Posted in General Decorating, Floors | 2 Comments »
I am wanting to do the bag floor, but I want to do it in white paper. Would the poly turn it brown or would it stay white?
March 10th, 2007
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Full question:
Hi I am wanting to do the bag floor/ but I want to do it in white paper. Would the poly turn it brown or would it stay white? I was planning to stencil it before putting the poly on it.
My answer:
I just bought poly last week and wanted the fast drying kind. They told me in the home center here that all of them (the fast drying ones) have an amber color to them. There is clear stuff, but not fast drying. And you’d really want someone who KNEW to tell you FOR SURE that CLEAR is CLEAR. That just hasn’t been my experience.
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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Do you have any ideas for changing the appearance of an old existing lampshade?
March 10th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
Full Question:
Do you have any ideas for changing the appearance of an old existing lampshade? I have two that I really like the shape of, but hate the color. I have painted the lamps and they just don,t go with the shades anymore. I love the color of the lamps. One is cherry red and one is black. I have an african theme in my living room. Maybe someone has an idea for something that will go with my theme?
My answer:
So glad you asked!! LOTS of things you can do with lampshades. I even have a few pictures of some of them:
1. Glue “stuff” to them - stuff like jewerly, feathers, or paper memorabila (postcards, stamps, ticket stubs, seed packs, etc.) I did one with shells:
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/shellshade.jpg
and one with wooden beads:
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/beadlampshade.jpg
and one with buttons:
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/buttonshade.jpg
2. Drape scarves or linens over them:
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/cabin.jpg
3. Paint and crackle finish them:
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/cracklelampshade.jpg
4. Cover them with hats:
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/hatlampshade.jpg
And you can even take them apart and make NEW shades from paper or fabric.
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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What is the best way to paint over a laminate surface?
March 10th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
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What is the best way to paint over a laminate surface? I did it once before on a cheap table and book shelf and over the last 6 years the paint has chipped really badly. Actually, it started chipping about as soon as it dried and we set anything on it. I sanded, primered, and painted but maybe I didn’t do it right.
My answer:
You need to use a special sealer on surfaces like this - I would try Kilz available at Lowes.
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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Hiding black leather furniture
March 10th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
Full Question:
I really need your help . I have a black leather couch and oversized chair in my living room. the floors are a light oak wood. I would like to use a aqua color in here can you help me where to use this color so that the couch and chair wont stick out so much. thanks teresa
My answer:
Theresa, I LOVE the sound of this color combo and think that, once you have it “done”, you’ll like it too. Ok, here are some suggestions on where to add the color to both detract from AND enhance the black.
1. You’ll want a throw and a pillow for the chair - drape the throw over one side of the chair and up and over the back - drape it so it hangs naturally and doesn’t look placed - that means no folding of the throw. Place the pillow in the opposite corner of the chair seat that you put the throw on.
2. You’ll want more pillows for the couch - maybe in several shades of the aqua - some lighter/some darker. You’ll want enough pillows to loosely run the length of the sofa.
3. A rug on the floor that is heavy on the aqua colors is next. You can always place a throw rug over exisiting carpeting.
4. Next would be window treatments. These could be mini-blinds in the color of your floor, or fabrics in the agua color.
Black is actually a very distinguished color when paired up with other colors - and aqua and black is a winning color combo.
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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Repurposing Lite-Brite
March 10th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
Full question:
Nancy, First, I want to say I really enjoy your newsletters and reading about your crafting ideas. I also enjoy the pictures of your finished projects. I’m really glad I came across your site and subscribed to your newsletters.
My question is this: Do you remember the old toy called ‘light bright’(probably not spelled correctly)? It is a plastic device that takes a light bulb and has a plastic grid-type cover on the top. Black paper with a design made with dots was placed on top of the plastic grid. You then used colored pegs to push through the dots on the paper. The dots and pegs were color co-ordinated to make the picture lighted and colorful. I hope this description is understandable, as I have a question about this toy.
Do you have any suggestions about using one of these toys in doing crafts? I have 2 of the plastic toys with the plastic grid-type top( no colored pegs or black papers). I had thought about maybe converting it somehow to use for a lighted tracing device. Any ideas you may have would surely be appreciated.Thanks
Sue
PS: Did you ever try the planting of forsythia clippings? If so, were you satisfied with the results? I like not having to root them before planting.
My answer:
THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing all the reasons why you find the work I do here so helpful. Reading comments like those are the very reason why I started this site!
I do indeed remember lite-brite, but left your description of it in your question for any readers who may not be as familiar with it as I am. And I even have ideas to share on “repurposing” them - some “with” pegs, and some “without”.
With pegs, use colored or white chalk to draw a design that suits your decor on a piece of construction paper the proper size to fit in the lite-brite. Use the pegs to make your design and then display it - it provides an extra light source (not for reading- just for coziness), plus it can tie in some of your decorative elements.
For instance, do you have a pattern in your room’s fabrics that you could duplicate on the lite-brite? Do you collect something that you could make a replica of on the lite-bright? (like I collect urns. That would be EASY to make on a lite-brite.)
You can paint the frame, or alter it in a ton of ways, if white plastic doesn’t work with your decor. And I still see those at yard sales, so you may be able to get more of them, or even more pegs, to expand your “drawing” options.
Undecorated and/or no pegs? You could also use them as uplights - hidden behind a chair and focused on a plant. I would LOVE to get my hands on one to see if burned out minilights would fit in the holes, AND still have any light show through them. If THAT works, that would open a whole new realm of decorating options.
And I *THINK* your tracing device idea would work if both the item to be traced and the material it was being traced on were transparent or opaque. Maybe transparency film sold in office supplies stores could be used?
And, about those forsythia? Some of them “took” and some of them didn’t. But considering how much “non-work” it was to “plant” them, I’m ok with just sticking a few in the ground again this year to replace any that didn’t make it last year!
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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Removing peel and stick tiles
February 13th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
Full question:
I have the same problem as another question but I would like more information. We are being put in a house with a dark brown ceramic tile kitchen floor that makes the windowless kitchen dark, especially with the dark brown ceiling and dark brown cabinets. It is large squares and some have a texured patteren. I want to change it so I thought peel and stick tiles maybe the way to go for us. You said it molds to the pattern underneath which is ok, but can you remove this? When we leave in 2 years, can the landlord remove it without much trouble? Do we have to put down all kinds of prep materials? It is a very large area to do, so cost is on my mind. Thank you
My answer:
Oh dear. I have had to deal with this myself, and I speak from experience. It is NOT easy to remove. Once the tile has been walked on for a couple years, two things happen:
The molding around the layer of tile under the peel-and-sticks will be very significant. If the spaces between the cracks of the under-lying tiles are large enough, the peel and sticks will tear.
The second challenge you face, is that the adhesive used on the back of peel-and-sticks is DESIGNED to adhere PERMANENTLY once the tiles are walked on. Removing them after that requires scrapping them off - little piece by little piece.
Most people just cover peel and sticks with a sub-floor and then new flooring - they don’t remove peel-and-sticks.
MY suggestion for you as a tenant, would be to use rugs and runners, that are temporary and can ben taken up easily when you move.
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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What uses can I come up with for a waterbed heater and the waterbed mattress?
February 12th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
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I have a king size waterbed with heater that I am replacing. It is too difficult for me to get in and out of the bed. I intend on replacing the mattress and want to somehow modify the “box” it sits in to a platform for a regular bed. What uses can I come up with for the heater and the waterbed mattress. I am keeping the headboard because it has lights and a mirror and hidden storage.
I need the warmth but will probably buy a heated mattress pad or something. Any ideas please………….
My answer:
The heater is an easy one for me. If you are a gardener (or know one) that heater can be wrapped in a sheet or towel and used under seedling trays as a source of heat for seed starting. If you aren’t a gardener, or don’t work with seeds, you could give it away on Freecycle for that purpose - or, of course, as a replacement heater for a water bed.
If you want another idea for it, you might try using it to keep water in a birdbath warm if you live where it freezes. Birds appreciate that.
The mattress itself makes a great vapor and weed barrier. I used one on the ground where I wanted a picnic table, then covered it with mulch and no weeds grow through. If you want a garden shed or some other small structure, it’s great underneath it for keeping water away from wood.
You could also cut it up and use the plastic as tarps - over wood piles, picnic tables - anything you want to keep from getting wet.
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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Is it possible to create a warm and inviting space with very little to work with?
February 6th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
Full question:
I live in a rented apartment. All of my walls are off white. I am trying to update my living room without too much cost but I am having a very hard time. I have a 1990’s sectional sofa that we can’t afford to replace, it has colors of teal green blue rose and tan in it in geometric shapes everywhere. I have wedgewood blue drapes on my windows. I want to update the walls with pictures or something but I really don’t know whats in style and would also go with my sofa. I don’t have many accessories either. Is it possible to create a warm and inviting space with what I have to work with? If you think so, please let me know any suggestions.
My answer:
The short answer is “yes”.
The longer answer is - try repurposing stuff you ALREADY have. Examples:
* Got any hats? Use them as wall decor or over lamp shades.
* Got ant scarves? Drape them over lamp shades (on lamps with low wattage bulbs)
* Got any hardware - doorknobs, drawer pulls, stuff like that? Display these in bowls (I use silver ones) on top of stacked books.
* Oh yeah…Got any books? They make great table legs, and accessory displays.
* Got family photos? Put them in a bowl on a table near a chair.
* Got any extra linens - table clothes, sheets, whatever? They can be draped over tables, over hanging curtains, over beds (I put a lace tablecloth on the bed in my guest room - right over the quilt).
* Got feathers, stones, branches, nests - anything from nature? GREAT decorating tools!
* Got extra dinnerware? They make candle holders/candle plates. They can alos be hung on the wall using plate holders.
* Got flower pots? A little garden theme can be done using them for all kinds of things.
* Got minilights you only use at Christmas? Get ‘em back out and use them around windows, in potted plants, wrapped inside some of that spare linen.
Think about using what you have!
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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Need ideas for using grapevines as a wall border
February 6th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
Full question:
I want to use grapevine as a wall border. I have 60 feet total to cover in space. I have 7 - 15 ft long grapevines (I got extra in case). I’m trying to decide if I should shape them in tight curls or in large ones to stretch around the room. Does that make sense? Will large curls stick out too much or would small curls cover more area? I’ve used grapevine for other things so I know about how to shape them but I’ve never used them to cover the top of a wall before. Before I’ve just pulled them out into big loopes and then soaked it in the tub to loosen it up.
My answer:
I see your dilemma. You have great high ceilings and I think the visual space that the grapevines will take up couldn’t be enough to be overpowering with that height. When I work with grapevines, I don’t do curls. I put them up in waves - lines that go up and down and then back up, versus around in loops of any size. These pictures aren’t focused on the grapevine itself - they are more focused on specific aspects of what I did with them, but maybe you can see what I mean:
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/copper.jpg
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/copperpot.jpg
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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Any suggestions to change the color of the base of an porcelain ginger jar style lamp?
February 6th, 2007 Email the link for this page to a friend!
Full question:
Any suggestions to change the color of the base of an porcelain ginger jar style lamp? I do not want to spray paint the base, but am thinking of decoupage. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
My answer:
You can indeed decoupage it. You can also:
* Wrap the base in ribbon, jute twine, rope - anything like that.
* Wrap it vines, wire (for a hardware look), cording, etc.
* I saw a ginger jar lamp with bottlecaps epoxied to it (bottle caps are hot as a decorating tool lately - who’da thought)
* Use rub-ons, found in the scrapbooking section of crafts stores.
* I am working on a project bright now covering a lamp with eggshells.
You can use TONS of stuff besides paint, if paint is not your thing. Feel free to share with me what you decide to do.
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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