Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts

Oversized lucite sandwich frame

I wanted to frame this gorgeous painting my father-in-law made for me but I wanted the result to be modern and light.  Sort of to not take away anything from it so I decided to frame it in a Lucite sandwich frame.  It's a wonderful way of making a painting take reign without having to rely on more expensive frames.  I first saw this style of framing a few years ago in Sag Harbour, NY at one of my favorite stores, Ruby Beets and I loved it! then I saw it in Elle Decor.   The size of the frame is pretty big, exactly 49" by 47" ( I left two inches all around to leave space for the 9/16 Hex head cap screws in a brassy color I found at Lowe's).  The screws were long so I took them to an Iron shop to have them cut.  This is something that can be done with a manual saw though, something for a man.  I had the acrylic sheets custom made at Plexi-Craft in Queens, NY and put it together myself.  A sandwich frame like this would take about four weeks so it's good to plan way in advance.  Lowe's and Home Depot have acrylic sheets as well, but the biggest sheet available in store is 36" wide.  I love the result.  It's a look that can go with either a traditional decor or a modern one.
two bottom images, Elle Decor and Architectural Digest

How to add value and interest to your home for little money and effort

When we first started remodeling our home, one thing I regret is not having opened up the doorways.  I've always loved big, tall doors, but being just one month due from having a baby all I wanted was to move in and wait for that day without any hassle.  With that in the back of my head I always knew I was going to do something to my doors to make them look their best.  I crowned them, literately.  It's a simple and very affordable way to add interest and value to your home while enhancing the architecture.  I also painted them in a dark gray color and painted the molding silhouettes.
I chose a 3" Greek Key as part of the crown molding, but they were not too visible, so I painted it with a mixture of two colors, the door paint and the molding paint to make it lighter. 
When there is not enough storage space and no additional space to expand, look at the corners and turns in your home which are usually not utilized.  I had this closet custom built on the landing of my stairs and it didn't take any extra space from the walking area.  I painted it the same color as the wall to have it blend in and the outside corner was done with a curve for free passage.  The new one became the linen closet and the empty one became an additional clothing closet we didn't have before. 
Niches are another way of adding functionality and storage to your home.  Pretty them up with decorative paper or mirror and they become a point of interest as well.
Over the doorway storage like this one is very smart and interesting too.
Two last images via Pinterest and Apartment Therapy.