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"Design*Sponge" - 6 new articles
before and after basics: union jack is the new black
CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!
 before & after: modern two-tone sofa + chair makeovers
Basic Steps: The couch was purchased by my great-grandmother back in the 1950s. It spent quite a long time in the attic at my grandmother’s house until my mom and I remembered it in 2009 when I moved to Leipzig (Germany) and got it refurbished. As an inspiration for colors and fabrics, my mom found a great couch from MOROSO called “My Beautiful Backside” by designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien. We chose the colors gray and white, with a little colorful twist using yellow round cord. The only downside, however, was that we did not get a cost estimate. Thus, I really really adore my couch, but we probably could have found another upholsterer to do it for less. — Theresa
Have a Before & After you’d like to share? Shoot me an email with your images right here! (Low res, under 500k per image, please.)
CLICK HERE to see Sara’s gorgeous two-tone reupholstered chair after the jump!
before & after: multiple makeovers of an old desk
If you are interested in purchasing one of these desks, you can visit the Hunter Jones site to see what’s available. Time: 4 hours (plus 2–3 days of drying time) Basics Steps: We started off with five desks, which became a joke at the local auction, as no one else was interested. With a simple sanding, an undercoat of water-based eggshell, a topcoat of oil-based eggshell and a final sanding, we came up with a rather quick and inexpensive way of up-cycling the desks. The idea was to create as my looks as possible, so we used finishes, such as rubbing a darker varnish into the bright green Arsenic-painted desk with a cloth to bring out the colour, or using a contrasting undercoat, and just added different knobs for each. The paint we used for the topcoat is Farrow & Ball, which is quite expensive, but anyone could reach the finishes with a regular oil-based paint and lots of time — you basically just need the patience for an undercoat and two topcoats, sanding in between each and then sanding the final coat to get the level of “shabbiness” you want to achieve. — Michael Have a Before & After you’d like to share? Shoot me an email with your images right here! (Low res, under 500k per image, please.)
CLICK HERE to see more of Michael’s refurbished desks after the jump! (more…)
before & after: wall cabinet + stacked-crate bookshelf
Time: 5 hours (including drying time) Cost: $55 (including shelf and supplies) Basic Steps: Prep your piece by stripping or sanding any of the old finishes (I got lucky that my wood was completely void of paint or stain). Use a cloth to wipe away any excess dirt or dust after sanding. Then apply one to two coats of primer, and follow up with one to two coats of your top color. I used a semigloss for this piece to match the rest of the trim in my room. Hang the shelf on the wall by screwing it directly into your wall studs. We used all four of the studs that the shelf hangs over just to ensure there would be no accidents! Find an assortment of fabrics that complement your room. Then measure each nook and cut out the fabric panels to fit accordingly. To attach the panels, take a panel outside one at a time and spray the back side with super 77 spray glue. Then adhere it to the back of the shelf by starting at the corner and carefully pressing it into place along the top edge of the nook. From there, you can smooth the fabric out from top to bottom. If the fabric was cut too large, you can use an X-Acto blade to trim it down. Don’t worry if your fabric is a bit crooked or does not cover the back side completely. Once you place items on your shelf, this will be unnoticeable. Tips: Use a mini roller to apply paint. This makes the project go much faster, plus you get more consistent paint coverage. Also, when screwing a large wooden piece on the wall, take a moment and assess how the piece was made. Often the back board is flimsy plywood, and you would not want this carrying the weight burden. In my case, the top bar of the shelf (behind the tulips) was a solid 1×4 and was a perfect place to put the screws. I found it easier to adhere the fabric panels once the shelf was already hanging, but this could be done just as easily beforehand. — Tiffin
Have a Before & After you’d like to share? Shoot me an email with your images right here! (Low res, under 500k per image, please.)
CLICK HERE to see Melissa’s stacked-crate bookshelf corner after the jump!
before & after: painted rug + pet-supply cabinet
Time: 3 hours (not including drying time) Cost: Free (everything was on hand) Basic Steps: 1. Prep and prime. Vacuum the rug thoroughly and prepare your work area. Roll on the first coat of primer. Don’t forget to paint the edges of your rug! Let dry overnight. Did the rug soak up all of the primer? Is it dry? If so, add another coat. 2. Paint your base color. You should have a fairly even coat of primer on your rug, so now you can roll on your base color. The rug will look splotchy and seem like it’s sucking up all of your paint. Don’t worry! After a coat or two of the base color, it will even out and start drying faster. Let dry thoroughly between coats. I think it’s best to let each coat dry overnight. Two to three coats are needed to get a nice, even base. 3. Add the design. Using painters’ tape, mask off your design or use a stencil. Or get really wild and paint something freehand! I wanted something simple and graphic, and since this was the entryway to the family room, I thought an arrow pointing the way would be perfect. If you work with painters’ tape, use the handle of your paintbrush to really push the tape down on the bumpy surface. Know that if you want straight lines, you will still have some touching up to do. Apply your paint in an up-and-down pouncing stroke with the sponge brush to push the paint into the grooves and keep your paint from spreading under the tape. The acrylic craft paint should dry within an hour. Go back over it and touch up any lighter areas, and then very carefully remove your tape. 4. Finish it off. Use your small, flat angled brush to touch up your lines. This is kind of tedious, but I found it relaxing in a way, as it requires a steady hand and total concentration. Very Zen. Once your design is dry, finish it off with a coat of polyurethane. You’ll notice how easily this goes on because of all the paint on your rug! That’s it. You’re done! The rug is incredibly durable and quite a conversation piece. Your friends will exclaim, “You painted a rug???” Yep. Sure did. — Jennifer Have a Before & After you’d like to share? Shoot me an email with your images right here! (Low res, under 500k per image, please.)
CLICK HERE for to see Solana’s finished pet-supply cabinet after the jump!
jill bliss’ nature drawing: thursday
Today, Jill is sharing this rosemary drawing inspired by a walk she took with a friend up Mt. Tabor yesterday. (After she finished the drawing, the rosemary became that night’s dinner, as part of a roasted-rosemary potato dish.) You can still enter (through Friday) to win a copy of Jill’s Drawing Nature Journal by sharing your own nature drawing in the comment section of any of Jill’s posts this week. Click here for details. xo, grace
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