D.I.Y. Upholstered Wall Treatments

I tend to be a big D.I.Y.er when it comes to furniture rehabbing. There are a lot of really easy and inexpensive ways to inexpensively create one-of-a-kind pieces for your home. One recent venture was to make a wall panel installation for the wall behind my sofa. It was super easy and so I wanted to share instructions for those who have requested them after seeing my project pictures on Facebook.

Materials:
-12" x 12" Canvas' (Buy @ Michael's in Value Pack)
- Staple Gun
- Staples
- Pencil
- Exact-o Knife
- Fabric (I used fabric that I had covered an ottoman with that complimented the color of my green sofa)

Instructions:
1. Place fabric printed side down on the ground. Place the framed canvas facing down on the fabric. use the Exact-o knife to cut the fabric in a square shape 16" x 16"
2. At the corners of the square cut slits 1" long to keep fabric from bunching in the corners.
3. Staple fabric to the wood frame doing the 4 sides first and then fold the corners neatly and staple. (make sure you are pulling the fabric so there are no wrinkles, but not so tight that your pattern is stretching)
4. Once you have your canvas' recovered you can iron and hang them anyway you like on the wall. This is how I patterned mine:

 

I will be posting how to turn an old coffee table into an upholstered ottoman in the near future! Here is what the finished product looks like though:

 

 

xOxO - M

 

 

 

Companion Planting: High School For Veggies

Keeping up with who gets along with who in the garden tends to remind me of high school for all the wrong reasons. Cracks me up... Here's how to keep your veggies from mauling one another in the halls.

• Beans get along with most veggies, but beans and onions do not get along.
• Broccoli and cabbage love beets, chard, celery and spinach. Onions are happy here, too.
• Carrots do well with peas, tomatoes and lettuce, but keep dill at the other end of the garden.
• Cucumbers like to be near beans, peas and radishes, but far from potatoes.
• Tomatoes will thrive near cucumbers, carrots and onions.

So, may you plant your veggies at the right lunch table and avoid the drama all together.

Do-It-Yourself Fire Pit

If you are anything like me you love a good fire pit. They allow you to stay outdoors later into the evening and fight off those pesky mosquitoes. Ever wish you could afford one that looked custom built? One that didn't rust in the outdoor weather? Here is an easy way to save mega bucks and have your neighbors wanting to put in orders. Check it out:

Location! Location! Location!
Fire pits should be placed on a flat, level area at least 25 feet from any tree. Since fire pits are strictly enforced by local building codes you are going to want to follow the rules on this. Know the codes in your area before you build. This fire pit will be about 2' tall, with a 5' exterior diameter with a 3' interior diameter

Foundation
1. To mark the center of your firepit hammer a rebar (available at any home improvement store for about $2.50) into the ground.
2. Then mark the circumference of the circle. One easy trick is to attach a string 2.5' in length to the stake, pull it taut and spray paint the circumference.
3. Dig the inside of the circle 6 inches down. Then use the same method as listed above to mark inner circle, 1' in from the outside circle. The inner circle will be the edge of the fire pit wall.
4. Mix concrete with water until it reaches a peanut butter like consistency. This will help your foundation stones to sit up. Lay the concrete in between the two circles so it is level to the ground.
5. The inner circle should be free of concrete to allow for drainage. build up concrete until it is about 1-1.5" below ground level.
6. Use a damp towel to smooth the surface and let try for 24 hours.

Building Outer Wall
1. Mix mortar and shovel approximately 2" of it on top of the concrete base. Lay the stones on the mortar. You want to make sure your stones are matching the slight curve of your outline.
2. Repeat. As the first few levels of stones begin to take shape, begin to lay fire bricks to firm the inner wall of the structure.

Building Inner Wall
1. Continue to raise both the bricks against the inside circle and the stones against the outside circle, filling in any gaps between with stones and mortar as the wall increases in height. Staggering the stones and bricks makes the structure stable and is aesthetically pleasing. Use a joint to remove excess mortar from in between stones.
2. Lay a cap of flat field stones on top of the wall using approx 1" of mortar so they adhere. Make sure the top is flat and level.

Finishing Your Fire Pit
1. Using a paintbrush, brush the inner circle of the fire pit to release any extra debris. Then water the whole thing down with a hose.
2. Spray the inside bricks black using high heat stove paint.
3. Fill the pit with a generous layer of river rocks.

For instructional video, pictures, and materials list CLICK HERE

xOxO - M

Removing Glass Rings on Furniture

Entertaining is fun, but there are times when your home is in need of a little extra post party care. Sometimes, hot and cold drinks leave rings on unprotected furniture. These pesky marks can be difficult but here is a great way to remove water marks and have your furniture looking as good as new. Forget rubbing mayo or toothpaste on the discoloration.

Instead, reach for your hairdryer!

Put it on a high heat setting and blast the mark. Almost immediately you will see the circle disappear. Depending on how intense the mark, it may take 10-15 minutes of direct heat for full effect. Once the mark is completely removed cover the area with a light coat of olive oil to condition and you are ready for your next soiree. Introduce your friends and kids to coasters and avoid the hassle all together.

xOxO - M

The Monogram - Housewarming

MONOGRAMS scream all things preppy and personalized. Attempting to bring a thoughtful gift to a housewarming can be tough, yet if you put an individual or couples monogram on damn near anything you have officially brought the most memorable gift of the night. They are a timeless keepsake that never go out of style and while getting gift cards or bottle of wine are great there is something seemingly last minute in their delivery. The key is to work with a neutral or metallic pallet to ensure whatever treasure you bring fits well into the residencies newly established decor. Here are 10 great ideas that will no doubt keep your invites coming:

1. Guest Bathroom Soap

Purchase These Soaps

2. Beer Mugs

Purchase These Beer Glasses

3. Candles

Purchase These Candles

4. Serving Tray

Purchase This Silver Plated Serving Tray

Purchase This Serving Tray

5. Throw Pillow

Purchase A Pillow

6. Cocktail Napkins

Purchase These Paper Cocktail Napkins

Purchase These Cloth Cocktail Napkins

7. House Key Ring

Purchase This Key Ring

8. Flower / Herb Pots

Purchase These Pots

9. Return Address Labels

Purchase These Labels

10. Coasters

Purchase These Coasters

As you can see above there are tons of different fonts to pick. Below I have included the names of these different monogram styles: