Furniture styles can be confusing. What's the difference between contemporary and modern? Or rustic and country? Keep reading to find out... we'll spell it out for you with easy to understand definitions and examples too.
I can't get enough of Scandinavian design, and I'm on the hunt for ways to bring this style into my home. The decor in my house hasn't had a theme until very recently (unless you consider furniture inherited from past roommates a theme). Now that I'm almost 30 (panicked bells ringing as I type that), the items in my home are brought in with more intention. I love all things monochromatic, so the Scandinavian look fits my mostly-gray furniture perfectly. This dining table needed a new tablecloth, and the Scandinavian-inspried Swiss cross pattern seemed the perfect fit.
We've been into industrial-style DIYs lately over here at Curbly, so today we thought we'd share some gorgeous DIY industrial furniture project ideas you can make yourself. These DIYs are filled with weathered wood, pipes and metal accents, giving them an oh-so-trendy look. Keep reading to check them out.
I love black and white, and what better pattern to show off this high contrast combo then buffalo check (also known as buffalo plaid). For the last few years, I've been adding more and more of this (usually) red-and-black flannel pattern known to my fall/winter wardrobe and home decor. Last year, I decorated a whole Christmas tree for $10, and buffalo check was the main star.
So, when I found this solid little table at a thrift store for $8, I decided to give it a giant gingham makeover.
This wood desk organizer is modern, minimal, and surprisingly easy to make (even if your woodworking game is totally weak). Read on for step-by-step instructions on making your own, and getting your desktop all tidied up!
On any given day, if you visit our house you'll find envelopes and papers strewn all over the place because we're not yet ready to file them away. Okay, I'll admit, sometimes we're just being lazy, but for the most part they serve as a reminder to action something important like paying a bill or scheduling in an appointment.
Regardless, while the intention is well-meaning, the resulting mess is... well, messy! So I decided to put a stop to the chaos and make us a place where we can put all the letters until we're ready to file them. Follow along for the simple how-to!
Step 1
Measure and mark out the pieces for your wood desk organizer with a ruler and pencil. Then cut them out with a hand saw.
You'll need to cut 8 pieces in total for the sides, back, base, pencil holder and divider. See the image above for all the pieces and their corresponding sizes below.
Of course, you're more than welcome to come up with your own measurements to create a desk caddy that's sized exactly to your liking, but if you're unsure about the numbers, just follow along with mine. :)
Important Note: These measurements were based on the timber I found at my local hardware store, which was 8mm/0.31 inches thick. If your wood is a different thickness, it'll push out the numbers slightly so make sure you adjust your measurements accordingly!
Step 2
Once all your pieces have been cut, give the edges a quick sand.
Step 3
Begin by getting Pieces A, B and C together (refer to the image in Step 1 to see which piece is which).
Glue Pieces A and B (the narrower pieces) to Piece C as shown below to form a 'U' shape. This will eventually be the pencil holder part of your wood desk organizer.
Step 4
Apply glue to the bottom edge of the 'pencil holder' section and affix it to Piece D (which is the base of your desk organizer). Make sure the front of the pencil holder is flush with the front edge of Piece D.
Step 5
Get Piece E (the back of your desk organizer), apply some glue to the bottom edge and stick it in place.
Step 6
Apply glue to one of the long edges on Piece F (which is the central divider) and attach it to the middle of the base of your desk organizer as shown below.
Then affix Piece G to the front of your desk organizer so that it's flush with the front of the pencil holder section.
Step 7
Finally, attach Piece H to the side of the work piece to close off the open end.
Step 8
Apply painter's tape all the way around the top edges of your organizer to protect the sides from paint. Make sure the tape is well stuck down, then paint the edges in your chosen color.
Once the paint is dry, remove the tape and your wood desk organizer is complete! What a cute caddy!
See, my wife and I just bought our first home, and while we were...
I love a good before-and-after, don't you? There's so much satisfaction in taking a sad roadside find or cheap garage sale rescue and totally transforming it into something new and different. We've rounded up some of our favorite furniture makeovers to inspire you to either start that upholstery project, get out the spray paint, or hit up this weekend's local yard sale scene. From dressers to dining tables, here are some of our favorite furniture makeovers.
When you live in a small house or apartment, one big challenge you face is finding furniture to fit the scale of your space. I live in a compact two-bedroom with my fiancée, and furnishing it has been a slow process. Rather than being frustrated by how cramped it can feel, we try to cooperate with the space we have. That means rejecting the idea of a full-sized couch and opting for a larger loveseat. It means storing vertically and hanging what we can. It also means accepting the fact that our eating and living areas needs to share space. We weren't having any luck finding a small dining table, so I decided to build one instead.
We've rounded up one hundred IKEA hacks that prove you can have champagne tastes on a beer budget. Each of these hacks illustrates the power of transformation - basic warehouse pieces are cleverly altered in beautiful ways that make them feel custom. This round up has me feeling like Aladdin on a magic carpet ride - so come along with me! I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder, over, sideways and under on a magic IKEA hack ride. All...
It's hard to believe, but it's that time of year when college kids are starting to think about packing up to head back to campus... which means it's also time for a dorm decor shopping guide! Infuse your space with some extra style this semester with these über trendy, character-packed picks that will make you the envy of all of your friends.
One of the easiest ways to change up a piece of furniture is to switch out the hardware - but what happens when the hardware is abandoned completely? When my wife found this nightstand during a recent trip to IKEA, she immediately drew inspiration from a different piece of furniture in our house - our hardware-less credenza. Could we replicate the cutout drawer handle on her new nightstand? Turns out, we could! Trading a little extra work for the extra cost of new hardware, here's how this IKEA nightstand hack worked out.
January is a time for getting organized and making resolutions to STAY organized. Easier said than done, right? To start small, try making this simple DIY chalkboard calendar that you can reuse every month to keep your dates straight. Store it in your office or use it as a command central for your family. The great thing about a chalkboard calendar is that it's easy to use and erase when plans change because they always do!
It's certainly time to decorate our homes with some much needed Christmas cheer! This year, we are focusing on adding more handmade pieces to our Christmas decor to help the holiday feel more personal and inviting! These simple and modern 3-D cork Christmas trees are a sure way to add that festive touch to your tabletops this season!
The 2017 Curbly House is done! It went on the market last weekend, and (to my surprise and delight), we've already had several showings. After two-and-a-half months of intense renovation work, it feels a little weird this week, knowing there's nothing left to do except blog about it. I keep checking my 'To-Do' list, and it's all crossed off, which is my JAM!
Scroll down for the full, room-by-room reveal of the 2017 Curbly House, along with complete product lists (from our featured vendor partner, Hayneedle) and details about how we transformed each space.
Table of Contents
(All photos by M.E. Gray unless noted)
The Curbly House dining room had all the right ingredients to become a focal point for the entire home: big east-and-south-facing windows, a large open plan, and a great built-in shelving unit ripe for styling (and lots of paint). But it also had a weird closet in one corner (who needs a closet in the dining room?) and multiple ancient, sparking light fixtures.
I came up with a plan to style the room in a whole new way, with a unique, attention-getting chandelier over a chunky trestle table to ground the space. And we tore down a wall between this room and the kitchen, creating a huge live/eat/work space that flows seamlessly.
As with several other rooms in the house, all the furniture in this room is from our friends at Hayneedle (click here to shop the entire house). We loved working with them on this project because their products are curated, eclectic (hey, chandelier!), stylish (hey, table and chairs!), and shopping their site is the opposite of overwhelming (which is exactly what you need when you're designing an entire home). Scroll down to see all the before and after pics, and get a full product list:
The living room is the first room you see when you enter the home, and I wanted it to set the tone for the entire house. It was the first room I created a mood board for, and it was the design blueprint for the entire first floor, which set the tone for the whole house. The living room had shaded, south-facing windows which gave it a calm, quiet feel we loved. A big oak tree just outside keeps the harsh southern light out, but sprinkles bright streaks of afternoon rays across the newly-refinished hardwood floors.
I chose a color palette that was muted and neutral, something that would let the sunshine do its thing without getting in the way. The focal point of the room is the gorgeous sofa, with its clean, curved lines and nailhead trim. But, in my view, the leather chairs are the showstoppers: they draw a comment from everyone who walks through the house. And, in case you're curious, they're very well-made and comfortable to sit upon. We've owned plenty of original mid-century-style chairs, and these definitely feel like heirloom pieces.
Shop this look on Hayneedle, and grab a pair of those chairs before they're out of stock ('cause I'm pretty sure they will be soon):
We teamed up with Hayneedle to outfit this room with a delicate design that takes full advantage of the 100-year-old quirks inherent to the home. The house sits atop a hill, and from the bedroom windows you have a full view of the fall foliage and, in the distance, the Minneapolis skyline (picture a soft-toned heart-eye emoji here, please). It's a perfect retreat, with incredible afternoon sunlight, and although it's not a huge bedroom, it has two (modest) walk-in closets and enough space for a spacious dresser.
Shop the products in this room on Hayneedle, but don't expect to find the skyline view for sale: you have to buy the whole house to get that one (now, insert the winky face emoji).
The kitchen! The kitchen! Oh, have mercy! I am beyond the horizon thinking about the transformation we were able to achieve in this room. When we walked through the house for the very first time, it was – honestly – easy to just overlook the kitchen. Where was it?! Did we miss it? It was tiny! In a wee closet. Just about seven feet by seven feet (which is basically like a cubic version of LeBron James), with an exterior door opening right into the space, blocking the fridge and the stove. I'm not exaggerating when I say that you couldn't comfortably fit two people in the kitchen at once.
We knew this would be our biggest challenge in the remodel. We played around with lots of different plans, but finally settled on one that we thought we could pull off without moving any plumbing (important to help keep the cost down). We tore down a wall between the kitchen and the dining room, creating an amazing butcher block-top island (from our partners at Lumber Liquidators).
Then we took a very classic (dare I say, simple?) white shaker cabinet and elevated it with shiny brass hardware, and a very bold black-grouted subway tile backsplash. The pendants, from Lamps Plus, complete the elegant look, drawing your eye around the room and casting a soft, golden glow (even when they're turned off).
Let me digress for a brief moment with this PSA: Lighting is everything! Your lighting is a ceiling sculpture, a work of art, and you are doing no one any favors by selecting boring, basic, flush-mount boob lights, or snazzy, tiny marbley-colored pendants. Go big with your lighting! It's totally worth it! Do you see these charming, brass pendants? They take your breath away! They demand respect! They are perfect! Thank you!
Here's a look at what the kitchen had to offer (nothing!) before we got to it, and how it looks now (all the BIG heart GIFs, etc...):
I will grant you that heading is a little awkward (I couldn't think of another way to title it), but you know what's not awkward? That absolutely stunning new front door we put in (on) this house! And the best part? It's not really a new door at all; it's the same old door with a new glass insert from Zabitat.
Take a look at what an incredible difference this insert makes:
Above: it's the little details that give a home true character. Things like original door handles, and this charming little entryway nook.
The cool thing about this glass insert is that it's a totally DIY-able project. Anyone who can handle a jigsaw (and Bruno says, that's anyone) can do this in about two hours. You simply cut out the middle part of your old door, set the new insert in place, and fasten all the screws. The carefully-designed trim pieces give you lots of leeway to make your cuts, so it's pretty hard to screw up.
We liked the front door insert so much, we decided to try one on the new back door as well:
This one has built-in blinds (enclosed within the door glass, so they never get dirty). The rear-door glass insert allows lots more light into the dining room, which we love. We added a Brisa retractable screen here too, so in the summer, the dining room will get lots of cross-ventilation and feel open and airy.
Well ... the people who lived here before did not like grass. And I get it, grass can be kind of a pain to take care of, but this yard was a f'real jungle (front and back):
We envisioned a family with kids living in this house, so we knew the yard would need at least some usable play space. Also, we added a storage shed for bikes, lawn mowers (and snow blowers), as well as a big two-car parking pad and brand new sidewalk.
Before this backyard transformation, the only way in and out of the house was up the long front steps. In the winter, that would've been a real hassle for someone carrying groceries. Now, there's a convenient place to park off the back alley, and access to the rear door is easy (and flat).
Those shutters were a quick DIY project that Bruno pulled together. Just a few exterior trim boards from the hardware store, measured and cut to length to make board and battens. Don't they look sharp?
The narrative for the next three rooms (the children's bedrooms) is going to sound like Groundhog Day, because that's how I feel about their design. While designing these rooms, I discovered that it's tricky business to create beautiful spaces for children that exist only in your mind. I suppose that's true of all design, but for me, these rooms had to straddle "adorable/stylish/childlike" without being too specific. So, I followed a brand-driven template for the rooms that worked pretty well. Each child's room is a pie-chart divided evenly between Target, Rugs USA (or Amazon), and Land of Nod. All three companies hit children's decor out of the park. So, I came up with a system, and repeated it. Do I fear they're formulaic? A little bit, but I also LOVE everything I chose and believe they're primed for little touches of extra character the new owners will add.
My favorite part of the little's boys room (we called it this, but obviously, it's ready for any child) is the starry accent wall. I love the symbolism of a starred wall - you can reach for them, wish on them, and more. I love the way the wall creates a focal point of the room, but remains neutral and pretty chill.
The rest of the design feels soothing, with grays and blues, and hints of gold. You can read more about the thought that went into this room here (the post is complete with a stenciling tutorial, if that's your cup of tea).
I wanted this room to feel joyful (and ultra-flexible). I centered the design around a bright, yellow rug, and lots of tassels and llamas. The pops of colors are vibrant and wowee(!), but the room is balanced with lots of light neutrals that make it feel like it's a part of the same house. I love this! I love it so much because the only thing its missing is a child with a big personality to elevate the whole look.
Here's what it looked like before:
And now:
This sweet room is the smallest in the house, but the space is perfect for a wee one. The room is located steps from the master bedroom, and set apart from the other two children's bedrooms. It's sweet and simple, easily adapted, but also lovingly put together. While there's nothing over-the-top about the room, it was a real throwback for me. It reminded me so much of the way we put our daughter, Ayla's nursery together. We wanted her room to feel open and minimal, because she was new, and we didn't want to send her a strong message from the start (rather, we wanted the room to grow into, and mirror, her).
So, I hit repeat with this room. I wanted it to feel beautiful and basic. I want it to be filled with love, and I think the space is ripe for that kind of transformation. I am in love with the accent wall (the wallpaper is removable), and the light fixture (its twin is a gold version that's located a floor below in the office). The room is functional and exactly what you need for a tiny child.
When we bought the house, the room looked like this:
As ridiculously retro as those track lights were, we had to let them go:
I'll be honest: I wish we could've done a lot more with the upstairs bathroom (the downstairs will be revealed in a later post). I wish we could've doubled the size, rebuilt all the plumbing, put in a double-vanity ... the list goes on and on. But every home renovation (especially a flip) requires prioritizing, staying on budget, and making tough decisions. In this case, drastically improving the bathroom would've required some serious structural changes to the house (and losing a bedroom), as well as tons of plumbing and HVAC costs. It just wasn't possible given the scope of what we wanted to do, and the timeframe we were working on.
So, with the apologies out of the way, let me say that I really love what we were able to do with this room! We added bead board wainscoting, a new marble tile floor, and Bruno and Jon worked way harder than anyone wants to admit to get an actual vanity in there (as opposed to the tiny wall-mounted sink it had before).
Throw in a new faucet, a dual-flush toilet, a flowy curtain, and a really pretty light fixture, and the bathroom feels like a completely new space. As you can see, it's a big improvement over what we started with:
For a not-very-huge house, the Curbly House actually packs in a lot of rooms! One of those is this first-floor 'bonus' room, which the previous owners appear to have used as an eating space, but we're treating like an office or family work space. It's a place to go through mail, check your e-mail, do homework, write blog posts (wait, that's our family), etc.
There wasn't much to do here except paint, add some well-designed furniture (that desk & chair were a Craiglist steal at $145), and top everything off with a really nice, eye-catching light fixture. Check it out:
So, here we are at the very end of the post. We've been working toward this moment for nearly ten weeks, and somehow it feels anticlimactic to just end it with an ordinary paragraph. But that's what blog posts do ... they end. And so do house renovation projects, like the 2017 Curbly House.
Although today we mark the completion of this project, it's also an opportunity to celebrate, and look ahead to what's coming next. Doing a large-scale home renovation was equal parts challenging and rewarding, we're already dreaming of doing another one. So as soon as we're able to, we'll let you in on what our plans are for the next Curbly House.
Finally, I can't wrap up this series without acknowledging all the hard work of the people who made this possible: Jon Peterson and Bruno (for being crazy enough to push this idea in the first place and for being two of the hardest-working people I know); M.E. Gray, for doing anything and everything she was called on to do, and for doing it with joy; Chantal Nason, for pitching in with hard work and great ideas; and Chris Gardner, for holding down the Curbly fort. And of course, thanks to our families, for putting up with long stressful weeks of late work nights and twists and turns.
This project was completed in cooperation with several brand partners, who donated products for us to use in the home remodel. We're grateful for their support: Hayneedle, Sherwin-Williams, Purdy, LampsPlus, Zabitat, and Lumber Liquidators. This post may contain affiliate links (learn more).
The bed in our guest room is very tall. And if you've ever tried to find a tall end table, you know that they aren't easy to come by. So I decided to make one... and my version of the C table was born. This is not one of those time intensive woodworking projects - in fact, it didn't even involve power tools. Click through to check out this incredibly easy little side table project.