine under the flap before stapling because it will still be able to slide through for space adjustments. Once all of your pieces have their flaps glued or stapled down it's time to thread the twine through if you haven't already. Don't worry about the length on either end of the banner, you can adjust that and cut off any extra after you hang it.

Now that your banner is assembled it's time to add your letters. I spelled out Fall but you could spell our autumn or leaves or whatever you may like, just make sure each letter has it's own square, I used a fabric marker that I got from Rite Aid to create my letters. I liked how thick it was and I had more control over it than a paint brush. But if you have a steadier hand than me go ahead and use the paint! I went over my letters a few times with the marker to get it as dark as I wanted. Burlap isn't easy to color on! Once your letters are on your squares let it dry a few minutes. Then you are ready to hang it!

Above is my mantle with my fall banner. I also used a leaf and acorn fall garland that I found for $10 at a local fabric store. The rest of my mantel is from Home Goods. I simply took a large clear jar and put fall pauperie in it. I placed a ceramic jar by it. And on the other side is an orange vase I also found at Home Goods with decorative sticks in, I use those sticks with my normal blue vases but they also fit this decor so I used them for my fall mantel as well. Feel free to mix and match your fall banner with any and all of your mantel decorations.

And as always ENJOY! :)

Curtains: Often overlooked and often wrongly hung

Today we’re going to talk about curtains. You know the fabric that covers your windows to keep the sun out or to add some color and flair to a room. What I am sure many of you don’t know is the proper way to hang them.

 

Curtains are easily over looked because they are a basic decor item but they also tend to be added as an afterthought. All of this is fine, however, many people don’t hang their curtains properly which then gives their living rooms, dining rooms, and a bedrooms a less than polished look.

My dad works in the textile industry—specifically in window treatments. Therefore, I pick out the wrong curtains or hang them poorly, I am sure to be ridiculed by him. But really the rules for window treatments and curtains are simple.

It’s the 1 inch up and 1 inch over rule.

When hanging curtain rods before putting up your sconces or your rod holders you want to measure—measure one inch to the left of the window and one inch to the right of the window then make a teeny tiny pencil mark. Next you want to go to both marks you just made and measure one inch up for both of them and put another teeny tiny pencil mark. You now can erase your first pencil marks because you no longer need them.

Once you follow the one inch up and one inch over rule, you can secure your sconces or rod holders and then begin to hang your curtains. The length of your curtains will vary depending on your personal style and room. But there are a few rules that hold true no matter what your style is. Below there is a picture for the dos of curtains and the don’ts. And just like everything else, there are rules or guidelines rather on how to hang your curtains and what they should loosely look like.

This is an absolute no.

This however, is a yes. It's simply and pretty. Perfectly hung and perfect length.

The first is that there are such things are too long curtains. If you want floor length curtains that is perfectly, but when measuring for length be sure that the bottom of the curtains just barely kiss the floor.  Do NOT let your curtains ball up on the floor. It’s not as attractive looking as you may think, it’s also again the window treatment world.

Since we just too long, there are also too short curtains also. Your curtains should just kiss your window sill, they should not be 2 inches higher or lower. This is also something that you may think looks okay to have a few extra or less inches, but it doesn’t. The only time you want to have shorter “curtains” is if you are doing a window scarf over your base curtains.

The length rules only apply to your base or background curtains. If you are going to use some decorative scarfs over top then you have much more leeway in length but for your simple, basic curtain length is important—too long or too short will wreck the whole flow of your room, which is not something that any one wants.

And there you have it! Now you can hang curtains correctly and also rather quickly. Remember one inch up and one inch over and you’ll be golden!

  

Embrace the Accent Color, I Promise It's Okay

So many of us fear the accent color. For me, I was always worried that I'd pick the wrong color and it would clash or it would completely take over the room and then I'd be stuck with an obnoxious looking living room. But with time and many hours spent watching HGTV, I began to dip my toes in the accent color world.

Everyone's personal style is different, which is why accent colors are great. You can bring an accent color into any room, through glass vases, pillows, rugs, artwork, or even a statement wall or statement piece of furniture. There is no right or wrong way to incorporate color. Repeat it with me, there is no right or wrong way to incorporate color. This is something that many of us don't realize. And it's a misconception that we all need to throw away now.

If you're afraid of some color start small or start subtle. I took the subtle route.

My first place on my own (well with my fiance too) was a dated 500 square foot studio apartment. Thankfully I had a lot of closet space. But the amount of living space was cramped. Our bedroom, living room, and dining room were literally all the same room. This made things difficult not only from a design and decorating perspective but from a functionality perspective as well.

Thankfully, we had a wall that was diagonal instead of creating a box and we also had the slightest alcove in one section of the living space, both of  which kept our living space from being a complete rectangle. The diagonal wall in our living space is what made me experiment with an accent color for the first time.

Since our apartment was small, so were some of our walls, but we did have over 9 foot ceilings which also helped visually. Our decor was black and white. It was simple with some zebra print involved. (Zebra print is my favorite print, there is something simple yet elegant about it, which is also the same with black and white.)  But I was not about to leave my apartment with all white walls nor was I going to paint any walls black.

So instead we went for a softer gray. Not a drastic accent color but enough to make it different. With my mind made up we painted the diagonal wall gray, which ended up being the main wall of our apartment because my book shelves and TV sat against that wall. We would then end up painting the small wall behind our bed which was only about the length of a 1/3 of a normal wall in a living room or bedroom.

As it turns out, adding that accent color to both of those walls, was exactly what the apartment needed. It gave it character in a way that I didn't expect and it made it feel more homey. It even helped visually divide the spaces. We lived in that apartment for 14 months without venturing any farther out of my comfort zone of accent colors.

But recently we moved to a bigger  and more updated place. The walls in this apartment are painted cream and each room has crown molding and white blinds. I finally have separate rooms, but the kitchen, living room, and dining room are an open floor plan (which I love). But this made it difficult for me to decide on an accent color and how to incorporate it-- I knew I couldn't paint the walls without changing all of the wall colors, which was not something I was prepared to do.

I had to get out of my comfort zone even more and choose an accent color that could be incorporated through items and decor rather than walls.

This past weekend, I took the plunge. I found a vase at HomeGoods that I absolutely loved (despite the blue color which I usually shy away from). I was looking for something new to decorate my fireplace with-- the vase was the perfect size and style. So I bought it. I also bought a basket for my kitchen that incorporates that similar blue color.  And just like that I had taken the plunge into accent colors in a new way.

Baby steps are key with anything that puts you outside of your comfort zone.

I enjoy home decorating and designing but it's always harder to implement things into your own home. Just like they say a carpenter's house is never finished, an interior decorator's home is never complete either.

Never Underestimate some Paint and a little TLC

               

We've all heard the expression, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Some of us may have actually experienced this or some of us many not read into that expression. But when it comes to home decor, I think it's an expression that we should all live by.

A few weeks ago, Brian, my fiance, was taking out our garbage. When he went to drop it off, he noticed a couple of picture frames that had been tossed away. They weren't the prettiest looking but he thought they had cool features so he snatched them up and brought them home (original frame is the above image on the left). In the area where live, we often find pieces of furniture or home decor that people just throw away because they don't want to take the time to rehab them. (Personally I think they're crazy!)

When I saw the frames I immediately loved them. It was obvious they needed some TLC but the bones of the frames were good. Since our apartment heavily favors the gray and white scheme, I knew they would be perfect once they were cleaned up a bit. 

First I removed the glass from the frames and then I took a magic eraser to both of them. They both needed a good scrubbing between sitting in the garbage room and their appearance, they needed a little bath. Then we went to work on painting them. We chose a dark gray, which we often use to as our accent color or even our main color, instead of keeping the pink-ish orange color that was beginning to peel off. 

Painting the decorative piece took some time and patience but I think it paid off. The dark gray really accents the background of the frame and makes it pop. It also goes perfectly with our decor. The frame itself still has a slight rustic look, which I'm really into right now. 

I forgot to mention that the stickers were left on the frames and each frame was $30 a piece! I couldn't believe that someone would just throw them away instead of giving them a little TLC and making them their own. 

But one man's trash is another man's treasure.

This is something that more people need to think about when deciding to do home decor. It doesn't have to be expensive and it doesn't always mean buying all new stuff. It's quite easy to make old things new with just a little imagination and time. One should never underestimate what a little new paint and a little TLC can do for their furniture or their home decor. It's always nice to buy something new, but it can be just as nice to reinvent what you have and to do it with your own hands is even more rewarding. 

So don't be afraid of a little crafting time. It's therapeutic and good for the soul. And even better for your wallet. :)

Here are the frames up on the wall. I still have to find some pictures to put in them, but they look brand new!

                           

What have "trash" have you turned into a treasure? Comment your with your master pieces below!

 

A Dream Becomes a Goal when YOU Decide to Achieve It

We all have dreams, we all have goals. But how many of us actually turn our dreams into goals?

My guess. . .  . not many.

For years I have been one of those people who separated my dreams from my goals, which looking back now, really seems silly. So about 2 weeks ago, after I had a slight meltdown over my life, my fiance and I took one of our dreams and began making it into a goal.

Two weeks later  here I am taking another step from taking my dream to a goal and then hopefully my goal to reality. My fiance and I have started a remodeling and interior decorating business. And after learning many difficult lessons in the past year, I was more than ready for a change, and for the first time in my life I was open to doing something that I did not plan out.

HGTV is one of our favorite past times, and both of us have loved those TV shows even before we met 3 years ago. And suddenly, it just made sense to me. I was happiest when we had just moved and I was able to take our blank apartment and turn it into something that was ours. I had the same feeling when I decorated our first apartment which was a 500 sq. foot studio. (Talk about challenging!) And I had the same feeling when we talked about the possibilities of our future home that we hopefully will own one day. And that's when it hit me, despite my degrees, what truly made me happy was interior decorating. It was so mindless for me, I would sit on Pinterest for hours perusing the home decor and remodeling pins. And I would help my friends decorate their apartments. Stores like HomeGoods are my favorite to shop in.

My fiance realized his love for remodeling and building houses a bit earlier than I. He spent months helping a family friend build an energy efficient home. (See photos of the house on our website.) He has been hooked ever since.

We like to say that my fiance is the muscles, I've got the eye, and together we have the passion and knowledge to help people achieve their dream homes. This blog will travel with us as we continue turning our dream into goal and then into solidified reality. We both still work our day jobs, which certainly makes starting a brand new business tricky, but we know in the end, it will be totally worth it. One day we will be able to do this full time and when we do, we will get to do what we love while spending more time together and helping more people love their homes. What could be better than that?!

And guess what?! We already have our first clients! I cannot describe the utter shock and amazement I felt over having clients after just launching our website and business. It was one of the best feelings!

But now back to this blog.

I will be sharing all that we learn along the way, from the ups and downs to the tricks of the trade that we learn throughout our projects. I will also be sharing home decorating trends and tips, as well as homes, styles, and decor that I love.

I hope that you will follow us on this journey. If you have any advice for us please feel free to write us a comment. Or if you think you just might want to hire two budding home remodelers then please go visit our website and send us an email. We'd love to hear from you all!

Remember a dream becomes a goal when YOU decide to achieve it.