DIY “How to” Molding Workshop

 Thursday, June 6^th: 7-8:30 pm OR
Saturday, June 8th: 10-11:30 am

Want to turn your walls from this,

to this?

In this 1 ½ hour workshop you will receive a demonstration, as well as hands on experience of how to cut inside and outside corners, and simple straight cuts to achieve this look.  You will see different molding options, and the finishing tools you need to complete the project.

cost $20

(5 to a class, payment must be received in order to hold your class place).  Class participants will have the opportunity for future project assistance and receive half off my hourly rates.

You can check out my previous projects at tdadecoratinganddesign.blogspot.com

Contact Trish @ 801-494-9350 or trisha.atkinson@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

DIY Farmhouse Upholstered Headboard

The New Farmhouse Upholstered Headboard -

Here's how I did it!

Previously in our other house I had made this upholstered and tufted headboard for our guest bedroom - 

When we moved to our new house our daughter inherited a larger room, thus wanting the queen size bed.  However, the thick tan woven fabric didn't flow with the soft pastels and "cottage" feel we were going for in her room.  

Then I saw this headboard by Amy from The Idea Room that my daughter and I both loved!  She created the farmhouse look with molding around the headboard, then stenciled the inside.  

I wanted to copy that look, but use fabric and upholster the middle instead like the image below I found on Pinterest - 

(original source unknown)

I wanted to limit the extra supplies I had to purchase for the project, so I decided to use what I had and tore apart the original headboard.  I planned on reusing the large queen size cut plywood, thick foam, and batting.  Here is what I started with:

After removing all the tufting and gazillion staples, I was back at a starting point:

I first nailed a 7 inch MDF board across the top of the headboard -

Next, I added 3.5 inch MDF board vertically on the sides -

Then I added a 1.5 inch MDF board on the inside, framing the center with 45 degree cuts -

On the top, I also added a 1.5 MDF board to represent a slight shelf, and added quarter round molding underneath -

Over the seam connecting the 7 inch board from the bottom vertical pieces, I added a small decorative molding, which I mitered around the corners - 

Here is a closer picture of all the molding up close (as well as all my filled in unsanded holes :)

After caulking, puttying, sanding, and painting...it was time to move on to the upholstered middle.

Taking the batting and foam from the previous headboard, I laid the batting down on the floor and placed the foam on top:

Then I purchased a very thin hardy board material that I had Home Depot cut to fit the inside measurements of my head board.  I placed it on top and stapled the batting around the edges, sandwiching the foam in the middle - 

As you can see, my pictures here get scarce :/

I get so into a project I forget to continue taking pictures.  Anyway, after stapling the batting to the board, I repeat by doing the same with the fabric.  After completed, I attached the upholstered board onto the headboard from the back with wood screws -

I felt like the space between the fabric and the wood seemed "unfinished", so I framed it out with another small decorative molding -

Hanging it with D hooks onto studs behind my daughter's bed, it is now complete!  

In-between Before & After - Family Room Update

I have shown you the before and after pics of our living room and office; however, the family room isn't quite ready for it's debut.   

Here is the family room before we bought it:

So far I have added molding and trim to all the windows, painted the walls Sherwin William's Repose Gray, and put in new carpet.  A new light fixture has been ordered and will replace the white ceiling fan next week.

Here is a glimpse and a closer up view of the window trim.

Before:

After:

I am thinking of lined tortoise roman shade blinds to replace the existing blinds, framed photos on wall, rug, and DIY coffee table. 

I am really enjoying the cooler tones, especially the wall color!

Before and After - New House Dining Room Turned Living Room

Since I am constantly redecorating rooms all the time, our previous family room had only been redone for about a year before we moved.

  I loved the neutral colors: brown, white, and tan, with accents of greenery...it felt very comforting to me.  I knew when we moved I wanted to replicate this room in our new home. 

Before:

After:

We removed the chair rail and once again added board and batten a little more than 1/2 way up the wall, painted the upper wall the same as the other house, and changed out the light fixture.  The wall color is from Walmart by Colorplace called Woodland Oak, I had Sherwin Williams color match it to their paint.  Since the room is smaller I had to forgo using the chaise part of the couch and the ottoman, everything else fits just perfect.

Before & After - New Home Main Floor Bedroom Turned Office

When we purchased this home the fifth bedroom was on the main floor just off the entry.  It had french doors, and another single door as the entries for the room.  We decided since we were going to use it as an office instead of a bedroom, it would be best to take out the single door, wall it in, and use the french doors as the only entry.  

I added built-in bookcases like we did in our other house, board and batten just over half way up the wall around the room, painted the upper half walls Sherwin William Whole Wheat, and made new curtains using the material from our previous Master Bedroom.  

Before:

After:

During:

After:

It's starting to feel a little more like home...

We've Moved!

I have been a very busy bee that last few months, and here is the biggest reason why...we moved!

I was casually throwing the idea around about taking advantage of the lower home prices and interest rates, while my husband was perfectly content where we were.  He supported my decision in looking; however, I think he briefly forgot who he was married to, because when I have something in mind...I can't stop until it is accomplished.  I found this house the morning he left for a business trip, looked at it the following day, and with his permission made an offer WHILE he was out of town, and WITHOUT him seeing it.  Yes, I was that confident this was where we were supposed to be.  

He came home from his trip, went through the house, agreed...and it became ours.  

The impression I received about this particular house was the strongest I have ever felt about a home.  Only further confirming that impression, everything fell into place. We were blessed to have rented our other home the day we listed it with several offers to choose from.  We chose an adorable family that plan on being there for three years.  

Now, 2 months after we closed,  we have repainted and re-carpeted the entire house, added more built-in bookshelves, and of course...more board and batten.  We will have to wait a bit to finish off the basement, and fix up the kitchen to what I envision...but I have plenty of other small projects in the meantime to keep me busy.

I look forward to showing you what we have done, and share with you everything else that I will do along the way as I make this house, "our home"!  

Building American Girl Doll Accessories

I know, it has been MONTHS since I last posted anything; however, I promise my lack of posts wasn't any indication of lack of projects. I have defiantly missed posting and plan on being more regular. 

 Lots of changes around our home...we are moving! We are about to close on another home about 1/2 a mile from our current house. We are very excited, and I am looking forward to making it "our's". I would say, "let the projects begin!", but that wouldn't be quite accurate with me since they never stopped. ;)

Knowing that we will be moving this next month, I decided to get a couple projects completed early for two of my girls who have March and April birthdays.  Both of them are really into American Girl dolls right now, and each will be getting one for their birthdays.  

When I was browsing the internet, I came across Ana White's blog that has plans and pictures of furniture made to fit the AG dolls or any 18 inch dolls!  Both my girl's immediately picked out what they wanted me to build: my 5 year old wanted the Camp Style Bunk Bed,  and my 7 year old wanted the Horse Stable.  I quickly got to work buying, cutting, and constructing both the bunk beds and the stable, and then making matching quilts, pillows, and pillow cases.  It was defiantly a lot more time than I imagined, but I don't regret a single second!  Of course there was no way to hide it from either of them, but they are anxious for their birthdays to arrive so they can finally have them to play with!

Camp Style Bunk Beds - 

Horse Barn - 

Happy early birthday to two of my babies!

*update* - you can see the newest stable and bed I made here.

Dresser & Nightstand Revamp

I LOVE getting my hands on new projects and trying things out.  So when I had the opportunity to help my friend makeover a matching dresser and nightstand I was ecstatic!  

She had previously bought this set several years ago from Target.  

the nightstand - 

 

the dresser - 

 

Both pieces are made out of particle board,  which has held up over the years except for the legs that cracked and broke off due to the weight of the dresser being moved around.  They just finished adding a bedroom on for one her kids and I talked her into revamping it for his new room!

I thought it would be great to cut off the existing legs, square it off and install wood underneath to attach new pretty bun feet to.  They picked out the same bun feet that I used on the printer/hard drive stand I made previously.  The great thing about these in particular is that they are inexpensive for bun feet, at only $3 per foot.  Secondly, they are great because you can use a miter saw to shorten the length to what you need and still get a decorative foot. 

For her dresser, I cut off the very bottom round end you see below - 

 

Next I measured and marked at the top of the existing legs across the bottom side and bottom front of the dresser -

Then I took the jigsaw and cut along those marked lines squaring off the corners - 

Now it was time to start with adding braces underneath to screw the bun feet into and also so the tops of the bun feet were flush with the bottom of the dresser.  We first tried using 1x2 boards -

However, quickly found that the wood split when screwing it in and also that it wasn't wide enough to support the bun feet.  We added a small second piece of the 1x2 to help brace the bun feet - 

 The dresser initially had a center support that matched the original legs.  After removing that we added another bun foot in it's place -

 

 After installing and working with the 1x2 board supports above, we decided to switch things up with the nightstand.  So we removed the 1x2 wood boards, and used a 1x3 mdf trim scrap instead...it worked perfectly! -

 Here is the dresser upright with the new bun feet...

 After priming and spray painting them a medium brown, and adding new knobs...they turned out like this! - 

dresser before:

dresser after:

nightstand before:

nightstand after:

Now they look so updated and custom without the cost of new bedroom furniture!!