DIY: Nook Book Shelves and Benchtop

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5087.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda041/IMG_5087.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Remember how I mentioned that our carpenter had installed a few simple shelves in our nook to hold our TV components? I like the easy bracket system he had come up with, so I duplicated it recently when I wanted to fill out both sides of the nook with shelves.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4571.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4571.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4560.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4560.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I pulled off the old shelves, but kept the brackets and cut down 1x2" primed pine boards with a miter saw to fit the back and sides. The side pieces were finished off with a 45-degree angle cut.</div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4582.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4582.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first bracket installation is the most important. Starting with the bottom most shelf, I made one measurement and mark on one of the walls. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4605.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4605.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then the most important part after that first measurement is to use a level to mark all the way around the nook to help you know where to hang the brackets. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4613.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4613.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used an 18-gauge nailer to hang the back bracket first, right on the line, and then the side brackets.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4625.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4625.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once you have the first set of brackets perfectly level and installed, the rest of the measurements are easy. Just figure out the distance you want between each shelf, measure up from the bracket and make a little mark. If the first shelf is level, the others will be too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4635.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4635.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When all the brackets were installed, I filled all the nail holes with spackle before giving the whole nook a fresh paint of gray paint.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4652.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4652.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used laminated pine boards for the actual shelves. Home Depot cut them all to size for me and I stained them with half classic oak and half driftwood stains.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4600.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4600.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4591.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4591.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The pine boards are just sitting on top of the brackets, but I could have nailed or glued them in place if I was more worried about it. I'm so happy with how these shelves turned out. I really love the thicker, more chunky look!  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5042.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda041/IMG_5042.jpg" style="text-align: start;" />\</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't know why installing shelves has sort of felt too hard-core for me up until now. It's a crazy simple project!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5002.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda041/IMG_5002.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bench solution was simple too! I didn't want to sew a box cushion, so I had a piece of 1/4" plywood cut to fit the seat area and used a coupon to buy a piece of 2" upholstery foam at Joanns.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4686.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4686.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bench is wider than the full width of the fabric. so I had to seam the fabric. The pattern made it pretty easy to line everything up, and a really good pressing fixes even less-than-perfect seams. In the end it's pretty hard to tell where the seam is on the bench. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4684.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4684.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think the key to a really soft and fluffy bench top is a good, high-loft batting layer. I used my trusty handheld staple gun to attach the seamed fabric. I went a little overkill on the stapling so there would be no pulling on the linen. (You can see where I seamed the fabric on the right side of the bench here below - it's not that noticeable!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4691.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4691.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think the bench turned out nice. The pattern is fun and the seat is a comfy, inviting place now!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5182.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda041/IMG_5182.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><center></center>Have you made any shelving or bench tops yourself? Any tips you'd like to add?

DIY: Nook Book Shelves and Benchtop

Remember how I mentioned that our carpenter had installed a few simple shelves in our nook to hold our TV components? I like the easy bracke...

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DIY Folding Screen from Bifold Doors

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I've always loved a good folding screen! They are super useful and versatile for large homes and tiny apartments alike. And the best part is they are a cinch to make yourself using inexpensive hardware store bifold doors! </div><br /><img alt=" photo S17.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S17.jpg" /></div><br />I got these flat masonite doors at Home Depot for $40, which was cheap enough, but looking back I probably should have checked Habit ReStore before buying new. They sell a ton of closet doors just like these for just a couple bucks usually.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S1.jpg" /></div><br />The masonite was pre-primed, so we rolled on a good coat of my forever-favorite Safety Red enamel paint as a first step.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S2.jpg" /></div><br /><a name="more"></a><br />We rolled on the backs first and then all the edges. We left the fronts white for the floral fabric application.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S3.jpg" /></div><br />I had yards and yards of this pretty Brunschwig and Fils floral that was the perfect candidate for the decorative fronts of the screens. I should have taken a photo of the full width of the uncut fabric, but it's basically a thick wall of florals in the center of the pattern, with lots of black negative space on the edges. Since each door panel is only 15" wide, we were able to make the most of the black space (which felt a little more modern to me) and then create a new pattern with placement of the fabric repeats.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S13.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S13.jpg" /></div><br />I wanted the fabric to look almost wallpapered, so we cut two sets of each pattern repeat, so there would be two sets of two matching doors.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S4.jpg" /></div><br />The <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-fabric-decoupaged-office-chair.html" target="_blank">fabric decoupaged chair project</a> worked out so well that I was quick to pull out the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IKES5O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001IKES5O&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=XJDCUOORN32AHVPO" target="_blank">Mod Podge</a> again on this project.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S7.jpg" /></div><br />I brushed on an even, thick coat on the unpainted side of the doors, about two feet at a time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S5.jpg" /></div><br />I used the black edge as my guide and smoothed out the fabric as I went. It's really important to get out all the air bubbles before the Mod Podge dries.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S6.jpg" /></div><br />Once the fabric had dried a bit, I cleaned up the edges with an X-acto knife, just like with the chair project.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S8.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S8.jpg" /></div><br />Then we brushed on a top coat of Mod Podge, to even out and seal the fabric, especially around the edges.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S9.jpg" /></div><br />After the top coat had dried, we flipped the doors over and screwed in new brass hinges. Each pair got three hinges installed on the backs, just like this, with the spine of the hinge facing down:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S14.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S14.jpg" /></div><br />And then the two pairs were connected with three hinges installed inside the inner lip of the doors, so that the doors would zig and zag and fold correctly. Again, the hinge spine was facing down here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S15.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S15.jpg" /></div><br />Isn't the brass so pretty against the glossy red of the door backs?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S28.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S28.jpg" /></div><br />And the pop of red peeking out from behind the black floral is so striking!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S25.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S25.jpg" /></div><br />It's hard to tell in these photos, but the top coat of Mod Podge made for a really dreamy, matte wash over the pattern. It is SO pretty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S21.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S21.jpg" /></div><br />I really love the folding screen application, but I'm also thinking this would be a great way to dress up boring old bifold doors for a closet space! It's a really cheap way to get a wallpaper look in a room without the cost, hassle and commitment.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S20.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S20.jpg" /></div><br />Have you seen any other folding screen projects around lately? I'm looking around my house thinking of all the places that could use one. They're so easy to make and so pretty! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S18.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S18.jpg" /></div>

DIY Folding Screen from Bifold Doors

I've always loved a good folding screen! They are super useful and versatile for large homes and tiny apartments alike. And the best par...

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DIY: Flokati-Topped Piano Stool

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo MR1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda028/MR1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've always loved the look of a smaller stool rather than a big bench in front of a piano. We keep all of our piano music in <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/new-frames-and-tiger-chest-in-library.html" target="_blank">the tiger chest</a> in the library, so we didn't really need a bench for storage purposes. I found this antique adjustable height stool on Craigslist for about $40. The size was perfect, it just needed a paint job to better work in our music room.</div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-09-30at100839PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda035/ScreenShot2014-09-30at100839PM.png" /><br /><br />I wanted a creamy white color to pop against the black of our piano, so I picked up a can of Rustoleum's Heirloom White spray paint, which is a great warm white. We taped off the crystal feet first and I love how the color turned out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5629.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda029/IMG_5629.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The seat top was a little worse for the wear though and the new paint job seemed to only highlight the imperfections, so I grabbed <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70026822/" target="_blank">a little flokati rug</a> from IKEA, trimmed it down a bit and upholstered the seat top with <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/best-staple-guns-for-upholstery.html" target="_blank">my trusty staple gun</a>.  It was a quick two-minute job! My favorite type of DIY! :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo MR8.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda028/MR8.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love the tone on tone colors of the stool and the sheepskin together, and the new texture was a welcome addition to the space I think. Plus the sheepskin bumped up the stool's comfort factor by a lot without ruining the height-adjustable factor.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7716.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda032/IMG_7716.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3519.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda029/IMG_3519.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo MR9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda028/MR9.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Have you seen any cool upholstery projects lately using these flokati rugs? <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/reader-diy-mongolian-lamb-stool.html" target="_blank">Here's a round up</a> of some of my favorite projects and images - I think a sheepskin is gorgeous in just about any room! I am working on some changes to the studio right now and there is a little footstool in the space that is begging for a fluffy new top.  :)

DIY: Flokati-Topped Piano Stool

I've always loved the look of a smaller stool rather than a big bench in front of a piano. We keep all of our piano music in the tiger c...

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An Update On My DIY Tufting Technique!

Remember this cute little <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/11/sponsored-post-how-to-upholster-framed.html" target="_blank">magenta velvet headboard</a> I made for the girls' room when we lived in the loft? I finally got around to tufting the matching twin headboard before the Domino shoot so we could make the headboards the sides of a daybed for the playroom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 19.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/19.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 39.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/39.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 22.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/22.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Like I've mentioned a million times before, we were in such a hurry to get everything done. In an attempt to make this project go a little faster (tufting isn't all that hard... but it can be time consuming), I realized that I could completely bypass the whole threading-a-button-through-the-headboard-holes thing by just carefully screwing a wide-headed screw down in through the hole I had made in the foam.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5615.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5615.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The only potentially tricky part is making sure you're putting the screw in the exact right place. I ended up screwing in pilot holes before hand, so I all had to do was find the pilot hole (blindly) with the point of my screw before using the drill to put in the screw.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5621.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5621.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />It's important to use screws that aren't too long (unless you wont see the back at all) and that have a wide enough head to hold back all the fabric from the tuft. I used a little bit of high-loft batting and linen in the same magenta color to back the headboard and cover any of the screw holes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 21.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/21.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />This little trick saved me literally hours of labor time! And it looks great! I just used fabritac to glue in the buttons into the tufts and I think now it would be hard for even me to tell which headboard was the one I spent more time on! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 20.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/20.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 23.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/23.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Oh! I also wanted to mention another little tufting trick I discovered a week or two ago. My sister, Ali, is about to have a sweet baby girl (yay!!) and she wanted to redo her bedroom before the baby came. We made a tufted headboard and the velvet we were using was a little thick and it was getting tricky to make the fabric not look too lumpy. I cut deep grooves into the foam and that made a little pocket for the fabric to sit into AND it made it super, super easy to get the diamond shape perfect and nearly wrinkle-free every single time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5882.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5882.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5885.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5885.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Just a few little tips in case you're hoping to tackle a tufting project soon! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 24.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/24.jpg" /></div>

An Update On My DIY Tufting Technique!

Remember this cute little magenta velvet headboard I made for the girls' room when we lived in the loft? I finally got around to tuftin...

Read more »