Paint by Numbers Wallpaper

I think this wallpaper, on clearance for around $20 a roll (27 in x 27 ft) at Target, could be a fun project.

It's from Jenny Wilkinson's Wallpaper-By-Number's Series. The background is a pretty aqua blue, but the flowers and leaves are white and meant to be colored in by you with your choice of paint, colored pencils or markers.

The possibilities are endless! I like the idea of a fun fuchsia/orange/teal/black combo for the inside of my girls' closet.

And floral wallpaper inside girlie closets always reminds me of Ruthie Sommers...

image via Domino - which, I'm sure you've heard by now, can be viewed online at Brides.com

Katy's Chairs

I get asked to post upholstery tutorials A LOT. I do have plans for some tutorials later this year, but every piece of furniture needs a different approach, so it's not really a 'one size fits all' sort of thing.

For now I keep responding that the best way to learn how to reupholster furniture is to read this book (my favorite) or this one (also great), and then to slowly, taking pictures all along the way, take apart the original upholstery. That's the best way to learn what works for your specific piece. And then just recreate!

Katy, one of my old college friends, recently moved into a new home and has been doing all sorts of fun home projects. Check out this headboard she made. And don't you love those euro shams?! The fabric is from Joanns!!

Katy had never taken on a big upholstery project, but she was determined to reupholster these inexpensive craigslist chairs for her bedroom:

She paid careful attention to the original upholstery and reproduced the same look in the new fabric.

The only sewing she did was to make the piping.

I think she did a great job and she saved herself a bundle of money! My upholsterer would charge a few hundred each for the labor on these chairs.

Are you brave enough to reupholster used/vintage furniture? I promise it's not as scary as it looks!

Winner: Burke Decor Give Away

1,000 owl/hoot/who jokes later, the winner of the Burke Decor Owl Umbrella Stand is

JENNIFER!



Jen, please email me when you have a minute. Congrats!!

DIY Chevron Rug

I've got some fun Reader DIY posts lined up that I'm really excited about. First up is an amazing painted rug project!

Reader Miggy was inspired by this LGN post and by Nick Olson's painted chevron rug. She picked up a $30 white flatweave rug from IKEA, similar to this one:

and got to work taping it up in a chevron pattern:

Then she used a dry brush technique and applied some regular latex paint in two different shades.

I love the effect of the dry brushing!

Miggy is using this rug in her daughter's nursery. Can you believe the total cost was $36 and about 3.5 hours of labor? I love it.

Do you have a submission for my Reader DIY series? Email me!

Dwellers Without Decorators

So loving this new-to-me blog, Dwellers Without Decorators, written by Glamour editor, Suze Yalof Schwartz.

That owl looks familiar...

If you love a good before/after series, check out all the 'Chez Moi' posts in her sidebar. Here are some of my favorites from her NYC apartment renovation. All photos by Dan Hallman.

Give Away from Burke Decor - Owl Umbrella Stand

If you're wondering what's on-trend for home decor and accessories, go no further than Burke Decor!

Check out their inventory here, and then leave a comment on this post for a chance to win this adorable owl umbrella stand from Burke Decor.

It's a show-stopper in these Jonathan Adler entries:

Wouldn't you love an owl in your entry too??

Thanks to our friends at Burke Decor and thanks to you readers for supporting the companies that sponsor LGN!

Comments will be closed on Sunday, June 27 at midnight. One commenter will be chosen at random and the winner will be announced Monday. Good luck!!

Criss-Cross Drapes

So wanting to copy the look of these curtains I saw the other day at Ethan Allan. Who would have thought that a criss-cross pattern would look so great?

Give New Life to a Lamp Shade

My little sister went back up to college yesterday, but before she left we did a bit of thrifting for her new apartment. Hands down, the best find was a perfect vintage yellow ginger jar at Goodwill for about $4. We used some of the fabric left over from this ottoman slipcover project to dress up an inexpensive and plain drum shade from Walmart. Then we glued cream bias tape along the top and bottom rims to cover up the unfinished edges of the fabric.

I love it and wish I had kept the lamp for myself!

PS The very talented Janell from Isabella and Max Rooms recently posted a super thorough tutorial on covering lamp shades with fabric. Check it out here.

Been Busy

I have been in Arizona for my Grandmother's funeral. It's been a special time for me - hearing lovely stories about her life and celebrating the gracious woman she was.

This last week was spent helping my mom put out some of Grandma's things she inherited, like a few pieces of silver brought over on the boat from Sweden, hung here in a shadow box.

We also hung a few pieces of china from different sides of the family.

I like the way they look together, especially in the mirror, which is the view from the entry.

As much as I love a good DIY project, I think there's nothing like incorporating family heirlooms or pieces with special meaning into home decor. I smiled and thought of Grandma each time I sat down at the dining table this week and got a glimpse of the plates or silverware.

PS Evelyn inherited my grandmother's eyes. Even better than china.

How much would you pay a decorator?

Remember this feature from the NY Times? The article is about a newlywed couple in NYC who wanted help decorating their first apartment.

I always love getting some insight into how other decorators work (and how much they charge! $10,000 for this room, in case you're wondering.***And to clarify, the designer volunteered her work for the sake of the article and the press. It's written in the features in the margin that she would have charged $10k for the room.)

Here's the before:

and the after again:

Another angle:

Overall, I like the changes to the space, though my two favorite elements were pieces the couple already owned - the Empire dining chairs and the Hunt Slonem butterfly painting.

Red Butterflies, 2008, by Hunt Slonem

I did love the idea of vinyl stripes in the dining nook! Such a clever idea for renters with a no-painting policy.

The decorator spent $100 on the brown vinyl stripes, which were purchased through Walls Need Love. If you're after the same look, you might consider contact paper, or at the very least, shopping around on etsy for the vinyl.

What do you think? Worth $5k+ spent on new furnishings? What about the additional $10k in decorator's fees?

My thoughts on pricing for a decorator (just the fees - not the purchasing budget) have changed a lot over the past few years. I'd love to hear your thoughts - especially you fellow decorators. Is $10k for a NYC living/dining room too much, not enough or just right?

A big kitchen would be nice too...

I haven't had a chance to look at the new Lonny yet, but I saw this kitchen on another blog and got super excited for the new issue. Do you spy the pretty oriental rug? Love it. And look at all those accessories! Who says a kitchen has to be boring?

Oriental Rugs

A number of you have asked about my sources for small and inexpensive oriental rugs. Flea markets and thrift stores are the best places to look (my two kitchen rugs are from Brussels fleas - 5 euros each!). But if you don't have any good auctions or flea markets nearby, and you have the patience to search through the junk, eBay has some great finds. Here's the search that I use.

I love this 2x4 rug, it's the perfect size for a kitchen - $50 Buy It Now with free shipping:

Dreaming of Small and Efficient Kitchens

Stephanie Stokes

Desire To Inspire

Mellisa Rufty

Elle Decor

Sara Gilbane

O at Home

Tracery Interiors Blog

Velvet and Linen

via Bryn's blog

via My Notting Hill

House Beautiful

How do you make your small kitchen more efficient and beautiful? I like to put small and very inexpensive oriental rugs in my kitchen. They are comfortable underfoot, clean off easily and always elicit compliments from guests.